Elenya:

Merry Meet and Welcome to Wicca 101. Sylver Gryphon is teaching on the "Resurgence of Wicca." Please hold questions and comments until she asks for them. If anyone chooses to disrupt, I will call for exclusion without comment Lady Slyvr, please begin...

SlvrGryphn:

Welcome, Let me begin by saying this little foray into the teaching world is meant to be thought provoking and stirring. I hope I've done a reasonable job. As we all know / agree Wicca is fundamentally an earth religion. Although it has varieties enough to keep Darwin busy: We all have a common ground, if you'll pardon the pun the earth, our planet. Where, I've been wondering does Wicca fit into a modern world like the one we have now? A world where Bigger, Better, New and Improved seems to be the motto? A world that has undergone some drastic changes in the past century. Just look at the forum we are sitting in now. There have been great tragedies wrought over religion. This will go down as one of the Bloodiest Centuries in the history of the Human Race. Millions were exterminated by one small European nation on the whim of a mad man, Entire cities have been melted into oblivion by bombs, (The planet could go the same way.) Children of the desert countries in the East war on other children in the name of an ancient and despotic God. Women the world over wash the fruits of their wombs down public drains, by choice or worse by the force of some antiquated Patriarchal force. and just how much of the "choice" is dictated by outdated Social standards? The screams of the hungry are deafening, in our own countries and across the globe, yet are unheard by the rich who cavort in technological citadels while the sick in palatial hospitals spend the wealth of the world on cosmetic refinements and the promise of eternal life through pills and vials. Where do we come into this? Where does our responsibility come in? Do we have any??? Has ever more blood been shed in the name of religion? But, to be fair; Look out into the forest. Pick one tree: describe it if you will, in terms of what it destroys, what it defies, and what it does not accomplish, and you have a monster of greedy roots and irresistible momentum that eats the light of other plants, their nutrients, their air.

But that is not the truth of the tree. That is not the whole truth when the tree is seen as a part of nature; Her creation, Her full tapestry , She who embraces us all. Now are we, Humanity, embracing our full truth? Are we living the life She intended? Or have we strayed? Is technology on the whole to be blamed for the slow painful destruction of The Great Mother, our earth? Or are we? Shall I give you causes for optimism? Examining the Western world for a moment, where the poor are given platters of meat and vegetables and we are told hunger is no more. WHY? When the earth can feed us all, aplenty, and leave room for dignity? Humanity is a learning animal. Can we see what we have learned? Hatred, Suspicion, Hostility.....Tolerance??? Perhaps, since we are creatures ever changing, ever improving (there's that word again "improved"), ever-expanding our vision and the capacity of our minds. I think I am right to call this the most bloody century: But I am not seeing the light that shines ever more radiantly on account of the darkness; I am not seeing the evolution of the human soul. Why?

Personally, I think it has stalled. I think that this is where we begin to see Wicca's place in this evolution. Back to War for a moment, we have all seen (via technology) the daily horrors of armed conflict (also courtesy technology). But it is the outcry against these horrors which is the light I speak of; it is the attitudes which were never possible in the past, remember not too long ago in the human memory what happened if you spoke up or out? Remember what happened to our ancestors during the burning times? It is the intolerance of thinking women and men in power who, for the first time in the history of humanity truly want to put an end to injustice in all forms. I speak of a growing reality, a changing philosophy, a greater awareness that is even now spreading in one form or another. The form I chose to discuss today is the resurgence of Wicca. The resurgence of "New Age" thinking. "New Age" thinking indeed. Who thought that up? OLD AGE thinking, if you ask me, and FINALLY being heard. This is Her world not ours! We would do well to remember that. Look around us, can anyone see Her anger? Is She angry at technology? Would She be displeased to see Her children using all of their gifts of intelligence? Or maybe we're not using it at all. What has technology given the world? This is Her world not ours! We would do well to remember that. Look around us, can anyone see Her anger? Is She angry at technology? Would She be displeased to see Her children using all of their gifts of intelligence? Or maybe we're not using it at all. What has technology given the world? It has given us poison gas, and diseases born in laboratories, and bobs to destroy the planet itself. It has given the world Nuclear accidents that contaminate the food chain of entire continents. And armies do what they have done since Freya's time with modern efficiency. Technology has brought us the death of the aristocracy of a people, slaughtered in a snow filled wood; The intelligentsia of a nation, including all who wore glasses, systematically shot. In the Sudan, women are habitually mutilated to be pleasing to their husbands. In Ireland women are still the chattel of men.

In North America rape and beating victims are still asked..."What were you wearing?" and "What did you do to cause it?" In Iran, in Ireland, in Bosnia, in America children still run or are thrown into the path of guns. Televisions are Tabernacles of the miraculous and helicopters are its Angels of Death. Or is this what humanity brought us? Where do Wiccans fit into all this? Where do we stand? Do we have any responsibility for this? SHOULD WE? "Wicca has always been a religion of poetry not theology" --Starhawk The myths, legends and teachings a necessary metaphor for "That which cannot be told" The absolute reality our limited minds can never completely know. and our limited vocabularies cannot accurately describe.

Symbols and rituals are used to trigger altered states of awareness. (The truly gifted or practiced of us can slip between one state and another without ritual or tolls.) In these states the insight that we receive goes beyond that which words can relate, this can only be learned from experience. Since we cannot legislate insight nor unfortunately common sense; How do we convey what we know, feel and believe to a global world? Think on it....

Since the dawn of Christianity (or the decline of Goddess worship) women have lacked religious role models and spiritual systems that speak directly to female needs, experiences and perceptions. Male images typically characterize the male as dominating force. Women were not encouraged to explore their own thoughts, or strengths and were even taught to submit to the male authority for spiritual guidance. Taught to even deny their owns bodies and sexuality. ((((And people ask what's wrong with the world?!?!?!?}}}

SlvrGryphn:

((Looks to the Goddess in a supreme plea for patience)

SlvrGryphn:

Mary Daly, author of BEYOND GOD THE FATHER states "The symbol of the Father God, spawned in the human imagination and sustained as plausible by patriarchy, has in turn rendered service to this type of society by making its mechanisms for the oppression of women appear "right and fitting" This belief can be so deeply ingrained in a person that the person hardly even questions it.

Why then the growing trend AGAINST violence against women? Is it possible that WE are having some kind of effect? Could it be that as more people become aware of the natural order of the world that this type of antiquated thinking is being eradicated forever? Let's not celebrate too soon. We're not finished yet. Remember, "It ain't over 'till the fat lady sings."

Carol Christ states that "Symbol systems cannot simply be rejected, they must be replaced. Where there is no replacement the mind will revert to familiar structure at times of crisis, bafflement, or defeat."

The symbolism of our Goddess is not parallel to the symbolism of God the Father. The Goddess does not rule the world; She IS the world. She is manifest in all of us. She can be known internally to us. And thus, must be HEARD through us. She needs OUR help to attain Her goals. She does not legitimize the rule of any sex over another, as do we not. She lends no authority to rules of hierarchies, as do we not. She does not legitimize the thought that the earth is ours to do with as we please, as we SHOULD not.

In Wicca we must all find our own truth, although we may disagree on the finer points of the Kaleidoscope of Modern Wiccan Traditions amongst ourselves. I would hazard a guess that the following is something that we can all agree on: 1. That the Goddess is seen in our form be that female or male, as She has Her male aspect also. 2. Sexuality is a Sacrament 3. Religion is a matter of re-linking with the Divine within and with Her manifestation in all the natural world.

I feel that Wicca (at least for me) follows a more Shamanistic path with a spiritual value being placed on ecstasy. It is the source of healing, creativity, union & communication with the Divine. Ecstasy brings Harmony. Wicca does not believe in the First Truth of Buddhism that "All life is suffering" rather Life is a Wondrous thing of Beauty.

Love for life in all forms is a basic ethic of Wicca. How do we develop (aye, here's the rub) and put into practice a system of ethics and justice? By what

PaleHawk:

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{ Dear YOU DID wonderfully }}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

DeathDesire:

agreed! (G)

SlvrGryphn:

Your thoughts on the matter?

PaleHawk:

{s wolfhowl}

kittynkat:

If I may.....a question....

SlvrGryphn:

Sure

PaleHawk:

Honey...... I must leave...... but will see ya all later...

SlvrGryphn:

MP PALE

Elenya:

(((((((Pale)))))))

PaleHawk:

{{{{{{{{{{ LOVE, LIGHT AND LAUGHTER TO ALL }}}}}}}}}}

DeathDesire:

mp pale

Sunflowerme:

Peaceful Travels Pale

L NightShade:

MP Pale.

Sylverhare:

MP Pale

PaleHawk:

{s ocean}

Elenya:

Sun, I have missed that more than you know(g)

SlvrGryphn:

Kitty?

SlvrGryphn:

you had a q?

Jugernaught:

i must leave also but thank you for the enlightenment slvr

Sunflowerme:

i have missed me more than you know...(s)

SlvrGryphn:

MP Jugernaught

L NightShade:

MP Jugernaut

DeathDesire:

mp juger

kittynkat:

I noticed towards the beginning that there was a bit of a negative connotation towards civilization...that it had brought us farther from nature....

SlvrGryphn:

yes

kittynkat:

but the way I see it, civilization has also made us appreciate it that much more....

SlvrGryphn:

us? Or Civilization as a whole?

kittynkat:

Civilization as a whole...There was no environmental movement until civilization threatened the environment...

Sunflowerme:

a wise native American leader once said...all that we have now with technology and modern civilization would have happened anyway if we had only remembered the earth while creating it

SlvrGryphn:

Well, I can't see that I agree when the systematic annihilation of the environment is still on going when $$$$$ means more that natural life

SlvrGryphn:

true sunflower

wolfview:

If you live on the beach every day of your life you might take the beauty for granted...if we were integrated with nature...

kittynkat:

But is it not arrogant of us to think that we are so powerful that we can destroy this planet that has existed for millions of years before us and will exist millions of years after us?

DeathDesire:

mm hug

SlvrGryphn:

My point is that it is not just Wiccans who must sit and revere the earth

L NightShade:

MM Hug

SlvrGryphn:

My point is that we have a RESPONSIBILITY to enlighten the world

kittynkat:

I agree there, Slvr....I am not a Wiccan and I revere the earth...and I think others should as well...

Hugmiester:

MM ALL

kittynkat:

{{{HUGMIESTER}}}}

SlvrGryphn:

EXACTLY!!!

Hugmiester:

OAKY

Sunflowerme:

we have ignored natural evolution...we have chosen instead to run head long into keeping up with the jones' instead of focusing on what is important for all civilization a sense of unity

Hugmiester:

YES GRYPH I AGREEE WITH YOU

SlvrGryphn:

that movement needs a Kick in the Ass from the Wiccan/Pagans of the world

kittynkat:

But I am at the same time, not willing to condemn the person who created Nuclear power....

Hugmiester:

TAKING CARE OF THE PLANET IS EVERYONES RESPONSILBILITY

kittynkat:

or the creator of the automobile...

kittynkat:

I enjoy civilization and nature....everything in moderation....

SlvrGryphn:

No not the creator, since essentially She is the Creator

Sunflowerme:

{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}

SlvrGryphn:

Condemn the user

kittynkat:

I do not condemn the user, either.

SlvrGryphn:

and educate him/her

Sunflowerme:

all the creations of our century can be put to good use...it seems however that the corporate structure does not plan well for those uses or create in moderation

kittynkat:

It is one thing to use an invention that obviously does good...I condemn the person who abuses that invention...the drunk driver, the corporations that bought the plans to build a

SlvrGryphn:

it is our responsibility to educate the public and the corporate world as to the extent of the damage

Elenya:

I think so Slvr

SlvrGryphn:

we MUST help Her long term plans for the Earth

kittynkat:

less polluting automobile so they could keep the money...but I do not condemn the person who drives a car...

SlvrGryphn:

Not that I have a clue as to what Her plans are mind

SlvrGryphn:

What about the Big three?

Hugmiester:

INTERUPPTS CLASSS FOR A HUG TO ALL IN THE ROOM

kittynkat:

Big three? Lost me...

Hugmiester:

BIG 3 AUTO MAKERS

Hugmiester:

FORD

Hugmiester:

GM

kittynkat:

Oh, OK....what about them?

Sunflowerme:

exactly...and to stand on our visions no matter how we are perceived by the masses....the walls must come down and enlightenment and thought must prevail

SlvrGryphn:

Do you not condemn their GREED that prevents the Research and development of cars that run on electricity...or the utilization of corn based fuels? Or anything that would NOT pollute? They just keep on selling And WILL sell until all the oil is gone

kittynkat:

They are doing what they feel is necessary for their own survival...the same as the lion who kills on the prairie....

Sunflowerme:

but if the lion kills to much then his survival is in question

kittynkat:

I personally would not do the same....but if it is their choice, so be it....

SlvrGryphn:

and what about the damage to the environment

SlvrGryphn:

A HA!!!

DeathDesire:

with all of us working together we can make a big difference and educate others also

kittynkat:

And so is the survival of the Big 3, then.

SlvrGryphn:

The Lion kills to survive....

Hugmiester:

A LION ONLY KILLS ENUGH TO EAT

SlvrGryphn:

The big three FEELS it is necessary

Sunflowerme:

education by example

wolfview:

kittynkat is right the big three are following the rules of the game don't condemn them --- change the rules.

SlvrGryphn:

Should we not as consumers TELL them that We WANT more "Green" type cars?

kittynkat:

If they become TOO greedy, the masses will revolt....example: the railroads....and recently the environmental movement

SlvrGryphn:

Precisely!!

Sunflowerme:

exactly

SlvrGryphn:

But they ARE too greedy

kittynkat:

Exactly...we need to change the rules....the people are only doing what they feel is necessary...

SlvrGryphn:

And we're not LOUD enough about it!!!

kittynkat:

But can WE change the rules?

SlvrGryphn:

OF COURSE

SlvrGryphn:

Not alone....

Sunflowerme:

it the people lead the leaders will follow

SlvrGryphn:

We must work together

SlvrGryphn:

right Sunflower

kittynkat:

Exactly....revolts have started over less....and with fewer followers....

SlvrGryphn:

Case in point We made our government wise up about taxes up here

Elenya:

People put the leaders in their positions...I speak with my vote

SlvrGryphn:

It started with a few letter writers

kittynkat:

Personally, I do not fear war between countries, I fear war between corporations....

SlvrGryphn:

and made the National News Lead Story on all our Networks

Sunflowerme:

the consciousness of society is in upheaval now...there is no better time to begin the change....i feel people are looking for a new direction and no matter how it may hurt it is time

wolfview:

wrong vote---In reality we have a democracy.....one vote--use the votes wisely!

wolfview:

one vote = one dollar

SlvrGryphn:

Elenya??

SlvrGryphn:

Do you speak to your elected representative after you vote?

Herne:

You all don't have a clue, want I should tell you like it is?

kittynkat:

Of course...regularly....

SlvrGryphn:

In your class Herne, Not in mine please

Elenya:

Yes, Slvr, even if it is Jessie Helms :(

SlvrGryphn:

This is a discussion

SlvrGryphn:

No one is Right or Wrong

Herne:

naw, this is politics, wanna know what's goin down?

SlvrGryphn:

Good

SlvrGryphn:

To many people do not speak only vote

Sunflowerme:

did anyone read the Time article by Robert Hughes on the destruction on the American Culture?

kittynkat:

No....missed it....

SlvrGryphn:

Any other questions?

Herne:

did I miss class?

SlvrGryphn:

yes you did

Herne:

what was it on?

blue monkey:

Slvr, I am not one of the flock, but I am drawn to the wisdom of any religious tradition that senses the spiritual connection between the earth and all life within it and asserts its responsibility to promote blue monkey: healing. It is my understanding that witches work is solitary. how does Wicca propose to promote a collective mission?

SlvrGryphn:

Not all Witches work solitary

DeathDesire:

(g)

Sunflowerme:

The termination of the NEA by 1997...and the all out frontal assault on the NEH and PBS.. by the republican pro family do it our way legislature....

SlvrGryphn:

However the autonomy of Covens is FINALLY being broken up as we no longer have to HIDE our religion

Herne:

Thanks Sunflowerme

kittynkat:

I must go, all....it's been fun...I can't wait to re-read Sylvr's lecture with less distraction.....enjoyed the mental stimulation, for sure.... Thank you, Slvr {{{{Room}}}}}

SlvrGryphn:

Wicca lost it's cohesion when the Covens could not communicate or get together for the Greater Festivals

SlvrGryphn:

during the burning times Now, We can get together for more and more of the Sabbats and the meetings are getting bigger

Sunflowerme:

good article...Herne i recommend it...

Herne:

and run naked through the woods drinkin strange exotic fluids :}

SlvrGryphn:

Does that help blue?

blue monkey:

yep...so did your lecture.. Thanks.

SlvrGryphn:

You're welcome

SlvrGryphn:

Of course I'm not saying that this journey will be easy...Far from it!!

SlvrGryphn:

Modern Wicca really is a Kaleidoscope of traditions and solitaries. To bring them all together in some semblance of organization without getting into a hierarchical zoo will be difficult but not impossible I think...

Elenya:

Ill cut it off here...but there was a lively discussion that ensued after Sylvrs class. Thank you M'Lady for leading this class, and getting us all to think about the big picture that is so often overlooked.