Looks like I missed a bunch of stuff.

'Ok, to catch everyone up..

Vigdisdotter - <3 u! To everyone else, Vig just comes off a little aggressive sometimes. She truly believes in what she's saying and is only trying to help. Takes one to know one, I guess?

Harming none..

Karma, Hindu variety, involves your next incarnation. Not what will happen to you in this life. Karma, wiccan and possibly neo-wiccan version.. I would say applies to those conforming to those belief structures? For those that do not believe in the existence of Santa Claus.. threatening them that they will not recieve presents then, will not work. Ever.

Do I think harming people is good? Well.. I approved of the revolutionary war, I do because I have the consitution to show for it. The civil War? Though it was not especially about slavery, the end result did a lot of good towards ending that whole mess. I approve. Taking out Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden.. hmm.. well, afganistan's leaders have recently expressed that if we (the US) go to war with Pakistan (whom many believe hid bin laden) that they would side with Pakistan against us.. wow.. I guess they wish the Taliban was still running things? Who's to say? Myself? I say, screw em' then. I hope that good minded people are in charge the day any of that may apply.

I have been in fist fights, I have pounded the $h*t out of people. I am not one to ever say "Do as I say, not as I do." That said, I'd love to believe that violence is never necessary. Sometimes it helps, but I am a huge believer in diplomacy as much as possible. I am not going to talk someone out of shooting me if I have a gun. I am not going to think at all if their gun is trained on my kids.

Peace and love is a great goal. but sometimes reality butts in. Take my kid's sucker and you're going down. If it's another's kid, I may have words with their parent. That's animal instinct, sure, and I'll accept that someone bigger than me instilled that instinct in me. In my view, the Gods wish for us to play nice, but in their wisdom, (like all parents) they know we are imperfect in our dealings. We still have to try to be good, and hitting that man over the head with something heavy when he's going after one weaker, can be a good thing too.

what else.. Oh, Born Wiccan.

Sorry, nope. Before y'all get your panties in a twist, let me fully explain myself. Now, Before you think I am trying to be an authority, let me tell you that anyone can come to this knowledge and it is -not- in anyway special or lofty.

You cannot be born Wiccan, simply due to the fact that like Catholicism. it requires a specific ritual. As many of you understand, Wiccans are a priesthood. In order to be granted priest duties you have to undergo a particular rite that can only be given by another priest of the correct gender (regardless of sexual preference) and it is very rarely given before the age of majority (18 usually) but sometimes not before their saturn's return (round about 30ish). Once having undergone this sacred rite, they are approved to the priesthood. Wiccans have some 'understandings' that apply to most Wiccans but like Vigdis said, Wicca is an orthopraxy and not an Orthodoxy. Which means, all Wiccans practice similar actions, and in coven lines they are all described in that line's book of Shadows. Each line having their own, the core rituals of which are basically the same. An Orthodoxy, like Christianity, however means they all believe the same basic things. Like.. Jesus saved their immortal soul by his sacrifice. Wiccans, some do not even believe in God but as long as they do their esbat rituals correctly, they are still good Wiccans. Get it? Orthodoxy, same beliefs. Orthopraxy, same actions. Don't believe me.. look it up.

My heart to everyone, and I -did- miss y'all. I love that everyone wants everyone to subscribe to their personal view of "nice". Myself, I deal with everyone, I tolerate some, and I like very, very few. That's ok too. You don't have to like people but we do have to tolerate or ignore those who rub us wrong. The world is a big place y'all, and you're not gonna like and agree with everyone. "Acknowledge and move on" as one of my old coveners used to say. It's good wisdom.

V7

'The Prodigal daughter'

Oh, and happy Samhain or your regularly scheduled Holiday