Pagan Sisters
I know it's a great thing our community has - the sharing of practice and ritual. What have you done and are doing during this hard journey?
I'll share first:
When I was first diagnosed, I made a big offering ritual for protection and healing dedicated to the Great Mother. I have a beautiful ash tree in my backyard, that is full of female energy - it is the Goddess Tree of our coven and we have there an open air altar.
I burned frankincense tears and myrrh in Her honor, and I poured on the ground milk and wine also as an offering for Her. and prayed for her help. Later in the week, our coven has done a healing circle asking also for help in healing for me.
Of course, I give her thankful offerings after every step of the treatment that is completed successfully, and for her help in dealing withand removing every obstacle that seemed to appear durign this journey. I had a botched reconstruction initially, and I did a Full Moon ritual for it to be fixed, and right now I am very pleased with how it has been coming along.
Our private altar is in our bedroom. I have set in the four corners four big pieces of (each): pink quartz, smoky quartz, amber and clear quartz. And on the altar there is a selenite ball. I also have around the room bunches of sweet clover, sweet grass, mint and wormwood (dried).
In all the Sabbat rituals we had, we had blessed the ritual bread (made by the whole coven) for healing, and we always keep our slice in the freezer and eat a piece when we go through hard times. I ate a piece before each step of the treatment.
And, of course, I use a lot of herbal therapy and spelled herbal teas every day.
What have you been doing?
Comments
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I cannot believe I'm the only pagan on this forum?!?
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You would believe anything as long as it fits your pathetic little agenda.
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I'm not pagan but JbinOK was really snarky and I had to say something. Why do people keep being mean?
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Hi Day,
I was once more formally pagan but now do my own thing. It does revolve around the seasons, circle of life, one life form no more important than another, how everything is intertwined. While I was living in Boston quite a number of people in my social circle were pagan. I guess I just rebelled against the formality and do what seems right at the time. In any case, paganism is something that I truly appreciate.
Elizabeth
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Day,
I don't have a formal practice, - and deeply respect the beliefs of my Pagan friends, love learning more of their rituals - incorporating what feels right for me. I was moved reading Phyllis Curott's Book of Shadows years ago. Thanks for starting this thread....
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Day, please don't let any snarky comments offend you - I welcome learning more about your ideas, and ways you have found healing. Don't know about OKC, but we in MA learned our lesson many years ago, and Salem is now a lovely, welcoming, place for all to live - wish I could say the same for more of the country - you are not alone, not alone...
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Barbara *hugs*
Elizabeth, I have to confess I am quite formal. I am of a tradition of Eastern Europe, that is not reconstructionist - it just survived and thrived even through Christianism - actually in Romania it happened backwards than in other countries - instead of Christianity smothering paganism, paganism actually blended in the Christian elements, old traditions survived through the centuries, and in the Eastern Orthodox calendar printed by the Patriarchy of Romania you can see for example "24th of June: Saint John the Baptist; Fairies' Day". Actually most of Eastern Europe has kept the ancient pagan rites and traditions.
I respect my tradition to the letter and I am passing it on to the ones who want to learn unchanged - this is why I said I am quite formal. It is not that different from the ancient pagan cultures of Western Europe, the names of the holidays are different, of course, being other languages spoken.The only Sabbat that is different from the West is the Samhain - we don't have it, we have a quite similar Holiday on the 30th of November, that is called "The Night of the Wolf" or "The night of the Undead".
Caerus, yes I know, I've been following over the years what happens in MA. I love the Witches Museum. A very good friend of mine (the owner of Paganspace) goes there every year for the Witches Ball. And don't worry, that kind of snarky comments amuse me, that's all.How can I put it mildly... when one has lived for almost 30 years in a communist regime, and had to learn how to be shark among sharks in order not to be swallowed, this kind of "snarky" makes me guffaw.
One thing that also helped me go through the treatments and everything was the fact that I was so involved in the community - yes, even if last year I didn't get much out of the house, chemo and surgeries and all. I was the main organizer of the first two Pagan Pride Days in the Oklahoma City area. It was a huge effort, but somehow it made me be able to deal better with what I was going through.This year a few more people jumped in to help, so I am sure we will have an even bigger and better event.
I'm also the owner of a few pagan websites and working on one more (guess I can't do just laying around and doing nothing, haha). I'd post links but it would be against the TOS of bc.org, so if anyone wants to know more, feel free to pm me.
And I knew I wasn't the only one, lol, I have seen some posts before that were clearly written by pagan ladies. I just bumped the post because the board is so low on the list it's hard to see.
Next week we are supposed to have a really rare Full Moon. Are you going to do anything for that? In my tradition it's the best time to do works for healing.
Yesterday we had "the day of the Ancestors", with two specific ritual dishes, one is made with small pasta that is made by hand the evening before, in the shape of small circles - the symbol of the Universe encompassing everything - they are left to dry overnight and then on the day of the Ancestors they are boiled in water together with honey (the food of the Gods), lots and lots of ground walnuts (the Seeds emerging) and cinnamon (Protection). And the other ritual dish, is a specific type of bread, the translation of the name would be "little Holies" (from Holy), they are made with a type of yeast dough, with eggs and butter, and then shaped in a form of "8" (sign of th einfinity) or in a human shape. Once they are baked, the tops are dipped in honey and then in ground walnut. As all the people in my group are working, I blessed them once they were done, and then everybody stopped by on their way home from work to share from them.
Elizabeth, and I have to confess something else. When I saw your last thread on the Stage IV board (I don't really post there out of the respect for the Stage IV sisters, but I do read often), I did make offerings to the Mother for you, and asked for her help for you. I hope you don't mind.Your story and your spirit touched my heart.I guess that deep inside I knew we share much on the spiritual level.
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JBinOK said: I am curious; are there many pagans in Oklahoma City? OKC is so closely associated with the Bible belt, I just wondered
Stereotypes persist, but I lived in Oklahoma a couple years, and no, not everyone who lives there owns a gun, drives a truck and votes conservative. There are plenty of creative, liberal people who are open to intelligent thought.
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Day,
can you post some of the links to the Pagan website you like/respect. I'd love to learn more about the Full Moon practice you will be using. My friends who are keen astrologers have been talking about this Full oon being very special...
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JB... you say you live in OK.. try and google Oklahoma pagans and you will be surprised what might come up. Sometimes it's worth to look beyond your fence.
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Caerus, I will message them to you, I don't know if that wouldn't be a conflict with the Rules of the board to post them here.
I am not much on right now as I am keeping an eye on the news here, we have anywhere between 20 and 30 wild fires going on and a couple of them are quite close to me. I got all my stuff ready to be put in the car, so only got to grab the dogs and go.
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Maya, of course you'll get a "duh". A logical, well mannered answer from you was not was she was after.
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No, I think you got the smoke of your own fires. There were quite a few around Tulsa and it might have been one near Rogers. At one point there were 30 fires all over the state.
Never got closer than 3 miles from me. I spent a quite intense afternoon, all ready to evacuate if the need arises. Poor people in Harrah and Choctaw though.
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Frankincense? Even for a joke, that is pathetic. Not to say that as an attempt to irrate me, it's like trying to poke a sheet of paper with a limp noodle. Where I come from, the frankincense is used mostly in the Eastern Orthodox churches. Trying to be a smart Alec when you don't know a darn thing about someone's spirituality and tradition makes you look like an elephant in a china shop - or like those elephants and hipopotamuses in the "dance of the hours" ballet in the Disney cartoon.
Anyway. The wind was NOT blowing "that " direction. Unless Rogers county has moved more to the west. The wind was S-SW. And there were fires in the locations I indicated. Take this from someone with quite a bit of Emergency Management under the belt.
So, you still didn't tell me what are you doing on this forum? because as much as you say you did, you didn't.
And, more precisely, what exactly are you doing on this specific thread? Obviously you are not pagan. The thread is directed to "pagan sisters".You are not. In other words, did anyone ask for your opinion here? No.
Honestly, your IQ is that low that you don't realize how transparent you are? I told you from the very beginning, you come across as someone who doesn't have any friends, has a lot of frustrations and tries to get in the spotlight by trying to bully and insult and stalk others because you don't know better. Behavior specific to mid-school teens. That doesn't bring you friends, respect, or consideration.
I think you really need help and emotional support (doh, answering my own first question here), but, believe me, that is not the way to get it. Do you prefer being rejected by everyone because of the way you behave, always trowing buggers in the refried beans, or would you rather have a place where, whenever you need moral support, you know you'll have a warm hand to take yours and words of comfort and friendship?
I do not know your past, JB, but I think it made you build a lot of walls to protect yourself, and that is why you lash out at everyone like this - the aggressive defense. Do not forget though, the walls do not only keep others out, but keep you imprisoned within. And you are the only one to break them and get free.
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Day -- thank-you for the offerings to Mother. That is very kind!!
My academic background is in Classical Studies and I was always interested in how christians took up many pagan practices to make it more palatable to pagans. You just need to look at the Christmas traditions.
JBin -- what's so funny about some of my friends being pagans? I befriended quite a few while living in Boston. I used to be a beginner practicing Wiccan. I have read that you are on the site to learn more about BC, but it is also obvious that you are here to stir up trouble for your own amusement. Pitiful.
Edited to delete some comments.
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JB, c'mon, do you really think yourself important enough for me to go look though hundreds of posts of your to see where you said that? I didn't see it, so for me, you didn't say it. Period.
And by what you are stating now, by exclusion, it means you are on these boards to spread hate, mistrust, and harassment. Yes, many of us are here for support for ourselves or to offer support to others. That is normal human female behavior. Got the hint?
And if the personnel of OEM would have to go to maps and spend time to track and calculate, and to find on the map the difference between Rogers and Roger Mills, we definitely wouldn't have one of the best and fastest emergency management agencies in the nation.So, sorry to disappoint you, but I did not go into any trouble, I do know the Oklahoma map by heart, and if I know where a fire is located and the wind direction and speed, I know pretty much where the smoke has gone. And also, you know, the local channels DID show about every 5 minutes radar maps of the state. It seems to me that you judge people by your own IQ, and are unable to fathom mind processes higher than that.
What is interesting though, is that people who do not want to give details about themselves, they do just that: don't give details. On the contrary, people who are trying to mislead and thwart the truth, will always take the trouble to put in inaccurate information. So, I am wondering, what other information you have posted that was misleading and inaccurate on purpose, hm?
As for the "thusfar", that's what you know. Again, I will bring my vocabulary to mid-school level to explain: most pagans are not open about their beliefs. I am. And there is something called "private messaging". So, "thusfar", you stepped on the rake again.
Sorry it took me about three hours to write this, people keep coming and going here, in this poor "alone, alone"'s woman's house, and I keep getting interrupted. Thank you for the laughs, though.
P.S. You know, you remind me of those people who point to a cow pattie and say "that's honey". You tell them it's a cow pattie, they keep saying that's honey. You force them to taste it, and, with brown dribbling from the corners of their mouths, they repeat blissfully "it's honey". So... yeah.
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Elizabeth, you are welcome. With your permission, I will repeat that at the Full Moon.
My academic background is in Comparative Religions and History of Religions, so yes, I know exactly what you mean. Christmas is not the only one. It's a fascinating subject, the evolution of human civilization, and it always seems to go in a cyclical circle.
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That would be wonderful Day. This Full Moon will be something special. Thank-you so very much!!!
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You're most welcome! *hugs*
Going to eat my chocolate-covered truffles now.
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Day,
I'm half Estonian which has a rich history of Paganism and mythology.
I'm a lapsed Lutheran, pretty much an athiest (please don't tell my parents!!) but I have a lot of respect for rituals, beliefs and customs.
I had my long hair cut into a bob prior to chemo, and I sewed some of the hair into hair wefts to add to hats and scarfs as false bangs and fringes. But the last of my hair went out with a sort of Pagan ritual.
One morning I woke up after having that headache we get prior to losing our hair after our first chemo, and I noticed hair all over my pillow. I ran my hand through my hair and it came out in a clump.
I went into my back garden with hairclippers and everything necessary to make a fire. I set up the fire in our metal fireplace, shaved off my hair and burned it. My thought was that I would return it to ashes and one day I would rise above it.
I didn't plan to do it, but for me it was a poignant moment in accepting the physical decline necessary in order to for the chemo to work against the cancer.
(I'm also happy my nice but very nosy and gossipy neighbour didn't what I was doing: 'She shaved herself bald and burned her hair!! I watched her do it!!)
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Oh yes, Esthonia, Lethonia and Lithuania have a marvelous spirituality. One of my favorite authors/personas of this century was Marija Gimbutas. Very few know that her archeological discoveries, research and publications "sparked" the Pagan renaissance. She was Lithuanian, and many times returned to Eastern Europe to continue her work. Starhawk has made a documentary movie about her work (signs out of time), you can find it on youtube in 8 episodes, it's in English with Italian subtitles.
Here's the link for the first part:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozaeuULrLjM
Wonderful your hair ritual. I love the significance.
I did a ritual for my hair too. My hair used to be down to my hips, all nice and blond and soft.
I knew I was going to get chemo, and knew it would be hard to stand to lose hair this long. So on the new year's night 2010, we had a party at my house, our group. Before midnight, all the members in the group cut a lock of hair, until all my hair was cut at about 3" length. Except for one lock that I used to make my beloved a bracelet from, I buried it at the root of the Goddess Tree in the back, for the Mother to take it and give me new, healthy, strong hair. And what do you know - my hair is growing much faster than normal!
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Day,
Thank you for posting the link - I've only watched a few minutes of it and it looks fascinating. What an interesting woman!
The rituals you performed with your hair seems very mysterious but life-affirming. I hope that if any of my girlfriends have to lose their hair to chemo that my friends and I can help to make it a positive ceremony. But I think for each woman it's intensely personal.
This is an interesting thread.
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JB... Sorry. I'm 1000% heterosexual, and what you are insinuating of doing is NIMBY.
We seem to have different opinions about what "many" means. Is that because...? lol, nah, dont' bother to answer. Yes, private messages are interesting and fun. When you get them. In your case, oh, the friendless one, I guess the absence of them is interesting and fun.
One never knows when one is in a permanent fog, without even having the excuse of chemobrain. "We" as in "you, yourself and JB"?
Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.
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ESti, yes, in my tradition we have a lot of little rules like that. For example, never cut your hair when the moon is waning, as it won't grow that well after that. If you cut your hair or trim your fingernails, make sure they get to (in) the ground, to return to Mother Earth so she can give you more strength and health. Things like that.
And as it's that time of the year, here's some eye-candy. I will start making them on Thursday to have them for the Equinox.
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Oh my gosh ... those eggs are works of art! Awesome.
Bren
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Oh, you should see the Pysanky (beaded eggs) from Bukovina (Romania) and Ukraine! those are more "Easter"-ish, with Christian connotation, while the Romanian ones have mostly kept the ancient pagan symbols.
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Day...I really enjoyed watching it.
Thanks for sharing with us.
♥
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Wow! And they did all of it standing! No special tables, lighting or magnifying glasses. What beautiful work. I second Sheila, thanks for sharing.
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I loved it, Day! Loved seeing how they often held the pen stationary, and rotated the egg to let the pen draw -- the eggs are beautiful, and watching the techniques of the craft is especially beautiful to me!
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Enjoy this special moon tonight Day.
Elizabeth
xox
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