Might revive this Blog

 So I just rediscovered this blog. It's really cute. I think I might revive it. 

My Response to the Lana Del Rey Thing

I feel a bit embarrassed that, as a pagan and someone who has formerly aspired to the Pagan clergy, I did not hear about the proposed binding on Drumph until the morning after the first spell date, which was yesterday.  I'm especially irked that my husband learned about it first, via an article in Rolling Stone regarding Lana Del Rey's enigmatic tweet.
What do I think about it? At first I was all "Hells yeah!,"  Then I did a search for what others in the community are saying, and I found this blog on the topic from Donald Lewis ( I don't refer to him as "Reverend Don" here because he makes it plain that he is speaking as himself, not as head of the Correllian Tradition, or even as clergy).

In this statement, Mr. Lewis says that we should look at the larger picture, which is the Christian Dominionist Movement. This didn't start with Drumph, and will not end with him. Don believes that we should focus positively on what we want to achieve, such as equal rights, the environment, etc.

(Just an aside: some would say that the Wiccan Rede of "Harm none..." would preclude binding anyone. However I believe, as does the Tradition, that "harm" does not include binding, nor any magick done in self-defense, or defense of another. Drumph's actions and future actions are certainly harmful to any and all minorities, the environment, the freedom of the Press, and basically anyone who disagrees with him, thus I do not hold that binding counts as "harm")

My husband was listening while I watched this video, and, although he does not believe in the power of spells and such, he does often have some astute observations. He pointed out that Drumph is a very powerful weapon of the Christian Dominionist Movement. As any good gamer knows, if you can remove or disable someone's weapon you slow them down a lot,  and increase your advantage. 

I therefore intend to participate in future binding rituals on Drumph and "those who abet him," AND I intend to work for justice and the environment both in spellwork and in speech and action on the physical plane.

May wisdom prevail.

ADDENDUM: Somehow I forgot to mention that Drumph has the Nuclear Codes, and does not require anyone else's approval to launch them.  Binding him might buy us the time we need to win the war against Christian Dominionism, Or to even....I dunno....live?

Love and the Headless Chunky Shapeshifter in Modern 'Literature'

I'm noticing a disturbing trend in romantic fantasy literature. I call it the Headless Chunky Male Shapeshifter trend. These books can be identified by the picture on the cover of a large white man's well-built chest and no face - there being no room on the cover to waste on such a triviality. Or maybe it costs more for an artist to paint a face. Dunno.Also there is a picture in the background or the bottom-left of whatever creature the character turns into.
I subscribe to two lists of free and cheap Kindle books that arrive in my inbox daily. They know I like Fantasy literature, so this type of book is thrown into the mix.
my mother used to read novels of this ilk, except that they were all real-world stories that didn't include anything magical or paranormal- just lots of sleaze that was peddled as literature. That was before vampires and werewolves became mainstream, back when you could still consider yourself edgy for reading Anne Rice.
Maybe Anne was the one responsible for making vampires mainstream. Maybe it was the Twilight series. Maybe it's been evolving that way for some time. I remember Frank Langella climbing the wall in the 70's version of Dracula, and my 15-year-old mind and body going haywire to the point where the girls I was with asked if I was all right. Shape changers have always been sexy for me, but then I was the odd one out. I was what we would now call a "girl geek' - a title I would proudly have claimed. I didn't know the word,"Geek" then, and this was decades before the word would be claimed as a term of respect and camaraderie. I knew that a lot of boys were into Star Wars, and no girls besides me. I really didn't know anybody of either gender who was into Paranormal fiction.
Skip forward to the twenty-tens: Every mediocre writer who wants to be published is putting out a paranormal fantasy novel. Either that, or an Outland-type romance featuring time travel. Like "it worked for Twilight and Outland, so if I follow the same formula to the letter, it will work for me," kinda thing.
While I realize that mediocre copycat literature will always be with us, what bothers me most now is the way men are depicted on the covers. It's de-humanizing. It's like you're telling a story about a woman who falls in love with a bulky chest, not the man who owns it.
And what is it about a human chest that is even fascinating in a story about a shape-shifter? To me it's like, Never Mind what he looks like as a human; he can turn into a FUCKING DRAGON for gods' sake! He could be the Guy who Gets Sand Kicked in his Face at the Beach, and once he turns into a dragon, or a wolf, or a bat, he's absolutely got my attention. More so, in fact, if his human persona is one that can be easily overlooked.

Oh, that and a decent storyline that isn't constantly interrupted by pages and pages of passion and innuendo that fail to move the story forward at all. You see, I can find porn online any time. If I'm reading a book, I want the story, thank you very much.

I tried Portugese Knitting. Here's what I discovered.

A few years ago, prompted by a class on Craftsy, I ventured off the beaten track and tried my hand at Continental knitting. I had read that it is easier on the hands and faster than English knitting. All this was true. Unfortunately it took me a long while for my stitches in Continental to be a regular as my stitches in English. Thus I was not able to immediately  apply the new method to the projects I was already working on.
In fact it turned out that the only way I could make Continental work for me was to do everything the instructor on Craftsy said not to do, such as wrapping the string around my finger to control the tightness. Really I think I might have picked up the skill quicker if I'd had less 'instruction.'

Meanwhile, I'd also heard of a thing called "Portuguese Knitting" and had vowed to learn that skill once I could afford the Craftsy class. There was no need to wait though; The two videos below were more than sufficient to teach me all I needed to know. The first video teaches how to do a knit stitch; the second, how to do a purl stitch.



It took me about two minutes of watching the video to "get it." I started out first on some scrap yarn, but quickly moved to my major project.The knitting was coming out fine and there was no need to spend more time practicing.
One thing I do recommend is to get a Portuguese Knitting Pin. Because while you can wrap the yarn around the back of your neck, this makes it hard to pick up and put down your knitting at a moments notice, especially if you have long hair.
If you are learning to knit for the first time, I highly recommend that you start with the Portuguese style. It will save you having to learn it later when your hands start aching or you want to knit faster.

Thoughts on becoming Pagan Clergy

The following is an excerpt from something I have been studying in preparation for the Correllian Ministry.  It was an address to the clergy of the Church of Gaia, back in the day. The essay is called "What Gaeists Believe" and it's published as part of "Correllian Philosophy" 

This really struck me, as I have been trying to pin down why I want to become a Correllian Minister, and what that will mean for my life and purpose. The 'energies' referred to are those of the changing age, and the power and destruction, and eventually rebirth, that will accompany them.

"...At this time we Priests and Priestesses have the special

task of understanding and assisting these energies and

those affected by them.

In becoming a Priest or Priestess you commit to helping

both the planet and society as well as individuals. There

will be many problems and crises on both large and

personal scales with which you may be called upon to

help, as well as the High Magic of Priestcraft. You must

be caring and compassionate to those who look to you for

guidance, yet also be strong enough not to be misused.

You must be teacher both of universal truth and correct

action, and a facilitator of universal life –helping those

who turn to you to overcome all blockages and hindrances

to their own greatest potential. You are taking them and

helping them to find their places in the universe, and to

weather and even rejoice in the coming changes. You

must be their advisor and friend, their leader when

needed, and their defender and protector. To be a Priest/

Priestess is not an easy path. It is a vocation –a calling,

not a job. It requires courage, persistence, and dedication,

as well as psychic and magical training. It is a high calling,

not accepted lightly. Yet the rewards are great. The world

will change. The changes can be easy or hard, the results

to our liking or not –it is to guide this that we are called. If

we do not, the world will change without us. It is a window

of great opportunity in which great things can be done, if

we choose to do them. This is the choice put before you.

Think on it well, for it is not a one-time choice, but a

choice to be remade and more deeply made each day. A

steep path leading to great heights and ancient magical

things. Think on it well".

A perspective from the Front Lines

My friend Janelle Wintersteen, whom I've known longer than any other person on the face of this earth, has this to say about the lifting of the Gay Marriage Ban in Idaho, and the role played by the local Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship:

" I watched the couples with marriage licenses come out of the courthouse and what struck and humbled me was how far the general community has come from the implicit and public demand when I first came out, for secrecy. For most people, LGBT and not, the first condition of gay life was secrecy. This was a demand that came both form the "straight' side and from the LGTB side. Older Lesbian women whom I met could be made physically ill at the thought of coming out. The hidden Lesbian life that I encountered was ridden with alcohol, characterised by" serial monogomy" and organized into all sorts of groups who were suspecious of other groups. The secrecy and repression had motivated this. I could come out at BUUF (the Boise Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship) and I was coming out at work, but it was several years after I began coming out before I met Lesbians who were feminists and unafraid, cheerful and encouraging. Wednesay, October 15, what I teared up over was not the marriages but the fact it was done , joyously, in front of Boise, the entire population of Idaho, and beyond. That is the change I rejoice in and I do not take it for granted.

   Wednesday what humbled me was the amount of Unitarian-Universalist's on the courthouse plaza. I chose the right group, one of the most wise decisions I ever made in my life. Because you are not so personally involved with LGTB life, it is sometimes easier for you to push new freedoms forward when I have a "yeah, that's the way it has always been" attitude. I am not naturally a leader who can bring people together and I deeply appreciate those with more leadership than I have stepped forward time after time, especially now in the planning for the "At Last party." I am delighted by Micheal Casias and Sara Olsen's leadership of the Rainbow Connection. They are fresh and original and hard working-they would ben any situation and I am thankful that it is ROC benefiting from their talents.

    The morning that brought  LGTB marriage to Idaho was one of the many times that I felt very glad that I have seem such changes in my adult life time among and within the members of the LGTB cummunity. I am very thankful for the moves and shovers among LGTB and I know that people in this congregation have helped empower those leaders and added their many talents and good energy to the effort. There is still more work to be done, but I am taking the time to pause and tell you all how much I thank you all at this Boise Unitarian Universalist church and how much I appreciate you."

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Mykah's 2d Birthday!

Mykah Alexa opening her birthday present from us. She's 2 on Friday!

Unitarian-Universalist Minister's Stole

This is the stole I knitted for our minister, Dana Worsnop.

BackView

Detail of the bottom front

Front view

This is about the best parody I've ever seen!

Beltane Celebration in Middleton

The Festival was hosted by Golden Thread Grove and took place in Middleton, Idaho on May 4th, 2014. Click on the pictures to make them bigger.

My new Morrow Project Character.

This is a character I'm creating for a Morrow Project Game run by my friend Arne.

Name: Nephtalie Johannsen

Her mother was a Haitian Mambo (Voudouine). Her father worked for the World Health Organization. they met while he was doing relief work there.  Because of her father, she was able to go to college and studied Psychology and Agriculture. She followed in her father's footsteps and joined the W.H.O, 

From her mother, she has experiences of effective folk medicine and shamanism, and struggles to understand these experiences, and to reconcile them with science.  She holds a great respect for the folk medicine and indigenous cultures of the people she serves. This is one reason why she is effective.

She is empathic, and good with rhetoric. These things, together with her knowledge of psychology, enable her to convince people to change the way they do things in order to create a more sustainable future: for instance, to stop slashing and burning.  Often the people that she convinces think the idea was theirs to begin with.

She is not afraid to break or bend the rules to accomplish her goals. One thing that gets her in trouble is her open disdain for people she sees as the oppressors.

She is bisexual with a healthy sex drive. She snores, enjoys card games. 
Height: 4'11"
weight: 91 lbs
eye color: green
hair color: black
skin color: dark

My burning question: How do they do it.  And I don't believe it's just power of suggestion.
What can science learn from them? What can I learn that I can apply to my own practice?

Video: Mykah dancing

Ostara

Add the Words Video

Beautiful video!  I was not one of the protesters who risked being arrested, but my friend Janelle Wintersteen and I helped pack the gallery of the House for almost two weeks, to bear witness to bill 427 - a bill which would have excused people from following the law because of their religious beliefs. The bill was withdrawn back to committee, and we were told that our presence in the gallery did have an impact.
On the second week of our gallery vigil, Janelle and I walked into the courthouse, and suddenly saw the line of people snaking its way in through the door and up the stairs of the rotunda. It was a moment I'll never forget.
At 2:52 there is a photo of local ministers. Our Dana Worsnop is the one on the left. I am so proud to be a member of BUUF!

My shoe!

So we just got a new baby ferret. Don't know what to name him yet, but we know what fascinates him.

He claimed my shoe - grabbed it and wouldn't let go. So I took it off. At which point he proceeds to drag it all over the room, even other other, sleeping ferrets, in search of a place to hide it. I followed behind him with a camera and got a fairly good record of his attempt.

he dragged it into the potty box...

Finally, into the closet.

Here he's just hauled that shoe over the top of poor Sinclair, who had been sleeping.

Blessing the Cory St. Pentagon

My friend Robert Franklin asked Rev. Dana Worsnop and I to do a ceremony to bless his house and his yard. I did the yard in the Wiccan tradition, as the yard will be used for ritual space and gathering in the future. This is the film he make of the event. I am the person in the purple cloak.

Regarding the Pronunciation of my Name

 Morgen le Fay by Mari-Na

When I first decided to change my name, I chose the spelling as M-O-R-G-A-I-N-E  because I wanted the numerology to work with my birth name.  I decided to pronounce it "MOR-gun" however.  Over the years many people have pronounced it "mor-GANE" with a long 'A.' I have recently stopped correcting them, figuring that they were probably right.
I recently came across some validation though, that my way of pronouncing it is correct. The following is from an article by SCA-dian Heather Rose Jones. In short, Morgaine is how the French spelled 'Morgen' (as in 'Morgen Le Fey') and they pronounced it "Mor-gen." It has no connection to the male name 'Morgan.'

Morgen And Geoffrey Of Monmouth
Now we come to the Great Confusion. Geoffrey of Monmouth was a historical writer in the 12th century. He took a number of traditional historical tales and "dressed them up" for new audiences. One of the things he did was to provide names for a large number of characters that apparently had been left unnamed in previous versions of the stories. Without going into the details, we can determine that Geoffrey took these names from a variety of sources. Sometimes he used names that were being used in Britain at that time. Other times, he borrowed names from written sources that had once been used, but which he didn't recognize. And there are a number of clear examples where he mangled those names, either through ignorance or indifference to their original form and meaning. A characteristic case is that of the name Guendoleu, a man's name from early Welsh poetry. Geoffrey not only misread it as Guendolen but used it for a female character. [Hutson]
Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote the first stories that describe the Arthurian character we now call "Morgen le Fay", who first appears in his "Vita Merlini" ("The Life of Merlin,") written in the 12th century. Geoffrey calls the character Morgen, and identifies her as the chief of nine sisters who preside over the "isle of apples", i.e., Avalon. [Bromwich] Although it is possible to see a motivation for using this name in the "sea/Mor" connection, there is no reason to assume -- based on many of his other choices -- that he had any particular motivation at all. And while it is possible to extrapolate from the fact that the Irish cognate Muirgen was used for both men and women, and hypothesize that the Welsh Morgen may also have been in ordinary use for both men and women, we have no direct evidence of this. Given the example of Guendoleu/Guendolen we have no reason to believe that such a consideration would have been important to Geoffrey.
It is almost certain that Geoffrey knew the name Morgen from written sources rather than from hearing it used. At his time, the pronunciation would have been "MO:R-yen" and based on other examples in his work, the names he was likely to have heard spoken are rendered more phonetically, rather than retaining the conservative Old Welsh spellings. (A typical example of this is the name of a local saint, which Geoffrey renders phonetically as Duvianus, but which would have been Dubianus in the written sources he was using. [Hutson])
Geoffrey's work became the source for virtually all following Arthurian material, so the names he used -- for whatever reason - - were widely perpetuated.
Morgain(e)When Geoffrey's stories and the names within them made their way to France, any possible connection with the original Welsh pronunciation was lost entirely. The French saw the name Morgen and guessed that it would be best represented by Morgain (pronounced "mo:r-ge:n"). This became the standard French spelling of the characters name. [Bromwich] Later, the form Morgaine evolved by analogy with other French women's names ending in -e.

Trying Out the Corellian Tradition

It's a controversial tradition, apparently, for reasons that I care little about; there are semantics involving their use of the word 'Wicca' to describe themselves; they charge some money for degree initiation. Whatever.

When I was first introduced to the Craft, Wicca was synonymous with Witchcraft. Many today say that the word 'Wicca' only applies to the Gardner Tradition and it's spin-offs.  Apparently the leaders of the Corellian Tradition think the way I do.

As for what they charge, it's $159 for a lifetime membership, or smaller amounts for smaller chunks of time. This amounts to the money that it must take to maintain and build that very complicated website. I don't think the leaders are taking home a personal fortune. I have no problem paying for the necessities required by my education.

Even if I chose to go the normal route - driving to distant places to find a coven that will work with me, the cost of the travel would more that add up to the cost of the membership.  Corellian is online and its lessons are accessible. They have mentors, so you're not just talking to machines. They have live gatherings in various parts of the world. Once I get to where I can travel, I can access a live community.

I have not been doing well as a solitary. I need real training and mentoring.
There are two people I have to worry about; The general public is not going to care in the least what my tradition is, they're only going to cue into the word 'witch.'  The other group I'm going to have to deal with is witches and pagans from other traditions that down their nose at us Corellians.  Since I have only one current friend who is a witch, the matters of those others really have to affect on me.  So what it all boils down to is, how do I feel about following this path? So far I like it.

Their lessons for First Degree include practices in developing my psychic ability, and that is something that I truly want to do. There is also a path of study that leads to becoming ordained. Granted there are easier and cheaper ways to get ordained, but I want to know that my ordination is backed by extensive knowledge and training.

Leaving Facebook

I did it, finally. I permanently deleted my facebook account and am now solely dependent on tumblr for my social networking. The pic below explains why.

Basically, on Facebook people are able to post death threats and hate speech without being taken down - as long as it's against certain groups of people.  There has been much discussion about this on the pagan Facebook pages, and hundreds of people have brought these sites to Facebook's attention, and they are still up. 

I haven't found out much about Tumblr's track record - good or bad - but I'm hoping they'd do a better job of enforcing their own policies regarding calls to genocide.

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UPDATE: I was given a two-week grace period during which I could come back and still keep my old account settings. Sadly, I did come back to Facebook. I have family and other people there that I can't seem to contact any other way.  Finding other ways to protest. Most likely Facebook neither noticed nor cared that I was gone, or why.