lupabitch's Xombytes

Before adding more advanced content here, I decided that laying out the basics for anyone unfamiliar with neopagan religions would be a good idea, since this seems to be a wonderfully mixed fishbowl we're all swimming in here. As of this writing I've seen a few related essays, but nothing really going over the basics.

One of the more popular practices in neopaganism is divination. Divination is the art of being able to access possibilities in the future (given a linear view of time), whether determining the most likely one or discerning what your options are.

I’ve never been very good at quiet meditation. I’ve always been more of a trance-dance, shapeshifting magic, get-the-blood-flowing-and-make-things-happen kinda gal. Oh, I’ve tried to clear my mind of all thoughts many times—it always seems to produce just the opposite effect. Reverse psychology indeed.

Animal totemism is one of the most popular esoteric subjects today. People in general tend to be fascinated by the animals in our lives, whether domestic companions, or beautiful wildlife. For some of us there is also a spiritual aspect to our respect for other creatures sharing this place, and one manifestation of that spirituality is animal totemism.

When I was a kid I sometimes hated the fact that I was born female. From what I'd seen, all little girls did was grow up and make babies and tend the house. That just wasn't my cup o' tea, and it still isn't.

Yup, it's that time of year again. Just waiting for Glenn Danzig to...

Oh. Wait. Wrong Samhain.

*ahem*

You call it Halloween, we call it Samhain? Yeah, that's better.

Samhain is the term that most neopagans use to describe October 31, November 1, and/or the first full moon after those days. (I also refer to November 1 as my birthday, but that's beside the point.) Samhain is the holiday that Halloween originated from; the primary purposes are to honor one's ancestors and to celebrate the final harvest before winter settles in for the year. The name Samhain itself derives from the Gaelic word for "summer's end"; there is no deity named Samhain. And, like much of Gaelic, it doesn't sound the way it looks according to English phonetic rules. Instead of "Sam-hayne", pronounce it "Sow-when", "sow" as in the female pig, not what you do with wheat. (Of course, also as with many Gaelic words, the proper pronunciation is often debated.)

First of all, if you're unfamiliar with neopagan animal totemism, read this: http://www.xomba.com/neopagan_animal_totemism_part_1

Now, one of the most common questions I hear is, how do I find my totem?

Okay, so I've already explained the basics of what animal totems are here:

http://www.xomba.com/neopagan_animal_totemism_part_1

Then quit looking for lousy people.

First off, quit believing the stereotypes. Not all men are aggressive, hypermasculine, sports-and-cars-and-beer-loving sex machines without an ounce of romance in them. Not all women are giggly, hyperfeminine, makeup-and-hair stuff-and-women's magazines-loving sex kittens who complain about the toilet seat being left up. There are plenty of people in both groups who don't fit the stereotypes and are quite well-adjusted for it. And some of the stereotypes can be pretty limiting, both for the people who expect them and the ones who embrace them. If you've ever chosen not to do something you wanted to do because it wouldn't be "manly" or "feminine", you're shortchanging yourself. Be true to who you are and look for someone who's true to who s/he is. That doesn't, of course, mean that there's no such thing as a hypermasculine man or a hyperfeminine woman who are more than just walking stereotypes. But if you've turned down someone otherwise interesting because they didn't act "like a real man/real woman should", maybe you need to rethink your criteria.