Purrfectly Pagan Magazine - June 2022 Issue

Purrfectly Pagan MAGAZINE VOL. 1 ISSUE 6 JUNE 2022

"How to Plan a Pagan Wedding"

by Lady Shay

COMMITMENT OR NEED TO BE COMMITTED?

A PAGAN BACHELORETTE CEREMONY

by Holly Broderick

by Mama Faye

THE SOUR TASTE OF SPOILED LOVE

by John Shaden

In This Issue: Letter from the Editor Mindful Paganism: How to Reduce Wedding Planning Stress Wisdom from the Faerie Godsmother: Commitment or Be Committed?

The Witches' Corner: Will Any Church Welcome a Witch?

Our Intuition The Devil's Advocate: The Sour Taste of Spoiled Love

Magick is a complicated thing, and no results are guaranteed. No medical or income claims are made in this publication. This publication may contain adult languyage.

Letter from the Editor Dear Reader -This marks our 6th issue. Half a year! I am so awed at how this magazine has grown in scope and awareness.

Publishing this magazine has been magickal for me. I have met so many new people - in person and virtually - and made new friends. It has also helped me explore and redefine my faith. I hope it has shown you new Paths, as well, even if you chose not to follow them.

As always, I would love to hear your feedback. Please reach out to me at https://www.purrfectlypagan.com/contact.html thoughts.

Wishing You Peace, Purpose, & Joy -

---Lady Shay Purrfectly Pagan | 3

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THE WITCHES' CORNER Will Any Church Welcome a Witch?

WRITTEN BY: LADY SHAY

I have been to a lot of churches over the past 3 decades. There were many years when I was a closeted witch, not feeling safe to openly display my faith.

Then there were years when I tried to be a Christian. I really tried. It never seemed quite right to me.

But I missed the sense of "belonging." I knew it was a false sense of belonging because I hadn't shown my true self, but I still wanted to find a place to belong.

I was living in the Bible Belt years ago when I friend invited me to a Unitarian Universalist church. It was like nothing I had experienced before - friendly, welcoming people who accepted me and my family as we were: a mixture of Pagans (2 of us), a vegetarian, an agnostic, a neuroatypical, and...well, we are a lot of things. (continued on next page) Purrfectly Pagan | 6

THE WITCHES' CORNER Will Any Church Welcome a Witch?

WRITTEN BY: LADY SHAY

I don't write this to convince you to go to a UU church. I know that covens may be your cup of tea, and that is perfectly fine.

As a solitary witch, I enjoy belonging to a congregation where there are diverse faiths and paths. I learn from them. They learn from me. We go through life together.

Isn't that one of the things that makes life sweeter?

Purrfectly Pagan | 7

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How to Plan a Pagan Wedding WRITTEN BY: LADY SHAY

So you want to get married. Awesome, right?

Well…maybe not.

As someone who recently got married, I got frustrated with how Judeo-Christian-Centric most wedding resources are. Luckily, my husband and I are not afraid to buck the trend!

There are many things that can be the same in a Pagan wedding as in a Judeo-Christian one, but here are some things you may want to consider.

Wedding Stress - this is for any wedding, but trying to plan a Pagan wedding in a notreally-Pagan-friendly area can be super stressful. Check out the Mindful Paganism article in this issue for tips on how to handle wedding stress.

Location - did you know that in some states a park is not a legal place to have a wedding ceremony? You can’t list it on the marriage license. Or a motel, in some states.

Churches are fine, though. But…what if you are Pagan?

Check with your town clerk to make sure your location is a valid one for the marriage license. If you are struggling to find somewhere Pagan-friendly, search for your local Unitarian Universalist church. (That is where we got married - I’m Pagan/Wiccan and he is an atheist.) You can use a search engine or visit UUA.org for info.

Officiant - In addition to a UU minister (sensing a theme, right?), you have other options.

Some states allow a friend to be ordained for a day to officiate at your wedding. Universal Life Church is another option for ordination. (We used the ULC route - my daughter married us, and it was awesome.) Some states allow a Notary Public to perform a marriage ceremony, and should (theoretically) be open to Pagans. (continued on next page) Purrfectly Pagan| 9

How to Plan a Pagan Wedding WRITTEN BY: LADY SHAY

(continued)

Ceremony - there is nothing mandated in a wedding ceremony. No words you have to say, no specific acts you must perform. We created a ceremony full of symbolism, using two containers of sand - one from a beach where my husband grew up, one from a beach where I grew up - and we poured the sand into a larger candle holder. Then we lit the main candle with the smaller ones. It was amazing. Do something symbolic, or funny, or themed - let your heart lead you.

Rings - this is fun, too! My husband had my ring crafted from a colorchanging garnet. It is purple or teal, depending on the light source.

Garnet is my birthstone, and teal looks like his birthstone. I adore it.

This gives you some ideas for your big day, but if you want a checklist and more ideas, visit https://www.purrfectlypagan.com/paganwedding.html.

Visit https://www.purrfectlypagan.com/paganwedding.html to get your free Pagan Wedding Checklist.

And if you are looking for a Pagan Wedding Consultant, shoot me an email at ladyshay@purrfectlypagan.com.

Purrfectly Pagan| 10

Wisdom from the Faerie Godsmother Commitment or Need to Be Committed?

Is it insane to be with someone that has very different spiritual beliefs?

WRITTEN BY: HOLLY BRODERICK

I pulled up to his house in my gray 2005 Honda Accord wearing a pair of black and white striped dress pants, patton leather flats, red scoop neck sweater, with my hair ‘just so.’ He came out wearing the quintessential black metal singer gear. He wore black boots with chains, black jeans, a black metal band t-shirt, a black metal band sweatshirt with his black leather cut over the sweatshirt, and a black bandana on his head. He looked so badass, and I looked so preppy. As it turns out, our religions are as different as our sense of style.

John is what I call a Satanist with a twist of paganism. I’m what he calls a nature loving vegan hippie pagan. Of course, we are joking with each other by calling each other these things. I do a lot of elemental magick and he does a lot of blood magick. We have entirely different ceremonies and holidays because we concentrate our energies on different deities. I work mostly with Irish deities, and he works with deities from all over the world. We debate more than we agree when it comes to our religious beliefs. So then how do we make it work? Are we crazy to try? (continued on next page) Purrfectly Pagan| 11

Wisdom from the Faerie Godsmother continued

Commitment or Need to Be Committed?

Before John, I dated people that were Christian, Jewish, Atheist, Agnostic, or Wiccan. Most of which were not even into their religions. They were the type that only showed up to church, synagogue or to the coven for high holy holidays. That made it much easier in some ways, because I could celebrate my holidays and them, theirs. No one got upset over it. We just did our own thing. Often I would invite them to celebrate with me, and they would say no because they didn’t understand what my religion is all about. Often they would invite me to celebrate with them, and sometimes I went, sometimes I didn’t.

There are two big differences between those relationships and my relationship with John. Those relationships all had other problems that lead to their end, and I never got as close with any of them as I have with John. We respect and love each other on a level that I have never experienced before.

That’s why I’m willing to be totally open to learning about what he believes and why he is so open to learning about the things that I believe. (continued on next page)

Purrfectly Pagan | 12

Wisdom from the Faerie Godsmother continued

Commitment or Need to Be Committed?

I have found that the keys to being with someone that is so different from me are respect, trust, and compromise. When I say compromise, please understand, I don’t ever want you to feel like you need to compromise who you are or what you believe just so that you can be with someone. I don’t, neither does John, nor should you. What I mean is that I am flexible with things like how we celebrate various holidays and using each others ritual items. I let John borrow my bell all the time, and he lights incense, and palo santo for my altar.

In May we had high holy days land on the same day. Walpurgisnacht, a high holiday for John, landed on Beltane, a holy day for me. This year we celebrated both. We had a Beltane barbeque and celebrated Walpurgisnacht with ritual afterwards. I was invited only to do the most basic of the basic rituals because he is not supposed to share the secrets of his current with those that don’t follow that path. John kept to his word, and had me stand quietly with him, as he prayed in silence over the fire. It was quite beautiful. (continued on next page) Purrfectly Pagan | 13

Wisdom from the Faerie Godsmother continued

Commitment or Need to Be Committed?

Aside from taste in music, style of clothing, taste in furniture, philosophy about life, eating habits, love languages, and religion, we do have a lot in common. Oh wait, not really. But the things that we do have in common are the most important things to us. We value learning, loyalty, friendship, family, respect, love, open communication, our love of writing, art, our use of certain profanities, and of course, the f around and find out attitudes.

My point is, if you value yourself and the other person, you will find a way to let them be who they are while you remain yourself. You’ll encourage each other to grow which gives you both room to flourish, even if you don’t fully understand exactly which direction the other person is going. Had, either John or I been a part of a religion that required the spouse to act in certain ways, wear certain things, or was rigid about how the spouse behaved we would not have worked out. If you enter into a relationship with someone who’s religion is rigid about how the spouse needs to behave, or is controlling of the spouse in any way, please enter with distinct boundaries about how far you are willing to go with that. For me, the answer is, “no,” to all of it, but for you, the answer may be different. You have to be honest with yourself about what you will and will not accept before you get into any serious relationship.

Our next step is to figure out our next step, and when we do, we will let you know if we are handfasting, marrying, buying a store, buying a condo, or getting a drink. It might take a long time for us to do anything more than just get a drink. Who knows what our future holds? All we know is that it’s going to involve oracle cards, mediumship, love, and filled with magick.

Purrfectly Pagan | 14

About Holly Broderick: Owner of Holly Be Healing, a business dedicated to energetic and spiritual healing.

While the business, Holly Be Healing, is only a few years old, Holly’s dedication to helping people has been a lifelong mission and her talent for intuitively knowing what people are feeling and how to help them heal is as skill that Holly has honed over the years. Holly taught Shaolin Chuan Fa for 10 years and Yang Style Tai Chi for 5 years. While doing and teaching the martial arts she discovered her love of energy work and started focusing a lot on meditation. She became a certified Chakra Meditation Specialist and certified health coach in order to help people clear their chakras and heal physically, spiritually and emotionally.

Holly has been reading Oracle Cards, and tarot for 26 years privately and just recently added it to the services that she provides through Holly Be Healing. Holly Be healing offers Chakra Meditation sessions, Moving Meditation sessions, and Oracle Reading sessions to clients of all types. Holly has read for all types of people, schoolteachers, massage therapists, stay at home moms, jewelry designers, and even radio stars. She has lead meditation sessions with black belts, teachers, local artists, IT specialists, world renowned artists, and countless others.

Holly is also the co-creator of a unique and fun podcast, "Psychics and Swears," where she and her cohost enjoy doing 5-minute fun readings and interviewing our favorite intuitives. Holly and her partner John Shäden are also the creators of the amazing fragrance, "Moon Owl Moon Water."

To learn more, please reach out to Holly: 475-329-8997 Hollybhealthy@gmail.com Purrfectly Pagan | 15

Looking for Pagan Authors to Feature!

Are you a Pagan Author?

We might want to feature a review of your book in an upcoming issue!

Please contact Shay and tell her a little bit about your book(s)! https://www.purrfectlypagan.com/contact.html Purrfectly Pagan | 16

Mindful Paganism How to Reduce Wedding Planning Stress WRITTEN BY: LADY SHAY

According to a recent survey, 40 percent of couples said that wedding planning is “extremely stressful”. Seventy-one percent (71%!!!) said that planning a wedding was more stressful than finding a new job.

There are many sources for stress when it comes to wedding planning, but common ones are finalizing a guest list, parental input/demands/, sticking to a budget, and issues with the future in-laws. The circumstances are not always something you can control, but your reactions are something you can (and should) control.

But how?

Mindful Paganism is a combination of Mindfulness (the practice of connecting Mind and Body) and Paganism (which connects Spirit to the Mind and Body).

Mindfulness techniques can help you be present in the moment, focus on what is happening (and not worrying about what might happen), and use this objective outlook to deal with the stress of wedding planning. (continued on next page) Purrfectly Pagan | 17

Mindful Paganism How to Reduce Wedding Planning Stress (continued) WRITTEN BY: LADY SHAY Mindful Communication Is the First Key Open, clear, honest, gentle, and mindful communication is crucial for couples, especially when planning a wedding. Emotions tend to run high under stress, so knowing this as you begin to plan your wedding is a good start. Let’s take a look at those components: Open - This means you are open to hearing the other person. You are open to receive suggestions, information, opinions, and preferences from your Significant Other without a predetermined agenda or outcome in mind. You also offer your own suggestions, information, opinions, and information without any hidden agenda or pretense.

Clear - This is not the time to be vague. Be clear about what you feel, what you want, and what you prefer. And if you don’t have a preference about something, say, “I don’t have a preference,” instead of “I don’t care.” Words matter.

Honest - Be honest. Express your true feelings or preferences. But remember the next point, which is…

Gentle - Just because you are honest, doesn’t mean you need to be brutally honest. You can be honest without being snide, mean, or hurtful.

Mindful - Before you start to communicate (especially if emotions are running high), take a moment to use one of the Mindfulness exercises I have written about in previous columns. (If you need a copy of those techniques, visit https://www.mindfulpaganism.com and you can get the free mini-course.) This will calm you (and hopefully your Significant Other will do the exercises with you), and set you up for a successful communication session. Mindfulness also means staying in the moment, not bringing up the past.

Purrfectly Pagan | 18

(continued on next page)

Mindful Paganism How to Reduce Wedding Planning Stress (continued) WRITTEN BY: LADY SHAY Self Care Is the Second Key Planning a wedding means you are going to be pulled in a lot of different directions, meet with lots of people (in person, on the phone, via text, or with Zoom), and have less time for yourself.

In order to operate at 100%, you need time to rest and recharge.

Set aside 5 minutes each morning and evening to practice a Mindful Paganism Exercise.

You can use the same one each day, or rotate them.

Mindful Journaling can help you “write the stress away” by getting your thoughts on paper (or on a screen). In addition to relieving stress, you’ll be recording memories to look back on.

Have a hobby? Don’t neglect it. If you don’t have a hobby, then taking up a new one might be a good idea (as long as you find it relaxing).

Talking with someone (that’s NOT involved in your wedding planning) can also help relieve stress and be part of your self care. If you don’t have someone for this (and you may not, since your friends will probably be in your wedding or helping you plan it), I do offer Mindful Paganism coaching. Just shoot me an email at purrfectlywiccan@gmail.com and let’s see if we'd be a good fit to work together. (continued on next page)

Purrfectly Pagan | 19

Mindful Paganism How to Reduce Wedding Planning Stress (continued) WRITTEN BY: LADY SHAY

Perspective Is the Third Key Your wedding day is a wonderful day. It’s exciting, momentous, and beautiful. It is a day that you will look back on for many years to come, smiling at the memories. (Or laughing. Or rolling your eyes. Even mishaps end up being funny after enough time has passed.)

But your wedding day is just the beginning of the next season of your relationship.

Remember this and keep it in perspective. If marriage were a road trip, then your wedding day is when you gas up the car and buy a ton of snacks, excited and giggly about what lies ahead.

Make sure that you approach your wedding day with the understanding that it’s not an ending point. It’s a lovely beginning.

Visit www.MindfulPaganism.com to learn more about Mindful Paganism.

Purrfectly Pagan | 20

About Lady Shay Lady

Shay

is

a

Unitarian

Universalist Pagan and an eclectic witch. She feels her purpose is to serve the Pagan community.

Shay is the owner and Editor-InChief

of

Magazine.

Purrfectly She

Pagan

started

the

magazine in January of 2022 to help her fellow Pagans.

Shay is a Mindful Paganism coach and practitioner. Mindful Paganism is the practice of connecting Mind, Body, & Spirit in order to relieve stress, find our purpose, and rediscover Joy. Shay can be reached via email at ladyshay@mindfulpaganism.com

Purrfectly Pagan | 21

Our Intuition WRITTEN BY: WIL DARCANGELO

My grandmother Madelon was a truly lovely woman. Elegant. Dressed very well but never to the point of drawing attention. She’d sing “I love you, a bushel and a peck…” from Guys & Dolls and never kiss us just once when five or six pecks in a row were possible. We all adored her.

Gram always taught us to follow our intuition. She never made a big deal about it, but whenever the opportunity presented itself to reinforce the idea, she never failed to do so.

From an early age this always made me wonder about the power, purpose, and, of course, even the existence of, our human intuition. But if Gram said it existed, then it existed. She did not exaggerate, gossip, or overdramatize. So, with the exception of her occasional superstitious beliefs such as hiding your mother’s dish towel to get rid of a wart, we generally took her words at face value.

(continued on next page)

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Our Intuition WRITTEN BY: WIL DARCANGELO (continued)

I believe we all possess a skill we might refer to as intuition. But I won’t claim to determine the source of it. Some may deem it to be God/Holy Spirit speaking to them, or through them. Some believe that intuition and other forms of more demonstrable psychic phenomena are a mental handhold with the “other side” creating a conduit of information. Or perhaps it’s something else entirely.

It could be all of the above.

For the sake of things not becoming too complicated or specific in my mind about the origin of the information I receive through the process of my own intuition, I choose to see it as my higher self, tapping me on the shoulder. A part of me that has a slightly better connection with All That Is giving me hints and signals about what to do next, like an inner compass. (continued on next page)

Purrfectly Pagan | 23

Our Intuition WRITTEN BY: WIL DARCANGELO (continued)

But since intuition is quite fallible, and vulnerable to our own emotional disturbances, influences, and interpretations, it’s generally easier to see in hindsight something our intuition was trying to tell us than it was predictable before the fact.

I’ve thought the same about really good tarot card readings. They tell us things like a tall, dark stranger is coming your way only to find out you’re being asked to housesit a friend’s enormous black Great Dane named Pipsqueak. There was something to the original intuited thought, but too vague to have acted upon, ending up only as a curiosity tale. Or tail, as the case may be.

This leads us to things like prophecy, both ancient, such as the Book of Revelations in the Bible, and what have ended up to be modern prophecies, like Jules Verne’s predictions of modern technology in his 19th-century science fiction books. Included with these are also some conspiracy theories, like the Simulation Hypothesis, which is a belief that all of “reality” is actually a simulation, and not real, popularized by movies like The Matrix trilogy and other forms of science fiction.

I wonder where our intuition configures into ideas such as these? Because, if Revelations, for instance, is a prophecy of some kind, the imagery presented could mean any number of things other than the literal destruction of humanity. It could very well mean the death of the old corrupt way of doing things, for all we know. I bet that would feel very much like an annihilation for those who live corruptly.

(continued on next page) Purrfectly Pagan | 24

Our Intuition WRITTEN BY: WIL DARCANGELO (continued)

And since we know virtually nothing about the “hereafter,” but enough about physics to know that parallel dimensions of reality co-exist alongside ours, is our intuition picking up on the notion that this experience of life we’re having is somehow entangled across dimensions and mirroring another, and subsequently identifying it as a simulation? Or as Heaven?

How much information about the Ultimate Reality do we really receive through our intuition? While it’s impossible to answer, spiritual teachings across cultures do advocate for stillness of the mind and body, and peace of the heart to get the most from what naturally comes to us.

The bottom line? I believe that the Universe speaks to us all the time. It's easy to make mistakes about it. Make sure your antennae are at ease to get the best reception possible.

Purrfectly Pagan | 25

About Wil Darcangelo

Wil Darcangelo, M.Div, is the Minister at the First Parish UU Church of Fitchburg and of the First Church of Christ, Unitarian in Lancaster, and producer of The UU Virtual Church of Fitchburg and Lancaster on YouTube.

Email wildarcangelo@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @wildarcangelo. His blog, Hopeful Thinking, can be found at www.hopefulthinkingworld.blogspot.com

Purrfectly Pagan | 26

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A Pagan Bachelorette Ceremony WRITTEN BY: MAMA FAYE

How does a Pagan Bride prepare for her wedding day?

Ceremony ideas might be everywhere, but resources are hard to find, which is what makes Purrfectly Pagan Magazine so unique.

But what does a Bride do to prepare herself for her wedding? Ideas and information are not so readily available, especially in a day and age when most brides are experiencing wild bachelorette parties. It’s come to my observation though, that many Pagan Brides would prefer a more relaxed, even sacred, night of preparation spent with her beloved friends and family who walked with her through life and are supporting her into the next phase.

Gathered for your pleasure and preparations, we bring you this information in hopes to start your wedding in the most beautiful and sacred of ways. Pick and choose what you would most like to incorporate for your Pagan Bachelorette Ceremony to create a magical night leading up to your most magical wedding day.

(continued on next page) Purrfectly Pagan | 28

A Pagan Bachelorette Ceremony WRITTEN BY: MAMA FAYE (CONTINUED)

Opening a Sacred Space Before you begin, gather with your loved ones, and if you’re doing this alone the night before your wedding then call in your Spirit Guides and Ancestors to join you and together open a sacred space. The way I personally choose to do this is with a Shamans Invocation Prayer. This way I address the four directions and the Spirit Guides associated, I address the Earth Mother, Source, Grandfather Sun, Grandmother Moon, and all other relations.

However you choose to do so, open with intention a sacred space from a loving and grateful heart.

Use Flower Water to anoint the space or any form of Holy Water. Pray to any God or Deity you are called to. Give deep thanks, and welcome them to join you and to guide you with love and grace forward into this next phase of life.

I would most absolutely repeat this process the day of the wedding before guests arrive at your chosen location of ceremony.

Purrfectly Pagan | 29

(continued on next page)

A Pagan Bachelorette Ceremony WRITTEN BY: MAMA FAYE (CONTINUED)

The Red Satchel As you plan and prepare for your wedding keep on the lookout for these items so that you can put this together the night before your wedding, ideally, but anytime before that you should feel called is great, especially if that time happens to be over a New Moon.

A key tip, if I am needing a nicer gemstone not normally found with other tumbled stones, you could include an earring you own or ring or other piece of jewelry to substitute for the duration the satchel is needed.

A small red satchel ~ often found in gift shops!

Small piece tumbled Rose Quartz Small piece Morganite Small piece tumbled Angel Aura Quartz Small piece tumbled Opal Small piece of Garnet or Ruby Rosemary leaves ~ 11 is ideal A hair from each person from the couple, and from each of their children if uniting a family.

An extra copy of the vows ~ on thin or smaller sized paper ideally A pink or red ribbon 11 inches long ~ or as close to 11 as you can get.

Blessing Liquid ~ Blessing oil, holy oil, holy water, Florida water, Flower water, Spirit water, New Moon water, whatever calls you is acceptable.

(continued on next page) Purrfectly Pagan | 30

A Pagan Bachelorette Ceremony WRITTEN BY: MAMA FAYE (CONTINUED)

Gather all items together, gather the wedding rings here as well, the handfasting cord or cloth, and any chalices or wine glasses intended for the couple with these belongings. Go into a meditative position, using breathwork to slow your heart and to open your Heart Chakra as wide as you can.

Bask in that feeling a moment before you begin. Use the Blessing Liquid to draw a heart on your forehead, over your heart chakra, and onto your palms. Use the Blessing Liquid with your fingers to lightly anoint each item gathered. Place the lid tightly on the Blessing Liquid and set aside.

Holding your left hand over the items, read your vows aloud over the items, charging them with intention and purpose and love.

Critical Note! Put the couple’s wedding rings, the handfasting cord, and chalices in the best location so they will not be forgotten for the ceremony!! Do not leave these items on your altar space!!!

Fold the vows to the smallest it can be folded. Wrap the pink or red ribbon towards you around the folded vows. Secure however is easiest or prettiest. If you feel called to cover this in a glittery hot glue glob to bind your love forever, then do it.

Combine all items, vows, stones, jewels, rosemary, any love tokens you feel called to add, into the red satchel. Tie in a loose knot but be sure to tie three times. Pin this or loosely sew this directly to the inside of your gown, somewhere it won’t be noticed or uncomfortable to you. After the wedding you may remove the thread or pin. Keep the satchel closed for the first 33 days of marriage, the longer the better here but if you have tied in some piece of jewelry you want back then 33 days will be long enough. You are welcome to remove the jewelry, wear it and feel blessed with this love; while keeping the rest of the contents in the bag somewhere special to you ideally near your wedding photos or in your wedding album.

Purrfectly Pagan | 31

(continued on next page)

A Pagan Bachelorette Ceremony WRITTEN BY: MAMA FAYE (CONTINUED)

The Ritual Bath Ideally, you should be prepared for this in advance, so that you can create New Moon water, blessed for your blessed day. Depending on the amount of time you have to prepare for your wedding and when your wedding is, you may choose to create New Moon water for a specific month or specific New Moon phase or eclipse.

Please

be

advised

against

risking

essential oils into your bath water unless it is bath approved such as Lavender. Some oils have horrible reactions with our skin when combined with water and will cause lasting burns.

Do not use ANY of these products if you have never used them before on the night before your wedding or you are risking a noticeable allergic reaction.

Purrfectly Pagan | 32

(continued on next page)

A Pagan Bachelorette Ceremony WRITTEN BY: MAMA FAYE (CONTINUED)

2 cups Lavender Epsom Salt ~ or plain is just great too, but for weddings and other special occasions I do prefer Lavender 1 entire regular sized box of Baking Soda, or up to 2 cups. ¼ cup pure organic Rose Water ~ food grade is ideal as long as it is not FLAVORED or SCENTED ¼ cup 3% Peroxide ~ 3% is the standard store strength and should not alter hair color after one diluted use.

3 Bay Leaves Candles ~ As many candles as you can burn safely in your bathroom Crystals ~ As many crystals as you can decorate your bathroom and tub with that will not cause you any risk getting in and out of the tub Palo Santo Rose Incense or Jasmine or Gardenia ~ One of these 3 ideally or whatever your preference White Sage Bundle ~ Can be enhanced with any additional flowers of your choosing Extra Flowers that match your bouquet to float in the tub Water Soluble CBD ~ Key Wedding Tip, buy a case of bottled CBD water to keep on hand at the wedding to keep calm and focused and to keep the wedding day stress at bay, and to soothe any emotional guests. You will have one bottle for your bath, and extra as needed.

2 cups of Milk ~ If at all possible in your area, seek and use Raw Milk for this! Otherwise, whatever will do, but do put in the effort for Raw Milk if possible.

Music ~ A preferred choice would be 528 HZ Binaural Beats Frequencies. Short of this, whatever soothes you and puts you in the mood for romance.

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A Pagan Bachelorette Ceremony WRITTEN BY: MAMA FAYE (CONTINUED)

Feel welcome to use bath pillows, mats, and anything necessary to be as comfortable as possible during this bath. I do not recommend use of ANY products you have not tested on your skin at least one week before your wedding.

As the tub is filling and you have gathered all the ingredients into the tub, and decorated your room and lit your candles (safely) then you will want to pray or recite anything symbolic that creates sacred space for you, speaking over this bath water. This is another great time to recite your vows, over the water, with your hands above and not touching the water but palms down to face the water.

If you have loved ones and family gathered with you then most definitely ask them to join you in prayer, and placing their left hand over the water as they recite your chosen sacred invocation.

If you can dim the lights or lower then and remain safe navigating the candles in and out of the tub then do so. Bathe, and simply be at bliss.

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A Pagan Bachelorette Ceremony WRITTEN BY: MAMA FAYE (CONTINUED)

Hair Braiding Throughout Pagan history and many cultures of similar dynamics, braiding has been a sacred practice to invoke protection, to connect to our ancestors, and to bind intentions to our days.

Reading your vows while braiding your hair or having your hair braided will embed the intentional magic into each braid. You’ll want at least 3 small braids woven into your hair, but most traditions will say the more the merrier.

That is all I have for now to bless your beautiful and most special day ahead. Remember to pray over, and read your vows over all sacred items and places before your ceremony to invoke the grace and love of your deities.

Many blessings, unique souls!

Mama Faye

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About Mama Faye Seven times published in paranormal fiction and dramatic suspense, Faye is currently in the creation process of her first nonfiction production.

Lifelong artist, Faye has a unique style of blending creating a visual feast of color and texture through her often natureinspired abstracts. Her art knows no limits and is most often found coating privately-owned walls across the midwest. Custom requests are all the artist is currently making available for sale at this time.

Mama Faye is a lifelong practitioner of eclectic arts, the extra-ordinary, and the other-worldly. Faye uses her gifts and knowledge to benefit her clients and to help guide those ready along their road to healing.

She can be reached via email at themommafaye@gmail.com.

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Pagan Groups Pioneer Valley Witches & Pagans - Western Massachusetts Pioneer Valley Witches and Pagans group is for Pagans and Witches in the Pioneer Valley, Western Mass, and nearby areas to get together, chat, network, and socialize. We have Meetups every two weeks. I'm trying to plan some more interesting outings and activities, set stay tuned! You can find us at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pioneerwitchesandpagans/?ref=share and for those not on Facebook: https://meetingplace.io/PVW

Fitchburg Pagan Group in Fitchburg, MA Merry Meet! This group is for pagans of all types (wiccan, neopagan, Celtic, etc.) in or near Fitchburg, MA, to meet and socialize. It's also a welcoming place for those who are curious about paganism.

List your Pagan group here for free!

Contact Shay for info: https://www.purrfectlypagan.com/contact.html Purrfectly Pagan | 27

Warning: Strong Language TW: Domestic Violence

The Devil's Advocate The Sour Taste of Spoiled Love: an Exercise in Agony and Exile WRITTEN BY: JOHN SHADEN

“I wrapped our love in all this foil, silver tight like spider legs. I never wanted it to ever spoil, but flies will lay their eggs.” - Marilyn Manson, Tourniquet Bukowski once said that ‘love is a dog from hell.” its a bit dramatic, but the man stewed in whiskey for decades, had experienced pain and ecstasy like very few squares ever would or could, so he is forgiven to feel the way he does. I myself, have felt the long sharp slip of a blade in my back, more times than i can even care to mention. Its a pain very similar to losing a loved one. It never leaves, you just compartmentalize the fucker and hope you can bury it deep enough that the thing wont start stinking from deep in the crawlspace of your heart. Yes, thats a reference to John Wayne Gacy, another hopeless romantic, and no, I don't care if it ruffles feathers. Even sociopaths and mass murderers need a cuddle from time to time. If fact, many serial killers find love behind bars, and I don't mean from some big hulking cellmate. Richard Ramirez, Charles Manson, and many other men of their ilk have not only found love, but got hitched. Then again, if your going to spend the rest of your natural life rotting away like forgotten leftovers , marriage might seem quite appealing. But this isn't what we are here to discuss, is it? (continued on next page) Purrfectly Pagan | 37

The Devil's Advocate The Sour Taste of Spoiled Love: an Exercise in Agony and Exile WRITTEN BY: JOHN SHADEN (CONTINUED)

My Partner Holly is fucking great. I've never had someone love me with reckless abandon quite like her. She is hardworking, supportive of any and all endeavors of mine, no matter how blatantly batshit they may be, and unlike the morose masses of sheeple I loathe and feel nothing but contempt and rage for, she fucking loves me. Not the idea of me, but the actual degenerate wretch I am. I have to be honest, I’m a bit much.

I’m rude, crude, politically incorrect and at some points downright abrasive, yet she has a look in her eyes that melts my frigid heart. It’s real, folks. She loves me unconditionally, and I love her…… but I’m not here to talk about that, either. Nope, I’m afraid the topic this time is hate. Not good ol’ fashioned American bigotry or ignorance, but the kind that’s pure and can only be distilled in the thumptank of a beating heart.

The grain mash in question? Love.

Before I met my wonderful partner in love and crime, I had taken a vow of self-imposed exile, focusing on my dark path as a Satanist and submerging my spirit in all types of devilries. I won’t go into details, but let’s just say I was a naughty, naughty boy.

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The Devil's Advocate The Sour Taste of Spoiled Love: an Exercise in Agony and Exile WRITTEN BY: JOHN SHADEN (CONTINUED) Four years prior, I was in two relationships that drove me closer to murder-suicide than any other thing ever could. I won’t sit here and say I was an angel, because I am not. But I can say 3 things I am: honest, protective and loyal. I have never cheated on a partner and I have never hit a partner of mine (outside the bedroom…. Don't judge my kinks). I have been in a slew of bad rotten love affairs, but these last two were treasures of shit. The first one for me was the worst. She was constantly accusing me of cheating, I remember taking a shower, soap in my eyes and like a scene out of a Hitchcock film, the curtain flies open and there she is, with a motherfucking knife! I grabbed her wrist, and whilst naked, covered in suds and eyes burning, had to wrestle the knife out of her grasp. “What the fuck is the matter with you?!?” I screamed.

Through sobs all I could hear were the words “You fucking love her!!”

I honestly had no earthly idea what the fuck this female Norman Bates was going on about.

“Who? Who the fuck do I love?” and from her sanguine palm, covered in blood, handed me my cell phone. There was a txt, and you know what folks, it fucking did say ‘ok, talk to you l8r. Love you’.... And as it turns out, the person I was professing my love to, I did love, and I still do! (Oh, you bastard Johnny!!!)

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The Devil's Advocate The Sour Taste of Spoiled Love: an Exercise in Agony and Exile WRITTEN BY: JOHN SHADEN (CONTINUED) I know, I’m a rotten evil fuck…. Just one little problem: the name of the person I sent that to was my mother. Yeah, you read that correctly: it was my fucking mother’s number. And before you think she flew off the handle because she couldn't have known, my mom is and always has been under the name ‘Ma Dukes”, and yes, thats a nod to the late great Christopher Wallace, known better by the name Biggie Smalls…. Oh, and for the record, I still love that crazy bitch….

My mom, not the She-Norman.

The last straw before I went into the cavernous abyss of my spiritual path was not as dramatic, yet possibly did more damage than the other nimrod could. Let’s call her ‘douchey’, to protect the innocent and whatnot, and by innocent, I mean me. I can’t afford to fight a libelous lawsuit. I worked for her no account brother, a man who is more of a child than the 3 year old throwing a tantrum in the candy aisle.

Her father, a former Marine and Vietnam Veteran, was a terrific and wonderful man, and he basically bankrolled the company.

One instance I remember, I was owed pay for the last week, something to the effect of $500. This motherfucking brother of her literally had tears in his eyes when I told him I needed the cash pronto or I would end up losing my rented room (that’s for another story). He told me that he hadn't counted my hours worked and would get back to me. I told him, “I texted you at the beginning and end of every job, so just add them up, it’s pretty fucking basic arithmetic.” This is the same motherfucker who would eat $60 worth of fast food every fucking night.

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The Devil's Advocate The Sour Taste of Spoiled Love: an Exercise in Agony and Exile WRITTEN BY: JOHN SHADEN (CONTINUED) Nearly a week later, his father knocks on my door, let’s call him Bob. “Hey Bob, how the hell are you?” He handed me an envelope, which had $5000 inside.”Bob, i appreciate it, but its not your job to pay me, its your sons’”.

He looked me dead in the face and said ‘I’m sorry john, my son wants me to fire you’.

I was stunned. I busted my ass for under minimum wage, and this prick sent his own father, a man I still love with everything I got, to do his dirty work. “My son is a fucking jerkoff, John, but he’s my boy.’

I had to respect that. This man lived by the motto of his brothers in arms: Semper Fidelis. “Don't sweat it, Bob. I respect you. Take care. Honestly, I was probably gonna walk from the gig anyway.

Me and his sister douchey were actually looking for our own place. 5 grand made that possible.

Next time I saw her, I handed the the cash.”

“Find us an apartment, enroll your daughter in school. And let’s build this life together.” We hugged and I then went to find another job.

The next time we spoke, it was 3 months later. She called asking for help. “Are you fucking kidding me? I don't hear from you for months, your family, including your father, apparently went to live in Florida, and this is how you come back? Asking for help?!?!”

I asked her what happened to the money, and her answer was, “It’s gone. All of it is gone.”

“Gone? Where is it?”

“I spent it.” Yeah, no shit, on what?

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The Devil's Advocate The Sour Taste of Spoiled Love: an Exercise in Agony and Exile WRITTEN BY: JOHN SHADEN (CONTINUED) “Coke.” She spent every last dime on Cocaine, a drug i didn't even know she did….

I saw her not too long ago, she looks like shit, and honestly, I’m glad. Fuck her.

Now, I’m not gonna flat out say that my curses work…. Who am I kidding? Of course they did. Lol. In both these cases, I cursed the fuck outta these two bitches, yes I did. And I’m fucking proud of it, too. The first one’s life completely spiraled into obscurity and the other, who cares? It’s amazing what a little war water and a home grown destruction ritual can do. They couldnt have worked better if they had a fucking HAZMAT warning on them.

I take curses very seriously. It’s my ‘Nuclear option”. Yet, it’s truly a marvel to behold.

Oppenheimer, eat your heart out!! At the end of the day, there are very few things that are more foolish than betray and break the heart of a Black Magickian. Nothing, not even love, is stronger than a justified hatred, especially if its brewed by the one you love….. Well, loved.

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About John Shraden John Shaden was born on a leap year in 1988. He is a musician, black magickian, and a chaos gnostic satanist. John has had a keen interest in the occult and left hand path since as early as he can remember. He was born and raise Catholic, John found himself spiritually crippled and in his late teens decided to look into the darkness for answers and he found them. Through ritual magick and in communion with the divine, John has been able to sharpen his skills as a psychic and practitioner of the black work.

John founded an occult order known as the, “Order of the Oblivion,” in which he and his fraternal brother work with other occult organizations in forwarding their goals of gnosis, strength, and apotheosis in 2018. Along with his spiritual path, John has been the front man for the black metal band, “CARNIVOROUS STORM,” since 2018.

John has been a writer since he was a young boy, taking inspiration from authors such as Hunter S Thompson, E. A. Koetting, Michael W. Ford, Charles Bukowski, and Sun Tzu. He has been published on many online forums and websites along with publishing his own work on Brilliantbias.com and various other websites over the course of the last 15 years.

Holly Broderick and John Shaden have teamed up to create an amazing psychic duo, in 2022. They call themselves, “Psychics and Swears,” and have helped numerous people with all kinds of issues. They have assisted several families get closure in 4 different cases of murder. They work very hard to be sure that their clients know that they are cared for, treat them with dignity and are important to their work all the while using cheeky language and humor.

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