Before the 4th of July
July 3rd, 2009 | 
Author: I have been quite busy this past month and am also very aware that things have been neglected here at Simple Abnormality. Currently, there are a few things going on that I am not at liberty to discuss online but am extremely excited, nervous, happy and stressed out about.
One thing that I want to put a quick comment to is the new Microsoft Bing. I haven’t tried it yet, not sure that I am going to either but I have been completely relating to their commercials. Not because I search for things and have issue when an engine brings up too many hits but because the way that those people spout off about random things and string them together…well, that’s how my brain works. One thought leads to another and it is constantly running.
Anyone else’s brain do that too? Here’s an example:
Eddings Passes On Here in Carson City
David Eddings, 1931-2009
Beloved author David Eddings, passed away here in Carson City on Tuesday June 2nd. He was 77 years old.
David’s brother Dennis is town to handle older brother’s affairs. Our local newspaper has more information on Eddings through talking with Dennis which you can read here: The Nevada Appeal – Fantasy writer David Eddings dies in Carson City home
Per Mr. Eddings request there will be no public services.
“I made a world that never was, with an unlikely theology splattered against an improbable geology. My magic is at best a kind of pragmatic cop–out. Many of my explanations of how magic is supposed to work are absurdities – but my characters all accept these explanations as if there was no quibbling about them, and if the characters believe, then the readers seem also to believe. Maybe that’s the “real” magic.”- David Eddings
Tags: author dies in carson city, author eddings dies, david eddings | 
2 Comments »
Long Overdue Update
Greetings to all! Yes, I know that things here at Simple Abnormality have been neglected. Sometimes that happens when real life tasks takes up more time than normal. The deadlines were not much of a problem at the end of last month, rather it was the last second writing work that caught me off guard. I agreed to take it on and accomplished it to help out but that did mean neglecting other areas.
Thank you for continuing to check in here at SA, it does mean something to me when 60-70 hits a day keeping coming in even when I haven’t posted. I also appreciate your patience 
On that note, I am going to take a few moments today to try and get caught up with everyone and see what’s happening out there in the “Pagan Blogosphere”, as Jason has so appropriately dubbed it.
Also, I am redesigning the site yet again. The blank add spaces are going and I’m going to change the color scheme. The basic layout will still be the same but sometime this week expect a re-haul.
Tuesday’s Pagan Art: Marc Potts-Hedgewitch Art
Hedgewitch III by Marc Potts
Marc Potts is a self taught British born Pagan artist and author, whose work has been published in various Pagan publications such as The Cauldron and Pentacle magazine.
A full gallery of his work can be seen through his main web site at: www.marcpotts.com
Tags: hedgewitch art, marc potts, pagan a, pagan art, pagan artist |
No Comments »
National Day of Prayer Thoughts
I was all jazzed up to see what the outcome would be on this year’s National Day of Prayer but so sick this week that I did not even remember that it was today until a few hours ago. Yep, I forgot all about it.
So, going through the news I have to say that I’m thrilled that the government was not involved with the Dobson’s task force this year. Finally, the rest of the religious and non-religious in our country got to keep their freedom of religion and pray in whatever way that they saw fit. Having that freedom is a wonderful thing.
On wondering what kind of statement President Obama would make, I was ecstatic when I learned of his words regarding the National Day of Prayer:
“Our world grows smaller by the day, and our varied beliefs can bring us together to feed the hungry and comfort the afflicted; to make peace where there is strife; and to lift up those who have fallen on hard times. As we observe this day of prayer, we remember the one law that binds all great religions together: the Golden Rule, and its call to love one another; to understand one another; and to treat with dignity and respect those with whom we share a brief moment on this Earth.” -President Obama
Tags: national day of prayer, obama, prayer thoughts |
No Comments »
New! Tuesday’s Pagan Art
Moon Goddess by Josephine Wall
Today we showcase the work of Josephine Wall, one of the Internets top Pagan artists whose art is regularly used without given credit. If you recognize her work, give credit where credit is due for her amazing goddess and Pagan centered art.
Josephine Wall began her art career creating pottery at Poole Pottery straight from Art College. Though she no longer works for them, she continues to create sculpture, panitings and stained glass.
She currently lives in a pyramid shaped roofed cottage that she belives infuses her work with good energies. For more information on Josephine Wall, visit her main web site at: www.josephinewall.com
What is a Pagan?
A self-described Pagan is a person who falls into the religious category of Paganism and subscribes to what many call an “earth-based” faith. Keeping in mind that there are just as many different faiths within Paganism as there are within Christianity, you won’t come across just one type of Pagan very often.
There are some Pagans who follow a structured path within their belief system, while there are other Pagans who adhere to a more open free flowing path embracing a range of belief systems.
The main thing that makes a Pagan a Pagan is Polytheism. Polytheism is the belief in more than one god and that is what differentiates Paganism from the Judeo-Christian faith family. Some Pagans may have a specific patron god but they still adhere to the belief in many gods. The number and type of different gods depends on the path of the individual Pagan.
Personalization is another aspect of the makeup of a Pagan. Paganism is not dogmatic and therefore a Pagans belief system is highly individualized. A Pagan develops a close relationship with their gods and the natural world based on how they relate to them.
Pagans also believe themselves to be an aspect of divinity and as such hold a high sense of personal responsibility in regards to the natural world. There is no division between the spiritual and the natural worlds as they are both seen as one aspect of a greater whole. Even though Pagans live their faith in their own way there is an undercurrent of interconnectedness that holds us all together.
You’ll find, especially in recent years, that there are many people who have come to call themselves Pagan but they may not embody the information that I have given above. The reason for this is due to the spotlight of showing alternative religions to be something that they are not by the entertainment industry. Television shows like Charmed and movies/books like the Harry Potter series have attached a fantastical sheen to alternative religions but neither one is accurate to what being a real Pagan is all about.
Being a real Pagan is much less glamorous than what the entertainment industry has portrayed. A real Pagan works to develop their understanding of their chosen belief system and works to develop themselves both within the natural and spiritual worlds.
Tags: earth centered faith, pagan faith, paganism, what is a pagan |
2 Comments »
Scotland’s Beltane Celebration 2009
Water Point bearing their gift to the May Queen. Photo by Stuart Barrett.
The pictures are in from Scotland’s Beltane Fire Society’s annual Beltane celebration. Held on April 30th at Calton Hill in Edinburgh,this years celebration contained over three hundred performers amid thousands of revelers.
To read the full report of see the BBC’s Beltane Fire Festival article. And to check out more photos like the one above visit this years gallery at: Beltane 2009 Photo Album.
Tags: bbc scotland, Beltane 2009, pagan celebrations, pagan scotland |
No Comments »
Personal Update
I will be working to complete some writing deadlines through the 30th and will being going back to the regular posting schedule here at Simple Abnormality on Thursday.
E-mail’s and other correspondence will be taken care of as I can get to them. Twitter will also be updated when I get a few moments to do so.
Thank you,
Laura
