Weblog
22 Feb 2007: We're moving!
Taking inspiration from Dianne Sylvan's work with EarthDance, I've decided to move DWW to LiveJournal. This will allow me a little more flexibility with content while reducing my administration needs. The current site requires that I be vigilant against comment spammers in both the blog and the forums... and the latter are getting very little use.
The new URL is http://dragonsweave.livejournal.com/.
01 Feb 2007: We should "will" to be Healers
An' it harm none, do what ye will.
The subject of the Rede has provoked many writings, most revolving around the fact that "do as you will" does not mean "do as you whim". It's an important distinction! A few writings have delved more deeply than others. A notable example of that is Judy Harrow's Exegesis on the Rede, a short piece, but one that contains the salient points. It was written in 1984, however, being published widely in 1985. There have been updates, but the last one was in 2002. Additional writings on the subject, also by Harrow, include An It Harm None: high-choice ethics (2000) and Do What You Will: best-choice values (2000).
There are other writings, as well. Robin Wood, the artist has produced a book called "When, Why... If" that addresses the subject of Pagan ethics. The book is also rather dated, published in 1997. To her credit, Wood has posted some additional thoughts on the book on her web site, listing the things she'd have liked to put into the book, had she known back in '97.
One thing that most of the writings, and in particular those listed above, have in common is their reticence when it comes to being specific about what to do, ethically, as a Wiccan. Harrow comes closest, but the focus of her and Wood's writing is more on how to determine what behavior should be followed, rather than on what should be considered desirable. The Wiccan religion has no dogmatic holy writings with which one must agree, or else suffer some eternal fate, and what I'm about to write isn't intended to become such a thing. However, looking at the tenets of our faith, we see certain patterns of belief that should translate into actions, and it behooves us to recognize it.
We Wiccans should devote ourselves to healing. We talk a good line about this, but rarely follow through in any meaningful manner. Most of us (the ones I've met in my experience) live unhealthy lifestyles, being frequently overweight due to non-medical reasons, eating food that should never touch our lips, engaging in a variety of intoxicants that do nothing to truly improve our lives. And these are just examples of physical issues that affect only ourselves! When we start to widen the circle of awareness to include non-physical issues (mental, emotional health) and/or the effects we have on others (immediate family, community, etc.), then the list grows. I won't bother to list the many, many such impacts. I'll only say that I know too many Wiccans who give lips service to "healing" while they live destructively. We do not walk the walk.
This must change. We must devote ourselves to healing, to being Healers. It is not enough to recycle, and then claim you're healing the planet. We must work to become educated on what healing needs doing, how best to do it, how to actually perform that healing service once it has been determined. This is no trivial task! Many lifetimes could be spent on this learning alone, let alone actually doing what we've learned.
Once we have learned more about healing, we must extend that healing touch to everything we do. Everything... no exceptions! We must apply the healing ethic to our physical selves, improving our diet, losing excess weight (not for its cosmetic value, but for the health benefits), exercising and getting more sleep. Our minds should be given the same treatment: exercising it by learning something completely new and different, engaging in strenuous mental exertions, meditation. Our emotional state should be assessed for its health, and work undertaken to heal the emotional wounds we all bear. Our spirits should be cared for, by regular practice of our faith on both personal and communal levels... the latter where possible, the former always.
There is more to be Healers than simply saying so. And our desire to be Healers should lead us to pursue whatever arts are needed to become more of a Healer, always more!
18 Jan 2007: Administrivia: Anti-spam measures increased
28 Dec 2006: Madison Pagan Unity Council reforming
21 Dec 2006: From out of darkness, light
During this season of darkness-turning-to-light, it's important to be properly grateful for the gifts and blessings we've received. May the Gods grant you continued strength and increasing wisdom.
It is also an appropriate time to recognize the battles yet to be finished. Among these, one with modest beginnings, but potentially tremendous impact, is the Pentacle Quest, of which I have written before. An article appearing today in USA Today may assist in this quest: Wiccans demand acceptance. Go have a look.
14 Dec 2006: A Bad Gift Idea
Liberal and progressive Christian groups say a new computer game in which players must either convert or kill non-Christians is the wrong gift to give this holiday season and that Wal-Mart, a major video game retailer, should yank it off its shelves.
I guess this is an answer to WWJD this holiday season: kill 'em all.
I ask the Gods for their continued support as we try to endure this latest round of religious extremism
13 Dec 2006: Holiday greetings
I can't even begin to point enough links to various places where this issue is being debated and screamed about. Instead, I'll point to just one: Have a look at The Wild Hunt Blog's entry into the issue.
My take on this: wish people a Joyous Yule. It doesn't sound like "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Hannukah". It's a greeting that's our own, and people can accept it or not, as their spirit moves them.
07 Dec 2006: Freedom of religion is for ALL religions
The short version: Conservative Christians fought a battle to have the school's policy changed on whether they could send flyers for vacation Bible school home in the students' backpacks. After the school initially refused, the right-wing Liberty Counsel threatened legal action, and the policy was changed to allow the flyers. Local Pagans took advantage of the new policy by sending home a flyer inviting students to a Yule event. Predictably, the Christians who fought so hard for the right to send religious-themed flyers home with the children were not nearly so supportive of the Pagans' right to do the same.
The irony is, of course, thick enough to cut with a knife. However, the writer of the blog, Rob Boston, does make a serious mistake. The name of the entry says it clearly: Falwell’s Flub: Jerry-Rigged Policy Opens Door For Pagan Proselytizing In Virginia Public School. However, this not Falwell's failing. The only connection Falwell has with any of this is the fact that the Liberty Counsel, founded by Mathew Staver, is now affiliated with Falwell. Mr. Boston should be more careful with the brush he's painting with; it's a little to broad for this work.
Also on the AU's site, an excellent article on the Pentacle Quest, the efforts by Roberta Stewart, Selena Fox, AU and several others to get the Veteran's Administration to drop its long and pointless resistance to approving the pentacle as a religious symbol for Wiccan soldiers.
15 Nov 2006: All Acts of Love
Among these beliefs are those that are enumerated in the Charge of the Goddess. One particular phrase that has been used to justify some very damaging behavior is this: Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals. In some very few cases (and I can document none), this phrase has been trotted out to excuse a rather free-wheeling attitude toward sexual boundaries. While we acknowledge that what is done between consenting adults is fine, some have used the "all-acts" clause as a method of bypassing guilt for marital infidelity, and it is not and never was intended for such use.
That said, the concept of acceptance at the heart of the all-acts belief does provide Wiccan practitioners with the understanding that the Gods are not sternly judging actions that occur between consenting adults. We are free to enjoy, even pursue, such pleasures, mindful of the fact that they are rituals. There is no concept that this life is a pass-fail test, where we are constantly struggling to rise above earthly pleasures. It is not; the Gods are neither that cruel nor stupid.
The all-acts understanding also enables us to be accepting of those among us whose orientation points to members of the same gender. Our homosexual brothers and sisters do not have to hide what they are from us, do not have to refrain from admitting what they are. Nor must they deny themselves for their entire life in order to satisfy some scriptural edict. They are free, as are we all, to pursue love in whatever direction that love demands and enjoy the rituals-that-are-pleasures that come as a gift from the Gods. Always remember: "consenting adults" and "harm none", and you'll be fine.
It is with this last in mind that I take a moment to condemn the passage of a constitutional amendment in Wisconsin that enshrines discrimination, forcibly limiting marriage to one man and one woman, and denies the creation of and recognition of any legal relationship that substantially resembles marriage to anyone not married. A statement regarding the passage of the amendment can be read at Fair Wisconsin's website. The amendment passed by over 60%, despite the best efforts of some very dedicated people.
I also condemn the recent actions by the Roman Catholic Church, the Baptist State Convention, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in their anti-gay agendas, detailed by this article in the Washington Post. While I firmly believe that these actions are the throes of a medieval mindset held by many Christian sects, and represent the last stand of discrimination against gays in this country. Of course, such death throes can last for decades, but in the larger perspective, I think this is it. I able relieved to be able to say that Wicca does not harbor such animosity against the GLBT community.
In the same vein, I applaud South Africa's recent decision to approve gay marriage, granting homosexuals the access to the same privileged state as heterosexual couples have enjoyed for centuries.
11 Nov 2006: Veterans deserve our honor and thanks.
Veterans Day is a time when we are called to be mindful of those who have worn the uniform of the Armed Forces of the United States. Veterans of every American conflict from World War I to the present day are still among us, and our gratitude has not and should not be diminished by the passing years, no matter how long ago they gave their time to us in service. I will not trot out the trite comment that they are "heroes"; most of our vets did not serve in any heroic capacity. And yet, serve they did, and our debt to them is unending.
Many of us, being rather anti-establishment, often cast a suspicious glance in the direction of the military, reminded of such abuses as My Lai, Abu Ghraib and Haditha. And while such abuses by individuals and small units within the military deserve our immediate condemnation, full investigation, and if culpability can be determined, trial and sentencing, the overall reputation of the US military is sterling. As I said to my daughter today, while watching the Veterans Day Parade in Madison, WI, "You can doubt your leaders, you can doubt the war or the mission. But never doubt the men and women who wear the uniform." In the vast, vast majority of cases, they're great people doing a tough, tough job.
In addition to our gratitude, however, they deserve our honor. In this, the US has been remiss. Most of have heard of Roberta Stewart and her quest to get VA approval for a pentacle on her late husband's memorial marker. Circle Sanctuary is providing a great deal of boost to her in this quest, under the auspices of the Veteran Pentacle Quest. At present, though the state of Nevada has stepped in to provide the memorial plaque for Sgt. Patrick Stewart, complete with pentacle, the VA has simply refused to make a ruling to allow the mark. Pressure is mounting, but the VA has proven to be highly resistant to this.
We pray that Roberta will be successful in her quest.
