.: June 2010

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

What is a Pagan?

Labels can be misleading, hurtful and unfair. The term Pagan is from the Latin word paganus, an adjective originally meaning "rural", "rustic" or "of the country." A Paganus was a country dweller or villager in the eyes of the three largest, organized faiths. Both pagan and heathen have historically been used as a label by those who follow Judaism, Christianity and Islam to indicate a disbeliever of their religion.

Today, Pagans enjoy freedom to follow and practice their faith in the manner most comfortable and meaningful to them. Being a Pagan is a blanket term for many faiths like Historical Polytheism (such as Celtic polytheism, Norse paganism, and Hellenic Polytheistic Reconstructionism also called Hellenismos), Folk/ethnic/Indigenous religions (such as Chinese folk religion and African traditional religion), and Neopaganism (such as Wicca and Germanic Neopaganism).

Yes, it IS confusing, but there are specific names for different faiths, just like Catholic and Protestants are Christian...then Wicca and Native Americans are considered Pagans. Labels, that's all the words are...Labels. It is the deeds, history and the people of a faith that should be considered, not a label.

If you ask any Pagan what the word means to them, you may be surprised to hear many different definitions. People will express themselves in unique ways and their faith is an expression of their inner soul. So leave the labels on the jar of peaches and try to reach out with your heart to understand what is new to you.

For centuries, Gypsies, Pagans, Wiccans and others have had to bear terrible repercussions as other developing faiths tried to strip the "villagers" from their personal beliefs. Now is a time of mending, to live side-by-side in the light and forget the past grievances. Each soul has a right to choose how to reach Summerland or wherever you desire to find peace. Blessed Be )O(

Friday, June 11, 2010

Welcome to Irish Gypsy's Parlor

Welcome to my Irish Gypsy's Parlor...

My name is Chérie Angélique de Sues and my family was cursed by my great, great, great, great grandmother who was dragged through the streets of Paris and burned at the stake as a practicing gypsy-witch.

As she succumbed to the flames, she cursed her daughter-in-law who betrayed her that no de Sues male who married a Catholic bride would bear sons. After many generations and barren, son-less Catholic brides, I am the last of the de Sues name. The curse held true and so began my interest in the Wiccan-Gypsy heritage that is mine.

Irish Gypsy's Parlor will introduce characters from my novels. Ghosts, werewolves, Wiccans and Gypsies who walk by night. A realm of dreams, fortunes and shapeshifters. No one is quite safe, even in the parlor.

So keep scrolling down into the abyss of sexy excerpts, spells, omens, my families Book of Shadows and be enchanted...

May truth shine on you,
Chérie Angélique de Sues

Thursday, June 10, 2010

A fourth page to Irish Gypsy's Parlor

I'm thrilled with the wonderful comments on my newest blog & website, Irish Gypsy's Parlor. I used this blog name because I'm am a creature of tradition. I'm Irish/Gypsy and my grandmother would take me into her magickal "parlour" to teach me Wiccan Ways... I never thought years later I'd be at the computer and sharing the ancient Book of Shadows and family recipes for success with White Magick. The newest page is just that, Family Book of Shadows, recipes to help you with everyday stress and fix things that become less than ideal in your life. I am a firm believer that you can get what you want, have it your way and make everyone happy in the process with your decisions. A strong woman is no secret in Wicca, we were the chosen, the ones in tune with nature. I hope you enjoy the blessings of our world.
Blessed Be, Cherie

Sterling Silver Diamond Cut 5 Point Star Pentagram Ring, size 9

Friday, June 4, 2010

The Pagan & The Pen

CH Scarlett is a wonderful author and owner of The Pagan & The Pen. This blog is so much more, as authors, artists and other talented people have pooled their experience. I've joined them and will be writing a monthly, maybe bimonthly column and adding more as time permits. I'm half Wiccan and half Gypsy, this intriguing blog explains the pagan lifestyle, holidays and offers ways to be at peace with yourself and the planet. This appeals to me on so many levels. I'm drawn to talented people; musicians, artisans and writers for their ability to see outside the box. To be able to see the world in a different perspective and not belittle anyone else for their beliefs. I hope you'll join me on June 20th where I'll be talking about the Summer Solstice that will happen on June 21st this year. I plan to participate in a celebration on Summer Solstice so the day before worked for me. See you there!

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Gypsy Omens

Animals

Cats & Dogs--If a black cat should cross your path it brings good luck. If the cat stops to look at you the luck will be greater, but if the cat spits at you it brings back luck. Dogs howling for no apparent reason brings news of death.

Spiders--spiders hold a deep fascination with gypsies and you should never kill a spider. If a spider should attach a filament of web upon you, the fates are about to make a change in your life.

Butterflies--A butterfly settling upon a young woman foretells a pregnancy; on an older woman it signifies a new baby in the family. On anyone else the butterfly foretells a time of celebration & frivolity.

Nature

The Moon--To see the new moon out of doors is very lucky. You should bow to her three times, then turn your money over three times; it will increase ninefold by the next new moon. Make a wish on the full moon, and of course you should always wish on a shooting star - but never tell your wish to another, or it loses its power and won't come true.

Gypsy Magick

The Gypsies say that the power of magick lies in four simple ingredients. The first of these is the desire/need of the practitioner. The stronger your desire for something to happen and the stronger your need for a thing, then the stronger is the power that you generate towards that goal. We can say, then, that the first ingredient (indeed the first necessity) for successful magick is will.

Along with the will for something to happen must go a certain amount of concentration, the second ingredient. It is no good doing anything, least of all magick, in a halfhearted manner. You must concentrate on what you are doing so that you can put that necessary will power into it.

There is no magick wand as described in children's fairy tales. There is no way you can wave a wand or utter a chant or spell, and FLASH! the thing is done. No; even magick takes time. Some spells can have effect within 24 hours, but most take longer. Some can take weeks, months, or even more. So the third ingredient is patience. Do the spell with the necessary will power, give it the required concentration; then be content to sit back and wait for it to have effect... and it will take effect.

The final ingredient is simply secrecy. Gypsies don't announce when they are doing magick, nor what exactly they are doing. They do it quietly, within the privacy of their vardos. So you, too, should keep secret what you are doing. By running around telling - perhaps bragging to - your friends, you are only weakening the power of what you have done.

~Raymond Buckland, Secrets of Gypsy Love Magick

Book of Shadows

SONG OF THE GODDESS

I am the Great Mother, worshiped by all creation and existent prior to their consciousness. I am the primal female force, boundless and eternal.

I am the chaste Goddess of the Moon, the Lady of all magic. The winds and moving leaves sing my name. I wear the crescent Moon upon my brow and my feet rest among the starry heavens. I am mysteries yet unsolved, a path newly set upon. I am a field untouched by the plow. Rejoince in me and know the fullness of youth.

I am the blessed Mother, the gracious Lady of the harvest. I am clothed with the deep, cool wonder of the Earth and the gold of the fields heavy with grain. By me the tides of the Earth are ruled; all things come to fruition according to my season. I am refuge and healing. I am the life-giving Mother, wondrously fertile.

Worship me as the Crone, tender of the unbroken cycle of death and rebirth. I am the wheel, the shadow of the Moon. I rule the tides of women and men and give release and renewal to weary souls. Though the darkness of death is my domain, the joy of birth is my gift.

I am the Goddess of the Moon, the Earth, the Seas. My names and strengths are manifold. I pour forth magic and power, peace and wisdom. I am the eternal Maiden, Mother of all, and Crone of darkness, and I send you blessings of limitless love.

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