The Pagan Community is one filled with diversity and individuality - characteristics we celebrate. Our religious beliefs are often quite disparate. Yet, although we walk different paths, we do so in harmony with one another. We connect - often deeply - on a spiritual level. And it is through our spirituality that we become more than just a community. We become a family.

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Beltaine
By Onomaris

....uring Samhaine we make a list of the things we want to change and excise. For Beltaine we make 'wishing' lists of the traits we want to absorb. Not too many. Just a couple of goals to be worked on over the coming months that will bring us the things we want. This year I'm taking a dance class to increase my gracefulness while my husband has taken on rollerblading as a way to increase not only his flexibility and energy, but also his speed of thought. There is a time to seek personal gain and Beltaine is that time. Not to be selfish but to strive to improve who you are through gaining positive attributes.

The fire at Samhaine is a destructive and protective one - we burn those things we are releasing and use its magic to ward our health and homes. At Beltaine we create a fire of creation and release....
Extract from Crossroads of the Pagans

The Wheel of the Year
By Doire

This is probably the best known set of Pagan festivals. Predominantly celebrated by eclectic Pagans, Celtophiles, and Wiccans it marks their eight religious observations of the year - Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltaine, Litha, Lughnassadh, Mabon, and Samhaine. The 'wheel' reference is linked to the common tendency to illustrate the cycle of the year in a circle crossed with spokes and to the belief that life is cyclical, repeating the same pattern each time of birth, life, death. This association of Pagan and wheel is an old one shown in carvings dating from the Dark Ages of Pagans and cartwheels. The wheel is in all probability derived from specific solar rituals where wheels filled with burning straw were rolled down long hills as a part of the festivities....
Extract from Festivals and Holidays

...As for the Nazis and the linking of them to Paganism...this is a common fallacy. Firstly Hitler and his henchmen promoted Christian concepts and ideology as evidenced through their own writings in Mein Kampf and other works. They viewed Christianity as a good way to control people. But they saw aspects of Northern Trad paths such as the Nordic and Germanic beliefs as being a great way to advance their agendas. They picked out the pieces they liked, twisted and reworked them and wove them into their Christian mythos to create a very effective human control ideology. It wasn't about Paganism but rather about the most effective form of control they could create - one that used piecemeal anything they felt was useful....
Extract from Pagan Thought

Beltaine
   

The IRS vs. the Church
By Liadain

A California Episcopalian church is in danger of losing its tax-exempt status due to a sermon made two years ago by a visiting pastor. The sermon, 'If Jesus Debated Senator Kerry and President Bush,' came two days before the 2004 elections and violated a federal law stating that tax-exempt organizations cannot endorse political parties or their candidates.

In transcript, the sermon did not directly back either of the presidential candidates, but did include thoughts of the pastor about what he believed Jesus would say to President Bush about the Iraq War....
Extract from Pagan Thought

The Closet
By closeted

I am in the closet. So far in you can't even see my shoes peeking underneath the hanging clothes. I don't know if I'll be coming out anytime soon. I'm not even 20 yet. And I don't know what I am.

I'm Pagan. But what Pagan? It's like being in an icecream shop with 100 different flavors and only a teeny tiny spoon to taste with. Can't really get a good idea what the Mocha Crunch is like and then you add some Raspberry Swirl on top and the flavors blend....
Extract from Editorials

Breathing
By Frigga's Weft

Studying with my teacher has taught me a lot about Eastern techniques...not exactly what I was expecting when I signed on to study Paganism. However I've come to really value the work because of the way it resonates with me and also the way it so seamlessly merges with my Pagan practice. I think Axiom's idea that Eastern energy work is closely related to the (lost) styles of the ancient European Pagan mystics is right. So, this issue I want to talk about breathing techniques. The way you breathe is the foundation for meditation and yoga. It influences everything you do and mastery of it determines mastery of your activity. Effective yogic breathing is energising, balancing, and enhances mental clarity....
Extract from Tools of the Trade

Crystal Elixir
By Angus

...When a crystal is exposed to light or sound it resonates with the energy of the light or sound. If you place a clear crystal - such as quartz - within sunlight you can see how it refracts the light, creating rainbows. Every crystal affects the light that enters it - and each family of crystals, each individual type, affects light in a specific fashion. The light energy that exits the crystal is thus changed by the crystal. Scientifically we know that light has healing properties, and depending upon where upon the spectrum it falls, the healing qualities differ....
Extract from Tools of the Trade

Screaming in the Dark
By Rhiannon NosTylluan

Acrimonious.... This is the perfect word to describe my emotional state over the past year while dealing with unexplained chronic illness. I've been sucked into moments of despair, loneliness and anger, and now I find myself struggling to find a way out. This is extremely hard to do when I find myself having to accept something for what is it - without an official diagnosis, or something I can see on a piece of paper that says definitively "this is what's wrong with you." Blind faith isn't easy - no matter what spiritual path one follows.
Extract from Editorials

From the Desk of
Albineus Equinus

This year is almost over and we have managed - despite the troubles faced by various staff - to get another issue out.

I would like to thank all our readers for being so patient with us - it has not been an easy year for the majority of us. However we have survived and we are still here.

Still standing.

It is appropriate that we have regrouped at this time. Beltain and Samhain approach - a time when the cycle of life is very evident within those, and other, myths of this part of the year. The passion of life, the utter change of death - whether figurative or literal - has made itself felt very blatently.

In preparing the magazine this issue I was reminded of some words I wrote in last year September issue:

"I had forgotten the truth of existence - that night is mated to day, death to life, evil to good. Without one there cannot be the other."

In light and love,
Albi
Managing Editor
   

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