Buttermilk and Cornbread

Times to make amends, and move on further down the road; I have enjoyed posting my thoughts, and what I have learned from time to time.  At times, I realize I was “downright preachy” and at times I was “really whiny” but then there were times of “strength” and stretching out my wings to fly.  All of this was done with all of you; and I thank you for taking the time to read it, and comment.  

When I got to the point in my life when I realize that what I blogged would not only be “criticized” but “magnified” looking for error and possibly as a “bad image” as what Wiccan clergy and leaders can say and cannot say in public I realized; my life had changed.  Southern Fried Pagan was a blog set up to help share with others my feelings on various things; but truthfully one cannot and should not as Clergy share their feelings freely without realizing that they are an example to someone and so they should be given a filter when they get that license.  Wanting to be the best example possible (yeah I really want to be good at what I do), I found that rather than publish my meanderings of the mind to the public; I was writing them down “for only me”….and I am okay with that; some things should only be for you…and possibly burnt or published after you die; whichever the people left behind choose to do with it.

Somewhere around year two blogging, I realized my passion for the Path had gotten concentrated really on my own personal path which was Egyptian while my public life was one of service to an Eclectic Wiccan church but the sheer doggedness and stubbornness of my personality would not let me “give up” or “give in” the blog…I thought I might still have something to teach, share, or say and so I kept on a blogging even if it was with the help of others who have a gift for writing.  Thank you Jenn Kahn, Kevin Red Patrick, Julie Jeznach, and even Ashlee Misee of Teflon Cauldron days!

What I did not get to talk about on my blog since it was Southern Fried Pagan was my interest in the Old Occult authors, or in what is considered “High Magick” or “Energy Work” I just kept it sweet, southern, and clean…and no matter what I posted; I found some person in the community seemed to always think it was about them.  Thus I started posting recipes, bath salts, how to make incenses, and encouraging people to be happy, and accept love from the universe cause these are such simple principles and cannot be re-instated enough; and they kept me safe.  

I am not really tolerant of whiners, or bitchers, or people who slander, gossip, or stir the pot in a community.  So no matter what has gone on in my personal life for years, I have not commented on it here…and so I asked myself; what has been the point? The point was, I got to grow and think aloud with words with you all…the point was I got to learn discipline, not my voice really, but something akin to what my higher self would want me to say and then it became MY VOICE.  The point was, I got to see and meet a lot of kin and kin folk that “related” and understood that here in the Bible belt there was some huge moving and shaking going on…and they were in the form of Wiccan churches.  Yep, that is right I helped co-found one and it has made me grow more than miracle weed, and I am not the only one folks there are more and more being founded every day. (Thank you Goddess for that!)

I am not a perfect person, I am far from it, the way I see it is that if the Goddess and God can use me or even see me as a possible leader of any kind then I know for certain they can use anyone.  Seriously, they can!  I have shared with you all my transformation from being a fiery personality, to more of a stable Earthy woman…the irony being that in my twenties I could not even find that part of myself.  I have withstood death, abuse, loss, bankruptcy, heartbreak, betrayal, all kinds of crap…just like you all.  I have raised three children over 23 and now I am doing it all again with a three year old; I was an iniate, a dedicant, a maiden, a Highpriestess, and now I am Wiccan Clergy.  I have been Maiden, Mother, something in between, and now I am walking with the Crone through menopause which is really sort of cool.  I am not dead, very far from it and happy to be so…I am just transformed.

I have walked a cycle of life, in these little size 7 ½ feet and I want to walk another cycle…where it leads me I have no idea…but I know service, worship, being a better Clergy, building a better community, enjoying what the Gods have given me and all forms of abundance and love is part of it….and that means you all I have to thank cause you have helped me get here.

I have not a clue, if I will ever blog again…but if I do, I will pick a less confining name, and take my time before I leap in because now I have come to REALLY understand the power of words (the irony of this statement is not lost on me since I teach it to first degrees ) .

I encourage you all to know that you are Sacred, perfect as you are, so loved that you have no idea, and worthy of all that love and the best in life.  I pray if you long for a Wiccan/Pagan/Witchy group that if you cannot Find one then you Found one; we could use more people like us…we make life colorful, magical, and full of potential.  Lastly, be patient with yourself and with others, babies take time to be born and so do you. Remember, children of the earth that you are never alone and the time for action is not tomorrow or yesterday…it is always and always will be NOW!

"Before I went to bed at night, my daddy would share a glass of buttermilk and cornbread with me in a beautiful Tall glass with a spoon. I loved the taste of bitter and sweet mixed together the cold and the dry textures all mixing like a typhoon in my mouth...."

Thank you for all your time, and energy…and stop in to see me sometime at the Temple of the Sacred Gift-ATC (www.tsg-atc.org) I will be there, with a glass of sweet tea and a smile on my face, and a bear hug…cause if I know anything at all, I know that you can never love people too much (so let me love you). 

Burning away the old, to erect the new

I have had a Heck of a Year!  I am pretty sure you all have too.  These past few weeks, like many of you I find myself looking back to see what was accomplished and to take the time to float, dwell, dip into those memories that made the year potent.

 Some of these were:  My son turning 3 and his wonderful birthday party.  Spending time with the Southern Delta Wicca Clan.  Spending time with my friends Bella and Joanna.  Loving moments with my husband. Traveling to Pagan Unity Festival and sharing the Sacraments of the Gods with Pagans, and having the privilege to share what I had learned in the form of Workshops.  Traveling to Gathering of theTribes doing a HUGE main ritual, and teaching several workshops, and getting to sit on a Board to help people that are wanting to "start up" new Wiccan organizations.  Moving from one small Temple worship building; to another larger Temple worship space and converting it together with others for the Gods.  Cultivating friendships with people in my immediate circle and community that will last forever!

I am not ignoring the bad (I despise this word it is not adequate as an adjective):  criticisms, complaints, harassment, threats, slander, lies,arguments, heart-break,  helping people I love with diseases, cancer, visiting hospitals,  crossing overs, crying nights, lonely desolation, and hands tossed up in the air.  I just realize that the BOTH make a hearty brew of the year 2013.

On our path, there is no light without dark.  On our path, learning how to direct the "dark" within yourself  and that is outside of yourself (yep you cannot control this) into a productive activity, project, or life lesson is the challenge. 

"We take the yule log and we pour into it all we have suffered...everything.  We take the time to let the weight and darkness come into us and the tears fall.  I have bathed my Gods and Goddesses in those tears.  We let the pain rip through us until we can bear it no longer....the agony, the heart that feels that it will never be healed.  Then we drill five holes into that log.  The angst, anger, frustration, of not being able to control heartache, disease, death, loss, is thought about as we realize we can control the drilling, the accuracy of the circle we are drawing slowly and deliberately into that piece of Oak.  The mind flutters and merges with the Oak.  The Oak has survived much pain, much loss, dropped the dead weight that was dragging it down; so that it could grow....we thanked that Oak tree for the gift of the log.  It is grateful to be able to give to us the gift; for everything is useable.  Everything is transformative. 

Five holes were made.  One for Air, one for Fire, one for Water, one for Earth, and one for Spirit. The Gold candles which were chosen carefully are placed within the log.  I, the Priestess think on the story of how ISIS, my Goddess, took a baby and ran him through the flames of a fire over and over to purify him...just as gold is refined removing the dross.  I know that she will refine us like Gold.  I know that Spirit will come and make us see; that this is part of the cycle of life.  It is not all happy and light, it is not all laughter....but it asks me to FOCUS ON THE GOOD!"

When I am looking at everything I have a choice on what to dwell on.  I can dwell on the sorrow, or I can dwell on the relief and happiness and joy.  I can choose to focus on the loss of a income or to focus on the fact that I have food, a roof over my head, a heater, clothing, a bed, a wonderful family.  I can choose to let people who have hurt me make me bitter, or I can choose to focus on the people who love me no matter what and make me whole; and a better person.  I can choose, to let negative energy focused on me bring me down; or I can choose to filter it and use it in a way that promotes and propels the community in a new direction.  CHOICE. I have CHOICE.  I am not powerless. I am POWERFUL.  I am never Limited.  I am LIMITLESS.

I look at the old discarded dead Oak branch that we have now decorated with boughs of greenery, holly, ribbons, golden decorations, gilded ribbons, and have crowned with oiled beautiful golden candles.  I guess you can "make Beauty out of Shite"  even though I have heard here in the South you cannot.  My community has.  My family has.  My friends have.  I have. 

THIS is the lesson of Dark and Light.  This is the lesson of Death and Life.  This is the lesson of Joy and Sorrow.  This is the Ankh. 

Tonight we will all embrace a NEW YEAR, start with a CLEAN Slate, and begin a new.  Let us all remember life is not about Winning, or Losing.  It is about Choices.  It is not just a Journey; it is an Adventure.  It is a privilege.  YAY for all of us who have made it to 2014! I just know this is going to be our year!

Thank you all for another year, and the gift of your time.  May you be like the Phoenix rising from the Ashes, and may you RELISH and EMBRACE a LUST for LIFE!

Are Pagan's Thankful at Thanksgiving too?

It's the holiday season for most Christians. Personally even though I am a Pagan I find this time of year to be wonderful because everyone is nicer no matter what faith they are. Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrating our coming to this new land and finding our new freedoms. I, for one, have a lot of things to be thankful for. Most people do; and yes that includes Pagans.

 I love Thanksgiving it is one of my favorite holidays. I love to cook! Anyone who knows me can attest to this. Since I am a Kitchen Witch cooking is a big part of everything I do. It is a major way I show love to people. The saying that feeding someone is the best gift wasn't a lie. To spend time thinking of someone and preparing nourishment for them is a big deal. I wanted to share with everyone some of the recipes that I have that have been passed down to me from my Grandmother that I love to cook for this time of the year.

Oyster Dressing:

Two cans of Oysters chopped up

One stalk of celery chopped finely

Five cloves of Garlic chopped finely

Two sticks of butter melted

One loaf of bread cubed

One onion chopped finely

Saute the celery, onion, garlic until translucent pour over the cubed bread and oysters and mix well. Then transfer is into a turkey or bake in a dish and enjoy!!!

Jenn's Roast Turkey:

I use the biggest Turkey I can find because usually I am feeding a ton of people( seriously more than I can count)

Make sure your turkey is thawed out and then run your hand under the skin of the turkey to separate it from the meat.

Mix together 1tblspn each

rosemary

basil

garlic

celery salt

Cajun seasoning

black pepper

butter softened 1 stick

Take this mixture and rub under the skin of the turkey rub down the skin of the turkey. Slice up an orange and stick under the skin as well and in the cavity.Rub down the skin of the turkey with melted butter. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees. Every hour check the turkey and bast with the drippings from the pan.

Jenn's Gravy:

Take half a stick of butter melt in a sauce pan and add about a 1/4 cup of flour mix around and cok for a couple minutes. Then add to it the drippings from the turkey pan slowly as to make sure you do not make the gravy to watery you can always make it thinner but it is hard to thicken it back up without making it lumpy. I sugest adding the liquid about a cup at atime stirring with a whisk the entire time. add salt and pepper to taste.

Apple Pie

Everyone has a recipe for apple pie!

4 apples cored and sliced thinly

1 cup of sugar

1/4 cup of brown sugar

1 tbsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla extract

crust

1 bag vanilla wafers crushed finely

1 stick melted butter

Mix wafers and butter and press into the pan and bake till golden at 350 degrees

mix sliced apples and sugars and vanilla extract pour into the crust and bake for about 45 minutes let cool for a little while to let the pectin set up in the pie then serve with vanilla ice cream

Garlic mashed potatoes

NOTE:  You will need 2 potatoes for every person you are cooking for peel and cubed and boiled till soft 8 cloves of roasted garlic smashed; mash the potatoes and garlic with 1 stick of butter and about 1/2 cup of milk add salt and black pepper to taste.

  I hope that you all enjoy these recipes with your loved ones and talk about all the things you are thankful for with your family. Enjoy, and HAPPY Pagan Thanksgiving! 

Jenn Kitchen Witch TSG-ATC 

Jenn Kahn is the "Queen Kitchen Witch" at the Temple of the Sacred Gift, Atc. A first degree student, maiden at the Temple, and understands that she is priestess and Goddess while walking an Egyptian Path.  She also is an accomplished seamstress, makes specialty cakes, a fabulous belly dancer, decorator, and plays viola.  While doing all of these other interesting accomplished things she still manages to have a career in the mundane world, and raise three healthy beautiful pagan children. 

Being Thankful for What’s on the Inside

 November has arrived and with it the season of Thanksgiving. Cultures around the world recognize and celebrate the harvest reconnecting them to ancient ways. In the United States the connection of Thanksgiving to the harvest festivals of old is not taught as part of the history and meaning of the holiday celebration. This is not surprising in a culture dominated by a religious group that strives to disconnect itself from anything that existed prior to its inception outside the history recorded in its holy text. I was taught that as an American I was to give thanks on this day in honor of the pilgrims befriending the Native Americans at Plymouth Rock and receiving their aid in surviving the harsh winter. The only connection to celebrating the harvest was the poorly documented history of a feast celebration. I found the celebration left a bad taste in my mouth as I got older. I disliked celebrating this feast because of the resulting devastation of the Native Americans at the hands of the immigrating people from across the pond. It took me many years in my pagan path to realize that Thanksgiving was a twist of the harvest festivals I celebrated as Lughnasadh, Mabon, and Samhain. So here we are in the throngs of yet another harvest festival yet this time we also find ourselves in the midst of windershin spiraling. We have celebrated the grain harvest. We have celebrated the fruit harvest. And we have celebrated the livestock and soul harvest. So what are we to celebrate now?

 

We are taught that this celebration calls for us to be thankful for all that we have. As a pagan, I have celebrated my thankfulness for all that I have in my life three times over now. I learned that in conjunction to celebrating the grains, fruits, and meats each of the harvest festivals is a time to list all the things I am thankful for in my life and honor the blessings bestowed upon me by the gods. So as I watch the thanksgiving parade of Facebook posts each day describing one thing each of my family and friends are thankful for I find myself thinking I’ve already shown the gods my thankfulness for these things; family, extended family, friends, job, pets, health, home, etc. My list got longer and longer with each harvest festival but now at Thanksgiving I seem to have run out of things to give thanks for. That is when I realized I was working against the spin of universal energy. I noticed many of the posts and nearly all of the things on my list were external and I needed to be internally focused.

During this time of year, many pagans turn to self-reflection and shadow work. My shadow work, like many others I have talked with, involved looking within for negative aspects so that we may work on them in order to learn and grow. But I conjecture that not all shadow work must flow in this frightening manner.  A positive, thankful spin can help in addressing our shadows and keep us in the holiday spirit. This is also a great way to begin one’s shadow work for the winter months and show our thankfulness to the gods for their teachings over the previous year.  

In recent years I have begun to review my personal journal and think back to all things that I didn’t record. Like many, I start the year out making daily entries but within a few months those entries get further and further spread out. I look for situations that I either recorded something about myself that I learned or situations that now looking back I realize I could have reacted differently. I make a list of all the lessons about myself I have learned over the past year. Some of the things this year include not reacting in anger to someone else’s anger, state my beliefs and opinions in conversation in a manner that is not argumentative as if trying to force others to believe as I do, and do not give ultimatums I am not willing to live up to. These are but a few. Some of the lessons have appeared on previous years’ lists. Some of them may show up on next year’s list. I take note of lessons that repeat and those that do not. This year I plan to incorporate a small personal ritual. I will cast a circle and call to the gods. Light a pink candle for self love and acceptance, and a black candle for banishing. In the cauldron I shall burn incense made of 3 parts Frankincense, 2 parts Myrrh, and 1 part each of Mugwort, Rosemary, and Bay. I will have on my altar several slips of paper, a new journal, and a writing instrument. I will begin by lighting the candles, which will be anointed with my personal power oil and charged for their purpose. Next, I will write each lesson I have learned on a slip of paper; something like, “I reacted with violence when emotionally threatened.” The next step is to thank the gods for helping me to recognize and learn from this lesson. I will then banish my old habit by lighting it in the flame of the black candle and announce, “I banish my fault of violent reaction.” And throw it in to the cauldron to burn away. I follow this by focusing on the pink candle and allowing myself to recognize that I have learned and grown from the experience. I will thank the gods for my growth. Next, I will write in my new journal what I have learned, “I am thankful I have learned to think before I act especially when threatened emotionally.” I will continue in this manner with each lesson on my list. When I am finished I will again thank the gods and ask them to help me remember these lessons I have learned and to not make the same mistakes again. Of course this means that the gods may give me opportunities to show what I have learned. And I hope I live up to the experiences. I will ask the gods to bless my new journal. And lastly, I will dismiss the gods and close the circle.

One lesson that always seems to make my list is the poor recording of my experiences. The gods have given me an opportunity to begin anew this year by inspiring me and gifting me with the pleasure and honor of being a part of this blog. I do hope that in the coming years this lesson will be learned.

I thank you for your time in reading my article and hope that at least some of you have found it informative and inspirational.

Blessed Be.

Kevin Red Patrick

Kevin Red Patrick is a seeker at Temple of the Sacred Gift – ATC. Raised in Memphis, TN, and educated at the University of Mississippi. His pagan path began at the age of thirteen after understanding that his views of life, spirituality, and sexuality did not align with his Christian upbringing. He has followed an eclectic Wiccan path with strong Celtic influences for twenty-two years. Divine direction led him to TSG-ATC in December of 2012, where he is now receiving formal training with aspirations of becoming clergy. He now lives in Southaven, MS with his partner of thirteen years and two dogs.

Blow out the Candles and make a Wish....

Every year, I post on my Blog about what I have
learned and decided to "let go" from the previous year so that I can celebrate getting a year older and hopefully wiser.  It was really hard for me this year to post; I was busy being clergy visiting hospitals; and running to do handfasting rituals, keeping the Temple workshops flowing, and dealing with the day to day counseling that I have grown into doing.

This does not count, that I am a wife.  I love my husband and we have four children and four grandchildren.  Somehow, we try to make time for them also.  Yes, I have immediate family two brothers and nieces and nephews galore...and all of these people I am glad to say I care about too. 

A very best friend made my birthday cake this year, it was a Sugar Skull skeleton that was filled with eyeballs and truffles.  Bright Pink and white I smiled, for it was the color of friendship.  One eye of the Skeleton had an eye missing...and while I felt love looking at the cake; I could not help but ponder the significance of that one empty eye socket.

Every year, I walk some of my students through a Odin ritual.  In this ritual they come to understand that they cannot "gain wisdom and understanding" without suffering and sacrifice.  It is not the kind of suffering and sacrifice that we deal with day to day but the kind the god ODIN agreed too.  He wanted the gift of wisdom, and to get that he had to "willingly sacrifice something" .  If you know this story, you realize Odin gives up his right eye; in exchange for one drink from this well.  Of course, Odin does this and because he does he gains the wisdom that he is seeking.

I do not ask my students to give me anything; I convey to them the idea that the Gods and Goddesses will ask you to willingly "sacrifice" something important to you for you to "gain something" much more important for the world you live in.  The key, I remind them, is to realize you must "willingly do it".  The ritual is over...hopefully they understand.

I look at the beautifully wrought cake, my buddy has made out of the love of her heart for me.  I gaze at the eyeballs laying all about it and notice once again the empty socket.  I see the convergence of what I have shared with others, and what I am being asked to do.  I lean forward, and joyfully agree...."Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday dear Sonya...Happy birthday to you....Now blow out the candles!!!" I hear everyone yell gleefully.  I close my eyes.

I blow out every last candle, and there were many to blow out and not one missed.  Thank you, I say to Isis; and yes I agree to whatever it is I must do for the gift that you would like me to have.

I have given up, any outside dreams of traveling the rounds as a celebrity stylist; or futher developing pinup hairstyles with photographers I adore.  I gave up the idea of being a gypsy and touring forever with one band or another playing for whatever I could pull together.  I gave up the idea of being single and traveling the world in the second phase of my life after my eldest son went to college. I gave up the dream of being a professor.  I gave up moving out of Memphis, Tennessee, and decided to stay and help the Gods and Goddesses and Spirits of this city with whatever they asked me to do.  I have given up most of my spare time, and any hobbies.  I have given up hair appointments, nail appointments, facials, massages, and extra special things like faster cell phones to serve.  You would have thought; that there was nothing else I could give up...but then there is my right eye!

I hope this doesn't seem negative because at the age of 43 I am calm; and smile and laugh to myself.  Whatever it is I am asked to give up, or do at this point in my life...I am there.  I understand that I do not truly understand.  I know that I know nothing.  I see that I really do not see.  I comprehend that feelings are not always reliable.  I know that if I died I understand what my eulogy would probably be; and what songs I would like sung and whom would be there...and I am at peace with that.

I was told once, that there is a warehouse and in it is a door that stores every imagined "treasure" that you could want in your possible human life.  These things are dispersed to us as we need them or ask for them.  However, it seems (I was told) that many of us will not collect or even get a chance to glimpse our true horde the Divine wants to give us because we are not listening; because we do not ask.

I blew out all of those candles, and everyone asked "What did you wish for?"  I wished for that " key to the treasure that the is on it's way to me" I said.  They all laughed not understanding the reference or getting my meaning. 

Today, I found a key in the parking lot of the hospital before we got in our car to leave visiting our member that is "under the weather".  I almost missed that key, being so busy thinking of all the things I had to do today; and all the things that had to be accomplished for the week.  BUT I did not miss it! 

Spirit, has a way of responding to us if only we listen....if only we look...if only we pay attention.  It is trying to interact, and co-create with us, and would love to give us all we think we need and want and more. 

It has been another year.  Maybe next year, I will be wiser because I got a key....and I gave up my "right eye" to drink from a well. 

Thank you for the gift of your time!  Please remember, if you do not ask; then get out of the way...you will never be able to receive.  This is what I have learned this past year; and after three years of persistently blogging to you all....I want to thank you for still reading, and sharing and even CARING about my opinion.  Thank you

Spirit in Retrograde

            October is upon us and autumn can finally be felt in the air. Samhain quickly approaches to bring another year to end. Many pagans, witches, and Wiccans recognize this Sabbat as the end and beginning of the year. But I would like to offer a different point of view, Spiritual Retrograde.

            We can all agree the Wheel of the Year is a circle and we live within the cycle of that circle “with no beginning and never ending” as the enchanting Circle Within a Circle song reminds us. If this is true, how are we celebrating this old Sabbat as an ending or beginning? How is this “New Years”? Did our ancestors celebrate Samhain with this intent?

            Sir James George Frazer, the Scottish anthropologist often considered one of the founding fathers of modern anthropology, popularized Sir John Rhys’ theory that Samhain was the “Celtic New Year,” but did acknowledge that the evidence for such is inconclusive. Ronald Hutton, the English historian, says the evidence is flimsy. The evidence consists of Rhys’ inference from contemporary (modern) folklore containing customs with what he felt were “associated with new beginnings.” He also found that the people of the Isle of Mann sometimes called October 31, “New Year’s Night.” Other evidence includes calendars that place Samhain at the beginning like that of the Gaulish Coligny calendar. However, these calendars are lunisolar and contain a great deal of Roman influence. They are attempts to synchronize the solar year with lunar months. I have found little evidence in my research to suggest that the ancient Celts followed this type of calendar prior to Roman influence.

            We do know the Celts began each day at dusk rather than sunrise, thus the dark preceded the light.  Some debate remains about this suggesting the commencement of each day began at midnight or when the moon was high. We also know the Celts celebrated four festivals; Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lughnasadh -- none these being solar in nature despite being labeled “fire festivals.” It is suggested the Celts celebrated the solstices and equinoxes but little evidence supports this. Because the Celts were mainly a pastoral people and not agriculturally focused, it is my belief they did not celebrate the solar holidays as a people. Rather, farmers recognized these holy days that held little significance to the nobles that held festivals.

            I conjecture the ancient Celts celebrated Samhain as a festival to honor the dead; to cleanse, bless, and sacrifice livestock for the survival of the people through winter; to gather the tribes for trade and politics before winter, and to honor the turning of the spiritual cycle inwards, Spiritual Retrograde.

            People would return home for the long dark winter after ensuring they had everything they needed to survive the cold months. During this time they had little to no contact with the community or teachers until Imbolc or perhaps even Beltane. Their spirituality would thus spiral inward, or in retrograde to the forward motion of perceived physical time. It is this retrograde motion that magically causes the veil between this world and the world of the Otherworld to thin so as to allow for easier communion with deities, fairies, and those who have passed on from this world ensuring that people still grow and learn despite their separation from community.

            Modern times provide many of us the luxury of not becoming separated from our community but we still need and desire the easy communication with our deceased loved ones. We have also incorporated the solar holidays into our neo-pagan practices. Me being a neo-pagan, neo-Celtic Wiccan and the engineer of my own spiritual traditions and beliefs, I set the parameters of my belief.

            For me, Samhain marks the point of the year our spirits spiral in retrograde to the universal cycle of the Wheel of the Year causing the veil to become thin. The thinnest point of the veil is on Samhain night or the night of the dark moon closest to this day, this year falling on November 3. Our spirits remain in retrograde and the veil thin until Winter Solstice, or Yule, when the Sun is reborn. During this time of the year, the God rules from the Otherworld with the Goddess by his side, both in their dark aspects. Because the God and Goddess have designed our spirits to spiral in retrograde creating a thinned veil, we can more easily communicate with them and feel their love through the darkness of the Otherworld and the darkness of winter. This is why as pagans we embrace the darkness and do not fear it; for we know love exists even without light. The spiritual retrograde is also why, in my belief, many pagans feel it appropriate during this time of year to cast their circles in widdershins.

            This is how I have come to understand the turning of the Wheel and the integration of what I know of the ancient Celts and the modern practices of Wicca. I assert that although the label of the “Witch’s New Year” makes the holiday appear more festive and less scary in the eyes of non-pagans, Samhain is not New Year’s. The Wheel is a circle, no beginning, never ending.

Blessed Be,

Kevin Red Patrick    

Kevin Red Patrick is a seeker at Temple of the Sacred Gift – ATC. Raised in Memphis, TN, and educated at the University of Mississippi. His pagan path began at the age of thirteen after understanding that his views of life, spirituality, and sexuality did not align with his Christian upbringing. He has followed an eclectic Wiccan path with strong Celtic influences for twenty-two years. Divine direction led him to TSG-ATC in December of 2012, where he is now receiving formal training with aspirations of becoming clergy. He now lives in Southaven, MS with his partner of thirteen years and two dogs.