About and FAQ
I'm a curious creative that has been pondering everything for most of my life.
I discovered alternative spiritualities at the age of seven, and have been studying religions that make space for female divinity for over 20 years. Granted, I'm only in my thirties, but I was a really focused kid.
What this blog is
Random thoughts and ideas
Articles related to alternative spirituality, based on as much research as possible
A bit of lifestyle posts here and there
A slice of life for the most part.
What its not
This blog is not a blog that bashes other religions.
This is not a "how-to be a Wiccan" blog. You are responsible for creating your own path. There is no one way to practice your faith, contrary to what others will tell you. I am not an expert, but I'll share ideas or answer questions when I can. Here's a few resources that may help you.
FAQ
Yes, this blog is super new. There really aren't a lot of "frequently asked questions"... yet.
Still, I thought it might be helpful to address a few things out the gate.
Q: What is "alternative spirituality"?
A: I use the term alternative spirituality when referring to religions that are not considered mainstream in the United States. However, there are what I consider sects of alternative spirituality within mainstream religions. For example: The study of Kabbalah in Judaism, Gnostic Christianity and mystical practices within the Catholic and eastern Orthodox Christian churches.
Q: What do you consider "mainstream religion"?
A: Since I live in America, I consider mainstream religions the Abrahamic faiths: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. While these religions are "mainstream" in the Western World, its important to note that members of Islamic and Jewish faiths are in the minority: nearly a third of humanity is of a Christian denomination.
Q: What religion are you?
A: My spiritual journey is ever-evolving, but I consider myself Wiccan. I discovered and entered into Wicca in 1999, fell off the Wiccan wagon as a teenager in the 2000s (amazing as that is when many teen girls were getting on that wagon), and reentered as an adult. I consider what I adhere to as hearthcraft.
My current path in Wicca is considered Eclectic, which means I am free to forge my own path and study. I focus on elements of Taoism, Celtic and Greek ideas and mythologies.
I enjoy reading about the early Hebrews, and how they transitioned from polytheism to monotheism, and am fascinated by the idea of the Kabbalah. My introduction to Wicca as a child came through my introduction to Ancient Egyptian history, believe it or not. I have books on Wicca, Torah, the Christian Bible, the Quran, Buddhism, and many other religions on my shelves at home. While there are many differences between these faiths, you'd be amazed at the commonalities. Its as if we are all from the same planet or something 😉
Q: What is Wicca?
A: Wicca is a 20th-century religion without religious dogma (depending on who you ask.) It acknowledges the sacredness of nature, and makes space for the divine feminine as God. However, belief in a deity is not a requirement. It can be faith, or philosophy, and can be completely self-studied, or taught within a group (coven.) Magick is one of many tools, but not required. Commonalities among Wiccans are a love for meditation, mythology and history, and perhaps the occasional pointy black hat.
Some Wiccans follow the "Wiccan Rede" and the "Rule of Three." The Wiccan Rede simply states: And it harm none, do what you will. This means that you are to do no harm in your endeavors. I interpret it as "let others be, and do no harm." The Rule of Three (also known as Three-fold Law or Law of Return) states that whatever energy you put out into the universe, that energy will be returned to you three times.
Very similar to Sir Isaac Newton's Third Law of Motion: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Wiccans do not have to follow these tenets, but many do (including myself.)
One requirement, I'd suggest, is patience and tolerance for others.
Q: Do you worship the devil?
A: Like many Wiccans, I don't even believe in the "devil." We make our own choices, and many factors play a part in whether or not a person is "evil" or "bad."
Q: Do you have a God?
A: Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to commit to one god, many gods, or any gods at all if you are a Wiccan. When it comes to myself, I reckon my belief in this similar to a Great Spirit. Sometimes this spirit manifests as a God, sometimes as a Goddess, depending on what lesson I am being called to learn. But at the end of the day, this spirit concept is beyond my comprehension. In addition to this spirit, I believe in a universal connectedness among all people and nature.
I do feel a kinship with certain mythological icons: Athena/Minerva, Brigid (a.k.a. St. Brigid), St. Joan of Arc, Hestia/Vesta, and Asherah.
Are you interested in learning more?
Like I said before, I am not an expert. I'm not a priestess, I'm not a nun, and I don't have any degrees pertaining to world religions. But I am a nerd, and do love to read.
Here are a few books you may want to check out:
The Hebrew Goddess by Raphael Patai
House Witch by Arin Murphy-Hisock
Living Gnosis by Tau Malachi
The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
Hedge Witch: Spells, crafts & rituals for natural magick by Silver Ravenwolf
The Essential Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism by Daniel C. Matt
Wicca by Scott Cunningham
The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
Other resources
Do you have a question? Ask me here.
