In loving memory of Helen Hartzell

I have only just begun to learn that the term"soul mate"
does not simply refer to the "love" of one's life, but a connection to others as well,,, be it soul mother, sister, daughter.
I found that soul sister connection with my coven sister Akasa Wolf Song, and was lucky enough to have had a soul connection on a mother daughter level with Helen, whose unexpected death has left me heartbroken.

Helen was an incredible, open and caring person who could laugh at herself and help you see the humor in almost anything.She was there for me from the age of fourteen, and looking back,,,I realize just how many wonderful gifts she gave to me.

Helen taught me to never ever be ashamed of who you are or where you came from. She showed me how to laugh at myself no matter how bad things are,,, that you can call on that inner warrior woman (which I saw her do many times over the years) to pull you through, and of course, never pass up a chance to pee! L.O.L.

Helen also helped me see the creative side of myself that I had no idea was there.That creative side has helped me in so many ways,,,not just in the way of being crafty but also being creative in the way you get through tuff situations in life.

Helen taught me hilarious things, like not being able to find her tank top to go with the skirt she wanted to wear to the harvest festival. What does she do? She yanks her skirt up over her breast and says"that'll do, lets go!."

Helen's flat little Mary Jane's killing her back so she put feminine napkins in the bottom,,,lol. Unfortunatly, airport security made her take her shoes off and they checked them,,, TWICE.

All of these humarous memories, and hilarities are helping me through this terrbile ache of missing her,,, and the knowledge that I will see her again, so this is not a goodbye dearest Helen,,, but until we unite once again, I love and I miss you. Nightwillow

I wanted to share the following pictures of Helen's beautiful sculptures. I once asked her if the faeries came out of hiding to model just for her.

Helen and Nightwillow Fall 2003

The following Information is not to offend but is simply another view point I find to be interesting

No single one of these reasons prove the Witchiness of Jesus; but taken as a whole, they make for a compelling case.

1. Jesus criticized the hypocrisy and legalism of the religious status quo, and chose to embrace an alternative spiritual path. Matthew 23:1-36. In Jesus' day, the religious establishment included the Pharisees and Sadducees, dominant factions in first century Judaism. Jesus' alternative path followed the radical teachings of his mentor, John the Baptist. Nowadays, in Europe and the Americas the status quo is mainly Christianity; the path of the Goddess --

Wicca -- is one of the most compelling of available spiritual alternatives. Many people who embrace Wicca have the exact same criticisms of Christianity that Jesus is said to have had about the religious establishment in his day. Hypocrisy, legalism, blind obedience of the rules to the point of ignoring spiritual values like love, trust, and freedom -- these are the problems Jesus attacked in the official religion in his day, and that many Wiccans today see in the religious status quo of our time. Perhaps Jesus, were he here today, would join Wiccans in criticizing mainstream religion and trying to find an alternative way.

2. Jesus was a psychic healer. Luke 6:19; John 9:1-12. Luke comments that "all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them." And John recounts how Jesus made a magic healing paste by mixing his saliva with soil from our Mother, the Earth. For Jesus, healing was a central part of his spiritual identity. Witches, likewise, rely on herbal wisdom, natural foods, and psychic practices like reiki to bring healing and comfort to themselves and their loved ones. Sadly, the Christian religion rarely encourages its followers to take responsibility for their own healing, but rather colludes with a medical establishment that keeps people passive in regard to their own wellness. Jesus the healer has much more in common with Wiccan healers than with church- going "patients."

3. Jesus acknowledged the divinity within each person. John 10:34- 36. All he was doing was quoting the Psalms, but Jesus emphasized it: "You are gods." Throughout the Bible, Jesus uses mystical language to illustrate the essential unity between humanity and divinity. How sad that the church founded in his name lost that sense of human divinity, and has instead stressed the "fallenness" and "separation" that keeps humanity alienated from the divine. Incidentally, this is an indirect affirmation of Goddess spirituality, as well -- for if we are gods, as Jesus quoting the scripture insists, then both men and women partake of the godly nature; implying therefore that God encompasses both the masculine and feminine dimension of life. So the "God" whom Jesus worships incorporates both the God and the Goddess as revered by Wiccans.

4. Jesus lived close to nature. Matthew 8:20; Mark 1:12-13; 3:13; Luke 4:42; John 18:1. Jesus took a vision quest in the wilderness; he loved to pray in the mountains, slept in gardens, and made a point of telling his followers that he had no house to live in. Frankly, it's hard to imagine him driving an SUV or worshiping in an air conditioned church. If Jesus were here today, I suspect he'd live in an ecologically sustainable intentional community, and he'd advocate a sacred duty to the Earth with the same zeal which which he advocated care for the poor and the downtrodden.

5. Jesus believed in magic. Matthew 7:7-11. Only he called it prayer. "How many of you, if your child asks for a fish, will give them a stone?" "If you ask for it in my name, it will be done." Church-goers often see magic as different from prayer, because prayer is timid and uncertain: "Not my will, but thine." By contrast, magic assumes that the Divine Spirit loves us and wants to bless us in accordance with our highest desires. When Jesus prayed, he prayed with confidence, not timidity. And he taught his followers to do the same. Nowadays, magic may have fancy window dressing (light this candle, recite this incantation, etc.) but it still comes down to the same thing: making a request for spiritual blessing. Jesus' vision of prayer is like Wicca's vision of magic: it's based on trust and love, unlike the prayer of church religion, which is based on fear, self-criticism and self-doubt.

6. Jesus could command the weather. Matthew 8:23-27. Witches have a long-standing reputation for being able to conjure up storms and otherwise control the weather. Jesus, like any accomplished weather- witch, possessed a similar set of skills. He did this both actively (like when he calmed the storm out in the Sea of Galilee) and indirectly (as he was dying, he caused darkness to reign in the middle of the day).

7. Jesus had a profound relationship with the elements. Matthew 14:22- 26; Luke 3:16; Luke 8:22-25; John 9:6. Jesus could walk on water; he could command the wind; he baptized with fire, and he used the soil of the Earth to make healing pastes. His spirituality was primal and grounded in the power of the elements. Modern-day Christianity is abstract, sterile, and anti-septic -- it is a religion of books, words, and mental concepts. But Jesus, like most modern-day Wiccans, found vitality in the energies of the natural world.

8. Like a shaman, Jesus could channel spirits. Mark 9:2-8. One of the most profound stories in the Bible is that of the transfiguration, when Jesus conjured the spirits of Moses and Elijah. To his followers, this demonstrated Jesus' authority as a spiritual leader. Later on, Jesus tells his followers that they will do greater works than his (John 14:12); ironically, though, Christianity does not permit its followers to invoke or conjure spirits. But invocation of benevolent spirits has been a part of shamanic spirituality since the dawn of humankind, and modern-day Witches follow in this shamanistic tradition when they Draw Down the Moon and the Sun, calling the spirit of Goddess and God into their Circles.

9. Jesus was comfortable with sensuality and eroticism. Luke 7:36- 50. One night, while dining at a respectable home, Jesus received a sensuous foot washing from a woman, who used oil and her hair to wipe the teacher's feet. The host and the other guests were scandalized, but Jesus saw it as a perfectly lovely _expression of affection and hospitality. In fact, when comments were made to Jesus, he responded by saying basically, "What's your problem?" Alas, the religion that bears his name has evolved into an erotically-repressed spirituality, more like Jesus' uptight host than Jesus himself. Paganism and Wicca, meanwhile, are spiritual systems that celebrate sensuality, sexuality, and the basic goodness of pleasure. Jesus, who got criticized for being a pleasure lover himself (Matthew 11:19), would no doubt be at home in Wicca's celebration of the goodness of nature and the body.

10. In his own way, Jesus practiced the Wiccan Rede. Matthew 5:21- 22; Matthew 22:33; John 8:32. The core ethical principle in Wicca is the Rede: "If you harm none, do what you will." There's two components to this teaching: non-harm, and freedom. It's a basic principle; you have spiritual freedom, but not to the point of harming your self or others. Compare this to several of Jesus' teachings. Matthew tells us that Jesus was so committed to the principle of non-harm that he regarded the intent to do violence as bad as violence itself. Meanwhile, John quotes Jesus as saying "Truth sets you free." But what is the truth that sets us free? The truth of love, trust, healing, and divine grace; in other words, the universal truths that can be found in any spiritual path. The opposite of harm is love. "Harm none" is another way of saying "Love your neighbor as yourself."

11. In his own way, Jesus advocated Perfect Love and Perfect Trust. Matthew 5:48; Luke 6:32-36; Luke 12:22-34. John quotes Jesus as saying "Do not let your hearts be troubled" and "love one another as I have loved you." Throughout the Gospels, Jesus says "Do not be afraid." He suggests his disciples "become like little children" -- in other words, be trusting and open-hearted. It's such a simple message, and today Wicca embodies the spirit of perfect love and trust; indeed, traditional covens require the phrase "Perfect Love and Perfect Trust" as a password to gain entry into circle. Christianity, meanwhile, preaches a message based on perfect anger and perfect fear: God is wrathful, and unless a person is fearfully obedient, he or she will be tortured for eternity. That's the opposite of what Jesus stood for. Love and trust leads to healing and liberation, whereas fear of judgment leads to depression and spiritual passivity.

12. His enemies accused Jesus of being under the influence of demons. John 8:48; John 10:20. It's an old tactic. When the people who have religious power want to dismiss their critics, they accuse the critics of being demonically possessed. That's what the Pharisees said about Jesus, and nowadays that's what the religious right says about Wicca. Jesus was someone who loved the average person on the street, but had little patience for religious bigotry and self- righteousness. No doubt Jesus would feel he has more in common with Wiccans than with the fundamentalists who attack them.

13. Jesus was killed, unfairly, for his "blasphemy." Mark 14:63-64. Thankfully, Wiccans nowadays don't get burned at the stake. But tens of thousands of people -- mostly women -- did get killed in Europe for the "crime" of Witchcraft. Even if these people weren't Witches, the fact remains: they were brutally murdered for religious reasons. Well -- so was Jesus. Modern day Wicca looks to the victims of the Witch burnings as heroes of the Goddess faith, just like Christians see in Jesus their own spiritual hero. Jesus, meanwhile, was the kind of man who would rather side against the killers and the executioners. Given the fact that, throughout history, far more Christians have killed Witches than vice versa, it's easy to see Jesus embracing the Goddess, working to heal her children, and calling those who bear his name to repent of their violence.

Copyright 2001 by Carl McColman

)O(Loving Arms Of The Goddess)O(
Written by Nightwillow
She will always be there,
In the green grass,
The refreshing wind,
The cleansing rain,
And the empowering fire
That burns in us all.
Whatever be the name we
Call her, she is the loving,
Giving strength that makes us
Endure all of lives trials
And heartaches, the warrior
woman in us all, The Blessed Goddess.

When I simply wish to be close to her,
I lie under the weeping willow on the
Green grass and listen to her speak to
Me through all of her blessed creatures.
She reassures me, wrapping me with her
Loving embrace, the Wind.
She washes away my anxiety and tears with
The rain.

When I wish to thank her for all she is,
And all she gives, drumming, singing and
Dancing around the fire fills me with the
Strength to begin again.

THE GATHERING

She rides high in the sky in all her glory

The sight of her tells an ancient story

Her beams shine down on the people below

And once they join hands,no grief do they know

They center their energy and focus their minds

The power of the circle is one of a kind

Although,elsewhere,it's a dark silent night

In the circle there's music,and magick and light

For these are the Witches and this is their hour

Theirs is the magick and they have the power

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire. If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something, for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations, because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary, because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks. Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings. - Author Unknown

These eight words the rede fulfill,An harm it none,do as ye will.What is a Witch (or Wiccan)

Witch comes from the Anglo-Saxon wicce (meaning witch), which in turn derives from an Indo-European root word meaning to bend or change or do magic/religion (making it related to wicker, wiggle, and even vicar).

It is possibly also related to the Old Norse vitki (meaning wizard), derived from root words meaning wise one or seer.

Warlock (rarely used, for male Witches) is from the Old Norse varlokkur, spirit song (not Roath-breaker).

Related words are Pagan, meaning a country dweller, and Heathen, a dweller on the heath, both of which peoples were the European equivalent of the Native Americans and other indigenous, nature-worshipping people.

Today, a Witch is a woman or man who practices a life-affirming, Earth- and nature-oriented religion, honoring Divinity in female as well as (or instead of) male aspects, and practicing Magic (which some Witches spell magick, to distinguish it from stage illusions).

There are many different traditions of Wicca, encompassing many beliefs in addition to these. Some traditions are practiced by women only, and recognize only the Divine Feminine, the Goddess. Others include men and recognize a male god in addition to the Goddess.

Some traditions may date back to before the Spanish Inquisition, others have been in existence for only a few years.

The strength of the Witches' religion (also called the Craft or Wicca) lies in its diversity; it is a living, growing religious tradition.

Witchcraft today may be seen as the sum total of all a Witch's practices, including but not limited to: spellcasting, divination (fortune telling), meditation, herbalism, ritual and ritual drama, singing and dancing to raise energy, healing, clairvoyance and other psychism, creative mythology, and more.

As a religion, the Craft is a revival and/or reconstruction of the pre-Christian religions of Europe, especially Northern Europe (giving us Celtic or Norse traditions), sometimes elsewhere giving us Greco-Roman, Egyptian, or Levantine traditions).

Many of us have turned for inspiration to the still-living indigenous traditions of other lands, such as Australia, Asia, India, and the Americas.

Some of us , recognizing that we are American Witches, work with deities and land-spirits of local Amerindian tribes, though we do not claim to be members of any Amerindian tradition.

As Margot Adler, a Witchcraft authority, has written, The real tradition of the Craft is creativity.

This info from American Wicca

We are Wiccan!

We are Wiccan, the "Way of the Wise". We uphold the Law "An it harm NONE do as thou will". Is to say, "We are Wiccan", make us wise? No, we must understand the responsibility that comes with the power (if that is what we obtain) that comes from our craft.

The "Law", is that enough? I have heard a wise Wiccan say NO. I have been told the law is all inclusive meaning that "Harming None" includes not harming ourselves. How do we define "Harm"? I am a smoker and in doing so I harm myself therefore I must be breaking the law. To some that is so, to others it is not for it is a matter of self will but, this becomes an area of relativity.

The law to the Wise is not perfect. I have heard it said that sex is always the Goddess's worship but to what definition? In the old times 12 and up was the age for a woman to marry and have children. But how many of you today will say this is right (harming none)? I have seen Wiccan covens that have "Child Molesters" in there Kingdom as Elders because of this belief.

If in the old days it was ok even with the Christians why not now. I say because the "Law of the Land" does not condone such behavior. So, "The Way of The Wise" is also to obey the Law of the Land. We must define wheat the Wiccan Reed means.

"Harm None" (work on yourself, become better every day), uphold what is "Right" in the eyes of the world not only because it is the law, but as not to draw negative attention to ourselves.

"Do as thou will", use common sense, and let your heart and intuition guide you. The laws of man that are of old are not the laws of man today. You must recognize when your heart tells you something is not right. You must weigh it against what you know and what you do not know. If it doesn't feel right then it is not. I have heard it said

"The Law Is Not Up To Interpretation", and so it is NOT. But, it is up to our duties as Wiccan to know what that means. Just because some "Magi" (High Priest) says it's ok, does not mean you must follow that word for word because your are a Student.

You may find that sometimes the "Student" is the "Master". WE ARE WICCAN, and so, we must be wise. When we are, the Wiccan Reed is true. And so it is.

Anubis

We all come from the Goddess and to her we shall return,like a drop of rain flowing to the ocean.Hoof and horn,hoof and horn,All that dies shall be reborn.Corn and Grain,Corn and Grain,All that falls shall rise again.(Chorus)Sage and Crone,Sage and Crone,Wisdom's gift shall be our own.Crone and sage,Crone and Sage,Wisdom is the gift of age.

(ANOTHER VERSION SUNG BY MOVING BREATH):We all come from the Goddess and to Her we shall return,Like a drop of rain flowing to the Ocean.Hoof and horn,Hoof and horn.All that dies shall be reborn.Fire and rain,Fire and rain.All that dies shall live again.(Chorus)Air and earth,Air and earth.All that dies shall have new birth.Corn and grain,Corn and grain.All that falls shall rise again.---By Z.Budapest

Do We Believe in an Afterlife or Heaven and Hell

As it has been said, Witches don't believe in life after death, we believe in life after birth. The emphasis of the Craft is on working to make this life good for as many people as possible, oneself included.

We do not believe in a hell, sin, or redemption. As mentioned above, evil is imbalance. But we have no concept of original sin for which we must be redeemed - indeed, that concept has been the source of oppression and even killing of women for centuries, since medieval Christian philosophy had it that woman was the source of all sin and evil.

Witches are reclaiming Eve as the one who gave us self-knowledge through her courage and curiosity. Nor, for that matter, do we believe in a heavenly reward for good behavior.

Spiritual bribery is not the way of the Witch; the results of good or evil acts are felt in this lifetime. No celestial carrot or infernal stick.

On the other hand, Witches have quite a few opinions about what does happen after death. Most believe in reincarnation of some sort or other. Some have it that between death and rebirth the soul undergoes some sort of transformation (for which there are a number of metaphors) to prepare it for rebirth. Others believe that the dead join the Blessed Ancestors, who watch over, protect and advise their descendants.

Still others have it that the souls of those who chose pain or evil when they were alive may be trapped after death in a state of suffering because that is all they can understand.

Most Witches are honest enough to say, We don't really know, and there isn't any way to know.

Song of Amergin:a poetic expression of the Wiccan God

"I am a stag of seven tines;i am the bull of seven battles;iam the eagle on the rock,I am a flash from the sun;I am the most beautiful of plants;I am a strong wild boar;I am a salmon in the water.I am a lake in the plain; I am the word of knowledge,I am the head of the spear in battle;I am the God that puts fire in the head.Who spreads light in the gathering on the hills?Who tell the ages of the moon?Who can tell the place where the sun rests?Who but I knows the secret of the unhewn dolmen?" NOT SURE OF THE AUTHOR

Calling

I hear it in the trees.

I hear it in the footsteps of the Earth.

It is a call; a beckoning.

I see it as colors.

I see it in everything.

It is a call; a beckoning.

I feel it in my body.

I feel it in my soul.

It is a call; a beckoning.

It is a song of old, a calling of new.

Like drums and whistles, the music fills me.

It is the Lord and Lady.

The Wheel of Life allows my eternal spin with Them and Their children.

Blessed be.

TOP TEN REASONS WITCHES DON'T WORSHIP SATAN

10. Scorch marks on the furniture whenever Satan manifests.

9. Not even Lysol can mask the smell of brimstone.

8. Hard to keep the flaming goat skulls lit.

7. Decreased availability of blonde virgins.

6. Blood stains from the sacrifices are *impossible* to get out of the carpet.

5. Wailing of the damned souls in Hell keeps the neighbors awake.

4. The cats keep attacking Satan's tail, which annoys him.

3. Repeated stooping motions for administering the "Kiss of Shame" difficult on the coven members with bad backs.

2. Demons smell even worse than brimstone. And the number one reason....

1. It's impossible to worship something that doesn't exist!!!

Author Unknown

Why We Are Here

(London, 2003 and Seattle) -- Robert Arthur Lewis

Because the world we imagined, the one we had always counted on is disappearing.

Because the sun has become cancerous and the planet is getting hotter.

Because children are starving in the shadows of yachts and economic summits.

Because there are already too many planes in the sky.

This is the manufactured world you have come here to codify and expedite.

We have come to tell you there is something else we want to buy.

What we want, money no longer recognises like the vitality of nature, the integrity of work.

We don't want cheaper wood, we want living trees.

We don't want engineered fruit, we want to see and smell the food growing in our own neighbourhoods.

We are here because a voice inside us, a memory in our blood, tells us you are not just a trade body, you are the blind tip of a dark wave that has forgotten its source.

We are here to defend and honour what is real, natural, human and basic against the rising tide of greed.

We are here by the insistence of spirit and the authority of nature.

If you doubt for one minute the power of truth or the primacy of nature try not breathing for that length of time.

Now you know the pressure of our desire. We are not here to tinker with your laws. We are here to change you from the inside out. This is not a political protest. It is an uprising of the soul.

BY BEKKIAH FROM PAGAN HUMOR (A PARODY OF FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND) (BUTTPRINTS IN THE SAND)

One night I had a wondrous dream,One set of footprints there was seen,The footprints of my precious Lady,But mine were not along the shore. But then some stranger prints appeared,And I asked the Lady,"What have we here?"Those prints are large and round and neat,"But Lady,they are to big for feet." "My child," She said in somber tones,"For miles I carried you alone.I challenged you to walk in faith,But you refused and made me wait." "You disobeyed,you would not grow,The walk of faith,you would not know,So I got tired,I got fed up,And there I dropped you on your butt." "Because in life,there comes a time,When one must fight,and one must climb,When one must rise and take a stand,Or leave their butt prints in the sand."

(VARIOUS PAGAN BELIEFS)

Paganism is the oldest religion known to humanity. It's origins are obscure, but conjectured to have arisen with humanity's desire to explore the unknown, and seek unity with the divine force (however that may be perceived). Therefore, Paganism has no founder or founders, no earthly leaders, no prophets, no messiahs, and no saints.

The word Pagan is derived from the Latin Paganus, "a civilian", and from Pagus, "a village". This delineates Pagans as those who are from a village, or more commonly, simply country-dwellers. Whilst the majority of Pagans today - like the majority of the population - live in towns, this term accurately describes the Pagan heritage, and the affinity which modern Pagans feel with the natural environment.

Thus modern Pagans follow a religion which is as old as humanity itself, but whose practices have been adapted to suit life in the modern world. The concepts which were vital to sustaining life in bygone times are revered, and their principles have been retained; however, we acknowledge that our modern lifestyles are sustained in very different ways.

WHO ARE MODERN PAGANS?

Modern Pagans are people who have made a positive choice to follow a path of individual spiritual growth that is in harmony with the Earth upon which we live. Many people have become aware of a spiritual void in their lives, and have discovered, in Paganism, a religion of joy and love, which allows self-expression, but also encourages social and environmental responsibility.

Modern Pagans are men and women of all ages, drawn from all walks of life, and from vaious racial or cultural backgrounds. Members of the Pagan Alliance include scientists, solicitors, students, health care professionals, teachers, farmers, information technology specialists, industrial relation specialists, graphic designers, engineers, members of the Defence Force, Project Managers, members of the Public Service, Librarians, psychologists, artists, and research assistants, to name but a few.

The one thing they all have in common is a desire to follow a spiritual path which is in harmony with the Earth, and which encourages self-discovery, and individual responsibility.

PAGAN TRADITIONS

There are numerous traditions under the generic classification of Paganism.

Whilst they all share a common thread, their individual practices and beliefs may differ greatly. Most traditions emphasise the equality of men and women. However, some traditions are more specifically geared towards exploring either the male, or the female, mysteries. A brief summary of the Pagan traditions most commonly practised today follows. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, simply a guide to the more popular paths within the religion.

ASATRU/NORSE PAGANISM

With its origin in northern Europe, this tradition is practised today by those who feel an affinity with their nordic and teutonic ancestors, and who wish to study the Sagas, Eddas and Runes. Asatru and Norse Paganism encourages a sense of responsibility and spiritual growth, often within the context of noble warrior traditions.

CELTIC PAGANISM

This is native to the Celtic and Gaelic races, and is practised by a great many people in Australia and New Zealand today, who still feel a strong connection to their Celtic-Gaelic roots. The essence and the teachings of the Celtic religion were encoded into the ancient legends, which were transmitted orally by the bards to the people. Modern Celtic Pagans are seeking to reintroduce this wealth or myth and knowledge into our modern world. (With thanks to Clan Dalriada)

DIANIC WITCHCRAFT

A tradition which honours and celebrates the feminine aspects of divinity. Women are accorded great respect, and rituals are often designed to empower women with a sense of their own inherent spirituality and value.

DRUIDRY

The modern tradition of Druidry emphasises artistic skills such as poetry and music, and often encourages its members to undertake a study programme in these, and other more academic, disciplines.

ENVIRONMENTAL PAGANISM

Many Pagans today do not follow a specific tradition, but actively work to save the Earth from further desecration, and honour the land upon which we live as a sacred representation of the Earth Mother. This style of religion often has no formal rites or methods of worship, but encourages each individual to honour divinity by caring for the Earth and all its creatures.

ETHNIC PAGANISM

Many modern Pagan traditions are based upon the practices of a particular ethnic group, some modern, some ancient. In this category would come traditions such as Hellenic, Roman or Egyptian Paganism, as well as modern traditions continued by their ethnic groups; for example, voodoo, Santeria and Native Americal Indian traditions. This would also include the native Pagan traditions of the Pacific, and Australia's Aboriginal people. Unfortunately a great many myths and traditions, and tribal lore, has been lost as a result of the uncompromising practices of missionaries and settlers.

MALE MYSTERIES

A collection of practices which have become popular with modern male Pagans, seeking to explore their own sacred manhood. Different to patriarchal religions, these mysteries are focused towards spiritual growth gained through solitary or small group practice.

SHAMANISM

Shamanism utilises skills and practices such as travelling in the spirit realms, tree lore, herb lore, and the use of totem animals. The tribal shaman was often responsible for spiritual matters within the tribe, and also for matters connected with birth, death and healing. Shamans are able to speak with the tribal ancestors and gain knowledge for the use of the tribe. These same practices are used in non-tribal societies today by many modern Pagan men and women.

WICCA

This is a modern revival of the ancient folkloric and magical practices of Europe. Wiccans generally perceive divinity in the form of a Goddess and a God, who have many different aspects. Most Wiccans celebrate eight Festivals each year, and hold meetings in accordance with the phases of the Moon.

There are several traditions within Wicca, and each has its own set of rituals and practices.

WITCHCRAFT

The popular revival of European Witchcraft (an ancient fertility religion) honours the Hoened God and Godd3ess. Also called The Old Religion, its modern practitioners are often skilled herbalists and healers; their practices and techniques are similar in many ways to those of the tribal shaman, the village Wisewoman and Cunningman.

BELIEFS

The spiritual or religious beliefs of Pagans are that deity is both imminent and transcendent. Deity is therefore a part of the fabric of our being, of our environment, and of that which is beyond anything we can imagine.

Deity is perceived as both male and female. God is seen in many ways, and expressed in our worship as the male principle; all of the male Pagan deities are accepted as aspects of God. Goddess is seen in many ways, and expresses the female principle. All of the female Pagan deities are accepted as aspects of Goddess.

Pagans do not believe in a dualistic viewpoint of absolute opposites; of "good versus evil". Pagans believe that all things exist in their own place, and that we should strive for dynamic balance and harmony. Extremism of any form does not have a place within the Pagan philosophy.

Most Pagans believe in reincarnation. There is a strong affinity with the idea of cyclical life patterns, which do not cease with the death of the physical body. Most Pagans have no concept which could be described as heaven or hell in the commonly-used Christian sense. However, Northern Pagan traditions encompass both a heaven and a hell, with a sophisticated philosophy which describes the operation of these realms. Briefly, Heaven (Asgard) is a final resting place, and Hell (Hel) is a place of rest, from where souls may choose to be re-born. In the Northern Traditions, Hel is not a place of damnation and torture.

The Wiccan religion has what is called "The Summerlands"; a place where souls find rest before being re-born into the physical world.

The Druid belief in reincarnation is confirmed many times in classical sources; e.g. Posidonius (quoteed by Diodorus): "... [Druids believe that] the souls of men are immortal, and that after a definite number of years they live a seconed life when the soul passes to another body."

Julius Caesar: "The cardinal doctrine which they seek to teach is that souls do not die, but after death pass from one to another; and this belief, as the fear of death is thereby cast aside, they hold to be the greatest invective to valour."

Each Pagan religion has its own philosophy about the afterlife, and about reincarnation. Individual Pagans may also have their own philosophy about these subjects, for the Pagan religions do not have a dogma, or strict set of teachings, which all Pagans must folow.

Paganism is one of the so-called "Mystery Paths", where each individual has direct experience of divinity. Although it is becoming more common for Pagan Priests and Priestesses to administer rites to a group of people, individual experience of divinity remains the primary objective for most practising Pagans.

This differs significantly from most State religions, where a figure of authority performs rites, and mediates the divine force, on behalf of a congregation. In most Pagan religions, each individual is a Priest or Priestess in his or her own right.

Pagans do not "worship" trees or rocks; however, they do revere the divine force which is contained within trees and rocks; indeed, is contained within every part of the universe.

Pagans do not worship a savious, or other spiritual leader. The emphasis is upon each individual's spiritual enlightenment, and responsibility for this is not abdicated to another person. The practice of Paganism is a voyage of self-discovery, and the discovery of one's own place within the divine realm.

Paganism is not, therefore, a cult, for a cult has a leader, and Paganism has none. Individual groups will often be led by one or two people who are experienced in the practice of the religion, but such people have no influence outside of their own group or tradition.

RELIGIOUS PRACTICES: WORSHIP

Pagans believe that each individual has the right to worship in their own way; there is no legislation that requires Pagans to follow any prescribed manner of worship. Some Pagans worship in a formal manner; have a more instinctive and unconscious mode of acknowledging and communicating with Goddess and God. Some Pagans prefer to make their worship a private affair; others gather in groups and make their worship a communion with each other, as well as with Goddess and God.

Like most religions, Paganism has Rites of Passage, with some traditions having a formal set of rituals for birth, marriage and death. Those Pagan religions which adhere most closely to the "Mystery Path" will also have rites of initiation. These are designed to effect a spiritual awakening within the initiate, and do not include such practices as animal or human sacrifice, nor any activity which is against the wishes or ethics of the initiate.

Rituals to celebrate a birth, which often include a naming ceremony, do not promise the child to the religion, in the way of a Christian baptism. The parents of the child will often adk for divine guidance and protection for their child, but will not make any promises about bringing the child up in a particular faith.

It is a strong Pagan belief that each individual must follow his or her own path. Children are taught to honour their family and friends; to have integrity, honesty and loyalty; to treat the Earth as sacred, and to love and respect all forms of life. Other than these basic teachings, children are encouraged to question, and to find their own spiritual path. Many Pagan parents will ensure that their children are exposed to the teachings of a number of religions, so that the child receives a well-balanced spiritual education.

RELIGIOUS PRACTICES: HOLY DAYS

To Pagans, every day is a holy day, but there are a number of Festival celebrations which are held throughout the year. The Festivals, and the time on which they are celebrated, varies. Within each tradition, there are commonalities, but these are by no means definitive across the whole religion.

Perhaps the best known is the cycle of Festivals celebrated by many Pagans, including the Wiccan tradition, and modern Druids. There are eight Festivals, being Samhain, Giuli (Yule), Imbolg (also known as Candlemas), Spring Equinox (also known as Eostre), Beltane, Litha (Midsummer), and the Autumn Equinox (also known as Mabon).

These Festivals are derived from variously, Celtic and Saxon sources, and their essence has remained in modern society through folk memory, and in many rural traditions.

Other Pagan traditions celebrate the turning of the seasons with four Festivals to mark Spring, Summer, Autumn and Spring. As always with Paganism, the emphasis is upon what is meaningful for each individual, rather than a strict adherence to a rigid doctrine.

PAGANISM IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

The history of Paganism in Australia and New Zealand is lengthy, for the indigenous people were Pagan, before the arrival of colonisation and its attendant Christian Missionaries. The conversion of the native people to Christianity was uncompromising.

The earliest incidence of revived European Paganism in Australia and New Zealand is unknown, but there are reports of witches meeting in Canberra, ACT during the 1920s. Many immigrants brought their own traditions and practices with them, and since the 1970s numerous books have been published about the revived Pagan religions and their practices.

Although laws against "the pretence of the practice of witchcraft" remain on the statute books in a few places, the modern Pagan in Australia and New Zealand can practise his or her religion without fear. Pagans remain the target of mainstream fundamentalist fanatics, but thankfully, fewer and fewer rational people are taking fundamentalist absurdities seriously. However, for this reason, and because bigotry still exists in many places, some Pagans practice their religion privately, and prefer not to make their beliefs public.

Some Pagans are prepared to be public spokespeople for their religion, and through the Pan Pacific Pagan Alliance, and other similar organisations have provided accurate and sensible information to the media, police forces, local government organisations, child care agencies, health centres and so on. That we have been so successful in our attempt to inform society of the truth of our religion is a testament to those Pagans who live and work in Australia and New Zealand.

PAGAN CUSTOMS

Because Paganism stresses the importance of individuality, there are few, if any, widespread customs. A sense of the sanctity of the natural world, concern for the environment, and acceptance that we are socially responsible to our fellow-creatures, dictates the kind of customs which most Pagans follow.

There are no dietary requirements, or any prohibitions within the Pagan philosophy. Those who follow a vegan/vegetarian diet, or who abstain from alcohol, tobacco, etc., do so out of choice, not tenets of faith.

There are no laws of blasphemy and conflict between individuals remains the responsiblity and concern of those who are involved. There are no penances, or any other form of religious punishments.

Paganism does not legislate where matters of morality and ethics are concerned. It is up to each individual to be responsible for their own viewpoints and decisions. The religion itself does not promote nor condemn practices related to sexual activity, procreation, use of alcohol and other mind altering substances. Individual Pagans may hold viewpoints on one or more of these issues, however, they are PERSONAL viewpoints, and not the considered opinion of the religion per se.

Pagans have a high regard for the equality of the sexes and do not suppress the feminine principle in the way that many other religions seem to do. Pagan Priestesses have the same status as Priests; in some traditions, they have primacy in leading the religious practices.

Many Pagans acknowledge the concept of "Elders"; those from the community who, by virtue of their training or experience, have a greater understanding of social, moral and practical matters. Pagans who gather together (either formally or informally) as a group, will often look to those who lead the group for guidance on moral issues and socially accepted behaviour. However, it is a fundamental aspect of Paganism that each individual must accept full responsibility for their own actions. There is no "confession" or other absolution to devolve responsibility to another person, or to God and/or Goddess.

FALLACIES

Pagans are not concerned with perverting the sacred symbols, beliefs or practices of any other religion.

Pagans do not perform sacrifices (other than of their own energy and time), and are not opposed to any other religious beliefs.

Pagans do not sexually abuse children; quite the contrary. Despite many hysterical claims of sexual abuse by witches and other occultists, none has ever been proven to be true.

For a Pagan to abuse a child is total anathema. It is contrary to everything that we hold close to our hearts. Our children are our future, and a part of the ultimate divine source. Pagan children are born in love and unity; they are sacred, and are treated as such.

CONCLUSION.

Paganism is a legitimate, coherent and responsible spiritual path to which many people are attracted in these days of ecological concern. To be a Pagan in the 20th (and 21st) century is to hold and believe in the sacredness of all things; to revere and respect all life; and to love and honour one's family and friends.

The Nine Principles of the Goddess

1. I acknowledge that there is one Goddess in essence, Creatrix of all existences; Her forms are infinite, She manifests Herself in our love, and we are all Her lovers.

2. Treat all beings with reciprocity, for the Goddess lives in them as well as in us.

3. Tolerate other religions and do not compel others to join the circle of the Goddess: the Goddess will draw those to Her who are ready and hear Her call.

4. Worship Her by restoring balance to Her planet.

5. Eat mostly grains, vegetables and fruits, so that there will be enough food for all; when you eat thank the Goddess, the provider of all energy. It is not forbidden to eat animal flesh in moderation, but when you do so you must thank the animal that you eat as well.

6. In the circle of the Goddess create consensus while respecting diversity of opinion. On the path of the Goddess there are many paths.

7. In your home create a sacred space for the Goddess to please Her. Meditate the Goddess three times a day, at rising, at noon and at sundown.

8. Sexuality is Her sacrament; enjoy this gift and bless those who you share it with love and affection. Remember that overcoming jealousy is the cause of cessation of the cycle of rebirth.

9. Announce the religion of the Goddess to the world through good works, honest words and selfless acts of beauty and love. To set out on the path of the Goddess, you need only recite the first principle three times, and say three times 'blessed be'. The Goddess will enter your heart and you will feel her love, and when that happens you are in the circle of the Goddess.