Reflections in the PondReflections on life from a Canadian Wiccan.Winding Down the Year- December 31, 2007 While both Wiccans and Christians celebrate the rebirth of their respective gods (more or less) at the same time, the lead up to the event couldnt be more different. To Wiccans, the days between November EveSamhain (October 31st) and Winter SolsticeYule (approx. December 21s) are meant to be a time to slow down and mourn the death of the god. For most North American Christians, November and December are the busiest time of year, with everyone rushing from mall to office party to family event...http://lotuspond.silentblue.net/blog/archives/2007/12/31/winding-down-the-year.php Ancestral Spirituality- December 13, 2007 Wicca is generally viewed as a Celtic-inspired faith. The names most Wiccans use for the Sabbats come from Celtic culture, as to some of the most common names used for the Lord and Lady. In actuality, Wicca has very little in common with the religious practices of the Celtic people. But this doesn't stop people of IrishScottishBritish ancestry from saying that they are drawn to Wicca because it reflects the ways of their ancestors. I am of Scotch-Irish stock, and I am a practitioner of Wicca....http://lotuspond.silentblue.net/blog/archives/2007/12/13/ancestral-spirituality.php Blogging Between the Worlds- December 11, 2007 Generally I don't like to join things like Top 100 lists or banner exchanges due to the often low quality of some or the sites that are included. It seems that the good, great and excellent sites are easily lost in the crush of the merely mediocre. However, I did recently decide to join a new Pagan Blogger's Top 100 Site, Blogging Between the Worlds. So far there are only a few sites, the majority of look like they will provide excellent reading material for a long time to come. I am...http://lotuspond.silentblue.net/blog/archives/2007/12/11/blogging-between-the-worlds.php Used Tarot Decks - Yea or Nay- December 7, 2007 There are many myths that surround the use of the Tarot. Some of the most common include: Your first deck must be given to you as a gift--if this were true, I'd never have started reading Tarot Your deck must be wrapped in black silk to keep out any "bad vibes"--I've never done this, although I did wrap one deck in faux-silk, and still do. It seemed to suit the deck's temperament. No one should ever touch you deck--While I do keep a few decks just for my use, when I read for another...http://lotuspond.silentblue.net/blog/archives/2007/12/06/used-tarot-decks-yea-or-nay.php Chalk River Closure- December 5, 2007 Nuclear energy has received much bad press over the decades--Chernobyl and Three Mile Island come to mind immediately. Nuclear reactors are used to do more then power our computers and Xboxes--they can produce a radioisotope used in medical diagnostic tests for things such as cancer, bone disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. Something to remember the next time a debate about nuclear reactors starts among your friends. I bring this up today not because I've suddenly gone pro-nuclear or...http://lotuspond.silentblue.net/blog/archives/2007/12/05/chalk-river-closure.php |