I scan Witchvox every so often and today I found this article http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=uswi&c=words&id=14905
This point of view does not match up with my own experience.  The Wiccan elders, mostly Gardnerian and a few Alexandrian, that I know say they have more than enough people seeking them out.  The problem is that many of the seekers are not willing to put in the work needed to be initiated.  The whole collapse of covens comment is very much from a solitary perspective.  I can understand a bit where he is coming from because I lived in Wisconsin recently and it was impossible to find a vouched for coven in that state.  From my perspective as an initiate I have seen a constant slow growth in the number of covens in my tradition.

The whole going public thing is just plain silly.  My HPS says the Wica are the Hidden Children of the Goddess so the whole idea that Wiccans need to be public does not jive with the priesthood as a whole.  Individuals can make the decision to be public or not, but it is not a requirement in any shape or form.  My late spouse lost a job when she came out as pagan is a small town in New Mexico.  Bias and discrimination still exists and the idea that you have to out to be pagan is forcing your personal attitudes onto others.  Wicca is about personal responsibility.

He stated he has yet to meet a "Crafter" who does not hold some level of anti-Christian sentiment is again a perspective caused by geographic isolation and self selected internet browsing. 

He also goes with the whole Wicca is evolving argument.  Some aspects of Wicca have changed but this change comes from within not from others imposing their views of what Wicca is from without.

Wiccan covens are still around, but as always you are required to seek them out and prove yourself read and proper for initiation.  Expecting to become Wiccan through the internet or without the work seems to be the norm today.  It took me over 25 years to find a vouched coven to train with and that was a proper fit. 

Hey guys. I know that this question comes up all the time, but I'm really drawing a blank here.

I really have no problem organizing my actual book really, but my problem is, is that I don't like my current BOS. I use a standard binder that I have decorated (that I like), but I don't like the inside of it. I've hand written things and typed them, and I just can't make up my mind which way I like better.

I love the idea of an actual book written in ink, but the thing that scares me is that you can't add pages (without them falling all over the place), and I want my book to remain organized.

My question is, for those of you who keep records/entries of all types of your workings (kitchen recipes, bath rituals, etc.), do you have separate books for separate things? I was considering maybe getting different books for kitchen recipes, one of general information, and a separate one specifically for spells/rituals/prayers, etc., but I just love the idea of having everything together in one book... I'm so indecisive!

How do you keep yours?

Hi I was wondering if anyone could help me.
I’m not actually sure how I should phrase this, but here I go anyway...
Its quite an usual question really, After a few years of thinking about telling my mother about my beliefs it came up in conversation this afternoon I have spent years avoiding truths, and have become tired off that so I told my mother that I am a pagan witch
She is a born again evangelical Christian, although not currently in a church.
I do not have anything against Christianity, and think all people are entitled to their own beliefs.
I knew that her reaction was the most likely, but felt the need to be able to be honest with her as personally I feel that honesty is the best policy.
I don’t live with my mother.
Although I have done the best to explain to her by beliefs she is convinced I am evil and has said that she will start praying for my salvation, and possibly get others to join her.
While I know I how to protect myself as a witch, I think I will have a lot of Christian ill wishing coming my way, as she is part of quite a large Christian community even though she is not in a church.
I believe that there is power in prayer.
I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts or advice on the matter.
Many thanks to all in advance.
Ivy


X-Posted.

I just posted a reflection in my LJ about possibly calling the style my coven practices Blue Triskele Wicca.  I would be interested in reactions from folks here, especially Blue Star folk.

Blue Triskele Wicca?

Disclaimer:  I am using the word Wicca in a slightly broader sense than the definition used in this community.  Blue Star and Blue Triskele are not BTW, but they are traditional, initiatory, and have hetero-erotic duotheism at their core.

• edited to correct spelling of triskele
• ETA:  I did not post this here to attempt to claim a spurious status as Wicca-as-defined-in-this-community.  My posting here is because I know there are a number of Blue Star folks in this community.  The use of "Wicca" was not the focus on my reflection, but the use of triskele to both parallel and differ from star.  The word Wicca is there partially because it's part of the name of Blue Star Wicca.

How do you know when your dog/cat/etc is a familiar? I also am a little hazy on what exactly a familiar is... This probably various depending on the religion, but overall.. what is the definition? Is it an animal who is like a friend and teacher? 

My main question is how you know they are a familiar.

Thank you
Arya

Good evening.

In fact, if you want to envision the above as a creepy butler guy about to invite you in, it would tickle me pink.

Anyways.

I've been pagan for a long time, but relatively recently decided to give Wicca my full attention.  I mean, I'd studied it for years through different books, but my wife (oddly enough a Baptist when we met) pushed me towards it and now we cast circles every full moon and have become much closer.

No real set name for the path I walk, but I've been looking into getting some manner of 'formal' training to round my skills out.

Nice to meet you all.

I am a little unsure as to how to celebrate Ostara. I was hoping some of you could help me with some ideas? I don't think I will be comfortable doing a full blown ritual since I haven't done one yet... but maybe I could cast a small circle and do some praying and offer some food/wine? Would that work? 

I just am looking for some suggestions.

Thank you very much.
Blessed be,
Arya

Hello I have a simple question
I’m curious what sort of offering would you make for a Ēostre/Ostara ritual.
Creative ideas would be really helpful.
Thanks very much
Ivy



x-posted

General discussion topic, thoughts rolling around in my head...

What role does/should ancestry and heritage play in spiritual practice?

We are aware that it is offensive for non-Natives to practice the spiritual paths of Native American peoples (without guidance by a person formally accepted and recognized into such a path, a rare occurance). But we also recognize that Gods and spirits choose us. A friend of mine, who is predominantly British, Dutch, and Hungarian by heritage, is called by Quetzalcoatl. Should she ignore Him, because she has no Mesoamerican ancestors? I am not Welsh, and yet Blodeuwedd was very insistent about certain aspects of my personal growth. Is everyone called by Hela necessarily Norse or Scandinavian, or by Kwan Yin, Chinese? What about an African-American seeking BTW training? Where is the line? Is it only those cultures and paths that are currently widely and demonstrably practiced that we "protect" from appropriation?

If the answer to the initial question is "none," then logically, appropriation would not be an issue. However, we know that is not true. But, is it appropriation that I honor Blodeuwedd (seperate from my Gard practice), or that my Eclectic Pagan friend incorporates Quetzalcoatl into her path, including researching traditional associations, without being a strict Recon?

Basically, what constitutes appropriation, and what is "acceptable" reverence for non-ancestral Gods and spirits? Thoughts?

I was wondering if anyone here could point me in the directions of books on the Wiccan/Pagan (either/or) perspective on medicine. Perhaps written by a doctor or other medical staff? It's a hard topic to come by, but it's an interesting one. Modern medicine has its roots in traditional healing, after all. (Aspirin is formed form the bark of a tree, and penicillin, once the most poerful antibiotic, is formed form a fungus--though it's mostly synthesized in a lab these days.)

If anyone has any suggestions, I would be most grateful for them! Thank you in advance!

--Apparently, my question is not very clear. I am looking for books written by medical staff about their views on medicine. Perhaps how it's changed. How they've changed their view on medicine. How they internalize being both Wiccan and a doctor--which every faith struggles with (Can I be one and still be the other? can I believe in one and still believe in the other? Does it make me less of one if I am the other?). I guess I'm looking more for memoirs than anything.