A Non Traditional Pagan Temple of Guidance
A glimpse into the mind and life of a Wiccan High Priestess
So, I have been reading the articles on Witches Voice this week and they got me thinking...What are my real motives for being a Wiccan High Priestess, thus teacher?
For one my guides and Patron Deities have hounded me to no end that this is what I am supposed to do.
While the term "draging me kicking and screaming" may not be wholly appropriate it is not all together off the mark either. At least that was true at first.
I have never been a "social butterfly", I was pretty content being Solitary, actually. But I reached a point where I was saying to my self, "Now what?"
I did not feel that I was being challenged the way I should be anymore. As I began to interact more within the local Pagan community, I noticed a genuine need for good teachers. For stable, sane, down to earth teachers.
For teachers that were not driven by greed. Greed of money nor greed of power.
I got very frustrated with workshops and lectures on magick that were given by people whose personal lives seemed to be a mess. I always wanted to ask them if they use magick, really, or if they just talk about it.
I was surprised at the number of people who seem to really just talk about it.
I found there to be an over abundance of people at gatherings that were a bit loopy. At first I thought that perhaps this was just the popularity of Paganism with fringe types. But, as I interacted more and more it appeared to me that the real problem was a lack of real structured training. People were wading through crappy manuals and text and begining somewhere in the middle with their practice, if they practiced. Some wanted to practice but felt they didnt know enough to be safe and didnt or couldnt find a teacher.
Then there was the constant badgering of my guides agian.
This is what this particular incarnation for me is about...quite simply I am a Wiccan High Priestess because it is my destiny to be such. It is a calling that I can not ignore, and I did try to ignore it for awhile.
I dont get paid and my husband likes to refer to it as my "non paying carreer". But I am of the school of thought that Wiccan clergy should not be paid, like the big Three clergy. Money, begets greed, and greed is poison to spirituality.
We are taught as Wiccans that the Gods wish for us happy, fullfilling lives. How can one be clergy of a spiritual path that wants its people to experience life to its fullest if they themselves do not do such? Living a fulfilling life means experiencing all that you can, this incompasses uncomfortable experiences that foster growth, it truly is not just love and light.. but darkness and strife as well. To be a successful Witch one must understand and respect both and strive to always walk between. We must live life, not submerge ourselves only in the spiritual. Then again we must realize that everything is infact sacred. These are fundamental lessons all Priests and Priestess that tred the Wiccan path must learn. I feel that if we had paid full time clergy, we would lose sight of this. Perhaps we should consider having paid full time elders instead.
Yes, I work a full time job. I support a family of 5, including my husband and myself. My children range in age from 15 to 3. Sometimes we struggle just as all families do, but we always have what we need.
I have to balance my life just as everyone else does. I willingly add the responsibility of teaching to my personal juggling act. Perhaps I am crazy. But mainly, I am aware of my duty in life and by fulfilling that duty I myself am fulfilled. I am gifted at what I do. I specialize in Spellcrafting and Myth. I have genuine working relationships with my guides and the Goddess' and Gods. I practice my craft on a regular basis. I am first and foremost a Witch. I am a decent healer and as such I am an equally decent hexer. I am not a saint. I am not perfect. But I know that the things I do, I do well.
I work as an insurance agent 5 days a week. I meditate at least three times a week, usually more but this is my minimum. When I am not at my office I am spending time with my family, painting, or working on coven stuff.
I get frustrated, I get tired, but I press on. Why? Because it is the right thing to do.
I live my life by my keen sense of knowing what the right thing to do is. The universe reveals her pattern to those who look, truly look. I have seen my pattern and having seen it I follow its weave so that my life runs in a realatively organized and harmonious fashion.
Would I accept money for my services? Well of course I am not stupid. But I would never expect it, of teaching.
I teach because I have to. I teach because it fills a void. I teach because my students are what drive me to be better, to do more, to think harder, to walk my talk. I teach because it is the right thing to do, for me.
For one my guides and Patron Deities have hounded me to no end that this is what I am supposed to do.
While the term "draging me kicking and screaming" may not be wholly appropriate it is not all together off the mark either. At least that was true at first.
I have never been a "social butterfly", I was pretty content being Solitary, actually. But I reached a point where I was saying to my self, "Now what?"
I did not feel that I was being challenged the way I should be anymore. As I began to interact more within the local Pagan community, I noticed a genuine need for good teachers. For stable, sane, down to earth teachers.
For teachers that were not driven by greed. Greed of money nor greed of power.
I got very frustrated with workshops and lectures on magick that were given by people whose personal lives seemed to be a mess. I always wanted to ask them if they use magick, really, or if they just talk about it.
I was surprised at the number of people who seem to really just talk about it.
I found there to be an over abundance of people at gatherings that were a bit loopy. At first I thought that perhaps this was just the popularity of Paganism with fringe types. But, as I interacted more and more it appeared to me that the real problem was a lack of real structured training. People were wading through crappy manuals and text and begining somewhere in the middle with their practice, if they practiced. Some wanted to practice but felt they didnt know enough to be safe and didnt or couldnt find a teacher.
Then there was the constant badgering of my guides agian.
This is what this particular incarnation for me is about...quite simply I am a Wiccan High Priestess because it is my destiny to be such. It is a calling that I can not ignore, and I did try to ignore it for awhile.
I dont get paid and my husband likes to refer to it as my "non paying carreer". But I am of the school of thought that Wiccan clergy should not be paid, like the big Three clergy. Money, begets greed, and greed is poison to spirituality.
We are taught as Wiccans that the Gods wish for us happy, fullfilling lives. How can one be clergy of a spiritual path that wants its people to experience life to its fullest if they themselves do not do such? Living a fulfilling life means experiencing all that you can, this incompasses uncomfortable experiences that foster growth, it truly is not just love and light.. but darkness and strife as well. To be a successful Witch one must understand and respect both and strive to always walk between. We must live life, not submerge ourselves only in the spiritual. Then again we must realize that everything is infact sacred. These are fundamental lessons all Priests and Priestess that tred the Wiccan path must learn. I feel that if we had paid full time clergy, we would lose sight of this. Perhaps we should consider having paid full time elders instead.
Yes, I work a full time job. I support a family of 5, including my husband and myself. My children range in age from 15 to 3. Sometimes we struggle just as all families do, but we always have what we need.
I have to balance my life just as everyone else does. I willingly add the responsibility of teaching to my personal juggling act. Perhaps I am crazy. But mainly, I am aware of my duty in life and by fulfilling that duty I myself am fulfilled. I am gifted at what I do. I specialize in Spellcrafting and Myth. I have genuine working relationships with my guides and the Goddess' and Gods. I practice my craft on a regular basis. I am first and foremost a Witch. I am a decent healer and as such I am an equally decent hexer. I am not a saint. I am not perfect. But I know that the things I do, I do well.
I work as an insurance agent 5 days a week. I meditate at least three times a week, usually more but this is my minimum. When I am not at my office I am spending time with my family, painting, or working on coven stuff.
I get frustrated, I get tired, but I press on. Why? Because it is the right thing to do.
I live my life by my keen sense of knowing what the right thing to do is. The universe reveals her pattern to those who look, truly look. I have seen my pattern and having seen it I follow its weave so that my life runs in a realatively organized and harmonious fashion.
Would I accept money for my services? Well of course I am not stupid. But I would never expect it, of teaching.
I teach because I have to. I teach because it fills a void. I teach because my students are what drive me to be better, to do more, to think harder, to walk my talk. I teach because it is the right thing to do, for me.
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