Moonstone Beginning

Going through some tough times. My fiance is pawning some stuff, including his beloved guitar, just...

Mon, 20 May 2013 01:05:55 -0400

Going through some tough times. My fiance is pawning some stuff, including his beloved guitar, just so we can pay our bills. Hopefully we will have money to get his guitar back soon. :’(

mschievous: moonstonebeginning: Anyone have any tips or ideas on how to make me feel better...

Sun, 19 May 2013 01:55:06 -0400

mschievous:

moonstonebeginning:

Anyone have any tips or ideas on how to make me feel better mentally after binge eating?

Ooh. I’ve never had this problem but anything that’s “refreshing” or cooling or clearing. Perhaps a nice cool cleansing shower where you let the cool water run down your body and imagine a shaft of pale blue light going down your chakras and taking with it all emotional imbalances and leaving you in a balanced state. Brush your teeth to get any taste of what you ate out and feel refreshed again. Perhaps a few drops of peppermint oil in your shampoo or in your body wash as well and then put on some cozy clothes or pajamas and find something to entertain yourself to take your mind off it and don’t dwell on that? Disney kids movies, pixar, something light hearted.

Just be gentle with yourself and remember that you’re a spark of the divine. <3

Just reading that made me feel a bit better! Whenever I’m sick I tend to curl up in pjs and watch kids movies, idk why I didn’t think of that now. All great ideas :) thank you so much <3

Photo

Sun, 19 May 2013 01:51:09 -0400

mint tea and meditation is what i suggest

Sun, 19 May 2013 01:24:00 -0400

I’m actually drinking tazo’s zen tea right now which is spearmint and lemon grass so hopefully that will help. Never thought of meditation! Thanks!

Anyone have any tips or ideas on how to make me feel better mentally after binge eating?

Sun, 19 May 2013 01:10:00 -0400

Anyone have any tips or ideas on how to make me feel better mentally after binge eating?

thefandomfamily: inthesparks: the1withthefro: gazcreature: ki...

Sat, 18 May 2013 14:39:10 -0400

thefandomfamily:

inthesparks:

the1withthefro:

gazcreature:

kingdizzy88:

dabaryah:

I tested Walmart’s brand of bottled water and I was shocked to see they sell the most toxic water ever. I tested for Total Dissolved Solids using a TDS meter and the number I got was 271. THAT IS THE MOST TOXIC WATER I HAVE EVER SEEN. Even NYC tap water TDS score is 39. Poland Spring is 42. The water is not even drinkable. I think it’s Criminal to even make profits from selling this water filled with sodium fluoride and who knows what else is in that. 500 ppm (parts per million) is the EPA Maximum but even though the FDA is corrupt their recommended is 000, which is pure.

THE ONLY BOTTLED WATER THAT READS 000 IS DUANEreade/Walgreens ‘NICE’ branded water.

PLEASE SHARE THIS INFO ALONG.

- anonymous

Damn wally mart… Damn… :/

Killing you softly

And I drunk that water all summer…..I’m surprised I’m not dead yet

Thanks for that information as end stage renal patients that really could end up killing if not put one of us in the hospital. Sodium is very dangerous for us and makes treatment harder and more painful if we have too much in our system. I will spread the word at my dialysis center.

We buy this kind of water, but from Kroger. I think we’re just going to buy a filter now! It’s a very scary thought. I don’t want Anakin or Tre to get sick :(

Ten Things to Stop Doing If You Are Pagan

Sat, 18 May 2013 14:25:24 -0400

inkedbettycrocker:

From Pagan/Wiccan About

Most people who come to a Pagan belief system didn’t start out that way. Simply because of the numbers, the majority of people who are now Pagan were once Christians or some other religion. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, sometimes, people have trouble letting go. It’s not uncommon to meet folks who swear up and down that they’re Pagan, and yet they live by the dogma of their old religion - they’ve simply changed the names of the deities.

Sandra, who follows a Greek reconstructionist path, says, “I had been raised Southern Baptist, so it was hard - really hard - for me to adapt to this idea of a god and goddess that didn’t make any demands on me. I was raised to believe that there was one god only, and to find deities that not only didn’t mind sharing me with others, but who wouldn’t punish me for it — well, that was a big thing. I had trouble with it at first, and was always wondering, “Well, if I honor Aphrodite, can I still celebrate Artemis, or am I going to get caught in some kind of deity war, and cause trouble?”

A South Carolina Pagan named Thomas is now a Druid. He says, “My family is Catholic, and once I realized that the gods of the Druid path were calling me, I had no trouble walking away from Catholicism. Except for the idea of sin. I still kept finding myself feeling like I needed to go to confession every time I had sex with my girlfriend or used swear words.”

Don’t try to put Paganism - of whatever flavor - into a Christian (or other kind of) box. Just let it be what it is. You’ll be much happier in the long run.

Stop Assuming all Pagan Traditions are the Same

There are lots of Pagan traditions. They’re not all the same. In fact, some are vastly different. While there may be some common threads that bind MOST Pagan religions together, the fact is that every tradition has its own set of rules and guidelines. Are you someone who insists that all Pagans must follow the Law of Threefold Return or the Wiccan Rede? Well, not all groups have those as a mandate.

Look at it this way: if you’re not Christian, you don’t follow the Ten Commandments, right? Likewise, if someone isn’t part of your tradition, they’re not obligated to follow your tradition’s rules and laws.

Accept that each person - and group - is capable of thinking for themselves, and that they are able to create laws, guidelines, tenets, and rules that work best for them. They do not need you to tell them How To Be Pagan.

Stop Ignoring Your Instinct

Got a feeling something is going on, but can’t quite put your finger on it? Believe it or not, most people have some degree of latent psychic ability. If you’re interested in developing your gifts and skills, then stop ignoring those messages. You may find that they’re telling you some pretty important stuff. Magic happens, as does psychic phenomena. But if you keep rejecting it as “Oh, there’s no WAY that just happened,” then you may be missing out on a very valuable tool and resource.

Stop Being Silent

Many Pagan traditions follow a guideline that includes the idea of keeping silent. In that circumstance, keeping silent refers to the idea that we shouldn’t go around blabbing endlessly about our religious beliefs, our magical practice, or the people we’re standing in circle with.

That’s not what we’re talking about here.

No, instead, when we say “Stop being silent,” we’re talking about a lack of speaking out when injustice is done. There’s a common thread in our society in which no one really wants to get involved when things are going on that do not directly impact us. However, as Pagans, we’re in the minority, in the United States and in most other countries. That means that when things happen to other minority groups - even those that are not Pagan - we should still be standing up for those other groups.

Frequently, on the About Pagan/Wiccan home page, we discuss current events that relate to freedom of religion and other first amendment rights. Often, those news stories are not about Pagans at all, but about Muslims, or Jews, or even atheists. Why are they relevant?

Because if one group can face discrimination, we all can.

Remember that old saying attributed to a German pastor, who was saddened by the failure of the intellectual community to speak out during the Nazi reign? He said, First they came for the communists, but I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Jew. Finally, they came for me, and there was no one left to speak.”

If we don’t speak up when other groups are treated unfairly, who’s going to speak for us when we ourselves face discrimination?

Stop Accepting Mediocrity

There are literally thousands of books and websites about modern Paganism. One of the things people typically find themselves asking is, “How do I know what books are reliable?,” followed almost immediately by “Which authors should I avoid?” As you learn and read and study, you’ll learn how to separate the wheat from the chaff, and you’ll eventually be able to figure out on your own what makes a book credible, or worth reading, and what makes it one that should probably only be used as a doorstop or paperweight.

But here’s the thing to remember. As long as people keep buying books that are awful, or at the very least, academically suspect, the authors of these titles will continue to repackage and publish them.

Demand more. Patronize publishers and authors whose work is credible, and not those who simply slap a cover with a pentagram and some glitter on a new version of the same garbage you’ve been reading for thirty years.

Stop Neglecting the Natural World

If you’re someone who follows a nature- or earth-based religion, it stands to reason that the natural world should be, at least to some degree, sacred. While it doesn’t necessarily mean we’re all out in the forest worshiping rocks and stumps, it does mean that we should have the decency to treat our natural world with some respect.

Become environmentally conscious and aware. Even if you simply focus on the patch of earth you live on, or your immediate area, rather than on a global level, it’s a start. Take care of the land on which you live.

Stop Wasting Time

“I want to be Pagan but I just don’t have time to study!”

How many times have you caught yourself saying or thinking that? It’s an easy rut to fall into - we’ve all got jobs, families, and lives, and it’s easy to let ourselves fall into the habit of not making time for our spirituality. However, if you think about some of the ways we waste the twenty-four hours a day we DO have, it’s not so hard to re-prioritize. If you feel like you don’t have the time you need to work on your spirituality as much as you’d like to, then take a long and hard look at how you are spending your days. Are there ways you can save time, that you can then dedicate to your spiritual journey?

Stop Judging

“Christians are all such jerks.”

“Wiccans are a bunch of fluffy weirdos.”

“Those Heathens are way too aggressive.”

Ever overhear any of those from someone in the Pagan community? Unfortunately, judgmental behavior is not limited to the non-Pagans. Remember how we talked about how each Pagan path is different, and they’re not all like you? Well, part of accepting that people are different includes not being judgey because they’re different. You’re going to meet a lot of people who are not like you. Don’t stereotype anyone based on misconceptions - instead, base your opinion of them upon their merits or flaws as individuals.

Stop Letting Others Think for You

If you’re ready to be part of a non-mainstream religious group, you’ll notice really quickly that the Pagan community is full of free thinkers. It’s full of people who question authority, and who try to make right decisions based upon their own moral codes, rather than what may be popular or fashionable. Don’t take things at face value - ask questions, and don’t accept what you’re told just because someone tells you to. Take the time to find a good teacher - and realize that the best teachers will want you to ask questions.

Sorcha is a Pagan from Maine who says she has learned not to accept dogma from other Pagans. “I met this high priestess who really wanted everyone to do things her way - not because her way was necessarily better, but because she wanted to be in charge. Everyone in the group was blindly following along, never stopping to say, “Hey, maybe we could try it this other way instead.” They were like a bunch of sheep, and I had to walk away. I didn’t become Pagan so I could have an authority figure making my spiritual decisions for me. I became Pagan because I wanted to continue thinking for myself.”

Stop Making Excuses

“I don’t have time to study.”

“I don’t have the money to buy supplies.”

“I live in a town that’s really religious.”

“My spouse doesn’t want me to be Pagan.”

Are you making excuses for all the reasons you can’t practice your Pagan faith? Aleister Crowley once said that to perform magic is to express dissatisfaction with the universe. In other words, if you’re happy with the way things are, then there’s no need for magic. While Crowley may have said a lot of things that people disagree with, he’s spot on with this one.

If you’re a Pagan who accepts that magic can happen, and that change can occur, then you have no excuse for not making things different where they need to be. Don’t have time to study? Sure you do - you have the same hours in your day as everyone else. Change how you spend those hours. Set goals to make things change for you.

Don’t have money to buy supplies? So what? Make magic with what you have on hand.

Live in a town that’s religious? No big deal. Keep your beliefs to yourself and practice in the privacy of your own home. No need to be in your neighbors’ faces about it.

Got a spouse who doesn’t want you to be Pagan? Find a way to compromise. Interfaith marriages work all the time, as long as they’re built on a foundation of mutual respect.

Stop making excuses for all the reasons you can’t, and start making changes so that you can.

05/18/2013 Days Until…

Sat, 18 May 2013 14:24:02 -0400

eclectic-witch:

23 Days Until Celtic Tree Month of Duir (Oak): June 10 to July 7

34 Days Until Litha / Midsummer / Summer Solstice: Friday, June 21

51 Days Until Celtic Tree Month of Tinne (Holly): July 8 to August 4

75 Days Until Lammas / Lughnasadh: Thursday, August 1

79 Days Until Celtic Tree Month of Coll (Hazel): August 5 to September 1

107 Days Until Celtic Tree Month of Muin (Vine): September 2 to September 29

127 Days Until Mabon / Autumn Equinox: Sunday, September 22

135 Days Until Celtic Tree Month of Gort (Ivy): September 30 to October 27

163 Days Until Celtic Tree Month of Ngetal (Reed): October 28 to November 24

166 Days Until Samhain: Thursday, October 31

191 Days Until Celtic Tree Month of Ruis (Elder): November 25 to December 22

217 Days Until Yule / Winter Solstice: Saturday, December 21

220 Days Until Celtic Tree Month of Beth (Birch): December 24 to January 20

248 Days Until Celtic Tree Month of Luis (Rowan): January 21 to February 17

260 Days Until Imbolc/ Candlemas: Sunday, February 2

276 Days Until Celtic Tree Month of Nion (Ash): February 18 to March 17

304 Days Until Celtic Tree Month of Fearn (Alder): March 18 to April 14

306 Days Until Ostara / Spring Equinox: Thursday, March 20

332 Days Until Celtic Tree Month of Saille (Willow): April 15 to May 12

348 Days Until Beltane: Thursday, May 1

360 Days Until Celtic Tree Month of Uath (Hawthorn): May 13 to June 9

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Sat, 18 May 2013 14:22:19 -0400

silverwitch: ✯ Sandalwood is a holy incense in India and has...

Sat, 18 May 2013 14:10:39 -0400

silverwitch:

✯ Sandalwood is a holy incense in India and has always been burned for fragrance and in magical rites.

The essential oil makes a strong candle-dressing oil. Associated with Mercury rather than Venus. It is added to funeral pyres as a sign of a respect.

Magickal Uses: -

Protection, Wishes, Healing, Exorcism, and Spirituality.Sandalwood chips may be added to mojo / spellbags for safety, peace, health, and wishes✯

Looking for witchcraft and Pagan blogs to follow.

Fri, 17 May 2013 21:45:52 -0400

moonwane-wolfsbane:

Looking for really just Pagan and/or witchcraft blogs. If your blog is primarily this, please reblog this. I shall follow you.

Lookie what I just bought! It’s a toe ring! :D

Fri, 17 May 2013 02:30:59 -0400

Lookie what I just bought!

It’s a toe ring! :D

haleycue: crowcrow: DIY Spring Floral Crowns This is exactly...

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:38:56 -0400

haleycue:

crowcrow:

DIY Spring Floral Crowns

This is exactly what I’ve been looking for my entire life.

one of my posts has 939 notes! thats the closest to 1000 ive ever been!

Wed, 15 May 2013 02:16:46 -0400

one of my posts has 939 notes! thats the closest to 1000 ive ever been!

Photo

Tue, 07 May 2013 11:07:12 -0400

Had a dream about my ex boyfriend last night. When I woke up I saw on Facebook that he had been in a...

Mon, 06 May 2013 12:25:19 -0400

Had a dream about my ex boyfriend last night. When I woke up I saw on Facebook that he had been in a car accident about the same time that I had been dreaming about him….weird.

Happy Beltane to my followers who celebrated it! Sorry I’m so late, I’ve had a long day...

Thu, 02 May 2013 03:09:44 -0400

Happy Beltane to my followers who celebrated it!

Sorry I’m so late, I’ve had a long day and was just able to get to a computer. Hope everyone’s day was pleasant!

theforestwitch: ~Blessed Beltane!~ This is the altar from our...

Wed, 01 May 2013 02:18:16 -0400

theforestwitch:

~*Blessed Beltane!*~

This is the altar from our ritual this evening. Everyone contributed something, and I think that makes it all the more beautiful.

This was the first ritual I’ve ever organized and ran with a group, and it was a wonderful success. I’m excited to run many more in the future. :)

I hope everyone had a beautiful Beltane!

mschievous reblogged your post: My fiance was trying to get to an outlet and… Wow. That...

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:06:50 -0400

mschievous reblogged your post: My fiance was trying to get to an outlet and…

Wow. That sucks. Are you going to tell him at some point? May 2nd is supposed to be Coming Out Pagan day so there’s…

Well he knows I’m pagan, but he doesn’t know the full extent of it, and he isn’t big on altars (from what I can tell) so mine just kind of looks like weird decor.

astropagan: One day till Beltane!

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:06:34 -0400

astropagan:

One day till Beltane!

Moonstone Beginning

Going through some tough times. My fiance is pawning some stuff, including his beloved guitar, just...

mschievous: moonstonebeginning: Anyone have any tips or ideas on how to make me feel better...

Photo

mint tea and meditation is what i suggest

Anyone have any tips or ideas on how to make me feel better mentally after binge eating?

thefandomfamily: inthesparks: the1withthefro: gazcreature: ki...

Ten Things to Stop Doing If You Are Pagan

05/18/2013 Days Until…

Photo

silverwitch: ✯ Sandalwood is a holy incense in India and has...

Looking for witchcraft and Pagan blogs to follow.

Lookie what I just bought! It’s a toe ring! :D

haleycue: crowcrow: DIY Spring Floral Crowns This is exactly...

one of my posts has 939 notes! thats the closest to 1000 ive ever been!

Photo

Had a dream about my ex boyfriend last night. When I woke up I saw on Facebook that he had been in a...

Happy Beltane to my followers who celebrated it! Sorry I’m so late, I’ve had a long day...

theforestwitch: ~*Blessed Beltane!*~ This is the altar from our...

mschievous reblogged your post: My fiance was trying to get to an outlet and… Wow. That...

astropagan: One day till Beltane!

theforestwitch: ~Blessed Beltane!~ This is the altar from our...