Cauldron News

Tree of Tales

2010-03-17T15:47:00.002-05:00

One of my favorite short stories of all time is in the book "Dreams Underfoot" by Charles de Lint. The story is about a poet who goes back to her old university and finds out that they cut down a beautiful oak tree that used to sit right outside the library. She runs into a "conjure man" who tells her that it was a tree of tales, and that it was one of the last ones left. So she goes back, take an acorn that's near the stump, brings it home, plants it, and as it grows, she starts telling it stories. It shows up in some of his other stories (she plants it in a park) as a tree that seems to draw people to sit near it and talk to it, and the stories make it grow huge.

Now I know it's just fiction, but there have been plenty of studies showing that plants react when you talk to them, play them music, and so on, and that they thrive that way. They've also shown that plants can have connections to people. And trees (and plants in general) have always seemed to have personalities to me. So I have a small tree in my apartment, and I plan to tell it stories and play music and stuff for the next year, then donate it to the people who are planting trees in a park next March. It'll either be a tree of tales ... or if not, it will at least provide some nice shade and stuff for the kids in the park.

Have any of you read about religious rituals or spiritual practices in books and stories and they just felt so right that you adopted them anyway, even knowing they were made up?

Message Board: Join in our discussion

Value of ADF for undecided pagans?

2010-03-12T07:14:00.000-06:00

Is it worth it to join ADF for the dedicant materials if you are not necessarily considering a Druid path?

I am asking because I have been going through RCIA for the past year, and I've learned a lot through the more structured "initiation" process (including that liking the core message of the Gospels does not outweigh a basic inability to comprehend monotheism and some of the core tenets of the church, lol). While I am capable of doing research on my own, I get more out of it when there are discussions, focused questions to be researching, and so on. A little direction goes a long way and all.

ADF's membership comes with access to the year-long dedicant guide with reading assignments, exercises, and etc., and glancing at their reading list on their website, it seems like they hit a lot of the reconstructionist reading materials and give a really good overview of early European paganism. And looking at their book list, I recognize many, many names and have read a couple of the books, and it seems like they avoid the fluff and inaccurate research pretty well. I feel like I would get an excellent overview of not just Druidry but a lot of the beliefs of various recon paths through this program.

On the other hand, I do not know if Druidry is the path I am meant to take, and I really don't want to commit to something so quickly again. I'm open to it, but I want to make sure I've had a chance to get my bearings before I make a commitment of any sort.

So what I'm really asking, I guess, is: 1. Am I misconstruing the dedicant guide through ADF? Is it a more solitary process, or are there ways to contact and discuss with other "newbs" the materials you're reading even if you're not close enough to a grove to visit in person? And 2. Do they require a major commitment to embark on the dedicant training (i.e., do I actually have to dedicate myself in any long-term sense to Druidry), or are they also accepting of serious-ish dabblers?

Message Board: Join in our discussion

Recommend One Novel

2010-03-10T13:26:00.002-06:00

I would like to start a thread where everyone gets a chance to recommend one novel, it can be your favorite novel. One that you feel everyone should read. Fiction, nonfiction, religious, any thing you want to recommend can go in here! The only rule is one book per post, but you can recommend a series if you want.

Message Board: Join in our discussion

"Breaking up" with a deity?

2010-03-09T07:02:00.000-06:00

At the beginning of my pagan path, I was pretty exclusively devoted to Mictecacihuatl, as I had been to her semi-Catholic syncretic form, La Santa Muerte. I was in a very dark, barely-getting-by place in my life, and that's something that really drew me to her--that she deals in harsh realities and in doing what's necessary just to survive. Last fall, she and I had a rather nasty falling-out (I've told the story before; she had the idea that it was my best friend's time, and I argued with her about it) and she didn't speak to me for several months. A while back, she put a bug in my ear that she was calling in a promise I'd made for her in exchange for my friend's life, that I'd get a tattoo to honor her. My appointment to get the tattoo is in a little over 3 weeks.

Lately, I've been getting to know Brighid, and I'm getting the feeling that, while it's not so harsh that I'd describe it as a "thwap," she'd like me to stick close to her, and that I can't really serve Mictecacihuatl and walk the path Brighid wants me to follow. I feel like I have to get the tattoo, because I made the promise, but I'm afraid that if I do, I'll be obligated, and that it's going to make it harder to move forward. Mictecacihuatl helped me through a very ugly time in my life, but I feel like she was interested in the person I was, rather than Brighid, who's a better example for the person I want to be, and (if this makes sense) Mictecacihuatl has always made me feel like I was her property, while Brighid has made herself known more as a mentor/"older sister" figure. Not a mother, exactly, but looking out for me, and leading me in the right direction.

So what can I do? I don't want to be tied down to a goddess who won't let me go down the path I need to go down to grow as a person, but I don't want to piss her off, either. Would it be inappropriate to get the tattoo as sort of a closing of my account, so to speak, with Mictecacihuatl? Sort of like, I've done what I promised, so this is goodbye? The other goddesses I've worked with don't seem to care--they've just sort of backed off. But Mictecacihuatl has a bit of a temper, and I really don't want to see her angry. I just really get the impression that Brighid thinks I'm running with the wrong crowd and would like me to reconsider my association with Mictecacihuatl.

Message Board: Join in our discussion

Is 'the Goddess' a sentient being, et al?

2010-03-07T16:18:00.002-06:00

This is more geared towards Goddess-worshipers / Duotheistic pagans.

If you worship the Goddess, is she a sentient being, an impersonal force (similar to Brahman in Dharmic culture), or a mixture of both?

If you worship 'the God', is he subservient to the Goddess, equal to the Goddess, greater than the Goddess, or are they the same being?

Message Board: Join in our discussion

All paths lead to the same meadow?

2010-03-06T07:12:00.000-06:00

What do you think of the saying all paths lead to the same meadow? Do you agree to it? Why or why not?

How do you interpret the saying? Does it mean that there is one truth or one God/dess? Or does it mean that all paths have ultimately the same destination (which could be Summerland, a return to the Divine Source or something else)?

Do you think it's a valid saying or do you think it's fluffy? (Is fluffy valid, LOL?)

I've also heard that all paths lead to the same meadow, if you harm none. This sounds very Wiccan, so non-Wiccans probably wouldn't agree?

What about the saying all clockwise paths lead to the same meadow? Clockwise as in either the right-hand path or a positive, non-harm morality?

Message Board: Join in our discussion

My birthday is Ostara

2010-03-04T07:04:00.000-06:00

Literally, and every year I have tried to separate the 2 and it has ended in minor disasters. This year I'm putting them together, and putting on a good sized festival/pot luck thing. Instead of presents, I'm asking everyone to bring a dish to pass and mead. I was wondering, what can I ask for everyone to bring? I have done a bit of research, and so far I have fresh bread (and hot-cross buns), salad, stuffed eggs, roasted lamb, and herb soups.

What do you suggest?

Message Board: Join in our discussion

Religion Remains Elusive at Present

2010-03-02T06:53:00.000-06:00

Have you ever felt like things were finally coming together again in your religious life, only to have it blow up in your face?

Recently, someone else posted on here about how he was experiencing a religious dry spell. I commented on this entry and told him that I was going through the same thing--it tends to happen. Personally, I'm finding it difficult to worship the sun disk while working third shift. I know a lot of people on this forum commented on that entry with the same bit of advice: things like this tend to happen and we can only get through it to the best of our abilities.

Anyway, as I said, my current problem is that I'm having issues celebrating the Kemetic sun deities since the sun is, of course, anathema to me. However, I was finally coming to grips with this. I had begun instruction with my son on the Kemetic deities (well, religions in general) and it was making me feel like I was finally slipping through the gorge in the middle of my path. So, tonight, I felt especially connected to netjer and was going to do... something... with that feeling. So, I went to do something with it and... I find myself back in the religious desert I was screaming about/cursing about only a week ago.

So, have you ever thought you were finally getting out of your dry spell only to realize that you were bypassing an oasis instead of having actually come to the Promised Land?

Message Board: Join in our discussion

Touched by a God/dess?

2010-03-01T16:05:00.000-06:00

If you have had a distinct and unmistakable connection or interaction with a god or goddess, was it readily apparent at the time which deity it was? How did you know?

If not, how did you eventually figure out the identity of the god, and how long did it take? Was it fairly shortly afterward, or did it take a while - and do you feel that you were led to the identity, or was it difficult to figure out?

Or have you been touched by a god/dess, but still aren't sure of the identity of that god to this day?

Message Board: Join in our discussion

What does "Religious Ritual" mean to you?

2010-02-25T16:44:00.002-06:00

I've been thinking on the meaning of ritual in a pagan context, and wondering if I've been approaching the idea too narrowly, so I'm here to pick you brains and see what you all think.

What does "religious ritual" mean to you? Are there certain things it should encompass, no matter the religion? (And by this I mean not only the various pagan religions, but also JCI and others.) What makes a religious act a religious ritual? What kinds of religious rituals do you engage in?

Message Board: Join in our discussion

Advice Wanted on Getting Through a Spiritual Dry Spell

2010-02-23T17:19:00.000-06:00

Well I know you guys haven't seen me in awhile and for that I apologize Cheesy I need some advice though. Lately I feel as if I have been going through a "dry" spot and I can't decide what to do. I haven't been as intense and into my studies as I have been lately. Urgh I can't decide how to say this.

Basically I haven't been praying as much as I should and I haven't been studying my religion as much as I should. I have been not taking time to spend with the Goddess. Whenever I feel like I have a bit of time available something always comes up. I don't know what to do. I am afraid that the Goddess will now longer consider me one of Her own anymore. Most people reading this will probably think that this religion is just a phase for me but I really do the love the Goddess. I just cant seem to make any time for her. and when I do I can't concentrate long enough to retain anything. Please advise me.

Message Board: Join in our discussion

What are the Outer Limits of Paganism and Magic?

2010-02-22T07:49:00.000-06:00

The "big two" monotheistic religions have clear and competing visions of the end of the world: Islam envisions the entire world conquered and ruled by a Caliphate and Sharia law (over my dead body, and I mean that literally); Christianity leaves room for the various nations to maintain their identity but asserts that Christ will rule them all from the throne of David at Jerusalem (which may not be any more palatable for the majority of members here, I realize). Secularism has its visionaries as well; the Star Trek universe comes to mind. What do you believe is the corresponding potential for magic and/or paganism in general?

The typical peasant of 2000 B.C. would have adjusted to the world of Caesar's era (or even Charlemagne's) with scarcely a burble. I venture to say, though, that he would not have adjusted to the 21st century (in the West, at least) without a lot of hard work and re-education. There has been real and substantial change since Gutenberg invented movable type, and especially since James Watt invented his improved steam engine. I'm not looking to hash out how much of that change is due to Christian beliefs and influence, but I will note that the Chinese had a form of printing (lithography) and that the ancient Greeks invented a (very) rudimentary steam engine. Would movable type have made the impact we know without Gutenberg's missionary zeal to publish Scripture and make it accessible to the common man? Was scientific inquiry and investigation jump-started by the religious worldview of early scientists and natural philosophers which held that the natural world was a creation of God, and therefore logical and knowable?

Be all that as it may. What do you think could (or should) have happened if Jesus Christ (and Muhammad) had never walked this earth and pagan/magical thought (of any particular pantheon) had been given the chance to progress unhindered? While I can't presume to read anyone's mind, I get the impression from the discussions I've followed here that most pagan thought is tied to the status quo and that (virtually) no one envisions great and radical changes from the world as it now exists. Would that have been true in any given place and time (Caesar's era, North America pre-1492, ancient Egypt, etc.)? Or am I mistaken in my impressions? While I don't expect anyone to respond that scientific and technological progress is an unmixed curse or blessing either way, if you could push a button and reset the world to the material, technological, and legal/political state of four hundred, five hundred, a thousand, two thousand years ago...would you push it?

For one specific example, I've seen discussions here on the astral. This is an area I have no personal knowledge of, nor am I trying to gain any; I feel my God telling me distinctly that he wants to work with me in this world (the occasional dream excepted). Can you envision any set of circumstances under which we (or you, meaning those who are interested) would be able to know, and map, and navigate the astral as certainly and repeatedly as we navigate the oceans? I sailed into Sydney Harbour twice while in the Navy, the last time over twenty years ago. Yet I have utter and absolute faith that with a suitably equipped and provisioned seagoing vessel and the proper charts and navigational equipment I could return to those exact same coordinates and find the Harbour, the Opera House and that big arched bridge in pretty much the same condition as I remember them. Is such a feat even possible for the astral, or is it fundamentally unplottable (at least in that sense)? If I gave you a suitable description, with nautical coordinates, of my trip around the world I believe that each and every one of you could successfully replicate it. Is the same feat in reverse even possible for the astral, or is it different for each individual?

I suppose what I'm getting at is, do you believe that there is some kind?any kind?of fundamental underlying absolute Truth to paganism and magic in general? I believe, on a fundamental philosophical level, that truth MUST be absolute, else it be not Truth...from which springs the missionary imperative of my own faith specifically and, IMO, of Christianity in general. I can accept that the majority of others here feel differently, but...if you had things your way, where would you take them? Are you happy with the status quo, the world pretty much the way it is...and, if so, would you be equally at home in the world of the 13th century or the 23rd century? If you are satisfied with things the way they are, does that include being satisfied with the fact that there is no (observable) justice for those who are caught up in the middle of famine, genocide and other horrors, such as those in Sudan? Or, if you would change things, what kind of change would you propose and what things would need to happen to (at least in your plan) make it work?

I know that this is kind of a rambling OP, so feel free to focus on any one area or to start a spinoff thread. But if your religion and your deities had their way...what would happen?

Message Board: Join in our discussion

Sacred Geometry

2010-02-19T21:07:00.002-06:00

Does anyone here used sacred geometry principles or symbols? How do you use it? What kinds of results have you experienced?

Can you recommend any reliable sources of info?

Message Board: Join in our discussion

Just started Chakra meditation practice - some questions

2010-02-19T16:34:00.000-06:00

So I've tried out some guided meditations and musical stuff from several CDs. I feel very well with two different CDs, although I can't follow all things said, but I can also just listen to the music. It's also good for calming down when I can't sleep.

However I feel a bit uncomfy about the solar plexus chakra and that's the same regardless which CD I use. I kind of just don't like it activated too much. Don't know why, but I wonder if it would be good to just skip it and go from sacral chakra directly to heart chakra.

Other, but just slightly uncomfy spots are the throat and crown chakra. The one I feel best with meditating on is the sacral chakra, but root and heart chakra feel also very healing for me when I meditate on them.

I like going through them bottom-top, that seems to be easier for me than just concentrating on only one chakra, but it's also kinda senseless when a few out of the 7 feel uncomfy in the meditation?and I don't know if it's a sign for 'keep going' or 'wait with that one'.

I wonder if my uncomfy feeling might be there because some chakras repress others and in order to restore harmony I need to concentrate on the weak ones. Or maybe some blockages can't be solved directly and I need to start somewhere else first.

Any experience with something like this? Any suggestions from people with experiences in chakra work?

Message Board: Join in our discussion

Spirit vs. Soul?

2010-02-16T20:57:00.000-06:00

What are your definitions of the terms spirit and soul? Are they different from each other, or just synonyms? Do you prefer to use one instead of the other?

Message Board: Join in our discussion

In your opinion, is it disrespectful to the element of fire to blow out candles?

2010-02-16T20:55:00.002-06:00

In your opinion, is it disrespectful to the element of fire to blow out candles?

Personally, I do blow out my candles, though I have read many sources which say this is disrespectful. Do you know why this is?

Message Board: Join in our discussion

Worship, honor, respect...

2010-02-14T21:08:00.002-06:00

What wording do you use in your relationship with deities, ancestors, etc? Some may say "worship", others "honor", "pay respect to", "pay homage to", etc. -- which word or phrase do you use for what you do? Are there words for this type of religious practice that I haven't touched on - and if so, why do you choose to use those words?

Does your phrasing change depending on the circumstance? What do the words honor, worship, etc mean to you?

Message Board: Join in our discussion

Worshipping Non-Gods as Gods?

2010-02-14T21:04:00.000-06:00

If you honor as a deity a being/person who in the recorded mythology was not a deity, why do you feel that they are a god/dess? Is this because of UPG, or another interpretation of the tales that we have? Is it because conventional understanding is now that that being was in fact a deity, or became one at some point? (For instance, the Tuatha de Danaan aren't technically called gods in the mythology, but as far as I can tell it's pretty widely accepted that they were in fact, gods, and that those doing the recording of the stories were inaccurate.)

As an example of what I'm talking about, Morgan Le Fay springs to mind, but there are others. You may include demi-gods in this question, if you wish, and venerated ancestors if it can shed some light -- but in general, when people speak of that they are clear that they're honoring ancestors, where some seem to believe that Morgan Le Fay was a goddess. I was just curious about this!

Message Board: Join in our discussion

Violence/Nonviolence

2010-02-14T21:03:00.000-06:00

What does your religion teach - or what are your personal beliefs/ethics - regarding violence in action, words, or thoughts? Does it involve a form of pacifism or nonviolence? Or is it on the other end of the spectrum, where physical violence may be necessary or required at times to be in full service to your ideals/religion? Something "other" that neither of those touches on?

Regardless of which belief you hold about whether violence is immoral, or whether sometimes it is the only moral choice* do you believe that you are held spiritually accountable in some way for unnecessary violence? What does your religion teach about violence that is unnecessary or excessive?

* I'm going on an assumption that there are very, very few in the world who believe that physical violence is always the just choice, no matter what, as I've never heard of any religion teaching that, and honestly can't imagine anyone holding that ideal. If you or someone you know is of completely sound mind and is able to function in our modern society and you believe this, please share, because I can't imagine it. Or if there is a historical precedent of some kind.

Message Board: Join in our discussion

Your Definition of Clergy

2010-02-12T16:12:00.000-06:00

A few questions for you all,

What is your definition of Priest/Priestess?

What functions do they serve?

What are the expectations or criteria for a Priest/Priestess according to your faith or beliefs?

If a Priest or Priestess is dedicated to a certain God or Goddess, how would their function/expectations differ?

Message Board: Join in our discussion

Ghosts/Spirits?

2010-02-10T16:11:00.002-06:00

Ok, so this isn't necessarily religious per se, but I was wondering if anyone has ever had an experience where they've seen a ghost (or something you thought might be a ghost) or a spirit. What was it like?

Message Board: Join in our discussion

Fairies (by any spelling)

2010-02-09T21:03:00.000-06:00

Going on the assumption that most here very rapidly rejected the concept of "twee Victorian fairies" that wear petal skirts and have butterfly wings... what *is* your concept of fairies? Some versions that I've encountered are:

* "The Good Folk" - best avoided if at all possible, and definitely not to be irked.
* Some kind of being from the Underworld, to be respected but also possibly a source of illuminating wisdom for those who seek
* Local nature spirits that can/should be connected with, honored, and even overtly welcomed.
* An anthropomorphic idea of natural energies or the spirits of nature/Earth.
* Demigods of some kind, to be approached with the same deference and respect as you would any other deity.
* Imaginary friends that can be anything you want to pretend they are. Wink (Threw that in for those who don't hold any belief in fairies of any kind.)

And several other versions... including the possibility that we use the term "fairies" as a blanket term to refer to several disparate types of being, which is quite likely.

Message Board: Join in our discussion

Personal Ethics

2010-02-08T16:00:00.000-06:00

By and large, Pagan paths leave a lot of room for a personal ethical standard. We're given guidelines on valuable ideas, but not necessarily told how to behave.

What are your personal ethics?
What values do you hold dear?
How closely do these values align with your religious path?

And most importantly, how comfortable are you with defining your own ethics? Do you prefer to be told what to do/how to behave/etc? Does sorting out your own beliefs make you anxious? Or is the whole process of self-discovery exhilarating and freeing?

Message Board: Join in our discussion

Human uniqueness?

2010-02-08T07:26:00.002-06:00

A book I'm reading - actually for light reading, it wasn't meant to supplement my spiritual/religious research at all - brings up an interesting point and I'm curious where others stand on it. It discusses Yogis and how "true Yogis" view the world, all of it, as a manifestation of "God." (term used loosely here) Everything is divine, but humans are unique, "special," because only as a human can "God-realization" occur. Other forms of life do not have this opportunity.

This is something with which I fundamentally disagree. Personally I find nothing "special" about humans and I do not hold a view in which humans are above other forms of life. In an article somewhere (about dolphin communication), a researcher said, "It's only due to our lack of knowledge that humans remain this exclusive species." I can't for the life of me remember her name, but that resonates very deeply within me.

So...thoughts?

Myths as part of worship and ritual

2010-02-08T07:18:00.000-06:00

I know that myths are often used as sources of info on the nature of the gods and interacting with them. But does anyone here incorporate the stories themselves into ritual? How do you decide which of a god's many myths you'll focus on? Or, in everyday life, do you find yourself returning to some myths as touchstones of faith?

Message Board: Join in our discussion