I've been trained as a McFarland Dianic Wiccan High Priestess and have spent the last 12 years referring to myself as wiccan. (Though I never had "Wiccan" listed on my dog tags, instead choosing "No Religious Preference".) In fact the original title of this blog was "Advanced Wicca". The more and more I reflected on the differences between a witch and wiccan I've come to realize that I've never been much of a wiccan. While the two groups do share some common deities, there are marked differences in theology and core beliefs.
The main tenet of wicca I can't follow is the last words of the Wiccan Rede, "an' ye harm none, do as ye will". I don't believe in harming none. To truly harm none would mean there was no healing, no justice, no protection, no defense, and no bar b q's with burgers and hot dogs - as a proud bar-b-q-snob-Texan with family members who own a beef cattle ranch in Oklahoma, red meat is just part of my life. To heal you don't sweetly ask a stomach flu causing bacteria to go away while being sensitive to its feelings - ya kill it. Many times healing requires inflicting pain on the patient - removing a splinter, re-setting a bone, cleaning out a wound. Justice, protection and defense are requirements to life on this planet. If no one ever protected their loved ones or defended their home, we'd all be eaten by bears. It's human nature to feel all those things, and as a witch I acknowledge and work with nature. Being a wise witch means knowing how to harness ones thoughts, feelings and actions for constructive purposes. Harming for the sake of harming is a loss of control that is destructive. Harming for the sake of healing and growth is wisdom that is constructive.
I've heard wiccans argue that the rede is not a black and white edict, but rather means to not do "black magick". Okay, then what's "black magick"? 'Well doing a spell for selfish reasons of course!' Really? Black magick or not, I'm still putting a sleeping spell on the neighbor's dog to keep it from barking all night long unless there's a burglar or fire. 'Black magick is working your will to harm someone!' Then I'm guilty. My ex cheated on me and lost being promoted because every time he did the smallest thing wrong, he was caught. I don't call it black magick; I call it calling in a karmic debt.
I believe that spells such as curses and hexes are negative things. I also believe that negative and positive are forces which are meant to be balanced. One of my matron Goddesses is Hecate. For all the prayers to Her I find in wiccan books it's amazing that no wiccan seems to understand that She's not a light, fluffy bunny loving mother. She's a dangerous, warring, revenge-is-ok momma who doesn't accept lies or anyone harming Her babies.
I don't run around cursing every jerk who cuts me off in traffic or am angry all the time. I'm balanced. I see the good and the bad and react accordingly. One of my daily habits is to recite the 5 principles of Reiki "just for today: I will not worry, I will not anger, I will show respect to every living thing, I will do my work honestly, I will live the attitude of gratitude." These are all venerable goals for my day, but it doesn't mean I feel guilty if I'm not perfect. They're just a reminder to me that I choose my actions, I choose my reactions, and everything I do is a reflection on my integrity.
I've chosen to leave the wiccan path and stop calling myself a wiccan because my core beliefs don't coincide with those taught in wicca. I'm a witch, always have been. Plus I hate all the fluff bunnies who are pot addicted that have carved a lasting stereotype in most people's minds about who a wiccan is and does.
If wiccan means 'wise one' and marijuana destroys brain cells, why is there the stereotype that wiccans are drug addicted hippies? Though stereotypes are generalizations that are unfair to many people, the truth is stereotypes don't materialize from thin air.
Showing posts with label Wicca. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wicca. Show all posts
5 Tips for Pagans in the Military
While there is opposition to pagans, in particular to Wiccans and witches, in the military from conservative Christian groups such as the Family Research Council, military members can openly practice their beliefs. As an active duty Marine, I attended a Wiccan "Sunday school" while in boot camp on Parris Island and later while stationed in North Carolina I was able to meet with other pagans serving with me for religious meetings when off duty.
There are a few things that military members need to be aware of when requesting the right to worship:
1. Pagan holidays are not recognized as government holidays, except for the Spring equinox ("Easter") and Yule ("Christmas"), so do not expect to receive these days off. As when requesting leave at any other time, you will need to speak with your command and put in the proper requests to receive Sabbath days off. Also as with any other leave request, such requests can be denied.
2. Upon request, the military must provide religious clergy for you to speak with. Be aware that this will usually mean a Christian chaplain who's taken a "what is Wicca" course. They'll be largely unknowledgeable, but are very kind and trustworthy. I spoke with my Christian chaplain many times and greatly appreciated him. More and more chaplains are joining the military as Wiccan chaplains, so ask - you never know who you'll be blessed with!
3. You can have an altar in your barracks like you can have a stereo system. As long as your tools, books and herbs comply with allowable materials (not illegal drugs, Nazi worship, or other ridiculous items) you are allowed to have them. Know that you may have to stow your supplies and put away your altar during inspections, just like you may have to do with stereo equipment or decorations.
4. Don't take sacred items to a training environment. Religious reading material such as the Bible is allowed to be taken into basic training and other training environments. Because there is no officially recognized "scripture" for pagans, you aren't guaranteed the right to bring your Book of Shadows. In training environments you aren't normally allowed unncessarily equipment, so don't bring your tools as you'll just have to ship them home or have them stored.
5. Be conscious of your barrack mate's comfort level. If they are an evangelical Christian, don't expect them to be open and accepting of your need to meditate or cast Circles. Religious discrimination is not tolerated in the military, so report instances up through your chain of command - always start at the lowest level to try and resolve problems, such as with your squad leader.
There are a few things that military members need to be aware of when requesting the right to worship:
1. Pagan holidays are not recognized as government holidays, except for the Spring equinox ("Easter") and Yule ("Christmas"), so do not expect to receive these days off. As when requesting leave at any other time, you will need to speak with your command and put in the proper requests to receive Sabbath days off. Also as with any other leave request, such requests can be denied.
2. Upon request, the military must provide religious clergy for you to speak with. Be aware that this will usually mean a Christian chaplain who's taken a "what is Wicca" course. They'll be largely unknowledgeable, but are very kind and trustworthy. I spoke with my Christian chaplain many times and greatly appreciated him. More and more chaplains are joining the military as Wiccan chaplains, so ask - you never know who you'll be blessed with!
3. You can have an altar in your barracks like you can have a stereo system. As long as your tools, books and herbs comply with allowable materials (not illegal drugs, Nazi worship, or other ridiculous items) you are allowed to have them. Know that you may have to stow your supplies and put away your altar during inspections, just like you may have to do with stereo equipment or decorations.
4. Don't take sacred items to a training environment. Religious reading material such as the Bible is allowed to be taken into basic training and other training environments. Because there is no officially recognized "scripture" for pagans, you aren't guaranteed the right to bring your Book of Shadows. In training environments you aren't normally allowed unncessarily equipment, so don't bring your tools as you'll just have to ship them home or have them stored.
5. Be conscious of your barrack mate's comfort level. If they are an evangelical Christian, don't expect them to be open and accepting of your need to meditate or cast Circles. Religious discrimination is not tolerated in the military, so report instances up through your chain of command - always start at the lowest level to try and resolve problems, such as with your squad leader.
Facebook page "Women Witches"
As paganism once again booms around the world, more and more men are being drawn back to Goddess worship. The rivalry between male Wiccans and female Wiccans began when Gerald Gardner with Doreen Valiente founded the Gardnerian tradition and Zsuzsanna Budapest founded the Dianic tradition - the Gardnerians focus on both the God and Goddess, but founded by a man make some women uncomfortable; the Dianics focus on the Goddess and exclude the God with such vehemence that they've earned a reputation for hating men.
Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente and Z Budapest have all been phenomenal instruments of the Goddess to bring hope, healing and empowerment back to women, myself included. Unfortunately, through rediscovering that they are powerful and in control of themselves, many women have come to believe that this rebalance of power can only occur if all divinity and power is stripped from their male counterparts. Yes, counterparts.
Unfortunately the truely ironic thing is that a lot of people who become Wiccan do so to leave Christianity because Christianity has institutionally stripped the divinity from women over centuries and continues to do so. To separate one gender from their divinity is a horrendous act of degradation that has happened in Christianity and now some push for it to happen in Wicca, which is a religion meant to heal and restore natural balance.
This is a horrible imbalance which only harms. A person, regardless of gender, is a child of the Goddess and can connect and be empowered by Her. Groups such as the Facebook page "Women Witches" serve only to convince women that all men are patriarchal pigs who hate and degrade women. While some men may be this way, the evil acts of a few do not dictate the behavior of millions. The same is true of women. There are some horrible women who are abusive and demoralizing to everyone around them coining stereotypes, but the evil acts of a few do not dictate the behavior of millions. For every chauvinist, there is a gentleman. For every bitch, there is a lady.
Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente and Z Budapest have all been phenomenal instruments of the Goddess to bring hope, healing and empowerment back to women, myself included. Unfortunately, through rediscovering that they are powerful and in control of themselves, many women have come to believe that this rebalance of power can only occur if all divinity and power is stripped from their male counterparts. Yes, counterparts.
Unfortunately the truely ironic thing is that a lot of people who become Wiccan do so to leave Christianity because Christianity has institutionally stripped the divinity from women over centuries and continues to do so. To separate one gender from their divinity is a horrendous act of degradation that has happened in Christianity and now some push for it to happen in Wicca, which is a religion meant to heal and restore natural balance.
This is a horrible imbalance which only harms. A person, regardless of gender, is a child of the Goddess and can connect and be empowered by Her. Groups such as the Facebook page "Women Witches" serve only to convince women that all men are patriarchal pigs who hate and degrade women. While some men may be this way, the evil acts of a few do not dictate the behavior of millions. The same is true of women. There are some horrible women who are abusive and demoralizing to everyone around them coining stereotypes, but the evil acts of a few do not dictate the behavior of millions. For every chauvinist, there is a gentleman. For every bitch, there is a lady.
A wise witch will seek to discover their own inner power,
their own inert ability to create and destroy, to nourish and to protect,
the God and the Goddess.
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