A few questions guys

[Tranquility]

Hello everyone, me again :D i have a few questions i cam across while reading
1) Can you make your own oils?
2) Since i am studying both paganism ( Wicca and druidry) and i study Shamanism... If i get to the point where i am considered a pagan and a shaman, when i am asked my religion, do i just say pagan? because i know pagan is a religion but shaman is not a religion, but can go alone with any religion, it is a solitary practice.. do i just say im pagan.. or Pagan Shaman?
Just a question.. pretty stupid but im pondering
3) Oh yes, the 3rd, If a couple is planning on getting married, one is pagan the other is christian, how would they get married, in what church, if a church at all? In what place would they get married..
Thanks!

[Witchy Cowgirl]

Howdy and Welcome.
I've got some answers for ya!

1. Yes you can make your own oils. But I dont' know how.

2. That is a little tough. I'd suggest calling yourself what makes you comfortable. I call myself a Christian Witch. Most folks just call me crazy.

3. The only answer I have to that is :scream: FREYJA - FLAR :scream: where are you? Ya'll can answer this question much better than me!:T But really that would be a choice the couple would have to decide on. After all they are gonna be blending their beliefs for the rest of they're lives.

[Siarlas]

Hi Tranquility!

1. What Witchy Cowgirl said.

2. Maybe you could say your a Wiccan Shamanic Druid? Or Ecelctic ... something... lol sorry. Not much help I know. Or... maybe say your a pagan who studies Wicca, Shamanism and Druidry? ugh... I'm just confusing everyone now...

3. Now, this is purely my own view on this. I would have a wedding in a church (which both parties agree to) to honor the Christian's beliefs as well as have another ceremony of both parties devising which could incorporate both beliefs.

[Leviyah]

Making pure oils is a very difficult process and often you need specialised equiptment. But you can make infused oil quite easily. For thinks like flower petals or green herbs it's best to use a slow infusion process like adding oil (you can use olive oil or better yet sunflower oil) and petals to a glass bottle and leave it in the sun, once the petals become brown strain the oil and repeat until you have a right consistency.

As for what to call yourself, I have a friend who identifies herself as a religious shaman. But personally I don't think it matters.

Alot of christian churchs don't allow people of other demoniations to be married with in it. If one partner isn't (for instance) catholic they are often asked to convert before the priest will concent to marrying the couple in the church. Though some priests will marry a mixed religion couple outside of the church - they don't really like that either though. Most often mixed religion marriages take place in a "neutral" place like a garden etc.
Blessings
Leviyah

[st0rm]

acctualy shamanism is a religion...

[Faery-Wings]

Hi Tranquility!

To make distilled oils is very difficult, time consuming, and not worth it on an individual basis as Leviyah had said. Infused oils are much easier, In fact I know I saw somewhere you can use a crock pot to keep the oil warm while the herbs infuse! I'll see if I can find how to do it and post back. It will inspire me to try it as well.

I'd call yourself whatever you feel comfortable saying. Sometimes simpler is better. If others ask more questions, then you can flash out your answer as needed. I just use the term Pagan...makes it easier to get out and if anyone cares to inquire, thenI can start my ramblinsgs.

I married my aetheist husband in a Catholic ceremony. All we needed was a special dispensation from the Bishop (at an extra $50 naturally ;) ) to do so. I wasn't Pagan at the time, I was nothing really and my dad is Catholic so that is why we did that. But I had to sign something that said I would raise any children I had in the Catholic faith and that was all. But there was no issue. My kids even have non- Catholic god parents. *shrugs* My old church didn't seem to care much what we did as long as they got paid.

Like Witchy siad, definitely talk to Freyja and flar. :)

[Tranquility]

yeah because iknow usually you have to convert to the same religion if you want to get married, but i see that it is best to get married in a neutral place.. thanks a lot, as for those other questions thanks everyone... Im still deciding what i will be called then, as for my religion. Ill give up on oils :D I think ill stick with buying them, or doing them the easy way, as someone in this post said, drying and straining them

[Tranquility]

really storm? because i read in a few books that its an individual practice that can go along with any or no religion....

[Storm]

No Shamanism in itself is not a religion. A shaman is LIKE a priest of his religion, but not exactly. He/she communes with the otherside, whatever that religions view of the other side happens to be. Of course it's a bit more complex than that but thats it in brief.

[Jenett]

A note that it really does depend on the church involved, and sometimes on the specific priest or parish you work with.

When I was Catholic and my ex-fiance wasn't, he would not have been required to convert (unless he wanted to, of course). He did have to agree to sign a form saying that he wouldn't interfere with *my* practice of my religion, and that he was willing for any children we had to be brought up Catholic

(However, that same form said pretty explicitly that that was my call - if I'd wanted to, for instance, raise children with an appreciation for both my religion and his, and attend services at both, that would have been ok. I had a high school friend who was doing just that - Catholic and Baptist, in her case - and there were no problems at all from any religious leader involved.)

We didn't go through with getting married for other reasons, but that part was actually pretty simple.

There are often some changes needed in the ritual structure (for example, a Catholic-Catholic wedding service generally includes communion. When a Catholic marries a non-Catholic, this is generally left out, since non-Catholics aren't supposed to receive communion, and the general desire is for the wedding service to focus on unity, not difference.) But that's different than not being able to do it at all.

[Lavender]

About the oil question, check out the Green Room for more info. Making your own oils (like in expressing it directly from the fruit or plant) is very labour intensive and can be expensive.

[st0rm]

hmm.. maybe I was wrong then... Gonna ask my theology prof. tomorrow...

But as I understood it a shaman (in general) is a person who (often) with the help of sprits (he/se "collects") and trance work does something like healing, cursing and much more...

And from what Ive heard shamanism is a name for several paths that have a few distinct things in common....

Another definition of the word shamanism is, the primitive mans spritual way to preserve and create health and achive a balance between man and nature.

[Storm]

you have it right on all that. But in definition it is not a religion but a spiritual practice that can be a part of the whole religious experience or it can be without religious intent as well. Just because you aren't religious doesn't meen you can't work with spirits. I don't know if I am explaining it right?

[Flar's Freyja]

Originally posted by Witchy Cowgirl
Howdy and Welcome.
I've got some answers for ya!

1. Yes you can make your own oils. But I dont' know how.

2. That is a little tough. I'd suggest calling yourself what makes you comfortable. I call myself a Christian Witch. Most folks just call me crazy.

3. The only answer I have to that is :scream: FREYJA - FLAR :scream: where are you? Ya'll can answer this question much better than me!:T But really that would be a choice the couple would have to decide on. After all they are gonna be blending their beliefs for the rest of they're lives.

1. Do you mean your own essential oils or blends? I make perfume oils and magickal oils from a base/carrier oil, herbs and essential oils, throwing in a crystal here and there for added oomph. I learned how in an aromatherapy class that I took recently.

2. I call myself a Wise Woman since I practice a mix of practices including Native American, Asatru, Wicca and most of my current beliefs came out of my Catholic/Christian background.

3. Here's Freya! Flar is Christian. His family is very open. We want to get married outdoors where there'd be no need for a building but we want to be handfasted at Imbolc in February and it'll probably be too cold. I'm thinking of putting it off til Beltane but haven't discussed it with him yet. His mom would be upset because she's already arranged for time off........but Beltane is also the day before my birthday! Being outdoors is very important to me.

We haven't written our ritual yet, we do plan to write our own. I'm not sure how we'll refer to the deities. This is a handfasting ritual that I found on a site that was written for a mixed couple and the guests that might not know what's really going on;)

Wicca Book of Shadows (http://wiccanbos.home.att.net/bos/handfastingwedding.htm)

[st0rm]

Originally posted by Storm
you have it right on all that. But in definition it is not a religion but a spiritual practice that can be a part of the whole religious experience or it can be without religious intent as well. Just because you aren't religious doesn't meen you can't work with spirits. I don't know if I am explaining it right?


Thats right, but its also a name thats used to 'group' several religions, like wicca belongs to paganism, the Javiro indians belifs are by enthroplogists (sp?) considered as shamanic....

[Siarlas]

ok, see here's the tricky thing with the word 'shaman'. In the past, the word has been adopted by other cultures that don't seem to have a specific word for it. 'Shaman' actually came from an indigenous culture in Siberia and has now been used to describe a medicine man or woman - basically someone who functions primarily as a healer.

As Storm said, shamanism is not specifically it's own religion as it can refer to many different kinds of spiritual practice from the many different cultures. There's no 'church' or organization.

[Tranquility]

Ok, thanks, thats what i thought, clarifies it :D
Everything is all good and dandy now :D *grin*

[Autumn Wolf]

MM
There's a site called Wicca for the Low Budget Witch that tells how to make oil. I tried to put the URL in here, but it wouldn't write the whole address. I found it in Yahoo search with "Wicca for the Low Budget Witch".

[Tranquility]

thanks!

[Aviendha]

1. There is a book by Scott Cunningham called 'Incense, Oils, and Brews.' He tells you how to make tencures which you make from 100% grain alcohol and oils you make from jojoba oil or sweet almond oil.

2. I would just go with something simple like eclectic. If you want to be specific in your answer, just tell them all the things you practice. *shrug* Besides, you can always just say, I'm a pagan.

3. My husband is a christian and I am a Wiccan. We had our wedding outside and asked a notery to marry us. She didn't say anything about a god or goddess or anything religious, just that it was a joyous occasion, bonding of love, blah, blah, blah and there you go! Married.

Just thought I's pass that on....

[Ryhla]

Making your own essenial oils are a bit tricky as everyone else has said. I've been experimenting with a couple of recipes. Here is one off of <a href="http://essortment.com/">PageWise</a>. This particular recipe calls for mint, but any type of plant material with a strong smell can be used. Lavender has an intoxicating strong scent and would work well...leaves and all.

Health food stores and specialty supermarkets carry essential oil in small vials. When buying essential oil, it is prudent to check to see if what you have in your hand is pure essential oil and not one that is diluted. Sometimes it is hard to find the essential oil you want and have to special order it. Essential oil is a little pricey to begin with and if you have to special order it, the price goes even higher.


Essential oils are always mixed with carriers which are oils that are mild and have no scent. This is because using essential oil at full strength can irritate your skin.


Making your own essential oil at home is not hard, just have to have some patience. You can use any herb or flowers to make essential oils, it just depends on your preference. Let’s say for the purpose of this project, you want to make mint essential oil. ( If you are using flowers, do not use petals that have been sprayed with pesticides, i.e., flowers from florists.)


What you need:


Organically grown mint

A clean jar with a lid

Carrier oil: Sweet almond, jojoba, safflower (pick one)


The amount of mint you need will depend on the size of your clean jar. You will need a fresh batch of leaves everyday for the next week.


1. Crush the mint leaves with your hands and pack them loosely into the jar.


2. Pour the oil into the jar and fill it to cover the leaves. Cover tightly and set aside in a warm place.


3. Next day, strain the oil off the leaves and crush a new batch of leaves. Pack into the same jar with the strained oil. Top off with new oil, close the jar and set aside in a warm place for a day.


4. Repeat step three for the next five days. On the last day, pour into smaller bottles and label them carefully and refrigerate to extend its shelf life.


You can make your own perfume by adding about 15 drops of essential oil into a ½ ounce of vodka or Evercleer. Another thing you can do is to add 30 drops of essential oil to 8 ounces of your body lotion (unscented).


Another recipe I tried, though I can't remember where I got it take the plant material, I used lavender for this. Place in a watertight jar. Fill the jar with denatured alcohol or vodka to cover the lavender (or whatever you are using) with the chosen fluid. Let set for 2 weeks. *note* DO NOT USE RUBBING ALCOHOL. After 2 weeks strain. At this point you may keep it as it is for a perfume or freeze it. The oil will freeze and you can remove it from the alcohol at this time and store the oil. The oil is nearly pure at this point. You may be able to use the alcohol again. My suggestion if you do use it, use it for the same type of plant material again.

[Flar's Freyja]

Since you started this thread, another member started a thread called "Magickal Substitutions" in the Magick and Rituals forum that has some additional information. It's in the new stuck thread that I just started at the top of the forum called "Magickal Basics."

[Tranquility]

Thanks