The Wiccan Rede (Full Version)

Bide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.

Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.

For tread the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.

To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.

Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.

Honor the Old Ones in deed and name,

let love and light be our guides again.

Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.

Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,

and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.

When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.

When the moon rides at Her peak then your heart's desire seek.

Heed the North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.

When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.

When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.

Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.

Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God's

insight. Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.

Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.

Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.

Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.

White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.

Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.

Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.

Elder is the Lady's tree burn it not or cursed you'll be.

Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.

As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it's now Samhain.

When the time for Imbolc shows watch for flowers through the snows.

When the wheel begins to turn soon the Beltane fires will burn.

As the wheel turns to Lamas night power is brought to magick rite.

Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.

When the wheel has turned to Yule light the log the Horned One rules.

In the spring, when night equals day time for Ostara to come our way.

When the Sun has reached it's height time for Oak and Holly to fight.

Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.

Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you'll be.

Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you'll know.

When you have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.

Merry Meet and Merry Part bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.

When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow.

Be true in love this you must do unless your love is false to you.

These Eight words the Rede fulfill:

"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"

From http://www.wicca.com/celtic/wicca/rede.htm

the writing on the wall

tells you what to do
who to call
and where to go

sometimes you understand
and other times
it's incomprehensible

but it's always there
regardless
of whether or not
you get it

a piece of advice
that you can take
or leave behind

that choice is yours
but the writing on the wall
always remains

Dreams and memories

I had a dream about you last night.
~I haven't thought about you in months.~
I stole a phone.

We ran away laughing.

You told me you had six new tattoos.
~I remember the flaming evil smiley face.~
I slipped and fell into your arms.
~And fell all over again.~
Your touch felt so real, so familiar.

~Surprised me to remember so clearly.~
You said you loved me.
~I melted.~
I woke up;

hazy and confused,
feeling lost and alone.
~Broke my heart, again.~

just the wind

Arthouse theatre
thunder in the background
rain pounding at the door
some ungodly hour
and you could swear
you heard a knock at the door
you don't know how
but you know
this is not
the opportunity
you were waiting for
again
but louder
there's no denying it now
but you continue
to pretend
it's just the wind
and nothing more

You'll never soar

if you don't let go
of what's holding you down

Strange things

It leaves a weird feeling and uncertainties when one is told to be careful about what one says to who in regards to people that one thought one was able to speak more or less freely with.

Dear friend,

You fascinated me. You still do.

You have inspired me in so many ways. Lots of which you probably don't even know.

You helped shape the person I was, am, and will become. I don't think you know what you've meant to me since when we were together I don't think I knew, and I definitely did not have the words. And now that we're apart, I've lost the chance to share the words that I have found.

Maybe this letter will find you and if it does I hope it finds you well. I am who I am because of you. Sometimes I wonder who I would be if you had not been there when you were but I'm always glad that I am me and you were there. I like who I am even if sometimes I spend too much time in my head, in the past, and wondering what might have been. I am here, in the now and looking forward to what comes next.

Thank you friend, for being you and allowing me to be me. I send my love to you wherever you may be and wonder if you ever think of me...

~Forbsie

Love letters to the past

Writing love letters to the past. To you, to him, to her, even to me. It may seem like a futile task but really it’s a labour of love. A way of recognizing, accepting, and maybe even appreciating, what was and what could never be. A way of saying thank you, and giving a nod to what has made me who I am. No one needs to read them but they are available if you want to. I just put pen to paper and let the words flow, remembering, reliving, just being. Feeling the love and leaving it there to share with someone, no one, everyone. It is what it is. Take it or leave it. If it works for you, great! If not, I wish you luck in finding something that does.

This is me now signing off. Sending my love. xo

Something to think about

90 people get the swine flu and everyone wants to wear a mask.
A million people have AIDS and no one wants to wear a condom.

(Found using stumbleupon http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2EgOT3/i143.photobucket.com/albums/r140/rwruppel/Swineflu.jpg)

"Cherish your solitude. Take trains by yourself to places you have never been. Sleep alone under the stars. Learn how to drive a stick shift. Go so far away that you stop being afraid of not coming back. Say no whenever you don't want to do something. Say yes if your instincts are strong, even if everyone around you disagrees. Decide whether you want to be liked or admired. Decide if fitting in is more important than finding out what you're doing here. Believe in kissing."

- Eve Ensler (author of The Vagina Monologues)

Faith

Faith is often blind, a given because it's what you have been told your entire life, but what happens when you question it? When you can no longer believe blindly, just because someone is telling you to? The idea of faith fascinates me, particularly when it comes to religion. The religious faith that some people possess is almost unbelievable. The way that people can take what they are being told and incorporate it without question is something I don't understand. What is also interesting to me, is how the level of security one has with their faith impacts how they handle questions and conversations involving religion and beliefs. From what I have observed, one who is secure in his/her faith is less argumentative and more willing to just generally discuss. They will agree to disagree as needed. On the other hand, one who is less secure and therefore likely has more of his/her own questions that need answers, is more argumentative and more apt to aim at convincing someone else that his/her beliefs are correct. I’ve noticed that the ones that are not entirely sure and potentially even questioning their own beliefs are also more likely to be defensive if you bring up something contradictory to their beliefs. Where someone who’s faith is solid won’t argue with you as they won’t be swayed from what they believe regardless of what you put in front of them.

Just a little something to think about.

Time flies

So, I can't believe it's already April.....that's crazy. Time goes way too fast. So much has changed in the past few weeks and yet everything seems so much the same. I got my hands on a number of things from my childhood as my parents are downsizing. Some of the photos are pretty funny. Maybe I'll post a couple when I have a chance, we'll see. Interesting to see how things have changed when you look back at where you've been in contrast to where you are. Something else to consider is the fact that a photo is a physical reminder of a specific moment in time. Things are not the same and you are no longer the person in that photo. This comes to mind from a comment a friend of mine made in this regard. Anyway, just got to go with it or life will leave you behind.

That's my random ramblings for this morning....I need sleep.....

"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." – Ernest Hemingway

"I believe in God, only I spell it Nature." – Frank Lloyd Wright

Challenge

Well, I've decided to take on 101 things in 1001 days. You can follow my progress here: http://erin101thingsin1001days.blogspot.com/ if you're interested. There's also a link there to more info on the challenge.

Random Quotes

Watch your thoughts; they become words.Watch your words; they become actions.Watch your actions; they become habits.Watch your habits; they become character.Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
—Lao-Tze

Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.
—Will Rogers

We’ve heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true.
—Robert Wilensky

We learn something every day, and lots of times it’s that what we learned the day before was wrong.
—Bill Vaughan

Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.
—Cyril Connolly

The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.
—Ellen Parr

Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is.
—Oscar Wilde

Random joke found on the Psychology Today webpage

How do you get a nun pregnant?

You dress her up like an alter boy, of course.

A dashboard Jesus

A dashboard Jesus, the religious equivalent of a hula girl.

Not really sure what to think. As a non-believer I can’t say I find it offensive. More curious than anything, I suppose. I can’t imagine who would buy it. I’m sure many find it funny, but why would they spend money on it? Though, I guess somebody must or they wouldn’t make them. I wonder what Jesus would think if he were around. Personally, I’d be a little weirded out to find a small version of me intended to sit on the dash of one’s car. But maybe that’s just me. Maybe he’d think it’s cool. I suppose for some a dashboard Jesus may be their way of having their own personal Jesus, as various people sing and preach about. A potentially warped idol but whatever works for you. This is just my two cents. Take it or leave it as you wish.

(Written October 26, 2007 Just found it and thought I'd post it because it amuses me.)

Double standard

It's funny that because I work night shifts it is perfectly acceptable for me to have breakfast at the bar but it's shocking and wrong for me to have a drink when I get home before I go to bed.

Interesting....

Sometimes

Sometimes there is so much to say
but no one to listen.