Copper Moon E-zine

Image of Divinity: The Goddess vs. The God (pt. 1)

by Mychal Bryan

In Witchcraft (and I'm beginning to think of this more in terms of Wicca as well) divinity is seen as dual, and from that duality comes countless expressions of the Divine personified by the goddesses and gods throughout culture.   These goddesses and gods are expressions of the raw and primal energies and powers of the universe, the building blocks of creation, which in turn are seen as coming from the Source, which is beyond concepts of good and evil, light and dark, beginning and end. It is timeless, eternal, and the spark within all the goddesses and gods personified. Though the Source is seen as genderless, I find myself facing conflicts, both internal and external, when the issue of gender-specific titles and roles as it relates to the Source occur within Paganism via literature, thoughts, and opinions. My belief is that this merely boils down to a difference in the human experience from one individual to another and how those individuals view the Divine.

 

Coming Out of the Broomcloset & Relationships

by Bree

 Dating is sticky business, but add the fact that you are a broom closet witch to the mixture and you've got yourself one heck of an ordeal. Sadly, my story was not even that simple- I found my path half way through my relationship and had to deal with how to tell my boyfriend (who was a Christian) and my family (My father is a pastor). Yeah, good times. I am sure most of you can sympathize with what I am talking about here and maybe some of you are in a relationship where the other person doesn't even know about your faith. It’s a really difficult place to find yourself and it feels like if you are honest with one part of who you are that you may lose that person you care about. I can promise you that there is no mixture of herbs or any spell that you can cast that will make this issue go away: it is one of the few mundane things that magic[k] has no grasp on and you must deal with wholly on your own.

The Mists of Avalon: Reviewed and Analyzed

by Mychal Bryan

Marion Zimmer Bradley was born in Albany, New York in 1930. She began her distinguished book publishing career in 1961 with her first novel, The Door Through Space. Though having authored many a fantastic work, thereby winning megalithic acclaim within the literary word, The Mists of Avalon was the single most successful   novel of Bradleys’ career. In the epic retelling of the Arthurian legend, Bradley weaves a tapestry of myth and magick as she creates a modern day tale of history long gone – the saga of the women behind Arthurs throne. And though it is a creation of a little American ladies mind, the novel holds within its pages the power to deeply move you, shake you, and at times touch a place within you that is so uncannily real, you may wonder if this is truly the book that you just happened to pick up while in the thrift store, that sat on your shelf for almost a decade, with many failed attempts to read it over the years due to its massive size or if this is the telling of the lives of several of your dearest friends – their joys, their love, their loss, their death; as Madeline L’Engle puts it, ‘the characters are alive, multidimensional’ (back cover). As we set sail on the barge that leads across the Holy Lake and through 876 pages of The Mists of Avalon, we find that at the end of our journey, we are taken to a place of deep contemplation of the world around us and the places in which we find our true spiritual nourishment.

Learning Magick

by Rose Tigerlilly

Everywhere in the world, people overplay the role of witches, from times back to the Salem Witch Trials to modern books such as the Night World series. I believe that the Wiccan religion should be just like every other religion: respected and tolerant to the other kinds of religions. I myself am part Wiccan and part Christian, which I like to call "Wistian." I also believe it is safe to have multiple religions. It's hard for me to just stick to one because they're all so interesting!

Wicca is such an interesting religion, by far the most interesting religion I have read or learned about in my life. I have read about Buddhism, Judaism, and the Christian faith (mostly because I was born Christian), but the Wiccan religion is obviously different in many ways. Just reading Gwinevere's book, "SpellCraft for Teens", opened my eyes to this wonderful religion. Although it is such a great one, it is difficult to learn all about as well. There are so many different customs and celebrations, I can't figure out how to fit them all in my schedule!

Teens Breeding Love

By Melissa Fae

Time passes. It flows, like water, and slips through our fingers. We find ourselves looking down and staring at our hands, wondering where it went. Where did the young years go, when you were at knee height? When 'challenging other's belief systems' meant telling them you said 'Bloody Mary' in the school bathroom mirror and nothing appeared. When, no matter what religion you belonged to, you could talk, if only to complain about having to sit through some sort of worship.

It's almost funny, how the look of shock on their faces mirrors what happens to certain people when I tell them I'm a Witch. Actually, I used to say Wiccan, but they never understood what I meant, and explaining over and over gets tedious. I have a friend or two who says “Wiccan, ” and just doesn't explain what the term means. Partially obscured in the broom closet, while I am most decidedly... not.

I am proud of my religion. I have no qualms about that initial horror. Time always passes, and the times have changed. It is my constitutional right to be clear about my religion, wear that pentacle on my neck, and say “Goddess” instead of “God.” We are living in a country where we can do this freely, and although I respect the decisions of all broom closeted Witches, I would feel like a personal failure if I didn't parade proudly through my school halls.

The Plight of Wiccans in the Military

by Lorelle 

In 1999, Governor George W. Bush was asked on ABC America what he felt about Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., submitting a statement decrying Wicca, a nature-based faith, as irreligious and saying it should not be accommodated by the military,

"I do not dispute that individuals may believe what they wish, and they can practice their religion in private life," Thurmond told the committee. "However, limits can and should be placed on the exercise of those views, especially in the military. I do not believe that the Armed Forces should accommodate the practice of witchcraft at military facilities. The same applies to the practices of other groups such as Satanists and cultists. For the sake of the honor and prestige of our military, there should be no obligation to permit such activity. This is an example of going too far to accommodate the practice of one's views in the name of religion."

In reply, George W. Bush said that, " I don't think that witchcraft is a religion. I wish the military would rethink this decision [to recognize Wicca]."

Later he was asked whether he agreed with the recent U.S. House of Representatives' vote that said states have the constitutional power to place the Ten Commandments in public buildings, including public schools. "He said that he had no problem with the religious codes being placed in every public building."

Since then, Wicca has been recognized as a "non-traditional" faith in the U.S. army. 

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.

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.

A Good Teacher, From a Student’s Perspective

by Ryan Smith

A major concern among young Pagans I’ve seen, and experienced myself, is of finding a good teacher to help guide them on their path. As I have found the fun part is finding a teacher who both knows what they are doing 
and are genuinely in it for the sake of passing on knowledge to the next generation. There can be a lot of trial and error in finding someone who is right for you. Without a clear idea of what to look for this process can lead the intent seeker into a lot of blind alleys or to people who are a bit unscrupulous. For those who have the good fortune to be learning at the feet of someone who only needs to introduce themselves by name and everyone knows who they are get everything you possibly can out of it! For those who do not have that good fortune I’d just like to share some of my opinions based on my experience on what I think makes for a good teacher and what doesn’t so that hopefully you can avoid some serious pitfalls that can emerge on the path.

First we’ll start with something that may surprise a lot of people and sound superficial. How does the prospective teacher present themselves? This probably sounds very superficial to even consider this but there is a degree of truth that first impressions do matter, both how you appear on other people and how other people come across to you. How someone behaves can tell you a lot about the person. 

Creating Altar Tools for the Young Wiccan on a Budget

by Gwinevere Rain

The average teen has to juggle school stuff, friendship drama, dating dilemmas and a host of parental issues. So adding yet another complication to an already heaping pile can be interesting. This is why being a teen Wiccan on a budget can be super stressful. The good news is that there are ways to overcome broke-witch-syndrome. There are a few key factors to being crafty: know where and when to shop, make things yourself, and see value in everyday items.