That Invisible Shingle

some things change and yet others stay the same - apparently my invisible shingle is still hanging out there for everyone - except me - to see! D2 is still after a card reading, C asked me to cleanse the latest addition to her rock collection for her, D and Sh still want me to cleanse their house as there's still the issue of a certain 'presence' there - whose name is Donald fyi.

C and her rock cleansing? Conversation actually went "Would you cleanse this one for me please?" "Sure if you want me to." Pause. "What exactly does cleanse mean anyway?" Don't ya love 11 yr old kids? lol She asked me cos her grandma, Sh, recently asked me to cleanse a stone for her too - actually a nice piece of amethyst that Sh carries everywhere and so it had definitely picked up a little too much junk. To put it mildly.

So it seems that shingle is still hanging out there somewhere, at least I know I'm not alone in that, Christopher Penczak makes comment on a similar phenomenon in one of his books - City Magick I think :/
Not that it's any secret as anyone who has ever read my blog or followed me on Twitter know, and ever since my sister sent it to me a few months back I've been wearing my silver pentacle (which isn't small) as openly asI used to wear my Triskele. I used to have another pent before but I gave that one to our room-mate, B.

Then of course spirits are still hanging around, although they probably deserves a blog post of their own if I ever get the time! Read something interesting recently about guides, and while I'm not sure I agree with the author's assertion about 'we all have 5', her comments about them always showing up in the same place, relative to ourselves, did strike a chord. At least from my experiences. Blue and Rahk have always shown up in the same positions, not that they can't move elsewhere, they can and do, however when they show up they're always 'in position'. So did Olivia before she left and nowadays Jimson does too. Welcome to my own personal world of crazy ;)

When I first wrote out this blog post yesterday I made comment about having a feeling things were about to get busier again, said comments are now unnecessary as they've been proven right. Ever doodled in the margin and looked down to realize you have just written Chinese characters with no idea what they mean? Apparently that's what I was doodling yesterday - turns out they mean a child, a gifted scholar.... Ties in with the latest 'visitor', goes by the name of Mei Lin..... that's ongoing apparently. Seems my instinct was on track.

Also appears that those who have passed through, in general, want their stories told.... now where am I supposed to find time for that???? Seriously? Although there ARE some interesting stories, I just wonder when I'll ever find time?! NOT that it's optional apparently, My Lady says. Sheesh.

Apparently instinct is also why I had the urge to give a book on pendulum dowsing to Sh yesterday, and just as I was thinking that for the umpteenth time, her daughter D knocked on the door - so I gave her the book for her mum. So that shingle is definitely still there and from her eon in it's only going to get crazier as Halloween approaches. Happens every year as the veil thins, not that it really ever thickened again from last year but that's a whole other story! Time to pin the hat, lace the boots tighter - and fix the GPS on the broom!

Places - and this week so far

Been a busy few days round here even though Demon has been home sick for the last two days, finally feeling a little better and back at work today. Of course they were the two best days of the summer so far, so Spawn and I went to the zoo Tuesday and the Water Park Wednesday. Blew the kids mind since that was the first trip to the water park this year - he was liiiiittle tired by the time we got home lol Tired, stiff (me not him), sun kissed, and feeling good!

Monday we hit the library and after digging around in the interesting way they file their witch books, finally scored half a dozen to bring home. Cakes and Ale for the Pagan Soul has made my bookshelf list - not my top ten want but my bookshelf list - alongside Pagan Paths, Wisdom of the Elders. (And a new copy of the Goddess is in the Details since mine is probably never coming home.) Note to self to only lend to neighbours, them, I can go get my books back from!

Cakes and Ale also provided one, maybe more, of several signs in answer to a question I asked my Goddess the night before. Apparently the Ladies, and once again after my on off relationship with Her, we are back to Ladies multiple, are adamant that I really do need to try setting up a women's Circle round here. A clue as to How/Where to start would be nice lol Guess I better figure it out since it's non negotiable...

It seems to be the week for Clue by 4's - or maybe just for realizing that which should have been blatantly obvious. Talking to @Mariadkins about Stonehenge reminded me - like I needed reminding since it's seared in my brain oh so many years later?! - that I've been there, walked and touched the stones. I've also been to number of other old and powerful places, and grew up surrounded by ancient monuments, stones and grave sites in addition to growing up in one of the wilder places in the UK. Not to mention being surrounded by myth, legend, folklore, ancient tradition aka superstition and ritual. Is it any wonder I'm the way I am?? Makes me wonder if that's why it always feels as though I have (much as I'm hesitant to use the word) an affinity for places, especially old ones.

I've said before that while you can take the girl out of the island you can never take island out of the girl, it's true and accurate. Places talk, places have feeling and personality, and history, if you listen to them, Even after all these years, not least the ones living in the middle of the Canadian Prairies, I can still hear/feel the whispering call of the island. It's not something that has ever gone away, nor something I would want to lose - it's not even as simple as a call to come home, there's no beckoning in it per se, more a simple "I'm still here, I'll always be here.' closer to a strength, energy, memory to draw on than anything else. Do I get it from the other island I lived on for just as many years? Nope. No ifs ands or buts, I just don't. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing!

More than that, perhaps because we walk pretty much everywhere, I hear whispers from other places, always have done. Everywhere has it's own voice, its own spirit, and some are certainly happier, healthier and younger/older than others. No surprise that Christopher Penczak's City Magick is one of my favourite additions to my bookshelf in the last couple of years. Come to that I've read several of his works and have a definitely liking for @Penczak. His thoughts, words, work, resonate with me in a way similar to those of @starhawk17 and @zbudapest. Just three of the people who have been an influence on my path and life in recent years.

Magic Spoon and other odd thoughts

So I have a magic spoon - is that weird? lol Well ok it's not actually a "magic" spoon, it's on old, large, very battered, silver spoon that belonged to my great grandmother. And it's also the spoon that I use to make ooey gooey Witchin' Brownies - literally since they come from a recipe I found many years ago in The Real Witches Cookbook. I know just how many spoonfuls of each ingredient to use to make them. People seem to like them! It's also one of the few things that made the cut and came across the Atlantic with me several years ago. Funny what makes the cut when you have to pack your life into two bags - or a bag and a suitcase, and of course most of the space is taken up by clothes since they ARE kinda necessary!

Hate else made the cut? A towel - yeah, yeah, Hitchhiker's reference - two of the best pieces of advice in life come from that book - Don't Panic! and Always know where your towel is. What else? Some jewellery, though I'm not a big jewellery person, mostly rings and things that belonged to my mother, grandmother, and great grandmothers. That'd be why I, who has never been married, own four wedding rings ;) My grandfather and great grandfather's war medals - WW1 and WW2 - which sit on my wall in shadow boxes, my tarot cards, both decks, my Blue bear dream catcher, and a handful of other trinkets. Not much really for 35 years of life. Oh and my journals/notebooks. those I didn't shred anyway, why shred you ask? Because I'd rather shred them than leave them with my ex, period.

Of course since then I've replaced a lot of things, especially the books, and added a whole bunch more. It took a longtime and not a little luck in thrift stores and book stores to replace the "must haves" in my library, but once again my bookshelf is piled high and groaning. I really need to get myself some genuine bookshelves lol Funny though, much as I love books, and some of my other stuff, every once in a while I find myself wondering what I'd take if I once again had to put my life into two bags thanks to a fire, flood, earthquake or whatever. Guess once you do it one time, you rethink your priorities and work out what things you really wouldn't WANT to live without ( aside from family and pets since we're talking 'things'). All the others are just nice to have ;)

What would I include now? Still my tarot cards, photo albums and family history books, spellbooks and journals, trinkets and jewellery, my staff, a handful of books....

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Is it odd that I, the 'what's a closet?' witch, like both 19 kids and counting and sister wives? Colour me crazy but I do. Was thinking about that the other day while watching the 2nd Duggar grandchild arrive. First, they have different faiths/lifestyles/whatever, which always interests me, second they're 'good people', as gramma would say, and third, they walk their walk even when the world throws them curve balls or criticism. Have to respect that in them, it's all I ask - leave me be and let me walk my path even if you disagree with it.

BetterYYC, Starhawk, and.... Stuff

To create a #betteryyc we need to engage the next generation, the children. Not just with special one off events - although those are good too - but also on a daily basis, both singly and in groups. Always remembering that they learn by example, by copying what they see us doing and not by what we say if our actions don't match our words. In order to encourage them to help create a #betteryyc we need to let them see us working towards the same goal, no matter on how large or small a scale.

Alone I cannot change the world but I can cast out a stone that will create ripples. (Or something like that!)

@BetterYYC - Do one thing today towards creating a #betteryyc

Reading an anthology recently - Storming Heaven's Gate - I ran into a piece called "Street Trees" by Melody Ermachild Chavis, taken from her book Altars of the Streets. In it, she too talks about involving the children in hopes that they will grow up with a sense of community, of belonging, of being a part of something worth being proud of and taking care of instead growing up apart from their home and community.

Btw insanely jealous of @JacqMulyk not only for attending the City Repair workshop in Portland, but also for meeting Starhawk there! Jealous, much lol. Pretty sure that I've mentioned before the influence that Starhawk's work has had on me, both in life and in my path. And I believe the site in Portland is also the one Starhawk talks about visiting in The Earth Path. Not that I would know what to say if I ever met the lady anyway, except possibly "I'm not worthy!" ;) Side note, no surprise either that Z Budapest ( @zbudapest ) has also been a considerable influence, as has Christopher Penczak ( @Penczak ) to mention a couple.

In the Earth Path it is pointed out that to create community requires a place to congregate. That, at least, we have in my immediate neighbourhood - in my pocket neighbourhood. Yeah I know I'm taken with that phrase, but it sums up our apartment complex perfectly-ish - a cluster of houses or apartments surrounding a central shared space. Not that we can do much with it, don't think the landlords would like it, but at least unlike the complex a block over we ARE allowed to play and congregate here. Not kidding, next complex over has large signs saying No playing, running, balls or games of any kind, please use the public parks provided elsewhere. (Paraphrased sine I forget the exact words - should take a photo lol) Let's see, public park? That would be the park that is now two fenced baseball pitches ;)(yeah I know, bee in my bonnet!)

Seems like every year's crop of children, some the same as previous years, some new faces, are drawn to0 me - probably because if my son is out there I have to be out there too. They know my name, they know we have sidewalk chalk, and bubbles, and whatever else we might have outside that day and we share. they come to me to fix their bikes, their scraped knees and their feuds. And it's good, even if there are some days I'm just not in the mood, in which case Spawn and I go off somewhere else - not because I quit believing in being there for them or in fostering community, just because I'm only human and sometimes I need a day off!

So speaking of a #betteryyc it seems that someone seeded the beds by our rental office with sunflowers - that's sure what they look like to me! And no, this time it wasn't me ;) Here's hoping they're allowed to grow and don't get weeded away - not likely given the incomplete job the guys round here do whether it's clearing snow, picking up litter, weeding or cutting grass. If they did a proper job, I wouldn't be picking up broken glass from the playground as many times as I have done over the years we have been living here. And yes, the playground in the middle of our green space IS part of their area. How do I know it wasn't glass that got broken their after their morning rounds? Because 9 times out of 10 it's alcoholic glass, and even here5,6 and 7 yr olds aren't drinking in the playground and leaving empty beer/cooler/vodka bottles behind. Pet peeve. But since I don't want my kid cutting himself on it, or anyone else's, I pick it up. Found a knife once too - in our playground - not a small one, a large kitchen knife! And people wonder why I say I live in the 'Hood?!

Visitors and the veil

Apparently I'm not the only one thinking that the veil is still thin even though Samhain is past. I mentioned it first several weeks before then, and wasn't alone, and now I'm not alone in that the other side is still restless, talkative - well except Olivia - and more visible than usual. Curiouser and curiouser, said Alice.....

It's actually been pretty quiet around here the last week or so, since Kody moved on. Don't think it was him i caught out of the corner of my eye this morning, which means that yes, it seems I have a new visitor.... kinda feels like being in Piccadilly Station some days ;) Not that I mind, mostly.
Olivia is still here on and off, although she's still not talking, although she seems oddly.... happier. Long story for another day i think. Pretty sure she actually spends much of her time next door, not that she's the only presence there, the other isn't nearly as quiet as she is but he stays there and hasn't come visiting yet. One day soon the neighbours and I will get our act together and try and figure something out with him :/

But I digress, the veil is still thin, they are still restless - I've had way more pop in visitors in the last month than in at least the six months before that. And now apparently another new visitor, life is anything but dull ;)

Halloween Pagans

Another thing that came up was Halloween pagans. I'm guessing every religion has their equivalent o Christmas Christians, those who only claim their religion once or twice a year and then forget about it for the rest of the year. We get the ones who come out on Halloween, and then spend the rest of the year calling witchcraft evil.

Yes there are some who are still in the Broom Closet and for them Halloween is the one time of the year it's socially acceptable to be a witch or a pagan or whatever - although in some places even on Halloween it's not acceptable but that's another matter.
And then there are the ones who just want a brief, safe, thrill, or to shock a neighbour or play - gotta say it - those who want a chance to "dabble" safely without any consequences.

Oh please. Paganism in whatever form is a way of life, not a dress you put on once a year. Same applies to any religion - either walk the walk or go play somewhere I can't see or hear you. I don't care what religion anyone is if it's real to them, dabblers and those who pay lip service but don't mean it - I don't have time for.

Please note, seekers, those looking for answers or being curious, that's not the same thing and that's fine - they're looking and asking, not pretending to be something they aren't.

Apparently my inner bitch is awake this morning :/

Starhawk

Something else that came up in conversation was Starhawk. Her Spiral Dance is pretty much universally considered a 'must read', and it's one I usually include in any list of books to read when asked that inevitable question - "What would you recommend?"

Comment was made though that many of her other works are more political, and they are, which isn't a bad thing. For a start it's very much a part of who she is and how she lives her life. It does however mean that her other works are not everyone's cup of tea. Personally I have several of her books, and in honesty those I don't have are missing more because i haven't run across them yet when I had spare cash rather than because I don't want them.

Apparently I'm more political at heart than most people would give me credit for ;) I always knew that, other people just don't notice lol

Whatever your opinion on Starhawk and her books, they are good and contain much of interest to Pagans, and everyone else, they're just not for everyone in the same way not everyone likes peanut butter.

Today, sunflowers, bubbles and chalk

Today we went to the North Pole aka the park to play, blowing bubbles, drawing hopscotch with sidewalk chalk and planting sunflowers. This world could always use a little more magic in it. Ok so International Sunflower planting day might have been a little over a week ago but we've had two snowstorms in the last fortnight so..... We'll see what happens. But I'm making food and I have an hour or so, theoretically, of peace - relatively speaking, so this could be the time of random postings. Well I did warn you that posting could be erratic, random and usually less than coherent ;)

Partly that is because as always there are many thoughts running through my head in tandem, all vying for their turn at 'top spot'. You'll see - or you can run away now.

"Many women today feel a sadness we cannot name. Though we accomplish much of what we set out to do, we sense that something is missing in our lives, and - fruitlessly - search 'out there' for the answers. What's often wrong is that we are disconnected from an authentic sense of self." Emily Hancock.

And that doesn't just apply to women, especially in terms of some of the thoughts that have been chasing each other through my head lately and showing up in conversations with a friend or two. Anyway I told a friend I'd try and get some of my stray thoughts and scribbled notes into something resembling sentences - not coherence - just sentences for now. So that is what I'm going to try and do, on a variety of topics. Be afraid, be very afraid he he