spiritual work – Page 2 – LEAN IN TO JOY with BONEWEAVER

The Acute Divide of Me

Published on June 13, 2016 by Boneweaver (aka pjvj)2 Comments

I remember a time when my online persona was such a good match for my offline persona it was a bit disturbing. Somewhere along the years of Facebook I have lost that. I don’t know if it’s the medium, the horrors of menopause, or I’m just more careless and quick to answer with my words, or all of these, but it is something.

I started shifting this in January, smoothing some of my edges, but not stopping my desire to spotlight issues of social injustice. It worked for awhile. Then it didn’t, then it did. I’ve all the right reasons in my head, but then it slips and I don’t even notice at first. In person I notice quickly. (I’ll give ya sometimes I’m clueless, but that is unusual, not typical.)

I was being quiet more, with spurts of RAWR, but I didn’t shift enough internally. I was choosing where to post what, hidden from much of friends list, with the occasional two day outbursts on my timeline. Basically I changed where without changing how. Which is duh, but there ya go, I was being duh. I wasn’t feeling this shift in my body and for me that is an important piece to permanence.

Today after visiting a hospice patient I felt it in my body. Like huge I felt it. Not the shift, but the gulf between the state of grace I am in when I am in service to the dying and the state if non-grace I am in a place like Facebook. How I am face-to-face in my community where my hands fly around, my eyes are bright, and my face lights up with passion when discussing things. When I discuss all things, from SJ to how the squirrel wiggled itself up a tree. It was core blowing how acutely I felt the divide between the two places I am “seen”. And it was unnerving. And humbling.

My wish is that I hold this state of grace more purposefully going forward, in all my places. That I try to do better. That I will do better.

Witches, remember your skills, use them to pull the strings of the Web

Published on June 13, 2016 by Boneweaver (aka pjvj)Leave a comment

I have “reasons” for the colour candle I light for the newly dead, but the most significant one is “because I was told to” by whatever name you call the Universal Is. So it is orange candles for the newly Beloved Dead created by a bigot in Orlando, FL, in the wee hours of yesterday morning. Orange is for the transition, for the time immediately after physical death leading into the next phase. It is for the soul, not the body. It is for their essence, not their loved ones. There are many rites for those left behind, my work is for the ones departed.

I will be reading the names of these Beloved Dead, every day, until all are laid to rest by their loved ones. Then I will read them a final time for this working. And candles – lots of candles, as I do this part of my Job.

Hel wants in on this work, is full of deep sadness, but only can watch from the sidelines knowing those folks died in battle, and therefore aren’t Hers. Hel gets a candle for holding Her compassion.

There is other work, too. Odin wants in on this Work. He is requiring only a single jar candle, and a listening heart for what comes next.

Magic is being organized locally for a public call to justice and change.

We’re witches, damnit, let’s wield our tools for change!

One True Way™ leaks in everywhere

Published on April 9, 2016April 9, 2016 by Boneweaver (aka pjvj)4 Comments

One of the reasons many people turn to walk a different spiritual path than Christianity is because they balk at the way its tenets can be presented as the One True Way™, leaving no room for personal conversations with God about how to be of service to Them.

Unfortunately, the mindset that allows One True Way™ thinking doesn’t always get left behind with the religion. At first, and for awhile, it is pushed to the edges of the mind, but then time rolls on and the freedom to embrace Many Ways tarnishes a bit. More than one right way means that my voice cannot be always right, and in fact, sometimes my voice is wrong when applied to others. It is at this time that I turn and embrace more tightly the belief that there is more than one right way to do things, to approach things, and to hear the Gods.

It feels like bright and obvious hubris on my part to suddenly turn around and insist that all messages I receive from Them are applicable to all the humans. It’s one reason I chose the path I am on, to allow for variance, and differing thoughts, and loving supportive discourse interspersed with spirited dissent.

One True Way™ thinking is gaining voice in Pagan places. It is disconcerting and disappointing, but overall, I guess it is to be expected. In the past number of years it has become more popular to proclaim how to be a proper polytheist, why there is or is not any hard or soft polytheism, why and how to be a heathen, why and how to be Feri, who does Reclaiming better — the stench is all around and the only thing it can accomplish is to divide and divide some more. To pretend at “my beliefs are valid for me, not necessarily for you” instead of living it and to not take to heart “We are all our own spiritual authority” is the height of self-important arrogance and one of the reasons many left their childhood religion behind. It is one of the reasons I left mine behind.

That last one, the spiritual authority belongs to you one? You either live it or you don’t. There isn’t an in-between for when I want to Be Right and then move back into it when the subject matter isn’t really important to me. In my path we all get to converse with the Gods. Their messages to us are our own. While they may be applicable across the board, usually they are applicable to a much smaller group than everyone on earth.

Gods are multi-issue beings, same as humans are. They have many thoughts and a range of issues they wish the humans would pay attention to and address. Who They tell what varies greatly, and one message isn’t more important or more correct than the others. Kudos to you (and me) for speaking with Deity, but un-kudos to you (or me) for thinking we have the one true connection. That is anti-freedom of religious process and wholly opposite the idea of folks being their own spiritual authority.

If Moses wasn’t a necessary piece for the Christian God to have his message of ten delivered to the whole world, but rather one messenger to reach a particular group of people, then I’m pretty certain none of my Gods need a Moses to speak to all humans. Be a Moses to your small group, but accept there are other Moses’ and other messages being delivered to others.

One doesn’t get to allow others their own spiritual authority only when they agree, and insist on one true way compliance when they disagree. Well, one does get to do that, free will and all, but others get to have thoughts about you and me because of it.

Sitting Vigil and Sacred Presence

Published on March 16, 2016 by Boneweaver (aka pjvj)Leave a comment

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.

Medusa Poetry Slam

Published on March 11, 2016March 11, 2016 by Boneweaver (aka pjvj)1 Comment

Seeking Medusa
(poetry slam version)

I want to see monstrous Medusa.

I want to see her as Gorgon.

I want to see her full-lipped and full-hipped.

I want to see her,
I want to see Her!

I search for her.
Images, renderings, and statues abound,
What I see is Barbie™ Medusa,
I see how the patriarchy sees.

Even a goddess,
in order to be seen!
to be worshipped!
to have place on the altar!
Must look Just So.
Body of Hollywood beauty,
Fair of face,
where only the hair can be writhing,
Reminiscent of orgasmic tussle to succumbing.

I want to see Medusa of olde!

I want her face large!
unbecoming!
Twisted in rage!

I want full mouth keening with despair,
as distorted eyes pop her stony gaze.

I want Medusa,
in all her monstrous glory.
I want Medusa as is.

When I do glimpse her monstrous –
Gorgon face contorted,
full of power
and blazing eyes –
Her bloody head hangs from Perseus’ hand.

Message received.

I want to see Medusa!
Repulsed and repulsive!
Raw power of monster
In modern day.

I honour unsightly Medusa!

Not Disney™ Medusa,

Not Medusa thru the male gaze.

I want to see Medusa!
In all her monstrosity…

So I may be seen in all of mine.

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

Published on March 1, 2016March 1, 2016 by Boneweaver (aka pjvj)1 Comment

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/

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Seeking Medusa (poetry slam version)

Seeking Medusa
(poetry slam version)