Since I love Faeries.

I was checking out this article about America’s religions and frankly, it bothered me that they focused pretty much on Christian or Christ-based faiths, and didn’t really look at the whole picture.

To be perfectly blunt, what about us? What about those of us who are Buddhist, Muslim, Shinto, Wiccan, Pagan, etc? What about those of us who are not part of a God & Christ or God & yet-to-come savior based faith? I don’t see how you can say that Americans are tolerant of religions when I know quite a few Wiccans and Pagans who are so careful about who knows that they are Pagan/Wiccan. Truth be told, I haven’t experienced any problems myself, but I do know that some people have.

Americans are tolerant of religions - as long as they, in some way, resemble their own religion. If it doesn’t, as is the case with Buddhism and Wicca, then there’s a problem. Being tolerant of religions is being tolerant of ALL religions, not just the ones you agree with. There are many different “flavors” of Christianity, I’m sorry to say but frankly, being tolerant of other Christian faiths doesn’t make you tolerant of other religions. Being tolerant of non-Christian faiths as well as Christian faiths makes you tolerant of other religions.

There are times, like right now, that I feel like my spiritual side is lacking. Like I haven’t been doing what I need to be doing in order to feel connected. And it’s true. I haven’t. I haven’t been doing any of the things I should be doing. I haven’t been doing my Tarot readings. I haven’t been keeping up with full moon and Sabbat rituals. I haven’t been spending any time daily with Goddess and God. I’ve been lacking and for this I am truly sorry. Tonight I intend to make changes to that.

For starters, I intend to begin reading the Witta book and learning from it. Learning about the various traditions of the Goddess’ worship and the Craft have always made me feel closer to Her. So I will begin making my way back to Her and my spiritual side by starting to read that book. I am also going to start doing my daily Tarot readings again. Just a couple of small steps, but necessary ones in my opinion.

So little time and money with which to do it. You see, I’ve been dying to attend the annual Pagan Picnic in St. Louis, MO for a couple of years now. However, lack of money and a complete and utter lack of knowledge about St. Louis have proven to be my downfall. Of course, there is also the issue of getting off work to go. Just as with Womon Gathering. *sigh* I swear, I will attend some sort of large Pagan/Wiccan/Wittan festival/gathering next year, no matter what! I do paid blogging, and I am thinking I should put that money aside from now on for the purpose of being able to go ahead and do some of the things I want to do.

Of course, there are also books I’d like to get and read, and ritual items I would love to acquire that I don’t currently own. An athame that doesn’t belong in my knife block would be a good start. More candle holders, more incense, and a wand are also on my list.

What I’d really like though…is an occult shop near me. I’d start one of my own, I know we have a good sized Pagan/Wiccan community here, however, I don’t have the money and somehow I can’t see our local small business organizations actually assisting me in starting a store. Perhaps I could start one online and see what happens? Hmmmm….

After reading so much about it on 2WitchesBlog and seeing how excited Lady Rose and Mama Kelly were, I went to view the Womon Gathering website. I have decided that I would definitely like to attend this festival. It seems like an absolutely wonderful experience and I long to be a part of it next year.

There are a few factors which will most definitely have to be sorted out, the money to pay the registration fees, the money to pay for travel costs as the festival is on the East Coast and I am in the Mid-West, a way of travel that will not cost too much, nor take more than a day or so to get there, as I am frankly terrified of flying and will only do so if I absolutely must, and finally, the time off work necessary to have a day or two to pack and get ready, a day or two to get there, the days of the festival, and a day or two to get back and relax before going back to work. Dependent on the method of travel, that means I might need to use all 3 of my floating holidays, plus have 3 or 4 days of vacation time. Not always the easiest thing to do. And that’s if I am still at my current job at that time. A lot can happen in a year.

However, I want very much to be in a place with like minded individuals who will be nothing but supportive of my spiritual choices. And…I honestly and truly would love the chance to meet with Lady Rose & Mama Kelly. Their blogs have been on my favorites list for quite a while, and each time they add a new blog, I add it to my “frequent reads” list. I say frequent because I can’t always get online.

On another note, my books arrived this week. I am now in possession of a copy of The Pictorial Guide to the Tarot and Witta - An Irish Pagan Tradition. I am looking forward to delving into both books as soon as I possibly can.

This is a special post that is being cross posted to as many of my other blogs as I can think of to post it to.

I have just discovered a great opportunity to do what we love and make a difference at the same time. I’m talking about sending each other instant messages and emails. If you use Windows Live Messenger or Windows Live Hotmail, or even both, you can make a difference.

When you sign up for i’m, you can pick one of ten charitiable organizations - The American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, National AIDS Fund, The Humane Society of the United States, NineMillion.Org, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Sierry Club, UNICEF, StopGlobalWarming.Org, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. If you use both Messenger and Hotmail, you can pick different charities for each.

After you sign up, when you send IMs a little i’m logo is displayed with your name, and when you send emails, a special signature is attached. Each time you send an IM or Email with these things on them, the organization you picked will receive a donation from Microsoft. It’s a great way to make a difference doing what you do on a normal day anyways! So check it out!

I’m anxiously awaiting the arrival of 2 books from Paperback Swap users - Witta: An Irish Pagan Tradition from Llewellyn’s World Magic Series and The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by Arthur Waite. It’s a book that will assist me with my Rider Waite deck, at least I hope it will, as I am having a devil of a time with that particular deck. It just doesn’t “talk” to me yet.

I am still reading The Secret though I hope to have it finished in the next day or so and then to begin the process of re-reading and applying the principles of it to my life. I may even start a blog dedicated to my journey through The Secret and how my life changes with using The Secret.

I have been neglecting this blog, I know, but I’ve been going through some major changes at work including a schedule change and there is another schedule change to come as well, so we’ll see how things work out. I hope to start devoting more time to meditation, more time to my spiritual needs, more time to my SELF, and more time to the Goddess. I also hope to start paying more attention to this blog.

Well, I am off to do a bit more reading on The Secret and then do a bit more housework. Blessed Be.