Hi! I'm writing a book on pagan homesteaders, and I want to interview you! (Yes, I'm one, on a beautiful 18-acre farm with goats and chickens and sheep, wife and homeschooled daughter, etc.) If you fit into the category of pagan homesteader, let me know if I can interview you and I'll send you a questionnaire privately. Plus I just want to connect with all of you....I know you're out there.

Blessings,

Raven Kaldera

-- Raven Kaldera (cauldronfarm@hotmail.com), January 11, 2001

Answers

I'm here! feel free to email me. Non-Christian homesteader

-- Epona (crystalepona2000@yahoo.com), January 11, 2001.

I'm not pagan but wanted to say welcome. Thanks for speaking freely here.

-- Anne (HT@HM.com), January 11, 2001.

I don't care much for labels, but I have a decidedly pagan bent. I know you from another list :) I'd love to hear from you!

-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), January 11, 2001.

I know this is going to sound stupid.... but what is a pagan homesteader? I have never heard that term before! Sarah in NC

-- Sarah from NC (Caswell995@cs.com), January 11, 2001.

mail away.

-- renee oneill (oneillsr@home.com), January 11, 2001.

While my beliefs tend more toward Native American than anything else, the settlers called them pagan, so I guess I fit the catagory. Used to be more "traditionally" pagan, Celtic Wiccan and whatnot, but discovered that that was just my Irish bits trying to find my Indian roots! I feel much more "at home" now.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), January 11, 2001.

Merry meet! Feel free to write!

-- Laura Jensen (lrjensen@nwlink.com), January 11, 2001.

Don't count me out!!! I have Scotch-Irish,Native American and German heritage...alot of "pagan" influences there. I consider myself very spiritual,even more so than when I was active in the Baptist church.As I have delved more into my ancestry I have incorporated many of the traditions/ceremonies into my worship of the Great Spirit/Creator.I would be honored,delighted and intriqued to participate!!!

-- Tammy S.South in Western KY (w-feather40@webtv.net), January 11, 2001.

Sarah, it is hard to tell what is meant by pagan. The dictionary defines it as: 1) One who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew; a heathen. 2) One who has no religion. 3) A non-Christian.

Some christian sects call members of other christian sects' pagans. Also, the practice of the Wica religion is considered "pagan" by common English usage. Generally the statement someone is a "pagan" is made because of intolerance, discrimination, bigotry, and bias. Any belief system having a higher deity (Creator) should be considered a viable religion.

-- JLS in NW AZ (stalkingbull007@AOL.com), January 11, 2001.

To sara, who wanted to know what a pagan homesteader is:

Pagans are people who practice the Old Religions, the pre-judeo-christian beliefs of Europe and the middle east. it's very earth-centered, nature worshipping to an extent, and so it's natural for us to end up homesteaders. Except that our faith is largely urban these days, because it's made up mostly of poor people who can't afford land. I'm one of the rare folk who lives the Old Religion closer to the ways it was meant to be lived, I think. i'm glad to see so many others! Wow!

-- Raven Kaldera (cauldronfarm@hotmail.com), January 11, 2001.

Raven, are you looking for religious folks that follow the Wician path while homesteading? Maybe Celtic shamanism or American Indian shamanism? Just non-christian? Or are you just fishing?

-- JLS in NW AZ (stalkingbull007@AOL.com), January 11, 2001.

I think that our beliefs here at the Haphazard Homestead are closer to Pagan than any other religion. Ever since I was a little kid I believed that God and Mother Nature are the same entity, just never knew it had a name. We don't observe any rituals or anything, just try to practice the Golden Rule and live lightly (well, as lightly as is practical in this modern age) on the land. If that makes us heathens, we're mighty happy ones. Feel free to contact us.

-- Jorja Hernandez (jorja@color-country.net), January 11, 2001.

Okay, my first thought was of the PAGANS in the movie DRAGNET with Tom Hanks and Dan Akroyd, which I admit that I watched, thoroughly enjoyed, and the one note I have to admit, I am a little ashamed about was the fact that my sons, (then about 8&9) were the ones who insisted I watch it..My nephew, their cousin, rented it while babysitting, and to be honest, I would have probably not let them watch it if I had seen it first, because of the language. But hey! It wasn't anything they hadn't heard in school! The threads that have been going on here lately have bothered me a bit. (Don't get me wrong, I love Hoot!) But I get a bit confused. My Dad, who I loved more than life itself when I was a kid, was raised as a "state kid" in Massachusettes...it corresponds to foster care nowadays, except they had to work to pay for their room and board...and I mean WORK. As part of the deal to get this slave labor in those days, they had to agree that the kids would be raised Catholic. And he was very devout, in fact, according to Mama, one of the vows that they made when they got married was that Mama would to convert to Catholic, and drop her Pagan religion(episcapalion). Then Daddy went into the service (he was 16) and served in WWII. He served at GualalCanal, Cape Glouster, and went through so much Hell, that I don't even want to know about it. The end result was that when I was a little girl we were taught very strongly that there was NO God at all, and if anyone believe in God, they were Damn fools, and totally brainwashed. Gosh! I'm getting off the subject here, and I'm sorry. But the one thing my Dad taught me was the love of the land, tolerence for other people (unless it was about religion) and working hard pays off in the end. I married a man that was raised Lutheran, got married in the Church, and thought that I would have to "convert". Well, I didn't, because he had questions of his own (stand up, sit down, pray, sit down,etc.) But I kinda found God on my own, and it blended into my beliefs of Mother Nature, the Earth as a whole, and it's really hard to believe that this is all a random thing that happens....But all the recent threads here on the forum have really confused me....I thought that if believing in God meant you were a good, God worshipping person and doing the best you could do, you worked hard and did the best you could do, forgave those that trespassed against you (not real trespassers), and tread lightly upon this earth, never intentionally hurt anyone,belived that Jesus was the son of God, and you would be forgiven for all the petty stuff you did as a child But all these "You're a really good person, but you're going to Hell" because you haven't found Jesus threads really confuse me. I asked my husband, the oooh, dare I say it the Lutheran, and he said that that there are now the new Christians, that believe basically that Christ is the new God, and instead of Jesus being the son of God that taught God forgiveness and tolerence, they worship....geez, I dunno, NO tolerance, no forgiveness, No Golden Rule, no Patience.. I am really confused about this whole thing....So, to get back to the original question, does believing that God helps those who helps themselves (and Damn! sometimes it's a lot of work!) but you don't have the time, or the money to go to church, and you can't afford the fancy clothes or the titheing, then does that make you a Pagan? Beause if it does, count me in....because I think that God just made all of this, and is just sitting back, watching, and if you lead a good life, never hurt anyone intentionally, and worked hard, yeah, you're either gonna go to Heaven for your efforts, or you're just gonna die, I don't see Hell as an option.So I just don't "get" all the condemptation that has been going on....I would never DARE to tell ANYONE that I was better than they....except possibly on spelling and grammer. Think about it. Kathie

-- Kathie in Western Washinton (twinrosefarm@worldnet.att.net), January 12, 2001.

Pagan, yes. Homesteader? . . . Well, a "planning to be" homesteader . . . If that fits your criteria, count me in to participate!

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), January 12, 2001.

Count me in. I believe in a Supreme Creator, and feel closest to "the source" when I am in the presence of nature, be it a babbling brook, the sight of a coyote in the distance, or the sound of an owl outside my window. I practiced Wicca for years, only getting away from it because I don't do well with set practices or routines...too much like church! My beliefs remain the same, however, and they are definitely of a pagan nature! (I also want to say that I appreciate the restraint that has been shown here, on this thread, by the devout Christians on this forum. When I first read this topic I thought, "oh boy, here's a can of worms!" I know that this topic is probably very difficult for Christians to let pass, what with the Biblical dictate that says Christians are supposed to convert non-believers. It appears to me that everyone on this forum has been really trying to be respectful of the whole topic of religion, and it's good to see. Thanks, Raven, for bringing up paganism...there appear to be a lot of us on this forum!)

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), January 12, 2001.

Wow, given some of the other threads lately I am so excited to see the large and positive response to this one. I have already been corresponding privately with Raven and can attest that he and his wife are very cool folks (and they make beautiful drop spindles as well!). Right now I'm still just a homesteader wannabe, working on getting my finances in order so I can buy some land. And for the record, I am a Celtic Reconstructionist Pagan engaged to an Asatruar. Any of you are welcome to email me directly as well. Sherri in IN

-- Sherri C (CeltiaSkye@aol.com), January 12, 2001.

I also am glad to see the responses to this thread. I wouldn't call myself Pagan, Christian, or any other established order, instead, I am seeking guidance and success in life from My God. I would venture to say all of our beliefs are joined by the Life of the Fertile Soils, placed there by the Creator(s) of each of our beliefs. Hope to see you here often.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 12, 2001.

Looks like this subject could get interesting. I would like to suggest starting a thread, much like the old political thread, to discuss this subject. New thread each week and that will kinda keep all the posts together. Some kind of warning for the bible thumping christians so they can't claim great offense. Maybe something in the name like --- Pagan discussions - non-christian ---? What do others think? Maybe Raven would volunteer to start each weeks thread?

-- JLS in NW AZ (stalkingbull007@AOL.com), January 12, 2001.

As I stated before, I don't do well with labels, so wouldnt see the point of "pagan---non- christian". I personally know lots of people who identify as pagan christians; they are NOT mutually exclusive.

I stopped using christian to define myself about 20 years ago, when the religious right started re-defining the word. I had no desire to be thought of as condoning their hatefull, paranoid, lying campaigns to bring this country and her people to their narrow vision.

Sorry, got carried away there in my memories of incredible pain suffered by many dear friends, all the name of Christ. To me, this was, and is , the height of hypocrisy, and I see absolutely nothing in common between that mind set and Jesus. In other words, christians come in all flavors, and they are not all even believers in hellfire and damnation, but the ones who do can often make life on earth a damnable fire of hell for others.

-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), January 12, 2001.

I don't consider myself a true pagan... but you are welcome to write...

Glad to see others of you replying...

-- Mary Ann (peanut@wi-net.com), January 12, 2001.

To Sarah I looked up the origin of the word PAGAN and it stems from the latin word PAGANUS which means COUNTRY DWELLER. it is used today to describe anyone who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew. Bettie & Joe

-- Bettie Ferguson (jobett@dixie-net.com), January 12, 2001.

I would be glad to answer your questionnare, I am non-Christian and live in the country, not quite on the old homestead yet, but working on it.

Blessings

-- judymurray (nomifyle@yahoo.com), January 12, 2001.

I'd be pleased to help you with your questionaire, Raven. It looks like you'll have a good flow of input. How nice to see that Countryside is such an open place that we all have kept in mind that we're either homesteaders, homestearders at heart, or at least somewhat interested in homesteading at this time, and why not welcome spirtuality in love of the Earth in whatever form it should take?

Many have followed the path of piece, including Jesus. May peace follow every footstep, eh?

Keep those Beltane fires alight, spring is on it's way, but slowly.

-- Marty (Mrs.Puck@Excite.com), January 12, 2001.

Wow, it's great to see so many cool responses, and no nasty ones.

What I'm trying to get to with my book is what it's like to do homesteading when your religion IS about nature, not getting away from it. When you're really doing fertility magic in the spring, or honoring the ancestors in the fall. I've studied the wheel of the year, the eight high holidays, and concluded that they all have to do with some sort of food-raising, which most city pagans have completely forgotten about.

For example, those of us who raise chickens without electric lights know that they peak laying around the Spring Equinox, and that - not some vague spring fertility symbol - is why eggs are a symbol of Eostre/Ostara. And November was the start of butchering season for our ancient European ancestors, because the grass is gone and it's finally cold enough to hang a gutted carcass out overnight, and that's why Samhain is the time of Death. And another name for Imbolc is Oimelc, meaning ewe's milk, and anyone who raises sheep in a cold wintry area knows why Feb. 2 would be called that! And so on.

I also want to know how those of us who live in a very different place than our ancestors meld our spirituality with the land we live on. I don't see myself as a steward of my land; I see that it owns me. I am bound to it, totally, and it sustains me. The Green Man walks my woods, and the Mother Goddess makes my fields bloom. My wife is very into Hestia/Vesta, goddess of the hearth and home, who she invokes when lighting our woodstove. And so on. I'm not part of a single neo=pagan tradition; I think of myself as following in the footsteps of the old hedge-witches who knew what the wild and domestic herbs did, and knew what charms to use to increase milk flow, and so on.

OK, I'll stop now, I've probably gone on too long!

Raven

-- Raven Kaldera (cauldronfarm@hotmail.com), January 12, 2001.

Well, using the definition Bettie posted I guess you can add me to the group. :-)

-- Jim Morris (prism@bevcomm.net), January 12, 2001.

mm

very interesting thread. I look forward to reading more.

mp

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), January 12, 2001.

yes a homesteader, non-christian somewhat buddist, a little bit wicca, we celebrate the winter solstice and santa in winter and definately the pagan little bunny in spring. But I follow no dogma.

-- Terri (terri@tallships.ca), January 12, 2001.

hi Count me in!I would be happy to fill out your questionaire.

-- cindy young (cin_sue63@webtv.net), January 12, 2001.

I am not a pagan, but read this thread with interest. I always thought that pagans were people that worshipped the 'creature' or 'creation' rather than God the creator. Just listening and learning, Ada

-- Aagje Franken (Backyardy2k@aol.com), January 12, 2001.

The posts to this thread have been beautiful in terms of individuality and acceptance of others. It's nice to be reminded that there are good people in the world. The problem with 'paganism' and other group labels is that religious experience is private by definition. I spent fifty years studying religions and believing different things at different times. Now I take my inspiration and fulfillment directly from nature without reference to myths or beliefs and I feel more connected than ever before. I suspect there are many others in the situation but we aren't likely to be caught by surveys. That said, I applaud your effort and would be pleased to receive your questionnaire. Best wishes.

-- Delwin Cahoon (dcahoon@ellijay.com), January 12, 2001.

I think according to your explanatory post I probably don't qualify as a Pagan per se but like others here, prefer not to label myself as Christian either because I'm not so ambitious as to want to carry the baggage that comes with the term (christian=fundy). I kinda think of myself as a closet Christian with respect and reverence for nature and its creator. If that would be of interest to you feel free to send your questionaire.

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), January 12, 2001.

Raven, Wow, I am impressed with all the reponses. There are way more alternate religions than I thought possible. I think thats what I am, tho I knew some pagans in Tennessee and went to their soltice parties. Be happy to do your questionaire. karen

-- Karen (kansasgoats@iwon.com), January 13, 2001.

"I knew that historically and even now the very mention of paganism sends a chill up the moral spines of many religious people. Yet I not only see no necessary enmity between these two basic postures in life, I see one needing the other. My prayer at that moment was for an ecumenical spirit that is not much discussed;a reconcilation of differing life philosophies and not just churches, of religions great and small , and a renewed appreciation for neglected and despised paganism. I dont expect to see this ecumenical wish understood or fulfilled in my lifetime, but I have some hope for the future of the soul's natural religion." from the Re-enchantment of Everyday Life by thomas Moore and also "Maybe it takes a pagan sensibility fo see the potential religion in a grove of trees or a bubbling spring"

-- Trendle ellwood (trendlespin@msn.com), January 13, 2001.

Wow! You mean the CS Forum is NOT a fundamentalist christian forum? How refreshing to hear from others. Me? I'm just me. Not a practicing pagan, just one of the animals in these woods....

-- Sam in W.Va. (turnip55a@yahoo.com), January 13, 2001.

Glad to see all these like-minded folks. Would be interested in the questionaire.

-- Jim Pickeral (jimpick@rtmc.net), January 13, 2001.

I am very leery of labels - 'non-christian' is as specific as I am comfortable with. Can truly describe myself as a nature worshipper, but have no rituals. I regard myself as a part of the natural world. Raven, I have never heard of those goddesses (if that is the right term) or holidays (if that is the right term) that you mentioned. I would be willing to answer your survey, but am not a practicing pagan. Sandy

-- Sandy in MN (jpevans_56353@yahoo.com), January 13, 2001.

I know how ya'll feel about this not being a fundamentalist Christian forum but I'd like to recognize and thank them for their restraint in "tolerating" this thread. Way to go folks!

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), January 14, 2001.

Interresting to say the least . I have enjoyed the feedback on this issue . Also it has been informitive . Even more so after reading the thread on eating Pork .

-- Lee (sgrmtndrone@yahoo.com), January 14, 2001.

I'd be interested in a copy of the book. I'm non-christian, don't know if I'm a pagan or not. Maybe is you send me the questionnaire, I'll find out! And where have all you folks been hiding, anyway?! : )

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), January 14, 2001.

I haven't noticed anyone hiding, Polly. I suppose if they were REALLY hiding, I wouldn't have noticed them! LOL! I've seen all but one or two of these names on other postings before, and other mentions of or relating to Paganism here and there.

Many of us don't like to draw a lot of attention to ourselves. I personally know many people who have either lost their jobs or have almost lost them when it is discovered that they're Pagan. Yeah, discrimination, but sometimes it's hard (and costly) to prove. There are quite a few of documented cases of a parent losing custody of children due to being identified as pagan (usually even though the ex- spouse knew and either tolerated or condoned PRIOR to divorce). Wicca has been recognized as a religion, but not necessarily other Pagan paths.

I agree, John, it is nice to see this thread is being tolerated. Guess our Constitutional rights do count.

Raven started this thread to collect us together and to see who'd like to fill out a questionnaire. Should we start another for discussion?

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), January 14, 2001.

I just wanted to mention that there is a list on egroups called Pagan- Farmers. It's been very quiet lately, but perhaps an infusion of Countrysiders is just what it needs to liven things up!

Given the mixed audience of this forum, I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be gettting into an in-dept discussion of my beliefs. Several people have been asking the Christians to keep their religion out of their posts, so I suppose it's only fair that we do the same. My perference would be to keep this forum for practical matters.

However, I do see that many responses on this thread have indicated confusion and/or curiosity about what Paganism really is. If anyone wants to email me privately I'd be happy to point out some educational sites on the web or just chat about my take on things. Don't worry, I won't try to convert anyone! :-)

Sherri in IN

-- Sherri C. (CeltiaSkye@aol.com), January 14, 2001.

Sherri wrote:

"Several people have been asking the Christians to keep their religion out of their posts, so I suppose it's only fair that we do the same. My perference would be to keep this forum for practical matters."

I beg to differ, Sherri. Christians were asked to stop injecting their religion into numerous threads whose subject had nothing to do with religion and to stop prosyletizing. Such requests have been taken as "Christian-bashing". It has been suggested numerous times to have separate threads for such things, i.e. religion (including Christianity), politics, jokes, etc. These suggestions are routinely ignored (I don't mean only by Christians, by any means, nor that we aren't all guilty of going a bit astray from the topic of threads) -- some willfully, some through ignorance of the requests.

I see nothing wrong with Christians having threads on the subject, nor Buddhists, Pagans, Muslims, etc. It has been argued that these have nothing to do with homesteading. I can't agree with that, since they are part of the lives of homesteaders, but think they should be confined to threads on the subject. To borrow from Sheepish's analogy, sheep interjected into nearly every thread is disruptive, even if sheep are the main thing in the poster's life. That doesn't mean we can't have thread to talk about sheep!

If everyone would be polite and respectful, things would go along a lot better. In one thread, about pigs and pork, I politely asked about reasons for not eating pork and got a polite reply that included religious reasons. It was no big deal. Neither of us pointing fingers or calling names or telling the other they were wrong.

We have no moderator, no referee's. We have to work out for ourselves how we're going to behave and get along.

Of course, anyone not comfortable sharing their beliefs in this forum are free to choose not to do so! However, my experience with telling Christians that I am a Pagan is a whole bunch of erroneous assumptions of what that means, and a spate of declarations telling me what it is that I "really" am doing and what I "really" believe. I thought perhaps it would be nice to have it stated, in the open, what it means to be Pagan. I'll stick this in here, speaking solely for myself of course: Being a Pagan does not involve worshipping the Judeo/Islamic/Christian Satan/Devil. Nor any other devil.

BTW, Sherri, I couldn't find that eGroup you mentioned. Is it invitation only?

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), January 14, 2001.

Well said, Joy. I apologize for getting testy about this Christian thing - I have suffered at the hands of self-righteous Christians and seen too many others suffer, so I admit an over sensitivity. Some of my best friends are Christians, but they are quiet about it unless you show an interest.

-- Sam in W.Va. (turnip55a@yahoo.com), January 14, 2001.

Thanks Sam. And I get testy myself sometimes, but I try to keep it to myself (scares the cats though), even if I don't always succeed.

Sherri, I found the eGroups forum you mentioned, I was just not searching the right way. Thanks, I'm reading the archives, and maybe will be posting there.

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), January 14, 2001.

You raise some good points Joy. Perhaps I am being overly-cautious, it's just that events in my life have made me a bit gun-shy. I suppose we could try it and see how it goes. As long as we label the threads so the fundies have advance warning they shouldn't have anything to complain about.

I would be interested in hearing about Imbolc from the perspective of someone who actually owns sheep. Right now I'm still a city-dwelling homesteader wannabe, I'm clueless when it comes to farm animals. :-) I brought up gardening by the moon on another thread, I'd love to discuss that further as well any other planting charms people may want to share.

The URL for the subscription page to Pagan Farmers is http://www.egroups.com/group/Pagan-Farmers This isn't my list, in fact I haven't even posted there yet. Sherri in IN

-- Sherri C (CeltiaSkye@aol.com), January 14, 2001.

Ah, pagans, good, hardworking, nature loving, Earth abiding pagans; now these are my kind of folks!!! Glad to see you all here, and send me that questionaire please, from one of Mother Earth's greatest celebrants,

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), January 14, 2001.

Wow. I didn't realize there was such a large list of like-minded folks on this list. I guess the Christian threads have overshadowed us and kept a lot of us in lurk mode on the topic of religion. Glad to hear you are all out there and hope to hear more from you. It is refreshing to be able to talk a bit about religion without having to be lectured at. LOL What a breath of fresh air.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), January 14, 2001.

Ditto that Colleen! One suggestion here. I too would like to see more openess about the spirituality aspect of living with nature and agree with the suggestion about plainly labeled threads but I'd like to take it a step further. If it is a thread about spirituality-and- homesteading in general then it should be fair game to all, including the Christians providing it not used as a forum for prosthelytizing by anyone. The gist of the topic might be "How has my spiritual path helped me live closer to the land and nature." Such an approach MIGHT enable us to get along, despite obvious differences on spiritual choices. We might even discover that the oneness we feel toward the earth and nature, despite the different paths we took to get there is a uniting agent. (A person can dream!)

On the other hand, if its specifically about neo-paganism it should be labeled (Pagans only please) just as some threads might be labeled (Christians-only please) or (Fundies-only please) when its appropriate which can be taken as a disinvitation for others to participate.

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), January 14, 2001.

Such nice dreams you have, John. Hope it works out that way in practice!

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), January 15, 2001.

Thank you all for being so honest. I feel so much more at home here now.I was feeling a little put off by all the preaching in some threads and was thinking I was the only non fundy out here. I believe in god with all my heart but do not agree with others telling me there is only one way to do so. I do not call myself by any religion's name; I am just Maureen and I think for myself.It has been wonderful to hear from all of you on this thread! THANK-YOU!

-- maureenb (firegirl102@hotmail.com), January 15, 2001.

I am currently an "urban homesteader" and definitely Pagan. I'll get my piece of ground someday! If I can be of use I would be happy to answer any questions.

-- Elinore Cronesoak (qbones7@hotmail.com), January 15, 2001.

JLS,Delwin Cahoon,John Leake and Sam in W Va. -I've been on the same trail.Have I encountered you before? What DO we call ourselves? Quiet respite? No,no titles,like Sam said, "just me".

And,Sam my good christian friends are respectful, quiet ones too.If they tried to ram things down our throats, they wouldn't be our friends, now would they?

I don't post on religious threads much.My spiritually is a very private relationship, not to be sullied by being spoken out loud very often.

To make the point,I'd sooner tell you about my sex life.Or walk around naked in front of you.Don't worry,I wouldn't be doing that. Besides,I think my skyclad suit is at the cleaners.

Elizabeth Taylor said, when ask of her relationship with Richard Burton "I have memories....and they are MY memories."

To paraphrase her "I have a spiritually...And it is MY spiritually.So when I feel comfortable enough with someone to whine about my sex life,then maybe I'll eventually consider giving some thought to perhaps discussing privately, maybe one or two of my beliefs,but even then, probably begrudgingly.

So,a mystery,still.

And ,nope not a pagan,but you all enjoy whatever works for you.Suits me

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), January 15, 2001.

Finally, someone asked the question I've been wanting to ask. Yes, there are many of us out here, but for all the reasons cited, I tend to keep to myself. I'd be happy to do a questionnaire. Blessed be! Dede

-- Denyelle Stroup (dedestroup@hotmail.com), January 16, 2001.

i would be happy to talk about pagan homesteading , we are part of a newly forming intentional pagan community and church , yes we have legal exempt status from the feds .

we are looking currently for 2 to 3 more family groups,or single adults to join up with us too , we are entirely off the grid , from electricity to homeschooling , we have a large sustainable fruit orchard , needs some resettling though the property we are on has not been seeen to by human hands in over 40 years , so we are literally in the wild starting all anew : ) and its wonderfull fun , \ i would love to hear from anyone on this bent!!!!! blessings and praying for beltane here in the northwoods of wisconsin!

-- Lady Beth Willosnake (willosnake@hoitmail.com), January 16, 2001.

I kind of consider myself a born again pagan. I did study the WICCA religion many years ago and liked what was there. I also know a lot of the other Pagans. At least some of the group out of Youngstown Ohio. That is also from years ago. They were known as "The Chosen Few" at that time. I was related to some of them. But I have always felt colser to the woods and outdoors even when young. There are reasons for things and we simply have not learned enough to understand them.

-- Nick (wildheart@ekyol.com), January 16, 2001.

Well Raven you made me realize that I am as guilty of stereotypes at times as anyone. I just "naturally" assumed that because the bulk of "spiritual chatter" offered on this forum had the "Christian bent" that my views were probably best left with me.Thanx for opening up this box of worms.As I have some Native American blood I lean very heavily toward the "mother earth/ father sky" spirituality( purifications, meditations etc.) . It took many years of being unsatisfied with the "normal" western "religious" offerings for me to understand why. Feeling more satisfied here with each passage that I read, bless you all in all that you do that is right, Christian and otherwise!!!!! Feel free to send along the survey.Peace.

-- dan (dcbaker@2ki.net), January 17, 2001.

Hello, from Texas. I'm Wiccan,love gardening, animals, and working with wood. Live out on a small place but work like regular folks to pay the bills. We served over 20 years in the military and yes Wiccan's serve so all can be free. I'd be glad to hear from ya. Blessed Be!

-- micky clifford (mickycliff@email.com), February 28, 2001.

Please do send the questionaire,it sounds interesting.I'm a quietly practicing wiccan/celt - single dad living on the rented homestead.Gotta start somewhere.We have been eating from our garden most of the summer,and have been blessed with a good first crop of veggies....and not a drop of chemicals.Bright Blessings.Bob

-- Bob Manning (riobard@north.nsis.com), August 27, 2001.