Pagan Village News

Merry Meet Readers!!! I do hope that your new year has been, thus far, adventurous, relaxing, and enjoyable. In the last issue I had covered the differences between Wicca/Pagan vs. Witchcraft. I would now like to share with you the 13 Goals of a Witch and The Wiccan Rede. Many of you who are Wicca/Pagan and Witches, already know and live by these knowledgeable, powerful, and Earth comforting words and I ask that you bare with me here. For those who are not familiar with this topic, I do believe, whether Pagan/Wicca/Witch or not that you will find these words so powerful as to feel prompted to incorporate them into your daily lives.

13 GOALS OF A WITCH

Know Yourself: This is and was, as far back as Socrates, advice best followed. If you do not know what makes you happy, you are more than likely not going to find your happiness. This also includes knowing your own strengths and weaknesses, as well as knowing what you want or you most likely will not get it.

Know Your Craft: Wicca is a craft, therefore the term Witchcraft or Craft of the Wise. It takes more than reading a few books, even though they can lead you in the direction of your path, yet is it something best learned by living it. In other words, understand your spiritual craft.

Learn: Learn about everything you are interested in; learn everything you can. This does not mean to join several schools or take dozens of course, or buy tons of books and try to cram everything your interested in into a short period of time. This means that everything and everday is a learning process. Once you have ingested/learned and lived a various aspect or interest regarding Wicca/Pagan/Witchcraft, you are then able to put it into effect or incorporate it in your daily life and live and walk that particular part of your path. Many of us would love to know so much in a short period of time, but researching, connecting with others of same mind and path (whether it be online groups, schools, course study, joining a meetup group, etc.), or personally knowing and sharing knowledge with someone else and asking questions (learning more), you continue to walk upon the path of the Gods and Goddesses with confidence and purity of soul. Most importantly, be open minded about subjects you don’t know anything or very little about. Even a thorough knowledge of many subjects will help you grow spiritually.

Apply Knowledge & Wisdom: As stated above, you can read many books or obtainknowledge of the subject matter elsewhere, but until you incorporate into your life what you have learned, it is useless to you. Of course, everything is not written in stone. You can take that which best fits you and your needs and want of spirituality and leave the rest. One person’s “truth” is not necessarily “truth” for all. Only you can feel in your heart what rings “true” with you. Knowledge is power, but without wisdom, you do not have control over that power.

Achieve Balance: This can be referred to as “moderation in all things”. Do not totally consume your time by something because your life will suffer consequences. Many of us have that tendency, myself included, to dive into a new area or project totally concentrating and averting our efforts to it. This can be a good thing but only if we do not ignore everything else. Many women are good at balancing because of job needs, children’s needs, and husband’s or Significant Other’s needs; needing to be balanced all at once. Our own needs suffer in this process. We are rushed, pulled into many directions all at once. We need to find that balance in life to feel invigorated and enjoy what we are doing. Many times, easier said than done. So, take breaks and do something uplifting and spiritual for yourself. Meditate for five or 10 minutes a day (in the morning preferably), go for a walk in the park, take a nice hot aromatherapy bath with candles lit, incense that soothes the soul burning, and soft music playing. You will be amazed at the results of one small thing you do for yourself!

Keep Your Words in Good Order: Words have power!! “A Witch is only as good as her word” This saying came from a time when the person’s word was their bond. This is still of great importance today. I believe, that when you say a thing you make it so by the power of those words being put out into the universe/cosmos. A Witch’s magick works because we say “So Mote It Be”. Words and will have that power and when you do not keep that word, you have broken the bond. This is also true with the Christian Bible, in Genesis, “In the beginning was the word”. So be careful how you speak, negatively or positively, for this is what you can bring into manifestation. Or, Be careful what you pray/ask for!

Keep Your Thoughts In Good Order: Another Wiccan saying is, “Energy follows thought”. What you think or have thought often enough, you can bring into manifestation. So think positively and use positive affirmations because they can make a difference in your life.

Celebrate Life!!!: When you think about all the senses you have and the sensations you feel, how awesome is that!!! Life is meant to be joyful and the Earth is Alive!!!! We are all linked to all life, everywhere~CELEBRATE LIFE AND YOU!

Attune with the Cycles of the Earth: Wiccans are aware of the seasons and the phases of the Moon. We do this by celebrating Esbats and Sabbats. We follow and live by “The Wheel of the Year”. Be aware of the seasons and phases of the moon for everything in life runs in cycles; our bodies, plants, animals, the ocean tides, and emotions. All of life and its ritualistic themes are timed by the seasons as well as the Moon’s cycles.

Breath and Eat Correctly: Not only is breathing important to life, but is used for proper magick, energy raising, and our health. Diaphragm breathing (Deep Breathing from the diaphragm). This is a very wise practice to master. During meditation, breath in through the nose and out through your mouth. This is also used for other forms of energy control and consciousness control. Eat what is a proper diet for you, but not until you are stuffed!! This will inhibit you from doing much else other than taking a nap! Eat to live, not live to eat!

Exercise The Body: In this fast paced Techno-Pagan society, this is too often ignored. We all know that exercise tones muscles, burns fat, relieves stress and enables us to have more of an ability to enjoy life by giving us more energy. Along with exercise is drinking plenty of water. This flushes out toxins caused by stress and other factors. This is the physical vessel your soul has been incarnated to as well as where the gods an goddesses dwell during the time we honor them. TAKE CARE OF IT!! I, for one, lack self control or ambition at times and am guilty of not eating right and not exercising at least three times a week. But once we become fully aware that we are not taking care, we can put ourselves back on the right track.

Meditate: As mentioned in goal #5, MEDITATE!! Even if it can only be done 5-10 minutes a day, first thing in the morning preferably. You do not even necessarily have to get out of bed first. Your first thoughts of the day create your day. So start it off with positive energy, positive thoughts, and positive feelings. Create your day! There are many ways to meditate. The most often seen image by people hearing the word “meditate” is someone sitting in the Lotus position chanting “om”. Although this is one way to meditate, other are as follows:

a. concentrating on an object

b. single thought

c. breathing

d. dance/to move the body as in T’ai Chi

e. walking/being at one with your body and not thinking about anything

f. Aromatherapy bath with candles lit, incense that soothes the soul burning, and soft music playing

g. silenty sitting and deep breathing

There are also tons of various meditation CD’s out on the market place today and even helpful hints online.

Honor the God and Goddess: Of course there will be those who read this and think, “I honor Allah” or “I honor Buddha”. This is fine. The path of the Wicca/Pagan/Witch emcompasses a broad spectrum of religious beliefs. Who you honor is your choice.

They dwell within ourselves while we are honoring them. By doing so, we must also show honor for ourselves and others. If you look closely enough, it becomes easy to see the God and Goddess in others regardless of physical appearances. If you really look at them you can see their innate deity. This is something that one must continually practice to truly see and know that we are all one with the God and Goddess. We are all divine and this will impact your life.

After you have read this, read it again and again until you truly know and believe you are walking this path. If you have questions, please feel free to e-mail me at canewdon_witch1580@yahoo.com

Next issue I will be discussing the Basic Principles of the Craft.

The Wiccan Rede
(Full Version)

Bide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.

For tread the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.

Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.
Honor the Old Ones in deed and name,
let love and light be our guides again.

Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,
and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.

When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at Her peak then your heart's desire seek.

Heed the North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.
When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.

Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God's
insight. Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.

Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.

Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.

Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.

Elder is the Lady's tree burn it not or cursed you'll be.
Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.

As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it's now Samhain.
When the time for Imbolc shows watch for flowers through the snows.

When the wheel begins to turn soon the Beltane fires will burn.
As the wheel turns to Lamas night power is brought to magick rite.

Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.
When the wheel has turned to Yule light the log the Horned One rules.

In the spring, when night equals day time for Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached it's height time for Oak and Holly to fight.

Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.
Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you'll be.

Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you'll know.
When you have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.
Merry Meet and Merry Part bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow.

Be true in love this you must do unless your love is false to you.

These Eight words the Rede fulfill:

"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"

I hope that you have all enjoyed this issues’ topic. I myself enjoy reading these things time and again to remind myself of who and what I truly am and when I find myself being spiritually drained by mundane daily events and/or occurrences.

Blessed Be My Friends and Love, Light, and Happiness to you all.

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