UPG about owls and Cernunnos and fall foliage

Been watching this you tube art scene.  While it inspires me to try something similar, within my talents using acrylics, this one in particular hit me.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhdqW1UBilY

I see Cernunnos at the bottom of the tree.  The Fall foliage is part of my vision.  The owl in this painting is feminine though.  She is her own person but with him.  I get a fey component, due to visions of David Bowies Labyrinth in my head.

I think I ran into her before, when I was young.  I think she's the next stanza of the poem, Lady of the Night.

What I remember:

Here me now
First Lady of the Light
Drink for me now
The cup of life

Here me now
First lady of the night
Drink for me now

Seems to tie in with this post
http://paininthebum.blogspot.com/2015/04/celts-cauldrons-and-grail-and-old-dream.html

My Sigyn spoonflower design
http://www.spoonflower.com/designs/4526246

When they severed the earth from the sky a review and why I think it's imp to modern Pagans

http://www.amazon.com/When-They-Severed-Earth-Sky/dp/0691127743/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1439231325&sr=1-1&keywords=when+they+severed+earth+from+sky

4 stars,I think it could have been a little less secular in regards to people and religions.  Then again what should I expect from an Archaeology book. I think however it explains so much about myths and the reasons behind them.  It gives a lot information to think about.  What using science in our Pagan religions, heresy, we can't have that.

So what is this book about?  Essentially it's about how myths are encoded, what they were used for and how to decode them.  What happens to information that is lost and why it was lost.  It's fascinating on a cerebral level.

Why is it important to me as a Lokean?  Well......  Loki being restrained is about seismic activity(well Snorri already told us that).  The tale wasn't from Iceland but from the Indo Europeans, who used to live next to the Caucus tribes.  It's really about the dormant volcano Mt Erebus.  So btw is Prometheus(Greeks were Indo Europeans to) and the Nart tales.  Oh and Ragnarock is about the earth wobble and the stars changing and how that will effect navigation.

What does that mean?  Well we aren't our ancestors.  For one thing many of us are literate.  For another thing, despite us being animists and thinking many things have will and other shiny magical creature stuff, we are still products of this century and science is important to us as well.  So we can calm the fuck down about Ragnarock if it's really about the stars changing.  Loki doesn't have to be about the killing of Balder if it's really explaining Seismic activity.  Prometheus doesn't have to keep living tied to that damn mountain and being tortured for the hubris of giving man fire.  We can have a new relationship with our Gods.

I'm going to include the link from Amazon, read others reviews http://www.amazon.com/When-They-Severed-Earth-Sky/product-reviews/0691127743/ref=cm_cr_dp_qt_see_all_top?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=byRankDescending

hmmmmmmmmmmmm

https://oneofamyriadfaces.wordpress.com/2015/03/25/loki-and-women/

It's bland John

One of the reasons I don't make fun of Fundamentalist Christians and how religion effects their life, is because I am similar.  I spent this morning, instead of reading the Bible, or sermon from some other Christian, or reading how Christianity effected someone, I read these two posts:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/allergicpagan/2015/08/06/you-can-be-a-good-athenian-and-a-gadfly/#st_refDomain=www.facebook.com&st_refQuery=/

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbeckett/2015/08/you-cant-practice-paganism-while-you-look-down-your-nose-at-it.html

John Beckett I agree with.  I think his sermon can be best expressed into one word though.  That word is respect.

I'm not entirely sure why John Halstead you are worried that the scientific method can't be used, or that Polytheists(hard, soft, squishy in the middle, or other various Pagans of squishiness) can't use healthy skepticism.  I've seen plenty of Polytheists argue with you, and they manage to do so intelligently and use logic in the process.  I think you are letting your fears from your days of Mormonism flow into your religious experience and feel if you aren't separate enough, you will fall into the Mormon trap that you feel is bad.

I think that John forgets that our Gods aren't the Mormon or Fundamentalist Christian God.  None of the Gods I have encountered want obedience to the extent that I have seen in the Christian Fundamentalist circles.  I think it might help if you got to know our Gods a bit better before being concerned about that trap.

Ok First off, I as a Devotional Polytheist, am not trying to prove my Gods are real seperate distinct individuals.  I know they are.  I know they are the same way that John I know you are John Halstead, midwestern attorney and sometimes Gadfly of Patheos(btw I'm more annoying then you, sticks out tongue lol).  You and I can't be interchanged.  Thus goes one of the arguments of Hard Polytheists about picking and choosing Gods.

Your other argument, that people won't feel as welcome in the big tent of Pagandom if you don't argue, I find confusing.  Hard Polytheists aren't saying you can't be a Pagan.  They are unequivocally saying you can't be my type of Polytheist if you believe or say x, or y, or z.  If people don't feel comfy after encountering people who argue, it's not my problem.  Paganism is largely a religion full of adults.  It's not my job to hold peoples hands, in case their feelings get hurt.  I would argue it's highly disrespectful to the seeker to expect that.  You are expecting us to treat newbies like children, or experienced people like children.  Not gonna happen.

I think you also forget that not everyone wants, desires, or wishes religion the way you do.  I am a Polytheist because it isn't bland.  I found the CUUPs way to be bland, Wicca(while not blandish, not as real as I liked) and Pantheism is bland.  I want the full flavor and access to the spices to flavor my religion that I get out of Polytheism.  See Mind of a Chef season 3 with Edward Lee on how I like my Polytheist food.

My email to Escambioso Sheriffs department.

Greetings and Salutations.

I am emailing you about a concern I have after coming home from grocery shopping.  I came home to see this news report http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/police-wiccan-ritual-killing-leaves-three-dead-pensacola-n404256 .  As a Pagan since 1993, mother of three, and resident of Florida, I have grave concerns about the conclusions you have jumped to.  Will this impact me on my locally?  Fears of the SRA's scare of the 1980's float through my head. http://www.stopbadtherapy.com/myths/sra.shtml

I am having a hard time believing it was given to the media as a Wiccan ritual killing.  What do you know about Wicca?  How can you jump to that conclusion when a 10 second google search would tell you that Wicca doesn't do this?  Failing that, why didn't you contact any local Pagan leader to talk to about this?  http://triplemoonwiccangrove.webs.com/
https://www.facebook.com/PaganMilitaryAssociation
http://www.witchvox.com/

How is what happened a "ritual" killing?  What did the suspect call down the God and Goddess, cast a circle to keep out bad energy?  What do you know about Wiccan ritual?  I doubt very much.  Here for your educational purposes read and be informed http://wicca.cnbeyer.com/

Ok Ok maybe you mistook Wicca and Witchcraft, it happens.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft (I realize I'm giving you a Wikipedia link but Witchcraft is a broad term, as is Pagan.  It encompasses many geographical locations, cultures, and many beliefs.) Still, I can't think of any valid Witchcraft that would do this.  Sure there are mentally challenged individuals who would claim this, but then Charles Manson claimed he was Jesus, doesn't make him so, anymore than scarring a symbol on his forehead makes him Lucifer either.  There is still a dearth of information regarding Witchcraft even Satanic Witchcraft that should inform you that no, human sacrifice doesn't happen.  That is once you take away the sensationalist Christian sources, that think anything related to Harry Potter, Pokemon is some sort of demonic distraction sources.  BTW, Landover Baptist is a site that lampoons Christians, so they shouldn't be taken seriously either.

I am highly disappointed. I realize that Sheriffs department aren't as thorough as the police in Law in Order, CSI Miami(or any CSI episode) Detective Chief Inspector Tom Geofrrey Barnaby in Midsommer Murders, or Sherlock, but I had illusions the police were more thorough then the local gossip columnist.  I believe you owe an apology to Wiccans everywhere and Pagans everywhere.  It should be given to the news as well as going in person to local Pagans.

Sincerely,
Bianca Bradley
The evil Pagan Republican(a tag I use, since many Pagans are vehemently liberal and I"m one of the few Republicans who have very few issues with Christians) author of http://paininthebum.blogspot.com/

other contact info I'm redacting for the blog.


Contact info for the Sheriff
email
dcwiggins@escambiaso.com
http://www.escambiaso.com/index.php/newsroom/pio/

edited in what the family said
http://wkrg.com/2015/08/05/smith-relatives-discuss-witchcraft-triple-murder-in-pensacola/

Full moon over Jacksonville Beach

Things that make the Gods go Om nom nom

Morrigan really likes this one.

It's Irish Cream French toast.  If I had strawberries, a little of this and whip cream would have been good.

Ok so the recipe.
4 eggs beaten
A teaspoon of Pure Vanilla
nutmeg
A tablespoon of sugar
Irish cream
(Beat that all together)
Add 1/4 to 1/3 cup milk.

Put stale bread in, and fry up.

Enjoy

This could go along btw with the Diversity I was talking about in a prior post.http://paininthebum.blogspot.com/2015/07/pros-to-how-america-has-shaped-me-and.html Feeding the gods food that wasn't typically in their culture to begin with and it being ok.  To treat the Gods as people who wouldn't mind trying new things, because the ones I've encountered aren't super duper picky finicky eaters.

Pros to how America has shaped me and my Paganism.

I wrote earlier about how I don't understand why some Polytheists are trying to redo a lot about our ancestors, because for Americans we are shaped by our own culture.  That there are benefits to being American.  Here are some of them, that come to mind for me.

America is a land shaped by many nations and many cultures.  Our food is an amalgam of Native American(popcorn)Italian(Spaghetti), Spanish(Tex Mex, Chilli, burritos etc), Chinese,Germany(hamburger, hot dogs) etc.  It should come as no wonder that is also true for non food stuff as well.  That is another long post all on its own.

This may end up being a serial which I will write when things poke me.


1. Freedom!  We are free to say, and worship pretty much as we please.  Our men and women have died to ensure that and I'm sure that William Wallace would be proud.  We also don't have to pay a tax nor be second class citizens in order to practice what we want.

     Pagans have weathered the SRA abuse scandal.http://www.people.vcu.edu/~dbromley/undergraduate/spiritualCommunity/SatanicCults.html
     We have fought to get Pentacles and other symbols on our veterans headstones for the VA to pay for them.http://religionandpolitics.org/2012/06/20/the-plight-of-pagans-in-the-military/
     We have a circle at Ft Hood and other Pagan religious places are coming into being.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/daily/june99/wicca08.htm
By the way for any Pagans that are still grumpy about Bob Barr, he has since said he was an ass and apologized, lets forgive him already.

The above is small taste from my memory of the importance of Freedom of religion to American Pagans.  Many of the fears of the abuse of the government on Satanic Ritual Abuse still hold, some real(CPS and DCF have far to much power imho) and some to fuel the victim complex some of us have and continue to flog(ahem burning times).

We owe no fealty to anyone.  We have no king, no pompous lord to which we are serfs , no chief.  Which for me, is something I've always has issues with, when Paganism tries to put Hierarchy back in.  We got rid of that for a reason.  (Wicca and Hp and HPS aka Lord and Lady of English romantic yore and Heathens with the Chief thing)

Anyone can be anything.  There is none of that you can only be a Knight if you are of noble blood nonsense. The Weasleys would have been middle class since they were civil servants, and held in just as high regards as Draco's family. Voldemort would not have been able to pull off that pure blood bullshit.  Try to cow us with fear, and we strike back hard.  It's one of the few times us caterwauling cat types will actually band together.  That and we understand what inbreeding are, which is what happens when you try to keep the bloodlines pure(ahem looking at you European Nobility and Egyptian Royalty)

2. Diversity

We live in an ancient land, who's Gods and Spirits were the stories of the various Native American tribes.  The names of the tribes are scattered throughout the geography of the various states.  The tales and spooky stories still abound.  The European and Chinese American are new veneers over this land.  The Christian God has only been here since the late 1400's.  Our Gods while old and known, are newer still in relation to the Native American and Christian God in this land.

The things you may encounter may not be things that you have taken the time to study.  It helps to keep an open mind.  Some fights haven't ended for some spirits.

Modern American is like the Roman Empire, very diverse and full of many cultures.  We are fairly accepting, even more so then them(See why Christians had so much issues in those olden times).  We have a variety of Gods that we can choose to worship or even choose not to.

3. Honesty

We don't have to accept bribery, con artistry and or corruption in those that we put in office.  It is perfectly acceptable to discuss if a religious leader is being a con artist.  It is ethical to say I don't agree with this person because I think they are in it for money and attn.  An old leader, who is now in the summerland made this http://www.neopagan.net/ABCDEF.html

We have more to go on that.  We regularly give billing to people that would make Houdini twitch. We still have drama fests over who is ethical and what is lore.  We need to find a balance between critical thinking and anything goes.

That's all I have for now.





   

Musings on time, UPG and religion

My daughter came into my room this morning, grumping about following a book a few thousand years old.  Why do people do that.  I told her religion.  She goes on to grump but we aren't the same people as they were a few thousand years ago.  I pointed out that's because we adapted.  I then proceeded to point out that she needs to do more research before she whinges on another religion, yaye teaching moment.  Hopefully my daughter wont' be one of those annoying Pagans who like to kvetch about Christianity and Judaism without really knowing much about it.

However this brings about a different point.  Why are we trying to recreate old Polytheism?  We aren't our ancient forefathers and foremothers.  We are the product of our time, and our morals.

I know for myself, and I'm going to talk about Asatru and Jotuns Bane a minute or three.  I treat Gods and Spirits the way I would treat people.  I treat them as a person who was raised as a military brat, with the moto, we aren't black, or white but green.  I treat them, as someone who is American, I will judge you by your actions to me, not by what others say of you.

Its why I don't have an issue with Loki.  Our relationship is built on our dealings with each other and a familial bond.  It's not built on someones UPG, that got twisted by a monk in Sweden, who translated or wrote down Oral history(Snorri).  I accept the Celtic Deities and the fey, for who they are and their dealings with me.  I accept that few Native American spirits the same way.  Why do I have to, in order to gain acceptance, have to treat Loki and the Jotuns how Jotuns Bane and certain other Asatru wish it.

We aren't Vikings.  We aren't Germanic Pagans of yee olden times.  Many of us are American Pagans.  We came from an environment that has some of the older Anglo Saxon morals, or Germanic morals, but we aren't those forebearers.  Why are we trying so hard to bring those morals back instead of adapting?

Why are we worried about something that sounds remarkably like Judgement day?  I mean come on, it's known who wrote the sagas down, and his bias.  Why is it accepted whole heartedly that is what will go down?

Why don't we get together and talk more of our own UPG and make our own stories more of the lore and canon.  I think it can be down with balance and some critical thinking?

Jotuns Bane and Lightning across the Plains gossip

Ran across this piece while looking for Loki friendly Heathen gatherings.  Sigh.
http://answersfromvanaheim.tumblr.com/post/47005356174/in-case-anyone-had-any-doubts-that-jotuns-bane

SIGH

I think I should file this under the ethics of THOU SHALT NOT TALK OUT OF YOUR ASS ABOUT SHIT THAT DOESN'T CONCERN YOU.  OR THOU SHALT NOT GOSSIP.

Ok.  A, who gives a rats ass whether or not anyone in Jotuns Bane was or is in Stormfront?  Why the hell does that concern anyone but Jotuns Bane members?  I can tell you from attending Lightning across the plains, I didn't see any racism.  Apparently it was comfortable enough for a Black guy(not sure if he's affiliated with a tribe or not) and his family to attend.  Also first day met a very extroverted Gwythia who is Gay.

My take, whether or not Jotuns Bane thinks stormfront has any ideals that are ok, they aren't coming across when they host or do security.  Neither of the people I mentioned above, are shrinking violets. Maybe instead of gossiping or speculating(to use the more academic word for gossip) about a member of Jotuns Bane, you should maybe have asked previous attendees.  Or maybe just maybe you should have minded your own damn business and not spread drama about.  I dunno, that's just one of those ethics I espouse.  Mind your own damn beeswax unless it's of pivotal concern.  But thats me.

Now on to Stinson and the legal blathering/GOSSIP.

Look, that falls under don't talk out of your ass.  You aren't his mother, you aren't his family and you aren't his kindred.  So until you actually run into the quandry of thinking whether or not to give him money or control over money, why the hell this would stop you from attending Lightning is beyond me.  No one, let me reiterate NO ONE when under the full microscope of legal or internet judging looks good.  To use a Christian ethic, Judge not lest ye be Judged.  Or another take, those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

I'm not saying don't talk about it, but lets not make a giant drama llama, cauldron pot stirring issue. Why, because it's gossip.  No one and I mean NO ONE but him, his mom and those who made the initial complaint really know what is going on.

Now on to the third and most irritating point of the post:  Quoted Which leads me to my point about LATP. Not only is it one of the only heathen gatherings for us Midwesterners, but also…Midwestern heathens are often a terrible lot. Flat-out, Gods-awful terrible. So many people out here claim Heathenism while clinging to the racist, queerphobic, misogynist, and generally backwards views that permeate our communities. JBK is popular in the Midwest because it preaches the kind of Heathenism so many people out here want to hear.That doesn’t make it right.

My response:

OH STFU.  Jotuns Bane is ONE Heathen Kindred not ALL OF THEM.  You are flat out insulting Tyrs Helm, who doesn't espouse that shit.  You are insulting Goldenshield and many other Kindreds I flipping forget.  You are insulting many unaffiliated Heathens as well.

Fuck you.  You are just as bigoted and just as much an asshole for saying that statement.  If Jotuns Bane and Midwestern Heathens were so Gods Damn queerphobic a OPENLY GAY GWYTHIA would not attend, nor would his kindred!

LATP is attended by Ks Heathens, Colorado Heathens, Michigan, North and South Dakota, Texas Heathens and others.  Until you get to know these PEOPLE you don't know their GODS FRACKING politics.  Also to quote someone on Abortion, if you don't like Conservative Politics then DON'T BE A DAMN CONSERVATIVE.  Don't go about making people who are into bad people.

This doesn't make you a good person, it makes you a drama slinging asshole, who can't work with people who don't agree with your political agenda.

Quit making Lokeans look like such a whiny drama llamaing group of people.

Btw  I HAVE ATTENDED LATP.  Outside of being in the closet for being a Lokean, and not feeling quite at home as I do in a Methodist church, I had no issue with the people there.  Friendly(very outgoing), I felt safe enough to let my two non autistic kids run amok.  One of the first people who helped me was an unafilliated Heathen from North Dakota, who is now in Ks and with another Kindred.  Nice guy.  But you wouldn't know that because you are to busy slinging mud about Jotuns bane to stop being an ass.

Faith

I just realized something, it isn't my faith in the Gods that I find strained.  It's my faith in people.

Offerings

It's summer, hot and moggy here in Florida. The roses are blooming, the dill has faded back after being consumed by caterpillars and I've saved some seeds.  The Mexican petunia is all over the place. The thyme is doing ok, the basil is going gang busters and the other one not so much.  The ginger I planted is slowly growing and I'm excited as can be.  The thornless blackberry seems to be doing great, but the raspberry canes I planted never took.

The Goddesses haven't asked for many offerings.  I get called to give them some flowers now and again and some Darjeeling tea but nothing much.  Votive candles now and again.  I wonder if it's because the flowers and plants are everywhere?  I wonder if they aren't as hungry right now, due to the lush growth going about?

Things I ponder right now.

Red Neck Loki

http://keyj.com/bad-lip-reading-turns-the-avengers-into-rednecks/

Gods help me, but this makes to much sense.  Now take that and apply this to some of the Snorri's stories.

feelings

Today is a day I understand why Morrigan cursed her husband for 7 generations.  I understand the rage.  sigh

Primal and spirituality my first taste.

I said I was going to talk more about my beginnings in being Primal.  So the story I shall tell is my first animal that I got connected with.  I learned this as a beginning in astral projection.

In my dorm room, in yee olden days of college(when dinosaurs roamed and Merlin made stonhenge), I had a poster of a black panther.  I put it up, because it called to me.  It felt alive.  There was a spirit inside.  (side note, another way to make spirit allies and get protection)

I can't remember why I was astral projecting.  However I was for some reason.  I did my ritual, sat down and took on the persona of the Panther.  I was sleek, I was stealthy, and apparently my presence was felt.

Though I guess part of the lesson to learn, just because you see animals while in the spirit world, don't assume they can't be humans in the real world.  The astral and or spirit world, the form you take is only limited by your imagination.

Anyway, that first astral projection of Panther, was my first foray into being Primal.  Feeling the claws, and the speed.  The subtle stealth and blending into the night.

Being a Primal

My way of coming to Primal was through Paganism.  I didn't realize until recently that it is a subset ,and a fairly newly emerging one of Kink and BDSM. http://ironwynch.com/scrolls/2014/02/what-is-the-primal-fetish/  In, Fetlife, Primal play the animal within group. You will also find it in the Therian and Otherkin community. Lupabitch is a good source here http://therioshamanism.com/about/

Being a Primal, for me is about acknowledging my inner animals.  For me it's a spiritual, sensation and kinky, and emotional thing. This is a part of my soul that I express.

It's hard to put into words.  How do you express the oomph you feel, when you meet another Primal. How do you explain the feelings, the sensations, the smells, the ecstacy?

To find your animal, I would suggest Animal Speak by Ted Andrews.  Do some navel gazing and soul searching. What animals come to you, what do you "feel" like?  Do you have teeth, tail, hooves, claws?  Do you run and like to hunt, or hide in the shadows?

I knew who my Totem, or animal spirit(whiever political or non political term you choose) when I was younger.  It wasn't until my mid thirties that I realized this carried over into my sex life.  Nothing like figuring out oooh, I do like my hair pulled and wrestle play and oh Gods yes bite me and let me bite you.  (Yeah I'm a bit grumpy about that, I could have had fun for over a decade if I'd known sooner lol).

Primal is more than just glorified Klingon sex.  It's about going outside and smelling the honeysuckle, and feeling the sweetness down at the base of your throat.  Feeling the soft, prickly grass under your naked feet.  Growling as you nibble and bite your partners throat or chest, and hearing their sharp intake of passioned breath.

The soft intimate moments are a part of this as well.  Cuddles, feeling safe in my partners arms.  That sense of belonging.  Being spooned at night, and soft nuzzles and kisses.  

Primal is about tapping into that animal side, that we all have.  Feeling those instincts and listening to them.  For instance if you are a bear, do some wrestle play, but also play with warm honey and lap it off your partner.  Wolf primal, enjoy that steak, enjoy the smell of a grill while your mate bbq's and feeds you, whilst your cubs squeal, then nuzzle that mate and make them yours later on.  Enjoy the sound of his howling.

I need to think more on how this came into being for my spirtuality and how it also encompasses more than my sex life.  But I hope this helped people with questions.

Celts, Cauldrons and Grail and an old dream

I was watching a Netflix take on the Holy Grail and it's history.  It was made in 1998.  Something it said triggered my memory of this poem I was given in a dream, though the ending is something I've been trying to remember for a while.

Hear me now
First Goddess of the light
Drink for me now
The cup of life.

Here me now
First Goddess of the night
Drink for me now
The cup of

I know it's a duality thing.  One is light and life, and the other is darkness and death.  Turns out the Celtic Cauldrons were double edged.  They gave life but also death.  They were symbols of rebirth and death.

Something else makes sense now.  Whenever I give food to the Goddesses(Morrigan and the  unknown one) they want me to take a bite, before I give it to them.  The Celts Priestess would slit the throat of prisoners of war and fill the cauldron with their blood.  The Celts would then make a stew, to feed the Gods and themselves.

I'll edit in links, when I find some credible ones.

MEAD

Not the finished product but the product that will be sitting for a few months.  MEAD.

The start of putting the honey in.

Pretty amber bottle.

Another artwork I did a few months back

I was thinking about Sigyn when I did this.  I was thinking about perserverance.  NOt sure what the water creek is about.  The darkness is inside a cave.  The green is the dripping of poison.

Memory of the trees

This is apparently the world tree, with my attempt of the golden eagle at top, and the snake at the bottom with the well of wyrd as well.  My daugther does a better snake.

This is a very imp piece, that I'm still processing.  My next thing is going to be about water, or a well or something watery and blue.

Garden of my hope.

Arting on some inner work and healing.

Dark Knight of the soul/moon

Me

Things to ponder upon

We get many types in the Pagan umbrella tent.  We have many Liberals, Conservatives, Libertarians, Free thinkers, Pragmatists, Artists etc.  We try not to judge, or at least that is preached in non Recon circles.

However I think we need to ponder on those who try to decieve the gullible for their own attention or well being. We have many Con artists as well.  It is not a bad thing to trust but verify.

There are lessons I have learned.  I learned it when one of my classmates, who claimed he was working for our government, while still in highschool, in maine.  Every story got more and more strange.

We have those who claim many things.  So before believing research.  Look up what it takes to become an Ambassodor.  Look up whether or not we have diplomacies with various countries, especially before believing the political rhethoric of those who claim to have that knowledge.  Ask for to see college diplomas.

IT's not just the Fluffy Bunny new agey Wiccans, it's also the recon minded devotional Polytheists.

Season

I think that my winter season has passed.
Spring may have sprung
My buds may be ready to be pollinated.

Let it be true
Let the green grass of my soul come up
Let my flowers bloom!

Faith

I know at some point I will need to write what i"m going through.  So that someone may read it and it may help them, but I'm not strong enough yet.  I don't understand the lesson.  I'm hanging on by a faint thread of hope that his pain will be worth it later on, that something better.

There are times I don't believe that...

Inside of me

Dragons wings are torn,
Unsure if she'll ever fly again
Tears course down her face.

Wolf, is curled into a tight ball
licking her wounds
and yelping softly

Cat, is calm
Cat is watching
Cat is waiting.

Devotional UPG on offerings

Something I've noticed about the altar.  They(Zee Gods) seem to want food during the winter cold months more.  Other times, votive candles are ok, as is tea.  Darjeeling and English Breakfast(use half an half) seems to be preferred.

Cheesy bacon potato soup

The Goddesses want this, so I'm posting the recipe for anyone that is interested.

INGREDIENTS

celery
onion
bacon
potatoes
cheese
chicken stock(I made mine from chicken feet)
butter
flour
heavy whipping cream one pint
two bags of cheese of your choice
thyme
2 tsp garlic
salt
zaatar
curry powder
Paprika

So I cut up half a bunch of celery, and two medium onions, finely.  I sauteed in 3/4 of a stick of butter.  Later I chopped up some bacon finely and added to the pot to crisp.  When the bacon was crispy I added 2 1/3 cups of flour and stirred to incorporated.  This made a roux.  I added the potatoes and stirred again.  I then filled the pot with chicken stock and I am simmering.  I added a pinch or two of the seasonings as well.

Lasly when the potatoes are tender, I will add in a pint of whipping cream, and two bags of cheese.  Om nom nom.

My handpainted picture to put on the wall.

giggles

Apparently tumblr has taken the marvel Avengers and done Hello kitty to them.  I give thee link to Hello Kitty Loki
http://www.popsugar.com/tech/Hello-Kitty-Marvel-Characters-35627329#photo-35627331

Rocking the pink, which is a hell of a site better than the stupid green costume.  Rocking the bondage as well, and looking the proper brat.  I think however his hair needs to be red, to make the glitter boys and barrettes shine.

Lets talk about Devotion

I think it important that before we talk about who is doing something wrong, that we first establish whether or not someone is following the same paradigmn.  This is inspirted by KrasskovasI Screeches, and other Recons, who want us to do it more the way of the ancients.  So lets talk about this shall we?

I don't know about anyone elses paradigm but to me my Gods are family and close friends.  This has been forged in the fires of my life.  It has organically worked out to be that way.  Others may have different ways of relating.

What does that mean to me.  It means they are honest with me.  It means we have ups and downs.  It means I am not subservient nor do I abase myself.  It means I do, what I can do, of what I am asked. For many years, and I've written this before, I wasn't asked for devotions, but to learn butterfuly gardening, or do other tasks, the most imp is to be the Holy sticky note and pass on messages, that I can here, and to be a shoulder for others to lean on and cry on.  I still have a strong indication that duty is more imp, then how many candles I light and how much food I put on the altar.

I am not my ancestors.  I am not going to sacrifice a virgin, to stop the volcano from blowing up.  Our ancestors put a lot of devotion because they felt they had to APPEASE the Gods or else bad things would happen.  We aren't them.  So relationships and devotoins have changed and that is a good thing.

Our Gods don't have the temples that they once used to.  They definately dont' have the same priests. THis isn't Alexandria, where you hire engineers to concock wonders to lure more worshippers to the temple.

No our relationships and our blogging are more personal.  Our relationship are more intimate.  They aren't subject to what the High Priest or Priestess believe(despite what some self appointed would like to think) they are subject to what The Gods we worship and us believe and how we work it out.

If others are different, please lets talk, so that others can see the different paradigmns.  Lets discuss how it is with you, and what works.

Krasskova is sticking her foot in her mouth yet again.

Krasskova is sticking her foot in her mouth and talking out of her ass again.  https://krasskova.wordpress.com/2015/01/29/impossible-standards-of-devotion/  Oh noes we are doing it wrong again.  Rolls eyes.

Hey Galina, way to make yourself sound more pretentious and elitist then some of the Asatruar on Asatru Lore.  Do you think writing a few books makes you some sort of qualified expert? You were a decent person to look at when you were talking from your own perspective, now you have turned into a cultish quack twitching whenever someone takes away some "power" you think you have.

Now here are some real life reasons people don't do it the way you do.

1. They haven't been asked to yet.

2. They(gasp I know this might come as a surprise) don't have the time, energy, or mental spoons yet.  Real life may be pooping all over them.  Not everyone goes the Catholic route of lighting a zillion candles when life hands them lemons.

3. They may not have that type of devotional paradigmn.  What someone has a personal relationship with the Gods that differes from you, say it aint so.  The Gods may be asking them for different things, oh noes.

IN other words, stick your nose back in your own business,(You can start by getting rid of the idea of tradition and mystery for reconstruction, this isn't BTW wicca, and you aint Gardner) clean your own house and stay the hell out of others.  We aren't jealous of you, you cultic power hungry quack, we choose our own way of dealing with our Gods.