Assumptions and all that carp

Don’t you love when you see things people post that make a broad statement about “everyone?”  Today I get home and peruse through status and see this one from Pagan Coalition:
A Pagan is a person who believes that everything has a soul or spirit. This is called Animism, and all Pagan religions share this common belief.Sun,Moon,Stars,Planets,Elements, Rivers,Animals, Rocks, Trees,as well as People, are all filled with there own unique spirits. Traditionally, Christians believe that only humans have souls or spirits.

Really.  So, let me see if I can decipher this mess.  ALL pagans believe everything has soul or spirit. ALL pagans are Animists. ALL pagans believe in the universe as a whole, sun, moon, trees, rocks, etc.  Christians believe ONLY humans have souls.

So, let’s go through these shall we?   Do ALL pagans believe everything has a soul or spirit?  It depends on one’s definition of the word “pagan” I think, but quite a few of us do. But there are many that are Pantheistic(which is similar) , and some are totemic.  So to lump us all under ONE definition is to my personal opinion, assuming way to much.

On to the next little jewel that ALL pagans believe in the universal of sun, moon, trees, et al.  No.  We don’t.  Some of us do not even involve nature at all into our path.  Some do not abide by timing of the moon, sun or any other planetary bodies.  We don’t all go out and commune with nature, hugging trees, picking flowers, collecting rocks and twigs.   I might have a few elements of nature in my path because of the herbs, elements and timing, but saying that ALL of us believe that way ….I call bullshit!

Last but certainly not least is the “Christians believe only humans have souls or spirits”.  Now soul and spirit are often used interchangeably by many.  But in certain faiths, it is applied to the incorporeal essence of a person.  Many secular faiths believe it to contain the real essence of that person, as in the case of one “going to heaven” .  But Christians are not alone in their belief that humans alone possess a soul.    In fact, Judaism, B’hai faith, Orthodox churches also believe that way.  Buddhists believe in a transient state..We are always in a state of flux.  Taoism says humans have two souls, hun and po, yin and yang…So to specifically state and imply that Christians alone believe that humans have soul is again a crock of shit.

So why post an all encompassing one size fits all, everyone is alike kind of definition?  It makes no sense. Confuses the hell out of the little fluffmuffins wandering around trying to find their “truth” and destination.  Why not tell them the truth?  Tell them that we don’t all believe the same.  some of us have a traditional path that has a set dogma and structure, while others have a combination of UPG and knowledge gained through study and exploration.  We are Not all the same, nor do we believe that way.  the main reason many of us walk a pagan path is that we hate structure and rules.  The secular faiths did nothing for us so we came seeking something that speaks to us personally.  We don’t all fit into the same hole.  so personally, I want pagan groups in general to stop trying to speak for one and all because we are all diverse, coming at this from our own perspective, and while some generalities might be true, as a whole, it does not fit.  So stop with all the bullshit and try a little truth for a change.  Who knows? You might actually like that view in the mirror for a change.

DEUCES

And the dance continues

Sometimes it is amazing that one receives validation from various places when you are not looking for them.  Such has been my case the past week.  Hell has been calmer, I’ve worked hard enough to get a 3 day weekend, and then there are the little things,, such as the feeling of getting water flicked at my face for attention, when there is no water near or anyone else for that matter, birds that aren’t usually out when I leave for work are suddenly swooping in front of the car as if they lead the way for me.  Even messages left for me from friends give me direction .  While things around me are a little shuffled, and I have had several tell me since my health issues to step away, leave it to others, I stood still.  To catch my breath for one, but mostly to listen…really listen to the messages from those who have always guided me well.So today when I was awakened by the little girl who brightens my days and her just as hyper dog, I realized that my knee was extremely sore.  If I put it to the mundane,  I could have dismissed it as an overuse this week, but in truth, that was normal thing for me. Or I could say it’s going to rain so bothers the arthritis there, but that too is normal.  So why do I believe it is something else?  Because I was traveling last night. To a place that welcomes me every time I have need to go. I was in the swamp. Not too far from where the cabin sits, but not in Brin’s clearing.  This was a special place,  confined and enclosed within the moss hanging from the Mangrove trees. I sat in the bottom of the boat as it was steered closer.  I could smell herbs as they wafted on the breeze, feeling the energy flow over and around me, embracing me as it pulled me closer.  As I began to come into the bank, I could feel it.  The rhythm of the drums.  They seemed to call my name in welcome and I was eager to be within the confines of the circle.   I pulled my cloak around me and stepped onto the earth which seemed to pulse with life in time to the drums which  gathered me  in and pull me closer.  As I reached the outer edges of the circle, I could see those who guide me, counsel me and sometimes chastise me when I’m not listening.  Their ceremonial garb and painted sigils tell me that this is no ordinary dance..this is more like corroborree, full of ceremony, ritual,…special circumstances.  As I step in, I am met by Maman, who hugs me warmly and whispers to me that she is glad that I have decided to come.  As if I had a choice I think….”you always have the choice” was the response.  There are others in this circle that are important party of my path and I am welcomed in as an equal.  Equal?  No fucking way am I equal to them! And yet the answer I hear is that we are equal…its human nature to place the divider…there are rules for some that are not in place for others, and they are the conduit to do the work necessary.  All the while the drums have been low, just seeming to vibrate, but now their song of knowledge, magic, protection and love is getting louder, sweeping over the clearing, embracing one and all there.  My feet seem to twitch at a long forgotten dance, one that has not been done for some time.  I feel the heat on my hand and the sigil there seems to glow as if to reassure me, and I feel a hand take mine.  I look into familiar eyes and smile, and so we begin to dance.  Twisting, twirling, turning with the beat of the drums moving through us as if we are non corporeal beings  and are one with the energy flow.  Time has no meaning in the elsewhere so I could not tell you how long the night lasted.  What I can tell you is that I awoke this morning smiling, feeling more at peace than I have in some time and aside from the knee’s small complaint this morning, I feel refreshed enough to know that walking away is not an option, because I would lose part of who I am.  

ORIGINAL THOUGHTS? ANYONE?

I’m beginning to feel more than a little frustrated really at reading some of the pagan groups as of late.    They all seem to be of one coven:    Copy/Pasters of the Unimaginative, Uninformed Fae of the Great Beyond. Yeah, can smell all that glitter from here.

In truth, it’s frustrating, both to the authors themselves and to others who want accurate information.   The lines are blurred as to what will and will not go when it comes to posting, even though there are documents detailing such..many aren’t aware or get confused as to what they should do.   So my thought is that its better to err on the side of caution and assume everything is protected, and source it back with links.  Much less headache that way.  But people being people, are invariably lazy  or need that ego boost of “look what I found/know” and copy everything they can put their little mouse on.  Sometimes they even have the audacity to post it as their own works.  And yet, if you were to ask if they would consider stealing in the mundane, you would get a resounding “NO”! The problem is that for many, they do not feel as if they are stealing, because “hey if it’s on the net, it must be free right?” I know that in a secular world, people sit up right quick when their works are compromised by theft, but in the pagan realm it seems like that people think that if it’s out there, then share away.  I’m not sure why they feel so, other than the thinking that we are mostly outside the box from the start so no need to stick to what is the norm for most people.  I don’t know if it’s because I’ve suddenly taken a good look at what is going on, talking with those who write and are working to change this , or that it’s taking off on a life on its own.  It just seems like something new every day.  Some new site, group, page, whatever,that is just full of unsourced material.  It makes my head hurt to think about it really.  I cannot even begin to think about how those who write for a living must feel when they see their work splashed all over without even a credit given.

I don’t even have any answers for this mess either.  The logical one would be to read up on copyright laws and keep informed as to what one can share legally, or just give a summation and link back to the author.  As for those who still belong to the coven of copy/paste…a word of advice….STOP!  It doesn’t make you look smarter, give you any street cred should your deceit be found out(and it will because unlike some school of thought, the pagan world isn’t as large as it once was)…and it can cause you great legal issues should you not do the right thing.

DEUCES

Hey soul sister!

I’ve been trying to behave this week.   I’ve not done  not a lot of ranting, kept the blood pressure in its proper sphere, and just watched the discussions as they move past.  I’ve even posted on a few…just enough to keep me awake and involved, not enough to have a relapse.  But one has caught my attention, that has always been one of my pet peeves, so I am going to stroke it today.

Why is it that one  thinks they  can assume a “familial” connection to someone,  and call them “brother” or “sister” from the outset?   It happens quite often, especially online. Too often I see people who come into groups, chat or otherwise and when they address others, it is as “sister” or “brother”.  I have major issues with this.  Let me see if I can count down the ways that it bothers me: First, I have a biological sister..one is enough.  Second, this word implies a familial connection, closer sometimes than blood kin. I have people like this in my life and I cherish them…but they were chosen with care, NOT on a whim.  Third, it implies that we are like-minded individuals holding the same beliefs and practices. While we may have  some similarities, since I am not in a traditional coven setting, this would be highly unlikely.  Fourth, it smacks of a pretentious hypocrisy that assumes quite a bit about our “relationship”….news flash!  We DO NOT have one! Especially if you have just now arrived in said group, we have never spoken, and do not interact outside of one thread.  There is no soul connection, nothing spiritual between us, nada, nothing zip!

Maybe I have this peeve as a holdover from a christian view on life? I did walk that way once until I began seeking things for myself and stopped trying to fit in with society’s view of what I should be.  People in a secular faith frequently call each other sister/brother because they ARE in a like minded setting, connected to one another in their beliefs.  It is another extension of setting themselves apart from those who walk differently, or “worse” don’t believe at all.  So perhaps in thinking on my issue with this, it stems from some of this.

Someone in a group setting says that they see this as a term of endearment.  Really?  I am used to hearing all sorts of such endearments living here in the south, from “Hon, Honey, Sweet Pea, Sweetie, Dear, Darlin’, but the sister/brother thing is usually a secular one and not done for the masses, so am just not a fan. I’ll choose my own familial connections thanks.  I’ll  make my own connections to souls that I consider closer than family, love and most importantly…RESPECT for their views, their humor, their knowledge.  They and ONLY they would be the ones I’d ever address with a familial term, but none of us are prone to doing so because we just aren’t in that type of mindset.  We know the value of one another without making a show out of the connection.   That type of connection is not an act friends, nor does it need shouted from the rooftops making everyone aware of said link.  To do otherwise just cheapens it in the eyes of others and with that said….just this once, I’ll give a shout out to tribe, even though they know the emotional ties… I am grateful for each and one of you, and if I ever forget to tell you(not that will happen anytime soon), I love and respect you all.  Ok, enough sappy shit and back to the usual channel of snark 😉

DEUCES

Fluff and fold

Sometimes there are things that make one just want to shake your head.  It’s either mind blowing in its whatthefucktiveness, or in  its stupidity.  Sometimes its a little of both.
The other day I was reading on a group of christian wiccans.  Yeah, oxymoronic is my thought as well, but they seem to think they can make it work.  I don’t see how because christianity is monotheistic, and wiccans allow for god and goddess , so would violate the doctrine and dogma of the christian faith as it is practiced now.  So how people can justify walking both sides of the street I have no clue.  It doesn’t make sense to me and seems fluffilicious at best.
So today’s absurdity is some man-child in a pagan group with real issues.   He first was upset because a friend thinks he is bi-sexual and had given him a hard time for it.  Seriously?  What does it matter if she decides to comment on your sexuality? Would being Bi be the worst thing that could happen to you? Are you a closet homosexual and afraid to come out?  No shame in that..happens to a lot of people. But unfortunately said man-child whined about his friend’s observation.  He also apparently got pretty angry about it because his next post was about wanting a “death spell”.  Now after group owner had asked for a “kindler, gentler” type of pagan(good luck with that one among those who know their shit and are tired of fluff), said man-child posts this nonsense in a group that for the most part speaks with knowledge and in a no holds barred kind of tone.    Yeah, this post went on a downward spiral almost from the get, with many of us upbraiding his stupidity.  His response?  He told someone to “go to Hades”!  Really.  I don’t know exactly what path this man-child walks, although he has mentioned a war-god, although I think that has to be based on his RP game playing, and not in the mundane.  So since he obviously did not mean it to reference the lord of the dead and netherworld of Greek reference, I took it mean the locale.  Makes me want to roll my eyes, since it is a christian construct, not one that pagans believe in (unless one counts those aforementioned christian wiccans I guess).  It all boils down to that this is a kid, who thinks its cool to be a playgan and incorporate RP games into ones path as if they are real.  Workings to harm others are not for the faint of heart, nor are they to be entered into on a whim or just because you are mad at someone that will blow over by the end of the day.  My suggestion?  Grow the hell up and act like the adult you are pretending to be.  I know you are young, but seriously, to walk among adults, speak on adult topics and be taken seriously on your path, then stop acting like an ass cricket and start learning some real knowledge (other than the WB that came with your video game).
It’s crazy really that no matter how many times you see things like this it makes you feel like doing a double take.  How  some people are able to operate in the mundane is beyond my realm of thought.  They seem to  go from pillar to post and find every piece of flufftastic garbage they can stuff in their little knapsack.  Seriously people…grow the hell up!  You make the toddlers look extremely intelligent compared to the shit that comes out of your mouths.  It really won’t cause you irreparable damage to open a book, study some history or speak with knowledgeable people.  It might even do you some good.  At least you won’t look so absurd to others when you do speak.  And that is always a bonus.

It’s not my job

Wow, nothing like a health scare to get one to thinking about priorities huh?  My apologies to the kith and kin who were alarmed at my mini vacation this week into realms of doctors, hospital rooms and tests.  Yeah I’ll live..sorry to the prey who were expecting a reprieve of sorts.  Anyway, I’ve done some thinking while  on that enforced hostage situation and have come to a conclusion.  Basically, it’s not my job.  It’s not my job to teach those who wander around lost as a goose, moving from group to group seeking spellwork, gathering, collecting people as if they were shells on the beach.  It’s not my job to correct their chicken little attitude of the end of the world befalling them when they believe in some made up meme on Facebook.  It’s not my job to show them the error of their ways just because I might know the answer.  We all have other things going on in our lives and if we play the serious card all the time and try and dissect information meant as as humor, then we add to the cacophony and truthfully, I am just tired of trying to do that any more.  It is not my job and try and “save” everyone from the error of their ways.  You know the universe is interested in balance.  Sometimes you get a meal, other times you are one.  By stepping in to rearrange things for others, I might be shifting the balance and that of course is just not my job. So I’m going to do my best and take better care of myself, and while I will share with others…don’t expect the full plate you’ve always been served..you will need to go elsewhere for that, because after all……It’s not my job.

 

DEUCES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNCOMMON ETHICS

You know this past weekend has been a major blur of accusations, plagiarism, and impersonations as well as lies and theft.  Wow..what a lot of bullshit huh? We have people lying by omission by not crediting authors’s works and posting them as their own, lifting whole posts from psychology reports for a class, trying to impersonate people to gain access to their personal space through others.  Where in the hell are the ethics of these people?  Did their mothers not teach them that one simply does not take what is not theirs?  Seriously how hard is it to give credit for something they share?  Instead they continue to go along as if they simply did nothing wrong, in their desire to “share” with others.  The others of that same group seem to feel that they too having kicked the person out and removed or given proper credit, and it should just die down.  Really.  Calling others who pointed out the problem liars, trouble makers, swearing at them and claiming “it’s on the net so no harm no foul” then banning the ones who came to speak out is ethical as well I suppose? and the rhetoric continues with the thumping of chests, and a “let’s see who is the better witch” kind of thing…WANDS AT 10 PACES!!! Umm..people, this isn’t Harry fucking Potter…and while there can be things done to kick others asses, might want to check that ego and see who you are fucking with before opening the mouth.  Sometimes it’s just better to accede defeat and do the right thing without spewing all the rhetorical bullshit.
I’m a control freak(ya’ll already know that), and rarely post workings or spellwork anymore due to having been involved with a group previously that fell apart and absconded with my writings.  But this blog is my baby, to write out emotional storms, dreams , rants and other various musings, so it kind of made me do a double take when someone tried to gain access to it.  The person knew just enough to contact someone to try for a password, but it failed of course because when one has layers of protection…they work.  Amazingly the timing was in the middle of myself and others speaking up for another author, and I don’t believe in coincidences.  So for that person reading this(and I know you will)…pay attention because I will only say this once.  I am not one of those love and light people who believe in the glittery fluff and rainbows.  I love walking in the shadows and speaking with whom I find there.  The blog has lojack. Yeah, that’s a  techy term for the little something that will cause your day to come unwound.  See?  Yhat is my personal  set of ethics.  Fuck with what belongs to me and things get a little stormy and your wheels will fall off that wagon of asscricketry you reside in.  So I hope this attempt was worth it, because what you have coming is probably not what you were hoping to gain.

I don’t understand why people feel the need to judge others based upon what they think they know or want to make themselves appear to be something they are not.  Labels and semantics aside, how people work, what they believe is mostly UPG.  We can all claim well, I follow such and such trad, but in the end, it comes down to your personal belief.  Even in strict traditions taught by people who have set beliefs, there will still be those on the fringe who offer things for a price even knowing that its all a fake.   It boggles my mind how wide spread this is actually. I hadn’t really paid much attention until lately, but have called others out for copy/paste in certain groups asking for source, or posting the link to source in the comment section in the past.  having had blogs lifted myself-for whatever reason I have no clue since I write nothing of importance really-I pay more attention now. It would be a nicer world if people all had a set code of morals and ethics I guess, but life isn’t like that is it? Kind of makes me yearn for a simpler time when people were true to their word and those who offered words, art etc to the universe were applauded and acknowledged.  Instead as time has moved on, it’s become more expedient to just pass off others belongings as your own and gain the rewards for yourself.  I don’t have an easy solution other than for those who write, to keep on speaking out, show your face to the world and add a lojack to the works just as an added protection…couldn’t hurt(well not us anyways), and for those who want to take the easy way out and take what doesnt belong to you or to excuse those who do, well…guess you will in the end get what you asked for in a manner of speaking…Hope you can live with that cause I won’t lose any sleep myself 🙂
DEUCES

Gift or curse of empathy

Empathy can be a two-edged sword sometimes.  We feel the vibrations of energies around us and most of the time are capable of dealing with things.  Sometimes though, we let the guard slip for those closest to us and it is their pain that fills us, covers us.  Such was this case this morning  as a sister friend was doing some soul searching.  The pain in my heart woke me, and I cried as the emotions washed over me.  I cannot help her direction, give all the answers she seeks(she wouldn’t thank me for being spoonfed anyway), but I can allow her to use the energy she needs to find stable footing.

Sometimes I am asked about the ability to read/feel/taste energies and how I can deal with that.  short answer is:sometimes I can’t.  Even with shields in place, they will sometimes resonate so strongly that they will still find a way to connect. The best way for me to deal with them is to find a place to allow that to pass through and ground and shield myself once more.  I’ve always been able to do this sort of thing.  Until I actively began research into it, I didn’t know what to call it.  It was always just a “knowing”.  I would be able to read people maybe because I watch more than I step out into the circle of conversation.  It’s a protection skill set.  The feeling, tasting of energies..that came later.  Believe me when I say that I could have done without the last one.  Some people have such a rancid taste that I literally gag, so I try and not connect to deeply with others. It’s difficult to do with those close to us though. We tend to let down the walls of those we love and care about, so they are able to hit us hard(it’s why family can push those buttons).

So how does one protect ones’s self from the excess energy flow? Shield and more shields.  When I work I like to layer correspondences, from color, timing, herbs, incense, deity, it’s much the same as I shield.  I layer that protection. Different types from everything from webs to chants.  They all have a purpose and are there to back the other parts up.  I never go unshielded, even online. I know people who scoff that energy flow cannot be felt..I beg to differ.  I learned to increase that level with practice, and with that experience came expanded gifts, so I shield.  I’m a control freak anyway, from privacy to work, everything has to be a certain way.  I prefer it and can get a little OCD when things are changed. So shielding is necessary for me.  does it work?  again short answer is :Most of the time.  Sometimes I cannot escape the connection from those I care about, but then again, it’s why there is love and respect there between us..no barriers.

For those with this particular gift/curse(depending upon how you see it).  Take care of yourself, protect yourself at all times and keep working on the expansion of self.  It’s worth it.

STOP THIEF!!!

I’ve been looking today online(FB where else would I be?), and of course as is usual, there comes to everyone’s attention of someone lifting whole blogs by someone else with no accreditation back to the author, but instead is posted without link back and as an original work.
Stop…THIEF!!! Yes you are. A Thief!
Anytime you post something and do not give proper credit, it is plagiarism…To claim it as your own, or even if you received it from everyone else, is wrong.  You have deprived others of knowing the original author and gaining insight from their perspectives and knowledge.  You have robbed them of all the energy and work they put into their work.  Shame on you!  There is nothing lower than a thief and a liar.  Yes..you are that as well.You do not give proper credit telling everyone about who you lifted the work in question from(in this case someone’s blog I enjoy reading very much), instead either slapping your own name to it or not naming an author at all.

Looking at your site, I see many inaccuracies about  paganism as a whole, pictures belonging to others, even works from Silver Ravenwolf(seriously?), so I’m guessing you have either not heard of the copyright infringement laws or care less.  A friend suggested that maybe you weren’t aware of them.  Ignorance of the law is not a defense(try it sometime in the mundane and see how far you get).

Maybe you think “well it’s a big pagan world so who is going to know where it came from”?  Wrong on all counts.  The pagan world is shrinking friend.  Check the friend lists on any given person you run into contact with.  See the mutual friends?  Well those friends have friends who have friends and so on, so eventually you begin to hear “It’s a small world after all” run through your head(my apologies to those who will have that looping through your head for a bit).  They in turn will notify everyone they see about your rip off and soon you will be right in the middle of one of the biggest pagan witchfuckings you would ever hope to experience, albeit from the opposite point of view you might have hoped for.

My suggestion, go back and offer apologies to those you stole from, post one on your page as well as your site, then go into each and everything you posted and credit where it came from.  If it was given to you, say so and tell whom….and then ask if someone knows where it originated.  Cultivate some ethics, and see how far you get in opening some of the doors you hang outside of, with your tongue hanging out hoping for some crumb from those you admire.  It’s worth a shot at gaining some respect, and might save you from the ass kicking you surely have coming your way.

DEUCES

SPOONFED NEED NOT APPLY

So I’ve been frequenting some of the pagan groups on FB.  Sometimes its informative, humorous, and interesting.  Other times it makes one want to stop and with  mouth agape yell WTF!!!!!!  such has been past couple days.  One member comes in with the intent to jump things off with her sanctimonious shit and make a statement that does provoke conversation and yet has a tendency to piss people off.  So the conversation centered around people joining groups and not posting when this individual makes the statement that people wont post if they are called names and put down, because their feelings are sensitive.  Oh whah!!! Are you not adult enough to man up and state your case?  If not, then how can you possibly claim to follow a spiritual path that is outside the societal “norms” ?  I agree that calling someone a name for making a statement can be a bullying tactic from those who will not listen to other’s point of view, but demanding that one give a source for the statement given (even UPG is a source ) is not a bad thing.  For one, it pushes people to look things up , expand their views and perhaps learn something new?  Too often I find that people walk around and will slap any label that strikes their fancy on themselves without any idea what that entails.  I find that irresponsible.  This is about your spiritual self.  why would you not take the time to learn something about it historically?  Any path can stand to have that happen…from the secular ones to those we scrabble together on our own.  If we claim to add some celtic into our path, don’t you think we should learn more about who they were?  Not just give lip service to their deities.  As for the one who is all about the “harm none” aspect.  Just how much harm does she feel people do to themselves without adding some honesty to that path?  They delude themselves into thinking they are being “mystical” when in reality they are lying to themselves.  If you cannot be honest with yourself, then who can? The asscrickets who wander around without a clue have plenty of fluff to read and buy from.  There are many unethical who walk around and will lead many sheeple into the abyss of which sometimes they may never get out of.  They will stay mired down in all the shit that has been tossed their way by others who should know better but care less..Now if that isn’t going against their own “harm none” I don’t know what is!  If you are going to lean a bit and share some insight with someone else. my personal opinion is that one should at least be factual about it.  If its UPG, say so..tell them, “well this is what I did and what I used, and what happened…now you may get different results, but you can try it and see what happens.”  How hard is that?  If you insist on going first this way then that, and you’re fine with it, then by all means do so.  Just don’t expect those who work at their spiritual self on a daily basis to hold your hand and feed  you, because we don’t have the time, the patience nor the inclination to do it all for you.  Grow a pair baby and be prepared to walk that path like a boss!

DEUCES