Risk vs Reward
A first(ish) draft of the introduction to the chapter on etheogens and hallucinogens in that book I’ll never finish writing.
“Blind as a bat, mad as a hatter, red as a beet, hot as hell, dry as a bone, the bowel and bladder lose their tone, and the heart runs alone.” ~ A teaching mnemonic device about the effects of Datura stramonium
Like many young and inexperienced Witches I had a craving for a deep, mystical and powerful spiritual experience, similar to the tales I had heard the Elders in my community share. I wanted something akin to the tall-tales the other young Witches and Pagans told each other when not within earshot of the Elders. I wanted something special, something that would make me special, some great nugget of lore or wisdom that would impress people. I was envious… and a little bored.
My first attempt at working with flying ointment had been something of a disappointment to me, yet also a temptation. Being careful and cautious as I was advised, I had made a very simple and weak blend. Then I rubbed it on a few pulse points before stretching out on a blanket in my living room… Continue reading
Juniper Rambles About Feminism and Womanhood (Part One)
I am a bad feminist, downright lousy in fact. I might even be viewed as a traitor to my own sex (if you’re militant enough to see it that way)
I’ll tell you why.
I like men more than women. I prefer the company of men over the company of people of my own sex. I trust men more than women.
Can you imagine that? I know, I know, how terrible is that?
There are many reasons, feelings and experiences that cause me to be a lousy feminist. Please allow me to explain in my own rambling way.
I suppose the main reason is that unlike most of other women I’ve met, I have been neglected, mistreated and abused much more by other women than by men. Even when I have been neglected, abused and mistreated by men, often there was a woman involved.
Punch for punch, insult for insult, hair pull for hair pull women take up a significantly higher amount of the pain brought upon me by others than men.
As a child and teen I was mercilessly bullied by the other girls at school. Both physically and verbally, as well as just emotionally jerked around. I’ll spare… Continue reading
Inflamatory
(My Internet connection is still wonky at times. I’m having a harder time with some sites than others.)
I live in a socialized country yep yep.
I pay for my health care in little bits, here and there, over my life time in my taxes.
Yes, if I smoked I’d be paying $10.75 a pack of cigarettes because they are a great way to tax people, and yes, I pay a %7 tax in all goods and services.
But if I got cancer I wouldn’t get one large, or several large bills to pay. If I need an ambulance, I don’t have to worry about how I’m going to pay for it, its already paid!
Yes it means certain liberties might be less. For example, I have to wear a bike helmet (bike or motorbike etc) because if I got a head injury, I’d be a drain on the public health care system. But having to wear a bike helmet is a fair trade for being able to afford to keep a roof over my head if I get sick. It’s worth it if I get to live in a country where even the poorest people get health care, where… Continue reading
Project Pagan Enough
From Fire Lyte, over at Inciting a Riot:
So, Project Pagan Enough is a movement, a cause, a Harmonious Riot that includes bloggers, podcasters, pagans, non-pagans, me, you, and the whole pagan community. It is my hope that the Project Pagan Enough logo becomes a beacon of progress and change for those of us living a magical life. By putting the Project Pagan Enough icon on your podcast’s site, blog, or other website, you’re making a set of promises:
- You are pagan enough, despite how you look, act, smell, dress, believe, or are.
- You recognize that others are pagan enough despite their appearance, smell, manner of dress, belief, practice, or other aspect.
- You recognize that you can have an academic debate on the finer points of belief or practice, but that it does not take away from someone else’s level of being pagan.
- You welcome, befriend, and encourage others in the pagan community despite their appearance, dress, or other physical or superficial characteristic.
- You promise to treat members of other faiths, despite the faith, with honest-to-goodness fairness, equality, and grace, not judging them or their faith based on the actions of fringe members of their same faith.
Like the… Continue reading
To Fly By Night
Hoofprints in the Wildwood
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