Administrator August, 2006

I was speaking with a friend the other day who told me that when she went religion shopping a few years ago she came extremely close to becoming Pagan. Paganism had almost everything she valued—the Goddess, respect and reverence for nature, the choice to worship with a group or be solitary, amazingly beautiful rituals, a deep, rich mythological history with such a strong connection to the ancient, primeval forces so as to be almost synonymous with the life force itself.

There was one problem and for her the problem was insurmountable.

Just as there was no room for Jesus at the inn in Bethlehem, it also appeared there was no room for him in Paganism. To my friend, this was a sad state of affairs because there was so much she did not like about Christianity and so much she adored about Paganism. In the end, Christianity won because, as she put it, "Jesus was just far too important to me to leave out."

This made me think: Is this statement true? With its pantheon of gods and goddesses from cultures the world over, is there in fact no room for Jesus? Or is that the point—that Jesus does not qualify as a god? And even if he does, does that mean that he must, as many of his followers believe, be the only god?

Or is it more that there is plenty of room for Jesus but no room for his followers— the Jerry Falwellites and Pat Robertson clones who have hijacked the open, accepting, embracing religion of Christ and morphed it into the judgemental, "kill them all, let God sort them out" variant we have today?

I have my opinions on this matter but what I’m really hoping for this month is to hear yours. Do you think there is no room for Jesus in Paganism? Do you feel that he already has his own religion so why in god/dess name should Pagans add him to theirs? Do you think that people like myself are little more than fence straddlers—folks who are Pagan wannabees who are unable to surrender our "Jesus Safety Blankets"?

I really want to hear your thoughts. I’m encouraging any one who reads this column to email me at aine@sang-reaita.com to let me know how you feel on the whole idea of Jesus in Paganism. If you consider yourself Pagan, do you ever include Jesus in your practice? Or does the whole idea just seem anathema to Paganism?

I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

***

author bio:

R.A. Áine Laisrén, a novelist and psychic practitioner for over twenty years, is devoting her life (and the life of her pet chinchilla Fionnghuala) to restoring the Goddess and all Her gifts to Christianity. She will absolutely lose her mind if you refer to the Holy Spirit in the masculine gender, so please just don’t do it! More information about Áine’s writing and practice may be found at www.sang-realta.com

Tags: christian, R.A. Áine Laisrén, witch

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Administrator July, 2006

Later this month, on July 22nd, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast Day of Mary Magdalene. In honor of what I like to think of as her “birthday”, this month’s column is devoted to her.

What we know about MM comes primarily from three sources: the Bible, the Gnostic texts, and legends.

Let’s start with what the Bible says about her. Actually, let’s start with what the Bible DOESN’T say about her. No where, absolutely no where does the Bible state that MM was a prostitute. As a former Bible quotin’, Bible totin’, Bible knowin’ fundie, when I first heard this (courtesy of Margaret Starbird) I thought, “Somebody’s obviously not done her Bible homework.” It was true; someone hadn’t—me! I quick look at any Bible Concordance reveals a simple truth: there is no mention whatsoever of MM in connection with prostitution.

The prostitution view is an invention of early Christian leaders. Beginning in the 200s Tertullian associated the unnamed “repentant sinner” who anoints Jesus’ feet with her tears with Mary Magdalene. After this, St. Jerome and Pope Gregory the Great took this association a bit further, giving Ms. Maggie her status as prostitute extraordinnaire.

On to what the Bible does say. Without any interpretation, guesswork, theory, or radical conjecture the Bible credits MM as: the woman from whom Jesus cast out 7 devils, one of several devoted female disciples who attended Jesus during his crucifixion, and as the 1st person to whom the Christ appeared after his resurrection. Isn’t it odd that the Bible credits NONE of Jesus well publicized Twelve with standing by him during the crucifixion? And isn’t it especially odd that the first person Christ wants to see after coming home for a while is Mary Magdalene?
Students of mythology and all good pagans won’t find it odd. The myth of the dying, resurrected god predates Christ. In many cultures the myth is basically a play in five acts: god is born or conceived through some type of extraordinary means, god is selected by goddess and anointed by her, god grows in power, god is sacrificed, god returns—usually to his goddess, oftentimes in a garden.

Christianity has promoted 3 and 1A of those acts. The birth, power, and sacrifice are undisputed. The anointing has been completely overlooked and the return, well he returns all right, but no one ever puts the spotlight on to whom it is he returns—to Mary Magdalene. Why? Is it maybe because of the mythological connection, the connection that implies that MM was his lover, if not his wife, or Lord forbid, a goddess?

Let’s look now at the Gnostic texts. The Gnostics state quite clearly that it was to Mary Magdalene, not Peter, that Jesus gave the keys to the kingdom. It was she who was to be ‘Apostle to the Apostles’. The reason for this has an historical context. First off, remember that Jesus was extremely egalitarian. Women followed him (men were not his only disciples) he ate with them, gave them positions of status in his ministry. Second, remember that Jesus preached again and again about his “return” or the “kingdom” coming. Now we all know how anxiously today’s fundies are waiting for the mushroom cloud that I guess Jesus will ride in on and put things aright. But back in early Christianity the followers were, believe it or not, much more zealous than today’s fundies in their belief that Jesus was coming back “pretty much any day now”. So when deciding who was doing what in the early church, gender roles didn’t much matter. Nothing much mattered. How could it? For crying out loud, it wasn’t like they were setting up a religion that might last a couple thousand years! Jesus would be back tomorrow anyway and then he could set things up like he wanted! So, if, as the Gnostics say, Mary Magdalene was Jesus’ choice as ‘Apostle to the Apostles’ so be it. When Jesus got home, a man would be in charge anyway! Of course, as Jesus’ return became somewhat delayed and as the delay extended and the church grew, the patriarchy got busy putting Jesus’ house in order for him. The keys to the kingdom were taken from MM and handed over to Peter.

Lastly, there are the legends. My favorite is the one about MM changing a white egg to red which contributes to our current tradition of dying Easter— Ostara—eggs. Then there’s the legend of her landing at Ste. Maries-de-la-Mer with her handmaid or daughter, St. Sarah, and of course, the legend of her marriage to the Christ.

I like the idea of MM being married to Christ, but I like it in the mystical sense, the sense that we are all, female and male, potential Brides or Partners of Christ. I like it not in the celibate nun way, nor in the purely physical sexual way (not that there’s anything wrong with that!) but in the sense that we can all be what Christ was and do what Christ did. Christ himself said that we would all do what he did.. .and more!

The entire message of Christ was one of completion, of wholeness. What better way to exemplify that teaching than by breaking all patriarchal tradition and make a woman his equal?

Happy birthday Mary Magdalene!

***

author bio:

R.A. Áine Laisrén, a novelist and psychic practitioner for over twenty years, is devoting her life (and the life of her pet chinchilla Fionnghuala) to restoring the Goddess and all Her gifts to Christianity. She will absolutely lose her mind if you refer to the Holy Spirit in the masculine gender, so please just don’t do it!

More information about Áine’s writing and practice may be found at www.sang-realta.com

Tags: christian, christianity, R.A. Áine Laisrén, witch

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Administrator June, 2006

The Marriage Heresy

The worst book ever written is now a film.

You must know what movie of which I speak. I hope you do because just like the actors who refuse to say the name of "That Scottish Play" I refuse to write the name of "That Book."

I cannot understand the excitement "The Da—" Oops! Almost said it! I cannot fathom what on earth millions and millions of the mass of humanity have found so fascinating about writing that violates the entire Geneva Convention. What should have been the winner of the Bulwer-Lytton contest is a publishing sensation.

But what I can fathom even less is the millions and millions of minions who are just losing their minds over it—and not for the rational reason of crimes against Literature but for the reason that Jesus being married is complete heresy.

I’ve seen calls for boycotts, etc., Seriously, I keep waiting for some great God-fearing Christian to find a scripture they can interpret hi a way that allows a fatwah to be placed on Dan Brown’s head. But the reason for all this uproar is not due to the book’s writing that completely violates the entire Geneva Convention. The controversy is all because these protester’s simply cannot have a married God.

And this is what I just cannot fathom.

What in the name of God is so disturbing about a married God? Aren’t we taught that marriage is ordained by God and sex is beautiful? If this is true then why does the image of a married God getting down in the confines of the Holy Estate He ordained freak folks out so bad? Why are churches organizing "Answers to the Book That Makes Us Lose Our Minds Because We Simply Cannot Have a Sexually Active Deity?"

And what amazes me the most is THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION, people! Fiction! It isn’t marketed as the Gospel According to Dan Brown it is marketed as fiction. How in the name of God does a person find errors in a work of fiction? How does a person "answer" fiction?

And what exactly are these answers? That that person sitting next to Jesus in The Last Supper is not obviously a chick? Hell, my bifocal wearing Southern Baptist mother can see that it obviously is!

That the "Beloved Disciple" is John? Seriously, unless the fundies are willing to have a gay God, something I’m sure they’d find more reprehensible than a married one, they’d best re-think that one. Jesus in known to kiss the "Beloved Disciple" folks. Is the Magdalene looking so bad now?

That the account of Jesus’ anointing—(Anointed—the very meaning of the word Christ) by a woman is one of the very few stories that appear in all four Gospels?

That it is Mary, not Peter, that Jesus named Apostle to the Apostles?

These are questions that are undisputed. The question that is disputed is this: How precisely does having sex de-deify a deity? Is it like de¬flowering a virgin, or like cutting the hair off Samson? Or is it like General Jack D. Ripper’s fear in Dr. Strangelove: that his fluids are holy and he must keep them to himself, that women are attempting to take his precious fluids from him, thereby depriving him of his power?

Even my fundamentalist mother doesn’t get it. Here’s her comment on the subject:

"Well if God became man and he came to Earth to personally show us how to behave, wouldn’t that include showing us how to behave in marriage? Doesn’t him being married actually make him more God than less?"

It’s an seemingly odd statement for a fundamentalist, but then again, my mom is one of those rare Christians who has a true, mature faith. Images of her God having sex doesn’t send her off screaming, "Oooooo wee, yuck!" like some prepubescent juvenile.

Is it the sex that’s the problem? Or is it the idea that deified Jesus considered a woman his equal, worthy of a partnership, worthy of an institution ordained by God?

Maybe I am beginning to understand…

***

author bio:

R.A. Áine Laisrén, a novelist and psychic practitioner for over twenty years, is devoting her life (and the life of her pet chinchilla Fionnghuala) to restoring the Goddess and all Her gifts to Christianity. She will absolutely lose her mind if you refer to the Holy Spirit in the masculine gender, so please just don’t do it!

More information about Áine’s writing and practice may be found at www.sang-realta.com

Tags: christian, R.A. Áine Laisrén, witch, x-witch

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Administrator May, 2006

I conducted a small survey this week on several e-lists as to what readers believed it was that made Christianity and Paganism so averse to one another.

I received a number of responses (thanks!) which ranged from intellectual issues, spiritual issues, historical issues. But the bottom line to all responses was a four letter word. The F word.

Fear.

Pagans fear Christians will persecute them–laugh at them at best and burn them up again at worse. And, we must give it to the Pagans; these fears are not baseless! Remember that highly enlightened time known as ‘The Inquisition’? Or how about that charming era called The Burning Times? The Pagan memory reaches far enough back into the not so distant past to recall what happened when men arrived from distant shores “in the name of the Lord” and showed them the love of Christ by stamping out the Pagan evil in fires and torture chambers. And all this in the name of a man who, when his own disciple cut of the ear of a soldier come to crucify him, rebuked his student for his actions.

But let us not forget that back in the day, Christians were also persecuted. Now that Christianity has become such a world power, such a force to be reckoned with we often forget that fact. We forget that Yeshua was, back in the day, not just some rebel nut job. He and his followers, far from being random cult loonies, were serious subversives taking away glory from the Roman emperors, the gods, etc., Christians, in order to worship under the pagan regime were forced underground ironically using what are now thought of a pagan sigils in order to identify themselves to each other. These days, its hard to think of Christians as persecuted members of any society but there it is. Think back to the whole Christians and lions thing. Not exactly a fair fight by anyone’s standards—surely that comes down as persecution in anyone’s book!

These days though, whereas I continue to see a very real, very physical type of fear in Pagans of Christians, the fear I see in Christianity is not rooted in any type of physical persecution. The Christian fear I see comes from faith in a power I’ve never truly understood. Faith in this power is sermonized day and night to the top of the lungs of more preachers than there are gnats in the bayou on a hot summer day. In fact, despite that according to Christianity, God came down in human form, healed the sick, raised the dead, walked on water, changed water to wine, walked through walls, and even put himself back together again after being tortured to death on the cross, this other power garners far more attention than the works of the formidable Christ force. The best I can gather from watching fundie Christian programming and listening in to fundie church sermons, is this: Despite all the Son of God did and supposedly still does, despite the fact He is ruler of all things seen and unseen, we still must concern ourselves with, nay! devote all our time, energy, prays, thoughts, etc. to that other guy.

You know, that other guy?! Old Bub?

Beelzebub, I mean.

I know it sounds ludicrous, but each and every thing any one person considers remotely evil (or just doesn’t like or agree with) is blamed on the devil. Wars, rumours of wars, famine, plague, murder, theft, terrorism, homosexuality, drunkenness, porn, the death of family values, gluttony, demonic possession, Britney Spears, Oprah Winfrey… Hell, even Orville Redenbacher’s popping corn probably pops so well due to demonic forces from his evil corn popping empire. Truly Bub is an amazing force!

But still, I find fear an unsatisfying answer to my question. Fundamentalist Christianity as it is today, sees itself as the one true and only path to salvation. Fundamentalist Christianity is averse to any religion other than itself: The Buddhist is going to hell is surely as the Muslim as surely as the Jainist as surely as the Pagan.

So why does the Pagan cast such a scary shadow? Why is it that I see television programs devoted to assisting parents with seeing the signs that their children are involved in ‘witchcraft’? What do they believe witchcraft is? Do they still believe that witchcraft is devil worship? I suppose so, but again, why assume that this power has so much more force than that of Christ? What is it about the very word ‘witch’ that strikes such fear in the heart of fundamentalist Christianity?

Could it be that the true fear is not fear of persecution at all but fear of liberation? Could it be that church leaders know a simple, hidden truth: That if their parishioners practice witchcraft they might see miracles in their lives…they might do what Yeshua said they would—do all He did and more?

Or could it be that they might find out something far more dangerous: if while out there practicing witchcraft, healing the sick, raising the dead, walking on water, moving mountains they might discover another force, someone they’ve forgotten about altogether…

You know, that other other person?

Her?

***

author bio:

R.A. Áine Laisrén, a novelist and psychic practitioner for over twenty years, is devoting her life (and the life of her pet chinchilla Fionnghuala) to restoring the Goddess and all Her gifts to Christianity. She will absolutely lose her mind if you refer to the Holy Spirit in the masculine gender, so please just don’t do it!

More information about Áine’s writing and practice may be found at www.sang-realta.com

Tags: christian, christianity, R.A. Áine Laisrén, witch

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Administrator April, 2006

Goddess Christian

When I told my Pacific Northwest friends I was moving back to Georgia to help my mother tend to ill family members the first thing they asked was, “Are you coming out about being a witch?” This was followed by, “Is there really such a thing as Southern Baptist Witches?”

To the latter question, I really have no answer as I am no longer the Southern Baptist Christian I was raised to be. To the former question my answer was an unequivocal “Yes.”

Most of my Northwest friends are Pagan, Wiccan, or some other form of “Other.” And what has always surprised them is the fact that I have always found “coming out” as a Christian to them far more difficult than “coming out” as a witch to my conservative Christian family!

My family has seen my psychic development and the resulting positive life changes in my clients. They have seen the desperate healed when traditional therapy failed, they have seen the comfort given to family members via communicating with those that have passed as well as the peace that comes when I have assisted souls in crossing over. My family knows me as Christ knows me: “By (my) fruits.” Matthew 7:16.

My “Other” friends also know me by my fruits. What I loved most about them was the fact that it was they who provided me with a safe space in which to cultivate and nourish my fledgling abilities. It was they who gave me permission to use these talents, who taught me that these were not signs of “demonic possession” or airy fairy flakiness. They were never shocked, scared, horrified or taught to fear psychic phenomenon—they appreciated my gifts LONG before I ever did. My Other friends called me “witch” well before I accepted the term as one of respect and honor.

Whether they knew it or not, what they actually were doing was witnessing to a simple truth of Christ—one that mainstream Christianity seems to have forgotten: “If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself.” Mark 3:24. Not that I was ever “casting out Satan” per se—just using what I consider to be the power of the Holy Spirit (or the Goddess to me) to help humanity. My Other friends have long known what many Christians fail to realize: Gifts, such as healing, prophecy, and psychic talents cannot possibly come from that nasty old Devil they talk so much about.

No, what always shocked my “Other” friends was the fact that I am now and have always been a Christian. I must say, I oftentimes found my religion to be something of an embarrassment. Too many years of hell fire, damnation, the cursing of all things not understood, and yes, Christians, a basic lack of the words of The Man who founded the religion have lead to this embarrassment.

And that is something I along with a number of fiercely brave and independent men and women hope to change. I think a good start is in recognizing the difference between a religion and a craft.

As all Pagans understand, Paganism is a religion. A really, really, old religion. A religion that pretty much predates religion! However, to me, witchcraft is not a religion. Witchcraft, is just what its name states that it is: a craft–a knowledge of the powers and forces that give rise to Life itself.

To me, understanding and using witchcraft is like understanding how to flip on a metaphysical light switch. When I turn on a physical light switch I do not worship the electricity that results when the switch is flipped. In my own religion, in what I believe is now being called “Christo-Paganism”, I do not worship the forces which create change. I thank them, I bless them, I realize they are a part of me and I a part of them, but I do not, as ancient human beings did, worship them as some mystical, magical power that must be assuage and coddled. Nor do I cringe in fear when the light bulb blows and make penance to the light bulb God/dess lest S/he throw a fit and strike me down with a larger electrical surge.

Witchcraft is my craft, my working knowledge of things unseen. Christianity is my religion—the tenets by which I live.

I hope of the coming months to discuss not only witchcraft, but the tenets of Christianity—what I believe to be the true Christianity—the one that includes what we now term “witchcraft” in its teachings.

After all, what was Yeshua the Christ if not an accomplished Mage?

***

author bio:

R.A. Áine Laisrén, a novelist and psychic practitioner for over twenty years, is devoting her life (and the life of her pet chinchilla Fionnghuala) to restoring the Goddess and all Her gifts to Christianity. She will absolutely lose her mind if you refer to the Holy Spirit in the masculine gender, so please just don’t do it!

More information about Áine’s writing and practice may be found at www.sang-realta.com

Tags: christian, R.A. Áine Laisrén

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