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Saturday, 12 March 2005
Mood:
 d'oh
Topic: Witch or Wiccan
Here is another response to the question I asked at the Witch School Forum regarding Wicca and Witchcraft that I found interesting:
"I agree that it can often be confusing because so many people use the words Wicca and Witchcraft in different ways and mean different things . . . but that's an inherent problem with labels. People also have different definitions of what makes a Christian (i.e., believing in Christ, belonging to a specific church/denomination, following specific rules for living, etc.), a patriot, a mother -- you get the idea. So how do you solve the problem? Always try to be clear what you mean when you use things kinds of words, and if you're not sure what someone else means, look for clues or ask for clarification. There's no way to impose an "official" definition that everyone will stick to.
Now, I think of Wicca as a group of specific mystery traditions. If you are trained in and follow one of those traditions, such as Correllian, then you are a Wiccan to me. Because I study Correllian Wicca and follow these traditions, I consider myself a Wiccan.
Witchcraft is "low magick" -- as opposed to "high magick" or ceremonial/ritual magick -- ranging from spells to charms, following the principles of sympathetic workings: like calls to like. Witchcraft works with practical, concrete forces and is very much a part of every day life. How you practice witchcraft stems from your personal philosophy, beliefs, or experience. You can use Wiccan philosophy as the foundation for your workings in magick: that's what Witchschool.com teaches. But there are other philosophy systems, and one individual can even believe in multiple philosophy systems.
I practice two forms of magick: Wiccan-based witchcraft, and sea witchcraft. One is based on my training at Witchschool.com and in other Wiccan traditions, the other is based on my lifelong experience of living on the coast. I've been a witch much longer than I've been a Wiccan, because I've practice sea witchcraft since before I ever heard of Wicca. The separation is clear in my mind and practice."
I still have not posted a response. Have you ever been so confused that you don't even know what questions to ask??
Part of the problem I guess is that I have not given my spiritual side much attention at all lately. And that includes my studies. Life is pretty overwhelming at the moment but I need to remember that during times like this it is even more important to take care of myself and nuture my spiritual side. It is my strength and has gotten me through such times in the past.
I did decide to do a little web search on sea witch and found a couple of interesting links:
A resource site for Pagans who specialize in water-based magick and worship of Sea Gods.
Sea Witch/Article
Sunday, 6 March 2005
Topic: My Spiritual Journey
I am exhausted! I am not usually this tired come Sunday but today I have not managed to gain an ounce of energy. I have an extremely busy week ahead of me at work and I am worried about how I am going to get through it. We are attempting to adopt a new model of management which I am very excited about but boy, trying to get there is alot of work. Motivating my staff to get there is also going to be a challenge. One day at a time I guess.
I have been hanging out at the computer a lot this week talking to my sister Becky via the MSN Messanger. Becky is in Korea right now with her boyfriend Brian. They are teaching engish over there and so far the experience has not been very positive. They are enjoying the students and teaching but the Director of the school has been hard on them. They have been there since late last September and their contract extends for one year. Right now they are at the 5 month point and if they break their contract before 6 months then they have to pay for their air fair home. The Director is not their biggest problem at this point. Brian is bi-polar and has had somewhat of a relapse. So far they feel he does not need to be hospitalized but getting through each day is a major struggle. I guess it started last Monday while they were at school. Becky came up with some lye for why he had to go home and why she had to go with him. The lye involves very intense migranes that can lead to vomiting. Based on their experience with this Director they don't feel that they can be forthright. Anyway, they were lucky enough to be off on Tuesday and since then he has been teaching and holding his own. By the end of the day though he is quite exhausted and apparently it is obvious there is something wrong. They have talked about coming home as early as tomorrow but they are also considering staying one more month so their air fair will be covered. And who knows, I imagine it is possible they will finish out the entire year. Only time will tell, I guess. I really hope they come back soon. I miss them.
I am still working my way through the book "The Out-of-Sync Child". It is not a bad read actually but I am still trying to get my head around how this might applie to Nathan. I mean we all experience some level of "sensory disintegration" - well most us. So I don't know. I guess the question is - Are the difficulties that he is experiencing beyond the scope of what is "normal". Anyway, I actually feel a lot better about the meeting last week - with the school. The Director of Nathan's Day Care, Patricia, had asked the Principle: what happens to those kids you do not have difficulties significant enough to warrent a diagnosis but still are having difficulties (it is very hard to get an E.A. without a diagnosis). The Principle stated that they deal with stuff all the time. And you know this is quite true. My oldest son, Peter, has always had an E.A. (Educational Assistant) but despite this I have always had wonderful support from the school and his teachers have all been so awsome. His grade 2 teacher actually asked to have him back again in grade 3 since she was doing a 2/3 split that year. He is in grade 4 this year with a new E.A, new teacher and actually a new school. St.Gabriel's goes from S.K to grade 3 and St. Rapheal's goes from grade 4 to grade 8 (not typical, I know). And things continue to run smoothly. Anyway, I am feeling somewhat better and there are plans in place for further observation and assessment. Although I am terribly worried about Nathan I still need to try and keep things in perspective.
Mood:
 quizzical
Topic: Witch or Wiccan
I have been hanging out some at the Witch School forum and there has been a bit of a discussion going on there about Wicca and Witchcraft. This is my most recent post regarding the issue:
" MM
I have a question:
Raymond Buckland, who is clearly Wiccan, uses the terms Witchcraft and Wicca interchangeably. The name of his book is "The Complete Book of Witchcraft." And he refers to Wicca as modern Witchcraft.
What are peoples thoughts on this?
I am not trying to convince anyone that there is no difference between Wicca and Witchcraft. I am just curious and trying to get my head wrapped around this stuff. If there is a difference what is it?
This is my take on it so far. Wicca is a modern religion founded by Gerald Gardner (and brought to America by Buckland) in the 1951. But Wicca has roots dating back to the very beginnings of time. It is a reconstruction of the Old Religions, Witchcraft being one of them. So I guess I see Wicca as a modern version of the Old - a revival of the Old.
BB Dana"
Here are a couple of responses:
1. "Witchcraft is not an actual religion. Let me say it again WITCHCRAFT IS NOT A RELIGION. Witchcraft is simply the practice of magick that is incorporated into a lot of Pagan religions. Wicca was the religion being practised, among others, by some of the pre-christian pagans. The ideas of a God and Goddess, the three-fold law, do no harm are all part of the Wiccan religion. Witchcraft is not a religion, so it does not hold these ideals. If you do adopt the idea that we serve the Goddess and the God, if you observe the Sabbats and do no harm in your spells then you are a Wiccan.
A witch can be someone who practises magick without regard for ethics or morality, or one that does have those things. "
2."Dana,
You have a very valid question, especially considering all of the different views that people have as well as the different books that have been published concerning Witchcraft.
If I remember correctly, and please if I err in this feel free to correct me, when 'Wicca' was originally founded it was a combination of three different major religions, specifically: Strega (Italian Witchcraft), Rosecrucian (Fellowship of Crotana) and Grande Loge Symbolique Ecossaise Mixte de France (French Lodge of Masonry or Co-Masonry). He also incorporated several aspects of lessor know religions, teaching, philosophies and ideals from such sources as: Malaysian folk magic, George Pickingill - Satanism (Self proclaimed Satanist), Teosophy, and his original religion of Roman Catholicism.
Most people will think of Gerald Gardner as the Father, though there are others who will say that Aliester Crowley was the father of modern Paganism. But in all reality it was Gardner who was the first to bring about the idea of naming a religion. For prior to his naming the type of Witchcraft that he practiced "Wicca" in New Forest, all 'Witchcraft' was just the practice of a religion other then 'Christianity' as decreed by the Roman Catholic Church in Rome specific and became even more so with in England during the Inquisition.
More to the point 'Witchcraft' was the employment of practices encompassing divination, herbology (such as used in spells or cures out side of the 'modern' medical science's), hex craft (such as the Dutch and Netherlanders practiced), etc. Where as Paganism was specifically a Peasant who was not of the Christian Faith, not nessasarily some one who practiced Witchcraft specifically.
Please do not get me wrong for in a lot of ways Yes Gardner was the founder of the Modern Witchcraft movement due to the fact that he began the 'revolution' of the way we think of Witchcraft today. He brought about the idea of "Naming" a Pagan religion instead of calling it just Witchcraft thus the reason we have so many different types of Wicca today and other religions that have a "name" where as prior to Gardner they did not have a specific one other then the "Way".
Modern Wicca is a sespot of every conceivable religion or way of honoring the Gods' out there that you can find. Every aspect of a Wiccan ritual has an element that is from several different ways of doing things. There are very very few, and I mean very few aspects of Wicca that is an original aspect of just Wicca as it was first founded.
To say that Wicca has roots dating back to the very beginnings of time is correct in one aspect but completely wrong if you consider that Wicca as practiced today is in no way a true refection of how "Witchcraft" was practiced even 60 years ago.
The majority of what we consider today as a revival of the 'Old' Religions is in a lot of ways just our attempt to try and bring to light or understand how things were done hundreds if not thousands of years ago. So much information has been lost due to wars, revolutions as well as just plan old fear of writing anything down due to persecution, or as in the Druidic/Celtic nations ways of doing thing of oral the information was lost due to the changing of the way something was worded from person to person.
My personal belief is that there is no one Pagan, Wicca, or other religion that is entirely true and correct as of our day and age. We try and revive through trial and error, old manuscripts, tablets etc. what has been lost. So in my oppinion the New Religions of this day and age are all speaking falsehood if they say it is the same as it has all ways been or that what we/I/they teach has been taught since the beginning of time.
So if you personally want to use Wicca and Witchcraft interchangeably you are not incorrect in what you are saying.
I hope this helped in at least a small way,"
I have not yet posted a response. There is a lot of info in the second post that needs to yet sink into my brain. But I am finding all this so interesting.
Well, that is my Blog for the week. Till next time.
Saturday, 26 February 2005
Nathan's Teeth are OUT!
Topic: That's Life
Well, it has been another long week. But I am so glad that Nathan's front teeth are finally out. His two front teeth had become absessed and had to be removed. We found out before Christmas but could not get an appointment until this week. One tooth fell about a week an half ago and I was sooo hoping that the other would come out on its own but it did not - so we had to go in and have it removed. He did super well. They gave him a drug to help him relax which really helped with that needle. You could tell it was still painful but without the drug it... well, it just would have been horribile . Lets just say that I so happy to have this over with. Now I just have school to worry about!
I have been reading the book that Patty gave me - "The Out of Synch Child." It talks about Sensory Intergration Dysfunction (SI Dysfunction). They have identified some concerns regarding his development and have suggested that they may be related to sensory issues. I really don't know that much about it. To be quite honest I really haven't a clue. I guess that is why I am reading the book.
I had it out with Kathy. Two days went by and she still hadn't said a word to me. When I asked her about it she said that she thought I was mad at her and was just giving me space. This still blows my mind. I can't figure out what would have caused her to believe that I was mad at her. The funny thing is, either could she. So I really don't by it. Something is eating at her and she doesn't want to talk to me about it. Well I tried and we are talking again but I don't know, somethings not right
Saturday, 19 February 2005
Topic: That's Life
My studies have fallen to the way-side yet again. It has been a difficult week. I attended a meeting regarding my youngest son's entrance into school next year and it is not very likey that he will be able to attend with any amount of one-to-one support. I knew this though. My oldest son is special needs so I know how the system works and whether I agree with it or not, it is what it is. My youngest, N, will going directly into Grade 1 next year. He has not attended J.K. or S.K. mainly because of toilet training issues but there are other concerns as well. He is very insecure and has a hard time dealing with even regular routines let alone anything new. He has come along way with toilet training but the "new" bathroom at school will be intimidating for him. It has also been suggested that I have him assessed (which I knew would happen too because if there is no diagnosis there is no E.A - education assistant). I just dread going through all this again.
Work is also a struggle right now as well. We are actually going through a period of positive change which I am finding quite exciting but very busy at the same time. But even positive change can have its undesirable features and Kathy seems to be blaming me for all of it. Further, her supervisor talks to her about some performance issues and then she stops talking to me ( I am a supervisor but not her direct supervisor). I sware she is splitting. She can't risk being mad at her supervisor so she is going to make me pay for it. And then there is Barb. Kathy hates Barb and Barb received a direct promotion (no interviews - so I was not involed). But for some reason that's my falt too. My friendship with Kathy has been one of the most difficult friendships I have ever had. I don't know what to do (deep down I just want to push her away).
BB Dana
Mood:
quizzical
Topic: Witch or Wiccan
Here are some more thoughts regarding the issue I started in last weeks blog. I posted this over at the Witchschool Forum:
The most valuable gift that the Wiccan Path has given me is the gift of empowerment - the ability to make my own choices regarding what I believe and the ability to connect to deity on a personal level. This has given me such incredible strength and has gotten me through some very difficult times. In the early years of my journey it was this strength that kept bringing me back to Wicca and it was guilt (speaking of old habits that are hard to break) that kept pulling me away. It wasn't until I was able to reconcile the two paths (Wicca and Christianity), without guilt, that I was able to committ to Wicca and move forward. Empowerment was the catalist. Yes, I can believe in Jesus and be Wiccan. Yes, I can believe in Jesus and not go to Mass (because this is not meaning for me - there may be Christian Wiccans who still go to Mass and that very night celebrate a Sabbat - because Mass is still a meaningful way of connecting to Deity for them - I don't know but I am open to the notion that this a possibilty). I think what I am trying to get at here is that I find it so disheartening when people argue about labels. In my mind, we Wiccans are the Kings and Queens of tolerance. Tolerance is not always an easy thing to engage but if we can approach people with an open mind and heart the opportunities for growth are endless. So when someone says I practice the religion of Witchcraft but I am not Wiccan how can this be impossible. For some reason this has become meaningful for them.
The reason why I have not labelled myself a Christian Wiccan is that I am just not comfortable with the intolerance that some labels can generate. I am also not sure that there is enough Christian left in me. Further, can't I be just a Wiccan and believe in Jesus? I know the very definition of Christianity incorporates a belief in Jesus. But Wiccan incorporates a belief in personal Deity and Jesus just happens to be an aspect of Deity that I can personnally connect with. Further, if I choose to answer "yes" to the question "Can I be a Wiccan and still believe in Jesus?" (and not a Christian Wiccan) - is this not my choice - I am not harming anyone - I am just developing my own personal belief system. Now I know it may not always be as simple as this - one's personal belief system may be so outside the Wiccan realm that the label of Wicca just could not fit - for example if you don't believe in the Rede can you be Wiccan? (probably not - but there are other Pagan religions that do have other codes of ethics- is this true of other Wiccan traditions?)
Ok I think I better stop now - I am getting confused. But again, interesting things to ponder.
BB Dana
Sunday, 13 February 2005
Topic: Witch or Wiccan
This week I have spent most of my time working on this site. That's what happens when I start something new. I can get a little obsessed.
This site certainly was not in my plans but at the same time I kind of like following along where this Path decides to take me. This has been good for me since I can also get obsessed with doing things a certain way and resist change. Things come around for a reason so sometimes it is good to take chance and move forward. But at the same time I do need to get back to my studies. I did do a little this week. I continued taking notes from Raymond Buckland's "Complete Book Of WitchCraft" for my essay "What is Wicca." I have already taken notes from Correllian Wicca, First Degree Intro, Scott Cunningham's "Wicca: A guide for the Solitary Practitioner" and Lady Raya's "13 Lesson's for Pleasing the Divine."
A Penny for my Thoughts?
There appears to be a number of differing perspectives out there regarding Wicca and Witchcraft. Some are of the perspective that Wicca and Witchcraft are different and that Wicca is a religion and Witchcraft is about the practice of magic. Others also believe that they are different but that they are different religions. Then there is Anna Moura, author of the Green Witchcraft series who states that Witchcraft is a religion separate from Wicca and is also about the practice of magic. Further, there are some who practice Witchcraft as both a religion and magic and others who practice it as a religion but not magic and vice versa. She also outlined a third approach to Witchcraft which maybe I will write about another time because it is not straight in my head right now.
Correllianism appears to use these words interchangably as does Raymond Buckland inticating that there is no difference between them. On the back cover of Raymond Buckland's Complete Book Witchcraft it states that "He (Buckland) has become a respected authority on the rise of modern Witchcraft." Therefore Wicca, which is a religion (I don't think there is any dispute about that), is modern Witchcraft - indicating that Witchcraft is an Old Religion.
All this leads to differences in the ways people label themselves. And I don't have a problem with this but what does concern me is when others do judge how someone labels or defines their perspective. This usually comes up at most forums I have been involved with. Some people get pretty angry about these things - "How can you possibly be a Witch and not Wiccan?" Now if someone says there a Christian Wiccan look out! That will definetly ruffle some feathers. In this day and age when so many of us have been raised in Christian backgrounds it really shouldn't be all that surprising to find Christian Wiccans. As one moves forward on a new path they may take with them some things that they just can't leave behind - and "la voila" something new emerges. I think this represents growth.
Do you want your penny back?
Sunday, 6 February 2005
A Web Site is Born
Topic: My Spiritual Journey
February 6, 2005
A Web-Site is Born!
So I have published my first Web Site. For some reason I thought I would never do this but it has happened. So far I am really enjoying it. I was in the Witch School Forum and noticed a reference to the site 'My Pagan Centre' in a post made by Mala and decided to check it out (You can check it out too - just click on the link below this entry). Oh, this is not the first time I have looked at personal websites but for some reason, this time, I was inspired to start my own. Maybe it just wasn't the right time before and just maybe the time is now. It is somewhat fitting since I have decided to make this a year of increased self reflection. My personal journaling has been going really well and this could be a great expansion of that. This could also be a great place to document my spiritual journey. My studies have been a great part of this journey. I have been with Witch School now for two years and have finally completed the First Degree Lessons. Right now I am not taking any courses through Witch School but certainly will in due time. I cannot tell you how great it has been learning through Witch School. I would recommend Witch School to any one - and have. I told a co-worker of mine, Kara, about the Lessons at Witch School and she has been eagerly working her way through the First Degree ever since. We worked together for many years before realizing we are of 'like-mind' and it has been wonderful having her to share experiences with. Kara has since introduced me to the book 'Self-Initiation for the Solitary Witch: Attaining higher spirituality through a Five-Degree System' by Shanddaramon. This year I have decided to take another path on my jouney and start working through this system. Right now I am at the Seeker Level and I have decided to start work on an essay. The topic will be 'What is Wicca'. My Witch School studies will remain a part of this journey.
I have launched this site with very little content as I want this site to reflect my personal journey and growth.
BB Dana
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