The Dreaded Pamphlet!

 I have decided that I am going to make little pamphlets describing Paganism,about the history,deity's and beliefs.I will then hand them to all the people who think it is ok to give me pamphlets on their religion. Yesterday I met a guy that wanted to buy the juicer I had listed on craigslist.As we were talking he asked about  the blog I had listed under my name on the e-mail.He wanted to know what Pagan Style meant so I said pagan goddess,that is all I said and he reached into his car and got the dreaded pamphlet.He started talking about believing in Jesus,the bible and going to heaven.Now this guy had no idea who I was or what my beliefs were yet he felt it was fine to push his on me.Why is that I wonder? This happened another time when I just wanted to buy a sheep from a lady,she also had to share her beliefs after just a short meeting.How would they have reacted if I had given them a little book extolling the virtues of the goddess and paganism? I probably would have been asked to leave,lol
 Why do people feel they need to tell others what to believe,wither it is religion,abortion,same sex marriage or the myriad of other things we are told it is wrong to believe in.If you don't like my religion the don't believe in it,don't like abortion then don't have one and don't tell me who to love based on what you believe. I do like discussions on these subjects, let me know what you believe and why but do not tell me that I am wrong and going to a hell I do not believe in when I disagree with you,and do not sideswipe me with your beliefs when all I want to do is sell you a juicer!

Blessed Be on this beautiful fall day!

Blessed Mabon

It is the time of the autumn equinox, and the harvest is winding down. The fields are nearly empty, because the crops have been plucked and stored for the coming winter. Mabon is the mid-harvest festival, and it is when we take a few moments to honor the changing seasons, and celebrate the second harvest. On or around September 21, for many Pagan and Wiccan traditions it is a time of giving thanks for the things we have, whether it is abundant crops or other blessings.
 Typically the focus is on either the second harvest aspect, or the balance between light and dark. This, after all, is the time when there is an equal amount of day and night. While we celebrate the gifts of the earth, we also accept that the soil is dying. We have food to eat, but the crops are brown and going dormant. Warmth is behind us, cold lies ahead. Mabon is a time rich in magic, all connected to the changing seasons of the earth.













                       May the Blessings of the
                       Fall Harvest fill your home!






                                                                 Blessed Be!


information about Mabon was found at
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/mabontheautumnequinox/a/AllAboutMabon.htm

Happy Solstice;Let your light shine bright this coming year!

  ^{Last night we celebrated the winter solstice at a ritual held at the local UU. It was a heart touching ceremony and such beautiful music. One of the songs that we sang was This little light of mine, I love that song! As we sang I could hear my son and daughter singing along and I wondered if they knew the light they bring into this world,my world. My son home from his Navy training singing "All around the world, I'm gonna let it shine" and I know he will,my 10yr old daughter whose light shines on all of us with her oh so loving heart,my other 3 children who I feel blessed daily to have in my life. Do they see how their light shines on people,on me? My niece in colorado who joined her family and made it complete,who plays with her cousins so sweetly when they visit,does she see the light she is in this world? She has 3 loving strong brothers who are out finding their way in the world,do they see the light they send out to everyone they meet? My nephews and nieces in Texas ,California and La.,as they canvas this country and travel the world,do they see the light they add to the world? My sisters and brothers, for without them my light wouldn't shine as bright,do they see how their lights help others shine? My friends who I have been blessed to find in the world,do they see how their lights help light the path for this journey we are all on? My loving husband of 31 years, does he see the light he shines so brightly for this family,for the people he works with,for me? And me, I know I don't see the light I can be very often but I do see it in my children's faces and actions, I feel it in my grandsson's hugs,I see it in a friends smile.
This Solstice let your light shine! You might never know who your light shines on and how it can change their day/life!}

Watch the Light of kindness travel, :)


 Blessd be to all this Solstice season!

Pictures from the bonfire,

Earth Banner

Air Banner

Fire Banner
(some of it is caught behind a door)

Water Banner

His Holiness the Dalai Lama

  Last Wednesday our beautiful town of Fayetteville Arkansas was blessed with the presence of the Dalai Lama. There was a panel discussion in the morning and His Holiness gave a talk in the afternoon. The title for the discussion was Turning Swords into Ploughshares,The Many Paths to Non-Violence .The Dalai Lama was joined on stage by two iconic figures of non-violence:  Sister Helen Prejean, the nun and death-row activist whose opposition to the death penalty has won her an international audience, while inspiring her to write the New York Times best-seller, Dead Man Walking; and Vincent Harding, whose long career in the African-American freedom movement began when Martin Luther King, Jr. invited him to stay in Atlanta in 1958 and work for the movement; Harding would eventually be called to write King's epochal speech against the Vietnam War, 'Beyond Vietnam:  A Time to Break Silence,' which King delivered on April 4, 1967 at the Riverside Baptist Church in New York, precisely one year before he was assassinated. He delivered his keynote address, "Non-Violence in the New Century: The Way Forward" in the afternoon. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole day listening and learning from these wonderful leaders.

So many people looking forward to the day!

He has the sweetest laugh!

Goddess Festival 2011

On March 11th we will open the 3rd annual Goddess Festival here in Fayetteville Arkansas.
                           The theme this year is Restoring the Balance.

“In ancient cultures where the Goddess was worshiped both women and men were honored as equals. With the rise of patriarchy many aspects of the Feminine Divine were suppressed and the presence of the Goddess was virtually eradicated. Today, our yearning for equality calls us to rise yet again with our questions and our unrest and to listen to the echoes in our hearts. We have enthusiastically joined in a global reemergence of the Goddess – – a re-discovery of all that has been hidden for centuries. We are seeking to Restore the Balance
 There will be workshops, vendors, and music galore! Something for everyone!
Our new venue is awesome and perfectly placed between two great eating establishments that are always busy! They are both giving discounts to festival goers.
  I personally feel the this years theme is so appropriate . With all the bills that are being introduced that will take away women's rights Restoring the Balance is needed more than ever.

You are invited to join us for this exciting participatory event when we convene the third annual Goddess Festival during the month of March 2011. Daring to hope for spiritual wholeness in the world, we come together to dream, to play, and to create in an atmosphere of respect and acceptance for all – - where the Feminine Divine can be revealed, explored, and expressed. Because March is celebrated in the United States of America as Women’s History month, we believe this to be a perfect time to hold this multifaceted event. This celebration will honor the power of the Feminine Divine through art, music, words, dance, film and shared knowledge.
 Come check us out!!
 http://www.goddessfestival.com/

  
                     Blessed Be!

Interestring Blogs you might want to ck. out

Found some new blogs that I would like to pass along.
 The Pagan Household,http://thepaganhousehold.com/, is a place where guests can blog about the magical household and what it takes to become one.
  Laura DeLuca,http://authorlauradeluca.blogspot.com/, is the author of Destiny, a book about a young girl remembering the magical powers she has hidden inside. I can't wait to read it to the girls.
The Pagan Homesteader is a good blog to learn about homesteading. homeschooling and whatnot.
http://thepaganhomesteader.blogspot.com/
The Pioneer Women is a very busy blog about to many things to list, ck. it out, http://thepioneerwoman.com/
 Successful Homeschooling is a great blog to get information for families thinking about homeschooling or families that just need new inspiration, http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/.
MamaRoots is a wonderful crafty blog with great ideas and awesome toys.http://mamaroots.typepad.com/my_weblog/
 Magic and Mayhem is a blog following a families homeschooling journey, lots of neat ideas.http://magicandmayhem.homeschooljournal.net/
 The Zen Witch is a neat blog about homeschooling, http://thezenwitch.wordpress.com/
Wee Folk Art is a wonderful blog with great free patterns that we absolutely love! http://weefolkart.com/
 These are just a very few blogs that I ck. out regularly. Who are your favorite bloggers in the webworld?

Happy Chalica

 We light our chalice for the inherent worth and dignity of every person.

CHALICA is an unofficial holiday originally conceived by Daylene Marshall of Vancouver, BC as a way to celebrate and put into intentional practice the Seven Principles of the Unitarian Universalist tradition - one a night, for seven nights. The celebration begins on the first Monday of December, and is marked by the lighting of a chalice each day (or evening). Gifts that reflect the particular day's Principle may be given, but the focus tends to be more on mindfulness and action.
There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and
       promote:

• The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
• Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
• Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
• A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
• The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
• The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
• Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

     Today is the first day of Chalica and for,

Monday: We light our chalice for the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Give gift(s) to honor those you do not understand / agree with / like.

Examples:

- a thank-you card celebrating differences

- words of forgiveness / apology

- a peace offering such as inviting someone to diner

- help someone in need

There have been some really neat songs written for this holiday,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oTOEapBmTo

I will add a new one each day!

Book to read, What If Nobody Forgave and Other Stories,

Please ck. out these blogs and sites,
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/UU.Chalica?v=info
http://chalica.blogspot.com/
http://www.uua.org/index.shtml

Make Your Own Chalice

 Some are simple, some are silly, but either way you end up with a beautiful chalice of your own!
"Stained Glass" Chalice
Supplies: Plastic champagne glass (chalice shaped), colored tissue paper, Elmer's Glue, paint brushes
Tear or cut the tissue paper into smaller pieces and lay them out on a table. "Paint" glue onto the plastic champagne glass. Then, put pieces of tissue paper on the glue. Reapply glue on top of the pieces of tissue paper to overlap pieces. Use a battery-operated tealight in this chalice.
Silver Chalice
Supplies: Plastic champagne glass, aluminum foil
Wrap the champagne glass with aluminum foil. Use a battery-operated tealight in this chalice.
Clay Chalice
Supplies: Model Magic clay (comes in white and various colors)
Mold the clay into the shape of a chalice. Use a battery-operated tealight to "size" the chalice, to ensure that it fits inside the finished product. The clay dries in 12-24 hours.
Flower Pot Chalice
Supplies: Small terra cotta flower pot and flower pot base, glue, paint, paintbrush
Turn the flower pot upside down and balance the base on top of it. Glue the two pieces together if you'd like, or keep them separate so that it's more portable! Personalize your chalice by painting and decorating it as you wish, to represent your family's UU identity.
Kitchen Cupboard Chalice
Supplies: cup, bowl
Turn the cup upside down, and place the bowl (right side up) on top of it. Then place the candle in the bowl. Voila!
Camping Gear Chalice
Supplies: flashlight, big cup, paper plate
Place the flashlight, light shining up, into a big cup. Then cut a circle in the middle of a paper plate just big enough to fit around the outside of the cup.
Gigantic Chalice
If you like to do things large scale, you can create a chalice out of a bird bath! Everyone can contribute by painting or drawing something meaningful on it.
Lego Chalice
If New York City toy store F.A.O. Schwartz can make a 7-foot tall Empire State Building out of Legos, why not make a chalice?! You can make it as simple or as elaborate as you want.

However you make your family chalice, have fun while doing it!

How would you celebrate this priencipal in your life?

Happy Holidays!

  As our family is getting ready for all the holidays that we celebrate this month I am reminded of the ongoing spat about how to greet the people around you. There are folks out there that want only the words Merry Christmas to be said and there are those that think Happy Holidays should be the words we greet with. My self I use both
  My family celebrates Chalica,which is seven days long and begins on the first Monday in December. Each day represents a different Unitarian Universalist Principle; a chalice is lit each day and actions/gifts/volunteering may be given and received. We also celebrate Yule, which is a celebration of the winter solstice and Christmas. December is a really busy month for us! Why do we celebrate these holidays? Chalica, because we belong to the local UU church and I believe the seven principles are important to follow, Yule, because as a pagan I follow the sabbats and to me Yule brings the rebirth of the SUN, Christmas is celebrated here because it is a fun way to share fun and festivities with our non pagan family. 

 There are 2 other Holidays celebrated this month, Hanukkah which is a Jewish celebration and Kwanzaa which is a week long celebration held in the US honoring universal African heritage and culture. So, I as a Pagan can greet everyone  with Merry Yule and someone else can call out Merry Christmas and we are both assuming that the people we are greeting hold the same beliefs as we do when in fact they may believe in one of the other Holidays or in none at all. I think that Happy Holidays would be the most respectful greeting unless you know for sure otherwise.

                                 Happy Holidays to all and Blessed Be!

Harvest Festival? NOOO, HALLOWEEEN!!!!

   I hope every had a Happy Samhain! We had a great day, very busy. We are members of the Unitarian Universalist of Fayetteville( I know, Pagans going to Church!) and we celebrated "El Dia de los Muertos"

or the Mexican Day of the Dead, with Rev. Kerry Mueller. There were special words and music, sugar skulls and an altar of memorial objects. Everyone was invited to bring photos or other mementos of loved ones we have lost. Children of all ages were encouraged to take part in the costume parade. It was great and we had a potluck afterward. When I was at the store buying the food I was to bring the clerk commented on it. I told her what it was for and she seemed a bit confused, So your having a harvest festival? she asked, I said no we are celebrating Halloween/Day of the Dead, but its for a harvest festival right? she asked again, no its for Halloween I said again, Oh she said, most churches only have Harvest festivals! I walked away as she still had a befuddled look on her face. I guess in her world there are only Harvest festivals.
  We went trick or treating with my daughters in-laws and had a good time, we had a little lion, a ninja, a pink pirate, the Cheshire cat, a witch and a princess in our group. A great sugary time was had by all and for Pagans the old year has come to a close and the New has begun. I hope everyone enjoys the upcoming holiday season and has a Blessed year.
      Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again!
        Blessed Be!

Beliefs

It may come a shock to some but I and most of my family are not christian(see name of blog). I was raised Baha'i (http://www.bahai.org/) and my husband was not raised with any belief system. We have both developed our own thru the years and have hopefully passed them on to our kids to start them on their own journeys. Our kids were allowed to go to different churches with their friends, we took them to some and they were generally exposed to most religions. A couple of years ago we joined the Unitarian Universalist congregation (http://www.uua.org/). The first time we went there I was amazed at several members who were wearing pentacle and not catching any flak from it. I found out that this church has a large group of Pagans that go there, it felt like a good place to be.
One of my daughters went to a friends baptism a couple of years ago, I thought it was a neat experience for her. Later she asked me when she was going to be baptized ( her friend had explained the she HAD to get baptized). Now we do not believe in baptizing,especially children. Most kids have no idea why they are getting baptized, they do it because their parents/church/friends tell them they need to do it. I think this is an adult decision, know why you are doing it and deep understanding of this decision. So--- My adult son who is married to a wonderful girl called me to say he was getting baptized! They had been following the pagan path.He had said they had started attending the church where his wife works as a daycare teacher and were really liking it there, it felt good. His siblings will probably razz him a bit but I am happy for him. I know he is going into this with his eyes and heart open and not because someone forced their beliefs on him. It is the right decision for him at this time.
I see all religions as part of a huge diamond with many faucets. Each faucets represents a religion/belief surrounding Spirit/Goddess/God/Allah/Vishnu/Yahweh/Almighty or whatever you call this entity in you heart. Some stay with what they grow up with, some go to the opposite extreme, a lot try out different paths taking a little from each to fit what works for them. In the book The Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawk the main characters celebrate sacred days from all the religions and combined some from them all. To me this would be ideal, then no one can tell someone else that their beliefs are wrong.

Finding your Faith(not mine)

Yesterday I went to a local bookstore to see what I could find. I always find more than I have money for, Isn't that the case with most bookstores? Anyway, as I was walking by a display table the wording on it caught my eye. Find your Faith! I walked over hoping I might find a good book on religions for the girls. Imagine my surprise(not) when I found only one religion featured. With all the books on faith/religion in that store the only one represented was Christianity. Makes me wonder what the table would have looked like if a Muslim, Pagan, Islam, or Atheist practitioner had put it together. I have noticed a lot lately that bookstores and a few other businesses tend to separate christanity from other religions or only carry christian decorations (I am a bit slow sometimes). Bookstores have a christian section and then a religions section with Paganism hidden over in the New Age(oldest religion around put in the new age?) Makes me wonder who decides what is ordered, who decides how it is displayed and if their own faith has anything to do with it. Would I have the same problem if I were in the same position? I would hope not, I hope I would try to be fair and put a good representation of all belief systems on the table. I haven't decided if I will speak up to this bookstore or not,knowing me I probably will, and I do understand that businesses need to pander to the majority. Can't they at least try to be a little more open? I would ask them if they are going to carry religious items in a non religious store then put out a good representation of several religions and acknowledge other holidays not just Christian or Jewish ones. There are more of us out here than you realize and our voices are starting to get louder!