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FOREWORD Return to the Goddess Spirituality Introduction |
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FOREWORD Return to the Goddess Spirituality Introduction |
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To the reader: This is a public-domain file that has been circulating in the neo-Pagan community for some years. This is an -edited- edition, as we felt that much of the attacks on Christianity in the original file were unwarranted and unproven by solid research (and not necessary), and that some extra information on Wicca not contained in the original files might be useful. While we may not agree with all the contents of this file in their entirety, this information remains a pretty good overview of one form of Neo-Paganism, and should be used in conjunction with "The Spiral Dance", by Starhawk. The Pagan Educational Co-Operative takes no responsibility for the misuse or careless use of any information contained herein, and reminds the reader that NO book or computer program contains sufficient information to enable you to cast and/or operate spells effectively and/or safely. Further, if you are looking into Wicca as a means of granting you "power" or "power over," or to use as a means of controlling others, or for revenge, or easy sex, or any other motives that would put you in a position to violate the Wiccan Rede, then we advise you strongly to go somewhere else.
Much of the contents of this program came from PAGAN REF, the comprehensive Magickal/ Metaphysical software and information collection on disk. PAGAN REF currently comprises over 15 megabytes (and growing bigger every day!) of shareware & public domain software and text files pertaining to all aspects of paganism and Magick, including Wicca, shamanism, Ceremonial Magick, Discordianism, and New Age interests. All text files are either public domain or are being distributed with permission of the author (expressed or implied). Views expressed therein are not necessarily those of the PAGAN REF archivists! If you discover a file or program herein which is NOT legal to distribute under these conditions, please inform us IMMEDIATELY. We've made every effort to insure all files are being legally distributed w/o violating anyone's copyright or whatever, but sometimes "stuff happens" anyway (for instance, a contributor, or his/her source, may have edited a file and removed important notices - or we may have just flat-out failed to notice a distribution condition stipulated in the file).
01. Who has power in this group? What kind?
02. How much power do I have?
03. How much do our perceptions of power in the group agree? Do those people know they have it?
04. Do some people think they have more than they do?
05. How are decisions made in the group? Who has the power to make them?
06. How is information shared in the group? What information is private who keeps it, how is it made available to others?
07. What skills, knowledge, or experience do I have that can benefit the group?
08. How much of it can I share?
09. What's stopping me?
10. What response do I get? How does it make me feel?
11. What use are we making of each other as resources in the group? Are we squandering our gifts? What might we do differently?
12. What to people need to bring more of their strengths to the group? How can we create the atmosphere that brings them forth?
13. Who do we respect in the group? Do we abdicate power to those people? If so, how?
14. In what ways do we comply, withdraw, manipulate, or rebel?
15. Is this group really safe?
16. What expectations exist in the group? Are they clear?
17. How does someone gain power or respect in this group?
18. If this group is hierarchical, what controls, laws, rules or other factors limit the use of power? Are they effective? If not, can we make them more so?
01. What is the group's primary purpose (stated in one sentence)?
02. What do I want the group's purpose to be?
03. What are my expectations? Disappointments? Satisfactions? Unmet needs?
04. Do we agree on our purpose? On what kind of a group we are?
05. What differences exist? Do they broaden and strengthen the group, or are they dividing us? Are we in transition?
06. What expectations can we and can't we hope to meet? What needs are we meeting? Failing to meet? Do we want to meet them?
07. What kinds of trust do we need in each other?
08. What structure or purpose will best help each of us to realize our visions for the group?
01. We are clear about our goals and how we intend to achieve them.
02. We know and respect each other well enough to feel very comfortable and attuned working together.
03. Our work is ethical, designed for our growth and fulfillment and the benefit of those who request help, and it never used to harm others.
04. We share the responsibilities of making the group work; every individual's contribution is important.
05. We see each other socially outside the group, and support each other through difficulties.
06. We enjoy. There is fun and laughter at our meetings.
07. We work at learning. We dig deep, compare different sources, try new techniques, ask pointed questions, do it until we get it right.
08. We keep ourselves healthy and fit in order to more readily channel power and receive insight.
09. We keep our ritual area and tools orderly and clean.
10. We constantly seek knowledge from many sources - people, books, workshops, other paths - including the Judaeo-Christian-Islamic.
11. We do not make a virtue of authority and obedience, but treat each other as respected equals (regardless of the formal structure of the coven).
12. We raise genuine power and channel it; our rituals are not tame readings or rote gestures, but filled with energy, vitality, will and purpose.
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Last modified: 16 February 1997
©1995 Red Deer@pagani