My Dad

Everytime I go to a family outing or even to a friend's house, I'm constantly asked about my father's health. Even though he's at the same place, they'll ask me because they haven't spoken to him yet. He has quite a few medical issues as does my mother but his is more dire. They want know what is wrong and how he's holding up. Everyone is worried about him since he was a enlarged heart, pacemaker/defibulator, and diabetes. Is hard on him because he's a gotta get it done person and isn't use to having to take time out for him to rest. They also worry about him because of the stress my mom puts on him. Its hard for him to deal with both things at once. My family knows all about my mother's problems and realize that its hard for dad to put up with her but he loves her and hoped that everything would go by. Years later, it hasn't so he's taking everyone's advice and divorcing. For the last few years, my father had been brought up in many discussions with family members. They want to know what he's up too and how he is holding up. Sometimes I talk to them more then he does and other times he'll talk to the more. Many people love my dad because he's so easy to get along and talk to. He doesn't judge anyone until he gets to know them more. He's always joking around and having a good time despite his medical condition. Its one of the reasons everyone loves him. he helps out at the school a lot during marching band and winter percussion. Kids and parents alike enjoyed being around him. But even though they like him, they didn't at the beginning. My dad loves riding Harleys and wears Harley-Davidson clothing a lot. Many people didn't like him because he rodes bikes. They thought him as a regular biker. Many bikers are nothing but big teddy bears. The people at school soon came to realize that when dad started helping out around there.

Glossary

Wicca- religion involving rituals and herbs. Often known as witch craft

Paga- another word for Wicca

Cauldron- iron pot used in rituals

Incense- very fragrant. sometimes used for meditation and/or religious rituals. light the end and it slowly smoulders to the bottom leaving the room smelling of whatever you just burnt.

Adept- Someone experienced in magick. A person who has studied and worked hard enough to be proficient in a particular magickal system.

Arcane- Refers to any secret and occult knowledge.

Aura- The energy field that surrounds every object in the universe

Beltane- {bee-yel-TUNE-ah} One of the Four Greater Sabbats of Witchcraft. It was originally dedicated to the Celtic God Bel or Belinus, but now a fertility festival that celebrates the coming of Summer, the union of the God and Goddess and rampant sexuality. Generally, it is celebrated with Bonfire jumping, Maypole dances and Love chases.

Book of Shadows- (Gardnerian) THE Sacred Book of Witchcraft. Within its pages are kept the rituals, laws, spells and any other information that is used by the Witch or Coven. It is traditionally hand-copied by each Witch and so each Witch will have a slightly different version.

Coven- The church, school and extended family of the Wicca. This is where the Witch studies the religion, performs the rites and spells and goes to for suppport. As Covens vary in belief, structure and attitude, it becomes important to choose the right one for you to join. Careful examination of the locals is useful.

DEJA VU- From the French word 'already seen', this is the idea or feeling that you have experienceed this situation before.

Sabbat- The major religious festivals of Wicca which celebrate the major actions of the year. There are eight of them: 31 Oct., 21 Dec, 31 Jan., 21 Mar, 30 Apr., 21 Jun, 31 Jul. and 21 Sep. They are generally dedicated to the Horned God/Sun and are primarily celebratory.

Samhain- In most Wiccan Traditions, THE most important day of the year. It celebrates the New Year, those who have died and the end of Summer . It is pronounced "SOW-wen" and bigoted fundamentalist christians constantly invent lies about the 'great god sam' myth as a means of attacking the Craft. Samhain means literally 'summers end' (Gaelic) as anyone who calls up a Scot or Irishman can tell (unless you want to look in a good Gaelic-English dictionary). It is also called Hallows, All Hallows Eve, Halloween, Hallowmas, Feast of the Dead and the Feast of Apples

Language

I would probably put more of the different accents into the show. They talk about the major ones but not the ones that you may not here often. Also the accents have changed since the time this film was made. No you have asian accent and gangster talk. It all depends on where you go but at the same time you can find a multitude of languages in one area.

The are a few flaws as in grouping together people who talk a certain way. Like the state of Ohio. The people on there have different regional accents but no one would have know of one of the guys interveiwed hadn't said it. The smaller groups were'tn represented as well as the larger and more well-known groups. They could have evened it out a little more. I would have had more words in there for people to interpert.

Where a person lives or their heritage can be discerned by the way they speak. They grew up knowing what they had was a accent and reveled in it. Language is very important because without it, we wouldn't be able to communicate.

3 Questions

I'm standing in a shop that has some new age stuff. Slowly, I walk around looking at everything. Not many people came in here but I know people come here to get incenses for rituals and other things that they can get. Fascination is written over my face as I look around. I don't know the person who works here. It a different person every time I come in. This time is a girl with blond hair. It seems like she's busy with the magazine in her hand.
When she notices me just walking around, she comes up and asks if I need help finding anything. I knew I wasn't going to buy anything but I still liked being in there. I respond and just tell her no and that I'm just looking around. The place is dim lighted and weird music is playing. The incenses may not have been lighted but it was easy to tell when you were near them.
Her voice is polite and yet somewhat eager to help share the knowledge that she has. Smiling, she goes back to the magazine she is reading as if I'll leave anytime soon. Soon more people come in looking at the shirts that they sell and the girl is busy helping them. She was enthusiastic about telling them about the store and how much she enjoyed working there.

Week 9

Gathering information about Wicca was easy. Everyone is willing to share and let them know what they are doing is not bad. They also want to connect with others aorund the globe and talk about the religion they practice. The hardest would to find someone to interview. I've been having a hard time finding someone to interview because everyone is still cautious about what they believe in. they don't want to be hurt anymore or even possibly killed. If I started over, I would probably find some other researching ways to learn about this subject other then get on a computer and go. I dont have many books in my research. By keeping a blog as I research, I've learned to keep my mind focused of the research topic and not let it wonder because I have a tendacy to do that. I could probably use some of the things that I've wrote on my blog or that others have wrote to help expand on what I'm taling about when writing my mini-ethnography.

Audience Questions

1. Readers may be interested in the topic I’m doing. Not too many people understand the religion know as Wicca. They should learn not to judge what they don't know.
2. They will need to know that the religion isn't worshipping the devil and that the people who practice it do not mean harm to anyone. It's one of the first things you learn when beginning to immerse one's self in paganism.
3. Most people don't know much besides what they have read or seen on TV or in books. Those are just stereotypes that people have created to interest people. Witches have been looked down upon since the Salem Witch Trials.
4. I want them to learn not to fear the wiccans. They mean no harm and only want to do what they love to do.
5. The reader will be persuaded only as much as they want to believe. You can give facts and everything to a person but if they are unwilling to change or even believe in the things someone tells them, then there's no way to persuade the person.
6. I don't know what the readers will use my writing for. Perhaps to spread it around or to shun me because they don't have a open mind. Which ever it is, I'm not going to complain. I have done my work to my fullest and will be happy with what I've done. If the readers are unhappy about it, well that don't have to read it a second time.

Week 8

This whole project is still in the makings. I haven't really found a theme other them mystery and magic. Then again that may be the complete theme when it comes to Wicca. Both things seem to coincide with everything related to this religion. No many know about it. Things related to the fieldsite almost hold a magical feeling in the air even though I've only read about it. I think my position is still the same. I've learned more about it but I'm not a complete insider just yet. I haven't worshipped the gods and goddesses nor have I gone through the rituals. I'm more understanding of the religion and more interested. I'm having a lot of fun doing this project.