Another Pagan! artist, writer and more.

I am a pagan practioner for some forty plus years now, I am quite passionate in both my beliefs, and personal research into the beliefs and practices of the ancients. Some other highlights into who I am include a painter in oils; writer and researcher into ancient beliefs and practices. I am a webmaster and create original pagan graphics for personal website use. Custom graphic services is another budding chamber at CastleSolitudeArts (my website). I also enjoy gardening and other creative crafts. Within my practice I've made all my own candles, oils, "tools", incense and such.

Over my many years I've done extensive research into the beliefs and practices of the ancients. In more recent times I've written numerous articles and blog posts upon the subjects, though scattered here and there. Perhaps some day I may bring everything together in a book, perhaps.

Ever since the dawn of "man", mortal beings have looked to the stars; the sun and moon, the earth and the elements, each recognizing many different gods, goddesses, and spirits to both worship and base their daily lives and meaning of life upon. As my own practices include various gods, goddesses and spirits, the rich history of the ancients and their ways has provided priceless knowledge and understanding of my own inner spirit beliefs.

The graphics on this page show some of my creations. Many of my graphics are used as comments on social sites while others are created as wallpaper for desktops. Then there are some designed for web page decoration or use. Such as divider bars, buttons and things. All of the graphics on the website are provided free for personal use and the copy/paste codes are displayed as well.

Providing these graphics to the global pagan communities is one of my ways to give back to the community at large. I keep CastleSolitudeArts as ad-free as possible, no pop-ups/unders, no spam tricks or anything else of the sort.

So if you're of the mind or just want to peek at something new and different, stop by the castle for a visit.

"Faith" is many things to many people. Some call it religion, some call it spiritual, while others kind of sit on the fence not knowing which way to go. I once read that the difference between the two was that religion was for those who didn't want to go to hell, while spiritually was of those who had already walked through hell. Perhaps this is a truism in its' ways.
"Faith", for me, can be defined as simply having a firm belief in whatever religious or spiritual following you adher to. And not the closed-minded form of firm belief, but rather open-minded. You choose to follow a certain way, but you should also be open to the beliefs of others and the understanding of them.

As a very young child, I was raised within a christian-belief based surrounding. Whenever I would ask about it, my mother would tell me I was Methodist, or some such thing. There was never a lot of church going during this time, only on Easter and Christmas mostly. I always suspected that my mother knew of other things, but they were never spoken of.

All this changed as I entered into my teen years. Though I had brothers and a sister, I was the elder of all and the solitary one. Always off to myself as much as possible, usually deep inside some book or another. I didn't play with the other kids, prefering to adventure off alone. It was during this time I came into contact with a true witch of old ways. From that moment on, my spiritual path was set into lifestyle, practices and beliefs. During these early times many other new religions were cropping up all over and gaining social popularity. But for me, the old ways of the ancients always seemed to hold more truths.

On occassion, some event will stir me to write a quick memory of words. Brief little stories I guess about particular feelings felt at a given moment. Following is one such moment in time. This one occured back in July. It had been quite hot with little rain during that time.

"Magyk of the Gods"
by Solitudeone

I watched as the storm made its' way across the evening sky, soon, it would be upon me. As I stood barefoot in the grass I could feel the intensity of this storm, the vibrations of EarthMother as the pounding shock waves of his thunderous ways roared on. Watching, waiting with hopeful spirit that the gods and goddesses would bless me with their grand company and companionship.

As they moved closer, displays of their powers started manifesting with a brillance not usually seen. Luminosity at its' peak. Pure, bright and glowing whites mixed with hues of reddish pinks. Most unusual, this colorful choreography of powerful and intense magyk. The wind arrived. Trees began to stir, their heavy laden branches beginning their dance-like swaying to and fro, falling into the cadance of the thunderous chanting nearly upon them.

They are here now. The resonating sounds of thunder followed by EarthMothers' vibrations and the sights of Thors' Hammer being tossed about wildly. Such magnificent displays of his powers and obvious artistic nature. Smashing something unseen, an intricate spread of jagged light energy dances across a portion of darkened sky. This way and that, resembeling the vision of a long and slightly distorted spider web. And over there! Barely three hundred yards from me such a mighty bolt connecting with EarthMother! She takes in and absorbs his power. Distributing it all along her toughened summer skin. The shock waves reach my own feet and the feelings of the magyk coarses a tingeling path and races through the whole of body.
"Hail mighty Thor!"

Hail EarthMother! God and Goddess as one. More hammer throws, and more. Striking and igniting sources of magykal powers in such a manner as to lead one to feel a part of this symphony being played out. Trees swaying wildly in directions to accomadate the powers at hand. The wind, carrying their messages strong for all to see and hear.

And then, the cresendo leading to the passing. Cleansing waters spill forth in torrents forcefully drenching anything and everything along the way. The thunderous steps of Thor hurry off into the distance, the light energies of his magyk circleing all about him. Mother Earth, mellow now as her aura of satisfaction begins to glow. Still tingeling with the sparks of powers racing through every physical cell structure within, I let myself fall into
EarthMothers' embrace. The grand and majestic union has passed, but the magyk will live on forever.
****************************************
photo credit:
NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)
NASA.gov

My writings are about an array of inter-connected research I've done over the many years of my spirit path. They cover such subjects as:
Gods-Goddesses-Spirits-mythology-lore-Druidism-Witchcraft-Pagan beliefs-Fairy Faith-
The Celts-Guals-Gypsys-the Norse---I think you can grasp the general areas of my writings now. :)

I do not hold any doctoral degrees, I am not by any means a theologin of any particular belief. I have only some 40 plus years of personal research as background for my articles. Other than the manners in which I write, I do not claim authorship of any of the information contained within my writings. The material is all researched to the best of my lifetime abilities. I call this my insatiable quest for knowledge. Knowledge which I wish to share freely in a non-commercial state, as that is the way most of it has come to me. I have no desire at this time to commercialize my writings, nor do I wish for any commercial use of my writings.

Where ever and when ever possible, I will footnote the source of certain information included within my writings. For example, but not limited to, if I happen to quote something specifically I will footnote the source. If there is a valid internet link to the source, I will include that as well. If available, I may also include links to further readings and or materials which I feel are relevent to the article.

An absolute of sorts: Within the research and studies of ancient beliefs there will never be a complete writing or book of any one. The whole truth, will never be known. The bulk of actual writings is unfortunately lost forever. What remains are fragments, pieces of those writings which somehow managed to be preserved. The second absolute is that the translations of these old languages is also incomplete. Although advances have been made, there is still quite a bit that cannot be translated with any degree of accuracy. A third absolute we could perhaps put forth is the perceptions of the many different translators and writers.

Even still, what knowledge we have gained of the ancients has its' riches and rewards within spirit. There is much to be learned from them and the value of that knowledge is priceless. The sharing of this knowledge is my purpose so to speak. My own little way of helping preserve what there is.