As Above, So Below

Check out this beautiful poem by Don Iannone that I found:

All that is above
is also below.
The invisible inside
eventually is projected outward.

What takes form outside reflects back,
like the pond’s perfectly still surface,
allowing the soul to glimpse itself,
if only for a fleeting second,
before dissolving like the day into night.

The world around us appears and disappears
with each turn of the psychic wrench,
tightening and loosening our grip
on all coming and going as reality.

All springing from the inner depths
eventually is planted
in the outer mirror
for all to see.

As above,
so below.
As above,
so below.

The Goddess and God are Calling

Yesterday I finished making some pagan prayer beads, a Witches Rosary, if you will. This project has been on my mind for months, and it took me quite a while to find all the pieces, especially the centerpiece and the particular natural gemstone beads that I wanted. At last, they were complete and as I was admiring them, my partner mentioned that I seemed pretty obsessed.

Not in the least, I replied, merely incredulous and a bit amused. For who could have foreseen that a second generation Italian-American born of Catholics on both sides of the family tree would one day create such a thing?

It reminded me of my grandmother, Goddess bless her soul. She would be rolling in her grave if she knew, I told my partner. She was very religious, perhaps the most so in our family. The rest of us stopped going to church when I was 5 or 6.

My partner replied that *I* am very religious.

It seemed a revelation at the time, though thinking about it after the fact, this should have been no surprise.

I have always been interested in things spiritual. From a very early age, perhaps as young as 8, I read about world religions and the occult. Over the next few years, I researched each major spiritual tradition in turn. I even gave my native Catholicism a try. My mother dutifully drove me to church for a few months. I went to Mass on Sundays, and I gave their youth group a go. It was not for me. By age 12, I was certain that it was the Goddess and God who called me. I was initiated at 13.

But even then, my search continued. Most of my life has been about searching. Looking for truth, searching for meaning, groping toward wholeness.

In recent years, I finally found a welcoming community. I joined a coven, and that experience has been amazing. I cried a lot at first. Acceptance is not something I have experienced a lot of in my life. Support, even less so.

Having that foundation of community and loose structure has helped me to truly own my power. To become the person that I have always known myself to be in more than just thought. To bring my power into the open. To take action.

So I have done. For I hear the Goddess and God calling, and I know that They are not to be denied.

The next chapter will include becoming ordained. Any advice or input on organizations who provide Earth-based ordinations is most welcome. I'd love to hear your experiences - how did you become ordained, and how has that impacted your life?

Be a Good Pagan Citizen

We want to be accepted and respected as a faith, so let’s show the world that we are just regular people (albeit probably quirky, colorful people). We have jobs, we fulfill our civic duties, we raise families and we want our communities to be pleasant and crime-free just like everyone else.

Here are some ideas for how we can learn from the mistakes of the past and model the behavior we would like to experience from other faiths:

1. Calmly, compassionately educate people about Paganism and its broad spectrum of traditions and beliefs when the opportunity arises. Emphasize the similarities that all faiths share – connection with Spirit, morality, beliefs about the afterlife and a sense of belonging.
2. Listen. This may seem elementary, but all too often we focus on our need to be heard and forget to listen to others. Listen. Hear what they are really saying and acknowledge the fact that their truth is true for them, whether you agree or not.
3. Stop the infighting. Period. It’s not productive, and it holds us back as a group.
4. Show tolerance. Don't perpetuate the "my religion is better than yours" game. Also, don't play the victim. None of us lived through the Burning Times in this lifetime! Let's move past it - assume that people will accept and respect you. If you walk into a room with a chip on your shoulder, that sets the stage for conflict.
5. Vote in governmental elections for candidates who support equal rights for all.
6. Consider mentoring someone who is new to the faith. If you are not able to do so, refer them to someone reputable and ethical.
7. Volunteer, participate and donate to charities, relief funds and interfaith projects in your community. If you’re out of the broom closet, so much the better!
8. If you’re a business owner, create a safe space for all – Pagan, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Atheist, straight, gay, trans, bi, queer – everyone!
9. Speak up and take action if you see injustice occurring toward people of any faith. Even if that person is a Fred Phelps-esque Christian. Remember that no one deserves to be harmed - even nasty, hateful people.
10. Band together with other Pagans, present a united front and work together toward common goals. We are a minority, and most of our groups are small. We can achieve so much more together!
11. Live your life in as environmentally friendly a fashion as possible. If you are called to it, participate in environmental conservation or justice efforts. Do your research and be sure the group you are supporting is really helping the environment and not just making themselves feel better.
12. If you don’t see the group or project that you are looking for in your area, step up and start it! Ask for help, collaborate and if appropriate, file for legal nonprofit status.
13. Participate. Fight the apathy. We’re all busy, but ultimately things will only change if we change them. Get out there and get involved! 

I think that things are changing for the better, but we are still at a delicate phase in history. Now is the time for us to show the world how it's done. Now is the time for us to work towards a world in which our children and Pagans yet to come to the faith can live happy, productive lives in which they are not afraid to be who they are. A world where we can all be open about our faith and not worry that we will lose our jobs, friends or homes. A world where this discussion will be, once and for all, irrelevant.

So mote it be!

Public Challenge

I've just returned from the Piedmont Earthskills Gathering, which teaches primitive and traditional skills. It's also a recreation of an ancestral village, and every day begins with a council circle. Every pagan ought to know about this type of event. This is exactly the type of knowledge and experience that can help you deepen your connection to the Earth, enrich your spiritual practice and make your daily life more sustainable.

I've heard so many pagans say that they have no idea how to identify a plant, make a fire, go camping or navigate in the wilderness. To me, this is a crying shame. We're an Earth-centered faith. How can we be practicing the full richness of our faith if we don't know the Earth? I've also heard a lot of people talk about rituals that didn't feel powerful, or difficulty feeling connected, feeling the elements, etc. That can all be remedied by going outside and learning about the Earth and all Her inhabitants. That type of experiental learning is how we build relationship with Deity, elements, animal, plant and mineral teachers! So many Pagan gatherings focus on the esoteric and the theoretical. How many include wild plant first aid? Or medicinal mead brewing? Keep in mind, I am not disparaging or judging anyone. I'm merely bringing up the elephant in the room: many Pagans don't get outdoors very much.

This year, I:

• Helped to build a primitive kitchen with griddle, stove and central coal-producing fire.
• Built a river cane arrow.
• Began to make a medicine shield.
• Taught traditional archery. We had a blast shooting my Mongolian Horse Bow and my Mohawk longbow. 
• Learned about and tasted medicinal meads, kombucha and natural sodas.
• Participated in a Moon Lodge - a gathering of women in which we talked about many things, including the need for biological women to gather separately at times, how to support the trans community and much more. It was presided over by an elder medicine woman - she was amazing!
• Spent lots of time around the central fire, working on projects, chatting with people, sharing food, stories and songs.
• Camped with some new friends of the Druidic persuasion.
• Enjoyed some hammock time.

Next year, I plan to offer (pending approval) Yoga, meditation and some sort of spiritual offering. Perhaps a spiritually-themed craft like gourd rattles or smudging fans. Perhaps a practice like energetic healing.

I challenge every pagan in central and eastern North Carolina (or surrounding areas!) to attend next year. Join me!

Etiquette in the Circle and Among Pagans in General: A Way Forward

Paganism is a new faith, a re-imagining of what Earth-based spirituality can be, and for some, a re-invention and/or re-construction of what was. Since we are doing something new, we have the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of the past and of other faiths. I think, overall, the Pagan community is doing just that. Of course there will be exceptions, just as there are in any group of human beings.

But in my opinion, as a community we struggle with etiquette. It's understandable - we are the antithesis of an organized religion. The pagan community is a loose confederation of groups, among whom there is a huge amount of variation in belief, structure and tradition. With so many different types of people and so many different beliefs, how can we possibly agree on a system of etiquette?

It's simple, and our very faith provides the answer. Many of us (not all) believe in the Rede: "And it harm none, do as you will". Even if you don't personally follow that law, it's certainly a good guideline for attending events and for participating in community.

While thinking about and researching this concept, I found two very good resources for detailed rules of etiquette for the circle and for pagan community. What I want to focus on is a few key concepts that will help us not only have a more harmonious community, but gain more legitimacy as a faith:

1. Transcend the ego and squelch drama: Don't gossip, don't bring your disagreements with others into the group or the circle, and please, don't go on and on about your 137th level Gardnerian Grand Poobah rank or what have you.  Be the change you want to see - model respectful, compassionate participation in community.
2. Honor your Commitments:  Take responsibility for yourself and show respect to the members of your community and ritual leaders by RSVPing to events, showing up at the appointed hour, and being ready to participate with assigned pre-work, food, etc. Pagan Standard Time and other such nonsense perpetuates the perception that pagans are flaky weirdos. 
3. Support the community: Real community happens when everyone works together. Put money in the donation jar when it is passed around. Shop at your local New Age or pagan shop, even if they charge a dollar more for incense. Support your local pagan or pagan-friendly artists and professionals. Also, list your group or business on Witchvox. Join your local pagan alliance. Go to your local pagan festival. If you don't have it in your area, start it!
4. Show Tolerance: Don't judge other traditions as lesser than yours. Don't perpetuate the "my religion is better than yours" game. Also, don't play the victim. None of us lived through the Burning Times in this lifetime! Let's move past it - assume that people will accept and respect you. If you walk into a room with a chip on your shoulder, that sets the stage for conflict.
5. Vote: Keep up with what is happening in your area, and vote for officials who support equal rights for all. If you don't do that, you don't get to complain about the government!

It's going to take more than a few Facebook likes to make it happen, gang. Take real action in the real world. Speak up, participate, advocate - and be good to each other!

Adventures in Ayurveda

Ayurveda is the system of traditional Indian medicine - think Traditional Chinese Medicine. From the Ayurvedic Institute's website:

"This ancient art of healing has been practiced continuously for over 5,000 years. The principles of many natural healing systems now familiar in the West, such as Homeopathy and Polarity Therapy, have their roots in Ayurveda. Ayurvedic practices restore the balance and harmony of the individual, resulting in self-healing, good health and longevity."
 It's a sister science to Yoga, and I studied it in college. I've been using its principles in treating my patients for years, but until recently, I haven't done any extensive, disciplined experimentation on myself.

When I put together my plan for the Winter Pagan Fitness Challenge, I included a goal of incorporating Ayurvedic practices. As a yogini and a pagan, this seemed like something that would accomplish two goals at once: increase health and give me a ritualistic framework for my self-care routine.

I've discovered a secret about myself: routine and daily maintenance seem less onerous to me when they are a holistic part of my spiritual practice.

Ayurveda is a complex system of healthcare. It has many components, one of which is the concept of dinacharya, or your daily routine in harmony with the cycles of nature.

Sidebar: See what I mean? Totally harmonious with a pagan outlook on life. Of course, it was designed by pagans, at least the textbook definition of pagans. Ancient Vedic physicians were likely the authors of this system, and Vedic philosophy gave rise to Hinduism. Pagan=country dweller or rustic=non-Christian. Ok, it amuses me in a geeky way, I admit it.

At any rate, the Ayurvedic daily routine is the subject of my experiment of the last two weeks. I'm not going to give all the details because I don't wish people to rush out and try things without good knowledge or guidance.

Disclaimer: Do not self-treat with Ayurveda. Seek the guidance of a qualified practitioner*, and consult your physican before making any large alterations to your lifestyle or healthcare practices.

The first thing to know is that setting a regular sleep schedule is very important. What schedule you choose is traditionally defined by your personal constitution, or dosha, in Ayurveda. In general, it is recommended to arise early. This is the first step in the routine: get a good night's sleep and get up at a regular time. I've been working on this for some time, so this didn't require additional effort.

The next step in the routine is to say a prayer to greet the day. This was another practice I was already performing, so I continued with my personal routine in this area.

The next steps focus on awakening the digestion. Ayurveda, like all systems of healthcare that I am familiar with believes that regular elimination is essential to good health. I have had some issues in this department in the past and once again, I was already focused on this. I really liked the Ayurvedic recommendation to drink a glass of water. Simple, easy and logical. Start your day with hydration, and stimulate peristalsis.

The next steps deal with cleansing your body and dressing. This is where the practices got a little weird, and I'm not going to incorporate all of them into my daily routine. One example is karana purana, or putting oil in the ears. This made me feel congested and creepy. It's possible I didn't perform it correctly. Either way, it was ooky and I didn't like it. On the good side, splashing cold water on my face felt surprisingly good. I will take a clue and do more of these things, but I'll revisit this point later in the post.

The next step is exercise, which of course would be Yoga, this being an Indian system. Again, I do this every morning, so that was no problem.

After exercise, Ayurveda recommends pranayama, or breathing exercises. I'm supposed to be doing these already - it's a goal in the Air category of my Winter Pagan Fitness Challenge. But for some reason, it's hard for me to focus on pranayama regularly. I didn't do very well with this goal, and I've got to get better. Pranayama is extremely important and transformative.

Real talk: even educators and professional inspirers like me say "I don't wanna" sometimes.

Next up is meditation. I don't meditate in the morning; I prefer to do so at night. Having said that, I do briefly meditate some mornings, but I am not going to add this to my official routine as it's the exception for me. As someone who teaches meditation, I think it best to meditate when it suits you, rather than trying to force yourself to follow someone's recommendation or something you read in a book. Meditation anytime is better than meditation none of the time. Ok, getting off the soapbox...

The last step is breakfast. Historically I have skipped a lot of breakfasts, so another reminder is a good thing. But again, I was working on this already. Preparing breakfast muffins or some other healthy food in advance is the key for me.

Results

I really love the way that many of these Ayurvedic practices meshed seamlessly with what I was already doing. It was a wonderful confirmation that my quest for greater health and peace is headed in the right direction.

Some of these practices are either too weird, too time consuming or not suited to my needs. I will revisit some of them with further research. I really would like to get more training in Ayurvedic Medicine. I'm considering a correspondence course right now, as I can't take time away from my practice to study with the Ayurvedic Institute in person. First step will be to get my textbooks back and review my college notes on my own.

The other thing that was really beautiful about this experiment was the extraordinary level of self-love that the bathing and dressing portions of the routine promote. For most of my life, I have not been into the mainstream routines of feminine personal care and beauty. I do not choose to use chemically-based personal care products and cosmetics. Through my years of study in the broad field of holistic and alternative health, I have developed a "less is more" approach to skin and hair care. But in a completely unsurprising turn of events, Ayurveda recommends simple, healthy practices for health and beauty.

Taking it all together, this has been a great way for me to put more structure and beauty into my routine of self care, and to integrate it with my spiritual practice. It's a profound thing, to care for oneself. As a priestess, it felt like I was truly preparing myself for a day of sacred work. What higher act of devotion can there be than to honor your earthly vessel by cleaning, exercising and anointing it each day? To consciously begin and end each day with a prayer? To take the time to protect and increase your health? After all, having some amount of good health and inner peace is necessary in order to help others.

And isn't that our job, all of us, in some way? Be healthy. Care for others. Contribute your gifts to the world. Be a good steward of the Earth.

As for me, those are words I can live by, and Ayurveda is helping me continue to evolve and improve my ability to do so.


*Please note that Ayurveda is not a licensed modality in the United States. As a result, it can be more challenging to find a qualified practitioner. I practice certain parts of the system, and can refer local people to professionals in the Raleigh, NC area. I've noticed a lot of one day or short trainings being offered to Yoga teachers, so be wary. Like Traditional Chinese Medicine, it's a complex art. It takes a lot of time to learn. I studied it for two years in college and still don't feel qualified to call myself an official Ayurvedic anything. The Ayurvedic Institute is the best resource in the USA at this time. Dr. Vasant Lad, the director, wrote the textbooks that I studied and his organization is top notch.

Winter Pagan Fitness Challenge: Weekly Update 4

The official end to this fitness challenge is in three days, so this is my final weekly post about it. Having said that, I am continuing with my challenge plan. I am going to post about my related and concurrent self-experiment with a daily Ayurvedic routine. More on that later!

Overall, I feel that my results are good. Focusing on the plan, tracking it and reviewing my progress is helpful for me. Also, re-building structure and routine in my life is helpful. With all that I have going on, it does require planning to make it all happen!

This week I committed to upping my exercise levels. I was successful with that, but Yoga and meditation were down. I was struggling with some personal and business issues, and I’m proud to say that I handled them a little bit better than I have in the past. I didn’t get very far off track with my self-care program. 

This week's results:

Fitness – Two hikes during the week. My new staff arrived (I like it, but it needs a little work) and I have practiced martial arts twice.

Diet – A pretty good week. I did throw a dinner party on Thursday and that was a major food and wine event, but I’m okay with that. We only have them every other month or so. I did eat mostly home-cooked food this week, so that was a good thing.

Air – I did very little Yoga this week, so pranayama was also low. Fail! Time to post a reminder in my workroom! I finalized some plans for environmental education classes, so that was good progress.

Fire – I just wasn’t feeling the Yoga this week. I wrote a good amount. Three days of music practice, hurray!

Water – Yet another tough emotional week. It is so challenging for me to set healthy boundaries and stand up for what I need. I am doing it, but I still feel guilty about it sometimes. I put boundaries under Air for communication in my plan, but it’s an emotional trigger for me, so I’m talking about it here in Water.

Earth - Sleep was good this week. Heard back from my doctor about lab results. My cholesterol levels are slightly elevated, and the doctor is concerned that the ratio is off. I am now taking fish oil to correct that situation. I’m also Vitamin D deficient, so I’m on a prescription-strength supplement. She also said more cardio. I decided to make a Meetup that I lead, Reflective Hike, a weekly event to further motivate me to make time for exercise.

Spirit – With all the emotional upset, it was a really spotty week for meditation and daily devotionals. I’m feeling anxious.

Link to original Winter Pagan Fitness Challenge post for those who want to catch up.

Dreams of a Coven

I have a dream of a coven to be. One that, at present, exists only in my heart. Much as I love my coven of wonderful witches, there is something else I want to do. Something I want to create. An adventure that has not yet begun. An idea growing within me that simply will not be silent.

I want to create a coven that is focused on Artemis and Pan. This group will welcome members of both genders (perhaps even youths), and we will worship and celebrate a balance between Goddess and God. The mission of the group will be to celebrate and nurture balance of body, mind and spirit.

Here are some of the things I envision us doing as a group:

• Celebrating the 8 Sabbats and 13 Esbats
• Special festivals for our patrons 
• Meditation
• Camping and backpacking (exploring lakes, rivers, mountains, forests)
• Yoga
• Pranayama (breathing exercises)
• Chanting
• Drumming and dancing
• Archery practice
• Woods skills (survival, fire, leave no trace camping, edible plants, etc)
• Star mysteries
• Hunting (with bow or camera)
• Walking meditation
• Periodic silence practice
• Music
• Energy healing

The only thing I lack at this point is members. I've got a dream, I've got a vision, I even have a place for us to gather...but no people. Are you out there? 

I call to you in the name of Artemis of the Peaks, Lady of Wild Beasts, Silver Huntress of the Moon.

I call to you in the name of the Great God Pan, Goat-footed, God of the Hunt.

Come to me, brothers and sisters. Let us go together into the wilds. Let us dance and drum, let us sing, let us live free!

So mote it be.

2014 Savings Challenge - Weekly Update

During the past week, I did some additional calculations for the 2014 Pagan Savings Challenge. In order to meet my $2000 goal, I would have to save an average of $38.46 per week. I've given this some thought, and at this point, that is not a realistic expectation for me. So I am re-adjusting my plan back to the standard 52 Week Money Challenge (increasing amounts each week, $52 maximum). Right now, I'm ahead of schedule, so I did not make a contribution this week.

I also opened an account with a credit union, which will help this effort in a few weeks. They have lower fees than the commercial bank I'm with now, and they also offer multiple savings accounts. So once my paperwork is complete, I will have several great things:

1. Separate accounts for business and personal banking.
2. Personal general savings account.
3. Money market savings account in which I will deposit 2014 Savings Challenge funds.

So we'll see. My business goes up and down, and I had a bunch of expenses in the last two weeks. It will swing up again, and I will contribute more than the plan once more. My goal right now is to stay committed and be flexible. 

How are your savings efforts going?

Winter Pagan Fitness Challenge: Weekly Update 3

This week I committed to rehabbing my sleep schedule, and I was successful. I did really well with my self-care routine for the majority of the week. Fitness, not so much. But most categories were really good until this weekend. I got some truly awful personal news, and I'm still reeling from it. The Track & Share app has become more and more helpful. Now I'm at the point of being able to look at a couple of weeks of graphs, and it's already instructive. Imagine the benefit of months worth of data!

Fitness - I practiced archery. The only other progress to note is that I ordered a new martial arts staff.

Diet - I did pretty well this week. Starting to see a pattern that I do ok when I have my regular routine going during the week, then it falls apart on weekends. One cheat day is ok, but two is a bit much. Will have to think about what I can do to improve this trend.

Air - I did some pranayama this week! I began a routine from Ayurvedic medicine, and it included a reminder for pranayama, so that happened a few times. Good stuff. Some communication issues this week that were very challenging. I think we chanted OM at yoga class, need to add in chanting to my daily practice.

Fire - Yoga practice was good this week. Practiced music two days. Got a few supplies for an upcoming art project. Still can't find a group Yoga class to attend. I've now researched all the options in my area and none fit my needs. I may try a class with an instructor I attended a massage class with, even though it's described as flow yoga.

Water - Another tough week emotionally, on two different fronts.

Earth - Sleep was good this week and it's amazing how much it improved my mood and energy levels. Even though I know how important sleep is, I got trapped in that harmful cycle! Went to my first doctor's appointment. Still waiting to hear about lab results, but everything was normal overall. Sad news was that I was forced to see my weight expressed in numbers. It was higher than I thought. Fresh inspiration for this challenge, let me tell you! This was the category I put my goal of Ayurvedic practices into - this is the week I began experimenting with them. I'll post about that separately next week.

Spirit - Much better week for meditation, devotionals and gratitude journal. 

Link to original Winter Pagan Fitness Challenge post for those who want to catch up.

Cloud Atlas and Reincarnation

“Our lives are not our own. From womb to tomb, we are bound to others. Past and present. And by each crime and every kindness, we birth our future.”

– David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas

Just like when “What the *bleep* Do We Know” came out, I think everyone should watch this film. It resonates with me on so many levels - love, connections, the impact of our actions.

I have experienced profound connections with other human beings (and animals!). The path of my life has changed in a flash because of a chance meeting, a smile or a kiss. Some connections were fleeting, others continue today. But even the briefest connections can have the biggest impact.

I have friends who I have never met in person, through the magic of the intertubes. Others who I may have only met once or twice. Friends I made in a moment – on the train, in a shop, in the woods. Some I have not seen in many years.

There are people who I will never forget, even though they are no longer alive or are far away. There are people who I will love as long as my spirit persists.

There are people with whom I share an unspoken understanding so strong that it is easy to forget that I have not known them my whole life. Who it seems I must have met before.

Which fact reminds me of a story. When I was young, I got a postcard in the mail. On the postcard was a photograph of a young woman from the 1800’s.

She looks exactly like me.

Exactly. Imagine me with a Gibson Girl pompadour hairdo, pointy granny boots and a white dress. And that is the woman on that card. From almost two hundred years ago.

On the back was written some words that I will never forget:

Dear Time Traveler,

I knew that I knew you in another lifetime, another century.

-Marcanza

I asked everyone I knew if they sent it to me. No one would confess. Everyone seemed sincere. Not satisfied, I analyzed everyone’s handwriting. No matches.

To this day, I have no idea who sent me that postcard. It haunts me. I want to know who sent it. But I also want to know about the woman in the photograph. Who is she? How can we look so alike? Is this proof of reincarnation?

I don’t have all the answers. I hold some beliefs that enrich my life, but I don’t profess to say that they are the absolute truth. But one thing I do know: each action matters.

So today, like everyday, I have done the best that I could. I took good care of myself. I provided the best care that I am capable of to my patients. I acknowledged every being that I came across, whether it be vegetable, animal or human. I walked my path with beauty and compassion, strength and humility.

I am so thankful for all of the amazing, beautiful, talented, quirky, smart, funny, perfectly imperfect people in my life, past and present. Blessed be!

p.s. Go watch Cloud Atlas. If you're in the Triangle area, come join my Meetup group for a viewing!

p.p.s. Friends, PLEASE TELL ME who sent the postcard! It’s been over 20 years! Marcanza, if you’re reading this, drop me another note. Who are you?