Bex of "Bex's Hexes"

AM – Our Featured Blog this month is “Bex’s Hexes”.  I am talking to Rebecca (Bex), the owner of this wonderful blog.  Thank you for joining us today Bex!

BH – Thank you for having me Angie! I appreciate it!

AM – Please tell us a little more about yourself.

BH – I am 25 and happily married. I have two dogs, but no kids yet. I work for a medical university where I am a Curriculum Coordinator. I help develop curriculum, as well as, handle the actual building of the courses and exams online. I live in the metropolitan area of Phoenix, AZ. It is annoyingly hot here, but beautiful in the winter!  I am passionate about Wicca and the Pagan community! One goal of mine is that I hope to be a published author someday.

AM – I am getting better personally at blogging, but I struggle.  How did “Bex’s Hexes” come about?

BH – I actually had never even heard of blogging until a little over a year ago. I was in the middle of my Master’s program and had to take a class on technology and Education. Our instructor was a major blogger, so he did a large unit on how to blog. It was so much fun. I caught on to blogging really fast through the class. In fact, the instructor still uses my blog (the education one I made) as the example blog when he teaches the unit. Shortly after that class I started my first degree with FWTI. I was told that some of my assignments could be blogged about if I wanted. I decided since I love blogging to do just that. I then started Wicca For Everyone (what my blog use to be called) and the rest is history.

AM – What is it that keeps you and your blog going?

BH – My blog for me is a creative outlet.  I use to do a lot of art and writing when I was younger. I haven’t had time to do art or writing for years, so I am trying really hard to get back to taking the time to have hobbies. My blog is my first step in getting back into the arts. My blog is also a spiritual out let for me. I am not completely out of the broom closet so to speak. My immediate family does not know that I am Wiccan, so my blog provides me with an opportunity to be openly Wiccan. It almost feels like an alter-ego.

AM – What do you do when you get low on inspiration for new posts?

BH – I look for pictures or articles that are interesting and thought provoking.  Sometimes just finding one funny picture will create a whole blog post.

AM – I see on your blog that you just had your First Degree Initiation ritual.  Congratulations!  How did it go and what tradition do you participate in?

BH – My first degree initiation was wonderful! It was definitely a memorable experience. I usually perform rituals alone, so it was a new experience altogether. My husband, while very supportive, is not Pagan and I am not in a local coven. My family coven is in another state, so because of this we had the initiation ritual over the phone. I was really surprised by how much the technology did not hinder the energy or “specialness” of the ritual. I felt an amazing amount of energy and connection throughout the ritual.

I am a member of Family Wiccan Tradition International (FWTI) and that is the organization which elevated me to first degree and has given me permission to begin studying for my second degree.  I was also initiated into the Healing Waters Family coven during my initiation ritual. They are my family coven now.  FWTI is an open and mixed tradition. FWTI believes in Family Covens. A Family Coven is a group of people who come together to be a spiritual family and to worship together.  While there are high priestesses and high priests within FWTI, the focus is not on their position and title, but rather on helping all of the family covens grow and supporting the community as a whole. FWTI also promotes the idea of a mother priestess and/or father priest. The purpose of a mother priestess and/or a father priest is to spiritually lead a family coven without necessarily having to be an ordained high priestess/priest. Also FWTI allows family covens to govern themselves and their own beliefs and practices.  Aside from FWTI, I guess you could say I am an eclectic witch. I work with deities from multiple pantheons and both the God and Goddess.

AM – What do you think is the most important piece of advice that you would give a beginning Pagan blogger?

BH – Make your blog personal. Be creative and have fun! At first I think all bloggers are worried that no one will want to read personal information about themselves. I have found though that I get more comments and responses to my personal updates, then I do for my topic based blog posts.

AM – Lastly, you will be sending out care packages to the military during the holidays.  How did this come about and how can others participate?

BH – I will be sending out military care packages this Thanksgiving and Christmas. I started sending packages because my twin brother is in the Army. It can be difficult for military personnel to get personal items sometimes depending on where they are stationed. They also get very lonely and love to hear from family and friends. I noticed that other bloggers were setting up care packages opportunities on their blogs for their family members who are in the military, so I decided to post about my care packages on my blog. If anyone would like to send a care package they can contact me by email (gfg1983@hotmail.com) and I can send them the address of a soldier and his unit in Iraq or I can send them my brother’s address. My brother will be leaving for a year long tour to Afghanistan this month.  I also am collecting items to put into the care packages, so if anyone would like to send items directly to me, I can then send them over with my stuff (it is cheaper to send things to me in the states)- they can also contact me by email and I will give them my mailing address. Care package ideas include things like books, magazines, candy, and letters.

AM – Thank you for joining us Bex!  Good luck with your blog, “Bex’s Hexes,” your continued training and your military care package program.