40 Days of Peace Event – a Response to the DC40
The 40 Days of Peace is a non-denominational event scheduled to run concurrently with the DC40 movement being organized, and participated in, by select Christian groups and individuals 10/3/11 – 11/22/11. The 40 Days of Peace counter movement, although predominately pagan at its inception, welcomes people of any (or no) religious affiliation. Please understand, this counter movement is not formulated to attack, or really to even directly address, the creators or participants of DC40. Quite the contrary, rather than focus on the potential negative fallout of the DC40 project we wish to focus on positivity, tolerance and joy. Our purpose is to promote peace, love, acceptance of all faiths, freedom of choice, and liberty for all. This will be done by transmuting any negative energy that may be projected by the DC40 movement, aligning our energies to positive outcomes, and by strengthening the spiritual sovereignty of the nation through positive, productive intention and support. This country was built on religious freedom, and the paragon of church and state separation. It is up to us as citizens of this great nation to maintain those ideals through political activism and spiritual intent.
Before we get started let’s establish some loose ground “rules.”
- Whatever you do, do it from the viewpoint of the positive change you would like to see rather than from the viewpoint of what you don’t want to see. In other words, don’t feed any potential negativity by focusing on the negative.
- Do what you feel comfortable doing. If a meditation is suggested in this article, and you aren’t keen on meditation, don’t do it. Instead, do something you are comfortable doing. Perhaps you’d rather have a moment of silence, say a prayer, etc. Follow your heart and your intuition.
- We all have a different view of a higher power. If you believe in one god, than pray to that one god. If you believe in many god(s) and/or goddess(es) then petition any (or all!) of them that you think would like to assist you in your undertaking. Those that consider their practice more spiritual than religious may wish to address their intent to the Universe or the Great Spirit. If you are agnostic or atheist you may be more comfortable concentrating on the words and intentions of our founding fathers. Whatever your idea of deity (or lack thereof) is, please honor that as you come together for this event. It is our collective will that will bring about positive change, agreement on issues of deity are not necessary in order to support each other as fellow human beings.
- If you are outside of the US and wish to lend your time, thought or attention to this cause, your support is welcomed. Please don’t feel alienated just because this article is addressed to US citizens. Connecting with our brothers and sisters worldwide is a blessing!
The DC40 is planned in such a way as to set a different state as “point man” each day of the event, with participants within and outside of the point state praying together for their desired purposes. I have included the schedule at the bottom so that you may see which states are scheduled for which date. This is useful if you wish to concentrate on the state in question on the appropriate dates.
Since the values of the DC40 originators and those of liberty are not exactly in agreement (ok, I’m being real nice here!) than I suggest that we intercept the energy being raised in the DC40 movement, transmute it into something of beauty and tolerance, then release it back into the cosmos. Conversely, if you are more comfortable grounding any negative energy you may intercept, feel free to do so. Mother Nature is great at recycling such things!
So let’s get to the heart of it, what can each and every one of us do during this event? (Please remember to reword any of the below suggestions so that it suits your personal belief system)
1. Prayer
Offer a prayer to your deity (or deities) of choice. Pray for peace, joy, understanding, tolerance, acceptance, or anything else you may feel is appropriate to the cause.
Here is an example:
Radiant Goddess who watches over us, please assist our fellow residents in opening their hearts to one another. Let each person feel the joy that is this world, the love which surrounds us all, and the pride of our great nation. Help our officials stand strong in their vow to protect the founding principles of our country, and aid them in understanding the power they have to make our shared vision of equality a reality.
2. Spellcraft
If you aren’t a witch, you may not be knowledgeable or comfortable on this topic. Feel free to skip it if you wish.
Set up your altar or sacred space in your regular way. If you are using candles I would suggest red, white and blue or course! If this isn’t possible, a white one (for purity of intent, and pure light) will work just fine. If you wish to use oil or incense Dragon’s Blood would be a great choice, as would cinnamon, frankincense, gardenia, myrrh or sandalwood. You may wish to say a chant, create a mojo bag, or even enchant a charm to carry with you.
Some suggestions:
(as a protection from outside energies during this energetically charged time)
Mother of society
Preserver of liberty
Protect us from any energy
Which seeks to attack you or me
(as a simple protection for the sovereignty of the nation)
Goddess of the Harvest Moon
Justice she will deliver soon
Enlighten those led astray
A united nation not to sway
(this one is from Greenflame)
“We call upon all humans to create a life consistent with their true nature, the calling of their hearts, and the highest good of all.
Grounded in the truth that all humans are created equal, we ask that all humans have the courage, willingness, and clarity of perception to embrace one another’s humanity, to band together to reclaim our governing structures from corrupt interests, and to secure our individual rights.
We call upon all humans to recognize injustice, inequality, and manipulation wherever it manifests; to call out the perpetrators; and to ensure that wrongdoers are brought to justice that is grounded in compassion, common sense, and fairness.
It is created as it is spoken.”
3. Energy work
For those who are skilled in such things, energy work will be a very useful tool in this event… especially when combined with intense visualization. Take just a moment each day of the event to focus on the energy being sent out that day. See a giant funnel directing any dark energies into the ground where it is returned to the Mother for recycling. Or, you may choose to direct the energy into the ground or ocean, cleanse it, then use your mental funnel to direct the (now light filled) energy back into the atmosphere.
4. Meditation
There are various ways meditation can be used as a tool in this event. You may wish to connect with your spirit guide or spirit animal and work through them, send a concentrated burst of healing energy in the direction of the point state for the day, or use visualization to envision and project a nation free of hate, intolerance and violence. You may also find it meditative to concentrate on quotes of the forefathers, contemplating the meaning and heart behind the words.
5. Founding fathers
“The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe in blood for centuries.” ~ James Madison
Among the features peculiar to the political system of the United States, is the perfect equality of rights which it secures to every religious sect. ~ James Madison
America united with a handful of troops, or without a single soldier, exhibits a more forbidding posture to foreign ambition than America disunited, with a hundred thousand veterans ready for combat. ~ James Madison
“. . . Thirteen governments [of the original states] thus founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without a pretence of miracle or mystery, and which are destined to spread over the northern part of that whole quarter of the globe, are a great point gained in favor of the rights of mankind.” ~John Adams
“The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
“History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance, of which their political as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purpose.” ~Thomas Jefferson
“No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever.” ~Thomas Jefferson
“Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between church and State.” ~ Thomas Jefferson -letter to Danbury Baptist Association, CT
Here sir, the people govern. ~ Alexander Hamilton
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. ~ Bill of Rights
Use any combination of the above during your participation, or use it simply for inspiration, the choice is yours. May love & light shine on you!
~ Sandy
The 40 Days of Peace event is being moderated on Facebook by Angela Pote, Danielle Stimpson, Sandy Novotny
Final Note: For those who are skilled with Meditation, Energy Work, and Spell Crafting who would like to do more or more intense work, please contact Angela (http://www.facebook.com/angela.pote) or Sandy (http://www.facebook.com/witchescupboard) on Facebook. Angela will be putting together a weekly rolling Meditation to build walls around the point states and DC to harness that energy and transmute it and we will need others to hold these walls.
State Schedule:
Hawaii (50) 10-03-11
Alaska (49) 10-04-11
Arizona (48) 10-05-11
New Mexico (47) 10-06-11
Oklahoma (46) 10-07-11
Utah (45) 10-08-11
Wyoming (44) 10-09-11
Idaho (43) 10-10-11
Washington (42) 10-11-11
Montana (41) 10-12-11
South Dakota (40) 10-13-11
North Dakota (39) 10-14-11
Colorado (38) 10-15-11
Nebraska (37) 10-16-11
Nevada (36) 10-17-11
West Virginia (35) 10-18-11
Kansas (34) 10-19-11
Oregon (33) 10-20-11
Minnesota (32) 10-21-11
California (31) 10-22-11
Wisconsin (30) 10-23-11
Iowa (29) 10-24-11
Texas (28) 10-25-11
Florida (27) 10-26-11
Michigan (26) 10-27-11
Arkansas (25) 10-28-11
Missouri (24) 10-29-11
Maine (23) 10-30-11
Alabama (22) 10-31-11
Illinois (21) 11-01-11
Mississippi (20) 11-02-11
Indiana (19) 11-03-11
Louisiana (18) 11-04-11
Ohio (17) 11-05-11
Tennessee (16) 11-06-11
Kentucky (15) 11-07-11
Vermont (14) 11-08-11
Rhode Island (13) 11-09-11
North Carolina (12) 11-10-11
District of Christ (DC) 11-11-11
New York (11) 11-12-11
Virginia (10) 11-13-11
New Hampshire (9) 11-14-11
South Carolina (8) 11-15-11
Maryland (7) 11-16-11
Massachusetts (6) 11-17-11
Connecticut (5) 11-18-11
Georgia (4) 11-19-11
New Jersey (3) 11-20-11
Pennsylvania (2) 11-21-11
Delaware (1) 11-22-11
Mabon 2011 – Our Altar Set Up and Celebration
My husband and I put together this Mabon Altar on the top of our media stand in the living room so that it can always be front and center in the house, and can be easily reached to be changed with the seasons. I was happy with how this came together since the process was so organic. We got a bee in our bonnet to set it up, so we cleared off the stand on the morning proceeding Mabon and started thinking about the elements, taking turns coming up with just the right thing! The best part was, we discovered our stand was already PERFECTLY aligned. If you look at the picture you will see our representation of earth in the upper right hand corner of the stand, which just so happened to be (as if there were coincidences!) North.
Here’s a little bit about our altar set up:
North/Earth – a plant my daughter received as a gift from a friend last year
East/Air – incense. The picture was taken after our Mabon ritual, so you see incense ash rather than the actual incense in the pic.
Fire/South – candle in a yummy harvest scent. The snuffer is in front of it to remind us not to blow away the energy while extinguishing.
Water/West – water jug. This was a gift from my in-laws a few years ago. It is painted by local Native Americans so it is the perfect energy for the Mabon sabbat!
Spirit/Deity – we decided this god/goddess statue is a perfect representation of our inner spirit. I had found this statue many years ago, I don’t even remember when or where, all I remember is that it was not what anyone would have expected me to like at the time. Yet I was somehow so drawn to it, that I just went ahead and got it. The statue sat in a little corner alcove of the living room, barely visible, for a long time. Eventually it got moved out of sight all together. When we were assembling our altar I originally planned to find an object to represent spirit, then to represent the Lord & Lady with candles in the center of the altar. All of a sudden an image of this statue enter my mind’s eye, and I knew it was just perfect! What better way to represent the spirit within us all than with deities? In all fairness I don’t know that this statue originally was meant to represent deities, but that is certainly what it came to represent to me and my family. Once we had combined our deity representation with our spirit representation, that opened up the center of the altar for something else.
In addition to representations of the elements, we also added a cornucopia (found at a Goodwill store) which we added fresh produce to (apples and avocado,) and three pine cones (one is behind the cornucopia) that my 12 year old decided would be the perfect final touch 
In the evening we invited a friend over, so there were 4 of us, making a nice intimate gathering. We performed a ritual calling the corners, remembering the role of deity in our literal and metaphorical harvests, and offering thanks. We shared an apple and some apple cider to close the ritual. Then we set up a table with fresh cut veggies, yogurt based veggie dip, and banana nut muffins. I had planned on pumpkin muffins but realized I was missing a main ingredient (pumpkin!) when it came to the making of it. The night continued with laughing and merriment, some wonderful tunes by SJ Tucker (from her Sirens CD,) and a movie to close out the festivities. A very enjoyable Mabon celebration was had by all!
Some tips for your Mabon altar:
* get the whole household involved in the altar set up
* try to include things they have sentimental value and hold the energy of exchange and gratitude. We did this by including items that had been gifts from friends or family.
* include at least one natural item
* if you relax and let go of control, the altar will create itself through you and your loved ones.
* don’t worry about shoulds or shouldn’ts, this is your altar so follow your heart and follow your instincts
No worries, that's non-alcoholic apple cider she is pretending to chug!
Anniversary of 9/11, transforming a tragedy…
On September 11, 2001, and in the weeks following, I lost myself in the images of pain and suffering. For hours on end I would watch the news and special reports, wallowing in the travesties unfolding around me. Knowing how helpless I was in the response that took place, I felt I could at least help by honoring the moment, and feeling the pain. As an empath, I don’t know that this was the wisest thing to have done, but I did it none the less… sacrificing my energy on the altar of the collective.
Yesterday was the ten year anniversary of that fateful day. In the days and weeks leading up to it the television and internet were abuzz with memorials and specials on the tragedy. Over and over I was asked to make a choice as to whether to participate in the energy of that day once again, and even whether to go deeper into the tragedy that once tore my heart apart as they dissected the lives of victims and of their survivors. I did watch part of a special on children whose parents died in 9/11, read a couple “where I was” status messages, and passed a memorial flag on Facebook, but other than that I steered clear.
Does this mean that I no longer care about the men and women whose lives were claimed on that terrible day? Quite the contrary. But whereas a decade ago I felt that I could best help by lending my energy to the moment, by hoping and praying for peace and survival for those involved, I no longer feel the call to surrender to the chaos and distress in this moment in history. Rather than wallowing in the pain and suffering, I’d rather focus on the joy of the future. Not in spite of those that have fallen, but in honor of them. There is a tendency to look backward and feel the need to cry and suffer in order to honor people who have passed, especially when they passed in an unnatural and seemingly unnecessary way. But they don’t want your tears, they don’t want your pain, they don’t want your sadness. It doesn’t benefit loved ones, nor strangers. Although they arguably have their place, for the most part pain and suffering are negative energies. Do we honor the dead by perpetuating negativity? Do we honor the dead with our mourning? Or do we honor the dead by celebrating their life, and by celebrating our own? I think we honor them with joy, I think we honor them with love.
So please do not think me cold to have let 9/11 go by with nary a word. It did not pass through my life without impact. It did not pass through my life unnoticed. Rather, it made its mark… a mark that it took me 10 years to transform into something that resembles peace and hope… despite the tears in my eyes as I proof read this paragraph before hitting submit…
~Sandy
Why a Pentacle May Not Have Five Points
In a previous article, Differences Between the Pentacle and the Pentagram, we discussed the differences between these two commonly confused words. But is the explanation satisfactory? One main point of confusion is this… a pentacle doesn’t necessarily have five points. How can this be? It is a commonly known fact that Pent- means five… isn’t it? The etymology of a word is often not that simple. First we need to consider where the word came from.
From the Online Etymology Dictionary: pentacle 1590s, from M.L. pentaculum, a hybrid coined from Gk. pente “five” + L. -culum, dim. suffix. But the exact origin is obscure. It. had pentacolo “anything with five points,” and Fr. pentacle (16c.) was the name of something used in necromancy, perhaps a five-branched candlestick. Fr. pentacol “amulet worn around the neck” (14c.), however, is from pend- “to hang” + a “to” + col “neck.” The same figure as a pentagram, except in magical usage, where is has been extended to other symbols of power, including a six-point star.
Now we start to understand the confusion. We are accustomed to the Greek “pente” and therefore associate the number five with the pentacle. Additionally, the French offers us a direct connection between pentacles and magick with its usage referring to a tool of necromancy. However, the French also offers us an association that I feel is most closely tied to our modern usage and understanding, as well as the usage and understanding demonstrated in surviving texts, the pentacle (or pentacol) meaning “amulet worn around the neck.”
From the Theosophical Society Pantacle or Pentacle An amulet, talisman, a geometrical figure so used. There is much confusion as to the derivation of this word, but it seems most likely that it comes through Italian and French from the root pend- “to hang,” and so is equivalent to a pendant or charm hung about the neck. From the fact that one form of pentacle was the pentagram or star-pentagon, the word itself has been connected with the Greek pente (five). The word is used specially in The Secret Doctrine to denote the pentagram or pentalpha. The Solomon’s seal is another pentacle, and there are many others, including the sigils of the seven planets.
I believe that the etymology effectively demonstrates that a “pentacle” describes an amulet of more, less, or equal to five points. Further proof that a pentagram may be a pentacle, but a pentacle isn’t necessarily a pentagram. Clear as mud right?
Happy Casting!
~Anyanka
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How to Get Someone to Call You Using Magick
Whether you are just starting out, or have been practicing magick for eons, it never hurts to have a few simple spells at the ready to make life just a little bit easier! When I started actively practicing magick in 1994, one of the first techniques I mastered was a simple visualization exercise utilized to facilitate contact with someone. Ok, so that is a fancy way for saying that I was 17 and desperately wanted to hear from the boy I liked… but the first way I phrased it sounds more dignified. The technique could be considered magick, witchcraft, a spell, or even just as a meditative visualization. Amazingly, it worked from the very first time I tried it, plus worked with lightening speed!
The technique I used was based on a meditation I had read about called the Golden Line of Infinity. I had found it in a book (now out of print) entitled “The Occult Sciences: How to Get What You Want Through Your Occult Powers” by Anthony Norvell. I know, the titled totally gives away that I was 17 right? Anyway, the book had some very basic instructions which I used to create a more elaborate scene to direct my focus. I find a more detailed scene helps me to limit the amount of intruding thoughts that can so easily derail a meditation such as this. Here is the method that worked for me.
Start by entering a meditative state, however you normally do so. Breathing slowly, picture a pool of water. I personally see the area around the pool/pond/lake as very dimly lit, perhaps just after dusk but before the night really grabs hold. Or perhaps the way the evening looks under the light of a crescent moon. Hold the image until the water grows very still and the surrounding scenery is utterly quiet. Now picture the person whom you wish to hear from. Take your time to develop the image of this person clearly and solidly. Now picture a fishing line emanating from where you stand/sit and into the water below. See the person’s name in block letters gliding down the fishing line and into the water. As it touches the water it begins to float on the surface, moving steadily toward the direction you believe the person you are trying to contact is located. Eventually, when it feels right, you’ll feel that you have reached this person’s fishing line. See the name travel up the line, and again picture their face. At this point the person is likely to think of you, often even picturing your face, which can result in a call or some other form of contact being initiated (or seemingly so) by them. The first two times I tried this, I received the call I was hoping for in under an hour, despite the fact that I hadn’t heard from the person (whom I was directing this towards) in the previous 3-4 weeks.
Now that you have a technique to try in order to get that person to contact you, an obvious question needs to be addressed. Is this moral? Is this an attempt to bend or circumvent the will of another person? Not really. You aren’t forcing the person to contact you. Instead, you are using your innate gifts/powers to telepathically and passively connect, while hoping that this connection serves as a gentle reminder and/or persuasion. This isn’t much different than standing on the other side of the road waving your hands and saying “Hey! I’m over here!”
~Anyanka
P.S. Feel free to leave me a note below letting me know what you think, and whether this method worked for you!
Want to learn more about witchcraft, magick, or psychic ability? Visit our witch shop!
Differences Between the Pentacle and the Pentagram
Surf a few witchcraft articles, peruse a few Wiccan forums, and you can be left wondering what the difference is between a pentacle and a pentagram. The two terms seemed to be used interchangeably for the most part, yet seem to denote different concepts at other times. Owing to their similarity, the words pentacle and pentagram are often confused. The words pentacle and pentagram are not from the same language root and are not synonyms.
A pentagram is a five-pointed unicursal star drawn with five straight strokes, sometimes known as pentalpha or pentangle. Dating back to the first known civilizations, in Sumer, the pentagram is an ancient symbol indeed. Pentagrams, contrary to popular literature and Hollywood movies, are not inherently “Satanic” or “evil.” Quite the contrary. They have been used as a sign of protection, faith and divinity across many religions and belief systems. Pentagrams have been used to symbolize the 5 wounds of Christ in Christianity; have associations within Freemasonry; have represented the planet Venus; have magical correspondences (such as to the elements of earth, air, fire, water & spirit;) and were used by the medieval neo-pythagoreans. Many Neopagans, especially Wiccans, use the pentagram as a symbol of faith and protection similar to the usage of the Christian cross or the Jewish Star of David.
Eliphas Levi’s Pentagram
from Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa’s Libri tres de occulta philosophia
used in Neopagan tradition to represent earth, air, fire, water and spirit
A pentacle, or pantacle, is an amulet used in magical evocation, generally made of parchment, paper or metal. It does not neccessarily have 5 points, and is often a hexagram or square. The Tarot suit of coins is often called Pentacles, and show discs inscribed with Pentagrams.
The Second Pentacle of Jupiter
The First Pentacle of the Moon
The Golden Dawn’s Earth Pentacle
The Pentacle of the Art, as given in Pietro d’Abano’s Heptameron
The Pentacle of the Art as given in a 19th century publication of The Sixth Book of Moses, incorporating characters of the Alphabet of the Magi. This is an instance when a pentacle happens to be in the shape of a pentagram.
~Anyanka
Note: This is an rewrite of a guide I wrote for eBay in 2007.
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Passing out Bibles in Public School?
My daughter (who is 12 years old and in 6th grade at a local public school) came home from school today with a little orange book. I saw her put it on the table and, curious, asked her what it was as it seemed too small to be a school book. Imagine my surprise when she hands it to me and it is the “New Testament plus Psalms & Proverbs.” Now I am even more surprised, because she hasn’t been anywhere except school today.
“Where did you get this?” I inquire.
“There were 3 elderly people at the school with boxes of them.” She replies
With some further Q&A to clarify the situation, I discovered that this occurred during recess. At my daughter’s school there is a courtyard which the classrooms are built around. At the north and south ends of the courtyard are gates which each lead to a parking lot. From what I know so far, it seems the school permitted 3 strangers to stand at the gates by the parking lot, accost the children as they passed through the gates on the way to the field for recess, and hand them each a Christian holy book. I want to clarify that I haven’t talked to the school yet, so I can not verify that the school administrators intentionally allowed this. However, my daughter did confirm that several teachers saw them at the gates handing out the books, and a couple even accepted books from the strangers, so it doesn’t seem that (at least these) school representatives had any problem with this.
I am bothered by this situation. On a personal level I feel that children should certainly be allowed to seek a path, they are, after all, people too. But these kids weren’t seeking this, it was brought to them, handed to them without explanation. Should they be presented with a one sided testament, unbeknownst to their parents, and without parental consent? Should they be handed such a heavy piece of literature with potentially no one to guide them or help them to understand its meaning and implications? What if this shined a light on religious difference within the school community and created a hostile atmosphere for children who do not share the belief in this book? My daughter has already had to defend her right to wear a pentagram necklace, and explain that it is not the devil’s star, on more than one occasion. Isn’t it reasonable to entertain the possibility that this could even trigger a wave of bully behavior?
Whatever happened to the separation of church and state? This wasn’t during a voluntary, after school activity… it was during regular school hours! These children weren’t asked if they wanted one, it was pushed into their hands. And though it does seem that the school permitted this activity (to be confirmed,) at the very least they didn’t prevent it.
I asked my daughter what she thought of this situation. To be certain to get a legitimate reaction from her, I didn’t tell her my thoughts quite yet.
“I thought it was offensive Mom.” ~daughter
“Why is that?” ~me
“Well, what if some of the kids aren’t Christian?” ~daughter
Always wishing to be honest with her, I told her the truth. “That’s the point. They hand out literature in hopes of converting them,” I explained.
“Mom? Does the bible say anything bad about gay people?” ~daughter
I wonder where that came from? “Yes, some interpretations of the bible contain statements considered anti-gay.” ~me
“There are a few gay kids at my school, won’t that hurt them?” ~daughter
My beautiful girl can be so darn smart sometimes.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve read the bible. Several times. I’ve even read the bible to my daughter. Heck, she has (at least) one in her room. Right next to her Wicca book. And a beginners guide to Reiki When my daughter was going to read “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry” in English class I had to sign a permission slip. But when she is going to be given her own personal copy of a book that has been used as the excuse for mass murder for 2 millennium, I get nothing? Does this make sense?
And if all of this isn’t reason enough to be disturbed, there is the extremely important issue of safety. Under whose authority can 3 strangers stand on the edge of a parking lot, and interact with children who do not know them, in an uncontrolled setting? I don’t know if this is the norm, but when my daughter was in elementary school I had to submit to a background check before I could chaperone any field trips. Were background checks performed on these people being allowed on school grounds? How was my daughter’s safety, and the safety of her classmates, guarded during this time? What was to prevent one of these strangers from pulling a kid into a car in that lot, and taking off with them? Would anyone had even known before recess was over?
I need to find out what the school did and did not know, did and did not permit, and what my rights are in a situation like this. And most importantly, I need to find out what day they want me there to hand out copies of Cunningham’s Book of Shadows? After all, I should have every right to rebuttal right? Yeah, right. LOL!
~Anyanka Jean
Author Bronwen Forbes passes over to Summerland
I wish you peace sister Bronwen
I am sorry to report that pagan author Bronwen Forbes passed away of a heart attack April 10, 2011 at 11pm eastern time. The heart attack was apparently brought on as a side effect of her chemo treatment. Active in the pagan community since 1985, Bronwen has contributed many articles from her experience, and has authored 3 books.
1st Make Merry In Step and Song: A Seasonal Treasury of Music, Mummer’s Plays & Celebrations in the English Folk Tradition
“See the blazing Yule before us…” This is just one of the many ancient British folk songs we all know and love. Other tunes and symbols that tug on our memories have similar historical roots, hearkening back to a shared Pagan past. These dances, songs, and theatrical plays in the English folk tradition are now little known to most of the modern Pagan community. Reviving these vital traditions can bring new life to Renaissance festivals, neopagan rituals, and community events.
Introducing the lively music and homegrown entertainments of times long past, this descriptive how-to is designed for twenty-first-century joviality. The songs, dances, and plays of old are explained in their mythical, seasonal, and historical significance and outlined for easy reenactment. Simple-to-follow instructions detail six dances including the popular Abbots Bromley Horn dance, six full scripts for dramatic performances of Mummer’s Plays (folk plays of death and rebirth), and over thirty songs with lyrics and music. Kick up your heels, hold high your skirts, and make merry the year through.
2nd Mint Juleps, Mud Pie and MacBeth
Everyone who has ever acted onstage or worked behind the scenes of a play knows that Shakespeare’s shortest, bloodiest play, MacBeth, is cursed. Actors and audience members have died during performances, storms have destroyed theaters where it was playing, and even quoting famous lines from the play can bring about show-stopping disaster. So when the tackiest, most tasteless dinner theater in the Midwest launches its own musical version of MacBeth, complete with dancing witches, an unruly dog, a Wiccan assistant stage manager and the Curse, things are bound to get interesting.
3rd The Small-Town Pagan’s Survival Guide: How to Thrive in Any Community
Is it possible for Pagans to find fellowship and be themselves in all communities? This book offers a bounty of ways to nourish your Pagan soul in small towns, suburbs, and every place in between. Learn from the author’s own experiences and get valuable advice on adapting to a new community, revealing your beliefs, connecting with other Pagans, and maintaining your spirituality without the advantages of a big city. Also contributing to this vital discussion are Pagans from across the country who offer hard-won wisdom on making friends, dating, raising children, and staying true to yourself and your spirituality.
Bronwen was a co-founder of the Free Spirit Alliance, a spiritual networking organization serving the Pagan and Pantheist religious communities. You can visit her blog - Do or do not, there is no try: Chronicles of an Erudite Domestic Goddess
Here is one of my favorite articles by Bronwen – How Pagan is “Pagan Enough”?
Blessings to her friends, family, and furry friends left behind. May you have peace.
With love & light
~Anyanka Jean
Mercury Retrograde Adherence in Action
Mercury Retrograde… the astrologically savvy get a little weak-kneed at the mention of it. I barely exaggerate when I say that the fear of an approaching Mercury Rx (retrograde) was nearly palatable in years past. The conditioning of countless retrogrades that had seemingly gone oh-so-wrong would flash through my head like a bad movie. As time has gone on I have done my best to take the whole issue in a new way, to gain a fresher, healthier perspective. As such, I have vowed to use THIS Mercury Retrograde period the way it was intended to be used; to rethink, revisit, contemplate and meditate.
This may sound easy enough, but it isn’t. I am constantly 20 steps behind where I feel I should be, where I know I should be, and where I want to be. At least 20 steps. When you feel like you are constantly playing catch up, time outs are especially difficult. Especially when you feel the pressure of unfulfilled potential brimming in your abdomen on a daily basis. But I have learned (fingers crossed!) that swimming against the tide during a Mercury Rx is no place for this little fishy to be, lest I flop again. I have spent so much of my life feeling like I never get anything done because I am always repeating myself, having to reinvent myself, and having the rug pulled out from under me. Now I realize that feeling was… accurate. I am a victim of Murphy’s Law. Daily perhaps. When I have not been mindful of the Mercury Rx, and when I have been aware but have been too stubborn to play it right, I have inevitably begun all my important new projects during a Mercury Rx. I have also sent important communications, made vital decisions, made large purchases, and countless other no-nos. Although it is true that most people who are unaware, or in denial, of the effects the Mercury Rx will also do these things, I seem to only do them during a retrograde period. Therefore, I spend a great deal of my time revisiting my often unfulfilled ideas, repeating phone calls, revamping decisions, contacting IT support, and filing warranty claims. These consequences of an ill spent retrograde period I have been well aware of for years, yet somehow I continue to perpetuate poor retrograde behavior nonetheless. The good news is, I think this time it may have finally sunk in. Here’s a glimpse into my thought process. Perhaps you can relate, or perhaps you can learn from it. If nothing else, maybe it will give you a laugh.
So, 17 years as a witch (half my life no less!) and I did it again. I lost track. I’m going to be totally honest here, I only knew the Mercury Rx was at hand because the site I get my horoscopes from sent me warning email 2 days prior to the main event. I used to keep track, but I haven’t been very good at keeping track of the planetary movements over the last few months. The shame of it all. So, I get the email and think to myself “Ok self, now what? How are we going to handle this?” At which point I think I was in serious danger of sweeping the matter under the rug… again. Right up until I realized that I hadn’t done… my taxes. And unless I got them done over the following 1-2 days, they would be done during the retrograde. Crap. Granted, taxes aren’t a new thing, but they are a communication thing. So what did I do? Nothing. Again. But I felt bad about it, does that count? So here we are, 2 days into the retrograde, and I haven’t started my taxes. This realization has brought me to the bigger realization. I do this…. all the time. Gee, no wonder life gets so wonky and deja vu for me. Duh. Ok, so let’s assume I’m going to cease being a Nick-at-Night reruns kinda gal and do it differently this time. Let’s do one better, instead of assuming… let’s just make it so.
First step: let’s examine the evidence pointing to impending wonkiness. This will be done to convince the brain what the gut already knows, this is a problem and it needs to be addressed by changing ones reaction to the situation both now and in the future. What, if any, things have failed, or at least struggled, when begun during a Mercury Retrograde? Marketing programs, writing attempts, fitness programs, new business ventures, ok that’s enough. I know this, I know this! Is anything going on now? Well, I discovered today that I have been paying more shipping to one of my suppliers because I go into my account through one portal instead of another. Somehow I had set up the account with the alternate portal, but failed to make the switch, not realizing there would be benefits to ceasing use of the previous portal. This has cost me for months. (I know, you have no clue what I am talking about… but I need to riddle this out.) But that’s a good thing I discovered it right? That’s not an issue now. Well, that depends. Mercury Retrogrades are not just about things going wonky now, they also include things that have been wonky for some time (usual since a previous retrograde period) coming into focus now. So this is likely evidence that my lack of appreciation for a previous retrograde period is to blame.
Ok, check, now what else? Well, I’m not the world’s best speller, but I hold my own. So why does it seem that I am misspelling every third word? (Side note, I misspelled “misspelling” three times just now because my hands and/or brain wouldn’t function. Case in point.) The Mercury retrograde messes with electronics, and the power strip connected to my computer stopped working the other day. It has this button you push at the end of the day that turns off most of the plugs but leaves on the 1 or 2 on that you don’t want to turn off. This is a great way to reduce vampire power usage (your appliances use approximately 20% of their energy while in standby mode) benefiting the environment and ones pocketbook. So the button stops working the other day (not during the retrograde, but it was during the shadow just prior) and I can no longer turn off the power strip, which is distressing. More distressing is when it turns itself off 2 days later, while my computer was on!! After that it has been fine. Huh?!? How can that be? Oh I don’t know, how can it be that both my phone batteries were dead when they had both been charging all night? Or that I failed to hear hubby texting me yesterday (my cell has caller id announce) but heard the text from dictionary.com’s word of the day a couple minutes later? How about the fact that I have had to shut my browser down a couple times a day because I stop being able to type, even though it will still let me browse so it isn’t frozen? These could all be coincidences I guess, just like it is a coincidence that hubby’s fuel pump (only about 1 1/2 years old) went up yesterday, the Roku player wouldn’t connect, an affiliate program I tried to sign up with gave me an error message but no way to fix the error, my washer froze during the spin cycle for 2 hours for no reason, and the electronic locks on my car are engaging on the driver’s side when I try to get in after unlocking it with my key fob. As if all that isn’t frustrating enough, my ecommerce solution emailed me yesterday to let me know that they aren’t raising my monthly rate, they are just discontinuing the discount I currently receive for subscribing to multiple products of theirs. This is somehow resulting in my rate being nearly twice as much as it is now with the discount, and 25% higher than my current rate before the discount, despite the fact that they aren’t “raising” my rate. Um, ok. The list goes on and on, let’s just be a believer and move on.
I’ve established that wonkiness has already ensued, so I need to take a look at the undertakings I had planned for the next couple of weeks in order to reevaluate the wisdom of sticking to said plans. Since my ecommerce guys aren’t being real honest, and are charging an exorbitant amount, I planned to switch (begrudgingly) to a new provider. This is a pain, and I’m concerned what effects it will have on my search engine rankings, but it looks to be a necessary evil. I had considered this previously after some of my favorite features were removed, so I already knew which company I was likely to move to when I chose to do so. That’s a decision I made previously, at least tentatively, so I wonder if it falls under the no major decisions rule or not? Best to err on the side of caution and wait until after the retrograde, which will be cutting it close since I need to complete the move by April 30th and the retrograde will end just 1 week prior. *Gulp* Ok, I can do this. Sticking to the plan. I’ll totally be able to get the site moved in a week, right? Moving on. I had planned to write more; blog posts, periodical submissions, in the book(s) I’m writing, etc. That’s ongoing, not new, so it should be cool. Hmmm, except it is communication. *frowny face* Ok, I’ll write but I’ll be sure to reread what I wrote after the retrograde and do revisions then. I planned a yardsale, that should be safe enough provided I remember to put the signs out tonight and considering I totally forgot to advertise it. I wanted to do some marketing for the webstore, which is pretty passive and old news so it should be ok as long as I look over my campaigns carefully prior to submission. I also planned to read this book about Isis that it took me a year to get my hands on, that will fit in nicely as a retrograde compatible activity. I wanted to start my exercise program which has kinda fallen to the back burner, but after that sad attempt I made 3 days ago (don’t ask) best to wait until the end of the month. And finally, I planned to start taking appointments for tarot readings again, signalling the end to my spiritually imposed hiatus that came on unexpectedly a few months back to assist me with a current growth process.
So planning, but not doing; writing, but not submitting (except for blog posts;) purging my house of useless stuff, and not adding more; marketing, but carefully; reading, being sure to take notes as the info may fly right out of my head during this time; not starting my exercise plan per se; but some walking in the interim will work; resuming my tarot readings as a spiritually productive tool. Add in some cleaning, and a healthy dose of meditation, and it sounds like a plan!
Now the question is… what are you going to do and why?
Wishing you a safe and productive Mercury Retrograde! See you on the other side
~Anyanka Jean
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Customer Appreciation Giveaway #2 – Tarot Readings & more!
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We are giving away (3) free tarot readings (no purchase necessary) to kick off our Customer Appreciation Extravaganza! PLUS, free readings with purchase! Read on for all the details! Continue reading Customer Appreciation Giveaway #2 – Tarot Readings & more!
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