Mama Donna Henes January, 2011

Are you cyclically confused? In a ceremonial quandary? Completely clueless? Wonder no more.

*Ask Your Mama™

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Spirituality and Didn’t Know Who to Ask™

by

©Mama Donna Henes, Urban Shaman

A Question of Mercury in Retrograde

Dear Mama Donna,

For years I have been hearing warnings about Mercury in Retrograde, but I am not sure I understand what that means or why I should be careful. All I know is that all sorts of weird, awful things are supposed to happen. Can you please explain this phenomenon to this astrology neophyte?

Confused and wary in Wisconsin

Dear Confused,

Mercury, the planet of communication enters its three times a year retrograde stage on May 6, 2009 and will remain in a backward momentum, as it were, until May 30, 2009.

Mercury in retrograde has a very bad rap. I should know. As a Virgo (which is ruled by Mercury) I am usually affected quite profoundly. But over the years I have learned a thing or two about how to survive in one piece, and how to use

this potentially frustrating phase in a fruitful manner.

When Mercury is moving direct, our minds tend to work on a functional/forward level. Our actions match our intentions. Our energy is invested in more assertive decision-making and action with less emphasis on retrospection and reflection.

However, we are constantly picking up on unconscious intuitive information, which will surface — if we let it — during the retrograde cycle. And this is a very good thing. We need time to rest and assimilation all the information that we are bombarded with in our techno, multitasking world. A time for our inner wisdom to manifest and guide us to reorganize, rethink, reevaluate, redo,

and reboot. This is a crucial and healthy part of the organic, natural flow of life.

The clock and dollar orientation that our culture calls *the real world* is comprised of schedules, deadlines, and to do lists, which don’t often accommodate a cycle of introspective reflection and reevaluation. This is why this period can be so brutal for some of us — especially those of us with determined steely goals and agendas.

Mercury, as most of us know, tends to play havoc with the smooth functioning of the technology upon which we depend for our achievements and communication. It also tends to mix up face to face communications and the best laid plans of wo/men. The results are interruptions, snafus, misunderstandings, and mix-ups which interfere with the simplest of projects.

During Mercury in Retrograde, we will need more caution, more care, and a pinch more elbow grease to get things done. This is not a good time to launch or initiate new projects. In trying to do so, we will be pushing off, symbolically, just when the tide is going out, and it will be more of a struggle to make headway with our plans. It is far better to wait until the current is moving with us.

The degree to which we hold onto our need to keep to our schedules, agendas, and plans often equates to the degree in which we find ourselves going bonkers during this time. When we doggedly hold on to our logical, rational structures, we court the “Trickster” element of Mercury, which will fool and frustrate us to no end.

Now is the time that we must surrender our forward leaning push and embrace the lessons of letting go. We must not underestimate the degree to which our psyche can resist change. The abdication of our will/ego to a deeper function of consciousness can be quite a challenge as the retrograde cycle continues. But there is great reward if we manage to do so.

This period is a great time to clear your mind. To go back and complete unfinished projects. To work on reconciling old issues. To tune into your dreams and unconscious thoughts. To listen to your inner wisdom. To open to new ways of thinking and perceiving.

So rather than pushing against the cosmic current, try to take a three week break from our hectic, breakneck speedy ways and allow yourself to slow down. To summon up and sort out the past. To be in the moment. And to savor the NOW.

It can’t hurt!

Best blessings of sanity during challenging times,

xxMama Donna

*Are you cyclically confused? In a ceremonial quandary? Completely clueless? Wonder no more. *Send your questions about seasons, cycles, celebrations, ceremonies and spirit to Mama Donna at: CityShaman@aol.com

.

**************************************************************

Donna Henes is an internationally renowned urban shaman, ritual expert, award-winning author, popular speaker and workshop leader whose joyful celebrations of celestial events have introduced ancient traditional rituals and contemporary ceremonies to millions of people in more than 100 cities since 1972. She has published four books, a CD, an acclaimed Ezine and writes for Beliefnet, The Huffington Post and UPI Religion and Spirituality Forum. Mama Donna, as she is affectionately called, maintains a ceremonial center, spirit shop, ritual practice and consultancy in Exotic Brooklyn, NY where she works with individuals, groups, institutions, municipalities and corporations to create meaningful ceremonies for every imaginable occasion.

www.DonnaHenes.net

www.TheQueenOfMySelf.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Henes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Queen_of_My_Self

Watch her videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/MamaDonnaHenes

Follow her on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/queenmamadonna

Connect with her on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/#/donnahenes?ref=profile

Read her on the Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/donna-henes/

Read her on Beliefnet:

http://blog.beliefnet.com/thequeenofmyself/

Tags: mercury retrograde

• Advice

Mama Donna Henes December, 2010

Are you cyclically confused? In a ceremonial quandary? Completely clueless? Wonder no more.

*Ask Your Mama™

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Spirituality and Didn’t Know Who to Ask™

by

©Mama Donna Henes, Urban Shaman

A Question of Healing Circles

Dear Mama Donna,

Greetings!  I am seeking your advice. A friend is very ill with a lung condition that has plagued her since childhood. The condition has deteriorated rapidly over the last two years and now today she is at home on oxygen, fighting for her health.

I would like to perform a healing circle with some of our female friends. Not having done this before I seek your counsel on how to perform this ritual. My hope is to bring her to my home, which is a healing space, and the circle would be performed here. She is losing hope and needs a boost, and we know that the healing power of women can achieve that.  She has no daughters, nor any close friends and lives with her husband and  son. I know the time spent here would be a boost since she loves my home and enjoys spending time with me and my daughters.

I am grateful for your spirit,

- For a Friend in Need, in South Carolina

Dear Friend in Deed,

I am so sorry to hear about your friend. It is very sad. I agree that a women’s healing circle is just the ticket.

There are no rules about ritual. It all comes down to your intention. You need to be clear about that. Is it to boost her mood? Is it to recharge her hope and energy? Is it to heal her? Is it to reverse her condition?

It sounds to me like you are thinking about a circle of women to support her and surround her with compassion and comfort. This is lovely. Just make sure that you understand what you want to achieve. And that the entire group is in agreement. Keeping your intention in mind, whatever you do will be correct.

- Create a safe space for ritual. Do something to define the circle. Draw its circumference with ribbons, with chalk, with oil, with blessings. The idea is to consecrate a space inside of which is holy and safe and protected. I like to pass around a vial of oil and have people bless each other around the circle.

- Offer many blessings: bless each other, bless the elements that comprise all of life and existence, bless your selves.

- Express your intention for the ceremony. Maybe have each woman offer something to your friend: a thought, a prayer, a poem, a story, a memory.

- Why not ask each woman to bring a small, meaningful amulet (a lucky stone, shell, crystal, etc.) and as part of the ritual, have her explain what her amulet is, why it is special, and why she is offering it as a gift. Collect them all in a bag to give to your friend so that she can carry a continual reminder of the energy and hope offered by the group.

- Light candles as symbols of hope and cheer.

- You might have her sit or lie in the center of the circle and everyone reach out and touch her with hands extended in love and support to impart your intention for hr wellbeing.

All of these are only suggestions. If an idea comes to you, do it. Follow your own instincts. Whatever you do will be filled with love and well meaning. And she will feel that love and it will buoy her.

It is dear of you to do this. You are a good friend, indeed! I think your circle will be highly appreciated by every single woman who participates in this ceremony of woman support. It will be healing on many, many levels.

With blessings of compassionate concern,

xxMama Donna

*************************************************************

Donna Henes is an internationally renowned urban shaman, ritual expert, award-winning author, popular speaker and workshop leader whose joyful celebrations of celestial events have introduced ancient traditional rituals and contemporary ceremonies to millions of people in more than 100 cities since 1972. She has published four books, a CD, an acclaimed Ezine and writes for The Huffington Post and UPI Religion and Spirituality Forum. Mama Donna, as she is affectionately called, maintains a ceremonial center, spirit shop, ritual practice and consultancy in Exotic Brooklyn, NY where she works with individuals, groups, institutions, municipalities and corporations to create meaningful ceremonies for every imaginable occasion.

www.DonnaHenes.net

www.TheQueenOfMySelf.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Henes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Queen_of_My_Self

Watch her videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/MamaDonnaHenes

Follow her on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/queenmamadonna

Connect with her on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/#/donnahenes?ref=profile

Read her on the Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/donna-henes/

Read her on Beliefnet:

http://blog.beliefnet.com/thequeenofmyself/

Tags: healing, healing circles

• Advice

Mama Donna Henes November, 2010

Tags: Advice, questions

• Advice

Mama Donna Henes October, 2010

Are you cyclically confused? In a ceremonial quandary? Completely clueless? Wonder no more.

*Ask Your Mama™

The What, When, Where, Why, How, and Who of

Ceremony & Spirituality

by

©Mama Donna Henes, Urban Shaman

A Question of Ceremony with Children

Dear Mama Donna,

I am not a follower of the Goddess, but I was walking around in downtown Brooklyn with my six-year-old daughter, Beatrice, when she said to me, “Mommy, I don’t believe in God. I believe in Mother Nature and the fairies in the woods. That’s why I make circles with the rocks.” Clearly she is on a spiritual path and I would like to support her, but I really don’t have the background to show a six-year-old the path to the Goddess.

Ready and Willing, Brooklyn, NY

Dear Ready, Willing, and Able,

Ah, to have had a mom like you when I was six and building altars and shrines in nature! I am deeply impressed with your desire to help Beatrice pursue her own personal spiritual path, without coercion, indoctrination, judgment, or repression. Brava!

Children are natural ceremonialists. They are reverent, practical, organized, open, response-able, and utterly sincere. They are still linked with the infinite profound, and believe in the magical power of tranceformation. They are more than willing to suspend logic and take that crucial leap of faith. They believe.

My fairy goddess daughter and soul sister, Shameike, is my favorite ritual partner. Eleven now, she has spent summers and spring breaks with me ever since she was three. Over the past eight years, we have established quite a roster of rites for special occasions as well as for daily life.

Our most consistent and satisfying one has been “Doing Om” at bedtime. After we read stories or talk, we join our energy and chant together. I sit on her bed and we hold (all four) hands to create a complete circle of the two of us. We close our eyes, center ourselves, breathe deeply, and chant “Om.”

Every night it is different — sometimes our energy carries us longer, sometimes the chant is quite brief. Occasionally, a visiting friend will join our intimate circle. Once in a while, it gets silly and giggly, but more often, we tone until we feel relaxed and peaceful. She usually drifts off to sleep, while I feel revitalized for the rest of my night’s chores.

This has become sacred to us, and we never miss. On her first day back in Exotic Brooklyn last summer after our months-long separation, she asked, “Can we Do Om for a really long time tonight?” This ritual binds us in an unbreakable embrace, which is at once physical and spiritual. It cements our connection as family, and honors the divine union of our eternal soul-selves. We are bound by our breath.

Once we attended a wonderful Passover seder with the extended clan of the Living Theater. At one point during the ceremony, someone started to intone Om. Soon, everybody lent their attention and voice. Shameike slipped her hand into mine and squeezed it in silent affirmation of the years of our shared understanding and experience of Doing Om.

The moon is another great way to link to the Goddess. In most cultures, the moon represents the divine female principle. Luna is the Lady in the Moon. She is the Queen of the Subconscious, the Emotions, the Spirit, and Maternity. She rules creativity and invites our admiration and interaction. Women have always claimed a special relationship with La Madama Madonna Moon.

Kids, too, have a special affinity to the moon and identify it as a friend and companion. Remember the feeling that the moon was following you wherever you went? The first thing Shameike always wants to know when I pick her up in the summer, is when the full moon will be. When she was little, she called it the “whole moon.”

Keep track of the lunar cycles and do something really wonderful together to mark the full and new moons. Treat the new moon like a mini new year, a new beginning. Create an intention for the coming moonth. Make a resolution. Start a joint project. Plan to do something new. Make a wish on the first crescent.

Celebrate the full moon by walking, dancing, drumming, swimming, bathing, sleeping it its bright light. Turn off all your lights, raise the shades, and invite the moon light in. Make shadow puppets. Take a middle-of-the-night field trip to some beautiful place in nature. Get dressed up all in white and take family pictures. Don’t forget to bring snacks!

You might want to say some version of grace at meals, acknowledging the bountiful Earth Goddess for all of the fruits and vegetables from Her belly. Set a beautiful table, light candles, and make pretty food in honor of simply being alive and loving each other. Decorate your house, her room, the windows, the yard, for every holiday and seasonal change.

Since she already seems to be drawn to altars and shrines, you can encourage her to make a very special one for her room where she can  “make offerings” to her own vision of the Goddess of Nature. She will certainly have her own very distinct idea of what that might mean.

Take your cues from your daughter. She still remembers.

xx Mama Donna

Dear Mama Donna.

Can we get together and make a Goddess circle or a Mother Nature Circle or a water circle or an earth circle or an air circle or a fire circle?

Beatrice

Dear Beatrice,

Yes. It would be my honor to do a circle together with you. But you know you can also do a circle whenever you want to all by yourself. Or you can invite your mom or a friend if you feel like sharing. You can sit down with a bowl of water and a bowl of earth. You can ask your mom to help you light some incense to make fire and sweet smelling air.

Keep on making your stone circles. Stones come from the earth. They are like the bones of the body of Mother Earth. Circles are powerful magic. The moon is a circle. The earth is a circle. The year is a circle. People all over the world have made circles out of stone to use like a church or temple for their ceremonies to the Great Goddess.

Why not have your own circle ceremony inside of one of the circles of stones that you have built? You made the circle. You can make the ceremony, too. You can make it any way you want!

Also you can talk to the Goddess any time you want to. You can ask Her for help, or you can just tell Her how you feel about Her. Of course, if She does help you, I’m sure that you will remember your best manners and say “Thank you!”

Whenever you have a question, please write to me and I will answer you.

I send circles of fire, water, earth and sky to bless you.

xxMama Donna

*Are you cyclically confused? In a ceremonial quandary? Completely clueless? Wonder no more. Send your questions about seasons, cycles, celebrations, ceremonies and spirit to Mama Donna at: CityShaman@aol.com

**************************************************************

Donna Henes is an internationally renowned urban shaman, ritual expert, award-winning author, popular speaker and workshop leader whose joyful celebrations of celestial events have introduced ancient traditional rituals and contemporary ceremonies to millions of people in more than 100 cities since 1972. She has published four books, a CD, an acclaimed Ezine and writes for The Huffington Post, Beliefnet and UPI Religion and Spirituality Forum. Mama Donna, as she is affectionately called, maintains a ceremonial center, spirit shop, ritual practice and consultancy in Exotic Brooklyn, NY where she works with individuals, groups, institutions, municipalities and corporations to create meaningful ceremonies for every imaginable occasion.

www.DonnaHenes.net

www.TheQueenOfMySelf.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Henes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Queen_of_My_Self

Watch her videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/MamaDonnaHenes

Follow her on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/queenmamadonna

Connect with her on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/#/donnahenes?ref=profile

Read her on the Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/donna-henes/

Read her on Beliefnet:

http://blog.beliefnet.com/thequeenofmyself/

Tags: ceremony, children

• Advice

Meghan KaLeen Darrah Widdison October, 2009

To Hone In On Tradition

Hello my dear friends and wonderful readers. I trust that the Goddess has blessed you

with a bountiful harvest in your life this past Mabon. Fervent wishes that your celebrations were

merry, joyful, and full of love and family.

This month is a special time of year for the witch, druid, or any pagan. It is the month of

Samhain, the second time of year when the veil between the mundane world and the world of

mysteries is lifted, and those who have traveled forth and those who continue on the earthbound

path can bless eachother with their presence. A time of dark mysteries. A time of the mother

crone and her  consort.

Many a tradition lay upon the month of Samhain. Nearly all of mankind is familiar with

the treat giving and costume dressing that falls upon this celebration eve, but not as many dig into

deeper tradition. Most of Samhain is viewed as a time to frolick about carelessly, a time of pure

play. Certainly nothing wrong with that of course. However, I would like to introduce those of you

who are not familiar with the “other” traditions to a new outlook, a fresher vision on the subject.

For those of you readers who are aware and are in practice, please feel free to help pass along

our knowledge, for we learn from one another.

Samhain, also known as Halloween, or Summers End to others, is a time that has been

rich in celtic traditions. In the deep country, the folk who raised herds of cattle and crops would

prepare for winter, as Samhain was symbolic of the bringing of the first day of winter. Firewood

was redied, hay was bricked, and herds were moved from the grazed over hillsides to the safety

of the shelter near the homes. This was a time when families began to come together after a

long summer of fun and frivolity.

In the early days of Ireland, people would gather in celebration during Samhain, as this

day marked the principle calender feast for them. throughout many homes, hearth fires were

put out, and people would wait for the druids to come and light the new fires, symbolising the

beginnings of the new year. This time of year also represented a time of offerings, of thanks

and even personal sacrifices, given in hopes of a new beginning. A time of hope for many.

Samhain fires throughout the celtic region blazed each Samhain for many years.

There were reports from travelers who spotted the beautiful and festive bonfires all the way from

the 1860s to the first world war. The townspeople would burn these festive fires in a circle of

magic, and after, they would sprinkle the ashes over thier crops to protect them from the

harsh and bitter winter months.

Samhain was, and still remains to this day, a time of mysteries and divination. Since

the veil between the worlds is lifted, it is believed that the “gifted” are more in tune with the

world, and all of its many visitors. It was believed that a child born on Samhain would be

gifted with “the second sight”, or more commonly known as clairvoyance.

The feast of Samhain, which was and still is a time honored tradition for many,

is representative of food offerings for those who have passed on before us. Some households

would set an extra plate of food at the dinner table and eat in silence in reverence to the

deceased, and others would set up alters outside for which to leave offerings upon. Apples,

which are in abundant harvest during the season of Samhain, were often buried under ground

as offerings to the traveling dead.

Other names for this celebrated time of year are Third Harvest, Samana, Day of the

Dead, Hallowmas, Vigil of Saman, Shadowfest, and Samhuinn. Throughout many newer tradtions,

this time of year is referred to as the Witches New Year.

The sybolism, herbs, foods, colors, and stones of Samhain are many, but I would like

to list some of them here to help you integrate these as part of your celebrations if you so

wish.

Samhain symbolises the third harvest of the year, a time of great mysteries, and time of

death and rebirth. Gourds, apples, cats, jack-o-lanterns and besoms are a few of the many

symbols of this time of year. Mugwort, Allspice, Mandrake, Deadly Nightshade or Belladonna,

Oak and sage are among many of the herbs and plants integrated into this time. People set

much of their feasts on turnips, apples, gourds, nuts, mulled wimes, beef, pork, and poultry.

Many people wear black, white, orange, silver or gold garment in commemoration of Samhain,

and stones of black such as obsidian are set forth as symbols of the Third harvest.

As we can see, this next month follows rich in tradition, and a time of blessings.

It marks the beginning of a new season, a time for many a preparation, and even a time

to honor those who have come before us, those who have taken some small part in the

shaping of who we have become.

I wish you the most wonderful blessings on this time of year, and i hope that

you enjoy not only the festivities of the season, but that you also remember the tradition

that lies deep beneath. Not only will this make Samhain more fullfilling, but it will also give

you a whole new, fresh set of eyes to view a new beginning of the year with. For if we see the

world with a fresh set of eyes, we see fresh possibility, which can lead ot a great many

abundances and advances in our lives.

Until next we meet …….

Brightest and most fervent blessings

If you are looking for advice on pagan matters write to Naiyeetu at Naiyeetu@email.com

Tags: Advice, hellp, morals

• Advice

Meghan KaLeen Darrah Widdison September, 2009

The Goddess Within

Hello my blessed friends, and greetings at the beautiful end of another summer, and the

beginning of a bright and beautiful fall. I trust that the goddess has bestowed many a blessing on

you and yours.

During the summer, we are surrounded by festivities and celebrations, such as Beltane

and Lughnasadh. We celerate birthdays, sleepovers, and we spend time migrating back to mother

nature to enjoy her beauty . There are times, however that we are faced  with challenges in our

lives, not just during the summer, but at any time. Sometimes we feel that

we are not strong enough to cope, that our hearts and souls are breaking. Other times we are

overwhelmed by the responsibilities in our lives. I have had such a summer, and now , after the

bridge has been crossed over, i would like to bond with you, my readers, on a level that we all

have in common. The love of our mother goddess.

Recently my husband and I were faced with quite a few problems in our life. Finances

were high, communication was low, and our affection went down to nothing. We decided that it had

come time for a trial seperation. We both needed time to return to ourselves, and to find that part

of our relationship that had become lost in the responsibilities of every day life. I took a

sabbatacle, both of my children and I. We returned to the country, to heal and to refocus. My

husband stayed behind so that he could take care of the financial duties back home.

Perhaps now you are wondering what all of this has to do with the ethics and morals

of paganism. After all, that is what my column is about. But more than that, I want to connect

with you, my readers, and to personalize with you on my experiences. Continueing on.

After leaving the city, I found solice in the quiet calm of the country. The birds singing

in the early morning, the sun shining through the leaves on the trees, the cows grazing in the

nearby field. The air smelled so fresh, my lungs seemed overcome with an urgency to take it

all in. I was able to think, to uncongest my mind. I spent a great amount of time outside, with

nature and all that she holds precious and true. I had grudgingly acknowledged my wrongs,

had spent much time thinking about what to do right, and also much time wondering to myself

where the goddess was in my time of need. I felt alone, dried up, and lost, a lone ship out to sea.

One night, while laying outside under the stars, I asked the mother goddess to aid me.

I knew that the decisions I was facing were not only going to affect me, and I needed guidence to

make clear and wise decisions to benefit the whole. I layed there, night after night, waiting for some

signal, some sign, that she had heard me.

I fell asleep one clear, warm night. The mosquitos were not biting, and the stars seemed to

be happy, twinkling brighter than before. My senses were more alert. The sign that I had been

Waiting for had finally come. As I lay there, undisturbed, an owl flew quietly above me, and as it did

it looked down upon me, and I heard a quiet voice in my head say to me “Follow your heart.” The

next day that same owl flew ahead, and looked down upon me again. This time there was no voice,

but the owl had flown so close that were I to have reached up, I would have touched him. He lingered

there, knowingly, and then went on his way. My spirit animal, my helper, had come to visit me, and

suddenly I filled with a knowledge that somewhere in me I had the strength to make those decisions

I needed to make. The mother goddess had heard me.

The next few months followed with several hurdles to get over. I had found a friend in my

brother in law, which drew speculation. I had no money which made times more stressful. My

sister in law and I were at odds, and that hurt. But through it all, I began to feel whole because I

knew that the mother goddess had heard me, she had listened, as she always does.

I went through humiliation, pain, and chaos. I came out better, stronger, and wiser. Our

mother goddess helped me to see the lessons of my errors, to show me that the glass is really

more than half full. There is pain in this world, but it is held in precious balance with happiness.

We need but to find that balance.

I often times find people of all races and religions asking themselves how their divine exists.

Trying to rationalize to themselves how something or someone that you cannot see can make such

a large impact on your life. We as humans strive to understand what we can see, and we strive to

explain what we cannot. But I ask you this, my dear readers, should we rationalize our mother

goddesses love for us?

When a parent loves their child, they do not rationalize, they feel. When a friend loves a

friend, they are willing to overlook their mistakes, and love them the same. Even young children

share love, without rationalizing. Love is irrational, and that is the beauty of it. The wild freedom

of our mother goddess to love us unconditionally, and forgivingly.

I believe that our divine, whether it be the mother goddess, or whichever divine that your

soul connects to, is found within our humility, our humanity. When we struggle, we find our

strength. When we hurt, we find our compassion. When we love and lose, we learn. The mother

goddess is not only around us, but she is within us as well. She is within that part of us that

needs time, alone, dedicated, sincere. It doesnt take much, just a few precious moments

each day to acknowledge her, and to give her thanks for all that she does within our lives.

I have a challenge for you, my friends. This next month, I want us all, myself included,

to not only spend more one on one time with the mother goddess, but to help shine a light for

those who are lost in the dark. We as a human race get so caught up in what needs to be, that we

often forget about what the heart needs to. Tell those you love how much they mean to you, hold

that persons hand as you walk. Help the elderly woman to her car from the grocery store. This month,

i want you, my readers, to help share the compassion and love to people, close and far. If our mother

goddess can improve our lives by being there and loving us unconditionally, then perhaps we can

make a difference in someone elses lives whith the love that she has bestowed upon us.

Until we next meet,

Brightest and most fervent blessings.

If you are looking for advice on pagan matters write to Naiyeetu at Naiyeetu@email.com

Tags: Advice, goddess, help

• Advice

Meghan KaLeen Darrah Widdison August, 2009

ABRACADABRA!

Well hello again my fellow pagans. Summer has greeted us finally, and, as is normal in many a pagan life, the magic of life is awake and stirring. With the celebrations and sacred rituals of Beltane, Summer Solstice, Lugnasadh and much more, summer is without a doubt an eventful time of year. In light of this integral part of pagan way, I felt that the topic of magic was an interesting one for this article.

Many people, upon hearing the word pagan, immediately reflect upon thoughts of magic. Why is that? Yes magic is an integral part of pagan life, but the magic that people view related to those who use it is sometimes a far cry from what it really is. With all of the flying around on broomsticks and turning people into toads, we have our work cut out for us! However, much of the tales of magic is far from the truth and sadly often misunderstood.

I was having a discussion with a woman a few weeks ago who spoke to me about a girl who believed that magic was simply a form of power. While magic itself can be very powerful, it is not used as a funnel for ones personal power, or at least, it shouldn’t be. The majority of pagans hold a belief of magic being something much more sacred and special than just a lead to personal power. It is a connection between you and the mother goddess, evident in the mystical as well as the mundane. But more on that in a little bit. For now lets focus on a few facts.

Wikipedia describes magic as being documented as early as the fourteenth century in Greek  and old French culture. In a generalized statement, magic is defined as the workings of someone to achieve a certain outcome. Scholars have tried to define it, scientists have tried to find answers explaining it, and many people have viewed it as a benevolent force not to be toyed with. Magic leaves many people in awe, both good and bad, because there is something within magic that cannot be put into words, much as the relationship between a person and their divine. To read more on what wikipedia describes as magic, follow this link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_(paranormal)

Two words that always pop into a persons mind when they think of magic is the all famous Abracadabra and Hocus Pocus. But why are these two phrases so internationally known and related to magic itself? In days of old, as it is told by dictionary.com, abracadabra was a magical word that was not spoken but worn as an amulet around the neck to protect the wearer from disease or trouble. It was arranged in the shape of a pyramid. Now Abracadabra has taken on the meaning of gibberish, or unintelligible talk, often believed to be a word used in incantations.

Hocus Pocus is defined as a phrase used to describe trickery or deception. It also takes on the interesting meaning of a jugglers trick, or sleight of hand.

Now that we have the meaning of those two words put to sleep, lets talk about the Hollywood style magic. We all have been reading on magic since young children. Cinderella had a fairy godmother who transformed a pumpkin into a carriage, mice into horse, and even conjured up glass slippers. Snow white had to fight the forces of Maleficent,  an evil sorceress who would stop at nothing to have the girl destroyed. Other depictions of magic lay within movies such as Hocus Pocus, Practical Magic, The mists of Avalon, and so many more. A great addition to add mystique to a movie, without a doubt. But what is “real” magic?

When  confronted with the question, what is magic, a moment to collect our thoughts is normally called for. Although we use it, know what it means to us, describing it can often be a much more difficult task. I think one of the simplest and yet most descriptive quotes on magic is Lord Byrons saying, “The power of thought, the magic of the mind!” This quote can often be found through any search engine, such as google. This quote points out one very powerful point, that magic is within the power of one persons individual thoughts. You cannot recreate one persons magic exactly the same, because each individual has their own connection the nature, to the mother goddess, or to their own divine. Their thoughts focus around the needs in their life, giving magic a very personal characteristic. Magic, for many a pagan, is the mundane, and the mundane is magical.

When watching  sunset, or listening to the gulls sing their song, or even watching flowers bloom, this is all magical. Life is magic. Watching our children play in the summer sun, learning to swim for the first time, this is magic. And when the need arises and we must perform magic to attain the greater good, this is a personal magic. It is much like a prayer is to many people, powerful thought, strong emotions and energy which are channeled at the specific need of the person, and a release of that energy. I would like to leave you with a poem that I found, beautiful and relevant to our discussion.

There’s Magic in the Telling

There’s magic in the telling
Watch your secrets closely
There’s magic in the telling
Choose your words carefully
There’s magic in the telling

Don’t crush the hopes and dreams of others
For they all hold a piece of you
Live life through rose-colored glasses
Seeing beyond what you see or do
There’s magic in the telling
What’s your magic telling about you?

Do you sit on mountains high
Or walk through valleys low?
Is there time enough for the song of birds
Or doing time on a sentence of what’s been sowed?
Do you feel the love of kin
Or backstabbing knives in your skin?
Does your money grow on trees
Or always begging on your knees?
There’s magic in the telling

See yourself upon the throne, spreading joy across the land
Share hope with others, allowing each to do all they can
Build castles in the sand together
Cheering as the ocean washes them away
Know there is time enough to build together on another day
Watch the nature of creatures for they have so much to tell
The wisdom of the ages has been passed down to you as well

You see there is magic in the telling
A story of power, love and might
There’s magic in the telling
Create beauty out of light
There’s magic in the telling
Stop thinking yee be so small
There’s magic in the telling
Know inside your words that you can have it all

Written by Priscilla Parham

This poem spoke to me because it is honest and simple, yet it speaks of life in various stages. Magic is life, within our own words, actions, thoughts and emotions. So, fellow pagans and faithful readers, lets gather our broomsticks and fly into the rest of the summer!

Most fervent blessings until we speak again,

Naiyeetu

If you are looking for advice on pagan matters write to Naiyeetu at Naiyeetu@email.com

Tags: ethics, paganism

• Advice

Meghan KaLeen Darrah Widdison July, 2009

ABRACADABRA!

Well hello again my fellow pagans. Summer has greeted us finally, and, as is normal in many a pagan life, the magic of life is awake and stirring. With the celebrations and sacred rituals of Beltane, Summer Solstice, Lugnasadh and much more, summer is without a doubt an eventful time of year. In light of this integral part of pagan way, I felt that the topic of magic was an interesting one for this article.

Many people, upon hearing the word pagan, immediately reflect upon thoughts of magic. Why is that? Yes magic is an integral part of pagan life, but the magic that people view related to those who use it is sometimes a far cry from what it really is. With all of the flying around on broomsticks and turning people into toads, we have our work cut out for us! However, much of the tales of magic is far from the truth and sadly often misunderstood.

I was having a discussion with a woman a few weeks ago who spoke to me about a girl who believed that magic was simply a form of power. While magic itself can be very powerful, it is not used as a funnel for ones personal power, or at least, it shouldn’t be. The majority of pagans hold a belief of magic being something much more sacred and special than just a lead to personal power. It is a connection between you and the mother goddess, evident in the mystical as well as the mundane. But more on that in a little bit. For now lets focus on a few facts.

Wikipedia describes magic as being documented as early as the fourteenth century in Greek  and old French culture. In a generalized statement, magic is defined as the workings of someone to achieve a certain outcome. Scholars have tried to define it, scientists have tried to find answers explaining it, and many people have viewed it as a benevolent force not to be toyed with. Magic leaves many people in awe, both good and bad, because there is something within magic that cannot be put into words, much as the relationship between a person and their divine. To read more on what wikipedia describes as magic, follow this link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_(paranormal)

Two words that always pop into a persons mind when they think of magic is the all famous Abracadabra and Hocus Pocus. But why are these two phrases so internationally known and related to magic itself? In days of old, as it is told by dictionary.com, abracadabra was a magical word that was not spoken but worn as an amulet around the neck to protect the wearer from disease or trouble. It was arranged in the shape of a pyramid. Now Abracadabra has taken on the meaning of gibberish, or unintelligible talk, often believed to be a word used in incantations.

Hocus Pocus is defined as a phrase used to describe trickery or deception. It also takes on the interesting meaning of a jugglers trick, or sleight of hand.

Now that we have the meaning of those two words put to sleep, lets talk about the Hollywood style magic. We all have been reading on magic since young children. Cinderella had a fairy godmother who transformed a pumpkin into a carriage, mice into horse, and even conjured up glass slippers. Snow white had to fight the forces of Maleficent,  an evil sorceress who would stop at nothing to have the girl destroyed. Other depictions of magic lay within movies such as Hocus Pocus, Practical Magic, The mists of Avalon, and so many more. A great addition to add mystique to a movie, without a doubt. But what is “real” magic?

When  confronted with the question, what is magic, a moment to collect our thoughts is normally called for. Although we use it, know what it means to us, describing it can often be a much more difficult task. I think one of the simplest and yet most descriptive quotes on magic is Lord Byrons saying, “The power of thought, the magic of the mind!” This quote can often be found through any search engine, such as google. This quote points out one very powerful point, that magic is within the power of one persons individual thoughts. You cannot recreate one persons magic exactly the same, because each individual has their own connection the nature, to the mother goddess, or to their own divine. Their thoughts focus around the needs in their life, giving magic a very personal characteristic. Magic, for many a pagan, is the mundane, and the mundane is magical.

When watching  sunset, or listening to the gulls sing their song, or even watching flowers bloom, this is all magical. Life is magic. Watching our children play in the summer sun, learning to swim for the first time, this is magic. And when the need arises and we must perform magic to attain the greater good, this is a personal magic. It is much like a prayer is to many people, powerful thought, strong emotions and energy which are channeled at the specific need of the person, and a release of that energy. I would like to leave you with a poem that I found, beautiful and relevant to our discussion.

There’s Magic in the Telling

There’s magic in the telling
Watch your secrets closely
There’s magic in the telling
Choose your words carefully
There’s magic in the telling

Don’t crush the hopes and dreams of others
For they all hold a piece of you
Live life through rose-colored glasses
Seeing beyond what you see or do
There’s magic in the telling
What’s your magic telling about you?

Do you sit on mountains high
Or walk through valleys low?
Is there time enough for the song of birds
Or doing time on a sentence of what’s been sowed?
Do you feel the love of kin
Or backstabbing knives in your skin?
Does your money grow on trees
Or always begging on your knees?
There’s magic in the telling

See yourself upon the throne, spreading joy across the land
Share hope with others, allowing each to do all they can
Build castles in the sand together
Cheering as the ocean washes them away
Know there is time enough to build together on another day
Watch the nature of creatures for they have so much to tell
The wisdom of the ages has been passed down to you as well

You see there is magic in the telling
A story of power, love and might
There’s magic in the telling
Create beauty out of light
There’s magic in the telling
Stop thinking yee be so small
There’s magic in the telling
Know inside your words that you can have it all

Written by Priscilla Parham

This poem spoke to me because it is honest and simple, yet it speaks of life in various stages. Magic is life, within our own words, actions, thoughts and emotions. So, fellow pagans and faithful readers, lets gather our broomsticks and fly into the rest of the summer!

Most fervent blessings until we speak again,

Naiyeetu

If you are looking for advice on pagan matters write to Naiyeetu at Naiyeetu@email.com

• Advice

Meghan KaLeen Darrah Widdison June, 2009

Greetings

The world has opened yet another door for communication amongst the pagan community. I was given the opportunity to write this column by the gracious team at paganpages.org. They have given me the freedom for my own column on the ethics of paganism, something of which i am passionate about. My name is meghan, and i am most pleased to make your aquaintance. You may also refer to me as Naiyeetu.

I first began this column wondering two things. The first was how in the world I would come up with a name for this column. I chose the title New Moon Ethics – Musings on the Morals of Paganism because I feel that the new moon is a great symbolic sign for many a pagan. It represents not only the mother Goddess, but also cleansing, intuition, mystery, and the link between the different cycles of life. The new moon in particular represents new beginnings and learning. I felt this to be quite appropriate given that not only is this column a new beginning and learning experience for me, it is also a time when we can begin learning from eachother.

The second concern I had about this column was how to approach the subject of morality without telling people what they should or should not do. I would much prefer for us to share our experiences as a bonded community. I am of the full belief that the core essence of moralistic behavior is not that it is found in one truth, but lies within the combination of many common truths. Therfor, I invite you in to share your knowledge with us, to ask questions on whatever topic you are concerned, and state your ideas or ideals.

This article, my first, I felt should be an article introducing myself and what I wish to accomplish. I feel that it is only fair to you, my dear reader, if you know where I am coming from with my thoughts so that we can connect on the same level when communicating. I feel that while communicating is vital, so is understanding.

My husband and I live a life of separate beliefs. He walks the Christian path while I am very content following our mother Goddess. This has posed for many interesting questions. There was one question that my husband asked me the other night that struck my interest. He looked at me while I was reading and simply stated, “Why do pagans believe what they believe?”. At first, I was not sure what to say. After several long moments of thought, I came to the conclusion that the only person I could answer for was myself. My answer was just as simple and to the point.”Because I know the mother Goddess to be real to me.”. I would like to ask you the same question. Why do you, kindred pagan, follow the path which you choose and what difference has this made in your life? I think that once we discover why people walk the paths they choose, then we can discover more about our ethical values. After all, ethical value differs with each persons belief system.

Id like to share with you an excerpt from the book Return of the Great Goddess by Burleigh Muten. It is a piece written by Tsultrim Allione from the piece “Sky Dancer”.

“The return of the Goddess is not focused on transcendence, but on the embodiment of the sacred, in life and relationships. The unification of the body, sexuality and emotions with the spirit, the return from striving to being….

Tsultrim Allione
from “Sky Dancer”

I chose this particular passage because I felt that this signified someones powerful connection to the mother Goddess and how it directly effects their life. This will be my first challenge for you, my fellow pagan. I want you to think about how what you believe directly effects your life and behavior. Then I want you to get back to me and share your stories, experiences, questions or even just simple musings that you may have had on the topic. You can send these to me directly at naiyeetu@email.com. This will help for our column next month. I am of high hopes that we can become friends and form a bonded community through our words and thoughts. My next column will be much more in depth with your help, and I will strive to answer any question you may have to the best of my knowledge. Everyone is welcome as a kindred spirit.

Until we meet again, may the Goddess bless you with beauty and joy in your life.

Fervent blessings

Naiyeetu

Tags: Advice, ethics

• Advice