From Starhawk’s OnFaith blog:
Pagan morality is not about who you sleep with, but more about “Are you acting with integrity and compassion, kindness and caring to all involved? If you make mistakes, are you owning up to them and making amends?”
Gee, wonder who that reminded me of?
Saturday was a lovely sunny day. Warm but not hot. My friend Ruth and I went on over to OLOTEAS. It was a long day, we could have gone over later. There wasn’t much going on and most folks were in the pool or inside. Ruth and I sat outside in the shade and talked, stitched (me), perused Wicca for the Solitary Practitioner (Ruth). This was her first pagan/Wiccan event/ritual ever. I have lent her a good beginner’s book (she said pick ONE), the Scott Cunningham.
I have a few friends who came and hung out for bits of time but no one remembers me much from when I used to go with Narcissus. Who, by the way, was thankfully not in attendence. So basically I get to start over which is lovely.
This month’s ritual was not Wiccan but more Goddess oriented. Just at dusk they lit the tiki torches and a central bonfire. We processed in to the lovely standing stone circle at the Longhouse Spiritual Retreat in Redmond, WA. The five priestesses were garbed in white and were wearing circlets of herbs and summer flowers from the site. The intent was to send out energy to support the global food system and environment. Cakes and ale were blackberries from the property picked that afternoon and raspberries from a local organic grower. It was a lovely ritual. I turned to Ruth when it was over and her eyes were just sparkling. She said it was everything she had hoped it would be. Can’t ask for more than that. What a priviledge to be able to take her to that and how wonderful of the Lord and Lady to set it up so well.
September 14th is our local Pagan Pride day, another opportunity to make new friends. I’m looking forward to this event as well and will probably go with Ruth.
I am looking forward to September 27th. It is the annual Concentric Circles event. Local groups, especially those looking for new members, will be casting circles and doing ritual in 2-3 locations throughout the day. There will be workshops and merchants (I’ll be one of those). Typically a large group of pagans come out to that event that don’t go the rest of the year. It will be a wonderful opportunity to run into old friends and meet new ones. Ruth might bring her daughter who wanted to hear all about the event. It’s going to be a blast, I can hardly wait.
And suddenly I see opportunities to take up my time. I need to finish up some pouches etc… Hmmm. Maybe today is the day to sit down and make a calendar and list of what I want on my plate for the coming month. This will help me know in the morning when I awake what that day brings. Yes, that is the ticket. So… Wand bags and hats and pillows, here I come…
And I’m making potato salad for the OLOTEAS ritual potluck today. Now, you should know that I make the best potato salad ever. The purist’s potato salad. I keep it very simple and folks who don’t like potato salad like mine. For one thing I put in a ton of eggs. And I have a family secret ingredient. Narcissus hates that secret ingredient but he loved my tater salad. And I hate things like olives and capers and sweet pickles and crap like that in this particular salad and don’t bring Miracle Whip anywhere near me. Feh. Bleah. Criminal. Just the basics folks and that’s good enough but really it’s the best ever.
My Potato Salad
I’m picking up my friend Ruth at 2:30 and we’re off like the Dixie Chicks to fun in the sun. And perhaps a dip in the pool. I’m taking my bags and putting them out just in case someone is in the mood to shop although it will be stealth merchanting really. Woohoo! Ritual, good friends, good food, sun, shade, and water. Can’t ask for much more than that.
I woke up this morning and it occurred to me that I might run into Narcissus there and it became very clear that I’m okay. I’m finally free. Yes! But how cool would it be if he went somewhere else today? Wouldn’t miss him a bit.
Also the mailman dropped off my new tarot deck, Pearls of Wisdom. This is an art deck for sure. Vibrant colors and very busy. But it has elements that I just love and it’s going to be another of my embroidery inspirations…
Three pagan blogs nominated me for the “I LOVE YOUR BLOG” award. At first I hadn’t planned on doing anything about it but when it was THREE, well. Thank you so much Foxchild, Witch Woman, and Green Witch! I was trying to stay humble and not mention this but when three folks, one I’ve never “met,” do this for you, you better say something. I love you guys and hope that this link is enough. You’re not on the list because you are here so technically I guess I’m putting in 10 blogs…
I guess there are rules and you know how I hate rules… I’m also going to nominate blogs that I haven’t seen nominated on the other blogs where this award is circulating around… AND you are under NO obligation to pass this on unless you are motivated to do this. I don’t want to chain blog you.
Rules (I refer to call them suggestions)
1. The winner can put the logo on their blog
2. Link the person(s) you received the award from
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4. Put links of those blogs on yours
5. Leave a message on the blogs nominated
This Saturday, the second Saturday of the month, I was answering phones at the local sobriety intergroup office.
About an hour before our time was up, it started to rain. POUR. DELUGE. I had to take off my sandals to get to the car and was soaked to the skin after walking 15 feet. It was wonderful. The smell of the parched dirt absorbing rain, yes there is a smell for that, was delicious. I thought “how refreshing.” I also thought that I hoped it was doing this in the north end of town where my garden lives as it could use a good drink. A good FREE drink from the Mama.*
The other phone people? Were complaining about how crappy the summer was. I’ve been hearing this whiny bullshit since April from people all over the place. No one, it appears, wants rain. Everyone wants nothing but sun. All the time. They are all talking about moving south. G’head. Please move. Then you’ll be begging us for our water. It just freaks me out that so many people, especially ones who say they are pagan or who say they love the earth, can be so disconnected from the reality.
I said that I was loving the rain as the water was feeding people.
FEEDING PEOPLE? my friend says with contempt and disgust. That rain isn’t feeding any one.
It’s soaking the P-Patches in town and they feed people.**
They don’t feed The People my friend says.
Well they feed SOME people. That counts.
No it doesn’t. It does’t feed the masses so it’s a waste and it’s ruined my summer. I fucking hate it here.
Oh my god. If I was that kind of person I’d have slapped him till his eyes crossed. He just can’t be for real. But he is. Where on earth does he think the water comes from? Are 200 people fed once a week with free organic produce of no consequence? From every P-Patch in town? How many people is that? Do the squirrels and cats and dogs and birds and raccoons and possums and ants in my town, do they not count? Do they not deserve a drink now and then? I have to fill the water bowls every other day in my yard. What about the animals and birds living in town where no one leaves them water? They depend on the infrequent summer rains. Doesn’t the rose sigh in gratitude when the water drop first hits its leaves?
If everyone did something like that everyone in the world would eat. But it’s selfish, heartless bastards like that who are obsessed with pretty leather shoes and snappy fedoras that keep us believing in separate ego. This is the man who says that if The End comes he’s going to strap on a back pack and hike north and cross the river to where there is open land for growing things… Dude. He says that hiking over to my friend’s house a couple miles away and pooling our resources is stupid. He thinks we’re idiots. Good luck on that hike dude. And good luck on crossing that river. Chances are you’ll have to borrow a boat. Hmmm, what do you think you can barter for that service? That snappy fedora? Or a volunteer tomato plant in a coffee can? How are you going to water your crops in August? Fucktard.
Does he think that the rain will last forever? It’s a summer shower, common and welcome in August. I’m still saddened, stunned, disgusted. I’m also grateful that the Mama? Listens to me, not him. I had to leave so I could go bask in the rainy goodness in peace. I smiled and sighed in the car all the way home. Through the worst traffic in months. And it was bliss to have those drops plop and to smell the earth in gratitude for the respite through my open window.
Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
* It wasn’t. It was a bit damp at home so I had to water thoroughly. yeah, that ruined the summer.
** P-Patch community gardeners show their concern for the value of fresh organic vegetables by supplying 7 to 10 tons of produce to Seattle food banks each year.
Stitch Witch Cottage 