I like the WebCrafters Rede from the Pagan WebCrafters' Association. Lots of articles to read too. Including one about signature files being a bad idea for mailing lists. I can't imagine what point he will bring up in support of that. Being an ASCII artist, I love email signatures and only restrict them to 7 lines just to be polite for those oddballs who get all bent out of shape over them.

Bide the WebCrafters Rede ye must in perfect love and perfect trust take not graphics that are mine ask me first, you'll find me kind evermind the rule of three harken not to lecherous greed ask me not, you'll get my bill an it harm none, do as thou will

--Gwen Wolfrose 03-28-2000

Permission to use the WebCrafters Rede is Granted so long as proper credit to the author is given. :)

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.

Originally posted to 'BackWash: Where the Wild Things Are' newsletter, January, 16, 2003.

Welcome to the very first Pagan newsletter at BackWash.

Do you know what you're getting yourself into?

This will be a blend of Pagan culture, occult mysteries, history, science, craft making, simple living and the odd bit of magick tossed in for good measure. You might find recipes where you least expect them. Sometimes there will be humour, sometimes rituals, art or the unexplained. Expect a little chaos, it's unavoidable.

You even might find more than you ever wanted to know about skeptics, hoaxes and ranting Christians. Those are part of being Pagan, knowing who you are and where you stand. I believe you can't really explore being Pagan without learning the opposing points of view.

This time I'm including links to Christmas past. People do tend to think more about religion and traditions during the holidays and Pagans are no exception. After all, Pagans are people too.

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

I'm going to re-post my old newsletters for the BackWash: Where the Wild Things Are newsletter. There aren't many of them but I'd like to have a hard copy of them floating around somewhere.

This is going to sound pretty flaky but, sometimes I image aliens (those little green men type guys) are watching me, recording all the knowledge I gain and will some day turn me off. Well, I'm not sure about the turning off part. I'd prefer to think they'll just finish this learning project and move along to something else.

I told you it was flaky. Flakier than a single pie crust made with a whole pound of lard. Why do you think I've never told anyone else about this?

Today I was looking up a word in the dictionary, it wasn't even in the dictionary (that's how smart I'm getting). As I looked I thought about how pleased the aliens would be to learn a new word today. Somedays I wonder if they get bored. I mean, I don't learn something new and exciting every day.

Maybe, the little things I take for granted are monumental to them. Who knows? Certainly not me. I guess the aliens would know. I have no way to ask them. All our communication is one sided. Of course, they don't know I've caught onto their plot. They think I'm just some sort of education cow, or whatever farm animal seems suitable. I don't really like to think of myself as any type of bovine. What women does?

I think their ultimate goal is to have all human knowledge. Even stuff like changing light bulbs and shoveling snow. I don't know what they want to do with all of it. I've never really thought about that side effect. But, for now they just keep watch, picking things out of my grey matter. Luckily I'm not a shut in or someone who doesn't like to read. I also like to explore and experiment, take the odd risk and do things without really thinking them through. I bet they even like that I skim instead of reading every last word.

Does anyone else think they have little aliens in their head, writing down facts and learning English as a second language? Perhaps it's just me. Few people get these flaky sort of thoughts. I think the aliens put them in my head.

I think I'll use this for my BackWash column.