Friday, December 27, 2013

Something that James Grimswolf wrote that has had me thinking all day

http://grimswolf.wordpress.com/2013/12/24/may-i-have-everyones-attention-please/comment-page-1/#comment-122

The part where, if you don't libate, that maybe the Gods are not real to you, that others have been saying.  How that would affect a mystic, if they believed the person saying that.  That instead of the experiences being real, you are crazy, or delusional.

How bone deep disturbing that is.  It hadn't hit me that way, because what yahoo's on the internet, that I don't give power to, doesn't really affect me.  However to someone who hasn't yet reached that, it could shred them.

wow.  Closes eyes and sighs


Basic respect for the Gods

Basic respect for the Gods, starts with you.  It starts with a basic respect for yourself.  It starts with knowing what you are able and willing to do, when asked.  Basic respect for the Gods starts with listening, and hearing them.  It does not start with libations.  Libations are a source of hospitality.

I wasn't asked for libations when I was younger.  I was asked to listen and learn how to trust my intuition. One of those lessons, was when I was attached to a cemetery(the dead asked me, there was a spiritual place behind the cemetery).  I was poked to go to it and the woods behind it.  After a bit of hesitation I did, and lo and  behold someone was lost.

They didn't want libations from me when I was younger, they wanted me to learn.  Learn how to hone my sensitivity.  They wanted me to learn how to protect myself, in the astral as well learn basic magical protections.

They didn't want libations when I had more money and was more secure.  They wanted me to learn gardening.  Instead of libating, I changed out the landscaping plants to those that were more native friendly.  I worked hard(and it helped my mental state, because at least something I was doing was thriving) to understand soil, and what plants do well for the little things, like the birds and bees.  That taught me to listen to the land spirits.  Libating, didn't teach that, gardening did.  Gardening was more imp.

I learned what was butterfly friendly.  That helped the butterflies, bees and hummingbirds, and birds.  I learned what native plants were endangered and I put them in my garden.  I learned about soil composition and how to compost.  I learned about issues with deer, and wildlife gardening.  That all helped the local land spirits.(I edited this in 12/28/13/)

It is only recently that I have done libations.  When the Morrigan asked for me to circle my house monthly with my moon blood I did.  I also left out cream for her and the fey.  I am not asked that now.  When I have the funds, I will buy things for them, the grove likes the honey yogurt.  She also likes apples and honey.  I make sure that the apples, if the animals don't eat them, are left in the grove, for the seeds to hopefully sprout and apple trees to eventually grow there.  I even looked for blackberry plants in the fall(apples and blackberry are homes to the fey), but they had already been bought.

No respect doesn't begin with Libations.  It doesn't end with Libations.  It begins with listening.

A thought that keeps popping in my head. It has been there for a couple of days, I've wanted to say it in other posts, but hasn't been as clear till now.

 When you go to someones house, that doesn't have as much as you, you are grateful, when they give of themselves.  If you know they really can't afford things, you bring things to share with them, and are grateful for their company.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Promised to blog about what I quilted about this year

I made my youngest son a star wars quilt.  I am in the process of making a train quilt with connecting threads, and scrap fabric for my eldest son.

Trust

People have said, that when you are at your worst, you should be on your knees praying the most.  That you should let go and let God(AA).  That you should trust in the will of the Gods.  That is when you should do devotions to the Gods.

That's all pretty phrasing, but really difficult to follow.  The fear, the palpable fear, is there.  You have adrenaline going.  You are worried.  You are stressed.  And that's just the emotional reaction when you have regular bad stress.  When the shit really hits the fan, and you are trying to keep it together it is really hard to trust.

When your life is going to crap, the last thing you want to hear, is trust.  What you need is a hug.  What you need are solutions.  What you need is a hand up.

When the bad shit in 2010 happened, I broke inside.  I grieved.  I trusted because I had nothing else to trust and yeah the kids and I are ok for now.  But there was deep simmering anger.  There still is to a degree. Because it is one thing to put me through hell, it's another for it to affect my kids, and I resent that.  I wanted better for my children.  I also wonder, when the shit is going to stop, when will life stop being a constant struggle.

Currently, offerings of food and drink will be fewer than they had been in the past.  Not because I don't love my Gods, but because money is going to be tighter.  Before offerings can be made, I have to make sure, my kids and I have enough to get through the month.  (and I forgot to get the fat for the crows, sigh, and the bird seed).

That episode in 2010, almost had me negating my relationship with the Gods.  It didn't help that Yahweh and Loki both forbade me in helping with spell work.  I was told unequivocally NO!  If I did, consequences would happen.  I had to sit and wait, and be helpless, and it killed me inside when the waiting was over.  To say I didn't agree with the outcome is an understatement.  To say I think it was to harsh is also another understatement.  On top of that, to not know what I was going to do, was also an understatement.
http://davensjournal.com/perceived-relationships-with-the-gods

Though to hear some of the BNP's talk, I should have been giving devotions.  My heart nor my soul were in that mind frame.  I was in survival mode.  The only thing that kept me going, was me needing to take care of the kids.

I didn't stop having a relationship with my Gods.  I did let them know I was angry, why I was angry.  That I was deeply hurt, and that my trust had been broken.  We are still repairing that.  We are still repairing me.  I have triggers and PTSD that, I am still figuring out and trying to fix.  I am more fragile and yet more strong than I was before.

I am only now finding out some of the reasons.  The other reasons, I don't know.  I do trust(grudgingly)It is hard, rightfully so.

Even if you have gone through hell, telling someone else, that when shit is hard, is when they need to do the devotions more, is bullshit.  If you can't lend an ear, then get out of the way.  If you can't hug, get out of the way.  If you can't or won't lend a hand up, then get the hell outta the way.

Piety

The recent kerfluffle is about Piety.  It also is about respecting the Gods.  It also seems to be about whom to listen to.  I covered the whole who to listen to, in my post below.

Now on Piety.  Smurfette from the Smurfette principle http://stephyjh.wordpress.com/about-the-work/ Is just if not more pious than someone who gives offerings on a daily basis.  She's doing something imp, tasked to her by Bridgette, she's making quilts for young ones in the hospital, who otherwise may not get any blanket coverings.  Now I do not know if she makes other offerings(eats or does not eat them) to Brigid, nor do I know if Brigid even wants those, instead of her doing the work.

Do I give regular offerings, no.  I do it, half hazardly, like I do when I think about close friends and see something shiny for them, that i know would make them smile.  My offerings are not part of my piety, it's hey I was thinking of you, heres something yummy.  Though the fact that I am starting to want to have more yummy foods vs foods that survive, means I'm healing, from a deep pain, that happened in 2010.

I do votive offerings of candles more often.  Again that is more recent.  Prior to that I had statues.  But!! That does not make me impious.  It just means I've run into information that shows that Gods like offerings and I give them.  (speaking of which I need to get some to put outside for the birds).

I do however, put broken peopel together.  That is my biggest job.  That is what they want me to do. I pay for a felons car insurance on my car insurance, even though I don't have a lot of money.  I do it, out of love. I have used my Photography to help Christian Churches, and that is part of my ethics my Gods want me to adhere to.  I learn, in order to help others.  I am the voice of the Gods for those that need one(any God).That is more important to them, than whether I leave regular offerings.

To say that someone is impious because they don't leave offerings the way you do, is hubris.  You do not know of what their Gods have them do, or what they have agreed to do.  It is also busybody as hell.  It screams of Sister Bertha Better then you(Ray Stevens Mississippi Squirrel revival) In short, stop poking your nose in, where it isn't warranted.

Elders and devotional paradigms

http://saltyourbones.wordpress.com/2013/12/25/what-to-offer-deities-and-how-to-figure-it-out/  This is a very good post, check it out.  She writes about how I feel how the Gods came to be.  Shakes fist at her, and grins.  Goes grrr grrr grr at ya.

My baseline for Pagans I encounter is peers.  I have no issue arguing and debating shiny mental mastubatory concepts.  Whether Morrigan is a peace entity or a bad ass bitch on the battlefield, based on the stories. That's fine. What isn't fine is telling someone, that the way they worship their personal Gods is wrong.  I don't think I've ever done that.

I also have a huge issue with, well I was and I am poor and I manage to do this. How you managed to do something will be different from others.  Your challenges are not theirs.  Some sacrifices may be too much, and no one has the right to shame others in regards to that.  While I did sigh in regards to the charity post, about money and how others choose to spend it, shaming is quite different.  I don't pay their bills, I really don't have a right nor does anyone else, to get uppity about it.

My UPG is more imp to me, then whether or not it matches up with what the ancients did. I have a personal relationship with my Gods.  They are not my Kings.  I don't operate out of a fear paradigm.  It is about love.

I have also run into a big lesson in this life.  QUESTION everything.  Gut check, is important.  It is one of the reasons I respect Scott Cunningham(Yeah that's what the whole do what feels right to you is about guys. He's saying listen to your intuition), because he does stress he doesn't know it all and your intuition is one of the best guides to listen to.  Also, I am told by my Gods to do this.  My gut check isn't just with humans.

Just because someone has been doing something for a while, doesn't make what they are doing, the right fit for you.  Your intuition will tell you. Consider our history(the larger occult community) of dishing out a lot of bullshit, doesn't necessarily mean, that they are knowledgable.  Harry Houdini debunked quite a lot of mediums in his day(many of which came from spiritualism, which does play into our Paganism) for being frauds.  Aleister Crowley, while gifted, was also a heroin addict among many other issues.  Gardner, liked to spank nubile young thangs(50 years of Wicca), does that really mean we need to continue scourging to raise energy, because Gardner really liked to do it?

Our modern Pagan practitioners aren't much different.  We all have issues, of one sort or another.  While that doesn't make them a bad teacher, it should be taken into consideration.  Your intuition is wiser than your cognitive functions, I have found, it is not shameful, if you have asked for advice and your gut says No, to not do that advise.

We have the opportunity to bring back to life stuff that has lain dormant.  Not only can we bring it back but we can do it better.  We can understand the lessons of the past and take the compassion and empathy of what we have fought for in the modern age and apply it.  We can find better ways of doing things, that other cultures have done, instead of doing only what the ancients did.  That doesn't make it wrong, that makes it using your head.





Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Snakes

I ran across these in Ms.  My UPG says they come from a Native American heritage, but that is my gut and this is all UPG.  The first one, and I can't remember why he showed up, was in a leather jacket, acted nice,but my instinct said be careful.  He asked for a drink of my sweet tea and I shared.  I went to take a drink, but I stopped myself, and poured it out on the ground.  While doing so, I saw some sparkly energy in the drink.  He had put in venom.  He was amused when I said that.  He left later.

I remember why the first one showed up.  He wanted to know where a friend of mine lived.  I refused to give him that info.

The other one I saw, was in a full headress and older.  He was trusthworthy, and had a different personality.

The Silver ones

I do not know what if any tradition these originated in.  I do not know if I'm the only one to see them.  I saw them when I lived in Massachusetts, and I saw them in Washington.  I have seen them in KS, but they felt different.

They when I see them, are silver, usually on the edge of woods, elves and wolves.  In ks, they are silver Native Americans and wolves.

They like cream.

I do not know what their purpose is.  I have seen them, I feel a closeness.  I have felt them be protective.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Devotion and respect to the Gods

Ahhh joy another drama storm is brewing about the interwebs.  You can read the origins here:http://saltyourbones.wordpress.com/2013/12/21/on-classism-paganism-and-the-piety-posse/#comments and here http://satsekhem.wordpress.com/2013/12/23/poor-as-fuck-polytheism/
and here http://nornoriel.dreamwidth.org/293877.html?mode=reply and here(this one defends it)http://forestdoor.wordpress.com/2013/12/19/for-polytheists/#comment-4056 and here http://roguesareth.wordpress.com/2013/12/23/poverty-piety-and-paganism/

I'm sure there are other places I have missed.  I've already vented my spleen and had my say, so I won't say it redundantly here.  You can read my posts there if you are so inclined.

Ok that being said, it bring to mind an interesting questions.  How do we show devotion to the Gods.  Do we do it as others do, and do so religiously(pun not intended) or do we do it out of love?  If we owe the Gods piety and offerings, do they owe us as well?  Is there give and take?

My opinion.  I offer out of love.  For me it isn't about being a good Pagan and getting some sort of reward, it is about doing something that brings me closer.  I offer them what I make for food(or teach my daughter to make).  I offer what I have on hand.  If I have extra money and I am in the grocery store and they ask for something I try to provide it, because I like doing that.  I do that also for friends and family. It pleases me to please those that I love.

However, there is a balance.  If the Gods want offerings to show them respect, then respect needs to be shown to you as well.  Also you should first respect yourself.

 I can here the gasps now.

We are not our ancestors.  We do not need to toss the virgin in the volcano to placate the angry God to stop ourselves from dying.  The relationship has changed, or has it?

In the feudal system, you gave to the Lords, who gave to the ones in power, who gave to the King.  In turn the those in power were supposed to look out for you and protect you from dangers.  (History has shown what a poor system that was).  In what I have read(and I forget the sources or I'd link them) you gave to the spirits because they looked out for you.  The Gods grew from that.

Ie, There was a give and take.

Ok lets get out of the academic and mental world.

The Gods and their devotees have their own relationships.  It is not one size fit all.  Though some bnp's seem to think we should take what they say from on high, and the rest be laity giving to the Gods.  I think they forget we don't necessarily need them to talk to the Gods for us, many of us can do it ourselves.  I think they forget we have our own relationships with the Gods and the Gods don't always ask the same from everyone.

Also I am highly uncomfortable with the idea, that if you do not do x devotions or giving to the Gods, you are a bad Pagan.   It is the same mentality that I ran into in some of the Christian Churches.  I found it problematic.  It puts God/Yahweh first and you should obey, and not question.  You should live your life to please him.

I don't think that attitude is a healthy one.  Now some Pagans may do that, but they choose to do so.  For every Pagan or Polytheist to do so, feels unhealthy to me.  Also my Gods want me to question.  I was also kicking myself for participating in the drama, before I realized standing up and calling out bullshit is a holy devotion for me.

Smurfette has a different obligation to Bridgette then I do to Loki and my other Gods.  She needs to make quilts.  I help put broken people together, speak for the Gods, do devotions if they wish, and study and learn  and probably have a career arguing.  (if I get my college shit done).  The Gods have asked or told us to do stuff, and we have accepted.  She is not me and I am not her.  We definitely are not Dver, and Sannion, or Tess.

Lets also talk about people have different responsibilities.  Who should come first, Gods or the Kids?  Is it devotion to give food to the Gods that could go to your hungry kids?  Would the Gods approve?  Do you not have the right to balance and make sure your life is as stable as it can be, before giving to the Gods? Seems like those arguing, do not think you do.  I disagree.

I believe you need to assess and take care of your needs.  If you do not, you risk falling apart and then you can't give the Gods or do what they ask.  I think I would have a huge issue if my Gods demanded me to give offerings I can't afford at the expense of my children.  For Gods that pushed me to argue, to thrown down the B.S flag, I'd probably have a go at it with them. (uh oh I see smiling).  Nor do I think it would be impious to do so.  See my conflict resolution post.  It's addressing at that point, an issue.

We Polytheists have a relationship with the Gods.  The rules are not in the books nor are written by the BNP's.  It is written by what we agree to and the boundaries we set and the stuff we negotiate(those of us that can hear them).

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Mum, The Goddess

If it isn't clear, I am writing down my impressions.  None of the Gods I have talked about(other than Morrigan) have a lot of lore to them.  This is a beginning and they wanted me to write about how I saw them and felt them.

Color, Silver.  She has no name.  None that I can figure out at least, at this time.  She just is mum.

I encountered her first in a dream.  I was in highschool, and was sent these dreams.  I was involved in a battle(not a traditional battle, maybe battle is the wrong term).  Anyway I had a thing I was fighting.  It was a giant black wolf, that would go out and eat people.  Had a lot of stealth.

I was given Merlin to teach me and I had to put together a sword, with a pencil in its hild(oooh can you get the symbology here??? lawl).  IF I said this poem blue light would come out of the sword(no it wasn't thundercats ho) and destroy my enemy.

Here me now first Goddess of the light
Drink for me now
The cup of life

Here me now first Goddess of the night
The rest has been lost in a successive dream


In a prior dream, I was walking with Merlin and he asked me to recite the poem.  I felt it slowly being pulled out of my mind.  THen I woke up and this is what I am left with.  The lesson girls, boys and what have you, is write down the imp dreams.  Notes are imp.

That dream led me to non BTW Wicca.  I loved the simplicity of Scott Cunningham.  He has a gift for making hard things simple and elegant.

Anyway, she is the same Goddess in Wicca.  I also saw her in the High Priestess when I went to see whether I wanted to be more traditional in Gardnerian coven.  She is more Queenly there, vs the informal mother I found in Non BTW.

But while she is in Wicca, she isn't limited there.  The holiest vision of her, that I saw, was the Orion nebula.  http://hubblesite.org/gallery/tours/tour-orion/

I sense her in the air, especially in the moon and space.  I sense her in the water, and all around me.  I do not know if she is Omnipotent. I do not know if she is the White Goddess from Robert Graves or if he only got a small tiny glimpse of her.  I just know that she is.

I do not know if she is Asherah.  I only know the UPG I have of her.  What I have of her, is infinite patience.  She feels motherly.  She is warmth and hearth.  Though mess with her kits and she will come down on you like a mother bear.

She seems to be connected with the fey in a way as well.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Cernunnos

Green.  The deep forest.  The smell of leaves and trees.  Fall. Spring.  Antlers.  Hounds.  The call of the hunt.  The chase.  Life and Death.  The smell of green.  Jethro Tulls songs from the wood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2MgU7PNHgw


Academically not much is known about him.  He is on the Gunderstrap Cauldron.  He is known to the Continental Celts.

He is also another Primal God.

Morrigan

A tall, black haired, sensual, powerful, take charge type of woman.  One who exudes a cool exterior.  She's a Queen.  A woman who knows what she is doing, and isn't afraid to go after what she wants.  A kick ass bitch(she smiled when I typed that) type of woman.

She has a presence of an Ice Queen.  Though I sense, that is what she shows, while she watches you.  I also sense that she is very warm underneath.  Someone with that much passion, I can't see not having an inner warmth.

Crows, Ravens, Fae, Sex, Violence, and Law, are what I feel and see when I think of her.  Blood and primalness.

I respect and I am wary of her.  Wariness is not fear.  I however do not have the same close relationship and the ability to say what I will, that I do with Loki.

Loki

I originally was going to go all rawrrrrr on John Halstead post on privledge, but I got poked to do something else instead.

So here it is:

LOKI:

The Phoenix.  The raging fire.  The hearth fire.  The one who destroys, the one who fixes.  The Transmutable fire.  The shapeshifter.  The laughing God.  The sad God.  The one who loves deeply.

The fire of the furnace.  The fire of a wildfire.  The hot breath raging breath of a wildfire.

When I think of Loki, I think of a bonfire, or Fire.  The power and the wind and the roar.  That is the description that I am to portray of him.

My interaction with him is that of Dad.  I have a very close relationship with him.  I respect him.  I love him. I respect but don't fear him. I am often shaking my head bemused by him.  I also know, if I call on him, that I better be damn sure I am asking for the right thing, because he is CHANGE.

He has his own Honor.  He will use any tool at his disposal to get shit done.  That means he will lie and steal and do what he needs to get it done.  However he is very honest with me.

He is also very subtle in his lessons.  Some I don't even know I am doing, until I have done them and they have fixed me or made me face a fear.  He is not a deity for the light hearted.  Nor should he be trifled with.

He was among the other Gods, who poked me to go to Lightning across the Plains.  I was being to isolated. I needed to interact with others.  The kids needed to see a bigger Pagan gathering.  It was affordable.

The con to that, is I didn't feel like I belonged.  Because of the nature of the worshippers(who are very nice and good people), I kept my affiliations quiet.  Thus I could not be myself.  Plus, after having an autistic child for a while, 200+ people can be a bit overwhelming.  Me the extrovert felt more than a bit of an introvert and that I was in a hamster ball mewling.

I think I would do better at a smaller gathering.  But since the Troth allows toasting to Loki, I may join and see if there are more Loki friendly events.  I liked meeting the people.  I oddly felt closer to the more vanic worshippers as well(haven't figured that out).

I also need a place where I can let my son go, where I can relax.  Where he can be himself.  So a smaller venue would be better.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Lost Faces of the Bible

Watching it on the National Geographic Channel.  Learned something fascinating, apparently in Caananite culture, children belonged to the Gods, not the parents.  Also they have found in I believe the North Africa site, babies as well as young sheep and goats of the same age, that were sacrificed and buried in jars.  The ages were 0-3 months old.

Though a google search, just said it was not child sacrifice.  http://www.livescience.com/23298-carthage-graveyard-not-child-sacrifice.html  Huh

Anyway back to the show.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Issues in the greater Pagan religion

I see a lot of hue and furious cry of typing fingers, when Teo Bishop left.  I see a lot of whinging about Pentacles and horror films and think of the Neo Pagan witches.  I don't see a lot of Pagan press about many of the Prison Chaplains that work with Pagans in Prison.  I don't see a lot of news about people who actually do stuff to make the world a better place.  Though there is plenty of halp halp the Christians are persecuting me.

Why?

Oh and Lords and Ladies above.  If someone asks for help in the Pagan community for financial issues, or for charity don't expect them to get much help.  But the self same Pagans that can't be arsed to give 5 bucks, sure as hell can spend money for made in china crap, that comes from Azure Green.

That bugs me.  It doesn't say much for our ethics or our priorities.

Why is being a victim a higher priority in the larger Pagan community then giving back to the world?  Why don't we have it in our theology and talk about it more?  Why do we let those who help, do so out of their own pocket?  If you can't afford any to help, you can make a craft and do a raffle to generate the funds. Why aren't we seeing this?

And yes I do help.

I'd list what I do(and I feel I should do more, but balance right now) but this isn't my ego boost, this is the start of the why.

WHY general Pagans, WHY?

Saturday, December 7, 2013

God Graveyard and after effects

So apparently, there not being enough shit in the world to worry about, we have BNP Pagans getting up in arms about this:  http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/10/31/college-atheists-place-god-graveyard-on-campus-200-tombstones-of-gods-we-no-longer-worship/  Yup a group of atheists and the like made a God graveyard on their university campus.  Cue instrumental music of woe and doom.

Oh wait, I don't hear Morrigan, Loki(he's yawning)Cernunnos or any of my other Gods really being angry.  I hear silence and so what.  Why?  Because it's a group of atheists who don't believe anyway.  Moreover, there is bigger shit here to worry about.  Loki has got his followers to heal.  Morrigan has got wars to chew over and other stuff she needs done.  Cernunnos has got what he wants.  What a group of college students does, does not register.

Moreover, the Gods can fight their own battles.  The fight that is going on, is why the hell doesn't this group recognize Pagans and realize our Gods aren't dead.  Aka it's about ego.  and it's bullshit.

Then sitting there saying that what you do is somehow more imp than what the Steph of the smurfette principle does because you teach and write vs the fact she works by crafting baby blankets for poor infants in the hospital ward is utter heinous bullshit.  Your work is no more imp than others.

You want to get up in arms about something imp, then get up in arms about people being in prison for no good reason, other then drugs and being addicted.  Get up in arms about the number of people who are homeless.  Get up in arms over the fact that food stamps are being reduced.  Get up in arms about our civil rights being shit on.  Get up in arms about people not having free speech if you aren't of the same political party or you aren't politically correct.  In short, there is more real world shit that needs more to be paid attn to, then a college group exercising their 1st amendment rights that our vets give their lives, time and freedom for.

And btw for those who read my blog give Steph some love and money and fabric, she needs quilting supplies.  She's actually doing something imp.  http://stephyjh.wordpress.com/2013/11/05/asking-for-help/

This meany pooh pooh headed Pagan has.  I don't have much but I gave what I could and I dug through my fabric stash.  I dare you to do better.  I challenge you to show me up.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Food and offering

I've been pondering.  Why do we stick to what the Gods supposedly ate in the past?  Cream and berries and honey for fey, Tuatha De Danaan and Celtic, interspersed with some meat foods.  Greek for Greek Gods? Why don't we branch out, using our UPG?

This pondering brought to you by fa la la latte.  I bought one today and took a sip and went mmmmmmmm. To which I got poked by the Morrigan, make me one.  Ok, I can do that.  Eggnog and espresso make the Fa La La Latte.  Simple even if it is not traditional.

If we humans like to explore other cuisines, why would the Gods not want to do so as well?  Ask them.  I think the only God I know that has some food taboos would be Asherah, and mostly she is hesitant about pork.  Other then that, I don't know of any of the Gods that have a food taboo or go Kosher.

Loki I know, likes many different foods.  He isn't afraid to try new things.  You also don't need to feed him copious amounts of hard liquor.  Though I am getting poked to try making some mead sometime in the near future.

As I type this, I see my cat drinking my left over oohlong tea.  smh.  I'm also getting poked to give Loki, Morrigan, and Cernunnos and The Goddess some apple cider.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Things I have to do and am being poked by the Gods about

I need to make a drum.  I have the drum kit.  I bought it from Centralia fur and hide.https://furandhide.com/products/categories/drum-kits  I just need the time, when I am not crazy from the children and life, to let the hide soak, and then put it on the drum.  Then I need to make a drum stick.

I need to make a mask.  I bought Lupas book http://www.thegreenwolf.com/skinspirits.html .  It had some very interesting stuff in it.  But I still need to learn a bit more taxidermy and wire shaping before that can come to fruition.  Plus as much as I'd like to get the coyote spirit that resides in it rainbow opals, those are not stones I can afford.

When I grumbled about making the two things above, I was told in no uncertain terms to stop my kvetching.  At least I didn't have to hunt down a buffalo, skin it, tan it for my spiritual equipment.  Needless to say I stopped kvetching. (I heard a mental sigh and was told for now. Feeling the love)

Loki wants me to make him something to.  I have statues and tapestries for Cernunnos.  I have a tapestry for the tree of life.  I even have a small one for the Morrigan).  I do not have any depictions of Loki(though I have a tatoo related to him on my body).  So he is poking me to make him one.  I need to get the architectural salt blocks.  I have bought the dremel tool, to carve into the blocks.

Teo Bishops conversion to Christianity and Pagans reaction to it

I do not understand what the hubbub is about, when it comes to Teo Bishops personal decision in regards to his religion.  I also fail to understand why he was a Big name Pagan.  I also fail to understand why this is anyone's business, or why they feel they can express emotions about it.  Two different topics have been unleashed on Patheos Pagan about it, no less.  I'm sorry, more like three or four.

How did these self same people, who are blogging and talking and gossiping, feel when their parents or others not related to them, decided to put in their two cents, when they converted to Paganism?  I bet many of them were more than a little irritated. So why do the same to Teo Bishop?

The lesson here is boundaries.  It isn't anyones business.  Teo Bishop converting back is a private affair. Granted he chooses to share it with the world wide web, but it doesn't make it any less of a private affair, that many of us are being public voyeurs in.  At most it is between him and the God's and any promises he may have made to his Pagan community.

Did he change personality after he converted?  Has he changed in any significant way?  So why is this an issue?  Do you need to have only Pagan friends?  If so, what does that say about you, that you need to follow the Jehovah Witness model to personal relationships?

Time to chill out people.



Thursday, November 21, 2013

Critical thinking how to, take 1?

It begins with the questions.  It is an important and holy question.  The sacred question of why.

My husband told me once, one of the good hallmarks of a good game master, is to ask why three times. The answer to those questions leads you to help in making the game more enjoyable for the players.  You can also use that method, in critical thinking.

Another name for this, would be the socratic method.  See linky to law school explanation.  http://www.law.uchicago.edu/prospectives/lifeofthemind/socraticmethod  It has embedded hyperlinks you can also read to gain more of an idea.  This one is a wiki link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socratic_method  It has more then a law school rapid fire version of the method.

Other tools in your box, that I think are important, is a basic understanding of psychology.  You don't have to go to class, go to amazon and get some used textbooks, and read.  Understanding the basics of how people communicate would be helpful.

Despite the mantra in Pagandom of do not judge others, that is more harmful then hurtful.  It neglects the fact that we are human and it is in our nature to judge.  If we didn't, we often would run head first into bad situations.  Judging is not bad.

It is shallow to base what someone is like based on their looks.  However their speech, body language and how they treat others, shows what they will be like as a person.  It is vital then that you use that knowledge gained from getting to know them to make judgement.  Also ALWAYS listen to your intuition.  It knows things that you do not.


Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Critical thinking

Most of the beginning teachings in Paganism revolve around, shielding, centering, grounding and reading information about the Gods.  Conflict resolution techniques are not discussed, which I find to be a shame.  A skill that is also in short supply, in being taught is critical thinking.

I believe this is due in large part, because many don't know it.  If you don't develop the skills, you are in a religion that it is very easy to delude yourself or be deluded by others.  You also run the risk of being deluded by spirits.

Now you may be wondering, why this is imp.  It helps in presenting a more serious, less juvenile view of Pagandom to other religions.  This helps in interfaith work.  Also, if Pagans are seen in a more serious light, or less of a dangerous light, lawmakers are more likely to think about laws that may impact us.  Government bureaucrats whose job it is, to make sure you are a decent parent, will be less likely to harass you.

The founders of the movement leave something to be desired ethically.  Gerald Gardner, if you read 50 years of Wicca, you will find is a dirty old man.  I would even suggest that there are things in Wicca that if you look hard you will see he had pulled out of Buddhism or Hinduism along with his time in the Golden Dawn.

Alex Sanders, when he was told no, about joining Gardner, stole the books of shadows and did his own coven.  Aleister Crowley, crazy heroin addict.  Our Neo Pagan founders left some things to be desired.

Israel Regardie though, pretty darn ethical.  I have yet to hear a bad thing about Cunninghan, except that some of the more serious Pagans think he is fluffy.  Deborah Lipp, another person that I wouldn't hesitate to send people to.  I haven't heard much negative about Kveldulf Gundarrsson.

Anyway...  My point before I wandered into the land, of wtf were we doing learning from our founders.  My point was critical thinking.  We have Issac Bonewits to introduce us to the cult form.  http://www.neopagan.net/ABCDEF.html

We have Ronald Hutton, that started talking in laymans terms about how many of our histories are just horribly inaccurate.  Though, it is still getting to many people.  Many still believe in the 9 million died of the inquisition aka burning times.  Many still believe in what is now debunked Margaret Murray's anthropological thesis of a witches going back several thousand years and a secret witch cult.  See Triumph of the Moon.

Reading outside of Llewellyn and Pagan authors will help in establishing, a more objective mindset. Understanding socratic thought, will help in keeping a skeptical mind.  There is nothing wrong, to question Pagan authors and their concepts or your own UPG as stringently as you questioned Christianity. Talking around, and taking more than just big name Pagans view, will help in developing more critical thought patterns.  

I do not think that learning how to be an academic like Axe and Plough has stipulated, is necessarily the way to stop bad Canonical thought from staying in Paganism. http://thelettuceman.wordpress.com/2013/10/24/paganism-and-psuedoscholarship/ 

Despite my experiences, it is not bad ethics, or being a bad person to question people either.  I know it goes against the newagey mantra of be nice and keep annoying negative people away, so your aura doesn't get muddied, but it isn't bad.

Paganbookreviews.net is a site that would be helpful to have.  She's gives pretty objective reviews.  It helps in deciding which books to spend your hard earned money on.

Going and reading communication textbooks, will help in understanding public relations, advertising, and how people communicate.  This helps in talking with spirits, with understanding the business world of Pagan publishing, and helps with not being taken in by commercials.

I will try in my blog to dissect how I do things in this regard and put it in more bite sized pieces.  This is hard for me, so bear with me.

Lunas









Sunday, November 17, 2013

Conflict Resolution

The online people I have known over the years have truly suckish conflict resolution skills.  They do all the unhealthy shit in this link.  http://www.helpguide.org/mental/eq8_conflict_resolution.htm .  Offline, it's a mixed bag.  The older folks who have been around and understand their triggers do a pretty decent job.  However conflict resolution is not something I see as being taught or encouraged.

Read the link, it has great information.  It is something I learned in interpersonal communication in college. Knowing and understanding the above stuff in the link, will help you in relationships.


Schoolwork

I have made myself a moratorium on blogging until I can get my schoolwork done.  I'm working in my head on critical thinking and another post, so if I ever get done with my academic writers block, expect to see a couple of posts.

Wish me luck.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Poor Cernunnos

My son brought him to me, giggling.  He was covered in French onion dip.  He exuded quite why why does he do this to me mentality.  Darn pups.

My son is autistic.  He on his own, decided to feed Cernunnos, however he does this quite literally.  He dips the God in whatever he thinks taste good.  Cernunnos has needed a bath from ranch dressing in the past, to french dip today.

I decided today was a lesson in washing off the God.

smh

Subjective vs Objective.

This post is the catalyst for this post.  http://blacklightmetaphysics.com/2013/11/03/days-of-the-dead/#comment-2366  Interesting take on past life, and the lessons we need to learn to heal old wounds.  I may very well have to consider doing so as well.

Though there are some things in his post that I want to address.  When we receive stuff via past life regression, we should look at the filter from whence it comes.  Objectivity is hard to maintain, and our own personal crap will influence stuff.  Whoever is providing the info, yeah spiritual who ha's have biases too, also have a stake in how it is presented.  So, write it down, but look at who is giving it to you, to see how much salt needs to be applied.

How was the regression done?  Does it resonate with you, why or why not?  What resonates with you? Why?(Socratic questioning helps here)  I personally would give more salt to guided meditation in past life regression then other ways.

Ok, now that you got through all that, deal with the emotions.  We are human, not Data a sentient Android. Shit is gonna make us feel stuff.  Process. Try not to yell or blame or make rushed judgements until you have processed the emotions.

Ok lets take his post and go with lesson time.

1. Guided meditation, so while the person who guided it was being ridden, you HAVE to take biases and the human filter into account.  What is their political bent?  How do they feel about war and politics and other stuff.?  How has that influenced your regression?

2. He feels betrayed and is pissed and is now in a crisis of faith.  But he isn't letting himself grieve.  He is making decisions a little too rashly, mind you they are mature, but still he needs time to ponder and sort and grieve and see how much truth is really there.  He's also not taking into account the emotions of this life and how it may be bleeding over into the vision. (See the emotions of the Grandmother) Greek  Maxim Know thyself helps.  Use it and grieve.  Logic helps in the grieving too.  Use it.  Ask yourself questions and go with it, write it down, blog, do art, it helps in figuring out why you feel this way, and helps in dealing.

3.He is blaming the Gods.  He's studies the history of this time period.  So, it shouldn't be that hard to figure out which General he was and figure out how true this is.  If it's just a lesson story, learn the lesson, but why get bent out of shape over something that didn't occur, why internalize the emotional baggage?  An analogy, if this is the guided meditation version of Eat, Pray, Love, ok get sad, but don't get so emotionally vested in the movie that you decide to abandon all trappings of a "square life"(to be snarky about a previous post) that you decide to become a world wide Hippy.  Yes if it calls to you and you can do it.  But let a little pragmatism in your life flourish too.

4. Ok he is blaming the Gods and not those, that did the deeds, in the past life(we haven't established how true it is). Why is this shit Jupiter and Mars fault and not the Senators?  Dude was a General, dude played politics, dude should know how the damn game is played, dude needs to also take responsibility for not thinking about shit ahead of time.

If you wanted to retire away from politics, Britannia would have been a better location and less likely to be bugged by senators. Because who the hell wants to travel that far into the outer reaches of the Roman Empire? Saying it aint fair, is bullshit, especially when if you were a General, you know good damn well, how hard these guys play for power.  If you don't want to play, then take care to get yourself out of the line of fire.  It aint Jupiters fault you didn't think this through and thought people were gonna be honorable with you and leave you alone?  It is being naive.  (Again who's cultural bias is showing, that is having him have these emotions?  Americans? In fact I'd even say it is a very modern American cultural bias and not the Generals of Rome)

5.Now lets look at the bigger tapestry.  Ok so you wanted to be let alone but Mars and Jupiter were poking you.  You don't know if you can trust them to keep to their promise of happiness.  They gave you opportunities at happiness. Expecting them to protect you from the harsh realities of life is a bit much.(Mind you we all do that. I've had times of I've worked for you why the hell is this shit happening to me too)  What did you honestly expect them to do?

If you had listened to them and gotten into politics, would you still have had your wife, or more time?  This is the lesson of looking at the tapestry of possibilities and looking at chess and the various outcomes.  Maybe they were poking you for a reason other then, you make a good general.  Maybe they saw shit and you were the best candidate and that yes you could be happyish.  Have you explored the realm of which door did you pick and what would have happened had you went that route?

6. Ok you wanted peace, quiet and a contented life.  Well, the Gods have a responsibility to more than just you.  Do they have the right to nag the shit out of you, if the choice is you, vs say the asshat Nero?  Where does their responsibility lie?  Have you looked at the larger picture here and tried to work out why the hell they were poking you?  Why?

By the by.  I am no means advocating blindly do whatever it is the Gods are poking you to do.  Ask questions.  Realize you have choices.  Also realize it is hard and almost impossible to see the hard picture. Something I'd also like to throw out, if we aren't the same people we were 20 years ago, why are the Gods always unchanging?

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Cat

Well, coming home from doctor visit with daughter, only to be told it's only a cold.  0.0  Headache near migraine proportions some mornings, dizzy spells enough to make her fall over and it's only a cold and NOT a sinus infection, wtf.  Shit gets weird sometimes.  Anyway, collapsing for two hours and not doing my school work due to me being zomg tired, has left me AWAKE NOW.  Possibly I'll be tired in another half an hour.

Cat woke me up out of my collapse though.  Jumped on the bed and went meow at me.  Possibly more to see if I was really asleep so he could attack my purple glasses then concern.  But I think he loves me anyway, as he purred when I scooped him up to cuddle him.

He played hard today.  Lots of running about and tackling all our legs.  Well except my autistic son.  He doesn't mind my son letting him out of the cage in the morning(cause he attacks all teh things, including wires and dang it I need sleep, which is why he is in it when I'm at work), but my son will squash his love, and then try to force feed the cat chips.  sigh.

My youngest brought him home.  I need to get him snipped by the vet, and checked for that virus in cats, and dewormed.

By the way he has torn up the stuffed mouse we gave him, I think he will make a dandy hunter.  He likes that really torn up mouse more then the rest of his cat toys.  He will mew at me, if I pick him up, while he wants to play with it, if he can't continue to hug it.

He's, like most cats afraid of water.  Yeah walking past the washer machine while holding him and it's loading, best have on the kevlar, he's scared.  He's not so thrilled bout the bathroom either.

I'm also feeding the neighbors cat cry baby.  He knows how to get to me, darn cat.  I know he aint starving as he's fat and muscled, but he runs at me, meowing.  Because he is meowing while he runs, it isn't a smooth meow, but one broken up by the run.  Funny to listen to.  He'll look at me then look at the bowl and look at me.  sigh

Yup, I do have some of my daddy in me(Loki) I take in strays.

my take on Star Foster and her blog on if you have a shitty life it's because you worship shitty Gods

Her blog can be found here:  http://starfosterblog.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/square-gods-we-are-what-we-worship/   I found out about it by reading Fluid Morality's rant on it.  I think she has some very cogent points.  http://fluidmorality.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/victim-blame-game/#comments  I also happen to like Ruadhan's poits as well.  http://thespiae.oddmodout.com/2013/10/29/close-but-no-bananas-you-have-no-bananas-today/

Way to go, labeling a bunch of Polytheists(hard or soft), who have relationships with the more uncomfortable Gods, as a bunch of kids looking to spice up their life.  It isn't because they have anything deeper, than to get rid of ennui.  Thanks, I didn't realize I had nominated you my cranky mom or English victorian judgemental aunt.

Plus, really, way to insult those Deities who have different spheres of influence then those that may look "safe".  Eris may be scary, and the Greek Goddess of Chaos and disorder, but sometimes we need that to shake us up.  I can't believe you had the cajones to label her as a Bad Goddess.  The only ones I know talk lightly of her, are Discordians, and they have developed a relationship with her.  It's one thing to critique and say you need to rethink your stance, it's quite another to blatantly insult and moralize what Gods are good Gods vs Bad Gods.

You go and say, that Gods aren't plug and play devices.  However then you go on about how these so called "square Gods are better".  You may feel that they are better for you now.  However are you choosing them or you them?  This isn't fluffy bunny Wicca, where you choose a God from a list with it's properties, this is Polytheism.  The Gods usually choose their followers, and it takes a while for things to develop.  They establish relationships and trust is formed.


Your take on Gods, is very two dimensional and naive.  If Hestia so wishes, she will rearrange your life, to make things go her way.  It is not only the trickster Gods that do so.  Idunna is a Gardener, if she thinks you need weeds pulled out of your life, she will not hesitate to do so.  I wouldn't even go so far as to label Zeus as square either(have you read his myths? he wields lightning, he's the Patriarch of a Pantheon.   Mayhaps understanding the drama and hellaballoo involved in politics and power would dissuade you of his squareness).

All of the Gods have points that we are comfortable with and points that make us feel very uncomfortable. That even holds true for the Christian Gods(Yahweh and the flood, Jesus anger at the money lender at the temple, Demeter causing winter and famine when her daughter was taken, ).  The Dark Gods are more upfront with their uncomfortable parts.  While Loki is a trickster, and has his scary parts(and people should think carefully before taking him on, even if he is poking you, we do have choices in this) I have found in my experience he is also very honest.


You say Frigga is less interesting than Loki, which is insulting to her.  She isn't some frumpy house frau lady.  She's the matriarch of the Norse Pantheon and she isn't above kicking some ass along the way.  If you choose to still stick her in the whole stay at home mother routine of the Gods, maybe you should realize, that those mothers are usually feared and respected and weren't above ordering, rearranging, using cast iron skillets on dense noggins, and tough love.


Now the one that really gets me. (oh lets be frank all of it gets my goat) She's insulting my Gods.He is family and i love him.  And one of the things you don't do to those I love, is speak bad about them. You don't say bad things about my kids, you don't talk bad about my husband, and you certainly don't talk shit about my Dads.

Loki has done many things in my life, and no it wasn't to cure ennui.  He took me by the scruff of my neck(with my other Gods help.  Cernunnos certainly wasn't quiet) and showed me I was in an abusive relationship.  He Socratically made me think and helped me choose better choices. If she had bothered to do more basic research, (ok if she had bothered to look beyond preconceptions, prejudices, and do her duty since she wants to act as a theologian in this article, she might have found things are a lot richer and complex then she puts)  she might find that he does that a lot for those that worship him, beyond the Tom Hiddleness.

Loki has more depth to him, then the fact that he is a shape changing, gender bending, God of pranks(if you wish to look at him lightly) or the Norse Satan, if you wish to take the more hard line Asatru stance.  For one thing, to many of his worshippers, he's a pretty darn good psychologist who makes you see what you are doing, through stages and changes you for the better.  Not many other Gods can do it, because for some of his followers, we were broken, before he took us and duct taped us together.  We certainly owe him more than, thanks for all the fish but Star thinks you are scary so we are gonna go play with Thor now.

Then she goes on to say, that she'd rather have Dagda on her side then Morrigan.  Really lady?  Have you READ any of the Irish myths.  Should I remind you of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%BA_Chulainn, Several great grandfathers before him had pissed off the Morrigan by disrespecting her and she cursed that family for 7 generations.

The Morrigan has a temper, there are some Gods it's best to tread lightly with, even if you are going to caution against.  You are going to spurn the Goddess of Fate! I mean I like, and more importantly respect the Morrigan.  She is a lot more than the bitching badass of war.  She has a lot of depth to her.  Thanks so much for continuing the prejudice that she's just a Bitch(I asked permission if she was ok with this)

Besides someone who is in the military, Morrigan works well with someone who is going into law(being a lawyer, cop, advocate etc).  She does have a temper.  She also loves deeply and has passion. She however also does have an iron steel spined and shows the more tough side, then her love side.  The best example I would use is an Irish Matriarch.

Not that the Dagda doesn't have his own temper and dark side.  Reading some of the myths may show you, just who you are dealing with.  You are white washing the Gods you feel comfortable with.  You are putting modern values on those Gods, and forgetting they don't forgive like Jesus.  That isn't a very good or safe idea and can get you in trouble.

I think next time lady you go off and pedantically preach about what others need to avoid, you should take some time and try not to insult entire Pantheons, even those you think are "good".  Maybe actually read beyond one or two myths that have been sanitized for readers.  Actually try to get to know the Gods.  Knock on their doors respectfully, offer tea and coffee.  Maybe then, once you have done some work on this, I will take your blathering of you are who you worship, with more respect and seriousness.

Nervousness

The day before yesterday, I had a dream, I was outside as it was getting cloudy.  I just knew I needed to get me and kids under cover.  I sensed danger.  Nothing appeared.  But I have been nervous since that dream.  It may very well be due to seeing the hunt, who was not actively hunting.

Samhain and the dead time

The leaves are turning, from green, to orange, gold and red.  They are dropping from the trees littering the ground.  The air is crisp, dry, and hitting the early freezing points.  Insects are buzzing about, trying to find the last sustenance before hitting their dormancy and or dying.

Horror franchise is throwing out scary films to coincide with halloween.  Farmers are offering hay rides and pumpkins, and corn mazes to gain extra cash.  And the coffee places are pumpkin EVERYTHING.  Your children are excited about what costumes to wear, for their favorite holiday, free candy night.  I'm personally thinking of investing in a lock box, so that they can't raid it and torture me with continual sugar highs.

The nights are getting longer.  It is taking the sun longer to come up in the morning.  Frost is starting to need to be scraped off your windshield.  And the wind is starting to howl just a little bit.

The night is getting creepier.  The veil is thinning.  The dead are easier to sense.  The otherworld is making it's presence known.

I felt them, last saturday.  I was dropping my daughter off at her school, at the butt crack of dawn, at 4:30 ish in the a.m.  The night was still and black, the only thing to be seen was from my head lights.  The farmlands seemed creepier and had this odd sense of danger to them.  The cemetery, by the Catholic church and the church itself felt ominous.  The school, safe.  On the way back, I couldn't get the thoughts of the wild hunt led by Odin out of my head.  Shortly after, the disapproving glares of the dead Native Americans who used to live there joined it.  


I was so glad to get home after dropping her off.  I also hoped that she would get back when it was still daylight.(barely, we made it out just as the twilight was receding) and headed to a busier town.  I did not want to drive in the dark with that ominous feel to the world.

On the way to picking her up, I saw someone had ended up in the deep ditch.  Half a dozen were stopped and were plank hauling the person up.  As I was calling the emergency numbers, the police showed up.  10 minutes up the road, I heard the sirens, and pulled over as a sheriff came from the direction I was heading in, speeding down to help.  It was a serious accident, but I do not know the results.

Odin isn't the only one who runs the wild hunt.  Cernunnos does as well.  As do most of the Tuatha De Danaan.  Aka High Elves from Ireland.

http://www.endicott-studio.com/rdrm/forhunt.html
Legends http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/huntsman.html


Monday, October 28, 2013

Magical and spiritual cleansing

First, before undertaking a cleansing it is a good idea, to listen to your intuition.  Before buying or staying somewhere, how does it make you feel?  Do you get the soft uhoh's attached to this?  Are you feeling unsettled or nervous for no particular reason(I'm ignoring psychological stuff like panic disorders, this is focussing on listening to the inner voice).  What is your jiminy cricket telling you?

Why am I focussing on that first.  Because pragmatically, why go through all the hoopla of a cleansing that may or may not work or only work temporarily if you can get another place instead.  In the immortal words of Scrooge McDucks dad, Work Smarter not harder!

There was a house we owned in Ms.  I hit it with the most powerful cleansing stuff I knew.  No matter how much I tried, I couldn't get the spiritual gunk out.  It would have taken repainting the walls with blessed paint, ripping out ALL the carpet pinesoling all the floors and replacing all the floors to make a dent.  Not to mention ripping out drywall and redoing that.  Had we known when we walked through the subtle ickies, we would have chosen another abode.

Ok now that you have chosen the place.  Wash down the walls with sea salt and water.  Hit the floors with pine oil cleanser.  Yes people, behold the power of pinesol is very applicable in more then just english magic. It is also very prevalent in Hoodoo.  Shampoo the rugs and hit them with a florida water.  Cense the house with sage in all the corners.  Then use frankincense and myrrh(turning OFF the fire alarms).  Then burn in some meadowsweet, and or sweetgrass.  Because once you have cleansed, which I learned via Hoodoo then you want to bring in the sweet energies.

I have found sage to be the spiritual equivalent of the cleanser 409.  Hit all the corners with it.(http://www.asunam.com/smudge_ceremony.html  this is a helpful blog about the properties of sage and cedar and sweetgrass.  That way, for those who read this understand where we get sage from and why we use it, and the cultural context behind it.)  Frankincense and myrrh(http://www.thesacredmist.com/tt10/2010/18_herbs_for_magical_purposes.htm) are very powerful cleansers as well as protective.  Which if you wish to cleanse in a Christian manner would be helpful.


I would talk to a priest if you are cleansing in a Christian manner.  If you are one of the more spiritual Christians who don't feel comfortable in organized religion, it still helps.  If nothing else getting a house blessing by a priest could be helpful.  Sprinkling with Holy water, reading some of the Psalms and censing with Frankincense and Myrrh helps.  Grow hyssop as well, the bees and butterflies will love you, and the herb itself is protective.

If you really have icky stuff, hit the house with Asofoetida.  http://herb-magic.com/asafoetida-powder.html .  It is apparently very icky smelling.  Personally I like it, it smells like roasted onions.

Scott Cunninghams book of herbs is a great resource.  He hits many of the English and European properties.  Take Cat Yronwodes herbal book(only because I don't know of any other author) for the African properties(because herbs don't correspond the same in those cultures) to look up others.

Look up bottle trees.  Not only is it great garden art, but in African folklore, they confuse evil ghosts and hold them captive till the morning till the sun burns them off.  You see them more in the south, then anywhere else.

Look up native plants, and garden with them.  You will make the bees and butterflies happy, which only increases good energy to your property.  Plus the local wights, fey and other nature spirits will look better on you.


Yes I am mixing different cultures protections.  I am a pragmatist and don't see a reason why to only use one culture.  Plus this is America, we have a stew of different cultures and you will encounter different issues.






Friday, October 25, 2013

Grounding

I guess this week will be about deep thoughts and basics.  So in this post, I will focus on grounding.  It along with shielding and centering is one of the fundamentals.

When you are feeling spazzy, unfocused in your thoughts, flailing.  Go hug a tree, put your palms on the ground, dig in the dirt or garden.  These are simple ways of grounding.

It is used, on a regular basis after Wiccan ceremonies, and where I first encountered it.  It grounds you out from the excess energy coursing through your body, after doing one of the rituals.   It's why cakes and ale came in.  Eating is a form of grounding.

It is also useful outside of Wicca.  http://robjo.wordpress.com/2008/01/17/magick-101-grounding/ Some more techniques.

This one is also interesting http://www.magickofthought.com/2011/09/grounding-everything-you-need-to-know/ but I like the first one more.

I usually ground, when I'm feeling to energized.  Incompatible energy, I can usually transform to neutral energy, I just have to eat some food.  If I'm really in need of grounding, I'll go hug a tree.

I have found trees to be great teachers.  They are fairly neutral and unbiased and patient.  Plus they teach you what you need to know.  Trees can also take icky energy and scrub it from you.  It's where I first learned how to convert energy.  They can also balance out your auric field.  Think on it, they take carbon dioxide and turn it into oxygen.  Some species are great for removing pollution.  They like to eat some wastes products as it is food for them.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Calling Bs on Apuleius Platonicus that ancient Pagans were not as bad as Christians

His comment was, you could not find in all of ancient history, where a conquered people were forced to convert by their Pagan conquerors. Thread to which it came from see the comments(now closed)http://wildhunt.org/2013/10/pagan-voices-vivianne-crowley-peter-dybing-thorn-coyle-and-more.html  Mind you TadhgMor made the reply I was thinking of, but he originally started this debate calling out bigotry on Islam, when someone had written convert or die theme, which makes me roll my eyes.

my reply, which I must admit doesn't really show other then Aknaten(and he didn't really conquer Egypt so much as he was the Pharoah, but he did radically change stuff in Egypt, and it was my way or die mentality) The Romans were doing this to an already conquered region, but I think it still applies.
Akhnaten http://www.heptune.com/Akhnaten.html

http://www.roman-empire.net/religion/religion.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocletianic_Persecution
Yes I am using wiki, gives a decent overview. Mind you during some of the Emperors it wasn't just Christians but also Jews that were persecuted. 

http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/history/persecution.htm

http://www.unrv.com/culture/christian-persecution.php

Mind you this whole theme of Pagans aren't as bad as Christians and or Islam is asinine.  It's ignoring the ancient atrocities that went on back then.  Lets name a few shall we.

Crucifiction, not only the Romans loved this method.  (See what they did to Spartacus) http://www.bible.ca/d-history-archeology-crucifixion-cross.htm

The lovely Brazen Bull, where you stuck people you didn't like, into a Bronze bull, lit a fire under it's belly and the screams of the dying, made it sound like an angry bull.

The Norse liked to turn you into an eagle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_eagle  This is where you take someone cut their ribs by the spine, pull them out, and pull out the lungs. shudders

Here is a site that shows some of them

http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/news-12-most-exorbitant-and-vicious-execution-methods-worlds-history?image=1

I've heard some Pagans complain about the Burning of the library at Alexandria, completely ignoring that the first burning was done by Julius Caesar.  Yes the Christians did burn the library, but by the time they had gotten to it, much of the library was gone.

The Christians and the Muslims are no more aholes, then our ancient fore fathers and mothers were.  Before you start poking fingers, make sure your own home is immune from having stones thrown on it.  In regards to Christians being worse then Pagans, our own glass windows won't stand the test on that.  Hell some of what the Christians did, they learned from Rome.  Though we should keep in mind, the Saints and Martyrs persecution, when next we point fingers at how teh Gays are making society fall down, or any other group we don't understand.



Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Shielding

Shielding is a concept, that I learned in the early 90's.  I'm not sure of where the origins come from, and I'll try to research it and write about it, when I can find it.  Google Fu just returns a lot of skyrim wiki's.

Basically you imagine an energetic colored egg that surrounds you, with a silver line running into the ground(that silver line grabs energy to power the shield).  You can color that egg, for different things.  Blue is usually the one that people do as blue is protective color.  Others use a white light(cause white is the holey light of angels or some such).  You can do different shields and layer them.  You do the blue protective one, the white one, a mirrored one(literally a shield that looks like a mirror) make a rubbery one, and you can even chant the phrase, I'm made of rubber and you are made of glue, what you send to me, bounces off me and sticks to you.  Imagination here is key.

To do this, you use your visualization skills.  visualize and then if you can feel that energy encasing you and protecting you.  Let the silver cord trail from your feet into the earth.  Use your hands if you want, to bring up the energy.

The Christians have a similar shield.  It is called the Armor of God, you can try this technique as well.  quoting from wikipedia
The full quote as outlined in the King James Bible, is from Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians 6:10-18(10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (11) Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (18) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; [1]

You can do something similar with other holy phrases, that are more applicable to your religious choices.  You could also wear protective amulets(The eye of Horus, protection against evil eye, Hand of Fatima, Gods eye, Ankh, Pentacle etc) in addition to your shields.

Other things to think about.  You could visualize yourself in chainmail, plate mail, kevlar, etc.  Read up and think on what would be useful.

Heres a link to someone who also writes about shielding.  http://www.magickofthought.com/2010/03/effective-psychic-magickal-shielding/  This is more advanced stuff and I like what he has to say.

Monday, October 21, 2013

I see dead people

No really I do.  I also see the fey, and various other spirits.  So let me impart some of my wisdom(old people talk for, don't make the mistakes I do, make your own interesting ones we can laugh at).

Ancestor worship, when you start, could put a neon sign of eat at joes over your head.  I would suggest before doing it, you get some basics under your belt.  Learn to shield and center and ground.  Learn to clean. Learn astral fighting.  Learn lucid dreaming.  Learn the various ways to cleanse.  Ie, make sure you have your defenses up.  Oh and learn to get some allies, for when you can't do it all.

Venerating ancestors, may open you up to the dead.  Mind you, venerating ancestors will open you up to ancestors and they may not all be that great to have in your home.  So learning to do the above, will help you in evicting drunk uncle joe, who is mad he can't get his drink on, after Samhain.

My point... Dead people don't really change once they are dead.  They are still cantankerous, lovely, warm, pretentious when they are dead.  Try to be aware of who and what you invite into your life.

and here lies my two copper pennies.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Values

So I realized most of what I am writing pertains to values.  I value critical thinking, conflict resolution, freedom, transparency and many other things.  I value maturity, vs being the cool kid on the block.

I also have other values that I find to be more important.  I do look for those values in others, but that is me.

For those who teach, I look to see if they can take being questioned.  If they can't, then they are in it for the ego and won't do well for my Sagittarius self.  Why, being a Holy word:P

I value adaptability in thought.  Life doesn't always throw us the same curve balls.  Just because some ancient who ha did something, doesn't mean we need to, or it can't be adapted to more modern means.

I value transparency.  It helps in weeding out the predators in Paganism.  Issac Bonewits made a scale that I think everyone should take a look at.  It helps to see if you are in a cult.  http://www.unc.edu/~reddeer/tenets/00_bonewits.scale.html

I value the Greek maxim Know thyself.  It helps in figuring out your strengths and weaknesses. I'll try to get the context behind it, for those who are interested.

A value that I have that is not inline with many of the Pagans, is aggression.  If someone or something were to come after me or those I love, I take the shot gun method.  Many non BTW Wiccans find that abhorrent, as they are more passive, but I'm a pretty aggressive woman.  I take the castle doctrine to magic.

I'm also the type of personality that finds you have to earn respect.  I grant civility, but anything beyond that has to be earned.  That means elders and invisible thingies alike.  But once you get my loyalty you get it, unless something big comes along that you do that takes that away.

Forgiveness, I think should be addressed more in the Pagan community.  We all screw up.  I think we as humans are too quick to judge, and keep that judgement.  We only change it, when bad things happen, and we are forced to empathize.

The victim mentality, and referencing bad history, needs to be axed out.  There are those of us, who have been victimized that need to be given time, but there are those of us in the Pagan community that like the attention that it gives them.

People like Pam Curtis who have had to hold on by their fingernails, who have gone through several doctors to figure out what is wrong with them.  But she's there for others when she can be.  I think that we need to get our heads out of our butts and see what our fellow Pagans are really suffering from.  Lack of ego stroking, and not enough people paying attn to you is not what I consider a valid disorder, depression yes, but not enough attn, no.

I give Kudos to Krasskova for her monthly oracular work that she does for free.  I give Kudos to those who do the monthly oracular work.  I think that Pagans in general should look beyond themselves to what they can give to the community at large.  We need more Prison Chaplains who care, understand and are forgiving. We need more doers.  We as Pagans, no matter what we call ourselves, need to also support the doers and help out.  We as Pagans should work with our Christian brethren and help out the existing charities.

This blog post, is what encouraged my deep thoughts on values.  http://krasskova.weebly.com/1/post/2013/10/polytheistic-values.html  Unlike John Halstead who wants things to be so inclusive, as to render no meaning to labels, she goes the other way.  I agree with Veggie wolf(http://fluidmorality.wordpress.com/2013/10/16/polytheistic-values-a-words-mean-things-response/), in the one true way, slut shaming and bigotry toward Monotheists.  You can see that latter part in the comment section.

Moreover, I take some amount of annoyance, at the whole concept that Pagan values need to be applied universally.  Pagans are like cats, it's really hard to herd them, even if you use tuna.  That is one of the Pro's and the Con's.  I also take umbrage with Krasskova, coming across as my elder and trying to apply her values universally.  My response that I've been keeping under my hat is Bitch Please, back off.

I think we need to respect other religions area of authority and values and ethics falls under that.  Making ethics that you want to stick on the Kemetics, the Asatru, the Wiccans, is just really annoying and getting a tad to big for your britches.  It's just as annoying as the many Wiccans trying to preach the three fold law and how it applies to EVERYBODY.

While I work with the dead, I don't think that ancestor veneration should be universal.  I can't believe I'm referencing Aine, but this post, brings up some very valid points.  http://www.patheos.com/blogs/ainellewellyn/2013/10/why-i-dont-worship-my-ancestors/ .  If you have bad blood with your current relatives, it isn't going to go away when they die.  Bad relationships with parents and relatives, usually goes back many generations, it is a learned trait.  We inherit our crazy baggage after all.

Other issues, many of our ancestors are Christian.  How are they going to feel being venerated in a more Pagan way?  You need to take their feelings into consideration.  Nor would I put ancestor worship on the same level as worshiping our Gods.

I have issues with her Universal values.  Ok honestly, that's my biggest issue.  Nor do I think her claim that taking most of the ancient world and or ancient Polytheists, that these values are universal.

Modesty, is a Christian value.  The non sexual one is all about the meek inheriting the earth part.  Aka dont' brag about yourself.  It has it's place, but I don't see the ancients really being all gung ho about it.  Sexual modesty, again is a Christian one and outside Roman matrons, I don't see it being too applicable and frankly, I wouldn't want to encourage it, it is very much a Patriarchal thing(ie, woman don't make other men think hot thoughts about you)

Personally one of the things I like about the Pagan community is our lack of shame on body stuff.  Hell one of the warmest memories I have is being in a Pagan shop in Everett Washington, and asking if anyone minded if I breast fed my child without covering.  No one cared, and I was able to whip them out, in comfort and feed my child.  Later, I got some star trek thing hennaed on my boob by two gay guys.  It was star trek innuendo for my husband to enjoy(and no I don't remember what it said, only that it was geeky innuendo)

ok Courage was encouraged, mostly in the war theater

Piety, makes me feel weird, because I really don't want to go the way of the Conservative Christian.  I think balance needs to be applied and choices need to be made and respected.  It's way to easy to forget yourself and do stuff all for the Gods.  It may not be mentally and emotionally healthy and I definitely don't want us giving up objectivity and start voting the way our Gods dictate.

Respecting the Diversity of Gods, I can't see being universal.  Plus this is Krasskova being liberal.

Meh, is my thoughts.



Friday, October 18, 2013

Monotheism hate in Pagandom

I want to start this out, by saying I find the first amendment SACRED with all capital letters.  From a legal perspective one could say I'm an originalist on this, though I do acknowledge modern innovations.  But I pretty much believe that the first amendment needs to be left alone.  That means free speech and religion.

But things I've noticed over the years that get to me.  The hate from Pagans on Christianity.  It disturbs me.  It leaves me shaking my head.  I get it, many Pagans come from painful back religious experiences, but it's still not healthy to hate an entire religion or religions, and wish for their destruction.

On a more personal level, to hate that religion is to hate the Episcopalian pastors I knew in Mississippi, all three of them.  To hate the religion is to hate that Southern Baptist preacher down the road, that I know.  To hate that religion is to hate Leslye Haller(https://www.facebook.com/leslye.haller) another Pastor I know that lives down the lane.  To hate the religion is to hate my good friend Misty Watson who I LOVE, capital letters being imp to distinguish from small love.

To me, hating the religion is personal.  You hate people I know and care about.  You insult them, when you rage against monotheists, even the Christian fundamentalist monotheists, because you rage against people I know.  Plus, you are chipping away at the 1st amendment, which I believe to be Sacred and Holey.

Disagree with the monotheistic faiths.  Hell I admit be being deeply uncomfortable with much if not all of Islam.  My feminist beginnings play a major part in that.  But I don't hate the faith.  I have deep and abiding reservations about it.

It isn't particularly useful either.  It isn't going away.  You certainly won't shut up, just make stronger their convictions, those of the Christian political arena, that you wish to shut up.  Which frankly, if you are entitled to your views, so are they.  What's good for the goose is good for the gander type of thought process.

It just leaves me shaking my head.  It leaves me disturbed.  It leaves me wondering, why hardly anyone else realizes that there is a sickness there.  Why is this being continually encouraged in Pagandom?

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Hubris in Pagan world

So I saw this post on the Pagan laugh place.  https://www.facebook.com/PaganLaughs?hc_location=stream and you will have to scroll to the photo of There are more of us then you think comments.  Faceybook does not give me easier ways to link, or else I would.

Anyway, the theme on this was, someone was wearing their pent.  Someone came up and went oh you are an Anarchist, how cool.  The person was like, no I'm Wiccan.  Which no longer show up on that picture and the text has been changed.

That started a round of people going, there have been a number of times, that someone has said to me, oh you are Jewish and I've commented, what you can't count?  To a few other comments.  Turns out thought the Pentagram is a multi religious symbol.  The Christians thought it was the 5 wounds of Christ and effective against demons.  To Jews it's truth and other stuff.  http://symboldictionary.net/?p=1893

What got me, was the whole snarky, Epic fail comments.  Or the hypocritical and ironic comments of, which apparently have since been deleted and the post has been changed, of even the Jewish people don't realize the number of points.

Lets address that Hubris shall we...  Know your own religious iconography, and that requires more research then Wicca 101 books on Llewellyn.    It doesn't take more then a cursory glance at Ceremonial Magic to realize that the Pent, has a history with Kabbala(or however it is spelled), so that no, Wiccans do not own it exclusively.

Lets also address the whole issue of people not knowing what your religion is.  Get over yourself.  Wicca and whatever Flavor of Pagan you are, while getting better known, is not that mainstream that everyone will know.  Stop being an ass, because someone doesn't recognize your jewelry.

It also irritates me, because it makes the people who practice this religion look like petulant children.  Not understanding the history of your religious iconography also makes you look like a fluffy ignorant Pagan.

There being more of you, then people think, is not necessarily something I'd crow about.  Especially when those numbers come from immature yahoo's with victim complexes, who are fairly self centered.  When the Pagan community matures to something beyond the level of a five year old, then we've gotten somewhere.  Sheer numbers of annoying twats, is not a milestone.

Not even going to address the whole changing of the post thing.  Thats irritating on a whole nother level.






Lego fairy house

I saw this on facebook.  It inspired me to try something similar with my son, to put in the grove for a fairy house.  I realize it's made of man made stuff, HOWEVER, it's lego's and my son is autistic.  Plus lego's inspire dreams and whimsy, so I think they would love it.

http://www.streetartutopia.com/?p=10112

Now I have to go get some lego's for him to do this and have him place it there.  After work, I'll head off to ebay.