Re: Re: Stop and think about this,and God, school, Gov., and the flag

[Guest guest]

Hey Sunny!

I really get what you're saying. I am more "out" as a Pagan because here in California, it's not AS BIG a problem. And I'm childless so I don't feel I have as much to lose. But even here, I know of people who have had to fight twice as hard to keep custody of their children in a divorce because their spouse has trotted out "Evil Devil Worshipping Witch" during the hearings -- which is so untrue it's ludicrous. I had a coworker to tried to insist that I could not wear my pentagram to work. I looked my boss in the eye and said "sure, I'll take it off, as soon as the two of you take off your crucifixes. Otherwise, let's talk about the discrimination lawsuit I'm going to be filing." I got to wear my pentagram. But again, I don't have children, I don't have as much to lose, and I don't live in a community where I have to worry (much) about violence against me because of my religion.

And let's talk about holidays... christians have no problem getting their holy days off from work (unless they work in retail or medicine then all bets are off). When was the last time you got one of the Sabbats off with holiday pay? It's not that I don't appreciate the holiday pay at Xmas, but I'd be just as happy having the option to work that day and take Winter Solstice off with pay instead.

I'm curious what state you live in? I know it's probably in the archives somewhere but I'm scattered. But I want to know what state will give me 10 years for casting a spell (and how will they know that's what I'm doing?) so I can avoid it when I travel!

Eve

-----Original Message-----From: LadySunnymoon@... Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2003 5:48 PMTo: Fibromyalgia_Support_Group Subject: Re: Re: Stop and think about this,and God, school, Gov., and the flagIts funny to read how your afraid to say "under God" in public when kidsall over the world get beat up and shot for not saying it. I think yourright is better protected then mine is. See...I don't belive in god.Well, not jesus anyways. I'm a Pagan. and while you get to go around andsay, talk and even wear your god around your neck. I and my child can't.Because MY relgion is not protected by law. There's a lawsuit going onright now because a girl wore the pentagram at school. they told hershewasn't not aloowed to wear anything relgious in school. but yetthousands of boys, and girls are walking around wearing the cross. Andthats ok. But a star with a circle around it is not allowed. Now who'sbeliefs are being protected there? Not mine. And they call this the landof the free. You can go out and conduct a prayer meeting....me...if I goout right now and am seeing casting a spell...I can be arrested and putinto jail for ten years. Fare huh? So you go and say what you like. Ihave to figure a way to do and say what i beleive without going to jail.or harming my family.Sunny/Zora

[Guest guest]

OH! Don't ge me started on the holiday thing!!! Im so upset cause i

don't get Hollow's eve off!!! Im not even asking to get paid for it.

Like they do with the others. My husband gets 8 paid hours for Chrismas,

easter, veterens day...you get it. all the normal regular ones. But

Hollow's eve,,,yule, mabon....nothing. Ticks me off. Oh I'm sory. I live

in Florida. The divorce things seems to be everyone's favorite thing to

do. Its sad really. But i found a legal book for Pagan to help with

that. Talks them through and gives them places, sites, books on the

matter. Im not in that predicament but i kow countless other fellow

witches that are. So I rarely have the book at home anymore. Nice to

know there's others in this group that share my views.

Sunny/Zora

[Guest guest]

We had a trial here that had a neiborhood call the cops because someone

in thier own backyard had a coven meeting. They were dancing around an

outside fireplace and chanting. you know what goes on at one of those.

Poeple who are ignorant of what goes on looked out side thier window and

saw dancing around a bonefire and someone with horns and chalices. So

they called the cops who came and hauled everyone off. The court time

came and the judge gave them ten years. Course the relgious groups came

forwrd and soon it was thrown out do to the judge not learning what

PAgan was before hand. Some mombo jumbo that boiled down to that. I

do mine under my willow tree and in my house. Just cause of my illness.

Can't go out to much and join a coven like I wish to.

Sunny/Zora

[Guest guest]

A spell is the sae or equlient to a prayer. WE caste thing for health,

wealth, love, need, hope, desires. Anything you pray for we caste a

spell for. I jsut finsihed one for Hollow's eve. And I caste alot around

my house for purifing, cleansing. My husband had a headache and we do

one for him. It helps him alot. As for who created me...I belive The

goddess did. I also beleive in the circle of life. taht when I die I

will be reborn. We do have a god but he is not as big, important as

yours is. he is the lover of the goddes who impregnant's her each year

and dies soon afterwards. Sounds familiar to you? I hoe i don't sound

cruel or anything. Im not trying to be. Just trying to explain.

Sunny/Zora

[Guest guest]

That's kind of like me asking you, why do you need to pray? And why DO you believe in God? But since I believe you're asking sincerely, I'll try to answer with my truth. Another pagan's answer might be different.

I might cast a spell -- which is technically not a word I prefer to use, since it's so open to misunderstanding -- to help heal someone, to draw prosperity into my life, and yes, sometimes to make myself feel better or to find something. It is a way of redirecting my spiritual energy and focus, of saying to Goddess as I understand her "ok, this is what I need, this is what I'm already doing to get it, this is what I intend to do in addition, thanks for listening and hey, I could really use a little help here."

Here's part of the explanation I gave in Room of Our Own a while back:

I was born and raised Catholic, left the church because of its views on birth control and reproductive rights, tried out a few different churches for a while and began studying wicca about 12 years ago.

There are so many different flavors of Wicca it's hard to keep track. Some wiccans believe that there are many different gods and goddesses, some wiccans believe that there is one god and one goddess with many different names, some wiccans believe (as I do) that there is one god/dess, with many different faces/names/aspects.

Yes, I believe in God, I just call Her a different name than you do. :-)

I don't believe Jesus is my personal savior -- I think *I* need to be my personal savior. I can look outside myself for help but if I don't also look within and do the work to do what I need done, I'm never going to get where I want to go.

I don't believe in cursing or hexing people. I also don't believe in love spells. I believe the worst sin I could commit is to willfully harm someone.

Eve, who welcomes sincere questions and will answer them gladly but is not interested in being preached at, converted, or "saved"