D stands for Degree & Discipline ~ Pagan Blog Project

I am relatively new to Wicca and Paganism. From my rather naïve view, I have discovered there are two camps when it comes to formal degrees and education. The first is the naysayers. They tell that you don’t need a degree from some school or tradition to be a functioning witch, Wiccan or what have you.   The second camp says that not only do you need a degree, but it must be formal and kept a secret.

Both of these camps have their merits and detriments.  However, that debate is not my focus today. My official stance is this: no you don’t need to have a degree – get one anyway.  It doesn’t matter what school or traditions you choose or if you stick with it past earning the degree. Why? That magical word that no one likes to hear besides the word “work;” it’s called discipline.

At its simplest, my argument is one of the mundane worlds. While no one actually needs to complete high school or any higher education past sixth grade, life is a lot easier if you do. When applied to the Wicca and Paganism in general, having some sort of formal education gives you the tools needed to discover a larger world – and weather the trials that world can throw at you.

So take a basic course at your local resource store.  Do the homework without anyone nagging you. If you’re too shy or can’t come out of the closet just yet, take an online course or go through the periods of self study with books.   You’ll be glad you did.

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Community Slacktivism ~ Pagan Blog Project

Today’s blog post isn’t about connecting to the Divine – whatever you conceive she, he or it to be. It’s about connecting to each other.

I’m  Wiccan – no surprise.  For now, I am solitary. As much as I enjoy my faith and my learning, it’s pretty darn lonely.  There are only so many “Blessed Be’s” I can take online and in emails that I can take before I snap. To combat the loneliness, I am active in my local pagan community. We’re a merry bunch of Druids, Lothloriens and eclectic pagans alike – until it comes to stepping up and leading.

The discussion went down something like this. After a meet and greet, I posted to our local group what we talked about in person. We aired out some of the misconceptions and misperceptions about who we are and what we want from our community. My challenge and question to them all: “What events and activities are you willing to support with your time or money?”

Well no one wanted to touch the money issue. I have a separate rant on that. But the time? Oh the time was a big one. “If you want me to help, just ask” was the big response.  To be fair, calls for volunteers for many of our events have gone out with few to answer.  So when the same six people who are running every event get burned out, the same tired question gets asked: “Why didn’t you ask me for help?”

My problem with this is twofold.  The first, if I had to ask each and every person for help in any project and wait for a response, I’d be waiting forever. The second, we as a community (both online and off) need to change how we support each other. Instead of saying “Ask me for help” why not show up and say “give me something to do?”

You can guess how well that went over. Lead balloon anyone? But it had to be said. For years, we as a people and pagan community love having events and community support. For years, we’ve had only a few people to step up to the plate and actually make these events and services happen. It doesn’t matter what kind of spell or charm you want to make – community events and services won’t happen without community support.

My challenge to all pagans reading this: Support your community with either your money or your time. If you’ve got money to buy a coffee, an order of fries or that neat new scrying mirror – you can give a few bucks to help fund a camping trip or pay for a hall for an open ritual.

And if you don’t have money? Show up and say “Give me something to do.” Even if it’s picking up garbage, stacking chairs or handing out a flyer promoting the service or event – it shows that your support your community and appreciate the people working hard for you.

To read more the Pagan Blogs go here.

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Ghost Story ~ Jim Butcher

It’s my day off.  I’ve slept late. My sweet husband made me breakfast. Then I took four hours out of my day and read Ghost Story.

Four Hours.

Right then. Harry is dead. No getting around that. The blurbs on the book are utterly correct. He’s got nothing – no power, none of his familiar resources, not even his damn cat. Do you actually think that will stop our Harry from doing the right thing? Yeah you right about that one.

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The Fire Rose ~ Elemental Masters 1 ~ Mercedes Lackey

I’m not sure why it took me so long to read this book and start the series. It could be that I have been a lifelong fan of Mercedes Lackey and, to be fair, very little can hold a candle to Valdemar and her inhabitants. And yet,  I was pleasantly and happily surprised with this book.

Lackey is an master story teller, giving just enough rich descriptions to fill your mind with wonder and just enough of a glimpse into each character’s heart that you can almost tell what they are going to do – until they shock you with their actions.   A few other things shocked me as well.

 

As most of you know, I am out of the broom closet. I was delighted to find loads of lovely references to many magickal ideas and ideals – that were for the most part true. Thank the gods somebody is getting it right!

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Not Everything Brainless is Dead ~ Joshua Price

This story has potential. Let me start off by saying that, so you’ll understand better why I also say you should read this at your own peril.

I attempted to read this book twice, and both times I couldn’t make it past page 15. The writer threw in anecdotes and asides that didn’t have any impact on the story as it was in those first pages. That he can turn a phrase and do so well isn’t really in doubt — the problem I have though is that the mini stories didn’t matter. If the ministory doesn’t matter, then don’t include it because the reader doesn’t care.

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