Clearing Up the Wiccan and 'Pagan' Faiths...

[Ariel Mae]

So....you started a thread to 'clear things up', but don't have the time, inclination, or knowledge to actually do so?

And to the poster who accused others of taking 'tone' with the OP, you should check out some of her gems on the Catholicism thread. Lots of offensive and insulting posts.

I'd love to get some real, in depth answers as well, not the 'cliffs notes' Wiki references.

Read the first post, please.

Okay, so, there's a lot of misconception out there as to what a Wiccan is, who they worship...so, not only am I calling out the Wiccans and 'Pagans' (Remember, Pagan is an umbrella term covering a variety of faiths, past and present) of this board, but I'm also hoping in calling them out, we can clear up the misconceptions.

It's not just about me answering things. It's about everyone who can and is able.

Second off, what I say in other threads does not relate to this thread. It's an entirely different topic and aspect of life.

Third off, answers have been provided, and the sources are only means of backing them up. Otherwise, if we didn't, we'd have someone on our backs. "Where'd you get this information? Why do you believe it? I don't see any 'proof'."

 

[Ariel Mae]

And, as a side note...

irish--if you had continued to read, you would see that I apologized DIRECTLY to Laura, and indirectly to everyone else I might have offended (yourself, Crankyshank, et. al.)

So I'll say it again.

I'm SORRY. I will now leave this thread, OK?

Honestly? You didn't offend me to the least.

 

[Maleficent13]

Second off, what I say in other threads does not relate to this thread. It's an entirely different topic and aspect of life.

Note: all use of the word "you" in the following means "you, universal".

What you say in other threads can and will be used in any other thread. You don't get to compartmentalize your posts; you may want to, but believe me, it's not going to happen. People are going to use your posts to get a picture of you as a whole and they are going to apply that constructed image to anything else you post.

 

[werty]

Note: all use of the word "you" in the following means "you, universal".

What you say in other threads can and will be used in any other thread. You don't get to compartmentalize your posts; you may want to, but believe me, it's not going to happen. People are going to use your posts to get a picture of you as a whole and they are going to apply that constructed image to anything else you post.

What about when I'm in a bad mood? Can I compartmentalize posts I make when I'm pissy? I'm generally a sunshine kind of guy, except for those times when I'm a jerk...and I don't want those times held against me.

 

[sha_lyn]

I'd love to get some real, in depth answers as well, not the 'cliffs notes' Wiki references

Answers to what exactly?

I answered with a link, because the site reflects my beliefs. Why should I type it when I can just direct people to a site that explains things very well?

As for a more perosnal answer, I didn't have time last night to go into the questions that were asked about diety.

from the ravenwood site:

To a Wiccan, God (The Creative Life Force) is the all-encompassing, all-powerful force of life - the Creator. Wiccans view The Creative Life Force manifested in a duality of male (God) and female (Goddess), each of equal importance. Though the different religions of the world worship gods and goddesses of many names, Wiccans consider all gods to be one God and all goddesses to be one Goddess. The Wiccan God and Goddess are the same deities as those worshipped by everyone else. There are many pathways, but they are all traveling up the same mountain along the way to spiritual fulfillment and a personal relationship with the Divine.

In general I just use Lord and Lady, God and Goddess or Father and Mother. However it is very common to use the name that represents the aspects of God or Goddess that you are working with. IE tonight for full moon I will be working on rain (through meditation, prayer, chanting etc). Gaia (also spelled Gaea.... earth mother) would be a very appropriate name to use for such workings.
If I feel I need divine intervention I usually use Sophia, which is a Gnostic Goddess that is consider equivalent to the Holly spirit.

 

[sha_lyn]

What you say in other threads can and will be used in any other thread. You don't get to compartmentalize your posts; you may want to, but believe me, it's not going to happen. People are going to use your posts to get a picture of you as a whole and they are going to apply that constructed image to anything else you post

Oh please... You should not feel justified in taking a post out of context to attack another poster.
It is one thing to point out discreptancies...ie if the someone said in one post that they have 3 children, all girls. Then in another post say they only have one child. However it is a competely different thing to take a post out of context to use it against someone.

 

[Maleficent13]

Oh please... You should not feel justified in taking a post out of context to attack another poster.
It is one thing to point out discreptancies...ie if the someone said in one post that they have 3 children, all girls. Then in another post say they only have one child. However it is a competely different thing to take a post out of context to use it against someone.

I never said it was right or wrong. I was just pointing out that it is. And I wasn't referring to taking a post out of context. I was meaning more like remembering a person's post history. As in, "Mal is that poster who likes Coach purses" or "XYZ is that poster who has 4 dogs" or "ABC is the poster who hates Wal-Mart". You remember things about frequent posters, and you use those things to build an opinion of the poster, for good or for bad.

 

[fabshelly]

irish, I meant you no harm.

But it's like someone saying they want to answer questions about Catholicism because they saw every episode of The Flying Nun. Not you, irish.

 

[Ariel Mae]

Note: all use of the word "you" in the following means "you, universal".

What you say in other threads can and will be used in any other thread. You don't get to compartmentalize your posts; you may want to, but believe me, it's not going to happen. People are going to use your posts to get a picture of you as a whole and they are going to apply that constructed image to anything else you post.

What I, and others say, in other threads, is irrelevant to this topic. If someone wants to point out discrepancies, point them out in relation to the topic at hand, not to another topic that has no relation, whatsoever, to the one going on.

I never said it was right or wrong. I was just pointing out that it is. And I wasn't referring to taking a post out of context. I was meaning more like remembering a person's post history. As in, "Mal is that poster who likes Coach purses" or "XYZ is that poster who has 4 dogs" or "ABC is the poster who hates Wal-Mart". You remember things about frequent posters, and you use those things to build an opinion of the poster, for good or for bad.

It is...what? You're applying one completely irrelevant topic to another. They do not connect.

You know what? I feel as if there's this big ol' black cloud hanging over this thread, and it's putting others out of asking questions and getting them answered. Now, a kind request...please, let us return to the topic at hand.

Clearing up misconceptions of the Wiccan and 'Pagan' faith.

 

[nephthys43]

You know what? I feel as if there's this big ol' black cloud hanging over this thread, and it's putting others out of asking questions and getting them answered. Now, a kind request...please, let us return to the topic at hand.

Clearing up misconceptions of the Wiccan and 'Pagan' faith.

i'll attempt to right this buggy...

i've been wiccan for about... 13 years or so. i believe in a goddess (mother earth) and a god. i believe that everything comes back at you threefold.

there are 4 main holidays and 4 lesser. samhain, beltane, imbolc, lammas and the solstices and equinoxes.

that's the basics.

 

[Ariel Mae]

i'll attempt to right this buggy...

i've been wiccan for about... 13 years or so. i believe in a goddess (mother earth) and a god. i believe that everything comes back at you threefold.

there are 4 main holidays and 4 lesser. samhain, beltane, imbolc, lammas and the solstices and equinoxes.

that's the basics.

Sadly enough, I rarely have the time to celebrate the sabbats (holidays, to those that did not know). I believe, in my years as a Pagan, and my year as a Wiccan, I've only celebrated the sabbats, Greater and Lesser, twice.

Also, to those that did not know it...you do not need candles to prepare a circle. Well, flamed candles. I use flamless electronic candles b/c my dorm is 'flame free', and my home is 'candle free'. Visualization is key for most, in my mind, rituals.

 

[luvthemouse71]

So....you started a thread to 'clear things up', but don't have the time, inclination, or knowledge to actually do so?

And to the poster who accused others of taking 'tone' with the OP, you should check out some of her gems on the Catholicism thread. Lots of offensive and insulting posts.

I'd love to get some real, in depth answers as well, not the 'cliffs notes' Wiki references.

To be honest, I 'm not really interested in researching someone's full posting history. I was merely pointing out that some of the replies were antagonistic, sarcastic and were basically meant to cause bad feeling. To me, the above post isn't looking for answers, it's looking to pick a fight. Just my 2 cents..

 

[PrincessTiff]

The finals here aren't that tough. There's still time to breathe.


Well, it's called 'supporting facts with citations'....I don't want it to be just my personal viewpoints, ya know?

Are you still in high school? I can't imagine going to a university/college where you don't really have to buckle down finals week. Maybe I should transfer.

Yes, but as you've stated there are many different forms of the wiccan beliefs and i'd be more interested in the ones you practice than the ones the internet says.

 

[Ariel Mae]

Are you still in high school? I can't imagine going to a university/college where you don't really have to buckle down finals week. Maybe I should transfer.

First year freshman in college.

Yes, but as you've stated there are many different forms of the wiccan beliefs and i'd be more interested in the ones you practice than the ones the internet says.

True enough, but, like I've said, I've been hounded by, "Why didn't you somehow back up your words, lady?". Better safe than sorry, I say.