The Mad Hatter's Tea Party has been interrupted by enclosure. . . again

I have been intentionally silent.

I have been patiently waiting out Mercury's wild backward dance with other hand and mind occupying projects and pre-school starting activities. Some of which were struck with Mercury backwardness that I had to mop up.

With recent events, I feel like I am being pushed to surface and speak.

But what do you say? What do I say? There are no words that I can imagine that would begin to begin the healing that is so necessary right now. There are no words that can restore to us the innocence and comfort felt in the house of movies and story tellers. Yes the floor is sticky and the chairs smell like stale popcorn and feet, but the enchantment of light dancing through a darkened room and reflecting on a silver screen has always been a place of solace and re-evaluation for me. The looks on the faces of my family had to reflect the same horror on mine when the news broke. We are a movie family. We love them, we love the whole process of the making of movies ( I like watching them best though). We love the people involved in front of and behind the camera. ( we also love craft services) This event shook us where we live. Will it stop us from going to a theater? Hexes NO! However, there will be a new tone of vigilance for me while we are there.

I wish I could say that these type of events surprise me, but those of you who know me are waiting for me to just say it already. These are just symptoms of a much larger problem; enclosure  I will spare the gory details here because I know you cannot force an unwilling mind to open and see, so click on the link if you want, but know it's not a happy discussion. It's one of those necessary unhappy conversations about what happens when a space becomes overburdened and its effects on the landscape and inhabitants.

There is, however, light at the end of the tunnel that has nothing to do with on coming trains, traffic, or near death experiences. We are a co operative society. We help each other. This alone is one of the most important tools we have and through it, doing all the right things can not only make this place better, but expand our reaches into the known Universe to discover new things and bring forth new understandings.

As long as we continue to be the co operative society ( yes, even me, the one who runs on the fringes of society, has a productive use in society) there is hope. We can't predict the who's, when's, and where's of the next prober rat attack, but we can buy time for our children and throw out a life line to those in need and willing to grab the rope.

You should know that you are loved.

Every time something like this happens, there is the question: what the Hell Is going on????

What's going on is complicated and does not have a single silver bullet solution. There are probably many very good solutions that work well together, but I have found that having a basic understanding of what the real problem is, gives me new perspective for personal solutions.  I have also found that understanding the base cause of the craziness help me keep my sanity in one piece.

I hope I am preaching to the choir right about now, but if I am not, feel free to respectfully express that.

It is to my deepest disappointment and personal horror that the Aurora community has been violated as they were. The effects of this event ripple deep and reach far. As of right now, I have no idea how I would handle a situation as Aurora has had to endure. I suppose it would be wise to ask for guidance.

My eloquence seems to have abandoned me.

Aurora, I hope that you heal and find comfort as you find a new balance to move forward from this.

Nine coins tell the tale

The Monsoons are due any moment now and a rumble across the sky will announce it's arrival. Lots of things have shifted in the last couple of years. Large shifts that have affected my personal practices. I made some serious head way with my ancestor work which lead me to understand why runes made any sense to me at all. I made a set of Faery runes in hope that they would be a great tool for me to use for divination instead of just using it to write things I don't necessarily think little eyes should be pouring over ( you know just in case.) While I appreciate the use your noodle a bit more aspect of that, the only thing I really wanted to do is create magic with the rune figures; those runes will have to find a new partner. I don't like the idea of a good tool sitting in a box gathering dust.

My decision to let the runes go was sealed by digging into the Shaman roots of the Northern and Mongolian people. I found in one of the books I picked, up a methodology of using 9 coins as a divination tool. Immediately I was intrigued. Sort of like runes, but not. They certainly take less room and tuck away quite nicely. They also probably will raise not a single eyebrow while out and about. Perfection! There are only two pieces of advise: all coins must have a head and a tail; all coins be the same size and weight. My inner eye already had ideas of how this would manifest for me: copper pennies with the date of my birth on them.  ( Yes, I have a secret stash of those on the bottom of my magic bag under the threshold.) I suppose you could use gold doubloons if you are of the mind to, but I can see as carrying those around might make you a target for unethical characters.

The copper penny magic I have been working for a while, apparently, has entrenched itself in my practices, right down to how I spend New Year's day: separating out all the coins I have acquired in the year by penny year and even further to which ones are leap year and birth year. No. I guess I am not obsessed with copper, now am I? That might be interesting to figure out why, but no time for that at the moment.

The first step in any divination is the same here as anywhere else: A clear focus on  what it is you want to know, only here, you have the coins in hand, shaking them as though they are dice. I continue with this until I get a cue to stop whether it be internal or an outside voice then blow some of my personal energy into the coins. The coins are stacked in the right hand without looking at them, then flipped over into the left so the coin that was previously on top is now on the bottom. Next, is the telling. Which ever face of the coin on the top of the stack is up is the ruling face and called white (heads) or black (tails.) You count out the coins that are of the ruling face until the face on the stack of coins has shifted.  These are the telling coins. And they tell quite a bit.


The Telling:

1 head: White Arrow

wishes will be granted, there will be a peaceful home, business will blossom and grow, profits will roll in, disease will be healed, rituals will be well received and successful, finding a partner will be successful, the lost will be found, Honor and integrity will land you on top. Listen for news coming from the south.

1 tail: Black Arrow:

Business will be hard, friends unreliable, livestock and needed objects misplaced and lost, hunting will be successful, motivation is lost, there is great risk of becoming ill. What ever that is desired will require more effort, but it is close in hand.

2 heads: White Mountain:

Business will be successful, great strength and lack of fear in tough situation, diseases will be healed, Runaway animals and items are found, expect visitors when staying by water. Whatever is desired will manifest with little effort, cultivate friendships and network.

2 tails: Black Mountain:

Hunts will be successful, That which is lost will be found but with difficulty, News from a man on a dark horse will arrive, There is danger of chronic illness, Beware of bad water and food, Legal issues will be resolved in a satisfying manner, there is a danger of hidden enemies working against the querent.

3 heads: White Boat:

Good results in finding business partners and friends, guests arrive safely, quick recovery from illness, legal issues are resolved in you favor,  A man on a white horse will bring good advice about finding that which is lost, elders and others of high status will be available for help.

3 tails: Black Boat:

Everything that can go wrong will go wrong and then some, That which is lost is a long way away or fell victim to predators, There is danger of eye disease, A man in black on a black horse brings news of the lost. whatever it is desired here should be abandoned and forgotten.

4 heads: White Lion:

Success in business, hunting and victory over enemies. Quick recovery from illness, Good News from a southern direction.

4 tails: Black Lion:

recovery will be slow if illness develops, consecrate an animal to the spirits of water and earth. rituals and business will be good and hunts will be productive. News from the west about that which is lost. Important news will come from a spiritual adviser or wealthy person. A shaman should be called to avert illness and disease.

5 heads: White Wolf:

a friend will be helpful in business, victory over enemies, a ritual should be performed to stave off illness.

5 tails: Black Wolf:

Success in business, helpful friends, victory over enemies, there will be an inheritance or treasure found, hunting will be productive, everything arrives on time, however lost things are pretty lost beyond your reach. There may be a good reason for quarrel.

6 heads:White Sun:

there will be a slow recovery from illness, lost animals and objects will take about a week to resurface, friends will be helpful in your business. There will be lucj=k in hunting however be aware of thepossibilty for a transportation break down or accident.

6 tails: Black Sun:

This is a reading not good. There is nothing to be gained profit or help wise. Hunting will not be productive, and your transportation may break down. There is also a danger of being surrounded by incompetence and deception.

7 heads: White Raven:

News will come quickly from a southern direction, that which is lost will be found and retrieved quickly, illness will quickly leave, visitors bring good luck, legal issues resolve in your favor, you will meet unusual people who bear important news, business partners and friends are reliable and true. Success will come quickly.

7 tails: Black Raven:

There are nasty rumors running around about the querent. That which is lost is to the east of where it was last seen, familiars and animal companions may  become ill or killed by predators, major setbacks and thefts are possible.

8 heads: White Moon:

 All things successful, people and guests arrive on time and safely, profits are to be found, things will be sold, recovery from disease.

8 tails: Black Moon:

Everything will be difficult, there will be no help from friends or business partners, what is lost will be found in the southwest,  news from a person of good character, break down of transportation.

9 heads: White Cup:

Everything will be successful, extraordinary good luck, Good for traveling and good health, Lost things will be found.

9 tails: Black Cup:

All things are difficult, danger to life, no friends, lost things will not be found, hunting will not be successful, Do a ritual to call upon help from spirit friends and ancestors.

I have found what I have been seeking in the divination department. I hope you do as well and if anyone is interested in obtaining my faery runes, keep an eye peeled for them in my shop. ;) 

The under tow of reality

Yes, Mrs. Oddly and family snuck out of the desert under the cover of darkness and made a bee line for the beach! Specifically, we went to Santa Monica beach. It was a trip loooooong over due. I started the whole process by announcing to my water friend and guide that we were coming to the ocean for a visit and asked that my family and I have safe passage through his realm and back. He told me that he would meet me at the gate. And he did. Not too far after we passed the weigh station that separates  CA and AZ, we were greeted by a truck bearing the image of one of Poseidon's own and one of my guides.

Yes, one of the beings I have befriended and work with is a hippocampus. Most mythology and fairy tales will tell you to steer clear of these beings or horrible things will happen to you. . . mostly drowning. My experience is simply any creature can be harmful. It's all in the relationship you build. If you approach any creature mundane or mythological with out understanding of its nature you can be sure to land your behind in a whole lot of trouble.

As we drove closer toward the coastline I watched the thermometer drop from 110 to 72 degrees. That, all by itself, was a treat! Later, as the night crept in, I realized that my AZ blood required something heavier than a sweater to stave off the cold, moist air; next time. . . I bring the peacoat!

We passed through LA on the PCH and drove through what I dub the magic tunnel. It has ivy clinging to its walls and it curves so the darkness looks like it could last for quite some time as you are approaching it. As you pass through it, there is this hum that resonates through everything and then you see a pillar of light that stretches around you. As you emerge from this tunnel, the beach is up front and center. The chaos that was LA disappears and a whole new place has emerged. If that's not a magic tunnel, I have no idea what is!

When we got to the ocean, we spilled out of the car and made a mad dash for the water with Little Man cheering the whole way! Literally he was jumping up and down for joy yelling: I LOVE THE OCEAN!!! That made my day! We passed the swings and the little park with the dragon head to stick our toes in the water, ate hot dogs on a stick and poked in the ocean soaked shoreline to watch the water lap away the evidence of our passing. We headed for the pier to see what wonders and magics lay there as Miss B and I played the Witch Penny game. We left copper pennies laden with blessings all over the pier and 4th St Promenade. I reserved one to toss off the pier to say thank you with.

Our whole trip to the ocean was filled with little moments of magic. One of those moments was truly amazing. My daughter came running out of the ocean and made a bee line to where I was sunning myself ( and guarding our beach gear) with  a gleam in her eyes. She stopped short of falling on me and presented a little stone black heart that she caught in the waves! However, the ocean did take it's due. I made matching anklets for us to wear at the beach to soak up the water and bring home with us. Miss B's was taken by the ocean. She told me it was okay because now a mermaid out there somewhere has a pretty piece to show off to her friends. I offered her mine, she declined. This trip was exactly what I needed. It reaffirmed for me the fact that the under tow of reality is beset with magic if you choose to see it.