This remains to be the way it'll before while, at least with the events of the last year in one realm of my universe. But I think perhaps it is time to begin musing again on a new topic. Spirituality bent of course, but different from how some of you may remember. Of course there's lots of new faces here, and I don't know if I'll export this out to broader horizons. Who knows?

If you don't remember me from years past I recommend clicking on some of the links on the right hand side - I think the links still work - let me know if they don't and I’ll fix them.

But perhaps a sum up might be fun - a little walk down blog memory lane - the good ole times - when I was the only Wiccan writing about pagan beliefs, that doesn't seem to be the case any more and that is awesome.

When I first starting writing here it was mostly meant to be a place for my friends to access my writing, I hadn't expected the ‘total stranger’ factor that jumped in bibles swinging or the others jumping in to my defence, (holy water loosely held behind their backs - just in case).

Way back then, in 2005, there were a few of us from different faiths who actually talked and then actually listened to each other! The discoveries we made about our own faiths and the faiths of each other, remains for me to be one of the most profound experiences in my life.

For me interfaith or ecumenical studies are very important. I look at the problems in the world and I think that so many of them could be solved if we saw our similarities and celebrated our common ground while respecting and celebrating the differences too.

Conversations here were like that, most of the time. I hope that that continues.

A year of silence, how did I fill that time? The Ruler of the universe (aka my son) went from a curious three year old to a precocious four. I got married. Yup – maybe I’ll post a picture (yes it was with the rulers dad –we’ve been together for ten years) And I went back to school.

I’ve been humming and hawing about it for a couple years. The University of London has an awesome external program for Bachelor Degrees and I have been thinking about finally receiving some formal education. I have always, and continue, to honour the importance of “University of Life” education and I’ve put in many gruelling years there, but something more formal called to me.

I said somewhat off handed once about two years ago – the only way I’d be able to do it, would be if someone died and left me some money.

Be careful what you wish for. I lost my grandfather in the winter of 2006. We, my hubbie and I, had been waiting until Christmas to announce our engagement, but we told the surprise early so that he would know before he died. We told my grandma, over the phone, on Dec 21st and she told him. He died the following day; I hope he was happy to hear our news.

How could I not follow through then, when the will was read and there was more than enough money left to me to go back to school? It’s his final gift to me and I am now a month shy of finishing my first year of my Bachelors in Divinity.

Yeah – when I say it there’s always that silence. Wiccan’s I know don’t really get it. My secular and (anti- religion) friends smile and nod while wondering if I’m going to give them Bibles at their next birthdays. Christians assume I’m going to be a minister.

Nothing of the sort of course, I’m still a practicing Wiccan and I go to Church. I take my son to Sunday school. The Church I attend is active in Social Justice, education about the environment and interfaith dialogue. I can’t find that within the Wiccan community and I thrive on it.

My past conversations here, and my own personal study have helped me to discover a balance, a reconciliation between the two faiths I practice. It works for me and my relationship with God is stronger for it. It’s not going to work for everyone else and that’s fine. I’m not here to convince or convert. Just to share, enjoy some conversation some and healthy debate.

I will not debate bible passages though. So please don’t start quoting them here. I’ve asked this before and I will continue to do so. Don’t make me get out my flying monkeys!

Yes, the Studies are Christian based, Heythrop College – my school now – has been teaching Theology and Philosophy since the 1500’s. That’s a pretty good track record. Yet they are not stuck in the past. My two courses this year are Religious Language (philosophy of religion language actually– and how to talk about God) and Science and Religion. Science and Religion starts with history Greek, Aquinas, Galileo, Newton, Darwin, and then gets in to modern science quantum physics, chaos theory and even genetics. I’ve never enjoyed a course more. I wish I could keep studying this subject for the next five years. But next year I intend to take the Old Testament and Islam.

I have exams in a little over a month. I haven’t written exams in over 10 years – I stressed out and terrified. The posts here may for the next month take the form of practicing for my exams. But I’m not totally sure. We’ll see. I may also just disappear off the blog scope again, hard to say. I desire to write again, so hopefully I’ll be around more.

FM