Just a Wee Bit Of Love Brings A Whole Lot of Clarity!

So many times we feel that we are all alone in our feelings ... especially when it comes to our  doubts.  We feel that others are so much better than we could ever be.  We even believe that  they could never ever feel this way or that way.  It just isn't possible!  They (whoever "they" are) are just too strong and too confident to ever doubt themselves! 

But when we allow ourselves to let Love in just long enough to express our inner most thoughts ... we see that we are not alone!  Why we actually see that the very ones who display so much strength, so much confidence, the ones we never believed it possible to ever have any doubts, felt the same as you!  Why they even considered giving up on their dreams at one time or another ... just like YOU! 

Wow!  The clarity we get when we let just a little Love in!  Just a wee bit makes all the difference!  Don't it?

Imagine what clarity we would have if we let just a wee bit more in!

hmmmm!  You know, I got to thinking of all those times I just wanted to quit!  Sheesh!  I lost count of all the times I was ready to just throw up both hands and quit!   I wanted to just Quit!  Quit Everything!  Just go back to how it was before I became consciously aware.  Before I began giving in to the memories.  Before the rememberances of who I truly Am came flooding in! 

Oy Vey!  Now I understand that old saying of ignorant being bliss!  Nothing like walking around not knowing nuffin to keep a smile on your face!  :-)  

And yes,  there are times when I still want to quit!  GADS! How easy it would be to just crawl under some rock and tell the rest of the world to have at it!  Call me when it's over!  Especially, and most particularly, when facing My Self.

Is it me or has anyone else noticed that no matter where you go ... there YOU are!  oy vey!

Ahh facing Self in such a wide variety of ways through  All these wonderful people so willing to express all my doubts and fears in their own special and unique ways!  Blessed volunteers who bravely step forward to remind me of my past mistakes.  To cheerfully point out what a (insert your favorite adjective here please).  :-)

 Like I need these people to remind me of all those times I was a total and perfect ASS?????  PLEASE!  My memory is in tact with respect to all my asinine behaviors! Thank you very Much!  I need no one to remind me ... I remember all of THAT (and then some) in DETAIL! 

But then I remember...they are only doing what I had asked of them.  It is then I have to say I am Sorry.  I'm sorry you felt it necessary to step in and remind me of what a (insert your favorite adjective here please) I was, were, am! :-)  I'm sorry for dragging you in the mud hole with me when all you wanted was to love me! 

Here, I made you a mud pie!  I even put a nice rock on top to show how much I care! :-)  It's all shiny underneath that filth ... like me!  But you knew that all along ... didn't you?

Funny isn't it?  How easy it is for us to Remember all our misgivings, all our mistakes, all those times when we weren't loving to our Self ... with our Self?!  We remember all the pain ... yet we forget so readily and so easily ... all the splendor, all the joy, all the Love!

It is during these times that I ask myself ... what is the worst thing that could happen if I simply let Love In?

What is the worst possible scenario?  What could possibly go wrong if I just step aside and let Love In?

hmmm!  Infinite possibilities here!  Just imagine all those possibilities!



"Daughter, after all that is said and done,  Love is all that matters.  It is all that ever truly mattered!"  Grandmother to The Oracle "Children of the Luminaries: Book II~Training Day"

Wytch Witch Is Which

By Julia K. Cole
© All Rights Reserved


Witchcraft and Wicca, while similar in many respects, are not the same.  How so?  

Wicca is a “recognized religion” whereas Witchcraft itself is not even considered a religion.  In fact, Wicca might best be described  as a “modern religion” based on ancient Witchcraft traditions.

One way that some make the distinction between the two  is by calling Wicca the religion of Witchcraft, while Witchcraft itself is a practice.  

Many seem to believe that most Witches are Wiccans.  But this is not always the case.  There are Witches who actually do follow other religions.   In fact, I know a few “Christian” Witches.

Just like a person can be a Christian without being a Baptist, a person can be a Witch without being a Wiccan.  Make sense?

Wicca

Wicca is an Earth-based, nature centered religion drawing on the ideas of pantheism, gnosticism, ceremonial magick, witchcraft and the pagan religions of our forefathers.   Their way of life and beliefs are mainly about living in peace with yourself and others, and giving to those that gave to you. (Sounds almost like Christianity, doesn't it?)

Wicca is also believed by some to be a modern revival of the old, Pagan religions, using magick, nature and a female Deity along with Her Consort, the Horned Lord, as its central core.

Witchcraft

The term witchcraft literally means the craft of the wise. In its original usage, witchcraft was practiced by those persons, generally female, who had knowledge of herbal lore, the law, psychology and physiology.

Witchcraft, however, is what we practice. Witchcraft is the art of magick, the art of energy manipulation, the art of altered states of consciousness. This is not a religion in and of itself.  

There are as many different types of Witches as there are Witches.  Each one may define her/himself differently.  Rule of thumb to remember is … Anyone who casts spells & works Magick is a Witch; A Wiccan is someone who believes in the Gods from any Pantheon (Greek, Roman, Celtic, Norse, etc.).

Witchcraft may be practiced in many different forms, and admittedly, not all of them are positive.

Witches & Wiccans

A Witch in the Wiccan religion is someone who has studied very hard, committed the Pagan ways to memory, and has given his/her life over to the Goddess for protection and guidance. The term Witch is a high title-- and keep in mind … just because you are Wiccan does not make you a Witch!  In the same sense that being a Christian does not make you a priest.  A Witch in other religions is anyone who practices magick.  

It is believed that all the words ‘Wicca-craeft’ (Old English for Witchcraft), ‘wicca’ (a male witch), ‘wicce’ (a female witch) and the plural ‘Wiccan’ are derived from the verb 'wiccian' which means 'to bewitch' or 'practice Witchcraft.   But since the root of this word is obscure  … there have been many arguments among scholars about the accuracy of any of these derivations.

Words such as 'Witch', 'wicked', 'willow' and 'wicker' all come from the root 'wit' meaning 'to know'. The name 'wizard' is from the Middle English 'wys' or 'wis', which means 'wise'. The name 'warlock', meaning a male Witch is an old Scottish word and is a derogatory term meaning 'traitor', 'enemy' or 'devil'.

Wicca, Witchcraft & Paganism

Each person gives a different definition of what each of these terms are.   In the most general of terms, a Witch is someone who casts spells and works Magick as a lifestyle.  A Pagan is a person who worships or honors Nature Deities.  A Wiccan is  a certain type of Pagan.  

Wicca, Wiccan, Witch & Witchcraft are viewed in a variety of different ways by those in the Pagan community.  Clearly, there are some who view Witchcraft and Wicca as being one and the same.  This isn’t necessarily the view of the majority however.  Many modern Pagans do not like to use the words 'Witch' or 'Witchcraft' because of the negative connotations they believe they hold.  There are those, however, who delight in these names and are proud to call themselves Witch.

Conclusion
Wicca, Wiccan, Witch and Witchcraft are viewed in a variety of different ways.    And yes,  there are some who do view Witchcraft and Wicca as being synonymous.   Yet … with all this said … one cannot help but see there does seem to be some connection between the very words "Witch" and "Wicca"… doesn’t it?

So!  Wytch Witch is Which?  You Be The Judge!

Blessed Be!

 

PLEASE NOTE:  This article is the original product of the author and may not be copied or used by anyone without the expressed written permission. 

About The Author

Known as The Empress of the Known & Unknown Universes™ and The Diva of Duct Tape, Julia has made it her personal mission to put Reality back into Spirituality™.     Julia sets out to assist people in expanding their conscious awareness through her rather unique and personal take on the human experience. 

In the style of Erma Bombeck, Julia utilizes her own brand of humor and down to earth demeanor to get her messages across in an all so delightful way. 

Julia is  currently pursuing a degree in psychology specializing in Criminal profiling. 

PLEASE NOTE:  All artwork, unless otherwise specified, are the property of the individual artists themselves. The author of these blogs claims no ownership of the original artwork, but only of the sig tags created using said artwork. Each sig tag shown on these blogs include the appropriate copyright information of the Artists and the unique licensure for use.

Reproduction and copying of said work without proper authority is strictly prohibited




Unless otherwise specified, ALL articles on this Blogger are the property of Julia K. Cole.  The ZEN of Duct Tape™, it's name, teachings, modalities, and all excerpts; the nicknames The Empress of the Known & Unknown Universes™ and The Diva of Duct Tape™,  The Duct Tape Diva™; Putting Reality Back Into Spirituality™, Reality back into Spirituality™ are the property and trade marks of Julia K. Cole and are protected under Copy Right Laws both here in the USA and Around The World.  

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2009 Challenge: Say NO to Fear!

I am challenging everyone to do something different in 2009.

Say NO to Fear!

Take Five Minutes each and every day for one month and focus all your attention, all your energies into saying NO TO FEAR!

That's it! That's the Challenge!

Think I'm kidding? Well, I'm not!

We all have seen what focusing on fear can do and has done in times past. Now, I am standing up and challenging each and every person reading this to take that focus and use it to make a positive difference!

I am not going to bore you with all the statistics and data collected on what positive thinking can do and has done. You know all that information already. And if you don't ... then my suggestion is that you GOOGLE it and see for yourself the endless testimonies of people who have used positive thinking. It's out there.

It is a well known fact that the mind is the most powerful tool we humans have at our disposal.

Group consciousness is a fact of life. If we collectively focus five minutes of time on rejecting fear no matter what that fear is ... we will collectively reap great rewards.

Taking FIVE MINUTES a day each and every day for 30 days rejecting Fear in all it's forms.

Think about the possibilities. Think of the wondrous things this small act will bring to not only YOU personally ... but to the world itself.

But don't just take my word for it ... Try it for your self!

What do you have to lose? Seriously? What do you have to lose by focusing on rejecting fear for five minutes a day?

Feel Free to pass this challenge on to your friends and family!

Go on! I Dare You!