Messages In This Digest (3 Messages)

1.: Autumn Equinox: A Point of Balance on the Wheel of the Year From: Cher Chirichello

2a.: Should we teach children what to believe From: Cher Chirichello
2b.: Re: Should we teach children what to believe From: grambadger@juno.com

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1.: Autumn Equinox: A Point of Balance on the Wheel of the Year

Posted by: "Cher Chirichello" CHIC0411@YAHOO.COM chic0411

Sun Oct 10, 2010 8:59 pm (PDT)

Autumn Equinox: A Point of Balance on the Wheel of the Year

Author: Maggi Setti [a WitchVox Sponsor]
Posted: September 19th. 2010
Times Viewed: 2,281

http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=&c=holidays&id=14181

At this time of year, the sun moves into the Astrological sign Libra, and we
look at the changing of the seasons. This is the time of equal light and dark,
where the day and night are of equal length. Even the glyph of Libra itself
speaks to the setting sun, the waning power of the time of day and into the
darker half of the year, when the sun sets, giving way to the power of night.
Though the symbols for Libra include the scales and we seek to look at balance
at this time of the year.

What is balance and how do we find it in modern, urban society? Our society is
so overly focused on consumption, burning of fossil fuels, speed, movement, and
noise. Turn on the TV, the radio, listen to the next advertisement, hurry,
rush, go, do more is the message we receive constantly. Lights stay on all
night; grocery stores are open 24 hours a day. Don't rest, is the message. How
do we connect with a time of quiet, rest, and night in this environment? What
does that even mean?

Pretty soon we'll be getting close to the (dreaded) "holiday season".
Yesterday, a woman attending one of my classes mentioned "Isn't it funny that
the busiest time, the holiday season is at the darkest part of the year?" My
immediate gut response was "No! It's not strange at all, its part of the
attitude of how our society reacts to darkness, quiet, and stillness. It is the
perfect example of the imbalance and isn't strange in the least!" Our society
wants to focus on summer activity, heat, and light. It is afraid of depression
and other "negative" emotions. You are supposed to buck up and stay busy. Don't
think too much. Sensitive people are considered weak or lesser. Feeling uneasy,
down, or discontent is something you should take medicine for. Our society is
afraid of the dark. Downtime, stillness and rest are something you have to
schedule in and fly across the world to do, and only do once a year.

Trees begin to draw their sap in and close up shop for the year to sleep
through the winter. Many animals prepare for hibernation. The days grow shorter
and it gets colder. So, if we are trying to reflect these ideas in our lives
and homes as ways of harmonizing with the flux and flow of the seasons, then
the question is "How do you turn inward?" "What projects to you complete now
and bring in as your harvest?"

One of the ways I find myself turning inward is by cooking more, spending more
time at my hearth, caring for my family, and seeking nourishment for the
harsher days of winter. This is also how I honor Brigid who has a couple of
mini altars in her honor in my kitchen. I also start assessing my work of the
year. Was I happy with my ripening harvest or did I waste time? Do I feel I
have grown or did I fall behind in ways that I need to work on through the
winter so that I don't repeat old mistakes?

Another way is that I take January off from activity. I stay at home and cancel
study group meetings for the month, trips, social engagements, magickal project
due dates, rituals, etc. My husband and my various spiritual communities know
that we reserve January as our home's dreamtime and to not expect to see us
much between Yule and Imbolc. We spend this time, reading, resting, meditating,
doing personal work, and nurturing our relationship with each other and our
family. It reminds us to turn inward anytime we have the need and gives us a
strong starting place for each year.

In this overly sun focused culture, how do you honor the dark exactly? Record
your dreams and do personal meditations. Face your negative emotions to find
their core cause. Don't sugar coat things. Not everything in life is lovely.
That doesn't mean we should ignore a situation if it's hard. Honor the waning
of things. Elderly are often "dealt with" rather than honored, listened to, and
cared for. Listen to someone going through other endings such as an ending of a
relationship or a personal loss. Don't force people to quell expressing their
pain. Often when intensive emotions come up for someone in ritual, they need a
safe space to be able to work through those emotions, which are normally
suppressed. Rather than forcing tissues or hugs on that person, witness their
experience with support and patience. The ability and space to open up is one
of the beauties of magickal space and pagan ritual. Past the pain of opening up
is the peace of fulfillment, connection, and healing. Give that gift both to
yourself and the people with whom you share circle.

Another idea is invoking the energies of a particular Sabbat to balance out a
time, feeling, or situation. Just like our whole society needs more Yule and
Imbolc, maybe during the middle of the winter a bit of Litha could be helpful.
An infusion of the sun and remembering the light at Litha can call back the
rebirth of the sun at Yule. To do this you would not just think about the power
of the sun, but you would actually feel the warmth of it on your skin, remember
the glare of the sun glinting in your eyes, and the feeling of the air in the
middle of the summer. See the sun in waves, wafting through you and through
your magickal space. Another technique would be to have your solar plexus
chakra fill with the sun's power and energy. Feel that chakra growing stronger,
brighter in the center of your chest. Visualize an image of yourself shining
brighter and brighter as if you were glowing from within. Become the sun. Have
your mind and vision fill as if you are the sun. Even on the darkest, coldest
night, you'll find that this much focus and energy will change your mood and
the energy around you. This is just one example. Invoking the inspiration of
Imbolc, the fertility of Beltane, or the connection to the Ancestors at Samhain
would be other examples of how to use this idea.

The more we engage the spirit of the season through all of our senses and
memories, the more we can harmonize with the Earth's cycles and learn Her
wisdom. I found myself at odds when I first started to live the Wheel of the
Year of Pagan holidays. The eight Sabbats were so organized as moments on the
wheel. I didn't understand why the rest of our culture made such a big deal out
of Christmas, but almost ignored Groundhog's day, Midsummer, Lammas, etc. As a
result I have done my best to treat Yuletide like any other Sabbat holiday; I
decorate, do a couple of special things, and spend time with my family. The
more I focus on what the holiday should be, a moment on the wheel of the year,
the less stressed I am. I make sure not to overbook the season or make the
holiday run away with it. It's been helpful to my budget too.

Spreading out the holidays has helped me to live in the moment as well. I savor
the essence of the current holiday and what it has to offer me. Each year is
one more turn of the wheel, one more circuit of the spiral rather than a
calendar taken off the wall thrown in the trash, never to return. Time becomes
more fluid and flows smoother. The wheel itself expands and I can look at the
seasons of my life in the same way. Mile markers are based on the year's
harvests rather than by how much time has slipped away from me. Even a lifetime
is one more cycle, rather than the only chance to be alive. Each year becomes
richer, more connected. I feel more invested in the yearly life process and
more aware of the Earth's richness. Life is both more precious and more sacred.

Enlightenment shines brighter on the Earth, here in manifestation. There is no
need to cast off Earthly pleasures or to seek transcendence away from physical
form. Balance and connection here on Earth in harmony with Her ways are the
keys to the Kingdom for the Kingdom is here all around us. This is how we were
meant to be the Lords of Earth and Gods manifest in our Universe.

But for this moment in time and this Mabon's harvest, I look forward to apple
picking, pumpkin carving, Halloween parties, and honoring my Ancestors.
Snuggles on crisp nights and hot mulled cider await me on this season of russet
and gold. I look forward to the first time I see my breath on the morning air
or frost crystals gleaming on the grass. I wish you harmony and joy for your
harvest this year.

Blessed be.

ABOUT...

Maggi Setti

Location: Ridgefield Park, New Jersey

Website: http://lettinggoisflying.blogspot.com

Author's Profile: To learn more about Maggi Setti - Click HERE

Bio: Maggi Setti is a second degree initiate of the Assembly of the Sacred
Wheel
(www.sacredwheel.org) and has been a member since 2002 when she dedicated to the
coven
Guardians of the Windsword. She is currently a member of the coven Chalice of
the Living Stars
(www.sacredwheel.org/cls) . Maggi works with several Gods including Brigid,
Herne, Freya, Odin,

Artio (Celtic Artemis) , and the Morrigan, but is dedicated to none. Her foci
include the Celtic path,

qabala, tarot, aspecting, Faery, nature devas, herbalism and gardening, scrying,
shadow work,

sacred dreaming, warriorship, kitchen witchery, women's
empowerment, and magickal painting.
Maggi received her
bachelor's degree from Salisbury University in Fine Art and
Anthropology. Since she moved to New Jersey in 2008, she has
taught both for her coven, and publicly in DE, PA, and NJ. She
holds a seat on the council of the Northern NJ Pagan Fellowship,
a local networking group. She also leads an Assembly guided
study group called Spirit Egg which will become a coven in 2011.
Maggi's spiritual writings can be found on her blog at
http://lettinggoisflying.blogspot.com
and
as well as published articles on Witchvox.org.
Contact Maggi at maggi.horseman@gmail.com

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2a.: Should we teach children what to believe

Posted by: "Cher Chirichello" CHIC0411@YAHOO.COM chic0411

Sun Oct 10, 2010 9:05 pm (PDT)

Should we teach children what to believe or let them discover their own beliefs
on their own?

How many of you felt really out of place learning your parents beliefs, I know
when I followed my parents beliefs I didn't learn to much anyway until I
followed my own beliefs which made me feel whole!

How would be keep it open for them to choose what they believe and not make it
like we're pushing our beliefs on them like our parents or guardians did with
us? Should we?

Cher
New_Jersey_Pagans...Come in and Chat with us!

Main Yahoo Group NJP: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/New_Jersey_Pagans/
Ning Web sites: NJP: http://njpagans.ning.com/
Myspace NJP: http://www.myspace.com/njp_cher
Cher NJP Link: http://www.facebook.com/chic0411
Page NJP: http://www.facebook.com/#!/NJPagans
Group NJP: http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=93725735017

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2b.: Re: Should we teach children what to believe

Posted by: "grambadger@juno.com" grambadger@juno.com ingram_jd

Sun Oct 10, 2010 9:35 pm (PDT)

Many moons ago...
(I love this story)
I was attending a thanksgiving at the home of a faithful Catholic, as the guest of his daughter and her "partner", her brother and his former gf, who was my gf at that time.
At a particular moment in my memory, Grand father was bouncing baby on his knee. Baby was the baby of the two ladies, aforementioned.
While everyone was grinning and having a great time playing with baby, I said something kinda dumb; "I wonder what this kid is going to do to shock her parents."
In my good fortune, there were no pins in the room. Grandfather took it in a jocular vein, and in a moment, we all went back to having a great time.

That kid should be at about parent shocking age by now. I haven't been in communication with those folks lately, so I'm still wondering.

Yes, we should teach our children, and let not institutions, or the tides of fashion teach them. A day may come when they will devine for themselves, but until then we parents ought to be the first to instruct them, form their character and provide them with the tools to think with.

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