Archives

High Holy Days: Southern Hemisphere

Jun20
Howling Dingo

A subspecies of the wolf, our cousin the Dingo

The Pagan Sabbats In The Southern Hemisphere

The early pagans around the world were very balanced in the way they scheduled their lives. One of the places this is seen most clear are in the High Holy days.

Each festival celebration falls in between a solstice or equinox. But the holidays were also celebrations of the seasons and the change of energy throughout the year.

Additionally, Pagans are pretty big on using the right energy in concert with the right movement of time and space. In other words, we align our conscious thoughts and connections with the Divine in our lives based on the energy that surrounds us.

Simply put, how you relate to the world around you and how you feel connected to the “this or that” in your life, all depends on where you are and the beliefs you choose to follow. It doesn’t makes sense to align your energy with the warm summer sun when outside your window it’s snowing like a blizzard. Because of this, the Southern Hemisphere sees the holidays differently than we do here in the North. Continue reading →

Starting Your Own Spiritual Group/Business

Jun18
Wolfwitch by Springwolf 2012

The Challenges Of Being The Leader

The Challenges Of Being A Minister, Healer, Teacher & Spiritual Leader

On the  June 17th edition of The Ænigma Project, Paul Cagle, Sushi and I discussed the issues and insights behind starting your own Paranormal or Spiritual group.

If you missed the show, you can listen to previous shows on the Tenacity Radio Archives for the The Ænigma Project (look for date and topic). Or visit the The Ænigma Project blog for links to iTunes, Stitcher and more ways you can listen to past shows.

Here I want to share some articles and information we discussed during the show, along with some helpful links and suggestions.

This recommended reading explains the challenges and the benefits behind the role of Leadership. It can outline the pitfalls, help you to determine if you have the knowledge and skill to take on the role of leader, especially in the area of Spirituality.

But I’ve also included some practical information on the business side to help you get started in creating your small spiritual business.

Continue reading →

The Challenges We Face In Life

Jun10
Challenges

Facing Challenges
Photo by Anne Marie Kalus

Why Does “God” Test Us?

Recently in a forum of Metaphysical Ministers this question was posted.

“Does anyone in our group believe that God tests us, or tests the strength of our faith?”
Rev.R.M.

The question isn’t an uncommon one. Nor is it one that is accepted on blind faith by Ministers. There are many answers and perspectives of course, because we all have a different way of looking at spiritual belief and practice. A Christian may say “Yes, God may test your faith and devotion of service to his teachings by placing challenges upon your path”. Unitarians might say “No, God doesn’t set up challenges to test our faith. But we set up problems in our lives to learn lessons”.

The wonderful Metaphysical Ministers within this group have similar perspectives to my first response. But when asked this question I have two perspectives to reply to this. Continue reading →

Belief vs Knowledge

Jun6
Wise Old Wolf

The Wise Old Wolf

How Wisdom Is Created

Blind faith is something we teach against in most pagan circles. Simply because someone else said this is true, or that is fact doesn’t make it real or accurate. Simply because something comes from old knowledge or understandings doesn’t mean it’s valid today.

Think about what people were sure of 1,000 or 1,500 years ago. Everyone believed the Earth was flat and if you sailed to far, you’d fall off the world. Of course today we know how silly that is. Image 1,000 years from now and wonder what is it that we’re sure about today that will be completely invalid in the future.

Blind faith doesn’t teach, it doesn’t inspire, it doesn’t allow an individual to experience, expand or grow. We cannot limit our experience in life by what we believe we know to be true. We must put our beliefs to the test.

“The word ‘belief’ is a difficult thing for me. I don’t believe. I must have a reason for a certain hypothesis. Either I know a thing, and then I know it- I don’t need to believe it.” ~ Carl Jung

But you cannot prove blind faith or belief, nor claim it to be true or accurate. That’s the whole point of belief. You either believe it or you don’t. You can share the same concepts of belief with others. But every person may have tiny little differences in how they apply those beliefs to life and the situations around them. So they’re never exactly the same. But why? Continue reading →

The Cycle of Life And Death

May17
© 2012 Springwolf Wolf Ghost

From Spirit to Incarnation

Preordained vs Free Will and Choice

Today I read a lovely article by a colleague which talks about life and death and the importance of living life.

“Responsive Reading – Living and Dying:
Every person has an appointed time to live and a time to die. Our time upon the earth is but a moment in the span of eternity. Death is not to be regarded with fear but as something good when it comes in due season.”
by Robert Dorris President/Minister at Unitarian Community, Inc.

I like this perspective. And while I agree that everything happens in it’s time and space, I’ve always had a hard time with the “preordained” concept. And it can be hard to reconcile those two ideas. I believe in reincarnation. And that concept doesn’t fit with the preordained perspective. But I also believe everything in it’s right time and space. So how do you fit those two things together? Continue reading →

A Place To Discuss Your Questions

Apr23

Springwolf’s Message Board

If you’re up for some serious discussion about your spiritual path, looking to share questions, experiences or ideas that you’d like feedback about, then visit my Pagan’s Path Message Board.

The Pagan's Path Message BoardI promise no one will attack you for asking a question or voicing your perspective. Many message boards fall into yelling through text because someone disagrees with someone else. I insist on civility, so that won’t be tolerated here.  This is MY board and I’m a bit of a dictator when it comes to civility. I’m not afraid of deleting or editing a post to remove childish bickering.

We all have different views and opinions, that’s what makes the world interesting! Passionate debate is one thing, childish attacks and disrespect is another.

We’re all here to share and learn from each other. I’ll never admit to having all the answers or the only answer to a particular subject. For every question there are always 100 answers and one of them might be the one you’re looking for.

Bring your experiences that mold your perspectives about the Divine Universe around us. No matter what you call that spiritual force in your life, be it “God”, “Goddess”, “GreatSpirits”, “Thunderbeings” or something else, we’re all trying to walk a path of respect and kindness towards all things. If that fits your view, share what you think and let the discussion begin.

Update:
In an effort to ensure I have time to give to the board, we have set aside an hour each week for me work it. Typically Thursday mornings. Hopefully that will provide more attention and interest to keep the messages rolling.

© Springwolfs Hanko

© 2013 Springwolf, D.D., Ph.D. Springwolf Reflections / Springs Haven, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

The Pagan Sabbats

Apr16
Image from: Megan Granata

Image from: Megan Granata

What Are They?

Sabbat {Greek – Sabatu – to rest}
The Pagan holidays, called Sabbats, are seasonal celebrations representing birth, life, death and rebirth, the cycle of life itself. These celebrations are a means to attune the physical human mind, body and spirit with the flow of natures’ energy and the essence of the Divine Spirit in one’s life. For Pagans that can be a God, Goddess, or a collective Divine consciousness or spirit, such as the Great Spirit or to some The GreatSpirits, with an emphasis on the plural.

It is a bonding time, a time to recognize the aspects of the season within the self. “To become one with nature” is a common metaphor for the overall purpose and intent of these holidays. They are almost always reverent, link the individual to the Divine force in their life, and reconnect to the Divine Universal energy around us that we are all part of.

You might think of it this way;
I am not the Goddess, you are not the God. But You and I And All things seen and unseen make up the Divine force in the Multi-verse of existence. We are connected and intertwined together to create the whole of the Divine Spirit.

Most Pagans believe that by joining forces with the Divine in our lives, we bring harmony, balance and order to our physical existence. These are necessary aspects of life for positive change and to create an atmosphere for spiritual learning and growth that lead toward enlightenment. Living in harmony and balance creates a daily connection to the Divine within an individual. It’s a connection that’s persistent, instead of only occurring during meditation or ritual. Continue reading →

The History Of Ostara – The ‘Spring Equinox’

Mar19

newday-wolfThe Vernal Equinox – The Festival of Ēostre
By Springwolf, D.D., Ph.D.  🐾

The Spring Equinox festival is based in Germanic Paganism. Ēostre or Ostara (Northumbrian Old English: Ēostre; West Saxon Old English: Ēastre; Old High German: *Ôstara) is a goddess in Germanic paganism who, by way of the Germanic month bears her name.

As a pagan holiday Ostara is one of the more confusing and convoluted festivals in terms of its history. It’s claimed by German neo-Pagans, Norse, Saxon and Celt. Celts admit that holiday is not one of their original observances and therefore it’s accepted to be part of a reconstruction of old Celtic ways.

There is speculation that this holiday owes its roots to the Romans who took their holiday into the invasion of Ireland and even spread into Germanic cultures. However, this does not play out when one reviews Celtic or Germanic mythology and history. Continue reading →

Why Pagan’s Don’t Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day

Mar17
Tribal Wolf

The Tribal Wolf

The Genocide of St. Patrick

To begin this story let me start with a little Public Service Announcement (PSA). This year, 2014, I learned that the Irish do not care much for we Americans and Canadians calling their national holiday St. Patty’s Day. But probably isn’t what you think. Which is what I thought; it’s Patrick, not Patty. Nope that’s not it. Well not entirely.

I discovered a PSA had been posted in the Dublin Airport correcting a misconception for those of us in the Americas. It’s not Patty, it’s Paddy. Seems Patty is short for Patricia and of course, Patrick was a male priest. The proper shortening of the male variation is Paddy. And St. Paddy’s Day is perfectly acceptable. So now we know.

Now on to our tale of Pagans and Paddy. First,  we must start with some of the early inhabitants of Ireland. What little is known of these people come from Irish songs and poetry, oral legends and Roman writings. The Celtic lands of Ireland, Scotland and Wales were populated primarily by individual or regional Clans. Small communities that were close knit and survived on nature through farming and hunting. Continue reading →

5 Minute Clearing & Healing Meditation

Mar11

Clearing The Negative & Healing From Within

Meditation

Close Your Eyes & Relax

We all go through times of negative self talk. Most of us are often our own worst critics. When we buy into these destructive self assessments we open a door that attracts more negativity into our world. And often times that begins a the snowball effect, rolling down hill getting larger and more overwhelming.

But it’s not enough to simply stop the negative thinking, or taking in the negativity from others. We often create a void that wants to be filled with something. If we let it be, it more often than not becomes filled with more or returning negativity.

The easiest way to correct this problem is to fill the void with beneficial energy that will help you heal from within and promote a sense of well being through your day, week, month and life.

In today’s world meditation is viewed from two perspectives, from the spiritual form of enlightenment and becoming one with spirit. Or through the eyes of mainstream medicine as a non-denominational practice that can relieve stress.If a non-denominational practice interests you, try the 5 Minute Meditation. Continue reading →