The Secret Life of the American Working Witch

The Sunday Stew: February 12-18

2012-02-12T09:01:00.000-05:00

This week's stew is a bit on the heavy side, so bring your appetite. As many of you have heard, singer Whitney Houston died yesterday in her hotel room of (as of yet) undetermined causes. Her life was one of many rises and falls, all in the public eye, and she was both loved and pitied by many. May she find peace in the next phase of her journey.

Several of you are also aware of a video that went viral around the social media sphere of a dad who got fed up with his almost 16 year old daughter's rebellion on Facebook and took matters into his own hands. It sparked a lot of emotion and controversy on both sides of the issue. Nalaya Oddly will be hosting a chat to discuss on Tuesday if you're interested. Read more here.

Another great blog to which I subscribe is called Rune Soup. I highly recommend it. Here's a sample: "Why Aren't You Fighting Dirty?"

In the News:

Villagers set woman accused of witchcraft ablaze
The origins of Valentine's Day- Lupercalia
New course teaches the history of the Salem Witch Trials
Salem's official witch moves her shop online
Pagan Community Notes from The Wild Hunt
Pop Singer Whitney Houston dead at age 48

Several people have asked me lately if I knew any good resources for becoming a vegetarian. I posted a request on Facebook, and several people were gracious enough to share their experiences with me. One of my favorite bloggers/FB friends actually wrote a blog to accommodate me. If you have questions or are interested in learning about it, our dear Miss Pettey of the Knitting Kitchen Witch has the answers. Click here to read more.

Happy Birthday this week to Judas Antenesque, Shelby Dilley, MorInanna Eaglesong, Lydia Pagnotti, Vicky Hollar, Bill Lazdowski, Crystal Harper, Nicole Zurcher, Green Tara, and Dusty Miller. May this next year of your life bring you joy, peace, happiness and abundance in all good things!

Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo

Welcome to another week of the Pagan Lore!

Sunday, February 12
On this date in the year 1663, the infamous clergyman Cotton Mather was born in Boston, Massachusetts. (This is certainly one birthday no Witch would ever celebrate!) His writings and sermons condemning the practice of the Old Religion contributed greatly to the hysteria of the 1692 Salem Witch-hunt. Cotton Mather died in Boston, one day after his birthday, in the year 1728.

Monday, February 13
On this date, an annual holiday called the Parentalia was observed in ancient Rome. It lasted until the twenty-first of February and was a time for families to honor and commemorate their deceased loved ones, particularly their parents. During the week of Parentalia, all temples in Rome were closed and all wedding ceremonies forbidden. Ancestral tombs were visited and offerings of wine and flowers were made to family ghosts.

Tuesday, February 14
Saint Valentine's Day. This is a day dedicated to all lovers, and the traditional time for Witches around the world to practice all forms of love magick and love divination. This day is sacred to Juno-Lupa, the she-wolf Goddess of the ancient Roman religion. In early times, she was honored annually on this day by a women's fertility festival and the sacrifice of a female wolf.

Wednesday, February 15
On this date in ancient Rome, a festival known as the Lupercalia (Feast of the Wolf) was celebrated to honor the god Lupercus and to mark the beginning of Spring. The festival, which was a rustic ritual of both purification and fertility magick, also included the sacrifice of goats and dogs to the god Faunus (identified by classical writers as the horned goat-god Pan). During the orgiastic festival, young men would choose their sexual partners by drawing the names of young women out of a bowl.

Thursday, February 16
In the distant past, a rite called the Devil's Dance was performed annually on this date (approximately) as part of the Tibetan New Year festival. Monks wearing grotesque masks would dance for hours as a village sorcerer exorcised demons and the evil influences of the past year with various magickal incantations.

Friday, February 17
On this day, according to Hindu religion and mythology, the fearsome goddess known as Kali was born and the world entered into the Kali Yuga (the "Evil Age"). Kali, the creator/destroyer-Goddess, was depicted with black skin, a hideous face, and four arms. In ancient times, human sacrifices were made to appease her and to satisfy her thirst for blood.

Saturday, February 18
On this day, a festival of women known as the Spenta Armaiti was held annually throughout the country of Persia. Ancient fertility rites were performed by temple priestesses in honor of the Goddess Spandarmat, and the Goddess who dwells within all women was honored and invoked with special prayers and meditations.

Wishing everyone a Happy Valentine's Day -- see you next week!
Karen

This Week in Astrology

The Last Quarter Moon is at 12:04pm EST on Tuesday, February 14.
"On Tuesday afternoon, the Last Quarter Moon will be exact, when the Sun in Aquarius squares the Moon in Scorpio. The Last Quarter Moon phase points to some sort of crisis of consciousness. After basking in the awareness symbolized by the full light of the Moon at the time of last week's Full Moon, we disperse our knowledge and come to a point when we need to sort out what works for us--and what doesn't--in preparation for next week's New Moon, when something new is born once again. This is not the best time to start a major project, as the decreasing light of the Moon symbolizes a descent into unconsciousness. It's time to begin finishing up the details of that which was conceived at the last New Moon on January 23rd. What revelations did you have last week? What did they mean for you? What can be done now?" ~ More at http://cafeastrology.com

This Week's Tarot: 9 of Coins (Pentacles)

Vanessa Tarot

Key words/phrases: tact, diplomacy, self-control, restraint, poise, grace, reward.

The Nine of Coins is about achievement, wealth and possessions earned through hard work, determination and self-reliance.

The message is that happiness can be achieved when we are living out our purpose and chosen goals in life.

Questions to ask: Am I enjoying what I do (my work)? Am I living my life on my own terms, not to the expectations of others? Am I nourishing my sense of self-respect and remembering what I have accomplished thus far?

The message here is that you are capable of attaining whatever you choose- you have all the tools and fortitude to make it happen. Believe in yourself and remember, it is the journey and not the destination that matters.

This Week's Totem: Spider

Spiders in Myth

Spiders are very delicate creatures that play an important role in nature, as well as the myths and stories of mankind.

To the Native Americans, Spider is Grandmother, the link to the past and future. In India it's associated with Maya, the weaver of illusions. In Greek mythology, Arachne, challenger and offender of the goddess Athena , after realizing her folly, became so ashamed that she hung herself. Athena took pity upon her and reincarnated her as a spider. All her descendants would be master weavers of webs. In West Africa, spider is Anansi, the trickster (much like coyote in Native American tales). In the Torah, David was hiding from the King’s soldiers in a cave, and a spider spun a web over the cave. The soldiers ignored the cave because of the web, and David was saved from death; and there is a similar story about Mohammed in Islamic belief.

In several traditions, it is bad luck to kill a spider in your home.

Spiders, naturally

Spiders are generally very shy and want to be left alone. Contrary to popular belief, they do not bite you in your sleep and leave a trail of marks on your body. Those are caused by things like MRSA, mites, ticks, fleas and other types of bugs. Spiders are not blood-suckers and have no reason to feed on you. They play an extremely important role in the eco-system, and are fabulous pest-controllers.

Spider as Totem

Spider is the totem of writers, artists and weavers. Spider’s message is that all living things are connected, and our past and future, this life and the afterlife ,male and female, physical and spirit. Spider weaves the relationship of the Web of Life and all other beings.

Strength and gentleness are balanced in this message. The web is delicate, but can withstand many storms.

Spider is said to have taught the primordial alphabet to man, and can assist you in creative writing. Spider is shaped like a number 8 and has 8 legs and most have 8 eyes(8 represents the infinite possibilities of creation). The legs represent the 4 winds of change and the 4 directions of the medicine wheel in Northern American indigenous beliefs.

Spider’s message is that you are an infinite creature, and you weave your destiny. All you weave affects the rest of the web. Use those many eyes at your disposal to see different angles. Most of all – create!

And, lastly, one of my favorite quotes for all of my readers: "My darling girl, when are you going to realize that being normal is not necessarily a virtue?" ~Aunt Frances Owens, Practical Magic

That's it for this week's stew. Mull, digest, enjoy :)
Sláinte,
Kallan

Friday Frolic: Random Roaming :)

2012-02-10T11:27:00.001-05:00

Happy Friday!

This week, I'm going to take you with me to several different places for a random roaming session. So, let's give our mouse-fingers a little workout.

First, the more serious.

Our beloved Sosanna has put out a call to action for all magic/light-worker types to join her for a ritual in addressing bullying. Check it out here

Are you in the Pittsburgh/Western PA area and interested in learning about Wicca? My BFF, Snowy Morrigan is one of the absolute best teachers in the world, and is holding a Spring Wicca 101 class at her shop, Eye of Nuit. I can tell you that these classes fill up really fast, so if you're interested, make sure you reserve your spot here.

Remember the picture to the left? My friend Pixie Allen has more awesome works and a new Facebook Page called Red Pixie Art. If you're on Facebook, please do stop by, visit her page and Like it. The details on how to order your favorite pieces are on the page. Click here to get there ;)

Are you looking for a really great online Pagan community? I have just the place for you. My buddy Nyx has created/updated this wonderful site. Lots of great folks already there. They are all lovely and welcoming, and you can be sure the site is in good hands with Nyx! Click on the banner to get there:

Many of you are interested in steering clear of GMO (genetically modified organisms) food. Here's a good shopping guide. Also, if you're wanting to be sure you don't accidentally purchase a GMO food, here's how to I.D. them
UPDATE: See Sushi Q's comment. Here's the link that says the ID thing isn't valid: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-smith/plu-codes-do-not-indicate_b_473088.html

For those of you in the United States, you may remember in school going for the Presidential Fitness Award.

Did you know that you can sign up for two different adult awards as well? I'm taking on the President's Challenge myself over the next 6 weeks. 30 minutes a day for five days a week is the exercise challenge. You can record your progress and at the end, you can get the award. For those of you who are thinking, "Pshaw! I can do 30 minutes and THEN some", there's a more rigorous and challenging program for you too.
Check it out here :)

As many of you were so kind to send me good wishes, you know that Tuesday was my birthday. I want to thank all of you who either posted on Facebook or sent me emails and e-cards for your kindness and remembrance. You are the best online friends anyone ever had :)
And, as a bonus, I got my Witches Almanac on my birthday as well. If you've never ordered one, they are fabulous. I've been collecting them for years.
Check them out here:

That's it for this week's frolic. Have a great weekend, and I'll see you on Sunday for The Stew.

K

The Sunday Stew: February 5-11

2012-02-05T10:06:00.000-05:00

It's time for the Sunday Stew. For those who celebrated Imbolc/Lughnassadh/Brighid's Day/Candlemas, I hope it was all you wanted.

This week, we have a full moon in Leo, Neptune goes into Pisces and some delicious divinations as well as Karen's Pagan Lore. Come in, sit a spell and we'll serve it up for you, nice and hot.

In the News:

Witches' Coven to Take Manhattan's Union Square This Summer
Religious Materials Debate Continues in Buncombe County
Veteran Director of The Wicker Man set to film in Shetland
UK Pagans: Sign up now for Pendle Witch Walk

7th Grader Suspended for Saying, "I love you" in her native language

Judge: Obama eligible to be Georgia candidate

Happy Birthday this week to Annie Dixon, Silver Grey Eagle, me, Susun Weed, Micaela DeChaves, Danni Suplicki, Stacie Austin, and Shelly Gross. May your next year of life be filled with joy, peace, happiness and blessings in abundance :)

Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo

Good morning -- time for this week's Pagan Lore!

Sunday, February 5

On this date in the year 1962, the Great conjunction of the Sun, Moon, Venus, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn occurred in the sign of Aquarius. Also, on this day the annual Feast of Ia is celebrated in honor of, and to invoke the power of, the Sacred Maiden of the Pagan mythos.

Monday, February 6

Throughout northern Japan, a centuries-old winter snow festival takes place each year around this time of the month. The ancient and beneficial spirits that bring life-sustaining water are honored at special shrines erected in huts resembling Eskimo igloos. A festival in honor of the love goddess Aphrodite was held each year on this date in ancient Greece.

Tuesday, February 7

On this date (approximately), the annual spring fertility festival known as Li Chum is celebrated in China. Bamboo and paper effigies of a water buffalo (an animal which symbolizes "new life") are carried through the streets by a temple-bound procession. After reaching the temple, the effigies are set on fire in the belief that prayers for prosperity will be taken up to heaven by the rising smoke.

Wednesday, February 8

The annual nighttime ritual known as the Star Festival is celebrated on this date (approximately) in China. The stars that influence the fate of mankind are honored by the lighting of 108 small lanterns on a special altar, and prayers are offered to the sacred stars that governed one's birth.

Thursday, February 9

In northern Norway, the Narvik Sun Pageant is held annually on this date in honor of the ancient Pagan Goddess who rules over the Sun. The festival, which has been celebrated since pre-Christian times, begins at sunrise and continues throughout the day until the shadows of evening darken the sky.

Friday, February 10

An ancient African festival marking the beginning of the fishing season and the New Year is celebrated annually on this day by members of the Kebbawa tribe of Nigeria. The ancient gods of their religion are honored and invoked, and traditional fish divinations are performed. In pre-Christian times, the Goddess Anaitis was honored on this day in the country of Persia (now Iran). She was a deity who was said to have possessed great powers over the Moon and the seas.

Saturday, February 11

Each year on this date, millions of faithful men, women, and children make a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady in Lourdes. A spring in the village of Lourdes, France, is believed by many to possess curative powers. The pilgrims bathe in the water in the hope that it will heal their illnesses and disabilities.

Wishing everyone a wonderful week, until next time!

Karen

This Week in Astrology

The Full Moon takes place on February 7 at 4:54am EST.

"The Leo-Aquarius polarity deals with the balance between all that is personal (Leo) and all that is impersonal (Aquarius). The energy of the Leo Moon is creative self-expression and the boost to the individual ego that we receive through pleasure and romance, while the Aquarius Sun rules the group, more impersonal friendships, and objectivity. This Full Moon urges us to strike a balance between romance and friendship, and between expressing ourselves in personal and impersonal ways.

The Leo Moon is proud and intensely individual--not content with simply being just one of the team. The Aquarius Sun, while individualistic as well, values independence and the "team". The Full Moon illuminates this conflict."

Other sites for Full Moon in Leo and Neptune in Pisces info:

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Leo-Full-Moon-February-7-by-Cathy-Lynn-Pagano-120202-307.html

http://cosmicpotential.blogspot.com/2012/02/full-moon-in-leo-2012.html

http://mooncircles.com

Weekly Tarot Card:10 of coins (pentacles)

Vanessa Tarot

This week's card is all about material wealth and abundance. Key words/phrases: inheritance, affluence, tranquility, permanence, being conventional, achievement, community, celebration, family, loyalty, community.

This message is almost self-explanatory, given the key words and phrases. There is an aura of prosperity around men and women in business. If you're wondering how your latest venture will turn out, this is your answer. When we achieve this kind of financial stability, convention sets in. We don't want to lose what we have, and we may decide not to take risks because we like where we are. We want to stick with the tried-and-true now, and not make waves.
While change is a part of life, too much change causes too much stress, and we need to be able to build a solid foundation. If you're in the middle of flux, this message is to have a long-term future view right now. It's time to settle down and build toward a long-lasting solution.
It's also about appreciating what you have already attained. Being grateful for what you have, and enjoying family/friends and community.

Weekly Totem: Raven

Magic, Healing, Creation or Destruction, Death, Ill-Omens- Your choice.

Much like their cousins, the crows, ravens have been both revered and reviled throughout time.

When revered, he is known as the keeper of ceremonial magic, totem of mystics, messenger from the Great Void, and assistant in Creation.

When reviled, he is the portender of death, destruction, ill omens, back luck and reaper of souls.

Regardless, raven is always seen as a messenger. How the message is received depends on the relationship the receiver has with Raven. As a lover of all things corvid, I see them in a positive light. Raven's message is that magic is in the air, and special things are about to happen. Even in destruction there is rebirth and renewal. Raven can also carry messages between this world and the other, and in many Native Nations' beliefs, he is the totem of smoke signals and spirit-messages. He can also carry your intentions for healing/prosperity into the Universe. Whether you send or receive the message, it's there for you this week.

For your viewing edutainment, I'm posting this video. The creators are obviously biased toward the raven, but it's a nice education on how to tell crows and ravens apart:

That's it for this week's stew. Mull, digest, enjoy :)

Sláinte,

Kallan

Brighid and MorRhioghan and Me

2012-02-02T11:21:00.000-05:00

Esther Remmington Art

It's Brighid's Day, and I'm going to share a personal experience I had when I first began honoring the déithe* of my ancestors- the Gaels of Ireland and Scotland. In my tradition, it's a changing of the guard. The MorRhiogan and Brighid change rulership at this time, symbolically speaking. For some, the changing is between Callieach and Brighid, but you'll see why that doesn't fit for me.

Disclaimer: I don't expect anyone else to believe or even understand what I went through or practice now. I believe spirituality is experiential to the individual and the group (when practiced together), so if you disagree or think I'm crazy or stupid, I get it. Believe me, I do. Most of it goes against what intelligent, free-thinkers would like to see from me, but it happened and I can't be anything less than authentic with you.

When I first began researching in earnest, I came across Brighid. She represents smith-craft, poetry, and healing.

At that point in my life, I wanted to connect with that hearth-and-home healer who was also a poet; and I really believed that Brighid was going to be my 'matron goddess' (I was into Wicca at the time). She's a loving sort. Very protective, kind, considerate... all the things I thought I needed (and that my kids needed as well). I believed she'd be a great household deity to have around. We'd been through a really horrible few years, and we needed the kind of healing she could bring.

From the moment I made that decision, strange things began to happen. My oldest daughter became fascinated with all things Brighid. She wanted books, statuary, whatever I could find, because Brighid was her goddess, and she knew it without a doubt. I secretly envied her absolute belief, because I wasn't sure about anything, even if gods or goddesses existed at that point.

I'd been through many years in Christianity, then into Messianic Judaism and a very near conversion to Judaism in my life, and she was actually the one who said, "You know, mom; the only time I've really seen you happy and at peace was when you were doing your native american/pagan thing", which had given me permission somehow to be myself (long story for another time).

So, to say I was skeptical was an understatement.

I had begun studying Wicca, and had reached a certain level, but something just seemed superficial about it to me. I really struggled with it, and thought that by choosing a matron goddess, it might help me connect on a deeper level. I liked the idea that my daughter was certain of her choice, and I decided we'd make that our family deity for the time.

The next morning, I woke up to a stack of crow feathers placed at my front door. They were neatly arranged in a pile on the doormat. Now, my neighbors all kept to themselves, and I was surrounded by woods, so I couldn't figure out who would do that. I asked the kids, who all swore they knew nothing about it and in fact, had been sleeping the whole time (I was the first one out the door that day).

A family of crows moved into the woods next to my house and began establishing a relationship with me that week. The largest crow (whom I identified as the leader and saw as a female) figured out which bedroom window was mine, and would begin at 5am pecking at the window if I didn't have food out there for them. They would 'caw' at me whenever I'd come outside, and I had several really cool experiences with them over the course of my stay there. To say I fell in love with them would not be an adequate expression of our relationship at all. I could write for days on those experiences alone. But, I digress.

That night, I had dreams of a woman with long, dark auburn hair. She kept shape-shifting into a wolf, a snake and a crow. She wanted me to take her hand and follow her. She was covered in tattoos, dressed like a warrior (the best way I can describe that is to think of the Xena days.. lol) and kept trying to put a weapon (sometimes a staff, sometimes a sword) in my hand.

I can never remember exactly what she said to me in the dreams, but the gist was that we were supposed to walk together and she would teach me how to fight in a different way (being a martial artist, that appealed to me greatly). I do remember her telling me that at the end of my life, she would take me to other worlds (she said them in Gaelic, but at the time, I didn't know what they were).

This went on for several nights, and I really thought it was just a weird dream, until I spoke with a good friend about it, who owned the local witchy shop. She asked if I'd ever heard of the Celtic goddess of war and death.

I hadn't, so I began doing some serious research, and found the MorRhiogan**. She wasn't just a war/death goddess, but in doing a lot of digging, I found where she was associated with the land, life, death, afterlife, shape-shifting, witchcraft, etc... and, I also found more about my ancestral beliefs, which is what I really connect with most, spiritually speaking. She spoke to me in many ways- signs, dreams, etc... that I won't post here for time and space's sake.

But, I get it when someone says, "The gods choose you- you don't choose them." And, in her archetype and messages, I grew in strength and empowerment that had long been forgotten or destroyed within me. She took up residence, cleaned house and restored order in ways I couldn't have imagined possible. And, whether that's my own mind creating it, or a real spiritual being doesn't matter to me. I am deeply grateful and indebted to her. And, I wouldn't have it any other way.

To be clear, I don't consider the MorRhiogan my 'matron goddess'. I've long been out of Wicca (and that's not to say I disparage it. I think whatever works for you is what works). The déithe aren't gods/goddesses. They are something that doesn't translate well into modern-day western belief and understanding. I do consider her a friend and cohort; and a spirit of strength, perseverance, wisdom, counsel and companionship. The Fall and Winter are her time of power.

Brighid is the spirit of healing, compassion, fecundity, poetry, song, and hard work. It makes sense that Spring and Summer are hers to rule. Brighid is welcome in my home, not only because she is so instrumental in the healing of my daughter's life, but for the inspiration she brings as well. She is a different kind of strength, and one that comes through the warmth and compassion of home & hearth. She embodies 'family'. Today is her day and this is her time. While MorRhi will be with me always, Brighid's visit is a delightful experience every time, and I am glad she has arrived.

To all of you who celebrate, I wish you a Happy Brighid's Day, Imbolc, Candlemas :)

Sláinte,

Kallan

*pronounced day-ha, and would translate to gods, but definition-wise would not be accurate.
**Most people say Mor-i-gan, but it's actually Mor-ee-an and is where the name 'Maureen' originates.

Altar Pics of the Season: Brighid's Day

2012-02-01T08:52:00.000-05:00

This is the last in the series of altar pictures for the season.
Today, I'm featuring a photo from one of my favorite people on the planet- Nalaya Oddly.

This is someone I admire deeply and truly wish she lived closer. I just know she'd be one of my bestest friends ever if that were the case. Her Imramma is one of action, adventure, courage and conviction. She is one of the few people I know with whom I can truly say I relate on so many levels. She has the good sense to be who she is no matter what anyone else says or thinks, and is someone I value highly as a role model. You can visit her on her blog at Something Oddly and her Etsy Shop at Mrs. Oddly- Something Oddly Made for You

Nalaya, like me, doesn't celebrate "Imbolc", but honors Brighid's Day in her tradition.
Here is a picture of her Brighid's well:

My family and I will make our corn dollies tonight and set up our altar in honor of Brighid. Here are some of the pictures of the dollies we made last year. This year, I've dried and saved corn stalks from our local farm so we'll try it differently.

In this one, you can see the basket-home of the corn dollies, and the kokopelli-like dolls on the wall (made by my daughter, Lyssa). I made the altar cloth, and the statue is by Paul Borda (who is one of my favorite Pagan artists) of Dryad Designs

I know many of you celebrate Imbolc today. I wish you a very blessed holy day. For me, days begin at sunset (in the tradition of my ancestors), and Brighid's Day will be tomorrow.

I've received a lot of feedback that you all liked these photos. I'll happily do this again at the Spring Equinox (Ostara), and will put out a call for photos about a week ahead of time. If you'd like to share your altar photos and help give others ideas and inspiration, please do participate. I'd like to thank all of you who did share with the rest of us. As most of us know, altars are very personal, and for someone to share is a great honor to the recipients, in my opinion.
Many blessings of the season to all..

Sláinte,
Kallan

Altar Pics of the Season (3): Imbolc, Brighid's Day, Candlemas

2012-01-31T07:16:00.000-05:00

Today, I'm going to feature a couple of people's photos on the page.

The first comes from my beautiful friend, Lori. She hasn't finished her altar yet, but she's made a lovely Brighid's bed and wand. Lori has an etsy shop called Enchanting Elegance. Elegant is the perfect word for it. Here are her pictures:

The next set of altar pictures comes from Tara Evans Huffman. I love the simplicity and color scheme of this altar.

And here is a shamelss plug for my friend Nyx, whose store is having an Imbolc/Candlemas Sabbat set sale. I like that you can download the Sabbat, Ritual, Recipes, etc... so you won't have to wait for shipping, and it's only $4.95:

And, this is my Brighid's Day altar from last year:

More to come tomorrow :)

More Altar Pics of the Season: Imbolc, Brighid's Day, Candlemas

2012-01-30T18:09:00.000-05:00

Our next set of altar pictures comes from one of my favorite people: Sosanna. If you remember, she was my very first Inspiring Pagan Award winner. I've known her for many years, and I remember when we ran amock on a bbs in Virginia Beach together in the 90's. Why we were ever put in charge is still beyond me, but we lost touch for a few years, and she found me on LinkedIn. So glad we reconnected a couple of years ago, and I consider her one of my dearest friends.

She's an inspiration to so many people in so many ways. You can find her blog here:http://confessionsofamodernwitch.blogspot.com/
and her etsy shop, Sosanna's Closet here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/rreneeolson

On to the pictures!
Note the broom on the altar.. handmade by her (and can be purchased at her etsy shop):

Stay tuned for more altar pics! Thanks for sharing, Sosanna!

Altar Pics of the Season: Imbolc, Brighid's Day, Candlemas

2012-01-30T06:24:00.000-05:00

In honor of the holy day of Imbolc/Brighid's Day/Candlemas, several of my lovely friends have sent me pictures of their altars and I'm going to share them here with you :)

The firstset is from Rev. Amy Blackthorn. She has a terrific blog over here: http://realmofagreenwitch.blogspot.com/

She is fabulous and so are her pics:

Enjoy the season's turn!
More pics to come...
K

The Sunday Stew: Imbolc, Brighid's Day Edition

2012-01-29T09:49:00.000-05:00

Brighid by Anne-Marie Perks

This week's stew brings about one of the holy days of my Gaelic ancestors. Brighid's (pronounced "Breed") Day, also known as Imbolc or Imbolg and Oilmec. Many Wiccans choose to use the Catholic "Candlemas" label when celebrating.

Brighid was a beloved goddess of poets, healers, muses, smith-crafters, inspiration and fire/hearth. She was so absolutely ingrained into the Gaelic societies of Northern Europe (Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Britain) that when the Roman Catholic Church couldn't get the people to stop honoring her, they turned her into a saint (Bridget) and claimed she was Jesus's nurse maid/foster mother.

She was known in ancient Ireland as the Fiery Arrow or the Flame of Eire, and was the daughter of The Dagdha. On her day, we make what's now called Brighid's Cross, an ancient solar symbol of protection. We also make corn dollies and place them in Brighid's Bed. This symbolizes her time of year and in my family's tradition, we'll burn the corn dollies on Mabon in thanks for a bountiful harvest and to honor the return of the MorRhiogan.
You can find lots of great information out on the web about Imbolc, Oilmec and Candlemas. My friends in the Southern Hemisphere (Hi Nydia and Lucas!) will be celebrating the first of the harvest festivals, Lughnassadh. Enjoy!

If you celebrate, I wish you blessings in abundance for the coming season.

For those of you with younger children, the Pooka Pages Magazine for Imbolc is up. They always do such a great job.

In the News:
Nigerian Witch Hunter to Visit Houston- People are not happy
Pendleton Witch Camp and Festival set to be the biggest yet
Norway's monument to victims of the witch trials
Newt Gingrich compares same-sex marriage to Paganism
The Wicker Tree, sequel to the 1973 classic, The Wicker Man set to open in the US
How Saxons Succeed

Happy Birthday this week to Gigi Rena, Towanna Arnold, Z Budapest, Michael White, Kat Mikaboshi, Jonquil Alexa, Andrew Kemp, Tammee Jo Seeley, Rosmarinus Stehlik, Liz Christy, Morningstar Fd Brhat Bhrighde, Vickie McNeely Lesperance, Janet Morrisey, Linda Juister, Margie Nelson, Beth Reynolds-Morris, and Samina Mim! May your next year of life be filled with joy, peace, happiness, love and blessings in abundance :)

Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo

Sunday, January 29

On this day in the year 1688, famous mystic, scientist, and spiritualist-medium Emanuel Swedenburg was born in Sweden. His work had a major influence upon the secret societies of the eighteenth century, and a religion based on his mystical theological philosophy was founded in his name by his followers. In Vietnam, a mythical and centuries-old Parade of the Unicorns takes place each year on (approximately) this date. According to mythology, the ancient Pagan Goddesses Irene and Pax were born on this day.

Monday, January 30

In ancient Rome, an agricultural festival called the Feriae Sementiva (Feast of Spring) was celebrated annually on this date with sacrifices to Ceres (the Goddess of agriculture) and Tellus Mater (the Goddess of the Earth and fertility), as well as other lesser Gods and Goddesses associated with agriculture. On this date in the year 1940, Z. Budapest (the founder and leader of the main branch of feminist Dianic Wicca) was born in Budapest. Among her many accomplishments, she founded the Susan B. Anthony coven (named after the famous suffragist), hosted a radio show in San Francisco, directed the Women's Spirituality Forum in Oakland, and led a successful public hexing against a mass murderer.

Tuesday, January 31

Each year on or around this date, a sacred festival is held in the Katmandu Valley of Nepal in honor of the Goddess Sarasvati, an ancient Indian deity who presides over all forms of education. At temples dedicated to her, offerings of food, flowers, and incense are made by faithful Hindus and students who seek her help on their school exams. In the courtyard of the Hanuman Dhoka, an ancient palace where the king is accompanied on this day by Nepalese officials, the annual rites of Spring begin with a traditional gun salute, followed by veneration ceremonies which are performed by the royal priest. In the Hawaiian Islands, a joyous flower-filled festival in honor of an ancient Goddess associated with the narcissus flower is celebrated each year on this day; while in China, an annual festival honoring Kuan Yin takes place.

Wednesday, February 1

This is Candlemas Eve. Brigit, the Celtic Earth-Mother and Goddess of fire, wisdom, poetry, and sacred wells, is honored on this day. In Ireland, offering of yellow flowers are made to the Goddess at sacred wells dedicated to her. In ancient Greece, the three-day Lesser Eleusinian Mysteries began each year on this day in honor of the Goddesses Ceres, Demeter, Persephone, and Proserpine.

Thursday, February 2

On this day, Candlemas is celebrated by Wiccans and Witches throughout the world. Candlemas (which is also known as Imolc, Oimelc, and Lady Day) is a fire festival that celebrates the coming of Spring. New beginnings and spiritual growth are represented by the "sweeping out of the old," symbolized by the sweeping of the circle with a besom (a Witch's broom). This is traditionally done by the High Priestess of the coven, who wears a brilliant crown of thirteen candles on top of her head. In ancient Europe, the Candlemas Sabbat was celebrated with a torch-light procession to purify and fertilize the fields before the seed-planting season, and to honor and give thanks to the various deities and spirits associated with agriculture.

Friday, February 3

On this date, an annual ceremony called the Blessing of the Throats takes place to honor the healing powers of Saint Blaise and to magickally ward off throat ailments brought on by the winter's cold.

Saturday, February 4

Throughout Japan, the evil demons of winter are exorcised annually on this day with a festival called the Setsu-bun. Beans are placed in every corner of a family's house, and pointed branches and sardine heads are mounted over the doors. Centuries-old purification rites are performed by priests in all temples and shrines. Prayers are written on slips of paper and then cast from bridges into the rivers below.

I'd like to wish all the readers of the Sunday Stew a most blessed and magickal Imbolc!

See you next week,

Karen

This week in Astrology:

First Quarter Moon on Monday, January 30th, 2012, at 11:10 PM EST.

On Monday night, a First Quarter Moon occurs when the Sun in Aquarius forms a square with the Taurus Moon. There is a crisis theme surrounding any quarter Moon phase, as we feel compelled to take action. Shortly after, we are made aware of how our actions affect those close to us, perhaps through trial and error. Whatever project or initiative we began around the New Moon on January 23rd is now off the ground, and it may face its first obstacles.

This Week's Tarot: The Sun

Renaissance Tarot

Glory and rejoicing, the light of reason, inspiration in poetry and music. This card promises you your day in the Sun. Glory, triumph, simple pleasures and truth are the messages of The Sun card. This card symbolizes discoveries made wide awake: science and math, beautifully created music, carefully reasoned philosophy. This is the card of youthful energy and intellect.

You will likely see others as warm and radiant this week. This is a good time for decision-making and test-taking. Things that were muddied become clear, liars come clean and confess, the project you were working on comes to fruition and you get the credit you deserve for it, traffic lights turn green for you, the world looks beautiful and happy.

This Week's Totem: Eagle

Swiftness, Strength, Courage, Second Sight, Connection to Great Spirit, Knowledge of Magic, Higher Truth, Dignity with Grace, Healing and the Ability to See the Bigger Picture.

In ancient Greece, Eagle was associated with Zeus, who shape-shifted into one to see the greater picture of things.

In the indigenous Nations of North America, Eagle is generally seen as the connector to the Great Spirit, and is sometimes considered to be the Thunderbird.

In ancient Gaelic tribes, Eagle was called "Suil-na-Greine" or "Eye of the Sun."

Eagle's message is to soar above the mundane and view things from a larger perspective. If you've been too caught up in the day-to-day irritations of life, or are taking things personally, it's time to disconnect from those emotions and reconnect with the element of Air (mental plane). See how all of the pieces you've been viewing myopically are placed together in the puzzle that is your life (Wyrd, Imramma, Destiny). Connect to that which is greater than your self and cut the ties to that which binds and prevents you from flying free.

That's it for this week's stew. Mull, digest, enjoy!

Sláinte,

Kallan

Friday Frolic

2012-01-27T08:55:00.000-05:00

So, I'm in a much better mood today. There's nothing like some really great friends (Snowy, Rommy, Brian, Tim, Kelly, Deb, Mandy, Vickie, Lorelei, Shelby and most of all, Alan), a meditation, tarot and Paul Coehlo's The Alchemist to help get things back on track.

Purchase here

Of course, the fact that it's Friday certainly doesn't hurt the situation, either :)

So, today, it's a musical frolic in honor of those who can remind me of what really matters and what brings me joy:

Happy Friday!
K

The post where I admit I'm too cynical and feeling really cranky

2012-01-26T17:51:00.000-05:00

Warning: This is NOT a rant, so if you came by hoping for that, I can't accommodate you. At least for another few days. I promised myself I would not rant for an entire month, and I've been a good girl so far. Well, sort of...

You see, I've been cranky, grouchy, cynical, grumpy, out of sorts, etc.. for the entire month of January. Hence, the reason I haven't really posted all that much here lately.

I realized this today after listening to me doing nothing but speaking negatively in regard to just about everything from politics to football to a family member to other drivers on the road... you name it, I had something to pick apart, get snarky about, grumble over or bitch about. And, it's not fun being this way.

I know some of you are saying that it's because I'm not ranting here, but honestly, I rant, more often than not, because I want to educate versus attack something or someone. And, I just haven't really felt like educating. Oh, there have been some nudgings over this month.

For example:

The math problems that refer to slavery ("If Fred got two beatings per day...")
Ron Paul's newsletters that disparage Dr. King Day. (and wow was it hard NOT to rant on this one)
The article my buddy Judy found on the preacher who says that Jesus is FOR SURE (no, really.. this time we MEAN it... no, I'm serious, honest to GOD this time!) coming on May 27, 2012.
The many articles and news stories on the "you have a right to bully gay kids if it's part of your religion" thing.
Any and ALL Republican debates & primaries. (Really, South Carolina.. REALLY??)
Ray Comfort versus the Atheists (with a guest appearance by Kirk Cameron- not in the video, just in my rant)- it's all about the bananas.
The President's State of the Union Address (no, not HIS speech- the Republican response)
The article a friend posted that called Obama a Socialist.
Tim Burton's remake of Dark Shadows (with apologies to FB friends where I was just a touch acerbated by the whole thing).

And these are just a few of the things that sparked a rant in my mind over the last 30 days or so.

However, I think I'd mostly be preaching to the choir on pretty much any of those, so they've fallen by the wayside not to be picked up. Well, okay, maybe the Ray Comfort/Kirk Cameron one might still be lingering in my mind a little. But, I digress.

No, it isn't the lack of ranting here that's done it. I've just gotten myself into a negative rut and I have to find a way out. I don't like this grungy feeling of pessimism that's clinging to my soul. It's probably the politics. It gets me down to watch it too much, and yet I am addicted to it at times.
It's also hanging out with people who may or may not also be addicted, but who like snark and sarcasm (which, I admit, I really do enjoy) too much.

It's time to do something about it before this scum settles in and hardens.

Funny, as I began posting this, my friend Brian Belenchia tagged me in a video he'd just made. It was absolutely perfect for this blog. So, with his permission, I'm posting it. Strange how things like this happen to us Pagan-folk, huh?

Thanks, Brian!

Not only does the music speak to my spirit (and you totally rocked the flute on this!), but you've put a little twist on an old Cherokee parable with those descriptive words.

Time for me to go feed a wolf. Bet you can guess which one :)

Sláinte,

Kallan

PS. For a really GOOD rant, go to my buddy Heather's blog, "I'm Not Hannah"

The Sunday Stew: January 22-28

2012-01-22T08:16:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday :) This week's stew has a variety of ingredients. I hope they blend well for you.

My week was overly busy and stressful at work. I was really happy to have Saturday to just relax. I asked for my job role to be changed so I could focus more on things I like. It was granted, but I'm really reviewing where I am in the company and what I want to do going forward.

Today in football, we have the AFC and NFC championships. Since my team isn't in the playoffs any longer, I'll refrain from any commentary.

This coming week brings the Chinese New Year (Monday, January 23) in the sign of the Water Dragon. Click here to read more.

I received an email press release from the producer of a new movie called "Dark of Moon". I read a little on the site and watched some clips. I'll leave it to you to decide if you're interested in it.
Here's the "About" section.
Here's where you find the clips.

Happy Birthday this week to Nina Zambrano, my son Andrew, Mary Beth Kincaid-Cummings, Heather Joseph, Lisa Howard and Miranda Wilson. May your next year of life be filled with peace, joy and abundance in all good things.

Puritan Operator Made Fortune Killing Evil Witches

Pagan Mother's Fury After Son Brings Home Bible

You Can Stand Up

February Marks the Beginning of the End, Says Witch

Who's a Religious Minority in the United States?

Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo

Welcome to another week of Pagan Lore as we near the end of January of 2012. How can it be flying by so quickly? It's time to start making plans for Imbolc already! But for now, here is this week's lore:

Sunday, January 22

This is the Festival of the Muses. Each year on this date, the invisible spirits that inspire and watch over all poets, musicians, and artists are honored and invoked with Goddess-inspired poetry, Pagan folk songs, music and dancing.

Monday, January 23

A Pagan festival known as the Day of Hathor is celebrated annually on this date in Egypt to honor the ancient cow-headed Goddess of heaven, beauty and love. A libation of cow's milk is poured into the River Nile as prayers to the Goddess are recited.

Tuesday, January 24

Ekeko, the Aymara Indian pot-bellied god of prosperity, is honored on this date with an annual fair called the Alacitas, which is held in La Paz, Bolivia. On this date in Hungary, a Pagan purification known as the Blessing of the Candle of the Happy Women is performed annually.

Wednesday, January 25

Good-luck rituals are traditionally performed during the Vietnamese Lunar New Year Festival (called the Tet), which takes place annually on or around this date. Offerings are made to ancient deities and ancestors, traditional feasts are prepared, and evil spirits are driven away with whistles, bells, and horns.

Thursday, January 26

Each year on the second new moon after the Winter Solstice (normally occuring on or around this time), the traditional Chinese New Year begins and is celebrated for two consecutive weeks until the full moon. On the first day of the New Year, ancestral spirits are honored and houses are decorated with strips of red paper to attract good luck and ward off evil ghosts. A Lantern Festival and Dragon Parade traditionally take place on the last night of this festive New Year celebration.

Friday, January 27

On this date, the annual Day of Ishtar ceremony takes place to honor the ancient Assyrian/Babylonian Goddess of love, fertility, and battle. Ishtar is identified with the ancient Phoenician Goddess called Astarte.

Saturday, January 28th

In the Shetland Islands, a centuries-old fire festival known as Up-Helly-Aa is held each year on the last Tuesday of January (which normally falls around this date). The festival, which marks the end of the traditional Yuletide and pays tribute to the old Gods and Goddesses of the ancient Viking's religion, climaxes with the torching of a replica of a Viking ship. The day ends with a traditional prayer to drive evil entities away from village homes.

Have a great week everyone, see you next time with more Pagan lore!

Karen

This Week in Astrology
Mars goes retrograde on Monday, January 23 and will be that way until April 13. "Mars retrograde therefore gives rise to irrational action; introspection; depression and self-assessment; sexual issues and relationship conflicts. Major rethinks and reorientation of current projects are also often required." ~astrology on the web

The New Moon in Aquarius takes place at 2:23am EST on Monday, January 23rd as well. "The Sabian Symbol for the Sun and Moon at 3* Aquarius is: A deserter from the army following an unmarked wilderness path." Read more here. and here.

Weekly Tarot: 3 of Wands

Azurylipfe (Heidi) at Deviant ©

Personal fortitude and strength of character. Accumulated power set in motion towards a distant goal. The initiation of an enduring partnership based on absolute trust. Honor maintained in a time of desperate struggle. Taking full responsibility for a decision, and bearing the solitude of leadership.
Key phrases: exploring the unknown, having foresight, using intuition, demonstrating leadership

The three of wands brings a message of vision and foresight. It tells you to step back and take the long view. Don't react in the heat of the moment. Take a deep breath and maintain control from within. When you can see far, you can help others reach their goals through good leadership. Dream beyond your current limitations. Be confident in what you see. Know that you are capable of going where your dreams lead you. Be daring enough to go there first. This card encourages you to explore new areas fearlessly. In the words of Henry David Thoreau: "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler."

This Week's Totem: Hawk

In nearly every indigenous tradition where animal totems are honored, the hawk is a messenger from the Otherworld. In the tradition of the Northern Celts, hawk represents nobility, leadership, remembering who we are, and remarkable visionary gifts.
For the indigenous nations of North America, the hawk's message is about seeing the overall picture, using your gifts to their fullest ability, creativity and listening to the messages from Great Spirit.
Hawk asks you to look within and without, see the bigger picture and to take courage to follow your true path in life. Pay close attention to the messages coming from the natural and spirit world at this time.

The Hawk of Achill is a great Irish tale. Click here to read.

That's it for this week's stew. Mull, digest, enjoy.

Kallan

EAP's Birthday

2012-01-20T07:09:00.000-05:00

I missed it yesterday because I was working from 8am-11pm, but I wanted to say, "Happy Birthday" to Edgar Allan Poe. For the third year, his famous 'toaster' didn't show up, and it was the official last year of the vigil for him in Baltimore.

My youngest daughter has been in love with Poe since she was very young. A few years ago, I took her (along with a photographer) to the EAP gravesite in Baltimore, and she had gothic-type photos taken on and around his grave. She had so much fun and the photos turned out beautifully.

His legacy will live on in his writing, but I honestly feel for the person he was while he was alive. He seemed like a tortured soul, drowning himself in alcohol. Some of the very best writers, poets and artists are those who live(d) with deep, emotional pain. His gifts to us may have come at a high price to him, and I want to acknowledge that.

In honor of his birthday yesterday, I share this Omnia tribute with you. It's one of my favorites:

A very Happy Birthday, Edgar. I hope that you found peace, joy and happiness in the next world.

K

THIS BLOG STANDS IN PROTEST OF SOPA

2012-01-18T06:35:00.000-05:00

Cyber FINOs and FINDs

2012-01-17T08:10:00.001-05:00

Calvin & Hobbes- Bill Watterson

Do you have a FINO in your midst? You know, Friend In Name Only?

While there are those in the real world that behave this way, I'm actually thinking of the cyber-world. I've noticed, especially lately, that I have some of those. You know, the kind that re-posts all your finds, but makes sure he/she doesn't attribute them to you or even acknowledge it on your own page. This person is happy to lap up your loyalty and good will, but would never publicly take a stand for you. He/She only acknowledges your existence if it brings attention to him/her at an opportune moment. If, for example, your blog post takes off and it becomes the buzz of your small, shared cyber-world; that's when this person shows up, fawning over you, behaving as if you two have some shared secrets, a close relationship that really doesn't exist, and only because there's attention to be gained from it. They love to soak up the rays of sunshine, but if it's cloudy, foggy or misty in your neck of the woods, they're nowhere to be found. But, if the storms are coming their way, they fully want your total support and shelter. If they find themselves under attack, they fully expect you to be there- sword in hand- to slay their enemies for them. If you're in that predicament, you're on your own.

Do you have one or two of those?

Yeah, me too.

I acknowledge that people have busy lives, and that sometimes it's just the busy world, a large friend list, etc.. that could make one little more than acquaintance. That, I accept.

It's just that these FINOs tend to like to grab on to the attention given to others, and seek it out wherever they can find it. It's an interesting animal to observe- try not to feed them. They'll only bite that hand in the end.

Then, there are the most lovely of creatures called true FINDs (Friends in Name & Deed). These are the ones that make life fun, interesting and worthwhile. They are loyal, kind, caring, supportive and come in different shapes, sizes, colors, sexes, religious and political bents. When you least expect it, they surprise you with a word of encouragement or a message that says, "I thought of you today." They may not always reach out to you every single day (some do, which is awesome), but they're always showing up just when you need them most. Most of mine are great FINDs. I don't know what I'd do without them. You know who you are- most likely, you're reading this now. How do I know this? Because that's what a real FIND does- reads even the boring posts, not just the rants or the most popular ones.

So for all my lovely FINDs out there, I love you. I think you're amazing. I cherish everything about you and I value your friendship more than I could ever express in words. And, since we're not together, please give yourself a big hug for me. Thank you for being who you are.

The Sunday Stew: January 15-21

2012-01-15T11:24:00.000-05:00

This week's stew is a quiet little brew; something I think we all probably need about now. I don't know about you, but I'm seeing a lot of people experiencing tragedies, sickness and some real heartache right now. Personally, it's been a very busy first few weeks, and I've had to make some tough decisions in my work and home life. All for the good, and doing what's right for me and my family; but tough decisions nonetheless.

I'm ready for a break, already!
So, relax a bit, grab a cuppa and let's just rest up on this beautiful Sunday. Skip the news if you want to avoid stress. Well, just don't read the first two articles.

In the News
'Witch Maid' accused of trying to destroy Saudi Arabian Family
Fear in Cornwall that Satanists are ritually slaughtering horses
Imbolc is a time to celebrate Spring, think about planting
The End of an Era for Salem's Official Witch

George RR Martin, who has been called The American Tolkien, released a chapter of the next book in the Ice and Fire series, The Winds of Winter. Read here
No release date has been set. Let's hope it isn't another five year wait between books!

Happy Birthday this week to Fawn Parker, Kim Keaton, Wendy Stoms, Nadia Romanov, Kat Hexe, KELLY ANTON!, Suze Koenig, Sandy Campbell and Mark Burkhardt. May this next year of your life be the best you've ever had! Blessings in abundance to you all.

Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo

Welcome to this week's Pagan Lore, which will bring us well into the second half of January already!

Sunday, January 15
In ancient Rome, a sacred festival called the Feast of the Ass was celebrated each year on this date in honor of the goddess Vesta and the ass that saved her. Vesta presided over the hearth and her temple was lit by a sacred fire tended by six virgin priestesses known as the Vestal Virgins.

Monday, January 16
Each year on this date in the country of Indonesia, the fire-god Betoro Bromo is honored by Buddhist monks and pilgrims who gather at Mount Bromo. At the first stroke of midnight, offerings of food and flowers are cast into the volcano where the god is believed to dwell. Also on this date, in the year 1976, the famous astrologer and author known as Zolar died.

Tuesday, January 17
Wassailing the Apple Trees, a ritual dating back to old Celtic Britain, is held annually on this date which is the eve of the old Twelfth Night. A traditional libation of cider is poured on the roots of apple trees while an old invocation is sung to the tree in order to ensure fertility and to drive away all evil-natured supernatural entities.

Wednesday, January 18
In the country of China, the kitchen-god Zao Jun is honored with prayers and offerings of sweet rice cakes each year on this night, which marks the end of the Chinese year. For luck, paper images of the god are burned and dried beans are thrown onto the roofs of houses.

Thursday, January 19
Each year on this date, the Thorrablottar, also known as Husband's Day, is celebrated in Iceland. In pre-Christian times, it was celebrated as Pagan festival in honor of the mighty god Thor, the red-bearded lord of lightning bolts and thunder.

Friday, January 20th
On this date (approximately), the Sun enters the astrological sign of Aquarius. Persons born under the sign of the Water Bearer are said to be inventive, independent, unconventional, and often idealistic. Those born on this day, the cusp of Capricorn and Aquarius, are believed to make the best astrologers. Aquarius is an air sign and is ruled by the planets Saturn and Uranus. On this date (also approximately) in the year 2160, the Age of Aquarius will begin when the Sun moves into the 11th sign of the zodiac. According to many occultists and astrologers, the following two thousand years will be a Golden Age of spiritual enlightenment, mind power, world peace, love, and harmony. However, according to many prophets, the Age of Aquarius will also bring cataclysmic changes in the Earth and its atmosphere.

Saturday, January 21
This is Saint Agnes' Day. On the eve of Saint Agnes' Day, according to ancient legend, unmarried women will see their future husbands in a dream. Saint Agnes' Day (named after the Roman Catholic child martyr who was beheaded in the year 304 A.D. for refusing to marry) is an ideal time for Witches to cast love spells and prepare love potions and charms. This day of the year is also sacred to Yngona, an ancient goddess worshipped by the Danish people in pre-Christian times.

That's the Lore for this week, see you next time -- and have a great week!
Karen

This Week in Astrology:

Last Quarter Moon on Monday, January 16th, 2012, at 4:08 AM EST.

The Last quarter moon indicates a crisis of consciousness. This is the time to determine what works for us and what doesn't, in preparation for the New Moon next week.

The Sun moves from Capricorn to Aquarius on January 20th.

Weekly Tarot Card: Four of Swords

Vanessa Tarot

A time of contemplation, introspection and quiet. A temporary retreat from stress to regather inner strength, reaffirm convictions, reorganize thoughts, and formulate a new plan. The need for vigilance in a moment of calm. May suggest a withdrawal from the material world to find spiritual guidance. Key words here are rest, contemplation and preparation (making plans). Make sure you are where you want to be, and if not, look within to find your way to your path.

Weekly Totem: Blue Heron (Self-Reflection)

I swear, I don't match these things up.. it just happens.

Heron medicine is the power of knowing the self by discovering our gifts and facing our challenges. It is about going deep into one's self to look at feelings and self truth. It encourages a person to look at what motivates him/her regarding goals, dreams, actions, motives and intentions for ourselves and others. Heron helps us to understand our weaknesses and to develop skills to lead to personal strength.

Herons are part of a group of birds called ‘waders’. It is a bird of the marshlands and shallow waters. All waders have similar physical characteristics – long, thin legs, long necks, and sharp bills. These physical characteristics are important to understand for those who have a heron as a totem.

Legs enable animals and people to move about on the earth. They are symbols of balance, and they represent an ability to progress and evolve. Also the longer the legs, the deeper the water the heron will feed in. The deeper life can be explored.

The long thin legs of the heron reflect that you don’t need to rely on large pillars to remain stable, but you must be able to stand on your own. This is especially significant for those with a totem of the great blue heron, as it is a lone hunter.

When it feeds, it stands in the water(emotion), reflecting a connection to the earth(ancestral heritage, nurturing).

It is important for anyone with a heron totem to explore various activities and dimensions of life. On the surface, this may seem like dabbling, but those with heron totems are wonderfully successful at being the ‘Jack of all trades’.

This ability enables them to follow their own path. Most people will never be able to live the way heron people do. It is not a structured way, and doesn't seem to have stability and security to it. It's all in the perspective. There is security in heron medicine, for it gives the ability to do a variety of tasks. It one way does not work, then another will. This is something heron people seem to inherently know.

Heron people do not need a lot of people in their lives, nor do they feel pressured to keep up with the Joneses, or be traditional in their life-path. The only time they gather in groups is during the breeding season. They stand out in their uniqueness, and they know how to snatch and take advantage of things and events that others wouldn't deign to try.

The ultimate message of Heron is to get to know yourself on the deepest level possible and then live out your truth as you see it.

Sources: Medicine Cards, Jamie Sams and David Carson

Animal Power: The Medicine of Great Blue Heron

That's it for this week's stew! Mull, digest, enjoy :)

Kallan

The Sunday Stew- January 9-14

2012-01-08T08:38:00.000-05:00

This week's stew has a lot of energy in it. If your week was anything like mine, and if that's an indicator of the year, we're going to need it.

One of my co-workers pinged me on our internal chat program and asked me how many days were in this past week. I responded with, "72". No, not 72 hours. I mean days.That's what it felt like to me.

Combine that with the fact that I don't sleep well starting about 4 days prior to a full moon and it makes for one irritated witch. I'm proud of myself for avoiding any rants last week. No promises for the week to come, though.
Ok, on to the stew....

In the News:
Yes, I am serious in this first one. Kids math problems using slaves (If Fred gets 2 beatings per day...)Georgia 3rd graders being asked slavery math questions
Scientists think they know what's killing bees- zombie parasites
NC mom can't donate Pagan books
Airforce Academy defends Pagan circle

Happy Birthday this week to Matthew Matson, Sarah Roach, Regina McGuire, Kristina La Fae, Wvearthmother Whitedove, Nikolas D Mafiaa, Crispin Fletcher, Diana Chenevert and Erin Frost. May this new year of your life bring you happiness and all good things in abundance.

Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo

Welcome to this week's edition of the Pagan Lore! Hope your New Year is treating you well!

Sunday, January 8

Today is called "Old Druid's New Year ". In ancient Greece, Midwife's Day (dedicated to the goddess Baubo) was celebrated annually on this date, while an annual festival called Justica's Day was celebrated by the early Romans. Elsewhere in ancient times, this day was dedicated to the Norse Goddess Freyja who presided over both love and fertility.

Monday, January 9

On this date in 1989, Jamie Dodge (a Wiccan who had been fired from her job at the Salvation Army because of her Wiccan beliefs) won a landmark lawsuit against her former employer for violating her First Amendment right to freedom of religion and unnecessary entanglement of government with religion. On this date in 1880, "Old Dorothy" Clutterbuck was born in Bengal. She belonged to a hereditary Witch coven in the New Forest of England, and was the High Priestess who initiated Gerald B. Gardner into the Craft in 1939. She passed away in the year 1951.

Tuesday, January 10

The Feast of Dreams, a centuries-old ritual, is performed annually by the Native American Iroquois tribe to celebrate their New Year, which occurs on this date. In rural England and Scotland, Plough Monday (the first Monday after Epiphany) occurs on or around this date. A plough is traditionally paraded through the streets and a ritual sweeping with brooms is performed to drive away evil spirits from the village.

Wednesday, January 11

In years gone by, an old ritual to ward off Witches was performed annually on this date in many fishing villages along the coast of Scotland. At sunset, a barrel of tar would be placed on top of a pole, set on fire, and allowed to burn throughout the night. Afterwards, charred pieces of it would then be used by the villagers and fisherman as protective charms.

In ancient Rome, a festival called the Carmentalia was celebrated annually, beginning on this date and lasting until the fifteenth of January. The festival honored the Roman goddess Carmenta, a deity presiding over childbirth, whose priestesses cast the fortunes of children at the moment of their birth. Juturna, the ancient Italian goddess of pools and still waters, is honored each year on this day as well.

Thursday, January 12

Each year on this date, a sacred solstice ritual called the Makara-Sankranti is celebrated by Hindus in India with saffron, songs of joy, and ritual baths in sacred rivers.

Friday, January 13

This is Saint Silvester's Day. Evil spirits are traditionally driven away with clanging bells on this night by villagers in Urnasch, Switzerland, where the pre-Julian New Year's Eve continues to be celebrated on this date. In pre-Christian Ireland, the thirteenth day of January was celebrated each year as the Feast of Brewing by the ancient and mysterious priests known as the Druids.

Saturday, January 14

On this date in the year 1967, a psychedelic spiritual "pow-wow" called the Human Be-In took place in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The event drew approximately 20,000 people (including Allen Ginsberg and Timothy Leary) and consisted of chanting, dancing, poetry readings, music, and celebrations of love and the unity of humankind. In Southern India, the three-day Pongal festival begins on this date each year to celebrate the January rice harvest, honor the great sun-god Surya, and give thanks to the spirits who bring the rainy season.

Have a wonderful week!

Karen

This week in Astrology

The Full Moon in Cancer takes place at 2:30am EST tomorrow (Monday, January 9) morning.

Full Moon articles:

Weekly Tarot: King of Wands

This week's tarot card is the essence of fire behaving as air, as in lightning. This represents a great and daring leader who inspires others to rise to challenges alongside him (or her).
An artist who can take hold of an idea and make it a reality through bold action. One who is forceful, charismatic, and honest, leading by example, but unafraid to invest authority in others.
A dashing and magnetic personality, carrying authority naturally, and striking at the world with swiftness and grace. He is creative and never settles for old, tired approaches. He trusts his originality and allows his inspirations to take form. He's enthusiastic. He steps forward and takes the lead if the opportunity presents itself. Others follow when he shows them the way with confidence. He's forceful in pursuing his goals. He's not a quiet, passive observer unless that suits his purposes. He jumps in and creates results. He's dramatic and exciting. This King is never a wallflower, more often the center of attention. He's bold and daring. He avoids the safe, easy route because he has the energy and assurance to take risks and win. The King of Wands has the courage of his convictions and always believes in himself.

At this point, you're being asked to behave as the King of Wands would: creating a masterpiece, leading the way, taking a risk, or making a splash. This King represents a man or woman who is acting as he does, or an atmosphere of excitement, daring and drama.

This Week's Totem: Antelope (Action)

'When time was just beginning and the "Tribe of Man" was small, Antelope saw that the two-leggeds were naked, hungry, and in danger of extinction. The Ancestors would soon vanish from Mother Earth if action were not taken. Antelope took action and came into the camp, calling all the two-leggeds together for Council. "Great Mystery sent me to teach you a lesson. The lesson is do. You have no need to be fearful if you know what to do and then you do it," Antelope said.

"And what shall we do?" asked the People.

"If you are naked and cold, you should kill me and take my coat to keep you warm. It is my gift to you. Do it."

"We will," said the People. "But what of our hunger. We are starving. What can we do to save ourselves?"

"If you are hungry, you should kill me and take my flesh, for it will nourish you and make you strong. It is my gift to you, and a part of my evolution. It is my service.

Do it." '~Medicine cards, Jamie Sams and David Carson

The Pronghorn antelope is found in North America. Pronghorns are an ancient species dating back nearly 20 million years-the only survivor of a group of hoofed mammals that originated in North America, and one of the few living links with the Ice Age. Pronghorns successfully survived the late Cenozoic and Pleistocene eras, as well as massive changes 11,000 years ago when a mysterious mass extinction claimed many other species. Indeed, the pronghorn was here to greet the first humans who set foot in North America, and ancestral Native Americans hunted pronghorn as much as 30,000 years ago. The pronghorn may have endured in part because it's tough. If necessary a pronghorn can go days without water, and will eat and thrive on plants no other grazing animal will touch-even thorny cactus. Pronghorns successfully survive both bitter cold and desert heat equally well.

No other creature in the world is related to the American antelope. The pronghorn's namesake-its distinctive horns-is the hallmark that gives the pronghorn its own genus, because it's the only animal in the world to annually shed a branched horn.
The name "antelope" comes from the Greek antholops, meaning "brightness of the eye." Perhaps this curious name is appropriate. Pronghorn eyes are protruding, exceptionally large relative to the animal's size, and set high on either side of their head. These unusual eyes give these animals extraordinary vision and the ability to better detect the presence of distant predators three or four miles away.

The message of Antelope is that of proper action; action that has its basis in clarity, focus, and commitment. Antelope medicine is the knowledge of life's circle. Knowing of death, Antelope can truly live. Action is the key and essence of living. Antelope medicine gives you strength of mind and heart, and the ability to take quick and decisive action to bring your goals to fruition. If you're feeling stuck, or you need clarity and focus, Antelope can help you get on track. Antelope indicates a message of higher purpose. Antelope forces you to act on behalf of self, family, clan, nation, and Mother Earth.

That's it for this week's stew. Mull, digest, enjoy.

K

Friday Frolic: Visiting Pagan Culture

2012-01-06T07:44:00.000-05:00

Happy first Friday in 2012! Let's go blog-visiting to Magaly Guerrero's Pagan Culture blog. If you've never been there, it's high time you visited. She's a very gifted writer and terrific friend to have, especially when you need a pick-me-up. This is one of the most beautiful souls on the internet, I promise you. You'll fall in love with her writing and impish charm quite easily, and will thank me later. But, it's not necessary- you're welcome already :)

Here's a great short story to whet your appetite:
http://pagan-culture.blogspot.com/2012/01/blessed-to-death.html

Then, go exploring. She has tons of great ones just like it there.

Have a lovely weekend!

Living with Lakota

2012-01-04T14:54:00.001-05:00

As many of you are aware, I am caretaker to a wolf hybrid. Her name is Lakota, and she is one of the great loves of my life. A lot of you have emailed me or messaged me on Face Book about owning a wolf hybrid. I would be remiss if I didn't respond to that with a message of warning and caution to those of you who have an interest in caring for one of these beautiful animals.

First, Lakota is a rescue (all of my animals are rescues). I got her when she was 3 months old. We were her third family in that amount of time. She was purchased from a kennel in Ohio that breeds wolf hybrids. Then, she was taken up to Canada, then back to the U.S. and a friend of mine literally brought her over, opened up my front door and she ran in. He shut the door and left. That's how I got her. He knew I'd care for her and knew she'd be safe, but in my state, she's actually illegal. Fortunately for me (and my dog) her vet knows and has her listed as a german shepherd mix. Animal control is also aware of her, and no one really wants to put down a calm, healthy animal, so they leave us alone.

Here are some things I've experienced and you need to know.

In my opinion, wolf hybrids shouldn't be bred. It's not fair to the animal or the caretaker, but especially to the animal. Too many of the wolf characteristics and instincts are keen in these animals.

Which brings me to the next point: You need to have a very clear understanding of wolf behaviors. I had to study wolves in depth to really get a good picture of what I was dealing with in her case.

They have a larger brain capacity than any dog, so they are smarter. They've been known to do some really funny things like change the remote to an animal show, lay on a car horn when they see their caretaker taking too long talking to someone in the parking lot, steal things (but hide them all in the same spot), etc... they will take to voice commands, but they read body language better than any other creature I've encountered. You don't need to say much, and they don't either. Mine didn't bark at all for the first three years of her life. Now, it's only for security reasons- and they make their own security decisions, too.

Wolves are pack animals, so unless you have a pack (and I did with five kids and two grandkids living in the house with me when I got her), they'll be miserable. They really need to be with a group. A group of other dogs might work, but they'd all need to grow up together. Hybrids are choosy about other dogs, and vice versa. For example, Kota loves her border collie friend a few doors down (he's much smaller than she is, but he's an alpha in his house and she respects that). But, she's been known to tangle with the golden retrievers at the other end of the street when they come by.. they come at her first, but she's not one to back down (all dogs are on leads. I do not let my animals run loose and neither side has ever drawn blood; but it ain't pretty).

They like their 'den' more than any other place on earth. They do not like change much, either. Even rearranging the furniture can stress them out. If I go on a trip for work, she 'acts out' by tearing up something that belongs to me and depositing it squarely on my bed. In fairness, she does warn me as soon as the suitcase comes out by sticking her head in it and trying to prevent me from putting my clothes into it. Even if I put up everything I think she could get a hold of, and shut the door to my room, she invariably finds something (including books on the living room shelves) to destroy and deposit in front of my room if she can't get in. I've learned to deal with this, as she has to deal with me leaving.

You also need to be a very strong personality to have one of these animals. I am the Alpha female in my home, and my animal knows it. There are times when this is the only thing that keeps her in line. She may or may not listen to anyone in the house *but* me. While all dogs need a strong "pack leader", wolf hybrids need that on steroids.(and if you have questions about dogs and pack leaders, I highly recommend Cesar Milan's books, videos and TV show)

If you are the Alpha, you will never EVER be able to treat this animal like another dog. You will not be able to have him/her sleep with you, get really close to you, be your best friend, etc... The reason I say that is because of wolf behavior. This hybrid will ALWAYS (I cannot emphasize this enough) need to be the Omega (last) in your pack. You can never let them forget that, either. They are opportunists and will look for any way they can to move up in pack order (which is what wolves do in the wild. No, you cannot 'train' it out of them, either. Also, do not EVER hit your animal as part of 'training'- I felt that just needed to be said.).

To move up in pack order, means you have to get a pack member who is higher up to submit to you. I have watched her 'challenge' some of my kids (who are all adults, and my grandchildren no longer live with me, thankfully) by baring teeth, growling, etc... this is extremely rare, and we always handle it immediately and she always submits. But, diligence is the only way to nip the behavior in the bud. So, I can't have her on my bed, next to me (which is where she tries to be any time she can get there) for too long, or be able to just love on her like I really would be happy to do. She takes it as a sign that I'm 'promoting' her, every time. They have food issues because of this inherent need to move up the pack as well. These can be minimized, but only if you work at it.

They need to be exercised even more than regular dogs. In the wild, wolves are constantly on the move. They set up boundaries not only by typical spraying, but they will pile rocks up to mark their territory. They will then patrol the perimeter regularly. You'll need to patrol with them. The more people in your pack that can go at least once a day, the better. Or, you'll have to take turns (which is what we do, given our schedule).

If you get the impression that this is a time-consuming animal to care for, you are correct.

The rewards for me are in knowing that this animal has a safe place to grow up and live out a good life (as good as it can get for her). She is smart, funny, creative and endearing in so many ways. When we go to the river, to the woods, etc... I can see the instincts in both of us come out.. this is home for her and for me. She gets to run off-lead, explore, wallow in the most disgusting things you can possibly think of (yet can't deign to have her delicate paws walk on wet grass in the suburbs), and enjoys every minute of it. She works well with a work-and-reward system, understands human speech better than some humans I know, and is a loyal pack member. She's goofy and silly, too. She'll chase her own tail in the water, grab onto it and forget to come up to breathe. More than once I've had to save her from herself (including grabbing her up just as she was heading over some rapids). She's learned all kinds of tricks and can do them on command. If someone is sick, she won't leave their side until they're better. As I said, she is one of the great loves of my life.

I don't at all recommend purchasing one of these animals, as it does nothing but promote the breeders into doing more for more money. Lakota is neither a full wolf, nor a full dog... she'll never have the benefit of running wild with a pack and living like her instinct begs her to do.. nor will she be able to have the benefits of domesticity that a dog does. She'll live between both worlds and I'll do the best I can to help make her life happy and healthy. It's just not a fair one for her at all.

So, there you have it, in a nutshell. If you can rescue one and have the time, energy and commitment to doing it, I applaud you. It's rewarding in so many ways. Just please, don't feed into the "I want to be a cool kid and own a wolf" mentality and purchase one.

My two cents..
K

Not a Rant: MDD or Depression

2012-01-03T07:31:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know. Several of you were expecting a good rant from me today. But, I got side-railed by a couple of friends who shared a blog post from a really brilliant, entertaining author who is struggling with Major Depressive Disorder. She explains her pain in a way that really made me feel it. (read her article here).

I've been in a state of depression before. After reading up on it last night, I recognized that I had bouts of it from childhood and marital abuse, but I don't have MDD. I'm okay now. One of the things that struck me about her post was this:

"When depression sufferers fight, recover and go into remission we seldom even know, simply because so many suffer in the dark…ashamed to admit something they see as a personal weakness…afraid that people will worry, and more afraid that they won’t. We find ourselves unable to do anything but cling to the couch and force ourselves to breathe".

I realized that some of you may suffer from this and I don't even know it. And, that concerns me. As a friend, I want to help and be supportive of you. I just don't know how. Even with researching this, I'm just not sure I know what to do, or if the advice I'm being given is effective.

For those of you who don't suffer from it, here is a description:

"Major depressive disorder (MDD) (also known as recurrent depressive disorder, clinical depression, major depression, unipolar depression, or unipolar disorder) is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. This cluster of symptoms (syndrome) was named, described and classified as one of the mood disorders in the 1980 edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic manual.
The term “depression” is ambiguous. It is often used to denote this syndrome but may refer to other mood disorders or to lower mood states lacking clinical significance. Major depressive disorder is a disabling condition which adversely affects a person’s family, work or school life, sleeping and eating habits, and general health.
In the United States, around 3.4% of people with major depression commit suicide, and up to 60% of people who committed suicide had depression or another mood disorder."

Many people get stigmatized with this. Here are some facts about this disorder from USA Today and Tomorrow:

Fact #-1 :

It’s not you !
It’s not your body !
It’s your brain !
It’s your brain who is tricking you up and get you down !
Fact #-2 :
Quit searching for compassion !
Someone who doesn't know what a depression is will tell you to Get over it !
Fact #-3 :
Do never !!
I mean never start talking about what you are experiencing on your way down with someone who is affected with the same trouble !
He/She will make you going down faster !
Fact #-4 :
Your brain is – just like with PTSD – tricking you up !
You have to flood it with unusual informations to get around that actual brain setup !
Fact #-5 :
Quit saying and trying that you will get out this mess yourself because you will not.
You need first to get grounded by a Doctor and Meds !

Some of the causes of MDD:

Genetics
Chemical changes in the body; specifically in the brain.
Stress-induced situations, especially prolonged ones (abuse, death or illness of a loved one, a difficult break-up, failing a class, job loss, social isolation)
Certain medications like steroids
Certain medical conditions like cancer, under-active thyroid, long-term pain

Some of the symptoms:

Agitation, restlessness, and irritability
Dramatic change in appetite, often with weight gain or loss
Very difficult to concentrate
Fatigue and lack of energy
Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
Feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, and guilt
Becoming withdrawn or isolated
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed
Thoughts of death or suicide
Trouble sleeping or excessive sleeping

Depression can appear as anger and discouragement, rather than feelings of sadness.

If depression is very severe, there may also be psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions. ~ Public Med Health

As noted above, I did some research on how to help and here are some links I reviewed:

If you suffer from depression, or are a care-giver or loved one- I'd love to hear from you. What works in supporting those who have this? Are the tips listed in the links above actually good advice? Are there others not listed? What can we do to help?

I know this wasn't the rant you were looking for, but it's where I'm at today. No worries; you know me. And, remember, today is Iowa Caucus day so tomorrow could be a whole day's worth of rants. Please though.. do take the time to read and respond to this. I don't know why it's all of the sudden important to me, but I'm paying attention. If you're one of my friends and suffer from this, I care. I really do.

Thanks for taking the time.

Slainte',

The Sunday Stew- First 2012 Edition January 1-7

2012-01-01T10:20:00.000-05:00

This week's stew is lucky enough to fall on the first day of the first month of the New Year. Happy 2012, everyone!

With only today and tomorrow left on my vacation, I have a lot of cleaning and organizing to do. How about you? Did you make a New Year's Resolution?

I've received several emails from people asking when I'm going to rant about the Rede, based on the internet radio show that Christian Day, Lori Bruno and Sabrina The Inkwitch hosted the other night. I'm debating it. Maybe tomorrow if I get everything else done. So Rommy, hold on to that oolong awhile longer ;)

I'm going to wait until next week for the Pagan News portion and let 2012 have a chance to produce her own news.

Happy Birthday this week to: Noodle Cat, Kit Wolf, Norie Winter, Tim Thys and Barb Ware. May this next year of your life bring you joy, peace and abundance in all good things.

Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo

Happy New Year! Welcome to the first edition of Pagan Lore for 2012!

2012 breaks down to the number 5, and here are some of the correspondences for that number -- New directions, excitement, change, adventure. Exciting, changeable and always seeking new things. The five elements / five senses (Earth/Touch, Taste/Water, Sound/Air, Smell/Fire, Sight/Light).

Sunday, January 1-- New Year's Day
This day is sacred to the goddesses known as the Three Fates, the German goddess Bertha, the Morrigan, the Parcae, and the Japanese household gods. Many modern Witches and Wiccans around the world traditionally start off the new year with a spell for good luck and a ritual to bless the new year with peace, love, health, and prosperity for all. This is a traditional time for ending bad habits and beginning New Year's resolutions. The first day of January was dedicated by the ancient Romans to the god Janus. Janus possesses two identical faces looking in opposite directions: one to the past, and the other to the future. He is a god of gates and doorways, and a deity associated with journeys and the beginnings of things.

Monday, January 2
The birth of the Pagan goddess Inanna has been celebrated annually on this day since ancient times. Inanna is the Sumerian queen of heaven and earth, and a deity who presides over both love and war. Every year on this date, the Perihelion of the Earth takes place. When this occurs, the planet Earth reaches the point in its orbit closest to the Sun. Many astrologers consider this to be a highly significant event. In ancient Egypt, a religious ceremony known as the Advent of Isis from Phoenecia was performed yearly on this date in honor of the goddess Isis.

Tuesday, January 3
On this day, an annual fertility ceremony known as the Deer Dances is performed by the Native American tribe of the Pueblo in the southwestern United States. The ceremony, which includes sacred ritual dances performed by shamans wearing deer headdresses, is centuries-old and dedicated to the great female spirit-goddess known as the Deer Maiden.
In ancient Greece, a Pagan religious festival called the Lenaia was celebrated each year on this date in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility.

Wednesday, January 4
In Korea, the annual Sacrifice to the Seven Starts (Chilseong-je) is performed on this date at midnight. To receive good fortune and divine blessings, water and white rice are offered to the god who rules the constellation Ursa Major.

Thursday, January 5
Twelfth Night and Wassail Eve (in England) heralds the end of Christmastide. In ancient Egypt times, it was believed that the waters of the mystical and sacred River Nile possessed special magickal powers on this date. On this date in the year 1918, renowned astrologer and author Jeane Dixon was born in Medford, Wisconsin.

Friday, January 6--Day of the Triple Goddess
On this date in the year 1988, Circle Sanctuary of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, became legally recognized as a Wiccan Church by its local Township and County levels of government. Circle Sanctuary's attainment of church zoning was a significant victory for Wiccans around the world, for it was the first time a Witchcraft group had been publicly sanctioned as a church by local government officials.

Saturday, January 7
In the seventeenth century, it was customary on this day for a special Epiphany Cake to be baked with a coin in it. Whoever was lucky enough to receive the portion containing the coin was saluted by the family as a "king" or "queen" for the day. As part of the tradition, the "king" or "queen" would draw cross symbols on the ceiling with white chalk to drive out evil spirits and ward off misfortune.

Here's wishing you every happiness in this bright, shiny New Year! See you next week,
Karen

This Week in Astrology:

The First Quarter Moon took place this morning at 1:15am EST.

"On Sunday, January 1st, a First Quarter Moon will occur when the Sun in Capricorn forms a square with the Aries Moon. There

is a crisis theme surrounding any quarter Moon phase, as we feel compelled to take action. Shortly after, we are made aware of how our actions affect those close to us, perhaps through trial and error. Whatever project or initiative we began around the New Moon on December 24th is now off the ground, and it may face its first obstacles." http://cafeastrology.com

For those of you interested in learning about your 2012 horoscope:
http://darkstarastrology.com/2012-horoscopes/

Weekly Tarot: 2 of Wands

Vanessa Tarot

Well, this is certainly appropriate for the first week of the New Year. The 2 of Wands is all about personal power, responsible leadership, goal-setting, being bold and showing originality.

This is an action card, which tells you it's time to shine; time to set goals and make them happen. If you've been hiding your light under a bushel, it's time to let it shine to the world. You have all you need within you to be a success; you just have to decide to make it happen and then act upon it.

This week's Totem: Crow

This is interesting, since Crow keeps popping up all over the place lately. As many of you are aware, crows are one of my favorite birds. I've had a lot of fun and interesting experiences with crows.
My grandmother once told me that they are the smartest of all birds, and I think science might even agree with me on that one. They are known to use tools, recognize faces and even pass that knowledge down through generations. They build apartments of nests together and understand the value of strength in numbers. I've personally watched a crow and one of its blue-jay cousins team up together to chase off a red-tailed hawk in my back yard.

They also have a very distinct moral code. I've watched them turn their backs on one of their own when he failed to report a cache of food. It's been said that crows set up a sentry at night to watch out for one of their main enemies- the owl. If the sentry fails at his job, the other crows will kill him.

In many indigenous tribes, the crow is the keeper of Sacred Law and can bend the laws of the physical universe to shape-shift. Crow medicine people are masters of illusion. In ancient Ireland, the MorRhiogan shape-shifted into a crow and flew over the battlefield at the onset of the conflict.

According to Native American tradition, all sacred texts are under the protection of Crow. Creator's Book of Laws or Book of Seals is bound in Crow feathers. Crow feathers tell of spirit made flesh. Crow is also the protector of the "ogallah" or ancient records.

The Sacred Law Belts, or Wampum Belts, beaded by native women long before the boat people or Europeans came to this continent, contain knowledge of the Great Spirit's laws, and are kept in the Black Lodges, the lodges of women. The law which states that "all things are born of women," is signified by Crow.

Children are taught to behave according to the rules of a particular culture. Most orthodox religious systems create a mandate concerning acceptable behavior within the context of worldly affairs. Do this and so, and you will go to heaven. Do thus and so, and you will go to hell. Different formulas for salvation are demanded by each "true faith."

Human law is not the same as Sacred Law. More so than any other medicine, Crow sees that the physical world and even the spiritual world, as humanity interprets them, are an illusion. There are billions of world. There are an infinitude of creatures.

Great Spirit is within all. If an individual obeys Crow's perfect laws as given by the Creator, then at death, he or she dies a Good Medicine death - going on to the next incarnation with a clear memory of his or her past.

Crow is an omen of change. The message for you is to look inside, find your connection to the Great Spirit, and determine your moral code. Crow medicine signifies a firsthand knowledge of a higher order of right and wrong than that indicated by the laws created in human culture. With Crow medicine, you speak in a powerful voice when addressing issues that for you seem out of harmony, out of balance, out of whack, or unjust.

Remember that Crow looks at the world with first one eye, and then the other; cross-eyed. In the Mayan culture, cross-eyed people had the privilege and duty of looking into the future. It's time to put aside your fear of being a voice in the wilderness and call the shots as you see them.

As we allow our personal integrity to be our guide, that sense of feeling alone will vanish, and we feel the connection we have to all other things. Personal will can then emerge so that you will stand in your truth. The prime path of Crow people says to be mindful of your opinions and actions. Be willing to walk your talk, speak your truth, know your life's mission; and balance past, present, and future in the now. Shape-shift that old reality and become your future self. Allow the bending of physical laws to aid in creating the shape-shifted world of peace.

That's it for this week's stew. Mull, digest, enjoy!

The Sunday Stew (Monday Edition): Last week of 2011

2011-12-26T12:10:00.000-05:00

This week's stew is a day late due to weekend festivities. It was a lovely week of celebrations for my family. We had three birthdays, Yule and secular Christmas to commemorate, and frankly, I'm exhausted.

This year seemed a lot more frantic than I recall, and I just didn't feel the 'spirit of the season' much. It was more like a chore. I know that's not what people want to read, but it's true. Next year, I'm simplifying this whole process. I'm mostly off from work this week (I have to work Thursday) but after today, it'll be organizing time for me in preparation for 2012. I've decided to split up my days between work and home organizing and be ready to hit the ground running on January 3.

This is the last week of 2011. It was a good year, overall (any year that we're still alive is a good year in my book). It was busy and a bit on the stressful side. And yet, I made new friends both on and offline, learned new things, and that's never bad :)

One of the things I learned about myself is how I really don't like to share intimate details about myself. I recently posted a few details about my mother's alcoholism, and so many people responded that it overwhelmed me a bit. I'm not used to being that open about things, especially online (I think it comes from that whole 'don't air your dirty laundry in public' mantra that I grew up with), and when so many people reached out with stories and how what I said touched them in some way, I realized just what a writer I'm not. I began looking at other people whose writing I do admire, and discovered how much they really put themselves out there. I am both humbled and challenged by that.

I don't really do "New Year's Resolutions" but from Samhain to this time of year, I do like to be introspective and see what I'd like to work on for the next year. I just don't resolve that I'm going to be perfect at it. So, I'm going to try to share more intimacy with you going forward. I can't promise I'll be good at it, or that I'll be consistent, but I'll work on it :)

How about you? Do you review the year and prepare for the new during this week or are you more of a wing-it kind of person?

In the News:

China's young people are turning to astrology and visiting witch shops
The Druids at Stonehenge are predicting a good 2012
Frankincense production could be halved in the next 15 years
The Wild Hunt reports that the UK has posted new restrictions on "occult advertising"

Happy Birthday this week to: Jim Sutter, Karen Delbridge, Ziggy Smith, Trixey Seymoure Coley, Natalia Semenova, Karen Tatro, Nancy-Ann Sorrell, Noodle Cat, Kit Wolf and Percival Jones. May this next year of your life bring you joy, peace, happiness and abundance in all good things!

Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo

Welcome to the Pagan Lore, covering the entire last week of 2011!

Sunday, December 25
Birthday of the Invincible Sun (Dies Natalis Invicti Solis). Before being Christianized as the Mass of Christ (Christmas), a festival honoring the god of the sun was celebrated on this day in ancient Rome. It was made a public holiday by the Emperor Aurelian in the year A.D. 272 and consisted of the lighting of sacred bonfires.
On Christmas Day, according to German folklore, a Yuletide Witch known as the Lutzelfrau flies through the sky on her broom, bringing mischief to mortals who fail to honor her with small presents. Another Yuletide Witch of German folklore is Perchta. In the southern regions of the country, it was an old Yuletide custom for children wearing masks and carrying besoms (Witch brooms) to go door to door (in "trick or treat" fashion) begging for gifts in the name of Perchta.

Monday, December 26
On this day, the first day of Yuletide begins. It continues until the Twelfth-day (January 6).
The Junkanoo festival takes place annually on this day in the Bahama Islands. Old gods are honored and ancient magick is reinvoked as music, dancing, and costumed marchers fill the streets until the crack of dawn.
This day is sacred to various deities from around the world. Among them are Frau Sonne, Igaehindvo, the Star Faery, Sunne, and Yemaya.

Tuesday, December 27
On this day in the year 1959, Gerina Dunwich (eclectic Witch, professional astrologer, and author of many Witchcraft books, including the one you are now reading) was born in Chicago, Illinois under the sign of Capricorn with a Taurus rising.
The birth of Freya (the Norse goddess of fertility, love, and beauty) is celebrated on this day. Annual Pagan festivals in her honor are celebrated throughout the world by many Wiccans of the Saxon tradition.

Wednesday, December 28
On this day, an annual festival of peace and spiritual renewal is celebrated in parts of China. Offerings are made to gods and spirits, and a paper horse containing the names of all the members of the temple is set on fire in the ancient Taoist belief that the rising smoke will take the names up to heaven.

Thursday, December 29
During this period, the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights (also known as Hanukkah or Chanukah) is observed by Jews throughout the world. On each night of the festival, one additional candle is lit on a ceremonial nine-branched candelabrum called a menorah.
In ancient Greece, a Pagan religious festival called the Day of Nymphs was celebrated on this day in honor of Andromeda, Ariadne, and Artemis (the Greek counterpart of the goddess Diana)

Friday, December 30
On this date in the year 1916, Rasputin (a famous Russian mystic monk, occultist, and court magician) was assassinated by his enemy Prince Feliks Yusupov. Rasputin, who was drowned in the frozen Neva River, presaged his own death.

Saturday, December 31
New Year's Eve. The modern custom of ringing bells and blowing horns to usher in the new year at midnight is actually derived from the old Pagan custom of noisemaking to scare away the evils of the old year.
In certain parts of Japan, young men put on grotesque demon masks and costumes made of straw and go door to door collecting donations of money, rice cakes, and sake. This traditional New Year's Eve custom serves to drive out the demons of misfortune and ensure an abundant harvest for the new year.

That's all for now -- see you in 2012!
Karen

The astrologers this week all seem to be on strike or vacation, so I'm skipping it for now.

This Week's Tarot Card: Death

Rider-Waite Tarot

I find it interesting that I pulled this one, as it's a card of endings, and we are about to end the secular year. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Tarot, the Death card is rarely (if ever) about physical death. It's about endings and clearing the way for new beginnings; sudden change; freeing one's self from the shackles of the past; shedding the old for the new.

Think about what you'd like to shed in order to be ready for some new adventures and paths to take. This is the card to help you do just that.

This week's Totem: Snake

I promise, I didn't plan this:

Transmutation

Snake medicine people are very rare. Their initiation involves experiencing and

living through multiple snake bites, which allows them to transmute all poisons, be they mental, physical, spiritual, or emotional. The power of snake medicine is the power of creation, for it embodies sexuality, psychic energy, alchemy, reproduction, and ascension(or immortality).

The transmutation of the life-death-rebirth cycle is exemplified by the shedding of

Snake's skin. It is the energy of wholeness, cosmic consciousness, and the ability to

experience anything willingly and without resistance. It is the knowledge that all things are equal in creation, and that those things which might be experienced as poison can be eaten, ingested, integrated, and transmuted if one has the proper state of mind (this is a common belief among the indigenous tribes of North America).

Thoth, the Egyptian god, who later is seen as Hermes-the father of alchemy, used the symbolism of two snakes intertwining around a sword to represent healing. Complete understanding and acceptance of the male and female within each organism creates a merging of the two into one, thereby producing divine energy.

This medicine teaches you on a personal level that you are a universal being. Through accepting all aspects of your life, you can bring about the transmutation of the fire medicine. This fire energy, when functioning on the material place, creates passion, desire, procreation, and physical vitality. On the emotional place, it becomes ambition, creation, resolution, and dreams. On the mental place it becomes intellect, power, charisma, and leadership. When this Snake energy reaches the spiritual plane, it becomes wisdom, understanding, wholeness and connection to Great Spirit.

As this week's totem, the message from Snake is that there is a need within you to transmute some

thought, action, or desire so that wholeness may be achieved. This is heavy magic, but remember, magic is no more than a change in consciousness. Become the magician and transmute the energy and accept the power of the fire.

PS. For those who've asked, I'll post a picture of Draco, my California Kingsnake, on Facebook later.

That's it for this week. I wish you all a very safe and happy New Year's Eve.. see you in 2012!

The Friday Frolic: New Moon in Capricorn

2011-12-23T10:25:00.000-05:00

Josephine Wall

The New Moon in Capricorn takes place at 1:06pm EST, December 24.
Here are some cool links to go check out for New Moon articles, ideas and rituals:
http://rubyslipper.ca/2011/12/new-moon-in-capricorn/
http://mooncircles.com/newmoon_simone.html
http://mooncircles.com/newmoon_dana.html
http://www.bemyastrologer.com/rebecca_brents_new_moon_capricorn.html

Happy New Moon!
K

The Sunday Stew- Yule Edition 2011

2011-12-18T09:14:00.000-05:00

This week's stew is in preparation for the Winter Solstice, also known as Yule, Jul, The Longest Night, and I do believe Chanukah is taking place this coming week as well. (Chag Sameach Chanukah to all of my Jewish friends!)

Wow, the time between Samhain and Yule has just flown for me! I want more time to cocoon! I want more introspection! I want some snow, damnit!

This week, I only have to work on Tuesday, but I'll be busy on the home-front with Solstice preparations. We like to make pine-cone bird feeders and set them out in the woods for our feathered friends, and I went to the farm yesterday to get some assorted nuts for the squirrels as well.I also got some cranberries to string up and put out on the pine trees. Cardinals and Blue Jays in particular seem to love them. I miss living up in Cecil County. I made friends with a family of crows up there. The mother figured out which bedroom window was mine, and if I didn't have food out for them by 5am, she'd caw and peck at my window until I got up to feed them. I had such a great time with that family. I can't seem to get the crows here to warm up to me like that, no matter what I've tried. They'll get close, but not too close. I really should write about my adventures with the crows. They are the most astounding and entertaining creatures.
If you have any other suggestions for 'giving back' to our wild friends of the forest, please do share!

My daughter's 23rd birthday is on the Solstice this year. Happy Birthday, sweetie!

I'll probably share some more throughout the week, if I have time. I would love to hear from you about your Solstice plans (or whatever holiday you celebrate at this time of year) and preparations.

In the News:

Pagan/Witchy news

Hudsonville neighborhood note calls Christmas light displays 'Pagan'
Yule, or Winter Solstice, is a Celebration of Life
Germany Rehabilitates Its Persecuted Witches

Fun links:
Learn about Chanukah
Santa tracker at NORAD
Cookie Recipes at Christmas Central
Stonehenge Winter Solstice Private Tour (this is to sign up for 2012 in person)
The Solstice explained, scientifically
Pagan Kids Coloring Pages
The Pooka Pages Yule Edition (for kids)
Yule Crafts
Yule Recipes
The Pagan Household's 21 Days of Yule

Happy Birthday this week to Chris Stanton, Tara Callahan, Debbie Coulter, Gail Wood, Jann Jones, Michelle Brooks, Casey Stephenson Scott, and my baby girl- Lyssa! May you all have blessings of bounty, abundance in all good things and happiness wherever you go in the next year of your life.

Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo

Welcome to another week of Pagan Lore! Busy, busy week with all sorts of holidays taking place -- how are you celebrating the season?

Sunday, December 18
On this day in Latvia, the birth of the god Diev and the rebirth of the Sun is celebrated annually with a four-day winter festival. Houses are festively decorated and traditional feasts are prepared to welcome the four gift-bearing celestial beings who are the heralds of the Winter Solstice. It's also the second day of the Saturnalia, when the ancient Romans celebrated the Eponalia (a feast dedicated to Epona, the Celtic Mother-Goddess and a patroness of horses).

Monday, December 19
This is the third day of the Saturnalia, on which the ancient Romans celebrated the Opalia, a feast dedicated to Ops (Goddess of Abundance, the harvest Goddess of fertility and success, and consort of the god Saturn. This day was also sacred to the Roman fertility goddess Sabine. The Hindu Goddess Sankrant is also honored annually on this date (approximately) by a Hindu Solstice celebration called Pongol.

Tuesday, December 20
Today in the year 1946, famous Israeli psychic Uri Geller was born in Tel Aviv. He is renowned for his psychokinetic ability to bend metal objects by stroking them with his fingers, and ability to stop clocks simply by gazing at them. His metal-bending and mind-reading abilities developed at the age of five when he was accidentally shocked by his mother's electric sewing machine. He began his career as a full-time professional stage performer in 1969.

Wednesday, December 21
On the first day of Winter (which normally occurs on or near this date), the Winter Solstice Sabbat is celebrated by Wiccans and Witches throughout the world. Winter Solstice (which is also known as Yule, Winter Rite, Midwinter, and Alban Arthan) is the longest night of the year, marking the time when the days begin to grow longer and the hours of darkness decrease. It is the festival of the Sun's rebirth, and a time to honor the Horned God. The aspect of the God invoked at this Sabbat by certain Wiccan traditions is Frey, the Scandinavian fertility god and a deity associated with peace and prosperity. Love, family togetherness, and accomplishments of the past year are also celebrated. On this Sabbat, Witches bid farewell to the Great Mother and welcome the reborn Horned God who rules the dark half of the year.

Thursday, December 22

On this date (approximately), the Sun enters the astrological sign of Capricorn. Persons born under the sign of the Goat are said to be ambitious, practical, loyal, and often reclusive. Capricorn is an earth sign and is ruled by the planet Saturn. On this day in the year 1970, famous Wiccan authors Stewart and Janet Farrar founded their own coven. The Farrars wrote many popular, well-respected books on Witchcraft together.

Friday, December 23

In early times, a Pagan religious ceremony called the Laurentina was held in Rome annually on this date, celebrating the recovery of light from the darkness of the Winter Solstice. It was dedicated to the goddess Acca Laurentia or Lara, the mother of the Lares. The demigod Balomain is honored annually by the Kalash people with a weeklong festival called the Chaomos, which begins on this date.

Saturday, December 24

Christmas Eve. According to Finnish folklore, the ghosts of departed loved ones return home each year on this night. It is a Christmas Eve tradition in Finland and in many other parts of Europe for families to light white candles on the graves of their ancestors. According to superstition, if a man proposes to his beloved on Christmas Eve and she accepts, they will surely enjoy a happy and love-filled marriage.

And that's the Pagan Lore for this week. Hope you all have a blessed Yule, and enjoy whatever holidays you celebrate with your friends and family!

Karen

This Week in Astrology

Venus moves into Aquarius on December 20.
The Winter Solstice takes place at 5:30 UT on December 22 (12:30am EST) this year.
Here is another article which gives the science behind the Solstice. Many Pagans stay up all night or get up early to watch the first sunrise and honor the return of the Sun.

The Sun moves into Capricorn on December 22.

The New Moon in Capricorn takes place on Saturday, December 24 at 1:06pm EST.
"This lunation symbolizes a new beginning in the cardinal earth sign of Capricorn. It's a time during which we can focus on some of the constructive traits of the sign of the Goat--tenacious, resourceful, disciplined, wise, ambitious, prudent, constant--and consider how to positively incorporate these qualities into our lives. Now, we can focus on practical and attainable long-term goals, work on developing maturity and common sense, prepare for the future, make commitments and recognize responsibilities, and nurture our dreams in a realistic manner." ~CafeAstrology

This Week's Tarot: Ace of Swords

Circle of Life Tarot

Aces are about new beginnings. Swords are about intellect, thought processes, ideas. So, a pregnant woman is a perfect depiction in my opinion. A thought is forming- one that could bring about a victory. It could be a new way of communicating something. If you look at the young mother, you can't see her face, but you get the sense that she is happy and trusting (naked in the woods). The nudity could also represent something as simple as naked truth. Honeybees are about community, and the pumpkin usually represents a good harvest. It seems as though she and her baby are protected all the way around.
This is a very appropriate card for the week of the Solstice. New beginnings, new year. What truths will you uncover? What new challenges will you overcome with your creative thinking? How will you communicate differently now? In what ways will you and your community come together to protect new ideas,creative projects and harvests in the year to come?

Weekly Totem: Butterfly

The power that Butterfly brings to us is akin to the mind, and the ability to know the mind or to change it. It is the art of transformation.

To use Butterfly medicine, you must astutely observe your position in the cycle of self-transformation. Like Butterfly, you are always at a certain station in your life activities.

You may be at the egg stage, which is the beginning of all things. This is the stage at which an idea is born, but has not yet become a reality.

The larva stage is the point at which you decide to create the idea in the physical world.

The cocoon stage involves "going within": doing or developing your project, idea, or aspect or personality.

The final state of transformation is the leaving of the chrysalis and birth. This last step involves sharing the colors and joy of your creation with the world.

If you look closely at what Butterfly is trying to teach, you will realize that it is the never-ending cycle of self-transformation. The way to discern where you are in this cycle is to ask yourself:

(1) Is this the egg stage: Is it just a thought or idea?

(2) Is this the larva stage: Do I need to make a decision?

(3) Is this the cocoon stage: Am I developing and doing something to make my idea a reality?

(4) Is this the birth stage: Am I sharing my completed idea?

By asking yourself these questions, you will discover how Butterfly is relating to you at this moment. When you understand where you are, Butterfly can teach you what to do next to continue in the cycle of self-transformation, (or in assisting others in their cycle.)

Using the air, or mental powers, of this medicine is done with ease. As an example, if you have been feeling exhausted and have asked how to heal your fatigue, take notice of the colors you have been drawn to recently. Does your body feel better in green or blue? Could this mean that you need to eat more green vegetables? This type of thinking is an inspiration from Butterfly medicine.

Butterfly can give clarity to your mental process, help you organize the project you are undertaking, and assist you in finding the next step for your life. The main message is that you are ready to undergo some type of amazing transformation.

That's it for this week's stew. As always, mull, digest, enjoy!
Slainte',
Kallan

The Friday Frolic: Let's go visit Wendy Callahan

2011-12-16T11:48:00.000-05:00

This is going to be a quick frolic today, as I'm swamped at work and trying to get done in time for the ~~dreaded~~ big shopping weekend. I have told you that I hate shopping and that you should totally feel sorry for my oldest daughter, yes? Take me to a hardware store (especially the lawn/garden center) and you can't get me out of there, but malls, etc..? Ack! Ok enough of that.. let's go blog visiting to my buddy Wendy Callahan's pages:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WendyLCallahan?sk=wall
Blog: http://wendycallahan.blogspot.com/

Wendy is the author of the following:
"Dead Wrong", Damnation Books, June 2011
"The Gossamer Gate", Persephone Press, October 2011
Upcoming:
"Heart & Fire", Eternal Press, April 2012
"The Pain Maiden", Persephone Press, June 2012

And here's a pic of Wendy:

Cool chick for sure!! Go visit and tell her I sent ya.

Happy Friday!
Kallan

A Great Escape. Warning: This gets personal

2011-12-15T20:36:00.001-05:00

It's been a long week. Actually, a long year. At this time of year, while our sales are slowing down, it's insane at work. It's time to wrap up revenue reconciliations, clean up the hard drive and email box, and prepare to hit the ground running in January. In my department, we're going to be launching several new product lines, and since I'm in charge of them, it's a crazy time for me- extremely stressful and my brain was absolutely fried this afternoon.

I did something I don't normally do on Facebook- I posted exactly how I was feeling, asked for help, and sure enough, my friends came to the rescue. Namely, my buddy, Rommy Driks. For those of you who participated in the "What Makes Your State Great?" project, you'll know Rommy from her amazing ability to find at least one musical video for each of the 50 states, including Rhode Island. Well, Rommy did the same for me tonight. She began posting a couple of music videos on my page, and reminded me of one of my two childhood escapes- music.

This is going to get a little more personal than I normally do on this blog, so if you'd like to stop here, I promise not to be offended :) At least you've been warned.

I didn't have a great childhood. My dad and mom divorced when I was 3. He pretty much became scarce in my life after that. I have very vague memories of him being around when I was that little. My mom was a person who should really never have been a parent. She does okay with kids until they turn 4, then she's really no longer interested in them. I am the oldest of four girls (she always wanted a boy). My mother remarried when I was 6, and my stepfather made it very clear that he wasn't interested in being a dad to me and my sister, who was less than a year younger than me (for five days we're the same age). He was also not really around much. He worked 90 hour weeks, smoked heavily and didn't eat right. He died when I was 16.

I showed a propensity for music when I was 5. I began taking piano lessons, then violin, then guitar, then moved into marching band in jr. high school, playing clarinet (only because mom wouldn't let me play sax and because I really loved Benny Goodman & big band music).

My mother is also an alcoholic. Oh, you might not know it if you met her. She wasn't a violent one, and certainly wasn't a 'sloppy drunk'. Most of my high school friends loved my mom. She is one of the most charming people you might ever meet. She drinks a lot, but you won't see her behaving badly. She'd save that for behind closed doors. You know how we Southerners are- don't air your dirty laundry in public.

She never hit us. In fact, she'd fire a babysitter who spanked. She was just very verbally, mentally and emotionally abusive and very much an absentee parent. I became her 'whipping girl' for anything that went wrong in her life, and at a pretty young age. She actually lost some very dear friends because they had come to visit, and one of them just couldn't take it anymore. He spoke up and told her (right in front of me) how she made a huge difference between me and the other kids, and that he couldn't take her abusing me like that in front of him anymore. I ran upstairs and locked myself in my room because I knew she was going to blame me for it. The next day, I came down and our visitors were gone. We never saw them again.
My mother would accuse me of things without actually telling me what they were. For example,
Mom: "I know you stole something from me."
Me: "What are you talking about?"
Mom: "You know what I'm talking about. Give it back or face the consequences."
Me: " I honestly have no idea what you're accusing me of.. please tell me what you think I did."
Mom: " You have 10 minutes, then you're on restriction for the next 8 weeks."
I never did know what to do, so I'd end up on restriction. When that restriction was over, believe me, she'd find something else I did wrong. I was never allowed to get less than a "B" as a grade on anything or I'd face 9 weeks of restriction until the grade came up. No pressure or anything. Just be perfect- or else.

In high school, I was a majorette. In West Virginia, that was a big deal. We had a huge majorette festival in the fall, and we'd literally spend the entire summer (from 7am until it got too dark to see a baton, 6 days a week. One week off for vacation) practicing for this big event.

The night of my last festival (my senior year of high school), I came home from school and started getting ready to go to the festival only to find out that I couldn't take my car, nor would my mother drive me to this. Now, understand that this is a school band function. If I didn't show up for it, I would fail band for the year. I became nearly hysterical over this.. and finally called my best friend's dad (she wasn't in the band) and asked if he could come and get me ( I would have walked, but she waited until it would be too late for me to do that, and this was at a time before cell phones. It was a five mile walk to the school). He agreed, and then we both found out that my mom had been listening in on the phone. She jumped in and told him that she was taking me.. she said didn't know what I was talking about. She fumed the whole drive over there because I called him, and I was an emotional wreck. My friends saw me get out of my mother's car, and came running up to find out what had happened. To this day, I have no idea what I did to cause my mother to behave that way. She never would tell me what I'd done.

I ended up getting my picture in the local paper as the representative majorette of our school, and my mother bought up a bunch of copies of the paper. I came home to her on the phone bragging to her friend about me. She never did see me perform.. not there or at any other function, but if I did something to get recognition, you bet she was right there- ever the "proud parent".

These are just slight examples of what I went through at home. When my stepfather died, she basically shut down except to go to work, come home, drink and go to bed.

When she would go into these crazy episodes, I'd escape. There was a piano in the basement. I'd lock myself in there and play for hours. I'd listen to the radio, sing my heart out and just go somewhere else in the music. It was my lifeline for my youth and teenage years. She'd leave me alone because she liked hearing me play and/or sing.. perhaps it soothed the beast inside, I don't know.

Anyway, I got out of the house, went to college for a year, then headed into the Navy and from that point on, I lived my life my way. But, music was always my friend. I sang in the Navy's Bluejacket Chorus and I even sang in a touring gospel group for awhile during my Christian days. Music has never failed to help me through a heartbreak, pull me out of a slump, un-fry my brain or cheer me up when I was feeling down.

How I forgot that is beyond me. In the last year, I haven't really done a lot of listening to music. I've just dealt with things as they've come and really been moving on fast forward the whole year. So, when Samhain came around, I was determined that during this introspective time of year, I'd revisit those things that make me happy. Rommy reminded me today of my friendship and love of all things musical.

In case you are wondering about my other escape- it's being outside. Preferably in the woods by the river (and now, most definitely with my wolf-dog). I feel more at home in the woods and at the river than I do in any place built by a human. And to my BFF, yes.. I still want my cabin in the woods :) But, today it was raining and the sun had set by the time I got off work. So, I took a little adventure trip with my buddies on Facebook and music. Thanks to both of them for making this day SO much better!

PS. A shout out to my girls who sent me Viggo Mortensen photos and had a drool-fest with me over him as well. As many of you know, I was supposed to marry him (of course this was after my break-up with Sting) but he goes for the younger women so my dream was shattered. *sigh*

John Bradbury: My Ancestor

2011-12-14T07:46:00.000-05:00

See it on Amazon

I posted about this on Facebook yesterday, but I think I probably did nothing more than annoy people with my excitement. This post really is more for me to record some things I've discovered, and to share my joy in what I've found. So, it's not a rant, not a big educational thing, and my feelings will so not be hurt if you're not interested in reading it :)

I have known for awhile that I was a descendant of John Bradbury (my dad's middle name is Bradbury in honor of this), and that he had authored at least one book, but I had not really ever taken the time to find out much about him. Yesterday, I looked him up and am now more than a little impressed.

I've always had an interest in being a Naturalist, and writing is something that's come naturally to me as well. So, to find out that I come from the line of someone who discovered 40 new species of plants in the United States, who was friends with Thomas Jefferson, met with Daniel Boone (at Boone's request) and was cited by Washington Irving as a major contributor to his own works about blew me away. Not only that, but he was the only person with a scientific background to have been an eye witness to the New Madrid Earthquake in what's now known as Memphis TN. The more I read about him, the more impressed I become. I'm simply amazed.

So, I've ordered his book and I'm looking forward to reading it. I love learning about my ancestors!

For more on John Bradbury:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bradbury_(naturalist)
http://spiderbites.nytimes.com/free_1904/articles_1904_08_00004.html
http://www.jimtremmel.com/id3.html

Christmas: You're doing it right!

2011-12-12T12:36:00.000-05:00

In one of my earlier blog rants this season, I quoted my Facebook buddy, author Tim Byrd who said, "Christmas. You're doing it wrong." in response to the Christmas war propaganda floating around the net this year.
So, with that in mind....

We had carolers come to our door last night. Yes, CAROLERS! CHRISTMAS carolers, no less. A very sweet young man of about 11 or 12 knocked on my door, handed me a post card (see photos) and said, "We're caroling!". Of course, I called all of my family to the door (they were just as thrilled as I was) and we listened to a group of lovely folks of all ages sing "Silent Night" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" better than a choir of heavenly host could ever do. They then waved at us and yelled in unison "Merry Christmas!!"
You better believe we all clapped, cheered and yelled "Merry Christmas!" right back. The postcard was a lovely idea. See that they invited us to their church for Christmas services, had their address, phone number and website right on the back and there was not a pushy thing about it. They brought the joy of the season to us through song and happy faces. There was no war, no one telling them to go away, no one screaming, "It's HAPPY HOLIDAYS, DAMNIT!" and it made our night. After such a heartfelt, loving invitation, I may just join these lovely people on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning to celebrate the birth of their savior with them.

That's what I'd call doing Christmas right!

Let's all see if we can catch people doing it right and share the love of the season with the rest of us. I think that's what this time of year should be about, anyway :)

The Sunday Stew: Politicians, Coins and Snakes, Oh My! ;)

2011-12-11T10:09:00.000-05:00

Cerridwen at the Cauldron

This week's stew is bubbling over. It seems this past week was a really volatile one for so many people.

As many of you know, I posted what I would have termed as a mini-rant, and it went viral. I've received literally hundreds of responses to it- some commented and others simply emailed me to express opinions. I've heard from people of all faiths, and several of my atheist friends as well. It was so heartening to see how many people from these very diverse beliefs all want to keep our nation secular and welcoming to all.

This coming week is a busy one for many of us. It seems that most people begin taking their holiday vacations the last two weeks of the year, so this week tends to be the last real working week. I know in our business, we have use-it-or-lose-it vacation time and have to take the time. So, for those of you who are working so hard (and especially you folks in retail) I send you lots of positive thoughts for the coming week.

In the News:

As many of you who read my rant or watch the news are aware, Rick Perry came out with a video this week that states he's not afraid to say he's a Christian. He disparages gays in the military, claims Christian children can't celebrate Christmas or pray in schools, and says he'll stop "Obama's war on religion" in this country. He claims faith is what made America strong and can make Her strong again. Here's a great response to that video (best one I've seen):

Here's a great article on how America came to have the Santa Claus we know today.
Looking for a Pagan Holiday Playlist?
Cool article on a 'witch cottage' that's been unearthed in the UK.
For those of you who've been following the Turner family and the discrimination against their child in school, here is an update.

Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo

Welcome to another week of Pagan Lore, covering December 11 through the 17th. Is everyone breathing a little easier? Mercury moves out of retrograde on the 14th (whew)! While we're all getting ready to celebrate the upcoming holidays in our own way, let's look at some ancient festivals, celebrations, and customs!

Sunday, December 11
This was the day of Bruma, when the ancient Roman Goddess of the winter season was honored by Pagans in Italy with an annual festival. This day is also sacred the Snow Queen Goddess Arianrhod and to Yuki Onne.

Monday, December 12
The triumph of good over evil and light over darkness is celebrated annually at sunset on this date with the Zoroastrian fire festival of Sada. In Mexico, the annual religious festival honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe is held on this day. It's a day sacred to the Goddesses Coatlique, Tonantzin, and to the Black Madonna as well.

Tuesday, December 13
This is Saint Lucia's Day, when a candlelight festival in Her honor is celebrated throughout Sweden. The first-born daughter of each family wears a flowing white gown and a crown of candles around her head, representing the ancient Pagan symbols of fire and life-giving light. The daughter traditionally serves her parents breakfast in bed on this morning.

Wednesday, December 14
On this date in 1503, famous French prophet and astrologer Michel de Nostradamus was born in Saint Remy de Provence. He experienced many psychic visions during his childhood, and in his later years studied the Holy Qabalah, astrology, astronomy, medicine, and mathematics. The first collection of his uncannily accurate visions, written in the form of rhymed quatrains, was published in 1555. Three years later, a second and much collection of his prophecies, which extended into the year 3979, was published. Nostradamus died on July 1, 1566.

Thursday, December 15

This begins the Halcyon Days. According to ancient legend, the seven days before the winter solstice and the seven days following are a special time of tranquility and calm, due to the magickal powers of the halcyon (a fabled bird who nested on the sea and calmed the wind and the waves during the winter solstice). In Puerto Rico, the Yule Child is honored by a religious festival called Navidades, which begins annually on this day and is celebrated until the sixth of January.

Friday, December 16

In Mexico, the Yule Child is honored by a religious festival called Posadas which begins annually on this day and is celebrated until the twenty-fourth of December. Today is sacred to the Pagan wisdom-Goddesses Athena, Kista, Maat, Minerva, the Shekinah, and Sophia. The Soyal ceremony is celebrated annually on (approximately) this date by the Hopi Native American tribe in the southwestern United States. The rites of the Soyal celebrate the return of the sun (Life) and commemorate the creation and rebirth of the Spider Woman and Hawk Maiden.

Saturday, December 17

Today begins the Saturnalia, which lasts until the 24th of December. The Roman god Saturn was honored in ancient times during this annual midwinter festival of feasting, merriment, gift-giving, charades, and the lighting of torches and candles.

That's it for now -- See you in next week's Sunday Stew!

Karen

Happy Birthday this week to Sadhbh Ni Tomas, Dave Bailey, Bridgett Deem Nelson, Linda Agrella, CeCe Taylor, and Eamonn Loughran! May this next year in your journey here be filled with happiness, peace, joy and abundance in all good things!

This Week's Tarot: 3 of Coins (Pentacles)

Vanessa Tarot

The 3 of Coins is about hard work, planning and organization. The message here is to idealize your efforts onto a more spiritual level, not only doing your best, but finding fulfillment in your accomplishment.

This is about the constructive use of your talents and the expression of artistry in your workmanship. Think of it as using the conventional as a medium for the exceptional, in order to build something of greatness.

This Week in Astrology
After the Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse this weekend, Uranus going direct at the same time, and the volatility of this past week, we have a few things to be happy about.
As Karen mentioned in her Pagan Lore piece, Mercury goes direct this week on Wednesday.
The Last Quarter moon takes place on Saturday at 7:48pm EST. "It's time to begin finishing up the details of that which was conceived at the last New Moon on November 25th. What revelations did you have last week? What did they mean for you? What can be done now?" ~cafeastrology.com

Medicine Cards

This Week's Totem: Spider

Spider wove the web that brought humans the first picture of the alphabet. The letters were part of the angles of her web.

Deer asked Spider what she was weaving and why all the lines looked like symbols. Spider replied, "Why Deer, it is time for Earth's children to learn to make records of their progress in their Earth Walk." Deer answered Spider, "But they already have pictures that show through symbols the stories of their experiences." "Yes," Spider said, "But Earth's children are growing more complex, and their future generations will need to know more. The ones to come won't remember who to read the petroglyphs."

So it was that Spider wove the first primordial alphabet, as she had woven the dream of the world that had become manifest. Spider's dream of the physical world had come to fruition millions of years before.

Spider's body is made like the number eight, consisting of two lobe-like parts connected at the waist, and eight legs. Spider is the symbol for the infinite possibilities of creation. Her eight legs represent the four winds of change and the four directions of the medicine wheel.

Spider weaves the webs of fate for those who get caught in her web and become her dinner. This is similar to humans who get caught in the web of illusion in the physical world, and never see beyond the horizon into the other dimensions.

The web of fate also represents a wheel of life, which does not include any alternatives or solutions. It is typically human to get caught in the polarity of good or bad fortune without realizing that we can change it at any time. If we are not decisive enough about changing our lots in life, we may end up being consumed by our fears and limitations.

Spider is the female energy of the creative force that weaves the beautiful designs of life. Her web has hundreds of intricate patterns which catch the morning dew.

If Spider has dropped from her web to speak to you today, she may be telling you to create, create, create! Look for new alternatives to your present impasse. She can also be warning you that you are coming too close to an entangling situation. Spider could be asking you to use a journal to write out and review your progress. If you do this, you will not forget how you are creating a new of different phase in your life.

Spider brings a message of a different kind when she sees you becoming a bit too involved in the weaving of your life plans to notice opportunity at the outskirts of your web. If this is the case, Spider gets your attention so that you notice that something you have woven has borne fruit. Congratulations! Spider caught you just in time, before you missed the opportunity on the edge of your web of reality.

The most important message from Spider is that you are an infinite being who will continue to weave the patterns of life and living throughout time. Do not fail to see the expansiveness of the eternal plan.

That's it for this week's Stew. As always- mull, digest, enjoy!

Slainte',
Kallan

Rant Alert: A Merry Christmas Eviction Notice- My Response

2011-12-08T11:57:00.000-05:00

So, here's the latest Facebook meme in the Christmas "war" this year:

There are so many things wrong with this, it's almost comical. ALMOST.

I'm about to rant and educate; and with this, you have been warned.

I'll begin and end with the Merry Christmas greeting in the picture:

As stated in a previous rant, Christmas is supposed to be about celebrating the birth of Jesus for the Christian. As we know, Jesus (if he existed) could not have been born on December 25th. He also would have been Jewish, and they didn't celebrate birthdays. The God of the Jews made it clear only he could declare a day holy. You can search the bible all day long and not be able to find anywhere in the bible where you're told that you are to make this birthday a holy day. Jeremiah 10 specifically tells you not to decorate a tree and bow down to it, and it's all over the bible about you not taking on Pagan traditions.. in other words, that's a sin according to God.

So, let's look at the holly on the banner:

This is a very ancient religious symbol (much older than Christianity itself). Ancient Romans used it in their Saturnalia celebrations in December which go back as far as 217 BCE (that's at least 213 years prior to the alleged birth of Jesus).
In ancient pre-Christian Ireland, holly was used extensively, was thought to have both medicinal and magical properties, and was used to adorn homes during the Winter Solstice to protect the home.

So, probably not a good idea to be displaying a Pagan symbol on your banner there. Now, that's the least offensive thing on this banner, so it's not that big a deal. Let's move on to the more important pieces.

Next, the statement: "One Nation Under God":

Just so we're all on the same page, you will agree that the United States of America was founded circa 1776, yes? Ok, remember that year.

Here's a bit of history on the Pledge of Allegiance, which is the only place today where you will find "One Nation, Under God" in anything official (The U.S. Flag Code):

The pledge was initially authored by a Christian Socialist (yes, I said Socialist not Capitalist) named Francis Bellamy in 1892 (you did note that this is not in 1776, yes?).
The original pledge reads: "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all".
Congress adopted the pledge in 1942. (again, not 1776)
The Pledge has been modified four times since its composition, with the most recent change adding the words "under God" in 1954 as a response to the perceived threat of Communism by President Eisenhower.

I want us to be clear on this... "under God" was added as a political move. It was NOT because of some true religious fervor or a need to honor a particular deity. It was to stir up the hornet's nest of the Cold War with the (now defunct) Soviet Union.

And, once again for those who may have missed this in the past...

The Treaty of Tripoli: Authored by American diplomat Joel Barlow in 1796, the treaty was sent to the floor of the Senate, June 7, 1797, where it was read aloud in its entirety and unanimously approved. John Adams, having seen the treaty, signed it and proudly proclaimed it to the Nation.

Note that this was written during Washington's administration and ratified in Adams's Administration. This speaks to the Founding Fathers and their intentions in creating the United States. It was published in the two major newspapers of the time, and not one letter to the editor from the people of the United States was written in protest (which, btw, was something the people were apt to do as a general practice of the time when they disagreed).

Of particular interest is Article 11 which states: "As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries." ~http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/treaty_tripoli.html

Now, let's move on to the most incendiary of the statements: "Disagree? Don't let our border hit you in the ass on the way out".

Considering all of the facts listed above, we can state unequivocally that the United States was not founded on the Christian Religion. It is a SECULAR nation, meaning that it is not governed by any religious law or practice whatsoever. This is specifically addressed in the First Amendment to the Constitution:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

So, for those of you Christians who want to attempt to evict me from my country (the country where I was born, raised and to which I have sworn a sacred oath* - please note that I have a right to be here, and by the Constitution of the United States (which I am sworn to defend against all enemies foreign and domestic) I have a right to practice whatever religious belief suits me. Should you threaten that Constitutional right (as seen in photo above), you could be considered an enemy of the state and I would have to defend my country against you.

Yes, of course I'm being dramatic and ridiculous here. This pathetic attempt to force one's religious beliefs down my throat as an "American Value" is just as dramatically ridiculous.

Now, I've seen a couple of Pagan posts (and people forwarding them with their seal of approval upon them) that say, "Oh, you're missing the point! Have thicker skin! We can all just get along and ignore those who don't!" etc... and to that I argue that unless I stand up for myself and my beliefs, my rights will be trampled upon.

These memes that are circulating both on and off line are a sign of the times right now. There is a dichotomy of belief in this country which consists of those who want tolerance, kindness and respect for all people- regardless of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, etc.. and those who are right-wing Christian fundamentalists. It's playing out in our politics and has now infiltrated the holiday season.

Let's take a look at the latest Rick Perry video as an example:

This is exactly the kind of message that is stated in a less politically acceptable way in that photo.

Let's put it this way: The office of the President of the United States is a job.
We, the People, decide who will govern over us. The political campaigns are, simply stated, a series of job interviews.

When you are applying for employment in the United States, it is against the law for a potential employer to ask you about your religious beliefs.

Now, I want you to stop here and go back and read the previous sentence.

The job of President should be held to the same standard. It is none of our business what your religious beliefs are.. and you should not be spouting them off when applying for a job, especially one that requires you to keep them OUT of your decision-making.

I could be like the rest of the religiously correct out there who want to just play nice, because it wins them popularity contests. I could pander and make everyone feel good and let people say pretty things to stroke my ego about how great I am for playing so nice and being so neutral. That way, I could stay in my comfort zone and be Polly Popular.

But, I can't. It's not in my DNA.

I honestly don't need you to stroke my ego. I don't need you to tell me how I'm being so nice. Because I'm not going to be... this is about my RIGHTS as an American citizen, and they are precious to me.

I (and you other Americans) have these because of those who were willing to stand up and say something, to DO something- to FIGHT.

We women have the right to vote because of other women who were wrongfully imprisoned, tortured and killed to give us that.

Minorities obtained equal rights because of the suffering and sacrifice and willingness to fight by those who came before them.

To those who want us all to play nice.. if that banner said "Women, Blacks, Latinos, LGBTs- get out", would you still feel the same way?

We have this secular nation because our founding fathers pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to the cause of liberty and justice for ALL.. not just some. ALL- regardless of religious belief, genetic heritage, sexual orientation, color of skin. All is inclusive. All means ALL.

Not just those who subscribe to a quickly-fading majority religion and want to cling to a culture that has, for far too long, defined us in direct opposition to what this country's founding principles denote.

So, I'm standing up and giving notice to all of you who want to try to rob me, evict me and marginalize me. I'm staying put.

I'm not willing to give you more rights than I am afforded myself. I was born and raised here. I have fought for your right to free speech, which allows you to spew this kind of ill-tempered "holiday greeting" and allows a presidential candidate to pander to you in the hopes of winning his party's nomination. Your borders are not those of the United States. They are figment of your imagination.

Feel free to say your Merry Christmas with whatever tone you choose to put on it. It's part of the rights afforded to you under the Constitution. You know, the SECULAR one. Your 'heart-felt' greeting is taken as intended.

I do wish you a very Happy Holiday Season, and will continue to actually mean it. Because, in my country, all religions are welcome. We're a nation under Liberty and Freedom.. and that means you, too.
Whether I like it or not.

But, I really do mean it. I want you to be happy during this season when we live in a country that still allows you to say and believe what you want. That's something for which we can all be thankful.

And I'll leave you with some food for thought: instead of bullying, how about displaying your belief that Jesus IS the reason for the season? You know, "peace on earth.. good will toward men"?

Take the opportunity to behave in a way that explains the true reason for wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. As a pastor once told me, "You may be the only bible some people ever read". Show me the story of Luke instead of right-wing political nuttery.

Jesus would have been a liberal socialist; taking care of the poor through sharing food/clothing/medicine, etc... and the word Christian means "mini-christ", or someone who behaves as Jesus would. I just don't see him putting banners in his front yard telling people to get out. He was portrayed as a much more inclusive kind of guy.

He'd be too busy working at a soup kitchen, collecting clothing for the poor, giving medicine to those who needed it (for free) and sending a message of loving your neighbor as yourself. As a follower, shouldn't you be doing the same?

That would definitely fulfill the message of "Merry Christmas" for those who need it most- you included.

~eor~
K

*U.S. Armed Forces Oath of Enlistment:(I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.)

The Sunday Stew: December 4-10

2011-12-04T11:34:00.000-05:00

Cerridwen's Cauldron from Pagan Goddess Art Etsy

This week's stew is pretty mild in flavor. As I'm sure most of you are, I've been swamped with work and home-life things. This year is rapidly coming to a close, and that means a lot of pressure for us to get things accomplished.

Please remember to take care of you this week. At the very least, take a few moments each day to just do something nice for you. Be it a quiet moment with some coffee or tea, a hot bath, a steamy shower where you don't rehearse the whole day or review checklists, but just be in the moment. It's a hectic time and stress is a killer. Hug yourself for me, please!

In the News:
Jason Pitzl-Waters of The Wild Hunt has found some really interesting Pagan News articles this week. Read here.

Police are probing the destruction of a Pagan stone circle in South Wales as a possible religious hate attack...

This is a really interesting article on a Heathen politician who is under scrutiny for his "pandering to monotheism" and how this affects all Pagans/Heathens...

Pagan Lore

by Karen Szabo

Welcome to another week of Pagan Lore!

Sunday, December 4
This is the date the goddess Minerva was honored with an annual festival in ancient Rome. Minerva (the Roman counterpart of the Greek Goddess Athena) is a goddess of battle and patroness of the arts and wisdom.
In West Africa, this day is sacred to the Yoruban god Chango, god of lightning bolts and son of the deities Yemaya and Orungan.

Monday, December 5
In ancient Greece, the annual seaside festival called the Poseidea was celebrated on this date to honor the sea-god Poseidon, consort of the Mother Goddess. In Italy, the First Feast of Saint Lucia is held on this date each year. Before being Christianized into a Saint, she was originally worshiped as Lucina, Pagan Goddess of Light, who also presided over childbirth.

Tuesday, December 6
On this date in the 1890, famous occultist, author, and ritual magician Dion Fortune was born in Wales. Although Ms. Fortune never proclaimed herself to be a Witch, her numerous writings are popular among many modern Witches and Wiccans, inspiring them to this day. Some of her more famous books are "Psychic Self-Defense", "The Sea Priestess", and "Moon Magic". She died from leukemia on January 8, 1946.

Wednesday, December 7
On this date in ancient Greece, an annual rite called the Haloia of Demeter was performed. According to mythology, each year the Goddess Demeter wanders the earth in search of her stolen daughter Persephone who had been taken to the Underworld by Hades. Demeter's sorrow brings Winter to the world, and all trees and flowers cease to bloom for several months. Spring returns when Persephone is allowed to temporarily leave the darkness of the Underworld and Demeter once again rejoices.

Thursday, December 8
On this date each year, the birth of the ancient and powerful Goddess of the sun, Amaterasu is celebrated at Shinto temples throughout Japan. In Egypt, the annual Festival of Neith is celebrated on this date which honors the Earth-Goddess of the Delta.

Friday, December 9
The ninth day of the last month of the year -- along with the sixth and seventh days -- is considered to be an extremely unlucky time, according to Grafton in his "Manuel", a sixteenth-century book of unlucky days as determined by professional star-gazers.
In Mexico, the healing virgin-Goddess Tonantzin is honored today with an annual festival called the Fiesta of the Mother of Health.

Saturday, December 10
On this night (approximately), Inuit hunters in the far north begin an annual five-day series of purification rites, followed by a propitiation ceremony under the full moon, for the souls of the animals they had hunted in the last year. This December Moon ceremony has been performed in the Arctic coastal regions of North America for hundreds of years.

And of course many of us are busy planning our Yule celebrations as December really gets underway! That's this week's Pagan Lore for you, see you all next week!

Karen

Happy Birthday this week to Renee Cummins, Chameleon Wiccan, Stephanie Taylor, Krystle Pfaff, Elizabeth Buchan, Jamie Denten, Michelle Bowser, Sapphire Witch, Barbee Bailey, and my son. May your next year of life be filled with joy, peace, happiness and abundance in all good things!

This Week in Astrology:

Full Moon Lunar Eclipse on Saturday December 10 at 9:26am EST

Saturday morning, the Moon is full--the Gemini Moon exactly opposes the Sagittarius Sun. The Gemini-Sagittarius polarity is a mental axis, where Gemini represents the "lower mind" and Sagittarius represents the "higher mind". A Gemini Moon encourages us to think logically, while Sagittarius persuades us to think in a far broader manner. ~Cafe Astrology

The Friday Frolic: Let's go shopping!

2011-12-02T07:28:00.001-05:00

Happy First Friday in December!
I love December. It brings holiday songs, Winter, different holy days for different people, baking cookies and treats, decorating, etc.. I'm excited for it to happen.

Fridays and December just go together :) I hope you enjoy yours!

So here are a couple of cool sites for frolicking:

The first one is from Learning Herbs. They have a really awesome board game called Wildcraft: An Herbal Adventure, created for kids and grown-ups too. Check out the video which shows why they came up with it, how and how to play and use it as a learning tool. It's awesome (and on sale today).

The next stop on the Frolic tour is to our beloved Nydia's Facebook page. She closed down her Etsy shop, because she took on a job and couldn't do both, but she's having a sale on her god/goddess dolls, runes and key chains. She's trying to make some extra cash for a special present for her little witch. If you can, come help her out. Her dolls are amazing. I commissioned her a couple of years ago to make me a Morrighan doll and without any direction on what I wanted, she created something amazing. I just purchased a Celtic god doll this week and can't wait to add him to my collection. Here is her Facebook page. I know some of you aren't on Facebook, so I'll post some pics here. If you see something you like, you can email Nydia here.

Some of these are filled with herbs, oils, etc.. and some are not. Please do reach out to Nydia for questions. I know she'll be happy to answer your questions.

and finally, let's go take a look at Something Oddly... Mrs. Oddly has some very curious craftings at her Etsy Shop! Frolic on over and see what suits your fancy :)

That's it for this Friday's frolicking. Have a very Happy Weekend!

Slainte',
Kallan

The Sunday Stew: It's the Holiday Season: grab your pepper spray!

2011-11-27T10:17:00.001-05:00

This week's stew begins the start of the Winter Holiday season. As we saw Thanksgiving come and go, we now enter into a time of celebration, entertaining, gift-giving, paying spiritual homage to our respective deities and having a spirit of charity toward others.

Or, is it?

I'm going to skip the weekly recap ( I may do a Moonday Musing tomorrow instead) and get right to the news...

In the News

Black Friday rears its ugly head as pepper spray and violence are the new modus operandi of the American shopper:

http://news.yahoo.com/violence-pepper-spray-mar-black-friday-shopping-020744779.html

President Obama takes a hit for not using the term "God" in his Thanksgiving Day speech. IMO, the President shouldn't be referring to any god in his speeches. This is a SECULAR nation:

http://news.yahoo.com/obama-leaves-god-thanksgiving-speech-riles-critics-173023786.html

In Pagan News:

I found this article referring to a NYC witch. She isn't my cup of java, but I will say that the reporter did a good job in not making the woman or Wicca look crazy:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/27/nyregion/lady-rhea-a-no-nonsense-bronx-witch-without-a-pointy-hat.html

Another article I found is from India. Its title "Career as a Wiccan" caught my attention. It talks about "India's First and only Wiccan tradition":

http://educationtimes.com/educationTimes/CMSD/Offbeat/10/2011112520111125141353360b5655e44/Career-as-a-Wiccan.html

Here is a really cool blog on Lady Gaga and visualization magic by my friend, author Sally Dubats:
http://www.sallydubats.com/index.html?entry=focus-pocus-the-magick-of

And for those of you who missed it yesterday, I had a little mini-rant on the "War on Christmas"

Pagan Lore, November 27 - December 3
by Karen Szabo
This week we leave November behind and travel into December, marking celebrations from many cultures around the world. Hope everyone is faring well through the current Mercury retrograde!

Sunday, November 27
Gujeswari, Indian Mother-Goddess, is honored on or near this date by Buddhists and Hindus in Nepal, with prayers recited throughout the day, and a musical sunset procession filling the streets with sacred songs. In India, the Parvati-Devi, a religious festival honoring the Triple Goddess known as the Mother of the Universe, whose three Goddess aspects are Sarasvati (Maiden), Lakshmi (Mother), and Parvati (Crone), is held on this day each year.

Monday, November 28
The ancient Greek goddess of wisdom and inner truth, Sophia, is honored and invoked annually on this day with cants, libations, and secret Pagan rituals performed by those seeking arcane knowledge.

Tuesday, November 29
According to ancient legend, on this night each year vampires in Romania are believed to rise from their graves after a year-long sleep to walk the Earth in search of human blood. Villagers hang garlic and crucifixes on doors and windows for protection. On this date in ancient Egypt, the Feast of Hathor as Sekhmet was held to honor the lion-headed goddess of battle, and consort of the moon-god Ptah.

Wednesday, November30
In many rural villages in Germany, young women still perform very ancient and traditional love-divinations on this night. Using various methods of fortune-telling, they read omens and dreams to help them discover who their future husbands will be and to learn about their eventual marriages. We also wish Happy Birthday to Otter Zell (Pagan priest and the founder of The Church of All Worlds) who was born on this date in Saint Louis, Missouri.

Thursday, December 1
The first day of December is a traditional time in many cultures around the world for young girls to perform the ancient art of cromniomancy (divination by onion sprouts) to find out the name of their future husband. To see for yourself who your future husband will be using this ancient divination, take some onions and upon each one carve or write a different man's name. Place the onions near a fire and the man whose name is on the onion that sprouts first will be the one you will marry.

Friday, December 2
In what is now known as Bodh Gaya, India, the world's oldest, most sacred tree (planted in the year 282 B.C. and believed to be an offshoot of the Bodhi which the Buddha sat under when he achieved enlightenment) is honored on this date each year by Tibetan Buddhists with prayers, chants, and brightly colored flags. An annual women's festival called Hari Kugo (Broken Needles) takes place yearly in Tokyo to commemorates women's crafts; this celebration is dedicated to all patron Goddesses of Japanese craftswomen.

Saturday, December 3
Secret women's rites were performed annually on this date in Rome, in honor of Bona Dea, the Good Goddess. All males were barred from these sacred ceremonies, which were conducted by vestal virgins. In ancient Greece, this day was sacred to the Goddesses Cybele and Rhea, the Great Mother of the Earth.

That's the lore for another week! Hope you found it as interesting as I do. See you in next week's Stew,

Karen

Happy Birthday this week to: Carol Diane O'Brocki, James Kidder, Barbara Pigeau, Sharon Aven Rawson, Crystal Schoefer and Autumn Lilith. May your new year of life bring you joy, peace, abundance, health and happiness!

If you have a birthday or would like someone you love to be featured here, don't hesitate to reach out to me here :)

First Quarter Moon on Friday, December 2nd, 2011, at 4:53 AM EST.

Early Friday, a First Quarter Moon occurs when the Sun in Sagittarius forms a square with the Pisces Moon. There is a crisis theme surrounding any quarter Moon phase, as we feel compelled to take action. Shortly after, we are made aware of how our actions affect those close to us, perhaps through trial and error. Whatever project or initiative we began around the New Moon on November 25th is now off the ground, and it may face its first obstacles.

This phase of the Moon occurs at 9 degrees and 52 minutes of Sagittarius and Pisces, affecting people born with personal planets and points at approximately 8 to 12 degrees of the Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces) most significantly. ~ http://cafeastrology.com/thisweekinastrology.html

Weekly Tarot: Ace of Coins

Vanessa Tarot

This week's tarot card is the Ace of Coins (or Pentacles in some decks). This card is about prosperity and abundance from a very practical and physical standpoint. Trust and security are key words here also.

A seed of productivity has been planted in your life, although you may not yet recognize it. As this seed sprouts and grows, you may experience:

Internally- a sense of centeredness, being grounded, a desire for results or a need to focus on practical matters in your life.

Externally- this could mean an offer, an opportunity or a gift coming your way.
The Sun is smiling on you and is helping you to grow.

Weekly Totem: Salmon

Medicine Cards

This week's Totem is about inner knowing and wisdom. I find it interesting that the Salmon is pretty much represented this way in so many indigenous cultures, both in the Americas and in Europe.

Salmon is the keeper of sacred wisdom and inner knowing. Salmon always (no matter how strong the current or how difficult the passage) returns to the place of Salmon's creation. Salmon's determination is driven by the wisdom of instinct, which yields a sense of purpose that cannot be thwarted by external forces. Coming full circle, Salmon medicine people finish what they begin, bringing life's events and cycles to closure.

Salmon medicine honors every encounter in life as a gathering of wisdom. It teaches that even when the flow of life seems to push you back, you can tap the hidden resources of your human spirit and personal inner knowing. The journey may not be an easy one, but you can choose to honor the wisdom you carry and instinctively do what is right.

Salmon may be telling you to trust your gut feeling and inner knowing at this time. Avoid the influence of those who may have hidden agendas or who manipulate events for personal gain. Do you need to reflect on the personal experiences that will help you decide whether the tide is ebbing or flowing in a direction that benefits your forward movement and growth? Go back to the beginning and retrace your path to this point. The wisdom is inside you, and when honoring it, you will not go wrong.

That's it for this week's stew. As always, mull, digest and enjoy!

Slainte',
Kallan

Merry Christmas? (a mini-rant)

2011-11-26T09:18:00.000-05:00

If you're on Facebook, you've most likely seen (or will see it soon) the following:

"WHAT A CROCK OF SH!T..... We can't say Merry Christmas now we have to say Happy Holidays. We can't call it a Christmas tree, it's now called a Holiday tree? Because it might offend someone. If you don't like our "Customs" and it offends you so much then GO HOME. I will help you pack. They are called customs and we have our traditions If you... agree with this...please post this as your status!! I AM A PROUD AMERICAN CITIZEN... MERRY CHRISTMAS Do you have what it takes to repost this? MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! If ya don't like......you can MERRY KISSMYASS!!!!"

Yes, my friends, the "Christmas War" whining has begun. It's getting more insulting and threatening this year. Basically, it's now only acceptable to say "Merry Christmas" or you're going to get a middle finger and a big "f-you". They are not going to let you take the Christ out of Christmas, damn it!

For those of you who are encountering the "Keep Christ in Christmas" and "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" (damn it!!)people:

If Jesus existed, he would have been a Jew. Jews did not celebrate birthdays in Jesus's time. Therefore, a celebration of his birthday would have been very upsetting to him (they take the whole commandment by God that only he could set a day as holy seriously).
Jesus (if he existed) was not born in December (nor in March/April), nor in a manger. He would have been born sometime in September during the Festival called Sukkot (or Feast of Tabernacles) and the manger would have been a "sukkah" or temporary shelter in which all of the Jewish people build for the festival. Shepherds would have had flocks out at that time as well.
Jesus celebrated Chanukkah (Hanukkah) during the December time frame.

And, not to add too much insult to injury, but if you Christians who are so hell-bent on this "keeping Christ in Christmas":

You are aware that Christian means "mini-Christ" or follower of Christ, correct? Yes? *whew* Ok. Then answer me this...

Would Jesus say "keep me in Christmas"? Would he advocate you telling the rest of us to "F*ck Off or Kiss my A$$" or tell you to give us the middle finger because we don't celebrate the birth of someone we don't worship? (you sure? Read 2Timothy 2:24-26 before you answer)

Would he tell you to throw a tantrum when someone wishes you well during this season? Would he tell you to wage war on people for not doing something he never commanded in the first place?

Are you sure you aren't actually sinning against God by celebrating his birth, considering he didn't make that a holy day and only he can (Lev 23, )? Not to mention all of the Pagan traditions you've adopted in the process (gift-giving, tree decorating- yep, it's not a Christmas tree, yule log, mistletoe, holly&ivy, 12 days of celebration, Santa Claus, etc...). Better check out Deuteronomy 12:28 on that one.

Most of the major Winter Holiday celebrations are much, MUCH older than Christianity's (Catholicism's) "Christ-Mass". We're happy to let you have your Christmas. Just realize that we were here first, and we're not going anywhere. We don't even mind that you've stolen a lot of our traditions and made them "christ-like". I mean, we like some of your Christmas carols. Personally, I love 'Oh, Holy Night', 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing!', 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen', 'Joy to the World', etc... of course, I put a bit of a Pagan twist on them, but it's only fair, no?

We're actually being respectful of all traditions and cultures by saying "Happy Holidays". If you honestly don't care about other cultures or people (like Jesus did), then you must stick to your guns on insisting we all say "Merry Christmas". See the following:

http://www.theprovocation.net/2011/11/merry-christmas-simply-does-not-apply.html

What is the spirit of Christmas now? Is it joy, peace, good will toward men? Isn't that what you claim Jesus was born for? to bring peace on earth, good will toward men? (Luke 2:14) Is it really all about your delicate sensibilities or is it about "Him"? If you're thrilled over that birth and what your savior did for you, are you making him proud by your insistence that we greet you a certain way, or should you be displaying the love he did for all mankind at this time?

As my buddy Tim Byrd said, "Christmas. You're doing it wrong". I couldn't have said it better myself.

~eor~

Kallan