Poster:	weofodthignen
Date:	2005-11-02 09:52
Subject:	A call for help with a book
Security:	Public

My apologies that this isn't an essay, but since I am not a member of any other general pagan communities, I'm passing on here this request for broad-based pagan participation in the research for a book.

( A request for heathens and other pagans to be interviewed )

Poster:	weofodthignen
Date:	2005-09-02 10:38
Subject:	Trance and Possession
Security:	Public

This will be an essay rather than a research paper—my emphasis is on explaining my own thoughts, rather than citing authorities to support them. But for anyone who’s missed having a topic or two in this community to chew over—here you are, this one should get some discussion going!

A number of groups are using trance in rituals; some are fostering possession. In many African diasporic traditions, possession is an integral part of community practice. In those traditions and any others in which possessory practice is the norm or normal for priests, everyone is by definition an expert and used to the concept. But outside those traditions, there are safety concerns that I think it behooves clergy to be aware of and prepare for.( Read more... )

Poster:	ravan
Date:	2004-06-13 14:54
Subject:	Heathen Ecclesiology
Security:	Public
Mood:	contemplative

ertla has posted her paper titled "Towards a Modern Heathen Ecclesiology" on her web site. Her LJ post about it, with links, is here. Enjoy!

Poster:	elfwreck
Date:	2004-06-03 14:30
Subject:	ERIS NEEDS WOMEN!
Security:	Public

And men. And probably kids.

See, I wanna start a Discordian church. (Stop giggling; I mean for real.) I've got what I think are the necessary forms (incorporation forms for California, form 1023 for 501(c)3 status from the IRS with schedule A for churches), and stuff like bylaws and a constitution, and I can scrounge up the necessary cash (umm, looks like under $200, and might even be as low as $75), but I need more membership than we've got. Or at least, I'd like more official membership than I'm currently certain of, which is about 5. (A fine number, but a bit underwhelming for reporting to the IRS. 523 would be much better.) I want to get us legal, so we can ordain ministers and counsel the bereft and perform marriages and grant religious sanctuary to people being persecuted for their beliefs. And accept potential draftees into our ministerial program, so they won't get drafted and have all that terrific Discordian Spirituality gone to waste in the desert lands of on the plains of Meggido.

( Stop laughing. You're distracting me. )

Crossposted in a few places; feel free to share elsewhere. Linking back to ~me~ would be, umm, efficacious.

Also, feel free to use this as a jumping-off point for discussing things like "do we need legally-recognized pagan churches" and/or "what's involved in becoming a legal church?"

Poster:	ravan
Date:	2004-02-24 22:19
Subject:	Clergy and Confidances
Security:	Public
Mood:	curious

As a pagan clergy person, I listen to people's troubles. They run the gamut from relationships, belief problems, work issues, lifestyle issues, childhood history, youthful indiscretions, domestic violence, debt to even potential legal trouble.

What I wonder is what if someone I've talked with gets hauled into court, say, as a witness or accused, and it comes out that they might have told me "something"? Am I stuck for having to testify about things that were told me in confidence as their clergy person?

Part of what I consider to be part and part of my counseling is the sacred trust with a person's secrets, whether it's a youthful indiscretion, sticky ethical issue on a job, or legal problem. Can a court attempt to compel me to relay that information to it at risk of being named some sort of co-conspirator? Catholic priests get to keep people's secrets under the seal of the confessional - what about pagans?

My viewpoint is that it is a sacred trust, and I'm willing to go to jail over the idea, but I'd rather there was a legal recourse instead.

BTW, no, this is not an immediate issue - I think it filtered through to me after some tv show that had priests in it.

Poster:	bizarrefringes
Date:	2004-01-15 16:20
Subject:	Why It's so Hard to Keep Numenist Students
Security:	Public

Posted by Noddy

I think one reason it's so hard to get and keep Numenist students has a lot to do with the training students receive in public schools. I know the few who actually stick with Numenism are the ones in whom the public school lessons didn't "take" for some reason or other.

Some of the things we require from our students are critical thinking skills, and I know for a fact that public schools rarely teach that.

( Read more... )

Poster:	weofodthignen
Date:	2003-12-26 17:38
Subject:	The Sacral Feast: A Heathen Perspective
Security:	Public

Heathenry has three fundamental sacred rites. The best known is blót (sacrifice). (The Anglo-Saxon equivalent is blétsian; since most heathens use Old Norse rather than Old English terminology, most of the original sources and scholarly analyses are also Scandinavian in context, and the Old Norse words are more likely to be familiar to non-heathen pagans, I will use the Old Norse terms in this essay, but provide Anglo-Saxon to help readers interpret the Wodenings’ and other Anglo-Saxon heathen writings.) Modern heathens are also increasingly using sumbel (communal drinking) (This is also spelled “sumble“; the Anglo-Saxon is symbel). The least practiced is veizla (sacred feast - Anglo-Saxon húsel, sometimes modernized as housel); this is the one whose nature, role in ancient times, and utility today I wish to focus on here. ( Read more... )

Poster:	bizarrefringes
Date:	2003-12-08 15:55
Subject:	Polyamory
Security:	Public

Posted by Noddy

Polyamory isn't always about sex. It's about relationships, commitment, and family.

No one type of family is suited for everyone. Monogamy has a high failure rate. So does practically any other type of family arrangement. Assuming one sort is better or more stable than another is working from a premise that people are all cookie cutter versions of one another. What causes a monogamous marriage to fail is likely to be the same factors which cause any other sort of family to fail.

As Pagans, we have no religion dictating to us a universal choice of family structure.( Read more... )

Poster:	bizarrefringes
Date:	2003-09-14 10:48
Subject:	Healing Spiritual Abuse
Security:	Public

Posted by Noddy

There are some decent books to read about healing from being wounded by religion. Unfortunately, many of them are strongly Christian. The ones I find the most useful are:

( Read more... )

Poster:	bizarrefringes
Date:	2003-08-16 12:32
Subject:	The Cornucopia
Security:	Public

posted by S. L. Brothers

In Numenism, we have many symbols which are meaningful to us. ( Read more... )

Poster:	bizarrefringes
Date:	2003-07-06 20:06
Subject:	Metal Magic
Security:	Public

Posted by FirehandMetal Magic

Metal is a transformative magic. Chaotic raw ore is shaped into alignment and formed into an orderly and recognizable item. Rhythm is the method used to make this change. Through alternating applications of heat, force, and cold, metal can be bent to our will. The force need not be excessive, but it must be rhythmical.

The aim of metal magic is the gradual transformation of the material form in which power is expressed The work of the smith is to purify the material, subject it to forces and energies that shape it, and then condense it into its new form, releasing it so it may continue on in its new state.

( Read more... )

Poster:	bizarrefringes
Date:	2003-06-30 17:37
Subject:	It's in the Blood
Security:	Public

Posted by S. L. Brothers, excerpted from Balancing the Circle: The Power of the Carnivore

"Do Pagans sacrifice?" This is a common question among those who are new to Paganism, or who meet Pagans. We could answer this flippantly. Some Pagans do, just to avoid discussing this topic. An increasingly large number of Pagans deny that we sacrifice anything at all. I find this to be a knee jerk reaction, one which has not been clearly thought out or researched.

Since sacrifice comprises many different aspects, a blanket "no" is not a viable answer. Based on my own research, I have to say the answer is a resounding "Yes!" Let us first explore just what sacrifice is, then we can take this exploration and apply it to Pagan practices.

( Read more... )

Poster:	bizarrefringes
Date:	2003-06-14 11:50
Subject:	Pagan Legal Issues
Security:	Public

posted by Noddy

There have been many discussions online and in blogs about the legal issues that are particular to Pagans. Many Pagans seem to be focused on getting legal recognition, and see that as the largest legal issue they have. Legal recognition is a non-issue, especially in the light of other, more compelling issues. Some of these issues are important only within the Pagan community, and perhaps even just within specific groups, but they are nonetheless in need of attention.

( Read more... )

Poster:	bizarrefringes
Date:	2003-06-04 21:06
Subject:	Why I'm Not Wiccan
Security:	Public

Posted by Noddy.

There are many reasons why I'm not Wiccan, so I'll just hit the highlights here.

I was rasied in a very liberal household by my grandparents in rural Germany. They subscribed to no particular religion, although they were friendly with the Lutherans and Jehovah's Witnesses in the village. They named me for an obscure Schwarzwald Goddess. My grandparents regaled me with fairytales and local legends, setting out offering to the Wildfrauen and Maenchen, Kobolds, and other unseen creatures.

( Read more... )

Poster:	bizarrefringes
Date:	2003-06-04 16:17
Subject:	God of What?
Security:	Public

Posted by Noddy.

This is a humorous short story, to help lighten the mood from past entries.( Read more... )

Poster:	bizarrefringes
Date:	2003-05-27 15:37
Subject:	Trial and Error
Security:	Public

Many thanks to Capt. Tiny Brain for suggesting format changes to Clergy Ramblings. And to Chantria Karmiti of Chantria's Cavern for the information on how it could be accomplished. This should make our community journal easier to read, and more interesting.

Poster:	bizarrefringes
Date:	2003-05-27 15:31
Subject:	Balancing the Circle
Security:	Public

This article is presented by S. L. Brothers:

With so many people advocating vegetarianism, it may seem politically incorrect to take a stance for the power of the carnivore. However, meat - as part of a diet, as a mythical and cultural symbol, as a magical aid - is being decidely underrated in the rush to be politically correct, ecologically aware, and spiritually enlightened. ( Read more... )

Poster:	bizarrefringes
Date:	2003-05-13 15:31
Subject:	In Case You're Interrogated...
Security:	Public
Mood:	worried

Because of the incident in Oakland, CA where 2 students were questioned by the Secret Service after being turned in by their teacher, I felt it was important for this information to be available. The teacher instigated a discussion about the war in Iraq, and when 2 students commented on it, she decided their comments were "threatening" and turned them in. They were questioned without legal counsel, and without the presence of their parents. They were told they didn't have any rights at all.

While it is true that minors have fewer rights than adults, they do have the right to legal counsel and the presence of their parents. As minors, they should be free from this sort of questioning - particularly in an educational setting and ina discussion started by the teacher.

It is particularly scary that the teacher who betrayed her students is not named, but other teachers are.

Read the article yourself: http://www.kron.com/Global/story.asp?s=%20%201268949

And then, if you or someone you kow might be taken in for interrogation, rememebr these tips:

Number One Tip: Keep silent. Say nothing. Do not offer any information, no matter how sympathetic and understanding and friendly the interrogator seems, and especially not if they offer to cut a deal. They will use any information you give them, add it to information they have taken from other sources, and approach your friends and family to tell them you have spilled all. This
makes you look like you betrayed your family and friends when you really didn't, and no deals will be honored.

Even if you have done nothing wrong, remember, there are thousands of laws on the books, and if you say anything, they can probably find something for
which you are guilty. It doesn't help that they are adding new laws faster than they can be distributed, and ignorance of the law is not a valid excuse in the eyes of the law. See, it's illegal to wash your own hair in Oklahoma, or to have wire cutters in your pocket in Texas. There are other, equally obscure and absurd laws on the books. Keep silent.

Number Two Tip: If you must say something, do not say anything more than "I plead the Fifth." or "May I have legal counsel, please?". No matter how silly these answers sound, do not say anything else. It doesn't matter that the 5th Amendment no longer applies, or that we are no longer have access to legal counsel. We should continue to act as if the Constitution was still in force
and still a viable, legal document. We should let the inertia of past times help us here. At this point in time, many law enforcement officials and others who may decide to interrogate us for any reason are still reluctant to push the issue about our Consitutional rights - so we need to use that reluctance for as long as we can.

Number Three Tip: Don't believe the interrogators when they reveal some
information they have and claim it came from a family member or friend. Assume they got it from some other source and are using it to force you to talk. Assume your family and friends are loyal and honest and would never betray you. They are just trying to force you to talk, and make you the bad guy to your friends and family.

Today, as soon as you read this, tell your family and loved ones about it. Treat this information in the same way you would preparing for a house fire, or tornado or hurricane. Make sure all your friends and family know these tips. That way, they will also have the safety of knowing what to do if they are taken in for questioning for any reason.

Number Four Tip: Keep Silent. I can't emphasize this enough. Do not say anything, nothing, nada, zip. Keep your lips together and teeth locked.

Tip Five: Remember that the police are permitted to lie to you. The US Supreme Court ruled that lying to suspects and making threats was "acceptable behavior" when trying to coerce a confession.

I'm sad that times have come down to the need to know this. I would rather we were all prepared and never ever need this, than to need these tips and not know them.

Poster:	bizarrefringes
Date:	2003-05-12 20:48
Subject:	Spiritual Survival during Disasters
Security:	Public
Mood:	contemplative

1. God/dess is immanent, therefore you have the strength of God/dess to live through this adventure and emerge from it with even greater wisdom and strength vouchsafed you.

2. Seek within yourself for the hidden strengths and wisdoms which have always been a part of you, and are now being revealed for your use. Trust yourself.

3. Let the myths and legends of the God/desses be your inspiration. Many of
them contain wisdom that applies to your situation.

4. Set up your wards and protections to guard you and yours during this time.

5. Perform small rituals to help you connect with your strengths and wisdoms, alone if you must, and with others of a like mind if you can.

6. Sing. Sing songs and chants - silly songs, paeans of praise, blues,
commercial jingles, whatever you know. If singing out loud could endanger you, sing silently.

7. Seek out and communicate with the Numena about you for support and
information and comfort.

8. Repeat stories of inspiration - tales of heroes and legends of mighty
feats that might have a bearing on your own personal situation.

9. Review the actions and circumstances that led up to your situation to see if you can find the solution to your dilemma in the cause of it - this is
your chance to gain wisdom and experience!

10. Communicate with others of a lie mind to draw strength and inspiration from them, and ideas and alternative solutions.

11. Know that Dea Nutrix, the Divine Force of which you are a part will sustain you and provide you with all you need to emerge from this adventure.

12. Have faith in your friends, family, and strangers who dedicate
themselves to your cause.

13. Trust in the love and power of Dea Nutrix.

14. Trust in the love of friends, family, and yourself.

15. Trust in hope - never lose it - never give it up.

16. Perform ritual with others of a like mind, sharing energy and support.

17. Encourage one another while seeking solutions or waiting for rescue
through words, dance, stories, ritual, songs, touch, or even silence.

18. Should your adventure end in death, have faith in your immortality, either as a return to Dea Nutrix, or reincarnation, or further life as a Numen, or the works you leave behind.

Written and presented by: The Numenous Way, Clan of the Cauldron.