The best dating site, in my opinion, is OKCupid, because you can ask and answer questions about your dealbreaker issues. Then you don’t need to go on a date with some idiot who believes stuff like “women should submit to their husbands” or “pregnant rape victims should carry the foetus to term”.
Continue readingauthentic self
Unpacking religious baggage
John Beckett is offering an online course, Unpacking Your Religious Baggage So You Can Live a Magical Life.
Continue readingReview: An Apostate’s Guide to Witchcraft
Once upon a time, Christendom labelled the Emperor Julian “the Apostate” because he reverted to Paganism. Nowadays, the title is applied to people who leave the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Moss Matthey left the JWs in order to live his truth as a gay man—as many others have left high control religious groups for the same reason.
Not long after he left, he discovered witchcraft, as well as a loving relationship and a community of Pagans and witches and occultists.
This joyous and life-affirming book is the account of his journey from fear and despair to the joy of living as his authentic self, as a gay man and as a witch.
Continue readingConversion therapy survivors flag
I’ve just seen this announcement from the Conversion Therapy Survivors Network on Facebook:
The votes are in! Hunter Moore‘s design will now become the FIRST-ever Conversion Therapy Survivor Flag!
Grey: Represents PTSD and memory loss.
Pink: Symbolizes sexual abuse and marginalization.
Blue: Stands for domestic violence.
Triangle: Inspired by the progress pride flag, it represents survivors overcoming these struggles.
Lavender/Purple: Highlights identity, pride, and community.
Gold/Yellow: Signifies hope.
Green: Reflects the truth of who we naturally are.
I wrote about the effects of conversion therapy in Changing Paths. It is an extremely damaging practice that does extensive harm, including psychological, physical, emotional, financial damage. It even harms people’s career prospects by diverting them away from their studies toward trying to do the impossible. Conversion therapy is a form of spiritual abuse.
Continue readingDeconstruction story: Richard Swan
A friend shared a Facebook post by Richard Swan (in the fun group Dull Men’s Club) today, talking about how vanishingly few people are tone deaf, and most people can sing.
I take the view that singing is an outpouring of the soul and one of the cruellest things a person can do is to tell someone else that they can’t sing, so this is a topic that is very close to my heart.
My interest was piqued so I went searching to find out more about Richard Swan. He’s also written a book for people who think they can’t sing, which looks very worthwhile. And in my travels I found this podcast about his deconstruction journey and wanted to share it.
Continue readingJust visiting
I’ve often referenced these posts by Annika Mongan, which present a fascinating account of what’s happening energetically at evangelical churches, and at Pagan gatherings. I also got independent confirmation of this by speaking to another Wiccan who sees energy as colours (I experience it as changes in temperature) who confirmed that she saw a lot of orange energy around an evangelical campground.
Continue readingOther blogging challenge posts
Two other people participated in the Changing Paths blogging challenge 2024: Jarred the Wyrd-worker and The River Crow. Kudos to Jarred for keeping it up for the whole month and continuing to write blogposts in response to the prompts at the end of the chapters in Changing Paths. And The River Crow wrote some beautiful poetry in response to the prompts.
Continue readingInspirations
Changing Paths challenge day 29: inspirations
Many writers worry about being inspired by other writers, in case inspiration comes off as plagiarism.
But true inspiration is not plagiarism, it just references its source and then does something completely different.
Continue readingRoots and wings
Changing Paths Challenge day 13: Roots and wings
Today’s prompt is a reference to Carolyn McDade’s classic song, Spirit of Life, which contains the line “roots hold me close, wings set me free”.
My family roots are in nonconformist churches but there’s also a strong tradition of loving Nature. My Mum loved Nature and so did her Mum. I feel very strongly rooted in the chalk and flint hills of Hampshire and Sussex in England.
Continue readingBlogging challenge 2024
I’m starting the Changing Paths blogging / photo challenge. Take part and use the hashtag #changingpathschallenge2024 to be in with a chance to win a copy of Changing Paths. Subscribe to this blog, Changing Paths, or to the Dowsing for Divinity blog, to be in with a chance to win.
Feel free to write poetry, take photos, make collages, and write blogposts — whatever you want — and feel free to drop me a comment to let me know if you’re taking part.
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Changing Paths 