OT Pagan "Christmas" present

Hi all - I was wondering if you guys could help me out. RCB is such a neat melting pot of different faiths and beliefs and I was hoping that one of you could give me some insight. Anyway, I am Christian and my office manager Bobby is Pagan (and yes we do get along and have for years) anyway, I know he doesn't celebrate Christmas - but since we work together now...we recognize each other's holidays - I would like to give him a "Christmas" present -a wand to be specific - I have researched and decided on the stones to attach - I am going to do the base out of decorated boro glass - anyway, can he use it if a Christan makes it? Would it be an insult? I want to give him something unique - not a goddess bead - not that they aren't beautiful, but I wanted something a bit different that he could actually use...any input would be so appreciated! Hugs Denise Glitzy Glass Studio

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Reply to
Glitzy Glass
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It's a Yule present and I think he'd probably love it. :-)

If he recognizes your holidays, I can't imagine that he'd be insulted. (Truth is, a fair number of my Pagan friends celebrate Christmas, especially if they have Christian relatives.) Some Pagans insist that one must make one's own tools, but even so, the gift is from the heart. That's what counts, not the religion of the giver.

Arondelle

Reply to
Arondelle

Most definitely not an insult, Denise! And it is so nice of you to be so open. It can be a Yule gift - our Yule is celebrated around the same time as Christmas, and carries many of the same traditions. Wands can be made by anyone. If he plans to use it, he might be consecrating it anyway, so it's perfectly okay. At least in my view. :) (Ask 10 pagans the same question and you just might get 10 different answers, LOL)

Reply to
Kandice Seeber

Even if he never uses it as a tool in a ritual I am sure he'd appreciate it for its artistic value alone. I have seen some wonderful wands that I have lusted over and would never actually think of using them as a tool.

It's nice having beautiful things around you no matter what denomination you are, I think.

As for Pagans and Christmas, I decorate a tree but don't use any Santas or even any Frosty the Snowmen type figures. Almost everything on my tree is an image of an animal i.e. lots of horses and even more moose but also lots of lions and tigers and bears (oh my!). That time of the year was celebrated as a pagan holiday way before Christianity co-opted it anyways so I have no problem enjoying the season.

- Sandy

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Reply to
Bacchae

it is my own belief that gifts given in good faith (of ANY denomination) are a blessing of sorts. When I've studied Chritianity, it is written over and over in the New Testement that it isnt what people were labeled that mattered NEARLY as much as what they DO, and if its done out of love or out of greed. That was one of the big points being made in the New Testement as opposed to the Old, I think.

Reply to
Sarajane Helm

Thank you so much everyone for your input - I was so looking forward to doing the wand and then I got cold feet thinking that I may do it wrong or worse make Bobby feel bad about working with me! Now I am excited again. I can't wait until I get back from my trip to get started - I will show pictures - as soon as I am finished! And now I can make a Yule card to go with it - you guys are just wonderful! Hugs Denise

Reply to
Glitzy Glass

You're welcome, Denise.

You know, what Pagans *really* want is to be treated with the same respect you would give anyone else. We're not special or weird, just different. You might run into a snobby Fundamentalist Pagan from time to time, but those sorts would be offended, regardless; most of us just aren't that hung up. :-)

Arondelle

Reply to
Arondelle

now, that gave me a giggle, thinking of what sort of stuffiness a "fundimentalist pagan" would get up to. You'd know who they were right away, because they'd be skyclad, and arguing goatskin vs kid for those Lupercalian snappers.

Reply to
Sarajane Helm

"You might run into a snobby Fundamentalist Pagan from time to time" Well that is true for both sides - I had some difficulties with some of my Christian friends who didn't understand why I would want to work with Bobby - not understanding that I don't give a hoot about our differences. In fact I feel that our beliefs are very similar in many respects and sort of parallel each other - this will only add flavor to the Studio and provide us both with a lot of insight. And our differences being spirtiuality, male vs. female, me being older, him younger etc... (In case anyone is wondering - NO we are not involved in anyway other then business) will only add a good dimension to the Studio. If we were all the same, saw everything the same way there wuld be no spark in life.

My core belief is that each person should be seen as an individual - not bundled together and labeled. We are all searching in this world and our journeys take us on different paths, but that does not mean that anyone is less then the other...or better. My religious beliefs do not make me superior, in fact it is just the opposite - as a Christian my purpose is to be a servant to all mankind - not a judge. Loving and caring for people where they are at - not where I want them to be. Of course I don't always meet those goals, but I really strive to do so. It took me many years to come to terms with that thought process and my core beliefs. But I have found that there are many like minded Christians, which is a relief. Since I am not in any way perfect, nor will I ever attain such perfection (in this world at least) it is a comfort to know that I can just be me and allow others to be themselves also (if that makes sense).

I think the reason that I was originally drawn to RCB is that I saw so many folks with different ways to relate to their Spiritually and they did so in harmony - and in my case, that is what the God I serve believes in. I know that many Pagans are wary of Christians and have even been hurt by them, and it is my hope to mend a bit of that one relationship at a time. Of course I am not able to take on the whole world, but at least I can control the world I am part of, and offer an olive branch to any that cross my path....OK I am off my soap box now. LOL. Thanks for listening!!! Denise

Reply to
Glitzy Glass

OH Sarajane you are so evil! Now I have to look up all those terms - lol. A Holy Roller like myself doesn't have a clue!! Hugs Denise

Reply to
Glitzy Glass

hehehehehehe........

Reply to
Sarajane Helm

for that matter, I doubt many think about the origins of "fundamental" and where one's fundus is.

Reply to
Sarajane Helm

Yanno, I have yet to run into a Pagan, fundamentalist or otherwise, who prefers to practice naked, especially if they hold their circles outdoors. One would have to worry about cold weather, bugs and poison ivy.

Long, flowing capes and velvet bathrobes are so much more fun.

[Around here, the stuffiness usually involves the Pagan Fundie assuming that everyone is Celtic in ancestry and Wiccan in spirituality, and therefore won't tolerate non-Celtic terminology or non-Wiccan rituals. Oy!]

Arondelle, a Baltic Pagan

Reply to
Arondelle

absolutely right! we dont have the poison ivy here in CO that we had in OH, but it gets durn COLD. We love ringing the bells on Solstice----but we wrap up good!!! SJ

Reply to
Sarajane Helm

Indeed! Although I have both Scottish and Danish ancestry that could conceivably lead me to follow either Celtic or Norse/Asatru traditions I actually am somewhat more fond of Ancient Greek and earlier traditions. (What was your first clue? My nick perhaps? *lol*) Perhaps it is just that I am more familiar with Greek mythology because it has been easier to learn about it. So call me a lazy Pagan.

- Sandy, the lazy Pagan

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Reply to
Bacchae

Chiming in a bit late... I think that's wonderful! What a lovely, and loving, gift to give.

I th> Hi all - I was wondering if you guys could help me out. RCB is such a

Reply to
Kalera

Reply to
Kalera

Thanks Kalera - I really appreciate your input. So far I have made three - but none of them feel right - so I am on to number four!!! A friend told me he could consecrate the wand - what do you think, should I have that done, or let Bobby do it? Hugs Denise

Reply to
Glitzy Glass

even any Frosty the Snowmen type figures. Almost everything on my tree is an image of an animal i.e. lots of horses and even more moose but also lots of lions and tigers and bears (oh my!). That time of the year was celebrated as a pagan holiday way before Christianity co-opted it anyways so I have no problem enjoying the season. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Us too. We have such an animal tree! Like a little zoo. Also fruit & veggie ornaments, very sparkly. Lots of LIGHTS all over the house!

Reply to
Dr. Sooz

doing the wand and then I got cold feet thinking that I may do it wrong

or worse make Bobby feel bad about working with me! Now I am excited again. I can't wait until I get back from my trip to get started - I will show pictures - as soon as I am finished! And now I can make a Yule card to go with it ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IMO, it is a precious gift and a groovy idea.

Reply to
Dr. Sooz

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