Considering that I did not even establish this blog site until the latter part of 2006, I was surprised to discover that I had in fact made the finalist list for DeafRead’s 2006 Best New Blog category. (Update – I did not win this category, but still consider it an honor just to have been nominated!)
Okay…I admit it – I did let it be known amongst my friends that this contest was taking place and they were free to make nominations, but I still figured that in that vast galaxy known as the Deaf Blogosphere, I was just a tiny remote little planet.
A little planet, perhaps…but obviously one people do enjoy visiting from time to time.
Thank you.
However, as much of an honor as it is to be nominated for an award, this is not the reason I created Deaf Pagan Crossroads.
This site really began as the result of two blogs which I wrote as a Guest Blogger for DeafDC.com – “The Spirituality of Gallaudet” and “The Magick of Gallaudet” (both of which you can find on this site). I am indebted to Shane Feldman and the rest of DeafDC for this opportunity to share my views on the Gallaudet Protest…from a Pagan perspective.
The result of the posting of such blogs is that other Deaf Pagans came out of the “broom closet” and acknowledged their own spiritual beliefs. Yet at the same time, they also expressed a concern about the lack of resources available for Deaf Pagans – both on-line and in real life.
This got me thinking…would a blog for Deaf Pagans (and other interested folks) be of any value?
I hemmed and hawed over this for a couple of days – while I enjoy writing, I’m not a technogeek, and wasn’t sure I wanted to get into the hassles of learning the ins and outs of blogging.
But the Goddess kept tapping at my shoulder and telling me “you can do this!” and thus with a little encouragement from my friends (amongst them being Queen Alpo, to whom I owe a special debt of gratitude), Deaf Pagan Crossroads was born.
This blog is my opportunity to share with others my own experiences of being Deaf…and Pagan. It’s my chance to express those beliefs, thoughts, philosophies, perspectives, insights and knowledge that all together encompass this human being known to the Pagan Community as Ocean, to her friends and family as “Gin,” and to the mundane world as Virginia L. Beach (the person, not the place!)
This site truly is a crossroads. It’s a place where people of various cultures, and beliefs, and backgrounds can come together…”in perfect love and perfect trust” as we Witches like to say…to learn together, to explore together, to journey together.
In the short time that this site has been up, I’ve been amazed by the diversity of people who have come to visit and either left comments, or sent me private emails. They have included Pagans and Christians; a Jew, a Muslim and a Buddhist. They’ve included Deaf folks, Hard of Hearing folks, Interpreter folks, and Hearing folks. They’ve included those who deal with their own struggles of Double Marginalization, those who find their own solace in the garden, and those who have also sat at the dinner table wondering what the heck their family members were saying.
I’ve gotten emails from Pagan organizations expressing an interest in possibly working with me to make their events accessible. I’ve gotten emails from Deaf Pagans stating how good it feels to know they are not alone. I’ve gotten emails from Deaf people telling me how my site has helped them in better understanding Paganism, and from Hearing people informing me how they’ve gained a greater insight into Deafhood and the Deaf Community.
That’s what this site is all about. It’s not about winning awards, as nice as that might be. It’s not about how many hits I get, or how many comments a certain blog receives… although those are certainly nice also!
It’s about being that crossroads, and about being that place where people can come together and share.
If…on a daily basis…this site succeeds in helping just one individual to become enlightened, educated, informed, or inspired…
it will have served its purpose.
Goddess Bless and Goddess Keep,
~ Ocean
This sculpture shows the sign for "connect"...and that is what Deaf Pagan Crossroads is all about - making connections. Connections between Deafhood and Paganism, connections between the Deaf Community and the Hearing Community, connections between myself as the writer and you as the reader. I hope you will take the time to read my various posts, some of which are listed below. Welcome to the Crossroads, and I hope you make some connections here!
How neat. Rock on!
Hi Virginia. I was so busy blogging the protest that I must have missed your very first blog. Can you give me the link to the post? I would love to read what you offered during the protest?
Congrats on your nomination! 🙂
Thanks Mishkazena, and congrats to you on your nomination as well!
For those who wish to read the two blogs I refer to here – “The Spirituality of Gallaudet” and “The Magick of Gallaudet” you can find them by going to the menu at your left and under #2 On Being Deaf and Pagan you will find them on that list…just click and it will take you to those two blogs. The same applies to the other blogs as well…I believe all of my blogs are listed in the menu under one of the numbered categories there – or will be pretty soon! 😉
Hi there!! I found this thread through a search of healing and deafness..
My goodness I am glad I found your post though… I am not completely deaf.. but a good way close to it and have been going this way ever since I was in my early 20’s.. They can do nothing for me.. because it is nerve deafness and well the nerves don’t work most of the time.. and even with amplification I only hear certain sounds so at the best I would hear half to a quarter of what people say and would miss some sounds all-together..
I am so sorry to hear how you were treated in this church.. I am a church goer.. and I had never thought that approaching someone to heal them might be looked at this way.. I am doing a lot of personal study on healing.. because unlike you.. I am not content with my hearing loss.. I guess being partially deaf.. still hearing some.. but not enough to get by in the world.. I find it difficult and feel like I am in whole other world.. My father also has hearing loss.. I inherited it from him and he from his mother and so on.. He wears aids but still really really struggles.. my Grandmother really struggled too.. I just feel I would rather battle on without aids.. and learn to cope with it.. I have good eyesight.. and can walk and run and so I just thank God for those things!! You do learn to compensate for your losses.. so I guess in one way I am content.. but the hard thing is.. hearing affects your relationship with others.. They get frustrated.. they have to speak up.. LOL.. repeat themselves.. etc
I can sort of read lips.. but that is as far as it goes..
I would love to learn how to help those who desire healing through God.. not just for deafness but any sort.. you know the kind of suffering that seems difficult and hard.. Cancer for one.. or migranies.. etc.. really any sickness.. I am moved by your story though and will keep this sort of thing in mind as I search and pray about this.. You write so compassionately I can see you have a really kind and understand heart.. and unlike those you met in this church.. Jesus did have compassion.. at least I want to be like Him.. not like those sort of people.. You know sigh.. church people could learn a thing or two from you.. I can say.. I fully understand why you find warmth and acceptance in the craft.. because we church folk.. hmm… have many issues to get over first before we are like Jesus whom we are supposed to be modelling our lives upon.. We tend to be judgemental.. and put ourselves up high.. when in fact we are just like everyone else..
God bless you.. I am glad I came here tonight.. I think God used you to speak a message to my heart… one of looking not always to the healing first.. but to being compassionate and understanding above anything else because that is where the greatest healing lies!!
Actually tonight.. I did read a set of scriptures from the bible a bit earlier… that without we are nothing..
LOL…. I am being long-winded as usual!! Goodnight from Australia..
From Sharon
I missed a word.. sorry.. that without love we are nothing.. It makes not a difference what we do, say or what principles we adhere too (our faith, our life calling etc).. without love nothing we do matters to God.. Who is said to be LOVE itself!! I can guess that without love there is no feeling.. it is rather mechanical.. and who wants that kind of person around..
Hee hee.. goodnight.. I am going now..