Copper Moon E-zine

Family Advice for the Young Witch

by Raven Digitalis

I was lucky enough to be born into a family that, for the most part (save the whole “queer” thing), accepts me for my “weirdness” and even encourages personal growth via unconventional means. For this I can never give enough thanks and gratitude. I understand that not everyone is so lucky as to be born into a situation of acceptance and this is a very, very difficult predicament to find oneself in.

More often than not, parents have their kids’ best interest at heart, even if they don’t seem to be expressing it properly. Neither you nor your family is right or wrong in every given situation. They, too, are but human and have their own shortcomings. As young adults, we must understand that we may not always have a clear picture of the bits and details surrounding parental relationships. Our views are subjective and full of emotions, which may or may not be founded in reality. If you feel persecuted or targeted in your own home (and I’m not talking about physical abuse, sexual abuse, or humiliation), know that this feeling will change with time and you will better be able to determine your boundaries and limits in the future. At the same time, your parents may have preconceived notions about what you are researching, and the paths you find yourself drawn toward. Within every family structure there unavoidably lies some amount of misunderstanding and this must be worked through.

Self analysis: What do I want? Where am I? How far have I come?

by Steel Witch

I've been getting pissed off at myself recently. I like to be good at the things I do. I mean, that's only natural. Everyone is that way! Who starts learning something new with the stated goal of being mediocre at it? “Yeah man, I'm learning guitar. Just you wait! I'm gonna be the freakng averegest guitar player you'll ever see!” You'll never hear anyone say that. (As I type this, some guy in Massachusetts is saying that exact thing: “Yeah man, twice as average as that other dude.”)

So what does this have to do with anything, and why am I typing it up for you to read? I've started to feel recently that I'm just not being Wiccan hard enough. Sure, I work on an ezine on Wicca and am getting published in a book about Witchcraft and wear my pentacle like it's going out of style... but it's the mundane stuff that's starting to throw me for a loop. I've been practicing for short of two years now and things just aren't moving quite as well as I expected—I'm having problems with even the basics of energy work and meditation. Shouldn't I be commanding phenomenal cosmic power, journeying to the spirit world, and chatting with the gods over tea in the morning by now? Jeez, all those books make it sound so easy. Just relax, feel all your problems melting away. Done? Great, now you don't have any more problems. Maybe it is all of the grimoires I've been looking at recently. I've got books that tell me how to reach gnosis through meditation, dancing, sex, sex-dancing, meditation-sex, illegal drugs, 4/4 breathing, or mudras. I can find numerous ways to banish a spirit or create a spirit or become a spirit or turn a part of you into a spirit so you can banish it or invoke or evoke or... you get the picture. Looking at all these cool things I can't do sometimes make me feel crappy, like I can't do anything. My most recent slump inspired me to write this article.

By Hammer, By Spear : About the Asatru Path

by Ryan Smith

Asatru, the faith of the Norse and Germanic Gods, is more than just a belief system, it is a way of life. There are many things that can define what we believe; the Eddas, the Nine Noble Virtues, the writings of many great Asatru thinkers. These are excellent places to start for studying Asatru. What is most important to remember is Asatru is not something done just on the Holy Days and at blots. To be Asatruar is more than just the blots, the jewelry, the runes, and the sagas. It is a conscious way of living that permeates everything we do. Being Asatruar is not just to hold a set of beliefs as the guiding light we follow; it is to fully embrace a new perspective on life.

To be Asatruar is to live life fully and honorably. It is to welcome that life is not a trial to be endured, a lesson to be learned, or a burden to be carried but an adventure that only ends with our last breath. It is knowing that a good life is not just about the affirmations we think, the statements we make, and the beliefs we hold. It is living by the deeds we do and the actions we perform. It is to chart your life by the highest star and strive to always do the best you can and settle for nothing less. It is to not see obstacles as barriers that impede us but as challenges to be overcome. It is to laugh loudly, speak honestly, and give generously.