K is for Key

I am a follower of Hecate, also known as Hecate Kleidoukhos – Keeper of the Keys or Key bearer.  The key she holds is the key to the underworld.  Images show Hecate holding a key, a rope and a dagger as well as three torches.  In her trifold form Hecate is often seen at a cross roads, where her offerings are left.

For many years I’ve always had an attraction to keys. Before my dedication I collected keys.  Today I have two altars.  My ancestor altar and Altar to Hecate.

On my ancestor altar you can see my skull, the hand embroidered cloth belonging to my great grandmother and a lovely key.

After my dedication I took my red cord and placed it in a small velvet satchel and tied a small key to the bag.  It lives just above my altar.

On my altar next to my salts tin and my wooden pentacle I have a small key to represent Hecate.

Some other great sources of information on Hecate are below:

DragonOak.com

Goddess a Day

Sibylline Order

Namaste & Blessed Be

Sosanna

)O(

J is for Jinx

From a cute little kids game that some of us have played to causing bad luck, a jinx is considered to be a pretty serious event.

Just a quick search on Google will show that not only is a jinx taken seriously; it’s also something that we need to work to remove.  I found spell kits, ritual baths and jinx removing wash all available for purchase.  Just look at what’s available on eBay.

Jinx is defined two ways.  First as a noun, it’s a person, think or influence to bring bad luck.  As a verb, jinx means to bring bad luck, for example:  “Steve has jinxed my trip this weekend.” 

I was surprised to find out that some believe that the word jinx might have originated from a cult associated with my Goddess Hecate.  There are many pages on the net that reference the following quote:

From Wikipedia:

One interesting passage exists suggesting that the word "jinx" might have originated in a cult object associated with Hecate. "The Byzantine polymath Michael Psellus [...] speaks of a bullroarer, consisting of a golden sphere, decorated throughout with symbols and whirled on an oxhide thong. He adds that such an instrument is called a iunx (hence "jinx"), but as for the significance says only that it is ineffable and that the ritual is sacred to Hecate.

Hecate and jinx magic seem to be go hand in hand.  This page references the “Iynx” a magical wheel named for the daughter of Pan, which is also linked to Hecate.  Included is reference to the 3^rd century poem by Theocritus where both Hecate and the Iynx are combined to jinx another. 

One cannot have a discussion about magic and jinxing without someone bringing up the rule of three.  I’ll just comment as I have heard so many times. 

“A witch that cannot hex cannot heal.”

If you believe that jinxing is black magic or a part of something “darker” one could say that it’s not really that much different than a hex.  In my opinion it falls in the same category.  I would say it’s no different than binding or blessing.  Basically we’re using our energies to change an outcome.  By definition a jinx would be a “bad” outcome.  However I believe that no matter what magic you practice at some point someone may be “harmed” by that magic.  Much like beauty, it’s all in the eye of the beholder.

Namaste and Blessed Be

Sosanna

)O(

J is for Judeo-Christian

Ju·deo–Chris·tian   adj   \jü-ˌdā-ō-ˈkris-chən, -ˈkrish- also ˌjü-dē-ō- or jü-ˌdē-ō-\

Definded  as - Having roots in both Judaism and Christianity (Online dictionary)

On a very basic level, Judeo-Christian is the opposite of a Pagan.

pa·gan [pey-guhn] noun (Online Dictionary)

1. one of a people or community observing a polytheistic religion, as the ancient Romans and Greeks. Synonyms: polytheist.

2. a person who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim. Synonyms: heathen, gentile; idolator; nonbeliever.

3. an irreligious or hedonistic person.

4. a person deemed savage or uncivilized and morally deficient.

Judeo-Christian concepts are based on Jewish Law and Christian law.  They would be unaccepting of anything that lies outside the two points of view and oddly enough even though Islam falls within the religions of Abraham; it is still rejected by this group.

Over the years, the evils objects from the Judeo-Christian belief have been applied to all things Pagan to demonize the culture.  Taking Baphomet for example or Pan (The Horned God); both positive figures in many Pagan cultures however; they have been changed to represent the Christian “Devil” as a way to control the people. 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baphomet‎

Today many believe that the United States was a Judeo Christian nation.  They claim that our founding fathers were Christian and founded based on the bible. 

For those that agree I offer a few quotes:

"The hocus-pocus phantasm of a God like another Cerberus, with one body and three heads, had its birth and growth in the blood of thousands and thousands of martyrs." -- Letter to James Smith, December 8, 1822 - Thomas Jefferson "It is too late in the day for men of sincerity to pretend they believe in the Platonic mysticisms that three are one, and one is three; and yet the one is not three, and the three are not one: to divide mankind by a single letter into ["consubstantialists and like-substantialists"]. But this constitutes the craft, the power and the profit of the priests. Sweep away their gossamer fabrics of factitious religion, and they would catch no more flies. We should all then, like the quakers, live without an order of priests, moralise for ourselves, follow the oracle of conscience, and say nothing about what no man can understand, nor therefore believe; for I suppose belief to be the assent of the mind to an intelligible proposition." -- Jefferson's Letter to John Adams, August 22, 1813

(John Adams' reply to this letter shows that he did not believe in the Trinity either): "The human understanding is a revelation from its maker, which can never be disputed or doubted. There can be no scepticism, Pyrrhonism, or incredulity or infidelity here. No prophecies, no miracles are necessary to prove this celestical communication. This revelation has made it certain that two and one make three, and that one is not three nor can three be one. We can never be so certain of any prophecy, or the fulfilment of any prophecy, or of any miracle, or the design of any miracle, as we are from the revelation of nature, that is, nature's God, that two and two are equal to four." --Adam's Letter to Thomas Jefferson, 14 September 1813

"If we look back into history for the character of the present sects in Christianity, we shall find few that have not in their turns been persecutors, and complainers of persecution. The primitive Christians thought persecution extremely wrong in the Pagans, but practiced it on one another. The first Protestants of the Church of England blamed persecution in the Romish Church, but practiced it upon the Puritans. They found it wrong in Bishops, but fell into the practice themselves both here (England) and in New England."  Ben Franklin

As modern Pagans we welcome others around us with open arms.  Even those that carry a club behind their back to bash us.  We are open and caring to others yet, many of those in the Judeo-Christian faith, by the very definition cannot and will not have room in their hearts for those that practice a different faith.  This is my main complaint with many organized religions.  When you believe that you are the only one that is right, you should probably recheck your argument.


Namaste and Blessed Be
Sosanna
)O(

Thank You

Just wanted to send out a warm, loving and public thank you to all of you who have sent me messages, left comments and emails about the passage of Amendment One.  I appreciate the love and support I get from my internet family.  Your well wishes and thoughts during this time have been amazing.  I love and appreicate each and every one you.

I'm slowly picking myself up.  This vote sent me back when our marriages were declared "null and void" in San Francisco and the pain was devestating.

I am coming around.  I have to hold on to the fact that things will be better and with the support of friends like you, I know that one day, full equality will be ours.

Namaste and Blessed Be.
Sosanna
)O(

Confessions of a Modern Witch: I is for Inequality

Confessions of a Modern Witch: I is for Inequality: For the last few days I've been struggling with with what to write as my next "I" post for the Pagan Blog Project.  Last week I did "Invoke"...

I is for Inequality

For the last few days I've been struggling with with what to write as my next "I" post for the Pagan Blog Project.  Last week I did "Invoke".  I felt strong and powerful as I invoked my Goddess down and filled my world with her powers.

Today I feel not so strong.  Today I was told by the voters of North Carolina that I am not equal to them.  The Inequality of this astounds me.  I pay taxes, I live and breath just as other's do here in my state but somehow LGBT love is not equal to straight.

We were told by not only a law.. but a solid Consitutional Amendment that we are not the same as heterosexual couples.  So today, today for my letter "I"  I'm defining Inequality. 

in·e·qual·i·ty

   /ˌɪnɪˈkwɒlɪti/ Show Spelled[in-i-kwol-i-tee] Show IPA

noun, plural in·e·qual·i·ties.

1.

the condition of being unequal; lack of equality; disparity: inequality of size.

2.

social disparity: inequality between the rich and the poor.

3.

disparity or relative inadequacy in natural endowments: a startling inequality of intellect, talents, and physical stamina.

4.

injustice; partiality.

5.

unevenness, as of surface.

 

Somehow, it feels the same as when we were told in California that our marriages were null and voide.

 

 

I am not null.  I am not void.  My love counts.  My love matters.

 

I can only hope that the tears that stream from my eyes now, will feed a fire that will grow inside me.  I hope that I will indeed take to heart this fight and continue to move forward with all that I have and all that I am.  We will not surrender, we will not give up. 

 

Love is love is love

 

 

 

Namate and Blessed Be

Sosanna

)O(