tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90859262024-03-18T11:39:52.751-04:00HecateUndermining the Patriarchy Every Chance I Get -- And I Get a Lot of Chances
Please find me at my new blog: hecatedemeter.wordpress.comHecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.comBlogger4961125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-63999028281586325652012-01-16T16:58:00.002-05:002012-01-16T17:02:28.543-05:00Happy New Year!Happy New Year! I've moved the blog over to <a href=http://hecatedemeter.wordpress.com/>a new address</a>. Hope that you'll come visit me and will adjust your settings.Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com75tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-48427634212433176062011-07-11T18:22:00.003-04:002011-07-11T18:31:21.755-04:00Drop by for a Visit!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhON01dyjMBTK-sLt3JqNd5mZljR4mKli11rqTcnJmqgf44rlNRgfBhyphenhyphen6_G7aG1GBjj1PqtrMSiMAru8PuZcmxQVfjh1Rsqxw2m5uDSGYT9pQ1hVuRqx3DkfDQiAv6bJOdk2FTOyw/s1600/1.1243598400.jug-wine-party.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhON01dyjMBTK-sLt3JqNd5mZljR4mKli11rqTcnJmqgf44rlNRgfBhyphenhyphen6_G7aG1GBjj1PqtrMSiMAru8PuZcmxQVfjh1Rsqxw2m5uDSGYT9pQ1hVuRqx3DkfDQiAv6bJOdk2FTOyw/s400/1.1243598400.jug-wine-party.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628225874029817570" /></a><br />Hi, have you been over to visit my new blog? There's a great conversation going on about whether or not Pagans need buildings (churches, temples, community centers, etc.) You can find it <a href=http://bit.ly/rtlJMm>here</a>. Come on over share your thoughts!<br /><br />If you've been kind enough to follow me here, or to blog roll me (for which, thank you!) I'd be very grateful if you'd update your information. My new blog is at hecatedemeter.wordpress.com .<br /><br />Picture found <a href=http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jcharwell/1/1243598400/tpod.html#pbrowser/jcharwell/1/1243598400/filename=jug-wine-party.jpg>here</a>.Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-58198209338906688482011-06-26T12:17:00.004-04:002011-06-26T12:24:17.892-04:00Come on Over!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4t0CHo_RS9yToUNteetwXP47T9mNks_5NHI9NLbgIrm5R2hfnKgoGVarDJ5Km9AqojP_8NTudqz26ZCQYQpstY_i39iVVlbWcdvfeAatc5L-2Pis3doFYIh4nCQEKxMjb7G1S8A/s1600/round-youre-invited-bw.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4t0CHo_RS9yToUNteetwXP47T9mNks_5NHI9NLbgIrm5R2hfnKgoGVarDJ5Km9AqojP_8NTudqz26ZCQYQpstY_i39iVVlbWcdvfeAatc5L-2Pis3doFYIh4nCQEKxMjb7G1S8A/s400/round-youre-invited-bw.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622565057362658178" /></a><br />I'm now blogging at http://www.hecatedemeter.wordpress.com. Come on over! Sunday Ballet Blogging is up, with an amazing use of slow motion and an interesting discussion of the daily practice of ballet. This past week, we heard Charles de Lint sing a country song (really!), discussed The Last Unicorn and what Witches and artists know, smelled some potpourri, and had a great exchange in comments about the tellurgic intelligence of cities. You can still catch up and join in the discussions!<br /><br />If you've been kind enough to follow my blog or to list it in your blogroll (for which, thanks!) I hope that you'll update the information. Come on over to http://hecatedemeter.wordrpress.com and let me know what you think!<br /><br />Hecate Demetersdatter<br /><br />Picture found <a href=http://www.make-your-own-invitations.com/invitation-clipart.html>here</a>.Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-5945863448891733922011-06-21T08:21:00.004-04:002011-06-21T10:53:12.418-04:00We're Moving; Please Come Visit!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi286fQxXiFkyXCkv2vZ7OSkFU5YBu9nJS9rLWUmLcj2b-DbIUAbQWhm2rMFVomNd11G-g5baqwfP2emu9667REFcphE-TdemRzky-lPlgSmjEwCMsVd38V_-2KYO0XIg_v_FFvFQ/s1600/HalloweenWeb-Wallpapers-Witch-Broomstick.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi286fQxXiFkyXCkv2vZ7OSkFU5YBu9nJS9rLWUmLcj2b-DbIUAbQWhm2rMFVomNd11G-g5baqwfP2emu9667REFcphE-TdemRzky-lPlgSmjEwCMsVd38V_-2KYO0XIg_v_FFvFQ/s400/HalloweenWeb-Wallpapers-Witch-Broomstick.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620686140857387538" /></a><br />Please follow me to my new blog at http://hecatedemeter.wordpress.com. Or, just click <a href=http://hecatedemeter.wordpress.com>here</a>.<br /><br />If you've been kind enough to follow me here, or to list my blog in your blogroll (for which, thank you!) I hope that you'll update the information.<br /><br />You can also follow me on Twitter as hecatedemetersd.<br /><br />Thank you!<br /><br />Hecate Demetersdatter<br /><br />Picture found <a href=http://www.halloweenweb.co.uk/58/random/flying-witch-broomstick>here</a>.Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-28436476517754733162011-06-20T05:51:00.002-04:002011-06-21T11:02:16.213-04:00But we've been out in the woods all night, a-conjuring summer in<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oPBSMoeYCfE?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oPBSMoeYCfE?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Isn't this great? I'd scheduled it some time ago to post just before Litha. Over the weekend, the wonderful Joanna Colbert <a href=http://www.gaiansoul.com/2011/06/all-on-a-midsummer-morn/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GaianSoul+%28Gaian+Soul+-+Joanna+Powell+Colbert%29>beat me to it</a>! Blogger, in its infinite wisdom, went ahead and posted it here and then wouldn't let me in, until this morning, to give Joanna credit. At any rate, I hope you enjoy and that your Litha is as wonderful as you could wish. I'll be spending time with G/Son and with my Sisters, so I expect it to be fantastic!<br /><br />Please come on over and visit at my new blog: <a href=http://hecatedemeter.wordpress.com>here</a> at http://hecatedemeter.wordpress.com.Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-83790741631395051202011-06-19T02:05:00.000-04:002011-06-19T02:05:00.219-04:00Sunday Ballet Blogging<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BhsaxoXi1fU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-5056408904466192292011-06-18T12:58:00.007-04:002011-06-21T11:08:33.671-04:00Early Harvest<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPq_WhrGLx9rOowBRMPHiTfuO5_RBV206eNFOnqL-V86NQUihmGz8m9Rcjo23VcyOMqHFEq-9z4GVuD8URE-plmKWdCpjPNnxK4JGduDH5KC-uDOE6NOiPrwPLb0tZYTDKvZTBdw/s1600/First+harvest+05-11+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPq_WhrGLx9rOowBRMPHiTfuO5_RBV206eNFOnqL-V86NQUihmGz8m9Rcjo23VcyOMqHFEq-9z4GVuD8URE-plmKWdCpjPNnxK4JGduDH5KC-uDOE6NOiPrwPLb0tZYTDKvZTBdw/s400/First+harvest+05-11+002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619610557404901170" /></a><br />And, so, just like that, we're headed, will-we-or-nil-we, towards Litha. <br /><br />The great Sumer Solstice. <br /><br />The fire festival, when Sol Invictus stands highest in the Summer sky. <br /><br />In my tradition, this is the Feast of the First Harvest. (Is it so, for you, as well?) And so I started my day at the local farmers' market, buying (finally!) ripe and green tomatoes, corn for roasting, cucumbers for (mixed with my own parsley and mint) tzadziki, local pickles, and lettuce for which I imagine many a poet could compose odes. I came home and had fried green tomatoes and iced tea (Southern breakfast of champions) on my screen porch and then went out to weed the herb bed. After several hours of v. aromatic weeding, I came inside to make various kinds of simple syrup for all of July's cocktails: mint, basil, lavender, and dill. I harvested enough sage to make smudging sticks for everyone in my circle and enough dill, sage, and tarragon to make flavored butters for my own use and for Son and DiL. I am going to be so sore tomorrow that I may not be able to move. Good thing it's a day of writing, reading, doing more research.<br /><br />For me, the first harvest is crucial. <br /><br />We're here, halfway through the calendar year. We've either achieved some of the goals that we thought about/set back at Samhein/Yule, or we haven't. It's a good time to take stock, weed out the (fucking!) sorrel, (Kali-blasted!) bindweed, and (goddess-damn-it!) maple seedlings, and to begin to cut and use the lavender, basil, mint, and dill. It's time to decide if we need a new planting of basil (time on the treadmill, hours writing prose at work, focus on our family) or if we need to plant something else (learning runes, walking outside, networking, meditation) entirely. <br /><br />We'll celebrate several later harvests, but, by then, the chance to correct course becomes more and more attenuated. Every ancestral cell in my Scandanavian-RNA body adores these longer, longer, longer days and shorter nights. And yet, and yet, and yet, the old women whose genes live on in me: those old women survived those long Winters because they knew how to pay attention to the early harvests and correct course if needed.<br /><br />Here are my early harvest course corrections: Even more time on the treadmill, lots more time polishing legal prose, more spontaneous fun, and even more time at my altar. <br /><br />What's up for you?<br /><br />Picture found <a href=http://cakesbykristin.blogspot.com/2011/05/first-harvest.html>here</a>.Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-62198935354198736042011-06-17T15:08:00.008-04:002011-06-17T15:47:01.580-04:00One More Time!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtn-PL1eOJ27j4OTpc97qOF60cFyNP6wzLXNTHDHHCe1q_WeGlol3sC6X67KpIorLaJuhBYV6J7wqZCoHRzq73vN-cedbh3-R2uWixvrS5f9wxewF4BRCWmTEUBqf9RENIum3uw/s1600/paparazzi600x399.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtn-PL1eOJ27j4OTpc97qOF60cFyNP6wzLXNTHDHHCe1q_WeGlol3sC6X67KpIorLaJuhBYV6J7wqZCoHRzq73vN-cedbh3-R2uWixvrS5f9wxewF4BRCWmTEUBqf9RENIum3uw/s400/paparazzi600x399.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619276199945815746" /></a><br /><a href=http://www.parkeschampionpost.com.au/news/national/national/general/no-more-mooning-about-call-for-pagans-to-come-out-of-the-shadows/2199365.aspx>Here's an interesting article</a> about a great effort to get Australian Pagans to list themselves as "Pagan" on their census. That's a very worthwhile goal and I hope that Mr. Hepworth is successful. <br /><br />I'd like to use the article to, once again, illustrate a few points about Pagans dealing with the media. The very first quote:<br /><blockquote>A lot of other faiths see us as the people that got too much into Harry Potter and decided to call themselves a [W]itch instead of an actual group of people who do have a serious spirituality, [Mr. Hempworth] says.</blockquote><br />shows why <a href=http://hecatedemetersdatter.blogspot.com/2010/10/in-which-our-heroine-goes-on-and-on.html>I regularly beg Pagans</a> to practice what they're going to say and consider whether and how what they say can be used against them. <br /><br />Yes, "got too much into Harry Potter" is a <B>big</B> step up from "eat babies," but it still reinforces a negative frame about Pagans. And, it seems badly calculated to make anyone want to self-identify as a Pagan. If your objective is to get more people to say that they are "Pagan" on the census, what about starting off with a brief discussion of what's good about Paganism:<br /> <blockquote>Paganism is a growing religion in Australia because it satisfies a need that many feel for a deeper connection with the Earth, for a relationship with the Divine Feminine, and for an opportunity to worship our ancestors.</blockquote><br /><B>If asked</B> about misunderstandings or discrimination, you can say: <br /><blockquote>It's getting much better, but some people do still fail to understand modern Paganism. Or they smear us to further their own "conversion" efforts. However, here in Australia, Pagans are involved in [reforestation efforts, pet rescue efforts, rituals to heal our relationship with the ancient spirits of this land, collecting funds for Aboriginal People, etc.] One reason for urging people to identify as "Pagan" on the census is so that we can achieve parity with other religions in areas such as . . . .</blockquote><br />The article makes the same mistake about "Paganism" as an "umbrella term" as do many articles. Although the author would certainly capitalize other "umbrella terms" such as "Christianity" (Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, etc.), "Judaism" (Reform, Orthodox, Hassidic, etc.), or "Islam" (Shia, Shite, Sufi, etc.), she fails to capitalize "Paganism," although she does capitalize individual Pagan religions such as Gardnerian, Greek Reconstructionist, Druidism, Shamanism and "Lesbian Feminist Goddess Worship [because apparently only lesbians would worship the Goddess?]" This is another area where those being interviewed can help their interviewers, even if only by handing out an information sheet that uses proper capitalization. <br /><br />Finally, I'll note the title: "No More Mooning About." Shoot me, but I think it's cute and not really offensive. <br /><br />Pagans. Please. Know why you're talking to the press. Understand that they are not your friend. Practice ahead of time what you're going to say. Don't be afraid to say, "Let me get back to you on that" if you get a question that throws you and then be sure to get back to the media person within 2 or 3 hours. <br /><br />Picture found <a href=http://ellohollywood.blogspot.com/2011/01/paparazzi.html>here</a>.Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-85351039268729900602011-06-16T18:26:00.001-04:002011-06-16T18:26:44.656-04:00When We Win<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/25176550?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/25176550">When We Win</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user4517108">scoutwillie</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br />Go, Scout!Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-29705791630661328622011-06-16T07:42:00.002-04:002011-06-16T07:49:41.227-04:00Happy Bloomsday!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7gOrUjdNBA9Gdmve7GW3whle7kr6Lp9RTen5-4Togc9RBPFw2QW1Ug9tVWwtOfvsVhq0miWB0auylZmRucuW2mJAVSJcp1fWd9p5Pi4_YZ_IW2tRCLpWB9CbW1wNE0hciNY4ZQ/s1600/%255BUNSET%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7gOrUjdNBA9Gdmve7GW3whle7kr6Lp9RTen5-4Togc9RBPFw2QW1Ug9tVWwtOfvsVhq0miWB0auylZmRucuW2mJAVSJcp1fWd9p5Pi4_YZ_IW2tRCLpWB9CbW1wNE0hciNY4ZQ/s400/%255BUNSET%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618783395299234514" /></a><br />I love flowers I’d love to have the whole place swimming in roses God of heaven there’s nothing like nature the wild mountains then the sea and the waves rushing then the beautiful country with fields of oats and wheat and all kinds of things and all the fine cattle going about that would do your heart good to see rivers and lakes and flowers all sorts of shapes and smells and colours springing up even out of the ditches primroses and violets nature it is as for them saying there’s no God I wouldn’t give a snap of my two fingers for all their learning why don’t they go and create something I often asked him atheists or whatever they call themselves go and wash the cobbles off themselves first then they go howling for the priest and they dying and why why because they’re afraid of hell on account of their bad conscience ah yes I know them well who was the first person in the universe before there was anybody that made it all who ah that they don’t know neither do I so there you are they might as well try to stop the sun from rising tomorrow the sun shines for you he said the day we were lying among the rhododendrons on Howth head in the grey tweed suit and his straw hat the day I got him to propose to me yes first I gave him the bit of seedcake out of my mouth and it was leapyear like now yes 16 years ago my God after that long kiss I near lost my breath yes he said was a flower of the mountain yes so we are flowers all a woman’s body yes that was one true thing he said in his life and the sun shines for you today yes that was why I liked him because I saw he understood or felt what a woman is and I knew I could always get round him and I gave him all the pleasure I could leading him on till he asked me to say yes and I wouldn’t answer first only looked out over the sea and the sky I was thinking of so many things he didn’t know of Mulvey and Mr Stanhope and Hester and father and old captain Groves and the sailors playing all birds fly and I say stoop and washing up dishes they called it on the pier and the sentry in front of the governors house with the thing round his white helmet poor devil half roasted and the Spanish girls laughing in their shawls and their tall combs and the auctions in the morning the Greeks and the Jews and the Arabs and the devil knows who else from all the ends of Europe and Duke street and the fowl market all clucking outside Larby Sharans and the poor donkeys slipping half asleep and the vague fellows in the cloaks asleep in the shade on the steps and the big wheels of the carts of the bulls and the old castle thousands of years old yes and those handsome Moors all in white and turbans like kings asking you to sit down in their little bit of a shop and Ronda with the old windows of the posadas glancing eyes a lattice hid for her lover to kiss the iron and the wineshops half open at night and the castanets and the night we missed the boat at Algeciras the watchman going about serene with his lamp and O that awful deepdown torrent O and the sea the sea crimson sometimes like fire and the glorious sunsets and the figtrees in the Alameda gardens yes and all the queer little streets and pink and blue and yellow houses and the rosegardens and the jessamine and geraniums and cactuses and Gibraltar as a girl where I was a Flower of the mountain yes when I put the rose in my hair like the Andalusian girls used or shall I wear a red yes and how he kissed me under the Moorish wall and I thought well as well him as another and then I asked him with my eyes to ask again yes and then he asked me would I yes to say yes my mountain flower and first I put my arms around him yes and drew him down to me so he could feel my breasts all perfume yes and his heart was going like mad and yes I said yes I will Yes.<br /><br />~James Joyce<br /><br />Picture found <a href=http://poseysessions.blogspot.com/2008/08/thursday-thirteen-literary-tattoos.html>here</a>.Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-60103506634774981882011-06-15T20:56:00.001-04:002011-06-15T20:58:05.003-04:00Synchronicity -- Wherever You Go, There It IsThere's this:<br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aTafZRecy2k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />and there's this:<br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5gADbyXJy1M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-41225694798863139562011-06-15T18:31:00.007-04:002011-06-15T20:42:46.703-04:00Wildwood Tarot<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifP1q80SxN7mJVgJuIZb9RdtwfucfK0W3lLTP56YAeEvIvKzJRYAunZuut7idhjlJDGnOeG16QjQBNOe93BP_Sl__8zey6lMmt713cobuNvVUhiw-DBQneH80TRd8-yxTkbjQvlA/s1600/IMG_4380.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifP1q80SxN7mJVgJuIZb9RdtwfucfK0W3lLTP56YAeEvIvKzJRYAunZuut7idhjlJDGnOeG16QjQBNOe93BP_Sl__8zey6lMmt713cobuNvVUhiw-DBQneH80TRd8-yxTkbjQvlA/s400/IMG_4380.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618605038668840594" /></a><br />My regular readers know that I'm given to <a href=http://hecatedemetersdatter.blogspot.com/2010/02/got-bonus.html>rants</a> about how acquiring things is not the same thing as practicing a serious Nature Religion. <br /><br />You can buy every book that Lewellyn publishes (my bookshelves house more than a few). You can have Celtic-this and dragon-themed-that and unicorn-themed posters all over your house. You can cover your tables, walls, and yourself with cheap cotton <a href=http://www.zendocat.com/images/RAC88.JPG>Celtic-batik tablecloths</a> (I've got a few!). You can wear high-<a href=http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=2740731>Goth</a> or <a href=http://fashionblogstrend.com/steampunk-fashion-women1020242.jpg>expensive SteamPunk</a> (OK, if I win the lottery, I am buying that hat). You can burn incense and sage from etsy 24/7. You can jingle when you walk from all the pentacles, LOTR-themed jewelry, and gypsy-hand amulets that you wear, but it doesn't make you a devotee of the Goddesses/Gods nor does it cause you to live in tune with Gaia. <br /><br />And I work at practicing what I preach. <br /><br />I own fewer than a dozen Tarot decks and I regularly talk myself out of buying yet another really neat one. I rely almost entirely on my <a href=http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/robin-wood/>Robin Wood</a>, with some <a href=http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/crone/>Tarot of the Crone</a>, hand-made by <a href=http://www.ata-tarot.com/reflections/10-15-04/lorenziprince.htm>Ellen Lorenzi-Prince</a>, thrown in for mystery and the occasional Cheryl Richardson <a href=http://www.cherylrichardson.com/store/self-care-cards-2/>Self-Care Card</a> pulled for an overall theme. On my iPhone, I have the <a href=http://kriswaldherr.com/apps/gtapp/index.html>Goddess Tarot app</a>, and I find it uncannily accurate for one-card answers to questions. I have Joanna Colbert's <a href=http://www.gaiantarot.com/>Gain Tarot</a> on order for this Autumn, and Joanna knows that if she ever decides to sell the painting for her <a href=http://www.gaiantarot.com/minors/sixes.html#water>Six of Water</a>, I'm first in line. And, ok, someday I'm going to break down and buy myself the Peter-Max-inspired <a href=http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/aquarian/>Aquarian Tarot</a>, which I always buy as a gift for friends.<br /><br />And, beyond that, there's only one other Tarot deck that I've seriously craved. Ever since my brilliant friend Stoat showed me his <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwood_tarot_deck>Greenwood Tarot deck</a>, I've been seriously in lust. Supposedly based upon pre-Celtic, European themes, as well as the <a href=http://www.healinghappens.com/wheel.htm>Wheel of the Year,</a> it's been unavailable for some time (although occasionally one will show up on eBay for several hundred dollars and I'm not spending that kind of money for a deck of cards; my heart is happier with an almost-paid mortgage and some money in the bank). <br /><br />Now, <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Ryan_(actor)>Mark Ryan</a>, who worked on the Greenwood Tarot, has come out with the <a href=http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/wildwood/>Wildwood Tarot,</a> described as a "complete reconception and redesign" of the Greenwood Tarot. I got my copy last night, on the Full Moon. <br /><br />My practice for getting acquainted with a new Tarot deck is to ground, center, call the Elements, and cast a circle. I smudge the cards and the LWB (Little White Book, although it's a largish dark-colored book in this case) and then I just spend time with them. I look them all over, in order, shuffled, and then, finally, with the LWB to help me learn the ones that are less-Rider-Waite based. <br /><br />I'm in love.<br /><br />Pictured above is my first reading with this deck.<br /><br />What divination method do you use? Is there a new one you're thinking of trying? How do you handle your lust for "stuff"?Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-44644167833627514482011-06-15T18:14:00.001-04:002011-06-15T18:15:52.332-04:00For Your Full Moon Pleasure<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/F9pVaTQinIw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />hat tip: Wired Science, listed to the right in my BlogRollHecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-4125784596489002492011-06-14T22:16:00.001-04:002011-06-14T22:16:35.085-04:00Make Believe<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5KwC0P_DRhw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-76460455365957664292011-06-14T16:13:00.003-04:002011-06-14T21:59:09.578-04:00Tuesday Poetry Blogging<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4XqXOXzCi9qV1llnjktFZeNk6EW_kKb0ZV3vGB5Fjjr414X3TcRw_73wFcbXYIhm-MBqQ1Z07lYSB9so3vMkprZjuFLLC5SRJ0HggKeJirX9PZWzuqs8rhCbaXV6_o0Ocxlq-Q/s1600/tree_canopy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4XqXOXzCi9qV1llnjktFZeNk6EW_kKb0ZV3vGB5Fjjr414X3TcRw_73wFcbXYIhm-MBqQ1Z07lYSB9so3vMkprZjuFLLC5SRJ0HggKeJirX9PZWzuqs8rhCbaXV6_o0Ocxlq-Q/s400/tree_canopy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618173800988380818" /></a><br />The Truly Great<br /><br />~Stephen Spender <br /> <br />I think continually of those who were truly great.<br />Who, from the womb, remembered the soul’s history<br />Through corridors of light, where the hours are suns,<br />Endless and singing. Whose lovely ambition<br />Was that their lips, still touched with fire,<br />Should tell of the Spirit, clothed from head to foot in song.<br />And who hoarded from the Spring branches<br />The desires falling across their bodies like blossoms.<br /> <br />What is precious, is never to forget<br />The essential delight of the blood drawn from ageless springs<br />Breaking through rocks in worlds before our earth.<br />Never to deny its pleasure in the morning simple light<br />Nor its grave evening demand for love.<br />Never to allow gradually the traffic to smother<br />With noise and fog, the flowering of the spirit.<br /> <br />Near the snow, near the sun, in the highest fields,<br />See how these names are fêted by the waving grass<br />And by the streamers of white cloud<br />And whispers of wind in the listening sky.<br />The names of those who in their lives fought for life,<br />Who wore at their hearts the fire’s centre.<br />Born of the sun, they travelled a short while toward the sun<br />And left the vivid air signed with their honour.<br /><br />Picture found <a href=http://blog.jannelsonlandscapedesign.com/?cat=30>here</a>Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-68001110902153355172011-06-13T17:35:00.007-04:002011-06-13T17:51:22.129-04:00History from a Pagan Perspective<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjty8uL7tPuILdNrDi3bdqhSqLpq5_PI6wJnUxn_GQu9n2Ir13e-5YTe4uRuwlk-0lMTE6RwnQIyRG6Ux2JndOeF2GsmVliswbU_0Xoycrfbz-Ey-2Pg75X9Nw3qr0x4vcvVfFWYg/s1600/Tree-of-Books-books-to-read-683854_1600_1200.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjty8uL7tPuILdNrDi3bdqhSqLpq5_PI6wJnUxn_GQu9n2Ir13e-5YTe4uRuwlk-0lMTE6RwnQIyRG6Ux2JndOeF2GsmVliswbU_0Xoycrfbz-Ey-2Pg75X9Nw3qr0x4vcvVfFWYg/s400/Tree-of-Books-books-to-read-683854_1600_1200.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617824364222999330" /></a><br /><a href=http://www.mmdnewswire.com/buried-the-discernment-of-pagans-in-ancient-rome-by-frank-troy-48622.html>This new book looks fascinating</a> and I'm going to add it to my (already too long) reading list.<br /><blockquote>The newly released novel "Buried: The Discernment of Pagans in Ancient Rome" (ISBN 1456471651) opens with a hostile confrontation between [P]agans and Christians. Though the Christian viewpoint may be familiar, says author Frank Troy, the reader is then swiftly transported into the unfamiliar, dangerous and strangely beautiful world of pre-Christian Rome as it is seen and understood by the [P]agan narrator. Troy, a retired literature professor, has spent a lifetime studying the literature and philosophy of European civilizations prior to the arrival of Christian ideas and concepts.<br /><br />The novel's principal narrator is a 27-year-old Roman aristocrat named Aeneas. Educated in Aristotle's Lyceum in Athens, a lover of boxing and philosophy, his narrative aims to help readers understand the how and why of paganism's magnificent achievements in a range of areas including philosophy, politics, art and science.<br /><br />While fulfilling his military obligation in Alexandria in 387 A.D., Aeneas falls hopelessly in love with the beautiful female scholar Hypatia. After he is discharged from service the lovers travel by way of Athens and Delphi to Rome to meet Aeneas' sister, Honoria. Unexpected family obligations require Aeneas and Hypatia to separate, but they vow to reunite. Hypatia returns to Alexandria and Aeneas and Honoria travel north to join their father, the governor of Upper Germania. As the summer passes, Honoria falls deeply in love, only to lose her lover in a war between opposing generals. Their father too becomes a victim of the war, and the siblings flee to the safety of a family farm near Carthage and plan their reunion with Hypatia. Their future, however, becomes more complicated than they ever imagined.<br /><br />Troy seeks to offer readers a tale that is rich with historical details and numerous surprising plot turns, along with the narrative that interprets events in light of [P]aganism's core beliefs about the underlying nature of reality and the purpose and meaning of life. Modern readers, Troy contends, will encounter an unfamiliar world view that is initially puzzling, yet as the novel unfolds, [P]agan core beliefs gradually become clearer. Troy aims to provide insight to readers so they can begin to see that even though ancient and modern core beliefs are fundamentally different, the practical problems faced by Rome were an amazingly accurate reflection of ours today.</blockquote><br />What's up with this recent resurgence of interest in Hypatia?<br /><br />Also, Dear Mr. Troy, Since it's pretty clear that you wrote your press release, if you want to sell to Pagans, perhaps you should capitalize our religion, just as you capitalize "Christian." OK?<br /><br />It's available at <a href=http://www.amazon.com/Buried-Discernment-Pagans-Ancient-Rome/dp/1456471651/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1308001307&sr=8-1>Amazon</a>; I can't find it at any of the independent bookseller sites I normally recommend. <br /><br />Anybody read it yet?<br /><br />Picture found <a href=http://www.fanpop.com/spots/books-to-read/images/683854/title/tree-books-wallpaper>here</a>.Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-9985435023185114742011-06-12T01:43:00.000-04:002011-06-12T01:43:00.450-04:00Sunday Ballet Blogging<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iGAA1emUqJ4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-28383979050751448252011-06-11T14:30:00.002-04:002011-06-11T14:34:30.643-04:00Saturday Poetry Blogging<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_fKwqicDBUGYT41BfJePYKedYtbDhPxy5btsPXET4EXdB9D5n2Mymi_AVs-FT08JMbi4wUUSxUxCbG9Xq3dyZwDqc-nthWNzn17t7vsGkGpcaj8irlIeXjELRUHxa_a8lIAYmQ/s1600/6a00e54ffe2ad3883300e553b5a6f68834-800wi.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_fKwqicDBUGYT41BfJePYKedYtbDhPxy5btsPXET4EXdB9D5n2Mymi_AVs-FT08JMbi4wUUSxUxCbG9Xq3dyZwDqc-nthWNzn17t7vsGkGpcaj8irlIeXjELRUHxa_a8lIAYmQ/s400/6a00e54ffe2ad3883300e553b5a6f68834-800wi.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617032248087606946" /></a><br />Meditation at Lagunitas<br />~Robert Hass<br /><br />All the new thinking is about loss.<br />In this it resembles all the old thinking.<br />The idea, for example, that each particular erases<br />the luminous clarity of a general idea. That the clown-<br />faced woodpecker probing the dead sculpted trunk<br />of that black birch is, by his presence,<br />some tragic falling off from a first world<br />of undivided light. Or the other notion that,<br />because there is in this world no one thing<br />to which the bramble of blackberry corresponds,<br />a word is elegy to what it signifies.<br />We talked about it late last night and in the voice<br />of my friend, there was a thin wire of grief, a tone<br />almost querulous. After a while I understood that,<br />talking this way, everything dissolves: justice,<br />pine, hair, woman, you and I. There was a woman<br />I made love to and I remembered how, holding<br />her small shoulders in my hands sometimes,<br />I felt a violent wonder at her presence<br />like a thirst for salt, for my childhood river<br />with its island willows, silly music from the pleasure boat,<br />muddy places where we caught the little orange-silver fish<br />called pumpkinseed. It hardly had to do with her.<br />Longing, we say, because desire is full<br />of endless distances. I must have been the same to her.<br />But I remember so much, the way her hands dismantled bread,<br />the thing her father said that hurt her, what<br />she dreamed. There are moments when the body is as numinous<br />as words, days that are the good flesh continuing.<br />Such tenderness, those afternoons and evenings,<br />saying blackberry, blackberry, blackberry.<br /><br /><br />Picture found <a href=http://powermeals.blogspot.com/2010/04/fresh-blackberries.html>here</a>.Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-38889840624079506512011-06-10T13:42:00.012-04:002011-06-10T15:57:32.227-04:00Synchronicity -- Wherever You Go, There It Is<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAE2iKDBS5bwSBvUlx9Fd5iXi5lvppEFYdqepK1lP-Bca4y-fuAkNMeiAI2BAvxvf8KE889pMUhcRKjo_xnIXyXavKwQ6M-enFFewsc-nqd2KAigOJDYEWseV0YRYkLB75b8Wvyg/s1600/tumblr_ktdghirr0X1qa1w43o1_400.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAE2iKDBS5bwSBvUlx9Fd5iXi5lvppEFYdqepK1lP-Bca4y-fuAkNMeiAI2BAvxvf8KE889pMUhcRKjo_xnIXyXavKwQ6M-enFFewsc-nqd2KAigOJDYEWseV0YRYkLB75b8Wvyg/s400/tumblr_ktdghirr0X1qa1w43o1_400.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616676495924916882" /></a><br /><a href=http://inthemistsofavalon.blogspot.com/2011/06/tasting-ground.html>Sobeit</a> has up a great post today about the need to consult our landbase when we make important decisions.<br /><blockquote>In all [E]arth traditions there is an understanding that the land is a witness to truth, that its very molecules do not lie, that its constituent fabric and all life forms that naturally grow upon it are wise in ways that humans rarely match. <br /><br />. . .<br /><br /> One thing is certain: whoever lives upon a land with respect is welcomed by that land in ways deeper than we can imagine - a fact we should bear in mind when issues of race and culture are raised. For those who are true to the land shall find that the land also keeps faith with them. With our ability to move about the earth and settle at will, we do well to first consult the region where we are thinking of living, going straight to the land and speaking with its spirit, so that we can live with discrimination, truth, and respect. <br /><br />"Wherever you are living, go and stand on bare, unconcreted earth and commune with the spirit of the land. Return to your home and in soul-flight go back to the site you visited and ask for a better sense of discrimination."<br />[From: The Celtic Spirit by Caitlin Matthews] </blockquote><br />Earlier this week, a friend and I were discussing a point that <a href=http://www.thorncoyle.com/>Thorn Coyle</a> makes in <a href=http://www.politics-prose.com/book/9781578634354>Kissing the Limitless</a>:<br /><blockquote>The [E]arth remembers us, and the places where we grew up or have lived a long time recognize our patterns, just as we recognize the patterns of those places. Upon entering a new place, I always strive to introduce myself to the energies there. If there is time, I spend long moments in meditation, sending out tendrils of my life force into the land and sky, getting a better feel for the space and the beings that reside there, and noticing what is different from my home. This introduction also gives me a sort of <I>permission</I> to be there, and my time there is more joyously spent.</blockquote> <br /><a href=http://www.starhawk.org/>Starhawk</a> is talking seriously about making a movie from one of the three or four books that completely changed my life, <a href=http://starhawksblog.org/?p=521>The Fifth Sacred Thing</a>. (It's one of those projects that makes me think, "If it could be done well, it would be wonderful. But I'm so afraid that, once the process starts, best intentions and good plans notwithstanding . . . ." And I'd rather see it not done than see it done with compromise.) One of the things I love best in that book (well, I love a lot, but, lawyer that I am, one of the things that I love "really, really best," as G/Son says,) is the description of how decision-making happens. There are people from the various affinity groups gathered together in a room, each speaking from hir heart about how best to proceed against a threatened invasion. Some argue for war, some argue for sabotage, some argue for nonviolent resistance. And, then:<br /><blockquote>The Speaker raised her hand, calling for silence, and bent her ear to the Salmon mask.<br />"Friend Salmon says, 'Learn from water. Water is malleable, water is gentle, but drops of water wear away stone, and everything it touches is shaped by its passing.'" She sat down again. [And then the argument goes on, some calling each other cowards, some explaining what's wrong with that notion, . . . .]</blockquote><br />When I first read that passage, all that I could think of was the question that my Environmental Law professor asked the class: "What's wrong with <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_O._Douglas#.22Trees_have_standing.22>Justice Douglas' proposition</a> that someone should be appointed to <a href=http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/sierraclub.html>'speak for the trees?'"</a> Older, and maybe sadder than a lot of the class, my hand went up. "Weyerhauser will create a "Committee to Speak for America's Trees" and explain why trees long for, need, in fact, must have, clear cutting." I got an A.<br /><br />I've been mulling over, lately, the notion of how we can have a democratic (forget consensual, let's just talk about honestly democratic) society when the money of large corporations appears capable of contaminating everyone and everything. I'm not a member of the <a href=http://www.wellstone.org/about-us/wellstone-legacy/speeches/paul-wellstone-quotes>"Democratic wing of the Democratic Party."</a> I'm so far to the left of that, that it's difficult to even see that over the horizon. But I'd be orgasmically ecstatic to see that wing of that party these days. Because I don't. Other than Elizabeth Warren, I see, from the White House on down, a whole lot of people who, while I have no doubt that they went into politics planning to do good, are the sort of persons of whom Winston Churchill is once supposed to have remarked, "We've already established that. All that we're arguing about now is the price." And I wonder, more and more, how can we ensure that there's anyone who has (1) a real seat at the table, (2) in the Salmon mask, who (3) isn't colonized by those who make money killing Salmon and destroying Salmon's habitat? <br /><br />And the only glimmer of an answer that I've been able to discern is encapsulated in Sobeit's post. We have to, as a cultural value to which we all give real credence, return to, taste, and listen to the Land, our Watershed. And while I think (and I am a woman who has given her life to The Law and would do so again, tomorrow, with a happy heart) that The Law can help to make a difference, what really has to happen is for us to begin to tell ourselves better stories. As <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muriel_Rukeyser>Muriel Rukeyser</a> said, “The universe is made of stories, not of atoms.” The universe that we perceive is, indeed, made of the stories that we tell ourselves and our children. <br /><br />And we have to start telling a different story. Not only in our legal opinions, but elsewhere, as well, in those stories that seep into our bones before we ever read a law or a news story about a Supreme Court opinion.<br /><br />This weekend, I read G/Son the story of Merlin and King Arthur. And it gripped him and raised questions within him as it has (repository of so many Western archetypes that it is) in generations and generations of post-Roman Celts. In the version we read, Arthur goes to France to besiege Lancelot for daring to sleep with (the Queen of) Arthur's Land, Albion. And it is while Arthur has turned his back on his land in order to pursue the demands of Patriarchy that Mordred raises an army against Arthur, requiring Arthur to abandon his fight with Lancelot and return to Arthur's own land to slay Arthur's Son (destroying what Patriarchy pretends to be about -- male progeny -- for what it's really about -- death), lose Arthur's relationship with Arthur's land, and sail off to a land ruled by three women in order to be able to return again in the hour of England's greatest need. Although the book clearly said that "Some said that Mordred was the King's own son," that was too much for G/Son to process. So on each successive reading of the story, when we got to the part where Arthur and Mordred slay each other, G/Son said to me, "Nonna, why the King fought with his own brother?" And each time I would say, "Arthur fought with his closest male relative because he didn't know what else to do. He had boxed himself into a corner by imagining that he could own and control either a woman or The Land. Arthur was a good man who wanted to help people, but he made a big mistake. He couldn't see that women, like Guinevere, and that a landbase, like England, must be free to make their own choices. Mordred made the same mistake." <br /><br />The stories that we tell, the stories that we hear as children from our Nonnas, the stories that we see on tv, the stories that they show at the movie theatres: those stories matter. They matter in as basic and as important a manner as whether or not we can find a way to do what Sobeit, Thorn Coyle, Starhawk, and Justice Douglas have all urged us to do: to listen to our Landbase, to pay attention to our Watershed. <br /><br />Because, after all, we desperately need <a href=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0213065/quotes>a Lorax, who speaks for the trees</a>:<br /><blockquote>Yes, I am the Lorax who speaks for the trees, which you seem to be chopping as fast as you please. But I'm also in charge of the brown Bar-ba-loots, who played in the shade in their Bar-ba-loot suits and happily lived eating truffula fruits. Now, thanks to your hacking my trees to the ground, there's not enough truffula fruit to go 'round! </blockquote><br />Picture found <a href=http://ezooccult.tumblr.com/post/251002855/forestgrove-janet-and-stewart-farrar-perform>here</a>.Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-67750427116955403062011-06-09T18:28:00.010-04:002011-06-11T08:48:49.317-04:00Missing the Memo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemF42ACOHM53ewBOXy5Ud0NZFG9L_Rnt7-Ajl6jXHQt1b59WZQ9gWWoocaWuJqu2MaQB1n6h5cxNhu-nMHudZUdIDxHHy9oxiNb1Is18YNyGhqjy-pu_ypG66WFwA4_ilvk7YEw/s1600/tumblr_l2y998FiWI1qbwnsso1_400.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 271px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemF42ACOHM53ewBOXy5Ud0NZFG9L_Rnt7-Ajl6jXHQt1b59WZQ9gWWoocaWuJqu2MaQB1n6h5cxNhu-nMHudZUdIDxHHy9oxiNb1Is18YNyGhqjy-pu_ypG66WFwA4_ilvk7YEw/s400/tumblr_l2y998FiWI1qbwnsso1_400.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616358063826683522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiopBc9PMLTT9XG71_GZmVScfpN33zcoKZG7sJxkJymbqkO54-ICkz8K-27LwR9mozyO1lqLt_aVpGC87QfFJzLmka-5nSP_NYx0ypRsZT7YNWT3NzVsNt7dQcOzL0pEatDG6QBA/s1600/fidelma_massey_motherofbirds2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 295px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiopBc9PMLTT9XG71_GZmVScfpN33zcoKZG7sJxkJymbqkO54-ICkz8K-27LwR9mozyO1lqLt_aVpGC87QfFJzLmka-5nSP_NYx0ypRsZT7YNWT3NzVsNt7dQcOzL0pEatDG6QBA/s400/fidelma_massey_motherofbirds2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616358058518104866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDaADHO7o4ND0aDCdOke9phALfORkninzSVMUoOAnNJ1cR_8pZDxXJ5LTVJddZ_k3QUdZrMSmUPs2YRc97FcA-GwOr5GCY_zhXr0axqu7zPacKDg6qD4tdX9oG1A7WZkeiJhQUQg/s1600/fidelma+massey+3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 326px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDaADHO7o4ND0aDCdOke9phALfORkninzSVMUoOAnNJ1cR_8pZDxXJ5LTVJddZ_k3QUdZrMSmUPs2YRc97FcA-GwOr5GCY_zhXr0axqu7zPacKDg6qD4tdX9oG1A7WZkeiJhQUQg/s400/fidelma+massey+3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616358044479947570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8w89p50Reyxq8sj5QPIE1S_QEP6rKMbAZJH2kV4gejthxz8_Wfkew6b-DAm_9TlSseB79dt3M1DSAV4h8rASUPq-QX3ZUuIaExV616oX0kPCUT8R-dDZwBy8xnXadl2iYXK-0ow/s1600/DSC_0121-lg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8w89p50Reyxq8sj5QPIE1S_QEP6rKMbAZJH2kV4gejthxz8_Wfkew6b-DAm_9TlSseB79dt3M1DSAV4h8rASUPq-QX3ZUuIaExV616oX0kPCUT8R-dDZwBy8xnXadl2iYXK-0ow/s400/DSC_0121-lg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616358038025309970" /></a><br />Last night, I had dinner (on the porch in spite of the record-breaking heat here in the mystical MidAtlantic! Of course, we did have shade, the ceiling fan, and a bottle of icy grand cru from Arnould & Fils, recommended by my brilliant friend Stoat) with a beloved magical Sister. I asked her, "You'd tell me, right? Mercury didn't unexpectedly go retrograde and I just (in retrograde Mercury fashion) missed the memo?" Because it would explain a lot. (Blogger, you fickle, evil BitchGoddess, I am looking, <I>inter alia</I>, at you.) <br /><br />And speaking of missing the memo, I'm not sure why I am just now finding out about the amazing sculpture of <a href=http://irishsculpture.com/index.php>Fidelma Massey</a>. If I'd known about her sooner, I'd have planned my garden around one of her sculptures. As it is, I'm going to have to sit down w/ Landscape Guy and see where we can work one in. There's a spot he's been pointing to along the Southern boundary for a few months and saying, "Something needs to go there. You need to figure out what."<br /><br />And, in true if-Mercury-isn't-retrograde-who-is? fashion, I'm not sure where I first found Ms. Massey's work. I thought it was at <a href=http://greenspiritarts.blogspot.com/>Sally J. Smith's</a> site, but now I can't find it there. (And I'd love, someday, to get Sally to build one of her fairy houses in my garden for G/Son, too. He's so fascinated w/ the fairy door on the big maple in my woodland). Whoever brought Ms. Massey to my attention, many thanks!<br /><br />Which of her works do you like best?<br /><br />Pictures: Google "Fidelma Massey" and click on "Images".Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-36052380687421677852011-06-08T10:27:00.007-04:002011-06-08T11:11:13.546-04:00A Stroll Through the Garden<a href=http://www.capitalwitch.com/>David Salisbury</a> asked for some pictures of my garden. I'm the world's worst photographer and I'm always too busy to run inside and get the "real" camera, so I wind up using my iPhone. But here are a few that I've taken over the years, in relatively seasonal order. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7uxAVi0A29qvWDDKARG62tCk_5COCxQxxIMvgZ_TgDZgb72_zcQnUBO7okIo-GkICPxIAuqY_4pvWB9TIK9EBULFc0YT__CKSMAPEYCZJHyJNOnDC1MlLrHxUx6XponROh7Dsg/s1600/Backyard+Corner.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7uxAVi0A29qvWDDKARG62tCk_5COCxQxxIMvgZ_TgDZgb72_zcQnUBO7okIo-GkICPxIAuqY_4pvWB9TIK9EBULFc0YT__CKSMAPEYCZJHyJNOnDC1MlLrHxUx6XponROh7Dsg/s400/Backyard+Corner.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615860214207833202" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsH6pgRhuQK_jDRMmU3ose98hCyN82Lu42zfPRgLmnALwTUQggmKgGwdFpXU748r5QEGW_gEJ-EAE3XscekHeF_SoICRnDNR7Xb9BOarpuzpWUMV7VKE0Ge2dccUnaPVOVFs6fg/s1600/Woodland+Garden+After+a+Rain.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsH6pgRhuQK_jDRMmU3ose98hCyN82Lu42zfPRgLmnALwTUQggmKgGwdFpXU748r5QEGW_gEJ-EAE3XscekHeF_SoICRnDNR7Xb9BOarpuzpWUMV7VKE0Ge2dccUnaPVOVFs6fg/s400/Woodland+Garden+After+a+Rain.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615855655697842978" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHEdNN3KZJzK6aZvb_qvZburi0bR8UActFMb5SBWRCC_hpWkqe8jQ8upBY8rbbA4y2AHD-sToreV54xsC-kQICBo6x0Olm4MUiduPYMUuZvH4W8jSG0bW3jHyklIeDXZ7iLttbQ/s1600/Butterbur+and+toadstools.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHEdNN3KZJzK6aZvb_qvZburi0bR8UActFMb5SBWRCC_hpWkqe8jQ8upBY8rbbA4y2AHD-sToreV54xsC-kQICBo6x0Olm4MUiduPYMUuZvH4W8jSG0bW3jHyklIeDXZ7iLttbQ/s400/Butterbur+and+toadstools.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615861926723858466" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzREujkMWxFRKwruRc8SIhYzEBzNOZGL1X0OiVbKpVMshGHtJwNNxQGPGW7inwZzLLMmE2OSFQtWNAWZdVspfwYs3XBnpRSaDoXpW8sBNcZCNih641gvsjIC0q-TGRVRhvduwCQ/s1600/Toadstools.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzREujkMWxFRKwruRc8SIhYzEBzNOZGL1X0OiVbKpVMshGHtJwNNxQGPGW7inwZzLLMmE2OSFQtWNAWZdVspfwYs3XBnpRSaDoXpW8sBNcZCNih641gvsjIC0q-TGRVRhvduwCQ/s400/Toadstools.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615861923092392578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQu0cB6X20sTnI6caf41ZpjfULAyvRdNybKD9pJlELxJeUki0pAhyphenhyphenXNhFZK-OEz22obUMfp_6X4s9rF2qxnQBl2_FkcVtcXw8IVOF5R-rQmISfCWvC-v83oe8KexLHn18XOF11bQ/s1600/Magnolia+Blossom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQu0cB6X20sTnI6caf41ZpjfULAyvRdNybKD9pJlELxJeUki0pAhyphenhyphenXNhFZK-OEz22obUMfp_6X4s9rF2qxnQBl2_FkcVtcXw8IVOF5R-rQmISfCWvC-v83oe8KexLHn18XOF11bQ/s400/Magnolia+Blossom.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615861909787757634" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgq0RwFPhgi01fKWVoDI-doO05gm5ZCQxN3DsWvAFZDExj2v00TcmT1VW3m2deE3pGJDI9iItvpJyWNaJd4gC91h0wAj9F-7rZLIsXwyWoBV9DNOO2-RwG8n_edaN3-HINNProg/s1600/Fly+Magnet.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgq0RwFPhgi01fKWVoDI-doO05gm5ZCQxN3DsWvAFZDExj2v00TcmT1VW3m2deE3pGJDI9iItvpJyWNaJd4gC91h0wAj9F-7rZLIsXwyWoBV9DNOO2-RwG8n_edaN3-HINNProg/s400/Fly+Magnet.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615861907878852562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8f3LkBB92J9BOuRavwWx1tHODRSOPS4VtIlWX-Z6osMU4qhA96AiKoJ-nrOluHN7bJ7Du2whn1cNHrrLZ4_NUogDKUvVhyOcfS9QnspIt9Xp1eICNPBTkX72os0tM8RDNRO5Nw/s1600/Daylily+Africa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8f3LkBB92J9BOuRavwWx1tHODRSOPS4VtIlWX-Z6osMU4qhA96AiKoJ-nrOluHN7bJ7Du2whn1cNHrrLZ4_NUogDKUvVhyOcfS9QnspIt9Xp1eICNPBTkX72os0tM8RDNRO5Nw/s400/Daylily+Africa.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615861902312655170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsZEE_4GSeHXzLY2K8K5nfrcWlSLm7Z-MI1m6_JIY75NtJaHLd77K9SBQvYW0OSyfR8YmN_3cnoCN0mEsXcEYdp5e9ZcF0feVLupRtKjbG5o6SIMAgg3dlXa3kFhdRg_SZKujMQ/s1600/beautiful+Bela.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsZEE_4GSeHXzLY2K8K5nfrcWlSLm7Z-MI1m6_JIY75NtJaHLd77K9SBQvYW0OSyfR8YmN_3cnoCN0mEsXcEYdp5e9ZcF0feVLupRtKjbG5o6SIMAgg3dlXa3kFhdRg_SZKujMQ/s400/beautiful+Bela.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615861082943535410" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKeD4CYxvj2mO3lwwy9kmpbI-AF231GnvVyzclnRJoFybe62vgnHNp9ISdFHnx0uMJBJ3PJBgt-ROio4OEqITmXZQAwfExYQqQ7sF6DGSuVDGVM9qjJ_dVhqxvlOgaTmwmmUauQ/s1600/Obedient+Plant.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKeD4CYxvj2mO3lwwy9kmpbI-AF231GnvVyzclnRJoFybe62vgnHNp9ISdFHnx0uMJBJ3PJBgt-ROio4OEqITmXZQAwfExYQqQ7sF6DGSuVDGVM9qjJ_dVhqxvlOgaTmwmmUauQ/s400/Obedient+Plant.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615861073929309842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3VUoKputIJoy6y2RmjizkjgwcSr57HvRyqn5uNcmNn8YCqFbc7nQbPdvSIugyD9s1Kmwy9sldbiHeD6syoMT1YPOFuV8MdQaUb3kG30xdpS8Olsoho9tSbY8nZwRFeM8qYHPhQ/s1600/Toad+Lilies.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3VUoKputIJoy6y2RmjizkjgwcSr57HvRyqn5uNcmNn8YCqFbc7nQbPdvSIugyD9s1Kmwy9sldbiHeD6syoMT1YPOFuV8MdQaUb3kG30xdpS8Olsoho9tSbY8nZwRFeM8qYHPhQ/s400/Toad+Lilies.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615861067917907074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1ibDJiaLwgdApo4d_NVTo3W_Ufm8cgOTOj9Fr0lEwU-0Rh1z8ptofr8vPBBUgjgPhFso8jI5gdV47n7mxBiF9kZ_zXo9StrD8ZfrbeAReqAfS3TaHjmz5o76lZDKqwp-eP10Vw/s1600/Camellia%252C+Autumn.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1ibDJiaLwgdApo4d_NVTo3W_Ufm8cgOTOj9Fr0lEwU-0Rh1z8ptofr8vPBBUgjgPhFso8jI5gdV47n7mxBiF9kZ_zXo9StrD8ZfrbeAReqAfS3TaHjmz5o76lZDKqwp-eP10Vw/s400/Camellia%252C+Autumn.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615861060798467458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3a4Guq56OClJeyc49fCWc0kSZWd1UpEws6qAwISfvrhSTVS4613FUZ_PIiY4O-dHwX4iVCURUw_uemg5l25GXDjZQTpreHstjBN2REjK92fL8jyqSi_HuMxKN_JrGqvwbc87wA/s1600/Autumn+Garden.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3a4Guq56OClJeyc49fCWc0kSZWd1UpEws6qAwISfvrhSTVS4613FUZ_PIiY4O-dHwX4iVCURUw_uemg5l25GXDjZQTpreHstjBN2REjK92fL8jyqSi_HuMxKN_JrGqvwbc87wA/s400/Autumn+Garden.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615861066403587890" /></a>Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-3244192354537774202011-06-07T19:40:00.003-04:002011-06-07T20:26:35.863-04:00Gaia Needs Good Media Relations<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/G6pvP0m05I0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Here's what looks like a pretty neat film. <br /><br />I'd like to use it to make another in my regular series of points about dealing with the media. Observe the difference in how Francesca De Grandis and Joan Marler come across. Both women make incredibly valid points, but <a href=http://www.archaeomythology.org/about/about_jmarler.html>Marler</a> looks directly into the camera while <a href=http://www.well.com/~zthirdrd/vita.html>De Grandis</a> is often looking off to the side or at the person holding the camera, rather than into the camera. <br /><br />It's a fairly common trait to look off to the side when you're thinking of what you want to say, but <a href=http://www.thejuryexpert.com/>people who do research on jury reactions</a> will tell you that most people subconsciously think that you're looking away because you're prevaricating, that there's a reason why you won't "look them in the eye." My bet is that, in person, De Grandis doesn't come off this way, as she fairly often does look up and into the eyes of the person to whom she's speaking. The problem in this case is that "that person" is the one holding the camera, not the camera. And her real "audience" is inside the camera. <br /><br />This isn't something that you're likely to "get" without someone showing it to you, but it is an easily mastered skill once you're aware of the issue and spend a bit of time practicing, even with a friend who has an iPhone that takes video. If you're planning to be taped, or if you're making your own videos for youtube, it's really worth spending some time practicing, critiquing yourself, and then practicing again.<br /><br />Gaia can use all the help she can get.Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-91013689877874580942011-06-06T17:30:00.004-04:002011-06-06T17:51:35.505-04:00Monday Poetry Blogging<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSb3IKWjgGxyb1-ulTXq4f0z0V_M4ii1E23-jZWAsxSKfG3_RFnr0o0abSszIrcd3JiCJHh6eNpRfKwOoIqJR0_KaoAk3g3bJhQ7lfHMAm4tzYYPxdQGe8Dinbigot5AbYUnkTZg/s1600/All-alone-in-the-woods-1152x86.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSb3IKWjgGxyb1-ulTXq4f0z0V_M4ii1E23-jZWAsxSKfG3_RFnr0o0abSszIrcd3JiCJHh6eNpRfKwOoIqJR0_KaoAk3g3bJhQ7lfHMAm4tzYYPxdQGe8Dinbigot5AbYUnkTZg/s400/All-alone-in-the-woods-1152x86.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615224570827331778" /></a><br /><a href=http://www.politics-prose.com/book/9780807069059>A Lesson from James Wright</a><br />~<a href=http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/mary-oliver>Mary Oliver</a><br /><br />If <a href=http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/james-wright>James Wright</a><br />could put in his book of poems<br />a blank page<br /><br />dedicated to "the Horse David<br />Who Ate One of My Poems," I am ready<br />to follow him along<br /><br />the sweet path he cut <br />through the dryness<br />and suggest that you sit now<br /><br />very quietly <br />in some lovely wild place, and listen<br />to the silence.<br /><br />And I say that this, too<br />is a poem.<br /><br /><br />Picture found <a href=http://www.4shared.com/all-images/aWJUhWFb/sharing.html>here</a>.Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-90102850234575441442011-06-05T18:07:00.006-04:002011-06-06T19:20:26.320-04:00Explaining Myself<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/g2Bgqp76Chs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Just the first few minutes of so much empty space allows my breath to sink deeper into my belly, my spirit to expand. My <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INTJ>INTJ</a> self looks at those images the way a thirsty woman looks at pictures of icy water. The times in my life when I've been most surrounded by emptiness have felt the most freeing to me.<br /><br />This weekend, G/Son asked me, apropos of nothing as far as I could tell, "Nonna, why Pop Pop was your only husband and you never had another one?" (There was another one, but we'll wait until he's older to get into that.) I replied, "Well, what I found out about myself was that I really like to have some time alone so that I can think my own thoughts." G/Son replied, "Well, why you don't like to be around people?" I said, "Oh, I do like to be around people, a lot. But I also need time to myself." G/Son then said something that floored me. "Well, sometimes you don't see me for days and you don't miss me." <br /><br />If anyone has ever misperceived anything about me, surely this. But I think that it was really more an inquiry than a statement.<br /><br />Honestly, there's not a day, indeed, there's hardly an hour that goes by when I don't think about G/Son and his 'rents, offer up energy for their safety, health, and happiness, and wish that I could be with them. Luckily for me, my family lives close by and I get to see them more often than, say, DiL's 'rents or Pop Pop and his partner. Goddess knows, there are more days when I stop myself from bugging them (with a phone call, a request to iChat, a visit to take them out to dinner or brunch) than there are days when I give in to my longing to be with G/Son. And, of course, often when I do call or iChat, this busy 5-year-old wants to head off to look for worms under bricks or to watch some Harry Potter before bedtime. <br /><br />So I was floored. <br /><br />I paused a bit before answering, especially because, as G/Son has his Sun in Pisces, Moon in Taurus, and Ascendent in Scorpio, I imagine that he's going to be, maybe even more than his Nonna, one of those people who will need a lot of time alone as he gets older. So I want to lay down enough breadcrumbs, along the appropriate paths, to be of some use. After grounding and centering, taking some connecting breaths, and touching the Great Grandmother in the Sky Depository of All Wisdom, I said, "Well, actually, I do. I think about you every day and I wish that I could be with you. But I know that you, and Mommy, and Daddy need space to live your own lives. And so, when I miss you a lot, I think about how I want you to be healthy and happy and then, sometimes, I light incense for you. And, I think about how, by really thinking my own thoughts, I can be a better Nonna to you and a better mother-in-law to your Mommy and a better Mom to your Daddy."<br /><br />G/Son thought about this for a moment and then said, "Nonna, Guess what?" <br /><br />Me: "What?" (This is a phase all kids go through, in my experience. "Guess what" is sort of a way of beginning a conversation.)<br /><br />G/Son: "My new favorite colors are red and yellow, because those are the colors Harry Potter wears and, tonight, if you read me the book about Geronimo Stilton, can you let me read the words that are in big print, because I can read them now and I can also type the word "Batman" on the computer and, Nonna? do you have any blueberries for me because I am hungry and when I am hungry I like blueberries a lot, even though blue isn't my favorite color any more, and, Nonna, Guess What?"<br /><br />I love this kid.Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085926.post-42327495460560516772011-06-05T16:44:00.007-04:002011-06-05T17:15:02.105-04:00Talking to the Media<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3C2owmgpEfEcEXtfCp8GWjDkaymkBInioQde_N5AExUGQB2poAfSduPIPPHDUES-KJfabXaF9AMSASidtDYGrnG3p2lsoxD_C34JKMC7UfubJHPkqrGxJTE-woNXmLVa2oAF5Zw/s1600/istockphoto_1803807-gold-star-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 380px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3C2owmgpEfEcEXtfCp8GWjDkaymkBInioQde_N5AExUGQB2poAfSduPIPPHDUES-KJfabXaF9AMSASidtDYGrnG3p2lsoxD_C34JKMC7UfubJHPkqrGxJTE-woNXmLVa2oAF5Zw/s400/istockphoto_1803807-gold-star-2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614846368391992706" /></a><br />I <a href=http://hecatedemetersdatter.blogspot.com/2011/04/why-did-you-do-that.html>rail pretty regularly</a> about Pagans who, IMHO, shoot themselves and the rest of us in our collective feet when they talk to the media and defensively announce, "We don't eat babies/worship Satan/dance naked around a fire (which we, you know, do)/do spells (ditto)/etc." I think it's also important to point to examples of Pagans who do a good job dealing with the media.<br /><br /><a href=http://peoplesdistrict.com/iris-firemoon-on-wicca-witches-and-pagans>Here's local Pagan</a>, <a href=http://www.witchwhispers.blogspot.com/>Iris Firemoon</a>, showing how it's done. <br /><br />First, note Iris' picture. It matches her objective of coming across as someone you might work with, a person you might know. <br /><br />Then, observe how Iris starts out with a positive definition of what Paganism is and then moves on to explain the positive things about Paganism that attracted her to this religious path. In that context, her discussion of the discrimination that she faced is perfectly logical.<br /><br />It's midway into the article before Iris mentions that one of the questions people ask when they find out about her religion is whether she casts spells. That's not reinforcing a negative frame; it's answering a logical question about a religion that involves, you know, casting spells. <br /><blockquote>Yes, I am a witch and cast spells, but we have a strict code of ethics. We don’t do magic that harms people. People think magic is a big deal, but it is just the willed movement of energy. For me, it is akin to prayer, but more active. Rather than will someone or something to intervene on your behalf, with magic you seek out the action yourself. The hard thing about spells is that you can never really know if things happening can be attributed to your work, but I don’t believe in coincidences and sometimes the gods like you and may work in your favor.</blockquote><br />There's a perhaps subtle, but hugely important, difference between defensively volunteering that Pagans don't do something that we, of course, don't do, and explaining why we do do something that we actually do. (You know, I doubt that I've been inside a bookstore in the last 25 years when I didn't check out the Pagan books. And I've seen hundreds on casting spells. I've yet to see one on how to prepare babies for dinner.)<br /><br />Iris answers the question in a straightforward manner and moves on to explain that many people in DC are open to her religion.<br /><br />She closes with a plug for a cause she cares about (raising funds for a Pagan community center in DC) and provides a reliable source for those who want more information. Positive, upbeat, focused. This is how it's done. <br /><br />(Of course, the capitalization for this article is terrible. Iris explains elsewhere that the article was adapted for non-Pagans, although I can't see how that makes discriminatory language ok. But it's pretty clear that this problem didn't arise with Iris.)<br /><br />Picture found <a href=http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-1803807-gold-star-2.php>here</a>.Hecatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09291488568404382739noreply@blogger.com3