Posts tagged with “culture”
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Wedding Customs are Changing

I've seen a trend for engagement rings to no longer be just diamonds. I know diamonds were not always the stone used in rings for weddings/ engagements. You could choose a stone, or stones, with personal meaning. Like your birthstone, or the birthstone of your groom, family, children.

Also, changes to bridal gowns. Not always so long, luxurious and expensive. I think it is a great idea to choose a dress you can wear again. No point in having something stuck at the back of your closet. Also, more likely the dress could be recycled for someone else to wear, wedding or not. My own wedding dress was red with a black faux fur collar. I loved it for my winter wedding. I did wear the dress again for other occasions too.

If you were planning (for real, or not) a wedding, what would you do to make it a bit greener, or ecologically friendly?

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Bad Canadians Podcast

Understanding Canada's contrarians. Hosted by Jared Michael.

"...understanding can be greater than agreement. "

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A Witch Name, or Not?

I posted a reply to a young person asking about a Witch name, in Reddit.

If you want another name why not use Rainbow which has meaning for you? Is there some reason you think you can't call yourself Rainbow? I don't use another name for myself. I choose who I talk to about my feelings/ beliefs and my family aren't concerned about any of it. So I don't need to hide my identity. I think having a witch name is building a character rather than becoming someone who is a Witch. But, that's just my feelings. Call yourself Rainbow, and go boldly forth, learn all you can. :)

Also, about finding people with your same interests in your area - likely they exist but are quiet/ cautious about it, just the same as you are. Slip something into conversation with people you have something in common with, people your own age, people with similar hobbies, etc. Show some curiosity about crystals, tarot, etc and find others who are also curious.

I really do believe there should be no Witch names. It does seem to make everything like some fantasy or game instead of reality.

I have been given a hard time by some Christians online, but they were not people I knew or kept any interest in. There may be some people who do need to hide their beliefs, even now. Some who live in a heavily Christian dominated location may want to avoid all the conflict and upset and keep their views to themselves. That is understandable. No one loves being nagged or worse.

But, if you don't need to hide your beliefs, why choose to hide your identity? Can't you be a Witch without obscuring it in some way. Aren't you happy to use your own name and call yourself a Witch? If not, why not. That's something to spend time thinking about. It could be you haven't found the right path for yourself yet. Look into other beliefs and variations of Pagan beliefs and ideas. Find something, a niche, group, or culture, that fits you and makes you feel good. Ontario Witch I made this as a logo today. I'd like to make the Ontario trillium green, a darkish green. I might figure out how to do that sometime.

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The Canadian English Dictionary

The Canadian English Dictionary will be the first new general Canadian dictionary of English in two decades. It is being developed by a not-for-profit consortium including Editors Canada, the UBC Canadian English Lab, and the Strathy Language Unit at Queen’s University.

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“It makes no difference how long ago someone died. We are their living…

“It makes no difference how long ago someone died. We are their living relatives.” – Emma Restall Orr

I read a post by Anna the Imp, Sacred Ancestors. This is an issue I have thought about before. Mainly, is it ok (morally correct) to move, display or physically analyze historical dead bodies. At what point does respect for the dead come into scientific research?

Honouring the Ancient Dead a British initiative that advocates respect for what are commonly called ‘human remains’ and their related funereal artefacts.

This is what Ana wrote:

There was a story in the Telegraph and the Guardian yesterday concerning the display of ancient human remains in museums. They report the findings of a new book by Dr Tiffany Jones that museums are removing or partially covering mummies, skeletons and other human remains for fear of protests by neo-pagan organisations, the chief among which seems to be Honouring the Ancient Dead (HAD), an advocacy group founded by Emma Restall Orr, a neo-druid, poet and author.

There is certainly considerable sensitivity over this issue, particularly when some of the remains in question were removed from traditional burial grounds without consultation, something that might be defined as anthropological imperialism, a corollary of political imperialism. Many of these artefacts have subsequently been returned to the rightful communities

But is it right to be equally concerned over remains such as mummies and bog bodies, where no cultural or tribal continuity can be established? The examination of such things is, after all, an essential part of archaeological research, helping to establish a better understanding of the past, of past lives and past cultures.

Speaking personally I approach this question from two dimensions. As a scholar and as a historian I have to welcome anything that throws a greater light on the past, which I love. As a pagan, as an admirer of the ancient ways and ancient customs, I believe that we have to approach human remains, the remains of our ancestors, with a high degree of sensitivity. How could I possibly celebrate Samhain (Halloween) and not feel a link with the spirits of the dead, no matter how ancient?

Sensitivity, that’s the key word, to show things always in context, not to display the dead, many of whom were buried with reverence, simply to be gawped at as objects of idle curiosity. After all, how would you feel if your own ancestors were taken from consecrated ground and put on public display? Ah, but time, the removal of time, excuses such things, does it not? Perhaps, then again, perhaps not.

I've copied and posted Ana's thoughts because it's from an old blog which could disappear. I like what she wrote.

Myself, it makes me think about older photographs, movies or TV shows. Everyone is in black and white. So, we don't see them in colour, or think of them as being people who lived their lives in colour. They seem less real. Of course, logically, we know all those people lived in colour, just as we do now. But, it takes extra brain power to think of them as being people like ourselves, every day in colour, not someone from an old photograph or movie, lost in time.