I was asked recently to describe my first magickal experience, and found that to my extreme disappointment I could not recall any one specific memory. I sat a long while and thought about it... waded hip deep in all kinds of wonderful memories, but I could not identify any of them as my first.

I have heard the stories of others many times, enjoyed the feelings and surprises along with them. I have been both enchanted and disappointed by them, but never as totally unhappy as I was when I discovered that I didn't have a tale of my own.

Yes, I can remember my first forays into ceremonial magick, I remember learning to cast my first circle, and the thrill of ecitement, followed by a jolt of disappointment when I realized that it wasn't the experience I had been anticipating. I remember the first time I cast the circle right, and the elation, the tingling buzz long after I had closed it.

I remember my first Athame, as a matter of fact I still have it. The first time I consecrated and empowered it still shines brightly in the darkened skies of my mind.

I also remember the first wand I ever made. How proud I was when I finished and how comfortably I could use it. I remember looking all over for tips and advice so I would do everything just right.

All of these wonderful magickal experiences, and yet none of them my first.. In fact I can remember something special about nearly every single time I have ever stepped into the circle.. even more about the times when I didn't.

My Grimoire is fairly teeming with stories of firsts, seconds and many afters.. I have been blessed with hundreds of beautiful and powerful events.

True, I may not recall my very first one.. but I know one thing is certain; it was followed by the best times of my life. Who could ask for more?

Author: Amairgen

Copyright © 1998/1999 Amairgen's Faithweb. All rights reserved. NO portion of this web site may be reproduced in whole or part, without the written permission of Amairgen.

Being an eclectic Pagan I try and make it my business to evaluate different teachings from any religion without bias.. And while I am sure I don't succeed as often as I would like to, I do manage to give as much attention as I can to the bits of wisdom and scraps of belief that come my way.

One of these bits was presented to me in the opinion of a good friend. A friend of another religion, really a religion all his own, who mixed and matched thoughts and traditions, as many of us do, to create his own niche. His roots lie in Christianity.. And his belief in and view of the ten commandments is what sparked this very paper.

In particular, his interpretation of the sixth commandment, caught my attention. Thou shalt not kill. Simple isn't it? Don't kill.. Don't go shooting anyone.. That's wrong.. Of course we know that. An it harm none.. The Rede covers that.

My friend takes this commandment a step beyond this point though. Thou shalt not kill ANYTHING! Not people certainly, but also not other animals, not plants, not anything alive. Being born of God/dess, all things have a right to live. Thou shalt not kill. But doesn't this way of thinking interfere with every aspect of our lives? Are we not to build houses and furniture out of wood, or make saddles and shoes of leather? Thou shalt not kill..

How many things do we have that come to us through the death of another living organism? Killing has been a part of living for humankind since the days of the first people to inhabit the earth. The common practice of eating vegetables or meat, for example, becomes cannibalistic in the eyes of the overzealous follower of the sixth commandment...

Is it even possible for humanity exist without causing the death of a single organism? Even if it were, how many of us are willing to give up eating meat and plants, to stick to a diet of fruits and nuts and berries? Who is going to stop building with wood, writing on paper, using toilet paper, or blowing their nose with tissues for the sake a sparing the tree? It is noble. Even the thought is admirable.. But can it be done? Probably not. Would it be done if it could? Certainly not.

Being the eclectic that I am, I cannot dismiss this commandment with a wave of my hand.. Nor can I abide by it.. I disagree with it. I choose to follow it to a point. I do not kill anyone, and I do not kill any animal or plant unnecessarily. I give thanks for the food on my plate, and the animals, plants, and trees who have given their lives to serve my family and myself in so many ways.

By: Amairgen

Copyright © 1998/1999 Amairgen's Faithweb. All rights reserved. NO portion of this web site may be reproduced in whole or part, without the written permission of Amairgen.

In the turmoil and routine of daily life, it is not hard to get caught up in the seemingly endless tidal wave of worries and meetings to make, dishes to wash and things to do... We often forget to take a few minutes out for ourselves and our Gods. For many missing our daily devotions is routine when other things move on to the list of priorities.

The key to doing daily devotions, is to choose times that are convenient. Times that won't interfere with everything else. For some of us, it is how we begin the day.. for others it is the perfect ending.. A lot of us can't set aside one particular time and so we may postpone, even forget our devotions.

However, there are many defferent ways to spend time with our gods. One need not spend hours and hours in prayer to establish a bond. A few minutes of thought and rest on the bus ride to work, or while doing the super dishes may be all we have.. and thats ok. But there are many ways to worship.

My favorite time is in the evening when supper is over with and the dishes are done. I like to take a walk in the woods around my house. While I don't always have as much time as I would like to spend there, I thoroughly enjoy the time I do have.

I always try to bring back some small souvenir for my alter. Perhaps brightly colored fall leaves or some stones that caught my eye.. In the spring there is rarely a day when I don't have fresh flowers, usually my favorites... dandilions. I sometimes even find a small plant that can be adapted to indoors. There gifts are my way of sharing something with my Gods. An offering to let them know that I appreciate the beauty around me.

When time allows, I like to meditate on my treasures. To think how I am like, and unlike the things I put on my alter. One of my favorite small treasures is sea glass. Glass that was broken and sanded by the sea. I can see the ocean as representing life, and the Goddess. The glass symbolises me. I am one person, one shard of humanity, shaped and sanded smooth by the goddess.

I have a lot of sea glass.

Sometimes my collections get out of control and I have to move them to another part of my apartment to make room for new finds. This presents an opportunity for some true creativity, and it is not unlike me to spend hours turning my sea shells into wind chimes.. or glueing sea glass and small stones to a wand.. Leaves, once pressed make a lovely form around which to make stained glass window decorations with waxed paper.

All of these things give me time with my Goddess. Time to relax and let my creative juices flow.

In the crazy light of morning, with a mountain of dishes to climb and a list of meetings to attend I can smiles and know that soon it will be behind me, that I can look forward to the most important meeting of all. The meeting of myself and my Gods.

Author: Amairgen

Copyright © 1998/1999 Amairgen's Faithweb. All rights reserved. NO portion of this web site may be reproduced in whole or part, without the written permission of Amairgen.