It occurred to me yesterday that we didn't have a formal Privacy Policy listed on the forums ... so I added one.  It's right next to the TOS and About pages.  Bottom line?  We don't share anything with anyone unless we have to by law.

Oh, and that brings up the issue of Facebook; we've deleted the forum page there because FB just hasn't shown that they are at all concerned about their users' privacy.  It sucks for letting folks know what's going on, and we'll think about how to handle that in the future, but for now all should be good with the forums for a while.

Thank you! 

Hey all!

OK, the forum maintenance is now complete.  We've been moved to a new server and now can boast 'https' status.  This will help all of us stay more secure and should also allow us to appear higher in search engine rankings (which may or may not be a good thing).

While we were getting things back in order we did a little housekeeping and updated the forums to the latest software version.

Hope you all put the "down time" to good use!   

I don't have much by way of advice to offer you, really. But the card Heirophant here could mean that the deity in question would like to make itself known to you using His/Her most traditional aspect or way of relating. Just my $0.02.

Tonight I cleansed my agate bowl and offered a piece of a cookie I had baked using a family recipe. I again stated that I don't know if I'm ready, but that I want to be, and after praying I again drew three cards from my Shadowscapes deck after shuffling. I drew the Moon, the Hierophant again, and the Queen of Pentacles. I wasn't posing any specific question, simply trying to see what my spirit or patron might be trying to tell me. Should I ask more specific questions, like 'Who are you' or 'What should I be doing'? Does anyone think it's significant that after shuffling I got the Hierophant twice? These cards are designed to be read without inversion being taken into account, but these were all inverted. Should I read in accordance with what the designer of the cards intended, or should I make note of the inversion?

Hi! I'm very, very new to pagan ways, but I feel like I've been experiencing a calling from a patron or guide. I did my first little 'ritual' tonight, where I just sat down and poured us both tea. I used a loose tea that I like, placed a share in an agate bowl and a share in a cup for me, hoping that this sharing might bring me closer to whoever is calling me. I explained my hopes, that I could have someone or something to believe in, to learn from, to pray to, and while I don't have the divine knowledge to say I'm ready, I want to be. I drew three tarot cards from my Shadowscapes deck, all right-side-up. The first was the hierophant. The second was the seven of pentacles. The third was judgement. I interpreted this as follows: I'm questioning my place in the schemes of the divine, and questioning what I've been taught all my life. I'm making new choices, a sort of rebirth, and I'm finally acknowledging that I'm hearing a call. The hierophant is where it gets tricky, because yes, I'm part of a group (pagans), and I'm educating myself and forming a belief system, but the hierophant also signifies conformity and traditionalism. I'm afraid that if I answer this call, I'll be guided into conforming to a mold I don't fit in and becoming someone other than myself. Or could this just mean the one calling me would prefer I stick to more traditional methods of communication, more strict rituals?

 

Sorry you are going through all that.

Hey folks! I had stopped practicing over a year ago, owing to some emotional blockages. But right now, I don't know where to turn to.

After a long battle with diseases and over a month of hospitalization, I lost my mom in January this year. I have been trying to rebuild my life without her. At times, it's easy. At times, it comes crashing down on my heart and soul. And I believe that it's all a part of the process. However, for almost a month now, I have been thinking. Since I stopped practicing, I haven't been able to find my faith. Most of the times, it's just a lack of faith in oneself. But I want to believe again - in my own powers, in the powers of the elements and in the power of nature. I just don't know how to calm myself down and where to begin from. I have pressing issues in terms of finance, health and an impending wedding to tackle. And I need some guidance, which was always there when I was able to communicate.

Another thing that's been troubling my mind is my mom. Although she's long gone, but I still wonder if she's free from all her pain now. I wonder if she's happy now. It is important for me to know. Also, pray for her soul.

I ignored and waited too long to write this, but with my own family disintegrated, it's the only family I can turn to.

My local art museum has two items that give me odd vibes. One is an old Jainist shrine and the other is a very old African mask. Some objects seem to absorb energy over time is my thought. They are made with devotion and they become objects of power through belief like thoughtforms..

Eh, the Helm of Awe is more about panic and fear, that last little bit that tips the enemy on the other side of the shield wall to flee the field in terror. Your experience is still cool tho.