returning to blogging

I took an enforced break from blogging.  I was in an accident with a horse - a loose horse came around a corner and ran right over me.  I spent a few days in the hospital and when I got out I found I really couldn't concentrate well enough to write.  I had a concussion; eye didn't want to focus and brain wanted to rest. 
So I didn't blog for a while and then I felt that I had sort of lost interest in it.  Immediately before the accident I had deleted several one topic blogs because I felt I was just spread too thin and while they interested me, there was no way to keep them current. 
So I let things just slide for a while.  This blog has always been intermittent, but A Pagan Tapestry was a routine of important days and practice - also a little venting.  But I felt that I had run out of things to say. 
A little more time went by and I slowly began to realize that A Pagan Tapestry is part of my spiritual practice.  It keeps me on track so I don't just blow past important days.  When I want/need more information or just become curious about something I research it and blog about it. 
I have missed this part of my practice, so after spending a month or so just feeling guilty for having dropped it - remember, I was raised Catholic, I can feel guilty about anything! - I finally got back to it.  Full Moon entry tonight on Tapestry. 
If anyone is still reading this blog - thank you and I am back!  Comments are welcome always.

a more public Pagan

In just the last few years Paganism has made great leaps and bounds in becoming more public, better understood and more accepted in this country. 
I love many of the things that go along with this.  More public ritual and ceremony that are easy to find.  More pagan publishers and a wide assortment of new books covering both modern views and researched historical theories.   Many shops that carry supplies and lots and lots of fun goodies.  Lots of discussion and visibility on sites like Facebook.   I especially like the pages for Pagan artists, Pagan businesses etc. 
Lots and lots of online classes from well respected Pagans of all traditions. 

But I also find myself appalled at some of the crass commercialization of Paganism.  Someone can always find a way to twist things and make a buck.  And I am NOT talking about legitimate Pagan businesses, we need more of them. 

But now there are snake oil salesmen selling Wicca initiations, the secrets of witches,  demon fighting ebooks.  It makes me a little angry, a little sad for curious people who will get sucked in, spend their money and decide that it is all a crock, because what they bought was. 
I have to blame both the snake oil salemen and the people who want something (spiritual enlightment) for nothing (no effort). 

I tell myself that this is no different than the Christians who display crucifixes everywhere and tell everyone they are Christian but do not attend church or read the Bible or put any effort into finding out what Christ taught.  Some of them get their pockets emptied by the television preachers who are getting rich off of them.  Most people can make a distinction between this and legitimate people of Christian faith.   There aren't enough of us yet for that distinction to be clear.   I'm sure we will get there.

But I have this nagging thought that we have awoken Old Gods or at least asked them to turn their attention to us once again, and they might be disappointed or perhaps amused, who knows?

Welcome to the 21st century, my fellow Pagans, where even the old religions can be trivialized. 
I suppose it is the price we pay for coming out of the shadows and it is, in my opinion, a good argument for being as public as safely possible, each in our own way, to reinforce the concept of a serious spiritual path and help new seekers avoid the con artists and find reasonable people to answer their questions.

a need for ritual

I have made some changes to my pagan blogging.  I find that my blogging is tied to my ritual work.   My spiritual practice carries on everyday and for a time I did not feel the need for much in the way of ritual.   Now, with another turn of the Wheel, I am missing a more formal ritual practice and blogging here and on A Pagan Tapestry is a part of that practice. 
I have deleted the divination blog, I have a new site for Tarot readings and if you want one from me you can always contact me here. 
I have deleted the Black Cats and Full Moons blog.  I loved doing the historical research for it and I will probably bring it back, I just need to figure out a schedule and let it be a treat to do it again and not something hanging over my head that is not finished.
I also deleted the resources lists, which I had moved to a separate blog because they became so extensive.  It occurred to me that exactly because there was so much, it was not needed anymore.  When I started these blogs just a few years ago there were a handful of pagan podcasts, one or two pagan publishers and even online stores were hard to find.  Now there are hundreds of podcasts, radio shows, dozens of publishers and online and brick and mortar stores everywhere.  Good changes.
I cleaned up the remaining blogs, there is no need for all those links.
Pagan Tapestry will change as the Wheel turns and this blog will become more active.   The Borrowed Book of Charms is still active, many people have let me know that they are using it and I am glad for that.
I don't know what comes next, but for right now I feel a pull to move back to more ritual and these blogs are part of that. 

Life and The Craft

I find that as time goes by The Craft becomes more and more part of my daily life and at the same time it has simplified itself.  Most of my ritual tools are safely wrapped away and seldom disturbed.  My altar has become a collection of candles and a few statues.  Each candle is for a specific god, goddess or spirit.  A large jar candle dominates the space and is offered to Goddess and Universe.
I have tiny little altars scattered throughout the house dedicated to specific goddesses.  They are tea lights and tiny tokens or pieces of jewelry on a decorative saucer.
I cast a circle, raise energy, state my intent and let it go, simply and often.  It nearly always produces a result.
I do love ritual, but it just doesn't seem to be necessary when there is no time or desire. I put together a ritual for the Blood Moon and realized that it was the first time in a while that I had done something that formal.
Perhaps this is a phase too, only time will tell.

Isaac Bonewits

Isaac Bonewits died today.  He had a losing battle with cancer that seemed to take him away from us very quickly.  I never met Isaac, but when I first started A Pagan Tapestry he came across it somehow and put a link on his site, Views from the Cyberhenge.  He was very encouraging to a new Pagan blogger.
From what I have read about Isaac he was very encouraging to many people.  He was also entertaining and fun on Facebook.
We need more, not fewer, Pagans like him.  Involved from their head to their toes, 24/7, teaching, writing, talking, arguing.    Part of Paganism is the individual, intellectual pursuit of knowledge.
In Isaac's name, let us not lose sight of that.

Isaac Bonewits 1949-2010

be careful what you 'ward'

One morning this week I was listening to a podcast where warding was being discussed and I choked on my coffee.
Sometimes I am my own worst enemy and the results can be hilarious or dismaying.  This time it was hilarious.

I sometimes drive home in a funk after doing some shopping in the afternoons.  I am pissed off about being run over, cut in front of and treated rudely by other shoppers.  I start off being annoyed and sometimes end up ranting about it.

Guess who is causing this?  ME!
I go into the store wanting to just get done quickly, not run into anyone that wants to chat, just get it over with and get home.  I am so focused on this that I am making myself invisible. I am warding off any interaction with others.  So they cut in front of me, run into my cart, step on my foot..... I'm hard to see. I had no idea I was so effective, but I am really focused.  I'm just experiencing an unwanted side effect.

I laughed so hard I nearly cried, but at least now I know what is going on.