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All about Erin - who has written 713 posts on Erin's Journal.
An author, a Wiccan, a Druid, a Priestess, a member of the ULC, Owner of Erin's Journal, mystic, magickian, DragonKin, Guardian and Transsexual. All these and more describe Erin.
- AIM: davenmor3
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Posts by Erin:
Paganism
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.
New Archdruid
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.
The Witches Pyramid; To Dare
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.
Daven’s Meditation
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.
General Notes on All Rituals
(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.
New Temple
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.
- 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.
REVIEW: Northern Wisdom : the Hávamál, Tao of the North
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.
PHENOMENON: IT’S A MIRACLE
I recently watched the movie Phenomenon and came away very disturbed.
In case you haven’t seen it, don’t read the next six paragraphs. We hate it when someone ruins a movie by telling us what happened.
John Travolta plays a nice average man, nothing special, who lives in the small town he was born in. On the night of his birthday party, he is apparently struck by a blinding light and knocked to the ground.
By the next morning, he is displaying extraordinary abilities. Suddenly there is nothing he cannot know or do.
The townspeople, with three exceptions, the woman he loves, a wise old country doctor, and his best friend, begin to fear him. They cannot accept what is happening without explanations. They feel there must be some catch and they begin desperately searching for it. They also begin ostracizing this gentle man.
The Craft of the Witches
This is a rebuttal article to Mike Nichols: A WITCH BY ANY OTHER NAME, and it is intended to spark discussion.
Well, there have been many who have said at various times that Wicca equals Witchcraft. While I’m not going to argue semantics, and while I can and do acknowledge that Wicca in the original Anglo-Saxon roots means “witch”, I don’t agree that Witchcraft is the semantic equivalent of Wicca anymore.
Here we have a religion that has built itself up around the word Wicca, sold books, developed a complex spiritual substance, Deity figures (some that don’t even appear in ancient mythologies), has developed dogma and cant in which certain things are of the Wicca and others are not and even developed a moralistic code which adherents must ascribe to (or at least give lip service to if they don’t buy the whole thing).
Yule (Winter Solstice) Sabbat
December 21
[Erecting the Temple is performed. Priest and Priestess kiss. On the Altar stands two unlit candles, one on wither side of the Altar Candle.]
Priestess: Now is the Sun well on its course through the long and dark months of winter.
Priest: Let us show our love for the Gods
By sending strength where it is needed.
Let us kindle here fresh fires
To light our Lord upon His way.
Fires to give Him confidence;
To show Him our love burns forth
Even though the hardships of Winter be upon us.
All: So Be It!
[Priest takes up one unlit candle and holds it before him.]
Priest: Let Woden bear the blessings of our Lady Freya
As He guard us and guides us
Through the long dark days ahead.
May all our Power, Wiccans all,
Be symbolized by this light,
As it burns with steady flame,
Aiding and strengthening that which is there.
