Henri Nouwen Quote

Hello and Happy Wednesday!

Today's quote is brought to you by Henri Nouwen:

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.


Have a wonderful day everyone!

Thank You!

Hello and Happy Saturday!

I wish to thank the wonderful ymr participants:

Agnostic Wife, The Wise Fool, Doug Doan, Dennis Heil, Sherry M. Peyton, Sheldon and Kerr Cuhulain!

Such a unique group of interviews! I really enjoyed reading all of them and I thank you for sharing with the ymr readers!

Take care everyone and have a wonderful Saturday!

Christopher Hitchens Quote

Hello and Happy Wednesday!

Today's quote is brought to you by Christopher Hitchens:

I don't think it's possible to have a sense of tragedy without having a sense of humor.


Have a wonderful day everyone!

Kerr Cuhulain

Hello and Happy Saturday!

I wish to thank Sheldon for his wonderful interview! I enjoyed reading your answers and I thank you for sharing with us Sheldon!

Today we have a new interview so please welcome Kerr Cuhulain. Kerr is a Wiccan and I know you'll enjoy his interview as well!

Here Is Kerr Cuhulain's Introduction:

 

Kerr Cuhulain has been a Wiccan for 44 years and was involved in anti-defamation activism and hate crimes investigation for the Pagan community from 1986 to 2005. Kerr was awarded the Shield of Valor by the Witches League for Public Awareness. Kerr is the author of the Law Enforcement Guide to Wicca, Witch Hunts, Wiccan Warrior, Full Contact Magick, Magickal Self Defense, Pagan Religions: A Handbook for Diversity Training, and Modern Knighthood. Kerr has a column with 182 articles on anti-defamation issues and hate crimes on The Witches’ Voice web site called Witch Hunts. His latest book, How to Be Glorious: Step by Step Empowerment, is now a Smashwords ebook. He is the co author of a safety book for social workers and nurses: Safe Approach. Kerr is also the author of Ancient Recipes for Modern Kitchens, a cookbook of ancient recipes. He writes sword and sorcery fantasy fiction as C.A. Ennis and paranormal romance as Carrie Bryce.

Kerr is the former Preceptor General of Officers of Avalon, an organization representing Neo-Pagan professionals in the emergency services (police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians). Kerr retired from the Vancouver Police Department in November 2005 after serving 29 years with them. He was awarded the Governor General’s Exemplary Service Medal. Kerr's past job assignments within the VPD include the Emergency Response Team, Hostage Negotiator, Child Abuse Investigator, Gang Crime Unit, and the Mental Health Emergency Services Unit. Kerr went on to be a police dispatcher and trainer for ECOMM for Southwestern BC from 2005 to 2013. He has now retired from law enforcement work.

Kerr is the Grand Master and founder of a Wiccan order of Knighthood called the Order of Scáthach in Surrey, British Columbia in October 2007. The Order is now a registered society in the province of British Columbia and the sponsor of Vancouver Pagan Pride.  The Order of Scáthach embraces the Warrior philosophies, precepts and code of chivalry outlined in Kerr’s books.  The Order of Scáthach is a study group for people interested in Wiccan magick, energy work and rituals related to the Warrior path, focusing on empowerment, personal development and creative expression. The training focuses on the effective use of magickal energy and developing psychic skills. The Order of Scáthach is constantly developing new rituals, and magick and studying our Warrior philosophy. Our members are spread across the globe and connect through local preceptories and on line.

 Kerr Cuhulain’s blog: http://kerrcuhulain.blogspot.com/

1) What religion do you practice?

 

Wicca

 

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 discovered Wicca back in 1969 when browsing in a high school library. I’d been a seeker for many years. I didn’t belong to any established religion prior to this.

 

3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)?  What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?

 

There are many different traditions and varieties of Wicca reflecting variations in the pantheons used.

 

4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ?  Why did you choose this degree of observance?

 

I am the head of a Wiccan order of knighthood called the Order of Scáthach. I started writing about the Warrior archetype in Wiccan practice many years ago and it led to me founding this Order.

 

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)

 

There is no equivalent to Hell in Wiccan religion. We pass on to rest in the Summerland and then are reincarnated.

 

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

 

We don’t have a heaven/paradise in Wiccan practice. There is a concept of karma (you get back what you put out there).

 

7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?

 

It works for me. It allows me to take charge of my life.

 

8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?

 

We have eight seasonal festivals that allow us to follow and honor the turning of the seasons and our connection with the living world around us. We also worship on or around the full moon.

 

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

 

We are all looking at the same thing out there but because we come from different social, educational, and cultural backgrounds we perceive things differently. If we can all come to the realization that we are all seekers and share our perspectives we’ll all be able to get along. Religion isn’t a one size fits all proposition. It is an individual path.

 

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

 

Sure. I’ve done interfaith work for years. Experiencing other faiths helps me to understand my own.

 

11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?

 

Many religions form the basis for law in society. Many have a list of “thou shalt not” rules. My religion differs as the emphasis is “I will not”. In other words taking personal responsibility for your actions and owning them. If you harm another, you fix it.

 

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

 

Yes, there is sexual equality in Wicca. Both females and males have equal opportunities. It takes both genders to hold up the world.

 

13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?

 

No, it does not. We actually don’t have permanent temples either. We set up our sacred space when and where we need it.

 

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?

 

Wicca is my identity and definitely informs my decisions. We don’t have any problem with gay people.

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

 

It is there choice. We don’t proselytize.

 

16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?

 

We don’t believe in hell and we see the devil as a Christian personification of evil that we don’t subscribe to.

 

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?

 

Elders in our religion have disagreements from time to time but for the most part we stand together on things even though we may come from different traditions.

 

18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.

 

Oh yes. I spent 25 years engaged in anti defamation work for the Pagan community arising from a very vocal but small group of fundamentalist Christians trying to create the impression that there was a Satanic conspiracy out there and that my religious community was part of it. They did not succeed.

 

19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?

 

No. It is about empowerment.

 

20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?

 

Absolutely.

 

21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?

 

I do. Lots of evidence of it out there. I think we live multiple lives to develop ourselves. 

 

 Order of Scáthach web site: http://www.dunscathach.com/

Order of Scathách training blog: http://dunscathach.wordpress.com/

Kerr Cuhulain’s blog: http://kerrcuhulain.blogspot.com/

Kerr’s latest Smashwords book: Modern Knighthood:https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/34975

Check out Kerr’s daily affirmations:

Twitter: @warriorwitch

Facebook: Kerr Cuhulain

YouTube channel for the Order of Scathách: http://www.youtube.com/user/goibhniu13?feature=mhum

Pagan Religions: A Manual for Diversity Training: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Pagan-Religions-Manual-Diversity-Training-Kerr-Cuhulain/9780971005068-item.html?cookieCheck=1