Merry Meet Family and Friends!
"The grass is alway greener on the other side".
My Mom used to say this often when we were growing up. It's the adage often used during our moments of self-doubt. Whether we are questioning our accomplishments, the choices we've made or the relationships in our lives, what we are doing, in actuality, is holding them up for comparison to see how they well measure up to that of others. At times, this self doubt may be the catalyst for change that motivates us to strive for better. At others, it's the fire of envy that consumes us to the point that we recklessly pursue something that exists only in our imaginations. Unfortunately, we often don't recognize this until we're looking back on what we've left behind.
We've all experienced periods of uncertainty. We wouldn't be human if we didn't. I know I have, probably more times than I can count. But during those times, I've tried to practice the art of mindful stillness, rather than rushing head long into the fire of self-doubt.
The last several months have posed quite a challenge for me. I recognize this as being part of my initiation process. Challenging? Yes. Unexpected? Well, perhaps enlightening might be a better word.
That greener grass I've gazed longing upon? Well, for as much as it might have appeared to be so, upon closer inspection, it was actually astro turf! Still, there really is no way to fully appreciate those things we have, without actually comparing them to what we perceive might be better.
Better? Perhaps. Or is it merely....astro turf?
We all wear different masks. We change them in order to suit our situation. Some might consider this "shapeshifting". At what point does the "shape" become a dramatic break in character and the "shift", a sacrifice of one's integrity in order to get ahead. Make no mistake, the truly wise will see through the blatantly disingenuous.
Weeping for some one's plight without empathy for their pain does not translate into compassion. Even the most mediocre actor can master tears. True greatness of spirit comes from sharing and acknowledging one's pain and offering comfort from your own heart. To offer any less is bound to ring hollow, even to ears that are desperately seeking solace.
Working "in the light" as a matter of convenience does not make one a "lightworker". Healing is a gift when shared freely with those in need, not merely those that are deemed worthy. A true "lightworker" has the ability to put aside their ego in order to elevate others to their higher potential. They recognize the purpose and meaning in all things. One cannot elevate the spirits of those that they are walking upon.
Personal prejudice has no place in sacred space. If your group dynamics seems to be more of revolving door rather than a Circle, perhaps it's time to reconsider your place there. While there is always a certain amount of culling involved, if the exodus involves a specific type of person or gender, it may reflect an underlying hostility being carried over from the mundane.
Trust and respect are cultivated through patience, love and with the passage of time. They allow us to be strong when things are at their worst and yet, humble in our in our strength. Trust, honor and respect are not granted based on who we are or what we believe we deserve, but what we've done to deserve them.
"Forgive and forget". Ah yes, another of my Mother's "pearls of wisdom". The two have never been meant to be used interchangably. To attempt to forget is to negate those memories that our psyches deem too painful to revisit and yet, there are is lessons held within those painful memories that may protect us from repeating our mistakes. Forgiveness is the act of moving past one's pain to allow for healing, not denying what that pain has taught us.
And the moral of the story..
If it doesn't grow....it isn't grass!
In Darkness, Light!
Tracy
Friday, April 22, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
One Witch's, "Violent Torpedo of Truth"
So, I woke up this morning to this video and I wanted to drown myself in my coffee.
Apparently, a group of Salem Witches gathered to perform a "magickal intervention" to prevent Charlie Sheen from using certain words that are "sacred" to the Craft, those being "Goddess", "Warlock" and "High Priest".
So my question is, when did the "Craft" acquire the exclusive rights to the words, "Goddess", "Warlock" or "High Priest?" Those words have been used for centuries and are quite common place. If you've read J.K. Rolling's "Harry Potter" or have seen the movies, you've obviously heard the word "Warlock", haven't you? Or perhaps you've seen Jennifer Lopez advertising Gillette's Venus Razor with their slogan, "Bring Out the Inner Goddess in You". If you're a Country music fan, than you already know that Conway Twitty is the "High Priest" of Country Music! I actually didn't know this, but apparently it's true! What can I say, the World's a twisted place!
And what's up with the resurgence of the word, "Warlock". I can't begin to count how many times over the years, I've been asked, "so is a Warlock a male Witch?" In some Christian and Scottish traditions the word "Warlock" was the term used for a male Witch. However, the English version of the word "Warlock" actually meant "oath breaker" or "deceiver". I can only imagine that the word was dropped when referring to Witches because of its negative connotations. A male Witch was simply..well, a Witch.
I know quite a few well respected occult practitioners that refer to themselves as Warlocks. Charlie Sheen is obviously not one of them. So, it begs the question, if you are a male, who is open about your occult practices, what is the purpose of using the word, "Warlock?" I mean, the male part is obvious, isn't it? As far as the Witch part is concerned, well...a rose by any other name...
All this being said, I want to explain a little about the video for those who might be unfamiliar. What the Witches in the video are doing is referred to as "casting a circle". A "circle" is a protective place of power. It is the sacred space wherein one establishes their connection to the Gods. It is often considered to be "Between the Worlds" and is "a place that is not a place and a time that is not a time". What they are attempting to do is a "binding" which simply means that they will prevent Charlie Sheen from using words that, at least to these particular Witches, are considered "sacred".
I.Am.Not.Making.This.Up!
So, while we're on the subject of Charlie Sheen violating the "sacred", how bout' those video cameras in ritual space? Shouldn't a place where you are at one with the Gods, be held as sacred? At a time that is not a time, in a place that is not a place, there should be no place or time for watches, cellphones or video cameras. Or at least, this is the way I was taught. And while there may be no hard and fast rules, perhaps there should be.
So, Charlie Sheen presumably used the "sacred" words? Whose words? If you're a practicing Wiccan, perhaps there are words that you consider "sacred", but I'm fairly certain these are not them!
Charlie Sheen may enjoy making a public spectacle of himself. With all due respect to the Salem Witches however, we Wiccans/Witches have enough to do to be taken seriously without riding on the coattails of Charlie's Sheen's "Violent Torpedo of Truth".
Some have speculated that Charlie Sheen has lost his mind. Perhaps he is a little crazy. I suspect Charlie knows exactly what he's doing.
You know the old saying, "Any publicity is good publicity?" In some case, it doesn't always apply.
Consider the Salem Witch Trials. N'uff said.
In Darkness, Light!
Tracy
Thursday, April 7, 2011
The Curse of Midas
Merry Meet and Blessings Family and Friends!
So, if you've seen the video in my last blog entry, you know that there was a conference held at Harvard entitled the "Social Transformation by the Power of God Conference". Apparently, there are some people that consider Witchcraft and the practitioners thereof, to be a..."contemporary menace to society".
The video, which has been posted on several internet sites, gets funnier every time I've seen it! I especially like the part where Dr. Pat Francis, wails, "we bleed the blood of Jesus over every altar of false religion".
False religion? By who's estimation? Have these people actually done any research into our religion? Or do they simply enjoy working themselves up into a tizzy of hatred and intolerance in the name of Jesus Christ? I wonder what Jesus would say? Perhaps, I'll have to ask him myself, given that, along with the other Deities on my "altar of false religion", I also have a crucifix.
Many of the Witches who viewed this video rallied a response to block the intent of this conference. That's not necessarily a bad idea. One of the worst things one can do is to assume that the negativity that's being generated here won't be effective because you don't believe it will. Quite frankly, I've seen some pretty nasty things happen to those who arrogantly decide that they, "don't believe in that stuff". Obviously, if Harvard hosted an entire conference devoted to ridding the World of us, we must have provided some fairly convincing evidence as to the power of Witchcraft. I mean, I would hate to think that an institution as prestigious as Harvard would be hosting a bunch of right wing fanatics who've taken up the cross against a religion whose basic tenet is, "An it harm none, do as ye will".
Personally, I felt no pressing need to protect myself from Dr. Francis and her merry band of witch hunters. I certainly didn't feel the need to protect myself from the "Power of Christ". No, I was more concerned by the hatred being bred by these self-appointed "Apostles", who are intent on ridding society of it's "menaces".
And how about those "generational curses" that Dr. Francis and her colleagues are convinced are the result of the practice of Witchcraft. Perhaps they should "bleed the blood of Jesus" over the altars of those who inflict the generational curses that follow sexually abused children into adulthood...anxiety/depression, Post-traumatic stress disorders, suicide attempts, substance abuse, self-mutilation...just to name a few. Children born to sexually abused parents are at increased risk of being physically, emotionally and/or sexually abused.
"Inter-generational transmission of physical abuse is thought to develop as a result of patterning parental behavior experienced as a child; that is, a child who experiences physical abuse as a child is at risk to repeat this behavior as an adult (Zuravin, McMillin, DePanfilis, & Risley-Curtiss, 1996)."
Perhaps those of us who practice the fine art of Witchery should hold a conference to illuminate the real menaces to society, those who hide behind Christ while violating the innocent.
Hey, Dr. Francis...obviously not everything that Christians "touch" turns to gold.
Oh, by the way...we're still here.
In Darkness, Light
Tracy
Proud to be a pentacle wearin, Witchcraft practicin' Menace to Society!
So, if you've seen the video in my last blog entry, you know that there was a conference held at Harvard entitled the "Social Transformation by the Power of God Conference". Apparently, there are some people that consider Witchcraft and the practitioners thereof, to be a..."contemporary menace to society".
The video, which has been posted on several internet sites, gets funnier every time I've seen it! I especially like the part where Dr. Pat Francis, wails, "we bleed the blood of Jesus over every altar of false religion".
False religion? By who's estimation? Have these people actually done any research into our religion? Or do they simply enjoy working themselves up into a tizzy of hatred and intolerance in the name of Jesus Christ? I wonder what Jesus would say? Perhaps, I'll have to ask him myself, given that, along with the other Deities on my "altar of false religion", I also have a crucifix.
Many of the Witches who viewed this video rallied a response to block the intent of this conference. That's not necessarily a bad idea. One of the worst things one can do is to assume that the negativity that's being generated here won't be effective because you don't believe it will. Quite frankly, I've seen some pretty nasty things happen to those who arrogantly decide that they, "don't believe in that stuff". Obviously, if Harvard hosted an entire conference devoted to ridding the World of us, we must have provided some fairly convincing evidence as to the power of Witchcraft. I mean, I would hate to think that an institution as prestigious as Harvard would be hosting a bunch of right wing fanatics who've taken up the cross against a religion whose basic tenet is, "An it harm none, do as ye will".
Personally, I felt no pressing need to protect myself from Dr. Francis and her merry band of witch hunters. I certainly didn't feel the need to protect myself from the "Power of Christ". No, I was more concerned by the hatred being bred by these self-appointed "Apostles", who are intent on ridding society of it's "menaces".
And how about those "generational curses" that Dr. Francis and her colleagues are convinced are the result of the practice of Witchcraft. Perhaps they should "bleed the blood of Jesus" over the altars of those who inflict the generational curses that follow sexually abused children into adulthood...anxiety/depression, Post-traumatic stress disorders, suicide attempts, substance abuse, self-mutilation...just to name a few. Children born to sexually abused parents are at increased risk of being physically, emotionally and/or sexually abused.
"Inter-generational transmission of physical abuse is thought to develop as a result of patterning parental behavior experienced as a child; that is, a child who experiences physical abuse as a child is at risk to repeat this behavior as an adult (Zuravin, McMillin, DePanfilis, & Risley-Curtiss, 1996)."
Perhaps those of us who practice the fine art of Witchery should hold a conference to illuminate the real menaces to society, those who hide behind Christ while violating the innocent.
Hey, Dr. Francis...obviously not everything that Christians "touch" turns to gold.
Oh, by the way...we're still here.
In Darkness, Light
Tracy
Proud to be a pentacle wearin, Witchcraft practicin' Menace to Society!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
It's Funny Until...
Merry Meet Family and Friends!
So, this morning I signed on to AOL and the first thing that was displayed on my "Welcome" screen was an article about a woman who was fired from her job as a TSA (Transportation Security Administration) agent because she was Wiccan. Apparently, the woman was well respected and had a flawless employment record, until her co-workers learned she was a Witch. Afterwards, she was subject to harassment and claims that she had cast "hexes" upon her co-workers. The article read as follows:
"She was in the top 10 percent in Albany at catching weapons on the X-ray machine. She passed her skills test on the first try. She caught a woman on her way to Vietnam with $30,000 in cash. And she didn't mind working with the passengers -- her training as a massage therapist kept her from being squeamish, as some officers were, about patting down elderly and special-needs passengers.
"http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/28/wiccan-tsa-agent-fired_n_841510.html
Obviously, a glowing Personnel record was not enough to prevent her from being fired or from being harassed in the workplace because of her religion.
If you're a practicing Wiccan and open about your beliefs, at some point you're going to encounter the typical decades old jokes, "Where did you park your broom?", "Where's your pointy hat?", "How come you're not green?" or "Are you a good Witch or a bad Witch?"
Comments such as these have probably been circulating since Gerald Gardner introduced Wicca to the general population and are merely some of the petty nuisances that come with the territory. Most of us simply brush them off as a byproduct of ignorance, not necessarily in the derogatory sense, but in that there are still those who are woefully misinformed about the religion of Wicca. However, if this is the extent of the negativity you experience, consider yourself...blessed.
I can't say that I've ever been subjected to the degree of harassment experienced by my Wiccan counterpart. Aside from some friendly teasing by acquaintances, most people have been very respectful.
Occasionally however, I will participate in our community's blog. Many a time the discussion will be purposely steered away of the topic at hand and directed toward my being Wiccan. Recently, the following comment was posted:
"Maybe we should pour a bucket of water on Tracy to see if she melts".
On the surface, this appears to be nothing more than another tired attempt at humor and that's the manner in which it was perceived. However, upon further consideration, I realized that it had much darker implications in that it encourages others, that may be unstable and living within my own community, toward acts of physical aggression. I'm certain that was not the manner in which it was intended, but then again the poster obviously hadn't bothered to think that far before typing.
That said, can you ever imagine walking up to a Christian co-worker and saying, "Hey, how's that second coming going for ya? Hope you haven't been holding your breath!" or "Let's drop a penny on the floor to see how many Jews go for it". It's bigoted and disrespectful and anyone with even a minute amount of common sense wouldn't dream of behaving this way.
Yet, as Wiccans, this is the kind we encounter routinely. We've been more than a little patient...if not a little bored.
So what about this woman's situation made it different than anyone else who has been dismissed from their job or discriminated against in the workplace. Surely not every one's case makes headlines. If she had been practicing a mainstream religion, it would have probably been handled internally, without the need for media involvement. The only thing that made her situation newsworthy is that she's Wiccan and the circumstances of her firing involved allegations of Witchcraft. Oh..those crazy Wiccans!
So, I wonder, how does such a controversial group manage to remain under the radar? Common sense would suggest that if all the rumors you've heard about us and our practices were true, it would be almost impossible for us to avoid attention, and yet, most us do so every day with very little effort on our parts.
I know! Perhaps it's that Witchcraft thing! Maybe the reason why we aren't constantly the focus of media attention is because we've cast a "hex" or two to remain out of the limelight. If you believe that, you might find the truth even more shocking.
Most of us follow a version of the same basic tenets taught by most of the mainstream religions and live our lives accordingly. We are successful at our jobs, at raising our children and are active and productive members of our communities. Despite this, at times our livelihoods are placed in jeopardy, our parenting skills may be called into question, along with our sanity. Our ability to live our lives and express ourselves openly, with the same respect thats given to those of different faiths is compromised, simply because we choose to follow an alternative religious path.
Today, as I listened to the radio, I heard a beautiful advertisement by nycprayer.org that declared, "It's time to pray! Find a prayer meeting in your area!". On Friday evenings I often hear, "Sundown begins at 5:45 p.m. Good Shabas and Shabbat Shalom!".
Seriously, can you ever imagine ever hearing, "Blessings of the Full Moon! Come join us for our public Esbat! Don't forget your robe!?"
I wonder if I can get air time?
In Darkness, Light!
Tracy
So, this morning I signed on to AOL and the first thing that was displayed on my "Welcome" screen was an article about a woman who was fired from her job as a TSA (Transportation Security Administration) agent because she was Wiccan. Apparently, the woman was well respected and had a flawless employment record, until her co-workers learned she was a Witch. Afterwards, she was subject to harassment and claims that she had cast "hexes" upon her co-workers. The article read as follows:
"She was in the top 10 percent in Albany at catching weapons on the X-ray machine. She passed her skills test on the first try. She caught a woman on her way to Vietnam with $30,000 in cash. And she didn't mind working with the passengers -- her training as a massage therapist kept her from being squeamish, as some officers were, about patting down elderly and special-needs passengers.
"http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/28/wiccan-tsa-agent-fired_n_841510.html
Obviously, a glowing Personnel record was not enough to prevent her from being fired or from being harassed in the workplace because of her religion.
If you're a practicing Wiccan and open about your beliefs, at some point you're going to encounter the typical decades old jokes, "Where did you park your broom?", "Where's your pointy hat?", "How come you're not green?" or "Are you a good Witch or a bad Witch?"
Comments such as these have probably been circulating since Gerald Gardner introduced Wicca to the general population and are merely some of the petty nuisances that come with the territory. Most of us simply brush them off as a byproduct of ignorance, not necessarily in the derogatory sense, but in that there are still those who are woefully misinformed about the religion of Wicca. However, if this is the extent of the negativity you experience, consider yourself...blessed.
I can't say that I've ever been subjected to the degree of harassment experienced by my Wiccan counterpart. Aside from some friendly teasing by acquaintances, most people have been very respectful.
Occasionally however, I will participate in our community's blog. Many a time the discussion will be purposely steered away of the topic at hand and directed toward my being Wiccan. Recently, the following comment was posted:
"Maybe we should pour a bucket of water on Tracy to see if she melts".
On the surface, this appears to be nothing more than another tired attempt at humor and that's the manner in which it was perceived. However, upon further consideration, I realized that it had much darker implications in that it encourages others, that may be unstable and living within my own community, toward acts of physical aggression. I'm certain that was not the manner in which it was intended, but then again the poster obviously hadn't bothered to think that far before typing.
That said, can you ever imagine walking up to a Christian co-worker and saying, "Hey, how's that second coming going for ya? Hope you haven't been holding your breath!" or "Let's drop a penny on the floor to see how many Jews go for it". It's bigoted and disrespectful and anyone with even a minute amount of common sense wouldn't dream of behaving this way.
Yet, as Wiccans, this is the kind we encounter routinely. We've been more than a little patient...if not a little bored.
So what about this woman's situation made it different than anyone else who has been dismissed from their job or discriminated against in the workplace. Surely not every one's case makes headlines. If she had been practicing a mainstream religion, it would have probably been handled internally, without the need for media involvement. The only thing that made her situation newsworthy is that she's Wiccan and the circumstances of her firing involved allegations of Witchcraft. Oh..those crazy Wiccans!
So, I wonder, how does such a controversial group manage to remain under the radar? Common sense would suggest that if all the rumors you've heard about us and our practices were true, it would be almost impossible for us to avoid attention, and yet, most us do so every day with very little effort on our parts.
I know! Perhaps it's that Witchcraft thing! Maybe the reason why we aren't constantly the focus of media attention is because we've cast a "hex" or two to remain out of the limelight. If you believe that, you might find the truth even more shocking.
Most of us follow a version of the same basic tenets taught by most of the mainstream religions and live our lives accordingly. We are successful at our jobs, at raising our children and are active and productive members of our communities. Despite this, at times our livelihoods are placed in jeopardy, our parenting skills may be called into question, along with our sanity. Our ability to live our lives and express ourselves openly, with the same respect thats given to those of different faiths is compromised, simply because we choose to follow an alternative religious path.
Today, as I listened to the radio, I heard a beautiful advertisement by nycprayer.org that declared, "It's time to pray! Find a prayer meeting in your area!". On Friday evenings I often hear, "Sundown begins at 5:45 p.m. Good Shabas and Shabbat Shalom!".
Seriously, can you ever imagine ever hearing, "Blessings of the Full Moon! Come join us for our public Esbat! Don't forget your robe!?"
I wonder if I can get air time?
In Darkness, Light!
Tracy
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Change. Spelled, "M-a-g-i-c-k"
Merry Meet and Blessed Equinox Family and Friends!
So, the following question was posed on Facebook, "Do you use the words, "magick" or "magic" and why?" It's a fine question!
Aleister Crowley added the "k" to the traditional spelling of the word "magic" to differentiate it from stage magic, i.e. pulling rabbits out of asses, (ooops, outside voice) I meant, hats...card tricks, sawing women in half...you get the point.
Aleister defined "Magick" as it pertains to the occult arts as, "the Science and Art of causing change to occur in conformity with Will" and so do I.
I have to say that some of the answers to the Facebook query were not at all what I'd expected.
Many of posters said that they used the traditional spelling of the word, when referring to the practice of Witchcraft, in order to avoid, "drawing attention to myself". Really? Wait...What?! To say the least, I was a tad confused.
I believe part of the problem I have in wrapping my mind around this line of reasoning comes from my own conditioning. I kind of eased my way out of the "broom closet" almost as an afterthought. Most people had known me for years before learning that I did things...well, a little differently. I have been very fortunate in that I have had the support of family, friends, co-workers and employers who are open-minded and non judgemental.
That being said, I'm still not getting the whole, "to avoid drawing attention to myself" rational.
Seriously, how often do we use the word, "magic" in our mundane lives when we're referring its traditional meaning? I would think that if someone mentions the word, spelling notwithstanding, it's going to draw a little attention. It's just that kind of word.
"I'm going to do a little magic/Magick".
There are only a couple of possibilities, really. You are either a professional entertainer or a Witch. If you're a professional entertainer, well..you'd more than likely welcome the attention. As a Witch...well, as a Rule of Thumb, it's not always a good idea to use the word where it might provoke..you know, those funny looks we get when it's realized that we're not exactly referring to pulling rabbits out of aaa...hats.
Despite how far many of us have come in terms of acceptance of our beliefs, the majority of us are still, "in the broom closet". How we spell the word that defines our practice isn't going to change how the person behind the door is perceived.
"the Science and Art of causing change to occur in conformity with Will" ~ Aleister Crowley
Shouldn't we really be asking...
"Will change occur with conformity?"
In Darkness, Light!
Tracy
So, the following question was posed on Facebook, "Do you use the words, "magick" or "magic" and why?" It's a fine question!
Aleister Crowley added the "k" to the traditional spelling of the word "magic" to differentiate it from stage magic, i.e. pulling rabbits out of asses, (ooops, outside voice) I meant, hats...card tricks, sawing women in half...you get the point.
Aleister defined "Magick" as it pertains to the occult arts as, "the Science and Art of causing change to occur in conformity with Will" and so do I.
I have to say that some of the answers to the Facebook query were not at all what I'd expected.
Many of posters said that they used the traditional spelling of the word, when referring to the practice of Witchcraft, in order to avoid, "drawing attention to myself". Really? Wait...What?! To say the least, I was a tad confused.
I believe part of the problem I have in wrapping my mind around this line of reasoning comes from my own conditioning. I kind of eased my way out of the "broom closet" almost as an afterthought. Most people had known me for years before learning that I did things...well, a little differently. I have been very fortunate in that I have had the support of family, friends, co-workers and employers who are open-minded and non judgemental.
That being said, I'm still not getting the whole, "to avoid drawing attention to myself" rational.
Seriously, how often do we use the word, "magic" in our mundane lives when we're referring its traditional meaning? I would think that if someone mentions the word, spelling notwithstanding, it's going to draw a little attention. It's just that kind of word.
"I'm going to do a little magic/Magick".
There are only a couple of possibilities, really. You are either a professional entertainer or a Witch. If you're a professional entertainer, well..you'd more than likely welcome the attention. As a Witch...well, as a Rule of Thumb, it's not always a good idea to use the word where it might provoke..you know, those funny looks we get when it's realized that we're not exactly referring to pulling rabbits out of aaa...hats.
Despite how far many of us have come in terms of acceptance of our beliefs, the majority of us are still, "in the broom closet". How we spell the word that defines our practice isn't going to change how the person behind the door is perceived.
"the Science and Art of causing change to occur in conformity with Will" ~ Aleister Crowley
Shouldn't we really be asking...
"Will change occur with conformity?"
In Darkness, Light!
Tracy
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