Comments on: Being Wiccan Can Be A Challenge

By: Sitara Haye

Sitara Haye — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:44:02 +0000

I’m so glad you enjoy the site and that it makes you laugh AND think. That’s the goal. As the word spreads, it seems more folks are finding this site for similar reasons. I’m pleased to be of Service and am sure in my heart that the blessings I need to continue to do Her work are on their way.

By: Myrna

Myrna — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:13:28 +0000

I’ve read over this particular article several times now as it made me feel so much on several different levels. I am not new to life, or to seeking spiritual enlightenment, but have come back to Wicca time and again. I seem to get discouraged by all the mystical rantings that do not seem to apply to me as I am your average hardworking American trying to make a happy living, find meaning to life and beyond. I visit this site almost daily as I find your rants and HA-HAs funny but also thought provoking. I particularly like how you apply this path to the challenges of daily life. Your thoughts, wisdom and guidance helped me to reconsider that not all on this path speak in tongues. ;o)
All I can say is thank you and may you receive back in abundance, all that you give.

By: Sitara Haye

Sitara Haye — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 04:24:35 +0000

The coin and candle image is good for explaining ANYTHING in which a molehill is made out of a mountain. We can’t wrestle that shadow for all we’re worth — it’s completely illusory. But we can reach down with careful hands and pluck that coin away from the flame and realize the smallness of the thing once we face the shadow it casts. I hope you get some good mileage with the explanation with your students. It’s even better if you can get them in a dark room and demonstrate it. Hits home much harder.

Please feel free to pass on my website and encourage them to interact here with their comments if it won’t interfere with their studies. If nothing else, I hope the things I write can provide springboard talking points for other groups to use. Blessed Be!

By: Sitara Haye

Sitara Haye — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 04:16:49 +0000

It’s natural for the emphasis on Death to be there… it’s a big “looming question” and huge lesson. But again, it’s just a threshold, not even a room in the house, for Goddess’ sake! It’s important, vital, necessary, but also very unnatural for us to weight it with more significance than Nature teaches. Nature doesn’t give Death a fanfare! Death simply is — part of the whole. Whenever I find myself lacking in wisdom for how I should practice my path, I look at Nature and THAT is the final authority in my book.

By: Colin Bondi

Colin Bondi — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:54:22 +0000

Lovely insightful article, thank you. The call for balance seems to be a never ending tightrope to walk. What attracted me most to this path was its focus on life and the natural cycles of it. In my other main spiritual tradition, Buddhism I also feel like there can be an over-emphasis on death and I agree we must not ignore or deny it but to me being alive is about being alive so celebrating life should be first and foremost. The wheel of the year is certainly an excellent way to do that as is every moment of every day. I love the symbolism of the wells…….
thank you
In gratitude
Colin

By: Millie Fee

Millie Fee — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:01:04 +0000

Your ritual should be nothing more than the heartfelt permission for that soul to leave in Love with no regrets. If it soothes you definitley light the Candles of Rememberance and celebrate the memories of that life by sharing…that is called a wake. If it is comfort and re-assurance for your loved one, be truthful, ask them what they want; what will bring them the most comfort and feeling of security; and do that. There are 2 sides that are going to be represented-the living left behind, and the departed. Each sides needs need to be addressed.

By: EileenDalla

EileenDalla — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:07:25 +0000

Thank you for this Millie, if you don’t mind, I am going to copy it and put it in my Book of Shadows for future use.

I don’t think my friend was so much afraid of the actual moment of death as she was of getting from here to there. What I was looking for was a ritual or some way I could help ease that fear and bring her a small amount of peace in the time she had left. A way to prepare her spiritually for the transition.
I thought about trying to write the ritual myself, but I am still working on understanding this Mystery of Life and Death and don’t feel I know enough to take on that responsibility.
I guess dying is just one of those things each of us has to face in our own way. As you say, in the end it is the same for all of us and we eventually find the peace we seek.

By: Kalamar Nur

Kalamar Nur — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:58:42 +0000

Very good article, for sure sparkled some ideas concerning life 7 death and everything in between. The coin and candle image is specially powerful, I will use it with my coven quoting where I got it from.

Blessed be!

By: Millie Fee

Millie Fee — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:17:55 +0000

Unfortunately very little if anything at all has been written. Death has always been one of “those subjects” that are never likely to be addressed until the act of death is demystified. And since our mainstream society is not likely to do that, the lack of information in this area is going to continue.
Many of my neighbors here pretty much give me a wide path to walk-alone. Mainly because of what has led me to be here. My major career in life after getting out of the service, was the medical field. And my specialty was hospice. I worked in that field and TBI’s (traumatic brain injury) telemetry, but I found my path doing so.
It was my absolute honor to be allowed to bring comfort and peace to those that were in the process of seperating from their physical existance. The dying taught me so much about the act of living. There is where the problem is. Dying is very, very easy-it’s living that ia hard.. Death is the simple act of the body shutting down. It starts usually where it is weakest, and the process goes from there. Anyone going under anethesia knows what the first initial moments of death are like for your brain. And it happens that quick. The spirit or soul, is released, in most cases anywhere from 1 hour to a few seconds before the actual death occurs. And if you are observant you can see when it happens, because the body seems to deflate a little when it does. But in most cases if you look at the person who is dying, you can see that there is a transparency, like there is a seperation in the body, that is in process of occurring. That is the final act when we shed the shell of our body to part the veil and cross the threshold to Summerland. Is it painful? Well I can’t honestly speak for some but for those that I took care of, the pain mostly came from unfinished business here. The human body can only stand so much pain before it’s natural band-aid, (shock) sets in and numbs the majority of it. Those that die from disease or old age have an advantage over those that die suddenly. They are allowed the difficult task of putting their affairs in order, and it is never easy or fair. But do not despair! I have seen some of the greatest acts of love, forgivness, peace and happiness, and understanding, come from the process. And those gifts were given to the living from the patient as they were dying. It’s absolutely one of the most powerful teachers I have ever learned from. The desperate fear that the majority of humanity feels about death is a natural instinct. That is the desire to live within our shells-or bodies. That was put in place to ensure that we stay here and choose life and continue on the Cycle of Life, and not to desire death. It’s a stop-gap, nothing more.
When you demystify the act of death there is 2 seperate actions that are occurring at the same time.
1. The physical act of the body shutting down and dying, just like every other organic organism in its life process. and
2. The act of the soul shedding the body and crossing into Summerland.
Neither is unnatural or hard. Just be calm and loving and know……it’s going to be alright and there is nothing to be frightened of.

By: Avren

Avren — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 04:41:05 +0000

I have something to share on this topic. As a solitary there are more than a few “friends” that don’t know my path. On a very sad day for a friend of mine, I opened up and shared this with him. By the way it was harder than I thought to decide to tell him, however; I did it because of what he told me. His cousin who was about 20 was staying at my friend’s mother’s house. He had been going through some hard times but no one expected what he did next. To set the stage, his mothers house is THE meeting house for the entire family. It’s small and old but “home” to every family member. One day while everyone was at work he walked out onto the back porch and with his uncle’s hunting rifle, committed suicide. He was there about 8 hours before my friend wandered around the house and happened upon a scene too horrible to imagine. He was beyond shattered. He was haunted for two days before I finally talked with him. When I saw the look in his eye, I asked him how HE was doing. He started talking, and talking. When the story was done he looked at me and said, my Mom had a dream about Matt last night. He was telling her goodbye, and that he was sorry but he had to go. When she awoke it was dawn. Her window faced the back lawn where his body had lain. When she looked out, a beautiful buck was standing where Matt’s body had lain. He turned his head and looked at her then slowly walked away. She told my friend that she felt comforted but couldn’t explain why. As I listened to this tale goose bumps raced up and down my arms. I settled the debate in my head and told him some of my path’s belief on the Stag and his significance. I told him to take this information and feel comfort, or he could toss it out the window. It was his to do with what he will. He is still a friend, and we have never spoke of it again. I prayed it was right and I hope he gained some comfort. I was terrified he would reject me and most importantly any comfort or closure he might have gained from what I told him. This path IS difficult at limes and the Well of Distance is at times a comfort and a curse. As for the Well of Death, it is a part of our cycle, nothing alters more profoundly. However while I show Death respect, I don’t want her/him (pick your god or goddess here) to pay too much attention to me. *Smile*