Armed Venus: Amazons in Battle

Minoan Snake Goddess

2012-02-11T17:54:00.000-07:00

Pagan Blog Project "C" - Chanting

2012-02-10T17:50:00.000-07:00

Throughout my Pagan journey I have been fortunate to host chanting circles at my home, attend kirtan all over the U.S. and chant my heart and soul out at countless drum circles and fires. What is magikal about chanting is the ability to raise energy almost effortlessly. Chanting is evident in magik as far back as we know. Kemetic priests and priestess and Druids invoked using songs and liturgy. Folk magiks from the world over are filled with chants for seeing faeries, protections, finding lost objects and healing hearts. My favorite aspect of chanting is that it is an instant spell. You don't need candles, waters, altars, etc for the magik of chanting to work.

A few years back when I was attending a weekly kirtan, Sanskrit devotional singing, the dotar player and singer told our group why the singing of sacred words, no matter what the language, can do. Singing the same chant for at least 15 minutes alters the air around you. The sound travels on waves, altering the vibrations in the room. One can chant protection into the very air or sing healing into a room. It can cast a circle, create a safe space or energize an group.

Here are a few of my favorite chants. Some may be familiar, some may be new. I do not know the origin of many of them as they were learned around a fire or in a living room in a very long version of telephone. If you know where these come from, please leave it in he comments and I will credit them! Feel free to make up your own melodies for these!

Circle 'round the fire
Circle 'round the fire, to raise a cone of power
Bring what we desire, so mote it be.
Weave the magik by the moonlight
Dance the circle all night long.
Weave the magik by the moonlight
Dance and sing the witches' song!

Kali Durge
Kali Durge Nahmo Nahma
Kali Durge Nahmo Nahma
Shakti Kundalini Nahmo Nahma
Shakti Kundalini Nahmo Nahma

Sun dancer
Sun dancer, dance into the light.
We give our whole beings to open up our lives
To see the visions every landscape unfurls
To dance through the cracks between the world

Mama Gaia
Mama, Mama GaiaMama Gaia can't you hear
Mama, Mama Gaia we're askin you to draw near
Cause we're gonna sing a song
And dance around the fire
We're gonna dance all night long
Raising the energy higher!

Wednesday Links

2012-02-08T15:36:00.000-07:00

What does the Daily Mail's internet success mean for Pagans, from The Wild Hunt

How to be a Good Ally, from Womanist Musings

Loyal Opposition: Why is the Left Taking the Race Bait, from The Feminist Wire

Good Witch Series: Glinda, from The Juggler, where I apparently inspired this new series by commenting and ranting about the "witch = bad woman" trope.

The (Not Really All That Dark) Origins of Valentine's Day, from The Wild Hunt. Because I want you to know that Lupercalia is not Valentine's Day. They have completely different origins, although the Romans would have loved the money it draws, and the emphasis on marriage as the glue to "well-ordered" society.

Homo Neandertalenis painted these, the earliest human cave paintings 42,000 BP in caves at Málaga, Spain. I am personally very happy to see "mainstream" anthropologists admitting that Neanderthals had artistic expression. It has been obvious for years, and anyone who thinks Homo Sapien is the only creative primate can back to the Enlightenment where he belongs. (I will now get off my soap box)

Paganish Musings

2012-02-08T10:56:00.002-07:00

AlterNet had a really though provoking article on "5 Big Lies Abouth The Phony 'War on Religion', that sent me and USR down a wonderful conversation path. I recommend it highly. Also, I enrolled myself in the Pagan Blog Project this week, so Friday I will be posting my first piece for that. If you haven't heard it's a really nice idea. Any Pagan can write about any topic beginning with a certain letter. So each week more than 100 Pagans are blogging about altars, apples, Abraxas, and Almond oil. All together! Last night I read a web excellent articles by many types of Pagans and felt reconnected to the community aspects of Paganism that my real-life community can't always provide. Speaking of Pagan communities, I am getting very excited to participate in Beltane this year. I have already volunteered to help with the Baelfire, which is my favorite Beltane tradition. I have some crazy ideas and I promise top share them when they'd re better formulated.

Craft Bragging

2012-02-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

In preparation for a collage valentine workshop I am leading on Sunday, I sat down to do some collages on various materials. Here are the results...

Small Altar, closed view

open view

side view

back view

top view

Valentine Card, reads "Dive into the ocean..."

"of my heart"

small Valentine's Card, reads "you are a masterpiece..."

"perfect in every way"

Amazons to Know

2012-02-05T16:57:00.000-07:00

A long time ago, I planned to do this segment on a weekly basis and failed epically. I'm gonna give it another try since I've been doing better with putting up posts.

Amazon - (my own definition) Any being who aids, supports, fights for, or embodies the female spirits, beings, and aspects of humanity.

Clara Lazen, a 5th grader who created a new chemical!

Roberta Stewart, widow of Sgt. Patrick Stewart, who took the military to court to gain the right to place pentagrams on Wiccan warrior's headstones.

Iggy Pop on the Slutwalk Toronto Facebook page. I don't support all of the aspect of Slutwalk, but I do love this picture!

Azealia Banks, the Harlem-based rapper, embraces her bisexuality.

Intersection of Queer Theory and Goddess Thealogy

2012-02-04T16:20:00.000-07:00

Over dinner this past Tuesday, a friend of mine, B., a new father and a fellow pagan, had a discussion over the use of the word "guys" when talking to a group of women. He insists on using the term "ladies", because it is his way of honoring Goddess in this male-centric and misogynistic culture. I can appreciate the sentiment.

In our discussion he told me that I should do the same and that he tells everyone he can about this way of speaking. I completely disagree with these actions. Unfortunately, right when we were about to get deeper in to this conversation, his baby girl's bedtime approached and he had to leave the house. This topic has been swirling around in my head for the past week because it touches on two very dear concepts, Queer Theory and Goddess Thealogy.

So here is my weigh in on the issue.

Yes, our modern English uses male as the go-to pronoun for "human", so it is not strange that a word like "guys" has a history of male etymology, but is used "neutrally" in slang. My high school Latin professor, hated the term and wished English had a second-person plural pronoun that was clearly defined and gender neutral. He was found of "yous", but being a stickler for grammar, did not make use of it. I agree that male-as-default is a dangerous, misogynist way of speaking. Do I wish people would get gender pronouns right? Of course. But here is the problem from where I stand, at the intersection of Queer Theory and Goddess Thealogy. B.'s reason for using "ladies" is to honor "the Goddess" that is in everyone. One cannot always know the pronouns a perceived woman wants used.

As I said, our conversation was cut short, so I didn't get an answer when I asked if he uses "ladies" to address multi-gendered groups, or male-gendered groups. From interacting with him for many years I can say I have never seen him do so. In calling female-gendered groups differently from male-gendered groups, he is naming and reinforcing the "differences" heteronormativity upholds, discounting any ambiguity on the gender spectrum and disregarding the pronoun a person uses for themselves.

The way I've understood this, he should use female pronouns if he wishes to bring more Goddess energy into the waking world. I would expect him to use female-as-default, but that poses problems as well. And we have arrived at the intersection. I take the Queer road and settle on words like "folk" and "friends", sometimes using "guys" because it is usually understood to be an umbrella term.

The real issue here is of course that he is deciding what pronoun is appropriate for people based on his perception of their gender. I am offended at this, despite being a woman who uses female pronouns regularly. I do not like being singled out for being a woman. It sounds a lot like a "male professional" calling me "little lady" or "sweetie" etc. He is exercising his male privilege by telling others how to use languages and acts surprised when someone (me, a woman) challenges his grand idea. I do plan on having a broader discussion with B. and pointing him to some Queer Identity & Pronoun Usage Theories.

For now I will stick to this simple Mantra: All acts of love and pleasure are my ritual. So says the Goddess. Goddess is Queer. Goddess is multi-gendered.

Here are two links from this week that helped me understand what I was thinking about.

The Genderbread Person via The Nerdy Feminist

The Gay Spirit Invocation via The Gay Mage

Lady Xoc

2012-02-04T14:24:00.000-07:00

photo found at http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/maya-lintels.htm

Breakin Hearts!!!!!

2012-02-04T09:54:00.001-07:00

Do live near Albuquerque? You should come to Breakin Hearts on Feb 18. This is a beautiful hip-hop community that features b-boy and b-girl contest all day, live art, spoken word and emcee battles. I am bringing our 15 yr ol nephew who is learning to dance on his own, but is ready to get to the next level. I love Brakin Hearts because it's always about the music and the community that makes and enjoys the music. Albuquerque has a long way to come when we talk about good music that is easy to access. What aspects of your community involve music? And how much does it affect you?

"Hunger Games" and Moms

2012-02-01T10:00:00.001-07:00

Here is an interview between a 10 yr old reader of the Hunger Games and her mom. It is a touching interview and I enjoyed quite a few moments of it. I still have a problem with the perecption of Peeta, in my book he is a standard "Nice Guy" and kinds creeps me out. But my biggest issue is the use of the Capitol's catchphrase, "may the odds be ever in your favor". It is not an honorable, comforting,nor righteously aligned phrase and I can't stand people using it casually and not for proving points a out the Capitol's gross practices. Coincidently, my own dear mum just started reading the series the other day. A glad to hear that she is speeding through and keeping me updated. I did love how she compared Effie Trinket to Dolores Umbridge. Though Trinket has a kind streak, she reeks of privilege as much Umbridge.

Hysteria is not a real "condition", it is a reactionary mechanism

2012-01-30T11:14:00.000-07:00

Warning- I may be doing some quick pseudo-science here, only because I am not a neuro-psychologist, but a mere anthropologist.

Hot on the heels of my "witch as slur" post, comes a very interesting piece on "hysteria" in adolescent girls. Feministing.com has a response to the op-ed and what I find very interesting is the fact this is even a topic. Why do we still label this as hysteria? Doing so make me think back to the Salem Trials of the 1690s. Oh come on you know what happened! 17 women were hanged for being witches. Adolescent women shared hallucinations, and experienced pain from "witches" while in courts and while many say the Witch Trials were caused by ergot mold, a naturally occurring relative of LSD, there is not proof of it, or even good circumstantial evidence for it.

Well what happens when groups of women, adolescent especially, experience what other people call hysteria? IMHO, this occurs when that group has reached a tipping point. When the environment around them becomes so impossible to deal with or so pressured or so maligned against them, that there is a group mentality that occurs. In Salem it was swept up with the "law of god' and people suffered for it because it was an affront to the well-ordered patriarchal, puritanical, misogynist, and colonial society of the time. In today's world we will call these women sick, delusional, or "hysterical" to "other" them from the rest of the women who do not act out.

Well, the "othering" has already taken place and that is what causes the groups of adolescents to experience a groups mindset. The human mind is vastly unknown, the true last frontier. It is possible to share mental experiences with those you are close to. I have had shared experiences happen recently and I can say that it happened with my close girlfriends in my show choir in high school. There is something to be said for groups who react this way however, it is a last ditch attempt to make something public. This is a kind of subconscious reaction to the pressures put on young women to perform in a structured way. This is not a sickness of hysterics, but rather a natural reaction to the strains of patriarchy. If the system provides you no way out, you have to act outside of the system by engaging in some strange tactics. I do not believe this is part of any elaborate plan, rather simply what happens in times and places where women are given very few options. And adolescent women are certainly constrained in this society.

Using "witch" as a slur supports xian patriarchy, so don't do it!

2012-01-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

Let's begin by talking about some definitions of the word "witch". According to merriam_webster.com, it can be "one that is credited with usually malignant supernatural powers; especially 1 : a woman practicing usually blackwitchcraft often with the aid of a devil or familiar, 2: an ugly old woman, 3:a charming or alluring girl or woman, 4:a practitioner of Wicca.
The definition on freedictionary.com has a lot of similar definitions as well. Searching for the word "witch" on wiki sends you directly to the page for "witchcraft". I couldn't find an entry solely on "witch". Urban dictionary's definitions highlights some of the more offensive ways you could use the word.

Using "witch" as a slur is not new, though how its used may have changed. "Witch" has always meant a magikal or magical practioner, dealing with spells, or incantations, earth magiks, etc. In most cases it was a gendered word, sometimes not. Today, most often, it is used as a replacement for the word "bitch" with which "witch" happens to rhyme (yes I wrote that purposefully), and like "bitch", "witch" is mostly used to insult a woman, or to feminize or humiliate a man. As in when my mother explained a scenario from work involving a a gossiping "witch". This woman did not cast a spell, curse, hex, or binding. She just gossiped, something all humans tend to do. Why would my mum use this word to insult her? Why not use any other anti-woman insult?

Well, the biggest reason the word "witch" has survived as an insult (at least in New England, where I grew up), is best described by Carol Karlsen who writes:

Witches were criminals who worked in supernatural ways...-they were not merely threats to their neighbors' physical and economic well-being, but heretics. Witches were not only enemies of society, but of God.

Why would this become such a standard slur? Simply put, calling someone a witch in Colonial New England or in contemporary England meant that person operated outside of the xian church, perhaps a feminist anarchist in modern terms. Catholics were called witches by protestants, and vice versa. Witch came to mean "one who does not fit in to the well ordered society", and that society was nothing if not xian. Beyond the edges of xian society, there is only one option, witch, she who heals herself and others, births the children of the village, chooses any lover she wants, owns her own land, may not marry, may not go to church, may honor the lunar, solar, and earth cycles, voice her own opinons, defends herself. This is what "witch" meant as a slur. And why are these traits considered a slur? Only because they subvert the xian patriarchy so weakly built that one wizened crone or an attractive woman or a questioning child can be the signal that some father/brother/son/pastor/husband/male cousin/owner does not have control over that woman.

Using "witch" as a slur is only part of the legacy of misogyny left by xians who built our modern world and languages. Please do not use it to demean others, as its meanings are more nuanced than we can fully understand. If some one is being mean-spirited, say exactly that, if they are a gossip, thats what they are. Calling someone a "witch" is calling them unxian, insultingly. If you use "witch" to insult someone because you think it is somehow better than "bitch", think on this. A "bitch" is someone who enacts their power when they are being oppressed, just like a "witch'' huh? But in my book of shadows, that is an honor.

A/N The Devil in the Shape of a Woman by Carol. F. Karlsen provided the thought exercises thta led to this article. Please read it.

Little Links

2012-01-29T12:02:00.000-07:00

The Wild Hunt posted a great article on the "Pagan Behaviors" of america, according to a GOP hopeful candidate. I have been thinking about this concept for years and love to see Jason write it so perfectly. The danger of this kind of fundamentalist thinking is to segregate humans into xian and nonxian, marking nonxians second class, soulless and not deserving of human rights. It is the bastion of colonialism that actively pursues its goal ruthlessly.

There's no such thing as healthy food I found via Womanist Musings and I really enjoyed its nuanced discussion of how health food is an option that expresses itself differently for everyone.

the 2012 Burning Man Art Theme is released. And there was much ~~rejoicing~~ eye-rolling and heteronormativity

And since it's sunday and you might be feeling a little DIY, here is a wonderful German Dr Who fan, who built her own traveling TARDIS. I have a new hero.

Capitol Witch blogs about a survey for Pagans/Heathens/Other religious Paths regarding their access to community services and support. Please check it out.

An excellent round up of BtVS episodes according to fashion.

A Capitol Offense; offensive Hunger Games marketing

2012-01-25T09:30:00.000-07:00

I came across an interesting post at io9 today. The piece shows some of the "fashionable" adverts, consumerables, and guides from The Capitol Couture line. If anyone had read the books, before filming the movie, how can they really think this kind of marketing was a good idea.The single best part of the The Hunger Games series was the anti-Capitol veins of conversation and conspiracy. I abhor the idea of spinning the Capitol into a semblance of positivity. I would love instead a detailed look at each of the Districts, emphasizing the states of oppresstion or support enemy received from the Capitol. Part of me wonds if they are building up the capitol's appeal only to knock in down in a satirical representation of how our media does this in real life. But somehow that seems too hopeful, especially since they can make money off of their Capitol gear. The tragedy of this is the Hunger Games showed how government oppression can work on a brutal and personal level. It explores what people in power must do to keep that power. The fetishization of the Capitol in the advertising may be "true" to the Capitol style of the series, but it is still very discomforting to me. Seeing the adverts makes me long for an interruption by District 13 to ensure me that the Capitol will indeed fall. And I do not want to see t-shirts, mugs, or keychains that say "may the odds be ever in your favor". There is enough priviledge in this world, our fantasy worlds, no matter how dystopian should not glorify the worst of oppressors.

Dandykor: Albuqueerque's Queerest Performers!

2012-01-24T16:03:00.000-07:00

On the outskirts of Downtown Albuquerque, is the Kosmos @ Warehouse 5. This venue is part coffee house and open to all ages. Friday, Jan 20th, the space was home to Dandykor, a bi-monthly queer showcase featuring circus acts, burlesque, spoken word, dance, and drag. USR and I had a blast on Friday. Godiva Blue's burlesque was tantalizing as always and there was even gravity defying acrobatic displays!!

The gals from Self Serve led an open discussion on the defenition of queer. There were some powerful stories shared and some excellent topics breeched even if they were broad. I am hoping that in the future, the discussions are more nuanced, with locally relevant topics.

Avery's arial hoop performance was stunning, and moving. She used a knife to break free of her ropes and bindings while twirling and suspending. It was a an erotically empowering show.

Rhythmic Moon Jan 26, 2012

2012-01-20T11:20:00.001-07:00

Boosting the volunteer spirit... but how?

2012-01-19T15:56:00.000-07:00

Volunteering is a special beast to understand. At the Kosmic we have a lack of volunteers who commit at the level we need. So I've been mulling it all over. And please help me out with this, if you have any experience on this. Volunteers have to feel its worth volunteering, either because of the cause itself, or because of a perk. This leads me to see two kinds of volunteers. Altruistic and opportunistic. Anyone can be either or both depending on where and how they volunteer.

Opportunistic volunteers can be numerous, so they are useful for things like fliering, occasionally watching the shop, or helping out with an event about once a year, but are not alays available or willing. Altruistic volunteers have more drive and may plan events, make fliers, clean the shop,etc; they tend to fairly committed, but often suffer from burn out. the problem we are having is that because we are a community center first, and a shop second, we really would prefer to have people involved in our community take some of the responsibility of the community. As a venue for art shoes, concerts, coffee, trading circles, local crafters, psychics, healers, and shamans, we want each person to feel welcome and feel they have something to experience here.

Sadly, many people want us to have more events, more workshops, more this and more that. Well, the volunteer staff has more on its plate than it should and can't handle more things to plan and more fliers to make, afford to print, and pass out. We need people to step up and build their own events and commit to its birth rather than just conception.

My first Burning Man taught me about radical self reliance. I had trusted food to a friend and suffered all week long with nothing but ramen and veggie patties. As a foodie and cook, it was almost hell (except that there are so many wonderful food camps). The next year I headed up the kitchen and it was a huge success, we ate like kings and drank like gods. Not only had I satisfied my lack of food, but I knew there would be others who needed it. This kind of experience has changed the way I volunteer my time and energy. I seek what I need and assume that others would benefit from it too. It's kind of a hard to thing to instill in someone unless they have a similar experience.

How does a group engage and respect volunteers that they desperately need? Is it a matter of convincing, or do we need to have great benefits? This has all been tumbling around my brain for a week or so and would love some help on this issue.

Carmelite Water

2012-01-19T09:30:00.000-07:00

Made and used by the Carmelite nuns in the 1600's, this herbal blend is a combination of lemon balm (giving it's sometimes name of melissa water), coriander, angelica, marjoram, cloves, and nutmeg soaked in an alcholic base. This liquid was diluted into wash basins for visitors at the churches and convents where the Carmelites lived. They were notoriously a healthy order and possibly due to the frequent use of this recipe, which has antiviral and antibacterial properties.

For my recipe, I swapped the marjoram for rosemary, since I am not a fan of the smell of marjoram, and added in some wood chips of paolo santo, since I had just gotten some very fragrant pieces. I steeped the herbs in vodka for 2 weeks, strained and stored airtight in a dark cupboard. I hadn't used it a ton until recently. Mix it 1 part concentrate with 3 parts witch hazel for a facial toner or deodorant, or add a few drops into clean water for a soap free facial wash. It's wonderful for camping and road trips. Again using the 1:3 ratio, but with water, in a spray bottle, washing dishes is a breeze. And it will help disinfect counters and surfaces. I always dilute it, since it is in an alcohol.

A 10 ml bottle of my Carmelite Water, which I know is spelt wrong, but the tiny labels were too much for me and I cannot re-do them. Next time I will have to make them on the computer. Too much tiny writing.

Hand-made label, with instructions

The finished product

Lady O's Traveling Medicine Show

2012-01-17T21:28:00.001-07:00

So, I know I am late in coming out as steampunk. I swear the aesthetic has always been way too appealing, but have only recently found a steampunk project to work on. It is a steampunk apothecary called Lady O's Traveling Medicine Show. It is part performance, part apothecary. Here is a list of what I need to do to make this happen.

Lady O's Traveling Medicine Show Wish list

Victorian-style Doctor's Coat (for altering)
Old Stethoscope
2 small axles with good wheels
Old glass (esp. blue, green, and purple) jars with corks or stoppers
Beeswax
Awkward and strange Victorian medical contraptions
A leech, possibly - I am still debating this one

Luckily, I already have skirts and boots that are appropriate, herbal salves, oils, tinctures, herbs, some jars and correct labels. I even have the "mummia" powders, "dragon's bones" etc. Most of the time these "curatives" were indeed fakes (usually ground charcoal or reasons), so I can do the same with great authenticity. Horrendously, many mummies, recently dead folk, and purposely murdered were ground up to become "medicine" for longevity, virility, and health.

Steampunk Octopus Burning Man 2011, Rites of Passage

At The Medicine Show, I will be dispensing herbal wisdom, some bad, some good, some right out of my ass, just like ye olde tymes. I will have a secret first aid kit too, because I try to be good like that. I plan to bring this to Burning Man this summer, so I'll be road testing it at Baeltane (in which I am planning a ritual) and Grand Outlandish (to which my Mum is coming!). I envision hopping on one of the steampunk art cars or mutant vehicles and doling out an impeccable Medicine Show, true to the format and with hidden nuggets of real herbal wisdom.

Modern Pagan Temples & The Ritualistic Mindset

2012-01-17T14:13:00.000-07:00

USR and I spent close to a whole work day at Boston's MFA at he beginning of the month, and while the art there covers some spans of human creativity (providing only minimal African, Oceanic, Indigenous South and North American art), the experience we had was far beyond any of MFA's intentions. Almost psychedelically we communed with the Divine Goddess, had spiritual convergences and met new icons of imagination. How does this happen in such a crowded and massive space without (sadly) the aid of psychedelics? Well, it happens by tuning into the attitude, mindset, and reverence you know from being in a sacred space. I call it the ritualistic mindset.

The ritualistic mindset can be accessed at anytime or place. It is when you feel the Goddess stirring in your soul and feel the God beating the drum of your heart, when the sun kisses your cold cheek in winter and the berries shine like jewels in the summer. When we realize we are only part of the world we live in, and we see our connections most vividly. Some people trance into this state via meditation, ecstatic dance, chanting, arting, writing, etc, and some people only find it in the midst of a ritual or in a temple.

Well, I had almost forgotten how Pagan museums can be for people like me. My magiks center around the Mediterranean, drawing from Etruria and Kemet most strongly, so for me, entering the Old World Wing at the MFA is akin to a sending me back to the 4th Dynasty of the Old Kingdom. I am instantly transplanted into that time and space and I remember why the images are so powerful. Ancient peoples of Kemet, held very specific beliefs about the statues, images, and representations of their deities. The image itself housed the god. No matter where the statue, that was the God's House. This puts museums like MFA into a very interesting position. Housing statues of Sekhmet and Wsir, images of Aset and Inpu, makes the very rooms they exist in, a sacred space.

This may not be a mind blowing concept to any witch or Pagan out there, but what is fantastic is the ability to experience these deities as they were meant to be. Ancient worshippers did travel for days or weeks to get to special temples, just to see the statue their patron inhabited. I flew across the U.S. to introduce USR to Sekhmet. And when they met, I saw a connection made. I saw USR find the Goddess who helps her, who inspires her artwork, and who loves her. For that reason alone, I am serious about finding all the museums I can with Pagan representations and honoring them. It is important that we visit the Gods on their terms, not only in the collage on our altars, or the book we are reading about their ancient worship, but in ways of reverence. Visiting the God or Goddess you work with in person helps to connect you also with the ancestors who made that image. Some person painted the wings of Aset on the coffin, and some person carved Inpu from the limestone. It is a personal validation that your worship is part of something larger. It can help strengthen your resolve and lift your spirits when you feel alone in your worship and practice.

I leave you now with some pictures. Sadly, my camera died 1/3 of the way into the day, so I don't have many, but USR has more and I will post those soon too!

Aset and Inpu adorn a coffin near the heart of the mummy

Wsir as the Mummified God

Middle Kingdom Priestess of Hathor

Miniature Amulets in faience and clay

A tour of Barnes and Nobles, complete with uppity-woman-comments

2012-01-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday USR and I decided to use my $35 gift card to Barnes and Nobles. I usually shop for books on half.com or at a used book store locally, but I got the card as an x-mas gift and figured I could by something new for once! I can spend days looking at books and so when I walked in ready to look at my favorite sections in my favorite order I was severely let down.

Magazines- I usually like to look for the gothic art, pagan write ups, and archaeological journals. There was none to be found. Their small "spirituality" section was nothing but 2012 doomsday and aliens, which maybe part of some people's spiritual practise, but certainly not the entirty of the genre.
Books
New Age - The first problem here has always been the New Age slant. They include Wicca, Asatru, Tarot, in with it, and as a result the quality of the Pagan material is rather lacking. It's all really white too, and not just racially, I also mean magikally. I am a grey witch, and so for me, It includes the tamest books you could imagine in the realm of magik, fortune telling, etc. Again there is a lot of alien stuff, a lot. Too much. They usually stock Cunningham's classics, and maybe a few Penczak and then it's all new age bilge. That's why I buy my books in this field from a proper magik shop (Blue Eagle usually).
Sci-fi/Fantasy - this experience was actually pretty good. B&N seem to be beefing up this section each time I visit. The number of books that caught my attention was as usual, marred by either the scantily clad woman/vampire/witch/faerie/evil queen on the cover, or upon a sampling of the text came across phrases like "stupid bitch", "whore", "act like a man", etc too many times in one book. I hope everyone in fantasy is not getting on the G.R.R. Martin bandwagon of misogyny. I did see "Endurance", a sequel to the book "Green" by Jay Lake which I really loved. It was in hardback and I'd rather get two paperbacks than one hardback, so I'll just wait for the paperback. There was as always, a lack of mermaid stories, and of course no new Marion Zimmer Bradley, though I always check, because if anyone could be writing from beyond the grave I think it could be her. I ended up buying "Cold Magic" by Kate Elliot, because trusted sources have recommended it. Bonus points to all the geeks in this section for a) being gender ambiguous b) showing boundary respect while browsing nearby one another and c) for keepin on geekin on.
LGBT - A pitiful excuse for a section. It contained books mostly printed in the 90s and early 2Ks, and about 85% was gay male oriented, 10% lesbian, and 5% trans focused. However, despite these abysmal numbers for non-bio-male-gay non-fiction, there is a whole other shelf devoted to "lesbian erotica". I guess its okay to lesbian, fictionally.
Anthropology - Sadly, the current anthropology section which used to boast Gimbutas, Noble, and a few other feminists, now contains only one and half shelves and mostly just coffee-table books. Through all the rubble, I managed to uncover one halfway decent book by Daniel Lord Smail, On Deep History and the Brain, which is a call for a new understanding of the Paleo and Neolithic eras completely separated from the the Judeo-Xian Deluge and Garden of Eden complexes. I plan on writing a review on this book so stay tuned for that!

So, all in all, SciFi/Fantasy came out on top for me, considering I had 3 books to choose from in that genre. USR and I half-joked about being information-minortites, since all the information we want is usually hard to find, may be from questionable sources since it involves fields outside of academia, and are if found are generally more expensive. Information access really isn't funny though and this thought just left me sorta depressed. At least I have some new books to gobble up. What are you reading?

Traveling Fool

2012-01-06T07:50:00.000-07:00

So here I am preparing to leave New England an return to my beautiful New Mexico. It has been a great trip full of Wonder, Excitement, Friends, and Beauty. A two-flight trip will bring me and USR home my 9 pm Mountain Time, 11 pm East Coast Time. Hopefully Southwest continues to be decent and allows us
Highlights of our trip included:

Newport Mansion The Marble House, Temple to the Arts in America, Women's Suffrage, and my Dream Kitchen
New York City Times Square, Henrietta Hudson, Hanging with High School Friends, and Breakfast Delivery
New Year's Learning USR and I play Poker, Reading New Year's Fortunes, Harry Potter Movie Marathon
Boston Museum of Fine Arts, rediscovering museums as Pagan Temples (more to come on that later), The T, Seeing USR so happy, Newbury Comics
Family Harry Potter movie marathon, Museum of Science, Lobster Dinner, Sharing Wine with my little bro, Meeting Molly-Wobbles, my Mum's rescue maltese

I'll be writing some more substantial posts soon, possibly today while flying, so be on the look out for those and I am already planning some fabulous trips to The Bay Area for Pride, and as usual Burning Man, now with my brother possibly coming along, so I'll keep you updated on those.

Happy Travels everyone and I promise no more lame updates for a while.

Pajama day for the sake of Harry Potter

2012-01-01T09:56:00.000-07:00

I am still bounding happily in an and around New England. Today is a special day for me and my family, not because it's new years day, (happy 2012 by the way), but because we opened my new set of all 8 Harry Potter films and are currently watching Hagrid storm into the Dursleys island cottage. We are watching all 8 films today! A Potterthon. We have a day of geekerry awaiting and I have the Harry Potter Lexicon on stand by for referencing book vs. movies canon. AhhhhUSR and I returned from NYC yesterday after three days of great fun with my high school friends. Drag shows, veggie burgers and breakfast delivery were in high abundance. We boogied all night athlete Henrietta Hudson and i enjoyed my self so much that I had to drink up all my electrolytes before we took the train back to Queens. Yes I bring electrolyte packs to bars. I am serious about my hydration. And speaking of hydration our entire trip felt like a few days at Burning Man. We partied a bit, watched men in heels and bras, ate amazing and weird food, and saw old and be friends. We have only a week left here and have done so much in New England it will be great to get back to New Mexico this weekend and eat green chili and see all my dear friends.And since it's 2012 I don't have resolutions, but I do have things I am doing1. Get a data collection/analysis job 2. build up a new belly dance show3. Help USR get grants for public art

Solstice Update

2011-12-21T19:15:00.001-07:00

Since I am in New England and trimming trees and baking up a storm I am not updating too much. I'll be traveling to Spirit Hollow for a Solstice gathering tomorrow and Friday so in the spirit of Solstice check out The Wild Hunt's solstice round up. I plan on picking blogging up after my family's Xmas celebrations, but I won't commit to that for sure. Here is a list of the activities USR and I have already done while in Mass-Visited the Marble House in Newport, RI, despite the decadence of the Vanderbilts' ~~estate and lifestyle~~ privilege the building really is a testament to arts of the Greco-Roman style and even the Women's Suffrage movement. The highlight was the tea set with blue lettering reading "votes for women"-Xmas party at my high school friend's new apartment where it is proven that republicans and non-partisan witches can agree on quite a few things, most importantly that Joss Whedon is a god and that Ganga should be decriminalized-New Bedford Whaling Museum which I haven't seen in years despite growing up with it. It showcased some really wonderfull exhibits ranging from whales as endangered species today to the largest boat model anywhere. What struck me most was the number of people of color in photos on display. From Cape Verdean women in beautiful gowns, to Captain Cuffe, and Frederick Douglass all along side Azorean whalers and European sailers.

Crabsedillas

2011-12-13T22:34:00.001-07:00

Here is a quick recipe I love whipping up.8 oz cream cheese1-2 cans crab meat (depending on how deep your love of crab is)12 gorditas3 chopped scallionsRoasted or pickled garlic, choppedSalt pepper and cumin to tasteMix everything except the gorditas together in a large bowl. Heat a skilletSpread the cream cheese mixture over one gorditas and place in skillet. Cook until gorditas brown on both sides, about 3 minutes each sideLet cool for a minute before cutting into quarters. Serve hot with horseradish and teriyaki sauces. Leftovers are great for snacks, lunch, and roadtrips.

Solstice Tutorial

2011-12-07T15:19:00.000-07:00

With all the holidaying going on, I am here to dispense some witchy information for the Solstice. So dust off your staffs and winter cloaks, ‘cause we are about to travel through an ancient winter wonderland.

What is the Winter Solstice? Spiritually? Socially? Culturally?

The Winter Solstice is the day when Earth’s day is shortest and the night is longest. It occurs on Dec 21 2011 in the Northern Hemisphere. Spiritually, it represents the deepest part of the wheel of the year. It ends the descent begun at Festa dell’Ombra, or Samhain, and the period of thinning veils and easy passage through the realms of death. It prepares us to accept the coming sunlight and its gifts, after experiencing the dark and dank underworld.

Socially, the Winter Solstice in times past represented the need to gather as a community to survive in the hardest time of year. With limited daylight, there is scant time to hunt enough food for large communities of agriculturalists. So their pickles, preserves, jerkies, etc become survival staples. Oats and grains that last till now are most precious. Gathering in communal spaces and sharing the horde of your herbal remedies meant you might get some jerky in payment for healing, or vice versa. Once the sun began shining longer, hunting, husbandry, and some indoor horticulture could start up again. This kind of survival mechanism led to the week long festivals of Saturnalia or Bruma on the Italian peninsula, Yule in the Germanic regions, many others across the globe. These traditions are varied, just like the modern Christmas traditions.

Culturally, this agricultural holiday took on religious tones early on, and xianity is not the only one to co-opt the time of year for their own. Mithras, a Roman solar and military deity, is born on Dec 25th, as is Heru, from the Egyptian pantheon. The similarities between most celebrations this time of year is the celebration of the sun/Son/Sol/son’s birth. Wine, ale, nuts, dairy, sweets, and heavy foods tend to be fare in much of the colder regions, as well as spicier foods to keep us warm inside out. Gift-giving is one way to help keep a community alive, and gifts for this time of year can sometimes mean literal survival.

How is it celebrated today?

The Winter Solstice has many ways to celebrate. A local group here in Albuquerque hosts Longdance, a full night of drumming, chanting, dancing, feasting, and ritual, meant to accompany the Sun’s passage on its longest night, and assist in its rebirth come daybreak. Other celebrations include candle magik, Yule logs, and wassailing. Gifting is common in the neoPagan community as a wonderfully creative tradition. Homemade, hand-crafted, or pagan specific gifts tend to be fairly common and highly enjoyable. I have been to bonfires, blots, and circles on the Solstice and this year I will be camping in a yurt in Vermont with my brother’s spiritual family.

Family remains a huge part of any Winter Solstice celebration. Its a great time to check in and support any community members you know who may need an extra hand, or a fire to drum or sing by. We once survived because of one another, lets remember that this time of year.

Winter Solstice ideas

Candle Magik

A simple indoor “bonfire” for your Solstice allnighter

You will need:

Your Solstice celebrators and celebrations

6 gold candles

6 white candles

a fireplace, flagstone floor, or very safe & sturdy table for all the candles

Sun and/or winter chants

Drums and Drummers

Set all the candles on your surface, leaving plenty of room on all sides of the flames. Make it safe first, aesthetic second.

Beginning at midnight, coax the Sun out of the underworld by lighting one gold and one white candle while everyone chants, drums, and dances.

Do this again at each hour. Feel free to dance throughout the whole night, or just when lighting candles, but have music going all night.

Come sun up, serve a favorite breakfast and end celebrations with napping or lounging.

let all the candles burn themselves out, or save the wax for magikal uses later.

Yule Log

A great Solitary or Family tradition

You will need

the stub of your evergreen tree, or a log of firewood, with a flat side

carving tools

3 candles

Carve 3 wholes for the candles to fit into opposite the flat side. Decorate with your favorite holiday sigils, runes, herbs, or stones.

Place the candles and anoint with oils or chant to charge the log. Burn the candles through and save the wood for the fireplace next solstice night.

Homemade gift ideas

Collaged Candles

You will need

modge podge

7 day candles w/o any paper on them

collage images of your choice

hot glue/gun

fabric paint in any colors

stones, beads, ribbons, acrylic jewels, etc

Use the modge podge to adhere the paper to the candle and let dry over night.

Then heat your glue gun and fix your beads, jewels, ribbons etc on the candle. Lastly line the edges of the paper images with your fabric paints so the lines do not show. Circle the jewels so they look bezeled, and let dry. Thats all

Use the same technique on altars and pins for more variety.

Snow Day - I'm Lazy

2011-12-05T15:22:00.001-07:00

As rare snow falls upon Albuquerque for a third day in a row I am beginning to prepare for my holiday season activities. I am flying to Mass next week to visit my family and friends and USR is coming with me, so thats the big thing happening. Sunday two of my witchy sisters came over for a day of salve and scrub making.

Here is the list of items we made for our loved ones:

Hemorrhoid Ease Cream, with rose, blue chamomile and lavender essential oils
Snake Oil Salve, our own NM based recipe, with pine and eucalyptus essential oils
Ganga Dev Lip Balm, our secret recipe for relaxation and enlightenment, original flavor and Spearmint & Anise
Pine Salve, shea butter with pine and cedar essential oils
Lavender Eucalyptus salve, a special request for my mum
VanillaMint Lip Balm, just what it says
Cornmeal Salt Scrubs, Mimosa and Cedar varieties

Bring out your dead plots

2011-12-05T10:22:00.001-07:00

I know the new Hansel and Gretel movie is supposed to be a comedy, but it doesn't ever get funnier seeing all witches maligned as child-eating, ugly, old hags who need killing. we saw it in "black death", which I won't link to or even capitalize for its gross über xian message of "woman in power = scariest scenario eva, so let's kill her violently". I mean, not coming soley, from my own pov, isn't it time for the witch's gritty, sexy comeback, ala werewolves and batman? And not a simpering Samantha played by Nicole Kidman. Imagine...Scene opens on a cloudy full moon, twinkly-starry music plays as the camera pans to an apartment block in JAmaica Plain. A late-twenty-something witch, wearing a black and purple gothic attire leaves the house, muttering a spell that make her subtly blend in with her surroundings like an octopus. "Voice over" : Ina city where no one knew her, a centuries old mystery is about to crash into Aradia's world. Flashes of the Salem Witch Trials reveal a plot of land grabbing, backstabbing, and death by hanging. Tituba is shown sending her child away with a traveling group of traders, teary-eyed and muttering prayers over her. Back in the modern day, Aradia, through a shameful and overtly xian DNAstudy/museum exhibit discovers she is Tituba's descendant and uncovers the truths about Salem's trials. Through dreams she recieves from Tituba, She meets a practicing coven who help hone her gifts and eventually they all overthrow the xian director of the museum, establishing a true exhibit of the tortures and pain experienced by the coven of Salem in 1690s.Its a little scattered, but that's my attempt at a gritty witch movie. I imagine it a looking like Underworld, music by Faith and the Muse, Dead Can Dance, Beat Antique, directed by Joss Whedon, and Aradia played by Bianca Lawson (Kendra the Vampire Slayer).It would be a welcome change from the gross portrayals of witches I have seen recently. I can't stand Practical Magic, or that new Bewitched, it's the same sexism employed in everything else garbled with a a semblance of female power. And The Craft, has major flaws in its p.o.v., despite showing that witchcraft can help women be powerful in their own selves. It's time for a a new witch paradigm in Hollywood. Don't they ever get sick of the same story over and over again?

Buffy ????

2011-11-28T19:37:00.001-07:00

My Bilerico update alerted me to a very disturbing fact. Sarah Michelle Gellar, despite her work in the vocally feminist Whedonverse, of Buffy and Angel, is a registered republican. Also on Buzzfeed's list is LL Cool J, 50 Cent, and the usual suspects.I am not part of any political parties since none share my Pagan values, and I refuse to support lesser of two evils. With that ideal I'll end up supporting some of the people who seek my destruction. I wonder how long ago SMG registered and if it was pre- or post- Buffy. I would love to ask her about this, since the GOP stands against the very major themes she embodied as Buffy. For example, female agency, treatment of LGB characters as human beings, the power of chosen family, and even the abuse of power within xianity, not to mention the dangers of patriarchal establishments. So why would someone who spent 7 tv seasons portraying these strong themes just to vote against them in real life?

Where there is armpit hair there is love

2011-11-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

When I was 12, I was extremely blessed to travel to Italy. It was beyond Mythic for me. It was the Old Country in my family. All the stories of Venezia flooded my head, and the prospect of ruins practically made me orgasm, and food, Ye Gods, the food beyond description.
The trip was supervised my dad and nona, since we were visiting family who still lived and flourished in the Veneto. I had met our hosts already, Zia Lucia and Zio Adriano, my favorite relatives. Lucia was everything I wanted to be. She wore Italian designer clothing, lived overlooking a vineyard AND 10th century castle,had bread delivered via scooter each morning, lived in a 600 year old home and drank espresso and wine with each meal, laughed sensually, and moved and spoke with great confidence. Now I could go on more about the bread or the house, but this post is about the clothing, or more specifically what the clothing revealed. Lucia had hair under her armpits, and on her legs. And so did every other "fashionable" woman I saw.

Every country, for that matter, every city/town/state/etc has its own regional styles and aesthetics. The difference between Massachusetts and New Mexico for example is astounding. But there are some broad aesthetics that seem to take over, for example: shaving of the legs and arms.

I know many others in the realms of gender expression, feminism, and culture have written on the shaving of the female body in America. I simply want to add my story and journey to the many voices. Having been teased in 6th grade for having hair on my legs, I started shaving my legs and armpits very early. Seeing my European aunt and all her contemporaries with hair under their arms and down in their legs was eye-opening. How wonderful a world to not shave. It was so "international" and at 12, that ideal was most appealing to me.
It wasn't until after I began having sex, that I stopped shaving on a regular basis. I know i would have liked to sooner, but it didn't feel quite right. Now here is where I had some major unpacking of myself. I realized that because I idolized my Zia I wanted to be like her as a grown woman. And while I definitely don't wear designer anything (clothing swaps and thrift stores for me!), I do not shave my body hair on a regular basis.
I realized only a short while ago, that I somehow equated wearing my body hair with being a grown, sexually empowered, woman. It is the marker of my confidence and the crown of my sensuality. It means I am in someway embodying my Zia Lucia. This tie, this connection, only recently known to me, highlights the point I am making. I wear my body hair as part of my Italian-American experience. Having been exposed to my family in Italy at a young enough age, the styles and aesthetics of the women I admire have become my own and I am proud to wear them.
Being a mostly femme kinda woman, I sometimes get to "hear it" from people who think I should shave much more often. I host a monthly belly dancing show and a few of the dancers who show up to perform have made comments, when they thought I couldn't hear, about my hairy armpits. Now, the thing is, despite their concerns, I am still one of the favorite dancers no matter who the audience is. Hetero couples, queer couples, hetero and queer singles, Americans, and international travelers alike seem to overlook, appreciate, or enjoy my body hair.
I recently recounted some of these feelings and musings with a fellow Italian-American woman who told me this. Her zia, upon seeing her recently grown armpit hair said she looked more grown and that "where there is armpit hair there is love". I really understand this, and there is a huge comfort to know that my own conclusions are shared by others in my culture. Armpit and leg hair is not universally shunned, and even here in America, there are plenty of people who find it fully attractive and even enticing. If you haven't met the hair under your arm, I invite you to. It is a sensual and mature aspect of a woman's body. And for me, it is one way I acknowledge who I am and where I come from.

Christ

2011-11-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

Had Christ been female
she'd not need die, but merely
have her monthly course

NO SHOPPING DAY CELEBRATION

2011-11-23T23:35:00.001-07:00

Trade Only Day

Kosmic Trading Post celebrates

No Shopping Day by hosting a Trade Circle

Bring all your tradable crafts, goods, objects, appliances etc to trade for in store items and with other traders.

WomynFolk Clothing Swap

Trade Circle

Psychic Readings

Beads

Blown Glass

Nov 25 Noon-5 pm

3710 Campus Blvd NE

Nob Hill, Albuquerque

Late Fall Tea for Health

2011-11-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

I just finished celebrating my birthday by camping. I know it's ridiculous to camp in November, but honestly I have camped in worse weather in May. However after I came home Sunday evening, I developed a cough, unsurprisingly. And here is the recipe for the tea I have been sipping while regaining use of my throat.

1 Medium root of Osha
2 Tbsp Elderberry
2 Tbsp Cota
1 4" root of Astragalus (broken into at least 3 pieces)
1 Tbsp Hyssop
1 Tbsp Cinnamon

Add all herbs into 6 cups of water. Bring to a boil then let simmer covered for 30 mins. Strain and enjoy with honey or juice.

What makes this blend so wonderful for health in the colder months is the combo of osha, elderberry, and astragalus. Osha, or Bear Root, should be in every cold season brew you make. It is a wonderful antiviral, antibacterial and even antifungal. It is perfect for the months we spend inside sharing space with germs and getting less fresh air in the house. It also is excellent for throat conditions in general, including strep, colds, and smoke damage from fireplaces or smoking. Osha grows in the Mountain West and is eaten by bears in spring when they awake from hibernation, since it will set right any ailments they may have gathered while snoozing.

Elderberry is a European remedy for the flu. Also known as Sambuca, elderberry makes a wonderful syrup for the winter. You can a little everyday, preventatively or take as needed. Viruses travel easily in the cozy comfort of winter, so I like to have a few cups of elderberry tea a week.

Astragalus is the lung tonic according to some Chinese Herbalists. It is an excellent herb to take everyday if you are a smoker, have asthma, or work with fire or smoke. It is almost tasteless but very potent. To get the full benefits, soak it in water overnight before boiling and simmering it. It is the "A" in my ABC Soup. Astragalus, Burdock, Carrot soup that is. It is a wonderful immune booster with plenty of vitamins and minerals for recovery or general health.

Flying Southwest Airlines = Potential Awkward Moment

2011-11-23T09:47:00.001-07:00

While reading my morning websites, this one from VelvetPark really caught my attention since I will be flying Southwest for the Holidays next month. Now I have flown Southwest before and the things I like about them are the dealbreakers for me in flying.
1) Southwest does not charge me to bring 1 suitcase with me. I will not pay to bring a suitcase. This is the sickest thing airlines have ever done, make me pay an extra $25+ on top of the most expensive flights I have seen in years. Having flown back and forth between Albuquerque and New England at least 12 times since 2004 I have seen airline tickests go from $250 a round trip ticket to almost $600. Now this is for a flight that never is direct. No airline flies directly from Albuquerque to Boston or Providence, so I always have to transfer. So on top of that I have to lugg around a large carry-on and a large "purse" usually a backpack.
2) I can pick my seat. I don't like crowds and I don't like strangers. I hate when people assume we must talk just because we are seated next to each other. Choosing my seat gives me a tad more power in ensuring I am not seated near the Gramma who stares at my tattoos and talks loudly about them to her son. I don't have to sit next to the creep who keeps bumping into me at the boarding gate, and I don't have to sit in front of the baby who is flying for the 1st time (again).
And they happened to be the cheapest flights for me and USR

Now, just because Southwest has my ultimate dealbreakers taken care of does not mean I will always fly with them. I will always take the cheapest flight. Thats it. But Southwest does my flights that much more comfortable.

That all being said, my upcoming flight on Southwest poses a few questions for myself. I know with all my heart that if I don't think about it too much, I will end up kissing, holding hands with, lean my head on, USR. Why? Because we are a couple. We live together, shop together, yadda yadda yadda. We hold hands at the store, bank, on the street, at restaurants, everywhere we go. I realize this can be seen as a political act, but for us it is not. We simply act like the couple we are. One other reason we continue to be identified as a couple in public, is to ensure that any in-the-closet or questioning person can see a lesbian, multi-racial couple in flesh like everyday people. Normalized. Happy. Its better than the "It Gets Better" videos because its right there in front of you.
I know I will not be able to "not be with" my girlfriend while flying. My question is rather how do I want to handle this? If it was a situation involving only myself, I would probably be loudly defiant. My mother has already asked me "not to make a scene" until the flight home since she is really excited that I am going to home for Xmas and New Year's.

Here's my point of view. I will not pretend I am not "with" my girlfriend. I am a grown woman in a defined loving relationship and I will not hide it. I also will not be kicked off of a flight for being with my girlfriend without making a Big Stink, filing a lawsuit, and receiving a public apology plus miles for flights (I know it's a lot, but it needs to be). I can only hope that the flight attendants are not homophobic asses.
Now just because I am a subversive and paranoid Scorpio, I know I will scan the craft for hetero PDA and catalogue it for reference if later needed.

Punchline: Southwest calls itself the LGBT Airline.
Hilarious I know.

I'll fly Southwest this winter, but I will also be own self. And if I kiss my girlfriend on the plane, the world has to be ok with that because I am ok with being Out and I can't fit my big queer sapphic lips back in any closet.

I Dream of Pleistocene

2011-11-22T14:55:00.008-07:00

This Sunday was my birthday and it was the best one on record! I always wanted my birthday parties to be outside or at the beach. Sadly being born in November and living in New England that was never the case. This weekend however, my sister Catt and her partner, Me and USR and my close friend Star went camping. I know camping the weekend before Thanksgiving seems crazy, but I promise you it is something we must do. We went to Storrie Lake near Las Vegas, NM. This was my first time here. i had ridden through before, but never spent anytime there.

First we set up camp, which was wonderful to begin with since it was the first time USR and I used our new Civil War replica tent. It looks just like the one above. We set that up on Friday night at dusk. when we finished camp building, we drove around the mesa to the Montezuma Hot Springs. OH MY GODDESS these are the best Hot Springs I've been to. Not only are there at least 5 pools, but there is a Lobster Pot, it is about 6 feet deep and about 112 degrees. Below that is the Crescent Moon Pool, in which I feel like a Mermaid lounging in a tidal pool. Star wildharvested some yerba mansa for us all as well. A great aspect of the springs is that they are just off the main road. Unlike San Antonio, there is no nausea-inducing ride, and unlike Spence, no frat boys and there is plenty of camping available nearby for either tents, rvs or car camping. We went back to the springs on Saturday and Sunday as well. 3 days of Hot Springing was the best I could have asked for. But, one of the best parts of these springs is that you have a great view of the Montezuma Castle, now the United World College, which looks just like Hogwarts.

Hogwarts

Montezuma castle

Well its the closest I'll get to Hogwarts in New Mexico.

The tent survived the first night in 70 mph winds. And there were 90 mph gusts. We really didnt sleep, it was like being on a small ship. The sails were flapping and the wood creaking, it was a really testing experience. I haven't braved winds like that camping, but it was an excellent test of my skills . I love testing myself against nature like that. It is really comforting to know that I can get some sleep on a night like that and then spend the next day repairing Catt's tent, sadly it ripped in the morning (but its canvas so we fixed it). The campsite had a Pleistocene feel to it. The span of prairie, a small lake, fossils, I almost expected Castoroides nebrascensis to show up. Oh that would make my birthday even better. But alas, no 8-foot beavers, just rough winds and my dreams of living in the Pleistocene. It is amazing how camping for 3 days will help me remember how our ancestors lived and survived in the wilderness. All the star gazing and story telling and wild crafting and sewing canvas helped to smother me in nature for my birthday and I simple love it!

Nearing the end of Official Intergalactic Witch Doctor Appreciation Month

2011-11-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

As the title suggest, we are almost done celebrating the most wonderful time of the year. It all began for me, with Pagan Pride day Oct 2. and just this past Sunday I saw the Marigold Parade in the South Valley. I have also made a wonderful Angler Fish Hoodie with LED light lure and batches and batches of medicinal salves for pain relief, insomnia, and trauma. I also begin my brand Full Moon Circle, called the Witches' Lunar Society on Thursday. It is a wonderful time of year for me and here are pictures from the past few weeks.

Me and USR in our Trick or Treating costumes. (we did have kids with us)

our home's Halloween table

With a tiny adorable jack o'lantern

Living in New Mexico, I am blessed to experience Dia de los Muertos. The whole celebration is comforting and releasing. This year's parade was no exception. Floats depicted death of our economy, pigs with "1%" on their backs were booed and shooed from the crowd, who cheered gladly for the Occupy movement mobile drum circle. More important however was the procession that carried a black coffin with names and dates written on them. The names were read aloud via bullhorn and when I heard what was said, I cried. The coffin was covered in names of those who had been Killed BY APD. Some innocent. some not. All DEAD. later in the parade, a stream of cars with women's and children's names reminded us all that domestic violence kills as well. as much as it hurts to think of these occurrences in a parade setting, it is so necessary. To remember the dead in such a way allows us to process what kind of world we live in. It was all I could do to not cry buckets for those who did not deserve death. So it is in the memory of these people that I celebrate Dia de los Muertos, those who have gone on and work their magik as Ancestors. Remember them and keep them in your heart.

2011 Marigold Parade, South Valley, NM

USR as a dashing and dapper calavera

Ground Control as an Executive Calavera

Me as a turn-of-the-century Calavera

Me and USR

Quick Note

2011-11-02T12:33:00.000-06:00

This is a non-substantial post since I am in the middle of a couple big sea changes for me. I am finishing up my resume for a few amazing jobs, including an excavation job in Abydos, Egypt. Yes that Egypt. Find you know that when I was 4, I told my mum I was moving to Egypt to be an archaeologist? Well it's now a possibility for me. So once I get my resume passed in, I will be back to posting, but this situation requires some extra concentration of mine so blogging is on hold even more than usual, which I know is horrible of me. But soon there will be Halloween Pictures a post on etruscan iconography and all new recipes. Happy Scorpio time.

2011-10-24T20:10:00.000-06:00

I went camping in the Jemez Mountains last weekend and I am so refreshed. I hadn't been to my favorite hot springs in almost 2 years, San Antonio. It is brilliant 4 pool waterfall on the side of a canyon. The ride down there is fucking crazy. And of course, since I'm a good New Mexican, I let those with more sensitive stomachs ride in the cab of the truck while, me the dogs, and few kids enjoyed a bumpy and slow ride down the red dirt road. USR djed on Saturday night, since we had a generator and we pretended we were at Burning Man.
Now I am frantic to get my end of the month events up and running:

Oct 27 @ Hookah Kings, 9784 Coors Blvd, RHYTHMIC MOON belly dancing & more!
Oct 28 @ Kosmic Trading Post, 3710 Campus Blvd, WOMYNFOLK CLOTHING SWAP
Oct 29 @ Kosmic Trading Post, 3710 Campus Blvd, KOSMIC SHADOWFEST intergalactic halloween fun with Costume Parade and Contest, Gypsy Village, Sunset Drum Circle and Community Ancestor Altar

I am also planning to book a belly dance show or two while I am visiting back east for the holidays. Hopefully, I can do intermission for a Drag King show, or do some other similar queertastic spectacular.

Rhythmic Moon October 27

2011-10-12T22:19:00.000-06:00

My monthly Belly Dance show
Are You Coming???

Links to Humanity

2011-10-09T17:00:00.000-06:00

Wile I am waiting for a walk-in tarot readings, I thought I'd post some links from around the web I've been checking out lately. So first in the spirit of irony, some fabulous Man-ups via Flikr.
NPR has a great little piece on the power and comfort of food in times of need, stress, and sickness. It really resonated with me, after having a conversation with a local chef about the importnce of feeding the artists in our lives.
And in case you needed a new reason to love gender swapping, here is Harley Quinn and Joker!
If you are feeling like writing letters, why not try this program out. The Prisoner Correspondence Program seeks pen pals to write back and forth to incarcerated queer, trans, two-spirit, and intersex folk.
Because I am in a cult called Burning Man, here is a love letter to the Temple of Transition from this year's Burn.
Justin Adkins writes about his mistreatment by Nw York Police after being arrested at the Occupy Wall Streer protests. Because he happens to be a trans man.

Albuquerque Pagan Pride Day 10-2-11

2011-10-04T11:22:00.000-06:00

Sunday was the annual Pagan Pride Day. I have been unable to attend the past few years because of Burning Man, but this year, they moved the event to October so I could attend. I was also able to work at a booth to make some small cash. I read Tarot and Trinket Oracles, as well as apply henna. My henna had a few more takers than my fortune telling, though I did make enough to pay the small bills. The event usually has a large attendance and I think this year was the biggest I have seen. All day there were faces i recognized or not, but all were friendly. Since I was working at a booth, I did not have a chance to interact as magickally as I like to. I was unable to participate in the rituals or contests (tug of war with the May Royalty looked splendid from afar!), but I still managed to have a multitude of fun connecting with new and old friends. Our booth had Tarot, Palmistry, Trinket Oracles, Henna, and Turkish Coffee Readings and we were busy all day long!!!

So now here are the few pictoral highlights from the event

Kosmic Trading Post Storefront

Me, sporting the headdress I made for the event

Main Ritual Spiral Dance, which looks amazing from the outside, you could feel the energy radiating out, it was a very moving experience

GOAT ON A LEASH!!!

Cpt. Catt and Magpie enjoying the Last Sunlight of Summer through the trees

And also me, with my fabulous new witch's hat, from Witch to Wear

Autumnal Update

2011-10-03T22:46:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was the annual Pagan Pride Day. It was such a blast. I worked at a booth reading Tarot and doing Henna. I did some great work and I will have a full review up later with pictures!
Autumn descends late in New Mexico. Even today there is a chill that demanded I stay in the kitchen making warm food and such. Days like this is when I feel my fiercest. I tried out a few new recipes like the Earl Grey Tea Cake The recipe for the cake came out wonderfully. I used a little extra bergamot essential oil to brighten the flavor and I used whole wheat flour as well. I forwent the icing due to its needless sweetness.
I also made a few lip balms for USR's mum to bring on vacation to her sister's. And I whipped up some topical analgesics for the upcoming cooler months when my back tends to tighten up more often. I love the alchemy of cooking and salving. It always soothes me to adjust and blend flavors or scents, to alter the consistency of a salve, or change a recipe to st my needs or tastes. This time of year is when my cauldrons are hottest and my optioned the strongest.
I love that autumn in New Mexico means flip flops are still an option and I just have to bring a light jacket out at night. The smell of roasting green chile is everywhere and I love the pagan spirit that comes out here for the month of Halloween, I mean October. The celebration of Official Inter-galactic Witch Doctor Appreciation Month is so strong and the Dia de Los Muertos culture takes hold very soon here. Last Pctober I was in Salem, MA and that was wonderful, but honestly Albuquerque is a wonderful Halloween town.

ok, fine I admit summer is over and Autumn in here!

2011-09-28T16:20:00.000-06:00

So, I actually took a few pictures this summer that I planned to upload to this blog, sadly, my ipod touch, and ipad, will not allow me to upload directly, so I had to start up Ye Olde MacBooke to get this photo edition out to you. Since I've been using Ye Olde MacBooke for Pottermore, I'd thought this would be a good time, since Pottermore needs a waaaaaay bigger server to handle its Beta users and I can't easliy or quickly navigate the site. So without further ado, here is Bellatrix's Summer 2011 in Pictures!!!

Chance at the 3SidedWhole WomenFolk Gathering performing The SweetFire Ceremony (above)

Here is the cemetery we consecrated. We laid MorningStar's and Gloria's ashes here. They join some of Timothy Leary's ashes. (below)

Gay Pride June 2011

Martha's Vineyard- July

this is the tiniest and cutest little house ever. look at the milk crate on the right side of the picture to get an idea of the scale. It's Hobbit-sized!!!

Triceratops at the Boston Museum of Science.

Me on Block Island, RI for the first time. I am really impressed at this summer getaway. Much more affordable than MV and bigger than cuttyhunk so its more of a day trip than just a boat ride to the beach.

BURNING MAN!!!

i apologize for the lack of pictures. I was too busy drinking Pickletini's at the Pickle Joint, dancing like a madwoman at Temple of Boom, enjoying the art gallery at Fractal Nation, serving up attitude at Center Camp Cafe, making Spaghetti Tacos, and chasing down a Steampunk Fire-shooting Octopus.

Low-Rider mini bar. holy crap. How cool is that and its right on the Esplanade

The Temple of Transition, in crappy quality (go see it here). It was moving and earth-shattering. Hearing the Earth Harp play here was a profound experience

OMG its a giant scorpion!!!! (and mantis)

USR and I at the Temple Burn

Thank you JK Rowling

2011-09-28T12:07:00.000-06:00

I have usually been happy in the way that JK Rowling depicts and describes her female charachters. Well I have been so distracted and frustrated with the new Pottermore site that I have not been doing much else online the past few days. I just had to peel myself away to thank Ms. Rowling, that despite having to wait and wait for site pages to load, it was worth it to see her write blatantly that Prof McGonagall is a Feminist. The word feminist is on the Pottermore site. That warms my heart, even though the piste makes me remember dial up all too well.

Repeal daya

2011-09-20T18:00:00.000-06:00

As Rachel Maddow put it last night, today is Repeal Day. This is the day when it is no longer illegal to be gay and serve in the USA's armed forces. I live on an air force base because mt girlfriend's mom is a retired veteran. Since neither me or my girlfriend are military, we have always been open on base. I had always thought it was a small way to force our gay agenda on the few military folks who lived nearby us. I can't wait to see lesbian and gays in our living area more often. I wonder if that god-awful show "Military Wives" will show a lesbian wife waiting in heaps and mounds of steaming drama, or if they will just throw in a gay man longing for his husband, and have him join the club of women.
Anyway, to any and all military queers, I hope you have a good day and wether or not you come out, I support you!

2011-09-15T11:28:00.000-06:00

Rhythmic Moon is tonight, so I will be cooking hummus and chapati al daybtoday to serve and then costuming later. So for now here a few links worth checking out.

The Grio has a really great piece on Susana Baca, the first Afro-Peruvian minister the country of Peru. I love that this woman not only is politically powerful, but she has achieved international fame as a singer and dancer.

This article from the Good Men Project intrigued me. It answered some questions I've had regarding masculinity in television shows and entertainment in general. However, it doesn't make me feel any better about men-centric shows. Honestly can't I watch a nice piece of tv fiction with my girlfriend that doesn't make me shout out feminist diatribe at the screen??? There isn't even any more Rizzoli and Isles subtext until November.

2011-09-12T21:00:00.000-06:00

Tonight is the full moon and I am reclaiming it for myself. The past years since I graduated moved into my sister's house, then moved in with USR presented challenges I never perceived. My magik has always been in the public parts of my adult homes because my childhood homes forbade it's practise. At my sister's I lived on the couch with no privacy and no space in which to set an altar besides the shared family altar which did serve me well enough for general magiks. Unfortunately I ended up not performing my esbats rituals on the New and Full Moons. This rolled over to when I moved in with USR. even though I had a space for my altar, I had never shared a room before. Luckily for me that transition has been so smooth because USR and I are made for each other. But I still have not reconciled working magik and sharing space.
Well, after my trip to Burning Man, I knew this routine had to change. I was inspired to perform a public ritual on a somewhat large scale this coming Samhain and wanted to be at my best for it. So tonight I begin by cleaning and preparing my room for magical work and performing my old standard full moon ritual and house protections.
I am so thankful that I got the right message at Burning Man. The energies this year were so subtle. Nothing hit me hard like say Bliss Dance in 2010 or Camp Beaverton in 2009. I had a the wonderful experiences I knew I would, but the change that comes from attending Burning Man was far more subtle than an art piece or a theme camp full of new sisters, this year anyway. I noticed over the course of the week that the gifts I would receive would not be felt until I got off the Playa. I am already feeling the call of autumn like I haven't in years. The time of year io feel most alive is here and thank you everyone who attended Burning Man for being a part of this Rite of Passage.

2011-09-08T18:16:00.000-06:00

So I returned from Burning Man yesterday and of course I a still decompressing. Short highlights of vacation are thus far:
Beatty Hot Springs twice!!!
Massive Trojan Horse which tok my breath away.
Clit-tails at Camp Beaverton
Temple of Boom
Macy's European bakery in Flagstaff, AZ
More to come soon.... Stay close by

Descent if Inanna

2011-08-16T22:32:00.000-06:00

Well with the coming of Burning Man, our camp is being stretched and bent in new and painful ways. But I'd rather not use my sporadic posting for griping too much. I also don't wanna just talk Burning Man. So I'm gonna post this I've recently rewritten. I've used variations of this for the past few years, and have only performed it in the company of women. I wrote it for a women's gathering and only used it there. Holding with the theme of the year, "Rite of Passage" I am expanding my experience with this ritual to include all genders. I am really excited to share this ritual with everyone.

Ritual to Enact the Descent of Inanna
9 pm Fri Sept 2 at Spaghetti Taco, Burning Man 2011
Aneshia, Catt and Tiph as priests

Calling the Quarters, making the sacred circle

Beginning at the North Altar
Earthen dwellers, in caves and mountain sides, come from the darkness with your deep knowledge. Enter this circle, Guardians of the Earth, and be our foundation.
East Altar
Airy hosts , Dust on wings of breeze, fly from the gales with your discernment and visions. Enter this circle and be our inspiration.
South Altar
Fiery beings, in bonfires and sun, from your hearths and flames join us with fierce energy. Enter this circle and be our passions.
West Altar
Watery spirits, of lakes long gone, reach through time to rain on us intuition and magik. Enter this circle and be our blood.

After Calling the Quarters, the Gatekeeper draws the circle 3Xs with her sword or staff, Inanna follows with incense and Erishkigal follows with salt water.
Inanna: Do you seek to journey, explore the inner womb of the Earth? Of your innermost self?
Gatekeeper: Is there an answer you seek? A mystery to explore? A desire to fulfill?
Erishkigal: For in the power of the Darkening Moon, the wisdom of the Underworld guides us to our truths.
Invocation of Inanna
Queen of all given powers, unveiled clear light, wearing brilliance, chosen, sanctified in the heavens, grand in your adornments, Lady of Heaven and Earth, be here, let your garment clothe you.
Invocation of the Gatekeeper
O Watcher of Ways, Guardian of Passages, you know the path before us, treading shadow and light. Opener of Ways, who shines light where there is none, cloaked in knowing and adorned in Spirit, voice of reason, manifest spirit in flesh.
Invocation of Erishkigal
Lady of the Great Place, Land of No Return, Mistress of truth, lovemaking, and justice. Dark One who welcomes the souls of the dead, Queen of Fell Treasures, fill this vessel, overflowing.

Erishkigal: If you wish to enter my realm, you must free yourselves from the constraints of the world above.
Gatekeeper: I will remove the spiritual baggage, symbolized by various worn articles.
Inanna: Follow my lead, either symbolically or actually, by removing your clothing or jewelry.

All sing: Unknown, darkened earth
Underworld, take us in
Let us be reborn!!!

Gatekeeper: At this gate I require your crown.
Inanna/petitioner: Why my crown, oh Gatekeeper?
Gatekeeper: WHISPERS It is your ego

All approach the Gatekeeper, and she removes their crown, physically or symbolically. When all have finished one candle is blown out.

All sing: Unknown, darkened earth
Underworld, take us in
Let us be reborn!!!

Gatekeeper: At this gate I require your rings.
Inanna/petitioner: Why my rings, oh Gatekeeper?
Gatekeeper: WHISPERS It is your false pretense.
All approach the Gatekeeper, and she removes their rings, physically or symbolically. When all have finished one candle is blown out.

All sing: Unknown, darkened earth
Underworld, take us in
Let us be reborn!!!

Gatekeeper: At this gate I require your necklace.
Inanna/petitioner: Why my necklace, oh Gatekeeper?
Gatekeeper: WHISPERS It is the burdens of society
All approach the Gatekeeper, and she removes their necklace, physically or symbolically. When all have finished one candle is blown out.
All sing: Unknown, darkened earth
Underworld, take us in
Let us be reborn!!!

Gatekeeper: At this gate I require your breastplate.
Inanna/petitioner: Why my breastplate, oh Gatekeeper?
Gatekeeper: WHISPERS It is your self-judgement
All approach the Gatekeeper, and she removes their breastplate, physically or symbolically. When all have finished one candle is blown out.
All sing: Unknown, darkened earth
Underworld, take us in
Let us be reborn!!!

Gatekeeper: At this gate I require your girdle
Inanna/petitioner: Why my girdle, oh Gatekeeper?
Gatekeeper: WHISPERS It is your greed
All approach the Gatekeeper, and she removes their girdles, physically or symbolically. When all have finished one candle is blown out.
All sing: Unknown, darkened earth
Underworld, take us in
Let us be reborn!!!

Gatekeeper: At this gate I require your bangles.
Inanna/petitioner: Why my bangles, oh Gatekeeper?
Gatekeeper: WHISPERS It is your addictions.
All approach the Gatekeeper, and she removes their bangles, physically or symbolically. When all have finished one candle is blown out.
All sing: Unknown, darkened earth
Underworld, take us in
Let us be reborn!!!

Gatekeeper: At this gate I require your loincloth.
Inanna/petitioner: Why my loincloth, oh Gatekeeper?
Gatekeeper: WHISPERS It is your shame.
All approach the Gatekeeper, and she removes their loincloths, physically or symbolically. When all have finished one candle is blown out.

Erishkigal appears with a mirror and says:
You have arrived in the Underworld, wholly naked and bare. No other way is possible. To see your shadow, your night-shade, give me your sorrows, your pain, your inabilities. In return you receive the treasures of the womb, gems of knowledge, ability, strength and power to surpass what has defined you. Look into the mirror and give your shadow it's power. Name your weakness, your hurt, your pain, and give it to me, to transform here in the Dark Place, as coal becomes a diamond, yours to retrieve whenever you have need, for you now know the way. This place is ever-accessible, befriend your shadow, let it lead you to rebirth.

Erishkigal stands with the mirror for scrying and if the petitioner wishes they receive the 8 pointed star in henna as a memory of the journey. When all have reflected, we begin the ascent.

Erishkigal: You have all journeyed and dwelt in the underworld. The journey is half done, you must resurface with the gifts that come from truth and discovery. Your pains are transformed to your strengths. Take your gifts and spread them forth!!!
Gatekeeper: At this gate I return your loincloth, for it is your enjoyment.
After all receive loincloths, a candle is lit.

Gatekeeper: At this gate I return your bangles, for they are your abilities.
After all receive bangles, a candle is lit.

Gatekeeper: At this gate I return your girdle, for it is your comfort
After all receive girdles, a candle is lit.

Gatekeeper: At this gate I return your breastplate, for it is your self-forgiveness.
After all receive breastplates, a candle is lit

Gatekeeper: At this gate I return your necklace, for it is your empowerment.
After all receive necklaces, a candle is lit.

Gatekeeper: At this gate I return your rings, for they are your intentions.
After all receive rings, a candle is lit

Gatekeeper: At this gate I return your crown, for it is your assurance.
After all receive a crown, a candle is lit.

Erishkigal, Gatekeeper, and Inanna are all thanked and dismissed.

Western spirits are thanked and dismissed
Southern spirits are thanked and dismissed
Eastern spirits are thanked and dismissed
Northern sprigs are thanked and dismissed

360 and then some

2011-07-28T00:34:00.000-06:00

I'm gonna start with really nice things in life right now. I am doing Henna at the Kosmic trading Post a few times a week, and selling some jewelry and Collaged candles. I am also traveling to New England for 10 days. I will be at the beach, camping, and raiding thrift stores for Burning Man outfits. Now I can only do all this because of the bad part. My boss fired me. She fired me for refusing to smile and flirt with a customer who continually harassed me. Apparently it's bad customer service. I'm planning some course of reaction that's appropriate through the human resource office. But I am doing okay despite it all.

The beach and seafood and Harry Potter once more in IMAX will lift my spirits until Burning Man, after which I will be hunting hard for a job in my field. I am ready to make good use of my anthropological degree.

2011-06-28T08:49:00.000-06:00

New Mexico is now burning too. the beautiful area around Los Alamos Labs, home of the atomic bomb is threathened By flames once again. All the people in the region are being evacuated. This useful website has updated in for on NM Fires.

Tomorrow, there is this great event for those of us who use prayer to make changes in the world.

Let it rain! Let it rain! Let it rain!
June 29, 2011
7 pm - 9 pm
Bataan Park on Lomas and Carlisle
Join us as we celebrate the beautiful gift of rain in this time of need
There will be a prayer circle, intention gathering, and good vibes

This is a family event and a musical event. Please bring your instruments, drums, and voices and songs. We will drum down the sun and drum in the rain!
Call Natalia 575 491 2262

Booksmart Witches*

2011-06-08T20:15:00.000-06:00

I have a lot of love for a certain trope in fantasy media. The Booksmart Witch. Willow Rosenberg, Jenny Calendar, Hermione Granger, Morgaine le Faye, Are the heavy hitters in this category. It's true that witches don't usually get a good light in media. Even BtVS' first encounters with witches were very negative ones. Luckily, the as the story unfolded, they showed well that the kind of witch you are depends on the kind of person you are not "if you are a witch you are a ________. One reason I love this archetype so much is that it really exemplifies one of the biggest discriminations women off all kinds face: knowledge.
One has only to ask any degree seeking woman about her experiences with cohorts, professors, and administrative workers and you will hear shocking stories of gendered grading, discrimination, and condescending harassment. Check out Microaggressions for more shocking stories.
Even in young women's lives this is commonplace. We are encouraged into "soft sciences" and told we should be English teachers, not math majors. Booksmart witches like Hermione Granger lead as examples in the fantasy realm.
The reason these archetypes are not more popular is simple. The Booksmart Witch is more than a magical threat, she is also an intellectual threat and how comfortable is our world with smart women? Not very.
These women stand out from their sisters in being formidable in battle, in conversation, and in gaining knowledge, which as the adage says is power. The Booksmart Witch leads by example, not caring that she is mocked for her book loving or her rituals. Because she learns and knows she is able to see beyond the situation at hand and outwit her opponents using knowledge and skill.
I wish we could see more of this character represented in media. And not just pretty white witches either. I know fierce Booksmart black witches and curenderas who could send Hermione running. We need to see the witches who teach themselves the old languages to recite in cations properly, or who work meditation daily to cultivate their own inner knowledge. These witches are my aspiration and it's time that we have an uprising of Booksmart Witches.

My favorite Booksmart Witches from fiction
Willow Rosenberg
Hermione Granger
Morgaine
Elphaba
Real life Booksmart Witches
Hildegard Von Bingen
Lupa
Maya of Ancient Road

*this article uses the term "witch" to describe feminine magical practioners. I do not usually exculde any gender from the term, but for the purposes of this article, I am focusing on those who generally present as female, or include femaleness in their description of themselves.

Alchemy of Henna

2011-06-06T08:46:00.000-06:00

This is class I am teaching starting this Wednesday.

Beginning June 8, 2011
(and every other Wednesday) 1 pm - 3 pm
Kosmic Trading Post,
3710 Campus Blvd in Nob Hill
$15 per class, includes henna, designs, and instructions for making, using and storing henna. Please bring a towel and pillow.

Arizona wildfires reach Albuquerque NM

2011-06-06T07:36:00.000-06:00

We are driving through the bosque here in abq and I cannot believe that the smoke from the Arizona fires is sitting in my rio grande valley. It's like being at the man burning except that the man is 500 miles away. It's so crazy. Everyone in town who wears contacts, has now switched to glasses because the smoke is so persistent. It looks like fog, but it's smoke. Wildfire smoke. And we have been having a drought this season when we need it most, water restrictions, and the smoke is making the land even more dry.

Herbal advice for massive smoke encroachment
Osha, lots,
Steam, oil diffusers, humidifiers, with eucalyptus, lavender, hyssop, oil

What I Read Today

2011-05-18T20:58:00.000-06:00

The most important article I have seen concerning Arnold S' affair, and the only one I'll gladly recommend.

Using piñon sap in recipes, from the Gila, NM

My neighborhood farmer's market opens next week!

And the art funded by the Burning Man project is announced and it sounds amazing!!

Old Town Ghost Tour Fri the 13

2011-05-18T18:02:00.000-06:00

Last Friday I went in a Ghost Tour of the Old Town in Albuquerque. I worked in Old Town for 3 years and was surprised to learn quite a bit about the history of the ghosts residing there, most if which were female by the way.
Here are some of the highlights.
Guadalupe Chapel
Built by the nuns who lived and worked in the artists' colony behind the church, it has never been consecrated by the catholic church, which explains why I have felt so comfortable there. Enough so that one night when I was incredibly depressed and could not stay in my home, I spent the night there, sleeping on the Tree of Life painted in the floor.

The Chapel originally had a Mixtec calendar in the large round window that now holds a modem stellar/lunar map. According to our tour guide, there is a certain spot where women only feel someone petting their heads. He thinks this is some kind of ghost. My personal theory is that the unconsecrated chapel acts as temples once did, as home to the Divine. I have gone to the Chapel and seen Aset, Mary Magdelene, and Ixchel. I have heard the voice of the Goddess of Witches, I have felt Freya. I know that the Goddess shows herself in many faces and places, but here she truly has expressed herself creativly, especially for a built environment. I do wonder why she would only manifest to women. It doesn't quite make sense, but I will have to do more research at the Chapel.

We stopped at the Church St Cafe to hear about the Curandera, Sara who once lived there. Her skills of healing and caring helped the town greatly. She was a single mother in the late 1700's who continues to keep the house in check by kicking out skeezy contractors, throw pebbles at tables that need attention and hide keys from disrespectful employees.

Those were the highlights, now the bad parts
Our tour guide insisted on making horrible jokes all night, all the time. He also had a series of sexist comments concerning female ghosts, who far outnumbered the make ghosts on the tour, leaving the impression that women are relentless in their anger, hate, and haunting, even into the afterlife.
And the strangest thing I witnessed on the tour was a mariachi band that did all Beatles covers with a very good Beatles impersonator at the front playing guitar. He looked quite like young Paul, but with a full Mariachi band. It was far stranger than any of the Ghosts we encountered.

2011-05-10T13:30:00.000-06:00

First off, I am a lazy blogger. I apparently just took a 2 month sabbatical to
1. Visit the Very Large Array on a mini road trip to Truth or Consequences, NM to soak ihot springs
2. Celebrated Baeltane
3. Celebrate USR and my second anniversary
4. Do some reading on Muslim/Xian relations from the Crusades to the Rennaissance
5. Fundraise for Camp Spaghetti Taco with a record breaking Rhythmic Moon event
6. Begin planning for the Annual 3Sided Whole Women Retreat June 3,4,5
7. Experienced family togetherness and support
8. Cycle back into a healthful lifestyle

I will be back in full swing shortly, most likely this week.

Int'l Women's Day

2011-03-08T11:40:00.000-07:00

So here were are again at the day set aside to celebrate women. What exactly does that mean? Are we simply honoring all women? Are we honoring special women? Are honoring ourselves? Take today to honor a woman who really needs it. Reah out to your local Women's community, wether it be from a church, workspace, family, classroom, online, coffeeshop, etc. Take a moment today to honor yourself as a woman, even if you don't identify as one. The goddess is in all of us. Remember the women in your life who help you, and who support you. Try to help them in some way today.

Queer Pagan Ritual- On Being an Ally for Trans Pagans

2011-03-03T11:41:00.000-07:00

As a non-Transwoman I have massive privilges my TransSisters do not, I can enter any "woman-only space" no questions asked, no "proving who I am", no deep-seated fear that I may be found out. As a ritual facilitator, who often leads "women-only" rituals, I have a duty to open this space to all my Sisters. Many Pagan traditions and practises are not considered "valid" according to mainstream america. Many Trans persons suffer in the same way. The emphasis in Modern Paganism needs to be shifted from the idea that a body makes a person (just because I am a young woman, I am not the most suitable canidate for "maiden in just any ritual).
In the same way that I was raised as a xian by my family, I am not considered as-Pagan by some traditionalist, because I also practise solitary and ecclecticly. Does this make me less Pagan? I never was a xian, no matter how hard my parents tried to make me. I couldn't dress like one, talk like one, or think like one. This experience reminds me of a little girl who is constantly told she is not, who is forced into boy's clothes and made fun of for her natural personality. As Pagans, we must remember that we are part of a community that embraces. As spiritual outsiders in the majority of america, we must acknowledge the importance of allowing a person to practise their faith WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION. Our Trans Sisters and Brothers deserve every bit of respect that non-Trans people get in a ritual circle. After all, communication with the Goddesses, Gods, Ancestors, Spirits, Guides, Animals, etc is not centered in the body. Yes, me must love and acknowledge the body, but ultimately we are experiencing a non-bodied, non-gendered way of being. Who better knows about transcending the body than those who do so everyday? We must allow all women in our circles to worship. Otherwise we are every bit as oppressive as those who have hurt us. By sharing space with those who need a place to worship and be moved and touched by the Goddess, we are doing her work. I believe a women's only circle should only exclude those who identify as male, as male energy can manifest in any body.

2011-02-08T14:22:00.000-07:00

This isn't new or special or fun but I want the world to know that USR is the most wonderful being I've ever known and I love her so much. I am so blessed to know her, biblically or not.

Poem to Brigid

2011-02-01T20:45:00.001-07:00

Quarter Callings for Ritual Space and Protection

Earthen Mounds and Terra Firma
Trees and Flowers, Hills and Valleys
Upon your steady surface I build this Circle
Gnomes and Badgers, Cows and Elves
Lend your presence to this Circle

Silver Clouds and Fragrant Breeze
Zephyrs and Insects, Gusts and Gales
By your winds I breath life in to this Circle
Fae and Hurricane, Birds and Bees
Lend your presence to this Circle

Scorching Flames and Gaseous Fumes
Coals and Snakes, Singed and Burned
Through your passion I build this Circle
Salamanders and Nymphs, Phoenix and Smoke
Lend your presence to this Circle

Ocean's Swell and Rivers' Bend
Tidal Pools, Ponds and Tears
With your intention I transform this Circle
Blood and Naiads, Mermaids, Whales and Oyster
Lend your presence to this Circle

In the Burque

2011-01-26T19:36:00.000-07:00

Albuquerque's annual hip hop show Breakin' Hearts on Feb 19

Sex-positive advice column (18 + ONLY)

Witchvox.com New Mexico Page

Some of the white world might be changing I hope and pray a wicked lot

2011-01-22T21:28:00.000-07:00

So while blending herbs for a customer today, we started talking about how traveling to countries who have suffered from Colonozation use a lot of imported and processed foods. She said it was sad to see "them making our mistakes" and I replied "well, it's time we stopped calling colonialism 'capitalism'". She and both my coworkers all stopped in silence for a minute. Then everyone thanked me for speaking my opinion and agreed with me.
There are a few items up for discussion here. First, I'm not sure I meant to say capitalism, only because I am not economically aware enough to know of that is the system in question. Secondly, all of us are white women from the U.S.and I am not sure I've ever said anything so blatant in the company of "white people" in public (school,work, etc). I don't know what it means to make these statements about most of the world with only white voices and white ears present. Thirdly, no one disagreed with me. I'm not sure I'm done processing this comment I made, but I do feel like I voiced my feminist opinions well and was recieved well by my peers for my critique. I think the white world and its myths might be crumbling just a bit.

I almost forgot...

2011-01-20T12:00:00.001-07:00

I got my nose pierced, it's hard to see here, but it's a silver paisley with a blue stone and three dots. It was made just for me!!!

Worldbridger, Full Moon in Cancer

2011-01-20T11:05:00.000-07:00

So yesterday was a full moon in Cancer and to celebrate my own Moon in Cancer, I cooked up a worthy soup to chase the cold clouds away. And since I'm the Kitchen Witch I am, the recipe is part potion part soup and all magikal.

ingredients (I always recommend using local or organic produce and products)
1 onion per person, this recipe is made for 3(white, to symbolize the Moon)
dry sherry (1/2 bottle at least)
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
5 cloves of garlic
2 vegetable bullions
butter
salt, pepper, onion powder, any other spices you like
day old bread
provolone

chop onions, crush garlic and sautee in butter in the bottom of a large stock pot
cook until until onions are almost limp and clear.
add bullions and vinegar and spices
let stew with the lid for about 30 minutes on a low heat
add sherry and and much water as you would like (you may use any broth you like instead)
Let cook covered for about an hour, or until desired taste arrives.

serve soup in individual oven-safe bowls and place cover the top of the soup with bread and then slices of provolone. Cook in oven at 350 until cheese is golden brown and bubbly.

Soup is very hot so be careful and Enjoy!!!

I found myself engaged in many Moonful activities all day yesterday. I began by shopping for food for me and USR. Then I did some cleaning and cooking for the week to come. Our menu includes the above mentioned soup, Spanikopita, and stuffed shells.

Yesterday was also a Worldbridger day in the Tzolkin cycle. Which happens to be my glyph day as well. These are such juxtaposing aspects of my astrological self. My Moon in Cancer is what is softest about me, it is me when I am cooking for the people I love, it is my ability to spend my day at home with USR talking art and dubstep and reading, it is my secret self. Worldbridger on the other hand, is literally about the Death that meets us all, the astrological psycopompe who connects the otherworld and the everyday. The ancient Maya knew it as Cimi, death, shadow, rebirth, transformation, and wisdom.

I invite you as you wallow in this full moon, to also embrace the action of transformation and shadow to bring your hidden selves up to the surface. It is time to wear our true selves fiercely.

Giving Blood while Crafting

2011-01-12T19:37:00.000-07:00

I saw my blood today. Not my moon blood, just the everyday kind.
Slicing ceramic while brewing a potion of
Dragon's Blood and Pau D'Arco
My ruby stream dark and warm such a gift from the Goddess
My blood for the Dragon's, as in the old days,
The offerings gifted to the Mother of all.

Mum came to visit

2011-01-12T12:45:00.001-07:00

So my mum surprised me by visiting after New Year's for about a week. It was really nice for the most part. I treated her to a spa day in Santa Fe, recommended holistic and theraputic remidies from the Apothecary, ate decedant deserts late at night, watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 1 (for the 3rd time each), cooked some great food, and had a wonderful time. Oh yeah, and my Mum meat the Bichon Frisee we have at the house, so she was in heaven about that!

However, USR put it best the night my Mum left "She was uncomfortable a lot". And that's the truth. My Mum had to confront head on that not only does her daughter love a woman but that she loves a black woman and that we will kiss and hold hands in public. The spa is clothing optional, there are kimonos for moving between areas, but the women's section (hot tub, sauna, lounge, and cold plunge) are all filled with naked women. My mum is very uncomfortable naked, and I told her before hand so she could bring a bathing suit if she wanted. She chose not to and I was proud of her for that. A lot of this came to ahead, when one morning, my Mum and I began discussing my interest in Wicca when I was young. I don't think she realized I continued to practise magik all these years.
I told her that I understand she acted out of fear as a parent and as a xian parent. Her response is that it was her home and she couldn't allow anyone to practise witchcraft because is went against her faith. And as a child my faith didn't matter, because she was the parent. This is where the discussion became a disagreement, because when any religious belief stifles a person's (in this case a child, a witch, a daughter, a non-believer, an aspiring scientist) chance to explore faith and their personal morality, it is part of a larger system of oppression.
Her shock at this idea, that she a mother of a lesbian, authority-snubbing, herbalist, could be part of an oppressive group. She told me I was putting her on the defensive and I said, it was the first time her xian privilege stared her in the face. It wasn't pretty, or intentional to have this happen, but since it did, we've now begun a xian/witch debate.

I'll be writing more on this topic in a few weeks, as part of an exploration of feminist spirituality. And in the mean time. Here's a reading list on the topic.

The Devil in the Shape of a Woman: Witchcraft in Colonial New England, Carol F. Kalrsen

Nature's Body: Gender in the Making of Modern Science, Londa Schiebinger

Holistic Healing, Hildegard of Bingen

Rebirth of the Goddess: Finding Meaning in Feminist Spirituality, Carol P. Christ

Works of Literata

Starhawk

African Alchemy

Z Budapest

Aum Rak

Hecate

2010-12-31T13:43:00.000-07:00

So today there is an overwhelming sense of failure at work. I have a lot to learn about acting nicely it seems. My boss is very understanding when I have a customer who is sexually inappropriate or misogynistic. However I deal with them in a non-retail-acceptable way. And on top of us now trying to deal with that, I really hurt my manager because I informed her of my tasks in a demeaning way without meaning to. I know Mercury just left retrograde but these feel like different lessons. I'm starting on a new karmic cycle i think. I've gotten a handle being fierce I just need to fond the value in being polite. I really am at a loss. Any suggestions?

What my loved ones do on the internet

2010-12-29T15:54:00.001-07:00

Check out this 2012 website, with channeled information from Archangel Gabriel!!!

My partner and her amazingly magikal art!!!

Parental, Pagan, and Photography with my best friend from high school!

2010-12-29T15:01:00.000-07:00

Changes and Turbulence are abound right now. My Mum, is looking for work, as is USR and my student loans are becoming more demanding. However, I am working on some fun projects: Rhythmic Moon our monthly dance collective has been on my mind a lot more and I am about to start up a second performance night each month in the Nob Hill area. USR has agreed to DJ and I am hoping to diversify our collective. My herbal salves are also taking off. I am planning a line of salves, oils, hair and skin care products all made to be gender ambiguous (no "musky polo player" or "flower garden with sparkles") and made with high quality materials, love, and magik. I'm calling this line Alchemy.
And I have made only one resolution for the coming year. I am reading more fiction. It has been years since I enjoyed fiction outside of Harry Potter and I want to change that. I have a couple books I am working on including an older locally written novel about time-traveling-dancing-gypsies.

Holidaze

2010-12-25T23:47:00.000-07:00

It began last week with making salves from scratch and decorating candles, baking treats , gluten-fee and standard ingredient, homemade pasta, tomato sauce. I've been potioneering infused liquors, hiding presents, smiling at customers who drive me crazy (thank Goddess for emergency sake in the kitchen at work), lying, and generally doing my best to say "happy holidays" and not assume everyone is "christmasing" This year is harder than most. I haven't been as involved with my local pagan community, so far less wassailing or yuling. And at home, our Matriarch is avidly christian and being surrounded by the military personnel makes outdoor ritual a bit uncomfortable.
I particpated in this christian holiday far more than I usually do. And in some highly "unchristian" ways such as lying outright to people about gifts, overindulging, and not offending everyone who wears a "happy birthday Jesus" pin. Honestly people, it's also Osiris' and Mithras' birthdays. The worst is the music. I cannot abide christmas music.
Well, at least we had a great day. USR was infinitely sexy and seductive all day long by wearing her new hat, and finding me a wonderful tarot deck and datebook. I baked 2 lasagnas and then fell asleep. It was a smooth day, filled with no deadlines and we all stayed in pjs all day. I'm ending my night by watching Star Wars, and sipping on some whisky. Happy Holidays and happy feasting.

I didn't do the right thing.

2010-12-15T08:19:00.000-07:00

I'm summarizing, but here's a conversation I overheard at work today.

Man: I'm bringing this osha root to my brother in Nicoragua.
Woman: oh! I have a house in Costa Rica! Have you been there before?
Man: I was born there.
Woman: You are SOOOO lucky!!!
Man: (looks fiercely at woman) Except for the Revolution.
Woman: Well yeah...I hope you have a good trip.
Man: I will.

I should have said something, but to whom. "hey lady, do you have to wear your class and U.S.privilege with such callous flippancey?" or "I'm sorry, sir, for her painful ignorance and her disregard of the events enabling her 'tropical paradise'"? I'm either speaking from a place of privilege for someone whose permission I do not have or apologizing or excusing a classist and racist person, essentially defending her. I just continued doing my work, pretending to ignore. None of these is the right thing to do. I feel like I failed to be an ally.

Sick, Sad, World

2010-11-29T21:19:00.001-07:00

This is not ok. at. all. Kenya's Prime Minister calls for the arrest of gays and lesbians. My prayers are with you brothers and sisters.

And this is not ok either... Corrective rape, for lesbians, in the U.S. Military, suggested by a Tennessee Judge. You are an ass. It's that simple.

Treppaning

2010-11-29T17:00:00.001-07:00

After being sent home from work for being too sick with this headache, the feverfew and mint barely making a dent into the pain, and lack of lighting not helping at all, I am yet again considering trepanation. Ah, prehistoric medicine and medieval oddity that you are, I feel that the only way to relieve this constant pressure is to burr a small hole in the left temporal lobe. Trepanation has long been on my "makes lots of sense to those afflicted yet deemed unnatural or unsafe by medicine" list. There is evidence from Neolithic Europe, modern South America, Ancient Greece and Egypt that supports the healthy use trepanning to relieve migraines, remove tumors, and invoke the divine.
I have mentioned my wish for a trepanned skull to some of my friends and there is a unique and interesting pattern that evolves. All the self identified men who hear this freak out, even those who are pierced and tattooed all over. All the self identified women who hear me say this agree that it would help soothe pressure in the brain cavity and would consider it as a medical procedure.
One day I may take on this procedure, though rest assured I would not do it myself, as many treppaned individuals have. I don't have the adeptness with a drill. If my headaches continue I just may go through with it. I promise to let you know if I do. Until then, I'll just keep reading about it and disguising it as an academic interest, even though my Forensic Anthropology profs all thought it was an odd topic for me to be studying. Apparently, its not as sexy examining bullet holes in the skull.
The Trepanation Guide
ITAG (International Trepanation Advocacy Group)
An Illustrated History
Hole in the Head (a documentary trailer)
Hippocrates, Galen and Uses of Trepanation in the Ancient Classical World

I got sick and realized I am very Blessed.

2010-11-28T16:17:00.001-07:00

For the first time in two years I got a little sick. Well sick enough that I couldn't do anything but be sick. And its certainly been an little peak into the lives of my friends, family, and others who live daily with pain and maladies. And while a 48 -hour headache by no means provides a full understanding of an everyday-life with health restrictions, pain, conditions, dis-ease, and different abilities it has reminded me that my health is in fact a privilege. That without my good health I would be living a very different life with a completely different worldview.
In general, I have great health. My partner has never seen me this sick and the last time I was close to this sick, was about 5 years ago. I don't normally catch colds, or flus, or strep or any of the stuff that "goes around this time of year". As far as supplements or herbs I take, they are all maintenance doses. Omegas 3 and 9, Dong Quai, Pau D'arco, Reishi. So for my Recovery Potion I decocted pau d'arco and cinnamon, and then steeped the water with olive leaf, rosehips, and wildcrafted red clover honey. I'm already feeling better, thanks mostly to a hot compress on my forehead all night long and some organic electrolyte drink. I am hoping to be at the apothecary tomorrow and back to helping other feel better. I am glad to have a new insight on my able-body and renewed thanks to the Goddess for my health. I plan on returning to work with a new view and a deeper understanding of helping those who are seeking herbal alternatives to their health concerns and issues. Hopefully, my health can be a bigger help and asset to those who experience other kinds of health and well-being.

Its the most wonderful time of the year...

2010-11-18T15:08:00.001-07:00

So November 2010 has a momentous event going on, besides my own birthday, I mean. The release of Part I of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. All kinds of fabulous things are happening. Luckily my friends appreciate my Harry Potter obsession and are granting my birthday wish of dressing up in costume with me for the midnight premier on the 18th. I am wicked excited. So in honor of this most wonderful time of the year (until next May when Part II comes out), here are some wonderfully geeky Harry Potter links.

Fandom results from the London Red Carpet Premier

Deathly Hallows Wiki page

Almost Sold OUT!!!

Thursday Round-up

2010-11-18T15:03:00.001-07:00

Natalie Wilson writes on the colonial gaze in the "Twilight" saga.

Holy Hell, this Oklahoma school refuses education and graduation to two young teens simply because they are gay and living together. WTF!!!

Nominate your favorite Butches for the New Butch List by Sinclair Sexsmith.

This woman became pregnant, was jailed for it, and subsequently died from lack of medical treatment. IN AMERICA. And somehow we are more "right" than other countries.

Her Hip Hop FireWomyn party in Albuquerque, NM at the El Rey, Friday night, Nov 19, 2010. Showcasing:

Her Hip Hop Elements
Beat Box
Graffiti artists
Poets
DJs
MCs
Bgirls

Performances by:
Say Wut
AJ "The Girl"

On Belly Dancing, Queerness and My Personal Ethical Conflict

2010-11-11T19:15:00.002-07:00

Saturday night at 7 pm UNM's QSA (queer straight alliance) will be hosting a Drag competition and Queer Prom. I will be dancing with a local Drag King in one number. There are a lot of reasons I am happy about this show. I love dancing for the Queer community in general. Queer audiences appreciate my gift of dance more than straight and narrow audiences. My community does not expect me to dance, entertain, seduce , or entice simply because I am a woman. I am choosing to present my dance as a gift to the Queer World, I am just one more facet of our beautiful rainbow. I also am excited because it is a kid-friendly event which means my dear friend who never gets to dance can come without needing a babysitter. This is kind of a rare thing and I need to explains bit more why. Belly dancing in the modern context is entertainment and usually "adult". It is usually for the male gaze and most dancers simply except that. Hookah lounges, bars, studios are all likely places you will find belly dancing. These are not really kid friendly venues because being a mom and a belly dancer somehow can't coexist when the ever pervasive male gaze is concerned (apparently). Many of the Queer events in town are family friendly and that is so important to our entire community. I am also glad to support a Queer prom and be supporting my Alma mater's Queer Straight Alliance. Despite all these wonderful aspects of this show, I do have one concern. The Drag King I am performing with chose some music by Chris Brown. I really don't want to Perform to his music. I do not want to dance to the music that supports an abuser. Or will our performance raise the energetics of his music and inspire my Queer community to take the evil in this world and make it work for good. These dilemmas are tough and make me think of Frodo using the One Ring along the way to get him to Mordor. Or Harry using the Unforgivables against Death Eaters. Evil is all relative, and I guess dancing to a Chris Brown snippet with a Drag King while supporting a Queer cause isn't the worst investment of my energy. I still don't want to dance to his music, and I can't understand how someone would use music that supports an abuser.

Wednesday Picks - The Short List

2010-11-10T22:44:00.001-07:00

A Darker Shade of Pagan - A podcast devoted to the music of the Pagan Underground. This musical delight is full of the eerie, gothic, sophisticated, ethereal and primal sounds that make up the pagan audial experience. From haunting chants, woodland howls and harmonies of voices, all the best in mythology, praise, spellcasting, lore, magik, and pagan themes and traditions are played out int his podcast. I really enjoyed the Nov 3 episode just for the creepiest time of year.

Lapis Lazuli - This deep blue stone with flecks and streaks of pyrite is a precious treasure. Used extensively by the pharaohs of Egypt, the tribespeople of Afghanistan, and prized by Ishtar herself, this mesmerizing stone is akin to your throat chakra and also to the heavens, the pyrite shines like golden stars in a night sky evoking the ancient spirit of the Morning Star Goddess.

End of Summer Salad

2010-11-07T21:28:00.001-07:00

Bunch of arugula*
2 Jerusalem artichockes*
bunch of radishes*
1/2 red onion
chopped mushrooms
garlic and sea salt
rosemary
sage
pepper
*from my local farmer's market (the last of the season)

Return of Fall

2010-11-06T20:45:00.001-06:00

With the sun 2 weeks into the sign of Scorpio, I am finally in the flow of transition. Thanks for bearing with my non-existant posts while I got settled into my job, traveled to New England, and came back into my witchy self just in time for the dark part of the year.

Increased responsibilities at work also brought a raise. More customers are asking about protection spells, amulets, herbs, incense and oils every day. With that in mind here are a list of my top protection ideas:

9. Myrrh - oil or resin, Myrrh is a powerful purifier. Less pungent than Dragon's Blood, it is aromatic and clean. It helps to uplift the mood when the air is cold and to lighten the atmopshere when it is full of anxiety, apprehension, or sadness/

8. Wormwood - using the herb or oil as incense you will notice that any parasitic entities lessen their hold. taken as a light tea, or tincture (in small doses only) it will do the same to your body. Also excellent for use in trance or meditation work. It is sacred to the Goddess Freyja. Wormwood will help shield a room or person from being located magikally.

7. Cloves - Spicy, flavorful, and aromatic these buds are already part of the season, so they are fabulous for out in the open protection amulets. They are great in pouches, incense, oil, baking, and countless other projects. Bake them into spice cakes or cook in apple cider to protect your loved ones from the inside out. Cloves spiky nature means they poke out all the magikal points of attack. Fill an orange with cloves and set on a window or outside to ward off potential threats.

6. Copal - resin is the best way to use this powerful cleanser and detoxifier. A little goes along way so don't put too much on your charcoal. This tree resin is the precursor to amber and is used to call in your ancestors to protect you. It is a great powerful cleanser and should be used when other methods are not successful.

5. Salt - this is a quick, easy, and accessible protector and purifier. Cleanse yourself in a salt bath, sprinkle it around your home, cover objects with it to pull out their negative energies. Colored salt such as black or red can be extra protective.

4. Dragon's Blood - A powerfully strong purifier and energetic barrier, this can help dissipate hexes, jealousy, and psychic attacks. It repells very strongly, even good things in life, so it is great when you seek solitude or hermitage. It can also be used to rebuild wholes in your personal protection aura.

3. Four Theives Oil - a spicy blend of rosemary, clove, cinnamon, tea tree and a few others is a medieval recipe that kept gravediggers and grave robbers alive during the Black Plague. This wil keep away flus or viruses but also viral people, and toxic energy.

2. The Evil Eye - this ancient amulet is so potent that I have one tattooed on my wrist. The symbol wards off intentional and unintentional harm from jealous, spiteful, and vengeful people. It can lend some intuition and insight you may not e aware of otherwise. Wear it, hang it in your car, in your house, on your door, window, it really doesn't matter where as long as its visible.

1.Mantras - This may seem hokey, but chanting any phrase, sound, words, noise, names can be an amazing talisman for protection. When we chant anything for any long period of time,5 minutes or more, we change the vibrations we are on as well as those around us. This creates a neutral zone of safety. Some of my favorites are:
Ohm Namaha Shivayah

EaRth my body Water my blood Air my breath Fire my spirit.

Kali durge nahmo nahma

Drag Queens and Salem Witches

2010-09-17T22:59:00.001-06:00

So tonight I joined USR at work. She is DJing for a local drag show. Now I enjoy drag as a comedic and theatrical endeavor. Sadly these queens are only unintentionally funny and take themselves a bit too seriously. The best drag show I ever saw was in Chicago last summer. I was in the middle of my Boston to Burque road trip with some great dykes from Burque.
I am limiting my complaints for tonights drag of a show, oops I mean drag show. I can see all of their bra straps. If I did not need a bra on occasions I would be a bit happier about a scooping backline.
The next point of concern is my best friend from high school's wedding. 10 10 10 in MA. And I'm not totally looking forward to going home but I am really happy for the MacRamoses and all they do for the world. The best part of the trip will be Salem at the height of Samhain season. Goddess I am excited. I can be a stereotypical witch for a day and be right at home. I am actually super excited about Salem. I promise pictures souveniers and a contest on Witch Trial history. It's the most wonderful time of the year. Soni guess since I did a Beltane post I am gonna be writing up a Samhain/Festa del'Ombra/Dia de Los Muertos post. Thank the Goddess it's my favorite season! And lastly we're getting close to Scorpio season. I will be updating the zodiac series soon. Life kinda happen all over my plans. Well I hope you all have less of a drag on your Friday night.

Burning Man in Pictures

2010-09-11T00:21:00.001-06:00

Medical kit for Burning Man

2010-09-09T22:44:00.002-06:00

Flower Essences of basil,California poppy, and fawn lily to aid in balancing sexuality, coming down from psychedelics, and fostering a sense of community respectively.
Dragons blood as a coagulant and antiseptic
Yin ban Yao to stop excessive bleeding or internal bleeding
Rescue remedy pastilles
Tinctures of pau d'arco, echinacea, goldenseal, and osha
Tea tree oil antiseptic and antibacterial
Oregano oil for burning away fevers
Snake oil (homemade topical) for muscle and joint pain and sleep aid
Aloe Vera for sun exposure
EarlyAlert capsules for the onset of illness (a mix of elderbery echinacea and othr strong immune boosters)
5HTP
Vitamin C

Escape from Metropolis

2010-09-08T09:15:00.002-06:00

I am back from Burning Man. The road trip out there was tenuous at best. My sister has a way about her that makes assuming responsibility almost impossible, for her or any one else. I confronted her about a driving issue (we caravaned) when we met up in Excalibur is Las Vegas, and it continued to Tonapah (my fave small town in Nevada). Once resolved, we the 9 person crew had a fabulous dinner on the camp stove in the hotel room. Arrival at the Burn was even better than last year. We didn't set up until morning because our parachute and poles didn't arrive until morning (they were originally supposed to arrive the day before). USR, Ground Control and I went out galavanting all sleep deprived and excited. We ran into our neighbors from last year, Sak and The Sauce, both are incredibly sexy skinny freaks from Phoenix and are wonderful to chat with. Our Parachute went up wonderfully, we passed out Spaghetti Tacos on Weds night with great success. I think we passed out close to 70 tacos. Ground Control and I forgot to buy Spaghetti in Reno, so we improvised and used half a case of Ramen noodles. USR DJed for Camp Beaverton a few times, once for the Strap-on-a-thon, and for their ladies night dance party, which sadly died due to a White-out in the middle of the night.
The Man's burning was about 10X more impressive this year. Damn, that Man was amazing to watch burst into flames, and collapse. The fireworks were so fucking amazing. I have never seen fireworks so beautiful before. You remember that scene in "Fellowship of the Ring" when Gandalf the Grey does the fireworks for Bilbo's party??? Well, they were kinda like that. I think they got Gandalf for this event. After the Man fell, USR and I bolted for the center of the burn, the pile of flames and metal and wood and glass. HOLY SHIT! You know those descriptions of pagan celebrations from the Middle Ages? Well this is what they looked like. USR called it The Inferno. The flames were so massive that the whole sky was orange and a dust storm had just come in so the smoke, dust and flames mixed together to create the most surreal vision.

There will be more to come, but it takes a few days process the event, and I have work today as well. I have the next two days off, so I will upload my pictures and such, but here are a few objects from the event

Pendant from Pendant Camp, this is a map of Black Rock City, the theme of the year being "Metropolis"

The cup I carried around, stainless steel, water tight, and about 6 oz. Perfect for putting in my Playabag.

Oh, and later today I am picking up an IPod Touch which will aid my blog posting frequency. Well I'm off to work now. TaTa. In Dust we trust.

2010-08-20T13:53:00.001-06:00

So with the coming of Burning Man next week (the event begins the 30th, but I am leaving a week from today), I have accomplished a few things I was really worried about. I secured a home for my darling aging cat, Pepsi.

I have also begun prepping the food, which means we are on crunch time. this week includes shopping for respirators, goggles, socks, headlamps, and a shit ton of ziplocs. Ziplocs will save your life on the Playa. Here is a short list of things ziplocs are useful for at Burning Man

1. peeing in (illegal to pee on the side of the rode in Nevada.)

2. bathing in, using either those super large ziplocs you can sit in, or you can use it simply to hold your soapy water and sponge bathe.

3. keeping things "dust free"

4. storing prepared food in, freeze them, and then thaw in the sun

5. keeping outfits in, so they are easy to pack and find

6. put ice in them, when it melts the water is contained and drinkable

7. instead of a plate or bowl or cup

8. keeping electronics safe

I still have to prepare the ghee, make gazpacho soup, pick up the saag paneer from my fave indian restaurant. But I am done with the 1st aid kit, and most of the kitchen stuff.

Morning Quickie

2010-08-17T09:07:00.001-06:00

Hi lovelies!

I'm off to work now and thought I'd drop a quick line for ya updating a few things.

1. Burning Man planning is no where near done, but it is getting to the fun part, except in asking campmates for money so I can make their kitchen beautiful.

2. Rhythmic Moon is on Thursday, Hookah Kings on Coors and Paseo del Norte - Burning Man Fundraiser

3. USR's mosaic is trudging along nicely

4. I'm officially upset with a specific segment on the world's population today, specifically straight acting men in their 35's or above. I'll have more on why later, but for now, just be warned all of you.

New Moon Intention Table: We are all Goddesses with our Sister-Earth

2010-08-13T12:04:00.001-06:00

On Wednesday, USR and I attended a local New Moon gathering. I am always a little wary about new meetings like this since "the occult" and "neo-paganism" are great at attracting all sorts of people, and being the Scorpio I am, I am not instantly warm to new groups of people with whom I am asked to join in circle. However, I found myself right were I need to be. Not only was the host store, well-stocked with tools and herbs of ceremonial magik and hoodoo, but our High Priestess for the night was a Black woman. All in total, 4 Beautiful and Unique Black Goddesses were present. High Priestess, USR, (another attendee renamed for this posting as) Grace, and the Sister-Goddess of the Earth we called to be with us, to heal, and to thank.
Experiencing this gathering touched me so much, because the woman I love is a Black Woman. I was glad to be guided in praise of the Goddess by one of the many sisters I have on the planet. I did not need to "identify with someone like me" (Italian-American short long haired Goddess), but I needed to recognize that which transcends perceptible differences. It is what we know to be the same on a deeper and wider level. That we are all Goddesses.

job, review, and link

2010-08-12T11:54:00.001-06:00

I know I've been a bad poster lately, but working full time, even though my job is amazing is still draining. I am also even closer to Burning Man than before (thanks to the force of nature known as time) and still planning the kitchen and first aid station. I am also making painful and degrading calls to my student loan reps, because now that I have a job, I can apparently shell out money to the banks who just got baled out. As usual, there is no bail out for an average person. Thankfully I am not really average and so I have my own subversive, survivalist ways of dealing with The Man (not Burning) and Big Brother. (I love being a Scorpio) I should be posting a few more notes of interest this weekend, most likely on essential oils and first aid kits.

And now onto the actual post. A review of Nature's Body: Gender in the Making of Modern Science by Londa Schiebinger. (Trigger warning: for quotes by historical racist scientists)

Here it is!

This is a must read for any student, professional, academic, layperson, who discusses, studies, dabbles with, or otherwise is interested in gender, science, taxonomy, "the Enlightenment", "race", and nature (in short everyone should read this book). You know that addage that "man" in made to rule over "nature"? Well, Schiebinger shows just who made them that way and you guessed it: the white male "scientist". This isn't a case of privilidge blaming or man hating. This 212 page paperback exposes the systematic way that the institution of science, endorsed, propagated and confirmed the sexualization of nature. they made nature female, dark-skinned and they made themselves master over her.

Schiebinger's writing is well paced and exciting. She doesn't include more backstory that you need and she argues her case with genuine fierceness and citations that shock and awe. Many of the historical cases she uses are horrendous to read. She relates the harsh words of the "Fathers of Science" as they write on sex, race, conciseness and gender. The story of Sarah Baartman, from The Cape of Good Hope, is particularly difficult to read. She was convinced by a London surgeon to return with him to England as exhibit herself for money and work as his domestic. Her body became the most studied at the time and she was coerced into being a study subject in Paris in 1815. She was examined thoroughly for 3 days by all male, white doctors for the purpose of providing "a detailed comparison of this woman with the lowliest race of humans (the Negro) and the highest types of apes." Reading this stuff is not easy. Many times I put down the book because while I was eating on my lunch break I couldn't bear to read about how Sarah Baartman's body was cut up, her skin stuffed, and even her genitalia were displayed publicly in Paris after her death.

As hard as this book was to finish for the above reasons, I am glad I did. As a scientist who regularly opposes "mainstream science", it is necessary for me to be able to back up my claims that the anthropology is interpreted wrong, or that the "science" one is quoting is flawed. This book validates what many already know to be true and concludes that until we acknowledge this dark, hateful, and racist, and sexist birth of "modern science" we can never undo it.

And just more proof that womyn are not dysfunctional men, here is a piece about cholesterol's changing rate over the course of a womyn's cycle and that doctors never even took into account that a womyn's menstruation is a holistic system, rather than a sexual disorder. Bastards.

Scorpio Takes on the Zodiac: Introduction and Leo

2010-07-30T12:50:00.001-06:00

I've decided to begin a series on the Western Zodiac signs. It will be more than 12 installations since I plan to cover moon signs, and I plan on going back and adding information about past signs as it pertains to the current cycles. I am not an astrologer and I have had no training in the field. I am providing experiential astrology as I have interacted with other signs and my own, Scorpio. I use various sources, most trusty of course is my We'moon Astrological Datebook. Best. Datebook. Ever. My personal birthchart (which I will not be sharing, so don't ask for it), some online sites, and my magickal library.

Leo, ruled by the Sun, and represented as a Lion is one of the powerhouses of the Zodiac. Some signs throw their presence around in such assertive ways that you notice them easily. Being a Fire sign, Leo also has the charisma to draw others "into orbit", like planets around the sun. Whether Leo's are reading a book sprawled on the middle of the floor, rockin' out to their own music, or cooking foods so spicy the air is thick with chili, you can be sure they will grab your attention. Leo is represented by the Lion, and with good reason. Their fierce approach to life requires them to be able to muscle and stun their way through situations the rest of us must work or charm our way through.

As a Fixed sign, Leo latches onto projects and ideas that allow her to focus on a personally important outcome. The goal of a fixed sign tends to be a grand endeavor indeed. Like the sun's own job, allowing life to flourish. Leo's gravity is massive indeed, pulling all the pieces of the solar system together, providing a vital service to those around. This is not humble servitude, but a grand gesture. Leos take pride in what they accomplish, and thrive on seeing just how necessary they are.

As a Scorpio, I have a lot of fun with Leos. We share many traits, including being a Fixed sign. I appreciate the bluntness of Leo confrontation and the pride they take in themselves. There is often an exchange of energy between Leos and Scorpios, whether creative, sexual or inspiring, the combination of a fixed water sign and a fixed fire sign is nothing short of steamy. Both Scorpio and Leo will dress to impress, that is impress upon their viewers, and neither acts small in anyway. Their is a natural friendship that blossoms between signs such as these, but realize that with such strong opinions, and such powerful wills, getting along will happen easily, but how you get along will be the challenge. Think of these two as the friends who occasionally hedge bets against each other all while really enjoying a challenge rather than a easy win. Leo's approach to a situation is razzle-dazzle and push through, while a Scorpio approach is is be more subversive and work from behind the scenes. Once each sign accepts these traits in the other, a joint approach with Leo blinding the opposition and Scorpio working secretly off the radar, these two can take down any obstacle. Look at the powerhouse that is The Clintons. Bill is a charmer and even now, many are drawn in by his appeal, typical Leo. And Hillary, working entirely on her own to secure her rightful and equal sense of power. Many even speculated that Hillary had much to do with Bill's policies and influence. Astrology would say that she certainly did. It is also unsurprising that she works closely with President Obama, also a Leo.

Leos in my life
Currently I have few Leo's in my life, although two of my best friends from childhood were Leos. I work with a Leo, as my manager, and have a good friend who creates wonderful music who is looking for love and acceptance of his boisterous lifestyle. My Step-father is also a Leo and my mom is a Scorpio (she and Hillary share the same birthday even!) and watching their 10 year relationship unfold has shown that these signs, while approaching life in very different ways, can have the same goals. They just need to accept that different paths may be valid. Both Scorpio and Leo can be prideful and it doesn't hurt either one of them to experience that the other has a strength in an area the other has a weakness.

publicly busy and personally successful

2010-07-25T23:50:00.001-06:00

So this week, as the title implies, I have been busy. I began working at my local herbal apothecary and loving it. I have been re-learning a vast store of knowledge I hid while studying in school. So now that I spend my days mixing herbal teas for nursing moms, telling the benefits of aloe juice, recommending allergy remedies, and sharing my personal henna recipe and techniques, I am enjoying more and more the natural ways we can do things in life. Working so closely with the herbs, oils, tinctures, teas, incenses, salves, etc, I am connecting with my sensitive and knowledgeable self rather than always sitting in my big critical comfy couch with my fizzy drink of self-rightousness.
I have in one week worked with such varied herbal users as pregnant dykes, young girls using henna for the first time, women in full burqas, amateur brewers, construction workers, gay men from the mountains, moms, dads, young people, very old people, spiritual, every ethnicity I've seen in NM, hippie, hipster, thug, professor, movie directors, athletes. All of these people are using natural options in their lives and giving themselves a chance to accept the love, the comfort, and the true health that can be achieved when we use plants that have helped our ancestors for millennia.

On a more personal note, there are a few aspects of my new job that are perfectly wonderful. All of my co-workers, and boss already knew my partner, so I never need to come out. This is because she and I are such frequent shoppers at the shop already. Before I was ever hired, I was out in the shop. That alone is a great comfort.
I also have been relentlessly working on the camp kitchen for Burning Man. Saag Paneer, Cous Cous alla Panzanella, burritos, peacock green chile stew. We are gonna eat so well!! And I am preparing my veil dancing workshop for Camp Beaverton. So on this Full Moon I am feeling very productive.

Life is now upside down, like a cake.

2010-07-16T22:49:00.001-06:00

So I start a full time position at the Herb Store tomorrow. And having been unemployed for a year, I am extremely happy and thankful to have this opertunity in my life right now. I have been a customer here since I moved to New Mexico 6 years ago, and I am so excited to be a part of a business that does not consume souls for snacks.

Also, since I've not been working I have been volunteering for various events in my communities, and the workload for Self Serve's Pornotopia (That's a link for last years show, we are currently working on this years, 18+ only website). Its a lot of work: emailing, watching porn, reviewing porn, finding vendors and guest speakers. Its also fortunately, wicked fun and for a great cause. The idea behind is that the answer to bad porn is not no porn, but better porn.

AND... I am of course preparing for Burning Man (having a job will actually make this a lot easier). Camp Spaghetti Taco is building a shade structure, shower/evap pool, a wicked bunch of other stuff. I am on our kitchen staff and the head of safety and security for our camp, so I have a nice and full life right now.

I hope this won't interfere too much with my posting, I'm actually pretty sure all of these experiences are going to inspire more intriguing posts than my year of unemployment and light commitment fostered. I always write better under pressure anyway.

And now... Feminist Graffiti

(I'm sorry to say I don't know where these are from, if anyone knows, please let me know!)

Queerer than thou

2010-07-14T18:36:00.001-06:00

via Genderfork, on YouTube

2010-07-14T17:50:00.003-06:00

linktastic

2010-07-14T17:48:00.001-06:00

Fezo is a hip-hop artist with cerebral palsy who you should check out!

Whatever you want to say about Angelina Jolie, at least she respects her child's choice to dress in boy's clothes, and apparently wishes to be called John. I'm happy to see such a visible family embracing their child's gender identity.

~~Mel Gibson's~~ verdict from heaven.

On disrespecting the pope, spending U.K. money on him, and why tolerance of his presence is not mandatory.

This is not a "Free Lindsay" post...

2010-07-13T12:32:00.001-06:00

I read this article first thing this morning, and it got me worried. Really worried for Lindsay Lohan. Prison rape is not amusing, and the tone of this article is even more disturbing. I realized after reading it that it was on the Fox News site, and the slant made more sense. Among the many warnings given to Lohan about the lesbian prisoners she'll be near, are the sexual and violent threats she will endure while serving time next to murderers! Now I cannot in any way condone driving while drinking, or skipping out on your probation (as Lohan did), but, putting her in the "secluded" wing with malicious offenders, might not be the best idea.

The article's tone is disgusting. It sounds as though the writer is counting down the days until the 24 year old is raped, assaulted, and abused at the hands of cruel, hating, women. All I have to say is: STOP MAKING CELEBRITIES' LIVES LIKE THE MOVIES.

I am a 24 year old lesbian who cringes at the thought of time in jail, for a good many reasons. I am sure that Lohan also feels fear, and confusion at this point as well. All I can say is good luck Lindsay, and I hope you find a way to cope while confined. May Loraina, the Etruscan goddess of criminals, keep you safe while you serve your time.