Atypical Veterans Day Blog

Why atypical? Because I wonder how many of our Pagan brothers and sisters are serving in silence. Because I wonder how many of our military brothers and sisters would harm them for their religious belief. It took until April 2007 before the US Government was FORCED to recognized Pagan soldiers with appropriate grave markers. Grave markers!!


Okay, call me nuts, but isn't what is put on someone's grave marker the final honor we give them? Were I Christian I certainly wouldn't want a pentagram on my grave marker, any more than were I Wiccan would I want a cross! Ughh. That this would even need debate amazes me.


And to take this thought one step further, how many Pagan soldiers are being given the opportunity for corporate worship should they choose? Not many. Why? Because the overwhelming number of Christian ministers in the military refuse to offer it. So the Pagan soldier is left to his own thoughts, choosing who he/she comes out of the "broom closet" to for fear of retribution by Christian superiors.


So then what do we do? We give vocal support to Pagan Soldiers. Find the organizations who are providing legal and moral support to these men and women and get involved. The least you can do is get involved in petition drives! Many sites have lists of Pagan soldiers to whom you can write and encourage.

So, to all vets, thank you from the depths of my heart for your selfless service. Whether one agrees with war or not, it is the soldier who deserves our gratitude. To the families of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, thank you. You have our thanks and our prayers. And to our Pagan brothers and sisters, may you find you do not have to serve in silence any longer.

The veterans are the foundation of our country.

A Ripple In The Water

Hello Gentle Readers...
My partner and I have been attending a UU church in town the past couple of weeks. A friend who is Pagan spoke yesterday about her journey from a fundamentalist family to her life as a Pagan. It was incredibly interesting and I found myself hanging on every word and hanging on the edge of my chair.
This is some of my story, as well, minus the amazing education to which this woman has had access. I began life in the United Methodist/Congregational Methodist church and through many incarnations of religious thought have found myself on the door of Paganism. It is a long and thoughtful journey.
During my friends talk, she discussed the tenets of Paganism: "An' it harm none, do as ye will." I've always considered this the main thought in earth-based religion. Don't harm the environment, for it is Divine. Don't harm another, for they are Divine. And start with don't harm yourself, for you are Divine. One thought was that if one thinks ill against another it, by expense of energy, affects the other. Our energy enters this sphere with each action and thought. So if I think or harbor ill against another, I affect their lives. And in turn, this can affect the lives of others: the ripple in the water.
But, while we were discussing this concept, another woman spoke up and made this an even more important thought. She reminded us all that just as ill begets ill, so love begets love. If we chose to take that affect and turn it for good, we engage the ripple affect for good! Yes! This is that upon which we must focus! Returning good for evil. Changing what we feel by using our Divine nature and making the choice to be well and happy. We take that which would ruin us and use it to become even more Divine!
Oh my, what a revelation! We do not, as Divine Beings, have to simply take what is poured out on us by others with suspect intentions! We can choose to be Divine. I cannot tell you how this affects me! When my day at work is difficult, I can choose to be happy...and in that happiness and joy, overcome the evil or dark that would take my joy!!!!
I know this is rambling, and I apologize. But my mind is running in fast forward over this concept and truth. I hope you catch the enthusiasm this has brought to me and allow it to flow all over you! You can change your life. You can change your world. And you can overcome that which would hold you back!
Thank Goddess!