Becca (AKA Dream Celt)

Anne Welch

_Erebus_<

This is a great social, cultural and religious injustice, and should be changed. Christians should not be allowed to continue to celebrate their holiday on a date that was stolen in order to attempt to wipe out other cultures' beliefs and practices.

Many Pagan holidays are celebrated by followers of Aboriginal and Neopagan religions around the world on or around this date, including Wiccans who celebrate Yule. Due to the fact that Christians have stolen this holiday, many Pagan practices have been integrated into their activities, and have been twisted to meet THEIR needs. This is not only offensive, it is something that saddens many followers of various Pagan religions.

Although the solstice is actually around the 22nd, the elevation of the sun's path is most noticeable a few days after the Solstice, so many celebrations are held on the 25th. This is a PAGAN holiday, and should be recognized as such. In addition to ancient Solstice celebrations, December 25th marks the births of many ancient Pagan Gods. I.E.- Mithras, Attis, Osiris, Dionysus and is also the date of the Sun-God celebration of Saturnalia.

"Christmas" to many Pagans represents centuries of hypocrisy, lies and persecution. Even if you aren't Pagan, I urge you to sign this petition and help make this long overdue change.

This petition's goal is 1,000,000 plus signatures. Paganism is the fastest growing collective religion in the world. Wiccans and other Pagan faiths have the same rights as every other religious faith, and this petition represents the Pagans who want their holiday back.

Please sign this petition to recognize this holiday as a Pagan holiday, and take Christ out of it. This petition will be sent to world leaders of countries celebrating "Christmas" and we will be lobbying here in the United States to make these changes. Please help us in our quest to restore a holiday that is rightfully ours, and has been since ancient times.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and thank you for helping us.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/RESTORE-YULE-TO-PAGANS

"We are NOT trying to take away the Christians' right to celebrate Christmas. We are demanding that they move the holiday to Jesus' real birth date and stop mocking our holiday. Christmas was created by the church to wipe out existing Pagan festivals. It was premeditated and designed to force conversions and destroy other religions' beliefs and cultural practices.

If they want to celebrate their holy day, they can go ahead and do it. However, when they decided to PLAN it and USE it to destroy OUR holy day they committed a CRIME. Christmas on the 25th of December represents hypocrisy, lies and the persecution of Pagans, and it has GONE ON FOR LONG ENOUGH. Pagans who didn't conform were KILLED.

Would you ask the Jews to celebrate Passover and call it Nazi day? I think not. Why should we be smacked in the face with the word "Christmas" on one of OUR religious holidays when it represents our own religious persecution that lasted for centuries?"

Where going green and saving the Earth is a RELIGION!

TECHNIQUES OF MODERN SHAMANISM VOL.1 - Click here

TECHNIQUES OF MODERN SHAMANISM VOL.2 - Click here

TECHNIQUES OF MODERN SHAMANISM VOL.3 - Click here

"My Law is Harmony with all things. Mine is the secret that opens the gates of life and mine is the dish of salt of the earth that is the body of Cernunnos that is the eternal circle or rebirth. I give the knowledge of life everlasting, and beyond death I give promise of regeneration and renewal. I am the sacrifice, the father of all things, and my protection blankets the earth"

Hear the words of the dancing God, the music of whose laughter stirs the winds, whose voice calls the seasons

"I who am the Lord of the Hunt and the Power of the light, sun among the clouds and the secret of the flame, I call upon your bodies to arise and come unto me. For I am the flesh of the earth and all it's beings. Through me all things must die and with me are reborn. Let my worship be in the body that sings, for behold all acts of willing sacrifice are my rituals. Let there be desire and fear, anger and weakness, joy and peace, awe and longing within you for those too are part of the mysteries found within yourself, within me, all beginnings have endings, and all endings have beginnings."

I am the consoler of the saddened and the healer of the sick.
I bring comfort to those upon earth and peace and understanding in death, for I am
the changing Goddess.
Forget not my darker side, hidden in the deepest reaches of your mind.
I have been in the underworld and I have returned.

Those who seek to know me, to feel my spirit, to win my favor and my grace:
Come to me with a sincere heart and burn incense upon My altar.
Listen and be still, and look within.
You shall grow in wisdom and nobility of spirit,
if you understand that whatever your wants or attainments,
I have been you from the Start, and I am the Desire that remains.

Asatru and the Paranormal - Click here

Witchcraft Today - CLICK HERE

1. The first principle is that of love, and it is expressed in the ethic,
"DO AS YOU WILL, SO LONG AS YOU HARM NONE"
a) love is not emotional in it's essence, but is an attribute of the
individual as expressed in relation to other beings;
b) harming others can be by thought, word, or deed;
c) it is to be understood the "none" includes oneself;
d) the harm which is to be regarded as unethical is gratuitous harm; war,
in general, is gratuitous harm, although it is ethical to defend
oneself and one's liberty when threatened by real and present danger,
such as defense against invasion.

2. The Witch must recognize and harmonize with the forces of the universe, in
accord with the Law of Polarity: everything is dual; everything has two
poles; everything has it's opposite; for every action there is a reaction;
all can be categorized as either active or reactive in relation to other
things.
a) Godhead is one unique and transcendant wholeness, beyond any
limitations or expressions; thus, it is beyond our human capacity to
understand and identify with this principle of Cosmic Oneness, except
as It is revealed to us in terms of It's attributes and operation.
b) The most basic and meaningful attribute of the One that we, as humans,
can relate to and understand, is that of polarity, of action and reac-
tion; therefore Witches recognize the Oneness of the Divinity, but
worship and relate to the Divine as the archetypal polarity of God and
Goddess, the All-Father and the Great Mother of the universe. The
Beings are as near as we can approach to the One within our human
limitations of understanding and expression, though it is possible to
experience the divine Oneness through the practices of the Mysteries.
c) Harmony does not consist of the pretty and the nice, but the balanced,
dynamic, poised co-operation and co-relation.

3. The Witch must recognize, and operate within the framework of the Law of
Cause and Effect; every action has it's reaction, and every effect has
it's cause. All things occur according to this law; nothing in the
universe can occur outside this law, though we may not always appreciate
the relation between a given effect and it's cause. Subsidiary to this is
the Law of Three, which states that whatever goes forth must return
threefold, whether of good or ill; for our actions affect more than people
generally realize, and the resulting reactions are also part of the
harvest.

4. As Above, So Below. That which exists in the Macrocosm exists, on a
smaller scale and to a lesser degree, in the Microcosm. The powers of the
universe exist also in the human, though in general instance they lie
dormant. The powers and abilities can be awakened and used if the proper
techniques are practiced, and this is why initiates of the Mysteries are
sworn to guard the secrets from the unworthy: Much harm can be done by
those who have power without responsibility, both to others and to
themselves according to the Laws of Cause and Effect and of Threefold
Return.
a) Since our philosophy teaches that the universe is the physical
manifestation of the Divine, there can be nothing in the universe which
does not partake of the nature of the Divine; hence, the powers and
attributes of the Divine exist also in the manifest, though to much
smaller degree.
b) These powers can be awakened through the various techniques of the
Mysteries, and, although they are only capable of small effects in and
of themselves, it is possible to use them in order to draw upon the
forces of the universe. Thus humanity can be the wielders of the power
of the Gods, a channel for Godhead to act within It's own
manifestation. This, then, is further reason for the oath of secrecy.
c) Since the universe is the body of the One, possessing the same
attributes as the One, it's Laws must be the principles through and by
which the One operates. By reasoning from the known to the unknown,
one can learn of the Divine, and thus of oneself. Thus the Craft is a
natural religion, seeing in Nature the expression and revelation of
Divinity.

LOOKING AT YOURSELF

before you go a step further, take a good long look at your
desires, motivation and skills. What role do you see yourself
playing in this new group? "Ordinary" member? Democratic
facilitator? High Priestess? And if the last -- why do you want
the job?

The title of High Priestess and Priest are seductive,
conjuring up exotic images of yourself in embroidered robes, a
silver crescent (or horned helm) on your brow, adoring celebrants
hanging on every word which drops from your lips...

Reality check. The robes will be stained with wine and candle
wax soon enough, and not every word you speak is worth
remembering. A coven leader's job is mostly hard work between
rituals and behind the scene. It is not always a good place to
act out your fantasies, because the lives and well-being of
others are involved, and what is flattering or enjoyable to you
may not be in their best interest. So consider carefully.

If your prime motive is establishing a coven is to gain status
and ego gratification, other people will quickly sense that. If
they are intelligent, independent individuals, they will refuse
to play Adoring Disciple to your Witch Queen impressions. They
will disappear, and that vanishing act will be the last magick
they do with you.

And if you do attract a group ready to be subservient Spear
Carriers in your fantasy drama -- well, do you really want to
associate with that kind of personality? What are you going to
do when you want someone strong around to help you or teach you,
and next New Moon you look out upon a handful of Henry
Milquetoasts and Frieda Handmaidens? If a person is willing to
serve you, the they will also become dependent on you, drain your
energy, and become disillusioned if you ever let down the
Infallible Witch Queen mask for even a moment.

Some other not-so-great reasons for starting a coven: a) because
it seems glamorous, exotic, and a little wicked; b) because it
will shock your mother, or c) because you can endure your boring,
flunkie job more easily if you get to go home and play Witch at
night.

Some better reasons for setting up a coven, and even nomination
yourself as High Priest/ess, include: a) you feel that you will
be performing a useful job for yourself and others; b) you have
enjoyed leadership roles in the past, and proven yourself
capable; or c) you look forward to learning and growing in the
role.

Even with the best motives in the world, you will still need to
have -- or quickly develop -- a whole range of skills in order to
handle a leadership role. If you are to be a facilitator of a
study group, group process insights and skills are important.
These include:

1) Gate-keeping, or guiding discussion in such a way that
everyone has an opportunity to express ideas and
opinions;

2) Summarizing and clarifying;

3) Conflict resolution, or helping participants understand
points of disagreement and find potential solutions which
respect everyone's interests;

4) Moving the discussion toward consensus, or at any rate
decision, by identifying diversions and refocussing
attention on goals and priorities; and

5) Achieving closure smoothly when the essential work is
completed, or an appropriate stopping place is reached.

CHECKLIST FOR A WELL-WORKING GROUP

1. We are clear about our goals and how we intend to achieve
them.

2. We know and respect each other well enough to feel very
comfortable and attuned working together.

3. Our Magick is ethical, designed for our growth and
fulfillment and the benefit of those who request help, and it
never used to harm others.

4. We share the responsibilities of making the group work; every
individual's contribution is important.

5. We see each other socially outside the group, and support
each other through difficulties.

6. We enjoy. there is fun and laughter at our meetings.

7. We work at learning magick. We dig deep, compare different
sources, try new techniques, ask pointed questions, do it until
we get it right.

8. We keep ourselves healthy and fit in order to more readily
channel power and receive insight.

9. We keep our ritual area and tools orderly and clean.

10. We constantly seek knowledge from many sources -- people,
books, workshops, other paths...

11. We do not make a virtue of authority and obedience, but treat
each other as respected equals (regardless of the formal
structure of the coven).

12. We raise genuine power and channel it; our rituals are not
tame readings or rote gestures, but filled with energy, vitality,
will and purpose.

'Earth, divine Goddess, Mother Nature who generates all things
and brings forth anew the sun which you have given to the nations;
Guardian of sky and sea and of all gods and powers....through your
power all nature falls silent and then sinks in sleep. And again
you bring back the light and chase away night and yet again you
cover us most securely with your shades. You do contain chaos
infinite, yea and winds and showers and storms; you send them out
when you will and cause the seas to roar; you chase away the sun
and rouse the storm. Again when you will you send forth the joyous
day and give the nourishment of life with your eternal surety; and
when the soul departs to you we return. You are indeed duly called
Great Mother of the Gods; you conquer by your divine name. You are
the source of strength of nations and of gods, without you nothing
can be brought to perfection or be born; you are Great Queen of the
Gods. Goddess! I adore thee as divine; I call upon your name; be
pleased the grant that which I ask of you, so shall I give thanks
to thee, Goddess, with due faith.
Hear, I beseech you, and be favorable to my prayer. Whatsoever
herb your power does produce, give, I pray, with goodwill to all
nations to save them and grant me this my medicine. Come to me with
your powers, and howsoever I may use them, may they have good
success to whosoever I may give them. Whatever you grant, may it
prosper. To you all things return. Those who rightly receive these
herbs from me, please make them whole. Goddess, I beseech you, I
pray as a suppliant that by your majesty you grant this to me.
Now I make intercession to you all your powers and herbs and to
your majesty, you whom Earth parent of all has produced and given
as a medicine of health to all nations and has put majesty upon
you, I pray you, the greatest help to the human race. This I pray
and beseech from you, be present here with your virtues, for She
who created you has Herself promised that I may gather you into
the goodwill of him on whom the art of medicine was bestowed, and
grant for health's sake good medicine by grace of your powers. I
pray grant me through your virtues that whatsoever is wrought by
me through you may in all it's powers have good and speedy effect
and good success and that I may always be permitted with the favor
of your majesty to gather you into my hands and to glean your
fruits. So shall I give thanks to you in the name of the majesty
which ordained your birth.'

(Modernized version of a 12th century
herbalist spell. Original translation
from 'Early English Magic and
Medicine', by Dr. Charles Singer.
Proceedings of the British Academy,
Vol. IV )

A Practical Guide to Witchcraft and Magic Spells - Click Here!

Bide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.

For tread the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.

Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.
Honor the Old Ones in deed and name,
let love and light be our guides again.

Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,
and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.

When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at Her peak then your heart's desire seek.

Heed the North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.
When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.

Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God's
insight. Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.

Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.

Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.

Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.

Elder is the Lady's tree burn it not or cursed you'll be.
Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.

As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it's now Samhain.
When the time for Imbolc shows watch for flowers through the snows.

When the wheel begins to turn soon the Beltane fires will burn.
As the wheel turns to Lamas night power is brought to magick rite.

Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.
When the wheel has turned to Yule light the log the Horned One rules.

In the spring, when night equals day time for Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached it's height time for Oak and Holly to fight.

Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.
Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you'll be.

Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you'll know.
When you have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.
Merry Meet and Merry Part bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow.

Be true in love this you must do unless your love is false to you.

These Eight words the Rede fulfill:

"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"

(http://www.wicca.com/celtic/wicca/rede.htm)

My name is Ash, and I live up in Howard, CO. I had to take down the old site and set up this one. It has advanced spam protection, and should work better. It is simple and user-friendly. ENJOY!

Many Blessings!
Ash