Reading Slowly

My current college class, U.S. History, has had me concerned about my reading speed.  I've always known that I am a slow reader, since fourth grade when I could barely finish the one book a month I had to write a book report on and other kids were reading upwards of four books a month.  And I read during recess!  The amount of reading I've had to do for my History class has been moderate so far (two college textbook-sized chapters a week), but there are weeks coming up when that amount will be doubled and I'm already feeling the pressure.  Even if I don't take notes, it takes me hours to complete just half a chapter (and I want to take notes, damn it).

It got me searching the web for ways to improve my reading speed.  I came across this article from the University of Wisconsin, and quite honestly, it offends me.  The concept of reading "the ideas on the page, not the words" seems absolutely ridiculous.  What are the words there for, if not to read?  If an author only wanted to publish their ideas, why don't they just stick in some photos with clarifying phrases or draw brainstorming bubbles?

I tried the methods in this article (as well as another recommended by Bill Cosby, known as clustering) for a few minutes while reading, and I hated it.  I didn't understand half of what was written on the page.  If I can't read it "aloud" in my head, I don't comprehend it.  How the hell do people absorb the meaning of words without actually "thinking" the word?  I can stare at a phrase all day long and still not comprehend its meaning until I read it "aloud" in my head.

When I started at the University of Phoenix, I took a reading speed and comprehension test.  Although my speed was low (no surprise there), my comprehension of the text was unusually high.  There have been times when I've mentioned a particular part in a book that my partner (who reads considerably faster than me) and I have both read, and he doesn't remember what I'm talking about.  I don't know if this is common, but in my experience, the faster one reads, the less one understands what it is one has read.

Reading more slowly makes reading much more enjoyable as well.  Half the fun of reading (fiction) is picturing what's going on in your head and really hearing the characters say their lines.  If you're just picking up phrases and ideas about what's going on, you miss half of it, even if you technically comprehend all the ideas.  Once I realized I was miserable with these techniques, I slowed down and really read the book.  That was when the characters truly came to life for me.  I wasn't just reading a book, I was in the midst of an entirely different universe, watching the plot play itself out through the characters.

After this experience, I've come to realize that I am a slow reader because I enjoy reading!  If a book is truly worth reading, I want to take my time, savoring the words and watching and listening to the characters in my head, and there's no point in reading if it isn't enjoyable.  Now, I am proud of my slow reading speed because it just means that I get more out of it than I would if I read faster.  I don't think reading "slowly, correctly, 'orally,'" is something I should be ashamed of.  I love reading, and my relatively short Books Read list shouldn't prove otherwise.

So where does this leave me with my reading assignments in school?  It just means I can't take notes while I read.  It's a bummer, yes, but I think my comprehension rate is high enough that I can easily refer back to the text to flesh out any details for other assignments.  Or I could type my notes (I average 70 wpm), which is fine for now, but won't be convenient when we're living off the grid.  Also, if I take advantage of every spare minute I have (instead of wasting it playing Solitaire Blitz on Facebook ... highly addictive game, that is) to read, I would probably get a lot more done as well.  As it is, I've spent the last three hours researching and experimenting with all this, and I haven't read one paragraph in my textbook.

Witches and Gender

Last week, the Pagan Perspective's topic was the term "witch" and why it is normally associated with women, whereas a male witch (in the media) is usually referred to as a Druid, warlock, wizard, etc.  I thought it was an interesting topic, and I thought I would put in my two cents here.

Image courtesy history.wisc.edu.

Though the origin of the term "witch" can be difficult, if not impossible, to trace, the most likely reason it is associated with women dates back to the witch hunts (also known as the Inquisition or the Burning Times) of the 13th through 17th centuries.  To be called a witch at the time, no matter one's gender, was an insult that could have dire consequences.

The underlying purpose of the terrifying executions of this time was to undermine women's authority in their communities, as it is thought that women were the primary healers of the time.  Some may exaggerate a woman's place in pre-Christian Pagan Europe, making them out to be leaders among men.  While I don't necessarily think this is true, I do think women did have a much larger role in the community than they did after the spread of Christianity, and certainly than after the Burning Times.  Patriarchal Roman Catholicism wished to put women in a submissive role, claiming only those educated in a university (which were men-only) could practice medicine, including midwifery.

Image courtesy of atheism.about.com.

Midwives and herbal healers, many of whom had superior, less-superstitious treatments and remedies than the so-called educated doctors, were accused of witchcraft and executed (in so many more ways than being burned at the stake).  To be accused of being a witch, whether you were Pagan or Christian, was a death sentence.  During the Inquisition, awful forms of torture ensured not only a confession, but a referral to another "witch" in the community.  This assault on women resulted in a devastating death toll, resulting in the loss of centuries of knowledge about Pagan practice and herbal healing.

It is true, however, that some men were accused of witchcraft and executed.  Though I have no historical evidence, I suggest they were men who didn't fit the patriarchal model the church had set for them--homosexuals, shy men, outcasts, and probably even a few actual Pagans.  For these men, being accused of witchcraft was an assault on their masculinity, schoolyard bullying at the lowest level.

Today, the term "witch" still has all those historical connotations associated with it.  The pictures of old, ugly women in pointed hats and with a wart on their noses still hold true for some people, and the thought of a male witch seems almost absurd and certainly effeminate.  To me, the only way to convince people to accept the term for the male population who identify as such is to use it.  The more people hear men describe themselves as witches, the more they will start to understand and describe them that way as well.

Related links:
Atheism.About.com's Persecuting Witches and Witchcraft Gallery
The Burning Times documentary (links to full movie, in parts, YouTube)

The Mother Divine

I remember later on in my Christian walk developing a belief that God was neither male nor female and that because he created Adam in his image, Adam started out neither male nor female as well.  It was only after God made Eve, taking something out of Adam to create another individual, that there was male and female.  I didn't know if this belief was shared by many (though now I see it is); I didn't read about it or hear a sermon on the topic.  However, it was a very strongly held belief for me at the time, one which I believed could be backed up by scripture.  I even began to see God as both a Father and a Mother, which helped me immensely at the time, and I only wished the English language had a gender-neutral pronoun I could use.

After finding my way to Paganism, I found the Wiccan idea of a God and Goddess so very natural.  Every living being on the planet has a male and female aspect to it (although I'm sure there are exceptions), so why wouldn't the Divine?  The idea of a female divine being was so appealing to me.

Mothers, as a general rule, are warm, comforting, consoling creatures, and having one for a god sounded to me like such peace.  A mother goddess can be a comfort to those who have grown up in a male-dominated religion, providing understanding and forgiveness where there was only wrath and forced penitence.  The mother goddess's welcoming arms can be more of a relief at the end of a long day than the father god's (though by now I've learned there is a time and a place for both).

On the other hand, you never want to mess with someone when their mom's around.  I remember a VHS of Louie Anderson's stand-up my family had; we watched it over and over again, especially during times when we didn't have cable.  On it, he joked about the power of running to get your mom when you're in trouble; the kids who were bullying you would say, "Run for it!  He's gettin' his mom!"  You never would run and get your dad; he probably wouldn't understand.  No, the person you really wanted watching your back was your mom; she got stuff done.

To this day, I still connect more with All-Mother than All-Father (though I doubt I'm the first to use them, these are my names for the divine).  I'm not sure if it's because I'm a woman or because I spent more time with my mother as a child.  Perhaps it's something completely different.  I just know that since accepting the idea of female divinity, I have felt better about the world and my place in it.

On this day, the day we celebrate all mothers, I also celebrate All-Mother, the mother of us all.  For those of you who don't have mothers to celebrate with today, I suggest you turn to the female aspect of the divine, in whatever way you worship.  She can be the mother you never had, the mother you wish you had, the mother you hope to be, or the mother you miss.  No matter what faith you follow, the mother can be seen in the divine.

A Domain Name

For anyone who hasn't noticed, the blog now has a non-Blogspot domain name!  That's right!  I'm creating a brand! lol

Short Candle Lighting Ritual for the New Moon

Some Esbats (like tonight) I'm just too darn tired or unwilling to do a full-on ritual.  That's when I do the following little ceremony, usually just before or after dinner.  The Full Moon one is similar, but speaks of bringing positive and helpful things into one's life, rather than banishing hurtful things.

Photo courtesy EarthSky.org.

Short Candle Lighting Ritual for the Dark/New Moon

With a candle set before you, ground or center yourself in whatever way you prefer.  Then, say the following (you may substitute the names of the gods for whichever you prefer):

Oh, great Mother Goddess and Father God, I acknowledge you on this night, your dark hour.  I banish everything from my life that would do me harm.  I banish everything that would do harm to those that I love.  So mote it be.

Light the candle and take a moment to visualize everything harmful in your life and your loved ones' lives disappearing.  Then, say:

May I remember you on this night and every moment of every day, protective Mother Goddess and Father God.  So mote it be.

Leave the candle going for as long as you wish in a place of prominence in your home so you are reminded of this special night throughout your evening.