Alternative Beliefs

The pagan celebration of Yule is acknowledged on the longest night of the year which occurs tomorrow...for as long as recorded time the ancient monument of Newgrange in Ireland 500 years predating the Egyptian pyramids was engineered so a tiny hole in the rock walls alights at the precise moment of dawn that light up a stone carved bowl that honors the return of the sun on the solstice. There is be many at Stonehenge at dawn in England also come tomorrow as it is a more known site of history and pagan worship. Newgrange can be googled but here are some personal photos of the site. I love history and architecture and all of the myths and legends from ancient societies that made monuments from times when they actually paid attention to nature and the sky and managed to build such amazing long lasting feats to honor the seasons.

Because I am very interested in others beliefs.

I did google Yule. Now I am very ignorant on pagan traditions only from what I read from yours and Hoodies posts.

So in my search I came up with this. As I know the internet is sometimes not accurate in things.

I wanted to post.

I never understood what yule was. I know you hear about it. " YULE LOGS" but it is interesting when you learn the " real" meaning behind it

http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/yule.htm

I am hoping this is the correct info. If you have any other literature or sites to learn more. I would be more then happy to read more on this tradition.

Thank you for sharing

Blessed Yule, Pooper.

HoodieCrow wrote:

Blessed Yule, Pooper.

And same to you Hoodie. I made this for a pagan forum and have to use it one more time...took me forever, lots of frames.

That would be really neat to see in person. I'm always interested in learning about other beliefs. Find myself the most curious about Pagan beliefs and traditions.

I passed the test and now Pooper says I am a witch ... ......... but NO spells for me

Merry Witchmas

Izzy wrote:

I passed the test and now Pooper says I am a witch ... ......... but NO spells for me

Merry Witchmas

You didn't pass the test, you didn't float.

pooperscooper wrote:

Izzy wrote:

I passed the test and now Pooper says I am a witch ... ......... but NO spells for me

Merry Witchmas

You didn't pass the test, you didn't float.

I am dead :lol:

Mini wrote:

Because I am very interested in others beliefs.

I did google Yule. Now I am very ignorant on pagan traditions only from what I read from yours and Hoodies posts.

So in my search I came up with this. As I know the internet is sometimes not accurate in things.

I wanted to post.

I never understood what yule was. I know you hear about it. " YULE LOGS" but it is interesting when you learn the " real" meaning behind it

http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/yule.htm

I am hoping this is the correct info. If you have any other literature or sites to learn more. I would be more then happy to read more on this tradition.

Thank you for sharing

Here is some information on Alban Arthuran, which is celebrated in reconstructed Druidry and other Celtic pagan paths.
Celebrated on the same night as Yule, it is simply another name for the Winter Solstice in Celtic tradition.


Alban Arthuran

I think this thread needs to be made a sticky, maybe with a new title. It's awesome learning this. I'm looking forward to hearing (reading) more. Thanks guys.

Interesting, I would also like to learn more.

For those that are interest it is best to ask questions about what you are curious about. It's a very broad field because there are so many different types of pagans with different practises.

Pooper I'd love to learn about the gods/deities ( ? ) that are worshiped in relation to nature and it's gifts. What in nature they are connected to, how they are worshipped and what celebrations/ceremonies are observed to honor or appease them.


Also, were the Druids followers of a pagan practice or are they (and their practices) actually considered a 'religion' (sorry if that's the wrong term) that is followed?......don't know if that question even made sense. :roll:

rottnmom wrote:

Pooper I'd love to learn about the gods/deities ( ? ) that are worshiped in relation to nature and it's gifts. What in nature they are connected to, how they are worshipped and what celebrations/ceremonies are observed to honor or appease them.


Also, were the Druids followers of a pagan practice or are they (and their practices) actually considered a 'religion' (sorry if that's the wrong term) that is followed?......don't know if that question even made sense. :roll:

There are hundreds of deities both male and female and they all have some properties related to nature, as example, the Cailleach Bheur associated with the Winter Solstice...balance, cycles, rebirth, overcoming winter. In Scottish tradition, this is a blue-faced crone goddess who blusters with power throughout the winter months. She rings the snow and cold until the wheel of time turns toward spring on Beltane (May Day). Just as darkness seems to be winning, the Crone goddess stirs in the earth's womb and inspires hope. She knows that the time for her rebirth as a young woman will come in spring, when she will fertilize the earth. For now, however, the first step is renewing the sun, whose light will begin to get stronger.

Deities are an assistant to use and although respected not held higher but equal to the person who calls on them to assist in rituals, each practitioner is their own god/goddess. Deities are not created equal, some are well known as the Cailleach and others lesser known. They all have certain associations with the elements...fire, water, earth, air and spirit which are incorporated in the Pentagram. They range from good to evil and everything in between some being both good and evil, likely why there are many of them. Gods/goddesses are not prayed to, they are summoned to assist for a specific ritual task, thanked with gifts from nature that they like, and once the casting is completed it is expected to come to fruitation and forgotten about and never repeated nor spoken about.

Druid practises are the basis of my ancestors beliefs, a religion yes and a lifestyle that is always evolving. A lot of the lore is outdated being prechristian and sadly a lot of the ancient pagan symbols were destroyed by the Catholics invasion. I am always sending my relatives out Sheela-na-Gig spot for me... "The Divine Hag of the Celts " hunting as there are still some around but always being vandalised. One is pictured below... they are all carved out of stone and they are all ugly. Some have breasts and some do not...one of those artistic mysteries. Hope I answered your questions.

pooperscooper wrote:

OMG Pooper! I have seen a picture of this somewhere recently. Pretty sure it was used as an example in answering a question on an antiques forum I'm on. These were kept on or near the entrance of dwellings were they not?

rottnmom wrote:

pooperscooper wrote:

OMG Pooper! I have seen a picture of this somewhere recently. Pretty sure it was used as an example in answering a question on an antiques forum I'm on. These were kept on or near the entrance of dwellings were they not?

Yes, they are always located at an entrance...lol...rather symbolic if you get my meaning since their purpose of for fertility. Does someone have one for sale on your antiques forum????

Lol...I had to edit because always when I speak to someone interested in paganism we have an instant connection in common...who would ever have thought it would be a Sheela...too cute

pooperscooper wrote:

rottnmom wrote:

Pooper I'd love to learn about the gods/deities ( ? ) that are worshiped in relation to nature and it's gifts. What in nature they are connected to, how they are worshipped and what celebrations/ceremonies are observed to honor or appease them.


Also, were the Druids followers of a pagan practice or are they (and their practices) actually considered a 'religion' (sorry if that's the wrong term) that is followed?......don't know if that question even made sense. :roll:

There are hundreds of deities both male and female and they all have some properties related to nature, as example, the Cailleach Bheur associated with the Winter Solstice...balance, cycles, rebirth, overcoming winter. In Scottish tradition, this is a blue-faced crone goddess who blusters with power throughout the winter months. She rings the snow and cold until the wheel of time turns toward spring on Beltane (May Day). Just as darkness seems to be winning, the Crone goddess stirs in the earth's womb and inspires hope. She knows that the time for her rebirth as a young woman will come in spring, when she will fertilize the earth. For now, however, the first step is renewing the sun, whose light will begin to get stronger.

Deities are an assistant to use and although respected not held higher but equal to the person who calls on them to assist in rituals, each practitioner is their own god/goddess. Deities are not created equal, some are well known as the Cailleach and others lesser known. They all have certain associations with the elements...fire, water, earth, air and spirit which are incorporated in the Pentagram. They range from good to evil and everything in between some being both good and evil, likely why there are many of them. Gods/goddesses are not prayed to, they are summoned to assist for a specific ritual task, thanked with gifts from nature that they like, and once the casting is completed it is expected to come to fruitation and forgotten about and never repeated nor spoken about.

Druid practises are the basis of my ancestors beliefs, a religion yes and a lifestyle that is always evolving. A lot of the lore is outdated being prechristian and sadly a lot of the ancient pagan symbols were destroyed by the Catholics invasion. I am always sending my relatives out Sheela-na-Gig spot for me... "The Divine Hag of the Celts " hunting as there are still some around but always being vandalised. One is pictured below... they are all carved out of stone and they are all ugly. Some have breasts and some do not...one of those artistic mysteries. Hope I answered your questions.

OMG !! PORN :lol:

pooper, I tried to find the post that had the pic in it. Don't know if it was one someone had or just being used as an example. I posted a query about it to see if someone actually has it or knows of any available for sale. ;)

Porn...lol at Izzy...tis art. I wonder what they will have to say Rotn I don't know of any in private collections but so many have gone missing who knows.

Apparently those of the "Victorian" era were put off by them and had many of them removed/destroyed. Sad how people's misunderstandings and lack of appreciation for art/culture has destroyed so much of history.

rottnmom wrote:

Apparently those of the "Victorian" era were put off by them and had many of them removed/destroyed. Sad how people's misunderstandings and lack of appreciation for art/culture has destroyed so much of history.

That just really irritates me and I agree it is a shame that so many pieces of history get ruined by humans instead of time as it was intended...gggrrrrrr.

Pooper in all seriousness ....... I have been doing a lot of reading and am finding myself drawn to your beliefs and traditions. They make sense to me and seem to have more answers than anything else I have read. I am wondering though .......... when your children were growing up and missed out on the 'traditional' Christmas, how did they feel about it ? Also how did you handle it ?

Izzy wrote:

Pooper in all seriousness ....... I have been doing a lot of reading and am finding myself drawn to your beliefs and traditions. They make sense to me and seem to have more answers than anything else I have read. I am wondering though .......... when your children were growing up and missed out on the 'traditional' Christmas, how did they feel about it ? Also how did you handle it ?

The kids never really missed out on anything other than we didn't have dinners, friends and family over nor gift giving in our home. There were school activities they participated in and some of our relatives who do celebtate would invite all of us ... my mom who enjoys people would take them with her to visit so it was never an issue. I strongly believe that kids should be exposed to all kinds of religions and make up their own minds and have no one thing forced on them.

So was your hubby pagan as well ? Or did you convert him ( so to speak ) ?

What about Christmas trees and decorations ? Did the kids wonder why you didn't have any ? What about other kids ? Did they ask your kids ? And what happened when they returned to school after the Christmas break and everyone asked "what did you get for Christmas" ? Just asking all these things to see how I could adjust my ways, and alos be able to explain to my children and grand children.

Izzy wrote:

So was your hubby pagan as well ? Or did you convert him ( so to speak ) ?

What about Christmas trees and decorations ? Did the kids wonder why you didn't have any ? What about other kids ? Did they ask your kids ? And what happened when they returned to school after the Christmas break and everyone asked "what did you get for Christmas" ? Just asking all these things to see how I could adjust my ways, and alos be able to explain to my children and grand children.

I'm not pooper, but many xmas decorations (including greenery like the traditional tree) have pagan roots.


...no pun intended.