Pagan Fellowship - Page 2

BecStan · 06-21-2008, 09:43 AM

A little bit about me...

I was always "different". I saw things that no one else saw. I knew things that others did not know. I experienced things that I knew others never spoke of. Fortunately for me my parents had mellowed by me, their 4th child, so my natural inclinations were never squashed.

I always had an interest in the occult, from a very early age. Had my first tarot deck at 10-11 years old. I read books on every sort of paranormal/occult/big-foot/etc. type subject I could get my young hands on. I explored various religions during my teen-years. I was 'loosely' raised in the Baptist Church, but never forced to believe, never baptized, etc.

At the age of 18, I moved to Atlanta to attend art college and it was there I met my first Pagans, Wiccans, Witches, occultists, paranormal investigators, psychics, etc. I knew I had found my path.

I studied a Tradition of Wicca (the Unicorn Tradition) for quite a few years. Became pregnant with my miracle son, gave birth, and became a mother. It was after that time, and deep soul searching, that I left that tradition/coven (on the brink of my 3rd degree) and Wicca all together. It just wasn't *quite* what I was looking for.

I studied on my on for awhile, and then eventually found another group whose practices were more in line with my desire to learn more about Traditional Paganism and Traditional Witchcraft / Cunning Arts / The Old Ways. I studied with that group for several years, and after taking a two week spiritual pilgrimage to Europe in the spring of 2000 -- I asked my Gods and Ancestors while on that old soil, to guide me in my spiritual life, to please help me See, and Know, and to learn. Interestingly enough, when you speak to the Gods that way, to the Ancestors that way, they Listen! Sure enough, a major shake-down came in that group, and I walked away from it within six months of that trip to Europe.

Again, I studied on my own for awhile. Then, I was formally accepted as a Student of a tradition from Cornwall England called Pellorys. I've been here ever since, and feel I'm finally and completely "home".

I've been at this now, consciously studying within the realm of Paganism / occult, for 21 years. I've taught others, I've counseled and helped others along their paths, spoken at Universities on comparative religion (specifically Paganism / Witchcraft) and given talks at Unitarian Universalists Congregations. I enjoy sharing, am completely open with all of my friends, and my family.

So--- there's a little more about me!

I'll catch up with this topic tomorrow.

Somewhat Damaged · 06-24-2008, 11:46 PM

Does anyone here find that though they don't practice or 'observe' regularly, that they still identify as pagan?

BeccaUK · 06-25-2008, 08:29 AM

definately. in my mind just because i don't have the time to do a ritual every sabbat or full moon, doesn't make me any less pagan. being pagan to me is about what you believe and i honour my gods in my own way. i'm lucky that my three patrons understand me and they know i observe the sabbats in my own way that doesn't necessarily mean a ritual. it might just mean i check my behavior on the day, or i'll just watch the moon for a while lost in my thoughts.
i think thats the way my patrons prefer it. they would rather i be true to myself than go all out to do a ritual that is just going through the motions. by doing it my own way i honour them more because it involves my thoughts rather than just my motions. (i'm not trying to bring down anyone who does do a ritual every sabbat. i would like to have the time, but don't, hence my unique way of doing it)

pupmom5 · 07-06-2008, 03:35 PM

My name is Tasha. I was just recently dx'd with PCOS, but have suspected I have it for years. My mother has it and conceived both me and my sister with one ovary. I'm married to my soulmate, and we have 4 dogs and 5 cats. I'm a pet styling student.

I've been wiccan since I was 12 years old, and now that I own my own home, I'm trying to become more involved in the community and overcome my social anxiety disorders. I missed, for the second year, the St. Louis Pagan Picnic, which is one of the largest free festivals in the US, but have secured my tickets to the St. Louis Witches' Ball and Masquerade and am super excited.

We plan to start trying to conceive at the beginning of next year, and raise them in the wiccan faith.

BeccaUK · 07-07-2008, 02:36 AM

hey tasha. snap! i found wicca at 12 too!

silverhawk · 07-07-2008, 02:49 AM

lucky, I didn't find it until I was 23

eww · 07-09-2008, 07:03 PM

hey guys, question.... most (not all of course) pagan paths are based around fertility, from the cycle of birth and death of the new year to the goddess and god or the importance of fertility deities. How does your possible infertility affect the way you view these things? Just curious.

leanney · 07-10-2008, 04:30 PM

hi, i would call myself a christian but ive always been into mythical thing, slightly hippy, quirky things, i chose church when i was 13 and left 3 years ago, they really really hurt me to a huge extent. so now im more of a relaxed church goer then full on mental christian person, i think faith is much more important!
im really interested to hear all about it really!
my parents were right from the start with the whole im being brainwashed thing, because i was most definately!

pupmom5 · 07-11-2008, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eww

hey guys, question.... most (not all of course) pagan paths are based around fertility, from the cycle of birth and death of the new year to the goddess and god or the importance of fertility deities. How does your possible infertility affect the way you view these things? Just curious.

That is a really, really interesting question. I guess I never really thought of it before.. I mean, infertility happens in nature. Obviously, here we are. I guess I think of my life more as in cycles, maiden-mother-crone, and mother doesn't necessarily mean to bear my own children, but maybe to take care of others that become mine (fostering/adopting/etc.)

Then again, it's also really hard to face potential infertility at 23 (and when you watched your best friend get pregnant.. and then again.. and then again.. and then her sister.. and then 3 girls at work..) so maybe I am just copping out. LOL

pupmom5 · 07-11-2008, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaUK

hey tasha. snap! i found wicca at 12 too!

Cool! I wasn't quite in the broomcloset, but I conviently let my parents and friends ignore it. It feels so great to be an adult, in my own house, with a great pagan community around me, making plans to raise our children in that community.

amprecious · 07-12-2008, 09:08 PM

hi everyone, its nice to see a pagan topic.

i have been very lucky to have a family that excepts who i am and my being pagan. but that has alot to do with the fact that my mother and aunt are wiccan. and my dad is not religious, and has pagans on his side of the family too.

but my problem is my in laws.. they are very christian and do not understand me at all. my mother in law is good about it, but my husbands grandmother hates it. i moved from VA to NC and boy what a diffrence that was.. alot of people here dislike me, and the pagans that are here hide their faith.

eww · 07-12-2008, 11:07 PM

For me it's been a struggle to reconcile my infertility with my beliefs. I mean, I know that infertility happens in nature (like you said, obviously, here we are) but when I think of our ancestors, of how their lives depended on the fertility of their people as well as their land... it's been interesting. And the increasing infertility rates in the western world just reinforces in my mind the idea that we've separated ourselves too far from nature. And it's not that I'm TTC (cause I'm not, nor ever really planning on it) but it does seem something a woman's body is born to do, SUPPOSED to be able to do. The fact that mine can't, seems to strike a chord somewhere.

BeccaUK · 07-13-2008, 09:37 AM

in terms of the infertility, i see it like this: nature is made up of male and female. everything is a delicate balance. and i don't see this male and female as gender i see it as different qualities that can either complement or work against each other. in my body the balance is out of whack. there is too much of the male in me. it doesn't make me any less of a woman, it just means i have alot to work against.
i remember reading somewhere that pcos used to be an evolutionary advantage but because of the way we live now, with the pollution and the way we eat its become a huge disadvantage. which sucks.

eww · 07-13-2008, 12:23 PM

Becca. that's interesting about PCOS having been an advantage. How exactly do you mean? I get that male and female are representative of qualities, however going right back to the lives of our ancestors, the realities were important as well. I'm just curious about other people's perspectives on the issue. Thanks for contributing. We don't seem to have a lot of posters on this thread

BeccaUK · 07-14-2008, 11:26 AM

i get what you mean about the realities. i guess i should elaborate on what i said...in terms of humans, men and women had different roles, niether better than the other. so its pretty clear cut in human terms. its when referring to nature as male and female that i mean they are just 'two sides of the same coin' qualities. i guess i prefer to look at things via the yin yang way rather than the male/female way. and its the imbalance inside my body, too much yang in the form of the 'male' hormones causing havoc with the female systems.

in terms of the evolutionary advantage i think it was something to do with attracting the males. i still have the book somewhere so i'll find it and look it up.