Part 3: Personal practice

Part of a 3 part essay on my religious stuff. If you haven’t read part 2 or have a reasonable knowledge of Wiccan background, you may want to go read that first. Just saying.

Introduction: Brief overview of what's in here
Part one: An overview of modern Paganism
Part two: Religious witchcraft and its various definitional issues
Part three: Personal practice

( Much more inside )

Religious witchcraft and its various definitional issues

Welcome to part 2 of my “So, talk to me about your religion” posts. This one deals with religious witchcraft, and more specifically (after an introduction) to Wicca and its various offshoots.

Introduction: Brief overview of what's in here
Part one: An overview of modern Paganism
Part two: Religious witchcraft and its various definitional issues
Part three: Personal practice

Before we get started, people unfamiliar with this should know that what ‘Wicca’ has started having a tremendous number of variant uses. I’ll be talking about the spectrum they cross, and then about where I and my practice fall in it.

( Much more inside )

A brief overview of modern Paganism

Part of a 3 lengthy part series on religious context for people who want to know more about where I'm coming from.

Introduction: Brief overview of what's in here
Part one: An overview of modern Paganism
Part two: Religious witchcraft and its various definitional issues
Part three: Personal practice

Assumptions in this essay
I’m writing here for people who have heard a little bit about Paganism, but don’t know much about any of the details, but who do have some background in another religion (or are at least somewhat familiar with some basic concepts.)

( Much more inside )

Religious explanation in 3 parts: Introduction

Since I’ve reached a stage where this might be useful (both for folks new to reading my stuff, and in general), I offer a (relatively manageable, given how long it might be) guide to my religious path and practices.

It comes in three parts: a very general overview for people who don’t have much background knowledge of modern Paganism, a more specific discussion of my particular branch of it (religious witchcraft and Wiccan-influenced paths), and then a very specific one about what my own personal path, practices, and beliefs look like. (And it spends more time on what I do than on what other people do, because this is intended to help people put my stuff here in context.)

For other Pagans reading this, I’ve tried to do my best to discuss a complex subject without oversimplifying. What’s in here is based on my own reading and discussion with people from a wide range of paths, but I welcome additional information. I’m also very glad to link to your own version of this content, or to posts you might make with corrections, additions, or other commentary.

( My assumptions )

I welcome any sincere question that is not going out of its way to be insulting. (Don’t worry about accidentally offending me, in other words. You’ve got to really be trying.) Since there’s so much variation in Pagan paths, most Pagans are used to answering questions from people, too, especially if it’s something that would help the person asking understand them or their life better. Me, I love talking about this stuff: the limits are far more likely to be time and energy, rather than desire.

Part one: An overview of modern Paganism
Part two: Religious witchcraft and its various definitional issues
Part three: Personal practice

EEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(aka: post I have been hoping to make for months now.)

I have been offered the Teacher Librarian job at [school] for next year. I have cordially accepted, even *before* hearing about the not-insubstantial raise. (I'd have taken it anyway, but not turning down the raise, thanks.)

Hearing oneself described as 'a first class mind' and 'innovative' and 'devoted to figuring out the best way to make things work' and a number of other things definitely doesn't hurt, either. Just saying.

We did also talk about two things that came up in the interview process: the first is engaging students more (and I have some ideas for this, but need to think about it, too), and the second is taking initiative on projects. Much pondering in the next couple of weeks on this.

But in the meantime EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

It's not public yet (will be an announcement over the weekend probably, once HOS has a chance to call the other candidates), so I am carefully containing the squeee.

I am off to a meeting at the Middle School in a couple of minutes, and then plan to take myself home via my favorite sushi place (in my neighborhood) for a celebratory dinner.