If you have cats or dogs and get fleas, I recently read that Lavender gets rid of them. I guess you cold do a spray bottle with water and lavender mix to spray, room or pets?? Whatta ya'll think?? laters..Jasper Hawk at your service...
I just joined yesterday. I wrote the two posts, one agut kids, and one about how I became a Witch. Feel free to email me if you wanna talk. I"m Jasper Hawk @ mrteacher38@aol.com I'm an ex school teacher and a really dedicated witch. I did a cool Esbat last night, and Drew Down the Moon, as it was a Full Moon. Also, we couldn't see it here, but it was a Lunar Eclipse yesterday during the day. The other side of the world was privy to a full moon lunar eclipse. Is that cool or what? Well, email me soon. I haven't met anyone on this site either. I kinda like this place! Jasper
I was a public school teacher for many years, and I strongly believe that our children are literately our future. We have to be so very carefull what we teach, and model. I believe in being completely open and honest, and answering every question truthfully. I also know that what we say and do strongly affects their minds and ultimately who and what they become. I think we need to remember to praise them every day. Find something positive to say before any negativity or opposition to thier behaviour, or any other hard life lessons. Guide, be truthfull, and protect, but be honest above all. If we don't educate them, they'll go find it somewhere else, and then we can't affect what they believe, which may be important to us! If they know they can come to us with anything, then they will trust us. And, please, if their beliefs differ from ours, at least listen and honor them. They are our future, and they will not always turn out the way we want them to, or how we did. But love them for who and what they are, remembering that we face opposition as witch's every day, and they face opposition daily as well. School makes it so very difficult for them socially. They must conform to their peers at times and this may have difficult lessons inherently. Also, have very high standards when it comes to thier education, and remember, in my opinion, that it's ok if they turn out smarter then us, or different than us, or even just the same! Blessed Be, Jasper Hawk
When I was a young child, I went to Church all week. I believed in the Church, and put my hopes and self into it. My maternal Grandmother was a devout Christian and had had a Near Death Experience when she birthed my Mother. She led me there, as well as my mother. I imagined it to be the place where I could “belong.” I met people who I felt shared some of the same ideals and values I had. It engendered great feelings, such as trust, and hope. God was supposedly way out there, but I could talk to him if needed and this was a very important to me. I went through a really difficult childhood. It was traumatic. But the church was there, I thought, to help me through anything. I had dreams of becoming a pastor some day. As time went by, however, I began to realize that I was different from the other boys. It all came crushing down on me as I entered puberty, and began to realize I was attracted to my same sex. I didn’t say anything to anyone, and began to pray to God to take this away from me. As I listened to the messages from my Pastor, over time I began to believe that according to Christianity, I was condemned to burn in the fiery pits of Hell with Satan, and there was nothing I could do about it. I couldn’t change my skin color, I couldn’t change my eye color, or my height, or any other physical aspect about myself, and I couldn’t change my sexuality either. I began to understand that this “family’ I’d found was against me in a way I could never change or control; in such a basic and profound way. There was no way out of this hole I was in. I was doomed. It was a Catch 22! So I stopped going to church. I felt when I needed it to be there for me in the biggest way; it turned its back on me. Being “Gay” was really only a small part of who I was, none the less, it was big enough! Please don’t misunderstand. I don’t blame anyone for this; it was just my personal experience. And importantly, this is not why I am a witch, but merely one of the things which turned me away from Christianity.
As I became an adult, I took with me some of the good things I’d learned from Christianity, like “do unto others...” and “have faith.” The past runs deep, as they say. But in truth, my faith began to wane. I went down a hard road. I was a rebel.
Almost at the end of my rope, in 2002 I almost died of a pulmonary embolism. Making it through, I felt more alive than ever. I had my own Near Death Experience, and as a result I began studying everything I could about religions of the world. Then, by divine order, I discovered witchcraft. I began feverishly reading every book I could find about witchcraft and Wicca. I read so many books I couldn’t even count. I have a degree in English and had been a teacher, and I love to read. I had some time off work, and finally really took the time to read what I wanted to, and as a result I found myself. As I read, I felt like I had come home. Here was a religion that didn’t judge me, and didn’t believe in Hell. I was able to talk to a Goddess and God who were right here; immanent. I reaffirmed my belief that to be a good person was a good thing and that I was responsible for my own decisions in life, no one else. I didn’t need to worry about someone coming to my door to preach, or having to go have to go to someone’s door to push my religion down their throats! This was the “original religion,” that existed way before the one that had “condemned me,” and I realized I had found my home. This is brief, but it is part of what led me.
Later, as a result of my studies into the metaphysical, I realized I had powers to help people psychically, and I began reading the Tarot, using the Pendulum, as well as giving cold readings for people who asked. I am able to help them with their health and their lives in a positive manner. In a reading I received for myself, for a reputable psychic, I even learned I had been a witch in a previous life, so I was only coming home! As new doors opened to me, I continued to trust my faith in the Goddess, and I began to speak to her every day, many times a day, and she listened. Today, I create sacred space, where I can work to help others and the earth. (I grew up on a farm, and I have always had a love of mother earth and father sky.) Wicca offers me a responsibility to the earth. I focus on Spirit in nature as a source of meaning, as our society can be so draining. I ask for Love and send out Love every day, as I feel Love is the “language of the spirit world.” I actually met a spirit during a meditation. She was just as real as you or I and her message was love, and so is mine. I do many other things at my altar. I am a solitary witch. I celebrate the Sabbats. I talk to the Gods, and I occasionally do simple magick spells. I am very positive and avoid negativity as much as possible. We are all part of the Divine, and I know that in our past, many prejudices have prevailed, like against women, against witchcraft to name a few. But, Witchcraft made it through the tough times, as have many of us! I continue to build my spirituality. To me, the Craft is my religion. It is my inner peace. It is my way of life. I believe we create our own reality, with our thoughts and words and am committed to creating a positive reality, where all things are worthy of care and respect. I believe we need everyone’s traditions, so as to help us remember our own. Ritual is very important to me. It helps keep me centered, and focused on my path.
Witchcraft is not for everyone, but it is for me. We all have our own feelings about The All, God and Goddess, and religion. Unfortunately, many people are still don’t realize what Witchcraft is. Many equate it with Satanism, but witches “don’t believe in Satan, as it is a Christian concept.” (This is not my original thought, or concept, I have read it so many times, in so many books, but I believe in it strongly, and will give it credit to the book, Pagans & Christians, The Personal Spiritual Experience, by Gus Di Zerega, PH, D)
So many people live in fear and this saddens me. Also, it is my hope that in time, many people will realize witchcraft is a positive religion, and will be more accepting of others.
This is a short explanation of what Witchcraft means to me and is in no way complete! I hope it has been enlightening, and that those who read it will know me a little better. Blessed Be! Jasper Hawk, mrteacher38@aol.com
[b][/b]Well, I am new too....Just found this site and am disappointed by the lack of traffic on the site. This seems to be set up fairly well, but is not being used..
I will continue to check in to see what's happening.
The Eternal Fyre is an online pagan community where pagans from all over the world meet and interact, featuring free online courses in tarot magick and kemeticism. All paths welcome!
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