Symbol

I would like to do a very special post today honoring a large group of people.

In 2005, Sgt. Patrick Stewart lost his life in Afghanistan. He was the first known Wiccan soldier to lose his life. His widow wanted the pentacle to be etched onto his grave marker. The Department of Veterans Affairs denied her request because the pentacle was not on their approved list of religious symbols. It took the efforts of Celia, Rev. Selena Fox, Roberta Stewart and many others to get the pentacle onto that list. Now Sgt. Stewart rests in piece underneath the symbol that stands for everything he believed in.

The pagan singer Celia wrote a beautiful song in Sgt. Stewart's honor and it is one of the most moving and bittersweet songs I have ever heard. This song depicts all the battles we have to face as pagans just to practice our faith. It also shows that tenacity and the fire that gives us the courage and the strength to meet those battles head on.  Symbol is one of those songs that creeps into your head and your heart and pulls every ounce of emotion out of you leaving you feeling raw and open. It is a song that should definitely be on every pagans playlist.


Sgt. Stewart you are missed, loved, and honored and may you revel in the love and light of the God and Goddess until you return once more.


Celia you are an inspiration and a pillar of strength for the pagan community. May the God and Goddess bless you days with happiness.


And all the blessings in the world to soldiers past and present.

Here is a video of Celia singing Symbol live.

An It Harm None

Another serious post, but much more informational than the last.

Every religion, faith, or path has a base tenet that acts as a guideline for its worshiper's actions and behavior. Christianity as its Golden Rule, Hindu and Buddism have Karma, and Wicca has the Rede. It is written in many different forms but the most commonly used is, "An it harm none, Do what ye will." Basically a Wiccan/Wytch/Pagan can perform any act as long as the repercussions do not harm. Generally harm includes not only physical injury but emotional turmoil, manipulation, and any form of domination or control.

You can also find the Rede in mainstream philosophy, though it prefers to go by a different alias. The Harm Principle is a major tenet of the Utilitarian standpoint and was strongly backed by the English philosopher John Stuart Mills. He stated that "the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others." Going hand in hand with the Rede, the Harm Principle states that a person is free to do whatever he or she pleases, a right that not even government can impede, except for when their actions negatively impact another.

L is for Love

This will be my first official post and it happens to correspond with the first L day on the Pagan Blog Project of 2012, which is sponsored by Rowan Pendragon of OneWitchsWay.com. It is a wonderful project were bloggers worldwide simultaneously post blogs concerning paganism and the occult.Since today is letter L and I have decided that my first post should carry some weight I have decided to discuss the connection between paganism and love.

Love is the driving force for any and all decisions that human beings make. This is why there is such a huge following for paganism, Wicca, and other Earth-based religions, because they are grounded in love. In this modem-day technological world it is very easy to find yourself disconnected from everything: coworkers, family, friends, nature, and the divine. You may begin to feel that you are alone and worse, that everyone will trample you in pursuit of their own gain.

Yet Wicca and most pagan religions stress community and support and above all love: love for one-self, love for others, love for nature, and love for a divine being. This love has no qualifications and no boundaries, it is giving fully and unconditionally.

Within love lies the strength of the pagan movement. Though we may never become mainstream like Christinity or Buddism, we will never crumble because we have forged our foundation out the strongest material in existence.

So I just want to say one more thing ...... I LOVE YOU GUYS!! :)