Thursday, September 27, 2012
45 Life Lessons, written by a 90 year old
45 Life Lessons, written by a 90 year old
1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short not to enjoy it.
4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.
5. Don’t buy stuff you don’t need.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for things that matter.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye… But don’t worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.
18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It’s never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words, ‘In five years, will this matter?’
27. Always choose Life.
28. Forgive but don’t forget.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give Time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d
grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you think you need.
42. The best is yet to come…
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
15 Facts About Me
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Posting in Over a Year
Things have gotten a little crazy to say the least.
The day before Christmas, we had to put our dog, Harmony, down. That was the worst experience of my life, and I never want to do it again. I've had less panic attacks, I think that's what you could call them, which is great. I can sleep at night. Yay pour moi.
My friend of years moved down the street from me a while ago. So I have someone to hang out with all the time that doesn't live super far away. We don't really do much except internet things and school stuff. We used to go to the beach and lay out in the sun in the yard, but than it got way to hot outside. Though all in all, I have much fun with my lady and her two dogs.
Speaking of dogs, we got a new one, named Zoe. She is four years old and we got her from a gay couple living in Valpo who were moving to a condo in Florida and couldn't take her with. She doesn't fetch, and the neighbor and I decided she is officially more useless that their cat.
And speaking about the neighbors, Rose passed away and we got new ones, who like to grill a lot and are kind of hillbilly, but awesome. They also have a daughter, who is completely more awesome than what we were making bets on.
School! The last bit, my brother, who is not so little anymore, graduated from Thea Bowman Leadership Academy! I'm so proud of him. He's now at Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania with a basketball scholarship.
The second school occurrence, Zac, my love, is going to Ivy Tech to study nursing. I'm going to be with a sexy nurse :) He's also lost a lot of weight since the winter which was not so much of a winter but a really cold autumn to spring.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Some veuge college experiances
1! High school started around 8am, now anything before noon time is early. Actually, anything around 8am is more like asking someone to sign their own death warrant, unless of course you’re in problems in PR, than it doesn’t matter what you think about early mornings and late nights and caffeine intake. There’s a science behind that, I promise.
2! There is always more alcohol in the fridge than food. I don’t know why this is true, I like to think it’s because as a college student you are either a.) and alcoholic or b.) you thought you were going to drink that, but you never had the time. Too many early tests around noon. Lol. Personally, I kept my alcohol in my locked drawer, and if it didn’t fit there, I put it under my dirty laundry pile in the closet. What RA is going to sift through that… unless you’re a perv…
3! Weekends officially begin on Thursday. No Friday classes at all, sometimes there’s a group meeting or two, but I like to think of Thursday now as the day to tie up loose strings so I can have a guilt free weekend without procrastination… That’s what I tell myself anyways.
4! 4am is when you go to sleep. Most people go to bed around 3 I would say, 2-3am, than being a college student, and that extra hour is spent in two ways, 1.) your drunk, or 2.) your mind is thinking or reflecting for about an hour.
5! You learn to cook ramen noodles in more than one way. Just to keep up the diversity on the dinner plate lol.
6! Instead of falling asleep in class, you stay in bed. You do, it’s just what happens, and for once, most of the time; it’s alright.
7! You will know the hours of operation for places like white castle, mcd’s, dunkin donuts, taco bell, and BK.
8! You think it’s the weekend on Wednesday and you don’t know what month it is. Sometimes this happens when you are really wrapped up in what you’re doing in school. I think that every student should be willing to go the extra mile to accomplish their goals, and this happens a lot when you put your all in.
9! You can’t remember when the last time you washed your car was. I remember fondly once, that my car was covered in a film of green from the spring, and the only thing that made me was my car was after parking under a sap dripping infested tree of doom for the period of the whole day. That sucked.
10! Your socks and panty availability will dictate your laundry schedule, especially when you live in the dorms.
11! Facebook will be checked more than once a day if it’s not already.
12! You will fall off of a bed loft if you have one, at least once in your life. I lived under my bed for a semester because I would wake up thinking I was mid fall from the top of the bed. Unfortunately, I didn’t figure out you could have maintenance raise the bed higher, so while sleeping under it, I would wake up and slam my head on the bottom of the bed, which in my opinion is much worse on a daily.
13! You talk about beer pong like it’s a competitive sport.
14! You crack a beer at 11am and your friends ask if you have more.
15! The standard meals per day narrows to two or maybe even one. You will become the master of snacking.
16! Your trash is overflowing and your bank account isn’t.
17! You end up at Walmart or Kmart or Target more than twice a week.
18! Breakfast consists of a soda or juice and a cereal bar, something that’s edible on the go because your more than likely going to take it to class.
19! Silver change is like the most amazing thing ever, particularly quarters, they’re comparable to gold.
20! Your idea of feeding the poor is feeding yourself some noodles.
21! You talk to your roommates on IM when your all home.
22! Your study periods often consist of surfing the web, mingling with friends, ect.
23! You have observed a hit and run of a pedestrian or biker, and you probably have seen a foreign guy crash a car.
24! You will run into people you know you have met but can never remember their name or where you knew them from.
25! What is a square meal? Let me tell you, it’s called pop tarts.
26! The travel partner is a pile of dirty clothes.
27! You pay $200 for a book you will never read and sell it back for $15.
28! It takes preparation and three people to take out the trash.
29! Going to the library is like a social event.
30! Your flip flops are your cleanest pair of shoes.
31! You join clubs of strangeness during gatherings because there’s free food.
32! Bikes suddenly don’t seem as lame as they once did.
33! You will skip one class to write a paper or study for another.
34! You stay up late to finish homework then sleep through the class in which it was due.
35! Going to the mailbox is either an ego booster or breaker.
36! You never realized how many people there are that are smarter than you.
37! Than on the other hand, you’ve never notices how many people are dumber than you.
38! Care packages rank up there with birthday presents.
39! You meet people who you thought only existed in movies.
40! Printers are the most technologically unreliable pieces of equipment. And they only break down when you need them, so they’re basically never running lol.
41! Anything can be cooked in a microwave.
42! Buying groceries at midnight is a normal thing.
43! You call delivery more than you call your family. (said call not text)
44! Life without the iPhone, Droid, iPod, lap top would be unbearable.
45! Hoodies and PJ’s are the norm and when you need to get fancy, jeans and tshirts are the common option.
46! Cancelled class is almost as exciting as Halloween :P
47! Teachers swear in class and no one cares.
48! Candles are contraband, but cigarettes are a-OK.
49! Smoking will happen less during the winter when you live in the dorms.
50! Napping has occurred in more public places than imagined.
51! Socks from the laundry room may or may not be yours. How it got there? Who’s missing socks? Who knows.
52! Betta fish are like family.
53! There’s a condiment collection somewhere in your crib.
54! You know what people carrying suspiciously heavy backpacks in the dark are doing.
55! Elevators take forever, but you will wait for a retarded amount of time so you can avoid taking the stairs.
56! Christmas lights are a year- round thing.
57! Class sizes double on exam days.
58! You are no longer thankful that smoke alarms are here to protect you. I was the worse for this, any time I cooked anything, even boiled water, I would turn on the smoke alarms. I’m not really that bad of a cook, I blame it on the coils.
59! People help you kick the vending machine for your 50 cent bag of chips. Well, more like 85 cent bag of chips.
60! Laundry is an all-day event.
61! It’s no longer uncool to take naps, in fact, they can be quite amazing.
62! It is illegal to have alcohol in the dorms, yet the bookstore carry’s an array of impressive shotglasses, beer mugs, flasks, ect.
63! You have eaten cereal out of a cup… with a fork.
64! You know one person who dropped their cell in the toilet.
65! You set your clock ahead so you might make it to class in time.
66! You check, ratemyprofessor.com, before picking out classes.
67! You can text faster than you can type.
68! You run out of black ink, so you use blue because it adds a nice flair.
69! The food in your fridge may or may not be older than your little brother. Lol.
2! There is always more alcohol in the fridge than food. I don’t know why this is true, I like to think it’s because as a college student you are either a.) and alcoholic or b.) you thought you were going to drink that, but you never had the time. Too many early tests around noon. Lol. Personally, I kept my alcohol in my locked drawer, and if it didn’t fit there, I put it under my dirty laundry pile in the closet. What RA is going to sift through that… unless you’re a perv…
3! Weekends officially begin on Thursday. No Friday classes at all, sometimes there’s a group meeting or two, but I like to think of Thursday now as the day to tie up loose strings so I can have a guilt free weekend without procrastination… That’s what I tell myself anyways.
4! 4am is when you go to sleep. Most people go to bed around 3 I would say, 2-3am, than being a college student, and that extra hour is spent in two ways, 1.) your drunk, or 2.) your mind is thinking or reflecting for about an hour.
5! You learn to cook ramen noodles in more than one way. Just to keep up the diversity on the dinner plate lol.
6! Instead of falling asleep in class, you stay in bed. You do, it’s just what happens, and for once, most of the time; it’s alright.
7! You will know the hours of operation for places like white castle, mcd’s, dunkin donuts, taco bell, and BK.
8! You think it’s the weekend on Wednesday and you don’t know what month it is. Sometimes this happens when you are really wrapped up in what you’re doing in school. I think that every student should be willing to go the extra mile to accomplish their goals, and this happens a lot when you put your all in.
9! You can’t remember when the last time you washed your car was. I remember fondly once, that my car was covered in a film of green from the spring, and the only thing that made me was my car was after parking under a sap dripping infested tree of doom for the period of the whole day. That sucked.
10! Your socks and panty availability will dictate your laundry schedule, especially when you live in the dorms.
11! Facebook will be checked more than once a day if it’s not already.
12! You will fall off of a bed loft if you have one, at least once in your life. I lived under my bed for a semester because I would wake up thinking I was mid fall from the top of the bed. Unfortunately, I didn’t figure out you could have maintenance raise the bed higher, so while sleeping under it, I would wake up and slam my head on the bottom of the bed, which in my opinion is much worse on a daily.
13! You talk about beer pong like it’s a competitive sport.
14! You crack a beer at 11am and your friends ask if you have more.
15! The standard meals per day narrows to two or maybe even one. You will become the master of snacking.
16! Your trash is overflowing and your bank account isn’t.
17! You end up at Walmart or Kmart or Target more than twice a week.
18! Breakfast consists of a soda or juice and a cereal bar, something that’s edible on the go because your more than likely going to take it to class.
19! Silver change is like the most amazing thing ever, particularly quarters, they’re comparable to gold.
20! Your idea of feeding the poor is feeding yourself some noodles.
21! You talk to your roommates on IM when your all home.
22! Your study periods often consist of surfing the web, mingling with friends, ect.
23! You have observed a hit and run of a pedestrian or biker, and you probably have seen a foreign guy crash a car.
24! You will run into people you know you have met but can never remember their name or where you knew them from.
25! What is a square meal? Let me tell you, it’s called pop tarts.
26! The travel partner is a pile of dirty clothes.
27! You pay $200 for a book you will never read and sell it back for $15.
28! It takes preparation and three people to take out the trash.
29! Going to the library is like a social event.
30! Your flip flops are your cleanest pair of shoes.
31! You join clubs of strangeness during gatherings because there’s free food.
32! Bikes suddenly don’t seem as lame as they once did.
33! You will skip one class to write a paper or study for another.
34! You stay up late to finish homework then sleep through the class in which it was due.
35! Going to the mailbox is either an ego booster or breaker.
36! You never realized how many people there are that are smarter than you.
37! Than on the other hand, you’ve never notices how many people are dumber than you.
38! Care packages rank up there with birthday presents.
39! You meet people who you thought only existed in movies.
40! Printers are the most technologically unreliable pieces of equipment. And they only break down when you need them, so they’re basically never running lol.
41! Anything can be cooked in a microwave.
42! Buying groceries at midnight is a normal thing.
43! You call delivery more than you call your family. (said call not text)
44! Life without the iPhone, Droid, iPod, lap top would be unbearable.
45! Hoodies and PJ’s are the norm and when you need to get fancy, jeans and tshirts are the common option.
46! Cancelled class is almost as exciting as Halloween :P
47! Teachers swear in class and no one cares.
48! Candles are contraband, but cigarettes are a-OK.
49! Smoking will happen less during the winter when you live in the dorms.
50! Napping has occurred in more public places than imagined.
51! Socks from the laundry room may or may not be yours. How it got there? Who’s missing socks? Who knows.
52! Betta fish are like family.
53! There’s a condiment collection somewhere in your crib.
54! You know what people carrying suspiciously heavy backpacks in the dark are doing.
55! Elevators take forever, but you will wait for a retarded amount of time so you can avoid taking the stairs.
56! Christmas lights are a year- round thing.
57! Class sizes double on exam days.
58! You are no longer thankful that smoke alarms are here to protect you. I was the worse for this, any time I cooked anything, even boiled water, I would turn on the smoke alarms. I’m not really that bad of a cook, I blame it on the coils.
59! People help you kick the vending machine for your 50 cent bag of chips. Well, more like 85 cent bag of chips.
60! Laundry is an all-day event.
61! It’s no longer uncool to take naps, in fact, they can be quite amazing.
62! It is illegal to have alcohol in the dorms, yet the bookstore carry’s an array of impressive shotglasses, beer mugs, flasks, ect.
63! You have eaten cereal out of a cup… with a fork.
64! You know one person who dropped their cell in the toilet.
65! You set your clock ahead so you might make it to class in time.
66! You check, ratemyprofessor.com, before picking out classes.
67! You can text faster than you can type.
68! You run out of black ink, so you use blue because it adds a nice flair.
69! The food in your fridge may or may not be older than your little brother. Lol.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Life Action Impact pt. 1
I have always been a curious person, someone aching to explain that which I do not know. When I was in elementary, I went to a private school which did not teach at the same levels as public schools. One day the Hobart library was throwing away old textbooks, which I stole an algebra text. I studied it on my own time, and taught myself the magical world of complex math. Sometimes my grandma would have to take me with her when she took things to Hobart High school, and I would enjoy sitting outside of the classrooms in the spring and listening to the lectures that I had yet to experience. I learned new things, some of it I couldn’t wrap my mind around, but the point is: I learned.
While I was in school, I was also very active in church. I was drug to church every weekend by my grandma, putting on our Sunday best and pretending to be equals with the other more wealthy individuals who saw church more as a conversation topic, or a reference of character. I never fit in with the girls in my church classes, they were always more beautiful seeing that they were allowed to utilize things like razors, tweezers, and makeup and I wasn’t. I simply loathed myself for not being one of them. There were two boys who became my best friends because they had the same problems. One of them moved away and I haven’t talked to him in years, but we were very close. The other boy became someone who I would soon follow around like a lost puppy, and later compete with academically. He was a friend of the family, someone who lived across town but I never really got to be as close as I was with my other friend. Regardless, these two people made a world of difference to me.
After years or misery and persecution by the girls who I should have felt were best friends, I left the church and joined another. This new church was much smaller, but most of all they were a family, one that I instantly knew I would be a part of. I made friends, authentic friends, between the ages of preteen to eighteen. Once I felt at home with everyone, I became more involved with the church. I was comfortable asking questions, deep thought out questions I had for years but never had someone to answer. This was how I learned that I learn best in debate mode. I learned how to ask the right questions in the form of statements. This was the beginning of my shameless and repetitive questions asking everywhere I went.
Before I knew it, I was more active in the church than I could have ever anticipated. There was an amazing group of people who did human videos, and we got to go on a “tour” and perform for other churches. This was the most memorable time I ever had even if my mind was enthralled with a boy about half of the time. Young love, such fond memories. After becoming a voice in the church not just a seat warmer, one of my two friends from the other church came to the new one. I was thrilled, it could be like old times, but better because this time I had friends. A couple of years of tears and sweat and love and of course, human videos, I felt ready to explore a new feeling I wasn’t comfortable with at all: speaking in tongues. No matter what, I just couldn’t do it; I started to doubt myself, than doubt god. I began asking scientific question which was the wrong place to start knowing that religion and science don’t really see eye to eye. I still couldn’t find my answer; the closest I got was around the lines of: you have to fully give yourself up to a higher power and live perfectly and it will happen. I soon started thinking maybe it was because I had doubt in my life. This was about my senior year in high school. I completely geared my life to fit the requirements to make this a reality or have the experience. I remember when I was younger at the other church, I was prayed for and the preacher smacked me in the head a few times to knock me out in the spirit, and after a few times, I felt that I was being disrespectful so I fell and pretended to be unconscious until the person next to me moved. I also did the same thing for my initial problem, I would make funny noises (which actually took a lot of concentration believe it or not) so that I wouldn’t disappoint the person praying with me if it was someone with a proper title.
A month before I graduated, I decided that this was not working for me, I completely lived my life according to the book, I put aside all selfish thoughts and desires, and spent several hours of the day praying and meditating. I decided I wanted to take a day and explore all the things in my mind that may have been hindering me from gaining my ultimate goal: speaking in tongues. One of the major things I wanted to explore was Paganism. That boy who went on tour with us back in the early days left the church with a friend and he was a part of this coven I heard wonderful things about, so I gave him a call and he said he was actually with everyone from the coven and I could come over and meet everyone if I wanted. So I did, on a whim, about a half an hour after deciding to take the day off to explore and question the world around me.
That day, I filled an application to be a member of the group and didn’t step foot into a church in two years (which was a long time for someone who ended up being at church five of seven days in the week). <- that may be a slight exaggeration. Thus beginning the second chapter of my life.
While I was busy being pagan and enjoying not having any rules and regulations outside of my personal ethics, my heart still felt broken and I authentically missed the people who made the culture of my old church. I never told anyone this, because who would believe the girl with short purple and pink hair rocking a Manson shirt and some funky pants. I still do miss them, they are still a part of me, and helped me become the person I am today.
While I was in school, I was also very active in church. I was drug to church every weekend by my grandma, putting on our Sunday best and pretending to be equals with the other more wealthy individuals who saw church more as a conversation topic, or a reference of character. I never fit in with the girls in my church classes, they were always more beautiful seeing that they were allowed to utilize things like razors, tweezers, and makeup and I wasn’t. I simply loathed myself for not being one of them. There were two boys who became my best friends because they had the same problems. One of them moved away and I haven’t talked to him in years, but we were very close. The other boy became someone who I would soon follow around like a lost puppy, and later compete with academically. He was a friend of the family, someone who lived across town but I never really got to be as close as I was with my other friend. Regardless, these two people made a world of difference to me.
After years or misery and persecution by the girls who I should have felt were best friends, I left the church and joined another. This new church was much smaller, but most of all they were a family, one that I instantly knew I would be a part of. I made friends, authentic friends, between the ages of preteen to eighteen. Once I felt at home with everyone, I became more involved with the church. I was comfortable asking questions, deep thought out questions I had for years but never had someone to answer. This was how I learned that I learn best in debate mode. I learned how to ask the right questions in the form of statements. This was the beginning of my shameless and repetitive questions asking everywhere I went.
Before I knew it, I was more active in the church than I could have ever anticipated. There was an amazing group of people who did human videos, and we got to go on a “tour” and perform for other churches. This was the most memorable time I ever had even if my mind was enthralled with a boy about half of the time. Young love, such fond memories. After becoming a voice in the church not just a seat warmer, one of my two friends from the other church came to the new one. I was thrilled, it could be like old times, but better because this time I had friends. A couple of years of tears and sweat and love and of course, human videos, I felt ready to explore a new feeling I wasn’t comfortable with at all: speaking in tongues. No matter what, I just couldn’t do it; I started to doubt myself, than doubt god. I began asking scientific question which was the wrong place to start knowing that religion and science don’t really see eye to eye. I still couldn’t find my answer; the closest I got was around the lines of: you have to fully give yourself up to a higher power and live perfectly and it will happen. I soon started thinking maybe it was because I had doubt in my life. This was about my senior year in high school. I completely geared my life to fit the requirements to make this a reality or have the experience. I remember when I was younger at the other church, I was prayed for and the preacher smacked me in the head a few times to knock me out in the spirit, and after a few times, I felt that I was being disrespectful so I fell and pretended to be unconscious until the person next to me moved. I also did the same thing for my initial problem, I would make funny noises (which actually took a lot of concentration believe it or not) so that I wouldn’t disappoint the person praying with me if it was someone with a proper title.
A month before I graduated, I decided that this was not working for me, I completely lived my life according to the book, I put aside all selfish thoughts and desires, and spent several hours of the day praying and meditating. I decided I wanted to take a day and explore all the things in my mind that may have been hindering me from gaining my ultimate goal: speaking in tongues. One of the major things I wanted to explore was Paganism. That boy who went on tour with us back in the early days left the church with a friend and he was a part of this coven I heard wonderful things about, so I gave him a call and he said he was actually with everyone from the coven and I could come over and meet everyone if I wanted. So I did, on a whim, about a half an hour after deciding to take the day off to explore and question the world around me.
That day, I filled an application to be a member of the group and didn’t step foot into a church in two years (which was a long time for someone who ended up being at church five of seven days in the week). <- that may be a slight exaggeration. Thus beginning the second chapter of my life.
While I was busy being pagan and enjoying not having any rules and regulations outside of my personal ethics, my heart still felt broken and I authentically missed the people who made the culture of my old church. I never told anyone this, because who would believe the girl with short purple and pink hair rocking a Manson shirt and some funky pants. I still do miss them, they are still a part of me, and helped me become the person I am today.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Breathing Broomsticks on May Day: Teenage Witches and the Community
This is an essay I wrote for my English college class this year.
In the novel White is for Magic by Laura Stolarz (2004), a teenage girl named Stacey has dreams, dreams which predict horrible, unimaginable accidents happen to her closest friends and family.
“Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack, all dressed in black black black. She has a knife knife knife, stuck in her back back back, she cannot breathe breathe breathe. She cannot cry cry cry that’s why she begs begs begs. She begs to die die die (Stolarz, 2004).” She is haunted by her dreams, former memories of a past life. Her grandmother taught her the ancient ways of the Wicca, to help cope, which she uses every step of the way to solving the mysteries of her dreams. She doesn’t use a wand to make monsters transform into puppies, or obstacles into flowers. She uses practical magic, not the kind made up by a fantasy induced mind, and it’s very close example of real witchcraft encountered in fictional teen novels.
Wicca has been around since time before time. It’s a more of a lifestyle than a religion, and it has different effects on everyone. It has been described as an “Earth based religion dedicated to enhancing nature and life” according to Starhawk (1997). Wiccan’s live by one simple rule, called the Wiccan Rede. The Wiccan Rede according to Raymond Buckland (2002) is as follows: “Bide the Wiccan law ye must, in perfect love and perfect trust. Eight words the Wiccan rede fulfill, an harm ye none, do as ye will. And never mind the rule of three; what ye send out comes back to thee. Follow this with mind and heart, and merry we meet and merry ye part.” This basis for a religion has more of a connection to karma, and keeping one’s self from harm’s way by not harming others. There are also deeper meanings to the rede; for example, a follower of the old ways cannot cast spells, whether good or bad, on another person.
Wiccans, or pagans, are passionate individuals that worship the god and goddess and celebrate holidays that occur around the solstices through the year. Pagans celebrate by holding ceremonies, or rituals, with friends and family, and sometimes a coven. A coven is a group of likeminded individuals who have a common goal of sharing ancient meaning, having the same ideals with likeminded individuals, and creating a small and sometimes distant community that congregate together with the same purpose in mind (Lozano, 1990, p. 212). Pagan’s use tools during rituals that are unlike any tools used by other religions in America: wands are one of the most well known objects, pentacles (a five point star in a circle) is used as a symbol of protection, and a variety of candles in all colors and sizes.
There are many different gods and goddesses to worship, finding the right one can be a daunting task, but rewarding in the end. Every deity has a specific area of expertise, like Gaia the Earth goddess, or Solaris, they god of the sun. There are also deity’s focused on love, revenge, or whatever someone’s needs may be. What is so wonderful about Wicca is the ability to choose what fits each individual best. One person might study druids, herbalism, or necromancy. Similar to the different paths to follow, there are different ways to worship. Lozano and Foltz (1990), who worked hand in hand with a coven to research feminism and witches, experienced a ritual with the members singing and dancing, chanting, and meditating, followed with a potluck (p. 215). Then again, methods of celebration vary from holiday to holiday. According to Buckland (2002), each holiday follows a story of the god and goddess. Yule is the festival of the birth of the god while Samhain is when the god leaves his body and the goddess begins her journey to the underworld to retrieve him (p. 99). Beltain celebrates the manhood of the god (p. 102), and during Imbolc the goddess recovers from giving birth (p. 101). Like every religion, paganism has a way of involving people from all walks of life and different cultures.
Thoresen and Miller had the right idea when they claimed that it’s not a new concept that religion can have a dramatic effect on an individual’s health and behavior (p. 1). Spirituality has given people the strength to battle through the most horrendous of all situations and come out of the storm stronger and more stable. No matter the path chosen by the individual, it has to be a journey that is both meaningful and believable. What might be a perfect match for one person might not be the same for another. Paganism is meant for the person who is attracted to the unknown, who believes in more than what most popular religions have to offer, and who are generally nature appreciative individuals. Paganism is not a cult, nor is it an escape to an alternative reality. Many young adult practicing pagans are misunderstood, and labeled as not conductive to modern society, and with the proper informative education, what is a misunderstood religion can be a lifestyle for more than the unexpected.
Wicca plays a role in many science fiction or fantasy novels and television shows. Teens are particularly exposed to witchcraft and the media. Some sources have true facts, some have completely false representations. Some people are attracted by the occult and situations considered taboo. This may be a reason why communities are less welcoming to solitary practitioners, or people who study Wicca by themselves, or people who practice as a part of a coven (Jarvis, 2008, p. 44). In 2001, the City University of New York discovered that 140,000 people consider themselves witchcraft practitioners in the American Religious Identity Survey (p. 13) compared to the slightly over fifty million people who claimed themselves as Catholic (p. 12). Of these claimed 140,000 practicing pagans, none are teenagers because the study called for adult consent to participate. What is really interesting about the teenagers interested in Wicca, is most of them are young ladies (Jarvis, 2008, p. 45). These teen girls claim to have educational or experiential politically correct knowledge of witchcraft. It is speculated that these teenage girls who are growing more interested in the craft is a cause and effect from the second wave of the feminist movement (Jarvis, p. 45). A passage from Reclaiming Collective by Starhawk (1997) best explains this phenomenon: “The image of the Goddess inspires women to see ourselves as divine, our bodies as sacred, the changing phases of our lives as holy, our aggression as healthy, our anger as purifying, and our power to nurture and create, but also to limit and destroy where necessary as the very force that sustains all life (p. 34).” Young people are interested in this ancient yet immerging religion, they are gathering the information they need to be a Wiccan. Can the same be said about the people within the community surrounding these young people?
There are parents who view the craft as a magnet that deteriorates the home relationship and respect of authority. Wicca as a rebellious act against society is how most unaware, or uneducated about the subject, people see it. When in reality, Wicca is a religion that envelops traditions, especially in the home (Jarvis, p. 47). Wicca has a greater self-awareness state of mind; pagans can focus more on the actual religious experience rather than rules and regulations, creating a carefree environment to practice, learn, and grow in (Jarvis, p. 44). According to Lozano, “religion is ultimately collective, expressing shared meanings and social ideals that unite participants into one moral community (Lozano, p. 212).” Wiccans are expected to study privately, practice regularly, usually meeting up with a more experienced person of the faith to study from, and always regularly participate in rituals (Jarvis, p. 47). It’s a very active religion, a person may find themselves wondering away from actively practicing, but will more than likely return to active participation in the future.
In Becoming a Woman Through Wicca: Witches and Wiccans in Contemporary Teen Fiction (2008), author Christine Jarvis writes about how the Wiccan religion is a more moral obligation and enhances the picture perfect ideal community. While breaking down the basics and explaining key concepts in detail, Jarvis is educational as well as inspiring, giving Wiccan practitioners a valued place in society. She also elaborates a great deal on the role of feminism and witchcraft, and the culture affected most by the religion. Christine also explains how the role of witchcraft in modern literature and various media forms effects young adults.
In this article, Christine (2008) interprets the teenage girl experience embracing the paganism. Many books geared towards young adult readers, like the Circle of Three books by Isobel Bird (p. 44) or the Blue is for Nightmares series by Laura Faria Stolarz, capture the minds of millions of readers. In these fictional novels, some aspects of paganism are correct, like the processes of using natural remedies opposed to modern medicine. These novels can particularly allure young adults who are growing up in the active world acknowledging a “green” environment. Wiccan is a religion based around celebrating the natural gifts provided by mother Earth. Novels like these also have a strong pathos appeal in the sense that no matter what the book is about, no matter what the character participates in, there are always relationships with close friends and family, and the obstacle and challenges one faces when openly acknowledging a change of lifestyle, especially when that lifestyle is a minority. There are many different assumptions an individual could make when learning that a close friend or immediate family member has put their religion on the table so to speak. The general rule of thumb is before announcing paganism as a personal path is to think of all the possible questions that might be asked, or how to handle different kinds of reactions. Like a student in school, beginning the spiritual journey demands having a pool of knowledge about the subject in general, this should aid in explaining what one does as a solitary practitioner.
According to Golden (2011), there was a case about a woman who said she was fired from a respectable job because of her religious beliefs, being pagan. She was fired from Albany International Airport. While being interviewed, Carol Smith said a coworker claimed that she cast a hex on her, and was harassed from the point that Carol made a report of religious bullying (Golden, 2011). Carol is a minister of the Circle Sanctuary church and is considered to be one of the most preeminent Wiccan educators. After co-workers discovered a complaint was filed, Smith was harassed even more; she was asked several questions like, “Where did you park your broom” and “Why don’t you come to work in your pointy hat” (Golden, 2011). On one particular occasion, a former mentor clamed Carol cast a spell that caused her car heater to break. She was later approached by the assistant director at Albany and recommended she “enter a meditation session with her accuser,” and Smith declined, than she replied, “It’s not up to me to teach her my religion” (Golden, 2011). This is yet again another example of the harassment and misunderstanding from society to the individual. However, unlike Carol Smith, who was a seasoned veteran to misled assumptions and accusations about being a pagan, it may be alarming to the younger generation. The adolescent and teenage years are the hardest to preserver through, they are at a very impressionable age, so imagine what it would be like in their shoes if something that happened to Carol could easily happen to them.
The goal of Jarvis’s piece is to allow the readers to experience the rich history of Wicca, while giving modern examples of pagans, how they play an active role in society. Also how science fiction and fantasy literature about witchcraft are not always completely true, nor are they completely false (pertaining to factual information about the religion). Christine is writing directly to parents of young adults, particularly young ladies. She uses statistics from studies done at universities, as well as work from other researchers, and lastly incorporates specific examples in modern novels that support her argument. Jarvis gives several examples and is well informed about the subject making what she says easy and understandable.
Young adults who are ready to announce to society they are followers of the pagan religion should feel free to do so without fear of persecution. Individuals willing to take that large step would have to be prepared to answer questions to friends and family who might be confused about what witchcraft is outside of what popular culture and the media turned it in to be. These individuals are also preparing themselves for an intense transformation of frame of mind as well as learning new responsibility, sense of commitment, and experiencing being a part of a minority. In today’s society, there are many stipulations about witchcraft; they ride brooms while waving wands, or have the ability to do surreal actions, like writing a paper in a matter of seconds. None of these ideas are true, like the harsh world of reality, witches must work to practice inner spiritual work, and must also study hard and preplan to write an essay like every other religious being. Although society is quick to display witchcraft as either dangerous or fantastic, there are little things being done to create awareness of the religion.
According to Fox News, on May 1, the pagan holiday Beltain occurs. This is once again, the celebration of the masculinity of the god. It’s also the largest pagan holiday, usually celebrated by having a may pole dance, or various picnic parties, and it usually is a fertility orientated holiday. On Beltain of 2007 in Cedar Lake, Indiana, Superintendent Michael Livovich Jr., sent home student Sky Holeman for wearing a pentacle (the religious symbol for pagans, it is also a symbol of protection) to school. Sky had been raised in a pagan family, meaning they have participated in pagan rituals and family traditions for years (“Dad Upset,” 2007). She had been asked to remove the symbol from her face because it was becoming a distraction, her counter argument was the school aloud students to wear ash on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday. Sky did not receive even an apology from the school because not everyone of the pagan faith celebrates by that particular method (“Dad Upset,” 2007). Like the story of Sky from Cedar Lake, India, from Union County, Tennessee, was told to play the Virgin Mary in a school play (Donovan, 2003). Reporter Gill Donovan told the story of the young girl who was called to perform as Virgin Mary in the school play, when she politely declined she realized that she wasn’t respected as much as she thought she was. The other school kids would make fin of her and she was beaten and bruised for being a little different. The parents also reported that the bus driver would always inform their daughter about upcoming church events and prayer meetings (Donovan, 2003). India was also called “satin worshiper” and “child-eating lesbian” by her classmates (Donovan, 2003).
From these examples, one can gather that these two young girls stood up for what they believe in because it’s something that they are passionate and educated about. They are a beacon to their communities that witchcraft practitioners are not evil nor are they depicted by fictional witches. The earliest noted age group of an individual actively researching and practicing the pagan religion is the young adult range. This age group is also particularly impressionable by the fantasy world of witches, but they are also wise enough to act responsibly regarding the pagan religion. Therefore, if the individuals themselves are responsible enough regarding their actions, their peers should also hold the same level of respect while learning about the pagan religion like they should if there was a Muslim in their community. When research is done about an unknown topic, fear and misconceptions completely flee. The community should actively seek to learn about any religion, or any topic for that matter, that is crossed when limited knowledge or only assumptions are known. Friends, families, and communities should always be willing to be open minded and hear both sides of a story before making assumptions or important decisions. From the point of view from these two shocking stories, it is the children who do the most harm with words, but the adults don’t do much better when they deem uncomfortable to be an abomination. Be responsible, be educated.
References
Buckland, R. (September 8, 2002). Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft. Woodbury: Llewellyn Publications.
Dad Upset Kid Banned From Wearing Pagan Symbol at Indiana School. (2007). Foxnews.com
Donovan, G. (2003). Pagan parents sue school after daughter is assaulted. National Catholic Reporter.
Golden, F. (28 March 2011). Woman Claims she was fired by TSA for being a Wiccan. Retrieved from http://www.news.travel.aol.com/2011/03/28/woman-claims-she-was-fired-by-TSA-for-being-a-wicca.
Jarvis, C. (23 January 2008). Becoming a Woman Through Wicca: Witches and Wiccans in Contemporary Teen Fiction. Children’s Literature in Education. 43-52.
Lozano, W. G., and Foltz, T. G. (1990). Into the Darkness: An Ethnographic Study of Witchcraft and Death. Qualitative Sociology, volume 13, number 4, 211-234.
Miller, W.R., Thoresen, C.E. (January 2003). Spirituality, Religion, and Health: an Emerging Research Field. American Psychologist. Vol. 58, NO. 1, 24-35.
Starhawk, & Nightmare, M. M. (1997). The Pagan Book of Living and Dying: Practical Rituals, Prayers, Blessings, and Meditations on Crossing Over. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.
Stolarz, L. F., (2004). White is for Magic. Saint Paul: Llewellyn Publications.
In the novel White is for Magic by Laura Stolarz (2004), a teenage girl named Stacey has dreams, dreams which predict horrible, unimaginable accidents happen to her closest friends and family.
“Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack, all dressed in black black black. She has a knife knife knife, stuck in her back back back, she cannot breathe breathe breathe. She cannot cry cry cry that’s why she begs begs begs. She begs to die die die (Stolarz, 2004).” She is haunted by her dreams, former memories of a past life. Her grandmother taught her the ancient ways of the Wicca, to help cope, which she uses every step of the way to solving the mysteries of her dreams. She doesn’t use a wand to make monsters transform into puppies, or obstacles into flowers. She uses practical magic, not the kind made up by a fantasy induced mind, and it’s very close example of real witchcraft encountered in fictional teen novels.
Wicca has been around since time before time. It’s a more of a lifestyle than a religion, and it has different effects on everyone. It has been described as an “Earth based religion dedicated to enhancing nature and life” according to Starhawk (1997). Wiccan’s live by one simple rule, called the Wiccan Rede. The Wiccan Rede according to Raymond Buckland (2002) is as follows: “Bide the Wiccan law ye must, in perfect love and perfect trust. Eight words the Wiccan rede fulfill, an harm ye none, do as ye will. And never mind the rule of three; what ye send out comes back to thee. Follow this with mind and heart, and merry we meet and merry ye part.” This basis for a religion has more of a connection to karma, and keeping one’s self from harm’s way by not harming others. There are also deeper meanings to the rede; for example, a follower of the old ways cannot cast spells, whether good or bad, on another person.
Wiccans, or pagans, are passionate individuals that worship the god and goddess and celebrate holidays that occur around the solstices through the year. Pagans celebrate by holding ceremonies, or rituals, with friends and family, and sometimes a coven. A coven is a group of likeminded individuals who have a common goal of sharing ancient meaning, having the same ideals with likeminded individuals, and creating a small and sometimes distant community that congregate together with the same purpose in mind (Lozano, 1990, p. 212). Pagan’s use tools during rituals that are unlike any tools used by other religions in America: wands are one of the most well known objects, pentacles (a five point star in a circle) is used as a symbol of protection, and a variety of candles in all colors and sizes.
There are many different gods and goddesses to worship, finding the right one can be a daunting task, but rewarding in the end. Every deity has a specific area of expertise, like Gaia the Earth goddess, or Solaris, they god of the sun. There are also deity’s focused on love, revenge, or whatever someone’s needs may be. What is so wonderful about Wicca is the ability to choose what fits each individual best. One person might study druids, herbalism, or necromancy. Similar to the different paths to follow, there are different ways to worship. Lozano and Foltz (1990), who worked hand in hand with a coven to research feminism and witches, experienced a ritual with the members singing and dancing, chanting, and meditating, followed with a potluck (p. 215). Then again, methods of celebration vary from holiday to holiday. According to Buckland (2002), each holiday follows a story of the god and goddess. Yule is the festival of the birth of the god while Samhain is when the god leaves his body and the goddess begins her journey to the underworld to retrieve him (p. 99). Beltain celebrates the manhood of the god (p. 102), and during Imbolc the goddess recovers from giving birth (p. 101). Like every religion, paganism has a way of involving people from all walks of life and different cultures.
Thoresen and Miller had the right idea when they claimed that it’s not a new concept that religion can have a dramatic effect on an individual’s health and behavior (p. 1). Spirituality has given people the strength to battle through the most horrendous of all situations and come out of the storm stronger and more stable. No matter the path chosen by the individual, it has to be a journey that is both meaningful and believable. What might be a perfect match for one person might not be the same for another. Paganism is meant for the person who is attracted to the unknown, who believes in more than what most popular religions have to offer, and who are generally nature appreciative individuals. Paganism is not a cult, nor is it an escape to an alternative reality. Many young adult practicing pagans are misunderstood, and labeled as not conductive to modern society, and with the proper informative education, what is a misunderstood religion can be a lifestyle for more than the unexpected.
Wicca plays a role in many science fiction or fantasy novels and television shows. Teens are particularly exposed to witchcraft and the media. Some sources have true facts, some have completely false representations. Some people are attracted by the occult and situations considered taboo. This may be a reason why communities are less welcoming to solitary practitioners, or people who study Wicca by themselves, or people who practice as a part of a coven (Jarvis, 2008, p. 44). In 2001, the City University of New York discovered that 140,000 people consider themselves witchcraft practitioners in the American Religious Identity Survey (p. 13) compared to the slightly over fifty million people who claimed themselves as Catholic (p. 12). Of these claimed 140,000 practicing pagans, none are teenagers because the study called for adult consent to participate. What is really interesting about the teenagers interested in Wicca, is most of them are young ladies (Jarvis, 2008, p. 45). These teen girls claim to have educational or experiential politically correct knowledge of witchcraft. It is speculated that these teenage girls who are growing more interested in the craft is a cause and effect from the second wave of the feminist movement (Jarvis, p. 45). A passage from Reclaiming Collective by Starhawk (1997) best explains this phenomenon: “The image of the Goddess inspires women to see ourselves as divine, our bodies as sacred, the changing phases of our lives as holy, our aggression as healthy, our anger as purifying, and our power to nurture and create, but also to limit and destroy where necessary as the very force that sustains all life (p. 34).” Young people are interested in this ancient yet immerging religion, they are gathering the information they need to be a Wiccan. Can the same be said about the people within the community surrounding these young people?
There are parents who view the craft as a magnet that deteriorates the home relationship and respect of authority. Wicca as a rebellious act against society is how most unaware, or uneducated about the subject, people see it. When in reality, Wicca is a religion that envelops traditions, especially in the home (Jarvis, p. 47). Wicca has a greater self-awareness state of mind; pagans can focus more on the actual religious experience rather than rules and regulations, creating a carefree environment to practice, learn, and grow in (Jarvis, p. 44). According to Lozano, “religion is ultimately collective, expressing shared meanings and social ideals that unite participants into one moral community (Lozano, p. 212).” Wiccans are expected to study privately, practice regularly, usually meeting up with a more experienced person of the faith to study from, and always regularly participate in rituals (Jarvis, p. 47). It’s a very active religion, a person may find themselves wondering away from actively practicing, but will more than likely return to active participation in the future.
In Becoming a Woman Through Wicca: Witches and Wiccans in Contemporary Teen Fiction (2008), author Christine Jarvis writes about how the Wiccan religion is a more moral obligation and enhances the picture perfect ideal community. While breaking down the basics and explaining key concepts in detail, Jarvis is educational as well as inspiring, giving Wiccan practitioners a valued place in society. She also elaborates a great deal on the role of feminism and witchcraft, and the culture affected most by the religion. Christine also explains how the role of witchcraft in modern literature and various media forms effects young adults.
In this article, Christine (2008) interprets the teenage girl experience embracing the paganism. Many books geared towards young adult readers, like the Circle of Three books by Isobel Bird (p. 44) or the Blue is for Nightmares series by Laura Faria Stolarz, capture the minds of millions of readers. In these fictional novels, some aspects of paganism are correct, like the processes of using natural remedies opposed to modern medicine. These novels can particularly allure young adults who are growing up in the active world acknowledging a “green” environment. Wiccan is a religion based around celebrating the natural gifts provided by mother Earth. Novels like these also have a strong pathos appeal in the sense that no matter what the book is about, no matter what the character participates in, there are always relationships with close friends and family, and the obstacle and challenges one faces when openly acknowledging a change of lifestyle, especially when that lifestyle is a minority. There are many different assumptions an individual could make when learning that a close friend or immediate family member has put their religion on the table so to speak. The general rule of thumb is before announcing paganism as a personal path is to think of all the possible questions that might be asked, or how to handle different kinds of reactions. Like a student in school, beginning the spiritual journey demands having a pool of knowledge about the subject in general, this should aid in explaining what one does as a solitary practitioner.
According to Golden (2011), there was a case about a woman who said she was fired from a respectable job because of her religious beliefs, being pagan. She was fired from Albany International Airport. While being interviewed, Carol Smith said a coworker claimed that she cast a hex on her, and was harassed from the point that Carol made a report of religious bullying (Golden, 2011). Carol is a minister of the Circle Sanctuary church and is considered to be one of the most preeminent Wiccan educators. After co-workers discovered a complaint was filed, Smith was harassed even more; she was asked several questions like, “Where did you park your broom” and “Why don’t you come to work in your pointy hat” (Golden, 2011). On one particular occasion, a former mentor clamed Carol cast a spell that caused her car heater to break. She was later approached by the assistant director at Albany and recommended she “enter a meditation session with her accuser,” and Smith declined, than she replied, “It’s not up to me to teach her my religion” (Golden, 2011). This is yet again another example of the harassment and misunderstanding from society to the individual. However, unlike Carol Smith, who was a seasoned veteran to misled assumptions and accusations about being a pagan, it may be alarming to the younger generation. The adolescent and teenage years are the hardest to preserver through, they are at a very impressionable age, so imagine what it would be like in their shoes if something that happened to Carol could easily happen to them.
The goal of Jarvis’s piece is to allow the readers to experience the rich history of Wicca, while giving modern examples of pagans, how they play an active role in society. Also how science fiction and fantasy literature about witchcraft are not always completely true, nor are they completely false (pertaining to factual information about the religion). Christine is writing directly to parents of young adults, particularly young ladies. She uses statistics from studies done at universities, as well as work from other researchers, and lastly incorporates specific examples in modern novels that support her argument. Jarvis gives several examples and is well informed about the subject making what she says easy and understandable.
Young adults who are ready to announce to society they are followers of the pagan religion should feel free to do so without fear of persecution. Individuals willing to take that large step would have to be prepared to answer questions to friends and family who might be confused about what witchcraft is outside of what popular culture and the media turned it in to be. These individuals are also preparing themselves for an intense transformation of frame of mind as well as learning new responsibility, sense of commitment, and experiencing being a part of a minority. In today’s society, there are many stipulations about witchcraft; they ride brooms while waving wands, or have the ability to do surreal actions, like writing a paper in a matter of seconds. None of these ideas are true, like the harsh world of reality, witches must work to practice inner spiritual work, and must also study hard and preplan to write an essay like every other religious being. Although society is quick to display witchcraft as either dangerous or fantastic, there are little things being done to create awareness of the religion.
According to Fox News, on May 1, the pagan holiday Beltain occurs. This is once again, the celebration of the masculinity of the god. It’s also the largest pagan holiday, usually celebrated by having a may pole dance, or various picnic parties, and it usually is a fertility orientated holiday. On Beltain of 2007 in Cedar Lake, Indiana, Superintendent Michael Livovich Jr., sent home student Sky Holeman for wearing a pentacle (the religious symbol for pagans, it is also a symbol of protection) to school. Sky had been raised in a pagan family, meaning they have participated in pagan rituals and family traditions for years (“Dad Upset,” 2007). She had been asked to remove the symbol from her face because it was becoming a distraction, her counter argument was the school aloud students to wear ash on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday. Sky did not receive even an apology from the school because not everyone of the pagan faith celebrates by that particular method (“Dad Upset,” 2007). Like the story of Sky from Cedar Lake, India, from Union County, Tennessee, was told to play the Virgin Mary in a school play (Donovan, 2003). Reporter Gill Donovan told the story of the young girl who was called to perform as Virgin Mary in the school play, when she politely declined she realized that she wasn’t respected as much as she thought she was. The other school kids would make fin of her and she was beaten and bruised for being a little different. The parents also reported that the bus driver would always inform their daughter about upcoming church events and prayer meetings (Donovan, 2003). India was also called “satin worshiper” and “child-eating lesbian” by her classmates (Donovan, 2003).
From these examples, one can gather that these two young girls stood up for what they believe in because it’s something that they are passionate and educated about. They are a beacon to their communities that witchcraft practitioners are not evil nor are they depicted by fictional witches. The earliest noted age group of an individual actively researching and practicing the pagan religion is the young adult range. This age group is also particularly impressionable by the fantasy world of witches, but they are also wise enough to act responsibly regarding the pagan religion. Therefore, if the individuals themselves are responsible enough regarding their actions, their peers should also hold the same level of respect while learning about the pagan religion like they should if there was a Muslim in their community. When research is done about an unknown topic, fear and misconceptions completely flee. The community should actively seek to learn about any religion, or any topic for that matter, that is crossed when limited knowledge or only assumptions are known. Friends, families, and communities should always be willing to be open minded and hear both sides of a story before making assumptions or important decisions. From the point of view from these two shocking stories, it is the children who do the most harm with words, but the adults don’t do much better when they deem uncomfortable to be an abomination. Be responsible, be educated.
References
Buckland, R. (September 8, 2002). Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft. Woodbury: Llewellyn Publications.
Dad Upset Kid Banned From Wearing Pagan Symbol at Indiana School. (2007). Foxnews.com
Donovan, G. (2003). Pagan parents sue school after daughter is assaulted. National Catholic Reporter.
Golden, F. (28 March 2011). Woman Claims she was fired by TSA for being a Wiccan. Retrieved from http://www.news.travel.aol.com/2011/03/28/woman-claims-she-was-fired-by-TSA-for-being-a-wicca.
Jarvis, C. (23 January 2008). Becoming a Woman Through Wicca: Witches and Wiccans in Contemporary Teen Fiction. Children’s Literature in Education. 43-52.
Lozano, W. G., and Foltz, T. G. (1990). Into the Darkness: An Ethnographic Study of Witchcraft and Death. Qualitative Sociology, volume 13, number 4, 211-234.
Miller, W.R., Thoresen, C.E. (January 2003). Spirituality, Religion, and Health: an Emerging Research Field. American Psychologist. Vol. 58, NO. 1, 24-35.
Starhawk, & Nightmare, M. M. (1997). The Pagan Book of Living and Dying: Practical Rituals, Prayers, Blessings, and Meditations on Crossing Over. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.
Stolarz, L. F., (2004). White is for Magic. Saint Paul: Llewellyn Publications.
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