I find myself today in a place I didn't think I would be again.   My connection to the magical world had drifted over the past two years. I felt myself falling into a lack of magic. I still honored the phases and tried to be outdoors my I was not aware just how much my regular ritual was missing from my life. 

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson

I participated in Rite of her Sacred Fires this past full moon and found myself energized and ready to take on the world. Something I had not felt in a quite a while. I was in a living situation that prevented me from participating in ritual regularly. Now back in my space down by the river, I'm able to express those feelings again. 

I've been working on my health. Focusing more on healing through a holistic approach. Spending time each morning in meditation and opening my mind to connect with the energies of our world. I have started reconnecting with Hecate as I felt our relationship was strained.  She was not gone. She was waiting for me to catch up. I was close to her, close enough to feel the delicate touch of her robes as they feathered around her in the moonlight, but still, far.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson

I spent a lot of time thinking about where I wanted to go.  I felt myself moving towards atheism in my belief that we were not created by intelligent design but more so by an ever changing natural environment around us.  The waters of world, too, ebb and flow with the energies that are our goddess.  I took a break from some commitments that I had related to Hecate and I believe that break actually allowed me to reconnect with her.  It became less of a chore and returned to the wonderful connection I had prior.



I've begun work on my dream of an Oracle deck for Hecate, that is 10 years in the making. I'm focused now with a fury that resembles Brimo and a curiosity that call to Hecate as no other. This re-dedication of sorts has opened my eyes to the places in my practices where I allowed others to dictate my process. I have returned to the point where I feel most comfortable and am now able to incorporate my daily practice back with ease and grace.

As the this month moves forward and I continue with this exploration I intend to focus more on my dedication to learn more and share that information far and wide. I plan to add more content on By Her Fires - my blog dedicate specifically to Hecate and her mysteries.

As we move throughout the remainder of this year, I pledge to spend more time focusing on my studies and removing those things that do not bring me joy.  For a long time, I thought it was the work related to the goddess that was causing issues.  I know now, it was not. I look forward to this new approach to magic and witchcraft.  And while some would still call me an atheist as, I do not believe in the literal interpretations of gods and goddesses I do believe in the energy that surrounds them. I do believe in the growing process one takes by adopting a set of life virtues and living in those virtues.  Be them related to a god or a pomegranate.

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson

When I was a child I attended a southern baptist church and they had an altar at the front with the words, "Do this in remembrance of me". (1 Corinthians 11:23-25) I used to wonder what it meant. I believe I know now. While not following this specific doctrine, I can see how using a reminder that we should be good to each other makes sense. And if it takes some words on an altar, writing on a box, lighting a candle daily, do what is good and what brings you joy in remembrance of the thing that most inspires you. This can be inside or outside a religious context. 

Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson

The idea here, is to be who you are, while spreading some understanding around the world. I purposely did not say spreading positive vibes.  Looking around at the world, we know that things are just not positive right now. We are struggling in the United States as a nation. We're struggling as a people unable to come together due to racial divides.  Our world is suffering from sea to sea and our mother earth is dying. There is so much negative and I too, want to say "Be Positive!".   Instead, I ask you to be understanding. Be caring. Be compassion.  Be courageous. Be the change you want to see in this world.

I'm starting today.  Can you?

I'm going a lot of soul searching lately.  I'm not even sure an atheist is allowed to do that. (LOL) But I have been. I saw a meme that really spoke to me.



To me this is the epitome of what I long to be. We do not need to have a specific path to know what is right and wrong. I often hear from religious people, religion/God stops people from raping and murdering.  Well, I rape and murder the exact amount of times I want to. The amount of time I want to is none. I don't need to have a set discipline in order to understand the fundamental right of those around me to live and thrive. Simply understanding that I want to live and thrive is enough.

So what does that mean in regards to my past blog posts and my attraction to an ancient deity?  

To me, deities are the personification of attributes we want to emulate. So if we were in a situation that caused us fear as ancient beings, we would want something that would project strength.  If we were concerned about food for the up coming winter, we may look to bring prosperity into our lives.

If you think about literature and consider how fables and lore was used to keep children in line or to carry a message you can see that it could have been very easy to have the Word of Aesop vs. the Word of the Christian God for example. The Boy Who Cried Wolf quickly learned that if he continued to lie that no one would believe him. The thought of being tossed in a lake of fire was required for adults to continue to listen to these lessons.  As man quickly learned they could control the masses with this tool, everything that could be pulled into the "sin" category was put in place.


What code do I  use to guide me, if I do not religion?

Some years ago as part of a unique project for the Covenant of Hekate, I worked with a team to create what we believed the virtues of Hekate may be.  These were adopted by the organization as our code of ethics.

You can find the five virtues as well as our discussion around it on the CoH website.  I have copied the brief definitions here.

■ Compassion – Sympathy and/or concern for others who are suffering or find themselves in an
undesirable position.

■ Courage – Strength or character or fortitude to stand firm in your convictions and face
adversity or distress without fear.

■ Temperance – Moderation and self-control are both acts of Temperance.

■ Justice – Moral and physical rightness are both aspects of Justice, as is the sometimes
contradictory act of behaving fairly towards other people.

■ Wisdom – To have the common sense, foresight and understanding to think or act in a
manner most objectively and beneficially to any given situation.

To me, anyone not just a devote of Hecate or any other deity can posses. I don't need to believe that a female giant with the head of a horse, dog and lion walked this earth in order to believe that everyone should be treated fair and just.  I don't need to believe that Hecate assisted in locating Persephone in order to understand that I should treat others well. I know that compassion is something that I should give to ever living creature, even those who may not believe as I do.

The Five Virtues, to me, are no different than what the Ten Commandments were intended to be. You following the rules and do what is right because it is the right thing to do, not because someone will toss you into a lake of fire and you'll burn for all eternity.  We would be much better off if we simply learned to live and let live.

To be sure we're on the same page, I am speaking on this subject with the following definitions in mind.  This is my belief.  I'm happy to answer questions.

Atheist - a person who does not believe in god or gods.
Witch - a person who uses magic to impart change on their world.

Oddly enough I have found more resistance from those in my Pagan community than those in the Christian Community. That tells me one thing.  Christians believe that Pagans and Atheists are the same thing. They see no difference between not believing in their God, regardless of perspective. If I believed in Pan instead of Jesus, they see that as an equal believe structure as not being in God at all.

What I found really surprising was the direct and out right attacks from those in the Pagan community. Now let me be clear, this isn't from "all" of them.  So please don't take the "No True Scotsman" approach here.   I'm speaking from a direct situation I seem to have found myself in with members of the Hellenic community.

Recently I have had several individuals send me direct messages on Facebook asking some interesting questions. They see me as an admin in several magical groups (groups that focus on magic or that are dedicated to a specific deity) and are confused by my religion listed on my profile which displays "Atheist".   The latest conversation consisted of someone who said, if I question the existence of Hecate, is that wrong?  I took a step back and thought, wow.  This is the same thing most people ask when stepping away from Christianity. Has Paganism become the new Christianity? Incredible.

While many people understand completely the natural progression of the trek many Atheists talk about on their journey from believe to non-belief. I was raised Southern Baptist in rural North Carolina and was told that my "sin" is what made my step-father rape me.  My "sin" is what made my family be on welfare.  My "sin" is what made me have the life I had. If I would simply donate money in the offering plate weekly and profess my "sin", God would forgive me and "bless" me.  I would then be worthy of having a good life.

Exactly how fucked up is that? What kind of message is that to give a seven year old? I wanted to be blessed.  Just like those rich folks who drove the church bus around to the poor neighborhoods bring in the poor kids to church. I put my pennies in the offering envelope, walked to the altar and prayed with the folks in the fancy suits and big diamonds, waiting for my turn to be "blessed".

As you can probably guess that time never came.

I was introduced to Paganism through a girlfriend when I was around 25 and used it as a way to explore my interest in science. Oddly enough the references to alchemy actually pulled me in. I'm pretty sure that is an odd way to end up in a religion.

Recently I was asked directly, what do you believe?

In 2013 I worked with The Covenant of Hekate to outline what the virtues of Hekate may be. This process is what started my exploration into Atheism.

We agreed to the following five virtues and definitions:

Compassion
– Sympathy and/or concern for others who are suffering or find themselves in an
undesirable position. A person attempting to develop the virtue of Compassion
within their daily life and practise would desire to aid in the alleviation of any
undesirable situation or at the very least not be a contributing factor towards it.

Real Life Example – You could try to help the homeless or less fortunate be they of the
two or four legged variety. Volunteering at local shelters or organising food drives are
great ways to learn and show compassion.

Courage
– Strength or character or fortitude to stand firm in your convictions and face
adversity or distress without fear. A person attempting to develop the virtue of
Courage within their daily life and practise may chose to stand firm against those
who would chose to undermine their beliefs or convictions or to speak out
against those who hurt and undermine others.

Real Life Example – Try standing up for someone you or your friendship group may
deem unpopular. Also when someone shows remorse for a wrongdoing some people
will continue to be angry and unforgiving. Instead state your position calmly (in itself an
act of courage) and then allow the situation to pass.

Temperance
– Moderation and self-control are both acts of Temperance. A person attempting to
develop the virtue of Temperance within their daily life and practise may chose to
restrict some part of their life be that thought or action in an attempt to find a
balance rather than choosing to allow extremes.

Real Life Example – Try abstaining from certain types of food or drink or showing
restraint in discussions online. An example would be to learn to hold one’s tongue and
listen a bit more before jumping into an argument.

Justice
– Moral and physical rightness are both aspects of Justice, as is the sometimes
contradictory act of behaving fairly towards other people. A person attempting to
develop the virtue of Justice within their daily life would strive to act fairly,
truthfully and with personal integrity when dealing with others and themselves.

Real Life Example – Try to treat others fairly, in action and tone be it online or in person.
Try to not pass judgement on another based upon your own feelings for a person, your
understanding of the situation or hearsay. There are often two (or more) sides to a story
and the truth lies somewhere between. If the truth cannot be ascertained then try being
impartial.

Wisdom
– To have the common sense, foresight and understanding to think or act in a
manner most objectively and beneficially to any given situation. A person
attempting to develop the virtue of Wisdom within their daily life would strive to
apply their knowledge and experiences in a prudent and practical way.

Real Life Example – Try volunteering to share on a topic that you are knowledgeable
on with a local group or center. Offer to do a guest blog post or write an article for an eZine
on a particular subject.


Now, we agreed that we should all try to maintain these virtues in our daily lives. Look at each one of these; are they specific to Hecate? Are they specific to a follower of Hecate?

Not really. Any person can display these attributes. Any one who chooses to have wisdom or justice can do so without any requirement to commit to a deity.

So why have a deity?  We are creatures of habit. We need reminders. We like reminders. When we see a key, we think of unlocking mysteries. When we see a cross road we think of decisions or choices made. We apply so much more to the simple image than is actually there. So when we see Hecate for example we think of a mighty Titan Goddess who rules the underworld or walks through the space between the living and the dead. We ask for her guidance and her power to help us understand, remove or command those forces we feel only she can command. This is typical human behavior. If not, how would organized religion taken such a hold on our world.

I mean just over Easter my house payment was nearly late because my electronic banking system and payroll couldn't decide who was going to observe Good Friday. Why in the hell is my bank evolved in a religious holiday? The answer is, it shouldn't be.  But here we are.

For those out there questioning your current belief system, my direction to you is just read as much as you can. Open a book on science, talk to those who don't believe. Talk to those who do. Look for evidence. Most of all, think for yourself. Don't be bullied into agreeing with someone simply because they send you hateful messages or they are so deep in their own delusion that they cannot get past simple things like treating LGBT with dignity.  Any religion, any religion at all that tells you have to treat a group of people badly because they do not believe as you do is simply wrong. Oppression is not holy. Making others feel less than because they're not in your club is simply bulling.

Recently I was approached by a family member that said to me, You just want me to believe what you believe. You're witnessing, just like I am.  Actually, no.  No I'm not.  As long as you don't try to push religion into our legal system, or education system or individually oppress people, I really don't give two shits what you believe.  Want to worship someone who raped an six year old? (LINK) That's your business. If you want to follow the Christian bible, yeah well that's up to you too. (LINK)

Unlike those touting this belief, my worth isn't measured in the number of people I can bring under me. It's like Christianity is some big pyramid scheme. The more people I bring in under me the bigger my crown is in heaven.  What a crock of shit. (LINK)



So where does witchcraft fit in here. When I was a small child I watch "religiously" (pun intended) Arthur C. Clark's Mysterious World. (LINK)  This started my journey of questioning everything. I wanted to know more. I wanted to learn more and I knew that out there somewhere was the answers I was looking for. 

He formulated three adages that are known as Clarke's three laws, of which the third law is the best known and most widely cited:

1. When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.
2. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.
3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

1. Phantom Pregnancy
2. Memories Passed in DNA
3. God Controls the Weather

I have rambled on with this post much longer than I expected. I want to clarify that I don't see my position as superior to any one else. This isn't a race or pie. There isn't a set amount out there. We can share knowledge and grown. I'm open to suggestions and education. I am however not going to fondle over a pile of scrolls found in a cave in antiquity when I have a machine in my hand that most of those people would have hailed as a god. 



Recommended:
https://www.youtube.com/user/alexjoconnor

I fought with myself on creating this post.  Does responding give the accuser more power?  Should I sit back and say nothing?  Should I defend my honor?  You're probably thinking, Renee, what in the world are you talking about.

Recently I have had my character called into question simply based on one thing.  The title Atheist.  Over the years I have had my spiritual path ebb and flow as I expect most do.

As a small child I was baptized in a southern baptist church after being convinced by those in power that my poverty and sexual abuse was my own fault due to my sinful nature.  All I had to do (as a 9 year old) was accept Jesus as my savior and my troubles would be over.  Jesus would save me. Needless to say we all know how that went.  That very day my church bus driver told me as I stepped off the bus - "Tell (my abuser)'s name that I'll see him tonight at the show."  This destroyed me.  In my head - my church (my god) condoned the years of sexual abuse forced on me by my stepfather and condoned by my mother.

Fast forward 20 or so years and I was introduced to Wicca via a girlfriend.  It was a way to get close and yes, I was like dance naked?  Let's do it.  I began to study other alternative religions and hunted and pecked my way around paganism for the next 20 years.  Within the last 10 years, I was introduced to Hecate through a friend and found myself reading on the Covenant of Hekate, of which I am now a member.  I currently dedicate my spare time to assisting in administrative duties for the group such as moderator for various social media sites, editor of the monthly newsletter and a member of the administrative team.

More recently I have moved away from the idea of a divine creation for mankind and more in line with a scientific look at the world. I do believe there is energy and I do believe that there is a way to manipulate that energy, hence my identity as an atheist (does not believe in a divine creator) witch (believes in the manipulation of energy).

https://www.atheists.org/activism/resources/about-atheism/

I fail to see how any of these beliefs make me unfit for public office, friendship or even just to be given the same respect that others receive. I believe that my public voice on this embodies the very virtues of Hecate or at least what we have assigned to her.

For now I will say to my naysayers, I am indeed comfortable on my path.  I do not expect, nor require your acceptance.  Your ability to judge and defame someone based only on their religious affiliation and not on the years of dedication to the cause speaks volumes about your character.




And with that, I'll share a few links for you on Atheism Science and Magic.





https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_atheists
https://www.atheists.org
https://www.thedailybeast.com/can-you-be-good-without-god
https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2010/03/science_and_magic_is_there_a_r.html
https://www.quora.com/Which-religion-is-responsible-for-the-greatest-number-of-deaths-of-infidels-over-its-entire-history
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_violence
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/alchemy-may-not-been-pseudoscience-we-thought-it-was-180949430/





 Arthur C. Clarke: “Magic's just science that we don't understand yet.”

Over the few years I've grown quite a bit in my path. I've looked to the sky for guidance, gathered twigs and herbs for spells and spent many a night naked under the moon.  My journey has taken me from learning about Wicca to being an independent witch.   This is the first year that I have gradually separated from the Wheel of the Year, stood aside from Rite of Her Sacred Fires and tried to join with the earth's energy.  I tossed aside holding my tongue in lieu of speaking my mind even if it seemed to be a thumb at harm none.

I did a few searches on YouTube on the subject, the only one that seemed to be interesting and not start out with someone younger than my socks and brite pink hair was the one from a Yale Class.

I'll share it here just because I thought it was interesting.





In any event needless to say that a lot of my daily rites have changed and I no longer have an altar or even participate in events like Samhain & Yule. While I still work with natural energies, work to better my body and become more aligned with the natural world, I don't have a deity and don't work with one.  I have never really believed that you needed one but for what its worth, just to clarify, I currently don't have one.



Year before last my focus was to refine my art and work on mastering wire weaving for my jewelry.  Last year a flood snipped my ability to vend and I was pushed back to only selling online. Taking advantage of that hubby and I took to the road and ended up in New Mexico.  As I sit here just a week outside 2018, I've begun setting my goals for this up coming year. I plan to continue to work my craft but adding a new medium and focusing on my body.  I want to make myself stronger and healthier.  I want to encourage the new Atheist Witch in me to embrace my mystical skills while holding fast to the things I know to be true.

This will be a different path than I have been on, but I hope that you will stay along for the ride and lend your comments, suggestions and feedback as I move forward on this new journey.  Things will change. I will be a bit more assertive with my comments. I will be more direct and practice less hand holding. I will be cutting off things that no longer play a role in my life and I will be removing those who do not bring about positive in my life. This is a departure from my normal status quo however I feel it is something that needs to be done in order to continue to grow.

If it doesn't bring you happiness.  Let it go.  Find what makes you excited and embrace it.

I have spent over 25 years trying to figure out exactly what is my path.  When most people are asked about a religious path most of the time they say they are on the path they are on because they were raised that way.  I was raised as a Christian, Southern Baptist specifically.  When I was in my late 20s I was introduced to Paganism.  To me it fit me better than what I saw going on in the world of Christianity.  Up until this last year, I classified myself as a "Goddess Worshiper".  Over the last few months I have found myself less a "believer" if you will.



To me religion was created by man for two reasons.  First it was to explain things that we did not understand.  So the sun rising in the morning and the moon rising at night was obviously a race between the planets to our ancestors.  As we learned more about the world around us with new discoveries in science religion would have died off but for the power it allowed some to have over others.  This is where the mainstay of religion has roots.  Around the world those in power used things like religion to control the masses. From Kings taking the lands to Popes demanding submission religion has been the key to controlling the world.

Odin - Saga's Cottage Artist - Loren Morris

To me, religion was intended to help us find those qualities and personify them so that we could be better people.  We could take the strength of Thor or the wisdom of Odin to help us through out days. Creating sagas about these people helped us identify with them in order to reach an ideal.  For example, for many years I followed Hecate, reaching out to her to embody her knowledge of magic and the dead.  Calling on her for justice and protection.  Pulling into myself these attributes that make her who she is so that I could become just as strong as she.  As I continued to read and grow I began to see that what my mind was telling me was exactly what I had known all along.  These gods no more walked the earth than Jesus did.  We can ask for the wisdom of Odin or the wisdom of our grandmother who raised 10 children after her husband died at 49.  We have the ability within ourselves without relying on the fears of the ancestors from our past.

One of the things that we can be sure of us the energy that we have on the planet.  From the animals that are here to the plants and waters.  Everything has energy. To me as a witch, I need to have a connection with those thing and not to some over arching being that controls everything. Just look around us. No one is in control.  We are what we are.  And we can look to use our energy to change the physical world around us.  How does that look?  How does it work?  That will be my goal over this next year.  I want to focus on improving my magic and taking control of my destiny.

There are many witches I identify with, enough though we may not share a direct path.  Some witches follow deities while others done.  Some follow the rule of three and some don't.  I will try to share videos from all different paths to show a diversity in the craft.

I'll start with this intro video from Laurie Cabot.



One of the things that directed my path was the Cosmic Skeptic on YouTube.  Here's one of his videos.  I recommend checking him out.