Look ma! No kitty lips!

I think I am sailing out the other end of the storm. I am tired. You know the kind that goes clear, deep into you. The stress has notably done unkind things with my fibro. If I have read the signs correctly, there is still a bit to go. I have sneaking hunches as to what it may be and I know that it will slam into the family like a wrecking ball. I have prepared myself for this by speaking with my own beloved dead about helping her to pass if that is what she chooses to do with the energy I am sending. You see I learned something while Cora was going through her death process. She had been in and out of the hospital and word spread that this trip was quite serious. The Feri community began to send healing energy in droves. She had helped so many others with her own brand of healing, how could I not participate in that? Then in the chaos of the moment there was Thorn who pointed out that maybe healing isn't what Cora really needed. She emphasized the idea that only Cora, at this point, knew what was best for her and that maybe instead of sending healing energy we should be sending her just energy for her to decide what to do with. That was the only thing that made sense to me and removed the dread of the inevitable news of Cora's passing. She passed May 1st 2008. I got the phone call while celebrating my youngest child's 1st birthday with ice cream shop ice cream. It was a bitter sweet moment, but I am taking my cue from the lesson I learned from Thorn and Cora and sending my husband's Grandmother tons of energy. I have no idea how his family would react to this type of action so I guess mum's the word, but how can I not? She has done me many kindnesses. I am preparing myself to help my husband mourn his grandmother's passing, so I guess the feathers and the order of their discovering really were the portends I thought they were when they started lining up on my altar after morning walks. I hope I still have a good hand left on the helm.

I know that things regardless of what actually happens, things will be okay. During the darkness of this storm I started to see light shine through; my oath mother had gifted me with some black heart beads she had specially commissioned. She wanted beads that threaded side to side and discovered that 99.99 percent of the black heart beads she was looking for strung from top to  bottom. Three of those little jewels are now in my most grubby, witchy hands and I'm 'a gonna hoarde those babies! I know it sounds weird to hear (read) someone say that the arrival of black hearts, or any other said sign, brings peace, but that's my truth. The white/ grey dove's feather I found this morning only confirms that light indeed is dawning on the horizon. I look forward to a smooth sea and a calm nights star gazing.

My cat must even recognize that her mama's a bit of a train wreck this morning. She didn't stick her lips under the door and yowl merceilessly until I got out of bed. Usually, I am greeted first thing in the morning ( before my coffee: most dangerous btw) with a pitiful yowling that seems to echo off of EVERYTHING! It's like she has figured out just the right tone, timber and location to stick her head under the door and start in with that horrible Halloween sound track. It's like she grew extendable kitty lips for just the right amount of annoyance. I actually got coffee this morning without the full frontal frenzy assault. It was nice to not try and think this morning with out miss kitty lips and her 2 cents. I'll let you know when the storm is gone. Thank you for your patience with me. I know I have been off and on MIA.

Brass sun tool.

I didn't really understand what it was I was missing when I decided to start working with a large brass tray in my magic. The desire for this type of magic came during a time when I became sharply aware of how my SAD affects me. Our landlord had decided that everyone would be getting solar blocking screens on their windows. I had to get a note from my dr. to have the manager remove them. I remember seeing a picture of an altar somewhere on the web that displayed a working within a brass tray and fell in love with how it made me feel. I realized that it was the same warm, radiant solar energy as soon as I stepped outside into the heat of the day. I remember staying int he Midwest during the winter and how I craved to get in the car and sit in the sun to get that radiant warmth feel.Those memories and thoughts forced me to re-look over the properties of brass. Ok: fire and the sun. . . well sheesh there you have it. I was getting a tray!

I didn't spend a lot of money on my tray. I paid $7 at a thrift shop. There were even several brass trays to choose from. Everything just fit all together from the moment I decided to get a brass tray to the moment I brought it home and cleared it. For a while, I had to convince Nike that it was not her sleeping bowl. She actually leaves it alone now that I have had it seasoned and put it to full use.

Over the last couple of year wheels of working with my brass tray, there are things that I have noticed.  I have used it to help project out workings, I have used it as a healing platform. I have laid out almost all of my spells and craftings upon it. Somewhere during this process, I developed a tool that is as much the Sun as my mirror is the moon. Literally, I have put the power of the sun upon my altar.

Part of the ritual I perform while setting a new altar, is to recharge the brass tray. I take it out in the bright of the day and hold it to face the sun until the tray is hot and humming. There is this moment during this process that never ceases to fascinate me. It is the moment the metal starts warming in my hands as I am holding the tray aloft, standing in its shadow. I can feel the cool of the shadow protecting my face, but all the sun's rays seem to start dancing around the out line of my body. I feel like a mirage appears during that moment. It grows in pitch and I break it before I think I may go numb from standing still for so long. Each time I did this I could feel my stamina come back. I had been on a cycle of being under the weather off and on since we moved into the new house. I mostly attribute it to change of life stress, but I do know that the brass tray magic has contributed to my healing processes either through  energetic properties or how those properties cause me to think and act in my own interest.

While casting and blessing at my altar, there is another thing I grew to appreciate. I love setting my hands upon the brass edges of my tray and pour energy into the working laid upon it. In my mind's eye, I could see the energy snake through it, following the designs until the entire tray was engulfed and saturated with power. Then at the right moment, shoot it off like a rocket in the correct direction. It enabled me to improve upon my long term workings. I discovered that even if I was not doing a working for healing, prosperity, or protection, the tray was well worth using for just it's projective tendencies.

I will not begin to dictate how a brass sun tool as such should be honored and blessed. I will only relate to you that through ritual blessings on solar holidays and enlivening before working with the power of the noon day sun *or any other property/timing of the sun you wish to harness. ie. twilight.* has its rewards, most of which I will allow for you to discover yourself.   ;)

I am only a couple of years into my work with this tool. I do not claim that I know everything there is to know about this sort of work. I am looking forward to discovering more about this tool and how it interacts with my own self discoveries. What I do know, is that bringing the power of the sun within my temple space has made large, positive differences in my life. I think I am seeking a balance between the powers of the moon, which I have spent so of my magic career under, and the power of the sun. It is only in the last 5 years that I had started to work more with male divinities as a Feri student. It seems only proper that they have asked for a greater influence in my magic, or maybe they just wanted me to have a beneficial tool. Who knows how the gods really think. I don't.

I think I'll just say thank you for the great tool.

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.

Chasing stars

It used to be called star metal. A gift from the heavens sought after in ages past for tools, weapons, and even spiritual connection to the larger universe our planet spins within. These days it is still sought out but  by a different type of explorer: the scientist, spiritual seeker, the profiteer. It's value however has remained. Meteorites contain the otherworldly resonance that can only come from the outer dark; a place where a soul can go into darkness and find their light.

I originally obtained my meteorite to use in an oil I create devoted to the Star Goddess. I soon learned for myself what the vender was talking about when she said "special care." On the physical plane, if you leave a meteorite out with no finger oil contact it tends to tarnish and oxidize. That means that daily contact with finger oils is a requirement. I found myself sticking it in my pocket and carrying it around with me as a fetish of sorts when it's not steeping in oil to brew. I discovered other things as I went along in my journey with a meteorite in my pocket. I found myself learning to quickly move from one foot to the other. In my tradition and in many others, being a witch with shamanic tendencies requires that you straddle two worlds, a foot in each and weight carefully balanced over them.

I also discovered that there are very potent protection qualities that reside within this chunk of cosmos drenched metal. I was concerned, at first, that it may be a problem for the fae that I work with. We have all heard the faery/ iron lore. Those fears were put to rest by one of my fae friends and he added that he's never had any issues with my iron knife, why would he have an issue with a star piece? There was also a conversation about where the lore came from. He spoke a bit about repulsion and attraction in logical terms then took a left turn somewhere while he was talking about the paradox of being repulsed and attracted at the same time. Yes, being attracted to something because it repells you??? He further explained that the dynamic comes about be cause star metal reminds them of home and at the same time they are reminded that home no longer exists for them. The anger and resentment that it stirs up is the cause for them being pushed away, of course adding more resentment to the brew. I am not entirely certain of who "them" is when he talks like that, but I am almost certain that I wouldn't want to meet them in a brightly lit area much less a dark alley. All of this lead to another question: so if this object attracts both light and dark beings, how is it considered a protective talisman? He shrugged his shoulders and asked why stars shine and why everyone wants to see what's in the light? I guess it was just his way of saying it's just it's nature. I'll either sort that out or just leave it for what it is: a mystery.

Meteorites still have an avid bunch of seekers for whatever their reasoning is, but I have found my little  star piece to be a potent connection to the Universe at large out there and to God Herself. It's a piece of unfolding mystery in manners I did not expect it to be when I first conceived to chase after stars. If you have the opportunity to obtain a meteorite, do so. Make sure to ask questions like: where was it found and what is it composed of. The answers to those questions may be helpful in learning how to work with the star piece. You can purchase meteorites at some observatories where you will probably get very scientific and accurate physical accounting of your piece or you can go to a gem show and talk with the vender about it. I have found that the venders at gem shows can be very knowledgeable about the stones and other objects they put up for sale. Sometimes you will get extra tips from seekers who gather at the gem shows. If you are very lucky and spend time out of doors on the other side of mankind's hedge, you may find one for yourself.

If you find yourself with a star piece starring at the night sky, know you are in good company, spiritually and physically. You are, after all, carrying a part of the universe in your pocket. The Universe and all the unfolding mysteries within it are suddenly much closer and very possible to experience.

Post apocalyptic romance???

I was in the bookstore the other day trolling around poking in all the corners including the teen section to get some ideas and feed back from my kids about what kind of stories they want to be reading over the impending summer vacation. I began to notice something that was pinpointed to me a few days earlier when my daughter brought home her book order form.

The younger generation seems to be preoccupied with a post apocalyptic mind set. They seem to feel that everything is falling apart in a manner that is irreparable and certain to lead to only decay and rot for the future. So much so do they resonate with this thought form that it is actually a marketing tool for budding and veteran authors. My daughter's book order form actually had a section called post apocalyptic romance! My eldest, who has no idea what he wants to do with himself after school, has a definite Zombie Apocalypse survival plan that makes FEMA look like a jr. bake sale organizer.

My Father and I were having a conversation that discussed similar things. The point sort of circled around and whacked me on the head like a rude face palm moment. He was explaining to me that a lot of what we are witnessing with these sort of attitude with our younger generation is that they feel that our generation and the one before us has lost the moral authority to lead. Therefore, they must make their way through the ruins we have left them and make their own rules to survive the future we have cultivated for them. I can't say that I think that he is wrong.

Just in the last decade we have proven this to them. All we have to do is point out two events: Katrina and BP oil disaster. I am sure that we can list many more as we roll back through a decade or so. Those events alone are enough to get both my elder children all sorts of foaming at the mouth mad. While the entire generation is not to blame for the whole bad apple case, but like they say it only takes one bad apple to make the whole barrel rotten.

On the upside of all of this doom and gloom that our children seem to be slathering all over their brain cells (yes there is actually an upside) They see hope that balance can be restored. Why else would they be interested in post apocalyptic romance stories??? The other part of that upswing is that they are making plans on how to survive disasters regardless if it's a Zombie Apocalypse or a devastating natural event. They are planning to become leaders and healers. I find that comforting even if it is born out of a preoccupation with impending doom. Another upside is that our kids are reading, even if it is found in the post apocalyptic romance section. I think the Harry Potter stories have given them the spine and where with all to tackle these things boldly with a positive mindset  and believe that they can emerge victorious.

Notes from an old pagan

It saddens me that there are things going on in the pagan community that more divisive than binding: agism, my tradisms ( my trad is better than yours), gender discrimination of all ilks, OMGS you can't do that because it's harm clan,  and the list is longer than I can really wish to see. . . these things seem to be part of the human condition. Regardless of who we are as individuals and groupings there is always something to bitch about and there is always a finger pointing somewhere other than where it belongs: you.

Yes, you. We are all individually responsible for our research, our emotional reactions and deeds. . . or the lack there of. I work really hard to make sure that I keep myself balanced and checked and even with this work, it sometimes escapes me. Does that make me a bad person or even a bad pagan? No, it doesn't. What it does make me is human.

Growing up in a military family, I learned discipline and respect. I was taught that respecting your elders was important, even if they didn't deserve it in your perception because they were ( insert failing here.) The point that was raised was simply this: they deserved your respect because they have more experience living than you, even if you thought they were ( insert failing here.) So, I went through my childhood calling my elders Mrs., Mr., Ms. Miss ( insert surname) and saying yes and no Ma'am/ Sir. I still do that. It drives my Oath Mother crazy I think.

OK maybe in the realm of things being almost forty does not quite make me an old pagan. I know some pagans whom I consider to be my elders. Yes, I call them my elders. They would probably back hand me for doing so to their face, but they are indeed my elders in both living and crafting their practices. I have an immense amount of respect for most of my elders simply because their knowledge and technique makes me look like a doofus at times. They have been generous to me with both secret and time. There is not a thing I can possibly do to repay them except do for the younger generation as my elders have done for me. I can't possibly do this if my youngers are spitting at each other and their elders about yancy nancy bullshit: such as ego, dress code and other bleating nonsense.

When I take on students, other than my own children, it will be because not only has this individual expressed true desire and willingness to do the work, it's because they are respectful and understand that they do not know everything.  Hex, I don't know everything! I do however have the resources to find the answers to my questions from either research or my elders.

Quite frankly, youngers, a little bit of research into who your elders ( like it or not you have them) are may be very revealing about what the craft really is about. I'm talking about reading up on the people and not the subjects they wrote about ( although reading between the lines on that is helpful as well) Quoting an elder's work without understanding the individual behind it is simply insane. In fact, if you read up on your elders and their personal philosophies may make some of the newer generation gnash their teeth and rip out their hair until they come to the realization that they are only human. Depressing huh? The elders are really only human????? Yes they are, the thing that makes them seem more than human ( in some cases ) is simply that they have more years of experience under their belt and have seen this round of ruckus before. Possible several rounds of it and they remain unruffled by it ( a quality I am working on. I still get mad about certain things and feel I have to put in my .02. *face palm*)

As far as the OMG!!!!! The burning times!!!! Yes the burning times happened. Yes, most of the victims of the burning times were never actually witches, but we still need to be aware of that type of power grabbing. That's all the burning times was: inciting fear to grab power. That has to be stomped out at first bloom, regardless of where the finger pointing leads. So far I have seen the pagan community stand up and fight back when their rights as individuals are stomped upon. I am actually very proud of how I have seen some pagans handle this with grace and panache: elders and youngers.

Our community is filled with brilliance through both academia and gnosis. It is sort of hard to see that through all the spit sometimes. It sounds like we (as a community) are needing to individually do some internal work focusing on self respect and communal respect. I'll think on that for a bit and get back to you.


P.S.
If you ever refer to me as an Elder or call me Lady to my face. . . I may become very upset and growly. Mrs. Oddly will do. x_O

The Shaman Thread

Many years ago I had a conversation with my father while picking up pizza at his favorite place about, of course, space faring and colonization and how my particular skills seemed to him, at the time, non essential. My response was simply how did he know that this was not an essential step of evolution before we could leave the planet? Frontiers, as exciting and new as they are, are also very dangerous because it IS new. ESP's seem like a very handy thing to have well developed to help you get a heads up about those dangers while out there.

This conversation was resurrected in the face of my feeling not so well and deciding that taking it easy with Netflix was a good idea. I settled on an oldie but goodie: Earth 2. If you have never watched this show and you are a SciFi fan, this is something that may interest you. I will try not to spoil the show for you. The premise of the show is that enclosure has become intolerable on the stations; there is a great need and desire to go planet side and live there.

There are particulars I really found interesting. Especially, the connection that forms between a couple of the characters with the planet and it's indigenous inhabitants. It becomes very clear that there is at the very least one shaman with them. This character is an accidental shaman, but he is a shaman none the less. One who has much to learn about the art and craft of what shamanism is.

The questions that rolled around in my mind while watching this show were: how do we preserve the shaman skills while on stations traveling the black oceans of the universe? How will those skills be needed and utilized before we decide to dive back into one of the deep wells of space? Will those skills be sharp enough to reconnect with a large living body and its inhabitants? Will we be wise enough to remember that planets cannot be tamed?

I have ideas that may answer a few of those questions. The obvious one being how do we preserve the shaman skills??? We teach them to those who wish to learn and show a proclivity either openly or secretly just like we have done here in this deep well of space. Station life will require that there be a green house of sorts. The techniques will be different for growing food, but there still needs to be someone who can hear the plant life and tend to it in a good way. This would be a good practice field for a shaman stuck on a station. There will also be a great need for alternative medicines since manufacturing meds may not be the best way to handle things on a station and certainly we cannot rely on planet side delivery of said things. We must learn to be independent. The face of healing will have to change and shamanistic skills will certainly be handy there. There is even now and here a great proclivity for some to connect with technology in near mystical manners. I believe we have started to call them technomages. Considering the fact that we will be depending on a large piece of technology while we float through space toward our next well, a couple of good technomages hanging about would certainly make me breathe easier. I would certainly like our flyboys/girls to have an uncanny sense of what is coming at them while they jockey around between stations and where ever else they need to go outside. Open space tends to be a bit unpredictable. Loads of things zipping about at mach 5 and other surprises I am sure.

Will those skills be sharp enough to reconnect with a planet???? I hope so. Another question remains. Will those skills be allowed to continue or will we face another persecution and devouring of a belief system based upon fear and the need to control the mass population? Will we grow up as a species and begin to recognize that we are all different colored threads in a very large tapestry creating the larger picture of who we are meant to be? If we don't, I'm not sure we will make it and if by some stroke of genius luck that we do, with an even larger stroke of such luck, maybe an accidental shaman will surface. Personally, I would like to skip the whole freak out what the heck kind of crazy have I gone? phase, but that's just me. It would be, in my opinion, prudent to preserve and nurture the Shaman Thread that runs through humanity.

The dead

As a witch I acknowledge three types of the dead: Beloved, Mighty and Ancient. I work with them. I do not command them nor do they command me. It is relationship much like the kind you would develop over time with the living. 

My first experience with the dead was pretty typical of anyone elses' experience with the dead: my Grandmother who had passed the veil. This type of experience is classified as the Beloved Dead. One whom you knew in life and loved dearly. The dead in this category are generally easy and safe to work with as they have you best interests at their hearts core. They are easily called upon. More often than not, they show up without being called upon. The beloved dead can also include any furry/ feathered/ scaled friends that you may have kept company with.

The Mighty Dead is usually associated with traditions and large groups of people. For example: in specific traditions of the craft there are those who pass the veil and remain in contact with the living members of that magical tradition. They can be called up in times of need for assistance and guidance. It is rare that they just show up. The situation for that to happen is usually dire. However, we can also break this category of the dead up into association by country. For America our Mighty dead would consist of the founders of the country as well as anyone who has served in the military and has passed the veil. This category can also include national heros and icons. A recent example of this would be Pat Tilman: Football player and Army Ranger. Working with the Mighty Dead requires that you use a whole bunch of common sense. They do not live your life, they sometimes have their own agenda that is not compatible to your situation. They are more interested in the good of the of the whole they represent.

The Ancient Dead are just that. They are the dead of those whose names have been long forgotten to history and have walked a similar path to your own. In my case these would be the witches, the wise women, sages and healers who feet tread the crooked path before history was recorded. They generally are the bringers of prophesy, warning and revealers of secrets lost to history. They do show up and when they do it is often an unnerving experience. Not because they are of malevolent intent, it is usually because they power they bring with them heralds from long ago and has done nothing but increase in strength for thousands of generations. When working with the Ancient Dead, common sense and caution in the extreme are highly necessary. While they may be trying to show or teach you something, the message and power they are revealing to you are hardly safe to dabble with. You either commit to it or you do not attempt it at all. To do anything other than commit to it, should you agree to take lesson from the Ancient Dead, is to be scalded by the light. The policy the Ancient Dead seem to take is: don't call us. We'll call you.

Why, Nalaya, are you bringing this up??? Why why why?? It's not even Samhain yet!

Because the dead are not relegated to a season. They are always there, they are always watching and appreciate it when you remember them through out the year's wheel. They are more likely to help you out if you treat them like you would treat one of your living friends. Light a candle, have an open dialogue with them, leave an offering of something they like. In my tradition, and I am sure this is true of others as well, there is an altar in the West set up just for them.

While the Samhain season makes it easier to communicate with the dead, if you work with them throughout the year's wheel, the veil no longer becomes an obstacle.

The dead have few friends; be one of them.

     

Isobel Gowdie

Isobel Gowdie: red head, fire brand, Queen of the Scottish Witches. She claimed to be in the good graces of the Queen and King of Elphame and that she could shape shift into a hare or cat. She used her broom to replace her presence in bed while her husband slept and climbed corn and bean stalks in order to fly with the intonation of a chant. It is 1662, April 12th that she had been arrested and accused of witchcraft. In the next six weeks, she would make her confessions: four of them, without torture or duress. Why would she do this? Is it possible her anger got the best of her and she figured herself and her coven mates dead women any way? May as well go out with a good scare to the common folk??? Who knows, but her claims certainly shook the community and her name carried down in song, book and poems for centuries to come. Only Isobel knows and she's not talking any more.

She was the daughter of a lawyer whom changed religious affiliations so that he may continue practicing his livelihood.  Originally the family was Catholic. She was expected to marry well however her father encouraged her to marry someone who was an improper match for her especially in the light that she was fleeing her marriage bed to practice witchcraft. It is also revealing that he never noticed, whether it be enchantment or not. Many of the things cited by Isobel's confessions seem to be congruent with shamanic traditions and visions gained through those experiences. Ie. . . transformation into a hare or cat, flying through the air, meetings with the Queen of Elphame. All of these things point of a tradition that came from a Pre- Christian era.

There is no doubt in my mind that even though she could transform herself into a fluffy bunny, she was definitely not what we would call a fluffy bunny. She proclaimed to have cursed her Land lord after she spurned off unwanted advances. He refused to repair her hearth and barn as he was obligated to do as a land lord, then began to speak ill of her publicly and to the local pastor. That would tick off anyone! Well what she claims to have done was cause this man to have no sons using a clay poppet of a baby boy. According to records, it seems to have worked. How very biblical of her. In another case she claims to have cursed the local pastor with a wasting disease. He survived and was present during her confession. Imagine the shock and horror that must have sunk into this man. The real question is this: were they shocked because witchcraft seemed to be well and alive or were they shocked because they never expected reprisal for their own ill deeds?

During this period of time, I find in most references to witchcraft the use of the words devil and demon. It is probably so because during this time if it wasn't God or Jesus, it MUST be of the devil. It's just how it was. They had no access to any other information about world religions, they were completely reliant on their priests and preachers to deliver the entirety of their beliefs. It is no wonder to me that those who presided over her trials thought her mentally off kilter. . . of course they would. Shamans have the propensity to swim in waters that madmen drown in. To a Christian man in charge of the entirety of his realm, everything that came out of Isobel's mouth would seem to be completely insane. Except for there were certain things she claimed that had fact to back it up. After all the Land lord did lose all sons alive and had no more and the pastor indeed had been very ill with a wasting sickness.

What makes a woman like Isobel turn to witchcraft? Isobel was refined, beautiful and well educated. Maybe it was because every other factor of her life was controlled by men: her father put her in a mismatch marriage, her husband was obviously not very attentive and required her to toe up to a line she wanted nothing to do with. Her land lord was putting the moves on her and when she refused them, he slandered her and refused to live up to the terms of a good land lord to spite her. On top of that, she was forced to bear witness to brutal battles in which there was nothing she could do but watch. Her religion certainly wasn't going to empower her and as most students of witchcraft knows. . . a teacher shows up when one is most ready to learn. Isobel Gowdie by the time she met her friend, Margaret Brodie, was more than ready to take command of her own life. In fact, she had some scores to settle and settle she did.

I think one of the most predominant reasons why witchcraft was horrifying ( and this is just my opinion) to men back in the day is because they were truly afraid of the reprisal for the wrongs they had committed against people back then. They wanted to hold their power and look like saintly people too. In other words it was all about having and eating cake. Witchcraft complicated things for them. Witchcraft was also a convenient tool to wrest power and land from others in the name of godliness without looking like they were in the wrong. In fact, with the exception of Isobel Gowdie and her conveners, most of those prosecuted and killed as witches were in fact political victims. They were inconvenient and in the way of power lusting men and clergy.

There are no records that show her execution, however there are rumors that she was hanged then burned for good measure.

http://www.sussex-academic.co.uk/sa/titles/history/wilbygowdie.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isobel_Gowdie

http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=ukgb6&c=words&id=14052

http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=ukgb6&c=words&id=14052

I solemnly swear I am up to no good.

I stepped on it. It was already broken and it was rather annoying that it hurt so much for a little bugger! I started to stomp  off in a huff toward the circular file with the broken soldier in hand. . . it was gonna go see   toy pearly gates then I heard something in the back of my mind that sounded an awful lot like James Earl Jones: "Hold your horses there girlie pants! That is an amazing tool of healing in your hands. Look closer!" So, I stopped in my tracks. Mostly because when I hear that voice I start looking around for Darth Vader. We are talking about a mom whose three year old hums the Imperial March anytime we are out shopping! Yea shopping with Darth Vader, but  I digress.

I took a good look at this piece of annoyance that poked at my foot. I thought about it and agreed. This beloved toy has been in many a fire fight in my son's theater of battles with storm troopers and dinosaurs and has diligently served the Army of Little Dude. This broken toy soldier is not unlike the real deal. It is broken with little hope of the people who sent them off to battle helping them with their healing process when they come home. Look at how our soldiers' healing processes have been hampered in the past by their own government. I'm not just saying that they have been neglected. . . I am saying that our government placed roadblocks to their healing process by denying that certain conditions were caused by the government's willingness to use our men and women in the military as guinea pigs or denying that said condition was a result of certain actions: one example agent orange. . . another gulf syndrome. 

Whether these things are a result of classified actions, unknown factors, accidents or result of warfare is irrelevant. Our soldiers wrote out a check up to and including their lives to serve and defend the constitution and it is up to our government to make sure that they get the healing they require when they come home. They have families who love them and need them to be whole.

What am I up to? Well, I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good. Actually, on the 21st of June I will be performing a ritual to help make sure our wounded warriors get the healing they need. In this ritual I will be reading a list of names, written in my own hand, aloud in the presence of Krom and asking him to help our men and women in the military who are in need of healing services get those services. I need your help in name gathering. If you know a wounded warrior or know someone who knows someone's uncle who knows someone. . . just kidding, but you get the idea. Submit their names via comment or email, by the 19th of June, which ever way you feel comfortable. If you are out of the country of the United States, add your warriors too. I am sure that this is an international problem.

In return, I will be putting your name into a hat to receive a bottle of Oleum of Isolde ( a healer's aid and ritual healing oil.) I will announce the winner of this prize on the 22 of June. 

What? Did Mrs. Oddly just bribe you??? She sure did!

Good Hunting!

Mischief managed!