HISTORIC ISSUES
|
Vol.17
No.2 - 7/15/1882 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Courtesy of the New York
State Historical Association Library, Cooperstown, N.Y (.PDF files)
|
April 2009
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
|
|
March 2009
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
|
|
|
|
|
February 2009
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
|
New York Canal Times -
Online newspaper
|
Mercury Media Group
|
|
Killing off myths at Halloween
By Janine Giordano |
jgiordano@rsmercury.com
Recently, I was driving to work, heading south from Herkimer on Route 28, contemplating the topic of this column. All around me a thick morning mist shrouded the hillside and rolling farm lands.
To my left, the sun was trying to rise through the mist, setting the eastern horizon on fire with a blinding, white hot glow. The hills would slowly crescendo when I dipped into a valley, darkening the mist, but I knew behind the hill the sun was there, promising a bright day.
Just as the hill faded away, I caught site of a cow and her calf lumbering away from me, heading toward the rising sun. Now mind you, I could not see the sun, just the bright glow of it, surrounding this pair of cows like a halo. And I had an epiphany of sorts.
The subject I was contemplating is a very serious one. I was second guessing a decision I had made and was concerned with the impact it may have on me and my kids, David, my sisters and mom, my ex-husband Tom, my whole circle of friends, my job and even my readership.
In keeping with the theme of this time of year, a local daily newspaper approached me for an interview regarding a feature story. I thought it would be a good opportunity to educate people, so I agreed.
During a 9/11 memorial last month, I had commented to some friends that the terrorists must have had such a strong commitment of faith to die for what they believed. I said at the time that the only thing I would ever risk my life for is my children.
Well. Seeing that cow and her calf made me realize that was not entirely correct. I have realized that my faith is strong enough that I have gone out on a limb with this article and risked life as we now know it to speak up for what I believe.
I haven’t exactly blown myself up, but I believe my life will be changed greatly because of it. It is with this in mind that I am concerned.
You see, to me that cow and her calf represented much more than two farm animals. In some religions the cow is symbolic of the sacredness of motherhood and is connected with the Goddess Brighid or Catholic St. Brigid.
So there was this sign of Divinity, with her child, walking toward a brand new day, a new beginning. I was once again strong in my convictions. I knew that everything would be alright.
The article which has me so concerned deals with my religion, rituals and traditions and will hopefully present a clearer picture of a lifestyle that many people fear due to a lack of understanding.
|
| Janine
Giordano |
|
I am Wiccan and my children are Wiccan and my significant other is Wiccan. The rest of my family is Catholic, as I was until a few years ago.
There are so many misconceptions about this religion, which is indeed recognized by the United States government as a religion. Contrary to popular belief, we do not worship Satan or any sort of demon or devil. We do not sacrifice animals or humans. We do not participate in drunken or drug-induced rituals. In fact, the majority of the members of my coven do not drink.
We are a very spiritual community of men and women who believe our Creator has both male and female energy, which we recognize in the form of God and Goddess.
For Pagans, which actually means “country folk,” Samhain (pronounced Sow When) is a time of year when the veil is thinnest between here and the afterlife. It’s a time when cultures around the world, for thousands of years, have honored (and some feared) the dead.
It is a time to pay homage to our ancestors and it is also a time to celebrate the final harvest of the season. It is about accepting death as a season of life, just like autumn and winter.
So I guess, with my coming out of the proverbial “broom closet” so to speak, the old Janine has died and what I have become is the harvest of who I once was.
This time of year, from now until the end of December, is a very spiritual time for many cultures and religions. Rather than argue whose religion is right, or whose God is the true God, we should focus on our own harvest of who we are, whether it is spiritually, financially, physically or emotionally.
As Wiccans, our main philosophy is “Harm ye none,” which takes the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule and wraps it up into one easy concept. This is how we try to live our lives.
We are not a cult; we are a loving spiritual community. I hope, in my coven’s effort to educate our friends and neighbors, that this information will not be used as a tool to harm our children or families. That is my concern.
This Halloween, look past the horror movies, the masks and costumes, the candy and the stereotypes. This holiday, do what our ancestors initially used this time for, to prepare for the coming winter, to honor their beloved deceased, to enjoy the fruits of their labors and to reflect inwardly on who we are and who we want to be. Oh, eating a little chocolate would be all right, too.
But most of all, take the time now, as we are surrounded with the dying year and coming winter, to remember that life is for the living. So live it.
|
|
|
|
Reader Discussion
|