Curran's Cauldron

It's not about being Right; It's about being Happy!

curran@desertmooncircle.com — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:09:00 GMT

Below is a letter I emailed to friend in the craft and a few others earlier today. My friend had just engaged in a debate with a recently confirmed catholic friend of theirs. The debate was not planned, and stemmed from a little catching up. The insinuation that one must believe in satan if they are Wiccan was made, and there was a little bit of additional dogmatic sparring. Nothing harmful was said, but a pleasant conversation did seem to get a bit uncomfortable. Moreover, it raised a whole series of questions for my friend. Most notably the question of how do we get others to see the world as we see it, and get it? I paraphrased here, but you get the idea. You can tell from my response below that the conversation ran the gamet...

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It's been a year today...

curran@desertmooncircle.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:30:00 GMT

I posted this last year following the passing of my dear friend John Chadwick. We knew him as Chad. It was about this time on November 4th last year that I got off a plane in Detroit to find out he had crossed over into the Summerlands follwoings a courageous battle with cancer. Not a day passes that I do not think of him, or his family. I wrote this in the midst of raw emotion. It's unedited, and I wanted to share it in remembrance of a man who made this crazy world a better place in his own unique way.

Til' next my brother.

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Since When Do I Pray?

curran@desertmooncircle.com — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:34:00 GMT

“Since when do YOU pray?” was a question posed to me recently on my Facebook wall. It was posted as a comment to my status that evening which was the Serenity Prayer.

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The Long and Winding Road...

curran@desertmooncircle.com — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:22:00 GMT

I hate to steal a Beatles lyric as the title of this blog entry, but it seems most appropriate. I have been on a journey for the last 7 and a half months, and I have finally gotten to a point where I realize I must share my experience of personal healing and recovery. I do this to help myself, as well as to help anyone who may find a flicker of hope through the bright light that is brutal honesty for me.

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A Little Bit of Ostara in My Childhood

curran@desertmooncircle.com — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 05:30:00 GMT

I was pretty lucky to have grown up with such a rich family heritage that stretches from the Ukraine back through Western Europe to Wales. With Ostara approaching a very vivid childhood memory has continued to appear over and over in my mind.

As a very young child I was always amazed at the intricate egg decorating that was done by my Grandfather Petre, Great Uncle Joe, and Great Aunt Mildred. They had emigrated to the US from the Ukraine shortly after the Bolshevic (sp) Revolution. The men were Kossacks, and overall I am told lived a very humble life off of the land. Decorating the eggs, or Pysanky, as they are called was a very important ritual for them. It was also a great contradiction because they were Byzantine Catholics, and the practice of any pagan rituals big or small was...well you know the story. Anyway, the eggs or Pysanky were always beautiful, and delicate. Thus, they were always put up out of reach from us children.

While my grandfather passed away 35 years ago, and Uncle Joe and Aunt Mildred shortly thereafter, to this day you can find remnants of their artistry in the family home which is still occupied by my Grandmother. I'd swear many of these Pysanky have not been touched since the day they were strategically placed in their bowl or basket. Yet, they are in perfect condition. Kind of weird, but then again what would you expect from a family tree that gave birth to me.

Here is more info on the Pysanky that I gathered from the web, special thanks to Mystic Moon Coven...

There is an ancient legend in the Ukraine that tells of a demon monster that would devour the world. This monster is chained and as it strains and pulls, the links of its chains are weakened. But every Spring the chain is strengthened in proportion to the number of pysanky (intricately decorated eggs) that were made and exchanged that season. (The word pysanky comes from the root word pysaty (to write) because the signs are written on the surface of the egg in a rich language of symbols almost endless in number and variation.)

Ostara Symbolism

original author unknown

There are many fine books that describe the symbolism on Ukrainian pysanky, not to mention the rich symbolism within Wiccan and other Pagan traditions. Below are some traditional symbols used on Ukrainian eggs, and you may notice that many of these symbols have universal meanings throughout the world.

- Circles: Protection, everlasting life, continuity, and completeness. The Sun, and cycles of life.

- Triangles: The elements of air, fire and water. Or just fire. The Trinity. Sun, Moon, and Stars.

- Suns: The life giving, all embracing nature of God, especially as the Sun is seen as the God. Fire and warmth, enchantment, prosperity, good fortune. It is the most ancient and significant symbol, appearing on almost every Ukrainian egg, from a small circle or dot to an elaborate many-rayed affair.

- Tripods: Man, Woman, and Child. Birth, Life and Death.

- Stars and Roses: Popular symbols for purity, life, giver of light, the eye of God, the God's love for humanity. Also success, knowledge, beauty, elegance, and perfection.

- Dots: Usually represents stars or the Tears of Mary. Also can be the Sun.

- Curls: Protection.

- Spirals: Mystery of life and death, divinity and immortality.

- Crosses: These are usually equal-armed crosses, though not always. Represents the four directions, the four ages of man, the four elements, and rebirth and eternal life.

Agricultural: Popular on traditional pysanky, these were important to a society that depended on the fruit of the fields. Also, krashanky had these symbols and were buried in the fields to ensure fertility.

- Sieves: Separating good from evil.

- Nets and baskets: Containing knowledge, motherhood, giving life and gifts.

- Ladders: Searching, rising above the petty, ascending to heaven.

- Combs: Putting things in order.

- Rakes: Successful harvest.

- Plants: Rebirth and nature. Very popular symbols.

- Trees: Strength, renewal, creation, organic unity, growth, and eternal life.

- Leaves: Immortality, eternal or pure love, strength, and persistence.

- Flowers: Beauty, children, female principles of wisdom and elegance.

- Fruit: Continuity, good fellowship, strong and loyal love, love of the Divine.

- Sunflowers: Motherhood, life, love of the Divine.

- Wheat: Bountiful harvest.

- Eternity Bands: Dividing elements on the eggs such as meanders for harmony, motion, infinity, and immortality.

- Waves for wealth, rain.

- Lines and ribbons for the thread of life or eternity.

Animal Symbolism

- Stags: Leadership, victory, joy, masculinity.

- Horses: Wealth, prosperity, endurance, speed and the motion of the Sun.

- Rams: Leadership, strength, dignity, and perseverance. Ram's horns symbolize strong leadership, dignity, and perseverance.

- Horns: Mobility, wisdom, triumphs over problems, and implies manhood and leadership.

- Bear paws: A guardian spirit, bravery, wisdom, strength, and endurance, the coming of spring.

- Birds: All kinds, are messengers of the Sun and heavens, pushing away evil, fertility, fulfillment of wishes, good harvest.

- Bird Parts: (eyes, feet, beaks, combs, feathers) carry the same meaning as entire birds.

- Roosters: Good fortune, masculinity, coming of the dawn.

- Hens: Fertility. Hen feet offer protection for the young, and guidance.

- Goose feet: Symbols of soul or spirit.

- Butterflies: Ascent of the soul, pleasure and frivolity of childhood.

- Spiders: Patience, artistry, industry, healing and good fortune.

- Fish: Abundance, sacrifice, and regeneration.

Color Symbolism in Ukrainian Eggs
- White: Purity, birth, virginity, and ignorance. Historically, a young child would receive eggs with lots of white.

- Yellow: Youth, light, purity, happiness, and wisdom.

- Red: The most widely used color, for passion, love, enthusiasm.

- Orange: Endurance, strength, power.

- Green: Renewal, freshness, hope, victory of life over death.

- Brown: Earth.

- Blue: Sky, good health derived from air.

- Purple: Patience, trust, power.

- Black: Remembrance, eternity, constancy, and death. A black and white combination indicates protection from evil and respect for the dead.

- Black with red connotes ignorance arising from passion.

Take A Little of "It" Back This Yule Season

curran@desertmooncircle.com — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:33:00 GMT

Yule is fast approaching, and I for one plan on taking a little of this ancient Pagan holiday back for myself, my family, and my ancestors. This is not an angry rant, as that pagan blogger of old was burned up in a cauldron long ago and sent on his merry way. Rather, these are just some of my thoughts on the coming season, and how it means so much more to me now than it ever did in years past. Yup, even those years when I was an altar boy in the Byzantine Catholic Church.

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A Mystery Revealed

curran@desertmooncircle.com — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 21:11:00 GMT

One of the more interesting events I have experienced as I've walked my path is the heightened awareness of who I am. Not because of the lessons that I have learned, or the books I have read. Rather, I am referring to getting in touch with who I "was". I remember once being told that the answers to the questions I seek were already inside. I needed only to look within.

As time has passed over these last few years I have learned much from looking within myself. Most interesting are the glimpses of where I may have walked before. Meeting friends from other ages. Recognizing as you shake their hand, or hug them for the first time in this life that you've known each other in another time and another place. I believe this is one of the greatest gifts that the Goddess bestows upon us. Not only the ability to carry lessons from past lives into the new, but also the ability to spiritually recognize those you have lived, loved, and laughed with before.

My most profound experience regarding this mystery is in my friendship with John "Chad" Chadwick, and his wife Caileah. I met them, again, at Ceremony Leather. I had recently moved to Arizona, and was having a hard time finding like minded people to associate myself with. It was tough, but when I walked into Ceremony I knew something special had just happened. Chad was behind the counter helping folks. When the place cleared out I introduced myself, and shook his hand. In that very instance I knew an "old" friend and I had found one another again. I felt the same when I met Caileah for the first time, and asked her if I could join her Year and a Day class. You see I was only a seeker at that point in time in this life. As the fates would have it I found my friend, as well as my teacher of old.

Nearly a week ago I had the opportunity to spend some time with Chad before he crossed over again into the Summerlands. While he looked nothing like I will always remember him, his eyes and his hands endured the illness that inevitably took him from this world on Tuesday, November 4th. Chad crossed over while I was on a plane over Lake Michigan. Earlier that morning before I left Arizona I grieved for him. While the emotions of this life, and ages passed poured forth, I wrote an ode to my dear friend. In remembrance of him, I have shared it below. As this life continues to unfold withe turning of the Great Wheel, I can only hope and be aware of the chance meetings that are still yet to occur with friends and family from ages ago.

Ode to An Old Friend

My beautiful and dear friend

with your laughing eyes and flowing black hair,

it's good to see you again.

How quickly our paths crossed,

only to come to an abrupt end.

It's happened before-

surely it will happen again.

I have known you through the ages,

though now I can't say where,

and I can't exactly say when.

In my mind's eye you are many things.

The innkeeper,

welcoming the weary with comfort,

the promise of a restful sleep.

You are the shaman of old

offering counseling and healing,

filling a seekers darkness with light.

You are the warrior,

a chivalrous knight.

A protector of those you love,

a defender of what is right.

A craftsmen for the ages,

your hands fashion many things.

Through the goods you've created,

your legacy remains ageless.

A protector of your brothers and sisters,

an angelic guardian,

never backing from a challenge,

standing at the ready in the shadowy night.

While our time in this life was fleeting,

painfully cut short,

our friendship goes on,

and will continue through the ages.

I cannot say goodbye right now,

I can only wish you well.

For we will meet again,

in another time, in some other place.

I will know you by the laughter in your eyes,

the warmth and strength of the handshake.

It will only be then,

that our paths will cross again.

Fare thee well John Chadwick,

My brother, my friend-

Blessed Be,

until we meet again.