Mars in Retrograde and Spirit Guides

My friend Katrina is pretty good when it comes to astrology. She and her husband have been studying it for quite some time. She brought it to my attention that Mars is in retrograde. I did a little bit of reading up about it and, apparently, this causes stagnation of projects, a lack of energy, arguments, and illness. I have been feeling so out of it recently. Earlier this week I had an upset stomach. By the weekend I had an ear infection and a fever. Goodness gracious – early March, hurry it up!

In other news, I’ve moved on in Paxson’s book Trance-Portation. Before I became so dreadfully ill this weekend, I started to revisit my spirit guides. “Revisit” should tell you that I’ve done work with them before. Now, spirit guides, animal totems, or whatever you want to call them have a nasty New Age reputation. For good reason! It’s an easy meditation that newbies can do and is usually one of the first trance exercises introduced to people in self-help type circles. Just think of that scene in “Fight Club” where the lead character has a vision of a penguin who tells him “slide.” Things like that make it seem very ridiculous, but I think it can be approached in deeper, more fulfilling ways than is portrayed by the media. I find myself agreeing with Paxson’s sentiment – regardless of whether or not we create the spirit guides with our own unconsciousness, they can be helpful in communicating with that side of our being. Think of them as the adult imaginary friends if you want. And cultures all over the world have legends about meeting animals on heroic journeys. My own hearth culture is filled with sacred prohibitions and bonds (gease) with dogs and birds. There are cats guarding treasures and otherworldly entrances. There are salmon full of knowledge and magical deer. As myth can be a symbol for the heroic journey we must take internally from time to time, I find no problem with meeting spirit guides in an Indo-European context. Just ask my friend Dubhlainn who recently had a very powerful spiritual experience with a blue heron.

So I’ve started to interact with my spirit guides again. The first time I did such an exercise, I met a dove. I’ve never seen that creature since. The one creature who has had staying power is the lynx. The last two times I called out on my inner journeys, I met … a beaver. It was quite unexpected, let me tell you, but he has prodded me both times with messages about productivity, creating, and rebuilding. I’m starting to wonder if it has something to do with my house… I really should get around to making curtains…

The lynx showed up as well. I don’t know the beaver’s name, but the lynx gave me one. Only… it’s not in English. It has something to do with wind and grass. I feel a comfort that the lynx is still there. The appearance of a beaver in my mental landscape adds to the population of North America, specifically NY, fauna.

Eating Local

Eating local has become an important goal for me. My husband and I watched Food Inc. I had been meaning to watch it for months but …oh you know how that goes. Anyway, it was really well-done. Much was not a surprise or I already knew about it, but there were plenty of “woah” moments for me. Those who know me know that my husband and I are vegetarians for environmental and ethical reasons. I often think I’m a bit more liberal about it than my husband in that I’m always quick to tell people that I’m not anti-hunting or against small, sustainable, humane meat farms. A lot of people expect a barrage of anti-meat talk from me and, though I do consider vegetarianism to be one of the best environmental approaches at the moment, I understand that some people really don’t want to or, in some cases, physically can’t. Long story short, this documentary isn’t anti-meat – it’s anti-factory farming and anti-fast food. There were very few gory scenes of slaughter if any at all. There was definitely some footage of the animals’ living conditions (toned down – most factory farms won’t let just anyone wander in) and some food processing footage. So “icky scenes” shouldn’t be a concern.

Anyway, the movie reinvigorated my desire to eat locally. As much as I miss my old stomping ground, there are an abundant number of small, local farms who participate in markets and will sell you meat, eggs, and, in some rare cases, milk from their own cows.

But it’s getting to be the end of January! It’s cold! What could possibly be in season right now?

Well, according to Sustainable Table there are several things! All thanks to “hothouses” and storage, apples, cabbage, carrots, onions, potatoes, turnips, and winter squash are in season. That’s a lot of stew and soup! And mixed with dried legumes…. mmmm!

First Contact

When I moved to the North Country I started to poke around Witcvox’s directory to see who was around here. I do so every few weeks out of boredom and, sometimes, loneliness. I soon became aware of a shop called Moontide in Watertown. My work schedule and unfamiliarity with the area made it difficult for me to find. A few days ago, my husband and I explored an indoor shopping area and, lo and behold, there was Moontide.

The owner, who struck me as an intensely new agey but kind-hearted individual, dedicates half of her store to crystals, incense, and various New Age and Pagan knick knacks. The other half is full of romantic, vampiric clothing. I must admit, I want to go back and try some things on. I like ruffled blouses and long flowing skirts.

I bought a few small boxes of incense to replenish my supply, including dragon blood, a favorite of mine. I also engaged in small talk about the community and how we were new to it. She seemed glad that I didn’t complain about the snow.

I asked her about CUUPs and, while she hasn’t been in awhile, she recommends that I check it out. I got the impression that it is full of Wiccans which really isn’t a surprise. Either that or she isn’t aware that not all Pagans are Wiccan.

Anyway, that was my first venture into the local Pagan culture. There is a CUUPs meeting on Tuesday but I’m feeling under the weather today. I may not feel up to going. You may think that’s just another excuse for me to avoid socializing, but really, I do feel quite ill. Although… I must admit I’m wondering if I really should go. The very active ADF chats have been keeping me quite happy recently…

Prepping for Imbolc: Part 2

I’m not finished with it yet, but here is a photo of the Brighid cross project I’m working on.

The pattern on the brown/gold fabric may not be the best for the project but I’m determined to see it through and perhaps add some embroider to embellish it. I usually don’t do things like this – appliqué and quilt techniques are new for me.

And here’s a photo of my Brigihd altar so far. This isn’t anything Imbolc specific – I’ve been adding to it since moving here. It’s situated over my stove for obvious reasons. I do my flame keeping here.

A doll I’ve been working on.

This is a doll I’ve been working on for what seems like forever. Yes I know the skin tone of her body and face doesn’t match that of her arms and legs. Whatever. She’ll be wearing actual clothing soon enough so you’ll barely notice. 😛 I’m not happy with the folds on her neck but I’m very pleased with her face and cleavage. Huzzah! I feel like I’ve come a long with in my doll creation.

I posted this here mostly to show the Artisan Guild of ADF what I’ve been up to. 🙂

ADF Chats

I am so glad that there are chats on ADF. When I joined about three years ago, I felt so distant from everything. I started to attend a grove and, while that helped, I only saw people 8 times a year. I didn’t get to know anyone. Then I started to befriend people on Live Journal and Facebook. This also helped and yet it was still kind of lacking.

Finally there were more and more chats on ADF. Real time interaction. I feel like I’m really getting to know some of the wonderful people in ADF. I’m getting to know peoples’ personalities and humors. It’s fun and spiritually/intellectually stimulating at the same time. I don’t feel so alone up here when I participate.

Prepping for Imbolc

Imbolc is on its way and I need to get ready! When I first came to Paganism five or six years ago, I was involved in Wicca and Imbolc wasn’t very special to me. I remember knowing that it had something to do with a Goddess named “Bride” or “Brighid” (one of those strange Celtic Gods!) but I hadn’t formed any relationship with her, much less read about her outside a Wicca 101 book. It wasn’t until I started to study Druidism and Irish lore that Brighid made herself known to me. She is my patron Goddess, protector of my home, muse, and source of warmth. Now Imbolc, her holy day, is very important to me.

I’m currently working on an offering for her. It’s an attempt at quilting and/or appliqué – I’m not quite sure which yet. I will post a photo when I’m done.

Time Warp, MVPN, and North Country Pagans

I took advantage of the long weekend and visited my family. I was able to attend a performance of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Utica College. (It was fantastic, by the way!) My dear friend Katrina and former mistress of ceremonies for MVPN was there and we were able to catch up before the show. I say “former mistress of ceremonies” because my last post about MVPN has been confirmed. They had their last council meeting and decided to dissolve. MVPN will remain as an online forum and networking site but nothing more, at least for the time being. The mostly Wiccan members will organize sabbats and esbats somewhat privately, meaning that they will meet with sincerely interested parties and eventually invite them, but the group won’t focus on advertising. It also means that friends are welcome to the rituals should they want to attend.

Interestingly, I was asked to become a moderator on the forums as they mean a lot to me. They are how I maintain contact with my Pagan friends in the Mohawk Valley. I’m not sure when the switch will take place…

I also saw the former Elder of MVPN, Bruce, when getting breakfast at a donut shop. It was nice to see him as he is often silent on MVPN’s boards. He is organizing a ritual to acknowledge the closure of MVPN in its original state.

C’est la vie, I guess.

There is a CUUPs meeting in Watertown next week, I believe. I’m thinking about going. I looked through Witch Vox’s directory of local Pagans. I already knew that are some Pagans on Fort Drum, but there are supposedly Pagans in Evans Mills, Gouverneur, Antwerp, and Philadelphia. I’m not about to message these people and ask to meet up. That would make me feel uncomfortable. I would feel safer going to an established and open Pagan meeting.

We’ll see what happens I guess!

MVPN – Dying?

My friend Katrina, the acting mistress of ceremonies for MVPN, replied to an email the other day and updated me on the situation with the Mohawk Valley Pagan Network. Apparently, with myself and another ADFer moved out of the Utica area, the other members, who are all some form of Neo-Wiccan, want to focus more on that path. They want to conduct more private Sabbats and Esbats rather than reach out to the community (I guess). Katrina says the forums will remain to maintain communication with Pagans of other paths and other places in NY (like myself). She has yet to reply to my email requesting a confirmation of these points, but I’m assuming that means MVPN, for all practical purposes, is going to be an online networking site.

There are positives and negatives to this. On the one hand, I can completely understand why everyone left in Utica would want to focus more on their own path. While us ADFers were there, MVPN did its best to cater to our wants and needs. My friend and I pushed for more diversity because not everyone is Wiccan and if that’s the first impression non-Wiccans get, they will usually run away without giving the group a chance. With us gone, it’s only natural for the Neo-Wiccans to study what they feel most called to. If nobody else in the community is looking for Druidism or Heathenism (etc) then why go out of their way? In addition, I wouldn’t feel it appropriate for a non-Druid, for example, to have a Druid ritual just to be diverse. That would be somewhat offensive, in my opinion.

At the same time, I can’t help but wonder what would happen if a Druid showed up in Utica. I know the group wouldn’t turn him or her away, but I get the feeling that the hypothetical “other” would lose interest. When I was in Utica, I seriously thought about starting a protogrove. I asked Robert Lewis, a fellow ADFer and then representative of the North Eastern groves, for a reading. The omens indicated that I had too much going on and that I should wait. Boy am I glad I listened – I got a new job and had to move, after all! That would have really complicated things… Then my friend moved to Albany. I would have been by myself, really… At the same time I wonder if I’ll ever go back to Utica and whether or not I’ll set up a grove there or anywhere else. I definitely feel the calling but it’s not the right time. I feel like I need more experience, to begin with.

But I digress.

So, yes. The core group of MVPN seem to be moving away from MVPN and more towards a private/semi-open circle of sorts. Until the council meets to discuss what this officially means, all I can do is conjecture. In the meantime, the forums, which are supposedly going to be left for networking, are all but dead. Every once and awhile, a new person pops up but then goes quiet. It’s usually just Katrina and myself having discussions. My other ADF friend will occasionally chime in. Otherwise the forums have been used for nothing more than RSVPing for events. I fear that, should “other” Pagans enter the Mohawk Valley, and if they find MVPN, they will think it’s dead and give up. I don’t understand why nobody else joins in on the conversations. Even simple ones like “What are your Yule traditions?” I can see that people looked – but why didn’t they respond? Have they really just given up on networking? On the community? I’m two hours away and I haven’t given up. Should I?

I guess I’ll have to see what the council says.