Witches' Weekly

Time for Witches Weekly again! :)

What is your favorite pagan related website?

I really like Witches' Voice just because they have so much good information, including information you can give to educators, police in your community and others who might need to have a better understanding of Paganism and Witchcraft as part of their official duties. My favourite Norse-based site is Irminsul which is a clearinghouse of information on varoius Norse oriented groups, sites, resources and other information. Both of these sites seem to be focused on helping educate people and helping Pagans and Heathens connect with each other, which really fills a need for the community.

Well, I don't have a "magickal" name, Kriselda Jarnsaxa is a name that I adopted because of my spirituality, similar to how some who convert to other faiths will take a name that represents the "new" person they are in that faith (probably most frequently seen in converts to Islam who adopt a Muslim name, but certainly not limited to them).

Magical names are often described as names known only to you and your God(s), or possibly you, your God(s) and coven elders (in some Wiccan traditions), and is used to represent that special relationship that exists between the individual an the divine. I think its kind of an interesting concept, but it's just not something that's used much in the Norse paths, and, while I do still retain some Wiccan-oriented practices, it's one I've just never adopted.

Heathens in general, though, tend to be a lot more pragmatic and less "mystically"-oriented than some of the more esoteric paths. Just as a Heathen blot (basic worship service) is much simpler in structure than a Wiccan circle, so our naming traditions tend to be simpler. I do, however, feel that for people who wish to follow the true Wiccan path, as it has been established, it probably is quite necessary to have a Magickal name. That's just part of faith as a whole, and I respect that.

That's a hard one to answer because with me, it often depends on what day you ask me. Today, I've feeling very strongly connected to Fire and Air - which are two I relate to quite frequently, being the elements that represent passion and temperment (Fire) as well as mental skills and intelligence (Air). If you've read this blog much, you know that I tend to read a lot, think about stuff, get pissed off and then write. Usually a lot. Other days, though, I much more grounded and practical (which are represented in Earth) or I just go on emotions (Water).

I've seen several of those fun little quizzes that are supposed to tell you which element represents you, and I get different answers all the time. Most people would say that's an indication that you're fairly well balanced, but if I'm balanced it's only because I spend so much time running from one point to another than it averages out that way *g*.