{"id":8344,"date":"2013-07-01T01:10:24","date_gmt":"2013-07-01T06:10:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=8639"},"modified":"2013-06-22T23:18:01","modified_gmt":"2013-06-23T04:18:01","slug":"bare-feet-on-an-earth-path-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2013\/07\/01\/bare-feet-on-an-earth-path-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Bare Feet on an Earth Path"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

When Dreams Grow Old<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Summer is a charged time for me. It feels like the air is crackling with desire and potential. Maybe it\u2019s because we planted our hopes in the spring and the time for manifestation has come. Or because the moon has moved into Cancer and my watery spirit cries out in recognition. Old dreams spark to life, and I begin to think about making new ones. We\u2019ve all had dreams since we were little kids. They evolved as we grew older, until we were finally old enough for the people in our lives to take them seriously. Dreams are a big deal in our culture, especially pop culture. We\u2019re encouraged to follow them, to never give up on them. In fact, we get the message that giving up on dreams is giving up on ourselves and that abandoned dreams are a sign we\u2019re living a life that\u2019s less than the one we should be living.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Somewhere along the way, we decided that dreams are static things, forgetting about the fluidity of those from our childhoods. We\u2019ve forgotten that the changes we observe in the world around us through each turn of the Wheel of the Year are infused into everything, not just the changing leaves and temperatures.\u00a0Why would our dreams not grow and change as we do? Eventually, as we come to new places in our lives, the ground becomes fertile for new passions and, suddenly, new dreams begin to sprout from the ground.\u00a0 These times are ripe for growth and change, but if we\u2019re stuck on the idea that it\u2019s wrong to let go of the old, withered dreams, we won\u2019t have the time or energy to pursue the new, vibrant ones.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In my life, I\u2019ve had many dreams, some of which I was very attached to. But at times I\u2019ve left them behind, even when it hurt. When I chose to marry my husband, I gave up my dream of becoming a missionary teaching orphans in Africa. Some would have called it a tragedy, saying I\u2019d sacrificed my life purpose. Did I let my true, highest Self down because giving up that dream hurt? You could say \u201cYou\u2019re a pagan now, so of course that wouldn\u2019t have been the right thing to do.\u201d But I still could have spent my life as a humanitarian aid worker, helping African children, with or without the message of Christ. But I would say no. First, I\u2019d made that decision in an instant, and held onto it for years. So while the image had accumulated energy that I\u2019d fed into it every time I imagined it, becoming a powerful force to be reckoned with in my own mind, that didn\u2019t mean that if I didn\u2019t do it, I\u2019d thrown my life away. When I was faced with making a choice, I had to give something up, no matter my decision. While I did lose something, I also gained an amazing relationship with my husband that I wouldn\u2019t have today if I\u2019d chosen differently. I\u2019m at peace with this decision and the new dreams it has brought me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sometimes, giving up on old dreams is okay, even good. It\u2019s a little far-fetched from some of our old perspectives, but just think about it, explore it. You might find that it has the potential to be one of the most incredibly freeing ideas you\u2019ve ever considered. Perhaps you\u2019re hanging onto an old dream, but it no longer fits you or your life. Or perhaps you have new dreams you\u2019d like to pursue and the old ones are taking up needed space. Maybe you\u2019ll choose to give up dreams because you\u2019ve invested energy into so many grand ideas that you could never achieve them all in one lifetime. \u00a0Whatever your reasons might be, letting go of old dreams is never easy. I think one of the reasons they\u2019re so hard to let go of is because of the way they often take on a sort of hazy, glowing quality, showing how amazing such a life, such a dream, will be. They show the glory of show business, the pride of graduating with a degree, the glamour of achieving a role of wisdom. But dreams don\u2019t show the actress who loves acting but is sick and tired of traveling from place to place. They don\u2019t show the engineer who gets bored and frustrated with his job at times. They don\u2019t show the Wiccan High Priestess who is on her last straw with her coven mates. They’re bigger than life, not showing real, everyday life at all. But the very best dreams are grounded in the real world and work perfectly with our everyday existence.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I can\u2019t say there\u2019s nothing I\u2019d like to do before I die, and that\u2019s a good thing! Desire, hope, that is what keeps us moving forward. But is life about chasing down one dream, from beginning to end? While it may work out that way for some, it\u2019s not a necessary part a good life, or even a great life. Perhaps it\u2019s okay to let go of that dream that just isn\u2019t serving you anymore. Perhaps life is about living well, no matter what you\u2019re doing. Finding passion and purpose and joy on your path, right now, and making new dreams as you go.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dream Release Ritual<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dreams collect energy over time, and when it comes time to release them, even if it\u2019s because we want to, it can be hard. This ritual will help you to release any dreams that no longer fit your path. Though you may agree that it is okay to let go, your emotional self doesn\u2019t understand the severing of the attachment you\u2019ve made. This ritual allows you to mourn the loss of the dream, expressing any feelings of guilt, regret, or grief that the idea of releasing it brings up.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What you need:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

2 candles, one to represent the past and one to represent the future<\/p>\n

Cauldron or fire-proof dish<\/p>\n

Slip of paper<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Begin the ritual in the way you normally do (i.e. call the elements, cast a circle, etc.).<\/p>\n

Light the first candle, which represents the past. Write out the dream you wish to release on the slip of paper. Holding the paper in your hands, think about what it meant to you. Think about why you are choosing to let it go.<\/p>\n

When you are ready, place the paper in the dish or cauldron and light it. Watch as it burns down.<\/p>\n

Once it is burnt to ashes, blow out the candle. Any emotions you experience throughout this ritual are okay. Crying is okay.<\/p>\n

When you are ready, light the second candle, which represents the future. Think about where you are now, and what you are moving into. Pray to your deities about your hopes for the future and what you are making way for.<\/p>\n

When you are ready, finish the ritual. If possible, take the ashes outside and release them into the earth. The old will be made new, as your old dreams give way to new ones.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When Dreams Grow Old   Summer is a charged time for me. It feels like the air is crackling with desire and potential. Maybe it\u2019s because we planted our hopes in the spring and the time for manifestation has come. Or because the moon has moved into Cancer and my watery spirit cries out in recognition. Old dreams spark to life, and I begin to think about making new ones. We\u2019ve all had dreams since we were little kids. They evolved as we grew older, until we were finally old enough for the people in our lives to take them seriously. Dreams are a big deal in our culture, especially pop culture. We\u2019re encouraged to follow them, to never give up on them. In fact, we get the message that giving up on dreams is giving up on ourselves and that abandoned dreams are a sign we\u2019re living a life that\u2019s less than the one we should be living.   Somewhere along the way, we decided that dreams are static things, forgetting about the fluidity of those from our childhoods. We\u2019ve forgotten that the changes we observe in the world around us through each turn of the Wheel of the Year are infused into everything, not just the changing leaves and temperatures.\u00a0Why would our dreams not grow and change as we do? Eventually, as we come to new places in our lives, the ground becomes fertile for new passions and, suddenly, new dreams begin to sprout from the ground.\u00a0 These times are ripe for growth and change, but if we\u2019re stuck on the idea that it\u2019s wrong to let go of the old, withered dreams, we won\u2019t have the time or energy to pursue the new, vibrant ones.   In my life, I\u2019ve had many dreams, some of which I was very attached to. But at times I\u2019ve left them behind, even when it hurt. When I chose to marry my husband, I gave up my dream of becoming a missionary teaching orphans in Africa. Some would have called it a tragedy, saying I\u2019d sacrificed my life purpose. Did I let my true, highest Self down because giving up that dream hurt? You could say \u201cYou\u2019re a pagan now, so of course that wouldn\u2019t have been the right thing to do.\u201d But I still could have spent my life as a humanitarian aid worker, helping African children, with or without the message of Christ. But I would say no. First, I\u2019d made that decision in an instant, and held onto it for years. So while the image had accumulated energy that I\u2019d fed into it every time I imagined it, becoming a powerful force to be reckoned with in my own mind, that didn\u2019t mean that if I didn\u2019t do it, I\u2019d thrown my life away. When I was faced with making a choice, I had to give something up, no matter my decision. While I did lose something, I also gained an amazing relationship with my husband that I wouldn\u2019t have today if I\u2019d chosen differently. I\u2019m at peace with this decision and the new dreams it has brought me.   Sometimes, giving up on old dreams is okay, even good. It\u2019s a little far-fetched from some of our old perspectives, but just think about it, explore it. You might find that it has the potential to be one of the most incredibly freeing ideas you\u2019ve ever considered. Perhaps you\u2019re hanging onto an old dream, but it no longer fits you or your life. Or perhaps you have new dreams you\u2019d like to pursue and the old ones are taking up needed space. Maybe you\u2019ll choose to give up dreams because you\u2019ve invested energy into so many grand ideas that you could never achieve them all in one lifetime. \u00a0Whatever your reasons might be, letting go of old dreams is never easy. I think one of the reasons they\u2019re so hard to let go of is because of the way they often take on a sort of hazy, glowing quality, showing how amazing such a life, such a dream, will be. They show the glory of show business, the pride of graduating with a degree, the glamour of achieving a role of wisdom. But dreams don\u2019t show the actress who loves acting but is sick and tired of traveling from place to place. They don\u2019t show the engineer who gets bored and frustrated with his job at times. They don\u2019t show the Wiccan High Priestess who is on her last straw with her coven mates. They’re bigger than life, not showing real, everyday life at all. But the very best dreams are grounded in the real world and work perfectly with our everyday existence.   I can\u2019t say there\u2019s nothing I\u2019d like to do before I die, and that\u2019s a good thing! Desire, hope, that is what keeps us moving forward. But is life about chasing down one dream, from beginning to end? While it may work out that way for some, it\u2019s not a necessary part a good life, or even a great life. Perhaps it\u2019s okay to let go of that dream that just isn\u2019t serving you anymore. Perhaps life is about living well, no matter what you\u2019re doing. Finding passion and purpose and joy on your path, right now, and making new dreams as you go.     Dream Release Ritual Dreams collect energy over time, and when it comes time to release them, even if it\u2019s because we want to, it can be hard. This ritual will help you to release any dreams that no longer fit your path. Though you may agree that it is okay to let go, your emotional self doesn\u2019t understand the severing of the attachment you\u2019ve made. This ritual allows you to mourn the loss of the dream, expressing any feelings of guilt, regret, or grief that the idea of releasing it brings up.   What you need: 2 candles, one to represent the past and one to represent the future Cauldron or fire-proof dish Slip of paper   Begin the ritual in the way you normally do (i.e. call the elements, cast a circle, etc.). Light the first candle, which represents the past. Write out the dream you wish to release on the slip of paper. Holding the paper in your hands, think about what it meant to you. Think about why you are choosing to let it go. When you are ready, place the paper in the dish or cauldron and light it. Watch as it burns down. Once it is burnt to ashes, blow out the candle. Any emotions you experience throughout this ritual are okay. Crying is okay. When you are ready, light the second candle, which represents the future. Think about where you are now, and what you are moving into. Pray to your deities about your hopes for the future and what you are making way for. When you are ready, finish the ritual. If possible, take the ashes outside and release them into the earth. The old will be made new, as your old dreams give way to new ones.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":201,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8344","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/201"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8344"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8344\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}