Sunday, September 9, 2007, 12:53 AM CST [Pagan Path]
I remember hearing about Silver RavenWolf's writings for ages, but I never really allowed myself to actually read any of her books. Why? For the silly and immature excuse of the general audience's mixed feelings about her books. For pete's sake, what the heck is wrong with me: why not read and form my own opinion?! *le grrrr*
So I checked out one of her earlier books through interlibrary loan, "To Ride a Silver Broomstick." Now that I've been journeying in the pagan direction for about 3 years, some of these things I've already (intuitively) accomplished, but I have been picking up new things here and there and discovering odds n' ends to think about. While some may consider her stuff 'fluff,' from my perspective I think there is quite a bit of useful stuff in there - especially for total beginners.
(and quite honestly - doesn't just about everyone go through a bit of a fluff-bunny phase anyway when starting out from a different direction? I think it's just a human tendency of blind enthusiasm for something new and different.)
Anyway. One of the things that I really liked was the guidance about timing for spell craft - which quite honestly, until now I've felt a little overwhelmed and confused about. I mean, sure, it's all intuitive and natural and such - but coming from a Catholic background where everything is ritual and timed... and I'm having to adjust my mental programming, the "science" part that Silver speaks of (the craft being divided into "science" and "religion") really helps me understand and connect concepts. I don't know, just the way she explained it made so much sense. I'm very much a visual person, so I was very compelled to create a monthly calendar for myself to apply my new understanding, and this is what I came up with:
You can see I have the lunar phases drawn in. The full moons are the blue squares. According to her text, the 3 days before and after a full moon are the most powerful times for spell craft, (which I have also heard about this 3 day thing from a number of other random sources, but couldn't figure out when these days were...) and these are in purple surrounding the full moon. The New moon is in the Yellow square, a time for "personal growth, healing, blessings of new projects or ventures, etc." Then it is a waxing, or "growing" moon, good for attraction magick, so I drew in yellow increasing across the days. The time from a full moon to a new is the waning moon, a good time for banishment or rejection, so it is drawn in black to a decrease. The dark of the moon (3 days before the new moon) is when the moon is not visible. "Traditionally, this is a time when no magick is performed. It is a period to give yourself a break; a time of rest." These of course are the days I have X'd out. Silver does makes an exception for Hecate related magick however, and meditation (etc.).
Bottom line: I know this is something very elementary for most, and I might even be criticized that this is a little over-analytical and too perfectionist for something that should be more intuition-based. But like I said: I'm still a beginner, and this helps me to visualize and better understand the natural cycle of the moon and its influences. And I figure from a teaching perspective/educational background, maybe it's something good to do or to practice for younger ones being brought up in the craft.
Saturday, September 8, 2007, 09:26 PM CST [Pagan Path]
Mabon is coming up, and I really want to do something to celebrate. I want to go to the orchard just for apples but have no one to go with me (although, truth be told, I haven't asked Sigurd yet, but I'll doubt he'll want to go twice in a year. It's usually saved for our Anniversary). I need to start actually planning a ritual and planning my altar. I'd also like to prepare a special meal for the day for Sigurd and I. I actually tried to invite my mother to come do something with me for Mabon, but she has prior engagements. Not sure if it's the sincere truth (which I'm sure it is) or spite (more usual). Oh well. I'm letting it roll off.
To kind of prepare myself for the season and for the Harvest season, I've started cleaning and tidying up... My focus and big goal for next weekend is to purge whatever crap I have stored up and lying around and force myself to let go of what I've been foolishly/uselessly hanging onto. What would be really nice is if I can somehow get Sigurd to do the same thing... That's a tricky thing.
Pagan Pride day is also coming up, and there's going to be a big Pride event in Grand Rapids on Oct. 13th... I would really, really, really like to go, but at this point I don't have anyone to go with me (or who would be comfortable going to such a function with me...) and I feel like such a fluff I don't want to go by myself for at least the 1st time when I don't know exactly what to expect.
The weather today has been stormy... I don't mind. The last few times it has rained, I have felt nothing but anticipation because in time the rain will wash away the heat and bring with it gradually cooler weather and colorful leaves, and my favorite season: Autumn.
Just as a formal introduction, the full name I have claimed for myself is Merewyn Autumn Rayne. This is my time of year.
I have always felt especially close to the fall. Even as a kid it was my favorite time of the year - forget Christmas and Easter! (I was raised Catholic). I loved the Fall. It had a greater sense of new beginnings for me, it was a time of learning, to gather closer together, to wind down, to grow up just a little more after a childish and wild summer. It's a time of picking apples and finding pumpkins, of magic and make believe.
Then in my 16th autumn, I fell in love... and since then, have remained in love with my dearest. We shared our first kiss in a cornfield, and every year for 8 years since, we have returned to that same Farm to pick apples, find pumpkins, buy pies, play on the swings (still!) and enjoy swift happy kisses. This October will see our 9th return.
While nature may be cooling gradually to a brisk temperature, I cannot help but feel warmer, more happy, more alive, attentive and connected. Feelings of everything wonderful overflow and I can never help but feel beautiful inside and out during the fall.
People always reserve blossoming til the Springtime... perhaps I'm a late bloomer, but I always blossom in Autumn.
Oh my goodness... another blog! I'm sure I'll find a use for this one as well. Basically I'm happy to be in a pagan community to network with others more similarly/somewhat like minded. Can't wait to meet people, and am hoping to find people nearby!
