Dyeing for Midsummer
I don’t have a lot of experience with spinning or dyeing yarn and such. But every now and then I get the chance to spend time with a friend who does. My stitching group headed out to a member’s homestead this weekend and we got to play with both natural and not-so natural dyes.
I brought some yarn I spun myself, one was organic merino wool and the other angora and lambs wool (which was terribly over spun out of fear of sucking at spinning).
I also brought the skein of the very first yarn I spun with my drop spindle, which is made of organic bamboo. I have been using the bamboo mostly for offerings, first of fruits and all that. I intended to dye it, packed it and brought it along and everything, but somehow it didn’t come out of the bag.
I also brought some roving (un-spun fibres) and a piece of cloth. The cloth is linen and it was cut into strips and then woven together, it’s very cool. I had originally bought it years ago for the purpose of building a Horned God effigy in my grove. It was going to be His… Continue reading
Protected Birds
For those who are wondering, here is the list of protected birds in Canada. Note that Corvids are not on the list.
Now in some parts of the world you can’t even touch roadkill … in others you can safely gather found dead animals and do as you please, so long as you don’t sell the parts. In other parts of the world you can sell the parts or use them for religious purpose etc. I once found a dead owl on the side of the road at a truck stop, and a RCMP officer helped me remove some feathers and carry it into the woods and say a prayer over the body.
So please, don’t write to me screaming about how I broke laws with my dead neighbour the crow. I know what I’m doing folks.
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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