Hi you guys, I found Shilo on another board and followed her over...lol
My name is Julie, or Phoenix, depending on how you know me. ;-)
I've been doing craftwork since I was a little girl in rural Tennessee.
My gma was cherokee, i learned a lot about herbs and healing from her, as well as much nature worship and spellcrafting from my entire family.
They called themselves Catholic, I always thought that a bit funny... however I guess it was very much the same... that always surprises people I think.
We had anscestral altars in the home, left notes for the mice to leave, burned candles for just about any intent; hunted, fished, farmed and gardened... you know: overall basic heathen types...
I started studying Pagan religions in High School.
I started going to public rituals in my mid 20's.
I was dedicated into an American Eclectic Wiccan trad and studied for 9 years under (and side by side) my HP, who had branched from a strictly Celtic Trad. I studied MANY paths of paganism, shamanism & other alternative religions.
I recieved my 3rd degree HP elevation in January of 2001, American Eclectic Wicca.
I started and ran the first Pagan Parenting & Youth Tribe in our area for 3 years.
After being very active in our local Pagan community for 8 years, teaching, serving and leading groups, I got AWAY from any of the public wiccan involvement. Witch war types, the politics and the CRAP that took away from the real work of serving Spirit and progressing in my own path... fortunately, I have not been drawn back in.
I practiced as a solitary for 5 years.
THEN... I met some great folks that asked me to HELP THEM.
I supervised the formation and served/serve (i'm on indefinite sabbatical) as the minister of a (mostly 20something) non-denominational, electronic-music based, burning man type, nature loving, personal path encouraging, pagan LIGHT church in February 06. We celebrated our 1 year anniversary on Imbolc of this year. From 6 members to 50 in one year, with over 300 non-member supporters to our public events.
^^^^THAT RIGHT THERE is probably the most rewarding experience serving as an HP that I have ever had... Most of the 20 somethings had little to NO knowledge of Wicca, great interest, but limited knowledge of paganism in general, and had not yet been "tainted" by politics and power over of the local community.... beautiful group. Wide eyed and brilliant they are.
After 1 year, I decided that just as the wheel turns, it's THEIR turn to ride on their own, without leaning so much on Mama Julie...I believe that makes for sheep, and sheep don't serve Spirit so well, imo... lol.
Training wheels to big kids bikes... I have no regret NOT leading them... they lead themselves just fine, and now have the direction/focus they wanted and needed. I don't attend church on a regular basis anymore (we met/meet EVERY sunday and sabbat), but camp with them, counsel them and overall background elder to the group... they are my dear friends, and I am honored to see just how much they have grown in their paths over the last year.... well, not all of them... I am only close to the original 6 or 10...lol... you only have so much time in the day, you know? lol
Ok, that's my pagan background...
ME? Dh and I were legally married at Burning Man last year...
We had a local handfasting on the Fall Equinox last year for friends and family that couldn't make it to burning man.
My ex husband was wiccan/pagan.
Present Dh is NOT educated wiccan (fine by me) but has learned volumes in the 3 yrs. we have been together. He has been my right hand man and priest in helping with the formation of the church.
You can see pix of some of our wedding/handfasting/church events here:
http://www.hektik.org/phoenix/main.p...avId=x0c7984a2
Along with more than you probably want to know...lol
You can see my family stats below;
And ALL that is probably more than ANY of you wanted to know!
Excited to be here!!!
Want an intro?
