Welcome

[Beadermom73]

I was asked by a few CafeMoms to create this group, so here it is.  Let's talk about our beliefs with no fear of the smackdown of doom!  Banish your ignorance and prejudice and open those minds.

Enjoy!

[_Tam_]

Hi!!  I saw Hedgewitch join this group and thought ot give it a try.

I'm Tam, 26, married for nearly three years (seems like longer than that, but in a good way), with a daughter almost 15 months old named Belladonna (one word).  I started out not having a faith, then my mother went back to the Episcopal church (apparently she was baptized there when she was in high school) and I was baptized and confirmed by the age of 16.  Between ages 16-18/19, I questioned my faith and beliefs.  I researched what I could (the internet at that time was VERY lacking and very new); I read a lot of books.  I find myself most comfortable being a Pagan, close with the Earth and Nature.  I'm what's known as a Celtic Wiccan (also called a Druidic Witch).  I feel more with the Triple Goddess and the ancient Celtic-Irish pantheon than most others; however, when doing spell working, I call out to whichever god or goddess is "in charge" of the intention I have.

[MzGeorgiaPeach]

Hi, My name is scarlett and I am a pagan. I am very serious about my religion which is Natured Based.I am a Green Kitchen Witch. I call about Mainly Gaia, she is Mother Earth. I also call apon the GreenMan. But I also will and have call apon other gods and goddess in different types of situations. Celtic Druidiusm is also part of our path since we are part Irish. A Green Kitchen witch is someone who is all about herbs and working with nature and someone who is one with thier kitchen ( sacred space ).
I have 3 kids and I am raising to be pagans. My DH is a shaman of Native Americans ( Cherokee ) . We believe our children should decide what religion they want to be part of. We allow them to explore all religions. But we always remind them where our family came from.

I am glad this group was made. And as long as I do not get bashed for my religion I will stay and become part of this group to help it grow and to help others open thier minds.

[momfairy]

Hi I am Sarah I have a 7 year old daughter and am engaged or for those of you that know what it is handfasted for a year and a day and planning on tying the knot (wink wink) on August 2.  A little more about me. I am a Christian I was raised Southern Baptist and agree with a some of what I was taught but have had a hard time dealing with most "Christians" they tend to be 2-faced and think they are better than every one else and as a christian my self I believe the bible says we are to love everyone and treat them with respect and that we are all sinners and there fore not perfect or worthy of judging others faults. my husband/fiance depending on how you look at it is Pagan he claims to be a kitchen witch but from what I have seen and understand he seems to me to be more of a green witch.  We are both open about our religions but don't push them on each other or anyone else. I encourage him to do ritual for the sabbats and esbats and he encourages me to go to church and do my bible study my daughter primarily does Christian things as far as religion goes but will be able to go to ritual and anything from any religion as she gets older I want her to choose her religion not just do what I tell her is best because what I feel is best for me may not be what is best for her. well that's us in a nut shell.

[7Pheonix]

Hello...
My name is Mary and one of my biggest fears is not knowing what I am.  I gravitate to nature, and many of the sacred ways of the Lakota Sioux, but I am Catholic.  I have had a couple 'experiences' that cannot be defined or endorsed by Catholicism and quite frankly, I am confused and frustrated.
I feel safe being Catholic, because I know the religion.  If I just succumb to feeling like a subject, then everything is okay.  I have always felt deeply connected to the moon and animals and being outdoors.  Being Catholic never made me feel empowered to reach beyond certain limits and no matter what you do- It's bad.  Again, these are my most vulnerable thoughts.
I had a panic attack yesterday just thinking about researching Paganism's.  I felt freaking uncomfortable the rest of the day.  How crappy is that?  I know that  Black Elk went to mass and he also did lodges and the rest of what he practiced regularly.  I don't know.  I don't believe I have been this confused and to be honest, I am uncomfortable and it frankly pisses me off.
I don't want to die and not know what I am.  I do not know and it's just brutal.
I don't feel like I can use my mind being Catholic.  As long as I memorize all of the literature and the commandments I am using my mind.  I am bad to use my mind to will something good to happen to someone else or to send energy to someone in need.  This makes me really sad and I do not deserve to be sad.  All I do is for others and I am a good freaking person.   Why does it have to be this hard?

[polirishmomma]

I too followed Hedgewitch here.  I am still exploring different paths of paganism.  I really don't do rituals at the moment, I find the divine in everything that I see.  On Sabbaths I watch for special things like strange animal occurances, odd weather, meeting someone unexpectedly.  It sounds weird I know but I don't feel rituals bring me closer to the Goddess.  I find her everywhere.  I am glad someone created this group, I would like to build bridges with people of all faiths.

[wanderingmuse]

Hello all!  I too followed Hedgewitch here and I look forward to talking with all of you.  My husband and I were both raised Catholic, but these days we are both more pagan in our beliefs.  I do not necessarily associate with any one version of paganism, but am probably closest to a Wiccan.  I am 28 amd we  live in eastern PA.  We are expecting our first little one in March.  We tend to live a hibrid life in that we were married in the catholic church and have no objections to the religion (our baby will be baptized), we just acknowledge many other gods, goddesses and sources of power out there.  It confuses many of my friends who think we need to pick, but thankfully we are both comfortable with it.  I alway try and approach everything with an open mind and a desire to learn.  Happy Valentines day all!!!

[wanderingmuse]

Quoting 7Pheonix:

Hello...
My name is Mary and one of my biggest fears is not knowing what I am.  I gravitate to nature, and many of the sacred ways of the Lakota Sioux, but I am Catholic.  I have had a couple 'experiences' that cannot be defined or endorsed by Catholicism and quite frankly, I am confused and frustrated.
I feel safe being Catholic, because I know the religion.  If I just succumb to feeling like a subject, then everything is okay.  I have always felt deeply connected to the moon and animals and being outdoors.  Being Catholic never made me feel empowered to reach beyond certain limits and no matter what you do- It's bad.  Again, these are my most vulnerable thoughts.
I had a panic attack yesterday just thinking about researching Paganism's.  I felt freaking uncomfortable the rest of the day.  How crappy is that?  I know that  Black Elk went to mass and he also did lodges and the rest of what he practiced regularly.  I don't know.  I don't believe I have been this confused and to be honest, I am uncomfortable and it frankly pisses me off.
I don't want to die and not know what I am.  I do not know and it's just brutal.
I don't feel like I can use my mind being Catholic.  As long as I memorize all of the literature and the commandments I am using my mind.  I am bad to use my mind to will something good to happen to someone else or to send energy to someone in need.  This makes me really sad and I do not deserve to be sad.  All I do is for others and I am a good freaking person.   Why does it have to be this hard?

I have transversed some of these feelings in my move from Catholic to 'somewhere in between'.  I identify more with paganism, but am more comfortable with the Catholsism I was raised with.  I have finally accepted that my beliefs are pagan, but there is no need to give up the familarity.  It has really made my life more even.  I would be happy to chat if you want to mail me  :)

[Groovyflor]

Hi!  I'm Jen!  I'm an eclectic Witch with Chrisitan and Buddhist influences.  I was raised Presbyterian and became ELCA Lutheran in college.  For awhile I was a Christian Witch, but my beliefs lean a little more towards atheist then Christian these days, so I dropped that part.  I still attend the ELCA church when I can.  Most of the time I attend a Unitarian Universalist church one town over as it is closer to my beliefs.  I have one little man who has been baptised Lutheran though we are unsure at the moment how to raise him.  I'm thinking he will be raised Pagan/Christian/Secular to incorporate all our family's beliefs, but who knows what will happen.  He's only 14 months old at this point so I have a little time. :)

[Beadermom73]

I should do myself here, huh?  I'm Holly.  I'm an Eclectic Witch with heavy Hellenic and Celtic influences.  I was raised Jewish, but never "felt" it; not once in 5 years of Hebrew school.  I started exploring other religions as a kid but was always drawn back to the Pagan religions.  By the time I was 13, I knew what I was meant to be, and started researching Wicca and paganism for all I was worth.
 
I love being Wiccan and am really enjoying talking to more and more people who are.  It's great to have a little community here of other Pagan mommies.  I try very hard to respect all positive religions and to treat the belief systems of others with the same respect I would want my own treated.  Once in a while I goof that up, but mostly I do well.
 
I'm raising my kids Wiccan when they're with me, and they get Catholicism from their dad.  My husband is more of a science guy.  Most of my really tight friends are Pagans and Buddhists, but I've got a little of everything in friends and family (hardly any two nuclear families in my extended family are the same!)

[momofeight2007]

Hi my name is Stephanie...I am Messianic Jewish (a jewish chrisitan).  I am interested in learning more about wicca, and paganism.  I do not want to change my religion, but enhance it.  I want to learn as much as I can.