Narrowing it down

I have it down to three classes to take.

The first is "Celtic Women's Spirituality" This is the "next" part of the Celtic Wicca class I just completed.

Next is "Meet your Spirit Guides." I'm fascinated by the idea of Sprit Guides, so I think this would be very enlightening.

Finally is "Kitchen Witchery." This is part of the HOW of my witchcraft. I really enjoy the kitchen, so that's where I seem to put my energies. More so than in the garden, for example.

At least I've narrowed the playing field. I"m seriously thinking I could take two, but then I look at all the rest I have going on in my life and know I should only do one at a time. Ah well....

Passed!

I have the certificate that I passed the Celtic Wicca 101 class. So now what should I take? I'm still no closer to a decision, but I'm ready to start SOMETHING....

Waiting

I'm waiting for Magic School to say "you've completed the course" since I've turned in the final essay for the Celtic Wicca class. I'm ready to sign up for another (this one was fun!) but I don't know in what. Aura Reading? Candle Magic? Celtic Women's Spirituality? Kitchen Witchery? Spirit Guides? Tarot? Runes?

So many choices.... I need to pray and meditate (a nicer way of saying "shut up and listen to the answers when you are done praying"). I seem to have no trouble praying. It's the meditating part that I find difficult.

Learning about myself

How many of you spend time learning about yourselves? How many do it on purpose?

I confess that I do not. I know me, right. Why do I (or should I) spend time learning what I already know?

Easy. Because I don't know me.

Or rather, sometimes I learn things about myself that (once revealed) come as a major shock.

I'm looking at the reading list I posted and I've noticed that I'm less stressed those months where I've read two or more books. It's not that I didn't have as much "stuff" happening, but I took time to make sure I relaxed. Obviously I need to do that to keep my sanity.

Interesting.

Final Essay Question: Explain Celtic Wicca and its practices and how you plan to incorperate it into your own specailized path.

In it's most simplistic form, Celtic Wicca is nothing more than honoring the ancient Celtic Gods and Goddesses in whatever way you are most able and in every way you are able. Honor them with your creativity. Honor them with your studies. Honor them with your life.

Because so little is known about how the ancient Celts actually practiced, Celtic Wicca is very much open to interpretation. The way someone today honors the Bard in them, may be totally different (thanks to technology, for one!) then was practiced eons ago. The same can be said with someone who walks a Druid path. How that learned society functioned and the rules it followed have been lost to the annuals of time. There is no one right or wrong way to follow that path, because we no longer know how it was followed at the beginning.

Personally, I plan to honor the Celts as a Bard. My goal is to write a novel and I believe that by following this ancient path, the Divine Spirit of the Universe will smile upon me and help me complete it. I also will do some "Druid" things, like never stop learning and embrace the spiritual world. I plan to use the Celtic Cross as a means to call the Spirits of the Quarters, as well as to meditate.

The more I learn, the more drawn I am to Celtic traditions. At this time of my life, anyway, I believe that's where I'm called to worship, to study, and to learn.

What is the purpose of the Celtic Cross?

The Celtic Cross was designed to honor the "four and one." The four arms of the cross can represent directions, elements, and time -- or all of the above at the same time! The circle in the center represents the divine spirit, also called the fifth element.

How is the Celtic Cross considered a pagan or wiccan symbol?

When the four arms area equal, the Celtic Cross provides a method of entering the sacred circle. By entering the cross on the north arm, a person can walk the circle, pausing at each arm to thank the direction and deity associated with that arm. As mentioned in the class literature, it is really another expression of the sacred circle.

How can you encorperate its use in your own beliefs?

I use the cross in a number of ways. To me, it is a reminder that everything is connected -- the directions, time, the body, people, and the Gods and Goddesses. Using it as a constant reminder of the endless path of knowledge, I find it a beautiful and visual way to call the quarters for ritual.

Explain the Celtic view on life after death.

The Celts believe in rebirth, as opposed to reincarnation. Where reincarnation requires the soul to be reborn with a new personality being developed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reincarnation), rebirth does not. In rebirth the soul chooses whether or not to return to Earth or move on to one of the three realms of the Otherworld.

What is the Summerland?

Summerland is the spiritual realm where the soul rests. It is the first of the three realms and where the soul embarks on a period of review. Accomplishments and failures can be examined without the emotional responses experienced in the physical world.

What are your own views of the afterlife?

Personally, I believe more in rebirth than in reincarnation. I believe that there are lessons each of us must learn in order to have eternal peace and we may come into this life to learn them (and end up maybe learning others!) before being able to stop the cycle. I think this is why some people are attracted to certain times in history, for example -- because their soul remembers that time. I also believe that if we as human choose not to "do good" or to learn the lessons we came for, we will have to do it again. For example, I don't believe a serial killer who murders only for the thrill of it has learned the necessary lessons to elevate his or her soul. That person will either have to spend eternity on the Isle of Black and White or try again. At the same time, someone who spent their life doing good — such as Mother Theresa — will be rewarded greatly in the afterlife and even given a choice to return and continue, or remain in the Otherworld, possibly skipping directly to the third realm. Heck, she could even be elevated to role of Goddess for the good she did on Earth!

A view from the paparazzi

Hubby and I celebrating Beltain. Our child was "being slick" and taking secret pictures. hee hee

Another Great Quote

It is not our abilities that show what we truly are. It is our choices.

--Professor Dumbledore to Harry in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," by J.K. Rowling