Category Archives: Pray

Durham Region Pagan Pride Day 2015 ~ Pray

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As we people gather ‘round, we mark this space our holy ground. East, South, West, North, and Spirits of place, we call you forth!

Gods, Goddesses and Deities, of earth air fire and sea; Grant blessings here, and harm to none and bless our work that will be done.

Well that was the way it was supposed to go!  I had the pleasure of leading the main ritual for this year’s Durham Pagan Pride Day. Usually the day has it’s challenges. Today was no exception. I completely forgot that I was vending, scrambled to make it all work and promptly realized that there was no way I’d be able to go home for my full ritual supplies and come back.

Thankfully MY community stepped up, stepped in and got everything going right for me.

While many are thanking me for main ritual, I wish to thank everyone who came out, supported the event, bought from vendors, helped set up and take down. My thanks to the local coordinator, Kat who made sure that I didn’t roast in the sun!  I also want to thank my sister in spirit Lady Charissa and the Pagan Business Network for their contributions, ideas, support and general cheerleading! See, that was the gist of what the main ritual was all about.

I had pretty words all set up for it, too! Here are all the pretty words. I said most of them! I swear!

(I had the wreath set up ahead of time:)

Many pagans believe that we are all connected to each other – by energy, by faith, by commonality, by the myriad of deities that we honor. This connection is like a spider’s web.  This connection is like fine embroidered stitching. This connection is like a network of nerves in our brains. This connection is like a map of veins in our bodies. And like veins we all go back to the source, back to one main energetic place. You can call it what you will: Heaven, The Summerlands, The land of the dead, another plane, another reincarnated life or back to the earth from which we came.

(This is where we strung three different lengths if ribbon around the participants. Some were looped. All were told to hang on to the ribbon.)

And yet, though we have this connection we are divided.

( Some were short, some long, some ended up with two or three pieces.)

We are divided by the different pantheons we honor. We are divided by the ways we honor Deity. We are divided by the songs we sing, the way we dance, and the magic we work. We are divided by the distances between us and our holy places, the distance be us and our chosen kindred and even by the festivals we can actually attend.  We are even divided by those who can proudly claim their faith in public and those cannot for fear of unwarranted persecution.

Look at your ribbon, a representation of your connection to your deity and your people.  Each of you honors Deity and your kindred a different way.  Each of you can feel cut off from the source, alone, dealing with things you believe that no one can even comprehend.  We all know this is far from the truth.

 

I have spoken to quite a few classes at Durham College about what it means to be pagan.  For me, at it’s roots it means to spiritually survive, to connect to Deity and community the best you know how.  To  know that when we feel divide, all we have to do is reach out and make a connection. No we don’t wait for things to happen to us. I don’t know about you but my deities remind me that faith without work is dead. I can lift my voice in prayer, then I lift my butt and get it in gear.

(I showed them the wreath.)

Plain Wreath

You’ve seen and worked on a wreath like this before.  However, this time, we will do something different. Look down at your ribbon, let a small amount your energy flow into it.  Let those who are able come forward, and tie their ribbon to the wreath and to each other, to make the connection again to Deity.  You can weave your ribbon through the vines making sure that your ribbon ties onto another one to be secure.  You can ask for help!  You can work  together!  You can tie your ribbon to only one or entwine it with others.  All that matters is that you know that you are not alone and your community stands with you. If you are unable, will bring the wreath to you.

(We made sure everyone  was included.)

Working Together

Folk of Durham Region Pagans. This has been a very different ritual for Pagan Pride Day.  We have celebrated the simplest and most holy of who and what we are – energetically connected to the Source, to Deity and to each other. That is truly magic.

 

 

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Gentle folk, this is your Community Wreath – a representation of all that we are and can be.  I will take this wreath with me to any pagan event I go to, to represent those who cannot be there  and that those who wish to add their energy may do so.

 

Gentle folk is this acceptable?

(Thank the gods they said yes!)

 And yet,  even I can’t be everywhere. I propose that should there be an event that I cannot attend, the organizer contact me to have the wreath present, tie on more ribbons, to make more energy connections and then return it to me.

Gentle folk is this acceptable?

(Another yes!)

This is where we all empowered the wreath with our energy. It was amazing, awe inspiring and fantastic. What can I say?

It’s different in Durham! We’re a community, maybe divided by our paths, yet we are all connected through community!

smilingfaces

God Hopping & Spell Casting ~ Pray

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In my first decade as a witch, I’ve seen some things.  Some of it blows my mind. Here’s one:
Many pagans, young and old, of all cultures have patron deities, the one or two gods that they feel shapes their spiritual and mundane lives.  I, too, have patron deities that I  am devoted to solely.
Now this is where I start scratching my head.
Few pagans of any flavor have gone without casting a spell of some kind – hex, blessing or curse.  Every one of us has been in a spot where we have to use our gifts to enact change on some level. However many wiccan/witchy spells from a myriad of sources (cough *the internets * cough) have the practitioner working with gods they don’t normally petition or have a mutual relationship of any sort. Candle
Umm what?
If you need to ask a favor, do you call on your family and friends? People who know you and can trust you? Or do you ask a celebrity that doesn’t know you from a hole in the ground?  Yes, yes, I’m sure the “Love and Light” brigade will take me to task for this. However, not everything is love and light when it comes to our deities and everyday life.
I am sure that a spell for love would work great by calling on the the great goddess Aphrodite. Since I don’t work with Her, what is Her incentive to answer my plea? Some offering that was dictated in a book and put out only a payment of services rendered?  Yeah – NO.
The real lesson here? If your spells aren’t working, there’s a reason. Do you have a relationship with the gods or spirits you call on? If not? Well there’s your sign to start again.  Develop some kind of relationship with the deity you’re calling on or don’t call on them at all.
What about  your own deities? Why can’t your own guides help? These are some great questions that you can answer. What are you experiences?
Rev. Terrie

It’s a SMALL world ~ Pray

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I often joke about having a class or series of posts about things the books don’t teach you about being pagan. Here’s one of those gems.

Your pagan community is actually small. Really really small.

Small World

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forget the distance on a map or the number of members in a group. It’s all the active members, you know, the 15 people who do everything, that make up your community. Guess what? They know everything and possess extremely long memories.  Know what else? They know key members in other pagan communities across the globe. See where I’m going with this?

The caveat is here: When working on any project or within any group, you really should be on your best behaviour. The people you work with in mundane tasks and magic ones will remember every transgression, lie, and episode of rude behaviour you’ve ever done. More than likely they’ll never say a word to you directly. However, you’ll find that you don’t get invited to parties or events any more and possibly shunned at public events.

Oh, and saying “Blessings” or “Namaste” after every message doesn’t get you points either.

Just do good work, say good words and make good magic!

Rev. Terrie

Reactions from the Radio – Pray

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On the Pagan Variety Show (December 16, 2013), we touched on the perpetrated stereotype of Poor Pagans.  Pagan leaders see it and grouse about it all the time. There is no “Wiccan Hospital” or “Pagan Recreation Center” because “Pagans don’t have money.”

Poor

I call shenanigans.  (I actually called it something else but you get my gist.)

Pagans have money.  Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking otherwise.

We know the story.  There’s an artisan doing what they love as they sell their wares.  Along comes someone who says they really want to support the artisan, but they just can’t afford to spend “that kind of money” on the item. The artisan folds and makes a compromise to either give an item or lower the price.  You can imagine the fury when the artisan sees that same person who cried poor mouth walking along with an item from a different vendor – that was three times the cost, with a large coffee from TimHo’s  or BuckStars and a fresh pack of cigarettes.

Annoying.  Frustrating.

 

Nice Suit. Empty Pockets

It’s like this for the event and group leaders as well. Yes, our guests all claim they can’t afford to drop five bucks in the offering bowl because things are tight. Those same guests will be more than happy to tell you about their new cloak, crystal ball or the dollars they dropped on a new drum.

Insert other expletives here ___________ .

Let’s look to the “well to do” religious cultures to see what they are doing to see how *they* manage to sustain the finances of their faith.

Everyone is quick to look (and point fingers) at what is the “blanket” Christian religion.  Big churches? Check.  Maybe not a big church, but the old building has been fully restored? Oh yeah. Choir robes?  Yup. Daycare centers? Sigh. Day camps and summer camps? Some, yeah.  Leader (priest, pastor, reverend, etc . ) that drives a decent to really nice car, roof over their head and delivers service to the community with a smile and a joyful noise?  Checkity Check Check.

But there are two things that no one wants to see:  1: the congregation dutifully and consistently putting money in the offering plate;  2. The countless man hours of all the volunteers,  knitting circles, paint crews, carpenters, drivers for the invalids and others who give their time and skill for their faith.

Handful of Money

That’s called faith financial responsibility and hard work.   If you aren’t scared of that? Let’s keep talking.

Give

Yes.  Most of the bigger “religions” have fostered, cajoled, or even demanded that their flocks and congregations tithe and give generously.  For those who can math, that’s at least 10% off their net income.  Sure, they can break it down to monthly and weekly payments   offerings.  However, they give, no whining, no wheedling, no compromises.  And yes, there are times when even those who are part of a bigger group fall on hard times.  I have seen it with my own eyes how a person gave over 10% of their unemployment check or a portion of the food purchased with social assistance “for those who are in need.”

Puts those Poor Pagans to shame at times, doesn’t it?  Enjoying that coffee while your brother and sister pagans need food, a lift to the doctor or some help with ?

Yeah.  Well, It doesn’t have to stay that way.  So what can we do about it?  The answer is both simple and hard.

We, as leaders, must learn to foster a culture of giving and generosity.  My local druid grove, DLG, makes no bones about it. They state their financial expectations of guests upfront.  What?  There is NOTHING wrong with that.  Even for my own Shrine, I state upfront, what is financially expected of those who attend. Just giving that little bit, yes giving up an impulse buy a week or budgeting in the donation helps. That little bit helps keep the doors open and the candles lit.

Saving Money

That doesn’t mean the participants are off the hook.  We, as guests, participants, members, and staff remember that there is no free lunch – EVER.  We, as guests, should be thankful that the leaders are stepping up and offer our assistance – even if we know it will be refused.

And we should always say “thank you.”

Thank You

Goodbye

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AlohaToday I bid farewell to a pagan group for POC Wiccans.  The reasons why are things I both need to discuss with others yet  would rather eat worms than do so.  The primary reasons for me leaving are as follows:

1. Posts that quickly descended into little more than accusations of racism – complete with out of context quotes.  Nothing says “I am one with my personal Deity” like links to white supremacist sites, clearly biased opinion articles or the like where the reader is offended and thinks the authors are racist.  Add in comments “OMG! Lookit! They  is so wrong!  So much damn hate! Say is Sistahs and Brothas!”  and you have what’s been going on in this group for a while.  In the long run, I can ignore this kind of thing.  However, it gives the WORST impression to newcomers.  These kind of attention grabbing posts did little more than stir up the latent and ingrained feelings prejudice within the members.

Yes. I said it. PREJUDICE.  Slinging out the words “racist” and all its forms short circuited the brains of all who commented. Angry comments, hurt feelings and all out denunciation followed. Those commenters dug up the feelings and anger they were taught to have against anyone who looked to impugn their rights and splashed in in the comment boxes. Then they all patted themselves on the back for being Good Black People. Yes. They did indeed act in prejudiced ways, firstly by not bothering to read beyond the article or site in question.  Secondly, by pausing to determine if the particular forum was the correct place to vent their thoughts.  Thirdly, by reacting without thinking, falling back to what their former and current peers taught them – which anyone who was not of their skin color was in the wrong- easily.

People. This isn’t  Fox News. There is no call for anything like that in a spiritual group.   We all know that there will be hatred in the world we live in – no matter how much love we put out there.  Dredging up inappropriate content – my gods, racism of all freaking things – in a spiritual group is uncalled for in any situation. Strike one.

2. When the above happened  repeatedly, the admins did nothing.  That’s not true. They added fuel to the fire by becoming part of the angry mob of commenters.  They were right quick to shut down anyone who wanted to advertise their wares or services within the group.  But stamping out these clear attempts to stir up drama?  What message are they giving as spiritual leaders?  As administrators of this group, they are in fact spiritual leaders.  What message are they sending? My view? It’s perfectly fine to play the race card to stir up hate, just don’t  to sell us something. It’s perfectly fine to let posts go completely off topic and to join in with fueling the fire of latent race fueled hate.

As administrators of these types of groups and spiritual leaders we have the responsibility to foster a safe space for all. That means nipping things like this in the bud before they become huge out of hand posts that span  and spam the entire group feed.  Yes.  It’s spam – posts that have nothing to do with the topic of the group.  The insult to injury?  I messaged one of the admins as I left to tell them, in much nicer terms, as to why I was leaving.  No response. Strike two.

3. This is the one that I don’t understand:  This was a Wiccan group.  Few, if any were actually Wiccan. These men and women paid lip service to the eight Wiccan Holidays and did their own thing – cramming in other gods, spirits, and deities into Wiccan practices and patting themselves on the back.

We’ll have the misappropriation discussion later.

This is what I have a problem with: Why in all the good green gods does one hide behind the Wiccan label when one clearly isn’t?  Want to do rootwork? Then do it. Be a rootworker and conjure /hoodoo master.  The world needs more of them!  Want  to honor the Orishas? Then do it. Follow the path of Ifa, Santeria, Voodoo and the like.  Self-proclaimed witch? Then do it. Work your spells and magic by your own rules.

People of all ways of life and thought  have fought to stand out from the shadows ignorance and predetermined labels. Why would anyone want purposely put himself or herself in place where they know they don’t belong?    Strike three. I’m outta there.

 

When I started on this path, I did my research.  I looked into Wicca, Asatru, Gardnerian, Alexandria, Correllian, Buddhism, Dianic, Native American – many tribal beliefs, Neo-Druidism, Celtic Reconstruction, Santeria, Ifa, Voodoo, Yoruban beliefs, Hellenic Reconstruction, Haitian Vodou (yes there is a difference), Rosicrucianism, Lucumí, Umbanda,  and Candomblé.  Those are just the ones I can account for at this time.   I wore a hole in my library card. I asked questions and flat out pestered everyone I came in contact with who was of a different belief system. I spent far too much money on books than I am comfortable admitting.  Let’s not taIk about buying duplicates. (One to keep, one to lend.)   I wanted to know.   I still want to know.  Don’t look at my bookshelf.

In all of this, I was able to make an informed choice. I knew what I was doing.  I came out of the broom closet. I can’t say I wasn’t proud, but I was and still am confident in my abilities.

I am an African American Wiccan and a  Priestess.   My Patron Deities are Celtic. I read and create Tarot.  I read and create runes and oracles.  I am an novice astrologer who can read charts.

I don’t hide behind any other label. I don’t need to point out faults in the perceptions of others. That Cheerios commercial was super cute, though. And the controversy around it ridiculous.

What I am is enough.  I deserve to be part of something be it a group, circle, coven, church , kindred or tribe where I am not ashamed of what is discussed, where I am encouraged and uplifted; and where I can become much more than myself.

It is my hope that you find a place like that as well.