About Juniper

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

        Happy Birthday, Me! I am 31 Today.

        Last Night, I Dreamed

        Of visiting a friend and her many children and being shown her new born baby girl. (She does not have kids as of yet)

         

        Of being at work and going to do a sale at a house. I knock on the door and a giant animal answers the door. A skunk, or a badger, or some such .. I am not sure which species, but something furry and black and white. He invites me in for tea and I try to sell him free-range beef. He strokes my hair like a creepy old man and I find myself feeling uncomfortable. Then he hands me a bouquet of scotch thistle with a large bee buzzing on it (my mother’s side are Fergusons, guess what’s on our clan badge)

         

        Climbing and camping in very, very tall and massive conifers. A favourite recurring dream of mine.

         

        More substantial posts to come guys.

        Review: Last Year’s Birthday Reading

        So, about a year ago I did a casting and reading for my 30th birthday and shared it with you. I thought that before I do a reading for my 31st birthday, I ought to have a look at last year’s reading and see how accurate it was.

         

        Here we go.

         

        I was concerned that there was nothing in the South. This turned out to be rather true. This past year really wasn’t about passion and fire. It was more practical, getting things done. Not much for adventures. I didn’t get any more worked up about anything than I normally do. I finished some projects, took on a few new things (like the tambourine) … but nothing really, REALLY, lit a fire under me. It was a “put your nose to the grind stone and try to be an adult” kind of year. Boy, I hope next year is a little more interesting.

         

        Acorn and Clear Quartz rolled well away from the cloth and left me wondering why is masculine virility and clarity trying to run away from me? I can’t tell you why, but they have been. The bastards.

         

        Jingle Bell and Tiger… Continue reading

        To Be Alone and Useless

        One of the biggest parts of my Path and practice has been that of a solitary. By that I don’t mean not being a member of a coven. I mean isolation and loneliness. Feeling cut off or different from everyone else. Not having someone with shared and similar experiences to talk to, let alone practice with.

         

        I do have a few friends here in Ottawa (and other places) who have done some Hedgecrossing. But they have only begun to walk those roads, or have crossed only a handful of times. I have yet to meet another spirit worker, ancestor worshipper, Hedgewalker … like me. I know that they are out there. I see them on documentaries about shamans, I read their books, I read their blogs, and I listen to their podcasts. But face to face conversation, no.

         

        Certainly I’ve met plenty of people who seem to think they know what they are doing. Or who do Hedgecrossing and spirit work. But their Path is still very different. No Tricksters, no dealing with the Dead. Their version of the Stag God is one of grapes and fun and sex. Not raw rutting danger, running blood and rotting flesh.… Continue reading

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