I will be taking a hiatus from my website & the associated social media platforms connected to my professional account, for a short while. Thank you to all of you for the love and support you’ve shown me. I’ll see you all when I return.
Bob W Christian
BobChristianPoetry

This is an open letter to the lady of Christian faith who emailed Mrs Bob & myself to tell us how lost we were and destined for the tired old rhetoric of fire, brimstone and damnation.

I’m a patient person, who has studied many faiths and beliefs. I’ve read the holy scriptures of most religions, out of curiosity and understanding. Unfortunately, though, I have no patience whatsoever for people like you, who blindly attacked my beliefs, based on a total misconception and ignorance of what they actually are.

We do not worship the Devil, nor are we evil or lost souls as you may have been led to believe by your big book of fairy tales. Actually, quite the opposite is true of those who truly follow Wicca or paganism, or any of what are known as the Old Traditions. We are generally a peaceful group, who celebrate all life, seeing it as sacred in its many diverse forms.

A lot of the values you have been taught as a Christian were adopted or stolen from our beliefs hundreds of years ago. I am not trying to make you angry, but it is an easily documented and historical fact that Paganism, Witchcraft and the nature-based religions pre-date Christianity by several thousand years.

All Gods are One God; all Goddesses are One Goddess, all faiths of the divine are One faith. It is by striving to live ones life with truth, honour, integrity and respect for all that exists within our lives that we hope achieve a true connection to the divine.

Regardless of the name we give that supreme creative force for purposes of association, the essence of the divine remains unchanged. Humanity has simply associated the divine by different names according to the cultural background or experiences of the people following that particular belief.

As a nature-based belief, we see the divine not as some distant unobtainable force realised only at the end of life’s journey, but as a tangible connective energy which flows through everything around us here and now. As a scientist and engineer, this makes perfect sense to me. I don’t need wait until i die to obtain a heaven because it can be found in the magick of everything around us p, if we allow ourselves to be in tune with it.

If you tell me that I follow a false God because I find connection to the divine through nature, you are talking about the same God you follow and are contradicting the teachings of your own bible. Did God not create the whole of nature, and is divine energy and presence not within it? Instead of seeking the divine in a building, we choose to seek the divine within the mysteries and wonders of nature which the divine created. For myself and many others of the old faiths, the presence of the divine is much stronger within the forests, mountains or at the ocean than it could ever be within a building. If you do not know this, it has been too long since you sat and quietly felt divine presence in those settings.

Considering all this, I ask you, dear lady, why are you convinced that I am so evil? Why are you so afraid of me? Are we really that different, or is it that you simply rush to hypocritically judge without knowing who we are and what we’re truly about? Again, you are going against your precious book “judge not lest ye be judged yourself”

I followed the Christian path myself for a number of years. It was because of the intolerance and hypocrisy I encountered that led me to seek a different path. So in that respect, I have walked your path but found it contradictory. Have you walked in my path?

I still believe in a divine force, I just choose to seek it in other ways, ones that don’t promote hatred, intolerance and prejudice of others who seek the divine differently. If it works for you, and all your spiritual needs are complete through it, then I’m happy for you. It just didn’t ever work for me.

I’m very shocked and angered to receive an email from someone over my beliefs. I’ve only recently shared them publicly and to have someone attack Mrs Bob & myself in such a way is disgusting, hypocritical (turn the other cheek) and makes me very angry. I have deleted the sender’s name because I’m not that vindictive, also I won’t tell so don’t ask.

Dearest xxxx

I won’t beat around the bush but come straight to the point.
xxxx, I am deeply concerned, to discover your’s and xxx’s paths are Wicca. I wonder what ever led you into that and why you have sold your Souls to the devil ( Satan). Worshipping the moon goddess and the horned god can only lead you down paths into darkness. Worshipping pagan gods and nature, casting spells and writing books on Wicca really is very serious. As a Christian, and knowing a God of love tells me that God’s power is the only true source of power. God is the God of truth and our foundation rests on the words of Jesus ” I am the way and the truth and the life.” We are also warned of the dangers in magic, tarot card reading, casting spells, sorcery, trying to harness and focus cosmic or psychic energy to bring about some desired change, divination. I could go on for ever but I won’t. I believe in the spirit world and that Satan is very clever at appearing as an angel of light but it is lie there is only one Spirit of light and that is the Holy Spirit. Witchcraft has been around a very long time but its promises are empty. Nature and wildlife are wonderful, sunrises and sunsets are amazing and the love of people are all the outward signs of God’s love as are many more glorious things. All gifts from God and through and in them we can worship Him but never worship them in and for themselves. We need to be good stewards of his world and sadly we are failing, please God and through prayer and caring people things will improve.

Please accept this in the loving way it is sent. As a Spiritual Director of more than thirty years I do know what I am talking about.

Much love,
xxxx.

I’m deeply shocked at the way this person has felt they have the right to attack Mrs Bob & myself, I’ve never once called out someone of any faith or belief structure on their beliefs. I’ve read the Bible, Koran, Tibetan book of the dead out of curiosity into other beliefs and cultures.

I want to climb
Inside your head,
Experience how
You saw things,

When you said
You’d had enough
Of this world, and
Wanted to leave it.

The lights, sounds,
Neurotransmitters
Shimmering; flashing
Inside of your brain.

The deafening silence
Inside this place
Swallows all of your
Screams for help whole.

It’s an Unbearable
Emptiness. Just one
Slip, and you could fall
Back into its deep abyss.

In this loneliness,
I thought you could
Use a hand, to grab
You when you’re falling.

To all of you who feel your not good enough or deserving of love and happiness. I say this…

If you were to look,
Into your mirror,
What would it say?

You’re a wonderful
Person, seeing the
Best in situations.

You’re remarkable,
Giving without regret,
Or asking in return.

You’re dedicated,
Supporting all of
Those around you.

You’re so loving,
Truly deserving of
Finding it yourself.

Look again into
Your mirror, and
Please just listen.

All of our stories begin,
In the very same way
Branching out from
Our family trees.

Reaching for the sky
Soaking up the sun’s
Rays, while staying
Grounded in our roots.

Growing ever-stronger,
Facing the seasons
Graceful in the breeze.
Strong during storms.

Turning over a new leaf.
Bending rather than breaking.
Refreshed after rain, and
Providing strangers with shelter.

This could be used, when a friend, family member or even a loved one. Needs a little bit of a pick up after some bad news, a break up etc. You could always reword this blessing if, it’s in fact you that needs a little pick me up.

Additionally you could while doing this ritual, write down the things you wish to either let go of, or the change you wish see in your life. Then set fire to it (safely) and send those intentions into the universe.

Personal Blessing

Earth Mother and Sky Father
I invoke you, please watch over (name).

May the warmth of the new day’s sun
Refresh their energies anew this day.

May the light of moon goddess
Restore them softly as they sleep.

May the refreshing rain cleanse
Them, washing their worries away.

May the cool wind’s breeze gently
Blow new strength into their being.

May they walk, softly through this world
Seeing it’s beauty, all their remaining days

I use these words to call on thee
This is my will.
So note it be.

(C)BobChristianpoetry

In a break from my usual posts about poetry, or what’s been going on in my life, I’ve decided to share something of an even more personal nature. As some of you are aware, I’m working on a new book with the author, Daisy Burton. This book is all about a subject very close to me… Wicca.

In this book I have shared a spell or ritual that can easily be done in the home at this time of year. So I thought I’d share my idea with you. If you’re interested you could try it yourselves, and perhaps bring a little magic and joy to your hearth and home.

Christmas Candle Ritual

Items required:
• A large candle (long-burning, church-style)
• Non-perishable food items (eg, mixed nuts)

On Christmas Eve as it begins to get dark, place the candle next to the food. Light the candle, saying:

“In the past, on this night before Christmas, the story goes that people left offerings of food and drink while lighting candles so that Mary could rest on her way to the manger.”

Carry the candle to a window that faces the road, placing it on the window sill, saying:

“We share this light with all weary travellers on this night, with all those who feel they have nothing at this blessed time. I send blessings to them as we have much to be thankful for.”

Let the candle burn until you go to bed (making sure it’s very safe).
Make a donation within your means, or (outside of pandemic times) give a last-minute invitation to someone who you think might be lonely.

On Christmas Day, add the food to the Christmas meal.

I would like to extend very happy Yuletide greetings to everyone reading this. May you and yours be happy, healthy, and warm this Yuletide, and onwards into 2022.

To those who say that suicide is for cowards, I say this:

I’ve been asked many times
About any family mental health
Issues. I’m not depressed
Over a break up, nor is it a
Bad day. I can’t help it, or
Get over it, or cheer up.

It is, however, a neurological
Imbalance, triggered by just
One misplaced anxiety or
Fear. It’s real; it never gets
Easier with age. Crippling.
Bed ridden. Biochemistry.

Pushing away all those who
Love me; closing over my heart.
Brain whispering You’re broken;
They can’t fix you. Unable to see
Other perspectives. Conjuring
The weight of my past failures.

A fairground ride of feelings.
The highs and lows – an emotional
Rollercoaster with no destination.
Haunted house, skeletons in the
Closet. Roll up, roll up! Guess the
Weight of the emotional baggage.

It’s a desperate, debilitating issue
Falling into a hole. Rock-bottom.
Scared, alone, searching for help.
Medication labels reading
Like a magic spell. Teleporting
Me out of my darkest hour.

Coward I’m not. I’ve courage
In my convictions. I’ve danced with
Danger many times, insecurities
On a zip line; no harness, screaming.
Cowards lack the courage
To leave their life on their own terms.

The greatest lies you
Have ever believed
Are the ones you created;
Breathing life into them.

But they are all based
In your own deep, toxic
Insecurities, manifesting
Deep within your psyche.

You’re so desperate to seek
Approval from others, that
You’re happy to destroy those
Who have always loved you.

The limit has been reached.
You’ve run out of luck
And out of love. But you
Did this all to yourself.

Your relationship with truth
Ended because you and
Deception had an illicit affair.
Friends with no real benefits.