Victory! Child Bride Update

I brought you this news story about a week or so ago. Well, thank the gods! Due to international pressure, the 50-year-old man has now decided to divorce his now 9-year-old bride!

The decision, reported by newspapers Alwatan and Al-Riyadh, came after months of court hearings, criticism from the United Nations and an international media frenzy about Saudi Arabia's human rights practices.

The dirty, old man didn't cave because it was wrong to marry and screw a child that hasn't even developed breasts yet. No, that would be too much to ask. It was only after months of pressure from countries and countless individuals like you around the world begging this pig to release this poor girl from the situation her father sold her into. Perhaps, soon, a legal age for marriage will be instituted, and this barbaric practice ended. One girl now has her life back, and her right to be involved in her choice of husband. Victories like this don't come around every day, but they're shining examples of progress in even the most dark of places.

Love and Lyte,

Fire Lyte

Ashley Madison

So, I'm watching the View, and a man named Noel Biderman gave a rather uncomfortable interview with the ladies around the table. Mr. Biderman is the CEO of a website company called AshleyMadison.com. Before you click to it, let me just describe the point of the whole thing. It is a dating type website for married people. No, not the couple, but an individual partner that wants to have an affair. It is a paid website that individuals go on and pay for credits to talk to other individuals that want to also have an affair.

Now, it's really easy to vilify Mr. Biderman for creating an environment that promotes infidelity, but let's think for a moment. Biderman said in his interview that one of his primary reasons for creating the site was so that people that want to have an affair have a place to go, and are not patrolling singles websites. Speaking as someone who - albeit with a bit of embarrassment - used to be a singles website member, I like the idea of not having to worry about whether the person you're cyber flirting with is married or not. We've all heard the horror stories, or lived them, of a nice girl finding a nice guy, falling in love, only to find out he has a wife and 2 beautiful children back home. So, yeah, what Biderman has created is a bit reprehensible, but there are people that are going to cheat. Why not get them out of the way of people that want to legitimately find love? It's like abortion or the right to buy alcohol. You don't have to do it yourself, but you can appreciate the need for it to exist. Before abortions were allowed, women died from self-performed procedures. I don't drink, but if you want to head down to the liquor store and get a little Schnapps, you go right no ahead.

I'm not going to cheat. I'm ridiculously happy in my relationship. I also remember what it was like to find out that the cutie on the other end of that anonymous screen name wanted to make me his lab experiment - taste the rainbow, like a snack. It would have been a much more fun, less troublesome dating experience had the married guys all been somewhere else.

So, judge the guy, but thank him, too. Something to think about.

Love and Lyte,

Fire Lyte

A Sabbat Approaches - Beltane rant

It seems like just last week I was posting altar photos from Ostara and getting all sentimental about the coming move. Now, the move is less than 2 weeks away, my graduation is in 9 days, and my last day as an officer in this county is in 8 days (21 hours, and 16 seconds...but who's counting?). My classes for the last week or so have been coming to an end. My last test in Spanish is Friday. I've been allowed to exempt finals for 3 classes due to high enough grades and good attendance. One class has no final, and I'm inches and 2 tests away from being done with my undergraduate degree!!! I've decided that it'll be ok to take the fall semester off and focus on work and family before diving into a Master's program. This is probably going to be something I regret in the future, but oh well. I need some me time.

In all of this hullabaloo, I completely forgot that BELTANE is approaching! It's actually this Friday, or Saturday depending on how you celebrate. (Perhaps other days in May as well.) Either way, it's approaching this weekend! Basically, the holiday is about the approach of summer, the celebration of the planted harvest, the asking of fertility from the Gods, and communing with Nature and nature spirits. And, yes, sex. Though, I'm not sure how this festival turned into an excuse for covens and pagan festivals to become orgies around balefires.

Let me rant a bit. I left a pagan group that I'd been a part of due to its devolution into a bunch of old, horny men trying to get it on with the younger female members - despite their respective marital statuses. The yahoo group had sex stories posted onto it depicting orgies as being a part of coven initiations - including lesbian incest between sisters. Whipped cream became something that was brought to any and all gatherings, as it would be squirted upon the women and eaten off by said horny men. The campout every Beltane was an excuse for the majority of the group to head off into the woods and have very dirty, adult fun - including much nudity and casual sex. Well, that's all well and good, but I don't know that labeling the group as a strictly pagan-themed entity quite fits that description. I think many people find problems like this nowadays. I was getting to the age where career and family were becoming quite important to me, and I wanted a group that reflected that stage of my life. I wanted to learn and grow in my path and magical workings, and the group wanted to learn how many orgasms they could give one another while growing their various body parts. Now, granted, I've learned a ton from the few friends I came away from there with, but I think this problem needs to be addressed.

I've been listening to a number of wonderful pagan podcasts as of late. A topic I've found in many of them is that the pagan community wants to be taken seriously. Too often our community is represented by some random Technicolor Sparrowbear fluff bunny wearing fairy wings and speaking with some fake, ethereal accent attempting to convey the idea that they are a reincarnated dryad or Cleopatra's bartender. What sets us back as a religion and as a people is that many people try to pass off paganism as a real life version of Charmed or Sabrina the Teenage Witch. We're neither of those things. There are no white lighters or talking former-criminal cats telling you which spell to use to vanquish the demon Poontang. This is an earth-centered belief system that allows for magic and the revival of many ancient historical customs, but we are by no means an ancient religion. (No, there weren't any ancient Wiccans, people. Please.) And the "Burning Times" is a myth. 9 million women were not killed for being witches, nor were the few thousand that were killed (randomly throughout a millennium) descendant from some ancient matriarchal heritage. They were women that nobody liked, or that had pissed off someone on the hanging committee. And something that really sets a lot of us back? Those pagans that don't indulge in the fluff bunny mentality, or the fairy wings, or the dressing in druid garb and walking around town with a staff and beard, or go by some weird combination of an element and a natural phenomenon in real life and refuse to be called by their real name with a color thrown in there... those pagans that don't indulge in any of that? The ones with respectable jobs, or the ones who seem halfway normal? They're out having orgies around a fire pit to celebrate the Great Rite. I'm sorry, but too many people get into paganism for the chance to have as much casual sex as possible without the repercussions of having to admit infidelity to your wife - who is just as happy to let you do it so as not to go against the Old Religion. (Yet another myth...though, an ancient veneration for the divine feminine may not be out of the question academically.)

In short: Orgies are not a part of paganism. They're a part of casual sex. If you're into that behavior, fine. Who am I to say you can't engage in it as long as it's between consenting adults? Please just don't label it a religious practice. You make us look like Technicolor Sparrowwhores. Some of us actually want to get something beautiful out of this faith, and I'm tired of being disheartened because pagan groups turn into pseudo-bath houses in which the members just all want to screw.

I know that all pagan groups are not like this, and I know that a few bad apples spoil the bunch, but it's the bad name that I truly hope our community collectively pulls up their bootstraps and decides to it's time to grow up, get real, and put that in the past. (Along with our spinning-fire-pentacle websites.)

Love and Lyte,

Fire Lyte

Song of the Second

I know this makes me a tool of the big media machine, but oh well. I was watching a show that rhymes with Muffy the Wampire Swayer, and a band called Bif Naked came on singing their song Lucky. It's beautiful. It's poignant. It's now on my iPod. Yes, I'm a product. I've accepted that. Video below:

Redneck Mess

I was walking across my parking lot and noticed that our neighbors - whom we've dubbed the Frat Guys, as they are a bunch of young, frat-like, party boys - had apparently gone muddin'. (Yeah...I didn't think Wikipedia would have an article about that either.) I happen to be rather tall, and I glanced into the back of their truck. That mess of beer cans and fast food wrappers is what I saw.

I'm just hoping that Chicagoland is free of these hillbilly types. Though, I'm sure they're like cockroaches. They'll exist and adapt to any environment. Boo.

Love and Lyte,

Fire Lyte

Imma mop tha floor with yo' skinny ass!

YOU. MUST. GO. SEE. OBSESSED!

It's not diet if it has Whipped Cream.

There are rules, laws if you will, that govern how one should eat. Granted, when I'm busy attempting to juggle the world I don't have time, patience, or care for eating properly. But in slower times, I do attempt to eat as healthfully as possible. This includes buying organic when I go to the grocery store, avoiding fast food chains like the plague, and cooking at home as much as possible. With full realization of how quickly diet-themed blogposts can become diatribes of self-promotin, I shall digress and, instead, make fun of a jolly fat man that came into the gym this morning.

Now, I've not been the best gym-goer as of late - given my work/school load - but I've been able to manage 3 days a week for an hour to an hour and a half. This morning, as I'm doing a bit of light cycling, Keith Miller walks into the gym. Since I cannot find a picture of this guy to post, I shall direct you to his website. Please, click, laugh, and make fun. I cannot quite decide whether he looks like Bob the Tomato, or a Butternut Squash. You decide:









It's really easy to make fun of this guy. He's an ambulance-chasing attorney who seems to have a commercial on local stations every 5 minutes depicting this fleshy behemoth of a man hooping and hollering about how much he hates insurance companies and how much money he's sure to get you. He's a real dick. What made the entire situation even more denegration-worthy was the fact that the guy walked into the gym carrying a venti frappuccino from Starbuck's with this colossal mountain of whipped cream on top. I swear, he made out with it. Then, the guy proceeds to do 5 minutes of free weights and spent the next hour in the steam room...where none dared travel for fear of being sucked into his sponge-like fat.

I've been really getting into these rules for what constitutes "food." Like, if your grandmother wouldn't recognize the tube of yogurt spooge wedged in between the chemically-enhanced, non-biodegradable wafer with the fake, solid milk product on it as food, then it's not food. If it doesn't decompose, then it's not food. If you cannot pronounce the names of the ingredients, then it's not food. If one or more of the ingredients were never alive in the first place, then it's not food. And, if you're drinking coffee before you go to the gym as a quick, natural energy drink, I'm all for that. But to drink a coffee-like concoction with a mountain of whipped cream big enough to sink the Titanic? That's NOT good for your diet, and it's way over the bounds of the definition of counter-productive.

Keith Miller, I point and laugh at you. HA. HA.

Love and Lyte,

Fire Lyte

Relief in the New Moon

Last night was the New Moon. For the last two lunar cycles (the last full and new moon) I've been rather derelict in my worship. This past week, I noticed this need to be at my altar, to do some sort of energy work. Last night, under the dark moon, I finally did.

Edain McCoy - whose works I have enjoyed and despised - gives this explanation of the New Moon's significance in her book If You Want to Be a Witch:

The dark, new moon esbat is a chance to worship the darker aspects of the Craft. This is not to be confused with evil or negative aspects. The dark is simply that which is hidden, that which is in shadow rather than in light, and closely reflects our inner lives in the same way the sun reflects our light outer selves.

A quick tangent: There is a book called Sabbats by Edain McCoy that I actually really love and reference frequently. Granted, one must always double check historical facts with reputable sources, but much of what she says checks out. Luckily, Ms. McCoy actually has a real degree in History. Unluckily, she has attempted to create yet another Wiccan tradition. Boo. Now, to carry on with the topic at hand.

My new moon ritual is not a complex ceremonial set-up involving hours of time and mountains of incense. Rather, I light the silver candle on my altar, say a prayer I've written for this time, and make out a very short list of the things/people/situations/etc. in my life that I would like removed. This list is burned, and I tell the Goddess "Thank You!" It's not much, but, last night, it felt so very powerful. I attribute this to the pent up energies that I would usually expend at each lunar point - full and new - having not been expended. However, there's something more. I think that with all of the stresses of school, work, and THE MOVE I have been unable to make time to vent some of that stress out of my body. That's not good, but, luckily, that's what the New Moon is for!! After ritual, I felt so much lighter. I came to work today, and I haven't been so short with the kids - as I've noticed being the last few weeks. Already, situations have arisen and dissipated that I asked the Goddess to remove. Even the bit of homework that I brought to work with me went more easily and smoothly than I expected.

In this time of great change and forward movement, I was so glad to have been able to take 5 minutes, meditate, and renew my faith. I feel much more grounded and prepared for the coming weeks. Bring it on! Bring on Finals! Bring on final grades! Bring on graduation! Bring on Illinois! Bring on the *possibly unpossible* job hunt! I feel good to go and ready.

Though, if you check back in a week, I may feel differently.

Love and Lyte,

Fire Lyte

Hot Buttons are Hot...duh

So, there's some controversy a-brewing in the blogosphere/interweb between Perez and the First-Runner Up in the Miss America pageant, Carrie Prejean.

Lacy said it rather succinctly. If you expect others to hear your opinion, then you must be willing to allow the opinions of others to be expressed without fear of repercussion. Carrie Prejean stood up for what she believed in, and I applaud her. I disagree with her views, but she was a beautiful girl that answered a tough sociological question with poise and dignity. She did not engage in mud-slinging or dirty tactics. Perez went overboard, and now he's on every news show in the country.

Bullshit!

Without writing an entire blogpost on this subject, I'd like to talk about hot topics in general. The hot buttons that we must tread upon lightly lest we upset an entire segment of society are always going to be hot buttons. These topics typically involve, in some way, our life, liberty, or pursuit of happiness - or whatever you consider your inalienable rights. Torture is good/bad. One side says it protects our life so it's good, and the other says it harms others so it's bad - too extreme. Abortion is a selfish act so it's bad, but it allows a

woman to take charge of her body and her life so it's good.

The book Ishmael summed up these kinds of arguments best. The problem with certain arguments is that both sides have points based on their own beliefs. These arguments will continue into perpetuity, because there will never be one argument that comes along that is so great that it puts to rest one side or the other.

There will never be an argument concerning gay rights that is so great and profound that it puts to rest the debate forever. Some cling to religion as their reason, some hold to sociology, some say it's good, and some embarrassed clergy attempt to make the argument that the plumbing just doesn't fit. There are a plethora of arguments, and they're not all from religious, right-wing, extremist nut jobs like many would have us believe. The people that are against gay marriage are just people like any other. They have their reasons for and others have their reasons against, but a lot of it comes back to the idea of in-groups and out-groups. Since gay people make up a minority of the population, it is statistically impossible for every straight person to have a real, true, good experience dealing with gay folks. Thus the in-group - the majority of the population; i.e. heterosexuals - does not truly know nor understand the out-group - the gays. Psychologically speaking, a person in an in-group can never fully understand a person in an out-group until they integrate that out-group individual into the in-group.

I know we've all heard people say, "I'm against gay marriage, and I have gay friends. I don't have a problem with gay people." Ok... Really... This is where I wonder exactly how close these friends are. Many of the folks that have used this phrase with me, turns out, usually only work with their "gay friend" or are barely acquaintances. It is difficult to have an actual friendship with someone, to truly want their best interests, and believe fully that they should have less rights than you do. I cannot fathom this possibility.

I digress. The issue is hot buttons. They're always going to be hot, because there will never be an argument so wonderfully insightful that it puts the issue to bed. I got so exhausted towards the end of the 2-year political cock fight. No matter when you turned on the tv or radio, or what station it was tuned to, you could not get away from some pointy-talking-head yapping on about how the other candidate was the antichrist, and they could prove it to you. I realize this kind of thing makes good television, but I cannot stand it. Sure, it's fun to listen to and get hyped up about, but after 2 years? Really? It gets old. Nobody is going to change my opinion by telling me I'm stupid for believing the way I do, and that's the way many of these arguments end up: name-calling and finger-pointing. I would love to see a day where these hot buttons were just kept to a minimum. I realize we cannot get rid of them, but I'd like it if they were drowned out among the voices of current, important topics. Let's debate something that is not endless, that has a more attainable answer.

That being said, yesterday was Earth Day! I watered my plants and walked my dog in the sunshine. I am told this is good enough. I hope so... Wouldn't want to piss off the Earth Day Hippy In Charge.

Love and Lyte,

Fire Lyte

Biased, East Texas Crap.

So... I'm sitting here in Psychology of Love Relationships listening to this rather........biased........diatribe by a group of very opinionated girls. Their presentation is highly skewed by the notions they have all gotten from their various respective church pastors. They have decided that the research shows that men are to be strong, hard, and without emotion - all because that is how they should be raised. They completely threw away the mountains of research showing that young men need to be raised - or "reared" as they put it - in an emotionally open, freeing situation. It also appears as though the research they did do was wadded up and tossed onto the fire of what they wanted to say. In the psychology world that's called confirmation bias. They only presented the data that fit with their mindset. Granted, they're all young, black, and have a long history of friendship. This seems to have skewed their ability to have created a legitimate research study. (I realize this series of statements makes me a dick. I swear...I'm not racist.)

Their findings:

1. Men are evil, dumb, and lower evolutionary life-forms than women.
2. Women are much more highly evolved.
3. Men do not interpret women's signals correctly, because they're dumb, evil, and on a lower evolutionary rung than women.
4. This never changes, and is due heavily to the fact that men are raised to be muscular, over-protective cavemen, while women are reared to be refined debutantes.

Oh, and what about the emotional importance of same-sex relationships? All of their questions were opposite-sex biased, and even their class discussion did not allow for the possibility of same-sex interjection. Apparently, we're just not worth discussing.

And their research?! We were supposed to either do an empirical research study or create our own. What did they do? They read an opinionated therapy book written by none other than Steve Harvey entitled Act like a Lady; Think like a Man.

REALLY?!

I'm sorry, but this is utterly ridiculous. While entertaining, I am excruciatingly curious as to what research...done by professionals or gathered from an independent survey...backs any of this up. Could we PLEASE leave our opinions out of this.

Oh wait...

We have Steve Harvey.

Love and Lyte,

Fire Lyte

Jaguar Definition, a caveat

It has been brought to my attention that the definition for Jaguar might be a little incongruous to that of a Cougar. While a Cougar is typically a woman of some wealth and moderate to quite attractiveness level, it seems that a Jaguar does not necessarily have to be a man with a perfect body or endowment. The example of Anderson Cooper falls into this category. I don't know that anybody has gotten a good look at the quintessential Silver Fox's torso, but nobody can deny that the Cooper is a definite Jaguar.

Thusly, the definition of a Jaguar shall change to:

Jaguar: a sexy, single, sophisticated man who typically dates younger women/men. This man is usually wealthy or well-off, is considered universally attractive, and can keep up with a partner of less than advanced years. See: Anderson Cooper

I hope this clears up any confusion. Again, spread the term like wild-fire!

Love and Lyte,

Fire Lyte

Jaguar, a new definition

Abel and I were driving back from the gym yesterday morning, and the subject turned to that new show The Cougar. The "About the Show" section gives this as an explanation for what a Cougar is:

From the creator of The Bachelor comes a game-changing, provocative new reality show that redefines the rules of dating. One sexy, single, sophisticated woman is set up with younger men who are all vying for her affection. Through a series of weekly challenges, the men must prove they have what it takes to satisfy a woman of a certain age and avoid the kiss of death: a kiss on the cheek. Watch as The Cougar narrows her choices from 20 to 10 to five, ultimately choosing one lucky man to be her soul mate.

(Yeah for figuring out the html, right?) So, a Cougar is a sexy, single, sophisticated woman who dates younger men. Well, this is great, but what about for guys? Can a guy be a Cougar? What about those sexy, single, sophisticated men who date younger women (or men...)? Sure, we have various names that typify various kinds of older men - such as Anderson Cooper's moniker as a Silver Fox. But, not everybody is a Silver Fox. Brad Pitt... Not a Silver Fox. Thus, I have created a fellow feline appellation for the men-folk.

Jaguar: a sexy, single, sophisticated man who typically dates younger women/men. This man is usually wealthy, well-endowed, and has a body that looks like it has been chiseled out of sex.

So, go forth readers! Remember your new terminology, and use it well. Spread it around. Who do you consider a Jaguar? I want names!

Love and Lyte,

Fire Lyte

P.S. For example, some men who are most definitely Jaguars are:

Paganism doesn't group well...

There's a story today in my old college's newspaper, the Parthenon. Here's a rundown of the situation:


The Marshall University Pagan Association has not met this year, and thus the group considers itself disbanded. It is quite true what the leader of this organization says: pagan groups, especially in small numbers, flow together and apart faster and with more fluidity than a stream of water running down your windshield. I had the....experience...of not only being a part of, but creating a pagan group in this area. For the first couple of years it was an amazing experience. I developed friendships from that circle of people that I'm quite positive will last for the rest of my life, despite distance or life changes. It was not a coven, and I don't know that I will ever go the route of a coven, however it was fine for what I needed. I was young, inexperienced, and very new to living as a member of the pagan community openly.

After a few years, I realized that there was only so much that the group could offer me. The leaders of the group were not interested in the kind of development that I was needing in my life. I was in a relationship looking at starting a family in the future, and the nature of the group was a bit more adult-themed than I wanted. I then started my own group, which took off and gained a lot of members, but, quickly, became a source of the same sort of drama that the first group entailed. I ended that one within months.

I have been pagan group free for over a year, now, and I have to say... I like it. However, after the move I hope to find a group more fitting of my life. Perhaps a college group or a local pagan shop that offers classes. Actually, that would be ideal. I really got into the group dynamic, because I wanted to learn from those more experienced than me. If I've learned anything, though, it's that the modern pagan movement is nomadic. People come and go, sometimes forming groups for short periods, but we must remember this religion is founded on solitary practice and path-working. On a solitary path it is the tendency of the pracitioner to want to remain...umm...solitary. It is difficult in a religion that values personal experience and belief above everything to conglomerate and form some sort of group for this reason.

Then there are those that grew up in a Christian community that want to feel like they're going to church. I fall into this category. I wish I could go to a place that has classes (kind of like sunday school), presentations on different areas (like sermons), and fellowship (like fellowship). I suppose the Lord and Lady will guide me when I get to where I'm going.

If you have any tips or know of any good group-finding resources, please leave a comment.

Love and Lyte,

Fire Lyte

Ulcer-causing Dilettantes

Apologies for my momentary lapse in posts. I know you cried.

My Religious Philosophy professor has proven to be a sadist. He gives us a new test every other week, all essay, over the material we learned the week prior. Here's the kicker: we have to learn an entire religion - its history, main and sub tenets, gods, goddesses, laws, beliefs in karma, etc. etc. etc. - in one day. It's a one night a week class, and due to the fact that he missed class the first month, he's now having us play catch-up.

This I would not mind if he had some sort of leeway somewhere. He, however, does not. He still expects us to know every detail of the religion and regurgitate it back to him with but days to study what takes many a lifetime to even begin to comprehend.

I will not continue to disparage the class, but suffice it to say the stress has given me 3 ulcers in my mouth. I have not gotten stress ulcers since I was in the closet back in high school. This is ridiculous. I am riding a middle B in the class, and there doesn't seem to be much I can do about it.

I am a failure.

On a brighter note!!!!! I gave my notice today. I am officially quitting my job, and my last day will be May 8th! JOY!!!

No, if only I could get DuPage County Detention to give me a call back... I had a dream they called to say I was hired, and I'm hoping that's a good omen. Any positive energy you have to send would be very appreciated.

Love and Lyte,

Fire Lyte

P.S. The weather outside is partly cloudy with a small percent chance of rain. Cold in the morning and evening, but it warmed up to over 70 today! (Gotta love that Lacy Eylar.)

Legal Child Abuse

According to a CNN news report that was released today, a judge in Saudi Arabia is upholding a marriage between a 47-year-old man and an 8-year-old girl. The girl's mother attempted to petition the court last year to annul the marriage, but Judge Sheikh Habib Al-Habib denied her request.

How this happened:

The girl's parents were separated, and the judge deemed that mother was not the legal guardian of the girl at the time. The girl's father - who is apparently fit to be her legal guardian - traded her to a "close family friend" to pay off his debts to the so-called close friend. Since the mother was not the legal guardian at the time, she has no legal rights to complain to the court concerning this matter.

What should be happening:

The nearly 50-year-old child predator should have his testicles eaten off very slowly by an entire mountain of fire ants. Then, his poor excuse for a manhood should be cut off with a dull, rusty razor-blade and fed back to him hotdog-style.

This is utterly disgusting! How this man can possibly accept a child as a suitable trade for debt is beyond the realm of adequate comprehension. If her father couldn't pay his debt off, he should be the old man's fuck toy instead of his innocent little girl. The kid's husband - Goddess, it makes me sick just thinking about that - has promised the world stage that he won't consummate the marriage until the girl reaches puberty. So, what, like another year or two? So a 50-year-old man is going to consummate his legitimate, legal marriage to his 10-year-old bride?! And, this all began a year ago, which means she was 7 at the time.

In this same country, however, if you are caught performing a homosexual act, or possessing homosexual material, you are put to death publicly. No questions asked.

I suppose, this makes me glad to be in this country - however fucked up it's become lately.

Love and Lyte,

Fire Lyte

Marriage Victories!

I will not bore you with a blog about how I feel about gay marriage. I'm gay, and I want to get married to my loving, committed partner. I obviously like the idea. Instead, I would like to comment on, and share in the joy of, the last week's events.

Click here to read a short article on Reuters.

This is some of the most exciting news I've seen in a very long time.

Illinois is right next to Iowa, and the US capitol is geared up and ready to pass marriage equality laws. New England will be a completely accepting area of the country within the next few years. California is vacillating, but I truly believe they’re getting closer and closer to permanently allowing same sex marriages. That would make 7 states that allow you to marry, 8 if you count Washington, D.C., and 9 that recognize same sex marriages – New York recognizes same sex marriages performed elsewhere, but does not allow them to be performed in their state. However, there is new legislation being introduced.

Several countries around the world - very powerful countries - are recognizing same sex marriages or civil unions, as a whole. The Prime Minister of England recently chastized the Pope for his views on gay marriage! Tony Blair is right! An attitude of intolerance is just antiquated, small-minded, and it needs to be changed.

I think right now is a very exciting time to be moving to that area of the country. I really hope we see the day where Abel and I are worrying over wedding invitations and color schemes for our own ceremony!

Kudos to those states that recognize equal marriage rights, and a big boost of loving, tolerant energy to those that are considering or currently passing such legislation. If you have time or the inclination, please write a quick email to your congressman - both your senator and representative. Let them know you support loving, committed relationships, and you want to see them recognized legally.

Bless you all.

Love and Lyte,

Fire Lyte

The Balance of Light and Fundie

Before you read this post, I recommend that you check out episode 32A of the remarkable (and sadly now absent) deos Shadow, found here. In it, Kirk Cameron - aka Twink Atheist turned FundieDouche (could he be a bigger closet case?) - is talking about a Neo-Pagan, Druidic equinox festival he "infiltrated." Cameron describes a beautiful ceremony, complete with simple stone altar, gorgeous tree, and attended by a wonderful, eclectic group of people.

For some reason, this doesn't fly with Mr. FundieDouche and his right wing compatriots. They continuously ridiculed the attendees because of their lack of ancient religious text, their nature-centric beliefs, what they assumed to be a lack of dealing with man's sin nature, the idea that all paths are valid, and the veneration of balance within all things - including people. deo and Mandy don't spend a great deal of time talking about these issues. In fact, their following episode was supposed to be about these topics, but it was never posted. So, I would like to give my editorial opinion on these matters.

1. On the idea that neo-pagans are somehow at fault for not having some ancient religious text and replacing that with an individual's Book of Shadows, Grimoire, etc. FundieDouche and friends initially go on the defensive, talking about how those horrible pagan religions attack Christianity for relying on a text that's over a thousand years old. Then, they claim that this should be a source of pride for Christendom. They say that they have had the same material that comes from their god for thousands of years, and that this somehow makes their religion more valid than a religion without such a text. I would like to posit that having a source of information created by an individual, family, coven, etc. allows the faith and practice of the various neo-pagan religions to grow organically. The faiths can stay current, and decide what is and isn't working. There are several laws and commandments in the Bible that haven't been upheld in thousands of years, because they're outdated principles. When was the last time you declined shrimp, wore mixed fibers, or slaughtered your finest cow at a murder scene because the Bible told you to? Sure, a lot of the material contained in one of these books is probably redundant fluff, but it's personal and full of meaning to the collector of that information. They have decided what they want to whole-heartedly believe. There is no vacillating with indecision because you cannot resolve yourself to worshipping a book in its entirety that you don't necessarily believe is 100% true. This should be honored, or at least not treated as less than an outdated manuscript by people claiming to hear the voice of god. (Good question: Why when one guy hears the voice of god he's a prophet, but if I hear it I'm schizophrenic?)
2. Nature-centered beliefs. Well... I won't even delve into this one. I think this is yet again another example of Fundies Gone Wild in which they attest only their beliefs are the right ones. Nature worship has been around for eons. Bunk on those that invalidate these beliefs as lesser or false.
3. Sin is a Christian concept. However, many of us were raised Christian or with some sort of idea about sin. FundieDouche and friends made a point of stating that neo-pagans do not believe they must ask forgiveness for their sins. I would greatly disagree. In the pagan faith, or at least the modern pagan traditions that are Wicca-derived, the practice of esbats is fairly common. The phases of the moon and cycles of life are revered. In these cycles, many people have a wonderful ritual at the time of the New Moon. This time is seen as a time of letting go of faults, pains, wrongdoings, and what some might perceive as sins. Also, each sabbat is a time of celebrating the new and letting go of the old. The Gods and Goddesses are beseeched to absolve us of what we have done wrong and allow us the opportunity to make things right with that person we have wronged. Also, pagans are pretty strict on the idea of the Three-fold law. What we put out into the world - actions towards others, the environment, ourselves, etc. - we believe comes back by three. Now, how that actually occurs is up for debate - as in any ambiguous religious dogma. However, we most definitely believe in atoning for wrongdoing and making things right with our higher power(s).
4. I'm not sure all paths are valid, but I know that I don't want to be the one telling someone else their path is not valid. Do I believe we should worship some rock as the ultimate being? No. Do I agree that someone else's right to worship a boulder as the ultimate being? Sure! Because, who in the hell has the right to tell me I can't worship a Goddess? And hey, when we all get to wherever we're going, wouldn't it really screw everything up if the Grand Poobah of all Creation was some ruddy boulder? Sweetness...
5. Ok... Something that rather upset me was the digging on the very idea behind the celebration of the sabbat. The equinox is a time to recognize the balance of all things. This is a time to see, take in, and give voice and honor to the universal balancing forces - life/death, youth/old age, fertility/barren, good/evil, etc. Now... Why do we celebrate these forces, rather than wishing for only good, or fertility, or youth, or life? Well, I think it's the same reason the Christians celebrate the birth, death, and rebirth of Christ. It's the everlasting cycle of life, and it should be honored. If we are to only ever wish for goodness inside of us and around us, then why do we even bother telling children about death? Why do we feel the need to give pause and explain that to every thing under heaven there is a season? Because we know that for every good and wonderful thing there is in this world, there is a balance, a price that must be paid. In order for us to have gorgeous days, we must have chilly nights. We must have death if we are to continue to live. This is a fundamental truth. If everyone were to stay alive, then we would be overrun on this planet within a matter of single-digit years. We need everyone to die. And, to get to this point specifically, we need evil in order to learn what is good and how to appreciate it. In order to recognize what is good and right and true, we have to know its opposite. We also have to respect that within each of us sits the balance of both good and evil. Instead of hiding from it, we must recognize it. Now, do we want to be evil? Do we want to have this inside of us? No. However, we all have this nature and we've got to deal with that. I think the idea here is more being grateful that we have not allowed that darker part of us to overtake the light. We're not being victorian about our darker bits and sweeping them under the rug - like some religions I know...

Sorry for the diatribe, but I really wanted to comment on some of these points. If you haven't listened to deo's shadow yet, please do. The show had 39 episodes fantastic episodes before it was cancelled due to an inability to continue pumping out the podcasts while deo went through his doctoral program in philosophy. It is definitely a thinking man's podcast with a pagan twist.

Let me know what you think about this topic, or any of the topics I discuss.

Love and Lyte,

Fire Lyte

PS. Can anybody else just NOT get enough of Adam Lambert on American Idol? YUM! And seeing him all cleaned up, without the emo look on this latest edition... My goddess, I was... Well... that's for another time.

Pointing Fingers --->

Hey everyone! If you like my rants and raves (or read me, because you absolutely despise me...which would be an odd reason to read someone's blog), you will probably like the blog of Lacy Eylar. It's titled My Dr. Pepper is Flat! And Other Relevant Gripes, and it can be found here.

Follow her, and drop her a line if you like what you read!

Don

IS THIS GUY FREAKING FOR REAL?!

My Introduction to Philosophy professor just informed us that the test in his class on Thursday will be all essay.

This would not be a problem, except that he grades essay tests with great evil and meanness. I know this, because I'm barely holding on to a B in his Religious Philosophy course, solely due to the fact that he swears my essays are not detailed enough. I filled an entire blue book... How are they not detailed enough?!

Bunk, I say... Bunk!

There went my possible A in Philosophy...

But hey...at least he has yet another all-essay test tonight in Religious Philosophy!

Love and Lyte (and a good grade),

Fire Lyte

WTF is up with After Eden?!

This is a beautiful example of the poisonous nature of modern Christianity. Can I just say vomit? What person in their right mind would want to drill into a child's head that everything that is wrong with the world is man's fault?

A quick question.... If their god knows everything, absolutely everything, that will ever happen - if he is totally omniscient - then how is he not responsible for the creation of evil? He had to have known Adam and Eve were going to eat the fruit. He had to have known that the Morning Star, Lucifer, was going to fall. Before he even created them, he knew every sin and every choice they were ever going to make... So, do all fingers have to be pointed on humanity? Really? I'd like to call bullshit on that.

I could go on... I don't want to, but I would like to direct your attention to the comic strip After Eden. It is utterly rife with very true hatred of science, the theory of evolution (IT'S A THEORY, PEOPLE...NOT LAW... NOT PROVEN FACT!!! GET OFF IT!), and a strange self-hatred of humanity as a whole, perpetuated by all of the "We created sin and death and sickness and disease and horrible things about the world" lines pervading the entire strip.

Le puke...

Love and Lyte,

Fire Lyte

Destitute and Rooted

I was a bit torn about whether or not to write on this topic. I am not one to typically disparage anyone for doing what they need to do to survive, as long as it follows the Rede's advice of harming none. However, I have noticed something pop up in our never-sleepy little town of Tyler that I have never seen before here.

There are 2 different homeless people with signs begging for money and food at the end of my block.

For those of you in a city, or for those of you who used to live in a city, this may not seem like much. For me, who grew up in a town of 585 people, this is strange and upsetting. I do not fault someone for asking for help when it's needed, but I just cannot help but stare blatantly at the HELP WANTED sign in the window of the gas station across the street. We also have an enormous building within 5 miles of that spot called the East Texas Workforce Center. Here, you can live, learn a trade, and get help finding a job...for free!

What irks me the most about these men is that every time I pass them, they have more stuff. The first time I passed, one guy looked dirty and worn. The second he had a rather plush butterfly-fold lawn chair. The later times he was showered, had a powder blue truck he was sitting in the bed of, the lawn chair, a picture of jesus, and what looked like fast food wrappers. He did keep the sign, though.

Then, after a few weeks, another guy showed up with the same truck and accoutrements...and the same sign!

Something about this all leads me to not have pity on these men. I feel that pity is something that must be earned. For me to want to help you, you must be trying to make your life better. It is difficult to empathize with a bum, but it is is easy to want to help a man who is down on his luck and trying his damnedest to get back to some sense of normalcy.

Am I wrong here?

Love and Lyte,

Fire Lyte

Car Dealers are Ostriches

So, I'm back. Without getting into too much detail, as I don't really want to jinx anything - which is new for me - I think the interview went really well. The facility is absolutely incredible, and I'd be lucky to work there. *Fingers crossed*

Now, to my snide yet insightful blogging. Lucky for you, in my absence I've been taking notes of things that have rather ticked me off as of late. Thus, there shall be no shortage of blog topics for the next week or so. Rather than having one exorbitantly long blog, it shall be spaced out.

Recently, a commercial has popped up on local television stations from Peltier Nissan, a local car dealership. Amidst the shiny, overpriced trucks and the tuxed up owner spouting off how low his deals are, in big flashing red and yellow letters were the words THERE'S NO RECESSION HERE!!!

Now, one might think that the denial of the country's current economic condition would be less than upsetting, but I highly disagree. I would like to see dealerships, banks, credit card companies, etc. all putting out messages of hope - or at least something slightly in the realm of realism. The reason that this country has backslid into the dregs of economic waste that we have is because we cover up our financial woes.

"Oh you don't have enough money or good credit for this home loan, well no problem! I'll give you a $350,000 home when you can only afford a $75,000 trailer!"

If you're going to circulate a commercial or print ad with an economic twist, it should be something along the lines of "Look... We realize that nobody is doing very well right now, but we'd like to help. Here's what we're going to do..." Companies need to start giving much more than they are right now. Banks, car dealerships, even places like Starbuck's need to wake up and smell the recession. If we stick our heads in the sand on this one, we may never claw our way out of this mess.

Love and Lyte,

Fire Lyte