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starwind123 
Keeper of the Sacred Arts
Posts: 476
(6/13/04 3:38 pm)
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Witchdom in the 21st century
Witchdom in the 21st century
Or Confessions Of A Thecno Pagan 
Despite the fact we tend to picture the rites and rituals
As being done as our forebears did them
There is this inescapable fact... WE are not them
This is now
And we should act accordingly
Getting up on my ever present soap box for a minute...
It has been brought to my attention by a few people
That I and others like me are not "real" pagans
Whatever the heck that means...
But what they meant was
Because of how I do some things now a days,
as I follow the Way
Like on-line rituals and Cyber temples
I have a lovely one ..have you seen it..
Anyway
Here's my thoughts on all that..
Is doing ritual online a slap in the face to the Gods.. I think not...The heart is willing the mind has the right attitude...
then it works.. period
If their is honor and respect
there is NO way to do it wrong...!
It is the Gods to whom I petition...
and It seems to me if its acceptable to them
that's good enough for me.. an it harm none so says the rede...
Take the ever present tool in most rites the Athame...
I shocked a person in discussion
the other day when I told her I didn't have one ..
I have never used one
not that there's anything wrong with them ...
not a bit..but they have never called to me
as a tool for my rites.. A wand of wood at best..if then...
Now there are those who would argue
as this person did.... that I can't do that..!
That I have to have and use the tools
according to the old ways...
Oh really ? ... I think not...
The will is the thing... not the tools..
now the right tools that call to you
to do certain things
certainly help..
I have a whole collection
of special tools for rite and ritual
But as my Dear Friend and Coven leader used to say..
" A good Witch can Do high magick,
if dropped naked into the middle of the desert "
And he was right...
All the colors and the smells for certain rites do call to ones senses and help you create the correct connection.... this is Feng shui ,it is like calls to like, and sympathetic magick...
But do the right colored candles
and the right incense make the spell ?
NO
Its for bloody well certain our fore mothers
didn't have rainbow colored candles
but they managed just fine
The Witch makes the magick with the grace of the Gods.........Period
For me if I do an online rite with friends...
there is no separation between us.. we ARE one
as the Spirit is one.. the will is one.. proximity only makes that connection easier...for the most part..... but sometimes even that does not help..
if the parties are not in tune with each other..
it does not matter if they are sitting in your lap..!
Does the fact that I work without a Coven at the moment,
make me less of a Witch?
Again I should think not..
there are more Solitaires out there than Coveners,
so We comprise the lionesses share
of the acts of Magick
and good will
by sheer numbers
My book of Shadows and Grimore..
( which I am still transcribing...) is a DOS
Disk of Shadows.. or in my case a CD-OS...
I've been here a while...
Write it in some dead language so nobody can read it..?
Ever heard of encryption..? Same thing...and I don't have to try and learn Latin
I use a computer program
to tell me when the next full moon is due.. so what
I can..its there..why should I do it the hard way...for traditions sake..?
Traditions are great and I honor a great many of them..
but ours is a faith that must be re born..
in how we do it in many cases....
We have been left so little from the time of our forebears
that we don't really know what they did or did not do...
whose to blame for that loss is irrelevant...
it merely speaks to the point that to do it a new way...
is the only way it CAN BE done
If our fore mothers had the tools we now possess...
do you not think they would use them..?
Of course they would.. a Good Witch uses what works best...
I have reached more people who seek knowledge of the Pagan Way in the,
less than 6 mts at this pages writing ,
than I have ever or could have ever reached in my life time...
Via this site you are now reading...
And my own knowledge
expands exponentially right along with them
as the teacher always learns as much or more than the student...
I have studied and continue to study
all the old ways...from all walks of life..
from every angle possible... I want to know it all...but
I will take from it what calls to me and leave the rest
WE are the Others...and we are an Eclectic bunch...
this is our survival... this is our strength . ..our very diversity'
Is why we thrive and grow and become better people
with each passing day...( or should..if we are working at it..)
We must not allow ourselves to be sucked back into the past
to the point where we are the past....and get stuck there...
We must grow and evolve as a group
Stagnation and Decay are the only things on the path
that does not grow and change...
May we Ever bloom brightly
Getting down off my soap box now...
Thanks for listening...
Blessings on your coming
Blessings on your going
Blessings on all your house |
Gaia Angel 
ezOP
Posts: 1622
(8/8/04 2:16 pm)
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Re: Witchdom in the 21st century
Esta I havent seen your cyber temple and would love too! For some reason I cant get intoi your yahoo chat room for rites and rituals 
And I agree with everything you said whole heartewdly...How exacly did I miss this? lol I get told by "old scoolers" That I am a "wannabe pagan" well, at least I wanna be something besides part of a judgement problem 
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shadeaux63
Global User
Posts: 755
(8/11/04 1:27 pm)
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Re: Witchdom in the 21st century
I don't worry about what others say or think anymore.Mostly due to the connections I have with some of you,this forum,and a few other things,I've been able to come to the realization that the things I've believed for years upon years have a name.
For a long time I had no idea where I fit in,or how to dscribe what I knew in my heart to be true(at least for me).I would feel drawn to some aspects of something,but not all,and because of the one or two things I didn't feel right with,was told to give up on whatever it was I was seeking.Well, THAT didn't feel right either.
Then,I got involved with you guys.I found out that it's ok to take what I want,and leave the rest.It's ok to practice what I AM comfortable with,and who cares what the guy down the street says about it.What matters is how comfortable I am with it,and how it works for ME.I'm now comfortable calling myself Pagan,for the first time in my life.
Well, cyber-temples,and online rites are the same.I've participated in them,and they always leave me feeling energized,but at peace.Just because we aren't dancing around a meadow somewhere,skyclad,around a firepit,at midnight,under a full moon,does NOT mean that the Gods/Goddesses aren't with us,just the same.You're right,as long as the respect,and reverence is there,so is the power,and love that would/should be at any rite,regardless of venue.
As for cyber-temples,I've seen yours,it's wonderful.I've also been to other sites online,and can honestly say that if you're sensitive to it,you can feel the power of a sacred place,even on the internet.
The bottom line is,anyone who wants to criticize needs to go back and re-read the rede-An it harm none,do as ye will.
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Gaia Angel
ezOP
Posts: 1657
(8/12/04 9:49 pm)
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Re: Witchdom in the 21st century
where IS this temple and why havent i heard of it before??????
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shadeaux63
Global User
Posts: 769
(8/13/04 12:55 am)
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Re: Witchdom in the 21st century
Oh,girl, you have to check this out.
paganandproud.bravepages....emple.html
You're going to love it.
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starwind123
Administrator
Posts: 536
(8/14/04 5:11 am)
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Re: Witchdom in the 21st century
Hey hi
thanks that you like it and thank you shadow that you have learned to accept your own path. I am honored to be part of that and the temple, ? it was one of my frist creations for the net, and I have improved on images etc often to make it a fit showcase for the works of the Great Mother whom I am honored to serve..
MM sisters
Starwind
Blessings on your coming
Blessings on your going
Blessings on all your house |
Gaia Angel
ezOP
Posts: 1677
(8/14/04 8:13 am)
Reply
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Re: Witchdom in the 21st century
Omg! Esta!! It is wonderfull!
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wolfscout1 
Given a Place at the table
Posts: 29
(8/14/04 10:24 am)
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Re: Witchdom in the 21st century
That was inspiring. Thanks, starwind123.
~~~
OWP
Larry's Place
The Path I Walk.
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