N. Starcat Shields - Starcats Corner: Essays on Pagan Living

Winchester, UK
Washington, USA

First published by Moon Books, 2013

Moon Books is an imprint of John Hunt Publishing Ltd., Laurel House, Station Approach, Alresford, Hants, SO24 9JH, UK

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Text copyright: N. Starcat Shields 2012

ISBN: 978 1 78099 553 3

All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publishers.

The rights of N. Starcat Shields as author have been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Design: Stuart Davies

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To Quester, for always having faith in me, and for all the years of love and support.

To BlackLion, for being a loving and inspiring partner and believing the dream.

And to my parents, for giving me life and encouraging me to pursue my passions.

I stepped onto the wide wooden porch of the chalet, full of a bubbly mix of elation and nerves. I was here at last! I was about to step into the all-camp, opening night meeting of the 2005 Vermont Witch Camp. This was the retreat of my dreams: a whole week on a remote mountainside with 125 other Pagans, all focused on deepening our spiritual connection. Bliss!

That afternoon Id driven up from Maine by myself, checked in and set up camp. The theme of the gathering centered on Lewis Carrolls Alice in Wonderland, and I truly felt like I was stepping through the looking glass into another world. Late- summer days stretched out ahead of me, sparkling with magick and potential.

During this first meeting, I listened carefully. Which of the learning paths should I choose to follow? What about an affinity group? And the extra offerings, like yoga classes and drumming workshops? I was immediately drawn to the path called Joining to Mystery. The intention of the paths two teachers was to help us create sacred relationships with the unseen worlds and the spirits of nature.

One of the Joining to Mystery teachers, Angela Magara, was a tall, confident priestess whose vibrant energy and long blond hair cascaded down around her like a cloak. She also planned to offer a writing intensive throughout the week. It appealed to me, but that first night I wrote in my journal that Id decided not to take the writing track. I would already have Angela as a path teacher, and part of my intention for camp was to just be, rather than focusing on trying to create some kind of finished writing project.

The next morning, though, as my journal details, when I went to sit down at breakfast, I saw some women Id met at dinner last night and happened thus upon the Ecstatic Writing Group. I sat down and was immediately drawn in by what Angela was saying, so Ive joined! It seems to feel right for me, after all. Angela was direct and inspiring in her challenge. She told us, There are hundreds of books on how to be a Pagan or learn basic Wicca 101. What we need are writings by those who are out there living it. We need more books about the experience of being a Pagan. You have the gift of words, so share it.

Over the course of the amazing and transformative week, I began to step into the roles I was creating for myself. My mantra was Writing, Dancing, Healing. One of my vows as we prepared to take our new wisdom back into our communities was to, in Angelas words, spin the holy words out of myself. I was determined to meet the challenge, even as I returned to my full-time job and parenting my young kids. The task seemed daunting, but I brought back with me a new commitment to a regular writing practice and the seeds of a deeper connection to my muse.

In fact, I was already writing regularly about my life as a Pagan. Id been writing a column called Starcats Corner in my local Pagan newsletter for nearly ten years. It had started with a letter to the EarthTides Pagan Network in 1997, as I tentatively reached out of my solitary witch status in search of community. Gradually I began sharing my own thoughts and experiences. As I grew more confident in my abilities, I offered tools and suggestions for readers who wished to enhance their personal spirituality and live in harmony with others and the planet.

When I returned from Vermont Witch Camp, excited about my new focus, my husband Quester suggested that I collect the Starcats Corner essays into a book. It made a lot of sense. I could address the need Angela spoke about, which was essentially answering the question: How do you live your earth-based spirituality, day in and day out, particularly in a culture that doesnt share your values?

In this book, I bring you one womans answers, discovered over time. Having chosen a path less traveled, I offer it up in hopes that my experiences will encourage you in your own practice of the Craft. The ideas, tools and suggestions contained within these essays offer assistance in the search for meaning beneath the surface of the modern mainstream lifestyle. The focus is on finding a balanced connection to the earth, one that encompasses body, mind, emotions and spirit. And lest you think I speak from on high, Pagan living is an ongoing, day-by- day practice. As youll see within these pages, we human beings are continually facing challenges, posing questions and seeking answers.

Why am I called to share these particular tools with you? In my experience over two decades of active Pagan living, there wasnt one particular teacher or tradition that fit me just perfectly. Ive been an eclectic witch from the start, creating my own path piece by piece. And yet even as Ive accumulated wisdom from many sources, Ive noticed universal tools and practices that seem to fit well into any belief system. Over time, some of my own recurring patterns have also seemed to be common human challenges. I feel drawn to provide suggestions, to share what Ive learned through trial and error. Part of my calling is to offer these solutions to you as you walk your own unique path, in hopes of helping you along the way, inspiring you to persevere and to thrive.

The essays are arranged by Sabbat. As we follow the Wheel of the Year, we align ourselves with the cycles of nature. Even in our modern civilized culture, we are mammals, part of the natural world. Our cycles of growth parallel those of the earths other beings; the plants and birds, trees and animals. Within this context, we become attuned with the elements, ponder our purpose in life and continue to deepen our wisdom with each passing year. Some of the topics covered here include faith, creativity, releasing stress, overcoming self-doubt, dealing with change, mindfulness meditation, barefoot hiking, faeries, creating prosperity and more. Over time, my writing style has matured as my understanding continues to grow. You may notice the evolution of my ideas and practices as you read through the essays in each Sabbat. In the same way, each season brings particular themes of thought and action.