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Oh, we’re already on the second column and now we’re talking about death.  Or Death.  Or DEATH.  Well, it’s a topic that comes up more in the movies than it does in regular conversation with those whose deaths we really, really care about.  Like those closest to us, or, Gods help us, US.  In this column I will try and ask a few questions that aren’t often (at least from what I can tell) in Pagan literature.   While the answers ultimately have to come from a personal understanding of the Gods and Goddesses, and our faith, I believe it is useful to discuss principles that could underlie a common understanding…

Pagan Theology : Proof-  The Problem of the Existence of the Gods and Goddesses Well I started with death just so we could get it over with.  So to speak.  And also because I’m fairly disorganized, so now we get to start from the beginning.  No, I don’t mean Genesis, rather I mean:  how do we know the Gods and Goddesses [1] exist? As with many things, there is a short answer, and a long answer.  Short answer There are no rational proofs of the existence of one, much less many, Gods, Goddesses, or god.  Can’t be done, better minds than ours have tried [2] , so best let it…

Provoking Thoughts Over the past several weeks there has been information and news floating around regarding the fallen soldier who died in the war and his family fighting diligently to get a pentacle on his headstone. For those who are not aware, the United States military has about 38 approved religious symbols that can be put on the headstones of soldiers. Amazingly there is no religious symbol that represents the Wiccan faith that is approved for the headstones of soldiers. There are cries all across the American states that are pleading with fellow pagans to step up and be heard on this issue. Men and Women are dying fighting for…

Quick & easy hints to get you through your busy day. Staying Alive Out of the Broom Closet Part Two: At Home I’m not sure about Pagans per se, but there aren’t many second generation Wiccans around right now. Most of our parents or guardians were of different religious persuasions than we are–and that means most of us didn’t start off as Pagans, either. We converted somewhere along the way. Which brings up the question–what do we tell the family? I think it basically depends upon what kind of relationship you have with them. No, no, I don’t mean the quality of your relationships–those are either good or bad, and…

Lore of the Runes What we now know as the runic alphabet seems to have developed from two distinct sources – one magical, one literate. Pre-runic symbols, or hällristningar, have been found in various Bronze Age rock carvings, primarily in Sweden. Some of these symbols are readily identifiable in the later alphabets, while others represent ideas and concepts which were incorporated into the names of the runes (sun, horse, etc.). The exact meanings of these sigils is now lost to us, as is their original purpose, but they are believed to have been used for divination or lot-casting, and it is fairly certain that they contributed to the magical function…

The Magician (1) “Action is the product of the qualities inherent in Nature.” ~Bhagavad Gita Image Description: The Rider-Waite deck portrays a magus dressed in flowing robes. Belted around his waist is a serpent swallowing its own tail; floating above his head is the symbol of infinity. On a table before him lie the tools of his trade — a chalice, pentacle, staff, and sword (the four suits of the Tarot). One arm is lifted to the heavens and the other is lowered, finger pointing toward the earth. In his raised hand he holds a wand. Symbols: One Arm Raised & One Arm Lowered : Drawing energy into yourself and…

Positive Self Image Before you can really learn anything about improving yourself, you have to truly believe that you can do it. Every time the words “I can’t” or “that’s impossible” enter into your vocabulary, you are setting yourself up for failure. Even worse, I have discovered, are the words “I’m trying”. It is ok to try in the original sense of the word… for instance, you can try food to see what it tastes like, but in the end there is either “I like it” or “I don’t like it”. In the sense of trying to do something, still, in the end, there is either “I did it” or…

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…

Since the earliest times, people strived to find a convenient way of classifying the archetypal energies in the universe. Many priests and scholars came to the realization that the best way to do so, was through the symbolic language of numbers. The Mayans, the Egyptians and the Babylonians, The Vikings and the Celts, the Greeks and the Jews were some of the few nations in different corners of the world who developed a numerological system of their own, with their own ideas of numbers. However, most of this knowledge vanished with the destruction of the major libraries in the ancient world. The two major branches of numerology we know today…

There are many different ways of protecting and shielding. I am not sure that anyone else will wish to discuss or open up about how they shield or protect themselves. Personally , I don’t wish to tell anyone *everything* about how I accomplish this. So , I certainly don’t expect anyone else to. I hope that no one takes offense to that , its just a personal decision. I feel that if I just blatantly tell everyone how I shield myself , I am opening myself up for any person to figure out how to "attack" or "break through" my shields if they so chose to. I am in no…