Read the story here:
Friday, August 13, 2010
Isaac Bonewits 1949 – 2010
I didn't check my e-mail last night after I came home from work, so I didn't find this out until just now. May he rest in peace. His work was influential, his talent, strong, and will be remembered fondly.
Read the story here:
Read the story here:
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Day 50: My First Tarot Quiz
Thursday 22 July 2010
Exam Results: 1 - Beginner's Tarot
Displayed below are the results of your exam. The correct answers have been highlighted in green.
| Q1 : The artist of the Rider/Waite Tarot was: | |
| A: William Rider | |
| B: Arthur Edward Waite | |
| C: Pamela Coleman Smith | |
| D: Pamela Colman Smith | |
The answer you gave: Pamela Colman Smith  | |
| Q2 : The Rider/Waite Tarot was first published in: | |
| A: 1910 | |
| B: 1901 | |
| C: 1911 | |
| D: 1900 | |
| The answer you gave: 1910 | |
| Q3 : The Golden Dawn was founded in: | |
| A: The 1980s | |
| B: The 1890s | |
| C: The 1880s | |
| D: The eighteenth century | |
| The answer you gave: The 1880s | |
| Q4 : The Waite/Smith deck is unusual in Golden Dawn influenced Tarots because: | |
| A: It was created by a man and a woman | |
| B: It has full scene illustrations throughout its Minor Arcana | |
| C: It readily reveals the Golden Dawn's teachings | |
| D: Because it is true to the Tarot of Marseille | |
| The answer you gave: It has full scene illustrations throughout its Minor Arcana | |
| Q5 : BOTA stands for: | |
| A: Builders of the Atrium | |
| B: Builders of the Adytum | |
| C: Builders of the Archive | |
| D: Builders of the Additum | |
| The answer you gave: Builders of the Adytum | |
| Q6 : BOTA was created by: | |
| A: Robert Wang | |
| B: Paul Foster Case | |
| C: Israel Regardie | |
| D: Jessie Burns Parke | |
| The answer you gave: Paul Foster Case | |
| Q7 : Before creating his Tarot deck Robert Wang discussed the Tarot with: | |
| A: Aleister Crowley | |
| B: Paul Foster Case | |
| C: Israel Regardie | |
| D: Sandra Tabatha Cicero | |
| The answer you gave: Israel Regardie | |
| Q8 : The artist of The Golden Dawn Magical Tarot was: | |
| A: Robert Wang | |
| B: Jessie Burns Parke | |
| C: Sandra Tabatha Cicero | |
| D: Frieda Harris | |
| The answer you gave: Sandra Tabatha Cicero | |
| Q9 : The artist of The BOTA Tarot was: | |
| A: Paul Foster Case | |
| B: Jessie Burns Parke | |
| C: Robert Wang | |
| D: Sandra Tabatha Cicero | |
| The answer you gave: Jessie Burns Parke | |
| Q10 : The artist of the Crowley Thoth Tarot was: | |
| A: Robert Wang | |
| B: Pamela Colman Smith | |
| C: Aleister Crowley | |
| D: Frieda Harris | |
| The answer you gave: Frieda Harris | |
| Q11 : In The Fool card the Sun is in the: | |
| A: North West | |
| B: North East | |
| C: South East | |
| D: East | |
| The answer you gave: North East | |
| Q12 : The Fool can be assigned to the Hebrew letter: | |
| A: Aleph | |
| B: Zayin | |
| C: Beth | |
| D: Mem | |
| The answer you gave: Aleph | |
| Q13 : Aleph means: | |
| A: Ox | |
| B: House | |
| C: Bread | |
| D: Bull | |
| The answer you gave: Ox | |
| Q14 : On his head the Fool wears: | |
| A: A laurel wreath | |
| B: A cap | |
| C: A crown | |
| D: A diadem | |
| The answer you gave: A laurel wreath | |
| Q15 : The Fool's red feather is the feather of the Egyptian goddess: | |
| A: Ma'at | |
| B: Nut | |
| C: Hathor | |
| D: Isis | |
| The answer you gave: Ma'at | |
| Q16 : Androgynous means: | |
| A: Both male and female | |
| B: Sexless | |
| C: Male | |
| D: Formless | |
| The answer you gave: Both male and female | |
| Q17 : The Fool carries a: | |
| A: White rose in his right hand | |
| B: White rose in his left hand | |
| C: Red rose in his left hand | |
| D: Red rose in his right hand | |
| The answer you gave: White rose in his left hand | |
| Q18 : The Magician has: | |
| A: Four tools on his table | |
| B: Three tools on his table | |
| C: Five tools on his table | |
| D: Two tools on his table | |
| The answer you gave: Four tools on his table | |
| Q19 : The Magician can be assigned to the Hebrew letter: | |
| A: Beth | |
| B: Mem | |
| C: Aleph | |
| D: Daleth | |
| The answer you gave: Beth | |
| Q20 : A serpent eating its tail is referred to as: | |
| A: The Dragon | |
| B: The Eternal One | |
| C: The Ring | |
| D: The Ouroboros | |
| The answer you gave: The Ouroboros | |
| Q21 : Hermes Trismegistus wrote: | |
| A: The Emerald Tablet | |
| B: The Book of Thoth | |
| C: The Rosetta Stone | |
| D: The Philosopher's Stone | |
| The answer you gave: The Emerald Tablet | |
| Q22 : Aleister Crowley wrote the maxim: | |
| A: As above, so below | |
| B: Love is the Law, Love under Will | |
| C: Each to their own | |
| D: Love is the Law | |
| The answer you gave: Love is the Law, Love under Will | |
| Q23 : The Fool can be attributed to the element of: | |
| A: Earth | |
| B: Air | |
| C: Fire | |
| D: Water | |
| The answer you gave: Air | |
| Q24 : Beth means: | |
| A: Door | |
| B: Home | |
| C: House | |
| D: Bread | |
| The answer you gave: House | |
| Q25 : Mercury is associated with the Egyptian god: | |
| A: Thoth | |
| B: Osiris | |
| C: Typhon | |
| D: Anubis | |
| The answer you gave: Thoth | |
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Common Misconceptions of Wicca
This is a list that my friends and I compiled of questions people have asked us when finding out that we are witches, pagans, Wiccans, heathens, et cetera.
Misconception: We can you fly
Truth: No.
The first time I was asked this, my response was (after laughing maniacally) “ARE YOU SERIOUS? Do I look like I can fly?” I cannot even walk two feet without tripping let alone fly. Now unless you are talking about sitting in an airplane, that is a different story. Of course, I fly. I prefer Delta though anything that gets me here the cheapest without killing me first is always a plus. But actual flying, no, unless I get a pilot license and buy a helicopter. And that'll never happen. I am afraid of falling from tall heights, and get vertigo just by looking out of a second-story window.
Misconception: We sacrifice goats or other animals
Truth: No.
And even if I did, where the hell would I acquire a goat? “Oh yeah, I hide them in the basement for all my ritual needs.” I had say I do not kill chicken, but that is only a half-truth, considering I love eating the fried chicken they sell at Pizza Ranch and I do love me some dead cow over at Burger King.
Misconception: We sacrifice babies/virgins?
Truth: NO.
I DO NOT sacrifice anything. I cannot even watch horror movies without wanting to faint or vomit at a gruesome scene when there is too much blood and gore. And seriously, babies? I have three beautiful babies of my own, why would I go to kill a defenseless child in the name of religion? NO!
Misconception: We *have* to dance naked at *all* rituals
Truth: No.
As much as this makes some people very excited, the answer for that is no. Granted, I like to do certain things naked. And if it is part of my ritual, it's because of something I feel is important. However, not all rituals, or even, not all Pagans, practice in the nude, or what we call as “skyclad” (clad with the sky, if you did not get it). Not everyone is comfortable with being naked around people who are not their significant other. I like being naked, and if you do not mind me being naked, I am all for it, but most people get really awkward and uncomfortable. So again, the answer is no.
Misconception: How can you be a community if you do not have a "church"?
Truth: When I had Iris and Rose, I had a couple of people from my Circle come to visit me. Some of the nurses were devout Christians, and out of curiosity they asked if the people visiting me were a part of my “church family.” I said yes. Granted, we do not have a building that we meet at once a week and worship. We do not tithe (though we donate whenever possible and needed). But we do get together about twice a month to commune together for the Gods, whether for a specific celebration, or other Rite of Passage, et cetera. We talk constantly online about not only our religious views, but of obstacles we may have encumbered, or the most random shit you will ever find. We share a lot of our lives with one another, and in essence we are a family. Blood, sweat and tears go into our relationship in this group, and that is what makes us a church family.
Misconception: You drink blood for rituals.
Truth: No.
Have you ever tasted blood? That is not the tastiest of things. Unless you are a vampire or blood fetishist, the answer for this question is usually no. The only blood I ever drank was my own, and that was because I cut my thumb and shoved it in my mouth to make it feel better.
Misconception: You curse people?
Truth: Depends.
*I* do not curse people. Not all Pagans do. None of the SMART Pagans anyway. I do not like to mess with that. I am a big believer in the Bible scripture Matthew 7:12 “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Would I like to be cursed by someone? No, so I do not do it to others.
Misconception: You are possessed by demons
Truth: No.
First, let me laugh maniacally. Second, no. This is all me. If I were possessed, I would probably act a lot more sane. Haha! Most people choose this path on their own free will. Just because this is the path we choose does not mean we are being possessed by some unseen being.
Misconception: You are against Christianity
Truth: No.
A lot of us, especially in my Circle, read the Bible and believe that the message of Jesus was good. Christ's message was about love and tolerance, as well as the message of his Father. I am not against any of my Christian brethren nor do I believe they are wrong. I believe that there are many ways to reach enlightenment and become one with Universal energy, and, for that, we must hold true to our beliefs, whether we agree with others or not.
Misconception: We can you fly
Truth: No.
The first time I was asked this, my response was (after laughing maniacally) “ARE YOU SERIOUS? Do I look like I can fly?” I cannot even walk two feet without tripping let alone fly. Now unless you are talking about sitting in an airplane, that is a different story. Of course, I fly. I prefer Delta though anything that gets me here the cheapest without killing me first is always a plus. But actual flying, no, unless I get a pilot license and buy a helicopter. And that'll never happen. I am afraid of falling from tall heights, and get vertigo just by looking out of a second-story window.
Misconception: We sacrifice goats or other animals
Truth: No.
And even if I did, where the hell would I acquire a goat? “Oh yeah, I hide them in the basement for all my ritual needs.” I had say I do not kill chicken, but that is only a half-truth, considering I love eating the fried chicken they sell at Pizza Ranch and I do love me some dead cow over at Burger King.
Misconception: We sacrifice babies/virgins?
Truth: NO.
I DO NOT sacrifice anything. I cannot even watch horror movies without wanting to faint or vomit at a gruesome scene when there is too much blood and gore. And seriously, babies? I have three beautiful babies of my own, why would I go to kill a defenseless child in the name of religion? NO!
Misconception: We *have* to dance naked at *all* rituals
Truth: No.
As much as this makes some people very excited, the answer for that is no. Granted, I like to do certain things naked. And if it is part of my ritual, it's because of something I feel is important. However, not all rituals, or even, not all Pagans, practice in the nude, or what we call as “skyclad” (clad with the sky, if you did not get it). Not everyone is comfortable with being naked around people who are not their significant other. I like being naked, and if you do not mind me being naked, I am all for it, but most people get really awkward and uncomfortable. So again, the answer is no.
Misconception: How can you be a community if you do not have a "church"?
Truth: When I had Iris and Rose, I had a couple of people from my Circle come to visit me. Some of the nurses were devout Christians, and out of curiosity they asked if the people visiting me were a part of my “church family.” I said yes. Granted, we do not have a building that we meet at once a week and worship. We do not tithe (though we donate whenever possible and needed). But we do get together about twice a month to commune together for the Gods, whether for a specific celebration, or other Rite of Passage, et cetera. We talk constantly online about not only our religious views, but of obstacles we may have encumbered, or the most random shit you will ever find. We share a lot of our lives with one another, and in essence we are a family. Blood, sweat and tears go into our relationship in this group, and that is what makes us a church family.
Misconception: You drink blood for rituals.
Truth: No.
Have you ever tasted blood? That is not the tastiest of things. Unless you are a vampire or blood fetishist, the answer for this question is usually no. The only blood I ever drank was my own, and that was because I cut my thumb and shoved it in my mouth to make it feel better.
Misconception: You curse people?
Truth: Depends.
*I* do not curse people. Not all Pagans do. None of the SMART Pagans anyway. I do not like to mess with that. I am a big believer in the Bible scripture Matthew 7:12 “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Would I like to be cursed by someone? No, so I do not do it to others.
Misconception: You are possessed by demons
Truth: No.
First, let me laugh maniacally. Second, no. This is all me. If I were possessed, I would probably act a lot more sane. Haha! Most people choose this path on their own free will. Just because this is the path we choose does not mean we are being possessed by some unseen being.
Misconception: You are against Christianity
Truth: No.
A lot of us, especially in my Circle, read the Bible and believe that the message of Jesus was good. Christ's message was about love and tolerance, as well as the message of his Father. I am not against any of my Christian brethren nor do I believe they are wrong. I believe that there are many ways to reach enlightenment and become one with Universal energy, and, for that, we must hold true to our beliefs, whether we agree with others or not.
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