Pathways

I was just surfing the WWW when I found a story called Pathways. It touched me, because this is almost exactly the way I see the divine. It is not in any way meant to hurt or insult other religions, on the contrary! Just read it here and let me know what you think of it. Is this how you look at the divine?? I'd like to hear your opinion on the subject.

Online Imbolc Ritual

Last Wednesday I took part in an online Imbolc ritual announced on Pagan@OSN. I was curious and a bit sceptical before, but it was a very special experience. We met through Yahoo Messenger in a chatroom with audio. Glad I bought a headset some months ago! I didn't know how to use the mike, but I do now! I was nervous to speak English, but I did!
There was an audio guided meditation, which was beautiful. The circle was cast in written words; I spoke them out loud for myself. I was so far away from the rest, but felt really close! It was early in the evening for them, but 1am for me. After the ritual the energy was still whirling inside me, so I couldn't go to bed immediately. I got little sleep that night, but it was more than worth it!
Next time I'll make sure to be there again!

Belated Season's Greetings!

I finally have the card that Unicef Great Britain made last year with Rob's handwritten lyrics of "Angels"!! Unicef made it very difficult for foreigners outside GB. Only people from GB were able to order. If you paid with a credit card, the address of the owner AND the address to deliver the cards had to be in GB. Rob's fans worldwide were (are) eager to get hold of a pack. They could have made a lot of money for their good cause, but refused to be flexible about it. I wonder what Rob thinks about that...
A friend I know from the official forum had some spare packs and offered to sell one to me. Yayyyyyy, thanks sweetie! Here's a pic of the inside, with a little pic of Rob and the front (not made by him and I don't particularly like it).
I love "Angels"!!! Rob deserves to win the Brits 25 years Best Song Award with it. It's a pity a lot of people in the US only know the horrible version in which Jessica Simpson butchers the song. I can send you Rob's version, or better yet: buy his Greatest Hits album! Follow that link also to hear a sample of the best, one and only original of Angels (and samples of all the other songs on the album).

Reiki

First of all:
Happy & Healthy 2005 for everyone!!!

Last Saturday I had a Reiki practising afternoon. My Reiki master Percy offers those afternoons from time to time to practise on each other, talk about experiences, etc. My sister Joke and I did Reiki I in November 2003. We'll do Reiki II in March / April 2005. I'm looking forward to it, I feel I'm ready to take the next step. I feel at ease with Percy as my Reiki master; she's good and down-to-earth, not "woolly". This is her website (the English version).

I know Reiki works. I use it on myself, others and pets. I don't see it as a replacement for medical treatment, but it certainly is a great and healing addition. It also works very good to relax.

Do you know Reiki? What's your opinion / experience?

Blessed Yule

Busy Bee

I have been busy lately, still am actually.

The rebuilding downstairs makes progress again, finally. The walls are plastered in soft yellow, Havana Nuance Yellow to be precise. I love it! It looks great. Wanna see? (page 42/43, click under pic).

In the meantime a nasty flu got the better of me. I felt awful, tired, really sick. Last week I finally got well again, although I'm not too fit yet. A lot of people were surprised by this flu; Ron was, my mum and several others.

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Like I wrote before the busier time in the spiritual sphere has come too.

On November 6th I had a Samhain meeting with several witches from a pagan e-mail list. I was a bit nervous, hadn't met any of them before. No need though, it was a very nice group of people and we had a great day. We visited the Melchizedek Global Healing Circle that was nearby. I had a special sensation between two trees there; I could talk to my dad, who deceased in 1996, and I heard him answer. He is always with me (one of my spiritual guides), but this time it felt more deeply. I had to cry, out of happiness... I still miss my dad every day.

On November 7th we celebrated the first anniversary of the Witches Of The Rose. We went for a walk in the dunes and found a lovely place for our ritual. One of the girls shared some joyful news: she is pregnant! She did a fertility ritual several months ago. It worked super: she is expecting twins! We have adapted our Midwinter plans and celebrate Yule this coming weekend at her place.

On a shopping spree I found my pendulum! I used a copper one before, but it never really felt good enough. Now I have one of silver and hematite with an engraved pentagram. I have worn it in my bra for a few days to give my personal energy to it. I don't use a pendulum very often, but I'm happy to have found the right one for me. I also bought a new date book for 2005. This year I used Llewellyn's Witches' Datebook, for next year I have the We'Moon Sacred Paths Datebook.

November 27th there was a Full Moon meeting of Merry Meet (who also organize the witches' cafe) in Amsterdam. I attended a workshop on Druidism that was given by Torc (Dutch/English weblog). It was very interesting! After he told us about Druidism and the OBOD, we did a beautiful meditation. Afterwards we held hands and passed the energy. I picked up some energy and it made me feel better. In the evening we did a ritual in the Westerpark. Another wonderful experience!

Wow

I rarely post quizzes in this journal, but this one fits right in...

You Are From the Moon

You can vibe with the steady rhythms of the Moon. You're in touch with your emotions and intuition. You possess a great, unmatched imagination - and an infinite memory. Ultra-sensitive, you feel at home anywhere (or with anyone). A total healer, you light the way in the dark for many.

What Planet Are You From?

Religion & Murder

I'm shocked... A Dutch film director is killed because of his opinion about religions.

He wasn't my favourite, I didn't even like him or his opinions.
But this is the limit... beyond the limit and beyond me...
Murder and religion shouldn't go together like this...

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Gunman kills Dutch film director
Van Gogh directed TV series and wrote newspaper columns

Dutch film maker Theo van Gogh, who made a controversial film about Islamic culture, has been stabbed and shot dead in Amsterdam, Dutch police say. Police arrested a man in a nearby park after an exchange of gunfire.

Van Gogh, 47, had received death threats after his film Submission, on violence against women in Islamic societies, was shown on Dutch TV.
The film was made with liberal Dutch politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Somali refugee who fled an arranged marriage. Ayaan Hirsi Ali has been under police protection since the film was aired. She has also received death threats and has renounced the Islamic faith. Ayaan Hirsi Ali is an outspoken critic of Islam.

Eyewitnesses quoted by Radio Netherlands said Van Gogh was attacked while cycling by a man dressed in a traditional Moroccan jallaba.

Both the suspect and a policeman suffered bullet wounds and are now in hospital.

Van Gogh - who was related to the famous Dutch painter - had also been making a film about Pim Fortuyn, the populist right-wing, anti-immigration politician assassinated in May 2002.

source: BBC website
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At ease

I don't have a lot going on at the moment, but I don't really mind! I'm getting used to not having Ron around all day. He is enjoying his new job very much, but I miss him at home. Not that I'm complaining though! Our life has regained its regularity and that's good. I've done a lot lately that had to be done for a long time: sort stuff out, clean closets etc. I'm feeling more at home and at ease with myself.
The rebuilding downstairs has made a new start; I hope we can move downstairs before the end of 2004. I'm really looking forward to that. We had so many set-backs, it's about time! I have gathered all the pics (more than 300!) in an online photo-album, so people can see how far we are.

In the spiritual sphere it's a quiet time too, but a busier time is ahead. I don't do a lot besides lighting candles and other everyday-things. Last week in the Amsterdam Witches' Café we had massage for a theme. One of the regulars brought his massage-chair, so I took advantage of that by getting a wonderful massage. That was a nice treat!
The partner of one of the witches can make silver and gold jewellery. He is going to make a mould of a beautiful Spiral Goddess pendant. I'm going to order one in silver.

Muselog brought me something nice! Last week I got an e-mail from Wendy in Amsterdam, originally from America. She came across my log and decided to e-mail me. What a great surprise! So if you're reading this, Wendy: Thanks for your e-mail. I hope to meet you not too far in the future, in the Witches' Cafe or elsewhere!

On a funny note: last week I bought a pentacle pendant in a third-world shop. In the shop a lot of items are accompanied by a note with explanation. The note with my pentacle said (amongst other things) that it protects against.... witchcraft!! My friend and I laughed out loud. If only they knew... We decided not to tell them! *lol*

Thank Goddess!

Yay!!! Ron has a new job!! He is going to work for a VW-Audi cardealer/garage as head of the workshop reception. I know he has the skills and experience to make it a success. It is the job of the third interview last week. I guess the ritual I did has helped! This afternoon he'll be introduced to the colleagues and he'll start on Monday. He is a bit nervous, but that's quite normal. I'll light the green candle when he's left.

I regularly take part in rituals, meetings and the witches' cafe of Merry Meet, a pagan group from Amsterdam. For Mabon we went to the Amsterdam forest for a walk. The weather was good (the days before and after there was a lot of rain over here). We found a perfect spot (picture), where we made an all nature altar (picture). We did a simple ritual. I thanked the god and goddess on behalf of Ron and me for the new job, in words and by burying something in a special place (picture).

The Mabon ritual with the Witches of the Rose is cancelled. One of the girls got a surprise weekend-holiday to Sweden from her husband. The others and I will go for a walk in the dunes anyway and eat afterwards in the pancake restaurant nearby.

Preparing for Mabon

First a little update:
Last week (Sept. 8) I had my 36th birthday. I didn't celebrate or anything (no money), but I got some presents and a lot of cards and e-cards. I had a nice day. Unfortunately I'm not feeling too well these days, but that'll pass...
Ron hasn't got a job yet, but this Thursday he'll have a very promising 3rd job interview (the first one was right after the ritual I did for him). Fingers crossed, candle burning!

Fall Equinox / Mabon
I like fall. Getting dark earlier, the weather, the colours of nature, etc. My home is full of burning candles, it gives such a wonderful feeling. I do burn candles in the summertime, but that's different.
In a few minutes I have an online appointment (chat) with the Witches of the Rose. We are preparing for our Mabon ritual. I'm surfing the www and browsing through my own books and files to make a start.
How do you celebrate the Fall Equinox? Ritual, food, altar... whatever you want to share!

FantaMagic

Last Sunday my friend Monique treated me to a Fantasy & Magic fair called FantaMagic. It was in a big hall. There were a lot of stalls with all kinds of things that interest me: pagan shops, Lord Of The Rings, Fantasy, SF (Star Trek), etc. I had a great time! There was so much interesting stuff to see and do. Monique had her aura photo taken. At the end of the day I bought a little key ring of Bast, not too expensive and I love it!
During the day there were several performances on the podium. The Dutch Neo-Celtic band Omnia played two times. I like their music very much. If you're ever able to see or hear them, you won't regret it. Irish Dance Group "Kilkenny On Tap" did two amazing shows. It would be great to learn how to do that. There are classes in Haarlem, not too far from here; who knows, perhaps I'll give it a go.

Yay!

The ritual seems to work already. My hopes are up! Nothing final yet, but things definitely start happening!
Ron had another very interesting and positive job interview this afternoon. The company's boss called him this morning. It is a job he'd really like and a nice challenge.
He got a second call for yet another interview on Monday. Not for a specific job, but at a mediation office. The mediator found Ron's CV on the internet and seems very interested.
So... fingers crossed again! The green candle is still burning.

Job ritual

Last month Ron's boss went bankrupt due to a stupid action by the owner. It was quite a surprise and the news got even worse. He won't get much money from it. We haven't received any money since June and the reserves are going down fast... The bank is very understanding but still, the mortgage has to be paid. So he is looking very hard for a new job. No luck yet, but tonight at 8.30pm (CET) he has a very important job interview. I'm thinking about doing something while he is there. I'm looking in books, on websites, in my own archive. I still have trouble to write something from scratch, so I like to have something to begin with to make it my own eventually. Tips are welcome!

UPDATE
Well, I did it! I've kept it simple. A lot of green on the altar (cloth, candle, incense + burner, etc.) and on me. In the middle of the ritual I carved runes in the green candle and lit it. Then I wrote something down about Ron and the job, lit it with the candle and burned it in my cauldron to send it to the gods. Meanwhile I meditated on Ron and a new job, said some things aloud. I'm content. It felt good. Ron came home and told me he had a very positive feeling about this job interview. We'll see, I believe in a good outcome!

Museum of Witchcraft needs help

URGENT APPEAL ON BEHALF OF THE MUSEUM OF WITCHCRAFT

On 16th August 2004 the Museum of Witchcraft in Boscastle (Cornwall, UK), which holds one of the most significant Pagan and Witchcraft collections in the world, was seriously damaged by flash floods which have devastated Boscastle.
Graham King and all the Museum staff are safe. The building is still standing, but there is serious damage to the collection. We will not know the extent of this for a while yet.

The Museum is appealing for help from the Pagan community. They would like to assure all their friends and supporters that the Museum will be back.
The friends Of The Museum and the Pagan Federation Devon and Cornwall are co-ordinating the appeal for help. Two kinds of help are needed:

Donations
If you are able to send donations, please make them payable to: Pagan Federation Devon and Cornwall and send them to: PO Box 314, Exeter, EX4 6YR, UK. Please send cheques, postal orders or IMOs (not cash) and mark the envelope "Museum Of Witchcraft". All donations will be acknowledged (eventually!).

Practical help
All kinds of volunteer help will be needed to clean up, save the collection and re-build the Museum. This help will not be needed for a few days yet, but if you can help, please email your details to Crowman or Levannah . Someone will contact you when we know what is needed. We will also email updates as we get them.

Many thanks and Goddess Bless to everyone who has already been in touch to offer help and support. The Museum will not be beaten by this.

Please circulate this information as widely as you can.

Blessings of the Old Ones

Levannah Morgan and Adrian Bryn-Evans
(Friends of the Museum Of Witchcraft and Pagan Federation Devon and Cornwall)

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UPDATE Aug. 18:
Message received this morning:

"If you are passing stuff on: people can now make online or credit card donations if they wish (good for people in the US) on this website. This is the Children of Artemis site; they are working with us on this. Updates can be found here for the next few days. The museum site cannot be updated just now, due to the situation in Boscastle."