So I have been reading about all the hoopla that happened at Pantheacon last weekend. For those who have no idea what I am talking about, I’ll nutshell it for you. Z Budapest held a Women only ritual – but had a caveat in the description – Genetic Women only. This was a problem the previous year as well, which was why the theme of this year’s Con was Unity Through Diversity.
Folks were extremely surprised to see that listing on their docket this year. There was a silent protest staged for outside the ritual space for those who were in suppose of Women – whether cis or trans.
At first I wasn’t paying attention too much to what was going on. But the more I read, the more I began to question things for myself. Part of Z’s reasoning is that only a true woman knows the pain of childbirth. Well, I do not have kids, but I am a cis-woman. Someone else mentioned that it is also the menstruation that defines the path of a woman to the Goddess. Well hey guess what, Trans/Men have at one point understood that pain as well.
So many lines, so many definitions. Having a sacred and safe place to worship at events like this, or anywhere really is the point to it all. If I understood some of the postings right, there was a Trans safe place for worship available. But, as is the right of any Woman, cis or trans, some wanted to feel and be a part of that experience that is Z, and were turned away.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Z Budapest has a place in the ranks of authors and mentors of the Goddess movement for the past few decades. Her work is magnificent and ground breaking – except for this little nugget of controversy right now.
What I did notice was a few folks who chimed in on this subject did express a desire to be in circle, in ritual, sharing the energy of any transgendered person. Quite a few have not evidently. I count myself as one of the lucky ones, as I have. If I had not had the foreknowledge that she had been he a long time ago, I would have been none the wiser. She was brilliant with the energy of the Goddess, alive and beautiful. From my own experience – we are all, every single one of us, Children of the Gods. Some of the coding out there might have gotten a little skewed over the millenia, but thankfully in this age, that can be changed.
I am hoping upon hope that when I achieve that bucket list wish of going to Pantheacon myself, that not only will I be able to participate in a Z ritual, but that it will be open to Women – no restrictions, just Women of the Goddess.
Blessed Be.
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Posted on 22 February '12 by Aaremin, under spiritual. No Comments.
By 5am I knew it wasn’t going to be a normal day. Any Furr-Mama’s know when their purr critters don’t feel well and my Chuck kitty reached that threshold by 5am – he was acting not himself, not asking me for food and went all limp when I tried to pick him up. That mean whatever my plans had been for the day were over. By 7:20am we were at the vet and home again by 10:30am. The Verdict? Well we told them that one of Chuck’s siblings tested FELV+ so they might want to test him just in case. I am glad we told them that, cause he did test positive as well which explains why some of his kidney and liver readings were a little low. The main reason I panicked when he went limp was because we have had a furr baby pass from renal failure and I didn’t notice the signs then. Ever since I am hyper-vigilant when things aren’t right with any of the kitties. So I was relieved his kidney’s were fine. I did ask for them to check for a UTI (they focused on the kidney’s cause that was my primary concern when I got there) and low and behold – he had one! This Vet (a rarity, one we’ve not dealt with at Desert Vet heh) gave him a shot of antibiotics that is a week long dose in one go! That’s cool!
They were surprised that We weren’t surprised when they delivered the FELV+ verdict until we explained (1) none of our cats go outside (2) we already have two positives here and (3) we already know that with vigilance on their behaviors they can live normal long lives. I have a homeopathic liquid I can make them that helps their immune systems too (which I need to get cracking on with making).
The end note on it all, was after it was all over we realized that we ourselves hadn’t felt too ship shape all night long – and then we put it together. We’d had chicken, and had given him just a teeny bit of it (after all he’d been not himself so I wanted him to have a treat). The speed of Chuck feeling better was that clue – we think the chicken was off! We still are glad we took him in, if we hadn’t we wouldn’t have known he was positive, and an unchecked UTI is bad bad in those conditions.
We got up from our sleep and found our normal Chuck back, waiting for his food and hanging out in general population with the others 
Even sleeping with the others again! Caught him mid-yawn – Fierce! (yes he’s the one in the middle)
He’s better, and therefore I feel 100% better.
Spent some time just a bit ago reading some blogs by some self-proclaimed “crunchy” mama’s - breast-feeding, co-sleeping, beautifully natural mothers and their kids. Made me realize perhaps its time for my own ‘revolution’ – just in time for the new year – Crunchy Furr Mama’s!
Something to think about!
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Posted on 30 December '11 by Aaremin, under Uncategorized. No Comments.
I am presuming this means one that has inspired us. I think that every single Witch that has walked the path before us is an inspiration and a legend in his or her own right. But if I had to pick one right now that has inspired me the most over the past few years? It would have to be Selena Fox
She’s one so many that are in it for the ‘long haul’ so to speak. She began Circle Sanctuary when I was only 3 years old (1974 shhh.. I’m not trying to date myself!). She had a dream and got some land and just kept at it. THAT is the inspiration, it is all about the dream.
When I first moved here, there was no pagan community to speak of. So I decided that just wouldn’t do and started a little email list to try and connect folks together. Now 13 years later we have one! Its not huge, but its there and its steady. We support each other, we celebrate with each other, we craft together. Trying to create a lasting pagan presence anywhere it not a short journey. It won’t just all happen tomorrow cause you decided its what you want to do. It takes time, it takes love and if this is where your path is leading you, you will get there no matter how long it takes.
Circle Sanctuary now is one of those places to me like StoneHenge – I will visit there one day – I will participate in a ritual, or a clean up or something there one day! But in the meantime, I will continue my work at WicHaven – this is our very small very new version of Selena’s dream – of a place no matter where one would travel where you could stay and be a part of something great. And for our community, no matter which version of the path you follow.
Blessed Be.
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Posted on 11 October '11 by Aaremin, under spiritual. No Comments.
I’m not really a flowers type of girl, however I do have one that I like and its not exactly something one finds at the florist.
Lavender – I was actually able to get it to grow in my front yard, I is so happy!
So lets look at the properties of Lavender
The meaning of lavender flowers is one of womanhood in her prime. The elegance of lavender reflects the grace and feminine beauty of those who receive it. Modest yet mature, lavender connotes a message of what it really means to be a woman.
* Plant lavender around your house to keep away bad luck/evil spirits.
* Spouses who place lavender flowers between their bed sheets will
never quarrel.
* Lavender will help you sleep.
* Lavender will keep the moths away.
* Lavender is an aphrodisiac
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Posted on 7 October '11 by Aaremin, under spiritual. No Comments.
Oh there are so many little things I’ve learned over the past year that I certainly didn’t know before. I’ll give you a few examples.
- Gerald Gardner was set to take over the Golden Dawn when Aleister Crowley died
- Doreen Valiente was his right hand woman, but warned Gardner that taking over the Golden Dawn would alienate too many
- The Wiccan Rede has history in the tenets of the Golden Dawn, and very very old French literature
- Sybil Leek waxes poetic in her biography about a young gentleman who wrote the most romantic poetry, and would sit for hours discussing philosophy and ethics with her and her parents – Aleister Crowley – before, as she puts it – he went ‘weird’
and finally, I love the story of how witches can fly! Old books of shadows passed down from generation to generation usually held the recipe for a ‘flying’ ointment. Lets just say there are a lot of oils out there that when inhaled can make one hallucinate! I think if anyone made that ointment and inhaled the fumes would definitely think they were flying! And imagine the big ole community cauldron cooking that ointment up – everyone would be as high as those brooms!
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Posted on 6 October '11 by Aaremin, under spiritual. No Comments.
A long time ago when I was first learning about the Runes, through some comparison with astrology it was shown that the rune associated with the Virgo me is…
Jera
Literal Meanings of “Jera”: Summer, Plenty, Harvest
Description:
Two scythes sweep in great arcs across endless fields of wheat, rye and flax. The harvest has arrived, and with it a time of plenty and bounty. The long hard winter has been endured, the hard work of tilling and planting has long since been completed, and now comes the time to reap the rewards for prior hardships. Life giving sustenance rises from the Earth. Jera is an indication of plenty.
Because the rune refers to the harvest, it also indicates a time of subtle change. The endless roll of seasons is referenced here, and the need to remember that leaner times may be on the horizon.
How to Interpret “Jera”
Jera represents “change” — most frequently positive change. This change is not the temporary reward of Wunjo, but a permanent reward after hardship, or series of hardships. Hard work is going to be rewarded. Retirement, a sabbatical, or a vacation may be referenced here. Everything is happening as it should happen, and the time is coming to enjoy it.
Jera may also represent that little extra push that one needs to finish a job — that final motivation that sees a job through to its successful conclusion.
As with a successful harvest, Jera is a rune of material gain. It should be noted that Jera is a complementary rune to Gebo: if both runes turn up together, certain happiness in both relationships and money will occur.
Jera is often seen as a forward-looking rune which refers to an eventual positive resolution which will occur at some time in the future: Often this pertains to legal resolutions.
Other possible literal meanings of Jera in a reading are a large, well-attended meal or outdoor festivities.
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Posted on 6 October '11 by Aaremin, under spiritual. No Comments.
ahh behind again.. time to catch up! Favorite Fairy? Simple
This is just one of them, but just about Any Fairy that Amy Brown creates is just beautiful, absolutely beautiful!
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Posted on 6 October '11 by Aaremin, under spiritual. No Comments.
There are so many good Pagan artists out there, picking just one would be practically impossible!
So I will go back to the first artist I ever contacted to use their work. It was this piece actually, after I’d determined that Arianrhod was my patroness.
Joanna Powell Colbert, she’s done so much more since then but its still my favorite. Want to see more? Check out her site here…
Blessed Be!
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Posted on 3 October '11 by Aaremin, under spiritual. No Comments.
Favorite Witchy type movie… hmm.. well when it comes right down to it.. I have two.
Practical Magic
I mean who didn’t want to live in that house or..
Have the Aunts and Margeritas!
and of course, the next favorite one is.. oh come on most of you like this one too
The Mists of Avalon!
What about you, what is your favorite Witchy type movie?
Blessed be!
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Posted on 3 October '11 by Aaremin, under spiritual. No Comments.
The weekend got away with me again (who would have thunk we’d be so social!) so here’s my catchup
Day 29 – Tools – The Wand
When I was studying 1st Degree, we did a section on the tools of the craft. I had never put much thought into having a wand before, I was one of those ‘my finger works fine!”. But for the purposes of the project, I made a simple wand (oh so very simple as I am Sorely lacking the Crafty Gene!)
It would be the one with the wrap and the stone at the end (which is some form of green agate I believe) – the other one next to it is a piece of oleander wood/stem that I grabbed when we cleared out a dead one in the front yard, and its just sort of, followed me. So on the altar it goes now!
Now, when most folks think of hand-made wands, this is more like it
These are the wands out at WicHaven Grove made by Lady Qyzida – awesome aren’t they!
and now, for a little witchy information about the Wand
It has been used for thousands of years in both magickal and religious rites. It is used primarily to invoke and to direct energies, though it can have other purposes as well. The Goddess and the God, or the Four Quarters, are often called with the uplifting of a wand or staff. It can also be used to draw the magick circle, both literally and figuratively, or it can be used to stir the magick cauldron, and has numerous other uses as well.
The wand can represent the south, and the element of fire or the east and the element of air. Both are correct, depending on the chosen point of view. Most connect it with the south because it is seen as symbolizing the spear, and this is usually connected to the Warrior of the South, but others see this as connected with learning, and so connected to the east.
The correspondence that makes the most sense to the practitioner is generally the correct one to use, though if you practice a particular tradition, you would follow its set tenets. Its phallic nature connects it to the God, and so it is a masculine symbol.
Blessed Be!
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Posted on 2 October '11 by Aaremin, under spiritual. No Comments.
