Light and Hope

1.)  In the last aspirant session, we did a meditation on our allies through/of the elements.  All of them came out to say 'hi' as we explored.  When we got to the fifth element, spirit/service, the Raven Stealing the Sun, Moon, and Stars appeared for me.  In this story there is a man hoarding all light from the earth, and so everyone must live in darkness.  There are, of course, variant tales, sometimes Raven releases everything at once, sometimes the stars first, then the moon, then the sun.  The gist being that Raven releases sun, moon and stars, Light, for the benefit of all people and there is rejoicing.  There are all sorts of additional entertaining details too, as with all good stories (Raven was a white bird, but the sun burned him and now he's black like charcoal, and so many other trickster details of how he got access to the box, etc). But the key takeaway within the meditation for me, with Raven as my 'ally' was that I must not hoard my light, and I must help Raven release light where I find it whether that's my own light, or to help show someone else's light (e.g., bring to light contributions, etc), planning will likely be required in order to accomplish this.

2.)  The first CAYA full moon of 2015 women's circle ritual invite read:

In this ritual of yearning, we honor our yearning for knowledge, and for hope even in the face of painful facts. We welcome Pandora, whose vessel of knowledge was a considered a dangerous source of power. Knowledgeable women are dangerous women, it's true. Join us for an intimate, personal circle in which we share knowledge with one another, make offerings to She Who Knows, and receive gifts of knowledge from Pandora herself. 

Ah, another box that was "not supposed to be opened." And the result of someone stealing light/fire too!  Another box that has potential to deeply harm.  But another box too, with a gift.  A gift like Raven's gift, of light, that glimmer that shines in the dark corners when all seems lost and lights the way.  Hope.

3.)  The day after full moon, I returned to work after two full weeks off to news of layoffs in my organization.  None on my team affected, but people I know and have worked with and like (in cases where I knew them -- I assume I would like the ones I didn't know as well).    Today I awaken to news of big shooting in Paris, followed quickly by news of my childrens' school district being put on lockdown because of a reported gunman who threatened to shoot up all schools in the district. Editing to add, the bombing of NAACP in Colorado.

Welcome first full week of 2015, this is how it's going to be?

4.)  The challenge in each moment is to be present.  To be present and remember the message/s.  To be present and experience the mysteries.

Light and Hope.

Light and Hope:  May those who were laid off find new right livelihood quickly and easily and may it be better for them than what they were doing.

Light and Hope: “I’m alive. There is death all around me. Yes, I am there. The jihadists spared me.”* I am alive.  At the bottom of this box of horrors, light and hope shine in there being survivors.

Light and Hope: No one was hurt today in my children's school district.  And I hope no school, parent or child will ever go through that drill again, but light was shown on a solid procedure in place to handle such an emergency.

Light and Hope: That there are people looking critically at the news and what's making it out and what is not, and fearlessly bringing light to the stories not getting told, being left in the shadows despite profound importance, happening in our own backyards. That there are people who fight now and forever for Civil Rights.

Light and Hope. Light and Hope. Light and Hope.

In 2015, may we all find light and hope, whatever else we may encounter.

...

Footnotes:

1.) Two Raven Steals the Sun, Moon, and Stars stories:

• Raven Steals the Sun: Interview and Storytelling, American Indian Heritage Month 2013 Family Celebration of Tlingit Culture at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yoz-VbepZU
• Raven Steals the Light: As told by Bill Reid: http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/aborig/reid/reid14e.shtml

2.) A Pandora story:

• Pandora:
  http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Mythology/Pandora.html

4.*)  Quoted in the NYT, 1/7/14.

Grandmothers at Christmas

Had an interesting realization today as I was puttering about the kitchen making cookie dough -- while Halloween is about ancestors generally and those who have crossed over, Christmas is about my grandmothers in amongst the other shuffle of topics. And not so much veneration as honoring those very personal relationships and history. Like they'd both be sort of meh about the whole Halloween thing, but they almost can't resist looking in from wherever they're at because *Christmas*, y'know?

Considerations

I can't believe the calendar year is almost over.  It was approximately this time last year when J pinged me and said, 'hey, CAYA is doing an online thing, and based on some of our recent discussions, you might enjoy that.'  2013 Fall/early Winter was dreadful and I desperately needed something positive so on that like mayo on a polyester suit.  It has been such an incredible blessing all year long.  I have enjoyed it tremendously.

Yeshe Rabbit has asked us to consider some things, it may be early yet, but I wanted to start putting some thought into the questions she's asked back in October:

• Dedication ceremony (how might we do this thing together, online, probably late Jan/early Feb, which makes sense),
• What dedication means to us, what do we do now, where do we want to see this go
• Would we consider joining in facilitating next year's aspirants as well.

The easy one is the last one, I'd be happy to join in facilitating next year's aspirants.

The second bullet is obviously actually two things to consider.

• What does dedication mean to me?
  Dedication means not only that I've passed the first round of understanding how this group operates but that I agree to continue to abide by this approach.  It further means, I hope, that further and deeper exploration of approach opens as a possibility.  So many things with so much potential to explore [with room here to expand further on the concept of what it means to be dedicated into this tradition].  Which leads to...
• What do we do from here/where do we want to see this go?
  This is sort of tricky -- I guess something I'd like to know is, what happens next for the corporeally gathering dedicants after dedication?  What framework/s do/could next year look like?  I will need to consider & ponder & ask some questions.  I know I want to do more Explore All The Things!  MOAR PLZ, KTHANKS, but I'm not sure I have clarity beyond that...

Which leaves the actual dedication ceremony, the first is last, oroborous eating its tail... We may be starting this discussion, having taken the second part of the second question to the google hangout group...  Will continue later...

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From a Conversation with P

Increasingly my understanding of magic is that it's the clarifying and articulation of intention. If that intention moves forwards and backwards in time, if it changes vibration of the currents of the universe, who knows... The critical act is in the act itself of clarifying and articulating the intention.  

There are a lot of ways one can do that, some resonate with one more than others, but it's always extremely personal. The variety in approach is fascinating. There is and always will be more to learn...

Ultimately, if you don't follow through with elbow grease and appropriate work, shit doesn't happen though. The clarification and articulation make the path forward more obvious -- part of planning out the crafting of a magical act is understanding what concrete actions happen afterward to bring the intention to fruition.

The Ancestors

Ancestor stuff is complicated, especially when one starts taking into account shadow sides, and recognizing them as whole, complex people.

On Death Rituals

We tend not to be an overly sentimental family.  We've waited months to bury cremated relatives, they aren't going anywhere, and we've had other things to attend to. Maybe sentimental isn't the right word.  There is a time and a place for all things, and while Death itself may be inconveniently timed, ritual around it unfolds as it needs to.

In the cases where we've waited, technology has made it possible for us to take care of the life stuff that continues until such time as we could make and hold appropriate space to recognize the passing.  It is more respectful, in some ways, than a rush to get the shell in the ground that sometimes happens.

Sometimes the ritual emphasizes the event of a life lived with a peaceful closure, often this is the case with those who have lived a full, long life.  Often for those who are cut short, while consciously attempting to emphasize the event of the life lived and peaceful closure, the unconscious impact is that of deepening the shock of life lost too soon. There is no way around this, and it can be handled better or worse, the processes will unfold as they do.

As part of this Graveyard Moon, M2 & I went and wandered about a cemetery. In order to get there, I drove past the one where my paternal grandparents are buried.  It was a moment of conflict for me, why?  My initial, impulse thought was, "They are not there."  Wait -- what?  What I gain from going and walking among the stones and the dead is more to re-ground, re-center.  Wandering out there, I can feel the hinkiness of the day-to-day miasma and cluttery energy drain out my heels.  The perspective that we are on this unlikely tiny blue planet for a blip in time and when it's done, only memories are carried by those you impact.

Ancestors

So we carry the memories of those who have impacted us forward. That which is remembered, lives.  I think it will take me some time to figure out how The Ancestors fit into my practice.  They are not where I turn for advice, or divination, or posthumous blessings, and yet it seems appropriate to remember the gifts they provided, through traits, experiences, etc, with gratitude and appreciation, while recognizing and acknowledging their potential shadow sides as well.

'... we therefore commit the body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust...'

Lolwhut

I got a small statue of Athena because she is totally my work bff. In the process of clearing off the shelf she needed to go on because she's a little taller than where I was going to put her, I put stuff on another shelf, looked at it and went, oh, ah, hi, what are You doing here? 

"Just hanging out. 'Sup?"
Not much really, I guess. And by what are you doing here, I mean reason? Thing I need to learn, etc? 
"Nah, not right now. Just, it was comfy, no big deal." 
So, uh, what's your name? 
"Srsly?"
Well, mmmm, it was nice to make your acquaintance again, Dionysus, and I guess, yeah, happy hanging out, lemme know if you need anything and I'm going to go back out into the living room now... Weirdo. 
"Lol."

...

Some days, being a Witch is strange. Like this, my iPad and iPhone have arbitrarily decided that Witch gets capitalized. Two days ago, not the case, now? Apparently it's a thing.

Witching Hour of the Graveyard Moon

And now it's The Witching Hour, my pretties!

Dammit, why is there no cackling Witch riding off into the night on a broom! Or at least a hair pin emoticon like the hilarious Witch Hazel on Bugs Bunny! I love Witch Hazel...

 

A key, it's a gift to us all from Hekate! May it unlock the secrets we need to hear tonight, and may she light our way through the darkness we encounter in the world with her torch! May she and her blessed dead and our blessed dead and her big black dog guard us and protect us. 

Burn, baby, burn, disco inferno! 🔥

Moon in my backyard!

All The Incense!

Happy Full Moon, my witchy friends!