Yoko Ono Quote

Hello and Happy Wednesday!

Today's quote is brought to you by Yoko Ono:

Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence. Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance. Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence. Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance

There's a new post coming up Saturday so be sure to check back!

Upasana

Hello and Happy Saturday Everyone!

I wish to thank Derek Leman for sharing his faith journey with us last week; an excellent read. Thank you so much Derek!

This week we have a new interview so please welcome Upasana.
Upasana is Hindu and I know you will enjoy her interview as well!


Here Is Upasana's Introduction:



Hello. My name is Upasana which means to worship in Sanskrit. I am originally from India and I am a Hindu and I practice Hinduism. Hinduism believes in Dharma (virtuous living), Karma (actions and conducts), Reincarnation of the soul and Moksha (Salvation). The Vedas (meaning knowledge) are the most sacred text written in Sanskrit. There are four Vedic books which discuss about the God and creation, of which the Rig-Veda is the oldest. The Upanishads (dated 1000–300 B.C.), speculate on the origin of the universe and the nature of deity, and atman (the individual soul) and its relationship to Brahman (the universal soul). It is here where they introduce the doctrine of karma and recommend meditation and the practice of yoga. The Bhagwada Gita is the Holy book of 700 verses has teachings of Lord Krishna who tells us how we should conduct ourselves. The main deities, is the Trinity of Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Preserver) and Shiva(the destroyer of Evil). I am a strong believer and worshipper of Lord Shiva. I am currently a graduate student and I reside in New York. My parents, my sister and my two cute dogs live in India. I have a blog Desi Diaries where I talk about my journey from India to US. Desi meaning anyone who belongs to the Indian subcontinent.
My blog: http://desidiaries.blogspot.com/

1) What religion do you practice?
I practice Hinduism.

2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I personally believe no child is born with a religion tag. Anyone who is ready to live the Hindu way of life is a Hindu. I was born in a family which practiced Hinduism and that makes me a Hindu too.

3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
A liberal.

4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
My practice welcomes people of every religion and caste unlike the orthodox Hindus which has a caste system. Also, I have non-vegetarian food unlike many Hindus who prohibit the consumption of alcohol and non-vegetarian meals.

5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
Hindu society is divided into caste system. The four major classes of the system are (1) the Brahmin (priestly and learned class); (2) the Kshatriya (military, professional, ruling, and governing occupations); (3) the Vaishya (landowners, merchants, and business occupations); and (4) the Sudra (artisans, laborers, and peasants). Caste system still exists in many parts even today.
An Orthodox Hindu is the one who does believe in inter-caste or inter-religion marriages, who does not drink alcohol and eat non-vegetarian.

A moderate Hindu is one who can be a bit more flexible and does not restrict himself strictly to the orthodox way of living.

6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
Swarga Lok (a heavenly paradise)

7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Hinduism believes in

Swarga Lok (a heavenly paradise where most of the Hindu gods (Deva) reside along with the king of gods, Indra) and Naraka ( a lower and darker plane filled with evil doers)

Being a hindu in my opinion, it is the good or the bad deeds along with the theory of Karma (the law of cause and effect by which each individual creates his own destiny by his thoughts, words and deeds) which will decide whether he/she will go to heaven or hell.

8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
The feeling of connection and peace of mind and my strong belief in Karma make me fit in what I practice.

9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Main ones –

Holi (Festival of Colors)- celebrates the arrival of spring and the death of the demoness Holika.

Diwali (Festival of Lights)- A festival celebrated with family and friends, sweets exchanged and firecrackers, candles and diyas. Diwali is celebration of the message of Lord Rama's return to Ajodhya from a fourteen year exile.

Mahasivarathri: A holy day which is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva(Supreme God in Hinduism who is believed to be the Destroyer of Evil).

Guru Purnima: One of the most auspicious days where the devotees worship the Gurus and keep fast (Abstaining from all or certain foods, as in observance of a vow or holy day).

10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes!

11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Yes I would be a part as long as they do not have an issue with me being a part of their ceremonies or celebrations.

12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I don’t know much about Islam. However, I am aware of the Purdah System in India (both followed in Hindu as well as Muslim families) where the woman is supposed to wear a Purdah (veil or curtain). I personally feel we need better reforms to abolish such systems. Not very sure about others though.

13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
Some religions where women are not allowed to become priest still has to undergo a lot of changes. It depends on how people look at it and how ready they are to do something about it.

14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
It depends. Men and women at times.

15) 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?
It affects me a lot. I do believe whatever happens in my life is a result of my Karma. I know whatever deeds I am doing are getting filed and so I do take decisions always keeping in mind that it will take me to heaven or hell or help me get salvation. As long as I am not going against the Prakriti-the nature that God has created I am okay.

16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
Would be no problem.

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

18) 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?
I believe certain Saints (Gurus) who say they don’t believe in the material world and yet find ways to settle down with the latest materialistic desires are not setting a correct example.

19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No.

20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No.

21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes it does.

22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Yes. Hinduism is based on the concept of reincarnation, where all of us are caught in a cosmic cycle of birth and death and all of us including living things from plants to animals to us and even God.

Mourning Dove Quote

Hello and Happy Wednesday!

Today's quote is brought to you by Mourning Dove:


Everything on earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it, and every person a mission. This is the Indian theory of existence.




There'll be a new interview on Saturday, so be sure to check back.

Derek Leman

Hello and Happy Saturday!

I wish to thank Leah Jane for her fascinating and interesting interview last week- Thank you so much for sharing with us Leah Jane!

Today we have a new interview so please welcome Derek Leman. Derek is a Messianic Jewish Rabbi and I know you will enjoy his interview as well!

Here Is Derek Leman's Introduction:

Derek Leman is from Atlanta, Georgia, where he is the rabbi at Tikvat David Messianic Synagogue. Derek writes and speaks about the life of Yeshua (Jesus), the world to come, the Biblical feasts, the intersection of Judaism and Christianity, and the Presence of God. Derek has an M.T.S. from Emory University in Hebrew Bible, has studied rabbinics at Messianic Jewish Theological Institute, and is the author of nine books. He and his wife Linda have a large family with eight children. Derek's books include Yeshua in Context, The World to Come, and Feast.

http://derek4messiah.wordpress.com
http://YeshuaInContext.com



1) What religion do you practice?
Messianic Judaism, a Judaism in which Yeshua (Jesus) is central and is our teacher and Messiah.

2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
My wife and I converted to Judaism along with our children. Prior to conversion we were Christians and increasingly involved in the Jewish community and practicing Christian faith in a Jewish manner. Conversion involved a panel of rabbis who oversaw our training, interviewed us repeatedly, and immersed us in water after meeting other requirements (hatafat brit dam, a ceremony for male converts already circumcised, but not in accordance with Jewish law).

3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
I'd probably be in the conservative camp in most people's way of thinking, though I'm not Orthodox in the Jewish spectrum nor do I hold to some of the more traditionally conservative views on the Christian spectrum.

4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
I believe the miracles of the Bible are real, that prophets and apostles of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament really were inspired by God, that God walked among us, and so on, so that probably makes me conservative.

5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
In Judaism and Christianity, believing that the Bible is God's self-disclosure mediated through human writings, that its record of miracles and its mystical view of the cosmos is true, and that faith in God and Messiah is vital and needed by all people is what makes someone conservative.

6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
The Jewish and Christian traditional view is the World to Come. I wrote a book about it. It is a myth that Jews and Christians believe in a non-material afterlife as our ultimate destiny. The Bible, traditional Jewish sources, and traditional Christian sources all affirm a bodily resurrection and this world remade with all hurts healed, evil conquered, no hunger or thirst or suffering, and so on. The most beautiful things in this world will be there, but more beautiful still, and the things not helpful or glorious will no longer be. We will work for joy, not necessity, and be occupied for eternity in learning, relationships with God and each other, creating, and enjoying the world. There will be feasting and dancing, the sources tell us, and agriculture made easy.

7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
It is possible that eventually everyone will. Our sources are unclear and mysterious in some ways about this question. I do believe there will be judgment. I do not believe there will be unending, conscious torment for anyone. I think much about how all the details will work out is mysterious and traditional theories are problematic. It is also possible that some who enter judgment might never choose the growth required to leave and be admitted to the world to come. If this is the case, I do not believe God would continue tormenting them forever and so perhaps they would be annihilated.

8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It is what I believe to be true and it is full of joy. It satisfies my mind and my desires. I see evidences of my faith in all things. And yes, there are troubling questions and suffering is the hardest one. But there are indications that suffering will also have meaning in the end and while I cannot comprehend it all, I trust while waiting to see redemption and healing come.

9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
We have many. The main ones are in Leviticus 23 (Sabbath, Passover, Shavuot/Weeks, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur/Atonement, and Sukkot/Tabernacles). Some are later (Purim) and some are traditional, not biblical (Hanukkah, Tisha B'Av). We observe them all according to the standard Jewish practice (our ways are similar to Conservative Judaism).

10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Of course. We are all made in the image of God, according to the Bible I believe. It is incumbent upon me to treat people with generosity and caring.

11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
I could join in with any Christian or Jewish group in good conscience as long as they were not using images in their worship. I could not offer devotion to a foreign deity. I could certainly celebrate with people otherwise, observe, and participate in ways that do not involve devotion to other gods or worshipping my God with images.

12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I am sad that women would be asked to live without freedom. I am not in favor of state religion and, thus, I am as much against Shariah law as I would be a set of Christian or Jewish civil laws requiring all people to follow them without choice.

13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
This is not an issue for us (we don't have priests exactly). That is an issue for Roman Catholics and the Eastern churches to work out for themselves.

14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
I'm not sure if you mean segregate based on gender (no we don't) or ethnicity (we do in a sense, because Jewishness is an ethnic identity as well as a religion).

15) 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?
Of course. Our practices include reading, study, prayer, ethical behavior, and acts of kindness every day. Regarding abortion, I feel strongly that this is about the rights of the baby (which override the rights of the mother to a child-free uterus). As for gay marriage, I do not think civil laws can or should dictate sexuality but possibly the legal issue of the state granting marriage certificates should be restricted to monogamous, heterosexual couples. Those who know more about social policy and law than I do could answer better, but I don't think the state needs to redefine marriage to protect the civil rights of all people, regardless of their sexual choices.

16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
I would be disappointed but would continue loving them.

17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
My faith is broad and includes Judaism and Christianity. I do think there is judgment in the afterlife, but as I said above, not unending, conscious torment. I am also not sure we know what hell is like. Our sources are divergent and include elements that perhaps are not literal and which are not all compatible (darkness, fire, separation).

18) 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?
I would like to see Christianity known more for acts of kindness and healing the world than naive political involvement. I would like to see Jewry known for justice and not to be known for equally naive political involvement. There is a tendency for religious-political mixtures to be intolerant (regardless if the aim is right or left).

19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
My children have had some mild taunting for being Jewish, but nothing criminal.

20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Of course not. God elevates us.

21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Absolutely, though this does not mean I don't experience conflict and suffering like everyone else.

22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
No. I believe our souls are our own and are not recycled. We will always be us. And our bodies and souls will be reunited at the resurrection.

Richard Pryor Quote

Hello and Happy Wednesday!


Today's quote is brought to you by Richard Pryor:


If I thought about it, I could be bitter, but I don't feel like being bitter. Being bitter makes you immobile, and there's too much that I still want to do.



New interview coming Saturday, so be sure to check back!

Leah Jane

Hello and Happy Saturday!

Thank you so much to Lily Shahar Kunning for sharing your very interesting faith journey with all of us. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your answers!
Thank you so much Lily!

Today we have a new interview so please welcome Leah Jane.
Leah Jane is an Apikoros and I know you will enjoy her interview as well!



Here Is Leah Jane's Introduction:


I am Leah Jane. I'm an over-educated, loudmouthed, somewhat unconventional, autistic poet-dreamer who likes to smell flowers. All you need to know about me is that despite its depravity, I remain always a great lover of humanity and will always try to push it collectively in the right direction, despite it being a spirit-breaking labour. I love the world too much to be happy in it, but that doesn't mean I can't try.
I also am the blog mistress of The Quixotic Autistic (http://quixoticautistic.blogspot.com/ ) where I can be found talking about autism from my own point of view as an autistic person.



1)What religion do you practice?
After much deliberation and consideration, I decided to label my own spiritual practices as “Apikoros”, which describes in the Jewish tradition, anyone who holds heterodox or unconventional views. It sums up what can be described as me attempting to follow in the footsteps of Baruch Spinoza, Albert Einstein, Carl Sagan, and other great Jewish figures, who pushed boundaries and flouted tradition in favour of something more personally meaningful.
It's largely informed my a deep love for both the universe we all share with one another, and a desire to emphasize our connected fate over divisive forces. I'm more or less a secular Jew at this point.

2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
My father was a non-practicing Jew, and my mother had been Lutheran as a little girl, but I was never pushed into any particular religious tradition. I also grew up in a primarily Japanese-American neighborhood, which I think, in the long-term, influenced the way that I understand human nature, because my neighbours introduced me to Buddhism and Shinto at an early age.
When I became a teenager, I studied many of the world's religions, partially because even though I did not believe in an anthropomorphic, aware God, I was feeling spiritually deprived from the death of my father, and wanted to better comprehend human nature, something which I felt as an autistic person that I had to learn from scratch. I found many of the ideas enchanting, but I felt they were saddled down with unnecessary dogma and lofty declarations about the universe that were not falsifiable.
I reached where I am today by going back to my father's religion, and becoming infatuated with several Jewish concepts, but in particular, the principle of Shalom, or “peace”, stuck to me. The ideas of social justice, community, and covenant stayed in my heart, and I decided, ultimately, that these concepts were too wonderful for me to abandon just because I did not agree with all of the rest of Judaism. So I decided to become a secular Jew.

3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
I'm extremely liberal. I try my best on principle to accommodate all view points, but a few conservative or orthodox schools of thought directly clash with my firm philosophy of treating all people with dignity and respect.

4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
Probably my most defining liberal feature is the absence in my world view of a sentient, humanoid God figure, and my emphasis on shared culture, celebration of love and peace, and social justice over adherence to Holy Books.

5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
I think a staunch belief in the traditional canon of one's religious literature/oral tradition would be the best definition.

6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
I don't believe in an otherworldly paradise after death. But the way my belief system works is that I am trying to push humanity towards the closest thing we will get to paradise on earth. We may never reach it, but that is no reason to never stop trying. We can do better.

7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Right now, we have yet to reach the paradise I dream of: A world free of oppression, hunger, privilege, illiteracy, poverty, inequality, and terror. I hope though, that in due time, we will all be welcome into this paradise, regardless of religion or creed.

8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It's something that I came to on my own journey, and which I am continuing to discover and unfold as I get older and I change. It's a synthesis of both my traditional heritage and my own thoughts and ideas.

9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
I like to celebrate the Jewish high holidays, either at home, or among close friends who share my culture.

10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Absolutely. We're all brothers and sisters, and the way I see other religions is as a series of roots all coming out to form the same tree.

11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
I have on multiple occasions celebrated with other faiths. I have attended Eid celebrations, Buddhist meditation sessions, and when I lived in Japan, I attended Shinto ceremonies, a Seicho No Ie class, and prayed nightly at the Butsudan with my host family. I see no reason why I shouldn't, as long as the holy days and ceremonies are rooted in love or another noble virtue.

12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
The Burka is a personal choice; As long as a woman is not being forced against her will by family or courts to don it, I am fine with her decision. Sharia law I look less kindly upon, because I believe human rights trump all other laws.

13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
It appears to have no real explanation other than a belief stemming from ancient cultures that women are somehow unclean or incomplete versions of men.

14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
I have no place of worship specifically.

15) 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?
It affects most, if not all, of my ethical decisions and the way I interact with my fellow humans and animals. My opinions on social issues like abortion and gay marriage are informed by years of Jewish persecution at the hands of gentile ideology: I have come to believe that any judgment upon others based on your own personal views is not acceptable.

16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
I would have no problem whatsoever. Whatever root they take, it all leads back to that same tree. But I would be devastated if they adopted a religion which participated in the oppression of other people.

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

18) 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?
There are plenty of Jews who would actually consider me to be “not practicing” because of my views on God and the universe. I also am not particularly popular with Atheists and Agnostics. Perhaps the closest representative to my “religion” in mainstream culture is pantheists and secular Jews. Einstein is a popular example today, although he is, tragically, frequently misquoted. Same goes for Carl Sagan.

19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
I've never had people perform criminal acts or violent acts against me. I've been harassed on the job before for my religious views and cultural background, and it was a heartbreaking experience. I can't even imagine living in a world where Pogroms are still commonplace.

20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No. Sometimes I feel that other people misunderstand me or pigeonhole me based on either stereotypes about Jews or Atheist/Agnostics, but that is their way, and not my tragedy.

21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
It does. It offers me a chance to sit back and contemplate just how tiny I am, and yet it gives me a sense of purpose and direction, and most important of all, community.

22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
I've never seen any proof of it offered. But I'm not closed to the idea until I see irrefutable proof that it's not the case.

Karl Pilkington Quote

Hello and Happy Thursday!

Today's quote is brought to you by Karl Pilkington:


I look at life like a big book and sometimes you get half way through it and go 'Even though I've been enjoying it, I've had enough. Give us another book'.


New interview coming Saturday, so be sure to check back!

April Interviews

Hello and Happy Tuesday!

Here's a sneak peek into the April Interviews:

We'll hear from Loga'Abdullah who is a Muslim, Michelle who is a Pantheist, Sarah who is a Mormon, Grace who is an Atheist and Hesham A. Hassaballa who is a Muslim.

All excellent interviews that you won't want to miss!

Lily Shahar Kunning

Hello and Happy Saturday!

I wish to thank SJ for sharing his faith journey with us. An excellent read, thank you so much SJ!

Today we have a new post so please welcome Lily Shahar Kunning. Lily is a student of Feri Witchcraft and I know you will enjoy her interview as well!

Here Is Lily Shahar Kunning's Introduction:



Lily Shahar Kunning is a mom, blogger, grad student, Feri student, partner, friend, priestess, and organizer. Not necessarily in that order on any given day. Her blog Witch Mom is about parenting a witchlet, being a priestess in the greater pagan community, navigating the world as a religious minority, and educating myself and others (including my own son) about this Path.

Witch Mom blog: http://witchmom.com


1) What religion do you practice?
Feri Witchcraft. It's an American religious Witchcraft tradition that, like the United States, has elements of all kinds of immigrant populations and their traditions: Voudou, Santeria, Appalachian folk craft, Brujeria, and Hawaiian traditions, all blending with British Traditional Craft.

2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I converted in 2006. I have been studying the tradition since then with the hopes of being initiated into the tradition. As a initiatory mystery religion, once initiated, you are a priest of the religion. Until initiation, you are a student, like me.

3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
I'm assuming you mean in terms of movements within my religion, not politically. (Like Orthodox, or Conservative Judaism, yes?) I find that most of my opinions are somewhat conservative (but not extreme orthodox) within Feri itself. Outside of my religion, I find that I am radical (to the left) in the extreme.

4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
In an oral tradition like mine, I think that a conservative wishes to preserve tradition and values kin, community and honor. Moderates would be situationalist, and liberals would throw that all out the window in favor of individual gain (As radical protest singer Phil Ochs once said, "A liberal is 10 degrees to the left of center in good times and 10 degrees to the right of center when it affects them personally.").

5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
Conservatives value what traditions we have and wish to preserve them. They value community and tribe (the group) over the individual. Moderates seek to make changes at times, sometimes going for what is best for the group, sometimes going for what is best for the individual.

6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
Feri Witches don't believe in a heaven the way that Christians do. We believe in reincarnation of sorts. Heaven, if there is such a place, can exist right here on earth. We just have to make it so. We can also make it hell. There is no need for transcendence and rewards after death in an embodied, imminent theology like Feri.

7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
People can believe what they wish. I personally find it sad when other religions use their theology to condemn and oppress others, though. That is not the role of religion.

8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It believes that the body and its natural functions (including sex) are sacred and holy. I believe in social justice, and Feri is a religion that walks its talk in terms of equality for people- women and men are religious leaders and work together. It is pro-queer, not merely tolerant of non-heterosexual sexualities.

9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
We celebrate the eight sabbats on the wheel of the year:

Samhain: November 1st
Yule- Winter Solstice

Imbolc: Feb 1st
Oestara- Vernal Equinox

Beltaine: May 1st
Midsummer- Summer Solstice

Lughnassadh: August 1st

Mabon- Autumnal Equinox

My faves are Samhain and Beltaine. For Beltaine, I take my family up to Wolf Creek, a Radical Faerie Sanctuary in Oregon where we observe Beltaine the way it was meant to be observed: sexy, ecstatic and with kin. At Samhain, I help to plan a Feri ritual here at home where we can commune with our dead (both the mighty dead of our tradition and our individual beloved dead).

I also like Mabon as a witches' Thanksgiving (yummy feast with kin and tribe!) and Yule for all the fun Christmas memories it brings up for me from childhood.

10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Absolutely! I also go to a UU seminary, where I am getting my M.Div and break bread and learn from others who are Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and Buddhist.

11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Yes, and already have. The last one being a Sufi Zikr. I believe to understand a person, you must first understand their beliefs. If you cannot stand side-by-side with someone in love and understanding, how will you expect them to do that for you?

12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
If they are freely chosen, there is nothing wrong with them. People have a right to live their faith how they see fit. As long as everyone is given the genuine opportunity to say yes or no, what others do is fine by me.

13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
You mean in Catholicism? Because in my religion, women are priests already! I feel that the Vatican is really burning a lot of bridges with their stances on women in the Church, homosexuality, birth control, and abortion. They have lost so many members here in the US because of their unwillingness to change and grow.

14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No, Feri does not segregate.

15) 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?
Feri affects everything in my life and is fully integrated into how I see the world. I cannot help but make my decisions with a Feri frame of reference. That said, It does not have prescribed dogma regarding what others can do with their bodies (abortion, sex, etc.). And we gladly marry anyone, regardless of gender.

16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
It is likely that he would do so, as there are so few Feri Witches to begin with. My child will be raised to make his own well-informed decisions. I look forward to seeing who he falls in love with and supporting him every step of the way.

17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
Hell is for religions that try and instill fear to gain societal control. I do not believe in hell- except as it appears here on earth when people make war and such.

19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
Yes, I was walking down the street, hand in hand with my lover and was gay bashed. They split my lip open and rendered me unconscious for a minute or so.

20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No. Never.

21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes. Being connected to everyone and everything is amazing.

22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Yes. Because it makes sense, and I can remember some things myself. Victor Anderson, former Grandmaster of the Feri tradition said, "perceive first, believe later". I agree with that. Joseph Campbell said similarly, "I don't need faith, I have experience." I agree with that also.

Edith Bouvier Beale Quote

Hello and Happy Thursday!

Today's quote is brought to you by Edith "Little Edie" Bouvier Beale:


You can't have your cake and eat it, too in life.

Huge Thanks!

Hello and Happy Tuesday Everyone!

I wish to thank YMR participants:

Irving Karchmar, Beth Chapman, Carina, Tricia, Michael Webb, Diana and SJ for their insightful, wonderful and unique interviews. I want to thank you all for being so open and for sharing your journeys with us. I learned much from all of you and I thank you for that.

Thank you all!