Pagan Children and back to school

It is that time of year again, when children head off to school. Depending on where you are from they may have all ready started. School can be an exciting time at the same time a feeling of dread may fill your child. A new teacher, maybe some new class mates, maybe worrying about a bully. Pagan children can also face some discrimination for their Religion not being understood. So misunderstandings can happen. I think that it is a good idea to role play some of these situations that may come up with your child, so they have an idea on what to say.
    An example in my life was my daughter a few years ago was in a conversation with some other children who were talking about God, my daughter at the time was in grade 2 said don't forget about the Goddess. Now I will admit I had not prepared my daughter at that point on what to say because it never occurred to me that children this age would have this conversation. My daughters remark caused the other children to tell her that I as her mom was going to hell, and going to be eaten alive. She came home in tears as you can well imagine. She also had nightmares for a while. So after that we talked about what to do in certain situations, and how to defend herself verbally from a verbal attack.
One of them went something like this.
person/child : There is only one God and anyone who believes anything else is going straight to hell
daughter: Everyone is entitled to there beliefs. (walk away)

My daughter how ever the defender of innocent people has also said well there are loads of other religions and that is okay, or I don't believe in a place called hell so I can't go there.

There may come a point where if them being Pagan becomes a big issue that you are going to have to step in, by going to the school to address this issue. The same thing if your child wears a Pagan symbol to school and is told to take it off. That requires swift action to the school. Now if you have to go to the school go in with a plan, and try to be calm and polite going in like a crazy person will not get you any where. Walk in with a copy of your Bill of Rights. Canadian Bill of Rights. Discus with the teacher or Principal if you are comfortable with it about addressing your child's class, or suggest they have a day were they learn about different religions.
  As your children get older they will start to learn how to handle situation's about Religion and when saying nothing is the best choice. As they grow they are going to need you to lead them in this, by example and by conversations.

Before your child leaves in the morning a good ritual is say a prayer for protection and understanding. With your child (depending on the age of course older children can learn to do this on there own) have them envision a white light of protection. Have them focus on this light growing and surrounding them, have them ask for the Gods and Goddess's protection through out the day. I tell my child to have a blessed day before I leave from dropping her off. With practice your child can learn to envision the white light of protection again later in the day if they feel they need it.
    School is hard enough, children will learn lessons, make mistakes, and have rough days. If you keep an open dialogue going with them. They will tell you about the day they had. When bad days happen (unless it is a bullying issue, or something more serious) just be an ear for them, comfort them, and above all make sure that home is their soft place to fall.

Have a Blessed Day
)0(

Pagan Veiling, and head covering

There is a huge controversy regarding Pagan women who choose to veil, and the reasons a Pagan women may choose to veil are many, and the way the choose to veil are numerous. I don't really want to get into all that in this post. Instead I feel that explaining myself and only myself is a better idea.

It started out as inkling, just a feeling that I should veil/head cover. My first thought was this is ridiculous Pagan women don't cover. So I ignored it for I don't know how long. Then the feeling became more of a calling. Yes Pagan's do get callings from the Gods, and Goddess. Still my reaction was but Pagan women just don't do this! Then it became more of a screaming in my face. So I thought what the heck and started researching. I was flabbergasted, Pagan women do veil!!! Still I had to think about this, so I continued to research. One of the first things I read that really hit home was for some head covering help keeps the head chakra clear, and keeps down the noise. As an Empathic person this sounded fabulous!! Then the more I read about women (and some men) feeling called from the deities, it didn't feel so strange to me anymore. I didn't feel like there was something so called wrong with me.
   So I started, it felt fantastic to finally answer the call so to speak. I also did find that it kept the "noise" down. I am pretty new to veiling but have done it everyday since I started. I choose to cover not only my head but my hair as well. I am a pretty modest person, so this felt right for me.
   I am in no way saying go cover your hair, I think that every person regardless of religion has to do what is right for them. I think it is sad that there are so many people Pagans included who feel the need to judge another person. Paganism is about finding your self and individuality. That is the great thing about it, and there are so many paths to choose from.
   It is not my place to judge someones spiritual path because everyone has a unique way of getting there, and finding themselves. As I get older (early thirties now) I feel I am starting to find myself. I found my spiritually in my teens, but it has only been in the last couple of years that I am really finding my path and way. As part of my journey I have choose to veil, it was not forced upon me, I am not oppressed. I have found great comfort in my religion. Have really started to listen to the calls of the God's and Goddess's. Finding your path and what is asked of you by the God's and Goddess's and finding your way can be a frustrating and yet an amazing journey. It may not take you the places you think but it will take you the places you need to go.
Have a Blessed Day
)0(

What is an Eclectic Pagan?

ec·lec·tic

 

adjective

1.

selecting or choosing from various sources.

2.

made up of what is selected from different sources.

3.

not following any one system, as of philosophy, medicine, etc., but selecting and using what are considered the best elements of all systems.

4.

noting or pertaining to works of architecture, decoration, landscaping, etc., produced by a certain person or during a certain period, that derive from a wide range of historic styles, the style in each instance often being chosen for its fancied appropriateness to local tradition, local geography, the purpose to be served, or the cultural background of the client.

noun

5.

Also, ec·lec·ti·cist   . a person who follows an eclectic method, as in philosophy or architecture.

ne·o·pa·gan·ism

 

noun

a 20th-century revival of interest in the worship of nature, fertility, etc., as represented by various deities.

Also, Ne·o-Pa·gan·ism. 

If you look just Pagan up in the dictionary it gives several meanings that don't really relate to what most Pagans are such as Godless, or a person who is uncivilized which just is not true when talking about Paganism. So neo-paganism is basically the up to date term.

So that's all fine and good but what in the world does it mean??? Well pretty much what is sounds like an Eclectic Pagan does not follow "one" Path such as Celtic or Druidism, or Fairy.  So as an Eclectic Pagan I find bits from each and make it my own. You have to feel comfortable with your spirituality and most Pagan's have done this through out history you take a piece from here or a piece from there and make it work for you. That is the great thing about Paganism is that yes there are not necessarily rules per say, but a code of ethics that most Pagan's take as truth such as "harm none". So most people's paths especially those of a Solitary Pagan are pretty Eclectic. Now just like in any religion, or spiritual practice you will come across people who say no it absolutely has to be done this way. There is no point in getting into an argument about it. Just smile and move on. 

    You have to find ritual's and a way of doing things that work for you! I have said it before and I will say it again. There is no right path, just the path that is right for you!!!! The God's and Goddess's are not going to be mad at you if you don't put a candle on the alter in the so called "right" place. Being Eclectic means that you may hear about something, wish to learn and study it, decide that it feels right in your soul so you incorporate into your practice that is fine. Don't sweat it! 

  Follow your heart and you will find the Path that is right for you, whether it be Eclectic, Druid, Celtic, Norse, Greek, Wiccan, Fairy or the many many more out there. 

  Study, learn and it will come.

Have a Blessed Day!!! )0( 

Blue Moon tonight August 20th

That's right folks tonight is a Blue Moon. Well it's not really blue, and it gets a bit confusing as This is the first full moon of August. Technically it is a Blue Moon.
From Space.com
"When the moon rises Tuesday night (Aug. 20), it brings us the August full moon and in addition, it will also technically be a "Blue Moon."
"But wait a minute," you may ask. "Isn't a Blue Moon defined as the second full moon that occurs during a calendar month? Tuesday’s full moon will be the only full moon of August 2013. So how can we call it a 'Blue' moon?" find out at http://www.space.com/22404-blue-moon-science-august-full-moon.html

F.Y.I   A full moon is a good time to do rituals surrounding letting go!!!!

Pagan Prayer

 

(Prayer Art work copy written to Tracy Hughson)

Do Pagan's Pray??? I have been asked this question a few times and the simple answer is I pray and most Pagan's I know pray. Most people I know incorporate prayer into to there life some way or another. As for Pagan's some I know pray only during ritual, some I know pray daily, some on Sabbaths, some only when they feel they need to due to some circumstance. I pray for pretty much all of them. Now some people have a calling for a particular God or Goddess, or several so they have prayers based around there deities. As I have not had a particular pull to one deity or another some might wonder who I pray too?
   When I pray depending on how I am feeling I will pray to Dear Mother and Father, Lords and Ladies, or to the God's and Goddess's. My prayer ritual depends on time, mood and what I am praying for. I have a book of prayers that I bought that I use, but I also just at times say what is in my heart. There doesn't have to be a huge ritual around prayer. I do have an alter and at times I will sit in front of it meditating or praying for guidance. I also have prayer beads that I carry around with me that I use for prayer. I find for me it helps to bring into the moment and focus on what I am praying for. You don't necessarily need any of those things to pray. Some times bringing it right down to the bare bones and praying gives you strength you may need.
   What to pray for? Well lets see you can pray in times of need, or just when you want something. I find it nice to pray for the Earth, or just to give thanks. An evening prayer of thanks before you go to bed can some times just help you refocus and realize that yeah some good stuff did happen today. I also pray for those who request it, why should it matter who you are praying to? If a friend is in need and they ask for prayers I don't think they will care which God or Goddess you are praying to, just that you are praying for them.
  Praying can also help you feel closer to the energy that is the Gods, and Goddess's. It is not real important when you pray (unless it is a ritual with set up guidelines|) just that you find comfort in doing it. It should not feel like a chore.   

                                                              My Prayer Beads!

Websites with some prayers to get you started. Sometimes though the best thing to do is to go to google and type Pagan Prayers or Wiccan Prayers. There are a lot out there if you look. Plus you can be more specific such as Pagan Prayers for Strength or Prayers for Pagan Children. Have fun, and have a Blessed Day


The Wiccan Prayer Book  (This is the Prayer Book I own, it is a link to it on Goodreads.com so if you are interested you can get a little synopsis of the book.)
About.com Pagan Prayers for all occasions
Daily Wiccan Prayers
The Wiccan Way

Hello and Welcome

Welcome to the Solitary Eclectic Pagan!!!! I know I said something similar in my about me area but I will expand a little more here.
   I am in my early thirties mother to one very amazing child. I am sort of a jack of all trades but call myself a mother first and artist second. I was in my teens when I started to discover Paganism and Wicca. My mom just about had a bird.  She eventually came around when I was in my twenties and started to ask more reasonable questions about my spirituality. I wouldn't say I follow one specific God or Goddess, or one specific tradition hence Eclectic. In my home we call them Mother and Father, or God and Goddess. We do acknowledge that there is more then one I just don't follow specific ones. I know people that follow Poseidon or Thor, or Dianna but I have not had one call to me to say over the others. We Pray regularly in my home, I have an Alter, we acknowledge the Sabbaths but don't necessarily adhere to strict rituals surrounding them. I am a modest Pagan as well, and I head cover (veil) this is a newer practice for me. I will get into that at another time.
 As for my daughter I am not trying to lead her one way or another when it comes to her spirituality I feel that it needs to be her choice, it is something so personal I don't feel it is mine to make for her. I think as she gets older she will know what the right path for her is.
   So there it is my blurb and first blog post.