Comments on: Am I Pagan?

By: Aron Gamman

Aron Gamman — Mon, 21 May 2007 02:53:45 +0000

Avital: I agree with Carly on this. I appreciate Kabbalah as a rich tradition of metaphors and language for the divine within the our tradition. However, I don’t approach it as a system that I swallow whole. There’s a lot of medieval assumptions about the world that go along with much of it that I frankly reject. I tend to find much of the reimagining going on by many people more appealing, though I don’t necessarily accept all of that, either.

By: Carly (Chava Chai - חוה חי)

Carly (Chava Chai - חוה חי) — Sun, 20 May 2007 18:15:38 +0000

Avital,

Of course I read kabbalistic teachings from time to time. I think if you explore this site you’ll find it’s highly influenced by many kabbalistic teachers, both historical and modern. I don’t speak much on it directly because it’s more a foundational piece for me and not one I’m directly comfortable teaching or discussing as a general thing.

By: Avital

Avital — Sat, 19 May 2007 16:20:36 +0000

Dear jewitch,
Did you ever look at Kabbalah teachings? It is the soul of Judaism and it seems to me is what you are looking for. Where every grass has it’s own angel helping it to grow. Where every cell in the universe has conscience and memory. Where 32 energies created the universes and continue to do so. In the first sentence of the bible, as kabbalah teaches, it said: beginningness created Gods, the letters, the heavens and the earth.
Gods where created as intermediates between the creator, Ain sof and us human, The word ET refer to the letters from Aleph to Taf the last letter of the Alfa beta, each letter is a sign and a name that was given to a unique energy. Those energies are every where, we breath them in with the air and they sustain and nourish our energy our organs Etc… Etc. I hope I opened a door for you. Be Blessed

By: l.a.reed

l.a.reed — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 19:16:46 +0000

thanks carly. i know some of your work and posts from asherah, and know about jill hammer and telshemesh.org (i did a search and that’s the present website). problem getting out there is disability and poverty, unfortuntately. i know this is a long shot, but i’m looking for people up where i live. i would welcome a private email to discuss this through asherah. this feels about as vulnerable as i can get posting on a blog : )

By: Carly (Chava Chai - חוה חי)

Carly (Chava Chai - חוה חי) — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 18:08:17 +0000

I.a.reed

well put. That’s exactly what I’m looking for, which is why I struggle. The Pagans don’t often understand the Judaism and the Jews don’t understand “nature and the connections I have with it.”

I’m glad that the Internet has given the earth-based Judaism community a chance to actually become a community.

Be sure to check out http://www.telshemesh.com and the Isabella Freedman Center. Both are nurseries of earth-based Judaism.

By: l.a.reed

l.a.reed — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 17:00:34 +0000

carly, you said, Actually, the Pagan community has made me feel a whole lot more welcome than every Jewish congregation I’ve ever tried to become involved with. Pagans just seem to be more understanding about the rules of hospitality. At the Jewish congregations I could go month after month and no one would ever reach out to me and say, “oh — are you new?” As a matter-of-fact, no one ever spoke to me at all.” that has been my experience. yet i don’t have safety to be with “pagan” gentiles where i live. not enough understanding of my culture and difference. i am looking for both; people who understand where i am and coming from and a place to explore/explain what i do with nature and the connections i have with it. profoundly

By: Luna Aileen

Luna Aileen — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 20:46:27 +0000

I can relate to what you are feeling in some ways. I practice Stregheria, Italian Witchcraft, which has a very small community, there are only 6 of us, I too find that the rituals I attend with friends have less meaning to me.

Recently we have been having what we call seeker moons so that those interested can join us. It has helped dispell some of the myths that all we do as Stregas is cast curses.

I don’t know your community, but if it is anything like mine you might want to think about putting on a ritual for everyone to come to and see what you are all about. Sometimes it is not a lack of interest people have in you, it is a lack of knowledge.

Could you please explain to me what Kohenet is?

By: Carly (Chava Chai - חוה חי)

Carly (Chava Chai - חוה חי) — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 19:49:55 +0000

I think it’s my work with Kohenet that’s making the difference. I really want to focus on earth-based magickal Judaism right now, and that’s such a small minority in the Pagan community — that I feel like I spend half my time at rituals that I don’t really care about. I go to them because my friends are doing them and I care about them. But I don’t celebrate the “big 8,” and I’m more interested in exploring my holidays, ancestors, and stories than going to a Beltane, Lammas, or Yule ritual.

Problem is, I like to have communities!

It’s also that I didn’t teach anything about Jewitchery at PPD. I intentionally chose a topic with broader appeal. Not that some Jewish topics aren’t of interest to Pagans.

By: Luna Aileen

Luna Aileen — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 18:54:29 +0000

I have found that sometimes I will need a parting of the ways so to speak, a temporary respite for myself. This is a regualar happening with me and most people have come to understand that I need this.

Sometimes I give so much to others I forget that the most important person, myself, is left wanting, “I am parched for a drink with the divine” is what I tell my friends when I want down time.

Perhaps this could be that time you need for your self. I know from experience that I feel better, and feel more welcomed within the community after my respite.

So tell me what do you think was the catalyst at PPD?

By: Carly (Chava Chai - חוה חי)

Carly (Chava Chai - חוה חי) — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 12:36:29 +0000

I’m not sure it’s that I don’t feel welcome in the local Pagan community. I just don’t feel as much a part of it any more. They certainly haven’t done anything to make me feel unwelcome. It’s really about my internal process than anything external.

I’m sure if you asked most of the local leaders of the Pagan community they’d be shocked at my saying this. Especially, as I still participate rather fully in the Pagan community, including teaching a workshop at the 2006 Pagan Pride Day.

It’s actually my involvement with Pagan Pride Day this year that started all this internal dialogue that I’m sharing with you all!