Lughnasadh is on Monday... and time has run away from me.

Lughnasadh is next Monday, apparently. 1 August, as it is every year. It's not like I don't know this, but for some reason, this turn of the wheel feels as though it sneaked up on me... where did the rest of the time go, where we're suddenly focused on the harvest, the year waning down to Samhain?

I wanted to have a full week of posts for Lughnasadh, but, while I'll have quite a few days with some great information, it won't be a for all seven days. I didn't plan it very well this Sabbat. Who knows why, really -- I could have made it a priority, but instead, I put other things first. Big things, sure, that will hopefully turn into bigger things as the weeks press on, but regardless, things other than Lughnasadh.

It seems almost the perfect Sabbat, though, to experience this kind of feeling, where time seems to slow and events suddenly appear around the corner when, even just a month ago, they seemed so far away. As the Sun gives way to darkness and another year comes to a close, I'm reminded of how short it's been since last Samhain, the last dark night of the year. And I realize... just as the year has flown by, so has life. Just another year stored away like grain, the summer harvested away to remind us that a new beginning, which feels like it'll take forever to get here when in the depths of winter, is actually a lot closer than we think.

Yesterday and today, as I realized that Lughnasadh is mere days away, I actually did a lot of reflecting on life, especially the parts coming to a close and the new starts I'm hoping to reap from them. I'm not entirely sure what the future will hold, but if the gains are any reflection of what was sown, I'm looking at a good harvest to hold me through. More on that as I discover. ;) But this is just one year... what am I to make a priority in the one that follows?

I want to make this coming year about my faith, about my personal Pagan path. I've made my family, friends, education, and career my main concerns for a good part of my life, and while I still want to keep them on top tier, I also realize that I need to put myself first on occasion, and what better way than to learn more about myself through faith and personal introspection. More than just thinking about it, I need to find a way to make it happen.

In fact, think about how quickly this year has gone by already. It's almost August 2011, people! I'm still writing "2010" on occasion, and we're only months from 2012! Whatever your dream, make it happen! Put aside your responsibilities -- some of which are valid, sure, but others of which are only excuses, ones that are holding you back from living your personal dream every day of this incredibly short life of yours -- and bring yourself and loved ones on a journey you'll never forget. After all, you're the only one who can chase these dreams.

A fire has been lit under my ass recently, one with embers bright white and with flames that reach out to every corner of the world. I hope one of these flames reaches you, and that it sets your own passions ablaze with power and a need to pursue your dreams. One day, your own fire will be nothing but ashes; do you want your efforts to keep it alight remembered as futilely rubbing two sticks together, or do you want each bit of kindle thrown to it make it seen by the gods themselves?

What are your dreams, your passions, your goals? How do you want to see your future? And most importantly... what are you doing to make it happen?

Pagan Apathy (and what we can do to stop it)

A great friend of mine and awesome Pagan chica, Kallan, recently posted about Pagan apathy. It is a very inspiring, insightful post about the Pagan community and its almost lackadaisical attitude towards very public disdain for that very community.

Part of me became a bit angry while reading it. Not at Kallan, of course, but at the idea that Pagans could be apathetic at all. We're a faith that faces many adversities and much hatred, and we're a group that never lets its guard down. How can a group that is consistently put on the spot and accused of so much bad in this world ever be apathetic about anything?

Well... apparently, we can be.

We've watched a beautiful center and temple very nearly fail at a price tag of $7500. We've responded in a rather blase fashion to threats to our civil liberties such as The Response. And most terrifyingly, we've let other members of the community slip through the cracks.

So why, when all this is going on around us and people (both in the community and out) are pushing against us, do we respond in a way that is, well... apathetic?



The other angry part of me comes from a very personal place, one that feels as though I'm part of the problem... and let's face it, I am. Like many Pagans, I've disengaged myself from a lot of this; stuff happens all the time, we have to grow thick skins, you can't make people change. That kind of stuff. In a way, it's a very positive way to think, as there is only so much in the world that we have control over and there's no reason to stress about the others.

But what about the bigger issues? The failing centers, the government hatred, the suffering of our fellow Pagan brothers and sisters?

This reflects so much more than just the outside. It speaks to our insides as well: When we see something fall apart, hear another expletive-laden outburst, or feel the emotional wreck another has turned into. I think, because of this, our apathy comes from a place of fear. We fear being the next person who might have to endure what others around us are going through!

I'll admit to being fearful myself. I'm terrified that a day will come when a Pagan group I'm in crumbles or I'm hatefully called a witch or no one comes to my aid when I'm truly in need, so I tend to hide all that away. If I can't see it, it doesn't exist, right?



Then it becomes personal. The Pagan group I was a part of DID split up; I WAS harassed for my faith (and the propensity to have it on the public stage is all too apparent -- see again The Response), and I HAVE seen friends and loved ones in despair. It's heart-wrenching.

And it means I, and we, have to do something. I mean, if no one steps up to the plate, people will continue to throw rocks at the bullpen, knowing full well they're eventually going to hit something or someone. The next target might be you, or someone you know, or maybe even a person you just met that morning. While we all have to come to our own realization that the plate is, in fact, where we're supposed to be, that day is going to come eventually, and our name's going to be called. Whether we're ready or not.

Dust off those cleats, dear readers. You might be next.

Pagan Blog Prompts: Ethical Eating

Oh, how appropriate today's Pagan blog prompt is! Despite that, it was still difficult to answer:

Prompt: Ethical Eating

How does your faith guide you in how you buy and eat food?

Are you vegan (or vegetarian) because of the ethics your faith imposes? Or have you chosen to be that way for other reasons?

Do your beliefs even have anything to do with how you eat?

Maybe I should start at the very beginning.

See, I started going vegetarian around 13. I still ate some meat products as I ate what my family cooked, but if I had the choice, I settled for a salads pastas, veggie sides for my meals. Pepperoni was picked off pizza, beef was avoided in stroganoff, and I was overall doing my best not to eat anything distinctly meat.

The motivation at that point wasn't at all ethical or environmental or even entirely cerebral. Long story short, I simply didn't like the taste of meat, so I stopped eating it. The only difficult thing was giving up shellfish, as I simply loved the stuff, but eventually, that went the way of other meats.

As the years have gone on, my reasoning started to shift. 13 was quite a year for me: I started my spiritual journey, which eventually led to Wicca, and my vegetarian journey, which led to the vegan experiment I'm doing today. As each progressed, I felt more rooted in my faith and more convicted in my dietary choices, and the mindset started to shift to combine the two.

My faith has, over time, become the reason why I eat as I do. The more it becomes apparent that animals are sentient beings of the God and Goddess, parts of the world with feelings and emotions, the less inclined I am to bring them any harm.

While I don't refer to myself as Wiccan at the moment (it's something I'm still researching and internally questioning!), I do still follow its creed to "harm none". Personally, that means not only other people, but other creatures as well. It means slamming my brakes for the squirrel that darts across the street, stopping traffic to guide the turtle trying to cross the road, catching the spider to release it outside our home.

And putting down the fork to meat.

So while my reasons for being vegetarian certainly didn't start with keeping animals' well-beings and the ethics inherent in my faith in mind, it certainly has transformed that way. And I can thank my faith and spirituality for that. ;)

A Lesson in Tolerance... and how each of us can make a difference

There was a little contemplation yesterday about freedom of choice in our religion, in our diets, and in who we are. While we may be free to actually accomplish these things for personal satisfaction, the fact of the matter is that some people just plain won't like it, whether or not it affects them in any way. I can't even begin the number of ways I have personally been talked down to for being Pagan, for being vegetarian, for just being me. It is, quite frankly, a pain in the ass.

It's because of this that, for several years, I've kept myself in the closet. I'd politely decline offers to potlucks, knowing that someone would ask why I wasn't eating meat. I'd turn down invitations to attend church or shul or temple or other religious gatherings, because I didn't want to be disrespectful since I wasn't part of their spiritual path. And I ended up missing a lot of opportunities by keeping my true self from the public.

Then I came out, first to say I was vegetarian (and no, I don't eat chicken or fish, and yes, I rather enjoy not eating meat), second to say I was Pagan (which was [and is!] a journey in and of itself, as I'm still questioning whether my spirituality leans more towards Wiccan). And I was actually met with positive reactions!

... for the most part.

A friend of mine and vegetarian of 11 years recently posted to The Coexist Cafe's Facebook page to say that a friend of hers (a former vegetarian, at that!) has been giving her issues with her chosen diet and lifestyle. That vegans are unhealthy because, due to a personal experience, they don't get adequate nutrition.

I also hear experiences where veg*ns are afraid to come out of the closet for fear of being associated with "those veg*ns". You know who they are: The uber-militant ones who stop at nothing to spread their message and make anyone who doesn't follow their path feel like utter shit. I'm sure you've come across at least one in your life, in some form or another. Imagine being associated with them!



These types of comments and fears plague pretty much all veg*ns at some point, new and "experienced" alike, and I'm of no exception. It seems that, no matter what diet you choose, what religious path you follow, what shoes or hairstyle or makeup you wear, someone has to say something about it. And when a particular group is attacked often enough -- veg*ns by omnivores, Pagans by Christians, and so forth -- they're bound to push back.

Then you get issues with veg*ns appearing too argumentative, too "bitchy", too defensive. Well, it's no wonder! If you're pushed and shoved often enough, you'll eventually start fighting back.

It's this that I don't understand, though: Why is it anyone else's concern? If you're going around proselytizing, saying that your way is the best, right, or (the worst, I think) only way, you're bound to be met with some animosity, especially when you're trying to convert someone who clearly doesn't want to be converted. I can also see how you're going to be a problem.

This world would be so much better off if, for events and personal beliefs that have no effect on others, we "live and let live". To put aside our differences and realize, under all the labels ("vegetarian", "Pagan", "hipster", "geek", whatever), there is a living, breathing person who desires the same respect for who s/he is as you would expect for yourself.

And this goes for veg*ns as well. While I understand the want to tell people about our diets and, more poignantly, why we choose veg*nism over eating meat and byproducts, there still has to be a level of respect. Meaning, just as you wouldn't want someone insisting that your way is wrong or unethical or anything else, you (really, we!) shouldn't be vilifying others, either. Tit for tat, you know?

One quote that I came across a while ago was, "Be the change you want to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi not only practiced ahimsa (nonviolence) throughout his lifetime, but mutual tolerance among individuals as well, in every walk of life. Imagine living in a world where, as a result of wanting to see more tolerance and acceptance, everyone actually acted tolerant and accepting. It would be brilliant!

Since we can't change the world, we can at least start within and work our ways out. Being more tolerant of others in all walks of life would mean acting that way towards another person, who would hopefully passes it to yet another person. But like all other things, it has to start somewhere.

So start with yourself. ;)