Pagan Blog Prompts: Witches And Warlocks, Pantheons,and the Wiccan Rede (LBE)

I know I've already done two posts today, but I wanted to do a post for a couple of the prompts from the Pagan Blog Prompts blog, so...

Prompt: Witches and Warlocks
""Some men who are wiccans are reclaiming the name "warlock" in the tradition of women reclaiming the name "witch". Warlock is commonly said to mean oath breaker. What do you think? Can it/should it be reclaimed?"

I'd like to add:
Wouldn't it make more sense to have all Witches be called Witch, no matter their gender? Why do we need the distinction between males and females that practice magic?"

(Prompt for 21/7/2011).

I've always considered male witches to be just that; male witches. I accept that in nature there are mascaleine and femaneine aspects to all things - there has to be for life to continue (as a general rule anyway) - but I, personally don't feel that there is any need to differentiate in this case. At the end of the day though, it's up to the individual, and if some men wish to be refered to as warlocks, well that's up to them.

Prompt: Pantheons
"Do you have a specific pantheon (group of gods/goddesses) that you are particularly drawn to? Which deities do you work with the most?

Why do you think you are drawn to these over others?

If you don't work with a singular group, which group(s) are you drawn to, and how do you decide which to work with for any given situation?"

(Prompt for 16/6/2011).

The God or Goddess I use depends on what I'm doing. I decide on the ritual or spell I intend to do, and based on that I then make my choice about which God and/or Goddess will be more appropriate for my chosen ritual or spell. If the ritual or spell I decide on already names an appropriate God or Goddess then I will simply use those. If I'm not sure which is appropriate, then I will look it up, or simply use the generic terms of "God/Gods" and "Goddess/Goddesses" for whatever I'm doing.

Prompt: the Wiccan Rede
"While I know some of you are not Wiccan, I do know that lots of people follow a 'golden rule' of sorts. Do you follow the Wiccan Rede ("And it harm none, do as you will.")? Or some variant of?

Feel free to share a story from when following this rule made a huge impact on the outcome of an event..."

(Prompt for 27/5/2011).

I follow the Wiccan Rede, because it makes sense to me to do so. I believe though that all - or, at least, most - religeons have some varient of the rule about harming none, so it doesn't matter whether you follow the Wiccan Rede itself, or just follow that one golden rule in a way that is appropriate for your own beliefs. For example, the ten commandments are, in a way, a form of the same golden rule... They're all about not harming others, treating others as you would like to be treated yourself, etc. Well, that's basically what the Wiccan Rede is about too. Like I said though, I personally follow the Wiccan Rede.

The Wiccan Rede
(Full Version - taken from here)

Bide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.

For tread the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.

Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.
Honor the Old Ones in deed and name, let love and light be our guides again.

Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane, and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.

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 North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.
When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.

Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God's insight.
Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.

Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.

Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.

Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.

Elder is the Lady's tree burn it not or cursed you'll be.
Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.

As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it's now Samhain.
When the time for Imbolc shows watch for flowers through the snows.

When the wheel begins to turn soon the Beltane fires will burn.
As the wheel turns to Lamas night power is brought to magick rite.

Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.
When the wheel has turned to Yule light the log the Horned One rules.

In the spring, when night equals day time for Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached it's height time for Oak and Holly to fight.

Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.
Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you'll be.

Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you'll know.
When you have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.
Merry Meet and Merry Part bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow.

Be true in love this you must do unless your love is false to you.
These Eight words the Rede fulfill: "An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"

Yesterday and today

Well, it's Friday again and I've finally finished listening to the Harry Potter audio CD. So, since I've finished it I've started listening to an audio book called 'The Pearls Of Tessa Kent'. Still haven't finished the other book that I'm reading though.

Kero's enjoying having Jayde staying with us. In fact, even the cats (including Chance) seem to be enjoying playing with her.

Speaking of Chance. Chance has started going outside now. He doesn't go any further than about two feet away from the window, but at least he's gathered up enough courage to go that far, eh?

I spent most of yesterday out of the house. First I went to town with Elizabeth and Mam, then I walked Willow for my Mam, then I walked all the way home, then I took Kero and Jayde for sevoral short walks throughout the evening. So, if I don't loose some weight after that I will be very surprised.

Anyway, I didn't go to pool last night. I told my brother and my Mam that I'm not going any more. I'll go for a few games with them from time to time, but as they don't need me to make up the team any more, and as I only intended going just for a night out and not to compete anyway, I decided to stop going with them.

Today I've been spending time with the dogs and also had to reformat Kelly's PC and re-install everything because the stupid PC wasn't working..... again! Hence my lack of post yesterday since my PC was busy 'trying' to install the new patch for World Of Warcragt. And I do mean TRYING (it's still not done).

Well, that's about it, except... if you can't read the writing on the picture I posted today today today then I advise that you click on it to enlarge it, because it's worth reading.

Oh yeah, by the way, the estimated due date for my Godchild (Elizabeth's baby) is December 15th 2006. My Mam hopes it will be four days late and be born on her birthday (December 19th) but I hope it isn't because it would be nicer for the kid to have it's own birthday and not have to share it with someone it's going to have a lot to do with, if you know what I mean.

Tori

Pool, pets & Potter

Well, it's Saturday evening and as you've probably noticed I've been neglecting my blogger a bit these past few days. Oops!

Our pool team had a team meeting on Thursday. We're only just getting off the ground so we're just sorting things out right now. I'm a bit annoyed though because I was told it would be just once a week and wasn't pleased to hear that it's to be Mondays and Thursdays. I mean, yeah, I like playing pool, but at the same time I agreed to join the team when it was once a week and was not happy to be told otherwise.

Anyway, we've been having some beautiful weather and Kero and I have been really enjoying it. We've been out as much as possible (especially the last two days) and to be honest, I've really enjoyed it. I'm sure the excercise is doing me some good too!

Chance still doesn't want to go out, but I'm not going to force him. He's taken to stretching out on the windowsill in the afternoons and sunbathing. lol!

I'm about two thirds of the way through both my Harry Potter audio CD and the first book of Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events. I bet you're wondering why I've got both on the go at once, right? Well, that's because I like to listen to an audio book (or a story on CD) before I go to sleep and I also like to take a book with me whenever I go out, so, I've usually got the two on the go at once. And sometimes - like if I forget to take a book with me and go buy a new one when I'm out - I'll end up with two reading books on the go so will have three stories on the go at once. And, yes, I do manage to keep track of what's going on in all of the stories (before you ask).

Well, that's about it I think.

Tori

From Thursday to Friday

Well, that's that then. My exams are over with and I have to wait until August to find out how I did. Everyone keeps asking me how I think I did, but as I keep telling them, it doesn't matter how I think I did, it's how the people who mark it think I did that matters. Good point?

Anyway, that's Kero's grooming session over for another three months too. I love when he's freshly groomed. He's so handsome and white! And he smells lovely! It's just a shame he's not too good at staying that way, isn't it? But then, he wouldn't be my Kero if he stayed clean all the time, would he?

I did pretty good with pool last night. I mean, I wasn't the best played there, but I never said I was a great pool played, I just said I liked to play. Either way, I played in six or seven games and out of those me and my partner (we were playing doubles) won three games. So, like I said, I did pretty good. Especially when you think I've only ever had the odd game here and there with relaxed rules. Anyhow, we're making a team and playing once a week. For now it will be on a Thursday, but the night might change if we find it doesn't suit everyone.

It was VERY hot here again today. Apparently it's not just my imagination that it's getting hotter. I wish it was though.

Kero and I went out for a walk and after a bit we were joined by a certain black cat. That's right, my Sakura. I swear she thinks she's a dog, because she was walking along beside Kero copying what he did - except when he was scenting stuff - and even panting along with him. I know some of you will find it hard to believe that the cat came for a walk. I mean, you should see some of the people's faces when they see me walking along with a dog and a cat strolling along beside me. So, I took a couple of photos. Yes, the ones in this post.

Got some laundry done today so that I don't have to worry about it tomorrow. Didn't have much to do though, because Kelly did a load for me yesterday while I was out. I just hope he knows how much I appreciate what he does. I put the stuff out on the line today - for a change - and it didn't half dry quick! I swear I've never seen clothes dry so fast before in my life! At least, not when the clothes are outside on the line anyway, lol!

OK, Nan, so, there's just one 'e' in 'shepherds' pie. Fine! But, what if I wanted two of them? Maybe I just like the letter 'e'. lol! Seriously though, I did think I'd spelled it wrong, so, thanks for telling me how it's meant to be spelled. After all, we both know that I can't spell to save my life, don't we? LMAO!

By the way, isn't this photo of Kero (the one to the right) lovely? I took it while we were out today. Not bad for a photo taken with a phone's camera, eh?

It's really noisy here tonight. But, it always is on a Friday night. See, the people who live above me have a baby (I think she's about four months old now) and on a Friday night the baby's grandmother has her and they have a party. I never get an invite thoug *sulk* Anyway, they can get a bit noisy sometimes and it's quite annoying, but I don't want to complain to them, because I figure it's not worth the hastle. Still, it's only been once or twice in the whole time we've been here that the noise has gotten a bit much. Last week - for example - I had an early night, but I ended up being woken up after only a couple of hourse because of the noise. And let me tell you, waking me up is not an easy task! But, like I said, it doesn't happen often. If it happened a lot though, I would complain about it.

Anyway, it's pretty close to midnight, so, I'm going to go watch some T. V. while I wait for Kelly to get home (he went to see X-Men 3 with my brother, Wayne). I would go to bed, but he's left his key at home, so, I can't go to bed in case I fall asleep and he can't wake me up. After all, Kero's not exactly going to be able to open the door for him. I bet Sakura could if I left the key in it though. Ok, maybe not, but give her long enough and she'll figure it out!

Oh yeah - in casre you were wondering - my sunburn is healing nicely. It's not sore at all any more and I'm actually keeping a bit of colour on my shoulders for a change. Normlaly as the sunburn heals I go back to being white, but I'm not this time. Do you think maybe it's because I don't really get much of a chance to stay out of the sun? I dunno. Either way, it's a good thing. I think it is anyway.

Tori

VERY warm Wednesday

It's been VERY HOT here again today, even with the fan (which I am REALLY glad we have). I swear it's getting hotter as each day passes! Anyway, I haven't really done much today because I wanted to have a relaxing day since tomorrow is going to be so busy for me and yesterday was busy too. Besides, it's too hot to do much!

Speaking of tomorrow, I dubt I'll be on to blog tomorrow, because I have a day that's about as full as they get. I have to be able to leave the house just after 9:00 am so I can give Kero a long walk before we get on the bus about 10:00 am to get him to the groomer for his 11:00 am appointment. Then I'm going to my parents' plade for lunch. Then I have my other exam in the afternoon (so Mam is fetching Kero from the groomer and taking him home for me). After that I'll just have time to go to my parents' place and eat the dinner my Mam will have ready for me before Mam, Wayne and I have to head to our pool games which we will be going to once a week from now on. Anyway, by the time I get home I'll be pretty much crawling in to bed.

Anyhow, back to today....

I just got back from taking Kero for his last long walk. Not his last actual walk, because he's going to need to go out again before bed, but his last walk where he gets to run around loose in the park. He's had two walks like that today, each one lasting almost an hour. We also played football in the garden for about half an hour this morning and both enjoyed ourselves. I took a few photos and did mean to post them with this, but they are still on the camera and I can't be bothered to fiddle with it right now. lol!I'm cooking dinner while I'm writing this, so, it's taking me quite a while. lol! I wouldn't normally bother with a cooked dinner with this heat, but I know if I don't make a cooked dinner then we will end up picking at treats and that's not good for us, is it?

Anyway, in case you are interested in what we are having, we're having sheepherds pie and beans. Yeah, I know, it seems like we always have beans, but this time it's not because I couldn't be bothered to make anything else, it's because the sheepherds pie is just about done and I just realised I never put the veg on. So, beans it is. LOL!Well, I think I'll call it a day here and concentrate on sorting the food out.

Tori