SalemWitchChild

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Posts posted by SalemWitchChild

  1. HI Guys, 

     

    Some of you know me, some do not. If you don't, I"m a long term member and witch. I use to be very active and helped moderate the forum at one time. Life took me away from forums and blogs for awhile. I started a journey of personal development, and being the busy witch/mom/wife that I am, I didn't have much time for much else. However I've graduated (yay me) and I'm getting back to my roots a bit. 

     

    A community of friends and other Pagans in my area see a need to create a spiritual counseling and recovery outreach program that is non-denominational / Pagan in nature. Our area is hit hard with opioid and other drug usage. There's a Christian based recovery and spiritual counseling center here, but it doesn't cover the needs of those who are not Christian. This can impede an addicts recovery if they do not fit the mould of a typical Christian.

     

    My question here is if anyone has first hand experience filing 501c4 paperwork for tax exempt status. I really have no experience handling this, and it makes me apprehensive to move forward. I'm not sure how to go about getting funding for this. Obviously there can be no profit. So we're not sure how to secure funding and handle taxes. 

    • Like 1
  2. 1 hour ago, Jonathan H. B. Lobl said:

     

     

     

    What I really miss is the old Yahoo Groups.  Long gone.  Yahoo fixed them.  MSN also had good groups for a while.  They were also fixed.  I never got around to investigating the Google groups.

     

    Facebook is every bad thing that people say about it.  For now, I still have my account.

     

    China has major social media.  I'm not sure I want the Chinese Government reading everything I post.  It's a silly quibble.  They probably have their computers scanning all the Facebook posts.

     

    Youtube has their own issues.

     

    :mellow:

     

     

    I use to do spiritual counseling and psychic readings on Yahoo's chat. Loved that. Miss it a lot! I met so many interesting people. It's actually why I became ordained because I was doing so many spiritual counseling sessions, I thought it best I be ordained. 

  3. 3 hours ago, Jonathan H. B. Lobl said:

     

    You raised an interesting question.  I went back looking for the relevant statements.  What I found is quoted, below, under the broken line.  I added quotation marks, otherwise, it is cut and pasted exactly as I found it.

     

    To my understanding; the blogger's concern is handing over her community's source of communication -- to Facebook.  The rest is justification for those fears.

     

    On reflection, I think the real question, is whether any group or community, should trust their communications to Facebook.

     

     

    :mellow:

     

    Welcome back.  It's been too long.

     

    :bye:

     

     

     

    =============================================================================================================================================

     

    "So where does this leave us? Specifically those of us who rely on Facebook because our covens, orders, magical groups, and pagan or polytheist discussion forums that give us the ability to communicate with one another let alone any sense of community? For some of us, the online world is 80% of our means of communication with the outside world–not to mention our source of pagan, polytheist, and/or witch community.

     

    Imagine running a magic class on FB but your account gets banned or suspended because your recent posting on climate change got a ton of angry reacts. What happens to your group?"

     

    Hi Jon. Yes, but this could apply to anything, not specifically Pagans or Wiccans. A persons Diabetes support group could lose their education material, for instance. I think the exodus away from private forums to Facebook groups was a mistake. With forums, the administrators could control content more. 

  4. 1 hour ago, Pete said:

    Please forgive me. I know that I am not a Wiccan or a Witch but I ask because I want to know about a respected faith that many have. Is there a title that is non sexist? I mean a Wizard/Warlock seems to just refer to men. Wizard as I understand it means wise one and yet when I have been a Nurse most of my life and acknowledge in days gone by I may of been considered a Hedge Witch. I consider some Hedge WItches to be just as wise. 

    Is Wizard or Warlock a sexist title? Can men and women be referred to as Witches?

    I ask out of curiosity and in full respect. Sorry if my question appears silly. 

    Witch can be used for both male and female practitioners. Most use this title. There is a small portion of Pagans trying to take back the names Warlock or Wizard for male witches. To many it means Oathbreaker, others say differently. 

    Hedge witch is a type of Pagan that usually has specialized in herbal applications. Either for skin care, medicine, etc. Here's an article about Hedge Witches

  5. someone recommended one from a craft store - like michael's , I'll figure out who that was ;) there is also a clay that you can fire in a regular oven, ditto on that. I've been tempted to set them out in the good ole sunshine and see what happens.

    The only clay I'd recommend not using is Polymer clay. This is because its a type of plastic, and for spiritual items that would not be a good material to use.

  6. swc, is there a brand of air dry that you recommend? and can you wet it down in process to keep it from cracking while you work or does it crack in the drying process?

    the runes are grand!

    The only brand I've ever used is just plain ol Crayola air dry clay. While I'm working I keep it wet so I have more time to form whatever I'm working on. When it is drying you can wet it a bit if it cracks to seal over the crack. But it may crack again.

    Once I have it formed I let the clay dry for about 2 hrs. Then I use a clear polyurathane gloss to seal it. This prevents the cracking.

  7. I like all four of your clay figurines. I've been playing with the idea of making some representing my favorite Greek gods/goddesses.

    Did you use a clay that was air-dried or did it have to go in a kiln? Available at the craft stores?

    Nice job on all of it! I "witch" I was crafty! :wizard:

    It is air dry clay and can be bought in the craft section of Wal-mart or other craft stores.

    I don't know how I missed this :) nice work!

    love clay, I'll try to find photos of my dog sculptures. I'm also interested to hear how people like the air dry clay. I've only used regular clay and kiln but was going to give it a whirl to make a little sign for my business..

    I use air dry clay because its cheap, but I do have problems with cracking. I use a clear polyurathane gloss to avoid the cracks. It seems to work if I get it on before the cracking starts. But I'm hesitant to clear coat it while the clay is wet.

    Very nice. :)

    I still can't figure out how to download my pics here...can someone help? for Fawzo: The altar and tools are steeped in tradition and serve the purpose of drawing energy (psychic and spiritual, not electric...) to the ceremonies and rituals. I am Celtic, and am also an initiate in Correllian Wicca. I clicked on image, and suppose I have to have a URL from the pics on my computer????

    You can either upload the pictures using the attach file feature. (Note you must be on full reply option, not quick reply.)

    Or you can use a hosting site like Photobucket. Upload the pictures there than post the URL code they generate to share it here.

  8. DSCF8071.jpg

    My clay Isis. It's still wet here so that's why its still in a plastic cup in the pic. After it dried it just slips right out of the cup.

    DSCF8081.jpg

    My Cernunnos. He didn't stick well to the cup I made for him. So its just his head and torso that survived.

    DSCF8078.jpg

    Wand, my DD ended up with this. She has it on her little mini altar.

    DSCF76222.jpg

    Prayer Shawl. This took me about 3 months to crochet, but it was worth it. :)

    DSCF76202.jpg

    DSCF74822.jpg

    A little pentacle tree ornament.

  9. Salem, those were amazing experiences. Thanks so much for sharing. You have such a personal connection with your Gods! It's also great to see that your interaction with Cernunnos is facilitating the healing process for you and your relationships with men. Very cool!

    By way of follow up, would people say it is a common occurrence in Paganism to have these kinds of experiences?

    Also, early on in my own journey, I would sometimes share how I heard God's voice or saw a vision and I found that, with some Christians at least, they would become very angry or dismissive when I said that and would even, on one occasion, say it was the devil speaking. I quickly learned to stop sharing. Is this a theme in the Pagan community? I have, out of curiosity, visited a few pagan forums and noticed a fair bit of argument on a great number of things. sort of a "no, no, no, you're doing it all wrong" type thing (which certainly isn't exclusive to pagans, I don't even go to Christian forums since it's a little like being thrown into the inquisition). But I can't recall this sort of thing being brought up.

    It really depends on the individual. Some are further along on their spiritual journey than others. Age is not a factor either. I've seen 50 yr olds more spiritually lost than a teen. What I've experienced is what CAN happen if you put effort and dedication into self discovery and spritiual practice. A lot of it was analysing my true feelings. Like with Cernunnos. The reason why I hadn't been close to a god all those years is because of my experience with men. I would not LET him come through. Only when I began to put those feelings aside did he come to me. It's a journey of self discovery and development. There are many bumps along the path. Each one hurting a little bit to cross. But when you get to the other side you are so much healthier and stronger from the experience.

    Are my experiences "common"? Well I don't really know. Certainly a lot of people I know have some kind of experience encountering deity. Each one is a little different, which is to be expected. We see the deity as we envision them to be. Most see their deity in meditation. Visions are, in my exerpience, very rare, and often life altering.

    Pagan forums are not really a good indication of the Pagan population. I stear clear of them most of the time as well. The ones often saying, "you're doing it wrong" are posers or your snot nosed teen that read a book and think she (or he) is a high priest(ess). I prefer going to local metaphysical stores and local festivals for Pagan community. Even if everyone doesn't agree there, we are certainly more respectful of each other! Maybe you should seek out a shope near you to see for yourself. :) Most are welcoming of every path, as long as you enter without judgement and with respect.

  10. How old were you when you became responsible enough to make the important choices in your life?

    I think it is different for everyone. At 15 I knew I was in love and wasn't going to let anyone stop me from being with my BF. It was even more difficult because he is 10 yrs older than I am.

    Here I am at 32, married happily to him for almost 16 yrs now and we have two beautiful kids. If I had let all those nay sayers win back then I wouldn't have a great family and husband. I definitely made the right choice.

    When people say teens don't know what love is, I laugh. Yeah some of them, and maybe even the majority, may not know what love is. But that is not because of their age.

  11. We've already celebrated Ostara at home. We did a ritual, where we planted seeds inside egg shells to represent our return to growth and new beginnings. We'll plant them outside (sunflowers) when they are ready.

    Then I gave the kids candy and we all sat around while I told a story about Eostre and her bunny who lays eggs.

    Today we'll be going to MIL's house for a dinner and maybe an egg hunt.

  12. Does the "New Age" thinking of extraterrestrials fit in --or have a place within your idea of "faith/God/Source". Like Sirians, Acturians, Lyrans, Pleiadians or from other star systems--Also the one`s from Rigel, Bellatrix, Betelgeuse, Alderbaran and the other so called origins of Reptoids, well if you believe that they actually exist. Or does it conflict with your/faith "religion"?

    Do you believe? Accept their existance? Or not at all?

    I believe aliens are possible, and maybe even probable. Perhaps in ancient times they were worshiped. Especially if they visited and the ancient civilizations witnessed their arrival. But no they do not have any impact on who I worship.

  13. Now, here I would disagree with you. As I stated earlier, Wizard often refers to hermetic magic done by 19th century european spiritualists. However, MAGICIAN is nothing more than an entertainer, a practitioner of the subtle arts of the Mountebank. I have some experience on that front, as stage magic and close-up illusion is a hobby of mine.

    Of course, this is just IMHO, just like your statement.

    I'm aware others don't share my opinion, which is why I added the "Imo" part. Just like some see the word "magic" as the entertainment magic, and "magick" as spiritual work. I personally use magick in relation to spiritual practice.