Pagan Pride 2012

Action, Action:  Despite my usual issues with PPD, I almost always go, as I do feel that it is important to support my local Pagan community. Thought we were going to get rained out, but it dried up just long enough for us to take a run out to the Fair Grounds for the Central NC Pagan Pride festival.

There wasn’t really any workshops that I was interested in this year, but hubby and the kids tagged along and we picked up some nice Elderberry Syrup from Swanfire Farms, and got some info on Starrlight Mead. Which while they weren’t allowed to sell at PPD, are just a bit down the way in Pittsboro. So definitely going to have to take a little road trip and pick some up! There was a nice bit of drumming going on when we got there though, so thought I’d share a pic and music to keep the mood going.

Post a Pic:

One Tribe

Musical Musings: Not from this year, or even a PPD, but this is the group that was leading the drumming. Well worth a listen!!

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Blue Moon…

In Your Own Words:

So… lazy Pagan that I am, I really didn’t have any plans for last night.  Not only did I not get off work until about 10p, but I knew that I was going to have to get back up at about 3:45a to start my next shift, so really sleep was all I was really thinking of doing. However it seems that the universe had other plans for me.

I’ve been feeling “called” to make a specific necklace for the last couple months, and I was finally able to order the materials that I needed the other day, and it was just my luck that they came in yesterday afternoon. As most people know I’m not a very crafty sort of person, I mean I’m good with ideas, but generally suck on the execution – but this has been bugging at me for a while, so I felt that it was something that I needed to really get done.

Action, Action:

When I got off work, I sat down on my bed and was just going to look at the materials, sort them out, do a bit of organizing. Which is why I was still there 3 hours later, fingers and various other body parts cramping in pain from non-stop working. Did get it done though, and it turned out pretty good (if I do say so myself).

While I normally associate ravens with Odinn, for whatever reason I was specifically nudged in the direction of his wolves in the making of this, and it is for Him that it was made. I’m not entirely sure what that means, especially considering that I didn’t really get much of an indication that he was particularly interested in me, when we had our little chat earlier in the year. It’s true though, that he is often on my mind, though that’s probably because we have a lot of crows in our area – which while obviously not the same as a raven, yet still seem to always remind me of him none the less. Guess we’ll just have to see where it all leads…

Post a Pic:

Not the best picture in the world, since I am still more or less camera-less, but as I was despairing of even being able to post a pic, I remembered that I do have a webcam (crappy quality… but beggars can’t be choosers).  It was made with black obsidian, two different shades of labradorite, brass beads and a pewter and brass wolf pendent. Hopefully I’ll be able to get some better pics up one day.

Lughnasadh

In  Your Own Words: This time of year is always a bit hard on me, being that it’s near to the anniversary of my mother’s death. One of the reasons why Lughnasadh has always been one of my favorite (well… not quite the right word, but it serves in this case) Sabbats, is that it the time that Lugh bade us celebrate in honor his foster mother Tailtiu, and as such it’s somewhat of a “mother’s day” celebration for me as well. It’s made even more poignantly appropriate by the fact that my mother-in-law and my mother’s best friend (who was like a second mother to me growing up), both also died during the month of August.

So tonight I will raise a glass in honor, tell a few stories, and try not to make it a total cry-fest, because that sort of defeats the purpose of celebrating a life well lived and loved. However even after all these years, it’s sometimes difficult not to break down completely at the thought of just how much the world has been lessened by the loss of these three amazing women. You are remembered, and loved – for now and forever!

On a bit of a lighter note – I did not bake any bread, however I did make pizza… does that count?

Musical Musings:

Feathered Friends

Today there were a couple of hawks hanging out in the back yard. Unfortunately I’m still taking pics with the crappy cellphone camera, but wanted to share one of the better pics. This particular one stayed in the yard for quite a bit, alternating between the ground, and sitting top of the fence around our neighbor’s garden. I think they have a nest nearby though, because I do often hear them when I’m outside, even if I can’t see them.

 

 

Hawks are one of my favorite birds, so it was a real treat to see them up close like this. Especially since at best, they are usually just flying by over head, or seen in passing as we are out driving.

Happy Solstice

Apparently it’s really hard to find good “Summer Solstice” music on YouTube… you’d think it would be easier, but there’s really not much to pick from.

I do really like this song  though, so despite the soft poly feel, and the fact that Herne is actually a forest spirit/ghost, rather than a God, I thought I’d share it with you all.

Here’s wishing everyone a wonderful Solstice!!!

Lyrics can be found here, plus you can check out other music by Dahm the Bard as well.

Enjoy!!

Note: Apparently for some of you, there is an advertisement video below – near as I can tell it’s something that is auto-populated every time I post a link to a video. Just noting that it is not something that I added, or that has anything to do with the rest of my post, and I have no clue how to get rid of it. Sorry for any confusion.

Amazon.com Hates Me

Eureka!:

Not entirely what these sort of posts are supposed to be about, but I didn’t really have any true “A-HA” moments this month, and I didn’t want to start a new one without hitting all the Pagan Insights Project prompts at least once. Between my dad being up visiting and work, it’s been a bit of a crazy month, so I haven’t had a whole lot of time to focus on much else for the last couple weeks. However this is at least somewhat related to my current path, so figured it could count – just this once.

What I have discovered this month is that Amazon.com does not want me to own a copy of Rudiments of Runelore by Stephen Pollington. Twice now I’ve ordered it (the first time actually back in April), and it was showing “in stock” both times. However in both cases it’s taken them so long to ship it, that it went out of stock while waiting.  The first time I threw a big fit, and they actually credited my account for the difference it was going to cost me to buy from someone else. However while I was deciding where else to get it from, Amazon showed that they had it back in stock, so I ordered it again. Then waited… and waited… and waited… and again still hadn’t shipped. Finally got a message yesterday saying that it had been canceled again because it had gone out of stock.

SO WHY THE FUCK DOES AMAZON KEEP NOTING IT AS “IN STOCK”, IF THEY ARE NOT GOING TO ACTUALLY CARRY IT!!!!! (or ship it in a timely manner – and yes, I am just a bit cranky over the whole thing XD)

It really wouldn’t be such an issue, but when they list it, the price is WAY less than what everyone else has it for, and as someone who doesn’t have a whole lot of $$, clearly I don’t want to pay a crapton of money for the book if I don’t have to. I feel like they are just playing some sort of cruel joke on me, and at this point I think I’m rather done playing along. Not cool Amazon.com… not cool at all!!

 

It’s Nice to be Acknowledged…

Action, Action:

While the event itself was not Pagan related in the slightest, I had an interesting experience earlier this week, and felt it was worth sharing. I went to a memorial service on Monday at a large government agency, and though “God” was often mentioned by the various clergy members who were present, I was pleasantly surprised during the Invocation when the Senior Cantor made a point of acknowledging that there are many different ways of seeing Him, and of worshiping Him – to the point of specifically mentioning the word “ritual”. Which clearly that word is not specific to Paganism, but it’s also not one that you hear as often in conjunction with Christian rites or services, so (despite the possibility that I’m a bit biased on the subject), I took it as a slight nod to those in attendance who might be of a Pagan faith.

I really wish I had a transcript of the entire thing, because it was very well spoken, and went a long way towards recognizing those of various faiths, other than Christianity. Normally I am a bit uncomfortable during things like that when it’s “God this…” and “God that…”, not because I have any issue with Him, but I sometimes feel like an impostor when He is invoked, and I don’t like to just mouth words that I don’t really believe in. That there was  purposeful acknowledgement of other faiths during this ceremony, went a long way to making me (and I’m sure some others as well) feel that sense of inclusion, that is often missing at these sort of events. This is especially important, as it comes at a time when we sometimes desperately (due to the sadness we are feeling at the loss of a loved one) need to feel that we aren’t so alone in our grief.

A Beautiful Moon & Some Music To Match

I meant to do this more around the time I actually took the pic, but got a bit sidetracked with some other things, but better late than never.

Post A Pic:

Supermoon – well almost as it was taken on the night before the full moon. I’m glad I got the shot when I did though, because (as is rather par for the course around Sabbat time here) it was overcast and raining for the next couple of days.

Musical Musings:

Fittingly, if we are looking at a beautiful moon, then music about the moon would be the most appropriate choice as well. I stumbled across this song not too long ago, and really liked it, and would encourage everyone to check out Omnia. They are a Pagan folk band that has been around for quite a while actually. Some of it’s a bit hit or miss though, I was excited to see that they had a song about Lughnasadh, however that particular one gave me an almost insta-migrane (which is very unfortunate, since it’s one of my favorite Sabbats). Overall though, they do have some nice music, so still worth giving a listen.

IYOW: The Fear Factor

I came to the realization last night that I’m afraid. I’m rather comfy in the spot that I am in, and even if my practices are a bit lax of late, that’s been working rather well for me in the overall hectic, crazy scheme of my life. So to invite any sort of change into that, is a bit daunting to think about, to say the very least.

My primary path has almost always been Wicca inspired, Eclectic Witchcraft, and despite the fact that actual initiation into Wicca proper is likely never to happen – due to a variety of factors, as I mentioned above, I’m quite comfortable there. I’ve had an avid interest in Heathenry for the last couple years, but it’s been mostly on an academic level rather than anything I was looking to actively practice, though it’s entirely possible that certain Gods have been nudging in that direction for a while.

In those academic pursuits, I’ve studied the Runes off and on over the years, but never with any serious intent. However recently a study group was formed by a friend, and it seemed like a good opportunity to make a more concentrated effort into doing it properly for once. Part of doing it properly of course, includes introducing oneself to Odinn – as he is the one who won the Runes for us, and it’s generally considered good manners to (at the very least) acknowledge him, and the sacrifice he made, when one is looking to study them.

So I bought the mead, and have a general idea of things to do for honoring him, and having a bit of a “hello” chat, and yet I kept putting it off (though to be fair when I was going to do it last week, I really was not feeling well), but since then it’s seemed like an exercise in procrastination at it’s best. It finally hit me last night as I was falling asleep, that it’s my own fears that are holding me back.  The fear that when I do sit down to chat, that nothing will happen, that I will be ignored.  Or worse that he will answer, and in answering, will grasp me firmly to him, and claim me as his own – thus taking me from that comfy little spot that I am in, and thrusting me heartily onto an unknown path, that I’m not entirely sure that I’m ready to take.

Yes… I am afraid, almost shaking in my boots afraid (ok – I don’t wear boots, or shoes most of the time for that matter, but you get the picture XD). However now that I am aware, and have acknowledged that it exists, I am determined to own up to this fear, and face it… on shaky, unsteady legs if I have to. I can accept no less for myself.