New Moon

Yesterday was a new moon.

Now in astronomy, the new moon is the first lunar phase, when the Moon and Sun have the same ecliptic longitude. At this phase, the moon is not visible to the unaided eye. Daylight outshines the earthlight that dimly illuminates the new moon. The actual phase is usually a very thin crescent.

Tons of cultures have historically paid attention to what the moon is up to.  Which makes sense. If I live in the forest, I wanna know when it gets really dark and a cougar has a better chance of eating my face. It's also a pretty obvious occurrence to mark the passage of time with. In fact, Jewish, Chinese, Hindu, Islamic, and Baha'i calendars all have some sort of association with this moon phase starting a new passage of time. Now if you're a pagan, neo-pagan, Wiccan, or some other metaphysical devotee you also may know that new moons are also paid attention to as a sign of new beginnings.

Well if you're going to start something new the time around a new moon feels like a good time to do it. Now all new beginnings should have a solid introduction.

So hi. I have a new blog.

When I meet new people I don't generally start with I'm a pagan. I usually go with things like my age, where I live geographically, what I do for a career, my marital and parental status. It's not that I am ashamed of a pagan label I just don't know that I see myself as a pagan. Not yet anyway. Baby pagan? Heathen-curious? Accidentally witchy? I just don't lead with it because I don't know if I am a pagan. Also, I was raised as a fundamentalist Christian, and everything "pagan" was defacto super evil, so it could just be unlearning that past.

Here is what I do know for sure; I don't know much. However, I do know there are observable seasons that affect me. There are lunar cycles. Trees are super cool. Plants are awesome, but I am not good at them. Big fan of bodies of water, all the greatest hits here really; lakes, oceans, rivers, ponds, hell even bogs are cool as shit! Bees are important for sustaining life. Our planet is on fire a lot lately and that seems not great for any of us. Women sure aren't equal yet. Sucks to be a person of color for sure, and that doesn't seem fair. Poor people are more vulnerable than ever, and everyone I know seems to be on the brink of a total mental breakdown. I feel disconnected myself and I don't like it. The big questions of "Is there more than this?" or "What does it all mean?" seems to bubble up a lot after sitting with that heavy list of things I know. I do know that I am at a place where those questions don't matter as much to me right now.

I want connection.

I want to be mindful and present. Pause long enough to notice. Notice my environment, notice my place in it, notice my reactions to it, notice others. Just be present.

I want to be kind. Kind to others, but also with myself.

I tagged this blog title with the phrase "modern witch". That's mostly tongue in cheek for me. Can you be a secular humanist and a witch? Probably not. I am less interested in labels and more interested in hearing/learning as much as I can from others who are trying to inform their own human experience, while I try to do the same.I love stories. I think that's possibly what intrigues me the most about paganism. To me, at a minimum, they are great stories and traditions with some sort of connection to the natural world. For me, it's more about the cultural history of how humans have dealt with life. I want to read stories, tell stories, and hear stories from people. This is how we learn. This is how we connect. This is how we pause and reflect and hopefully grow.

I don't know that I am trying to achieve anything with this blog. It's really more of a journal for myself as I start being more public with my witchy side. I love writing and haven't really felt inspired much to write lately. I am hoping by journaling my new interests it might light a creative fire in my pants...or a literal fire, I've heard pagans are into weird things...can you accidentally manifest pants fire? I dunno. Guess I'll find out.

So here is to new beginnings and stepping out of the broom closet.