Author Archives: Cynthia

Unknown's avatar

About Cynthia

I am a textile artist, embroiderer, wood burner, costumer, painter, and weaver who sees magic and change in the chain stitch and a well done Palestrina knot. I wish I had more control over the ways of the human world but alas, all I can control are my actions and my attitude in life and the consistency of my stitches. And sometimes even that doesn’t pan out as hoped and I must rip rip rip.

The McCain Palin Ticket

Posted on by
Reply

Aquila ka Hecate has tagged her blogroll to discuss what they think of the Republican ticket of McCain and Palin. Ooooh boy.  (Ooops, twas Anne of The Gods are Bored who tagged us)

You are warned.  I don’t pull punches.  Read at your own risk.  Disagree all you want.

My knee jerk reaction is to simply say. “Harumpf, not much.” But that isn’t true. I am an opinionated woman, especially in the area of politics, global responsibility, war, economy, wealth, poverty, the list is long. Mostly what it boils down to is that I always have sympathy first for those who are downtrodden, abused, lied to, starved, beaten, if you be an underdog, I’m your friend. It’s why I earned the title of Warrior in that little quiz I posted last. I have no problem going into the battle. I can easily see me at Michael’s side sword overhead… And while it is at the core of my being to go to bat for others, it is also something I’ve tried to temper all my life. My willingness to fight has not always brought me happiness and it certainly didn’t bring me peace.

So.

I don’t have a television. Well, that’s not exactly true. I own a television, it is attached to a dvd player but I don’t get TV. I do not have cable and there is no reception in my area, even though I live on the top of the second highest hill in town. So I’ve been fortunate to miss most of the political bullshit that is blaring across the screen these days, especially the local mudslinging. All of my interaction and the things I am informed about, I control. If I want to watch and listen to Sarah Palin speak out of her ass, I know where to find her.

So, what exactly do I think? I think that if McCain and Palin are elected the entire world is in peril*. Any hope of US governmental assistance with environmental issues of any kind will die. Dead. I think if they are elected I won’t be getting cash out of the bank and burying gold in my back yard but fresh water. I think that my (and other’s) freedom of and from religion will be destroyed (because here we have the freedom to have no religion at all). I think that the mighty and wealthy will continue their ways of trampling those who they deem to be less worthy into the ground. Starvation and dehydration will be the news of the day. The weather will continue it’s bizarre and more aggressive patterns. Cities that live at sea level will drown. I think that everything Al Gore has tried to get across to the world will fall into obscurity. There will be no more trees, no more animals that aren’t cooped up in pens for food farms (featherless chickens, they’re breeding featherless chickens so they can kill them and don’t have to pluck them and they say it’s because they are environmentally healthy!!! Goddess how do we stop this madness?? I just want to make millions of little coats myself) or our homes, no more free speech, no more religious freedom, and lots more war, abuse of civil liberties, continued refusal to see that we do not have the right to tell others how to live whether they be American or otherwise. Women in prison for abortions. More and more people in prison for being addicted. It’s going to be a holocaust the likes of which we’ve never seen. Because if we’re not awake NOW?? We never fucking will be. Instead of standing at the precipice and deciding to turn around and walk down hill, like lemmings we will fall into the abyss.

I see Big Brother. I see rampant disease and no health care. I see no hope. It scares the shit out of me. As much as I like to make fun of Palin, she is truly befuddled and misguided, mostly she scares me silly. McCain has been in ill health for years and his death in office is a distinct possibility.

Yesterday I was in a restaurant eating lunch (I treated myself because, finally, a contract came through and I could finally breath again). These two women at the next table were talking about politics and they were decidely not in my camp. What I found the most horrifying was that they weren’t basing their political choice on policy or ability. This is what they had to say:

One of my friends sent me a video the other day. I had to send it to all my friends too. It showed a cartoon farm yard. There were cows and chickens and horses and they were all working hard on the farm. And then the farmer died. The new farmer was Obama. And all the animals, the chickens, the cows, just started sitting around on their asses. hahahahahahahaha.

OMG.  I was appalled.  They think that if Obama wins the people will stop working and sit around on welfare.  OMG.  They think we are inherently lazy.  And that is what makes them afraid. But really?  You know who they are really talking about? The Blacks, the Hispanics, the social fringe.  And that? Means you and me, the Pagans too.  It won’t be just Pagans on the burning stakes and the lynching trees let me tell you. We’ll all be there.  Black, yellow, red, feathered, furred, scaled, and magical practitioners of all stripes.  You ain’t priviledge white folk?  Smote them, smote them all, plague, leprosy, the pox for you! (hi R!) You know they weren’t talking about white people like them. I’m not the kind of white folk they like.

That new client?  I will be glad when their site is up, very glad.  Because they? Are assholes.  Nothing that they would consider overt.  They think that going green is a passing fancy and no one will be talking about it a month. The things that came out of their mouths.  It was really clear that while one of them has done well for himself financially in the past, they are both what we were here call white trash.  Since my mother’s side has some serious white trash and yeah, they are family, I know of what I speak. Ignorance.  If McCain and Palin are elected, their candidates of choice, they will be right.  Buh bye.  And you know what is really pathetic?  These guys are NOT the kind of white folks the privileged like either.  Surprise surprise surprise…

So.  What do I do?  I write what I think.  That’s mostly what I do.  I visualize.  I see the sword of truth, the sword of Kuan Yin, ArchAngel Micheal. The flame that burns away the lies and brings us truth, compassion, healing, hard work, and a vision of the greater world we are capable of.  Enough of the nightmare, I’m ready for the real American Dream.

I give it as little energy as I possibly can.  I prefer to think I LOVE OBAMA rather than I HATE PALIN.  I believe that polls lie.  I believe, as Craig Ferguson said (I love C.F.), the only poll that matters is the one on November 4th.  I also believe that there are people off the radar who are not being polled.  I think that there are people who haven’t voted for years out of the frustration of that old No Taxation Without Representation Is Tyranny thing.  And they are going to vote this time.  I think folks are signing up to vote in record numbers.

At the last Presidential election here in the US, only 58% of the registered voters voted.  Only 58%.  That is embarrassing as hell, we should be ashamed of ourselves.  People died for the right to vote and we act as if it means nothing.  I also think that this year will break a new record.  And that Blacks and Hispanics are going to vote in droves.  I want to believe with all my heart and soul that this time, folks who felt disenfranchised, ignored, abused, and neglected believe that they have a chance at change like it has never existed in the history of the world.  And I don’t think they are going to squander it.

I must, absolutely must, believe that we are in for the surprise of our lives and will be dancing in the streets on November 5th the world over.  Because finally we have someone who says he cares about us and FINALLY we believe him.  I do.  I believe with all my heart that Obama is a good man with the people’s interests at heart. Yes, he will have to get the approval of Congress, so it’s important who we vote for locally too, he will have challenges like no one’s business.  His learning curve is going to kick his ass the first 6 months. But he’s smart and he’s going to have a lot of help.

I believe in manifestation.  I believe I/we create my own/our own reality.  And I refuse to give one more minute of energy (after tonight’s VP debates of course where I will be throwing popcorn and scorn in heaps upon the fool and rooting for Joe) to the other guys.  And I have to say that voting for Obama because he’s black doesn’t offend me.  Not to say that if he was a total shithead it would be enough. But he’s not.  He’s intelligent, educated, learned (not the same thing), a critical thinker, articulate, grand ideals, knows people who are behind him for reasons other than money and who will work with him to create the change he envisions, and gosh darn it people like him.  Mostly because he’s all those things but also BECAUSE he’s black. If we were to elect a black man President here in the United States I would firmly believe that we have finally swung the pendulum. Finally maybe we can begin to make headway, finally start recovering from the still existing slavery in this country. We just take it oversees most of the time these days.  We let the Asian children and political prisoners be our slaves this century but we are still a country whose economy is based on slavery have no doubt about it.   I happen to think that it is incredibly important that Obama is black and the he has a truly awesome shot at this.  The world will change with that one act, those one votes all added up.

If you don’t vote you’re an asshole by the way.  No apologies. In my nothing close to resembling a humble opinion. I lose total respect for you as a person if you don’t vote.  I don’t even care who you vote for, not really, just do it.

I’m going to wake up November 5th and the world will be a new and different place.  It better be or we’re all screwed.

* I want to state that this is from a point of view that accepts we are already in dangerous peril but right now, today, it is possibly reversible peril.  When I speak of further peril, I mean IRREVERSIBLE peril.  Right now we have a shot at turning things around. 4 years from now will be, in my opinion, too late. Which breaks my heart in two.

www.maps.google.com/vote

Posted on by
Reply

I beg you. Do not let your discouragement about the state of the world, the state of American politics, the state of the state, allow you to sit on your couch and do nothing. Just because you aren’t crazy about either candidate or perhaps you liked Hillary better, don’t not vote. Let’s say that Obama wins and only does 20% of what he says he plans on doing. Even at 20% it is STILL forward progress from what we have now. Even if he only does 20% it is still one of the biggest moments in the history of the United States. It will change the world in ways you aren’t even thinking about yet. I know I can’t conceive of what it will mean but I know it will be good.

Change is hard. It takes courage. Do it any way. Take the risk, vote just this one time for the little guy. Because you? We? Are the little guy.

Ever the Warrior

Posted on by
4

A little silly questionairre thingie… The truth is I’m pretty darned close to Cadfael.  Once a warrier now a healer.  Right now? I’m in between.

Your result for The Who Would You Be in 1400 AD Test…

The Lord

You scored 21% Cardinal, 51% Monk, 50% Lady, and 54% Knight!

You are of the intellectual breed and yet you are also very interested in war. You are of the aristocracy and head the cavalry a safe distance from the carnage of the front lines. You believe in defeating your enemy with not only might, but also wit.

You scored high as both the Monk and the Knight. You can try again to get a more precise description of either the Monk or the Knight, or you can be happy that you’re an individual.

Take The Who Would You Be in 1400 AD Test at HelloQuizzy

The Concentric Circles Harvest

Posted on by
2

My new bag.  I bought this pre-made wool felt bag several months ago at a local fabric store.  It’s just perfect if you don’t want to take too much and the exact right size for my witches datebook.  It was a plain black felt bag screaming for loving attention.  The other evening I was done with all the pouches and things and was casting around for a project and I saw the red and cream pentagrams that I’ve got in the works for a set of coasters. (I’ve got black pents on cream too)  And I saw it on the bag.  This is the result. I know it wants more but I got it done enough for the event.

 

I tried so hard to get the pent upright but when stitching in a circle things tend to pull in a certain direction.  Mustn’t be too perfect, wouldn’t want to have the Gods be jealous.

This is my new wand.  She has little jewels set into the places where twigs branch off, bead wired flowers in irridescent glass beads and peridot.  She’s precious. And the first I’ve not made myself.  She called me.  She needs a new bag.

The photos are gorgeous and taking photos of them doesn’t do them justice.  But I did trade a pair of earrings for some photo cards that my friend Ruth brought.  I just love these. 

Concentric Circles ~ Was that the Chicken Man?

Posted on by
5

This is a long post, lots happened yesterday. It was a glorious day, sunny, warm, and the land was gorgeous and the gentle energy that envelops you when you enter the property of the Longhouse was once again most welcomed.

The other day I went to see my acupuncturist. I’ve been suffering from terrible headaches that have appeared to be from a mechanical problem and holding stress in my neck. The pain has radiated from the the base of the occipital bone and been tough to fight. The next day it was somewhat better but yesterday, the second day the headache was gone.

She, the acupuncturist, a beloved friend, also thought that perhaps I hadn’t finished processing certain feelings left from the breakup last winter. And she was right. The tears just flowed out during the session. She had me go home and do a Triple Level Grid Cleansing. She also said it was time to banish the ex, Narcissus. That I should have done it a long time ago. Okay. I was tired of banishings, so tired of drama, so tired of a lot of things, had at one time hoped we’d be friends, that I had never done an actual banishing. So on Friday I did the Grid Cleansing and the banishing.

On an aside because this is the not the topic of this post, Narcissus showed up at Concentric Circles. Which didn’t really surprise me. Didn’t follow the banishment to the letter but he doesn’t know that he’s been banished from my presence on all levels for a mile from my body. But he did stay away from me personally (except for the time when he got in line behind me at the restroom. Stupid, stupid man, there are five other bathrooms on site, walk away. He said “hi” and I walked away.) For the most part he stayed well away and he didn’t show up in a single ritual circle which pleased me greatly. For what it’s worth, I really appreciated that. Ruth was able to return a piece of his artwork to him on my behalf and I felt lighter immediately.

Back to the other thing. One of energies called up in a Triple Level Grid Clearing is the archangel Michael. Now, there was a time when I stayed away from angels. First because I thought they were just too fluffy bunny and second because I considered them to be a Judeo-Christian belief deity/thought form. (as most of you know Jesus/Jeshua is one of my deities but that happened much later) In Outer Grove training, because I was also so very resistent to Ceremonial Magic, I was of course, assigned the ritual circle casting the week we studied Ceremonial Magic and ideas. I had to learn the LBRP and cast a circle based on the Key of Solomon. And I was enlightened. I discovered a power source and a surge of energy completely unexpected and when that circle was finally cast and closed in my practice session, it clanged. Seriously. When I did it in group two days latter, one of the others said she heard it clang. I had said nothing of my experience. At another rit when the arch angels were released? A group of Harley’s out on the street revved their engines and drove off. We all stared around the circle with big eyes and busted out laughing.  Nothing fluffy about that stuff, not one bit. And they spoke to me in way I could appreciate.  Biker angels. Yeah.

A few months later I was in France for the Christmas holidays visiting family. I took a couple of days for myself and went to the medieval town of Beaune to visit the still standing walled city center and the Hospice de Beaune. A fan of the artist Rogier van der Weyden I was looking forward to seeing his triptych of the archangel Michael. And I got to see that. It snowed the days I was at the city and it was as if the universe arranged for a special showing just for me. I practically had the town all to myself on that first day. Standing in front of the painting of Michael I was awestruck. His wings were covered with eyes and his stare was very direct. His power unmistakable. And I believed that he was a being that had been in existence long before the Judeo constructs. That they discovered him they didn’t create his thought form.

Because of my experiences with the angels in that six month period, I’ve come to see Michael as my strongest and most influential and powerful guardian angel. He comes when I need him, all I have to do is ask. I have others, mostly female, some once alive, some not having incarnated. One is my Nana. But she is not a sword wielder. Her energy is there for loving me and caring for me when I’m feeling unworthy and less than. She hugs me and comforts. But Michael? He comes roaring down with sword and says “Where are they? I’ll keep ’em away.”

So, when I think of angels, I think of Michael. A very powerful being with a sword that cuts away all but truth. A protector with the willingness to go to battle (loved the movie Michael, BATTLE!!!!, but I digress). And so I was happy to call upon him Friday for the Triple Level Cleansing. As I was finishing the cleansing I heard in my head, “The chicken man’s name is Michael.” Whoa. No shit? As usual my first instinct is assume I’m just projecting. But time has shown that usually those flashes are psychic and they are time and again spot on correct. Mostly I go, hmmm, I’ll be paying attention now. Let’s see how things go. And I promptly forget about it. Which is good, it’s good not to focus too much on those things. I want them to come naturally and not create them. Create them in the sense that I start looking under every rock and behind every tree. If it is true, I want it to just appear. So. I forgot about it.

Yesterday Ruth and I arrived on site early. Merchants got to come early. There were two men unpacking their cars and no one else. I stopped and smiled and asked them if this was where we were to park. And recognized them as the band that I heard playing at Pagan Pride. They were playing at Concentric Circles. And I said “You’re the band __________.” Why yes, yes we are. The first one was already at my car window smiling like the sun and the second walked over doing the horned god symbol. We laughed talked for a moment. I parked, they went off to find out how best to set up. I turned to Ruth, “OMG he’s cute! What an attractive man.” And realized that one of them heard the entire thing. Awesome. *laugh*

We went about our afternoon setting up, meeting old friends, goodness I ran into a lot of good friends. My Outer Grove coven was casting one of the many circles that day so it was old home week. And I knew that I really did want to be with them. I missed them. Tears flowed all day. Tears of gratitude, tears of longing, tears of remembrance. Tears when the Lady wished Her Lord adieu. Tears when the bounty of the season was passed for cakes. Tears when the Lord blessed me and said “Plant wisely.” Tears watching my beloved High Priestess invoke the Goddess. Oh, goodness I miss her.

It was, all in all a wonderful day. I sold some pouches and bartered the black wand bag for a wand. While making those bags I had my other friend Ruthie in my mind’s eye as I was making it. She makes the loveliest wands and I thought for sure anyone with a wand from Ruthie would want one of my wand bags. Turned out it was Ruthie. I got a wand that is just gorgeous and she got a bag she was drooling over. I got some greeting cards with photos of the 8 sabbat altars and altars to the 4 elements. Part of my space was taken up with things perfect for a pagan yard sale and I came home much lighter there too. I made enough to cover my event costs, my purchases, and my dinner from Friday night plus a little bit more. Basically I broke even and that’s a great day.  (I just found a check in my bag, I did more than break even. It was a good harvest indeed)

But wait, there’s more.

So, I’m in the bathroom after running into Narcissus and I’m shaking.  Totally didn’t enjoy being in his once again oblivious and thoughtless presence.  I called on Micheal the A.A. and did another grid cleansing.  I asked for a sign that everything was going to stop being so nerve wracking, that better things were coming and soon. And to please help me stop shaking and feeling nauseous.  I walked out of the longhouse and over towards the merchant booths. As I passed the band they broke into the song

Halleluah

I adore this song…  Ahhhhhhhhhhh.

After enjoying said band’s music from afar, they were well behind the merchant area, I went over after wards and struck up a conversation with said cute man. What a lovely smile he has. There was something very grounded about him. I told him about coming out after praying to the archangel Michael and hearing the song.  He’s pagan but I wonder what he thought of that. I’ve got the feeling he is a Druid and that we might have some friends in common. So we were chatting and I felt that I must give him my name. I extended my hand and said, my name is ___________. And he? Took my hand and said, “Hi, I’m Michael.”

They are playing at our local Witches Ball in three weeks.

P.S. I related this to my HPs while her husband was there. And he said, I’m Michael. And I said, no, you’re MIKE. And you are certainly not the chicken man. You be laying with another. But her eyes. Got all sparkley. She is a very sparkley woman but she amped it up. Hmmmmm.

P.S.S.  Sorry, The Michael, I’m pretty darned sure it isn’t you either. And it’s certainly not my bro Mike although I love him dearly.  Just for the record and all.