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.

Dear Anger, You are officially invited to leave.

It shouldn't be a new thing to hear me say: wow that was odd. . . it happens all the time and comes at the most unexpected moments. For example, I was stopped in a grocery store and was asked about the difference between real and imitation vanilla. That conversation went into a full out discussion on how to make your own. Later, I was approached by a Jan Brewer doppleganger who came to our table at IHOP and talked about the Native American rituals she studied and has attempted to put into modern context. Most recently, I have had amazing experiences with the Mongolian Shaman divination techniques from Sarangerel's book: Riding Windhorses. I have been practicing with the 9 coin divination and the 13's card spread. I know that's not what she calls it, but that's what it has become in my mind.

The 13's card spread begins more like a game than anything else I have seen. I have discovered that I really like that process. It feels organic and guided by something larger than myself. As the cards are gathered up sums equaling 13, the deck sifts out the cards that will not be used. You immediately can see how many options are being put on the table in regards to the question. The cards are sifted into even smaller groupings to pin point strong influences in the situation. I kept pulling up double 7's. This pairing usually refers to being blocked by anger either your own or an adversary. Well, I know exactly what the anger part is. It has everything to do with the news. Or more accurately, my reaction to the news. The more I read what is going on in places around me, the angrier I get. Okay, I get it, cool it on the news!

The 9 coin divination technique looks to be an amazing stealth divination. I can see it being easily kept on me for on the run divination without being obtrusive about it. Most people would probably look at me funny if I pulled out a playing deck and started to spread out cards. Nine little coins in hand seem to tell a whole lot very quickly. I have yet to commit the whole thing to memory, but once I do, things will get even more fun with this technique. When choosing what kind of coin to use, there were a couple of rules: all coins the same size and each had to have a head and tail. I chose to use copper pennies, of course. Actually, they are copper leap year pennies.

The readings I have been practicing with have been clear sighted and grounded in good guidance. I don't know whether that is because I have finally found something that is close to the Finn people I come from or if by working with other systems my perception is growing. It could be both or neither I suppose. I realize that these divination practices are Mongolian, but I also realize that the Siberian, Mongolian and Finn Shamans were probably very similar in training. As I read this book, I recognized aspects of my own Feri training. They were called something else and the techniques a little bit different, but it was all recognizable to me.

In other news, my poor rue has decided that triple digit heat is not okay. I had to pull it up on solstice day in order to make the most of the gift that is rue. I hate losing plants. Until the heat spiked up into the 110's poor little rue did nothing but thrive and dig deep roots. I thought that she was going to make it. I am proven wrong. I really liked having rue in my garden, I think that if I try again, it will have to be in a pot. I have kept all parts of the rue: root stalks and leaves. I have started a couple of viridarium vessels and I don't know what my further plans are for these plant spirit parts, but I will not let this go to waste.

Summer vacation is in full swing  and it keeps getting hotter in the midnight shade. The kids are home and my house is in full volume riot, even when the chores are being done. I guess the kids figure they have to be louder so the neighbors can hear them. The cat and dog are picking on eachother and this mommy is struggling to find a peaceful moment when clear thought is actually doable. I guess it is as it usually is: wait until the kids go to bed. I may have to start writing when the kids go to bed. It literally took me all morning, afternoon and part of the evening to finish writing this. Good thing I keep a note pad around.

This whole week has been interesting in both detail and big picture. As I am reading and practicing more of my shamanic techniques, I get a person from NY who approaches clear out of the blue to tell my family that she has studied rituals of the Native Americans. As I am celebrating my 40th birthday with my family I end up giving directions on how to make your own vanilla extract in the baking section of the grocery store (more liquor was involved that day) And finally, the week hit fever pitch when I discovered my son was being bothered during his transition into sleep by a distressed spirit. That went well, so no worries. As you can see, being blocked by anger while I am working in this realm may become a bad thing. So for now, the news has to go bye bye and so do the politics. It's time to reclaim my time and refocus myself: the pillar of black smoke from the North East agrees with that. No need to invite unnecessary trouble.


Dear Anger, 
You are officially invited to leave. Please and Thank you!
Mrs. Oddly

Shut UP Han and drive the fucking ship!

I have successfully held my tongue for more than 12 hours to think about my reaction to yesterday's news from Michigan's House of Representatives. It's not that I had to think about what kind of reaction to have, but to analyse my personal feelings and why they hit me like a sledge hammer. Literally, I went from eyebrow quirk to foul, stinking potty mouth in less than a few heart beats as I read the article. I tried to frame it from the perspective of: oh this is the Huffington Post. Well, be that as it may, it didn't matter, by the third or second paragraph, I don't remember which. . . I do remember seeing a red wash start to form in my vision. I found that rather alarming, so I finished the article and turned off the news. Welcome back from your news break right?

I am alarmed that people who are supposed to be mature adults react like sniggling 11 year olds who filched their uncle's nudie mag. for the first time to the word vagina. Or even worse, like an object of disdain and disgust. My Han Solo paranoia voice went further with that thought form and took it as a deliberate strike against women especially since the topic was, after all, women's reproductive rights. You know the voice I am talking about. It's the one who says: I gotta baaad feeling about this.

I am further alarmed that the underlying message is that it's fine to have a fist to cuff on the floor and still speak, but in the defense of reproductive rights women are not allowed to say the word vagina or vasectomy. In fact, the women were accused of having a temper tantrum on the floor and effectively silenced. SILENCED! WHAT THE FUCK ON GAIA'S GREEN EARTH IS GOING ON????!!!!!

I am even further alarmed that they think they can get away with it. In fact, I am betting that they had no idea how many people would be angry about this. I think, they think, they should not only get away with this but be heralded as law jockey heroes. After all, it is the same state that just passed The Julea Ward bill that basically allows you to not help someone because you are a religious bigot. ( see above screaming obscenity.)

My potent reaction came from the understanding that these yahoos are setting the stage for my daughter's rights as a woman to decide whether or not to have a child, whether or not she will have access to good reproductive health care, whether or not that decision will be taken away from her by a religious bigot at the dr's. office or pharmacy because that individual does not believe in birth control because of their religion. ( Shut up, Han, and drive the fucking ship!)

Han's voice only becomes louder at this point: I have no love for the Empire. What part of rights do they not understand? Rights are not something to be argued over. Rights are rights. Period. ( or should I have said menstruation?) They are not available for people to vote upon and deny. They are inalienable. They are given by divinity, regardless of which one you recognize, if you do so at all. So really? Why are we having this debate? What sinister thing do you have going on in the left hand while we are focused on the right?

And by the way, MI lawmakers who go around silencing people,  have a card. . . sorry it's not done yet, I have to go look up vagina in a bunch of other languages just in case English evades your comprehension.

Dark Moon Blessings

When I say dark moon, I do not mean that part of the moon that is a sliver of a fingernail in the sky. That is New moon and distinctly different than the darkness of the moon hanging in the sky, the period of time when the sun reflects nothing onto the moon. The great void when things can be easily cut away from you for release.



Ritual 

in darkness:
" you who lifts the torch before the gates,
Shackle breaker, crowned with light, 
Let us, the tempest tos't, take refuge in your circle of stars."

*Light candle dedicated to Hecate
*draw circle
*draw down the moon
*call forth any guardians who maybe empathetic and helpful to your cause ( I like to call the ruling lunar element)
*call forth any personal guides who may wish to help you with your work

* reading regarding what must be let go of for you to move forward and upward

card 1: what worries you

card 2: what you should not forget

card 3: How to  bring best resolution to the situation

 *write down every detail you can pick out from the cards including color domination, symbols that repeat themselves as well as the meaning of the individual cards. Be as thorough and accurate as you know how to be.

* Take a moment to meditate upon the reading

"I stand upon the crossroads, root wise and stone sure.

Walker, above, below, and between the worlds,

Severer, I call to you, show me what I must cut away to move forward on the crooked path in a balanced manner."

* take a moment to observe with all of your senses. She may have something to 'say'. If you have invited any guardians or personal guides, be sure to listen for their voices as well.

*Visualize a cord drawn between yourself and the concept or object that you are to sever away from you.

*with your athame, sever that cord and see the concept or object float away to be sucked into the void of the dark moon and be transformed into energy for Her to use for Her own purposes. "By the power of my will, with the blade of Hecate, I sever you! Go now, Leave! So now unweave!"

* Thank Hecate for Her attention and help

* thank your personal guides

* Thank any guardians you may have called

*open circle

*extinguish Her candle

Dark Moon Blessings!

Cahoots!!!

art by Yangtian Li

I just closed out my work with the Guardian of Water for this round. The altar clear and prepped for a new Guardian. I noticed that I required a whole bunch of body work this time around. Fortunately my friend has been willing and able to help me out with the knots and many injuries acquired over the years. As each of those issues were addressed, there were emotional tidal waves to ride. Some of them from childhood, others from baggage we all pick up along the way. I saw each issue rise and fall with a new perspective. I felt for most of this Element that I was having a conversation not with just the guardian, but with the injured parts of myself; I was listening and healing.

I guess it goes to show you that sometimes your expectations of something can really lead to surprises. I fully expected to work on my divination skills and possible do some dream walking, but instead there was a need to work on body issues that have unresolved emotions attached to them. SURPRISE!!! Well, I did practice my card reading skills and picked up a new one, but that seemed to be more of a secondary path that wove around the real one. ( Talk about twisted, crooked paths) There were very few dream encounters of the magic sort, but they were potent and all of them featured a specific God. I didn't really begin to understand why all of this was unfolding in the manner until I dug around the Venus transit and how it affects people.  Specifically, what I got out of all of this information dig was: in order to move forward any further you must let go and you are going to do that now. The biggest message that seem to come through was you need to stop and take care of you. The Lunar eclipse also reinforced that decree from Venus our Lady of the Morning Star. It seems very timely that in the process of all of these goings on, my gardenia oil was cold infusing, filtered and properly bottled. Thank you, gardenia hedge in my backyard, for all the beautiful blooms.


I would like to say that I planned the timing of all of these strange events, but nope, it's not something I thought about. It all seems to be lined up this way on purpose by a hand larger than mine. I think I am okay with that and will continue to trust the process. I may not be able to control how big the swells get on the ocean's surface, but I can decide how to ride the wave. It has been interesting to make note of how things line up and move about. I have also met with disappointment on this ride. I will not be able to get that tattoo I wanted to mark my 40th birthday with. It has been delayed. Earlier in the Year the Ice maiden and I spoke about the difference between wearing a tattoo and the tattoo wearing you. We discussed appropriate shifts in the tattoo, but what I didn't expect were full out trials. It seems to me that my work with the Guardians have become the trials she hinted at in my dreams in the beginning. Each time she showed up we discussed mirror work, but I could feel her third eye digging into me through the mirrors. I wonder what she saw. She is clearly younger that I in her chronological appearance, but she has an otherworldly gaze that at times is unsettling. It is steady and probing. She clearly much older than I ever was at her age. I sometimes think she and the Guardians are in cahoots. I definitely feel like I am being put through the paces and have yet to earn my tattoo. Apparently, I don't get to wear that tattoo on the merit of only living long enough to breathe for 40 years. What the Hexes was I thinking??? So the Tattoo waits. . . until the time is right.

I am looking forward to working with the Elemental Guardian of Earth. I have learned that I should go into this with no expectations as to what will happen there. The Altar is set and blessed, The Key turned to it's proper position, and evocations intoned. I am hoping that my feet find something firm to stand upon in the Earthy realms. Even as you hop off the the waves in the ocean, the sand greets your feet as you walk out of the water. I hope to do so with a bit of grace.