"The bible was written by the same people who said the Earth was flat."

This was on a button, a collection of buttons, on a website. I think it's an interesting point.

How much trust do you put into someone's words. If they make it into black and white are they gold? Or do you think about what they say, compare it to your own ideas, values and common sense?

Then, do you go a step further and consider who the writer is. What influence do their own values have on their writing. After that, do you think they are a good source to base your opinions or actions on? Never stop using your common sense as a guide, no matter how grand the authors seem.

Just as you should never copy someone's Book of Shadows and claim it as your own. It will never be yours, why would you even want it to? Your opinions should be your opinions, not a copy of someone else's life and thoughts. Stretch your mind, take a chance and have opinions and experiences of your own.

In the end, people who believe everything they read and copy it as their own, never are anything but a clone - a copy. Be unique, be an individual, take a deep breath and step out into mid-air, invent something new - yourself!

Originally posted to 'BackWash: Where the Wild Things Are' newsletter, June, 10, 2003.

Say something in Pagan...

But Paganism is a religion, not a language.

Oh, well how do you worship?

Not all of us worship anything.

Well, then how is it a religion?

Because we say it is.

OK, then say something in Pagan.

Life is confusing, like being on a tilt a whirl long after you've been sick, lost all your pocket change and enjoyed as much of the ride as you ever wanted. It doesn't matter, it just keeps going. Being Pagan adds to the confusion and yet, if you learn to lean back and enjoy the ride, let some children pick up your change and clean yourself up, you can weather the ups and downs of the tilt a whirl.

I always think it's silly when someone calls another person Jewish, based on how they look, talk or who their family are. Being Jewish is a religion and in part a culture. But, it's not something you're born. You can be born Canadian, black, blue-eyed, and so on but you can not be born Jewish, Christian or Pagan. That is something you choose. Even if you grow up in a Jewish family you still make a choice to remain that way or change.

What's my point? I'm not perfectly sure, but I know it's out there, lurking somewhere among the talk of Xtians, funny hats, and traditional holidays. OK, I'll admit it, WE make what we are. You aren't Jewish because of your nose, you aren't Christian because you have a family bible and you aren't Pagan because you like nature. Although religions and culture go hand in hand and you can't really separate them, they don't force us into molds, we do that ourselves. Now and then we all need to stretch a bit, learn to speak Pagan, if that's who we are.

Originally posted to 'BackWash: Where the Wild Things Are' newsletter, May, 23, 2003.

Merry Spring. That's what I say and celebrate instead of Easter. Now it's just past Beltane, also known as May Day (especially if you're about to crash in an airplane).

How do you bring the Pagan holidays into your own life? Do you light a candle at midnight and recite something from a book? Do you go outside and contemplate being skyclad if only it wasn't so cold out? Do you put some dried herbs on your altar and make new notes in your Book of Shadows? Or do you make it personal?

I wasn't in the mood to celebrate Beltane on May 1st. But today I was and so that's what I did. Today, was the 333rd birthday of the company I work for. Yes, The Hudson's Bay Company is 333 years old as of Friday, May 2nd, 2003. The company handed out watches to every employee and there were several kinds of cake, fresh fruit, coffee, muffins and other goodies. It was nice. Not because it was elaborate but because we were included.

So, today on the drive home I felt in the right mood for Beltane, the celebration of Spring. I took advantage of that. I created my own ritual on the spot, impulsively and used what was at hand where I was. Those are usually the best rituals, the ones that aren't planned and mean so much more than something taken from a book or plan.

I had my new watch as the altar, set up on the dashboard of my car. It was dark outside by the time I finished work tonight, the darkness itself became an element, I opened the car windows to let it in. I had picked a bloom from the forced bulbs for sale in the garden centre and that was another element in the ritual. Plus it smelled great. That was all I needed. I waited, enjoying the quiet as everyone else left the parking lot. Two people stopped and asked if I was having car trouble. I just said I was taking my time, enjoying the quiet.

I didn't have a lot of words. I talked about Spring, renewal, the garden, spring flowers, rain, all the things I like best about this time of year. Mostly I just enjoyed the quiet, darkness of the night and the smell of the hyacinthe bloom in my car.

Originally posted to 'BackWash: Where the Wild Things Are' newsletter, May, 3, 2003.

Staying safe, in your own safe little world. Is that where you are? Many of us choose our adventures, how far we will go depends on where we have our safety nets.

For instance, have you told anyone you're Pagan? Have you told your family, friends, co-workers, boss? I'm not suggesting you rush out and do it. I'm certainly not daring you to tell them either. It's a personal thing. Being Pagan is a personal thing in itself. A personal choice and something just for you.

It should not, however, be some dark secret. Something deep, dangerous and naughty. That's not what Paganism should be. It's not something you should have to hide from your family. Being Pagan is about caring for life, the Earth and old traditions. How can they really object to that? Still, you can find the safety zone. You can let them know you're into nature, environmental issues and historical traditions. You can be Pagan without saying the word Pagan to them.

People don't always get that. They think they have to hide being Pagan because others won't like it or will be shocked by it. They turn it into a deep, dark secret. By doing that they make it become something dark, secret. No wonder so many people still think of Pagans as devil worshippers.

You have the power to find where your safe world is, set the boundaries and set the record straight if you choose to. Let people know you're Pagan, if you can or if you choose to. But, don't make it some dark mystery. Don't let them find an altar, a book or a pentacle in your room without explanation. If you make being Pagan something to be ashamed of or fear you hurt all of us.

Instead be proud of who you are and be as honest about it as you can. For me, the only person I couldn't talk to about being Pagan was my Grandmother. It scared her. She couldn't think of it as anything but dangerous for me. She didn't understand that it's not something dark, but something light. She didn't know what I made of being Pagan, for me. She only knew the stereotypes she had heard all her life.

Is it ok to be Pagan and sexy?

Sounds like a strange question doesn't it? But, think of the standards for women in other religions. If we are a religion shouldn't we have some standards in common? So, should Pagan women try to hide the fact that they have breasts, faces or a great ass? After all, we know how hard it is for men to control themselves. Especially those wild Pagan men who dance naked by the light of the moon. You just KNOW what's on their minds...

Or not.

Being Pagan is about being free. You can choose to conceal your assets, but you don't have to. There is no condemning, threatening hell to come swoop down and snatch up your evil, dirty filthy wickedness. Pagans don't believe in hell. You can't send someone to hell if they don't believe it's real. You can't make threats that aren't scary enough.

So, Pagan women and men can be sexy. It's a shame more religions aren't brave enough and free enough to give people the choice.

Originally posted to 'BackWash: Where the Wild Things Are' newsletter, April, 18, 2003.