The Wiccan Rede

Bide the Wiccan Law ye must
In Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.
Live and let live -- Fairly take and fairly give.
Cast the Circle thrice about, To keep all evil spirits out.
To bind the spell every time, Let the spell be spake in rhyme.
Soft of eye and light of touch, Speak ye little, listen much.
Deosil go by the Waxing Moon, Sing and dance the Witches Rune.
Tuathail go by the Waning Moon, Chanting out the baneful tune.
When the Lady’s Moon is new, Kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the Moon rides at Her peak, Then your heart’s desire seek.
Heed the Northwind’s mighty gale -- Lock the door and trim the sail.
When the wind comes from the South, Love will kiss thee on the mouth.
When the wind blows from the West, Departed spirits have no rest.
When the wind blows from the East, Expect the new and set the feast.
Nine woods in the cauldron go -- burn them fast and burn them slow.
Elder be the Lady’s tree, Burn it not or curs’d ye’ll be.
When the Wheel begins to turn, Let the Beltane fires burn.
When the Wheel has turned to Yule, Light the log and the Horned One rules.
Heed ye flower, bush, and tree; By the Lady, blessed be.
Where the rippling waters go, Cast a stone and truth ye’ll know.
When ye have and hold a need, Hearken not to others’ greed.
With a fool no season spend, Nor be counted as his friend.
Merry meet and merry part, Bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
Mind the Threefold Law ye should -- Three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow, Wear the blue star on thy brow.
True in love, ever be, Lest thy lover’s false to thee.
Eight words ye Wiccan Rede Fulfill:
An’ it harm none, Do as thou will. 

where there's a will, there's a way!

The Nevada State VA has decided that since the cemetary in which Sgt. Patrick Stewart is buried is not a national VA cemetary, the pentacle is allowed! Way To Go, Nevada!

This is what I like to see in the papers and hear on the news. This is what America is all about -- democracy, freedom of expression, freedom to believe whatever you feel is right for you. End war, end violence, end oppression of people everywhere. Sometimes I wonder why we can't all just get along; but then I am snapped back into reality by the fact that the world will most likely never be a perfect place, because humans in their nature are imperfect. I hope, however, that this silly war in Iraq over oil and terrorism is DONE WITH. And that the future generations will learn from such horrors and NOT repeat history.

And that brings up something else, too, something that I feel I just have to rant about -- the Pope and his crazy comments on the Islamic religion!!! Is he trying to start Armageddon??? I swear, with all this back and forth and talk of jihad, etc., they're pushing us closer and closer to it every day. But no worries, before Armageddon can begin, according to the Bible, several things must occur -- one of them being the appearance of the Anti-Christ, whom everyone will believe is the true Christ. Nobody like that has shown up yet, so we're all safe for now.

As if we have time to worry about trivial stuff like the end of the world. I prefer to live in the here, in the now. For example, this morning I am typing at you from the lovely Sweet Corn Capital of the World, Hoopeston, Illinois. We (Rod, Deb, and I) rolled in around 10pm local time, got all our night time stuff out, made our beds here at WitchSchool, and now Rod is on the computer in the office and Deb is sleeping away. Tomorrow morning at around 10 we're on the road again, headed for Madison, Wisconsin. Rev. Pete Hertzberg, one of our Distance Shrinekeepers, has invited us out for Madison Pagan Pride Day. Before that we're going to meet everyone from Northern Lakes Formal Distance Shrine; I can't wait to get to know them!

Earlier today I spoke with my paternal grandmother, told her about this weekend's trip. She inquired what we were going to Madison for, and I told her so. She didn't seem all that enthusiastic; but she wasn't a raging lunatic to "save" her beloved granddaughter, either. I told her I was also a member of the Clergy, and she gave a noncommittal, "Ahh, okay." So much the better for me.

At least she's not like my dad, who is still not willing to admit that his only child, his little girl, is all grown up. I'm not going to apologize for who I am, but I am sorry for the way he is deciding to ignore that part of me, or treat it as a funny hat that I wear. Face it, Daddy. Your little girl is all grown up. Your punkin-pie IS a Pagan, IS a Wiccan, IS a Witch, IS a proud member of the Correllian Clergy. I AM Reverend Elizabeth Hamilton, Maiden Priestess of Heritage Nativist Temple, and I will be ashamed for no one. I will hide from no one. This is my life. This is my path. I can't change that anymore than I can change the wind's direction.

And for anyone else who has any problems with who and what I am, I have an old saying that fits perfectly: If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.

By the way, readers, whomever you may be... I love comments. I love questions, and controversy, as long as it remains FRIENDLY.

An' it harm none, do as thou wilt.

Bachelor of Dark Arts

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?in_article_id=18382&in_page_id=2

This post is in response to the kind folks who decided to add comments. My comment is too large to fit on that site, so I decided to post it here.

Hail and well met!
First I would like to say that I agree with Lh of London in that "Wicca is a spiritual path you are drawn towards and follow, learning as you go." However, I must DISagree with her in that "this (the personal connection to Wicca) is something that cannot be taught or appreciated over the internet". This is because for myself, and many others such as myself, it has been an amazing experience. I first began at Witchschool with my studies, and then did end up finding a realtime mentor within the Correllian Nativist Tradition; my studies have furthered from there.

There are thousands like myself that use WitchSchool as it was meant to be used -- a learning tool. Does it replace a real-time teacher? No, of course not. The First, Second, and Third Degree courses are meant to be taken over quite a lengthy period of time; but this does not prevent those who wish to learn for the sake of gaining information from doing so. I would also like to say that the Correllian Nativist Church International, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in the United States -- its only affiliation with WitchSchool is that WitchSchool provides a way for the Correllian course materials to be disseminated. Out of thousands of initiates, we have about 40 in our High Priesthood -- that is to say, those who have been initiated into the Third Degree of our organization.

Secondly -- Karl of Los Angeles, California. Karl, as I have previously stated, the Correllian Nativist Church has about 40 High Priest/esses in our entire Tradition. It is a fact that those who wish to become Third Degree MUST take several, in-person intensives, as well as complete MANY other requirements, before they will be initiated into the High Priesthood of the Correllian Tradition.

Now let me address Stephen of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. "What if that person was not "stable" or worse a sexual predator", he asks. This is why the Correllian Nativist Church DOES have background checks performed for those who wish to become Clergy within the Correllian Nativist Church -- ESPECIALLY Third Degrees. There are also several other steps designed to weed out those who are "unstable" or who may be sexual predators. The church does not hesitate to contact appropriate authorities if a sexual predator (or the like) is suspected. Please do not confuse us with organizations that would give their membership -- especially our Clergy -- the "rubber stamp", because this is simply not so. I do not appreciate comments that are downright false -- such as those you have made regarding our policies on accepting individuals into our Clergy.

And finally, Kasha of Newcastle. I understand that many Traditions do not like the idea of "celebratory Wicca" -- that is to say, those who come to circle and celebrate as often or as little as they have the time/money/resources/desire to do so. My question is, why reinvent the wheel? Why put restraints on who can call themselves "Wiccan" and who can't? It is my personal opinion that doing so pushes thousands away from a wonderful spirituality that ANYONE ANYWHERE can practice. Are you God/dess? Certainly not. So why do you think you have the authority to tell those who have NO desire to become initiates that they CAN'T be Wiccan? The fact is, you can't; because as it has been noted by other commenters, belief comes from WITHIN. Religion is not a cloak which you can put on and take off at will; it is not jewelry that one simply has because it "looks cool" or is "in style".

That is all I have to say on the matter. Nobody can tell another that they AREN'T something; that is the greatness of what we call personal religious and spiritual choice. If you BELIEVE you are Wiccan, then you ARE Wiccan, and that is the bottom line.

Blessed Be,
Rev. Liz Hamilton

Ideas, ideas, ideas.

Hey everyone... thought I'd give a little 'update' while i'm feeling in the mood for it.

First, the Pagan Headstone Campaign. House Majority Leader John Boehner has promised to stay involved until the case is completed.

Second, my new job! I had an interview at 7pm yesterday and it went quite well -- short and sweet.

Third, Lustration is coming up in Septemper and we're all so excited here. There is so much work involved in getting everything together for it. I can't wait -- it's such a big event for Heritage Temple to be hosting! Truly an honor.

Fourth, college! Yes, I start college in autumn; my first year of paralegal studies. I hope all goes well.

Fifth, I'm in need of a car. Yes, means of transportation would be WONDERFUL. Please send positive energy for this endeavor in my direction; thankyou, to whoever reads this.

That's all for now.... Blessed Be.

boo!

buwahahaha, me in a pretty maroon shirt, and wearing my pentacle.

Pics ^.^

pix pix pix... here's one that isn't too terribly dreadful.

initiation

greetings again, one and all!

this time i'm here to tell everyone of my soon-to-happen coming of age ritual... though i myself am not too sure of its details, the rudimentaries are simple... a ritual in which i will be, by the Correllian community, recognized as an adult and thus be given higher responsibilities.

the vision quest, as the CoA ritual, is another very private ceremony in which i will hopefully find my name... and through this, an outward symbol for the community to recognize me by, that reflects my true name but does not give it away -- the true name is sacred, and not to be given to anyone lightly; ritually it is known only by the individual and the individual's sponsor.

then will inevitably come initiation/ordination. But that isn't for some months yet; about six -- the beginning of September. i am at once thrilled and excited; i must continue to work on my book reports, autobiography, and first degree project... but i am confident that i will succeed.

Which Harry Potter Ship am I?