Category: calling

Thoughts thru the Maze – who is the monster at the center of the labyrinth?

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Is it me? Is it you? My thoughts run frantically after each other, twisting in confusion. I search for the path to the center. Was there a minotaur, or simply a mirror? When does a hospice worker get to say, “nope, not you”? Do you get to say bugger off to your calling? When seeking advice from the Ancestors, why do they snort-laugh and shrug?

Answers in order: Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Whenever. Sure. Because they can.

If I can find a way to decipher my feelings around the situation it will all become clear, yes? Does a soul-cleanser get to say, “Not my job. I’m not the only Worker here”? Are there guns involved, and if so, what caliber? Will regret be involved? Does that change anything?

Answers: Same as the first set, choose as appropriate.

Decisions that shift hourly are exhausting. Life is exhausting. Death is exhausting. Sleep will be a temporary relief.

Manifesting to Fullness

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At times I forget how much the Universe enjoys assisting in the process of manifestation. Speak your desires, take actions to support them, and notice when the Web of All That Is shakes the strings a bit to facilitate what manifests. For maximum manifestation of desires to be achieved I believe we work hand-in-hand with Creation, each needing the other for fullness.

I’ve been clearing my spiritual plate of all the items that were too shiny to pass on in the moment, but don’t serve the direction I’m heading in. I desire to make room for what is most fulfilling, what brings me the most joy, and what sends useful energy out into the world – the three of those together are the criteria for a thing being an emphasis in my life.

Discernment can be quite difficult when you are attracted to all the glittering bits and I was being easily distracted, so I wiped the plate. *boom* Empty. The decision of what to add back, what new things to plop on it, felt very intimidating at first, so I rode that scary part like the experienced rider I know that I am. I created my criteria to facilitate success from my end while trusting the Universe when something unanticipated is removed from my plate without direct action from me.

It’s an interesting time. Some things I feel will again be in my life in a few months, others I’m releasing indefinitely. In the meanwhile, I can feel the return of space in my breathing, that small pause between inhale and exhale where anything feels possible. What a delight!

“The Barefoot Artist” (movie)

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I came across this movie on Netflix and the description was intriguing even though I’m not generally one to be intrigued by documentaries. This one hit all of my points of things-I-find-comfort-and-use-in. Artist me! Witch Me! Community Me! The Dead Me! Ancestral Healing Me! Philosophical Me!

It is a portrait of one privileged fallible authentic Chinese woman as she struggled to find the place that her passions intersect with humanity. So worth watching, even if you disagree with how she decides to engage that intersection. I am happy to have seen it.

What to do, what to do

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I tend to side-eye myself (I use a mirror?) when coincidences pop up and I think, “aha! Connection! Intelligent Universe!” I seem to give more grace to other folks’ coincidences than to my own. Now, I do believe some things are only coincidence, and other things not, and the latter is more common as a rule.

I don’t jump to Reason It’s Written in Destiny™ straight off. I wait to see if anything else shows up. At times I feel a push to do a thing, with no known reason for the pushing to be as hard and urgent as it feels. Take for instance collecting the moon water at the ocean last week. I mean sure – witchywoohoo why not? But it felt like a mandate more than a desire. I’ve learned not to question so much and just do in those situations, and allow myself to wonder later when I’ll know why.

Yesterday I was told stories by a woman of her visit to Standing Rock to deliver supplies to the water protectors there. I’m not going to tell her stories here, they are hers to tell in her own blog. She talked of elders reskilling tribal members in the old ways of their traditions: herbs, and medicines, and blessings – especially the water blessings with wonderful details. There was a story of moondancers and a water blessing that reminded me much of the Waters of the World spell in my own tradition and we talked about this.

My friend had just stopped for the night, a pitstop on her way back home. As she thanked me for the couch of hospitality she reached into her car and pulled out a bit of sage from Standing Rock. She handed it to me as a thank you. I was touched. As I held that sage I thought of the moondancers and their water blessing. I thought of the moonwater I’d collected on a whim. I didn’t even side-eye myself, I just smiled.

These 3 things need to be put together as a working for the waters and the protectors. They have a purpose beyond the obvious. Mystery – how it arrives, what it holds, and what is released as it manifests is a big part of the draw to my path. What to do with these 3 things remains to be discovered, but once done I will again feel Mystery’s Touch. May I never tire of it.

Drumming with my djembe

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I cracked open the Jim Donovan DVD again and practiced rhythms while the hubster was upstairs playing the guitar. As usual the wee bagel dog is terrified of the drum. I’m getting more consistent tones with both hands, but I’m still better with my right hand for base notes. I find that weird since I’m left handed. Open notes are fairly even, and the slap notes are the same in volume, but the hits sound different to me, like I’m hitting with different parts of my hands.

I self-taught some beats and a number of rhythms years ago and though the sounds are the same as the ones on the DVD, I’m using my hands in different order than I’m supposed to so I’m trying to correct that. It’s hard. But fun. *grin*

I need to buy a frame drum with a synthetic head. The humidity here makes mine with the real head unplayable for half of the year. ~sigh~ MUSIC GOALS! I HAZ ‘EM!

I need to note this – extra active Spirits

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I’ve been meaning to “note this somewhere” and here is as good as any place, yes? Starting about mid-August I’ve noticed unusually active spirits, sprites, Beloved Dead, and various other flitting-about Energies. Generally these are always around, seen when looking, and more easily visible as the veil thins towards Samhain. But this year, this year,  they are early and active, like whoa.

It has been a distraction especially while driving. They are not fluttery wisps, they are dense and quick. So much so I’ve been reacting as if pedestrians are about to rush in front of my car. It is quite unnerving when I’m behind the wheel. I cannot fathom what it’s going to be like once we’re at Samhain, but I’m rather excited to find out. Hail our (often) Unseen!

Sitting Vigil and Sacred Presence

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I signed up for a sacred presence e-course in November of last year. It centered around sitting with the dying. There was no new information for me in it as I had hoped there might be, but really, what “new” could there be? Once you learn sacred presence it is always there for you. However, good came from taking this course. The knowledge that it is being taught, that the information is out there and available in a coherent easy to digest way is a very good thing. The number of students engaging authentically and with love in the forums was also a very good thing to witness.

Our country has a sizable older population, and the baby boomers will be dying in large groups, so to speak. It is past time to become more comfortable with death. It is past time to treat it as a natural event, a sacred event, that we all will share. Many folks want to be present for their dying loved ones, but we don’t teach them how to be. For those like me, who walk the edge and assist the dying, it becomes a comfortable place because of the pure sacredness of being present (physically and spiritually) while somebody transitions from this life.

It is an experience of honour that is ineffable. It is an act done without thoughts of “what’s in it for me?” because always always always it is about the person doing the dying, not the folks doing the living around them. Those not dying get much time to process their grief later, after the dying have completed their process. Maintaining focus on the dying is the point, sacred presence allows that. It is a gift for the dying. It turns out is is a gift for the ones who vigil, also. Sacred presence must come from within, and holding it benefits all who are present around this sacred, beautiful transition.

Hail our Beloved Dead. Hail.

SJWW (Social Justice Warrior Witchcraft) Next working – Women’s Bodily Autonomy/Access to Healthcare

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Our next endeavor is on March 23rd, but since this issue is large and widespread we’ve opted into offering a honey jar pre-working, starting tomorrow, and continuing through the Main Working on the 23rd. (Or continuing as long or as short as you please, or only doing the Main Working on the 23rd, details to come on that piece.)

PLEASE JOIN US AND SPREAD THE WORD!

The event description:

~*~ Whole Woman’s Health, et al., Petitioners
v.
John Hellerstedt, Commissioner, Texas Department of State Health Services, et al.

***PART ONE***

▶This is a working in two parts, with the goal of maintaining bodily autonomy for women and reasonable access to women’s health care (including abortion, currently legal). Multiple cases concerning women’s access to health and bodily autonomy will be heard in the Supreme Court of the U.S. in March. See the links below for background information.

Interested parties are welcome to participate in both workings, or either part alone, as suits their calling and availability. News source here: http://www.dallasobserver.com/news/what-to-expect-for-texas-upcoming-abortion-case-in-a-post-scalia-court-8035280SCOTUS docket info link: http://www.supremecourt.gov/qp/15-00274qp.pdf Case History: http://www.supremecourt.gov/Search.aspx?FileName=%2Fdocketfiles%2F15-274.htm

▶Part One: Supreme Court Honey Jar, March 1-2, 2016

The focus of this working is on making the best possible case in front of the Supreme Court, and “sweetening” the Justices toward the desired outcome. Therefore, our suggested method is a honey jar.

**Astrology focus: not as key this time as in our last project – but we’re on the clock and can’t wait until every planet is in our corner! If you want to add astrological steam, our best bet is a conjunction of Mercury (communication, winning in court) and Venus (women’s issues) in Aquarius. Those who work planetary correspondences should focus on Mercury and Venus (not Jupiter, although he brings justice, because he’s in retrograde all month).

**Starting the Jar:

Get a jar of honey. The quality isn’t really important, since people do the same kinds of spellwork with corn syrup anyway, so just go with whatever looks right at the store. Take a taste out of it to “activate” it with your energy. Then add your focus items.

**Focus Items:

At minimum, write out “Supreme Court of the United States” on a slip of paper. To connect more directly with the present sitting Justices, write a list of their names and/or print out a picture of them. If you can’t get anything else, this much will be enough to activate the spell.

**If you can add some herbs, here are some particularly good ones to put in:

Solomon’s Seal, for wisdom

Rosemary, for letting women “rule” the decision

Dill, a Mercury herb, particularly good for court cases paired with Coriander

Pennyroyal: associated with both peace in the home and abortion

Galangal/Low John root: sweetening of the tongue for presenting in court

Deer’s tongue: sweetening the tongue

Slippery elm: for ending slander, lies, etc

Juniper: it’s been used both for and against sexual prowess, so “control over one’s own sexual business.” (Also, for those who are interested, this one got a nod from Artemis)

Your own traditions and instincts may lead you to other things. Remember that this jar is about influencing the Justices to give us victory in court.

Once you have filled the jar, close it back up. This in itself will be enough to add to the shared working, but you can also keep adding to it throughout the month by burning candles on top of the jar. Dress candles for winning in court in whatever way is consistent with your practice.

**You can continue this working up to and including the Part Two working. Facebook doesn’t allow an event longer than 2 weeks. Feel free to jump in at any time to support this work!

▶Part Two: SCOTUS hears arguments regarding the HHS Mandate and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, March 23, 2016

See event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/553236968175733/

And so it was done, my small part in this collective working against Boko Haram

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I arose about a half hour prior to the moon going void of course. I had prepped the space the night before. Candles had been dressed with deity oil blends per Their request, and rolled in a helpful herb. Sigils and words handwritten on rice paper, incense blended. I cast, and called, and Throngs showed up. I felt empowered and deeply humbled.

This morning’s work was interesting and powerful. Lots of chatter, lots of Folks and folks. Two of the dressed candles burned quickly down with the burning of the sigil paper, but not the candle dressed with Odin oil blend. That one was slower. After thrice reading the poem, I burnt those papers and the final candle slipped to a puddle in the sand, burning for a few more minutes. I set the loose incense to smoke until the end of the moon’s VOC and then I released it to the wind. I cleaned up the space, and crawled back into bed to warm back up and sleep. For those who read spell remnants, the photo below is the oil print from the wax and the paper’s ashes.

2016-02-13 06.14.51

Poseidon requested a tall fresh taper, dressed in His oil blend, on His altar. Other altars have candles burning and will continue, until they are done.

May cracks become crevices become chasms become broken pieces of what once was a band of heartless zealots. May peace and healing be found in the wake of their demise. And as We will, it shall be so.