PaganMoon)O(

Great Goddess, Great Horned God,. Moon's Wink And Magick's Nod!
Have four beautiful children and I am so very blessed to have them. ...)O(...I am Pagan, in every way that a person can be, I am only too happy to love and help take care of our Mother Earth, May the Goddess Love and Bless us all. I do NOT worship the "Devil/Santan", I do not even believe such a creature/being even exsist, In order to worship a thing one must frist believe in the exsistance of such a thing, the Devil/Santan is a Christan concepect, I am NOT a Christan! I am a Strega, "I practic La Vecchia Religion Stregheria". Stregheria, pre-dates Celtic Witchcraft by many centuries and is very much practiced today in Italy, America, and by Witches all over the world. My coven "Boschetto" believes that before one crosses the Vail into the Summer Land, that our Blessed art of Stregheria must be past on to at lest one person. It is our way.
I now live in a small forest with my little, and some large animal friends.
YES, I do believe that animals are people too, and they are a very important part of my life. Yes, I'm also one of those tree huggers that I'm sure you all have heard about, I'm very much at home while nestled on a branch of a tree and find it very peaceful to read, draw, think, or even take a nap while under the shade of a tree. I am a VEGAN, so I do not eat anything that is animal and no animal dariy, and I hope that you wouldn't kill/murder and/or eat another person either, also I am against all animal testing and I believe that cruelty to animals is nothing more than ugly hate, it breaks my heart........... I do not drink any kind of alcohol, or take any man made drugs/medications, I only use all natural remedies, I do not smoke, I am for pro-life, I also believe that one should love whomever it is that makes them happy, regardless of race, religons, or gender.
(Live is ours, we live it our way!)
I enjoy all of nature, gardening, love to camp out under the stars, family time, family trips, love to read, dancing, drawing. I enjoy cooking, and have been known to be quite the Kitchen Witch! lol. I also enjoy candels, powders, stones, crystals, herbs, bontanicals, essential oils, potions, poppets, moon magick, moon rituals, astrology, astronamy, and Pagan/Wiccan rituals, and I LOVE to read!
...)O(...
I Am a Witch.
I do NOT worship Satan; I am NOT interested in Satan. Satan was invented by the Christians. Satanism is a form of Christianity. I am NOT a Christian. I don't go to Church on Sunday. Jesus is NOT my savior. He was simply a holy man who lived 2,000 years ago. And heres somthing to think about," there are many who believe that Jesue himself was Pagan." I am not afraid of going to Hell because I don't believe in Hell any more than I believe in Satan. I believe in reincarnation; that I will come back to this world or another and live out another life.
I am NOT evil. Telling people I am a "Good Witch" or asking me if I am a good witch implies that there are evil Witches. There are evil people in the world, and there are people who chose to work with the forces of nature in a way that harms others; those people are NOT Witches. The central law of being a Witch is: "if it harms none, do as you will."
Please don't ask me about sacrificing cats or desecrating churches. I love cats as I do all my animal friends. And I don't go into churches or synagogues unless a friend from that religion invites me to some special occasion. And if I DO enter a church, I am NOT struck by lightning. And if a Christian or a Jew or a Buddhist came to a Pagan ritual, our Goddesses and Gods would not strike them dead either. Isn't that something to think about?
Wearing a pentacle is no different than wearing a cross, crucifix, or Star of David. If you want me to take off the symbol of MY religion (and Wicca is a religion, protected by the same First Amendment rights as other Religions) because it's offensive, you need to make everyone of every religion do that. The five points of the star signify the four elements of Earth, Air, Fire & Water, and the fifth point is Spirit; encircled by the World. How that can offend anyone boggles my little Pagan mind. An image of a tortured, dying man is more offensive, yet thousands of people openly wear crucifixes every day.
Also, don't ask me if I'm in a "coven" in that half-horrified, half-fascinated tone of voice. If I want to talk about my coven, I will bring it up. If I am a solitary practitioner, I have no coven to discuss. In any case, our rituals have candles, food, drink, poetry, dancing...yes, there is a knife but it only cuts the air, not anyone's flesh. I don't drink blood. I am not some kind of vampire. I wear black because it keeps negativity away and because it looks better on me than orange and green polka dots.
If you want to ask me something related to MY religion, ask me when the next full moon is. Or the next blue moon. Or what a blue moon IS. Ask me about herbs. Crystals. Healing. Even ask me to make you a love potion. But I don't cast spells on other people and I won't cast a spell on you to make you prettier, thinner, more desirable. And I won't cast a spell on your quarry to make him/her love you. Trust me, you don't want that, you don't want the karma that involves, and neither do I! That's a form of manipulation, taking away someone's power, infringing on their free will. Not nice at all. And I also won't cast a binding spell to make someone STOP doing something to you. Spell work is about co-creation. A witch works with universal energy, with the gods, to tilt the engine of probability somewhat. Need money? Don't try to ensorcel your boss to give you a raise. Simply ask the universe to increase the flow of abundance in your direction. That infringes on NO ONE's free will.
One last thing: giving me a book about the Burning Times is like giving a book on the Holocaust to a Jewish person. It's not funny and is rude. Yes, I do go to Salem, but not because any of those poor executed people were Witches (I think the jury is still out on some of them), but because there's cool Pagan shops there. If there were cool Pagan shops in a town called East Cowflop, I'd go there.
Please don't try to make me ashamed of who I worship and what I am. Please don't try to convert me or "save" me. Don't throw holy water on me. Don't leave little pamphlets on my door, dest, or windshield. I don't need to be saved. Witches are proud of the fact that we don't recruit people to become Witches. We simply ARE, and those around us see how we think, how we act, and our inner peace, and only when someone says "how do I become a Witch?" do we take them into the fold with us. I will NEVER leave a religious tract with anyone. I don't have one, unless you count this letter. And I am not asking you to convert. I am only asking you to understand. If you don't want to understand, just leave me alone.
Blessed Be,
A Witch.
THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES TO ANIMAL RESEARCH!!!Did you know that there are hundreds of agencies around the world spend your tax money shoving dogs into metal chambers and pumping in pesticides while the animals try in vain to escape the deadly poisons?
Or that researchers still swab burning chemicals into rabbits eyes and onto their shaved skin? Or that some government tests kill 3,000 animals ever year???????????
Animals are routinely cut open, poisoned, and forced to live in barren steel cages for years, although studies show that because of vast physiological variations between species, human reactions to illnesses and drugs are completely different from those of other animals.
Today's non-animal research methods are humane, more accurate, less expensive, and less time-consuming than animal experiments, yet change comes slowly and many researchers are unwilling to switch to superior technological advances. Animal experimentation not only is preventing us from learning more relevant information, it continues to harm and kill animals and people every year.
Hundreds of thousands of these animals are poisoned, blinded, and killed every year in outdated product tests for shampoos, household cleaners, cosmetics, hairspray, and other personal care and household items.
Although more than 500 companies have banned all animal tests forever, some corporations still force substances into animals stomachs and drip chemicals into rabbits eyes. These tests are not required by law, and they often produce inaccurate or misleading results even if a product has blinded an animal, it can still be marketed to you.
Animals deserve rights, regardless of how they taste or how convenient it is to experiment on them. Like humans, animals are capable of suffering and have an interest in leading their own lives. These animals do not have a voice to speak out and stop this.
WE DO!!!!!!!!
Vegan/Vegetarian 101
When it comes to vegetarianism, The number one question on most meat-eaters' minds is, "What do you eat?"
The answer: Anything we want!
There are vegetarian alternatives to almost any animal food, from soy sausages and "Fib Ribs" to Tofurky jerky and mock lobster. Vegetarian-friendly menus are sprouting up everywhere—even Burger King offers veggie burgers—and more and more eateries are focusing exclusively on vegetarian and vegan foods. There are fantastic alternatives to every dairy product you can imagine, including Soy Delicious ice cream, Silk chocolate soy milk, Tofutti cream cheese, and more.
Going vegetarian has never been easier, and we're here to help! From our fantastic recipes and list of favorite products and favorite vegetarian cookbooks to our free vegetarian starter kit and online shopping guide, PETA has all the information you need to adopt a healthy and humane vegetarian diet!
Every year in the U.S., more than 27 billion animals are slaughtered for food. Raising animals on factory farms is cruel and ecologically devastating. Eating animals is bad for our health, leading directly to many diseases and illnesses, including heart attacks, strokes, cancer, diabetes, and obesity. In response to animal welfare, health, and ecological concerns, compassionate people everywhere are adopting a vegetarian diet.
For Animals
Animals on factory farms are treated like meat, milk, and egg machines. Chickens have their sensitive beaks seared off with a hot blade, and male cattle and pigs are castrated without any painkillers. All farmed chickens, turkeys, and pigs spend their brief lives in dark and crowded warehouses, many of them so cramped that they can't even turn around or spread a single wing. They are mired in their own waste, and the stench of ammonia fills the air. Animals raised for food are bred and drugged to grow as large as possible as quickly as possible—many are so heavy that they become crippled under their own weight and die within inches of their water supply.
Animals on factory farms do not see the sun or get a breath of fresh air until they are prodded and crammed onto trucks for a nightmarish ride to the slaughterhouse, often through weather extremes and always without food or water. Many die during transport, and others are too sick or weak to walk off the truck after they reach the slaughterhouse. The animals who survive this hellish ordeal are hung upside-down and their throats are slit, often while they're completely conscious. Many are still alive while they are skinned, hacked into pieces, or scalded in the defeathering tanks. Learn more about the factory-farming industry. By switching to a vegetarian diet, you can save more than 100 animals a year from this misery.
Animals on factory farms do not see the sun or get a breath of fresh air until they are prodded and crammed onto trucks for a nightmarish ride to the slaughterhouse, often through weather extremes and always without food or water. Many die during transport, and others are too sick or weak to walk off the truck after they reach the slaughterhouse. The animals who survive this hellish ordeal are hung upside-down and their throats are slit, often while they're completely conscious. Many are still alive while they are skinned, hacked into pieces, or scalded in the defeathering tanks. Learn more about the factory-farming industry. By switching to a vegetarian diet, you can save more than 100 animals a year from this misery.
One suggestion: If you plan to make the transition to a vegetarian diet gradually, the most important foods to cut out of your diet first are bird flesh and eggs. While many people think that “red meat” and dairy products should be the first to go, this isn’t the case. By cutting bird flesh from your diet, you’ll save many more animals. Because chickens are so small, the average meat-eater is responsible for the deaths of many more chickens than cows. Plus, chickens and turkeys exploited by the meat and egg industries are the most abused animals commonly used for food.
For Your Health
Some of the leading killers in America today, including heart disease, cancer, obesity, and strokes, are directly linked to meat-based diets. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in America today, and it is caused by the build-up of cholesterol and saturated fat from animal products in our arteries. The only two doctors in human history who have successfully reversed heart disease have included an exclusively vegetarian diet as a part of their programs. The average vegan cholesterol level is 133 (compared to 210 for meat-eaters); there are no documented cases of heart attacks in individuals with cholesterol under 150. Other health problems tied to clogged arteries, like poor circulation and atherosclerotic strokes, can be virtually eliminated with a vegan diet.
Vegans are approximately one-ninth as likely to be obese as meat-eaters and have a cancer rate that is only 40 percent that of meat-eaters. People who consume animal products are also at increased risk for many other illnesses, including strokes, obesity, osteoporosis, arthritis, Alzheimer's, multiple allergies, diabetes, and food poisoning. Learn more about the health benefits of a vegetarian diet.
For the Environment
America's meat addiction is poisoning and depleting our potable water, arable land, and clean air. More than half of the water used in the United States today goes to animal agriculture, and since farmed animals produce 130 times more excrement than the human population, the run-off from their waste is fouling our waterways. Animal excrement emits gases, such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, that poison the air around farms, as well as methane and nitrous oxide, which are major contributors to global warming. Forests are being bulldozed to make more room for factory farms and feed crops to feed farmed animals, and this destruction causes soil erosion and contributes to species extinction and habitat loss. Raising animals for food also requires massive amounts of food and raw materials: Farmed animals consume 70 percent of the corn, wheat, and other grains that we grow, and one-third of all the raw materials and fossil fuels used in the U.S. go to raising animals for food. In short, our country's meat addiction is wrecking the earth.
It is all very well to say that individuals must wrestle with their consciences--but only if their consciences are awake and informed. Industrial society, alas, hides animals’ suffering.
For modern animal agriculture, the less the consumer knows about what’s happening before the meat hits the plate, the better.
If true, is this an ethical situation? Should we be reluctant to let people know what really goes on, because we’re not really proud of it and concerned that it might turn them to vegetarianism?
Peter Cheeke, PhD, Oregon St. U. Professor of Animal Agriculture, Contemporary Issues in Animal Agriculture, 2004 textbook
There’s a schizoid quality to our relationship with animals, in which sentiment and brutality exist side by side.
Half the dogs in America will receive Christmas presents this year, yet few of us pause to consider the miserable life of the pig--an animal easily as intelligent as a dog--that becomes the Christmas ham.
New York Times Magazine “An Animal’s Place” by Michael Pollan, 11/10/02 Factory Farms
{Veganism (also strict or pure vegetarianism) is a philosophy and lifestyle that seeks to exclude the use of animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose. Vegans do not use or consume animal products of any kind. The most common reasons for becoming a vegan are ethical commitment or moral convictions concerning animal rights, the environment, or human health, and spiritual or religious concerns. Of particular concern are the practices involved in factory farming and animal testing, and the intensive use of land and other resources required for animal farming.}
A Vegan Pagan's Prayer
Lord of the forest and field, Lady of the starlit night,
I acknowledge the truth that for me to live, something must die.
I give thanks for the gift of free will,
And I acknowledge the responsibility that comes with the freedom of choice.
I choose then to abstain from the cycle of unnecessary suffering.
I pledge to be an agent of healing, not a bystander to slaughter.
I say to the animals:
You do not have to suffer and die for me.
I say to the workers:
You do not have to kill for me.
I say to the corporate death machine:
You will no longer profit from my blindness.
I say to the Earth, and to all that is holy,
That though we are taught to feast upon war,
I choose to lay down the sword And take in peace instead.
I ally myself with Nature, not as her master, but as her child.
I will not claim dominion over that which is wiser than I.
Lord of the forest and field, Lady of the starlit night,
May compassion fulfill and transform me May I give as You give,
may I love as You love And may my choices bring grace to my life As You bring grace to the world.
So mote it be. )O(
The Myth About Milk
Since our childhood we are made to believe that milk gives nourishment and is good for the bones. Yes, mother's milk is good. But who says we need milk of other animals for the rest of our life? Even the animals do not drink other animal's milk after weaning away from their mother's milk. Then why do we continue drinking milk? Is it necessary or are we doing it out of habit? It is time we evaluate our actions and change them if needed.
Do you know that the glass of milk on your table is meant for an innocent calf? How would you feel if your child were denied its mother's milk? We never try to relate such problems with the animal kingdom. As though they are meant for human exploitation we continue abusing them. The milk that we drink comes from the cows and buffaloes that are tortured, tormented, and abused in every way. How can we talk about Ahimsa when there is no Ahimsa in our living? Isaac Singer, the Nobel peace prize winner, once said, "How can we ask mercy from God if we cannot give mercy to others." We only get what we give. If we give joy to others we will get joy but if we give pain we will get pain in return.
Let us find out the real story behind milk and under what horrifying conditions the cows are being milked. The following is the excerpt taken from the book "Heads And Tails" by Menaka Gandhi which explains the fate of the cow. This happens not only in India but also in the other parts of the world where cows are exploited and badly abused.
A continual flow of milk is extracted from the dairy cow only by subjecting her to yearly pregnancies -- starting from the age of two and each lasting nine months. After giving birth she will produce the milk for the next 10 months. However, she will be impregnated with semen during her third month and for the remaining seven months she will be milked when pregnant. She has only six to eight weeks between pregnancies. She will be milked twice or more times a day and the average Indian cow used in the Indian milk industry gives five times as much as she would have in the Fifties as she is being genetically bred for bigger and softer udders.
In order to give higher yield, the cow is fed concentrated pellets of Soy bean and cereal (which could have fed a great many more people). But even then the demanded production of milk outstrips her appetite and she starts breaking down body tissue to produce the milk. The result is an illness called ketosis.
Another illness that she contracts early is rumen acidosis induced by large helpings of quickly fermented carbohydrate. This disease leads to lameness. Most of the day the cow stands tied in a narrow stall in her own excrement and udder infections like mastitis (a painful inflammation of the udder), step in. With this long suffering, sick cow is kept alive by antibiotics, hormones, and other drugs all of which come to you in the morning milk.
Each year 20 percent of these dairy cows are taken out due to infertility or disease. These are then starved to death or sent by truck to the slaughterhouse to provide beef for those that see nothing wrong in eating it. Milk production is very closely allied to the meat trade. No cow lives out her normal life span. She is milked, made sick, and then killed.
What happens to the child, the calf? All the calves are separated from their mothers after three days. If the calf is a healthy female, it is put on milk substitutes to become a dairy replacement in two years. The male calves are tied up and left to starve to death which usually takes a week of intense suffering. Some are stuffed into trucks one on top of the other and sent to the slaughterhouse illegally to be killed for the veal that people eat in restaurants, which is also illegal. Some are sold to the cheese industry to have their stomachs slit (while alive) for rennet, the acid that is extracted for cheese making. A few are selected as bulls and kept in solitary pens for the rest of their lives for artificial insemination. Sometimes, when they are old, they are left on the streets of a city, to wonder around till a truck hits them.
What is the basic nature of a cow? To devotedly care for her young, quietly forage, and ruminate and patiently live out her 20 odd years in harmony with nature. She is not a four legged milk pump who is to be orphaned, bred, fed, medicated, inseminated and manipulated for single purpose: maximum milk at minimum cost.
Have you seen the aged old Indian dairy custom phookan -- which is illegal by law but which is practiced on thousands of cows daily? As soon as the cow's milk starts getting less, a stick is poked into her uterus and manipulated causing her intense pain in the belief that this stress will lead to a gush of more milk in the udder. This custom causes sores in the uterus, think about it, women -- but what does it matter when the cow is at the end of her milk giving life anyway and due to be either tied up and starved or to be thrown into a truck with 40 others and taken to the butcher?
There is this belief that dairy products give a lot of protein and iron. Most people who consume a lot of milk, specially vegetarians in North India, the people who believe that milk and paneer are a protein substitute for meat, have been found to have iron deficiency causing anemia. Milk not only provides no iron -- it actually blocks its absorption. Vegetables are the best source of iron. For instance, 50 gallons of milk are the equivalent (in iron content) of one bowl of spinach.
But what is the point of eating green vegetables if your single glass of milk is going to prevent the absorption of iron that you get from them? Listen to your body. Have you noticed that when you fall even slightly sick, the body feels nauseated at the thought of milk, that doctors recommend that you give it up till your are well? That is because after the age of four a large percentage of people lose the ability to digest lactose, the carbohydrate found in milk. The results often are in symptoms of persistent diarrhea, gas and stomach cramps. (As far as protein is concerned, milk gives the same amount as most vegetables and less than some vegetables). A human being's total protein requirement is 4-5 percent of his daily calorific intake. Nature has arranged her food in such a manner that even if you live on a diet of chapatti and potatoes, you will still get more than that amount!
The alternative to dairy products is Soy milk that contains vitamins and tastes as good (or bad). It makes excellent dahi, paneer, ice cream, butter, cheese and milk chocolate, vegetable margarine and plain calcium tablets which cost much less than milk.
Milk is a theft. Would a calf benefit from your mother's milk? No, it wouldn't. So how will you benefit from its mother's milk? Most of southeast Asia and the Middle East don't touch the stuff. And rightly so. All studies have shown that Asians have the highest intolerance to lactose. We have been sold the idea by concentrated western advertising. "Nature's most perfect food" is far from that, it is the equivalent of a placebo, and a dangerous one at that. And, most importantly, every glass of milk that you drink, every ice cream, every pat of butter, ensures that enormous cruelty to a gentle animal and its offspring goes on.
Milk has been proven to weaken our bones, increase our weight, erupt skin problems like acne, produce breathing problems like asthma, cause ear infections in children, stomach problems for the lactose intolerant, heart disease risk, directly linked to cancer and lets not even get into the hormones issue. But what does the public know and believe? That milk does a body good, because it is said in the advertisements. It's what we feed our children; they wouldn't lie, would they? Got the facts on Milk? is a feature documentary coming out soon.
"To become Vegan is to step into the stream which leads to Nirvana."- Buddha 563BC-483BC
...I am Wolf Spirit...
Feel my spirit... know me... remember.
We are all one".
Through the mist, I see the trees...I am running. I hear my breath and see it against the snow-covered ground. It beats loudly in my ears. The snow is falling and I know I am near my home, where my family waits. I look up and see the eagle flying overhead, screeching to his mate looking for their daily meal. I have seen many of my kind die before me. I have felt such anguish because I don't understand. Our home was once safe and I can remember frolicking in the meadow, without a care, knowing my family and I were safe and just like our ancestors we loved this land and all that lives here. We coexisted with all living things, even man.
My mate comes to me and we touch noses and look around, making sure all is well, always cautious and on guard. My father and Grandfather have told me of days when we had no fear, when we lived from this place with plenty. I have seen my family killed and taken from us because of fear of the unknown, so man could build more and more and take even the last bit of free land.
The skies are still blue and the grass green, but how long dear Great Spirit, will this be?
How long will my family survive as long as man continues to kill everything they touch?
Save us Great One from the murder and destruction. When will they wake up and pay attention to the beauty around them and stop living from selfish gain and fear?
The rivers die, the trees die, the air turns dark, the earth, she dries up from chemicals and too much digging. What can I do?
What can I do as a spirit of earth to make a difference?
My children were murdered and hung up from trees for all to see, their guts ripped from their bodies, their souls violated and what did they do?
They did nothing but be born and live in their own environment and be hunted, because why?
Man is heartless at times and greed and fear takes over. This land is big enough for all of us, why must man want it all?
Do you feel that?
Do you feel that heartbeat, loud and clear?
It's the heartbeat of all living things and Gaia, Mother Earth. We are all ONE and when you destroy one part you damage the All. We need healing, right now. Sit back, close your eyes, feel me. Feel us. Can you not see that we are dying and that things have to change?
Tears roll down my face as I write this. My Spirit is strong and the wolf is in my heart as well as all living spirits. The spirits of the past and those of now, ask me to tell you of this sad story, because the spirits of the future will not be here to enjoy this wonderful planet if you don't wake up, wake up today, NOW!
Why did wolf choose me to speak for them and to live through me?
Because their souls are like mine, strong willed, adventurous, family oriented, loyal, trusting, filled with innocence, but shrewd and cautious. They only take what they need and love unconditionally. Yes, the wolf lives within me, as their wild blood runs through my veins. I will always stand proud for them, we are as One. Treat all life the way you want to be treated, with love. Love is the key to opening all hearts. Won't you put yourself in their place right now?
Feel the free spirit of the wolf and their ancestors and know that they deserve to live here just as we all do. We are here, why not do something wonderful together and create a world of peace and light?
Right now...this very minute I am sending you love and peace, straight to your heart, do you feel it?
Accept this gift and share it with another and then another and another until this planet is completely filled with the Spirit/Goddess love that we all have come from and will return to.
Make a difference...do your part...help save our world for the future by awaking now and seeing the truth. I am wolf Spirit...feel my heartbeat with yours and remember...
...)O(...
Spirituality Versus Religion
SPIRITUALITY SAYS THAT GOD IS WITHIN US AND THAT WE DON'T NEED ANYONE ELSE TO MAKE THAT DIVINE CONNECTION FOR US,
RELIGION SAYS THAT WE ARE SEPARATED FROM GOD AND THAT WE NEED "THEM" TO MAKE THAT DIVINE CONNECTION,
SPIRITUALITY SAYS THAT WE ARE FREE TO MAKE CHOICES ON OUR OWN AND THAT WE MUST TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR ACTIONS,
RELIGION SAYS WE MUST MAKE THEIR CHOICES AND ACT THEIR WAY,
THE THEME OF SPIRITUALITY IS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE,
THE THEME OF RELIGION IS FEAR AND GUILT,
SPIRITUALITY DOES NOT REQUIRE US TO MAKE DONATIONS,
RELIGION HAS BECOME BIG BUSINESS,
SPIRITUALITY SAYS THERE IS NO HELL, NO JUDGEMENT, NO ANGRY GOD... THAT WE ARE LOVED UNCONDITIONALLY,
RELIGION SAYS THERE IS A HELL, GOD GETS ANGRY AND JUDGES US... THEREFORE, WE ARE NOT LOVED UNCONDITIONALLY,
SPIRITUALITY SAYS WE ARE FREE TO CHOOSE OUR OWN PATH TO GOD,
RELIGION COMMANDS US TO DO IT THEIR WAY,
SPIRITUALITY SAYS WE GO TO GOD TO LIGHTEN OUR BURDEN,
RELIGION HAS TAUGHT US TO FEAR THEIR GOD,
SPIRITUALITY SAYS WE SHOULD NOT BE ASHAMED OF OUR SEXUALITY... THAT IT SHOULD BE A SACRED CELEBRATION OF LOVE,
RELIGION HAS TAUGHT US TO FEEL ASHAMED, GUILTY AND DIRTY ABOUT OUR SEXUALITY,
SPIRITUALITY TEACHES US TO HONOR AND RESPECT MOTHER EARTH,
RELIGION HAS TOLD US TO "BE THOU FRUITFUL, MULTIPLY, AND SUBDUE THE EARTH" I REPEAT... "SUBDUE THE EARTH",
SPIRITUALITY REMINDS US THAT WE ARE ONE WITH GOD AND ONE WITH EACH OTHER,
RELIGION TEACHES DISUNITY AND SEPARATION WHICH IS THE OPPOSITE OF GOD,
SPIRITUALITY SAYS GOD IS WITHIN,
RELIGION SAYS HE IS IN HEAVEN AND THAT "THEY" ARE THE ONLY INTERMEDIARIES FOR US,
SPIRITUALITY SAYS WE ARE BORN IN INNOCENCE AND PURITY,
RELIGION SAYS WE ARE BORN WITH SIN ,
SPIRITUALITY TEACHES THAT WE ARE ON A LONG SPIRITUAL ADVENTURE AND JOURNEY WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY END BY REUNITING WITH OUR SOURCE,
RELIGION SAYS WE'VE GOT ONE LIFE TO GET IT ALL RIGHT AND THERE IS NOTHING BUT HEAVEN OR HELL AFTER THAT,
SPIRITUALITY SAYS WE ARE FREE TO EXPRESS,
RELIGION GAVE US THE DREADED INQUISITION,
SPIRITUALITY TEACHES UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR ALL,
RELIGION GAVE US THE CRUSADES IN WHICH MANY WERE KILLED AND SLAUGHTERED IN THE NAME OF GOD,
SPIRITUALITY TEACHES THAT WE SHOULD LOVE ONE ANOTHER UNCONDITIONALLY AND ALWAYS HONOR THE RIGHTS AND CHOICES OF OTHERS,
RELIGION TREATED NATIVE AMERICANS, THE MAYANS AND OTHER INDIGENOUS CULTURES AS SAVAGE PRIMITIVES WHO "MUST BE SAVED",
SPIRITUALITY TEACHES PEACE AND HARMONY,
RELIGION HAS CAUSED MORE WARS AND MORE KILLING THAN ANY OTHER REASON,
SPIRITUALITY SAYS RESPECT ALL LIVING THINGS,
SPIRITUALITY TEACHES US TO HAVE FAITH IN OURSELVES,
RELIGION TEACHES US TO HAVE FAITH IN THEM,
SPIRITUALITY SAYS WE HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS... THAT WE CAN FIND THEM BY "GOING WITHIN",
RELIGION TEACHES US THAT IT HAS ALL THE ANSWERS AND ONLY ITS ANSWERS ARE THE RIGHT ONES,
SPIRITUALITY TEACHES US TO SEARCH FOR THE UNIVERSAL TRUTHS AND OUR HEARTS WILL TELL US WHEN WE HAVE FOUND THEM,
RELIGION TEACHES WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO ACCEPT THEIR VERSION OF THE TRUTH,
WHICH ONE FEELS BETTER TO YOU? SPIRITUALITY OR RELIGION?
GO TO YOUR HEART FOR THE ANSWER, IT WILL NEVER LIE TO YOU.
...)O(...
...Cats in Witchcraft...
Cats have always been associated with Witches and black magic, especially since the middle ages. It is at this period in history from around 1400 onwards, that the Christian church in Europe began a hunting campaign against cats and witches; they were slaughtered in masses up to the point of extinction.

Many innocent men and women were accused by the church of witchcraft just for owning a cat, you could even be tortured for helping a sick or injured cat Elderly women living alone owning cats were often reported by their neighbors of being witches, simply because they had a cat!
The aloofness and independent nature of cats and the fact that they traveled at night simply added fuel to the fire.
The persecution of cats lasted for 400 years!
Cats have always been regarded as mysterious creatures with supernatural powers.
People believed that cats were witches familiars, a familiar is a spirit who would become a companion or servant to the witch, who would guard them and look out for them, according to superstition cats have nine lives, so witches could take the shape of their cat nine times.
This became a common theme in witch trials; witnesses testified that a strange cat would enter the household at night and attack babies. Witches (usually a forced confession) confessed it that they were able to shape shift into the form of a cat to reach their victims.
The first trial in England for witchcraft took place in 1566 in the reign of Elizabeth 1.
Agnes Waterhouse and her daughter Joan were executed for being linked to witchcraft along with their cat, which was said to be called Satan.
The last official execution took place in 1684; many people were executed during this 118-year period.
In 1427 a woman claimed to have murdered 30 children, she was said to have confessed that she transformed herself into the shape of a cat to commit these murders; of course, she was reported and burned at the stake.
I wonder how many of these confessions were made voluntary.
In the 17th Century Isobel Gowdies confessed to turning herself into a cat, turning round three times whilst chanting the following rhyme,
I shall goe intil ane Catt,
With sorrow, and sych, and a black shott,
And I sall goe in the divellis nam,
Ay will I com hom againe.
(To change back into her human form, she would say the following three times.
Catt, catt, Goddess send thee a black shott,
I am in cattis liknes just now,
Bot I sall be in womanis liknes ewin now,
Catt, Catt, God send thee a black shott.
During this period of persecution, there were many tests, which would prove whether you were a witch, or not.
One popular one was you would be thrown into a river, if you drowned and sunk to the bottom you were said to have been innocent, but if you could swim or floated on top of the water you were said to be a witch and then executed,
Pretty through testing I'd say!
...)O(...
The Greatest Magickal Tool: Your Self !The only ritual tool you ever really need is yourself. I know, you’re thinking, “Myself? I’m not a ritual tool! A ritual tool is the chalice, athamé, wand or thurible.” Well, those are tools, but for projecting energy with intent, a trusty index finger will yield results every time. What we have to remember is that tools are just that — they are implements or props. It’s the user that is doing the magick. Tools are valuable and using them can certainly add to a ritual, but they are not required.
As with any craft, the tools of the trade can be important devices in manifesting one’s desire. And that is true whether the tool be a trusty hammer, favorite frying pan or cherished athamé. However, it is never the tool that is doing the action; it is the user. And a skilled user, with a good tool or not, will achieve results that reflect their skill. A grade-schooler is never going to flip those eggs in the pan to the same perfection as an experienced short-order cook, no matter how non-stick the pan. This is not to say that ritual tools do not maintain inherent value and magickal energy. For me they do. But it always comes back to the practitioner interacting with these physical items that makes the magick happen..
I recall several years ago I was in attendance at a local public event. There were several pagan groups all participating and sharing rituals throughout the day. One group canceled on short notice and there was a gap in the day’s agenda. I was asked if I could facilitate a ritual in the open time slot. “Sure! I’d be delighted!” was my response. And I was. With a few scrounged-up candles, my partner and I offered one of the most energetic and memorable rituals of the event. And we didn’t need the candles. All we needed was ourselves, and our comfort and experience at working magickal energy in a direct and improvisational way..
And using this magickal ability directly is really what witchcraft is about. Wielding an athamé is par for the course for any experienced witch, but what do you do when your altar or spell kit is not available to you? You make do with what you have. Witches are notorious for using any and all sorts of natural materials that may be at hand. Foremost, we use our bodies. And using our bodies in special ways will increase our abilities. Here are some suggested ways to hone in that special tool that is our own body..
Sharpen Your Main Tool: Your Self.
Every wondered if a full moon happen to fall on a Solstice or Equinox date - Probably not. Here is the list just in case.
Winter
1809...........12/21.........apogee,22nd
1866...........12/21.........perigee,21st
1885...........12/21.........perigee,22nd
1904...........12/22
1942...........12/22.........apogee,23rd
1961...........12/21
1980...........12/21
1999...........12/22.........perigee,22nd
2010...........12/21
Spring
1829...........3/20
1867...........3/20
1924...........3/20
1943...........3/21
1981...........3/20
2019...........3/20
Summer
1796...........6/20.........apogee,19th
1834...........6/21
1853...........6/21
1910...........6/22
1929...........6/21
1948...........6/21
1986...........6/21.........perigee,21st
2016...........6/20
Autumn
1809...........9/23
1820...........9/22.........perigee,21st
1839...........9/23.........perigee,24th
1877...........9/22
1915...........9/23
1991...........9/23

(1900-2082)
(Q) What happens when science meets superstition.
(A) A list of full moon dates that fall on Friday the 13th.
Year Date Time (GMT)
1903 Fri. Mar 13th 12:12
1905 Fri. Oct 13th 11:02
1919 Fri. Jun 13th 16:28
1922 Fri. Jan 13th 16:28
1970 Fri. Nov 13th 07:28
1984 Fri. Jul 13th 02:21
1987 Fri. Feb 13th 20:59
1998 Fri. Mar 13th 04:35
2000 Fri. Oct 13th 08:54
2014 Fri. Jun 13th 04:13
2049 Fri. Aug 13th 09:21
2063 Fri. Apr 13th 02:38
2065 Fri. Nov 13th 00:40
2082 Fri. Feb 13th 06:20

(1900-2096)
Year Date Time (GMT)
1925 Sat. Oct 31st 12:12
1944 Tue. Oct 31st 11:02
1955 Mon. Oct 31st 16:28
1974 Thu. Oct 31st 16:28
2001 Wed. Oct 31st 05:41
2020 Sat. Oct 31st 07:28
2039 Mon. Oct 31st 02:21
2058 Thu. Oct 31st 20:59
2077 Sun. Oct 31st 04:35
2096 Wed. Oct 31st 04:35