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Author Topic: Greetings  (Read 2520 times)

Aveya

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Greetings
« on: August 06, 2020, 12:58:04 am »
Hello All!

Introduction post, go. I'm 34, married, cisgender pansexual, happy dog mom, gardener, baker. I was raised in Ohio as a Mormon (LDS) and left the church when finally someone told me gays were excommunicated. I knew I was pan then (well bisexual, the term Pan wasn't known to me then) so fled best I can (think 14 year old locking herself in the bathroom on Sunday morning, but giving no reason because she wasn't ready to actually come out. Sorry Mom). In my process of fleeing I tried to shove religions into my soul to find something to replace what I tore out. I had a spiritual affinity for nature and ended up at Wicca (I believe it was a book called Solitary Witch by Silver Ravenwolf that was my first step on this path). It spiraled and jumped around a lot. But eventually I just DEVOURED Scott Cunningham books. His work resonated beautifully.

During that time I was in a very intense long distance relationship for about ten years. I considered myself an eclectic mishmash - Taoist, Druidism, Paganism. But I felt something powerful when I called the elements or spirits into something. I didn't know what I was doing.

Anyways I did this solitary-teen thing where I bound myself to my then boyfriend (first one, etc) via my septagram in a very melodramatic rite of sorts that ended up with me trusting blindly in him. So when that relationship fell apart, I fell apart. Hard. I felt betrayed by him, by myself, by "God" from before, and ironically I believed in the spirits more because I felt so tied to him /even now/. But I felt I broke it somehow, ruined it. How could I ask for something again? Anyways, I moved from Ohio to South Dakota and literally stripped who I was, left it there, and changed everything about myself.

I don't like who I am now. So I'm re-stripping and picking up the remnants growing dust that I shed. Therapy got me to a point to trust me. Listen to me. Feel myself. One of the exercises awoke this spiritual attunement. And I had hard clamped down on it before.

The real reason I'm here is to find a community, find where I fit spiritually, and to learn more.

I'm more specifically looking for alternate forms of Wicca or paganism that I may have missed when I was a teen (bookstore only had so much, internet was so new lol). Right now I'm trying to research and learn more about "natural" witches. Maybe because of my Mormon upbringing, I'm distrusting of the ritualistic aspects that come with traditional Wicca. I feel drawn towards something more free-form. I don't believe so much physical stuff or representation is needed (or rather, it feels dead / cut off to me when I do try; I'm talking scepters and bells and athames, etc). I also do not believe in the deities (same reason, I feel zilch about them - but respect the stories they can personify/represent), but I do believe in ... something more? That's vague and undefined. Spirits, yes. Fae? Maybe. I'm not sure, I just feel *something* and so here I am trying to research.

I find myself hard and skeptical now. But yet chasing that draw I feel on the wind towards the mystic. So - if anyone had resources that might help me on my path I'll be eternally grateful! If not, I'm still excited to meet others and learn.

I currently celebrate the Wheel of the Year (simplistically) as it feels right and draws me closer to my garden & cooking. I also use Tarot, but only just started again after all this time.

Looking forward to grow from here.


anubisa

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Re: Greetings
« Reply #1 on: August 06, 2020, 03:52:32 am »
Hello All!

Introduction post, go. I'm 34, married, cisgender pansexual, happy dog mom, gardener, baker. I was raised in Ohio as a Mormon (LDS) and left the church when finally someone told me gays were excommunicated. I knew I was pan then (well bisexual, the term Pan wasn't known to me then) so fled best I can (think 14 year old locking herself in the bathroom on Sunday morning, but giving no reason because she wasn't ready to actually come out. Sorry Mom). In my process of fleeing I tried to shove religions into my soul to find something to replace what I tore out. I had a spiritual affinity for nature and ended up at Wicca (I believe it was a book called Solitary Witch by Silver Ravenwolf that was my first step on this path). It spiraled and jumped around a lot. But eventually I just DEVOURED Scott Cunningham books. His work resonated beautifully.

During that time I was in a very intense long distance relationship for about ten years. I considered myself an eclectic mishmash - Taoist, Druidism, Paganism. But I felt something powerful when I called the elements or spirits into something. I didn't know what I was doing.

Anyways I did this solitary-teen thing where I bound myself to my then boyfriend (first one, etc) via my septagram in a very melodramatic rite of sorts that ended up with me trusting blindly in him. So when that relationship fell apart, I fell apart. Hard. I felt betrayed by him, by myself, by "God" from before, and ironically I believed in the spirits more because I felt so tied to him /even now/. But I felt I broke it somehow, ruined it. How could I ask for something again? Anyways, I moved from Ohio to South Dakota and literally stripped who I was, left it there, and changed everything about myself.

I don't like who I am now. So I'm re-stripping and picking up the remnants growing dust that I shed. Therapy got me to a point to trust me. Listen to me. Feel myself. One of the exercises awoke this spiritual attunement. And I had hard clamped down on it before.

The real reason I'm here is to find a community, find where I fit spiritually, and to learn more.

I'm more specifically looking for alternate forms of Wicca or paganism that I may have missed when I was a teen (bookstore only had so much, internet was so new lol). Right now I'm trying to research and learn more about "natural" witches. Maybe because of my Mormon upbringing, I'm distrusting of the ritualistic aspects that come with traditional Wicca. I feel drawn towards something more free-form. I don't believe so much physical stuff or representation is needed (or rather, it feels dead / cut off to me when I do try; I'm talking scepters and bells and athames, etc). I also do not believe in the deities (same reason, I feel zilch about them - but respect the stories they can personify/represent), but I do believe in ... something more? That's vague and undefined. Spirits, yes. Fae? Maybe. I'm not sure, I just feel *something* and so here I am trying to research.

I find myself hard and skeptical now. But yet chasing that draw I feel on the wind towards the mystic. So - if anyone had resources that might help me on my path I'll be eternally grateful! If not, I'm still excited to meet others and learn.

I currently celebrate the Wheel of the Year (simplistically) as it feels right and draws me closer to my garden & cooking. I also use Tarot, but only just started again after all this time.

Looking forward to grow from here.

Welcome to the forum! I hope you find what you're looking for here. We are here to support you in any way possible.
Anubisa

Daughter of Lord Anubis and Lady Bast.

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Re: Greetings
« Reply #2 on: August 06, 2020, 08:28:00 am »

"The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you." -
Neil deGrasse Tyson

Jenett

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Re: Greetings
« Reply #3 on: August 06, 2020, 01:25:08 pm »
I'm more specifically looking for alternate forms of Wicca or paganism that I may have missed when I was a teen (bookstore only had so much, internet was so new lol).

So, there's a huge range of things under the broader witchcraft umbrella, many of which are not automatically focused on deities. A lot of material if you look at "religious witchcraft" may be a workable system for working with other beings (local/land spirits, ancestors, etc.) or seasonal cycles.

(I've got a bunch of stuff on my Seeking site: I am a polytheistic religious witch in an initiatory tradition, but a lot of the stuff on that site is fairly easy to amend to what you're looking for. And while I like my tools, my take on there is mostly practical "Sometimes you need a tool - like, if you want to do stuff with some water, you're probably going to need something to put it in while you do that." and "Here's the visual/sensory/attention focusing thing this tool does, but here are some other ways to get that.")

But the thing that springs to mind when reading what you're looking for is to suggest you check out Reclaiming. The in-person stuff may or may not work for you (but that won't be an option for a bit, probably), but some of the materials might be. Specifically, Twelve Wild Swans, by Starhawk and Hilary Valentine is a whole trove of three different ways to work with the same folk story, with tons of exercises, things to try and explore. I think both the 'focus on the story' part and the 'lots of ways to go at this with examples, deepening your work and skills over time' might appeal to you or be useful.
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sevensons

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Re: Greetings
« Reply #4 on: August 06, 2020, 03:20:09 pm »
Hello All!

Looking forward to grow from here.
Hello welcome
Herbs and spices is a fun and cheap way to do magic conjuring energy with the rite herb or spice at the rite time. focus your energy on them and see which one  give the greatest feeling.
Awaken myself alive and well loving to start learning today ahead a challenge set by the Gods. Haven't

Instagram stevejomac

Aveya

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Re: Greetings
« Reply #5 on: August 06, 2020, 04:32:22 pm »
Thanks all for the warm welcome. :)
Hello welcome
Herbs and spices is a fun and cheap way to do magic conjuring energy with the rite herb or spice at the rite time. focus your energy on them and see which one  give the greatest feeling.

That sounds very enjoyable. I'm trying to establish a garden as well and utilizing fresh herbs especially is really appealing to me.

So, there's a huge range of things under the broader witchcraft umbrella, many of which are not automatically focused on deities. A lot of material if you look at "religious witchcraft" may be a workable system for working with other beings (local/land spirits, ancestors, etc.) or seasonal cycles.

(I've got a bunch of stuff on my Seeking site: I am a polytheistic religious witch in an initiatory tradition, but a lot of the stuff on that site is fairly easy to amend to what you're looking for.

I actually found myself to your site last night via reading another thread here, and deep delved! Your work is incredible and I have items bookmarked to go back to as I move forward. It's strange how much I forgot (as I was reading I remembered I had believed in Pantheism - how do you forget something like that?). So trillions of thanks for all your work in making that site.

I really enjoy your take on tools, too, and as I was reading through a lot of your articles I began to soften my "NO TOOLS" rule I had in my head. I think I was missing the actual purpose of them when I dabbled as a teen and should go into this with a bit more open mind. Not to discard something because in theory it doesn't sound like it fits. I'm certainly not excited about them so will still be drawn to more simplistic approaches, but I need to remember the power of actually DOING (instead of thinking about doing) and how it shapes experiences differently with tools to focus.

But the thing that springs to mind when reading what you're looking for is to suggest you check out Reclaiming.

Thanks for this recommendation. I just spent my afternoon accidentally binge-ing information on Reclaiming Tradition Witchcraft and absolutely fell in love. It's pretty much perfect, I'm actually shocked I've never heard of it before now. The fact that I've been starting a permaculture garden (which my time outside doing this has led me to want more spirituality) and also my activism for racial equality recently - really this just hit every single check mark in beautiful ways. It wrapped up the holistic, encompassing, ad lib style I've been seeking. So I have some books on order now and some guidance & sense of belonging in my path now. Many thanks.

Jenett

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Re: Greetings
« Reply #6 on: August 06, 2020, 04:46:16 pm »
Thanks for this recommendation. I just spent my afternoon accidentally binge-ing information on Reclaiming Tradition Witchcraft and absolutely fell in love. It's pretty much perfect, I'm actually shocked I've never heard of it before now. The fact that I've been starting a permaculture garden (which my time outside doing this has led me to want more spirituality) and also my activism for racial equality recently - really this just hit every single check mark in beautiful ways. It wrapped up the holistic, encompassing, ad lib style I've been seeking. So I have some books on order now and some guidance & sense of belonging in my path now. Many thanks.

So glad it's helpful! (And I'm always delighted when Seeking is helpful to people.)

Looking at where you are - I know people who are involved in the Winter Witch Camp, which runs in February in southern Minnesota (there are cabins, it's not outdoor camping). I suspect there probably won't be on in 2021 but the people I know are good folks, and that might be a great connection to consider down the road.

I also know a bunch of the people involved with Paganicon in the Twin Cities (I helped found it before I moved out of Minnesota). Virtual event this September, usually an in-person hotel-based convention in March, but also a great source of upper-Midwest Pagan goodness.

Looking at either of those sites for additional links/resources/etc. might find you some good stuff, too.
Seek Knowledge, Find Wisdom: Research help on esoteric and eclectic topics (consulting and other services)

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sevensons

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Re: Greetings
« Reply #7 on: August 06, 2020, 05:14:05 pm »
Thanks all for the warm welcome. :)
That sounds very enjoyable. I'm trying to establish a garden as well and utilizing fresh herbs especially is really appealing to me.

 I need to remember the power of actually DOING (instead of thinking about doing) and how it shapes experiences differently with tools to focus.
Magnificent there's great satisfaction in fresh herbs.
Awaken myself alive and well loving to start learning today ahead a challenge set by the Gods. Haven't

Instagram stevejomac

Voren

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Re: Greetings
« Reply #8 on: August 06, 2020, 09:02:27 pm »
Hello All!

Introduction post, go. I'm 34, married, cisgender pansexual, happy dog mom, gardener, baker. I was raised in Ohio as a Mormon (LDS) and left the church when finally someone told me gays were excommunicated. I knew I was pan then (well bisexual, the term Pan wasn't known to me then) so fled best I can (think 14 year old locking herself in the bathroom on Sunday morning, but giving no reason because she wasn't ready to actually come out. Sorry Mom). In my process of fleeing I tried to shove religions into my soul to find something to replace what I tore out. I had a spiritual affinity for nature and ended up at Wicca (I believe it was a book called Solitary Witch by Silver Ravenwolf that was my first step on this path). It spiraled and jumped around a lot. But eventually I just DEVOURED Scott Cunningham books. His work resonated beautifully.

During that time I was in a very intense long distance relationship for about ten years. I considered myself an eclectic mishmash - Taoist, Druidism, Paganism. But I felt something powerful when I called the elements or spirits into something. I didn't know what I was doing.

Anyways I did this solitary-teen thing where I bound myself to my then boyfriend (first one, etc) via my septagram in a very melodramatic rite of sorts that ended up with me trusting blindly in him. So when that relationship fell apart, I fell apart. Hard. I felt betrayed by him, by myself, by "God" from before, and ironically I believed in the spirits more because I felt so tied to him /even now/. But I felt I broke it somehow, ruined it. How could I ask for something again? Anyways, I moved from Ohio to South Dakota and literally stripped who I was, left it there, and changed everything about myself.

I don't like who I am now. So I'm re-stripping and picking up the remnants growing dust that I shed. Therapy got me to a point to trust me. Listen to me. Feel myself. One of the exercises awoke this spiritual attunement. And I had hard clamped down on it before.

The real reason I'm here is to find a community, find where I fit spiritually, and to learn more.

I'm more specifically looking for alternate forms of Wicca or paganism that I may have missed when I was a teen (bookstore only had so much, internet was so new lol). Right now I'm trying to research and learn more about "natural" witches. Maybe because of my Mormon upbringing, I'm distrusting of the ritualistic aspects that come with traditional Wicca. I feel drawn towards something more free-form. I don't believe so much physical stuff or representation is needed (or rather, it feels dead / cut off to me when I do try; I'm talking scepters and bells and athames, etc). I also do not believe in the deities (same reason, I feel zilch about them - but respect the stories they can personify/represent), but I do believe in ... something more? That's vague and undefined. Spirits, yes. Fae? Maybe. I'm not sure, I just feel *something* and so here I am trying to research.

I find myself hard and skeptical now. But yet chasing that draw I feel on the wind towards the mystic. So - if anyone had resources that might help me on my path I'll be eternally grateful! If not, I'm still excited to meet others and learn.

I currently celebrate the Wheel of the Year (simplistically) as it feels right and draws me closer to my garden & cooking. I also use Tarot, but only just started again after all this time.

Looking forward to grow from here.
Hello and welcome
-Voren
(aka Sou\'r-Ghi\'den)

The Singularity

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