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Athostan, David, Isaac, Nancy, OZ, Morning Glory.
News
Another town has found a way to link a gruesome murder to the occult. This time we head out to St. Louis, IL, where a St. Elmo man was killed. The details of the killing are terrible, and if you don't want to hear, please lower your volume for a few moments.
Police were called to a secluded area of St. Louis, on Winters Street, near an abandoned warehouse. There, they found the burning body of Zachary Irvin.
Inside the warehouse though, police discovered what they believe to be a human torture chamber, where Irvin's body was dismembered before being set alight. Tools and implements for cutting and chopping were found. On the walls were symbols, such as pentagrams, which lead investigators to believe that this was possibly some sort of occult ritual.
Two homeless men were detained in connection with the murder. It's believed that Dennis Laguli, 41, and James Pierson, 36 were living inside the warehouse, and they have been charged with the murder. Both are being held on $3 million bail.
Once again though, it seems that police are equating the presence of occult symbols, with true occult practice. It seems that police, and the public have some sort of disconnect, where the presence of an occult symbol somehow indicates a sincere belief in and practice of the occult. If this were true, then the wearing of a cross would mean that an individual was, by definition a Christian. The presence of a crucifix at a murder scene would indicate a Christian ritual involvement in a killing.
It's troubling that so many people have been so programmed by Hollywood to believe that a pentagram means some sort of Satanic involvement. We don't impugn Christianity as evil because we find a Crucifix at a crime scene, yet a pentagram automatically suggests wild occult practices.
What is it in human nature that prevents us from looking on evil as evil? Why do we need to discern some sort of external force behind it all? Perhaps what's missing is the understanding that human beings can be monstrously evil. Perhaps we're afraid to recognize that we don't need some devil to behave this way. Perhaps we're afraid to admit that if one person can become the monster, we might all have that capacity hidden somewhere inside us.
Finding a pentagram at a terrible murder gives many people the excuse to say they could never do such a thing because they are safe from the devil. It separates evil from humanity, and that itself is a dangerous thing.
You probably remember the case of Constance McMillan. She's the teen that the Itawamba County School district banned from her prom in March.
McMillan is a Lesbian, and wanted to go to her High School Prom with her girlfriend. She planned on wearing a tuxedo.
But the Itawamba School District rules require that the young people at the school attend with a member of the opposite sex … same sex couples are not allowed. And, girls are not permitted to wear tuxedos to those events.
Well, that case did go to court, but the school and parents said that the prom would be inclusive. It seems that ONE prom was inclusive … for ten students. But it was a decoy prom. The rest of the students attended a much larger event.
So the American Civil Liberties Union filed a suit on behalf of McMillen, and the Itawamba County School District has agreed in a settlement, to follow a non-discrimination policyand awarded McMillen a $35,000 settlement.
Still, for McMillen, the price of victory is not small. She feels shunned in her home town of Fulton, but felt the need to fight for this cause, recognizing that it would change things for other students in the future.
PaganFM! Almanac
Today is July 24, 2010. It's the 205th day of the year. The nearly full moon is in Capricorn
The moon will be void Sunday, tomorrow morning, at 9:40 am, and will be full when it enters Aquarius, tomorrow evening, at 9:38 pm.
The moon will be void on Tuesday at 9:56 pm, and enters Pisces on Wednesday at 10:05 am.
The moon will be void on Thursday at 10:39 am, and enters Aries at 10:44 pm on Friday.
Ongoing, weekly:
Prayer Requests
Every Sunday
Time: 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
groups.yahoo.com/group/NEPagansAndWitches
Repeating event:
2nd Saturday of each month
New Hampshire Seacoast Pagans have their monthly meeting at Karnan House in Portsmouth, from 2:00 to 6:00.
For more information about this event, visit:
nhspagans.numachi.com
First Tuesday Drum & Chant Circle
Misty Meadows Learning Center
7:30-9 PM
Misty Meadows Herbal Center
183 Wednesday Hill Rd.
Lee, NH 03861
603-659-7211
The Second Thursday of each month...
Pagan Pizza Party!
We gather at La Festa Pizza in Dover, the 2nd Thursday of each month for great pizza and great conversation. The next gathering will be Leo, August 12, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.
For info, email dee@paganfm.com
The DC Metro Area Gay Male Witches Coven
hold full moon monthly rituals and celebrate the Sabats
For information and directiosn, you can visit the facebook group. The next monthly event will be on July 25, at which time Lamas will be celebrated as well.
A ritual will be on Tuesday, August 24th.
And again on Thursday, Sept. 23rd. When they will celebrate Maron at the same time.
DC Metro Area Gay Male Witches Coven
or contact rkelson@gmail.com
Events with Kellianna
Well, it seems that Wendy Rule had a Visa issue, and won't make it to this month's show at Goddess Mountain, but that has been re-scheduled for Saturday, August 28.
Upcoming shows with Kellianna are:
Earthlands Preserve, Petersham, MA Friday August 6
Awen Tree in Easthanpton, MA August 11
Pandora's Box in Norwich CT, Thu. Aug 12
Harvest Chant Circle at Omen, Wendel, MA Sat. Aug. 14
Women's Herbal Conference, Peterborough NH Fri. Aug 20
Goddess Mountain, Montague MA Sat. Aug 28
S. J. Tucker has a new album . Mischief has been released. Find out more at skinnywhitechick.com
Upcoming concerts:
Weekend of July 30-August 1 2010
S. J. with Tricky Pixie at Faerieworlds 2010!
Mt. Pisgah Park
34999 Frank Parrish Road
Eugene, OR
The Spinning Withces
Goddess at the wheel
A spinning has formed for spinners and those who want to learn how to spin.
Spinning is becoming a lost art ... come and see how fun it can be.
If you knit, you will have a wonderful product of handspun yarn to use.
This group starts on April 2010, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm with a pot luck lunch
For more information, contact Gayle at 603-343-4156
Cherry Hill Seminary has announced that registration is open for their fall courses.
Cherry Hill Seminary offers graduate level degrees and certificates for pagan clergy.
More information is available at www.cherryhillseminary.orgCherry Hill Seminary
New England Pagans & Witches Walking Club
Until - Aug. 28th. 2010
Derry, New Hampshire
All fitness levels welcomed. Join NEPW Saturdays at Noon in front of Biglots in Shaws Plaza, Derry NH.
The goal is to focus on our wellness. The last walk, in August, will be a 5K walk to raise money for the NH Animal Rescue League. People do not have to do the entire 5K (3.1 miles) to participate. Focusing on their own health and wellness is the main goal.
Website: groups.yahoo.com/group/NEPagansAndWitches
Gwiddon de Bedwin Stryd will hold a Full Moon Circle
Jul. 28th. 2010
. Circle begins promptly at 8:00pm. Please arrive by 7:45 pm.
11 Birch Street in Derry , NH
Info by phone: (603) 425-9134
Website: www.mygardenias.com
The Concord UU Earth Centered Spirituality Group will hold a Lughnassadh Ritual and Feast
Aug. 1st. 2010, Concord, New Hampshire 274 Pleasant Street at 7:00 PM
It's time for the Concord UU Earth Centered Spirituality Group's Lughnassadh Ritual and Feast.
After the close of the circle, we'll gather for a potluck feast, so bring your favorite dish or drink to share if you'd like.
Upcoming classes at Sun Moon Stars Herbals
Sunday, 7/25 – Knitting for World Peace 11:30-1 ALL WELCOME
-Intro to Modern Pagansim with Mike Dolan 3-5 p.m.
Friday, 7/30- How an Astrologer Reads a Horoscope with Kelley Taylore. 6:30-8p.m. $
Saturday, 7/31 – Exploring Flower Essences with Christine Tolf 1-3 p.m.
info@sunmoonstarsherbals.com
or
603-617-3590
Upcoming performances and workshops by Elaine Silver
Lafayette, NJ - Christmas In July at Olde Lafayette Village; Sunday, July 25; at 3pm;
Butler, NJ - Manifesting Your Heart’s Desires Workshop / Concert / Full Moon Circle; Sunday, July 25; 8-10pm; Soul Journey; 194 Main Street;
www.souljourney.com.
Morristown, NJ - First Church of Religious Science Center For Spiritual Living; Saturday, July 31; 10am-1pm; The Passion Test Workshop;
963/539-3114.
Morristown, NJ - First Church of Religious Science; Sunday, August 1; 11am service; 311 Mt. Kemble Avenue; 963/539-3114.
Sufflok's Own Eisteddfod in the UK will be August 1.
More information
The Temple of Witchcraft will hold a Mabon Celebration
Sep. 18th. 2010 Salem, New Hampshire 7 PM – 9 PM (please arrive by 6:45 PM to check-in)
Event Location: 107 Main St in Salem
Eastern Mass Pagan Pride will be Sunday, September 19.
You can stay up to date at www.easternmasspaganpride.org
Southern NH Pagan Pride Day will be September 11, 2010,
Victory Park, Corner of Pine & Concord Sts., Manchester NH,
info at snhpaganpride@yahoo.com,
or
www.snhpaganpride.org
Practical Pagan
I've been getting a fair number of emails over the past few weeks by, and about people who are new to the craft. Some have questions about finding groups to work with, some have questions about practice. Some have questions about the various types of paganism. So I thought I'd do my version of a 101 guide to paganism for tonight.
So, first things first.
The average person who is coming to paganism is young … teens or twenties, and comes from some other religious tradition. For the most part, today, these are marginal Christians. Some may have seen movies like “The Craft” or a television series like Charmed or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and they might have heard about Wicca. Perhaps they visited a bookstore or library and they've read a book or two. Basically though, they have found a religion that seems to appeal to them, and they want more.
The main problem though, is that there is not, in television or the movies, anything depicted that resembles what Wicca or any sort of modern paganism really is. Some churches have gone so far as to say that Harry Potter, or Bewitched, or other such works of fiction are leading people to paganism. Some claim that this is what we really do. Honestly, this does us quite a disservice … it attributes to modern practitioners far more power over the physical world, and a great deal more drama than is real. So, perhaps, what people expect of paganism and magical arts is more than they can actually expect.
But in any case, a number of people coming into modern paganism are disillusioned when they get here. That might be a good thing though … because it does help to weed out those who are not sincere, those who are merely seeking bragging rights, those who are looking for some sort of metaphysical show.
But for someone who is really interested, it poses some problems. What should they expect? Can people really levitate? Can they control clouds and weather and start fires and make people go crazy by tormenting their minds? Then comes the question about black magic, or the Left Hand path. What's that all about?
And how does someone know who to go to to learn this stuff? How do you know that someone is authentic? If they can't do all these crazy magical things, are they really a witch?
Paganism is a great deal different than Christianity. And it's very similar. It's similar in that we are all in search of a connection with the divine. It's similar in that we are all on a quest for the highest good, for righteousness, for the love of our fellow human beings and for all of creation. It's different in that in paganism, there is no magisterium, no revealed sacred text that is claimed to be infallible, inerrant or God's sole word to the Earth.
Paganism puts a great demand on all its adherents. Unlike a religion that tells all what they are to believe, how they are to act, how they are to worship, and when, paganism leaves most everything up to the individual practitioner. There are numerous books and traditions that will explain certain rules or ways of doing things, but there is nobody who claims to be the “Pagan Pope”, no Arch-magus of paganism. Instead, each of us is required to figure out for ourselves, just what is right for us.
There are followers and leaders in the pagan community, as there are in any. There are some who will claim that a certain practice is right. But, for the most part, what you don't see is anyone making a claim that one particular pagan path or practice is the one, right and true religion for EVERYONE.
In paganism, we are required to be grown-ups in our attitude toward religion. We can't simply find a guru and follow them mindlessly. Well, I suppose we could, but if we do, that's our own fault. The point is though, that we've been warned.
For the newcomer, one of the best tools I've seen is the Advanced Bonewits Cult Danger Evaluation Frame. This is a tool developed by Isaac Bonewits for determining just how much danger a particular group might pose. In general, in any religious group, the less autonomy the individual has, and the more pressure to conform to that group's ideals, the more likely it is that such a group is a cult.
Most of us who have come to paganism have come here because we were quite frankly tired of being told how to think, how to act, who to vote for, when and how to worship and so on. Most of us have come here in search of true religious liberty. We're tired of being told that “you can't be part of this religion if you're gay” or “Women can't be priests” or other such comments and strictures. It doesn't make sense that we should leave one restrictive religion or path, only to seek out another. And so, we are given the daunting charge to think for ourselves.
But thinking for ourselves does not mean that we must now create from whole cloth, a new religion for ourselves. There are literally dozens of authors out there with even more books about how to practice the various forms of paganism. There are covens and groves and meetups and classes all over the place for pagans to get together. What we need, as individuals who are interested in paganism, is the desire to seek these out, and the critical thinking skills to determine what is best for us.
Aidan Odinson, in his podcast, The Secrets in Plain Sight says it best … religion is like undewear … what's right for me might be totally inappropriate for you. He's dead on. The reason there are so many approaces to paganism is quite simple … we all have our unique way of relating to deity. The trick is to meet with and work with others who have a similar view and approach.
Some groups have outer and inner circles. Some groups have public and private meetings. These are great because you have the opportunity to see how such groups work without committing yourself to them. Groups or leaders who have published books are also valuable. These allow you to understand a group before joining.
It's important to find a teacher that you feel comfortable disagreeing with. A teacher that intimidates you is not necessarily healthy. Of course most every newcomer will feel some sort of trepidation … this is, after all, a new religion. It's a major life-change, and being a bit hesitant is only natural. But an authoritarian teacher, who will not permit questions or disagreement is, in general, not a a healthy choice.
There have also been many posers in the pagan community. Some of these might know a little, but have formed covens more for their own gratification than the edification of others. Some have used paganism as nothing but an excuse for orgies. They like the idea of the “great rite” because it gives them an excuse to have sex, but the real meaning is lost.
In general, the things to look out for are:
If a group offers you incredible power
If a group requires some sort of ritual sex for initiation
If a group demands large sums of money to work with them
If a group requires you to cut off contact from friends or family
If a group demands undue secrecy
If a group requires some sort of blood-oath
If a group requires you to completely submit to their authority.
All of these things are warning signs. In the end, we all have to make up our own minds. What is right for one person might not be right for another. But if you are getting involved with any group, it is important to do so with the full knowledge of what you're getting into.
Likewise, when we look at books … here is the most important thing to keep in mind. Just because it's printed in a book, that doesn't mean it's true. Especially today, anybody can write anything. The main purpose of writing a book is to make money. This means that what an author writes is written firstly to make money. Llewelly, Red Wheel, New Page … all of these companies are in business to make money. That doesn't mean that what is published is untrue, or that it won't work. What it means is that what is published must be attractive enough to the target audience to make money.
All the works of Christopher Penczak, Silver Ravenwolf, Laurie Cabot, Scott Cunningham, Ted Andrews … all of the big names, are written, primarily, to earn money for the author and the publisher and the bookseller. This doesn't mean the work is good or bad … you just have to understand that its purpose is to earn money, and as such, it needs to follow a certain recipe. It has to have large appeal. It has to be easy to read.
Now each of these authors had their own audience. Silver Ravenwolf, for the most part, appeals to young women who are intrigued by Wicca. Her writing is very light and suits that audience well. Christopher Penczak seems to cater to a slightly more educated audience that is a bit more serious about witchcraft. Scott Cunningham Wrote for most anyone … his books were easy to read, and he wrote on an incredible variety of topics but was especially skilled at taking a beginner and leading them to a fulfilling spirituality. The point is that everyone writes what they know, but the purpose of writing is to sell books to a fairly large audience … that's the only way to make a living through writing.
Books are a starting place, not a destination. Years ago I recall an article that described a number of different sorts of pagans. There were the IRAB's or those who could claim “I read a book”, and thought they knew it all. Then there were the IRALOBs, or those who claimed “I read a lot of books”. Basically though, the point was that reading means little. I can read about how to perform a heart bypass operation. That makes me qualified to neither perform such a procedure, nor to speak in any way authoritatively about such a procedure. No matter how many books you've read, what counts is practice. Just as for a pilot, what matters is not how much time behind the desk in a classroom, but how much time in the pilot's seat, in control of the aircraft.
What we need as pagans is the practice of our religion. If we're Wiccan, this means actually casting that circle and spending time with the God and Goddess. Or if we follow a Druidic path, or the Gods of the Norse Heathens … whatever it is that we claim to follow, until we've met these deities in our ritual space, it's merely academic. None of us would trust an herbalist who has done nothing but read a book, or a person who claims medical training, but has never had a moment of clinical practice. It's up to each of us to take what we learn, whether its in a book or in a workshop, and to put it in practice in our lives.
That's another difference between paganism and Christianity … as pagans, we have no need for a clergy class. True enough there are some branches of paganism that have both clergy and laity in theory, but in practice, each of us who lives these religions is a priestess or a priest. Most of us don't want to settle for an intermediary when we can have our own personal connection to Goddess and God. I think that's going to be a major shift in spirituality in the Aquarian age. Even in Protestantism, the role of the minister is changing in many of the smaller churches. The Anglicans still have priests, but in many smaller denominations, you see that each person is charged to read and understand the scriptures for themselves. The only difference between the minister and the laity is one of education today … it's not as much one of priest and lay-people, but one of teacher and student. The trouble is that the lay person in Christianity is a perpetual student for the most part.
Now there is an actual role for clergy in Paganism that is a bit different than the average practitioner. We do have a need for those who are able to perform civil and religious ceremonies, such as marriages. We do have a need for those who can act as chaplains in the military and in the prison system and so forth. But again, this isn't a difference between clergy and laity, but more in the level of commitment that individuals choose to make. Once someone is capable of casting a circle or creating a ritual, I have no more claim over the title of High Priestess than they do. By virtue of officiating at a ritual, you are already clergy. It might not be a clerical position recognized by the government, but when you officiate at a ritual, you are the priestess or the priest. That is something that is open to anyone in a pagan path.
The days of the Druidic class ministering to the masses is gone. Now that doesn't mean that it will never return, but at least for now, and especially in Wicca, there are no lay practitioners. It's an awesome responsibility to know that you have direct access to deity. It's even more awesome to recognize that this means that you have responsibilities.
There is a danger in letting this go to your head. While practically everyone can be priestess or priest, this does not mean that we have equal understanding and authority. Having cast a circle doesn't make one an expert in paganism. Having read one, or a dozen books even, doesn't mean that an individual can speak for all pagans.
It's really difficult to gauge how much you know. The temptation is there early on to speak out authoritatively, when the knowledge isn't quite there to back it up. There has been a lot written and a lot said by many who claim to be authorities, that simply isn't true, and it's not always helped our case. There was the mystique of the 9,000,000 women killed, the idea of a matriarchal Goddess religion and many other things that have quite simply been proved wrong, but many of which are still believed today.
In short, reading a few books, having conducted a circle or two … these things are your right as a priest or a priestess, but being a priest or priestess doesn't necessarily make an individual qualified to speak authoritatively about much at all. In other words, as a pagan, and practicing your religion, you're a priestess or a priest … accept it, but don't let it go to your head.
When looking for a teacher, spend time looking … open a LOT of books on various types of paganism, from Wicca to Druidry to Norse Heathenism. Find out where the groups are in your area … go to Witchvox.com and look at the local event listings for your area. But please, don't get too impressed with personalities or titles. As I said, we can ALL be priestess or priest. Reputation says a lot more about a person than does charisma.
Sooner or later, as a beginner, you'll run across talk of negative, or black magic. To the new person, especially one coming from Christianity, talk of “staying away from the Left Hand Path” makes a lot of sense. We all remember Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, and how the “Dark Side” is dangerous. You might hear of Aliester Crowley, the “Wickedest Man Alive” (now dead though), and hear that one ought stay clear of that sort.
Well, here's the truth about the “Left Hand Path” or “dark magic”. It's quite simple too …. there are very few, if any, purely evil acts. There are a great many more evil intentions. It really doesn't matter what you do … what really matters is why you do what you do.
Some say that it's wrong to curse another being. So, what if that being is causing genocide somewhere in the world … is it wrong to do what can be done to make them stop? Any such act is negative magic … it is going against the will of that individual. The truth is that compelling with force is much more likely to achieve an immediate result than nudging someone to change their heart. If we're bleeding, we aren't going to eat vegetables that promote clotting … we're going to put pressure on the wound. If someone is committing great harm, pressure needs to be put to bear to stop that. Then, when the danger is over, we might nudge their hearts into compassion. If doing nothing, or doing little will result in greater harm for more people, then doing nothing, or doing little, is the wrong approach at the time.
Likewise, blessing an individual with, say, prosperity, might seem always a good thing to do. But if we are doing so, merely so that we can take advantage of them later, then that blessing itself is an act of evil.
The pure and simple truth is that there is no such thing as black and white magic. Damh the Bard puts it best in his song Green and Grey. “if evil exists, then it exists in the heart of men”. Any act, evil simply within and of itself , is exceedingly rare. Evil exists in intention.
Now I'm not saying to go out and find a group that advertises rapid advancement in Left Hand practices. But I am saying that any group that seeks to bar or ban outright any talk of Left Hand pathwork or curses or other such concepts, is probably doing so because they aren't fully prepared to talk about such concepts. There are a lot of groups that are begun by people who are, quite frankly, new to paganism. There are a lot of books that will tell you that curses are forbidden in Wicca or that they are always evil, that you'll always receive threefold back what you cause another.
Again I'll mention though, that the Rede, “An it harm none, do what thou wilt” doesn't tell us to never cause harm, but to always seek the path of the least harm. To stand by when another is causing harm that you have the ability to stop or prevent … that, in and of itself is causing harm. Don't be afraid of a teacher just because you hear them mention bindings or curses. Judge their character. Ask them about this. Discussion of these acts doesn't mean that a person is immoral or evil. It might be uncomfortable for you, and that's ok. Maybe you won't perform curses … that's fine too. But just don't be too hasty to judge. Don't necessarily base your opinion of a teacher on this fact alone.
In the end, a pagan faith is all about finding our own power. To some people, that simple word “power” is intimidating. We've grown and been raised in a culture where power is relegated to a few special privileged people. The President or ruler of our country has power. Many people in our governments have power. Some special executives of large companies wield a great deal of power. And then there are a very few special people who exude great authority and power, even if they appear somehow humble or meek. But the average person can't have a great deal of power.
Well, the lesson that a pagan faith is trying to convey is that WE ALL HAVE POWER. We can all, to some extent, possess the authority that those people we admire possess. We gain this power by becoming masters of our own lives.
I remember years ago seeing this woman at an event that I went to. Wherever she was, she was visible … she stood out. She was incredibly beautiful, but looking at her closely, there was nothing that made her so. She “owned” the space she was in, but looking closely, didn't appear in any sense exceptionally larger or stronger than anyone else. She exuded strength and confidence, but it was impossible to point to any physical quality that made her so.
This is where a pagan faith can bring about changes in our lives... we learn that we need never play the passive sheep. We always have choices, and we always have the ability to be in control. The only time we become the unwilling victim is when we choose to become so. This isn't to say that no strong pagan will ever encounter difficulties, but we will always possess OPTIONS.
The air of confidence sends a strong message to everyone who sees us. That woman I met exuded confidence and beauty because these were qualities she possessed. This is true integrity … who she was inside infused her being and became a tangible quality of her being on the outside.
This isn't something that happens overnight. If you're a shy person coming into paganism, you aren't going to be instantly transformed to an individual who's outgoing and socially confident. But you will find the tools to become so, and more.
I once worked for a small company and had a lot of work to do in New York City. My boss went there a few times, and almost always had issued. Once someone tried to steal his tool case from him. Another time resulted in someone trying to steal his wallet. But whenever I went there, it was a pleasant trip for me. There were two differences: Firstly, I try not to stand out. I didn't go there with a shiny metal attache-style tool kit. Instead I carried my tools in a backpack. It serves the same purpose, but doesn't attract attention. But the second thing was that I was confident. I wasn't worried that I'd be attacked. I was aware of my surroundings, but not looking over my shoulder. I didn't appear vulnerable to any would-be attacker or to someone looking for an easy score.
But I'm not always that comfortable today. The situations are different. I'm re-learning that confidence, but it's coming from a different place. Back when I was working for that company, the confidence came from having studied martial arts and having just left the military. It was a physical confidence. The confidence that I'm learning now comes from the spirit.
I'm learning today that I've been blessed by the god and goddess with certain gifts. I have an ability to communicate. I have an ability to care for people. I have an ability to love. What I'm learning is that these gifts are meant to be shared, and that's what I'm doing now. I'm learning that there are types of vulnerability that are good. I'm learning how to be confident … not because I can handle myself physically, but because I am simply not a threat or a target. I'm also learning how to stand up for myself and others, and learning that doing so doesn't mean that I ever have to fight.
That woman who impressed me those years ago was beautiful and confident and strong, and it all came from within her. The lessons I'm learning from paganism are teaching me that I can be that woman too.
Finding the right path, working with the right teachers, and more importantly, discovering what truly exists inside of you is what a faith that works will result in. What you'll develop is an inner confidence. The Charge of the Goddess states, near the end, “If that which thou seekest, thou findest not within thee, thou wilt never find it without. For Behold! I have been with thee from the beginning, and am that which is attained at the end of desire”. Everything we want, we'll find inside ourselves.
We come in search of teachers, looking for that one secret that will help us gain what we so deeply desire. But the best teachers are those who teach us that it's not they who have a secret for us, but rather that we already possess that secret. They are merely facilitators who help us to find what already exists within us.
Coming to paganism, we seek that great power and find that most of us won't be bending spoons with our minds … or learning how to levitate or walk on water. We discover that those we learn the most from aren't the charismatic and impressive, but the humble and gentle. We discover that good and evil may not be so easy to discern from each other, and finally, having sought power from others, we discover that the greatest power of all is something that has resided inside of us from the beginning.
This is truly a unique and amazing religion.