Christina

Hello and Happy Saturday!

Thank you so much to Adrian Worsfold for his very interesting and informative interview last week. Thanks for sharing with us Adrian!

Today we have a new interview so please welcome Christina. Christina is a Pagan and I know you'll enjoy her interview as well!

Here is Christina's Introduction:

The Spirituality of the Goddess and the people who honor the Great Goddess

I am Christina Morales ( Ahhotep) Paramdhan Kaur, A High Priestess, Modern Medicine Woman and Soul Teacher. I have a traditional background and I was raised in the christen faith. I have a background in the psychology human services field. As a child I knew I would be a healer, teacher and raise consciousness and awareness. Being a Transpersonal Hypnotherapist and Egyptian Shamanic practioner I knew there was more to healing the soul and embracing enlightenment. When I was a young girl I was connected to nature and all living beings and being a medium and channel I was aware of spirit as a very young child. I have an awareness of being connected to the goddess as a preteen girl. The goddess Diana came to me an eighteen year old girl and the Wicca came into my life. The magickal path called me since I was young and each experience was a stepping stone like a piece of the puzzle. Developing my psychic abilities with several spiritual teachers who served my spiritual journey along the way, I began studying Metaphysics in Junior High reading everything I could get my hands on. I explored and experienced tarot in HighSchool. I embrace my abilities in a hidden sort of way from those who knew me at that time. It was not unusual for me to just know certain information about events or people. I journeyed to psychic fairs and eventually found a teacher who would over see my psychic development training for two years. I studied crystal therapy and healing with crystals and stones. I went to Hypnosis school and studied psychology earning a degree and began studying shamanic healing arts and Alchemical Healing and Angel Healing and Readings. I began my studies of Energy Medicine with Aromatherapy, Flower Essences, Plant Spirit Shamanism, and Women Mysteries. I studied Hindu Religion and Sanskrit and Religious Studies and Goddess Spirituality. I work with sacred living and dying and raise awareness and consciousness. I offer ritual design and consultation and ceremonies honoring the life cycles of women and help them remember their light. I am a Mulit-Dimensional Practioner and Teacher and host services to the community and teacher of women circles in Denver, CO.

my blogs are:
www.thepathofthepriestess.blogspot.com
www.firesofsekhmet.blogspot.com
www.medicineofsekhmet.blogspot.com

1) What religion do you practice?

Goddess Spirituality and the old religion of the great Goddess

2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?

I a convert and I studied the ancient religion of the goddess and her worship. I was Catholic before and felt a connection to Mother Mary and the honor of the divine mother. I studied Wicca and nature based religions.

3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
We honor the goddess and celebrate the wheel of the year. The Sabbats and the Esbats & the Moon Rituals. There are different traditions that are under the ancient pagan religion. Wicca has in a sense different styles; it is not based on dogma or a set of beliefs, nor scripture or a sacred book revealed by a prophet. This is a nature based religion and even though the style may be different it is the same foundation.

4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I came from the Dianic Tradition because of the feminist perspective.

5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
No Hell concept. We go to the afterlife and some may have a belief in recarnation and being a Multi-Dimensional being going into other dimensions or realties. In Wicca, a funeral is often referred to as a crossing. We believe that existence is a never-ending cycle of lives. A crossing ritual celebrates an individual's achievements in this life, & wishes the person well on his/her journey to whatever next life in which they choose to incarnate. Some believe that the spirit travels to another plane of existence where it prepares itself for the next life it chooses. This is sometimes referred to as the Summerland. It is also a place where a soul ultimately finishes its journey, after it has incarnated often enough to acquire as many life lessons & as much knowledge as it feels necessary. The Summerland is not considered a reward, akin to the Christian concept of Heaven. Nor is it a plane of punishment comparable to Hell. The rewards for how you live your life come to you while you live it. A crossing eases the transition of the deceased's spirit from this world to the presence of the ancestors, who care for the spirit until it is prepared to reincarnate. In a crossing, the spirit of the deceased is invited to attend, much the same way the deities & ancestors are invited. Crossings can also be performed to aid a spirit who has become lost or confused in its transition. If an individual has died in a traumatic fashion, a crossing will sometimes be performed to help it detach from this plane of existence & help it on its way.
A crossing may be performed with the body or ashes of the individual present, but it is commonly performed without. Crossings are often performed as memorial services, which provide a sense of comfort & a sense of closure for those left behind.

6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?

Everyone is returned to creator source and back into the arms of the Goddess mother.

7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
The honor and sacredness of all living beings and the honor of women and the Goddess we are her daughters.

8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
The Holy Days are following the Wheel of the Year and the cycles of nature and Moon Rituals. Because the Moon was seen as a symbol of the Goddess, ceremonies of adoration and magick took place in its light. The waxing and waning symbolize the cycle of life and death, and the three aspects of the Goddess can be seen in the increase and decrease of the moon's light. The waxing moon was seen to represent the Goddess as Maiden, the full moon as Mother, and the waning moon as Crone. Wiccans do not respect any of these aspects over the other, but it is most common to celebrate the full moon because at that time the moon's energy is at its fullest. This is the triple goddess aspect. Four of the Sabbats take place on the solstices and equinoxes, which are the times of the least and greatest balance between day and night, respectively. Yule (circa December 21) takes place at the winter solstice, Ostara (circa March 21) at the spring equinox, Litha (circa June 21) at the summer solstice, and Mabon (circa September 21) at the autumn equinox. These solstices and equinoxes are the astronomical beginnings of the seasons, and are considered by some Wiccans to be the lesser Sabbats. In our Tradition, they are not. All of the festivals are important to us, and all of the times of the year are sacred. The other four ritual occasions are based on old folk festivals associated with agriculture and the mating and bearing cycles of animals. These are Imbolc (February 1), Beltane (May 1), Lughnassadh (August 1), and Samhain (October 31). These names are Celtic and are quite common among Wiccans, though many other names exist. These are sometimes thought of as the greater Sabbats, although our coven tries to look at them all equally. The images of the Sabbats are more meaningful when you keep in mind that in some of the Sabbats the Goddess is the Earth and the God is the Sun, while in others they represent the cycles of the spirit; life, death, rest and rebirth.
These rituals give structure and order to the Wiccan year, and also remind us of the endless cycle that will continue long after we are gone. Many cultures all over the world celebrate similar holy days at similar times of the year.

9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?

Yes, I honor others spiritual journey to divinity

10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?

Yes, Again I honor the sacredness of all religions and how they connect to source energy.

11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law? Not sure what this is.

12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?

Yes, Priestess and we are all connected to cosmic mother and as her divine daughters we hold the goddess energies.

13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
In feminist Wicca, it is women only circle, but in other Pagan Festivals families and men are involved in honoring the goddess and god energies. Also in some ancient cultures was the Red Tent for women and women who were menstruating.

14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?

I live a spiritual life and the goddess is always with me and she changes everything she touches and I listen to my high self and when making choices and decisions. I tap in and tune in to my divine intuition and I honor people’s lessons and journey and do not oppose gay marriage etc...And abortion is a woman’s right to choose what is right for her and her body.

15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?

I would not react, he will choose who he will love.

16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No

17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
The goddess movement is increasing and she is calling those who hear her call to follow the wiccan/pagan path. We have some great leaders in the movement to create community and awareness to remember our connection to the earth and the cosmos.

18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No, But not long ago was the Burning Times.

19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No. I am Empowered in my female power

20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes

21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Yes, Because we are learning and growing in our spiritual development through experience and we are working out karma on the Wheel of Life.