I really want to give a shoutout to the author of the plugin that counts my site visitors. That little box to the upper left? The guy who made that is a wonderful plugin author. The name of the plugin is Count per Day and I think it is the best counter plugin out there. His site is at Tom's Dimension. Go download them from that site if you want a good counter plugin.
Let me explain this page for a bit. Most of the pages in this Journal are static, meaning that once I put something up, it tends to stay up. This page, however, is fluid. It changes almost daily. This is the feed for my blog. I have a WordPress blog on this site, mostly to facilitate expressing my thoughts to everyone. This is the dynamic section where you can read my current thoughts on matters, my health, my complaints and just quick opinions. It's not meant to be the same page as it always is.
A friend of mine likened this page to the introduction of a magazine, and in some ways she's right. This is a page that tells you what this Journal is about. So read on. In brief, this is one Druid's thoughts on life, spirituality, Wicca, Druidism, religion and all those things that affect humanity. Even some snarkiness. I teach through here and use this as a medium to preserve my beliefs for my daughter and her children.
Astute readers of my Journal will have already noticed that the name has changed. That’s what should be. But let me tell you why.
As you may have read in earlier entries, I’m transitioning from Male to Female. Well, in recent months I’ve made some major strides forward in that regard, namely I’ve come out to everyone I know that I’m transitioning, and I’ve legally changed my name from my male moniker to a more female name.
With this change came a LOT of soul searching, a lot of meditation and a lot of discussion with the Gods. Finally after a long time, we all determined that I am Their daughter just as much as I was Their son. I am Their Priestess and still Their Priest.
Confusing? You bet you. About as confusing as being female, dressing as female, being called “She” and “Her” and “Miss” and still being called “Dad” by my daughter. But that’s okay, things take time, and I’m only partway through the hormone treatment. Read the rest of the article...
Joyce & River Higginbotham
Llewellyn, 2002 $14.95 US
ISBN 0-7387-0222-6
Review by Daven
Rating: 
When I saw this title in the catalog I got somewhat concerned. The blurb said that it was 250 pages long, and promised to explain paganism to those not familiar with the concept. My concern stemmed from the belief that 250 pages is just too small a space to explain a subject as complex as paganism.
Believe it or not, the authors actually manage to do it.
This book is clear and concise in the descriptions of what Paganism is and is not, without ever once making blanket statements like “Pagans all believe….” or “Belief in ______ is shared by all pagans…” and so on. They also never make the mistake of stating that Wicca is the only thing in paganism. They distinguish clearly between Wicca, Asatru, Shamanism, Voodoo and so on, which in my experience is a novel change. Read the rest of the article...
I was reading “The Wildhunt” today and I noticed that the ADF has elected a new Arch Druid.
I’d like to add my congratulations to all the other wishes of well to Rev. Kirk Thomas, the new head Druid in the ADF.
How does this affect me as an independent druid? Well, it really doesn’t, except that the leadership of one of the major Druid groups is going to swing a huge club and shape how not only the ADF, but Druids in general are seen in the future.
I’ve known Isaac for a couple years, had the honor of talking to him via email once or twice. I’ve reviewed books by Skip Ellison and also talked to him via email a couple times on websites and email lists that we shared. I have found both men to be very intelligent and open to new ideas, while still maintaining the highest standards for themselves and their Order. Kirk has a HUGE set of shoes to fill. Read the rest of the article...
On the surface, this leg of the Witches Pyramid is probably the simplest on the surface since it’s doing the process that you have decided on. The decision to do the spell has been made, the caster’s Will is honed and ready to force the change, but now you get your tools out and start the chants to cast the spell. Sounds simple, right?
But there is much more than that to this aspect of magic. Daring to do a spell means you have a self confidence that says you have the divine right to impose your Will on the universe; that you have the right to actually make things happen simply because you want them to happen.
To my mind, that takes a special kind of arrogance. To say to the Universe and to whatever form of Deity you honor, “I know better than you do, and I am going to MAKE this action happen.” That sounds pretty severe and arrogant in my opinion. Read the rest of the article...
(Note from Daven: This is kind of a primer for Druidism. I don’t know how much of it is accurate, since I learned from a different Way. However, it sounds correct as far as it goes. Once again, use your brains about all this. Just because it’s written down here doesn’t mean that it’s written in stone.)
SIMPLE INTRODUCTION TO DRUIDRY
We seem to be living in a time when the past is calling to us at the top of its collective lungs. We are somehow living with deep memories of a past that touches us in a way we don’t understand but hunger to embrace.
The work of Druids is the work of re-making the connections between out everyday lives and the wonder and Magick of the inner worlds. We current day Druids and Wiccan’s are trying to again open the gates of the Soul where everything we still remember resides. To once again use the Power of the Self: intellect, intuition, instinct and emotions to seek the good of ALL people which are health, wealth, wisdom. Love and personal power. Read the rest of the article...
This is the meditation I most often use to get into a state of trance. There are elements here common to most meditations and guided meditations. I explored this concept in part in a class I teach on Astral Projection. Here are the common themes that most meditations and guided meditations have in them:
- Suggestions to relax
- The feeling of a safe environment around you
- Lack of distractions from the world
- A sense of comfort and love
- Pictures and visualizations of a scene that is pleasant for you
- A descent of some kind.
You may see these themes as you read through the meditation.
Sit or lay down and become comfortable. Relax your body completely and start thinking about these scenes. Read the rest of the article...
(Read this section before you do anything else. Important)
The Rituals in this following section are copied directly out of The Tree by Raymond Buckland. I have taken a few liberties with some of them, but what I have changed is minor.
Generally, the only changes I have made are to replace the Deity names. Buckland suggests that the Deities be called Woden and Freya. Mary and I are more comfortable with Herne and Rhiannon. These two are (in general) gentler than Woden and Freya. The times I have worked with Them, I have found this to be true.
The other major changes I have done are to write some new rituals that do not appear in The Tree. Everything after the Death Rite is my own creation. Read the rest of the article...
(Daven’s Comments: Please note this carefully; this is NOT my essay. It is one of the classics of NeoPagan Literature, and as such deserves to be out there in the community. Every time, however, I find a copy of it, it somehow disappears off the Internet completely. To prevent this from being lost, I am putting it up here. So I don’t have to be anxious about whether or not it will vanish the next time I need to reference it. If you wish to see a more up to date version, please go to THIS SITE and read. I honestly don’t know the difference between these two, but that one is a higher version number. Sad to say the original site Clannada na Gadelica seems to have disappeared off the Internet completely. I leave this link here out of respect.) Read the rest of the article...
(Note from Daven: This is an outstanding article, and I think everyone should read this. As I say in the next part, When I first read it, I got chills. You can find Wren’s site at http://www.witchvox.com on the net. Check them out, The Witch’s Voice is one of the most important sites on the net, and a real boon for those of us in the Craft. This article is used by permission.)
Neo-Pagans and Self Actualization
(February, 21st., 1999)
-by Wren Walker
College students and business managers are familiar with the works of Abraham Harold Maslow. Psychology professors often include Maslow in their classroom course of study for the same reason that corporate trainers may implant some of his material buried within their orientation or management skills workshops. Maslow had an interesting theory.
Building A Pyramid Read the rest of the article...
This is a preview of "Neo-Pagans and Self Actualization". Read the full post (estimated 19:0 minutes reading time)
Okay, given the whole kerfluffle over Z Budapesht’s transphobia and the similar blow up with the Temple of the Goddess I’ve come to a decision.
I’m going to start a new Temple that is trans-inclusive. One that not only welcomes Trans women and Trans men, but one that works with them to celebrate their new sex and their needs in a spiritual sense. This group won’t ignore the Intersexed, the Genderfluid or the Asexual person either, I just need to figure out ways to incorporate their unique energies into the overall format.
Now, this is going to be a hell of a task. I’m going to need everyone who is a reader of this website to help. Read the rest of the article...
- I’m going to need publicity.
- I’m going to need rituals.
- I’m going to need those who want to head up local chapters to come forward.
By Eoghan Odinsson
Asgard Studios, 2012 $17.95 US
ISBN 978-0-9878394-0-4
Review by Erin
Rating: 
Well, a new year and a new review. This one is interesting, a modernization of the Hávamál, the poems of the Vikings that most use these days as the starting point for a reconstruction of their religion.
I’m not going to address the Hávamál directly since I don’t study, it in a scholarly manner. It takes the archaic language in many sections of the poem and reconstructs it in such a way that it’s easier to understand.
The author did not do this alone however, he had help of others in this rewriting. He acknowledges the “crowd-sourcing” as part of the overall contribution to the book. Read the rest of the article...
This is a preview of "REVIEW: Northern Wisdom : the Hávamál, Tao of the North". Read the full post (estimated 2:34 minutes reading time)
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