WitchDoctorJoe's RattleBone

B is for Browncards

2012-01-27T13:29:00.000-08:00

It was more than four years ago that I sat across the table from Rev. Patrick McCollum in a roadside diner as he told me his story of how he became the first Wiccan chaplain for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

He recounted the relentless onslaught of religious discrimination he personally experienced, just trying to provide religious services to Wiccan inmates. He had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The frustrating irony was that they called him. They just didn't actually expect him to show up. And when he did, they did everything they could to stop him.

He warned me about the challenges that would lay ahead, if I were to join the fight. I had just moved back home to California after ten years in the Army, and a tour in Iraq. So I was more than confident, I was cocky. I remember him saying he thought I had what it took to do services at Corcoran Prison and I always thought that was a huge compliment.

Not too long after that, I went with him on my first prison visit. I got hooked and I have been going ever since. For the past four years I have been providing religious services and assisting prisons with the religious accommodations of minority faiths. While I have spend the majority of my time in service at one particular prison, I have visited quite a few and assisted many more. And a few weeks ago Patrick's compliment came to pass, as I am now a "Brown Carded" volunteer and Corcoran State Prison. And they called me.

When someone wants to become a religious volunteer they must apply for "gate clearance," this is a security background check which allows you to go inside the prison, but only with a supervisory escort. After you have earned they trust of the admin staff, you go through the required training, are processed and receive a state I.D. card, called the Brown Card. Its not actually brown, and no one knows why its called a brown card, but everyone speculates that at one point they were probably brown.

When ever the topic of Pagan prison ministry comes up in conversation, the one question everyone always asks is "How many of you are there?" And for the longest time my answer has always been, I don't know....

But I once knew someone who was going to prisons up north, ......and a heard that there's someone down south...... but I don't know.

Well that answer has changed for a couple reasons, reason #1 is because there are two of us in the picture. A while back a member of my Coven expressed an interest in what I do, and I was ecstatic to hear it. I have the same strict NO PROSELYTIZING or recruiting policy for prison work as I do for Coven membership. We will never bring it up unless you ask. Just like being Wiccan and joining a Coven, prison work is a calling. It's not for everyone, and for those who are, few seem to have what it takes. We're like the Marines: the Few, the Proud, the Pagan Prison Chaplains!

I've spent a lot of time alone on the road, driving to prisons. Which has always been a nice break from a home with six clients, four kids, three dogs, two guinea pigs and one crazy ass cat. I spent most of that time listen to my favorite Podcast, The Infinite and The Beyond with Christopher Orapello. Chris a a Pagan and Freemason, he has a really great show and its very well done!

Its been nice to have a partner, always good company and conversation, and he spits the gas expenses in half hahaha. And now that there are two of us, we're able to go to than just the one prison. The second reason my answer has changed is thanks to Facebook, a while back I started the National Pagan Correctional Chaplains association, (NPCCA) a closed FB group and invited other Pagan chaplains to join and invite anyone they know, and anyone they know, and now we have quite a few of us on there from all other the country. It's so nice to be able to just post a question about federal prisons and get answers and conversation from others who know.

My organization just launched a new website and the NPCCA is branching out slowly into a national registry program, with future plans to grow into the Pagan version of the American Correctional Chaplains Association. I'm a proud member the ACCA and last night I found out I wasn't the only Pagan. The ACCA has a bi-annual conference, which I've never managed to attend. Every year it's a choice between that and PantheaCon. (Who am I kidding, there no question) anyway, last night Carol Garr of Mother earth Ministries told me about how she was given an opportunity to speak about Wicca at the conference, which I found exciting and newsworthy! She has given me permission to post her presentation here:

"Hi! I’m Carol Garr, a Wiccan priestess for 20 years and a volunteer in the AZ state prison system for more than 13. I serve both on the AZ DOC Religious Advisory Committee and as an active volunteer working directly with inmates, and have co-authored a book: Enchantment Encumbered: the Study and Practice of Wicca in Restricted Environments.

Wicca is a nature-based, life affirming, religion with a pantheistic worldview. Deity is ubiquitous. Everything contains its spark; humans, animals, plants, stones. We are all brothers and sisters, all children of our Mother Goddess and the Lord of the cosmic Dance of life, death, and rebirth. Regardless of the color of clothing or skin, or even number of legs, wings, fins or whatever we are each related, and interconnected.

In my years in prison ministry I have seen heartwarming changes in those who embrace this life path, though prison politics sometimes limit expression of their worldview, I have seen inmates learn tolerance, respect, self-control, and personal responsibility. They learn that, no matter what they’ve done in the past, that from this moment on they will make choices for which only they are responsible. No one else is to blame; no one else can take credit.

Prisoners are prone to embracing their crime as their identity. It affects the way they view themselves, hurting their chances for a positive change. Wicca teaches them to embrace that spark of deity within, to fan that flame to a light that will guide their path. What they have done cannot be undone. We have no means to absolve them of the karmic balance that is a natural law of cause and effect. We can, however, counsel them to add positive things in their karmic ledger, whether offering a smile instead of a curse, treating others with fairness and respect, or just seeking to promote harmony and goodwill as best they can. When one truly honors all life it’s a lot harder to re-offend.

I encourage them to speak of their offenses only in the past tense. Wicca believes words have power, so to say “I am ???” will help make it so. Make those positive aspirations! They set personal goals, make plans to improve themselves, and look to the God/dess within, and Their manifestations all around us, for guidance and inspiration. Positive affirmations are common in many faiths, including ours.

I have seen men cry as they apologized to the spirits of murdered victims. I experienced the peace that a lifer showed as he embraced impending death during a passing rite we did just after he stopped dialysis. I feel blessed. One of our releasees was once on death row, but his sentence was commuted to life with the possibility of release. I worked with him inside for years. He spoke of what a nasty and hateful person he’d been, and how he deserved his sentence, but that he was no longer that same man. And the energy he gave off supported that. After being incarcerated for 32 years he was granted parole. Now, out almost 3 years, he’s had the same job for most of that time, has a vehicle, a stable living arrangement, and is a contributing member of society. It can happen. Learning to find the sacred within, living with the heartbeat of Mother Earth as one’s guide, can affect positive change.

Wicca describes the way we look at life. Our connections with the receptive (feminine) and projective (masculine) forces of Nature, and our intimate communication with the powers of Air, Fire, Water, Earth, and Spirit are the essence of our worldview. Yet we are polytheists, so it is silly to think that our pantheon is the only valid one. Therefore we teach that whatever spiritual path makes one a better person, which speaks to an individual’s soul, is the right faith for that human being. Followers of all religions, or of none, are all our kin.

And that’s where we come in. A good chaplain is a haven in the storm of inmate lives, aiding them in their search for, and study of, their faith of choice. We offer hope, comfort, and acceptance through the love of the Source of Life in whatever form a prisoner sees Him or Her. We promote positive change, self-respect, and fairness to all. May the powers of life guide each of us, in brotherhood, in this vital task."

I am so happy that the sword Patrick McCollum picked up so many years ago is still being carried by so many of us today, the battle is not yet won, but we're gaining ground the good old fashion way, we're earning it.

Thank you Lord & Lady for all the Brown Cards

Blessed Be!

B is for Biopsy

2012-01-20T14:23:00.000-08:00

One of the fives virtues of our tradition is intuition. Something that I have always felt lacked emphasis in much of modern Witchcraft. I consider myself a hereditary Witch because I was blessed to have been raised by a very gifted one. I was raised in an environment where meditation, creative visualization, astral projection and intuition where highly valued spiritual practices.

If you look at it from the Nature Vs. Nurture view, I believe intuition to be part of natural human potential, we're all born with the seeds, it's just a matter of whether or not those seeds are watered. If you grow up in an environment where those concepts are a product of the devil they lay dormant and perhaps wither away with time. But if you are raised in an environment like I did, those seeds can be watered and nurtured to unknown potential.

One of the mysteries of our tradition is the Susurri, which is Latin for whisper. It's a mystery because we recognize its presence, yet don't completely understand how it works. Just like the Deja Vu, we recognize it when we experience it, and if you have, it's often difficult to express or explain it, that's why they gave it a name. And that's why we have given the Whisper a name.

Ever have someone pop into your head just before the phone rings? Or have a need or action occur to you, which you ignore only find out later, you should have. One of the most difficult things about a Susurri is recognizing it for what it is. One of the red flags is a stray thought that pops up while you're actively engaged in something else. Those are the best. If you find your self arguing with it, don't, its a Susurri, an incoming message from the Big Giant Head.

Like Deja Vu, the Whisper has always been a commonly understood thing in my family, we grew up with it, its normal. At critical times it has changed the course of my life, and while in Iraq, it saved my life as well as others. But my wife is Mexican, therefore she was born Catholic and raised in an environment where everything was the devil. So she could never acknowledge those those alternative spiritual practices she had always been drawn to. Sound familiar? But the natural potential was there and the force has always been strong in her family, they just don't seem to know it.

A few weeks ago my wife received a Susurri and tried to ignore it. But it wouldn't go away and she found herself arguing with it. She mentioned to me that the whisper in her ear told her to go get a pap smear, which was something she really didn't want to do. I told her not to argue with it, and that the fact that she was arguing with it only confirmed that it was important. So she made the appointment and went.

We received the call early one morning about two weeks later, asking her to come in that day. The doctor explained that they had identified some bad cells and needed to do a biopsy. This past Monday we returned to hear the results of the biopsy and the doctor explained that pre-cancer cells have a number system of 1-3, four being cancer.

My wife is at stage three.

The doctor said she's very lucky that we caught it in time and that after the scheduled procedure she will be just fine. After I threw up I went and bought a pack of cigarettes, it's an old habit I enjoy from time to time while in places like Iraq and the doctors office. I admit I find it humorously ironic that I'm smoking tobacco to deal with the possibility of my wife having cancer, but we humans are weird and stupid like that and I look forward to quitting very soon.

She reluctantly posted the news on her Facebook status and people started talking. Many friends came out of the woodwork to share their stories, to confirm that the procedure is very successful and that she will be ok. It also seems to have raised awareness as her friends are now talking to their friends and relatives and some of them are now making appointments to get their paps done.

Thank you Lord and Lady for the Whisper.

Blessed Be.

A is for Almandola

2012-01-13T12:38:00.000-08:00

Last year my friends in Fresno picked up the sword and led the charge for Central Valley Pagan Pride Day. I was very happy to hear the news and eager to contribute to the cause.

One of the first tasks was raising funds and the first event was a yard sale. I collected books from my local community and showed up early that morning to deliver them. It was nice to see everyone again after such a long time.

People came by in a slow but steady trickle most of the day while we sat in the yard and socialized. A few nicely dressed men with nicely dressed smiles came by, but seemed more interested in all of us than any of the items being sold. When we saw the pamphlets we immediately knew that they had come to save us.

As prothletising goes they were very respectful, but being Pagans we're all seasoned veterans when it comes to declining such invitations. More than one friend said, "Oh no thank you, I go to St. Brigid's Academy."

I very much enjoyed that approach because of how polite, effective and honest it is. I myself have also found it be enjoyably effective. The statement is always interpreted by any mundane person as "oh she's Catholic," and no one ever goes around trying to convert the Catholics. I've noticed that no one goes around trying to convert anyone from the other mainstream monotheistic religions, but we Pagans always seem to be fair game. But the irony here is that St. Brigit's Academy is a Wiccan religious organization, and I can find no fault with allowing those men to leave with their false assumptions. Many times it's the best way to avoid conflict.

Last Ostara I rented a Bunny costume for our community ritual, and base on the date requested the lady behind the counter with the rather large cross around her neck asked, "why so early this year? Easter isn't for another few weeks," to which I replied, "Oh it's for a pre-Easter celebration," and I left with her best wishes.

Although the men moved on to the the next house on the block they remained in our conversation. We talked about the assumption that St. Brigid's is Catholic and how I often use Mill Creek Seminary the same way in similar conversations with similar people. Slowly the conversation of reciting accounts of attempted conversion swayed into experiences related to openly wearing a Pentacle. At a time when I felt it was appropriate to contribute to the conversation I pulled out my Almendola pendant, another reason some people assume I'm Catholic, from a distance.

The Almandola is the official emblem of Veritas Wicca, our Mill Creek Tradition and our organization. The Vesica Piscis is a very old symbol used by nearly all cultures or faiths in some fashion. The fish bladder or "pocket" happens when you overlap two circles. To us, these two circle are the physical and the spiritual realms, and the vesica piscis is the product of their union. The Chalice and Blade of course represent the God and Goddess, their masculine and feminine energies, and their union and balance. The Pentacle rest upon the chalice which also represents the procreative womb, the cradle of life, wherein the five elements are interwoven to produce form.

I'm quite proud of this piece, I designed it myself and we have them custom made for members of our tradition. I like being able to wear something I made, something very spiritually meaningful to me, openly without fear, and without any of the negative reactions, attitudes or feedback you experience with wearing a Pentacle.

Before handing my pendant back to me, my friend stared at it for a moment and said "Woah you wear the Great Rite around you neck! that's so cool." Yes I do, and I'm quite proud of that too.

Thank you Lord and Lady, for your Divine Unions. Blessed Be.

A is for Auspice

2012-01-06T15:03:00.000-08:00

I first started blogging in 2008, it was what I considered a pretty radical advance in a personal spiritual project I was working on. I started out as a fairly faithful blogger, posting nearly every day. But after a few years I slowed down considerably, and now post on a remote and random basis.

I remember reading about the Pagan Blog Project a few weeks ago and thought I'd really like to do that. I am true to the classic Aquarius persona, I Like things neat and tidy, and I love a good system. So the schedule of the project and the alphabetical theme were very appealing.

But, being the busy guy that I am with all the projects I have on all the back burners I have, and considering I can easily be distracted by a piece of string or anything shiny, I forgot.

But, I saw the first "A" post on Doing Magic by old friend, Holy Idiot and Grand Blogger Robert of the Blue Hand. And Have just jumped on the bandwagon just as it started rolling away.

My first "A" post is for Auspices.

I am a Veritas Wiccan. Veritas is Latin for Truth, not to imply that we're the "true" Wicca, but from our motto, "Veritas Pro Re Natura." Truth through (or according to) Nature. One of the Axioms of Pagandom is that we share no universally accepted sacred text, not in the context of a Bible, Torah or Koran. But we do share what we call the "Gospel of Nature," nature itself being our sacred text.

Just like the ancient fraternity of Freemasonry operates under the speculative theme of the older operative stone masons, our tradition operates under the theme of the ancient Augurs of Rome and Greece. The Augur was a public official who would perform acts of divination based on the appearance, activities and behaviors or birds, animals and even the clouds. These acts of divination were called Auspices. Although our scope may be a bit broader, our contemporary practice and application is not too much different.

For years now I have been going to the same special spot near the river to take auspices. Sometimes I receive valuable insight or come to some incredible revelation. But not always, many times I have gone and spent hours opening all my senses to interpret the Gospel of Nature and got nothing. It's a crap shoot.

But one of the coolest auspices I ever realized only happened because of the years of visitation to the same spot. As I've gone several times a month, every month, for many years, I've experienced all the seasons there. I see the river full and flowing through the summer, I see the river slowly wane to a tickle through the winter months, and I see the river overflow in the spring.

One day a hiker stopped to speak with me and made quick conversation about the low water level. I remarked about how quickly it will change, soon flooding the parking lot and even cover the gate with over 50 feet of ice cold freshly melted snow.

As I began to explain the rhythm of the river, I realized that if you sped up time or watched a few years of time lapsed photography you would see the river pulse to the rhythm of a heart beat, like an artery or vein.

It was there that I really understood that the earth is alive, that the Great Mother is a living breathing thing, with a breath, a heartbeat and blood running through its veins. Most of us are just too chronologically impaired to see it.

Thank you Lord and Lady for the random conversations with strangers about the weather.

Release the Bunnies!

2011-12-21T11:59:00.000-08:00

So I haven't been very active on this blog in a very long time, a while back I started taking my own advise and started unplugging the the matrix more and more.

The secret has been turning my laptop off and leaving it off.

So with the exception of checking Facebook and reading The Wild Hunt on my iPhone, I'm unplugged. While I openly I admit I'm fairly addicted to Facebook, I can justify my addiction the the Wild Hunt as staying in touch with current newsworthy events.

One of my regular Hunt favorites is the "Release the Hounds" articles. This is my fluffy bunny version.

I've been living in the real world and thoroughly enjoying myself. Life has been more than great and busy in the best ways. The Foedus Veritas Covenant is in high gear, we meet and work on a weekly basis. Our community rituals are growing in size, participation and activities.

While I've spoken publicly for years at different events and venues like Fresno State, the Department of Corrections and the Pagan Conference, this past weekend I presented at my first Paid speaking engagement at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Visalia.

The Central Valley Pagan Pride community has been working hard to perpetuate the momentum of a successful PPD event earlier this year. Leaders of Fresno, Visalia and Bakersfield has begun hosting Central Valley Sabbat gatherings to celebrate the wheel of the year together. CVPP event organizer Audra hosted this seasons gathering Saturday here in Visalia, we had a good turn out and great time.

My favorite HooDoo chick in the whole world just started her own blog titled California Conjure, and I invite you to check it out, I'm looking forward to future posts. We had a great conversation at the community ritual where she shared about her experiences on the coast, where she was chastised for using the term "fluffy bunny." (hence the title) The chastiser said that calling someone in the Pagan community a fluffy bunny equates to calling an African American "the N word"................. ummm no.

After taking the summer off to play with my kids, I have resumed my prison visits, but now I've got help! A very good friend has joined my prison program, I am happy for the help and the company. This last Friday after our services the Community Resource Manger took us out to lunch to show his appreciation for the assistance we provide. It is nice to be appreciated.

And a friend on the inside passed my card to staff at another local prison looking start a Pagan religious program. She sent me an email heads up and I received a call less than an hour later, and they seem very serious. I'm looking forward to visiting my first supermax and I'll post here as it unfolds.

Happy Holidays and Bright Yule Blessings everyone!

Thank you Lord and Lady for all the Fuzzy Fluffy Bunnies, Blessed Be!

Guardian of the Temple

2011-11-10T18:43:00.000-08:00

This is another card from the Joe Tarot, a card that has always had a special meaning for me, and I have been waiting a very long time to talk about it. A few weeks ago I posted a status update of Facebook about how after five years of dedication, commitment, blood sweat and a few tears I officially received my Third Degree.

I received over 45 responses to that statement congratulating me. Some assumed it was related to Freemasonry, but some Masonic brothers were confused because we are 32 degree officers in the Consistory of the Scottish Rite Temple together.

While a few other were confused because I am the founder of my Coven and our tradition. There has always been the assumption that I am a third degree, especially since I started my tradition, naturally I proclaimed myself Grand Poobah. Apparently that's just how it's done(?).

But like much of our tradition, that is not the case.

Our tradition has three degrees, and each one contains grade work, and I would think it incredibly hypocritical to require anyone to complete any task that I myself have not done, especially within my own system. Moreover I would strongly recommend avoiding interactions inherent in a Coven atmosphere with any would be Grand Poobah that does. It's a big red flag. So I placed myself accordingly within our system, as I still had a lot of grade work to do myself.

That being said, how does one lead a Coven in a Tradition one has created and developed ones self, without being the Grand Poobah? That's part of the work. For over five years I have been the "Prius." No, not like the car, more like the student leader who leads in the absence of a teacher.

But just before this past Samhain I completed the largest, longest and most difficult portion of my work. You know you're in a special Coven when the members seem more excited for you than you are for yourself. They met without my knowledge and agreed to cancel a long scheduled out of town group event in order to perform my Lorica, the obligation and ordination ceremony for my third degree. I was especially moved, because I knew how much everyone was looking forward to the scheduled event.

It could not have happen better if it was orchestrated by design. The Samhain season plays a significant role in the ambiance. I paused to gaze at the night sky before I entered the Zotheca and noticed the waxing crescent moon overhead, just like this card. I got goosebumps. Seated there with my arms crossed, my hands clutching those handles I was nervous for the first time in a very long time.

That night was incredibly fulfilling; not because I was being elevated, but because I saw the fruits of my labors being harvested by my Coven. I was not proud of me, I was proud of them, I was proud of us. Six years ago I started a small local tradition in southern California, two weeks ago we established a lineage. I can't wait to see what we do next.

Thank you Lord and Lady, thank you so much.

Blessed Be.

The Coolest Wand Story Ever Told

2011-11-02T19:18:00.000-07:00

In our tradition we perform most of the Obrussa (first degree grade work) in a Table Lodge setting. It's appropriate and comfortable, yet formal. And unlike the Masonic form, there's no alcohol. But at least once a week a few members of our Coven gather together at a local Coffee house for "Coffee Table Lodge," where we spend the morning talking about our Craft, the state of our union and the latest Wild Hunt Hot Topics. A few weeks back at one such coffee table, I was told an intriguing story about how a Coven-mate happened upon his Wand.

He told me about how he frequents a special place in the Sequoya National Forrest, and how one day he was inspired to take a healthy walk in a new direction. After some time at a quick pace he felt drawn to a particular spot near a log to rest. He sat for a time in silence as he enjoyed the morning air, until his attention was drawn back beside him where he found the small branch pictured above. He picked it up and his first though was that this would make a fine wand.

As he looked it over he realized that the wand had already been worked smooth, and a closer look revealed tool marks. As he expanded his examination he found strange characters inscribed into the handle. He left me on the edge of my seat when he told me that he had taken it home that day months ago, only to lay it to rest on a shelf over his altar. That was the end of the story.

Oh no, this would not do.

I begged, pleaded and insisted that he bring it for a show and tell to our next meeting as I had to see this wand for myself. Sadly he was feeling ill and couldn't make it to that meeting. But his wife did, and she brought it. We all hovered over it, all trying to get a good look, all at the same time. I vaguely recognized the characters and asserted they be either Japanese or Korean. There was some discussion, then I remembered, I have the internet!

I Googled for Japanese Kanji images and blew through a few sets until I found the first symbol. Then another, and another. I made the mistake of thinking the second and third symbols were two separate symbols, but later turned out to be a single Kanji. Once we had each of them decoded, I went to Google Translate and entered the syllables. I added and removed spaces between the syllables until the GT asked me if I meant "something" and when I clicked yes, guess what it turned out to be...

Go ahead, guess...

The kanji on the wand actually literally translates to "Magic Wand." How cool is that? I mean what are the odds that a Wiccan goes for a hike in a National Forrest, sits down to take a rest less than a foot away from a cool magic wand looking stick, that actually turns out to be a Japanese Magic Wand. A fine Wand indeed.

Thank you Lord and Lady for cool stories of serendipity. Blessed Be.

My AREN Interview

2011-11-01T15:05:00.000-07:00

"The Vision of the Alternative Religions Educational Network (hereafter referred to as AREN) is to promote education on the Positive Nature Based Religions devoted to deities of either or no specific gender or attributes. This would include most Pagans or Neo-Pagans, Wiccans, Druids, and many others.

To develop materials to be used for such purposes, including education of the general public and government and law enforcement officials. To sponsor programs devoted to these purposes.

To investigate religious discrimination complaints and, if found valid, try to help in obtaining aid in solving the problems. This includes, most of all, education for the alleged discriminatory persons or agencies and also the forwarding of valid complaints to other organizations, agencies, and legal advisers for direct action if this becomes necessary." (this vision statement taken from their website.)

A while back I was contact by Christopher Blackwell of AREN about doing an interview for their newsletter ezine. I was flattered and excited, who wouldn't be? But what makes this interview different was the topic. Almost everyone wants to talk about the prison ministry and my Spells for Cells (free book) program. But Christopher actually wanted to know about our tradition, which is in fact my favorite subject.

But I don't speak about it often simply because no one ever seems to ask, and talking about it unsolicited smacks of proselytizing or at the very least, bragging. If and when we do mention our tradition, it's always bragging. But its bragging out of a profound pride we have for our tradition, and a believe that self esteem, even a magical self esteem is healthy. So here is my interview with Christopher Blackwell, and HERE is the link to the whole newsletter, there are five other great interviews in this Samhain issue, please enjoy.

Mill Creek Tradition and Seminary

Interview with Joseph Merlin Nichter

By Christopher Blackwell

A friend suggested that I interview hereditary Pagan, Wiccan Priest and founder of the Mill Creek Tradition and Seminary. So I got in touch and received permission for this interview.

Christopher: Could you give us a bit of background about yourself?

Joseph: I am a happy husband to an amazing women and a proud father of four incredible children. I grew up in central California where I’ve lived most of my life except for my ten years of military service. After Iraq I discharged from service and returned home to California where I now work as a residential care facility administrator. I am very active in the Pagan community and serve as a volunteer Pagan prison chaplain

Christopher: How long have you been Pagan? What variety of paths have you studied & practiced?

Joseph: I was lucky enough to have been raised Pagan; my mother is a gifted Witch and an extraordinary woman, needless to say I had an amazing childhood. But it wasn’t all it’s cracked up to be, the down side is I never got away with anything, [laughs] Ever.

I am defiantly a product of my mother’s magic; from Shamanism to Rosicrucianism she was always studying something and teaching me. That really fostered my interest in the alternative spirituality and I started getting into indigenous traditions while still very young, so have been study- ing and practicing some form of magic most of my life.

Christopher: How did you come to form the Mill Creek Tradition? How did it start and what has it become? What is unique about it?

Joseph: What is now the Mill Creek Tradition began years ago as a Handfasting. That’s right, I said Handfasting. My wife and I had been practicing together for some time and had developed a nice system for ourselves. We invited everyone we knew to our Handfasting, and it was the first time we ever included anyone else in any of our rituals. Afterwords several people remarked on how much they enjoyed the ritual and suggested that we use that format to do full moon rituals, to which I replied “We do.” Within a month a Coven had formed, centered on our system of Witchcraft, which slowly grew over the years into a tradition. Not long after that our Coven filed for and received our 50c3 church status. Not for taxes, but in order to protect and ensure our religious rights when it came to our activities.

I first began working in the prisons with Patrick McCollum and later started my own Carcer Via prison program at a lo- cal prison; soon after its inception I turned it into another recognized non-profit. I’ve

been going every week for almost four years now. Not only do we provide religious services to Pagan inmates but we assist in the facilitation of religious accommodations’. Simply stated, most prisons don’t know what Paganism is or how to meet the needs of the inmates, and we help them out with that.

In addition to the private Coven and the prison ministry we also host several public community rituals and events each month. When we first started that it was Mill Creek Church, named after mill creek that runs through the entire length of the city.

For those who don’t know, maintaining a 50c3 requires a lot of record keeping and paperwork. And we were running three. So last year we just combined all three of them into Mill Creek Seminary. And the paper work is so much easier [laughs]. So we started out as a Handfasting and have become a Seminary, which is a good word to describe us.

We teach and train our tradition of Witchcraft, ordain legal clergy, we provide a variety of religious services and even have a very successful prison ministry. But I think what makes us unique is our tradition itself, we offer ourselves as a secondary tradition. Meaning whatever you are personally doing alone at home is the best path for you; we are offering an additional system that facilitates group rituals within a diverse group of Pagans.

I have often described us as an “assembly of solitaries” [laughs]. I am very proud of our origin; our tradition is the product a marriage, a divine union.

Christopher: What services can your tradition provide the Pagan community?

Joseph: Our little campaign slogan is “Teaching Traditions of Celebration and Fellowship.” That’s what our tradition is really all about, bringing the Pagan community together in celebration and fellow- ship. I have always been fulfilled spiritually by my path and being a solitary has its benefits but it can be very lonely, and who wants to celebrate the wheel of the year alone? Our tradition prides itself on providing quality religious services to the community that focus on celebration and fellowship.

Christopher: What about the Mill Creek Seminary?

Joseph: We as a seminary provide a large variety of services; as I mentioned before we’ve been hosting public community rituals twice a month for about two years now. This includes Sabbats, usually held in the park complete with a barbecue and potluck. You can’t have celebration and fellowship without food! In addition we also provide rites of passage services such as legal Handfastings, the Carmenta which is a baby blessing, puberty rites, and The Nenia which is last rights, funeral and memorial services. Sadly, we’ve done them all.

We also consider the prison ministry to be a community service, to the free world, the inmates, as well as the state agencies. We do a annual lecture at Fresno State University, Pagan Orientation classes for the uninitiated as well as orientation classes for people interested in prison ministry.

Christopher: Don’t you have a book of shadows available?

Joseph: Yes we do, it’s called “The Auguris: The Mill Creek Book of Shadows.” Our book of shadows is just as unique as our tradition. There are no pages numbers, instructions or narration, just five sections. Our system is known as the Five Labors of Witchcraft; purification, adoration, observation, divination and incantation. We work our way though these labors in the process of our ritual. Each section begins with the portion used in ritual and is accompanied by additional information relevant to that labor, such as rites for the wheel of the year and a large collection of original spells by our Coven. You can order it on Lulu and remember all money goes to fund our Spells for Cells program were we send books and materials to inmates for free.

Christopher: Do you have any upcoming events?

Joseph: Oh yeah, we’re Pagans, we’re always celebrating something [laughs]. We just did Central Valley Pagan Pride and MCS was one of the primary sponsors.

It was a huge event that included Pagan communities from three major cities and drew attendants from as far as San Francisco and Los Angeles. After that event the organizers from the three primary cities are planning Wheel of the Year Ritual events to be as large as Pagan Pride Day. In addition our Mill Creek group has started a Border Morris Dance group; we’re still in formation but plan to be performance ready by Beltane.

Christopher: Where can people learn more about the Mill Creek tradition?

Joseph: Ah good question. I wrote a book that we provide free to inmates, “Carcer Via: An Inmates Guide to the Craft,” which teaches the fundamentals for our tradition through the ritual journey. But other than that we really don’t have any material available online or through correspondence. But I am working on another book and we are considering developing a correspondence program. Until then, you just need to come visit us. Link

Christopher: What work are you doing California Prison System and the California Mental Health Department?

Joseph: I do a lot! [laughs] The State of California only hires religious representatives for the five majority faiths; Protestant, Catholic, Islam, Jewish and Native American. So if you’re not one of those religions there is no one to provide your religious services or even speak on your behalf. This really complicates things for inmates trying to pursue rehabilitation through a spiritual path because in prison you can’t even order religious supplies of materials without a chaplains’ approval.

So I’ve been a volunteer with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) for about four years now. I do weekly visits to local prisons where I conduct Pagan interfaith rituals and assist the CDCR in facilitating religious accommodations for minority faith inmates. This includes advising staff on those spiritual purchase requests and explaining the need and use of various religious items, serving on religious review committees and providing resources and materials to help educate staff on different minority faiths. I have even given Pagan Sensitivity classes during new employee orientation in an effort to expand awareness and understanding of minority faiths. That’s what Mill Creek Seminary’s prison ministry is all about.

I began doing the same thing for the Department of Mental Health, but then my supervisor there suggested I submit a proposal for a 2 week Pagan religious program. I did and although I am probably the most optimistic person on the planet, I never expected it to get approved. But I was happy to be wrong, my course was added to the curriculum and I taught for six semesters until I took this summer off to focus on my kids while they were out of school.

Christopher: Don’t you have some interesting extra pastoral training?

Joseph: No, but you should [laughs]. I know some Pagans who have rolled their eyes at the term pastoral training, but being a Pagan chaplain requires a lot more than candle colors and directions.

I personally have gone through great lengths to acquire proper training. I have taken many classes at Cherry Hill Seminary, including Patrick’s Chaplaincy course. I’m a graduate of the Law Enforcement Chaplains Academy and I am back in college, nearly finished with my degree in religion.

Early this year I was even allowed to at- tend the annual state chaplains training. I was the first and only volunteer Pagan chaplain ever allowed to attend, it was educational and insightful as well as a huge honor.

Christopher: What can you tell us about the Crystal Barn?

Joseph: The Barn is our local meta- physical shop; but it’s so much more than that, it’s the hub of the community here in my town and we are lucky to have such a place. People come from Fresno and Bakersfield to attend our rituals and first timers are always blown away by how huge the store is and the large volume of products and services they provide. I have been to hundreds of shops and the Barn is definitely the biggest and best of them.

We have a large meeting room there and I can’t express how amazing it is to have a dedicated ritual space for the Mill Creek community.

Christopher: Does it have a web page?

Joseph: Yes they do, but it doesn’t do them justice! You can find them online at http://thecrystalbarn.com/

Christopher: Is there anything else that you might like our readers to know about?

Joseph: Yes there is, thank you for asking. Earlier I mentioned the Central Valley Pagan Pride event we were involved in. At that event I finally got to meet Crystal Blanton, we had been friends on Face- book but never met. She had driven all the way down from the Bay Area with her family to be a presenter at our event.

We shared booth space and talked shop while we tried to sell some our books. Not only is she a great person but she’s a great writer, and her book “Bridging the Gap” tackles the tough issues we all experience within the Pagan community. I would like to strongly recommend her book to everyone, especially those Pagan community leaders and organizers. We all need to read this book.

The Survivor, a Card from the Joe Tarot

2011-10-04T15:09:00.000-07:00

Like all Pagan communities, ours is composed of a diverse group of people and paths. One of the sweetest members of ours is "Jedi Kim," who is one of the coolest people you could ever have the pleasure of meeting.

We call her Jedi Kim because she is a Star Wars fanatic. But no worries, she's the good kind. She goes to the conventions and sends us cool pictures of her in outfits I saw on the big screen when I was little and have wanted ever since. Last time it was the bright orange jump suit with the cool white helmet they wear when they're flying around in those X-Wing fighters.

Kim has been coming to our Mill Creek rituals for years now, she has become family and we are lucky to have her.

A few months ago, just seconds before the ritual began Kim pulled us aside and told us she just found out she had uterine cancer. We were floored. It was difficult to focus on the opening ritual because I had to pass by her several times during the process. The first labor of our ritual is purification and I found myself wanting to linger with her each time I passed.

The second labor of our ritual is adoration, we called to the elemental spirits, we call to the God and Goddess. I fought the urge to plea for an instantaneous miracle. But it would come later. During the third labor, observation, we call for Craftwork and people share their magic with the group. My wife did a presentation on Garlic.

It took guts, but she gave everyone the full story of how she had gotten a yeast infection, how she had gone to the pharmacy and bought a real expensive medication that did nothing, and how she went back and bought another even more expensive medication that did less. She explained how she went online and studied different home remedies and eventually tried one that used garlic.

She passed around a large full clove of garlic while she explained how she broke off a small peace, ran a thread through it and inserted it like a tampon. There were giggles and grins and she laughed as loud as they did until she told them the infection was gone in less than three hours. That got everyone's attention. Results always do. Then she shared the spell she wrote to go along with it and everyone had a really really good laugh.

Before we conclude our ritual we open the floor to communication and announcements, it was then that Kim made her announcement to the group about her condition and explained that she wouldn't be coming for a while. We offered to do an impromptu group healing then and there and she accepted.

I called her to the center of the circle, I knelt down and slowly waved my hand over her pelvic area like Ben Kenobi as I said "This isn't the uterus you're looking for," handed her the garlic and explained that she would need to do this part herself. We all laughed so much we almost cried as we gathered around her closely and offered her our healing energies. Afterward she said that she already felt better, that she was going to beat this thing and when she did she was going to get a tattoo of the Jedi symbol. I took her up on her affirmation and promised that when she beat it, I would take her and pay for the tattoo myself.

A short time later my wife joined a Relay For Life team that another Mill Creek friend had started. My wife crocheted a king size afghan to raffle off as a fundraiser. It took her over fifty balls of yarn and three months of nonstop work, I missed her. My family rode with Jedi Kim to the relay last Saturday where the first lap is reserved only for cancer survivors, and I am happy to say this picture of Kim was taken on that first lap.

Kim will continue to come to Mill Creek rituals for years, she will always be family and we are STILL lucky to have her.

Thank you Lord and Lady for the Force and the Garlic, we will be heading to the Tattoo shop very soon. Blessed be.

The Drummer, a Card from the Joe Tarot

2011-10-02T06:09:00.000-07:00

I first met the the drummer at a CVPP presenters meeting in preparation for the event. Although at first glance he may have seemed out of place for some indiscernible reason, he was confident and comfortable. The great ones always are. He sat quietly, calm and relaxed.The first thing I recognized was the smile.

It was a good productive meeting which served as a precursor to the event. The meeting concluded as Pagan events often do, with many introductions after the fact. Someone asked me what I did for a living and I said, "...I live..." The Drummer over heard my response and joined the conversation. As it turns out, he works in the same field.

Our Coven had the honor of conducted the opening ceremony for Pagan Pride Day. Moments before we were to begin I was informed that the Drummer had offered to begin the ceremony with ritual drumming to the four directions. It was an offer which I enthusiastically accepted without a moments hesitation.

The Drummer opened up with a drum beat I interpreted as an "announcement," and it worked well in getting everyone's attention and drawing all those present towards the circle. (so if you run community rituals, take note.) After a brief solemn pause he spent time drumming to each of the cardinal directions. To each direction he offered a transmission, each completely different in speed, rhythm, tempo and spirit. It served as a personal confirmation in my beliefs that we're all doing the same things for the same reasons, it's mostly the culture that is different. Barely.

Later that day I took a break from cooking hot dogs long enough to listen to his presentation. He spoke with a passion and energy that few speakers have and all speakers envy. He spoke of simple, profound truths that made sense and made you laugh at the same time, another rare talent. He is someone you want to know so I made sure to reconnect with him, we spoke for a while, talking shop about our related field and exchanging contact information.

The other night just before bed that classic default setting tone notified me of a text message. It was from a number neither I or my smart phone recognized. The message gave the time day and location of a meeting called the "Communication Circle." Although the name was meant to clarify, it only confused me more. I sat staring at the phone trying to figure out who was on the other end when it went off again. (I spooks me every time.) The second message added that the sender would be at COS (Collage of the Sequoias) the next day for a Multicultural Day event. Signed the Drummer.

Suddenly "Communication Circle" made sense, I have been attending drum circles for many years and have come to learn about the magic communication of percussion. The next day at the event we sat, watched and listen to his performance. He told a story about Africa while he drummed. Then without warning he began inviting people from the audience to join him. My Wife and I were among the first, hoping to sway others to join in we took to the stage and selected instruments from the large selection that was made available. Soon we had a crowd, and the Drummer began giving simple impromptu instructions to the participants and before you know it we were rocking out like a folk symphony orchestra.

The Drummer broke off the session for a moment and acquired more reluctant volunteers, again he gave them a quick impromptu lesson in African dance and told them to listen to his drum for their queue. We seemed to resuming the music without any difficulty, and we were rocking out again when the Drummer pounded out a distinctive beat which set off the men tribal dance. I don't know who was cheering louder, the audience, the volunteers or me. I'm sure no one in the audience that day had come prepared to perform on stage, but they did. The Drummer took nearly twenty random people, threw them together without warning and got them all to play instruments, together in successful unity. Now that's Magic!

The Power of Three

2011-09-28T15:26:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the kitschy Charmed cliche, but I admit it's a guilty pleasure of mine. I love that show, in its proper perspective. I always mention it in my annual lecture at Fresno State University to put things in proper perspective for the "uninitiated." I tell students that "Charmed" is to Witches, what "Star Trek" is to Scientists.

For a few hundred years we've had a pretty negative stereotype, but that tends to happen when everything written on the subject is the product of those who venomously oppose and your existence. I remember reading somewhere that Gerald Gardner's book Witchcraft Today was the first or one of the first books written about Witchcraft BY a practitioner. That really wasn't that long ago.

When I was growing up there were actually several books on Witchcraft in the local library, each of them graphically depicted Witches kissing the devils ass, having sex with goats and boiling infants for their baby fat, which apparently is the main ingredient in Flying Ointment.

But Look how far we've come in such a short time. I saw on Facebook today that my friends book shelf completely fell apart for the weight of her books. I'm very confident in my speculation that they were all Witchcraft, Hoodoo, and an Alchemy book I'm going to want back someday.

I believe that this years Central Valley Pagan Pride Day was definitely an accurate temperature gauge for the State of Our Union here in the central valley. Earlier this year I spoke at the Convention on Current Pagan Studies, the theme was sustaining Pagan communities and it was an invaluable experience. I came back rejuvenated and inspired by the spirit of the event. (I'm an Aquarius so that's not hard to do.) That's when I first got the idea for Central Vally Solstice. My idea was for an event something like PPD, but not. Geared more towards a huge multiple Pagan community interfaith ritual, a Mid-Summer Mega Festival Extravaganza!

A few months later my friend Audra at St. Brigid's Academy started the groundwork for Fresno Pagan Pride and I jumped on the bandwagon. We spoke about our ideas and plans, I got peanut butter all over her chocolate, and Fresno Pagan Pride became Central Valley Pagan Pride.

It only takes a single grain of rice to tip the scale.

I am happy to say the event was a huge success, largely due to the abundance of organizational skills. The core of the event was the unification of the Fresno, Visalia and Bakersfield Pagan communities and their organizers, I have no doubt this solidified the event and attracted participants from the Bay area as well as LA. It was an awesome day, we all had a blast and our booth made enough money to fund our seminary's prison ministry program through to Imbolc.

I was honored to share my booth with Crystal Blanton, who gave a great workshop of Witchwars and kept it real. She wrote about CVPP here and here for the PNC, and The Provocation did a nice piece here as well.

The spirit and success of CVPP has promoted new growth towards a real grassroots movement here in our valley, and the Power of Three is looking to tip the scales again soon.

Thank you Lord and Lady for letting me be a grain of rice, please let me do it again. Blessed Be.

CENTRAL VALLEY PAGAN PRIDE DAY

2011-09-03T18:10:00.000-07:00

There comes a time within our tradition when one must select a "toast." Similar to the motto of other traditions, however our toast does not serve as an identity, but rather something you say in Latin before you partake in the Cakes and Ale portion of our ritual. Mine is:

Aut viam inveniam aut faciam

"I shall find a way or I shall make one" which is attributed to Hannibal, although I'm sure he didn't say it in Latin.

I first moved here to the Central Valley about six years ago and hit the holy ground running, getting active in the Pagan community. But I was in this funny little blind spot called Visalia. There was a large Pagan community in Fresno (just north), and another in Bakersfield (just south) but not much here at home. Mostly online discussion forums and yahoo group covens (remember those?) There was only a single small group of Pagans meeting here in town, and for the most part it was identified as a "study group," but it turned out to be a personality cult which disqualified me from membership and I was excommunicated within the first month. I was hurt and angry, but it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me, because it made me do my own thing, make my own way.

That way became a Coven, that Coven became a Tradition, that Tradition became a Pagan Prison Ministry and that Ministry became my first book, and that book was blessed with a fore word from Raymond Buckland. I consider it to be a high honor, I'm very proud of that and I have a right to be, I did the work, I earned it.

But I am not alone, my friend Derick is to his community in Bakersfield what I am to mine, and Audra from St Brigid's Academy is for Fresno. We've all come a long way since then. The Fresno, Visalia and Bakersfield Pagan communities are interconnected and networking. Our Coven hosts an open community ritual on the first and third Sundays of the month, and on the others we often do "field trip" activities . Our group has loaded up the Mill Creek Mobile and road-tripped to visit the Kern County Pagan Circle in Bakersfield and many of them have come up to attend our rituals. Who knew earth-based religions were prone to grassroots?

When I was young my father would tell me there three kinds of people, those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened. He said it enough to have the lasting effect he had hoped for. It is in that spirit I raise my cup and toast to those who have come together to make things happen.

I am happy to announce Central Valley Pagan Pride Day!

Here is the event schedule with Facebook links for more information.

09:00am CVPP Opens
09:30am - 09:50am Opening Ceremony
10:00am - 10:30am The Pagan Roots of Christianity
10:45am - 11:30am Primal Women Workshop
11:45am - 12:00pm Rose Thorn
12:15pm - 12:45pm Djembe: History, Ritual, Magick
01:00pm - 01:45pm Joseph Merlin Nichter
02:00pm - 02:45pm Golden Dawn Basics
03:00pm - 03:45pm Crystal Blanton
04:00pm - 04:30pm Herself
04:45pm - 05:15pm Sounds of the Didgeridoo
06:00pm - 06:20pm Closing Ceremony
06:30pm - 07:00pm Cleanup
07:00pm - 08:00pm Spiral Dance/Drum Circle

Mill Creek Seminary will be doing the opening ceremony,the ritual has been modified to accommodate goals of this particular event: Mill Creek Seminary will perform the “opening” ceremony marking the beginning of the event, Kern County Pagan Circle will perform the “closing” ceremony marking the end of the event, whereby making the whole event one large daylong community ritual.

Come join us and help us make it a good one!

Thank you Lord and Lady for all the Pathfinders in the Pagan Community! Blessed Be.

The Castaways, a card for the Joe Tarot

2011-08-25T13:04:00.000-07:00

My first though was to use IX card from the Rider-Waite deck and title this post The Hermit, but I felt that it would be inaccurate. When I think of the Hermit, I think of the wise old sage living a reclusive spartan lifestyle up in the mountains. I often associate it with religious/spiritual immersion and meditation. A Holy Man on Hiatus.

I have three poster size cards from the Rider-Waite deck framed and hanging on the wall over my bed. The Fool, who reminds me to be playful and never be afraid to fall (innocence). The Hanged Man, who reminds me that everything is revealed by doing the work (fortitude). When I wake in the morning and look up at him, he smiles. And The Hermit, who reminds me that the more I learn, the more I realize I don't know much (humility).

I realized the difference between The Hermit and The Castaway is the company. By Ostara this year I had taken on more and more, filling my plate, and found myself getting extra plates until I had a full table. Over the years my prison visits had increased in both frequency and duration. Then I began to make visits to a state mental hospital, soon those visits increased until I found myself teaching 12 week courses. Then I was contacted by another prison, then another...

Then there's my overdue homework, memos and minutes for the non-profit, Coven craftwork, the community circle contact list, the Sabbat flier, my PPD workshop, the university lecture, the pile of inmate correspondence, not to mention my day job as a facility administrator preparing for Cal Osha visits, annal audits and quarterly reports.

I forgot what I was actually looking for when I went digging through the pile(s) on my desk, whatever it was it had to be in there somewhere. But what I did find down under all that mess was an old tattered and stained sticky note, it got my attention because it was so hard to read. I squinted and realized I'm supposed to be wearing glasses now, maybe that's what I was looking for, but It read:

"When was the last time you put down your magic and played with your kids?"

I stared at it for a while, I remembered that this had happened to me before. I was angry that it had happened again. I walked though the house, slowly and quietly and just watched my kids. I realized that my oldest daughter would soon be starting her senior year, we hadn't seen "the twins" (as we call them) in person since we gave them iphones, and my Mini Me wasn't so mini.

I notified the prisons that I wouldn't be coming in for a few weeks, took the semester off from school and put everything except the absolute necessities on the pack burner. It felt very uncomfortable at first, doing nothing. But I got the hang of it. My kids taught me how to play video games, (Black Ops Rules by the way) stay up late watching adult swim, and sleep in until it was absolutely nessissary to wake up. We spent a lot of time up at Amahi in Three Rivers, its literally a spiritual retreat for our family. Spearfishing, (caught three) white water body surfing and cliff diving was a great way to spend the summer with my fellow Castaways.

We made a trip down the Bakersfield to attend a Lammas ritual hosted by some friends, I love going to other peoples rituals for many reasons: 1. I'm not running anything, which is always awesome. 2. meeting old friends 3. making new friends 4. "Borrowing ideas for rituals 5. FOOD. The ritual was awesome because I completed all five. While I was there I hung out with The Holy Idiot who helped me to realize how lucky I was to be able to drop everything and spend some time with my kids. This was a very large reality slap that left me dizzy for a few days. Thank you Robert.

The whole summer was a blur and their all back in school already. I'm preparing to return to the prisons, I didn't think I'd miss it so much and I cant wait to get back to it. The VA glitched my tuition so I'll be taking one more semester off, but that's ok, I got lots to catch up on, a whole new book to write and a bunch of blog entries too. I kept a list of topics I wanted to write about once the summer was over, but some of them I can't remember ans some I cant read. But here's what I've got planed for the next few weeks:

Feathers
Power of Prayer
Azoth
Russel's Music
"something" and the beyond(?)
Rev. "something"(?)
More about (our) Tradition
"I have no idea what language this word is supposed to be in"
and a doodle of something that looks like a pig's tail.

Anyway, much like Tom Hank's character, I speared some fish, got smashed on some rocks by the water, hell I even screamed "Wilson!" a few times, and now I'm sitting here with ice in my glass.

Thank you Lord and Lady for the Summer, the River, the Memories, and the Reality Slap. Blessed Be.

The Sword of Solidarity

2011-06-01T12:50:00.000-07:00

People have always gone to extraordinary lengths for their religious freedoms, the majority of the early colonists came to this continent to escape religious discrimination and persecution. They risked all, and took the leap of faith into an unknown world so they could practice their religion.

I always found it ironic that they went on to found a country that now perpetuates the same cycle of discrimination they sought to escape.

For over a decade now Patrick McCollum has led the charge against religious discrimination and has inspired many of us as Pagan Prison Chaplains. It was Patrick who took me to my first prison visit, an experience that has changed my life forever. Patrick has carried the torch of illumination from the prisons of California to US Commission on Civil Rights in Washington, DC, and fought a long hard and expensive legal battle with California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

I was both saddened and angered to learn today that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the earlier ruling, that Patrick's suit held no standing. Win or lose, Patrick has served a large part in the Big Picture, he has made the religious needs and rights of Pagan inmates and their chaplains undeniable. While Patrick has fought in the courtroom many more of us fight in the trenches at local correctional institutions around the country, feeding the needs of inmates for several years now we have seen the Pagan population and its needs grow.

There has been a lot of controversy about the term "Pagan" lately and I've tried to ignore it. But it comes into play here. We spend so much time arguing about things I consider petty, so much time being way to self involved. We need to stop worrying about what to call or not ourselves, we need to stop focusing on the issues that divide us and start focusing on the ideas that unite us.

And unfortunately religious discrimination unites us. It is time to unite under the banner of "whatever-ism," pick up the sword of solidarity and join the fight for religious pluralism!

I am eagerly awaiting Patrick's response to the decision and what further action will be taken. Will he push forward to the supreme Court? Or will he start over with a new suit, with a new strategy?

Whatever he does, he needs your help and support. If we can raise over $30,000 for Japan, what could we do for one of our own, who's fighting for us?

The Brutal Truth

2011-04-21T19:28:00.000-07:00

Wow, I can hardly believe its almost Beltane. Even more, I can't believe I haven't posted since Ostara. But life is what passes you by when your too busy blogging, and I'm not going to miss anything.

I keep a sticky note on my desk that's says "When is the last time you put down your magic and played with your children?"

A while back I found it, and didn't know.

That's not going to happen again, and it hasn't happened since. I've been pretty busy since then, but a good busy. I been investing time in my son's boy scout activities and enjoy spending the time with him. I hope he keeps it up, but I don't think he will. But I don't need the scouts to spend time with my boys.

People often ask me what it was like growing up Pagan and a have a few good stories. But lately I wonder what my kids will say when they get older. I had one of those moment today when I see the difference in mentality between my family and others.

Our tradition is the called Veritas Wicca. Veritas being Latin for truth, many assume we mean to say we are the true Wicca, but they would assume incorrectly. It comes from the motto "Veritas Pro Re Natura" or Truth Through Nature.

I have long made the assertion that gender is the natural polarity of things; male and female, not good and evil. That there is no all good god and all evil devil. As a Pagan we don't have a written sacred text like the bible or Koran, we have the unwritten Gospel of Nature. And in that gospel, there is no devil. There is no Good or Evil, there is Male and Female.

When a shark comes up from the deep to eat a baby seal, it's not evil, it's hungry. It takes no perverse sadistic pleasure in the death of the seal, save perhaps for the taste. But when that great white come up from the deep after you, it was SATAN HIMSELF come to claim your soul!!!

It is our perception, that makes things good or evil. What we like is good, what we dislike is baaaaaad. That's "morality, " and nature doesn't do that, we do.

Today a lady was over doing my absolutely gorgeous wife's hair, they were in the kitchen near the sliding class door. Our cat Mojo caught his first bird. It was a unable to fly away but otherwise unharmed. Passing through my wife remarked about the successful hunt, and we watched for a moment as Mojo caught, released and re-caught the bird several times.

We were so proud of Mojo.

But the hairdresser thought that I should go and save the bird. So did the visiting friends of my children. But I never got a chance to say a word. It was my wife who explained to the hairdresser and my daughter who explained to her friends that we don't do that. What the cat did was natural, like the shark. They explained that the catch and release was not a cruel game of torture, but how animals of prey like our saber tooth kitty practice and develop their survival skills.

We do feel bad for the bird, we're humans, we do that. But nature doesn't work that way, and neither do cats. You can take the cat out of the hunt, but you can't take the hunt out of the cat and it would be wrong to try. We acknowledge that a little bird gave his life in service to the Gospel of Nature today, but that wasn't a bad thing unless you're the bird. Or was it?

Either way I am proud of my kids, they have shown me today that they understand and accept the brutal truth. Thank you Lord and Lady for blessing me with children who can teach me about life. Blessed Be.

The Rabbit & The Reaper

2011-03-21T21:20:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I took part in the Conference on Current Pagan Studies. The topic was sustaining a Pagan communities and I gave a presentation which focused on Rites of Passage.

I made the assertion that if we want to sustain ourselves as a Pagan community, we need to sustain the individuals that make our community. I also made the point that the future of the Pagan community is with our children.

One of my favorite things about Paganism is our holidays. We have more than everyone else and ours are better, IF you take full advantage of them. You get out of Paganism what you put into Paganism.

Twice a month on Sundays, the Mill Creek Pagan Community meets in dedicated space, indoors. The other two Sundays we do outdoor activities. We had been planning our Ostara celebration for a good long while. We were all looking forward to getting back out to the park, we hadn't been there since Samhain.

We always rent an arbor for the Sabbats, complete with a BBQ and potluck. A full moon on a Sabbat is always a good omen and the Super Moon promised some extra juice, we were all looking forward to. We had boiled eggs and coloring kits ready, and a few other things planned.

But to simply say it rained would be an understatement. There was a moment of hesitation, the thought had crossed my mind that all bets were off. But my wife wouldn't hear of it, "We will make it work," and I snapped out of it. One of my favorite quotes is from Hannibal:

"I shall find a way, or I shall make one."

Over a year ago I wrote a post with the spoof title "If you cast it they will come." And as cheesy as it sounds, it has come to pass. Within twenty minutes the phone tree system went into effect, and everyone was successfully rerouted to our normal indoor meeting place.

In the old days, one of the things our Pagan ancestors did to celebrate the rebirth of spring was to kill death. They would parade through town to a bridge, with an effigy of the Grim Reaper leading the procession. Then they would throw him in the river, throw flowers and sing farewell hymns to him. We have a nice full creek running right by our arbor and a bridge to throw of Grim Reaper off, but that was at the park. So we passed around his sickle, each person took a turn charging the sickle with what they wanted to let go of before crossing the threshold into spring.

Every year I braid Bridget's Belt from fresh mulberry limbs, into a giant wreath. Every year the branches sprout bright green buds just in time, that's how I know its Ostara. One by one each person steps through the porthole into spring then turns to assist and greet the person behind them as if they haven't seen them in years, it's the little things...

As always the food was great, everything from Pizza to stew and lots of Goodies. We are lucky enough to be blessed with to very gifted bakers. Food and friends, that's my favorite part of Paganism, or at least our tradition. The Harald always begins every ritual with: "Hear ye! Hear ye! All those who have gathered here for the noble and glorious purpose of celebration and fellowship..."

Celebration and Fellowship.

I think once we stop focusing so much on candle colors and direction, or degree and titles, and start focusing more on celebration and fellowship, we will have a better chance of sustaining our communities. The phone tree thing works well, even Lepus the Sabbat Rabbit showed up to visit the kids, pass out some candy and pose for a few pictures. He took the Reapers sickle with him when he left, I last saw him heading for the bridge.

Thank you Lord and Lady for all the extra juice.

The Pagan, The Press & The Prayer Vigil

2011-03-05T11:45:00.000-08:00

One of the events I regretfully missed at Pantheacon this year was the Pagan Leadership Panel. Hosted by Devin Hunter of the Modern Witch Podcast. The panel included Hyperion of The Unnamed Path, Ms.Rabbit Matthews of CAYA, and Jason Pitzl-Waters of The Wild Hunt Blog.

It was an impressive round-table discussion about pagan leadership in the 21st century, and I'm sorry I missed it. But luckily we have YouTube and we can all watch in a series of seven segments.

I found all of the discussion topics relevant and intriguing, I also found the the panelists very intelligent and appreciated their answers and their point of view. Of all the insights, I found in Part Four Jason's answer to dealing with the mundane media really resonated with me. He said what we really need too consider is whether or not we actually need to speak to the media.

I have had more than my 15 seconds of fame being in the local papers and on the news once or twice, but when I have been contacted my immediate response has always been concern. The panel validated my concerns during their discussion, and I found these concerns validated yet again in light of the Charlie Sheen Vs. The Warlock fiasco. Because when we speak publicly as Pagans, we end up speaking for Pagans, wither we want to or not. This is not a responsibility I want. So when I do speak publicly, I try to focus more on my Chaplaincy rather than my Pagancy.

This past Wednesday I was contacted by an enthusiastic community organizer who was trying to manifest an interfaith prayer vigil ad hoc. He explained what he was trying to do and asked if I would be willing to speak publicly on the matter along side other religious community leaders. I told him I needed to conform my availability and would call him back shorty. I knew my availability, but didn't want to make an ad hoc decision because there would be media coverage. I sough counsel before calling him back and agreeing to participate.

We met face to face later that day, and after meeting him and talking more in depth about the vigil, I felt very confident about the event and my participation in it. The speakers included a local Baptist minister, a Sihk community leader, a Catholic priest and your friendly neighborhood Wiccan WitchDoctorJoe. But fortunately I was introduced as a Minority Faith Chaplain and managed to squeeze a piece of that into my speech:

As a combat veteran I served my country for almost ten years. During my time in service I was deployed to many foreign countries and experience many different cultures. I took those opportunities to explore those cultures and their religious beliefs and practices. While I recognized many differences, I also identified many similarities.

For the past three years I have served my community as a religious volunteer, working with the California Departments of Corrections and Department of Mental Health. I serve these agencies as a Minority Faith Chaplain. And usually when I introduce myself as a “Minority Faith Chaplain,” most people are prompted to ask what exactly that is.

Currently the State of California only employs chaplains for five mainstream or “majority faiths,” which are categorized as Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim and Native American. My purpose is to assist state facilities with the religious accommodations of everyone else, the “Minority Faiths.”

This purpose continues to provide me with opportunities to explore a broad range of religious beliefs and practices, where I continue to identify those differences and recognize our similarities. The similarity I find most inspiring is our humanity.

In all the countries I’ve been to, all the religious beliefs and practices I have experienced, the single greatest commonality is the focus and topic of prayer. I recognize that despite the diversity of our religious pluralism, we’re all praying for the same things. We all pray for prosperity. We all pray for the health and safety of our family, friends and community.

We share these prayers because poverty, sickness, disease and disability does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race or religion. Therefore, nether can we. We are obligated by our humanity as well as our faith to provide care for those who are in need of it. We have a covenant, we have a contract.

In these unstable economic times our federal, state and local leadership is faced with a budget crisis which is forcing them to make some difficult and challenging decisions, decisions which affect us all. Decisions which could potentially cut funding to essential services that provide vital and necessary care to the poor, the sick and the disabled.

Not only would these cute affect my family, my friends and my community; they would affect the clients in my care. I am a fourth generation care provider. For over fifty years my family has operated residential care facilities for the developmentally disabled. I have shared my childhood with them and they have had a significant influence in shaping the man I have become.

They are amazing human beings, but many of them do have the opportunity for gainful employment, due to no fault of their own. These cuts would not only affect my ability and capacity to provide residential care, it would also affect their basic health and medical benefits, which would severely diminish their quality of life. A quality of life we have a social contract to provide.

I ask that we all join together in prayer for our leaders. Let us pray that our leaders would open their hearts and seek aid and guidance from a divine counsel, let us ask that they would open themselves to an indwelling of compassion for those who need it, and for the strength and courage to make wise decisions on our behalf.
Blessed Be.

There was media coverage, the local news station was there to interview all the speakers on the matter, and I got te see myself on the TV again. Thats always cool, as long as its for the right reasons.

Hymns to Helios & The Benefits of Prostate Message

2011-02-21T20:51:00.000-08:00

Nothing gets someones attention like a snappy title. I figured I'd need one as it's been so long since I have posted anything. This is due to my extraordinarily exciting awesome life.

For almost two years now our Coven has been hosting open community rituals here in Visalia, Ca. It started out once a month but soon became a bi-monthly event due to popularity. But for most of us regulars even that's not been enough, but instead of doing weekly rituals we opted for alternative activities.

So the weekends that we're not meeting for rituals, we do field trips. Our first one was to visit our friends in Bakersfield, who do the same thing there in their community that we do here in ours. We loaded up the Mill Creek Van and joined in their Sunday meeting. We just had a blast, it was really cool to visit old friends and make new ones.

We plan to take trips to other Pagan community group meetings, the national forest for campfire and conversation, and Stone City Pagan Sanctuary.

But this past weekend was especially cool, I got to see four of my friends lose their virginity. We all loaded up the van and went to Pantheacon. For those who haven't yet been, it's a lot like your first time at the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I didn't get to go last year and still regret it, and was only able to go for a single Saturday this time, but I got my fix. Walking in the entrance, the first thing I saw was a large man in a baby blue kilt with rubber duckies on it. I was finally home.

Our group quickly split up to complete our separate missions, for the girls it was the vendor booths, but for me and my pal it was the classes. First on the list was a "ritual," was that's what the listing called it. For many people like my buddy, our rituals are the only rituals he has experienced, and I am a ritual junky so I thought it would be good to expand his horizons and get a fix, two birds, one stone.

All I will say is that we both wanted to leave quite early. After discreetly excusing ourselves, made our way silently to the restaurant, neither of us quite sure what to say about it, except that by comparison, we were the shit! In the short time we sat there I saw a lot of big name Pagans and old friends, and some were both. Its always flattering when a "Pagan Celebrity" recognizes you and takes a moment for quick catch up.

I ran into my buddy The Druid of Fisher Street, while chatting with another popular druid. After finishing lunch we sat in on Pagan Humor 3: The Search for Spock, which was the third installment of Pantheacon Pagan Humor by Angus, who is in fact the funniest Pagan I've ever heard. "The Benefits of Prostate Message" is a quote taken from his account of the Las Vegas triathlon. Please read his blog!

So after that was my single goal for the day, which was to attend the"Hymns to Helios" ritual hosted by the Open Source Order of the Golden Dawn. While waiting for the doors to open I ran into another friend and fellow blogger PhoenixAngel. The Hymns to Helios was a simply amazing ritual, which really sets the bar for both ritual content and conduct. As far as I'm concerned they set the standard, and I hope our group can meet it someday.

After that it was finally time to hit the vendors, and I totally scored! I got a nice altar pentacle, some new tippers and a Cernunnos T-shirt. While shopping I got a copy of Lon Milo Duquettes book "Low Magic," but the cool part was that he was sitting right there to sign it and doodle a self portrait too. And last but not least I bumped into The Good Frater on my way out. All and all it was an amazing day, and that was just one.

Thank you Lord and Lady for rubber ducky kilts, blogger buddies, hymns and prostate message! Blessed Be.

The Rite Path, another card from the Joe Tarot

2011-01-24T09:08:00.000-08:00

I've been publicly speaking about Paganism for several years now and as the class clown, I have always been quite comfortable. Of course it is pretty easy to talk about Paganism to non-Pagans who are interested. But this weekend I spoke at the Conference on Current Pagan Studies.

This was to be the first time I would be speaking amongst my peers, which raises the bar considerably. And this was the Academic Pagan Community, which raises things to a whole other level. Reading the bios of my fellow presenters I quickly realized that I was way out of my league. Most of them were Doctors and Professors with Ph.Ds and Academic credentials up the ying yang.

So that morning I was extremely nervous, but after the first few presentations I started to warm up and feel a bit better. The theme of the conference was Building and Sustaining a Pagan Community, (how too). My presentation focus was to emphasize Rite of Passage. Around noon, Selina Fox got up and gave her Key note presentation on the emphasis of Rites of Passage...

She's an amazing speaker and she gave a wonderful speech, which was nearly identical to mine. So what do you do when you show up wearing the same dress as the VIP / Key Note? Oh Shit! I need to go change my clothes. Do I have time? No. Do I have new clothes ready? No. What do you do? What do you say? Think about this for a second before you read on. Go ahead, I'll wait.

Ok, so... I started out with my confession, I said everything you just read up to here X.

Then I announced that I had therefore amended my speech to the following, "Yeah, what she said." and then I walked away from the podium. Thankfully the Academic community Does in fact have a sense of humor. I realized that when people like Selina Fox are saying the same things that you are thinking, this is a huge confirmation that you are on the right path, heading in the right direction.

In my presentation I asserted that rites of passage are important because we have a need for validation and acceptance. Rites of passage fulfill these needs and we are fulfilled spiritually, psychologically and emotional by them when our community celebrates our big step across the threshold, and is there to welcome us. This fulfillment sustains us and we can then move on on other pursuits.

I asserted that we as communities have lost these rites, but we as individuals have not lost the need for them. A need unfulfilled remains a need. These needs unfulfilled, we find ourselves distracted by the pursuit of that validation ans acceptance. Left to our own devices we create our own rites, like losing our virginity, committing our first crime or serving our first prison sentence. For each of these assertions a gave a personal experience to better illustrate my points, and closed with the story of my sons rite of passage and the its symbolism. People cried.

For the remainder of the conference I was approached by people who felt compelled to thank and congratulation me on my presentation, including one new friend who candidly admitted that he came to this conference with a predisposition and intention to not like me. I was so happy he failed.

I normally try to be a humble person, but dammit, yes, I am bragging! I earned it. Whats more, on the way home I realized I had just illustrated my own assertions on rites of Passage. I was weighed, measured, validated and accepted by my community. My personal spiritual, psychological and emotional needs were fulfilled, I left sustained and already find myself in a hot new pursuit.

Thank you Lord and Lady for making us earn things the hard way, and making them worth it.

Blessed Be.

Genius Loci

2010-12-27T10:46:00.000-08:00

My friend The Druid of Fisher Street just posted a great blog on the great topic of land spirits. I began my response in his comments block but decided I needed more room. It began like this:

Great topic, great post!

I have had these same thoughts. Having a background in Native American traditions has greatly influenced my American Pagan path, without the cultural appropriation.

When I was in Oklahoma I found my spot to commune with the local land spirits, which turned out to be an old Native hot spot, and I took it as confirmation.

When I moved to the Central Valley, again the first thing I did was put up the antennas and scan for a place, which lead me the Three Rivers, another native hot spot. Later I found the area riddled with mortar holes of the Potwisha Indians, which I now use as prayer bowls where I leave my offerings (hence the card selection).

I personally appreciate your concern for cultural appropriation issues, as I am sure the natives do. But there is a difference between *cultural" appropriation and inspiration. It is no coincidence that I/we have been dawn to the same areas as the first nations. As Pagans we seek to develop and maintain a connection with the land and our attunement naturally draws us like magnets to those same areas, for the same reasons. I often explain Paganism to the muggle/cowan folk as "Indian stiff for white people" or the return to Indigenous European Traditions, and this is a perfect example of why.

I have come to identify land spirits as Genius Loci which fits quite nicely within my tradition and practice. And again no coincidence, that I was just reading a great article by Lupa (luv her) on the topic in Llewellyn's 2011 Magical Almanac, titled Connecting to the Land: Modern Paganism, Bioregionalism, and the Genius Loci. (if you go to the link, you can read the article on page 26!)

Thank you Lord and Lady for great minds thinking alike.

Idols of the Marketplace

2010-12-22T09:28:00.000-08:00

Time flies, the Eclipse and Solstice have already come and gone, and I have already received my books for the coming semester. I am pleasantly surprised how much I have learned from a Baptist seminary. Being raised Pagan I never had an in depth understanding of Christianity, nor was I ever interested in one.

But as challenging as it has been, I have gained an appreciation for the religion and realized there's some pretty good stuff in there. It's not the religion I have a problem with, its the followers of that religion (who aren't actually following the religion).

But I love theology! And I loved my Humanities class! I really learned a lot. It gave me so many ideas and I wanted to write on some of those before I lose them in the avalanche of new classes...

Sir Francis Bacon wrote Novum Organum or New Instrument, in which he writes about the Four False Idols: of the Cave (mind), the Tribe (all humans), of the Theater (schools of thought) and of the Marketplace (language). False Idols being false beliefs. My long time readers know how I am about personal challenges, so I am embarking on a brave (Non-Scientology) self audit of my false idols. But I thought I'd warm up with the idols of the marketplace I've seen and work my way into the Cave. For this installment, I came up with three idols, hold on let me get my soapbox...

THE REDE

The Rede has become a Meme: "an it harm none, do what ye wilt." But it's so much more than that, there is actually 26 (or more) lines (depending on which version), and it embarrassing how many "Wiccans" I've met who didn't know this. I've seen so many people leave Christianity and come crying to Paganism, but ironically that have not left the Christian mindset and dogma behind. They have drug it kicking and screaming into Paganism. They have let go of the safely and security of the Bible only to clutch the Rede with white knuckles. But they've only switched addictions, the Rede is not Gospel, it's guideline. There is actually some really good stuff in there, which like Masonry, the greatest lessons are only alluded too. It wouldn't hurt to read into it a bit before adopting or rejecting it. I'm just saying...

Recommended reading: The Wiccan Rede, Couplets of the Law, Teachings, and Enchantments by Mark Ventimiglia, Citadel Press 2003.

THE WHITE HANDLED KNIFE

This is another Axiom of the Wiccan community, if you Google "white handled knife" you will get results explaining that it's also known as the Boline, and visa versa. But there is a difference between the two: the Boline is used expressly for harvesting herbs and other plants whereas the white handed knife is used to cut, carve, mark and engrave other objects for use in the craft such as cords or candles. However there is yet another tool called a "Burin" which is specifically used for marking candles. I don't know how this ever developed into a full blown axiom, but what the hell, apparently I don't pronounce Athame correctly either...

SELF INITIATION

As a Freemason I have come to place a high value on initiation as a rite of passage. It is a life changing, consciousness altering experience, that you CANNOT do to yourself. There is a big difference between a "Dedication" and an "Initiation." You can perform a (self) dedication ritual to mark your commitment to a particular path, in fact I recommend it. But an initiation by definition is "a rite of passage ceremony marking entrance or acceptance into a group or society."

"A group or society..."

I knew someone who came to me asking about initiation, she told me about the Coven she was in before and how when she asked to be initiated she was told to write the initiation ritual, and they would perform it on her (writing the ritual was part of her test). ???????!!!!!

While the phases of initiation may vary from tradition to tradition, there remain a few necessary elements such as the chamber of reflection, the shock of entrance and the guardian of the threshold. And depending on the mystery there's probably a death and a resurrection or rebirth. None of these things can one do to ones self, nor should one attempt to do alone for the sake a safety.

Not knowing who they are or what they are about to do to you is a necessary part of the process, it forces you to question your own motivation, "what did I do to get myself into this situation? What am I doing? Why am I doing this?" Some of the biggest secrets of mystery schools, traditions and the Craft are revealed through the sacred dramas like initiation, they are an experiential necessity for unlocking the wisdom within.

I can go on for hours about the value of initiation, which is always over emphasized for the wrong reasons, but that's another idol...

Thank you Lord and Lady, here's your soapbox back.

Changing Lanes

2010-12-18T20:09:00.000-08:00

I have often said my life has been like a Forrest Gump movie. I'd like to amend that statement: it has been more like Slum-dog Millionaire. I have lead an unusually charmed life full of incredible experiences. What makes them so incredible has often been the impossible sequence of coincidences.

Within the Cauldron of memory there are departments. One of those departments contains memories that "mean something." I may not know what or why at the time, but they register as significant, and I hold them in a separate area.

Then things like Iraq happen. And finding myself in absolutely absurd circumstances they suddenly become relevant, significant and lifesaving. Because of some seemingly random bit, I am the only one who knows what to do, acting without hesitation. Small significant things in my life were "preparation" for "Who wants to be a survivor?" The result has been described as a miracle. I call it Magic.

Events like these, prompt the question of a Grand Design: does everything actually happen according to some divine plan? Or are we just looking for a pattern to feel more secure about our place in the universe?

I have always believed that things do happen for a reason, or at least they happen to me for a reason. Even the bad, in fact the worst things that even happened changed my life for the best. While in Iraq, my (ex) wife developed a several drug habits and several relationships which resulted in her getting pregnant and attempting suicide.

That was my Hero's Welcome, a red cross massage about a pregnant, drug addicted wife. When I walked in the door, there were three men in my home. One was in the bedroom. Things were about the change.

So I divorced her, got custody of my children, got out of the Army and start over. Went home to help run the family business and met her the day I rode into town. We have been together ever since. She is the most amazing women I have ever met, I didn't even know women like her existed. She is the best thing that ever happen to me and I almost lost her at five o'clock this morning.

She gave a client a ride to work in the early morning rain, and on her way home someone ran a red and caved in the drivers side door. She walked away a little sore, but unharmed. She came home and we both cried. The reality of life's frailty can do that from time to time. But out of the tears came laughter: well my sachets worked!

We travel a lot; I make weekly trips to prisons and state hospitals, weekend trips to the national forest and we make monthly trips to friends, family and lots of rock concerts. So she made protection sachets for every vehicle to keep us safe (and make me wear my seat belt).

My wife has never opened a door for herself in my presence since the day we met, and she never will. you'd be amazed how much attention this can draw, apparently its a bit unusual. Every once in a while I like to ham it up for the audience and bow "your chariot ma'lady..."

We had spent the last few day talking about getting a new chariot, and she spent Friday window shopping hybrids. I told her she didn't need to do this, I was already planning on buying her a new one. Laughter is the best medicine.

We talked about the Grand Design. It wasn't bad Karma, or a the third fold of some spell, shit happens (for a reason). We don't always see the bigger picture, especially when Dryghtyn throws overhand. It's been my experience that we're usually looking to closely to see the bigger picture. But I know there is one, I've seen.

Thank you Lord and Lady for the Chariot, sorry about the dent.

Community Service

2010-12-15T19:27:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite archetypes has always been the Trickster. Always misunderstood and unappreciated for what they really are and the valuable service they provide. The "Trickster" is the mask of the Sacred Clown, in some Native (mystery) traditions these clowns possess a respected, revered and feared power few understand or even recognize.

Next month I will be speaking at the 2011 Conference on Current Pagan Studies. The focus of this years conference is "Sustaining a Pagan Community" and I will be addressing Rites of Passage and have the honor of speaking along side Selena Fox and Patrick McCollum.

I've been working on a three separate writing projects, and have trouble keeping them separate and they all seem to bleed into one another. One of those Pagan community topics that has been on my mind is Metaphysical shops. Many places I've been they always seem to be the hub of the Pagan community.

I know that the Enchanted Cottage in Bakersfield is for its Community, just as the Crystal Barn is for Visalia. A few weeks ago we were in Oakland to see Shakira and while we were in town I finally got to visit Ancient Ways, which started PantheaCon. It was a really great shop, a real "Pagan" shop. I especially liked the "Candle Dressing Policy" posted on the wall, that's when I knew I was in the right spot, and sure enough I looked up a saw the altar statuary set I've been searching for, for over three years. They have been out of production for some time, but everyone online still advertises that they sell them, until you try to purchase them. I'm on six different waitng lists, for when they become available again, and I found them both.

Grin.

So, I've my new book sales have been awesome! I can't believe I sold over a hundred copies! I didn't know I was that popular, or maybe it was the foreword from Raymond Buckland, or maybe people are just trying to help out. Whatever it was, thank you.

But despite the online sales, I still sell books in several local shops here in central California. At every store I have introduced myself as "Chaplain Nichter," and explained that I am a volunteer Wiccan Chaplain, that I wrote a book on Wicca for inmates, and that I send inmates free copies. I explain that for every single book sold I make enough to buy more two books and send them to inmates for free, and it even covers the two bucks for shipping.

"Charity Fund Raising"

Then I ask if they would be willing to carry a few copies for me, and they all have, and I get a call when one or two sell. Today I went by the local Fresno shop. We've been patrons there for over four years and have easily spent over six hundred dollars there in statuary, wall plaques, books, and very expensive hippie clothes, which I find ironic, but my wife loves her outfits.

So, I go through the exact same intro-explanation, with the owner, who knows me. And to my surprise, she conplained that the price of the book was too high.

"you don't understand...your selling these books at retail, you're suppose to sell them at whole-sell... other wise I can't raise the price to make anything out of it"

I told her I DID understand, and repeated ...charity fund raiser... after a moment of silence I asked her what price she recommended, and she replied:

"Well for starters, you need to find a cheaper publisher! You need to print at a much cheaper price so you can sell at a much lower whole-sell price, or no ones ever going to make any money! Second you need to learn about proper marketing, promotion and advertisement"

She took the books out of my hands and looked at them. Making a wry face she said "I guess I could try to sell them but no ones going to pay any more than the fifteen your already charging."

Now bear in mind that I only offered her three small copies, add a few bucks for each and we're talking about what? Ten bucks tops.

I gently attempted to take the books backs and said "you know what....never mind, I'm sorry to have bothered you." But she actually tightened her grip on them and said "I SAID I WOULD TAKE THEM!"

I pulled them out of her hand and said "No no that's ok, never mind... but couldn't resist telling her her "you know, I'm selling these books in six other shops and no one else is trying to make any money off of this non-profit-charity- fund raiser but you, I don't keep a dime, I'M GIVING THE BOOKS AWAY."

I left the area and went to find my wife so we could leave, and the owner came after me a cussed me out, "I didn't know her, who was I to give her attitude, I think she doesn't do charity work, I have some nerve being so disrespectful to her, She has rent to pay and who's going to pay for the space my book takes up on the shelf?"

So, once we got back into town, we made a stop by our beloved Crystal Barn. It's like Cheers, everyone knows your name, even the dog comes out to play with you and get petted. we weren't in the store more than ten minutes before the owner came out and gave us a gift wrapped Yule present!

One of the powerful things about Sacred Clowns is their ability to break all the religious rules and social taboos. That's actually their job, they violate and desecrate all we hold sacred and holy with humor, it's an art form, it's magic. By doing so they provide a contrast, we cannot have the light without the dark. The trick to is recognizing them when they come dancing into our lives.

Thank you Lord and Lady for the statues and the clowns. Blessed Be.

Fiat Fortuna

2010-12-11T13:15:00.000-08:00

I'm a big fan of Gus diZerega's A Pagans Blog, and his last post on preparing for Yule inspired this post.

One of the things I've noticed in the Pagan & Magic community is that many of the celebrated personalities both historical and contemporary, have tried to define Magic(K).

While I have my own ideas, I have only gone so far as my signature tag line: Wisdom is the proper application of knowledge, and Magic is the result.

Other than that I liken it to the pornography quote: "I can't define it, but I know it when I see it."

Our Coven hosts monthly open community circles and has for over a year now, and the circle has slowly grown into a community. Last month members proposed we actually did some magic, and cast a spell together.

I have had these ideas and interests myself, but was concerned with the subjective nature of the topic and the potential for conflict when it comes to the ethics of spell craft.

But thankfully we managed to address the concerns without conflict and decided to focus on prosperity, which is a topic everyone could get behind. Our ritual space comes complete with an old fashion chalk board which we used to facilitate our Spell Craft. We used my patented sure fire spell craft technique (found in my book) and everyone contributed to each phase of the process.

It was so awesome to see people taking an active role, and I could see the spell taking shape. Starting with one person rolling a small pebble down a snow bank, slow at first but quickly gaining mass, momentum, energy. I had every confidence that we would achieve our goal in the limited time allotted, but was still impressed with how quickly and efficiently we all worked together.

We circled up and prepared to cast, one by one each person declared their love and trust before joining hands. The circle complete, everyone began chanting the title of this post, while I stood in the center reciting the spell over and over. Each time I did the chanting got louder, and the energy got higher. I could feel it hitting me in wave after wave, first I got what my friend calls the "chicken skin," but then broke into a sweat and felt something more. When it was time to call the declaration statement, I was shouting near full blast, and with a single toll of the bell the energy was released. The voided space filled with a pleasant silence.

One of the neat aspects of our tradition is interfaith. While we have initiations, degrees and priesthood for those drawn to it as a primary path, our tradition is for most, a secondary. The idea is that eclectic solitaries each have their own ways, but all use a secondary tradition in order to function as a group. And it works.

In an hour and a half, eleven eclectic Witches joined in ritual, celebration and fellowship, collaborated on a spell topic, contributed to the spell craft and successfully cast a spell of prosperous blessings.

That's Magic.

It may seem odd how Gus's post about Solstice cards and preparing for Yule prompted this post, but I'm getting to that part, we'll come full circle, I promise.

As is just so happens, a few weeks ago I stumbled into a website called ZAZZLE.COM. I love personal designs, we have our own custom jewelry, degree rings and pendants. So when I found the site I had to try it out and test the product quality.

It only took me six minutes to upload our emblem, design a post card, and order a poof set. The cards came in a surprisingly timely manner and the post cards are awesome! Its a good quality of the card stock, the the images came out great and with a nice glossy finish. If I was to put them on the rack with other cards, your wouldn't be able to tell the difference. So I'm giving them five stars, one for *Accessibility (easy to use) and another for *Versatility, I have complete control over the design aspects. One for *Quality, one for *Time (speedy delivery) and the fifth one is for *Price.

So in preparation for Yule and the rest of the Wheel, we will be designing our own cards.

(front cover)

Yule Tide Blessings from The Witches of Mill Creek

(inside cover)

With Love and Peace and Bounty Known
With Friends and Family our Fellowship sown
From your Hearth and from your Home
May these Blessings never roam

Thank you Lord and Lady for such a Magical life, blessed be.

The CNN of Paganism

2010-11-18T09:21:00.000-08:00

I had what I consider the privilege of being raised Pagan, and very early on I came to the conclusion that we were the only ones.

Thankfully, I was wrong.

A few weeks ago in Circle I commented on how much the Pagan community has grown. I've gone from being "alone," to being part of an entire cultural/religious movement. Growing up I could count the number of Pagans I know on one hand, and so much has changed since then.

I realized that I can count the number of non-Pagan friends I know on one hand, and how different the world has changed for me, and us. The most prevailing evidence of this can be found in "our" media.

I spend my spare time reading Pagan magazines like Pan Gaia, New Witch and now Witches and Pagans, listening to Pagan Radio shows like Pagans Tonight and Hex Education, or The Pagan Radio Network which is owned and operated here in my town by my good friend Lew. And every weekend I look forward to the new release of articles on Witchvox, which connects Pagans on a global level and gives Pagans around the world a voice.

We have developed ourselves in nearly every aspect of media, and I for one love and appreciate this facet of living the Pagan life. But by far my favorite is The Wild Hunt. I have said it many times and will continue to say it: It is the pinnacle of professional Pagan journalism. It is the CNN of Paganism. Jason provides an invaluable resource to our community, and as a community we have an obligation to support and sustain these resources if we have any hopes for the future of Paganism.

Last year I donated to The Wild Hunt Pledge Drive, and challenged my readers to do the same. This year I have upped the ante and and my organization has the honor of becoming and affiliate underwriter for The Wild Hunt. Again I challenge you to do the same, make a donation, support a valuable member of our community, support the the invaluable service he provides to us all.

The Magical world of Paganism is diverse, and we don't always get along very well. But there are a few critical points of common ground we all share despite our differences, and The Wild Hunt is one of them. Think of it as the Pagan Lent, and skip Starbucks for a week and send that money to Jason, he's earned it.

Blessed Be.

An Inmates Guide To The Craft

2010-11-10T14:38:00.000-08:00

I had no idea that it would take this long, but it's finally done. Last night I celebrated the completion of my second book. I rewarded myself with a nice hot soak in the hot tub, complete with my favorite cigar and a nice glass of port. The stars were especially bright and the neighbors were unusually quiet. And I spent the better part of the evening quite happy with myself.

CARCER VIA : AN INMATES GUIDE TO THE CRAFT

So it's officially done, I uploaded it to Lulu and am just awaiting the hour or so it takes to process before I order my first patch. For anyone who has looked through my first book The Auguris and didn't understand it, this book is the key. The Auguris was primarily intended to be used by our community, or anyone who has been to one of our rituals.

As promised, Carcer Via actually contains words, sentences, paragraphs and pages of actual writing. And while it is primarily intended for an incarcerated audience, the free world may still find it interesting. The introduction is based on my annual lecture at Fresno State University and the main body is focused on my unique system of magic, so if you like my blog, you'll like my book even better because my friend Steve Provost over at PenDragon Editing did an amazing job of glossing and shining my usual chicken scratch into something quite intelligent.

Like the first book, this book is also a community service project, so all revenue generated by this book goes to pay for inmates to get free copies. For every single book sold, three inmates get a free one, so buy one, it's going to three good causes. (Three Fold!)

I am also proud to announce that my book also features a foreword from my friend and personal hero Raymond Buckland, who was gracious enough to write some very kind words despite his busy schedule of appearances and book fairs. Ray's writing a lot of fiction now days, which I think is just as good as his Witchcraft. I am especially eager to read his latest book The Golden Illuminati. *Rubs hands together*

But most of all I would also like to thank my best friend, my lover, my mistress and my personal Goddess, my Wife Claudia. For being so supportive, never giving up on me and never letting me give up on myself. Without her, nothing would have been possible.

Thank you Lord and Lady for that sexy Witch, the Papa Goddess. Blessed Be.

Man At Work

2010-10-06T23:06:00.000-07:00

I have always jokingly identified myself as "chronologically impaired." Surfing the internet this afternoon I realized that I haven't written anything here in almost three weeks. I can't believe how fast time has passed. It's amazing how the state of mind has an effect on the perception of time.

When your running late you can't get the clock to slow down, the later you are, the faster the seconds count off. But when your stuck some where, waiting, it takes forever. Minutes seem like hours, dragging painfully slow.

But when your hard at work in a labor of love, your perpetually lost in the moment. There is no passage of time, there is only the pleasure of each stroke of the brush, each strike of the hammer, each keystroke.

Last month I announced the release of my Book of Shadows. In that announcement, I mentioned I had taken a break from my "current" writing project to finish it. Well I didn't waste anytime time, and dove head first back into the current project, my second book: Carcer Via, an inmates guide to the craft.

Unlike the Auguris, I actually "write" words, sentences and paragraphs too. And finally I am satisfied. It's finally good enough, for now. I'm finally in the final stage of finalizing the final draft. More details as they develop.

Thank you Lord and Lady for the "auto save feature."

A Thousand Words

2010-09-08T20:19:00.000-07:00

During my tour in Iraq I had several near death experiences. I don't make a habit of speaking much about such things, but when I do I have found it very hard to find the words to express myself adequately.

I came so close to being killed many times, although each occurred under different circumstances, they all invested me with an incredible yet indescribable sense of being.

Yesterday my Grandmother forwarded me an email with this picture and the following caption:

Look at the picture above and you can see where this driver broke through the guardrail, on the right side of the culvert, where the people are standing on the road, pointing.

The pick-up was traveling about 75 mph from right to left when it crashed through the guardrail.

It flipped end-over-end, bounced off and across the culvert outlet and landed right side up on the left side of the culvert, facing the opposite direction from which the driver was traveling.

The 22-year-old driver and his 18-year-old passenger were unhurt except for minor cuts and bruises.

Now look at the second picture below...

Yeah... it's like that.

Thank you Lord and Lady, thank you.

THE AUGURIS, The Mill Creek Book of Shadows

2010-09-02T21:26:00.001-07:00

So I took a break from my current writing project to complete another. The book I've been working on for some time now is a narrated version of the Auguris, my Book of Shadows. I starts our with an introduction I give at my annual lecture at Fresno State and for the Department of Corrections. From there it takes you step by step through our system, which I am quite proud of. But for those who use our system inside and outside the prison system, there has been a need for the "bare wire book"

About five years ago I went down to Kinko's with a flash drive and had a little twenty page "Workbook of Shadows" printed up for some of my classes and the inmates I work with. But it was just a small chunk to assist with learning our ritual. Then again later another small chunk from Kinko's for my Wheel of the Year class and some more inmates. The only consolidated work has remained in my possession, until now.

The main purpose of this project was that I wanted to produce the Auguris on a larger scale, to fill the needs of inmates and member of our organization. I wanted it to be a more than another trip to Kinko's. So I ended up on Lulu and a week later the Auguris has an ISBN number. I priced it at sixteen dollars and the cool thing about this is than for every book purchased, the revenue generated pays for a copy to go to an inmate for free. So for the record, I'm not making a dime, it all goes back into my prison work.

But a word of warning, to the "uninitiated," it will seem completely ambiguous to anyone who is not familiar with my tradition. There is no narration, or instruction. It does not read like a normal book, it reads like a book of shadows. Its literally a collection of spells. But when you perform the spells in a particular order, it's a ritual. The Auguris is divided into what we call "the Five Books of Labor."

Liber Lustro: (Purification) In this first section we perform the opening acts of purification.

Liber Adoro: (Communion) This section includes invocations for the two ways we call quarters, the Vigilia, which is invocation of the God and Goddess, and the Great Rite.

Liber Rota: (Observation) These last three books are considered "vocation" or the Craft work. Liber Rota contains the calls for all four Esbats, Eight Sabbats and rites of passage from birth to death and the first degree oath.

Liber Sitella: (Divination) is a simple section, I only included three symbol sets: Geomancy, Runes and Ogham. I purposely kept the meanings vague, the user should develop their own personal interpretation.

Liber Defixum: (Incantation) Spells! Spells! Spells! This last section is just a collection of spells that have been fashioned within our tradition. Again, no instructions, explanations or details. That's all coming in the second book.

There's also small Liber Missa in the back, which is just the closing words. Throughout the five books there are thirteen ritual tools: Bell, Candle, Besom, Censer, Aspergillum, Athame, Lodestone, Pentacle, Cup, Boline, Sitella, Wand and Cauldron. Each one of these tools has a rubric, a definition of use within our tradition, and each tool is used in the ritual with the corresponding spell. We use the first six tools for purification and the next tree for adoration and communion. The boline is used for call for craft work and symbolizes the holiday work, the Sitella symbolizes the divination portion of the ritual, the wand of course for the spell craft and the Cauldron symbolizes the cool amalgamation of the groups energies as we close.

The labors are set in a particular order of precedence: Sabbats, rites of passage or esbats, then normal craft works. So we just start at the beginning of the book and work our way through. So for anyone feeling froggy, feel free to jump. But bare in mind that we are "Wiccan." This is a very simple ritual form and structure for a group Wiccans to get together and conduct a ritual. It's not High or Ritual Magic, but it works very well for us simple folks. I will be posting more in-depth explanations one book at a time in the next few weeks.

For anyone interested in purchasing a copy here's the link. Thank you and remember it's going to a good cause!

Thank you Lord and Lady for your inspiration. Blessed Be.

Playing With Dolls

2010-08-19T13:12:00.000-07:00

"If you build it, they will come..." like the Wiccan version of that Kevin Costner movie about the baseball field for ghosts, I was told if I cast it they will come. And they did.

Nearly a year ago I founded Mill Creek Church, and several times a month we rent a large room at the local metaphysics shop. It's started out slow, just a handful of friends in town. Then a steady ebb and flow of first and old timers would come and go.

But lately there has been a surge of activity in the Pagan community in general. I've gotten more calls in the last three weeks than in the last three years. Handfastings, Blessings and personal spiritual counseling have kept me much busier than normal.

I have always been extremely fulfilled by my personal spiritual path and practices, the only thing it has ever lacked was fellowship. Our last meeting stands out as quite possibly the best ritual we've ever had there, because of the degree of fellowship. I am surrounded by people who take their path seriously and invest in themselves and their practice. A friend called in advance to make arrangements to provide the "cakes and ale" for our communion, she brewed her own rose water and baked some wicked cookies. This sort of contribution and sincere investment on our ritual is a blessing.

Another blessing is diversity. Our membership is an all star cast of various traditions of Witchcraft, and every meet someone shares something they do. Another friend is a very serious Hoodoo practitioner, who really knows her stuff. She gave us a crash course in Hoodoo and her practices, complete with a very brave show and tell of some of her tools of the trade, like Voodoo dolls.

Now I may be a fluffy bunny Wiccan, but I'm all about the Craftwork or the Craft at work, and much of what I do comes from my training and experience in not so warm and fuzzy Witchcraft. We use dolls too, but we call them Poppets and other than the name, everything else is the same. But my friend talked a lot about making a doll in your own image to cast magic on yourself. As I Veritas Wiccan I love that because the main purpose of our tradition is the Craftwork of self improvement. Most people use systems focused on command control and manipulation of the outside world. But pound per pound, your going to get better bang for your buck working on yourself. You just have to have the courage to work on your issues. It is surprising how many people don't.

My wife made her doll from scratch and it came out so good, she placed certain items in certain areas of the doll to address certain issues, she had a lot of fun doing it and gave me a lot of ideas. So this weekend I will start working on mine.

Almost 40 and I'm still playing with dolls. Thank you Lord and Lady for my friends and their toys. Blessed Be!

So Long And Thanks For All the Fish

2010-08-02T19:13:00.000-07:00

When do we become men? When do we stop being boys and officially cross the threshold into manhood? For ages many cultures tell their children when its time. For hundreds of years indigenous cultures have practiced puberty rites of passage, often marked by some test of character or endurance, some feat which earns them the right to cross the threshold and join their peers in adulthood.

America has a culture, has lost these rites. Forcing our youth to create their own rites of passage. Loosing virginity, joining a gang, committing their first crime or first visit to prison. A point sharpened by the admissions of several inmates I minister to is that they're in prison because they were trying to prove they were men.

I submit the absence of these rites contributes the to decline of western civilization.

Our "Book of Shadows" teaches the observance of our Sabbats and Esbats throughout wheel of the year, but it also contains our rites of passage.

Several months ago at one of our ceremonies, my oldest son was handed a weapon. He reached out and grasped it with both hands and as we held it together we recited this catechism:

Q: What is this?
A: A weapon.
Q: What do weapons do?
A:Weapons kill.
Q:Why do we kill?
A: Only to feed and protect our own.
Q:Do you swear to feed and protect us with honor.
A: I so swear.

We recited this catechism every time he held his weapon and we practiced and trained until winter came. This summer he was handed a different weapon, one that's more focused on the "feeding portion of his oath."

It wasn't easy, the current was strong but that's where the fish are. Its difficult enough to swim in the cold flowing waters, the six foot spear made it more awkward. He swam over an hour before the perfect opportunity presented itself. He slipped under the water quietly and glided silently towards his first fish, he waited until the fish turned sideways showing his full side. The tri-tipped spearhead shot straight through the midsection and into the earth below. He leaned in holding the spear down as the fish flailed to free itself, his lungs burning he stayed beneath the surface until the fish gave up.

He finally came bursting out of the water gasping for air, holding the still impaled fish over his head, as he made his way back to shore. He cleaned it the way he was taught, never hesitating. When we returned home later, he presented his mother the meat from his first hunt. She was so proud. Tomorrow we'll go to Grandmas to cut the firewood for the coming ceremony, his rite of passage. I don't know which one of us is more proud.

Thank you Lord and Lady for such a powerful fish, blessed be.

Making Milestones

2010-07-20T11:40:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I was happy to write about the Milestones of being a Wiccan Chaplain in the department of corrections. Today I am equally happy to write about the milestones of being a Wiccan chaplain in the department of mental health. Perhaps even more so this time, for one simple reason.

Getting my credentials renewed with the department of corrections is an incredibly validating thing, especially when you consider at this point, that unfortunately, I may be the only one. However my point is that I am following an established path, a system or "the system."
There is a difference with the department of mental health, it is a completely different department with a completely different system. There is no set path, or procedure. There is no precedence for what I am doing, except the trail I am cutting through the unexplored territory.

Last year I started providing religious services for their patients, under supervision. a few months back someone suggested I submit a proposal for a 12 week course on Paganism, just to see what would happen. So I did, it was approved and added to the facility curriculum as an "Introduction to Earth Based Religions."

I learned in the Army that there is a big difference between the planning and execution of a mission. It always looks so good on paper, Perfect. But the real world offers to many variables and the first try is always the hardest. through the trials of pass or fail we learn by experience. But we never forget the first one, so much energy, anticipation and concern is funneled into it, specially when it was your idea and your plan.

Once on a training mission I was an OPFOR (opposing force) team leader. I was given very broad and general instructions and guidelines for our mission which was basically probe the enemy perimeter keeping them busy and tired all night, then breach their defenses and make their life a living hell to wake up to.

Probing was easy, we slept all night, each of us taking turns firing off a few shots on different sides of the compound. The entire enemy force would come rushing to return fire, they ran back and forth all night and slept like babies while we got ready for the real assault. I had selected a breach point for several reasons, there were huge generators running, so they wouldn't hear us, and no one likes to stand right next to something so much less set up camp there, so I knew there wound be anyone around.

The problem was accessibility, the surrounding area was uninviting. They knew that which is why they put their generators there, the forest was way to thick, way too dark and way to scary for anyone too go through. So when we reached the the treeline of "haunted Sherwood forest" my team was not thrilled by the idea. I lead them in a few hundred feet, it was dark, too dark to see. We stumbled and fell all over the place. I called a time out and told every one to eat their MRE (field rations) in the dark. We sat there for an hour in the pitch black trying to eat, even I spoon fed my cheek a few times. Then we just sat around telling dirty jokes until I made the call to muster.

The meal was perfect. The food stabilized everyone's metabolism and put us all at ease. We had fun trying to feel ourselves blind, and laughed at the noises we made when we failed. The time in the darkness gave our eyes time to adjust. That worked so well that we could see our trash on the ground and who was throwing shit at who. We were like ghosts. We floated through the forest without making a sound, avoiding every root and branch. We became so well adjusted that we could see our own shadows in the darkness as we made contact.

We completed that mission. *Grins*

Now, leading a new team we completed that 12 week course. It was considered a success, so much so that my class is now a permanent fixture of curriculum. I just started teaching my second semester. Same class, new students. I like the picture I used here, leaving milestones in the forest as I go.

Thank you Lord and Lady for the gift of direction and the courage to follow it, even in the darkness. Blessed be.

Shining a Little Light on Me

2010-07-10T13:24:00.000-07:00

Pagan Prison Chaplaincy, (for the most part) is a humble path. There is no fame or glory to be had, there is no lime light on prison yard. But every once in a while someone notices.

Last October I wrote about saying cheese, where I was on the front page of a local newspaper insert. Which was an accident, the article wasn't about me but a group I had joined only a few days earlier.

A few months later I was in the same circular, but this time I was interviewed by reporters about the Kaweah River Drum Circle, which I had been a member of for only a few of its eighteen years. But the reporter was referred to me, as spokesmen for the group.

But today I appeared on the front page of our local paper The Visalia Times Delta (small picture) and the front page of the living section (huge picture). I must say I had my concerns about the manner in which I was going to be portrayed. But after a nice phone conversation with the reporter, I was more confidant that their interest in my story was genuine.

We had all but forgotten about it until my grandmother called first thing this morning, yelling about how surprised she was to open the morning paper and see me, again.

As I said, this is a very humble path. There is not much ego gratification to be gleaned from what I do. The knowledge that I am helping people who have a sincere desire to rehabilitate through spiritual growth has been the Mana that has sustained me for these past three years. Other than this Blog I don't engage in any sort of self promotion, but I must admit that it is nice to be recognized for my work. And I hope that it serves the greater purpose of shining a bit of light on the incredible need for religious pluralism in our society.

Thank you Lord and Lady for using me to show others that it can be done. Blessed Be.

Raising the Bar

2010-07-07T19:41:00.000-07:00

So my hero Heather Deirdre Awen, has a blog of her own, and last week she sent me a heads up on her post about the failings of Pagan Clergy. Her post really hits home for me both as a Pagan and as a chaplain. She makes very good points and supports them with direct personal experiences, to which I can relate as I'm sure we all can.

I have had my experiences with grand poo bah high priestess, their online temples of the sacred stars and twinkles. I myself have been warmly invited into a group, then attacked, chastised and ridiculed for have an opinion. An Egyptian Wicca HP once asked me to introduce myself, and after I did she told that Egyptian Wicca was an ancient mystery school from which all traditions had emerged, including Freemasonry. She said her tradition, unlike the "Indian stuff" I had been "dabbling in" delves deep into the mysteries of the earth, which was sacred, in case I didn't know, then she called me young Padawon. I did a special adoration to the Lord and Lady years later when she was a student in the class I was lecturing at Fresno State University.

Anyways, I think the problem is that Paganism in general is all encompassing and inclusive. Which for the most part is a strength. But unfortunately it attracts people for many of the wrong reasons. The one that's most relevant here is the ego gratification of titles like High Priest.

My last post I mentioned that there were a handful of Pagan prison chaplains here in California a few years ago, and I was told that at this point I am the only one left. I wrote about the conspiracy theory they all shared, and Heathers post brings up other issues like how to dress. The prison system doesn't have too terrible of a dress code for visitors, the biggest thing is no jeans, because that's what the inmates are wearing. But bear in mind that this is a state facility, so there is some sense of an implied standard. So again I see it as a simple matter of common sense, or so you would think. I have personally seen a Pagan chaplain show up to a prison dressed as though he just came from a Reconnaissance Fair. WTF?

For the past three years, when I visit any institution, anywhere, as a chaplain, I DRESS like a chaplain. In fact I am always mistaken for the Catholic chaplain because that's how I dress, that's how I look and that's how I act. Ergo, that's how I am treated.

A few years ago at that same Pantheacon, during a cherry hill intensive, we were talking about Pagan clergy and someone said she had a problem with us using "their" terms and titles, like priest, reverend and chaplain. She said that it took away from the "mystique" of our path. To which I feverishly disagreed. I use congregation instead of coven, and religious service instead of ritual. Am I lying? No, I'm just using words their more comfortable with. But more importantly I have a serious problem with the need, use and emphasis of Mystique in any religious form of Paganism. Mystique is a substitute for substance! The more smoke and mirrors, robes and titles you need to be a high priest the less you have to offer as clergy.

I have been approached by members of my Coven, our church, my prison ministry, and random people with many of the serious life altering challenges that life can throw at you. I immediately realized that I was not qualified. So I went back to school, and I'm still there, and I'll be here until I am.

1. Be humbly aware of your limitations! "I don't know" are not bad words! Its important to remind them that I am not a trained or qualified counselor or therapist. I recommend that they call someone who is, there are lots of hot lines they can call.

Last week I was interview by a reporter from a local paper, and am looking forward to seeing how I am reflected. One of the things I hope she quotes me on is beliefs. Because as clergy, is not about our beliefs, it about the beliefs of those we serve.

2. You have no authority over anyone, you are a servant to everyone! As a Minority Faith Chaplain, I serve all kinds. each in a different way. For some I do nothing but show up, because they can't do their own ritual without supervision, so sometimes the greatest service I can be is by just showing and and shutting up.

Qualification?

Hmmm boy that's the big one isn't it? So I'm a third degree high priest, am I qualified? So I have a degree in religious studies, am I qualified? What if I wave a degree in psychology? How bout now? Qualifications of Pagan clergy has always been a double edged sword, anyone can argue either side of anyone's clergy resume and never get anywhere. I often get asked this question, sometimes people have a genuine interest, others are looking for a chink in your armor. So I usually answer them with another question, "What qualifications should I have?"

If you were to ask me, I would say read the book "The Circle Within" by Dianne Sylvan. She wrote one of my top three books on Wicca. In it she listed the qualities or qualifications that we should strive for. So many times when I am asked, I often say that the qualifications I hope I am developing are:

Love
Compassion
Humor
Gratitude
Integrate
Wisdom
Joy
Growth

I think as long as we strive to inculcate these graces, we'll keep the bar up there were it need to be. Blessed Be.

Milestones

2010-07-02T23:30:00.000-07:00

When I first entered the extraordinary world of Pagan prison chaplaincy there were literally only a hand full of us. My first year at Pantheacon I got to meet them. Each of them distinctively diverse, sharing only a few characteristics. The one I noticed right away was the conspiracy theory.

They seem to spend the majority of their time speaking about all the discrimination, and the conspiracy by the Man to keep them down and out of the prison system. I accepted them at their words and payed close attention, because I was told to, because "I had no idea what I was getting myself into and what we chosen few were up against." Now I'm not saying there is no religious discrimination, but I had yet to see any myself. And on several occasions what was identified by them as discrimination towards us (myself included) I recognized as protocal and priority.

We had got in to do a service early one morning, but it was canceled because the tule fog was so thick you couldn't see five feet in front of you, much less the whole yard. "This kind of passive aggressive deterrence tactic is a perfect example of what we were fighting against, get used to it." But as a combat veteran, I recognized the serious breach of security. If you cant see it, it's not secure, the military taught me to used conditions like that to attack, evade and escape. No conspiracy, just common sense.

I was eager to talk to the others at Pantheacon about their more positive experiences. I wanted to talk shop, I wanted to talk about how they handle certain challenges with inmates, how they ran their rituals, what worked for them and what didn't. But there was not much to talk about there, most of them weren't actually, technically, actively volunteering. They had all gone and done it before, but not anymore. they each had unique stories about how the Man had stopped them.

The one story that always haunted me was the "brown card." To become a religious volunteer, you must pass a background check and security clearance, then there are in-service training programs you must attend before you are issued a state department of corrections ID, called a brown card. (Although their not actually brown.)

The card is only good for one year, at which time you must go through the process again to renew your ID and clearance. The catch I was told, is that when its time to renew, they don't schedule any training. So you cant renew, your ID expires and your locked out, which is were they want you. I was warned time and time again, that I was being used. That I was either a mindless pawn or a sellout. And when they were done with me I would get "starved out" like the rest of them.

So around the end of May every year I get a little nervous, hoping my supervisor there at the prison doesn't make a liar out of me. They haven't. In fact they have gone through great lengths to keep me on. Though I can't say more than that about it, the fact is last week I filled out the packet for the third time, took my picture for the third time, and received my renewed credentials for the third time.

In these past few years of service I have seen many inmates come and go, I've seen many paid staff come and go, yet as a Wiccan chaplain I remain..... proof that it can be done.

Thank you Lord and Lady for investing me with the fortitude necessary to walk the path you have laid before me.

Blessed Be.

Nature Vs Nurture

2010-06-19T22:40:00.000-07:00

My biological father was a cool guy. Like the Fonz, he rode a motorcycle and hung around the hells angels and plenty of other people which could easily be considered the wrong crowd.

When I was a kid my grandfather would take me to the visitors center to visit him. We would wait out on the yard and grandpa would always point out the window to his cell. "Look Joey, third window from the corner, count with me, one...two...three, see him!"

When I was younger I wanted to be just like him, cool. Being like him got me locked up too. One day I climbed up on my bunkies rack and looked out the window. I recognized the yard and the picnic table where my grand father and I sat when I was a child. Then counting the windows I realized I was sitting in my fathers cell.

That moment changed my live forever. It was then and there that I decided I wanted to be like my step dad. An amazing man who worked full time, went to night school, worked odd jobs on the weekends, kept up the maintenance on our place and still managed to throw a ball at me and take me fishing.

For the past three years I have served as a chaplain for a variety of offenders. Murders, rapists, drug addicts and now the state hospitals mentally ill and unstable. Patrick McCollum once said he knew he could send me into a super-max prison facility and I wouldn't be afraid, that I had what it takes. I always wondered why. I wondered which one of them contributed to that particular aspect of my character.

Serving such people has made me think a lot about the whole nurture vs nature thing. I have a lot of my father in me, perhaps too much sometimes. Often when visiting family I am reminded how much like him I am. I am told stories about him, and many of my mannerisms serve as constant reminders of him to my family. Many if not most of these mannerism, were natural, I never learned them from him.

I took this picture with my camera phone. I spent this last week on vacation with my family, my parents rented a cabin at Lake of the Woods, not far from Ashland Oregon (no wonder the grand arch druid lives there). We had a great time. Fishing all day, barbecue tri-tip dinners and evenings around the campfire with good wine and even better cigars. I realized how much of him I have in me too. I noticed how many of his mannerisms I have acquired, and saw him doing things the way I do them and saying things the way I would say them.

I look back on my life, who I have been, who I could have been and who I have become. As a father, step father and adoptive father, I'm raising four kids the way I was raised. My oldest girl has been accepted into the university preparatory academy for her next two years of high school. My younger girl ended her last year of elementary school, on the gate program for advanced students and on the presidents list for honor roll, complete with a letter from Obama. Although my step son is in special education, he is still the top of his class and received the silver presidents award and my youngest boy wants to be a police officer.

This fathers day the best gift I'm receiving is the fruit of a fathers labor, good children. Thanks to my father who taught me how not to be cool, and my dad who taught me what being a man was really all about. As it turns out I am the product of both.

Thank you Lord and Lady for blessing me with such contrast.

Happy Fathers Day & Blessed Be.

Another Key to Success

2010-06-10T02:02:00.000-07:00

I've spent a lot of time up late working on projects, and sometimes just watching television. The other night flipping through the channels I came across one of those self help gurus who really got my attention with just a few key words.

He told a story about coming home late at night, walking into his dark living room. He dropped his keys looking for the light switch, but found that when he did his power was out.

He decided to take a drive, perhaps to get something to eat in hopes that the power would be on by the time he returned. So he started searching in the dark for his keys, after a short unsuccessful search he saw through the window that the street light outside was on so he walked out there, under the street light and began looking for his keys, there in the light. A friendly passerby saw him looking through the weeds for his keys and began to help him look.

After a long unsuccessful search, the good Samaritan ask him where he thinks he lost them. He replied, "oh in my living room, but my power is is out and I can't see there so I am looking out here where there is more light..."

He went on to explain that the lesson here is that we look outside of ourselves, unsuccessfully, for the keys to our life. Instead of looking inside, in the dark, which is the only place we can possibly find them, but that last place so many people look, if ever. I was immediately reminded of our first degree:

"The Candle is a ritual tools used by traditional Witches to cast illumination throughout their craftwork, but we as Veritas Wiccans are also taught to use it in a more spiritual manner by casting the light of truth throughout the craftwork of our lives."

The initiate is given a taper which is carried throughout the ritual drama of initiation, "in search of the light of truth, in hope that they may light a taper from it, to better find their own way." Our craft incorporates the use of magic, for the purposes of self improvement. For those who have the courage to shine a light on their inner darkness and look for the keys to success in the only place they can be found, inside.

May the Lord and Lady bless you with such courage.

Blessed Be.

The Keys to Success

2010-05-31T19:47:00.000-07:00

One of the most profound things I realized in my Boundaries and Ethics class was that we seem to acknowledge Amissio, Loss so much more than Aquisitio, Gain. For example, consider how much time, energy and effort we invest in funeral and memorial rites to acknowledge a death and how little seem to go into a birth. Following suit, we also seem to lament failure so much more than celebrate success.

But if you take a look at anyone who has succeeded, you will see that their road to success is riddled with the potholes and flat tires of their failures. But they did not stop or turn back, they pushed forward with tenacious fortitude. Despite the numerous obstacles placed in front of them, by their adversaries, by their friends and perhaps most of all, by themselves.

Like many initiatory orders, our tradition also has its own Guardian of the Threshold. The Guardian of our Threshold is personified by the Cerberus, and each of its three heads represents a particular aspect of the initiates tribulation. And those three aspects are a direct product of the initiate himself, ergo, the path which leads into our Zotheca is amply guarded by all those who desire admittance. The only thing stopping them, is them.

The key to success, is Virtuous Labor. No one will let you in the back door. No one will do the work for you. Success is not an entitled allotment, but a bountiful harvest of the fruits of our virtuous labors and tenacious fortitude. You must do the work yourself, you must do the work ON yourself.

This past Friday I tasted the sweetness of a small piece of that fruit. I have been a volunteer Wiccan chaplain for several state facilities, for several years now. Friday I was given my own key to one of them. A small but powerful token for this initiate.

Thank you Lord and Lady for teaching me one of the keys to success, is trust.

Memorial Day

2010-05-26T20:43:00.000-07:00

It's funny, looking back I notice that many of my posts regarding my feelings and experiences with post traumatic stress and other Iraqi aftershocks are reflected by wands.

Sometimes they stir up the sentiment and emotion, lying shallow beneath my surface, other times like this, I select them as they so adequately reflect those that have surfaced on their own.

Those are the worst ones, the ones that come of their own accord. Without warning. That's the worse part of PTSD, you don't have any warning, or control over when it happens. You never know whats going to set it off. You think you do, and you shy away from those things. And after you finally conquer the fear of those triggers, you end up tripping over new ones.

Today I took my Priestess out for Sushi, her favorite lunch and her favorite restaurant. It was our own little celebration of her college graduations before the big one tomorrow. She is the first one in her Mom's family to graduate from college so EVERYONE is coming.

We've been going there for years, we know the owner and staff quite well and my daughter even worked there for a while. We have our regular seats, and I've become comfortable there. I don't need to sit with my back to a wall, and monitor everyone's movements, although the urge is still there.

I love the Ninja roll, my usual. It's hot, spicy and messy, but I haven't changed my order in over four years. Its comforting. There is a traditional Japanese greeting that is announced by all the staff every time someone enters the restaurant, my own little warning bell. It too is comforting. I chewed slowly as I watch the man lumber in with his large bulging nylon briefcase. It seemed to cold for the beads of sweat near his ears.

His face was flushed and I remember thinking how out of shape he must be. But more than that, there was something else out of place. I couldn't place it. He excused himself to the restroom as I replayed his entry over and over, my wife's voice echoing in the background. His suit was fancy, expensive, but his watch was a cheap five dollar knockoff. And so was his briefcase.

His briefcase.

It was then that the feeling of absolute terror took me. I put my arm around my wife and hugged her tight. There is a rear exit next to the restroom. I looked at her, so happy, so excited. She was still talking but my heartbeat drowned out her beautiful voice. As I looked down at the briefcase, through my throbbing heartbeat, I swear I could hear the ticking. I remember thinking, she graduates tomorrow, one more day, one more day. I held her tighter, the light and life in her eyes has always been so calming. I told myself it wasn't a bomb, it wasn't a bomb, it wasn't a bomb...

The Sushi chef behind the bar looked at me, looked at the briefcase, looked at the back door and looked at me again. He shared my concern for only a moment before he looked up and smiled at the returning customer. Apparently, the man had a very "close call."

He wasn't the only one.

There is a whole generation of us. you see us everyday and you'd never know, the battles we fought, and how close we came to death over there. While I can recount a handful of thoughts, I cannot express in words, the feeling of almost dying so many times, since I've been home.

Memorial Day is this Monday, and what is remembered lives, remember them.

The High Priestess, a card from the Joe Tarot

2010-05-22T21:28:00.000-07:00

They say that behind every great man is a great women, and it's true. I know because I am in fact a great man, and that's only because of the great woman beside me. My High Priestess.

I met her the day I drove into town, and we've been together ever since. We were both single parents, who divorced our previous spouses for behaviors too gruesome to mention here.

She was and is strong, independent and above all an amazing mother. When I met her I had an antique cell phone which I kept in my glove box in the rare event I needed to make a call. She sent me my first text massage ever, I didn't even know what a text message was until then. We and technology have come a long was since then, a few months ago she bought me an iphone and we still text all the time.

When we first took over management of our care home, it had a very poor history and hadn't passed a inspection in many years, despite the excessive staff. We have been running this place for over five years now, just the two of us and we haven't missed a beat.

Working at home has many benefits, after being gone overseas for so long, it was nice to send my kids off to school, and be there when they got home. Not long after we got settled in, I told her that our lifestyle afforded us unique opportunities and so did our location. We live only a few blocks from the College of the Sequoias, and it would be a waste if we didn't take advantage of the blessings of opportunity which have been afforded to us.

She always talked about wanting to go to back to school, and about how much she would have loved to study Law. I told her that if she didn't go back to school next semester she would be suck at home, while I went. The next morning when the alarm woke us up to prepare breakfast for the house full of clients and kids, she said, "it's ok baby, you were up late last night, sleep in and I'll take care of breakfast."

And she did. Then she slipped out and went down the the college and enrolled herself, and I've been stuck at home while she went to college. Well perhaps "stuck" isnt an accurate depiction, after all if it wasn't for her I wouldn't have never done everything I have accomplished. If is wasn't for her, I wouldn't be able to volunteer at the prison at all, much less a full day every week.

We were Handfasted under the mulberry tree in our backyard. Our marriage was the first ritual anyone outside our family ever saw. And that ritual induced the curiosity and interest of many people, we began holding group circles, and later founded a Coven. That Coven developed into a tradition, a prison ministry and a very successful community organization. Mill Creek Church has been meeting at a local metaphysical store several times a month for over a year now, and last weeks ritual had such a large turn out that we ran out of chairs, we been blessed with the complications of accommodating fellowship.

But our success is not just gauged by the quantity of fellows, but the quality of fellowship. And we have found both. I have asserted my status as the Low Priest (the only one you'll ever meet). And the fellowship has asserted my wife's status as the High Priestess, a title she has repeatedly denies.

But if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and talks like a duck, then obviously its a High Priestess. I've seen her grow, I've seen her overcome obstacles both personal and professional, I've seen her attend to our Coven and "congregation" with compassion, consideration and commitment befitting such a title. There are those people who can be "challenging" to deal with, and as a person, you may not want them in your home. But as a Priestess, she couldn't in good conscious deny them religious services. she said that they, more than anyone, stand to benefit most from the Craft.

Spoken like a true Priestess.

If it wasn't for her I wouldn't be who I am today, and I really like me. I like to think I have had a huge influence on her, I would love to take responsibility and credit for all that she has accomplished, but I can't because, she did it all herself. And next week we will be celebrating that at her graduation party. She will be graduating from the College of the Sequoias with her Associates in Science, which includes certificates for Paralegal, Legal Secretary and Legal Clerk.

I am so proud of her...

They say that behind every great man is a great women, and it's true. I know because I am in fact a great man, and that's only because of the great woman beside me. My High Priestess.

Beware of Falling Leaves

2010-05-16T00:13:00.000-07:00

It's funny, looking at the barn in this picture you would never suspect what lies within. I think about this while sitting in the parking lot almost every day for a few months now, and it never gets old.

A large Ram truck pulls up, and a man dismounts. He's a Cowboy from his boots to his buckle to his hat. Most days you can see the horn of his saddle peeking out the pack of his dusty truck as he moseys inside the old barn.

Not long after that a Plumbers work truck arrives, the driver grabs his duffel bag and heads toward the same obscure door. A Jaguar glides in and a man dressed as someone who drives a Jaguar, also heads in with a bag after beeping his car alarm. Then a soccer mom in her minivan, a college student in his VW and a WitchDoctor dismounts his Harley, bringing up the rear.

Its always so surprising that no ones else in the busy gas station parking lot seems to notice something I would consider, quite odd. Its incredible how quickly and drastically the scenery and ambiance can change. Opening the door you first see shoes, lots of shoes. Then you begin to notice the mats and lattice. As you step in you smell jasmine incense and the faint prickle of flute music which often invokes memories of some poorly dubbed Kung Fu movie from the late eighties.

It unlike any other martial arts school you will ever encounter. There are no trophies accumulated but students from years of victorious competition. But there is an altar. I have come to appreciate the sanctuary of this hidden temple. It has become a holy of hollies for trans-personal growth.

I have advanced to the next level of learning, as indicated by my new fangled belt (insert big cheesy grin here). Last week I was having yet another difficulty with yet another technique, the hand motion in particular was comprehensible. My teacher again said, "stop, now close your eyes... imagine a large tree, now your hand is a leaf on that tree, new let it fall gently and gracefully to the ground..."

Anyone who knows me, or reads my Blog enough knows how incredibly significant the falling leaf is to my family and our tradition. *There are no coincidences* So after this lesson of spiritual insight, I again performed the technique, the very large two hundred fifty plus MMA fighter again came at me, but the leaf fell, gently and gracefully, and so did my large friendly attacker. But gently and peacefully, not so much...

(please insert a larger cheesier grin here)

Through my experiences in various forms of combat I have developed my own formula for success: Speed, Power & Accuracy are the three factors of a successful attack. The more Accuracy you have, the less Power you need, and so forth, you get the idea. But that was all wrong...

TRUE VICTORY IS VICTORY OVER ONES SELF. ~ O`Sensei

Its not about being strong or powerful, in fact the bigger and stronger you are, the harder and faster you come at an Aikidoka, the more devastating it is for you. The secret to power, is peace. The secret to strength, is softness.

WISDOM IS THE PROPER APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE, AND MAGIC IS THE RESULT.

That ones mine, you can quote me.

The Hand That Rocks The Cradle

2010-05-10T21:00:00.000-07:00

Its funny how things come together. Its really cool when you see all the separate pieces, recognize them for what they are, see them fit together in your head and end up being right. Its very cool.

Originally I was going to title this post "Magic Things" with an aim of following suit with the last post, Magic Words. But Mothers day, much like my Mother, has had a powerful influence on how things have turned out.

In my last post I mentioned the power of words. This post was mostly going to be about putting those powerful words into things and it still is, but not how you might think.

A few months back I gave a crash course class in spiritual protection for our local Tulare County Paranormal Society, where I volunteer as, yes, you guessed it, a Chaplain. During that class we had a great discussion develop on the subject of Talismans and Amulets when someone asked what the difference was between the two.

My answer was that Talismans were natural objects, such as stones, animal bones or other in my case, Teeth. The particular set of incisors I have worn around my neck for nearly two decades is a powerful form of protective magic, they are the bared teeth of an animal, and the message is quite simple, "Grrrrrrrrr."

Whereas with Amulets, they are specially made for a particular purpose, to contain magic words. I have a very nice silver pendant, the all seeing eye in the pyramid. Some magic words have not only been engraved on the back, but very special words have been placed inside the eye, inside the pyramid, inside the triangle of manifestation. Placed there by a very special person, the Grand Master of the Illuminated Seers of Bavaria. Very Cool.

A few days ago, I read a very cool Blog by Kenaz Filan about the Evil Eye. Which besides being a really cool Blog, reminded me of "The Ojo" or the Mexican Evil Eye. In my wife's culture it is believed that when you see an infant, you must touch it gently, if you don't the Ojo will go after it. So many times my wife has come home from the store where she saw the most beautiful baby while waiting in the check out line, but was unable to touch it because it was either too far away, or the parents were not Mexican or did not appear to be appreciative of the attention she was giving their child.

She finally came home one day saying "there's gatta be a spell or something we can do!" she not only came up with a great spell but a great container. The spell refers to seeing through "Infinite Eyes," and its beautiful. Within our tradition we have technique and technology for spell crafting and casting, we also have a technique for placing those magic words inside special containers, and yes, its pretty cool.

I was raised Pagan. My Mom was and still is an incredibly powerful Witch. She used to program crystals and hide them all around me, one hidden in my car to make me drive better, one under my bed to help me sleep and keep nightmares away. One to make me do my homework, I could really use that one right now.

Moonstone Jewelry is a great online store for high quality magic jewelry, or as in our case, jewelry with the potential for magic. My wife used infinity rings, imbued with a prayerful spell of loving protection for innocent children, she can't touch. Yeah, that too is pretty cool.

I started out Mother's Day, talking to my Mom. And I spent the day appreciating her, and her damn magic rocks. It was then that I had a powerful revelation, I too, was one of her rocks. She spent years putting her magic words into me. She spent years raising me, teaching me, shaping and molding and after years of investment, she had to let go and standby and just see what happened, hoping her magic words were strong, that they were powerful, that they were... enough.

They were strong, they were powerful, they were enough. I had an amazing childhood because my Mother used magic and powerful words to create not only the world she wanted to live in, but the world she wanted me to be raised in, and what an amazing world it was.

I Think about the magic words I have used to create the world I live in, and the world I've created for my children to be raised in. I watch my wife, as she crafts her magic words and places them inside our children and I know from experience that they will be strong, they will be powerful and they will be enough.

And that too is very cool.

Thank you Lord and Lady, for the Mother that raised me so well, and for the Mother that's raising mine so well.

Blessed Be.

Magic Words

2010-05-05T09:09:00.000-07:00

"Words have power. Printed words, indeed, can arouse the most potent emotions. They can excite joy, passion, peace, and rage within their readers." ~Scott Cunningham

I think that's what spells is really all about, the power of words. I've seen it time and time again, manifesting itself in multiple aspects of my life. And the more you look, the more you see. Funny how that works.

I have seen first hand the various powers of words. I saw it in the piles of bodies, lying in unearthed mass graves, left to bake in the sun of Iraq. I saw it in the tears of a my wife as she accepted my proposal. I saw it in the peaceful eyes of a dying women. I saw it in the Leaf which was engraved on her tombstone.

Our tradition teaches "the proper expression of will," and I have come to recognize the potent fertility of my own words. Scott's quote has really hit home with me recently. I have repeatedly had my potent emotions aroused in the process of completing certain Christian based academic requirements.

But again, I also see the benefits of this painful process as well. When I speak about our belief and practice of spell craft, I emphasize the power of words because the words you use create the world you live in, just as much as the words you DON'T use. In a Boundaries and Ethics class I learn the incredible power of one of the most magical words in existence, "NO." And whenever I have spoke at the prisons on this, someone has always said, "If I had used that word, I wouldn't be here..."

Scott's quote again struck home when I received words from several different sources notifying me that one my colleagues in the Pagan community has been hard at work making slanderous allegations in a continuing effort to follow through with a threat to discredit me. *Sigh*

But lest we not forget the other side of that coin, the magic words of others. How powerful are the words of others? How much influence do those words have in the creation of the world you live in? How much influence do you allow them to have? In remembering that I have a choice in the matter, I have again become the King of Wands. Not all of them, just the ones in my kingdom.

My Hero

2010-04-20T20:06:00.000-07:00

A Week or two ago the friends in my Blog sphere were circulating posts about "Kept" clergy. I managed to keep my two cents to myself until now. One reason was because I personally believe there is a line between professional clergy and professional conjurers, a line I did not see drawn within the volley of posts, a line I myself am not qualified to draw.

As for myself, I have as much right to approve or condemn a person for paying for a Tarot reading or tailored conjure as I do to approve or condemn abortion or same sex marriage, none. But in the area of Clergy I have many firm assertions, specially on the subject of being kept.

I have been a volunteer prison chaplain for over three years, the last two of which I have been volunteering at least twice a month. For the last six months I have added two monthly state hospital visits, at this point I volunteer at least one ten hour day a week in service to the state as a chaplain, for free.

In fact, a while back it was suggested that I submit a proposal for a twelve week religious program. So I did and to my surprise, it was approved and added to the curriculum of a state facility where I have been teaching regularly for some time now, for free. Rest assured, I have no delusions of grandeur. Given the current condition of our local economy I'm not getting hired anytime soon, not while their laying off teachers, guards and many other critically needed staff.

Can you imagine the headline?

I do all of this for a couple of reasons, but the most realistic one is, because I can. I am willing and more importantly I am able. My life style allows me the time, resources and opportunity to do so. But make no mistake, all my bases are covered before I go traipsing off to my prison ministry. I handle my business as a husband, a father, an administrator and so on. Because for all of the reasons I am motivated to be a chaplain, being kept is not one of them.

As a Pipe carrier in a native tradition, your are considered clergy. But there has always been a clear difference in those titles. As a Pipe carrier, I was a servant to the community. I was obligated to perform certain religious services when they where needed. Like many priesthoods, there is a responsibility there, but there was no authority. Unlike most western religious cultural views where the priest is commonly seen as being religiously or spiritually, in charge.

I have brought this concept with me into my ministry, humbly aware of my limitations, a servant, a keeper of the community, not the other way around. Those who can, have the obligation to do. Each of us has our own obligation to fulfill in some capacity. Many contribute, each in their own way.

My personal hero of the month is Heather Deirdre Awen, a few weeks ago she contacted me with questions about donating books and materials for Pagan inmates. We had a great conversation and she ended up donating over thirty books to my Carcer Via program. These books were great, they were in very good shape, they were a very good selection and content, in short, they were valuable.

Now the way things work at the prison is tricky, there are six separate yards, each with their own set of facilities such as library and chapel. So, if you want to donate a book, you have to donate six copies so that each yard gets one or they won't accept it. My way of dealing with this challenge is to create a "church lending library" where my congregants can check them out from me. About six of the donated books went in that pile.

On Friday, the state hospital which currently has two books, one on Wicca and one on "new age spirituality" received the other thirty some-odd books, which they were happy to receive and the patients are even happier to have access to. Its one thing for a Pagan to part with their books, something you don't see much of, but as my wife and I sat on the floor flipping through the books my wife noticed that there was something written in the front of every book. As we continued, we found that Heather had not only selflessly donated her books, not only had she taken the time to drive them to the post office, not only had she paid the heavy price to have the heavy box of heavy books mailed to us, she took the time to write a different blessing inside of each book. Now that's magic. Thank you for your service Heather and all the guys thank you too.

We are the keepers.

THE VIGILIA

2010-04-04T22:23:00.000-07:00

It's so subtle, so unnoticeable. It comes on so slowly that you don't realize it has had you until after it leaves you. How ironic that that it is not it's presence that we sense, but it's absence.

For the last few days I have been without internet service. I found my initial response quite disturbing, I recognized what I felt as the symptoms of withdraws.

I constantly wanted to check my Facebook live-feed, check in to see if my favorite fellow bloggers have any new words of wisdom, or lunacy. I suddenly remembered all those obscure things I needed to Google. Oh and I had Seminary homework to submit before the deadline, which always got put off to the last minute because I really don't care for my classes and there are much more interesting things happening on Facebook and Blogspot.

Being cut off and unplugged was very startling. Waking from my dream only to wander around watching everyone else still sleeping. We plug in and tune out the real world, think about it and watch the Matrix again.

Sitting outside, awake and unplugged was illuminating, especially on such a nice spring day.

I have recently received several emails regarding my tradition, by people in other states and amazingly enough, in other countries. I am both flattered and humbled by these requests for more information and material on little ol' me's beliefs and practices. So it is in this context that I will begin adding more entries here explaining various points of my tradition, and here's the first one.

I've decided to start with the Vigilia because it is the foundation of our theology. The name of our tradition is "Veritas" Wicca, which is Latin for truth. This comes from the motto "Veritas Pro Re Natura" meaning "Truth Through Nature." Our tradition is based on this simple premise.

Many, most religions are built upon a sacred text. Often considered the word of God or at the very least, by proxy. But as Pagans (generally speaking) and as Wiccans, we have no universal sacred text. We have what we call "The Gospel of Nature."

So where followers of a written sacred text "read" mere words with there eyes, we "read" the Gospel of Nature with all of our given senses, making the reading of that text wholly experiential. This is illustrated in the Vigilia...

Look, and you can see her beauty in truth through Nature. Breathe, and you can smell the perfume of the Maiden.
Touch, and you can feel the love of the Mother. Listen, and you can hear the wisdom or the Crone. Taste, and you can savor the the spirit of the Triple Goddess. Veritas Pro Re Nature!

The senses are used to experience deity, as they manifest through the natural world, and are personified by (in this one) the Triple Goddess. The purpose of reciting the Vigilia is to guide us, to use our senses to "tune in" to deity.

Think of it like a Radio. The Goddess is an FM station transmitting an infinite signal that permeates all of existence, at all times. We are all born with a built in receiver, we're just listening to Top 40 on the other end of the dial.

We recite the Vigilia as an invocation over the Chalice, and another over the Blade, just before the Great Rite or other Divine Unions of which such potent fertility produce infinite potential, for those who know, those who will, those who dare and those who remain humbly silent.

There is a distinction between the Vigilia and a Charge of the Goddess. With a Charge of the Goddess, the intent is to "Draw Down the Moon" into a God-form. Whereas with the Vigilia, the intent is to appeal to the presence of deity.

I confess myself somewhat miffed by the concept of summoning the Lord or the Lady into my body, and I equate that to pouring the whole oceans of the world into a shot glass. Once a keen eyed antagonist noticed that while we conducted an impressive invocation, we had failed to perform the proper "License to Depart," and again I found myself vexed by the idea of giving the infinite power of divine providence "permission to leave." And once more, if we could tune in to GODZ FM and establish a resonance, why would you ever want to turn it off?

I was visited by the spirit of Ostara this morning, as I sat outside I could smell the perfume of the maiden of spring. I could feel the rebirth and resurrection of life all around me in the warmth of the sunlight, I could hear voice in the soft breeze as the birds sang in celebration of her return. And in the mist of her resent turbulence, I stand truely humbled.

For those of you who have begun to realize the infinite power, immeasurable wisdom and ultimate truth which has been eloquently obscured by the Veil of the Goddess, I hope this helps.

Blessed Be.

The Circle of Life, Death and Rebirth

2010-03-21T15:40:00.000-07:00

As Veritas Wiccans, we are taught to divide out Craft into what we call "The Four Labors." One of those labors is "Observation," meaning the observance of the natural rhythms and cycles of life.

This includes the Sabbats and Esbats of the wheel of the year, but with equal reverence, our own natural rites and passages, which if given ample time and contemplation you will find are a reflection of that seasonal wheel.

As Pagans, we seem to have a positive spin on Death. In my family for example, we have a tradition that embraces such passages.

A few months ago a member of our group was hospitalized for age related illnesses, she was 70. She had been constantly in and out of the hospital ever since. I have performed the Nenia several times, and I will never forget the first time I did it for someone who was still alive and aware of what we were doing. Looking them in the eye changes things.

During one of those hospital visits I preformed our "Wiccan Last Rights" on that very old and dear friend. I was a privilege to honor her request while she was alive and able to receive it. She kept fighting and was with us much longer than anyone had expected. She continued coming to rituals in a wheel chair with oxygen tank in hand. She had that very old school wisdom, humor and a grit we don't see much of anymore.

We called her "Q-tip" because of the ball of stark white hair which crown her head, and "Stinky-Biscuits" because like me, she had one of those names that was very difficult to get people to say correctly, and it was just easier to remember. She would roll her eyes and laugh every time we said it.

My wife is Mexican, strike that, my wife is VERY Mexican, and they have a very unique way of dealing with sensitive things like extreme sickness: they make fun of you. In only a way a Mexican can manage to pull off and make everyone laugh, including the one who's sick.

They would always hit her up, asking for a hit off the oxygen tank "Puff Puff Give." and once during an extended hospital visit they wanted to charge a cell phone, but some piece of critical medical equipment was plugged into the only outlet, and they were like "don't be stingy with plugs" And she loved them for it.

She had the most amazing attitude, during all this, friends and family came from all over to pay a visit. One by one they each became emotional and SHE comforted THEM. I even saw her comfort her Doctor who was grieved by the fact that there was nothing more she could do for her. Q-tip said just keep me comfortable, and keep that drip going. She told my wife "If I die today, it's ok because it was a good day to die."

On March 15th 2010, the oldest living initiated member of our Coven passed on to the Summerlands. She was our Friend, she was our Crone, and even in her last moments she made us proud to have known her. We celebrate her life, her Death and her Rebirth.

On Turns The Wheel...Blessed Be!

The Return of The Son

2010-03-05T07:17:00.000-08:00

My first marriage lasted about ten years, and the military was the secret to our success, because I was always gone. When I came back from Iraq, I filed for divorce and got custody of our two children.

Later, I moved home to California and remarried to the perfect women, a Witch. Who knew. But my ex wife took the kids and refiled in California courts and there was a year long battle for custody and visitation. In the end we were awarded joint custody, and the kids were to spend a year with each parent, flip flopping back and forth.

But my daughter was old enough to remember what happened and why I divorced her mother in the first place, and refused to to see her at all. My son, loved his mother like every son should and wanted to stay with her.

There has not been a day that goes by that I do not lament his absence and often in the late hours when everyone else is asleep, I sit on his bed and remember him cliff diving at the river, he has always quiet, but so fearless. I try not to let it spill out, and I wait for those Saturday morning breakfast rituals we do together.

I have had so many irons in the fire, but much more that usual lately. Some are not ready to be announced and some are, I'm just not ready to announce them. I had a good idea for a post here, it was going to be about my day lecturing at Fresno State's Religious Anthropology class again this year. It's something that I am quite proud of, not just because its a state university, as it turns out they round up "all sorts" to do this. No, I'm proud because I do a good job, I am proud because when I look at the faces of the people I am speaking to, I get that independent confirmation from them, that they get it.

Perspective is an incredible thing, and it's always changing. A single phone call changed mine, again. After a day of lecturing to four separate classes, I took a detour on my way home to pick up my son, and all of his possessions.

He has come home, to stay.

Somehow none of that other stuff seems as important as it did before.

Thank you Lord & Lady, for the return of the Son.

Blessed Be.

Awakenings

2010-02-28T22:43:00.000-08:00

At least one day of my week is spent at a prison or state hospital now days. Last Friday it was a state hospital. It is extremely different than the prison system I have become so accustomed to, But I have come to enjoy my time there.

One of the secrets to my success is that I don't overreach, I stay humbly aware of my limitations and I only share what I honestly believe, or know from experience. It's organic, I teach what I know from my experiences, and what I experience when I teach becomes part of my liturgy. I love that, because it keeps me a student of my own class.

This blog was originally established as "The Ink Blot Tarot." Which is an idea that works quite well and is one of my favorite group exercises within an institutional setting. Friday's participants pulled cards like DEATH and the Nine of Swords, and although I personally have no aversion to them, I was concerned with "their" possible interpretations of these cards. I was however, incredibly inspired by the results.

It takes an incredible amount of courage for most of these individuals to open up and express their feelings, for many reasons. So forgoing all the mystical tarot hoopla and/or violating the trust of my congregants, I will cut to the chase and share what I've been given permission to share.

Which is despite the lives these people have lived, the mistakes they have made, the personal issues they are struggling with or the seemingly bleak circumstances of their current existence, they remain incredibly optimistic. When I asked the person who pulled this card to chose one word to describe the overall theme or message or the Nine of Swords, the answer was "Awakenings" which was thus explained in great detail, in the most positive sense of the word.

It was the first time I saw that person smile. Which is why I do this.

Thank you Lord and Lady, for teaching me the importance of perspective. Blessed Be.

The Lustravi

2010-02-25T20:20:00.000-08:00

Our tradition like most, is progressive. Three distinct degrees have evolved from one simple yet profound axiom.

"Truth is my light..."

The first degree called the Viatori, is composed if thirteen grades. Each with their own lesson, their own knowledge and their own truth.

The lessons are taught through symbolism, the knowledge is applied through catechism, and truth lights the way through the darkness of ignorance, and the Wayfarer travels ever onward on the path.

But before we set one loose to navigate their way through the grades, degrees and higher mysteries found in the land of Veritas, we first inculcate perhaps the simplest of truths. It is the path that imparts all which is sought at the destination, it is the journey that is joyful, not the end. You cannot achieve happiness, but you can happily achieve. Or as Connie so wisely puts it, it's all about the process, not the product. I like that, thanks Sis.

There have been a few inquires about the Lustravi after my last post, so I though I would take the opportunity for a shameless plug of my book, which is almost done. I only have a few more chapters left but just haven't been able to get to it with all the seminary homework and the few extra irons I now have in the fire, which have become an understandable priority. Trust me you'll understand when it's time to brand those cows.

So here is a small piece on the Lustravi from my book...

The Lustravi

The lessons of the wayfarer are applied in a simple daily exercise called Lustravi (Luh-STRAW-vee) which is used to prepare ourselves for what author Dan Millman calls “the arena of daily life.” Before we can begin to find our way we must first to admit we are lost, and prepare ourselves to for the next part of the journey.

One of the features of our western culture is our linear sense of consciousness: We conceive of our lives as following a straight line, and we assume that everything has a beginning and an end. Many indigenous cultures, however, conceive of their world in terms of circles or cycles, like the seasons. We often place an emphasis on the beginning and end of a ritual or ceremony rather than thinking of them as parts of a greater whole.

On our never-ending journey through life, we occasionally stop along the way to rest. We may look back at where we came from and scan the distant horizon in anticipation of what is to come, before we pick ourselves up and soldier on. This is the lustravi, a series of stops along the path to catch our breath, gather our thoughts, appreciate the moment and continue. Lustravi is a Latin word with several meanings, all of which we use in the teachings of the exercise.

1. To Purify: The exercise starts with the purification of your consciousness. To begin, you assume either a kneeling or standing position and take a long, slow, deep, cleansing breath; at the end of your exhale, clap your hands together, moving into the classic prayer position. This is to purify the mind of distractions and bring the consciousness into the present moment.

2. To Circle or Encircle: Now breathe in a second long, slow, cleansing breath, opening your hands shoulder-width apart as you do. As you exhale this second breath, bring your hands out and around in front of you to form a hoop with your arms and slowly bring it in close to your navel, allowing the tips of your fingers to meet near your belly button. We create this circle to contain our consciousness, keeping our thoughts in the present moment.

3. The View, review or examine: Take in a third deep breathe slowly while you consider your current state of mind, your mood and your feelings. Now just surrender, accept them and let them go, then push them all out with a slow but complete exhale.

4. To Illuminate, or to make bright: Then close your eyes and look inside, there is a faint inner light deep within you. As you slowly take in your fourth slow, deep breath, allow it to grow brighter and fill your lungs. When you finally begin to exhale this breath, generate a low, deep hum and extend to throughout your exhale. Return your hands to the prayer position and as you inhale, slowly open your hands while envisioning a divine light emanating from within them, and then bring them forward to touch your face in a gesture of baptism, bringing this light into your consciousness.

(don't for get to smile)

The lustravi has neither a beginning or nor an end - it is perpetual and infinite. It has no limits, and you can perform the lustravi as long and as often as you like. It has no restrictions or conditions so you can practice the lustravi whenever you feel the need or desire. However, it comes with a strong recommendation of four times a day. Starting when you wake in the morning, once around mid-day, again at sunset and then again in the evening, usually just before bed. These four times are significant to the teachings of the wayfarer and are signified by his lodestone...

Ninety-Nine Red Balloons

2010-02-22T20:04:00.000-08:00

It reminds me of ninety-nine red balloons, the way our thoughts can cloud the infinite sky of possibilities.
Especially when we don't know the outcome of something relevant which is bending, and usually seems to be quite critical.

In Morals & Dogma, Albert Pike wrote that force, unregulated or ill regulated, is not only wasted in the void, like that of gunpowder burned in the open air, and steam unconfined by science.

Air is commonly associated with the speculative. Thoughts, ideas, imagination and communication. I have become overwhelmed by an unstoppable force of "What ifs." My thoughts irrationally imagining and rehearsing every imaginable possible outcome, and that somewhat fantastic sequence of events that could follow. I find myself daydreaming about the fantasies of the best possible outcomes, and completely stressing myself out with the worst.

Thoughts give birth to actions, therefor the quality of those thoughts bare to the quality of the actions and so on with the sequence of events. So I have blown that ill regulated force into balloons to contain them, each as they come, and in this regard I have discovered an inexhaustible supply of hot air. (If you listen close you can hear those who know me laughing)

Dan Millman has always been one of my lifelong favorite authors. He wrote about the concepts of the infinite here and now, about staying in the moment and no matter where you go, there you are. Within my tradition we teach a technique called the Lustravi, it's a lifelong ritual with no beginning or end, it is performed from "time to time", to keep us centered within the infinite here and now.

It keeps me sane, it keeps my eye on the ball and my head in the game, which has become so indescribably difficult, considering the relevant possibilities, which are currently pending to make history. Imbolc symbolizes the pregnancy, before the birth of a new life in the spring of Ostara. Make no mistake, there is a big shift coming, and the labor pains are never easy, but the new life is worth it.

Until then, the Lustravi is my BB Gun and I will keep plugging away. Pop... 98, pop... 97, pop... 96...pop*

PS* I just "found" my Gmail box, and realized I have been receiving mail at that address, from readers of this Blog for well over a year. So to all of you who thought I was a stuck up ass, you may be right, but at least now you know that I will be writing you back soon.

Blessed Be.

Changing Memory Lanes

2010-02-09T22:52:00.000-08:00

Its funny when you think about it. We've all been there, and we all drive right past there nearly everyday without ever giving it a thought. But every once in a great while, something happens, we get cut off by some idiot in the traffic of consciousness and veer sharply into a memory lane.

To celebrate our birthdays, my daughter and I considered making a drive out to the Monterey Fisherman's Wharf, just for the claim chowder. I grew up on the coastline between Monterey and Santa Cruz, but I've seem to have forgotten about that.

My Grandfather was found in his apartment in a state of extreme dementia and was hospitalized for several days before being moved into residential care, so the trip was not longer a consideration but an unquestionable reality. He remembered me. (Thank you Lord and Lady.) He was happy and surprised by the visit. He talked positively about his health and his happiness, and he changed lanes here to WWII and back, but we had a nice drive.

Watching his expressions as he spoke knocked me into a lane that's been a blind spot for quite some time. I remembered when he ran his own gas station, he used to put me on the hydraulic lift and tell me if I was brave and touched the ceiling I would get a reward. Which explains why I have no fear of heights and always bought myself candy corn every time I repelled out of a helicopter or off some tower when I was in the Army.

Driving though the area I lived most of my childhood was incredibly strange as an adult. I have lived such a full life already, which seems to overshadow most of my very happy childhood. Every street, side road and back alley triggered some obscure memory or flashback. The scene of a crime I had witnessed or committed. A girl I knew. A guy I fought. A party I was invited to and the one I crashed. That one place I never wanted to leave and the one I went out of my way to avoid. Most of these memories have had a direct effect on who I am right now as I write this, except a few odd ones.

I saw a place, which lead to a memory, which lead to a memory. A memory of me watching my Aunt playing under a tree with a little boy, me. In fact several memories have surfaced which are from a third person perspective, I was watching me as a child. Which can only mean a couple of things, all of which are funny when you think about.

Another Bunch of Little Things and Cheese

2010-01-25T19:18:00.000-08:00

My birthday is coming at full speed, and it's hard to believe it's been a year already. Although I am behind schedule, I remain on course and have nearly completed the oath I took this time last year. It has been very exciting and it's amazing how much you can learn by teaching. I am very happy with the fruits of these particular labors, they have yielded a far greater crop than I would have ever imagined. Stay tuned for an unofficial press release around April.

Aikido continues to be a source of discipline and peace. I had been struggling with another technique for nearly a week, again freezing up mid-way through, trying to follow the natural flow of energy. It is frustrating to be told repeatedly how to do it, shown how to do it, but remain unable to do it. Again I was observed intently and interrupted by wisdom.

"Do it with your eyes closed.."

I kept them open long enough to see the punch coming and shut them at the point of reception. It is an amazing sensation to follow your instinct, in the *right direction.* Although I didn't see it, it was reportedly the first time I performed the technique perfectly, and I admit there was something satisfying about the sound he made when he finally hit the mat. Again, it's all about the little things.

The next day, I watched as black belt students took turns performing "multiples" meaning they defended them selves against multiple attackers. It was entertaining and incredibly inspiring. I remember thinking someday I'll be able to do that, just as my sensei called me out onto the mat.
There is a strange inner calmness of confidence that is acquired through military combat. And that comes in handy when life throws you these kind of curve balls.

It wasn't as graceful or elegant as the black belts, but it was effective and after only two weeks of training I successfully performed several of the techniques I was taught and two that I had previously only seen. Not only was it a nice rush, it was a profound affirmation. A very nice little thing.

The ministry is going great, I have been cruising along for the last year and a half without any significant problems. The Prison visits are regular, consistent and without incident. I have established services in another state facility, I have been visiting regularly and have been asked to teach a few classes. Until I complete the orientation and get my credentials, they are required to supervise my religious services.

This last Friday the staff person started out next the the rear door and throughout the two hours, slowly leapfrogged her way to the front row and by the time we concluded the ritual, she had received the "communion" of cakes and ale and held hands during the dismissal. We ended with a cheerful "blessed be" and I asked her rhetorically "that wasn't so bad was it?" With a big grin she said no.

It only takes a single grain of rice to tip the scales, it was a nice day to be a piece of rice.

No victory is too small, thank you Lord and Lady for all the little things, and cheese, I love the cheese.

It's a Bunch of Little Things

2010-01-09T12:05:00.000-08:00

It is quite amazing how terribly significant an "insignificant detail" can be. This seems to be the lesson of the week. I had begun Wiccan services at a local state hospital a few months ago, and have added a second. I really had to earn my status at the prison, but the hospital welcomed me with open arms.

They have different rules there, so unlike the prison, I cannot bring "anything" in. But the hospital compensated for this by "making" me what ever I needed. They have made not one, but two, full altar sets from both pine and oak, in the wood shop. Every allowance and request has been acquiesced with out complication. When I arrived Friday, there was someone waiting to escort me inside, unlock the chapel and sacristy.

But when the Assistant-Chief, who is my supervisor, took her very much needed and deserved two week vacation, there was no one to post the notice of service. So, I had everything I needed, except the inmates, who were unaware there was a service. The little things...

My return to the temple is wisdom has been a pleasurable success. I haven't had any difficulties integrating it into my daily schedule. I was proudly surprised by how much I remember after more than fifteen years, but I make a point to empty my cup of old stale knowledge before I enter.

I have spent most of the week learning a new technique. Its very difficult, specially for a beginner, by design. It encompasses nearly everything you need to know in order to perform all the techniques that follow. So to first master the first one, is to better know the rest. I like that a lot and recognize it, because I do the same thing within my system when I initiate someone.

One of the goals is to perform the entire exercise as one fluid movement, there is an emphasis on the natural flow of universal energy. But I hit a snag. I could flow through to a mid-point, there was a obstruction as I struggled to make a needed shift, then glided gracefully to completion.

When I explained my block to Sensei, he asked my to do it again. right at the precise moment that I become hesitant he said "freeze, don't move." He said "look at your right hand, extend your index finger and point it at his chest." When I did this, the Ukes entire arm shifted, and mine right along with it, right into place.

I cannot express the amazing sensation of such minor enlightenment. A reenactment of the technique, *with an extended index finger* placed a man of equal build on his face with seemingly no effort, only proper envelopment of force. The little things.

Last weekend I got interviewed on THE ZARACON SHOW, we talked about my prison chaplaincy and I'm not sure how it came up, but I started talking about these sticky notes I keep on my desk, one of them says "When was the last time you put down your magic and played with your kids?" Sadly, I need these little reminders. But not today, this morning I skipped class and did the Dad thing with my boys. We got out the grills and made a rather large, traditional breakfast.

I do it every weekend for my clients, but I began including my boys in the process some time ago. Cameron cooks the beacon and eggs to order of one grill while I run the french toast factory on the other grill, this morning Tavo got a lesson in pancakes. From patter to platter, it was all him, and they were the bomb. The only thing I love more than a full breakfast, it cooking it with my boys.

I used this picture of the Penguins just because I love them so much. I often use the Penguins as obscure and abstract personifications of what some would call an HGA or Holy Guardian Angel. Bare in mind, I am not a ceremonial magician, but it's the closest description I can use without giving something away. I ate our awesome breakfast watching the Penguins of Madagascar cartoons with my boys. I give a heartfelt thanks to the Lord and Lady for these lessons on the little things.

Your mission, should you choose to except it, it to do some little thing for someone. Secretly. And keep it a secret. Good luck.

Blessed Be

A Hidden Temple of Wisdom

2010-01-03T12:32:00.000-08:00

Last week I woke up in mid air, again. It may sound odd, but it has happened to me quite often and in different ways. The first is, literally. In Portland more than fifteen years ago, I was an Americorps volunteer. Its a great program, I was looking into the Peace Corps and other similar programs when I found it. Its a "domestic" peace corps, where we do all the same sort of programs, except we do for our own country. I liked that.

So every morning I would get to the metro office nearly thirty minutes early and find a nice spot to meditate in the cemetery across the street. One of my favorites was this enormous tree. I would climb up and lay across the thick, wide branches, just like my futon. Until that mystical moment when your mind lets go of the body and the body lets go of the tree.

There was another time when I lived on a ranch, green breaking horses. I had my favorite, and we would ride the trails bareback. After we returned from one of those rides, I flipped around facing the tail-end, crossed my arms, laid forward, crossing my feet behind his neck, I feel asleep for more than an hour. Until one of my "friends" found me and though it would be funny to wake me up by slapping the horse. They made it up to me later with a case of beer. I remember thinking "Why am I friends with these people?" Haha, good times.

Its amazing how subtly the Matrix can sedate your awareness, and lull you in a daze of complacency. You don't even realize your were asleep, until you wake up again. Like the dreamy summer day, riding my ten-speed through downtown, enjoying the breeze and the view, smiling at beautiful girls and they smile back. Then a car runs a light and cuts the corner, and right into you. Reality slaps hard some times. Fortunately at the time, I was the student of Aikido. The marvelous thing about this particular martial art is called Ukemi. Known as the "Art of Falling," it is a prerequisite of the Aikidoka . So I woke up in mid-air as I was turned into a forward roll and returned the reality slap, with the displacement break fall which left an impression on the hood. everyone was so amazed when I landed on my feet, most of all me.

I woke up again, in mid air. The sensation of being upside down does that to you. It was been over fifteen years since I performed that forward roll, but I started again last week. There is a small red barn located on the side of the highway, just a few miles from my house. It's old and obscure, no one even notices it for what it is. But appearances are so deceiving. behind the barn is a door handle, where there doesn't appear to be a door, and when you step inside you enter an Aikido Dojo, a temple of wisdom.

Listening to the Sensei give detailed instructions on the flow of the universal energy, and the techniques of energy movement, manipulation and displacement, forces a Wiccan to conjure images of a Jedi master instructing padawon's on using the Force. Everything he says applies to Magic, Witchcraft and my Craftwork. It's nice to be a student again.

Blessed Be.

*The picture is from an art website, click the pic to visit the site. (Thats what our barn looks like.)

Great Minds?

2009-12-10T18:20:00.000-08:00

I have been openly speaking and teaching Wicca for several years now, and am writing a book on the subject. In my introduction, I took what was a somewhat unique approach. The best way I have found to explain things, is also the most politically incorrect. I describe Wicca as "Indian stuff for white people."

I go on to explain the terminology in more detail, by "Indian stuff" I mean earth-based religious beliefs and practices, and when I say "White people" I refer to indigenous Europeans. In fact, in March of this year I gave a lecture at Fresno State University's religious anthropology class, where I spoke in depth on the matter.

My wife recorded my talk and we put it on You Tube as a five part series so my friends and family could see me in action, my Mom was so proud. Judging by the statistics, I'm guessing most people only watch the first video and lose interest. But it is the second and third which I feel are actually the best parts, but it's this second clip that is relevant to my post here.

I bring this up in light of "a trend towards definitions of certain Pagan traditions," which has occurred at the Parliament of the Worlds Religions. Ed Hubbard was covering the event and posted this blog on the subject matter of Redefining Paganism.

While I feel incredibly validated by all of this, I must ask myself: At what cost? It seems to me that this concept has been corrupted and twisted to further a less virtuous agenda, which would only serve to fracture the "Pagan" community into even numerous and dysfunctional pieces. I think it creates more problems for us, I think it weakens us further while distancing us from our goals of a greater good.

I personally don't think (hope) it will generate much gravity. Anyone can try to redefine Paganism in anyway they please, but we Pagans as a society, will continue to follow and perpetuate the axioms of our own existence. Which is a fundamental element of Paganism.

Blessed Be.

Enter The PenDragon

2009-12-09T09:13:00.000-08:00

A great teacher of mine once said "Profanity is a feeble mind trying to forcibly express itself." That's how I feel sometimes when I try to share myself through writing.

It was not until I took my first class with Cherry Hill Seminary that I realized I was a pretty good writer. And I'm not, I'm just "a good talker." But I write how I talk and people seem to like that, so I'm sticking with it.

I can't believe it's almost been a year since I had a realization, came to a conclusion, and took an obligation. I haven't posted here in a while because I am hard at work fulfilling that oath. And now that this project has finally become a reality, things are in full swing. There is an army of "captive artists" hard at work on the illustrations and I have an editor.

Other than a few friends who are much smarter than me, I haven't had a real editor before. Boy was I missing out. Enter the PenDragon, my own personal grammatical savior. The process so far has been amazing for me. My writing has become more organic, I am learning from the process and evolving as a writer. My last segment didn't have half as many marks as my first, which I have burned to protect the innocent and the guilty.

Not only does the PenDragon offer the valuable service of professional editing, but he possesses the invaluable quality of a Professional Pagan perspective. And you just can't place a dollar value on that type of insight.

One of the labors of my tradition is called "The proper expression of will," I find it hilarious and ironic that by writing a book about that, I am learning to use less profanity. Thanks Steve.

On the Hunt...

2009-11-16T12:48:00.000-08:00

I have noticed over the years that while in polite conversation with Pagans that I seem to be ahead of the crowd when it comes to current events. Whenever talking about religious issues or just hard at work in the rumor mill I just seem to be a wealth of information to others.

Quite often the reply to many of my statements is "Really!?!" which is followed by the Who, what, when, and where conversation. The answer to at least one of those questions has always been "The Wild Hunt."

I have been a long time fan, reader and supporter of Jason Pitzl-Waters, who is a real Jack of all trades within the pagan community, while at the same time being an incredibly professional Pagan. In my relatively limited experience this is incredibly rare and very very appreciated.

The Pagan community has a great need for Pagans like Jason, who provide an invaluable service to us all,for free, because it needs to be done. I just love sitting down at my desk every morning with a hot cup of coffee and clicking in on The Hunt.

This month is the 2009 Wild Hunt Winter Pledge Drive, Which runs from the 16th through the 22nd of this month. When ever possible I look for Pagan vendors to give my business to, and when I see a land mark being built in the Pagan community I contribute, I support, and I pay it forward.

I put my money where my mouth is, how about you?

School Daze

2009-11-13T22:28:00.000-08:00

School has been a great challenge, I say great because I am doing quite well at the moment. I've been dreading the "Evangilism 101" class even more than my Bible class, which I passed!

So far I scored well on my first two exams 100% and a 96%. But my greatest success was my written testimony assignment. I had to write a paper on 1. My life before God, 2. the circumstances surrounding my coming to God and 3. My life since then.

Well this kinda poses a problem for a militant Pagan like myself. In all fairness they did offer an alternative writing assignment for non-Christians, write a paper about why your not a Christian. The assignment does include an insistence that you WILL be graded fairly.

Ummmm...no I don't think so.

I had a problem with the whole thing. I had a hard time believing I would be graded fairly and I had a hard time with the idea of writing a false paper to get the grade I needed, which I am very capable of doing.

So I talk to my wife, my friends and of course my Mommy, and they all agreed. Tell them what they want to hear and pass the class, which I new I had to do. But it REALLY bugged me. And I put off doing the assignment until the very last minute of the very last day.

I once told someone that I have never been a "technically" kind of guy, instead I tend to round life off the closest whole number. But being technical can have some advantages! I managed to answer the questions in the writing assignment honestly, while not actually lying or being dishonest. This is a portion of my assignment about the circumstances surrounding my experiencing "God"

"I served my country with ten years of active duty, during which I was deployed to several countries. My first overseas deployment was to Sinai, Egypt for a six month peacekeeping mission. During my time there I was able to visit many amazing, historical and religiously significant sites such as the Great Pyramids, Petra and the Holy Land. But it was my journey to the top of Mount Sinai that changed my life. I was in an Infantry Unit, well trained and in top physical condition, yet the path was difficult and I wanted to quit several times. But each time I stalled to catch my breath, I felt compelled by an overwhelming urge, I felt myself being called to the top, there was something there I needed to see. What I saw changed my life forever. My first view of the Glory of God’s labor was so emotionally overwhelming that I was brought to my knees. It was there at the door of the Moses Chapel that I knelt in prayer to the Father of Christ for the first time in my life."

Every word of it is true! I received a 96% on the assignment, apparently the truth can be incredibly subjective.

This is a picture I found inline, it is the Moses Chapel at the top. The small iron fence on the right saved me from falling and breaking every bone in my body. Yet another save.

My Veteran Punch Bowl

2009-11-11T13:59:00.000-08:00

We're pretty quiet about what we've done. Some of us have Guilt, some of us have Anger, most of us carry the scars of Fear and we all hear the Echos of Cadence. And as much as it may have damaged us, we miss it.

Last 4th of July was my first time out of the house in celebration since the war. In equal stride today was my first time out in open celebration of my status as a Combat Veteran.

I used to cringe when people thanked me for my service. "Your welcome, just don't ask me to do it again."

But today was a good day. I went to Applebees for lunch, where the Veterans eat for free! I walked in sporting my Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran hat and my tan Dicky shirt with all my old Army patches sewn on it. As I was lead to my table I was met with eye contact and a nod for every guy in the room, who were all wearing their hats and patches.

Its an interesting exchange, through eye contact. We watch each other watching each other. Looking at patches and pins searching for the one we know, the one we earned, the one that hurt. That's why we're so quiet about it, its like holding a wide open punch bowl filled to the rim.

Always afraid we're going to spill ourselves all over a crowded room.

We keep it pretty simple. On my way out I saw his patch and he saw mine, I wore mine in the last war but he's had his since the second one. I stopping to shake his hand I said "Howdy Sir" and he replied "How'ya doing Sergeant?" There was too much so I just nodded.

I have not been called Sergeant in over six years, it gave my soul goose bumps.

His wife asked if we were in the Army together and I busted out laughing. Until he said yes.

Afterwords I went out to my truck and spilled my punch.

Say Cheese...

2009-10-30T16:46:00.000-07:00

Last week I wrote about my Involvement with the Tulare County Paranormal Society. I started out just teaching a class for them and ended up joining their team. I am not an "Investigator" but I serve as an adviser and Chaplain.

Often times when people think their homes are haunted they want the home cleansed and or blessed. This is the type of service I provide, I pray for people.

When you get into the realm of Ghost and Spirits, Death comes along for the ride. And with Death comes religion. And so I follow closely after.

Last week my friend Anne who founded the TCPS was interviewed by the Fresno Bee. She called and invited me to the photo shoot for the article, wanting to include me in the hubbub. I was again honored by the invitation.

We had fun, the Photographer was a professional who made us look really good, despite the fact that a few of us showed up in black to be photographed at night *Oops*. He took lots of pictures warning us that he had no control over what they would decide to use.

So low and behold first thing this morning we found my mugshot on the front page of the Talk section. I felt bad that the long standing group I just joined got jilted out of their well deserved moment in the spotlight of acknowledgment. But thankfully they were happy with the article and thought I did a good job of representing the group, as it turns out they were quite proud to have a priest and professional Chaplain within their ranks.

My only hope is that my photo (click on it) captioned "Minority Faiths Chaplain" sparks some interest in my own personal campaign for religious pluralism. More to come on that soon.

Trick or Treat!

A Feast of Felons

2009-10-28T11:42:00.000-07:00

I was blessed with a great childhood. I was raised Pagan, and what could be better? Mom was a Rosicrucian and studied under a few others like the Avatars and the 11:11 group.

This all made for a really cool childhood full of Tarot, Meditation, Creative Visualizations, and Reiki. Except way back then it was not commonly known as "Reiki" everyone just called it Energy or Aura Work. I liked to call it using the Force.

The upside was the open mindedness of my parents, Sex was a beautiful, natural thing, nothing to be ashamed of and I was taught respect and responsibility, instead of suppression, shame and guilt.

The down side was Mom planting "programmed crystals" everywhere, my friend once found one in the glove box on my car when I first got my license. She had hidden it there to "make sure I keep my eyes on the road and my hand on the wheel", she insisted it would make me a better driver. The worst part of having a Witch for a Mom is that you never get away with anything, EVER!

So I was given books through the years, that passed Mom's scrutiny and were intended to elevate my conciseness. The Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman was a big one that changed my life. Later when I was in the Army she mailed me another called The Four Agreements by Miguel Angel Ruiz, and this one had anther profound impact on me, still to this day. The four agreements are really pretty simple:

Be Impeccable With Your Word.
Don't Take Anything Personally.
Don't Make Assumptions.
Always Do Your Best.

Each one the Agreements are much harder than you would think. But number three has always been a bitch for me, always looking forward my assumptions grow and blossom into expectation which bare fruit that leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Assumptions and expectations are easier for me to curb, the less I know. When I went to the State Hospital for Samhain services last Friday it was easy not to assume or expect, as I didn't have anything to go on except my few introductory visits, which taught me it was nothing like Prison.

But it is so difficult not to assume of expect when I go to the Prisons because I've been going there so long, and I think I know how things will be. But I have been going on the same days during the same times for over a year steady, this time I went at night.

I assumed no one would know me, and I expected a lot of complications and resistance to what we were doing, and to my surprise I was wrong. Everyone knows about me, apparently a "Wiccan Chaplain" makes for good gossip. But most haven't seen me yet. So when I came out onto the yard I saw basically the whole shift come out to watch me. I was met at the door with a firm handshakes, genuine smiles and good eye contact.

I wear a Combat Veterans hat, and someone made the comment that "he's a Vet so he can't be all bad..." then someone else said "wait, what branch where you in? Not the Air Force I hope..." I responded with "Haha no, the Air Force aint even IN the military" (no offense airmen) And that was all she wrote, I was in like Flin.

The guards helped me out with what I needed, and were nice about it. It has taken me a year and a half to this far. It start out pretty rough, they gave me hell. But I took it, I never complained. (See rule #2.) In the Army its called "keeping it in the Ranks" it might sound primitive and dysfunctional but that's the way we roll. So I've kept in in the ranks, and earned some respect from some of the guards. I just never realized how much until tonight.

The Momentous Meal went off without a hitch, first Pagan Holiday meal in the Prison ever, but not the last, we got three more scheduled. I hope that they go as well as it did tonight. Those four agreements are incredibly simple but incredibly difficult, if your strong enough, they are incredibly powerful. Look what I did with them.

Proof that it can be done.

Blessed Be.

The Stir of Our Echos

2009-10-24T21:39:00.000-07:00

Wow, the last few days have really been crazy. But there's bad crazy and good crazy. I am blessed with lots of good crazy.

The Tulare County Paranormal Society has been sponsoring a series of free to the public classes all though the month of October.

Each class have been focused on a different aspect of the Paranormal. Everything from Psychics & Mediums, Witches & Witchcraft, to Spirits & Ghosts. I was honored to asked by a friend to be a guest speaker and shed some light on the false stereotypes of the Wicked Wiccan Witches.

As it turns out I had stereotyped "Paranormal Researchers" just like the mundanes have stereotyped me as a Wiccan. So I began attending their meetings to get to know them better and get a more educated understanding of what they do. I was pleasantly surprised by their approach to subject of the Paranormal.

As we explored the open discussion in a warm group setting, I realized how much we all have in common. Their are just as misunderstood as we Pagans are, they are stereotyped as inaccurately as we Pagans are and seem to attract a lot of unique people for all the wrong reasons.

I deeply respect the care & respect these people exhibit when approaching "Ghosts" and the professional and scientific manner in which they attempt to document activity. They explained how many times, "certain people" are attracted to places that are believed to be haunted and often times perform ceremonies or rituals there, leaving behind candles and strange markings.

They mentioned that knowing someone with a knowledge in these areas would be nice. I felt compelled to mention that this was not my area of expertise, but rather my area of study. I don't think I would be able to analyze a scene and interpenetrate or read the symbolism used, but I do have every confidence that I would recognize it and be able to find out. In fact I would enjoy it. Magical Detective. That would be fun.

So I have joined the team, and am honored again to have become the Chaplain and spiritual adviser. The lecture went well, there was a good turn out and everyone was very active and receptive. Probably one of my favorite crowds yet. And Friday night we dawned our new TCPS t-shirts and met in old town Visalia for a photo shoot with a Fresno Bee photographer, we're gonna be in the paper next week.

But Friday morning started out bright and early on my way the State Hospital. I have been a Volunteer Prison Chaplain for almost three years, but Friday was my first day in the service of the Department of Mental Health. I must say I enjoy volunteering for them, they have been very warm in their welcome and extremely accommodating in meeting my needs and desires for services.

They had asked me too prepare a syllabus of my scheduled services and was happy and proud to say I already have one ready. I was even happier and prouder to see their surprised response, they seemed impressed with the "application of symbolism" used in my services. I applied that symbolism in my first service there Friday morning.

I brought a bag a leaves that my daughter and I had collected from the local cemetery. I shared my childhood memories of my Grandmother and the special story she shared with me. We all selected our own leaf and wrote the name of someone special on it and each took our time sharing it with the group. These men I had only known for a half an hour or so shared their personal grief and for a few, acknowledged the death of a loved one for the first time.

After the bag of leaves was passed around, a small marker followed so that everyone could write a name on their leaf. This is an important part of the craftwork, it turns the leaf into someone. It is interesting to watch the way different people hold their leaf. Some cradle it with both hands and speak directly to it, while others hold them down at their sides not looking at it.

Once they have said what they have to say they, place their leaf on the Altar. Some kiss it goodbye and have a hard time letting it go but enjoyed the opportunity for visitation and closure. I have been providing this service at Samhain for a few years now and it never fails, every year at least one person writes the name of their victim, and shares something powerful. I can't imagine the courage it takes to do this.

Some people think I am nuts for volunteering to work in the Prisons and even more crazy for working in the State Hospitals, but like I said, I blessed with a lot of Good Crazy. Blessed Be.

First Suppers of Samhain

2009-10-17T14:04:00.000-07:00

It is amazing how difficult it can be, to be silent. At the Chaplains Academy we were taught the "academics" of chaplaincy rather than the religion. It us up to us to be "all prayed up".

We were taught the Mechanics of doing death notifications, we were taught how to administer first aid for Critical Indecent Stress and we were taught the legalities of pastoral counseling, privileged communication and disclosure.

There are so many things I cannot say.

In Freemasonry we are taught to use the Compass to circumscribe ourselves, to stay in due bounds with all mankind. This training helps, a little. In Veritas Wicca we are taught to use the Athame "to cast circles to better contain our own energies". This helps, a little more.

I often sit here contemplating what I can include in a Blog and what is or may be outside those boundary lines. How much can I say about any one person or does changing the names allows me to include more otherwise private things? No, it does not. I always error of the very far side of caution, so rest assured, your secret is safe with me.

It helps in my personal life and it helps in my professional life as a Chaplain a lot more. Yesterday I spent the whole day there, going back and forth between the walls. I performed two religious services which was the easy part, and spent the rest of the day facilitating diplomatic negotiations between the inmates and the office that controls their religious practices. Run by a good man, whom I trust and who has come to trust me. That's Magic.

Inside the Prison I often serve as his representative, communicating on his behalf and returning to his office to represent the inmates and communicate on theirs. This is where personal boundaries are really important, I do not, I can not, choose a side. I am only the translator, so my only boast is that I have successfully translated a great deal, literally.

The Prison has approved religious meals for the Pagan inmates! It will be the first time it has ever happened at this prison. And I am very proud to have brokered the deal. We will be having four separate Samhain Feasts for the different yards. Don't worry about your tax dollars, the religious meal cannot exceed the cost of a normal meal. Besides it really more about the idea of it, the importance of acknowledgment, and the impact it has had on the inmates, which is well... I can't say. *Grin*