Boho Bride

When I was planning my wedding I would spend ages looking at various sites such as Rock n roll bride etc. And more often than not I would end up crying because I am just not that cool or funky to have such a wedding as that.

In the end I removed all wedding related blogs from my RSS feed because they just depressed the hell out of me. I did it all with lots of talks with my now husband, my mum and the support of friends and some wonderful suppliers. And I held true to my beliefs of what I wanted a wedding to be- or at least, learnt to discuss, negotiate and compromise.

Imagine my shock when my photographer asked if I would like to share my story with Boho Bride? And that she wanted to feature it on her site because it was so unusual. So here it is.

Oh the irony, I am that cool and funky. And when will I ever get over needing to meet other people’s approval!

So there you go, lots more pics and some more details of my story if you are even vaguely interested! And more on my amazing photographer’s site. If you need a photographer for anything in Essex/Cambridge I highly, highly recommend her. 

Some wedding pics

On a lighter and happier note, as requested!

These are not the official photos – they won’t be along for a while yet. But these were taken by my friends

signing at the registry office

At the altar

it really was a rather fantastic day

Priesthood

Another one of my half term musings…

Following on from my last post I  think what I am looking for is to be a Priest. As a Pagan it is not that easy – there is no central body to employ me. As Pagans we have no churches, mosques, temples or synagogues. There is no central community to serve either (with the possible exception of Glastonbury).

In addition I would see preaching as a very small part of my role – my beliefs are so intrinsic to my life that it permeates everything that I do. It isn’t a separate part of my life, so that when I go with my Grove to celebrate I don’t put on my ‘Sunday best’.

I would want to be out in my community, talking and teaching – life skills, literacy, ICT skills and basic maths, living in a greener way and crafty skills. Working in the environment to make it more enjoyable for all, including wildlife. Along with counseling, listening and at times just providing a cup of tea and a helping hand to those in need.

Of course, providing handfasting rites working with the dying, burials and naming ceremonies would be part of all of this, but to me being a Priest is so much more than that.

Being Pagan and spiritual by my actions, rather than just words. And the reason that I say ‘spiritual’? I am coming to realise through the blogs I read that many of us on this green path are here because of our religion. Our beliefs give us eyes to see the beauty in the world and we want to protect that, as well as to try to solve the injustices. I am beginning to focus on the similarities between our religions rather than the differences and it is an awakening I am pleased to come to.

The one area I would struggle with as a Priest would be the aspect most people think of in relation to a Priest, preaching. For so long now my Paganism has been a very internal, private thing. I find it very hard to articulate my beliefs; rather strange as I am normally quite verbose!

So, this maybe one way to create the one great big work/life amazing amorphous mass I mentioned in my last post, unfortunately I just can’t see how I can make it happen at this point in time. Oh well, back to the drawing board!