Face Your Fears & Have Faith by: Linda

(Photo by Shawna Weidenbach)

Guest Post Written by: Linda (First Degree Dedicant, Coven of Sangha-Sho)

So.... I've been thinking about fear a lot. I think it's been on my mind watching the affiliates now, remembering all of my own fears I had at that time. I'm thinking about things I'm confronting during my own First degree studies. I'm thinking about conversations I've had with people recently. 

There is so much fear of the unknown... all sorts of "what if". There's fear in "What if they find out ______?"  "What if I can't _______?" "What if I never_____?"  (Fill in your own blanks) Or the Grandaddy of them all, "What if I make a mistake?" And I just laugh ruefully at myself and say, "You're the one who signed up for this." Yup. I did. I'm the one who told myself there has to be a different way, a better way, a more loving, compassionate, spiritual way to live my life. And I get so pissed sometimes when I have to call myself out on it. And the reason I can call myself out on it is because in the time I have spent with you, I have revealed my secrets, I have said "I can't do this" or "I don't understand", I have made mistakes, and I may never ever in a million years become the person I think I want to be, or the person you want me to be. That is scary stuff. 

And, when all of these things happened, did anyone laugh at my suffering, cackle with glee over some minor infraction in Coven Protocol? Nope. Has it all been sunshine and roses? Nope. But it has NEVER been as bad as I could have imagined it to be. It is still scary as hell. Because the fact is a lot of us have been/still are scared. Scared from trauma, abuse, malice, abandonment, loss, betrayal... the list is unbearably long. But something I realized recently is that, if I'm scared, I recognize SOMETHING there that's making me scared. And if you know there's a "thing", I've at least recognized it. If I  recognize it, I can put a name or a feeling or a face to it. By doing that, I've acknowledged it. And if I acknowledge it, I can at least make a decision- fight, run, or ask for help. None of these decisions are wrong. No one is better than another. Whatever the decision, it's mine, and it is what I need to do at that moment. 

What I decide in that moment is indicative of trust. Do I  trust that the worst will happen or trust that I am stronger than I thought? Trust is faith. Our faith is what brought us together, it is our bond. That bond guarantees you will never be alone in your fear, or your pain. There will always be a hand to steady you, to help you find your balance. 

It is always within reach. 

And I trust myself to always remember that.

2nd Annual Circle of Tribes Community & Family Picnic

The Coven of Sangha-Sho announces... 

The 2^nd Annual Circle of Tribes Community & Family PicnicTop of Form

Bottom of Form

 

When: Jun. 18th. 2016 
Where: Rochester, New York 

2nd Annual CoT Pagan Community & Family Picnic

Event Details: Join us Saturday, June 18th, 2016 for our 2nd Annual  Circle of Tribes Community & Family Picnic.

This Rain or Shine Event is open to the entire Pagan Community!

Bring your Picnic Lunch and enjoy the company of our community, or just come to socialize!

Charcoal provided for those who wish to bring Burgers, Hot Dogs, or other Yummies to grill.

So come on down to Durand Eastman Park, along Lakeshore Blvd, and look for our group under a tent near one of the grills. :) 

Event Location: Durand Eastman Park in Rochester along Lake Shore Blvd
Event TIME Details: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Directions: From Points West of Irondequoit:

Option 1: Take Lake Ontario State Parkway heading East, Continue onto Pattonwood Drive, Turn Right onto St. Paul Blvd, Turn Left onto Lake Shore Blvd., continue down Lake Shore Blvd to the area near King's Hwy, look for us on the left side of the road.

Option 2: Take NY 104 E to the Goodman St Exit, at the light Turn Left onto Goodman St., Continue across E. Ridge Rd onto Kings Hwy S., Follow Kings Hwy to Lake Shore Blvd. Turn Right onto Lake Shore Blvd and look for look for us on the left side of the road.

From the South West:

Take 390 or 490 to 104 E and then follow directions above.

From Points East of Irondequoit:

Take NY 104 W to the Culver Rd Exit, Turn Right onto Culver Rd toward Sea Breeze, Turn Left onto Sweet Fern Rd, Continue as Sweet Fern Becomes Pine Valley Rd, Continue as Pine Valley becomes Lake Shore Blvd, Continue down Lake Shore Blvd we will be located on the Right side of the road in the Horseshoe Rd/Kings Hwy area of Durand.

From the South/South East:

Take 490 to 590 N to 104 W, and then follow directions above. 

*The Circle of Tribes is a network of established covens that believes in fostering healthy community and practicing open, direct, clear, and tactful communication.

The Covens of the Circle of Tribes are:

Circle of the Green

Daughters of bast

Sisters of Medusa

Path of Eternal Light

The Coven of Sangha-Sho, Inc.