Aside from the part where I like bad books - well some of them - what is the single worst book you've come across?
Of the few that I actually own now, I have to nominate The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Spells and Magic for pure wrong information.
First, let me say that I'm very mindful of the issues surrounding the word "Pagan". Let me also say, that for me, it is a useful descriptor (one among many) that helps me understand who I am and how I move through the world in relation to other people.
OK, that said, I'm wondering what folks here think of Pagan Pride events.
As most of you know, I have always worked in the area of social justice, and I very recently started a job as the policy director of a national social justice/education organization. This organization deals directly with a group that has been marginalized by society, and is definitely "the outsiders."
I attended an annual event this past weekend, during which I found myself substituting "religious bias" in my head, every time someone talked about any other kind of bias (e.g., gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, etc.). And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I have the right to be who I am, wherever I am. Period.
Yeah, I know: Duh.
Anyway, I came home very energized on a personal level as well as a professional level. I'm interested in working on religious rights -- and I have the skills to really make a difference. I'm a professional advocate, lobbyist, advocacy trainer, and lawyer.
Nevertheless, I have some concerns about the way the "Pagan Community" approaches the issue (please notice the quote marks -- I don't want to revisit the issue of whether there IS a pagan community -- for these purposes, I believe there is perceived to be one). Even so, I think I'm going to volunteer to help out with DC's annnual Pagan Pride Day. At the very least, I'll get a closer look.
Thoughts? Comments? Advice? Warnings? Encouragements?
I thought it might be useful for the newer witches/magicians if the more experienced folk in here contributed to a list of magical mistakes they've made (come on, admit it, we've all had our fingers burned).
I am looking for a decent book on the subject of automatic writing, not necessarily a 'how to' book but more of a general study on the subject with history, uses in both science and magic, pioneers and so on. Any suggestions please?
I believe it's very important to do some form of divination before a ritual to see if it's really necessary.
Does anyone else use this safeguard?
As far as I can tell, there are three "dictionaries" of Celtic mythology that are good, reliable sources:
Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, by Peter Berresford Ellis
Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend, by Miranda J. Green
A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, by James MacKillop
Can anyone compare and contrast these books? Recommendations?
I currently have two tarot card decks: one is The Witches Tarot and the other is The Quest.
The little book for the Witches Tarot claims that pagans do not believe in the devil hence this is why there is no "Devil" card in this deck however in The Quest deck there is a Devil card which indicates "Temptation".
My question is from what premise does the creator of The Quest deck define the cards? Is it truly from a "Pagan" view? (As I understand, "pagan" basically refers to "non-Christian" religions and traditions.)
What particular "Pagan" tradition, if any, is he basing this devil card from?
Yes, I realize I risk sounding like an ignorant child but I was pondering this and I am not sure I ever heard of the "devil" ever really being referred to in Wicca and Witchcraft.
I know that there are some people on here that have been in Wicca for a long time (the beginning?). I have been wondering why they would choose to call themselves a witch? Wicca was created in the last century so they could have used any term to describe themselves, but they chose a word that already had negative connotations. Now they spend all there time defending themselves. "We are not evil." "Not that kind of witch." etc. Just saying 'Wiccan' should have been fine. Nice, obscure, had no prior baggage. I've even seen references to a whole debacle with BTW fighting that "we are the one, true witches, all others are posers" so that people decided to call themselves Wiccan to avoid it (and now they are on the "we are the one, true Wiccans, all others are posers").
Wouldn't it just have saved time and energy if they didn't try to redefine or clean the rep of the term 'witch' in the first place?
Any history on the decision to use the term 'witch'?
There have been a few (ok more than a few) times I've read on the board about people "belonging to" a Deity or a group of them. I have a few questions about this, if I may:
Note: I'm putting "belong to" in quotation marks because I'm not sure if I'm using the correct term.
1) How did you know that you "belonged" to this or these Deity?
2) What does "belonging to" a Deity entail?
3) Is it possible to "belong to" an Element?
Is anyone familiar with either of these books?:
Fire in the Head: Shamanism and the Celtic Spirit, by Tom Cowan
Shamans/Neo-Shamans: Ecstasies, Alternative Archeologies, and Contemporary Pagans, by Robert J. Wallis
If so, any comments?