♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥'s topics - tribe.net

Sex Advice needed from witches!

2008-08-26T21:10:48Z

Hello everyone - I am a writer for Nerve.com,an online magazine which features sex, art and culture. We have a weekly column titled "dating advice" and this week we are featuring "dating advice from witches"! I need two more witches to interview, so if you are interested in answering my kinky questions and giving me your two cents on sex and dating please contact me at bmerbaum04@hotmail.com.
click link below to see our current column:

http://www.nerve.com/regulars/datingadvicefrom/dating-advice-from-art-students/

Thank you,

Bianca

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 0 replies

Preparing for 2012: Dealing with and Defeating Negativity

2008-08-25T17:10:49Z

Preparing for 2012:
Dealing with and Defeating Negativity by Roy Francis Stewart

In order to deal with Negativity, you need to understand how the universe works and how you work within this Universe. Negativity is the polarity of the Positive, in balance and what makes up this 3rd dimension. Without Negativity, you would have NO 3rd Dimension. It wouldn't exist and thus, you wouldn't exist in it.

The confusion is what and who we are really AND the fact that most of us don't know who and what we are and are thrust into this world and have no memory of any other experience, are ill equipped and are exposed only to the negativity we see. We think that this is all there is. Then we get all depressed, thinking that I have to escape or I spiral down and turn to over indulgence in drinking, drugs, whatever which of course, draws us down deeper into the negativity and thus some experience only these hell type worlds, then get comfortable with them, adjust to them and are perhaps live in them not unlike the living dead. Obviously anyone around you whether it be an individual or the news, or a war or countless other negative things drags you down to this side of the polarity.

BUT, the question is, what is the root of all this? And the answer is simply IGNORANCE. Ignorance of who we really are, what this universe is and how it operates.

So, the religions help point the way (but even they do not have all the answers). Mythologists pave the way, and filmmakers paint the way (But I’ll be the first to tell you, I don’t have all the answers either).

Now, I'm not a Buddhist per se, but they get pretty close to an understanding. However, the problem is, the individual still lives in this world and still may not know the ultimate truth. They may label the world as samsara, an illusion and seek refuge from it in meditation. Meditation is great, a great tool, but in order to escape the illusion world which is the 3rd dimension, one would have to spend the majority of their time in meditation. The next question is...is this really living?

So lets cut to the chase (mythologists and prophecies claim we may be headed into a higher dimension – the 5th dimension):

This is the 3rd dimension. It's real, it's not an illusion. If you're here, there is NO escaping it. You can spend 6 days and 23 hours in meditation if you want to, but when you come out of it, you step into the 3rd Dimension world for One hour and then you immediately realize that wow, this world is very negative and the Tibetans are still getting beaten up over there and the war is still going on over there and some soldiers just got blown up and on and on and on, so, man I want to escape, so I better go back into my meditation to seek refuge from the illusory world. Again, is this living?

I say NO. So we need simply to shift to a new understanding. Ready?

1) This world is the world of duality, the world of polarity, of positive and negative. This is the world of the 3rd dimension.

2) There are countless dimensions above this 3rd dimension.

3) The world of God or Source or Pure Mind or Oneness, is NOT in the 3rd dimension. It isn't BUT we are. This world of God or Source is singularity not duality. it is a singular all positive dimension that gives birth to all lesser dimensions.

4) However, inside of us, is the DIVINE SPIRIT, that is the real us. The Divine Mind encased in a flesh body here to function in this material world - this 3rd dimension - with a purpose.

5) We recognize, realize or understand that our true nature is SINGULARITY, or Oneness. But we live in a world of Duality.

6) If we attach ourselves only to the material, and to the degree that we do so, we also separate ourselves further from the truth (see 5 above). We only perceive the negative and can get caught up in it.

7) Society is set up to lock us into the material 3rd dimension world and Controllers profit from keeping us in this sleep state. (In example, when you're in Kindergarten, do they tell you that you are an infinite being capable of being a co-creator in this dimension because the real you is the Divine encased in a material body and as such this reality is molded by your every thought? NO. They teach you the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic and you are indoctrinated into eventually serving this system.) (This whole system is against the divine plan, thus may fall, as we are starting to see)

8) With this new understanding, you know who you are, where you are from and where you will eventually go to. Right now, you are a walking, talking, living Sage - a physical manifestation or expression of the non-physical Divine Mind. Sure there is alot of Negativity. And out of compassion, you can and do help others. But you also enjoy life. You take a walk by the beach and enjoy the surf pounding. You smell the flowers, you listen to music, you laugh, you cry, you create, you sleep, you eat, make love, communicate, whatever. You simply enjoy life.

9) By your example, you are released from the world of illusion as you know the Truth. You are no longer ignorant and a prisoner of the 3rd dimensional world. You are also no longer a prisoner of Dogma - something man made. Also by your example, you are living in balance with the Divine Universe and as such you are in flow. Good things happen to you. The landscape changes simply because you walked past it. The kid you said hello to is transformed. The cat you gave some milk to learns to trust humans. You are walking your talk and you are aiding in the raising the consciousness of the entire planet and everything in it. Even the pebble evolves because you held it in your hand.

10) This is the best part. This understanding can come in an instant or it could take years. It is under the direction of a higher intelligence beyond your comprehension, it is coming from an infinite place. And the exciting NEWS is that it is now directly coming in through energy, through light, through people, through star emanations, its moving as part of a quickening and now is the time to jump on and ride the wave to immortality and enjoyment. This is the realm of SPIRIT. Spirit, the above overcomes the material, the below. It’s building up but it seems to point to the fast approaching December 21, 2012 date. Let the shift begin!

For more information visit: http://royfrancisstewart.ning.com

The royfrancisstewart social network is the main site for all things related to Mr. Stewart's new screenplay Trilogy, Logos 2012, Episodes I, II and III (“Star Wars meets Stargate meets The Matrix”) as well as being a spiritual/metaphysical community - a network of Artisans and Non-Artisans alike with one common bond - the Quest for SPIRIT. The Logos 2012 trilogy, although fictional, does contain pertinent information as it relates to spiritual wisdom and to events that are already happening or may unfold as we get closer to 2012. Videos placed on our network are from some of the leading non-fiction authors and experts in their respective fields of ancient history, mythology, spirituality and more. There is a direct relationship to Mr. Stewart's FICTIONAL work, the Logos 2012 trilogy.

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 1 reply

Learn from Santeria Priest, Vodu Priest and Tradition Elders... 300 members only.

2008-08-19T05:13:05Z

Please visit www.mysanteriaelite.net for access to a private community of no more than 300 members where Vodou Priest of diffrent vodou traditions come together to dialogue, share and discuss topics pertaining to our african traditions...

Time is running out and memberships are filling up, come on board soon...

www.mysanteriaelite.net

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 0 replies

Welcome to CoSM's Full Moon Celebration

2008-08-12T23:57:45Z

Each month, Alex and Allyson Grey celebrate the Full Moon with an evening of wisdom, music, poetry and prayer from all traditions in the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors. Dancing to the tribal sounds of NYC’s most dynamic drum circle follows in the adjacent CoSMosis studio.

We're calling out to
YOU!— Movers and makers
Shimmy-ers and shakers
Visionary creators
Polyrhythmic displayers
Drummers and Dancers
Creative take-chancers:
By Full Moon we converge
Divine love and light surge!

If you have participated in Full Moon before, on any level, we welcome you back. If you have never been to Full Moon, we invite you to join us.

The next Full Moon ceremony will be
Saturday, December 22.
7:30-9:30pm: Prayer/polytheistic variety program.
10pm-midnite: Drum & Dance
$10 donation
CoSM: 542 West 27th St. NYC
cosm.org

Free admission for those who are willing to help with set up and take down.

Namaste,

Soooz
http://tribes.tribe.net/cosmdrum

This is a family-friendly, drug and alcohol-free event.

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 11 replies

tribe improvements

2008-08-07T21:39:14Z

what would you like to see in this tribe? what can u do to add more spice or topics etc?

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 4 replies

pagan worship

2008-08-04T15:03:35Z

would you attend a weekly pagan service if it were available?

What would you expect from a weekly service if any were available?

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 19 replies

Ode to Pagans

2008-08-03T00:35:20Z

Oh come ye all Pagans
For I cry to out in pain
Let me know these tears
Are not shed in vain

I know the way
Of ye hearts and minds
Befriend another Pagan
In these dreary times

For I have long followed
The meandering Sacred Path
7 years I have journeyed
I know, I've done the math

These days are long
The nights are growing cold
My life is getting short
Yea, I'm getting old

For a friend indeed
Is a friend indeed
Lift our cups higher
Filled with sweet mead

We shall meet when
Momma moon is new
On top of the hill
Where the flowers once grew

Drumbeats and Dancers
In a spiral round
The campfire glows
There is not one frown

The dawn now breaks
A happy is the heart
Merry We Meet
And Merry We Part

blessed be
(thanks to Terrah Dawn for the poem)

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 0 replies

New Wiccan Circle Forming

2008-07-27T03:16:56Z

Hello Starry-Eyed ones --

We're forming a new Wiccan Teaching Circle in Northern NJ -- close to NYC. Teachers are 3rd degree, from the NorthStar tradition, with roots in Gardnerian, Minoan and shamanic paths. If you are interested in pursuing an initiatory path, connecting with others and the Divine, and building community, then please email us for more information at TempleStarNJ@yahoo.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

-- Ishtar

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 0 replies

Jung @ Heart, Emerging Visions #12, has emerged

2008-07-26T20:01:48Z

Celebrate the Jung-star in us all with

Emerging Visions visionary art ezine #12 - "Jung @ Heart"

http://emergingvisions.blogspot.com

~ share and enjoy ~

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 0 replies

neophyte practitioner seeking guidance

2008-07-25T16:05:00Z

I'm a beginning practitioner who feels a pull toward the left side. My situation is compromised by the facts that (1) I am married with children (who, as yet, are unaware of my quest for deeper knowledge and wisdom) and (2) I live in a Manhattan appartment with hardly the room to cast a legitimate circle.

Advice or suggestions from likeminded practitioners would be much appreciated.

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 3 replies

pagan spirituality

2008-07-15T00:11:12Z

when you hear the term pagan spirituality...what comes to mind?

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 3 replies

Ganesh ( Ganapati ) the Hindu Buddhist Deity : practices references and transmission

2008-07-14T18:30:22Z

Ganesh ( Ganapati ) the Hindu Buddhist Deity : practices references and transmission

Keywords : Ganapati / Ganesh the Elephant Headed God of Classical India, Mantra and Praise of Ganapati, Deity yoga, Tantric empowerment, Overlapping Hindu / Buddhist mantra culture, Vedacarya Thomas Ashley-Farrand, Sakya Lineage and Sakya Monastery, Seattle Washington.

“To those for whom these village fires still have meaning:
Oh, may your own most beautiful Animal of Light come safely to you!”
from the Last Whole Earth Catalog

On 13 July in Seattle Washington a Ganapati empowerment will be offered at Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism. The guru bestowing this empowerment is the tantric master of Sakya Monastery, His Holiness Jigdal Dagchen Sakya Rinbochay. See www.sakya.org for more information.

For this reason it is timely and appropriate to provide some basic teaching and perspective on Ganapati, and in particular an esoteric Hindu Ganapati mantra and also a Sanskrit Buddhist praise of Ganapati. Many diverse teachings on this deity in Hindu form are available on the internet ( under both Ganapati and Ganesh ).

An excellent introductory summary for Ganapati / Ganesh is available online at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesha

The Buddhist Ganapati is also referenced in the Tibetan Buddhist traditions of the Nyingma ( e.g. Longchen Nyingtik ) and Gelugpa lineages ( see practice texts for www.fpmt.org ). There is also Buddhist practice of Ganapati in the esoteric Buddhist Japanese tradition known as Shingon, which came East via China and not Tibet.

Briefly, Ganapati means Lord of the Troop, and Ganesh basically means Elephant Headed One. Ganapati is known by the title “Remover of Obstacles” or “Lord of Obstacles”. He carries or represents the enormous power of the Elephant. He is often accompanied by two female consorts Riddhi and Siddhi ( Magical Accomplishment and Spiritual Accomplishment ).

Ganapati is very prominent and even central in Hindu practice and is often evoked at the beginning of important engagements or projects, such as making a journey or starting employment, or beginning a meditation practice session. I have seen dance evocation of Ganapati at the beginning of a Hindu temple dance concert. Ganapati is one of the main practices of Hindu business people for success in their commercial ventures.

Ganapati is strongly associated with the “national spirit” or Mother India as well as her earliest roots. In the distant past elephants were used throughout India to clear land for agriculture, and also as war elephants. More recently, public Hindu celebrations were banned by the occupying British and the outlawed Ganapati ceremonies were brought forth, successfully, to rally India against foreign rule.

It is said that the long “History of India” was transcribed by the deity Ganapati as given by Rishi Visvamitra. Many of the key texts of Sanatana Dharma ( Hinduism ) were written down by Ganapati. So, this practice is a primary connection to Vedic Culture. Due to this, Ganapati is also practiced by students to help with their secular school exams.

Ganapati has a very ambivalent status in Buddhist tantra, the esoteric form of Buddhist meditation which relies on yoga, deity recitations and mystic practices in general. On the one hand, Ganapati is often considered unfriendly towards Buddhist practitioners in general, and propitiated or banished or subjugated so as to not cause problems. Thus, a subjugated Ganapati serves as the throne for the deity Mahakala in his Six Armed form. This reflects the fact that some but not all Hindu practice / culture affirms Buddhist teachings.

On the other hand, there are specifically Buddhist practices for Ganapati, as for other Hindu deities such as Shiva, Sarasvati and so forth. The Sakya lineage carries Buddhist deity yogas for the Hindu deities Uma Devi / Parvati and Garuda, as well as Ganapati. ( In Southern Buddhism, such as in Sri Lanka Theravada monasteries, it is common to propitiate the Hindu deity Visnu for outer or worldly benefits. )

More broadly, many Buddhist schools share with the Sanatana Dharma ( i.e. Hindu practice and culture ) a significant focus on Ayurveda, or spiritual medicine. The Buddhist deity Bhaisajyaguru, or Medicine Buddha, is a deity of Buddhist spiritual medicine and Ayurveda in both Hindu and Buddhist forms is more or less identical in practice, not just similar.

In the classical Sakya tradition, this Twelve Arm Ganapati is actually an emanation of Avalokitesvara, the beloved and universal Buddhist deity of liberating compassion. Thus, it is reasonable to view this empowerment as being a definite connection to Avalokitesvara and the general practices of Avalokitesvara.

It is also very important to note that with this ( or any ) tantric Buddhist empowerment comes the general set of universal Buddhist vows, such as the Ten Precepts ( rejection of harmfulness, theft, dishonesty, ill-will and so forth ), and the Bodhisattva vows. The Bodhisattva vows focus on active humanitarian service in the most broad and deep and long term ways, starting with rejection of limiting ideas such as racism, sexism, tribalism, and all cultural divisiveness.

For some basic teachings on Buddhist theory and practice, see the following at Asian Classics:
http://www.asianclassics.org/research_site/webdata/education.html

The Principal Teachings of Buddhism
Buddhist Refuge
The Vows of the Bodhisattva

For an excellent general introduction to Buddhist practice, with a focus on Buddhist tantra, see the following book by Kalu Rinpoche:
The Dharma: That Illuminates All Beings Like the Light of the Sun and the Moon, State University of New York Press, 1986, ISBN 0-88706-157-5

http://www.amazon.com/Dharma-Illuminates-Beings-Impartially-Light/dp/0887061575

This book is short, direct, accessible, classical and effective. It should be. It was transcribed as spoken directly to westerners by one of the greatest Buddhist masters of the last century.

To take the tantric Buddhist empowerment of Ganapati or any other is to take Mahayana Buddhist vows, as well as to become authorized to do magical kinds of practice, such as mantra recitation to develop the power of the deity. The point is that in this case, the Hindu/ Buddhist deity Ganapati is practiced within a classical Buddhist context, not otherwise. Thus the above mentioned Buddhist references are of central importance in this transmission and practice.

As a brilliant red deity aspect, Twelve Armed Ganapati is not only a remover of obstacles and disharmonious circumstances, but also a magnetizing deity, i.e. a deity that “warms up” social situations, and develops strongly positive interpersonal engagement.

On a yogic level, this deity ( in Buddhist deity yoga ) develops strength and power at the level of the navel point of the psychic energy body ( svadhisthana cakra ), although I cannot say more without transgressing tantric vows of secrecy. Note that the Hindu Ganapati is girded by snakes, representing kundalini energy, and is similarly associated with the energy at the base of the spinal column. All tantric transmissions are private, and their contents not to be discussed following initiation.

This is one of many specifically obstacle-removing diety yogas in Buddhist tantra. There are many others, but this one is definitely recommended for those who have a more Hindu-oriented background in culture and/ or personal karma. And as noted earlier, it is a connection to Avalokitesvara practice specifically, and to the outer Mahayana practices in general.

This can also be viewed ( speaking very unofficially ) as a connection to Hindu transmissions. ) For this reason I will now provide a specifically Hindu mantra for Ganapati, which has been confirmed. It is quite reasonable to say that on obtaining a Twelve Arm Ganapati empowerment, one may practice the following Hindu mantra as well.

Maha Ganapati Mantra
"Aum shrim hrim klim glaum gam
ganapataye vara varada sarva
janamme vashamanaya svaha"

Vedacarya Thomas Ashley-Farrand, from whom I have Laxmi transmission, has many introductory and also detailed teachings on Hindu mantra practice. See his website at
http://www.sanskritmantra.com/

The following is not an official representation, but I do have the Sakya lineage Ganapati transmission some twenty years back from HE Luding Khen Rinbochay. This Sakya initiation is for a Twelve Arm Red Ganapati, equivalent in many respects to the Hindu deity Ganesh or Ganapati. Many diverse teachings on this deity in Hindu form are available on the internet ( under both Ganapati and Ganesh ). The Buddhist Ganapati is also referenced in the Tibetan Buddhist traditions of the Nyingma and Gelugpa lineages.

From www.sakya.org :

07/13/2008
GANAPATI INITIATION
Offered by H. H. Jigdal Dagchen Sakya
Sunday, July 13
Time: 10:00 am
Location: Shrine Room
Suggested Donation: $30 Public, $25 Members
Translator: Dr. Jeff Schoening
Ganapati made the commitment to help all beings to uphold the 3 trainings—moral behavior, meditation, wisdom— and, in particular, to provide the necessary materials and provisions for practitioners.
He protects one from obstacles at the beginning of any enterprise and also helps to increase wealth and power for the benefit of the Dharma.
His Holiness Jigdal Dagchen Sakya, head lama of Sakya Monastery, was born in Tibet in 1929. He continues the great Sakya lineage which began with Khon Konchok Gyalpo (1034—1102). He received teachings of the unbroken Khon lineage, the Sakya Vajrakilaya, the Hevajra and the complete Lamdre Tsogshe, from his father, H.H. Trichen Ngawang Thutop Wangchul, the last Sakya throne holder in Tibet. He also studied with many other great Buddhist teachers, including Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi and Dingo Khyentse Robsal Dawa.
In 1960, H.H. J.D. Sakya was invited to work on a University of Washington research project on Tibetan civilization which was sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation. At the request of students, he co-founded with H.E. Dezhung Rinpoche Sakya Tegchen Choling, a center for the study of Tibetan Buddhism and culture. In 1984, the center became the Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism.

The following is copyrighted material from The Digital Sanskrit Buddhist Canon, at
http://www.uwest.edu/sanskritcanon/index.html
specifically
http://www.uwest.edu/sanskritcanon/Stotra/Roman/stotra30.html

The source text is “ Source: Pandey, Janardan Shastri ed. Bauddha strotra Samgrah. Varanasi : Motilal Banarsidass, 1994”.

This is provided as a necessary and specific demonstration that classical Indian Buddhist culture incorporated Ganapati deity yoga as a tantric practice, and not for other purposes.
Ganesastotram

kharvam sthulataram gajendravadanam lambodaram sundaram
vidhnesam madhugandhalubdhamadhupavyalolagandasthalam|
dantodghatavidaritahitajanam sindurasobhakaram
vande sailasutasutam ganapatim siddhipradam kamadam|| 1||

herambah paramo devah karyasiddhividhayakah|
saibhagyarupasampannam dehi me sukhasampadam|| 2||

ekadantam mahakayam lambodaram gajananam|
sarvasiddhipradataram gangaputram namamyaham|| 3||

vande tam gananathamaryamanagham daridrayadavanalam
sundaadandavidhuyamanasamalam samsarasindhostarim|
yam natva surakoyayah prabhuvaram siddhim labhante param
sindurarunavigraham paripataddanambudharahrtam|| 4||

uccairbrahmandakhandadvitayasahacaram kumbhayugmam dadhanah
presannagaripaksapratibhatavikatasrotratalabhiramah |
devah sambhorapatyam bhujagapatitanusparddhivardhisnuhasta-
strailokyascaryamurtirjayati trijagatamisvarah kuñjarasyah|| 5||

ganapatisca herambo vidhnarajo vinayakah |
deviputro mahateja mahabalaparakramah || 6||

mahodaro mahakayascaikadanto gajananah|
svetavastro mahadiptastrinetro gananayakah || 7||

aksamalam ca dantam ca grhnan vai daksine kare|
parasum modakapatram ca vamahaste vidharayan|| 8||

nanapusparato devo nanagandhanulepanah |
nagayajñopavitango nanavidhnavinasanah || 9||

devasuramanusyanam siddhagandharvavanditam|
trailokyavidhnahartaramakhvarudham namamyaham|| 10||

sumukhascaikadantasca kapilo gajakarnakah |
lambodarasca vikato vidhnarajo vinayakah || 11||

dhumraketurganadhyakso bhalacandro gajananah |
vakratundah surpakarno herambah skandapurvajah || 12||

sodasaitani namani yah pathecchunuyadapi|
vidyarambhe vivahe ca pravese nirgame tatha|| 13||

samgrame samkate caiva vidhnastasya na jayate|
vidhnavallikutharaya ganadhipataye namah || 14||

sriganesastotram samaptam|

Sarva mangalam! Siddhi rastu!

In partial fulfillment of vajrayana teaching responsibilities,

KT

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 2 replies

pagan speaks

2008-07-13T18:10:19Z

are there any particular issues that concern you as a pagan? are you feeling in anyway that your right to practice your religion being limited or impacted in a negative way?

Do share your experience....

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 4 replies

kathy lee

2008-07-06T15:48:19Z

http://www.witchvox.com/vn/vn_detail/dt_no.html?a=usnj&id=15827

here's the clip:

http://blog.beliefnet.com/idolchatter/2008/07/kathie-lee-disses-pagans-on-to.html

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 7 replies

what my Mother Earth gave to me..

2008-07-06T15:33:13Z

I fist want to thank this tribe for letting me move in and out of your world to learn what I had to learn for myself.
I Know that I do not leave alot of post but I do read and learn alot. Just this summer I left a very unhappy part time job.
I spent alot of time catching up with family and friends and yard work and relaxation. As time went on I turned my sites
to finding a more happy relaxing part time job. I didn't think it would be so hard to find a new job..all I have to say is wow.
As I sat back and waited for the calls (or lack there up) to come in I did alot of yard work and planting. I spent alot of time
outside. I LOVE being outside this time of year. My poor dog was looking at me like< "Lady who are you amd what have you done to my owner?" I got my front part of my house set up for the first time in the 5 years I have been there. I have spent all this time working so hard on getting my yard the way I like it. This last weekend I sat out side with a glass of wine and it was the greatest feeling ever. The lady next door and her mom (who is visting for the summer) came over and we sat around and just BSed for an our.
I told them how frantic I had been trying to find a job. Her very sweet mother told me that the right place was going to call and that I would just know. Sure as she said it the phone rang and I got the job that is going to be the best ever.

I got the call that monday that everything was a go. The head guy had called and said that not only did he want me to come work for them but the he was going to match the $8 that I ask for (better than the 7.50 they were offering) I put so much work in to my yard that It let me take my mind off of not having a job and waiting for the right one. And doing my medatation and rituals to boot. And Mather earth for letting me work on her in the mean time. She makes thing looks so wonderful. And make you work on her all the time. Showing you that it take alot of work to keep thing looking and feeling the way you want it too.

She Showed me that I should never give up on her or myself.

Blessed be my dear friends.. may your 4th be bright and warm...

K

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 1 reply

summer rituals

2008-06-30T04:04:03Z

anyone doing any summer time rituals?

A group of us are getting together 7/12 and doing a devotional ritual to Ochun by the river near my house...the theme is a love healing ritual.

Anyone doing any thing interesting they care to share

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 1 reply

Interfaith Ministery

2008-06-16T03:20:21Z

I am so excited

Today I get my ordination as a minister....

I am focused on pagan faith...however I am trained to do a wide range of faiths...

I will be licensed to wed folks as of 6/16/08....

www.interfaithservices.info

I learned a lot from this experience...learned positive things in general about other spiritual paths. I'll be honest when I entered I was concerned that my pagan path would be diluted...instead its been strengthen and improved. I hope to do more work in the area of pagan worship and studies...

Folks we have a wonderful religion...and we are really blessed we can celebrate it these days,...I only hope more and more pagans obtain this right and privilege to worship as they desire without the fear of being condemned. I sincerely hope I can help expand our religion to mainstream....I plan on taking on a leadership role n the World Alliance Association in hopes of spreading more about our faith.

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 3 replies

Love Spell for my lovee to return

2008-06-15T15:17:34Z

Greetings to all, and hope everyone is okay.

I know this may sound unethical and it may not be good to do a love spell and people on this group may not approve, but I really love my partner and he takes care of me very well.

Recently I lost my mother and I was very low but was happy to have my boyfriend.

He was going through a bad time and went of with women and had sex with them.

He told me to help him to be a good person, and that he cannot help himself. He said he would do anything to turn back the time and he wants to be faithful and true to me.

He really is a good person.

I beg of you to provide me with a effective love spell for my boyfriend to return to me.

Thank you.

Sophia

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 1 reply

BTW Early Registration Ends June 30

2008-06-15T15:03:58Z

Forwarding this announcement.
Between The Worlds is a gay/bi men's pagan festival
http://www.betweentheworlds.org/
We'll probably have at least 2 vans leaving from NY
__________________________

Gentlemen,

This is just a friendly reminder that early registration for BTW 2008
ends on June 30th. Registrations postmarked after that date will cost
$100 until registration ends on August 17.

There are some fairly big changes taking place at Wisteria this year.
Because they have decided to host the Cornstalk Festival
(www.wisteria.org/cornstalk.htm), Wisteria has been improving
infrastructure in the campground. The Green Faerie Grove and friends
went down there over Memorial Day weekend and helped with some of the
improvements, including framing the new stage and turning the dance
area at Town Green into a sandy space that will be most loverly on the
feet. New wooded camping areas have also been cleared, roads have been
added and improved, and marked camping zones have been established to
make it easier for people to find one another (including in
emergencies). The Faerie Shrine has been dramatically expanded since
last year, and solar-powered lighting has been added to provide a
magickal experience in the middle of the woods. In another exciting
development, Wisteria has also granted us the right to establish our
own queer spirit shrine on the property. This is a topic that was
first broached with them in 2000, and is an exciting development for us.

Wisteria's new stage, which is now 42 feet wide by 20 feet deep, will
have state of the art sound and lighting systems. In honor of the
spirit of friendship and partnership that we have developed over the
last 10 years with Wisteria, the Green Faerie Grove has loaned
Wisteria the money to help them finish their dream stage. In return,
Wisterian Todd Alan has volunteered his services to run the sound and
lighting for BTW.

Sunshine has worked with us to keep the Meal Plan at the same price as
last year despite the dramatic increase in food prices. Unfortunately,
for those who have gotten accustomed to unlimited return visits for
food, those days are officially over. Furthermore, there will be a
regular ticketed meal at the end of BTW (i.e., no more all-you-can-eat
buffet). These changes will ensure that everyone who has purchased a
Meal Plan will be fed, and will allow Rowan to continue to serve us
without raising prices this year. Our Coffee Diva, Holly, will once
again be with us with her wonderful tie dyed clothing line. She tells
us that she is finally tired of Vietnam, and wouldn't miss her boys
for anything.

We hope that everyone is surviving the weather, economy, gas prices,
politicking and other annoying things that are shaping 2008.

Love and Blessings,
Garan du, Co-Facilitator
Between the Worlds Men's Gathering

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 1 reply

becoming a pagan

2008-05-27T21:44:00Z

was it all you hope it would be? or are you pleasantly surprised or shocked by some areas?

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 1 reply

Coming to Oregon, how about SunFest 08

2008-05-25T08:50:09Z

Through The Ages With The Norse, June 19-22, 2008

Join us for a Norse celebration of Litha.

Ritual will include a Blöt, Sumbel, and potluck feast.

The festival will be held southeast of Lincoln City on the Oregon Coast.

The site feels as though the Mother is holding you in her hands.

There will be drumming, dancing around the huge bonfire, workshops, teens' fire, crafts, meditations, and, of course, merchants of Pagan wares.

Registration Fee's :
Adults $60
13-17 $30
6-12 $20
0-5 $5

Come one, come all and visit www.owow.org for registration.

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 1 reply

Olah beautiful peeps

2008-05-23T01:52:06Z

Hey, my name is sheri . I had a store in ATlanta callled Soul Kiss for 15 years which i just closed down. And i am now here on the East coast (NJ) and just starting to do fest's and learning which ones are out there , which don't seem like alot .... so HELP !! Anyone who knows of any Fest's that would be good for me (Below i give a synopsis of waht i carry). Also... i am also interested in doing Pennsic but i cannot work the whole thing. (Got a straight job during the week now) yikes!! I have never been to Penzik beforeb, but i just did a REnn fair and someone told me that if i can get a space (that is, if there are any, ) under the main baazar's tent that i could get somone to run it for me for commiss on whatever they sell. while i am not there. (I will have alot of great stuf- see list below). So i'm putting a shout out there to anyone who might be interested and has a booth in the maiin bazzar allready.

Or i woudl love to just hear from anyone who has any knolwledge to share on any uselfull info about Fest's in the Norht East Region!! I NJ, NY, Philly etc. Music Fest's ... which street Fest's are good etc I'm just learning where everythign is so bear with me and tell me what state you are talking about. You can also e-mail me at
sherisoulkiss@hotmail.com
or
www.myspace.com/soulkissheri

Peace and Radiant blessings of joy to all .... also this is a Bio i just sent out - minus all the pretty graghics... so soory if it is alittle boring on da' eyes but it gives u a good idea of what i carry !!

Soul Kiss is blend of goods all finely chosen or made by my own design in various places around the world. If you find me at a Festival, this is what you will see:

Soul Kiss Silver - Many of my peices are antique. Much of the very rare and authentically old peices of silver from India are gone, However I am still able to bring incredably rare and old peices to my customers. Many of the peices i get are old sterling silver wedding peices from women in Rhajastan which i find and re-string them into a clevor design of necklaces which are adjustable. Becuase they are adjustable they are like three neck's in one becuase they can be worn as a high choker or many different lengths. When worn as a choker the strands hang down the back. Soul Kiss also carries very unique stones, an awesome eclectic array of earings and rings.
Mid priced jewerly - Also very unique designs. Much of of it is made of natural elements such as wood, bamboo and stones. All with a very exotic feel.

Clothing - All my own designs. Mostly street wear with a tribal edge. Great all natural japenese style shirts for women, with hand painted wood beaded tyes. Beautiful skirts with panels of very old hand embroidered fabrics the northern Indian gypsy tribes. Lots of Men's too which is rare at Fest's because there are never any great choices for guys!! All made with beautiful natural fabrics. sexy.

Beautiful Statues and hand carved masks - All carved out of exotic woods such as mango wood and jackfruit wood etc. All of my carvings i have made in very small villages in the high mountains of Bali. I support many many families and artisans in those villages.

Accesories - I carry many various Sacred art scarves from India, I have yummy pashimina's that make great elegant shawls for a light weight but warm cover up for the summer. And great prices too !! Soul Kiss carries alot of antique wedding sari's that are gorgous.
For the Bellydancers - Depending on the Festival, you will always find great stuf for the Bellydancers. Some of the Fest's more so, depending on which one, but e-mail me and i will let you know which ones. I will always carry exotic adormnents tho that are not readily seen at most or all fest's !! So please visit me soon

Thanx Sheri Poole

Soul Kiss World Imports

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 0 replies

Ordering supplies

2008-05-22T04:35:56Z

I was wondering if man y of you order your supplies online?

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 7 replies

Good venue for booksigning?

2008-05-20T15:36:36Z

When my new book comes out in July, I'll be doing the booksigning thing in occult bookstores everywhere... For a New York City venue, my publisher suggested East West Books. Can you think of any other/better/alternative magick/occult bookstores or venues that might be good for a booksigning? All thoughts are appreciated. Thanks!

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 3 replies

World vegan week... may 19 -25

2008-05-18T05:27:08Z

If you wish to join a world movement....going vegan for one week

www.commondreams.org/archive...17/9018/

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 0 replies

celebration rituals

2008-05-11T00:15:09Z

Many of us celebrate the sabbats...and it often seems thats the only time some of us get together to do rituals...or full moons.

Does anyone celebrate special occasions....for instance a mother's day ritual for our mother earth?

Or birth rituals like wiccanings?

Death rituals?

Passage rituals?

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 1 reply

pagan improvements

2008-05-03T10:06:41Z

what do you want to see in your community?

What would you like to see improve or change?

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 5 replies

pagan friends

2008-05-01T03:19:07Z

why is this tribe so quiet? You guys shouldn't wait for me to post...what are your opinions as pagans?

what's happening to the pagan community?

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 13 replies

pagan community

2008-05-01T01:39:43Z

what is lacking in our community?

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 3 replies

penis theft on the rise

2008-04-27T03:26:17Z

is this real or not...do you think it possible?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080424/od_nm/witchcraft_dc

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 0 replies

Watch out for Cybermoon.com, fraudulant pagan store.

2008-04-24T12:32:00Z

I decided to go online and order a few items from Cybermoon.com- well maybe more than a few items almost $200 worth on March 23rd, was told my order would ship out that week and they took my money, I had ordered a kit and they said: "As soon as the boxes come in, we will ship kits. We are expecting our boxes to arrive literally any day."

I waited 2 weeks and got nothing, emailed again got an email saying:

+++

Mon, Apr 7, 2008 at 3:27 AM
Greetings!

Thank you for letting us know your order failed to arrive. We will check
with the warehouse and, if your order hasn't already shipped, make sure it
gets out asap. If you ordered more than one item, please be aware your
order may arrive in more than one package.

If your order included runes, please remember that runes are not made until
they are ordered. That way, you receive runes that were made just for you.

If your order included an altar kit, please be aware that the boxes for the
altar kits are late arriving. We are expecting the boxes literally any day
and will ship the kits as soon as the boxes arrive. We haven't forgotten
about you.

Our apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Blessings
Beth
****************************
CyberMoon Emporium
http://cybermoonemporium.com

****************************

Within 5 days of that email I got about $35 worth of my order, still missing arround $120 worth of product, not to count the $20 shipping fee. On top of that the OLOTA Anna Riva Oil that they sent me smells like nothing but Johnson & Johnson baby oil.

I have emailed and phoned them almost every day since and have not had once response. The 1 month anniversary of my order was the day that I promised them I'd go online and start spreading the word on what a horrible, fraudlant company they are.

I should have done my homework first though. Below is a list of complaints I found from others on:
http://www.complaintsboard.com/?search=cybermoon

Cybermoon Emporium (complaint)
Posted: 2008-03-08 by Keitha Shrremetis [send email]
Item order not received!
Ring was ordered on February 2, 2008. I have tried to contact at phone # 404-348-4477 as I had order the wrong ring size. But to this day I have not heard from them. I have left quiet a few messages and have tried to e-mail them, to no prevail. I will be contacting my credit card com, to ask...

cybermoon (complaint)
Posted: 2007-08-29 by jeanmarie Blache [send email]
Order never delivered
I placed an order in June 2007 for a charmed altar kit as a gift for a friend. My credit card was charged and no product was received. I have tried to contact CyberMoon but have gotten nowhere. Someone help resolve this matter. I am a single parent of two young daughters and can not afford to...

CyberMoon.com (complaint)
Posted: 2007-03-21 by Francine Conti [send email]
No product delivered!
I placed an order with CyberMoon.com on 2-1-07. I have called 2 XS and never received a call back and emailed them 4'XS with one email generating that their computers were down on 3-9-07. Still to this date no product delivered. I have asked them to credit my card back and cancel my order......

CyberMoon.com (complaint)
Posted: 2008-02-23 by Christina [send email]
ordered and paid online product never delivered
My mother placed an order with Cybermoon. com in Aug 2007 and never recieved the product, I ordered in Nov 2007 not knowing and still have not recieved any product either. Both her and I have left repeated emails and voicemails with no response to date. The entire websit is just a fraud, Both...

Consider yourself warned. If anyone knows who these ppl are or a better way to contact them and actually get some customer service please let me know!

Stephanie

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 0 replies

Potion-Crafting

2008-04-21T01:33:21Z

Hey guys, I am preparing a course/workshop for my own local/geographic Pagan community on a fascet of Witchcraft that is very near-and-dear to me, as a Witch: Potion-Crafting! My impetus, of course, is because it seems like a relatively "dying" Art amid contemporary Witches, as though they could somehow care less! I certainly don't note any Witches admitting to brewing their own potions; rather, they rely on another's formula, as if it's better than anything they could ever formulate! ("Bullocks," I say!) Hell, some so-called "Witches" have absolutely no desire to brew any Potions, while others seem to bastardize the important epithet of "Witch" by differentiating between the Witch that employs Magick, and those that do not: More and more I meet so-called "Witches" who have no problem employing this descriptor, but...they reject Magick, and state, "I'm not that kind of 'Witch'"! WTF?!

Anyhoo...I was hoping to create an open dialogue between myself and any Witches/Pagans that have either taught, or attended, any classes and workshops specifically on the crafting of Potions. I'd like to know what was taught, or what assignments tendered, etc. While I have several ideas for my own lesson plans and syllibus, I don't want to short-change my students in any way, and want to ensure that my course be as exhaustive as possible, and that I not accidentally forget to cover anything. Ya' know what I mean? (I'm very exhaustive whenever I write and research something. ) Although, one concern of mine, is not enough stove-space when brewig Potions during class... I was hoping to model it, in part, after my high school Home Ec. class and give various research assignments, etc., etc.

Now, I am aware that many teaching Pagans and Witches that are educators guard their knowledge anbd course-teachings jealously, I rather subscribe to the view that educators can learn from, and aid each other.

Personally, one facet I really want to investigate about Voodou is, hopefully, at an ethnographic level, herbs and offerings, and other "correspondences" that are dedicated to the Lwa/Orishas. For example, I keep hearing that bail and cardamom seds is dedicated to Erzulie-Freda, but not why. Now, if I state that sandalwood is associated with ganesha, and someone were to ask me why, I would point them to the appropriate academic or source material after saying that it was his mother, Parvati, who first formed the god from sandalwood paste.

All my best,
Wade MacMorrighan

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 6 replies

back for Earth Week

2008-04-19T01:45:33Z

http://emergingvisions.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html

It's really a simple story Beings find planet. Beings treat planet badly. Planet goes about her business. Beings start to realize that they need planet, and had best learn to make friends rather than futilely keeping up enmity.

Gaea: A Ritual Performance

layers of imagery, music, tribal drums, futuristic dreams

Gaea was there, in the beginning. Gaea was all. Gaea was wise.
How could we not have seen, in the blindness of pride, of avarice,
of service pledged to false gods?

The journey was long.
The journey was cold.
The journey was lonely.

Asleep in a box with wilderness dreams. Or awake on the watch, wondering what was to come.

Thus it was those false gods bespake us: Out of the cold vastness of space and time,
out of the fear that was all the companion we knew,
out of a need to make it all Someone else's responsibility,
out of a need to believe all would be well for our kind.

Our planet was dying.
We did what we could to survive.
Survival we find
an appopriate end
to any means.
Survival will give us
the time we need
to find a better way
to survive.

The strongest of us,
the proudest of us,
the meanest of us,
would not allow us to die.
We took off in our ship with the barest of plans

to find another land
where our kind could live ...
expand.

Now,
hybrid children evolved
from refugees
fleeing a hostile star.
Skygods and Earth Mother of ancient lore.

It's time we relinquish fear and hatred, accept Gaea as partner and home
that we may all live and thrive.

The land, when we found her was so warm and inviting.
We felt safe, supported, encouraged to grow.

We ate of her fruit and her herds.
We built with her trees, stone and clay.
We drank from her cool crystal streams which we soiled with our waste.
Gaea was saviour and womb.
We repaid her with rape.

We didn't understand,
thought her merely land,
thought ourselves masters from afar.

Gaea sent storms to bring us to our senses, wild winds and seas.

Gaea tried to shake us off: Earthquakes, Floods, Famine, Plagues
sending us scattering into hiding. Intermingling with her primates, Gaea's children.
Without question or shame, we murdered what we could not steal.
Without honor or remorse, we laid waste to our host, to our adopted home,
then cursed her for not giving more.

By accident or design, chimera adapting to Gaea's marketplace creating
new ways to define our origins from outer space
We lied to our halfling children, denigrated their Gaean kin,
twisted their virtues into a false concept that we called "sin."

What Gaea did to us? Cruel, evil, in need of the whip.
we seal over her bounty
into mad parody of Mother Ship.
Unforgiving of the mess of living, the miracles of life.
In our ignorant pride we gave ourselves law to decide
propriety over fate
turning
in our minds
mother love
into a mirror of hate.

Frozen in fear and rage, children swept out in the storm,
trapped in a self-made cage we had hoped to protect us from harm.

Gaea, we cry, why do you treat us so angrily?
What will it take for us to wake up and see it is we who are wrong?
To hear and be aware of Gaea's song singing in our blood?
To learn the cycles, the seasons, the reasons for fire, wind and flood?

To redefine our race, to find out that our place is here among our Gaean kin?

The telling of new tale must begin.

Gaea opens to sunshine to ease our agitation
Easy winds, easy gushing of summer rain
Feeding the greedy young grains,
growing along the plains, the flowers of the storm.
Feeding the beasts of the field,
continuing the cycle, as all is revealed.

Love is the web,
craftily spun by great mother spider,
Gaea's familiar,
weaving magestic grace
no longer concealed. It was never our place
to control, nor others' to steal.

Gaea creates in intricate arrangements,
feeding us all of us all, a transformative stew.
So much energy wasted; painful lies to find our way through
our beings to create such beautiful
children, reaching out to become and be free,
enjoying our destiny,
as Gaea's beloved.

Arising in the circle, giving voice to pain -- grateful to Gaea's grace, dancing in her cleansing rain,
we sing in voice united:

It would be so nice (paradise)
You and I
Floating in the sunlight
Ready to break free
To be
Exactly who we are.

(c) April 9, 2006 Laurie Corzett

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 1 reply

Of Witches and the Wait for Justice

2008-04-16T04:20:36Z

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/opinion/13sun2.html?ex=1208750400&en=f4383fdaebd14264&ei=5070&emc=eta1

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 9 replies

NYC yoga passes

2008-04-08T13:35:21Z

I came across this yoga pass in a New York Yoga magazine...

one flat rate of $75, allows you to check out over 300 locations...some offering anywhere from 2 day pass to a 1-2 week pass.

Hey if anyone in NYC wants to take advantage of this offer let me know...I'll glad to join you there

www.health-fitness.org

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 0 replies

Google's gone dark for Earth Hour

2008-03-29T06:43:47Z

http://california.tribe.net/listing/Lights-Out-Globally-Saturday-Night-for-Earth-Hour-8PM-9PM/california-us/272b6341-cfa4-4db4-95be-b7c6830f2846

Andrea Thompson
LiveScience Staff Writer
LiveScience.com
Fri Mar 28, 9:01 AM ET

It may not sound like a classic Saturday night blow-out, but at 8 p.m. on March 29, millions of people around the world will turn off their lights to celebrate Earth Hour.

This event, sponsored by the WWF, a global conservation organization, is intended to increase awareness of global warming and spur action to combat the issue.

The movement began last year when the WWF asked residents of Sydney, Australia, to turn off their lights for an hour. So on March 31, 2007, 2.2 million people and 2,100 Sydney businesses turned off their lights. Even icons such as the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House went dark.

Electricity in many cities and countries is powered by coal-fired plants that produce carbon dioxide, the most important greenhouse gas that human activities emit into the atmosphere. The WWF estimates that if the greenhouse gas reduction achieved during the Sydney Earth Hour was sustained for a year, it would be equivalent to taking 48,616 cars off the road for a year.

The event has expanded this year to include cities in other countries, such as the United States, Canada, Denmark, Israel and Thailand. Chicago will serve as the U.S. flagship city for the event, with Atlanta, Phoenix and San Francisco joining it as leading partners in the endeavor.

Individuals can sign up to participate on the Earth Hour site - so far 240,000 people have signed their support of the event. Celebrities such as singer/songwriter Nelly Furtado and the band Fall Out Boy have pledged to turn out their lights, as have the Phoenix Suns and Chicago Cubs.

10 Ways to Green Your Home
www.livescience.com/environm...home.html

Timeline: The Frightening Future of Earth
www.livescience.com/environm...line.html

What's Your Environmental Footprint?
www.livescience.com/triviagreenerfuture/

Original Story: Lights Out Globally Saturday Night for 'Earth Hour'
www.livescience.com/environm...hour.html

Visit LiveScience.com for more daily news, views and scientific inquiry with an original, provocative point of view. LiveScience reports amazing, real world breakthroughs, made simple and stimulating for people on the go. Check out our collection of Science, Animal and Dinosaur Pictures, Science Videos, Hot Topics, Trivia, Top 10s, Voting, Amazing Images, Reader Favorites, and more. Get cool gadgets at the new LiveScience Store, sign up for our free daily email newsletter and check out our RSS feeds today!

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 0 replies

healing ceremony

2008-03-29T06:32:40Z

this is an interfaith healing ceremony.,...feel free to use it. just give me the proper credit. it is my words, errors and all

SERVICE OF HEALING
M = Minister; C = Congregation;
________________________________________
As the service commences, we quietly sit in meditation.

Solar Energizing Meditation

Find a comfortable position. Breathe in slowly. Close your eyes. Relax your body, beginning with your face; imagine the breath traveling throughout your entire body. Allow your breath to relax your forehead, relaxing all your tissues, and slowly working its way down to your feet.

As your entire body relaxes, focus your attention around you. Imagine yourself standing outside in a bright sunny day. Let the warm sun cover you from head to toe, making you feel warm and very calm.

Allow this gentle warmness of the sun massages your arms and hands, making them feel very light and airy. Move the sun’s energy down your chest and into your stomach; making this area feel very peaceful and calm.

Now take another deep breathe, again feel the warmness traveling down your entire body. Focus your attention on the back of your spine. Imagine the energy of the sun working its way down your spine.
Feel the energy of the sun in the spine spreading out throughout your body.

Allow your spine to become long, and extend downward. Feel the energy traveling down your spine and down to your toes. As your body is covered with sunlight, imagine all things you wish to energize in your life. Just imagine whatever it is you need revived and let the sun infuse with energy.

Once more let the sun light cover your body, giving you endurance and vitality. Feel yourself become alive and awake with the sun’s energy.

Now, just relax and enjoy the energy vibrating throughout your entire body. Breathe in deeply and repeat the process of energy moving throughout your body. Now on the count of 3 slowly open your eyes, 1, 2, 3,

Minister: Peace and love be with you, from Mother Goddess, the Protectress, and Guardian
C : And also with you.
M: Give thanks to the Mother Goddess, who is good, whose mercy lasts forever!
C: They cried to the Mother Goddess in times of trouble, and she rescued them
M: Mother Goddess sent forth healing and save them from despair.
C: Mother Goddess sustains them on their sick-bed, and serves them during illness.
M: Mother Goddess is my strength and my song, and has become my light.
All : Give thanks to the Mother Goddess who is good, whose mercy lasts forever!

All sit.

A poem is read to inspire and invoke the energy of healing

A cure for the broken
A word for the lonely
A light for the darkness
That consumes us
Let our eyes open
To witness the beginning
Of a new day

A Prayer is spoken responsively. All pray together.

Great Mother Goddess
For your mercy we seek
the tools and wisdom
to heal through these times
let our hearts, mind and bodies
become the instruments
of balance and perfect harmony

A brief sermon on healing:

Helper asking for Help (Poem)

In this room of darkness –
I seek the answers
I look for light
But I stumble to find
The words
I know not how to ask
For guidance –
I’ve been the light for others
Now I’m lost
I pray for a kind soul
That sees through me
But I’ve buried myself
So deeply in others –
That I’ve lost myself
I pray
Find me
Let me know what to do
Let me see clearly
So I can continue to serve....

Many of us find ourselves constantly involved in helping others. Either we serve as helpers in the form of being parents, friends, good neighbor or spouse. However, as we often help others, we forget to help ourselves until we encounter some type of illness that forces us to look at ourselves. Let us remember to always keep a balance between helping others and helping ourselves. Remember, if we are not healthy we are often useless to serve.

The Litany of Healing.

M: For those suffering from illness: grant the power, to turn sickness into health and sorrow into joy.
C : Heal us, and make us whole, Mother Goddess
M: For those in suffering distress, sorrow or pain: grant mercy, relief and a renewed life. Help them find in their strength and calm.
C : Heal us, and make us whole, Mother Goddess
M: For those who serve to heal others: bless and guide them through their work. Grant them wisdom and skill, sympathy and patience in working with others.
C : Heal us, and make us whole, Mother Goddess
M: For family and friends: grant them resilience, patience and faithfulness. Let you love and light guide them through times of darkness.
C: Heal us, and make us whole, Mother Goddess
M: For the dying: grant them peace and a holy death. For their loved ones: grant them Your Spirit's grace and comfort.
C: Heal us, and make us whole, Mother Goddess
M: For those who are broken within: mend their broken lives, and create new beginnings. Give comfort to the worried, direction to the confused, serenity to the angry and your love to the lonely.
C : Heal us, and make us whole, Mother Goddess
M : Let us offer our prayers by name before Mother Goddess

At this point, those at worship can offer their prayers aloud by just giving names, or by giving asking specifically what is being prayed for.

Minister shall close with this prayer:

Divine Goddess
forever guardian of those that seek her wisdom
hear us on behalf of those who are ill
with your blessings and guidance
restore health upon them
allow them to be in complete balance
So blessings be

Laying On of Hands/Reiki treatments

The Minister laid both hands on each person's head, and say:
M: I lay hands on you in the Name of the Mother Goddess asking her that your body and spirit be made whole, that you be granted the victory of wellness and peace that will empower you to serve her.
Person: Amen.

Members who do not come forward pray silently for those who do come forward.
At the completion of the laying of hands the people who came forward return to their seats.

Closing blessing

M: Go forth into this broken and hurting world with the blessing of the Mother Goddess Go forth and bring healing with you wherever you go!

C : So be it

Music is played

© copy write 2008 Rev.R..Castro

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 3 replies

An Inconvenient Truth Presentation

2008-03-21T05:16:28Z

Other Worlds of Wonder Sponsors
An Inconvenient Truth Presentation
By Official Presenter Ezra Eckmeyer
Sunday, March 23rd @1 P.M.
Multnomah County Library, Midland Branch
805 S.E. 122nd Avenue Portland, OR 97233
Raise your awareness, and discuss strategies each of us can be involved in to address global warming.

This is a fund raiser for Pagan Land
Donations gladly accepted
Questions owoworg@hotmail.com or visit www.owow.org
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posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 3 replies

BLessings to Ostara

2008-03-21T04:20:04Z

I am sharing thsi gift I got with you all....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k54cn1gbIyI

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 2 replies

Old Basic wicca 101

2008-03-19T14:43:32Z

http://tribes.tribe.net/nycpaganwiccans/thread/9903602e-bc2c-4538-8582-bd6b1e84dbc2

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 0 replies

Intro basics to Thelema

2008-03-19T14:42:34Z

http://tribes.tribe.net/nycpaganwiccans/thread/30ae4fa7-bc21-4f6a-908f-3cd9fb56e878

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 0 replies

fall classes

2008-03-15T02:42:10Z

I will be doing classes again starting in the fall 2008. If folks are interested in being placed on a mailing list, please email me off tribe.

classes will be in:

Intuitive Tarot
Reiki (level I, II)
Intuitive Development
Chakra Reading
Channeling
Practical Wicca

a schedule will be available after June 2008. Classes will be held in NYC.... small groups 4-12 students only!

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 0 replies

How one becomes a witch......

2008-03-15T02:38:15Z

I was wondering - is it natural or learned ? Wisdomatic Emotions from Within' ? Powerful ? Learn me the just and let me feed you thy soul.

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 20 replies

old full moon material

2008-03-14T20:23:31Z

http://tribes.tribe.net/nycpaganwiccans/thread/954c7b84-37db-435e-86c9-e1c67590633c

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 1 reply

Newbie

2008-03-14T19:42:03Z

So now I'm trying to figure this whole new universe and I'm not sure about some of the terms or what they mean, etc and I don't know where to look.

I have a massive Amazon order that I'm hoping to finalize tomororw, and I'm hoping to drive up to Salem, MA (I live near Boston) and hunt down some guidance, but I'd like to know some of the basics.

Whats the difference between Witches, Goddesses, Faeries, etc. ?
What books are recommended? This is the list I have right now. Do u have anything to add or maybe some of them aren't worth the time?

-Aradne's Thread: A Workbook of Goddess Magic - Shekhinah Mountainwater;
-The Holy Book of Women's Mysteries: Feminist Witchcraft, Goddess Rituals, Spellcasting and Other Womanly Arts ... Complete In One Volume - Zsuzsanna Budapest
-The Grandmother of Time: A Woman's Book of Celebrations, Spells, and Sacred Objects for Every Month of the Year - Zsuzsanna E. Budapest
-A Wisewoman's Guide to Spells, Rituals and Goddess Lore - Elisabeth Brooke
-Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner (Includes Author's Book of Shadows) - Scott Cunningham

I'm not finding a 101 tribe.

Thanks in advance.
Stephanie

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 6 replies

old material on becoming a witch

2008-03-14T15:46:17Z

http://tribes.tribe.net/nycpaganwiccans/thread/eed33518-9524-43c2-bfa4-fd00f86af829#ac2c3423-5a81-4702-ada1-e8cadad63587

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 0 replies

we have new folks...

2008-03-08T17:22:01Z

We've had a few new folks join the tribe...

some with amazing backgrounds...creative, artistic, poetic, magickal, spiritual and more...

tell us about your world...what does your spirit like...

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 2 replies

Parade for Preservation of Religions of the World

2008-03-08T12:22:15Z

http://www.protectreligions.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=30

Demonstration and Parade for Preservation of Religions of the World during Papal Visit to United Nations (& Yankee Stadium) in April 2008

http://protectreligions.org

1) United Nations, April 18th (Fri), 2008, 10AM - 1PM (Parade from UN to Gandhi Statue at Union Square Park)

2) Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York City, April 20th (Sun), 2008, 1PM - 4PM

Context:

Religion is the one of the most potent forces shaping world affairs. This has always been the case, but it is particularly true right now. Much of the charity as well as the strife in the world today is inspired by religion.

When religion can be such a force for love, compassion and spirituality, why is it also such a cause of strife and war? One specific aspect of some religions is the root cause of the problems: exclusive truth claims which teach that other religions are false and have to be eradicated through conversion and even killings.

Rabbi Harold Kushner summarized the "Only my religion is right" phenomenon as:

"There's a sense that in order for me to be right, everyone who disagrees with me is wrong. It makes religious interfaith cooperation more difficult. If I believe that, I have to believe that other people's religions are worthless, invalid."

"You have to understand that religion is not about getting information about God. Religion is about community. The primary purpose is not to get us to heaven but to put us in touch with other people. I can have fierce loyalty to my family without denigrating other people's family. I can have fierce loyalty to my own religion without denigrating other people's religion. In the same way, my neighbor can say that his wife is the most wonderful woman in the world. I can take that as a statement of love, not fact."

Diversity is the rule of the creation. Only in diversity can the human mind survive. Such diverse religions as the Hinduism, Zoroastrians, the Baha'i, Gnostics, Romuva, Druids, Slavic and Wiccans, the indigenous religions of Africa, Americas and Australia; Buddhism and Jainism and the ancient and subtle I-Kuan Tao, all are faces of a grand prism expressing their understanding of creator and his creation that unites every human being, nay every creature and the creation itself.

But a great amount of this diversity was destroyed and continues to be destroyed by religions professing exclusive access to the mind of God and labeling all other spiritual traditions as evil. Though there are agreements and disagreements among religious philosophies, a very few religious groups express their intolerance to the extent of destroying other religions in order to establish their exclusivist truth claims beliefs. The degree of violence and hate perpetrated by such religions during last two centuries has been colossal in the history of mankind. Mahatma Gandhi called the religious conversions conducted by missionaries who convert and spread hate as the deadliest poison that ever sapped the fountain of truth.

During World Congress for Preservation of Religious Diversity in 2001, Swami Dayananda Saraswati said that the ancient religions of the world have become like endangered species. However, he said, unlike the endangered species, we can confer and therefore come together to find out ways and means to see that diverse religious traditions are saved. Conferences held by organizations such as ICCSUS, World Congress of Ethnic Religions (WCER) are helping to bring together traditions across the world. The Papal visit to United Nations provides the cultures of the world a great opportunity to bring international attention to the threat of religious exclusivism and its consequences for the world religions and humanity.

What is being planned? The plan is to do a Demonstration and a Parade during Pope's visit to UN on April 18th (10AM - 1PM) honoring native cultures of the world and highlighting each culture that was destroyed and the atrocities committed. The parade will include banners, posters and dramatizations, prayers. The parade will start at United Nations and will proceed through the middle of Manhattan in New York City and end at Mahatma Gandhi Statue at Union Square. We also plan to meet United Nations Secretary General to present our case. The message is not against Christianity, but against the practice of intolerance under the mask of exclusive faith claim which happens to be the root cause. We plan to highlight the works of eminent thinkers such as Mahatma Gandhi who stood against religions conversions and intolerance. Mahatma Gandhi, who is greatly revered in the West stood for brotherhood among religions. (Note: Similar demonstration and parade will also be held in front of Yankee Stadium, New York on April 20th, 1PM-4PM).

Why is this important? History showed to us that change never happens by itself. It requires a collective and determined action to bring about that change. Today, most conversions activities are planned, executed and supported by funds from the West, particularly the United States. Many times they are contributed by unwitting church goers who have little idea as to what their contributions are causing. The Roman Catholic Church along with various Protestant and charismatic groups are the prime movers of the global conversion enterprise. Media management by the Church promotes the image that missionary activity simply is spreading a gospel of love and compassion to the unfortunate peoples of the world. There is no public voice for the victim's story.

Why now? The pope's visit to UN attracts worldwide attention, and we plan to use this occasion to present the victim's side of the effects of missionary activity. Through this demonstration and parade, we plan to bring international attention to the relentless onslaught of religious conversion activity, what it has done and continues to do to the cultures of the world. Our goal is to create a counter discussion to the whole missionary activity, to raise awareness that this activity has a dark side.

Who is organizing this activity? The initiative to hold a demonstration and parade was started by a small group of individuals representing various native cultures. The word spread around the world through internet which resulted in tremendous response from various native culture groups around the world. This is sponsored by 'World Congress of Ethnic Religions'.

What you can do?

Join Demo/Parade: We earnestly request the various cultures of the world to take part in the Demonstration and Parade to present their case. This is a rare and unique opportunity that should not be missed because it gives exposure to World community the need for preserving all the cultures of the World. Register at http://protectreligions.org
Endorse us: We request every organization that support this cause to endorse this event for preserving cultures by sending email to protectreligions@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Include the name of your Organization name along with a comment on the reasons why your organization support this activity. Endorsement can also be done at website http://protectreligions.org.
Sign Petition: Sign Petition to United Nations Secretary General at http://protectreligions.org. Contact members of your organization and friends to do the same.

What arrangements are made?

For those attending from outside NY area such as from out of state or country any required hosting and transportation arrangements can be made upon prior communication to protectreligions@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Bus arrangements can be made for within NY Tri State area, if needed.
All the required signs, banners will be prepared by volunteers but the participants are encouraged to bring any such material they have for the event.

Each native culture participants are requested to participate in their traditional attire.

For more information.

Web: http://protectreligions.org

Email: protectreligions@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Phone: 847-462-4692

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 2 replies

More water element stuff...

2008-03-06T03:39:28Z

Some fun links

http://www.getpsychic.com/html/pisces.html

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 1 reply

Happy B-day Pisces friends...

2008-02-27T18:23:18Z

To all my fellow pisces...happy b-day

My B-day 3/4

All those fish in NYC..send me an email...

posted in ♥ New York City Pagans ~ Witches ♥ - 0 replies