Response to an e-mail

I don't practice Wicca, but do believe and practice witchcraft. They aren't exactly the same thing, and I can't explain Wicca the way I can witchcraft as it relates to Christianity.

First, let me say witchcraft isn't a religion. It's a way to worship and live. Wicca is a religion with it's own set of rules and beliefs. I'm a Christian witch. I believe Jesus was God's son. I believe He was crucified and buried and on the third day rose from the dead. I also believe in the virgin birth. I believe, though, that God isn't just a "father" -- not just a male. There has to be a female as well for us all to be made in the image of God.

Now for my other shocking statement: Jesus was a witch. I completely believe that. Well, if He were around today, that's what He would be, anyway! He preformed miracles. He believed — and preached — that everyone had the power and ability to preform those miracles. He believed God was present in nature. He commanded the weather, and formed a relationship with the elements. He could channel spirits and talk with the dead. He foretold the future. And Christians are to live like Him, right?

Does that help? Or did I just raise more questions for you? If so, please ask and I'll do my best to explain where I'm coming from and what I believe.

This is part of an e-mail I wrote to someone who wondered what Christian Witchcraft could possible be.

Define witchcraft? Turning water into wine? Raising the dead? Casting out demons? Feeding 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish? (You get my point!) Each of those miracles could have been witchcraft. Asking a Saint for help, to me, is no different than asking a Goddess. People perform candle magic every year when they make a wish before blowing out their birthday candles, or light a candle when they're praying for someone. They just don't think of it that way. Same thing goes for the "wise women" of old, right? The local midwife was certainly a green witch in practice, whether she "believed" that or not.

Overall, I guess I just don't hide that I perform spells. I embrace the idea/fact of a feminine energy that exists and helped to create the Universe.

Please share your thoughts.

Rambelings

Two blogs have ended ("Magickal Christianity" and "The rantings of a christian witch") and I wonder what that means. Sometimes I question the path I've chosen, but it feels so right in my heart. Does anyone else feel that way? Is there a "blogger" support group? I'm a member of the Coven of Christ group and that one is SO supportive. Maybe if others found their way there, they'd feel more uplifted.

I'm considering changing the name of this blog. I'm toying with the idea of "Gypsy Wolf" which also encompasess my beliefs. Or am I just blowing in the wind?

Anyone have any thoughts or advice?

God/Goddess -vs- Lord/Lady

I've been having trouble with the God/Goddess desingation. I was raised to believe there is one true God, so how can there be lesser gods? After much thought, I think I've finally come to terms with it.

Let's take the "one God" idea first. OK, so the commandment says "You shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3 & Deuteronomy 5:7). Does that mean there are no other gods? I don't think so. Today we take that line to mean that we shouldn't put work or money before God. But what if it means that there are other GODS and that the God of King David is the TRUE GOD? The HEAD GOD and we should remember that? Doesn't that seem more reasonable then a bunch of Egyptian slaves valued work more than worship?

Ok, so I got that line out of the way. Now where does that leave those lesser gods? I have decided to call them Lords and Ladies. I can't bring myself to call them God. I think there is ONE worthy of that title. The Divine. The Head God, so to speak. I have no problems asking a Saint or Angel for assistance, and I believe that the lesser Gods and Goddesses are helpers in that same way, but I can't bring myself to call on Goddess Frigg! I can, however, ask Lady Frigg for assistance!

I realize that it's a matter of symantics. What meaning do I give to the word Goddess? What meaning do I give to the word Lady? I also know that the Divine knows my heart, my intentions. By using Lord and Lady for the lesser Gods and Goddesses, I'm still giving them the respect for what is within their authority, while at the same time giving the Divine all the credit, respect and admiration of the one in charge.

More of my beliefs....

Taken from an e-mail about my beliefs.

I believe in God and that He sent His son to save us from our sins. Was Jesus the ONLY son of God? I don't know. I tend to think not. By the way, I don't really believe God (The Divine Source of All) is male or female, but a bunch of guys wrote the Bible, and they used "He," so what the heck.

I also believe there is only one "Divine Source of All." Does that Divine Source (again, I'll use the word God) have any helpers? Yep! Other gods and goddesses, angels, saints, fairies, the holy spirit, really awesome people put in our path ---- whatever you wish to call them ---- they are all part of the same Universe, working for the Divine.

The Divine created all things. I can honor that creation by worshiping alone in nature (meditating), or praying to a saint (goddess) just as easily as I can on Sunday in a church service. Finding the balance is important, though. You can go too far in either direction.

Most people would never claim an old woman in the Appalachian mountains, who treats her neighbors with herbs and passes on folk wisdom while making dinner for the pastor is a "witch." Move that woman closer to society and make her 30 years younger, though, and they have issues! I guess that's what I do. I combine the old ways, the ways that honored the land and the spirits who are always around, and my belief in Jesus as God's son and that's what I get.

To honor God, we have to live by His commandments, love our neighbors as ourselves, harm none, and find peace in our lives.

Many people believe Christianity is a faith that considers itself complete unto itself. I think I know what they mean, but there are so MANY types of Christianity, too. Catholics are different than Presbyterians are different than Baptists are different than... you get my drift. I don't think any of them is completely "right" and I know that none of them are totally right for ME and my family. I know. I tried most of them. I also don't think Wicca is totally right for us. I read Tarot cards and Runes (which you know since you checked out my blog!), but I also read the Bible. They're both tools for my life.

Wiccan Rede versus Teachings of Jesus

Had an interesting question come up this week on a yahoo list I'm part of. Someone asked how to combine the Wiccan "rule" of "An it harm none, do what you will," with the "rules" Jesus gave as to how we should live. Here's my response. I'd love your thoughts!

I look at the first part of the phrase ("An it harm none") and wonder. What won't harm someone? All of our actions have repercussions. We may not see them or know them for a very long time. I'm reminded of those stories where one persons actions (helping a boy with his books, or writing a list of what you like about your classmates) has major effects on the life of another (not committing suicide or making the kids feel they're worth something to others). Isn't that called the "Butterfly Effect?"

Our actions, however small and insignificant they may be to US, have the potential to help or harm many others. So, while the Wiccan tenet is to do whatever as long as it harms none, I believe that by following Jesus's teachings also, we have a better understanding of what *exactly* will harm none.

Just my 2 cents!

Demystifying Paganism

WOW! This is incredible! Very eye-opening.
WARNING: This video, while worth the time, is almost 24 minutes long.

Thoughts on today's tarot

Hmmm... Ya know, the Oracle card I pulled today has been bothering me for the last few hours. I couldn't figgure out why, though, until I read my "About Me" section again. The card was "Teacher" and I'm not doing that right now.

For the past seven years, I've been home educating my daughter. She's going to high school next year, so I won't be teaching anymore. At least not in the same way I have been.

But I do feel called to teach the Tarot. I don't think I'm good enough -- rather, I don't think I have the knowledge to do this. I want people to know they can blend Christianity with being a witch. I want to show people how to do that. I need to show people how to do that....

Becoming Ordained

Yesterday was amazing. I headed west with my dog and we ended up at Devil's Tower, Wyoming. If you've never been there, you are missing something wonderful. Photos or movies (like Close Encounters of the Third Kind) honestly don't do the monument justice. It is a very solemn area and it is easy to see why the Native Americans hold it sacred.

After a lot of walking and admiring the area and taking MANY pictures, we headed back.

Once home, tired and hungry, I read my e-mail to find a note saying, "It is my pleasure to welcome you into the clergy of the Coven of Christ Ministries." WOW! I was so excited!

I had read in "Clan of the Goddess" by C.C. Brondwin that we need to take those moments of pure bliss and relive them and cherish them. According to her, those are the moments that bring us closer to the Goddess. Those are the moments that we, as spiritual people, need to cling to in order to become all that we're meant to be.

Reading that e-mail, the one that said I am now a High Priestess in Coven of Christ Ministries, was one of those moments of bliss for me. It's something I've wanted and considered for many years (maybe not in COCM, since I didn't know such a wonderful group existed) and now that's a dream that has been fulfilled -- a moment of bliss to be relived and cherished. I'm thankful that I achieved this milestone and hope to be worthy of the honor.

Christian Witch Course Week #1

I've decided to take the Christian Witch Course through yahoogroups. I'm going to use this forum for the assignments. (By the way, this is my tattoo. It's a tribute to my life as a writer and to my spirituality.)

Is there a Divine Being? Yes. I believe there is.

Is it male, female, both, or neither? I think neither. The Bible says "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:27) That tells me that God created men and women in an image, but how can both sexes be God's image?

How does the Universe work? Honestly? How should I know? I'm a small cog in the universe! I know that if you put something out there, then it will come to pass. How that happens, though, I have no idea.

Are there angels? Yes.

Are there ghosts? Yes. I've seen them.

Are there demons? Yes.

Is there a Satan? Yes.

Do you believe in good and evil? Yes. I don't think you can have one without the other.

Do you believe in sin? Yes. The original meaning of "sin" was to "miss the mark." We've all missed the mark at some point in our lives.

Do you believe in Karma? Yes. It's why mostly good things happen to those who are good and eventually something bad will happen to those who are butts. (Job 4:8; Proverbs 11:18; Proverbs 22:8; Hosea 10:12; and of course Galatians 6:7-8)

Do you believe that Yeshua (Jesus) existed? Yes.

Do you believe that he should be worshipped? I'm not sure. He was God's son and the Messiah. Yes. That I believe. Do I think we should pray to Jesus? I don't know. Exodus 20:5 says "You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God...." Maybe we're to worship God only. If that's true, how can we then worship Jesus?

Do you believe that he is the Messiah? See above.

Do you believe that you must believe that Yeshua is the Messiah in order to go to Heaven? Yes. The Bible says no one will get to the Father except through the Son. (John 14:6)

Do you believe in Heaven? Yes.

Do you believe in Hell? Yes. Back to that "you can't have one without the other" thing.

Do you believe in an afterlife at all? Yes.

Do you believe that there is a soul? Yes. The laws of physics state that energy can't "disappear" it needs to go somewhere. I think the energy that is "us" is our soul.

What is the soul? Oops. See question above!

How is the soul connected to our mind? I think our mind is a "section" of our soul.

Are we fated or do we have a choice in our direction in life? Both. There is a plan. There are lessons we must learn. If we select not to learn them the first tim (our choice, right?), then they will keep showing up until we do. Kind of like how a woman can keep attracting the wrong guy until she makes the CHOICE to select something else.

What is the meaning of life? If I knew *that* there would be nothing else to learn, would there?

Is there reincarnation? I'm not sure. There are good arguments for both sides of this one.

Is there only one true religion? Any way that you get to God (which, I believe is through the Son) is correct. If you get there by believing Jesus was a fantastic prophit, that's fine. If you get there by being a devout Christian, that's fine, too.

OK, so there's my "Week #1" assignment. On to week #2!

Blessing the garden

So I've been busy.

Today was spent blessing the area where my herb garden will be. I asked the Earth Spirits to bless it and help the herbs grow. It will be a Kitchen/Culinary garden and I'm really looking forward to starting the planting. Unfortunately, I should wait another week or so to make sure the weather will hold.

I've also decided to take a class online that is in-line with my chosen path. I'm taking the Celtic and Norse Goddess course from the Magic Circle School. Started tonight and need to learn about the Holy Queen Epona and then do a "project" that relates to her. I'll also need to get a notebook or binder, I think to keep track of all this information. I also am thinking of taking an online tarot course, but who knows. I have so much on my plate right now that maybe I only need to do one class at a time.

My path

I got into quite a "to-do" on one yahoo list recently when I shared my beliefs. What are my beliefs, you might ask. Here goes.

1. Jesus is God's son. Period. No other way around it.

2. Jesus rose from the dead.

3. God gives us each spiritual gifts.

4. Those gifts include some crazy things! Including seeing and hearing spirits, being able to communicate with them, knowing the outcome of future events, and all kinds of other wacky, crazy things.

5. If we don't use those talents and gifts, or if we use them for the wrong reasons or the wrong way, we will lose them.

6. There is one God. And a bunch of Goddesses and minor Gods (angels? spirits? ) helping God out. God is not male OR female. God just is.

7. God loves us all.