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.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Fish and Cats

So, I'm not sure if this is religious or just something that I'm prone to.  For me it is a happy duty, I suspect. I share when I can. Well tonight we made Fish and chips.  There was some fish left over.

I gave the kitten some, who happily ate some and will I suspect eat more later.  He certainly was unhappy when a portion fell beyond his reach.  At any rate the fish is in his food bowl.

I gave some to the neighbors cats, who come over to my porch.  Cry baby(the nickname of one) seems to like it here, despite my autistic son picking him up and squishing him.  Tabitha, the oriental who puts up with us and occasionally allows us to pet her, also likes it here.  It may have something to do with feeding her cheese and chicken and stuff, same with cry baby, plus when I can afford it, I buy extra cat food and give to them.  (Poor cat, I can feel her ribs sometimes and they eat).

I fed them some of the left over fish today.  Cry baby got his earlier and when Tabitha came by, I gave her, her parts in pieces, nudging cry baby away.  And if I couldn't she swatted at Cry Baby.  She quickly and didn't bite my fingers took the fish from me and swallowed it.  If my fingers were empty, she was sniffing me and near me to see where the pieces of fish were.  I just feel happy she had good aim, cause she wanted that fish, and if she didn't my finger tips would have suffered.

I'm such a sucker for strays.  Human, cat, what have you.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Tess got me thinking.  http://tessdawson.blogspot.com/2013/10/breathing-aethers-experiencing.html  So I will hopefully, when I get the thoughts coalesced post something on this, from my experiences.  I would love to hear from others in the blogging world, if this is true to them as well.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Chicken, lemon sauce, cream cheesy pasta recipe thing for the grove

I could have made this more cleaned up, but the first time was going to be family style.  The next time will use the optional ingredients to make it more FANCY.  But family style is imp, to me.  The Gods and the spirits aren't high mucky mucks to me, they are part of the family.  I just realized this a week ago, so haven't really had much time to flesh it out more then that.  


Total UPG for me.


I went grocery shopping the other day.  Got some chicken breasts on rib bone, figured I'd do something with them over pasta.  Went to the egg area to get stuff to make bread pudding, saw Italian cream cheese stuff and was poked, make me something like that with the chicken, and the lemon butter sauce too, went ok.  This is the recipe result, will make it again next time I shop but it will be better.  The lemon butter had burnt bits, cause my autistic son was helping my daughter cook.

Chicken breasts
www.kraftrecipes.com/philadelphia/all-products.aspx  I used the italian herb one
www.landolakes.com/product/SauteExpress.aspx  You can make your own, from scratch but this is cheaper and just as good
Knorr chicken stock condensed stuff.(size of a quarter of butter, has the flavor of chicken stock but I have more space for it, then I did regular chicken stock and I don't have to worry about it going bad.)  You can use your own chicken stock or the stuff in a quart container.
Tri color pasta
Carrots
onions

optional

garlic
white wine
thyme
pepper
marjaram

Ok you brown the chicken breasts, do it in regular oil, we used the lemon pepper and it burnt, due to having the chicken put up to high.  When the chicken is browned, add the onions and sliced up carrots, sautee those.  Put back the chicken and add the lemon butter sauce.  Add on top the cream cheese, let it melt, then add in the chicken stock thingy with water, or regular chicken stock.  Here is where you can put in the wine(for more of a gourmand flavor plus antioxidants.) and garlic and more spices.

Serve over tri colored pasta.

Tagging

If someone could comment and tell me how to tag, so that it shows up on the left as links or searches to posts I've done, I'd appreciate it.  Having a technotwit moment.

Jungian spirituality and Pantheism.

There are valid ways to be Pantheist.  There are valid ways to use Jungian thought forms.  I personally find it bland and uninspiring but that's me.  Hell there are even valid ways to do Pop Culture spirituality, see many of the people who are doing Jedi.  Taylor Ellwood manages to do it.

I also find it a safe way to practice religion.  With a Jungian thought form, or pop culture icon, or even all Gods are One God and all Goddess are one Goddess, you aren't risking a Deity being mad at you, for not managing your relationship right.  Which is what us Polytheists have with our Deities, a relationship.

When all Gods are one God and all Goddesses are one Goddess(and why don't we just merge the two into some sort of Monotheism, I dunno) it leaves the door open for permission to culturally appropriate.  Why it's then perfectly ok to insert Kwan Yin(http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/deities/kuan_yin.htm) into the role of Goddess in a Wiccanesque ritual.  It is also then perfectly ok to insert Osiris into the role of God in that ritual.  (http://www.religionfacts.com/neopaganism/paths/kemetic.htm).  Likewise it is also ok to use Santa Muerte(http://witchrants.wordpress.com/tag/santa-muerte/) and Coyote.

These Deities, all have their own cultures that they are part of.  It is insulting to insert them into a Wiccanesque ritual, because you are too lazy to learn how they are worshiped where they are at.  It is insulting to pick them out of a Gods list and stick them in a ritual, because you like some of their shallow personality traits, or whatever power you think they hold over the universe.  It is also lazy.  The Gods, even thought forms aren't some plug and play device.

If you aren't sure about the Gods, then use neutral terms.  Use Lady or Lord or whatever Title seems appropriate.  Unknown God or Goddess, or sacred whosywhatsit, or Queen or what the role is, you think they should be.  But don't grab a God and stick them into that role, without doing some research, or even asking and really listening.  Would you want to be grabbed and instructed to give blessings on asphalt pot holes, when you are a doctor?

The roots of this are http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_White_Goddess and http://www.nostrajewellery.org/files/M-A-Murray-The-God-of-the-Witches.pdf.  The first is written by a poet, in the early 1900's.  The second by an anthropologist, also early in the 1900's.  Both were found out to be wrong.

Yeah it's beautiful writing.  It evokes beautiful metaphors.  It is also too clean and puts the poetic thing on a pedestal.  It is a painting of an idea, not a picture of the Deity. It is the writing of a troubadour, someone who reveres a lady, but from afar.  Sounds romantic, but the troubadour doesn't have to deal with the pms or the morning sickness either.

There are richer tales from where the White Goddess came from.  Look to the http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/cft/, or the Eddas(granted colored in Christian theology).  Look to the tales of that land, not the prettied up stories told by later poets.  It's akin to reading and worshiping Mother Goose vs the real Grimms fairy tales.

I'll come back to this later tonight.  I'm starting to type in circles.








Some Positives

I want to highlight some people who have done stuff for the community, that aren't known much.  I may not even agree with them on stuff, but they are doing the work.  I think it is important to say something.

http://wildhunt.org/2013/02/patrick-mccollum-responds-to-9th-circuit-five-faiths-ruling.html
many of the other unsung Pagan prison chaplains, that are doing the hard work, I'll try to highlight some of those organizations later.

Morrigan Oran, who is now in Washington state, she helped set up the Dragonfly temple in Manhattan ks.

Ralph Romig, chieftain of Tyrs Helm.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Fired up rant

Do not get on me, for being mean.  Look up the definition of a rant.  This is the only caveat you will get.

So the past week or so, I had commented here. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/allergicpagan/2013/09/28/what-a-pagan-can-tell-you-about-whether-mormons-are-christian/  I had ignored it after a few days until cough "Quentin" had replied to me.  Quentin knows who he is, shakes my head.

It is this type of Pagan that many of the Pagans listen to.  There are many things wrong, in my opinion, with what he says.  And he is an example of what I find wrong with the Pagan sphere.

1. His research sucks a lot.  He put Galina Krasskova(in an earlier blog) in with Heathens and authority, when any small modicum of research would show that no, she is most assuredly not.  Galina and Asatru equals shit storm.( I don't agree with the Heathens on this, but whatev, point is, he didn't look past his darn nose and opinion)

2.I despise this word, I despise the politics behind it, but I'm going to use it.  It is awfully privileged to tell Quentin, who is gay, whether he can use the word Fag.  Screw privileged it is HUBRIS.  John you are straight and granted you may be a supporter of LGBT, and it may be your blog(A blog that is on Patheos and ergo kinda a semi professional zine type thing, but I"ll get to that later), but to say you can't say that on my blog without more of a reason is Hubris pure and simple.  You don't get to dictate, ignore and sweep under the rug the reclaimed term Fag that a Gay guy is using.  There are very good and essential reasons he was using it.  Quit beigeing the world, cause someone might be offended.

3. He demands acceptance of his stance.  He is a Jungian Pagan, who wants to claim he is Polytheistic.  No, you aren't.  You don't follow Gods, you follow psychological thought forms(Jung is a Psychiatrist. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Jung  Jung is a school in psychology, so is Freud(the father of psychoanalysis, not the father of psychology).  While some of his stuff is interesting, I can not support him defining himself as a Polytheist, when some research points him more as a Pantheist.  http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polytheism Pantheist definition. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pantheist Definition of Deity.  http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deity Definition of God http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/god

A Jungian thought form is not a God.  I wouldn't even put it as a god.  I will support you, if you want to worship that way, cause frankly it aint no skin off my nose if you choose to do so.  I will open the Pagan tent to you, but for the Love of the GODS quit trying to define yourself as something you aint.

4.  Quit making people into meany fundy pooh pooh heads if they have the temerity to say you are wrong.  See his article and his link to Galina Krasskova.  It isn't mean, unethical to say someone is wrong.  I realize this is a great sin in today's Pagan land, of special snowflakes and their fragile hypersensitive ego's, but dayum.

He also has a huge problem with Scalia and labels him the huge sinful name of Fundamentalist and demagogue there too.  Scalia isn't, he's a bloody Strict Constitutionalist.  He took after William H Rehnquist, one of the chief Justices of the Supreme court.  Halstead is a Lawyer and should know better btw.  You are taught how to argue, you are taught how to source and research for fraks sake.

5.How the hell can I argue the seriousness of Pagandom, with people like this as Big name Pagans, to my local Methodist minister,or the Southern Baptist preacher.  How, when frankly my 14 year old and my 9 year old act with more maturity on being told they are wrong.  Hell my 14 year old can debate better and source herself better.

What bugs me the most is, while he writes mature, the emotion behind it is basically all the teenage angst of someone rebelling against their parents.  That isn't mature theology.  I can't argue that my local ministers should respect it, when I have a hard time.

I'll edit in more later

grumbly moonie




Friday, October 4, 2013

The Grove

Where I live(and when it gets cooler and the weeds go down more, I will take a picture) there is a grove nearby.  It called to me after a month or so of living here.  The first thing I put in there was a bird feeder(which I need to get full)

I have put or have my daughter put in offerings.  Offerings so far have been honey apples, which I got a strong indication were wanted.  A couple of weeks ago, I was told, they wanted some very creamy yogurt and honey.  

Who is in the grove is the fey and another.  Not quite sure who the other is, but I'm sure I'll find out.  

I am getting a strong indication that they want wind chimes in there.  I saw these on ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-2-lb-Natural-Tri-Flow-Mahogany-OBSIDIAN-NEEDLES-/321212533487?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ac9c24aef and that is what I think needs to be there.  

I'm not sure there is any academic lore to back this up.  This is all very much Personal Gnosis for me.  Personal Gnosis though is part of my connection to the spirits.  It plays a very important role.  

<Grove>  <UPG>  

The beginnings

When people enter Pagandom, they ask where do I start.  Many will say read.  Reading is good, reading gives you knowledge.

However, after many years on this path, I'm going to disagree.  Start with learning how to do healthy conflict resolution.  Start with learning to take criticism healthily.  Start with learning to trust your instinct.  Start with learning how to argue and communicate.  Those are the bones.  

Then start with solid books, not those that look purty or feel purty when you read them.  Start with the Greek maxim know thyself.  http://www.patheos.com/blogs/agora/2013/09/syncretic-electric-looking-at-our-history-part-4-egocentrism-and-our-future/  This is a good post.  (Someone else, which I will edit in later wrote a great post on the Greek maxim know thyself.  I can't remember where it is though.  )

Learn to tell the difference between a bullshit artist, and someone who actually knows their stuff.  Another big wordy word for it is, discernment.  Learn good sources.  

When I first started off, I read the God of the witches by Margaret Murray.  I was in love with it and since it was in the history section of the library I believed it.  Well once upon a time it was a revolutionary thought in history, but it has since been disproven. Ronald Hutton is a much better source.

Most of all though, learn to forgive yourself.  Learn to laugh.  Learn to love.

Laughter and Love
moonwolf23 

why I chose pain in the bum

I chose paininthebum as the address because every other conceivable way to give this an address was taken. Since I can be a pita, I thought fine lets go with this.