Afraid and Ashamed, but not Surprised
I am sure this will make many people angry, but there are people whom I hold dear south of the border. I feel the need to say something:
I invite my American counter parts to come visit other Western countries, to see that there are ways to practice and encourage religious tolerance and multi-culturalism than other than your own. The American style of conflict resolution is often filled with hate, fear and anger; reactionary and aggressive.
When I lived and travelled in the USA I was constantly amazing by the level of violence that is taken for granted within your culture. It permeates everything, even ordinary everyday language. An electric drill was called a screw gun. One does not refill a drink, they reload it.
Seeing my fellow Witches, Pagans and Heathens calling for an eye for an eye makes me sick. It fills me with shame.
Many of the words I read and hear being used by Americans within my religious body these past few days would be considered hate speech in Canada. It sounds no different to my ears than “God hates fags” or “Paganism must be eradicated” or “All Muslims are terrorists”.
As I watch the news… Continue reading
Flavour of the Month: Secrets!
One of the big topics going around Witch-y blogs this month is secrecy and how much you share.
I come across as much more Pagan-ish on my blog … because a lot of the Witch-y stuff just doesn’t get mentioned **at all** As if it does not exist. Which is tough when I’m accused of not being a Witch, because of the Pagan stuff being the most prominent. It’s easy to take the bait and get upset by that. But if certain spirits and certain practices can’t be talked about on a blog, well then that’s the price I pay!
I have a hard time with keeping quiet and keeping secrets. I’ve had a good talking to from my Hedge gals (and certain spirits and such) over that. I have no guile. It doesn’t come naturally.
I WANT to share, for a lot of reasons. One main reason is because I am BAD at not sharing. Damn my glass face, open personality and tendency to trust everyone. Another reason is loneliness and feeling isolated. Another reason is the need to serve and be useful and helpful.
Another reason (one of the main reasons why I started this blog in the… Continue reading
To Answer a Question
Perform bird-y funeral as best as you can. Blessings, smoke, offerings etc.
Receive permission from the animal’s spirit before you cut.
Cut at the joint. I used a combo of quality wire cutters and good scissors.
You will want to purchase mite/flea spray and use it.
Once dry from the mite spray, you will want to cut open the fleshy parts at the joint. Turn it onto it’s back and make a slit from behind. This makes the flesh dry quicker and better. You might have to do a little trimming
Make sure there is no rot or maggots!
Place in a tupperware in the position you want the wing to stay in.
Gently bury in a mixture of one part sea salt, one part baking soda and two parts borax (just straight cornmeal is also traditional but it takes longer). Have a bit of the mixture at the bottom as well. And place in a safe, dry not too bright or warm place.
Make appropriate offerings to the spirit of the bird while you wait. I like to pop open the container now and then so the air in there doesn’t get stagnate but that might just be my… Continue reading
Not
I do not know what to do with this old fox hide I have in storage. I suppose I will continue to sit on it for now.
I do not know why for sure, but skulls (even “fake” ones) really do make the best spirit houses, though Bren’s miniature suit of armour does pretty damned well.
I am not interested in validating (or invalidating) other people’s Path, practice or experiences. Even when told something far fetched, I usually just smile and nod and move on. This cuts down on rather a lot of drama.
I am not very good at making pottery or working with clay, wood working, knitting (I can’t knit at all), drumming, leather work, scrapbooking, drawing, quilting, or baking. But I do try my hand at some of these things now and then. There are also plenty of other things I am good at.
I am not out to prove how awesome I am or to show off. If I was, then I wouldn’t make so many blog posts detailing my fuck ups. My podcast segments would be better prepared and much slicker produced as well.
I have not told Bren about the dead turtle’s shell… Continue reading
A Few Things That Work (and other things)
Keeping my altar/shrine combo right in the freaking middle of the apartment. It is right in the entranceway, in fact. For no other reason there’s not really any where else to put it. It does however, keep the offerings and attention flowing. Out of sight, out of mind. In sight, on my mind … right?
I’m thinking of moving it into the sunroom in the warm part of the year. Then I can make a fuss about moving it “indoors” for winter each year etc. Who says you can’t have processionals in apartments?
Shelac. Sometimes, you just gotta use it.
My simple knife. It is by far the best tool I own for creation of sacred space and parting the Hedge. It is nothing more than a basic utility knife, handmade, with a wooden handle. The kind that you find at estate sales and flea markets. Something knife makers create for themselves, nothing fancy, just works. It fits in my hand, it’s just the right length. It’s old and worn.
I don’t even know what kind of wood the handle is made of. It’s old and beat up. I got it originally for whittling my stang. It’s now… Continue reading
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