Friday, May 11, 2012

The Pagan Blog Project: Jewelry and Judgement

So... am I the only one with either of these?

It is typical that, when something is a big part of your life, you tend to be proud of if and want to show it off - you know the deal. Well this applies to myself and Paganism; I am proud to be who I am, I am proud of what I believe, and I also happen to think that I have the right to be proud of it.
Therefore, I try to always wear my pentacle necklace, and sometimes my pentacle earings.

 Above: one necklace pendant I own
(NOTE: although these are not MY images, the resemble exactly what I have)
Below: necklace and earings I have

Who would think there was a problem with that? I'm not trying to rub it in people's faces, and I'm not wearing it for any reason or person other than myself. I wear it to remind myself of the Law of Three, I wear it to help myself think clearly and have a pagan mindset throughout my day.

BUT.
(Of course there was a 'but' coming) Since I started wearing them, it has typically prompted questions from others who don't know what it means. No problem, and I try to answer... however, every time 'Pagan' comes up, their perception of me seems to chance. In their eyes, I seem to either turn into a tree-hugging, pot-smoking hippie, someone belonging to a cult, or someone who worships Satan and is therefore evil or insane. All common perceptions. And all unfair perceptions, as most of us don't fit those stereotypes.
I have become, within my school, "the freaky witch girl" because someone thought being Pagan meant worshiping Satan and practicing Witchcraft, and the word quickly spread.

In a different situation, a Christian boy (I am not say this could be said for all Christians! Just this one I met) at a volunteer RDA (Riding Disabled Association) I went to for a while, asked what the sign meant. As soon as the word Pagan left my lips, he accused me of devilworship and witchcraft. After that, he wouldn't come near me...
And though I can't remember why, I remember I'd given up trying to talk to the group of people and was leaving, and this boy, who had so promptly judged me, attempted to scewer me with a pitchfork from behind!


Not only did it hurt my body, it hurt my mind. What sort of world do we live in, if a boy litterally attacks a girl (with a pitchfork!) for her beliefs?
This judgement is not fair. It is not kind. Yet it still exists.
I've been told, "just don't wear the necklace then!". But WHY shouldn't I? I have a right! Just as any Christian has the right to wear a cross. Just like any Catholic is allowed to wear their Saint Christopher. The fact that simply wearing a necklace, that my beliefs, could have me attacked, shunned, and victimized is despicable. What is wrong with the world?

Further more, in my school: no jewelry is permitted, except in the form of a religious symbol. Christians may wear crosses, Maori's may wear greenstones, and Catholics their Saint Christopher, etc. etc. BUT whenever a teacher spots MY religious symbol, I am told to either remove it and put it in my bag, or be sent home and have a detention. How is THAT for biased?


So, here is my message. Be proud of who you are. Stand up for yourself, and don't be afraid to tell people what you believe.
Wait - isn't that exactly what I just said got me bullied? Yes it is. BUT (always with the "but"s!) if enough of us are doing this, and enough of us are strong enough, eventually the word will get out, and eventually we will be counted. Don't back down - don't let the teachers tell you that you don't have a right to show your beliefs if others can. Just be strong.
We cannot let the world think they can shun us, and put us down. We count as much as they do.

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Friday, May 4, 2012

The Pagan Blog Project: I DO believe in faeries, I do, I do

Well if you watched Peter Pan at all, you may have heard this before.
The question is, DO you?
There is an uncountable number of Pagan religions, each with their differences - and believe it or not, some of them really do beleive in faeries, some worship them, and then there are those that don't. That's okay, we can all still get along right?
Now, I'd like to point out that no matter which path you follow, (unless your path is entirely centered around them) it is not neccessary to beleive in faeries, no matter what someone might say. As I've said before, you can't force yourself to believe something.
First, I'd like to make a little note on the spelling. As with magick, I like to spell it the more uncommon way, "faerie" as opposed to "fairy" simply to distinguish between fiction and... religious belief.
It is common for Heathen's to believe in the fair folk, or the fey (faeries), as well as in many other cultures and religions. But then, whato or who are they exactly?
There are naturally various answers to this question. Usually, people envision small people of great beauty and magic... But sometimes they are simply spirits. The most general idea is that they are, well, fair folk - they can't lie, they are beutiful in their own form (not neccessarily to humans standards of beauty), and they come in many forms. Pixies, imps, brownies, nymphs, and fire, wind and water faeries... And they can be quite tricksy too! Should you offend or dishonour one, they are said to take their revenge, none too kindly. It is also a thought that you can only see them if either you believe them, or if they want you to see them. And don't forget of course, that they possess magick.

Personally, I'd love to believe in faeries! (Even if they could be pesky). Though, I have always struggled to believe what I cannot prove for myself, and as I have never seen a faerie...... But I can dream right? So, just to be on the safe side, I try to think of them from time to time, perhaps honour them by putting a little honey on a ledge by the garden?
For all I know they very well could be invisible to those who don't believe. Honestly, I think if the fae are out there, they are wandering spirits... humans in their true, etheral form.