For me, Halloween is what brought me into Wicca. I’m not afraid to say it. I love dressing up and celebrating death with candy. I even posted the story of how seeing my dead friend’s ghost forced me to look for a religion that could incorporate that reality. This time of year is wonderful for getting us back in touch with the Wheel, and for looking death straight in the eye.

You can't have one without the other!

In mainstream culture, witches and ghosts seem to go hand in hand, but what does it mean for us?

In Ancient Greece, part of being a good sorcerer/ess was to be able to speak to the dead (read evidence here!). Occultists would conjure ghosts and demons into protected circles. Theosophists held seances and channeled the dead through the knocking of wood and drawing of portraits. And today, adolescents titillate to the creepy Ouija board’s response.

The dead are a part of our cosmology in a very real way. The Wheel teaches us that life continues on after death to rebirth. I believe there is a period of time where the world of the living is accessible to those that have passed over, and that time is Samhain. Death is a natural dwelling of spirit, and eventually we all get there, so there is nothing paranormal or inherently scary about death (just like there is nothing inherently scary about, say, a tree–but you can put your own ideas upon the neutral thing).

Visiting the Dead

• Those who have crossed over do come and visit us. They look after us. We know they are here when we randomly think of them. Perhaps you smell something familiar about them, like Grandpa’s cigars or Aunty Hazel’s perfume. Occasionally, things will move ever so slightly, the room will freeze up for no reason, or you feel something touch you. That is the dead’s way of saying “I’m here”.
• Honor them through ritual. Creating an altar for those that have passed is a nice way to remember and honor them. Including them in your Samhain ritual is a nice touch.
• The dead are found in quiet places, including the mind. If you are all scared, excited, busy or what have you, you won’t find your loved ones. Activity is the realm of the living. The Beloved Dead belong to the West (so water, memory, stillness, healing). That’s why we don’t party at graveyards.
• The dead have lives too, you know. Er, unlives? While they are not bound by the rules of physics that we are, they are bound by other rules that we aren’t. I don’t think we can know all the rules to which they are bound until we ourselves cross over. What I’m saying is don’t expect miracles.
• The dead have moved on, and so should you. Once they cross over, the ego drops away, and the old hurts and physical pains are transcended. It is very likely that Grandma doesn’t care who gets her old rings, although it may be very important to those she left behind. Your deeply Catholic friend won’t mind if you honor him on your Pagan altar. We can’t assume to know what the dead want without looking at their Wills or asking them directly. The dead eventually move on and go to Summerland or reincarnate, or whatever else–we’ll never know.

I consider a ghost to be a very sad thing, because they are clinging to something here and have not (or will not?) move on to rebirth. I suspect that people who are grieving for them here keep their spirits around.

Because Witches understand ghosts, they have a responsibility to them. Many of us are trained (or are naturally–you lucky dogs!) to be sensitive to energy, ghosts and spirits–something that may not be as great as it sounds. Witches have a responsibility to treat all beings with respect, including beings that not everyone else can see. We have a responsibility to learn from them if we can, and occasionally mediate if we are called to (and it harms none). Occasionally we have to point them in the right direction.

There are many methods of mediation between humans and ghosts. Much of it has to do by preparing a safe space. Circles and shields up–be very clear about who is invited into the circle.

A Dumb Supper is a meal shared with the dead in sacred space. Have a skilled Priest or Priestess open the West Gate to allow the invited guests easy access. Be sure to close the gate when you are done. The meal is eaten in subdued lighting in total silence. Listen carefully for the presence of your beloved dead.

Go ahead and use the Ouija or other talking-board. Again, be sure to do it in circle and be very clear about who you want to talk to. You’ll need a few friends for this, especially someone who can write it all down.

If you are alone, you can always meditate to meet your beloved dead. Meet in some neutral Astral space, rather than in the realm of the dead.  Ask if they want or need anything done. Ask if you can deliver a message for someone else. Always thank them for their time.

So this Samhain, consider taking the opportunity to visit with your Beloved Dead and including them in your celebration. Use your mad Witch-y skillz to do some personal growth as the Wheel turns around to rebirth.

Hello,

Recently I have been wanting to get into Goddess Oracle Decks and Tarot Decks and performing readings for people. I have searched for information online but it was very overwhelming. So I wanted to find out where I should start my journey into card readings?

Confused Seer

Dear Seer,

Ah, the Tarot. For many of us, divination is what brings us to Paganism or keeps us interested. Getting started can be overwhelming as there are so many decks and methods and lore around tarot. I get a lot of questions, so let’s start simply by answering them one by one:

What is Tarot?
Tarot is a method of divination which uses cards that have an appointed meaning. When we think of Tarot (pronounced “tay-roh” or “tah-roh” by most people, with the emphasis on the last syllable), we think of the images and symbols based upon the Rider-Waite Tarot deck. The R-W gathered information from ancient tarot decks and used medieval symbolism and simple illustrations to create the deck in 1909. Within the occult and New Age cultures, the meanings of the cards are widely understood. Often an artist will reinterpret the images but not the meaning of the card. So most of your decks are going to be based strongly with this deck. That means if you can interpret the Rider-Waite, you can interpret almost all tarot decks the first time you use them, even if they look vastly different.

How is that different from an Oracle deck?
In the tarot market today, if it is not based strongly on the Rider-Waite, they call it an Oracle deck. An Oracle deck may be based on different wisdom, such as Celtic trees, the I Ching, Native American lore, Mythology, psychology, etc. It does not use the Rider-Waite medieval imagery or symbolism. The cards may be named entirely differently. These are great if you don’t vibe with the R-W symbolism and gravitate towards other ways of thinking.

What’s the use of Divination?
Divination is a method of seeing the future, of discovering what the Gods want, and of finding rhyme and reason in this crazy world of ours. Perhaps more importantly, the use of tarot and divination shows us human nature. In particular, it shows us our own nature and that of the querent (that is, the person asking the question). My Wiccan teacher taught us that the Tarot is like our book of answers, our Bible, if you will, only it talks with us instead of telling us what to do. (BTW, this school is where she works. You can take classes with her. Her introductory Wicca classes are FANTASTIC and thorough. She’s very old-school).

How do I get started?
Start at the beginning, go to the end, and then stop.

Ok, that was unhelpful. The easiest way to get started is to find or purchase a deck that speaks to you. I know, there’s all this talk about how it has to be gifted to you or that you shouldn’t spend any money on it. You can believe these if you want to. In my experience, it makes no difference–except that you regret a deck more if you purchase it yourself and don’t like it, and are more grateful for it if it is a gift. Attitude does go a long way. Find cards that has art you think is great, and make sure it comes with an interpretation book. Flip through the cards and just look at them, enjoying the images and reacting to how the art makes you feel.

The first step is to read for yourself. Pick a simple spread, perhaps a three card past-present-future spread, and shuffle the cards and lay them out. Individually look up what each card means, and interpret that in the place it is in the spread. Yes, it’s tedious, but you will learn it and it will be relevant.You might also try reading a single card per day, and thinking about that card while you are going about your daily life. Think of it as a “thought for the day”.

Some folks will read the whole book front to back. I’ve found that to be not only dull but confusing later. There’s no way I can memorize that fast, can you?

When you gain a little confidence and the cards begin to look familiar, you might want to start reading for others. I read for my grandma, my best friends, my mom and my sweetheart in the beginning of any new deck. Pick someone who will be patient with you, as you’ll likely still need to look up the meaning of the cards you forget. Don’t read for a stranger until you are really good at using the deck. Strangers are looking for things you may not be ready to deliver.

The Goddess Oracle is my absolute favorite deck. I use it in ritual, on my altar, and as a “thought for the day”. It recently became available again. The art is gorgeous, culturally sensitive, and touching.

I also keep around a smaller-sized Rider-Waite tarot so that I always have a deck on me. You’d be surprised who needs a reading when you’re at a restaurant or a bar!

The Robin Wood tarot is beautiful and the symbolism is very Wiccan. My sweetheart uses it and loves the elemental symbolism. It is a great teaching tool, too.

For over 15 years, I’ve used the Osho Zen Tarot. It’s based on Buddhist ideas. I like it because it doesn’t look occult-y, and the symbolism really works for me. Plus the art is bright and beautiful. If you call me on Keen, this is the deck I’ll use.

Do you have a question for Witchful Thinking? Contact me and we’ll get to the bottom of it!

A blessed Autumn Equinox to you all! Now is the time of balance, when night equals day, which begins the tilt towards the dark part of the year.

In the field, we’ve brought in the corn and wheat at Lammas to make bread. Now the farmer turns his attention to the vine, gathering grapes to press and apples for cider. He gathers the last of the blackberries, searches the woods for nuts. This is the second harvest, the final one coming at Samhain with the slaughter of the animals.

For myths of the season, we turn to the Celts, as so much of our Wheel of the Year is based upon. One of the best explanations for our celebration of the season comes from here and says:

Mythically, this is the day of the year when the god of light is defeated by his twin and alter-ego, the god of darkness. It is the time of the year when night conquers day. And as I have recently shown in my seasonal reconstruction of the Welsh myth of Blodeuwedd, the Autumnal Equinox is the only day of the whole year when Llew (light) is vulnerable and it is possible to defeat him. Llew now stands on the balance (Libra/autumnal equinox), with one foot on the cauldron (Cancer/summer solstice) and his other foot on the goat (Capricorn/winter solstice). Thus he is betrayed by Blodeuwedd, the Virgin (Virgo) and transformed into an Eagle (Scorpio).

Two things are now likely to occur mythically, in rapid succession. Having defeated Llew, Goronwy (darkness) now takes over Llew’s functions, both as lover to Blodeuwedd, the Goddess, and as King of our own world. Although Goronwy, the Horned King, now sits on Llew’s throne and begins his rule immediately, his formal coronation will not be for another six weeks, occurring at Samhain (Halloween) or the beginning of Winter, when he becomes the Winter Lord, the Dark King, Lord of Misrule. Goronwy’s other function has more immediate results, however. He mates with the virgin goddess, and Blodeuwedd conceives, and will give birth — nine months later (at the Summer Solstice) — to Goronwy’s son, who is really another incarnation of himself, the Dark Child.

This really explains the mythology of this time of the year. There’s just one thing missing: Mabon.

Who is Mabon? What does he represent? And what does he have to do with this time of the year?

The answer is simple: we don’t freaking know.

Here’s what we do know. His name means “Divine Son”. The Welsh sacred mythology is collected in the Mabinogion, which means “pertaining to Mabon”. It has eleven branches in it, so you’d think it would have the scoop. But it doesn’t. He appears as a minor character only in the story Culhwch and Olwen. Freeing Mabon was one of tasks given to Culhwch. Like other Celtic Gods, Mabon had been stolen as a child from his mother. Once Mabon was free, he was able to tell them how to get the sharp comb off a boar: part of the magic, I suppose.

Yeah. I’m as puzzled as you are. No amount of study has given me good insight into the Celts. It is clear, however, that Mabon was important to people all over Scotland and Northern England, with towns and rivers and so on being named after this god. The Romans mention him, and he’s even been noted in the mythical landscape of France. Indeed, he does become one of the characters in legends of Kind Arthur, tied to the Lady of the Lake. So he keeps appearing. Other lore elsewhere points him out as a God of love and youth, who was an excellent bard, so he is often equated with Apollo and Christ. Clearly he’s too important to be forgotten, even if we can’t remember what he originally meant, which is immortality of a kind.

It is entirely possible that Mabon represents some idea of kingship and that relationship to the Goddess, his mother. Or his forgotten power may just be the example of how the Goddess had lost her connection with the Celtic people. Perhaps he’s not a person- or god-hood, but an archetypal descriptive figure. The Divine Son might have been many things to many people, with the details being ascribed to him as they seemed appropriate, rather than coming from a specific source like a myth. Perhaps our association with Mabon at the Autumn Equinox is entirely fabricated. Or perhaps it is meant to remind us to give honor to that Divine Son of the Goddess as we reap the harvest fields.

What experience of Mabon have you had? How does the idea of the Divine Son fit into your cosmology?

Is anyone else tired of reading about Christine O’Donnell? She’s one of those “out there” Republicans and even her own party doesn’t like her. The latest thing is that an old clip of her on “Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher” saying she “dabbled” in witchcraft, and had a date with a boy which ended with a picnic on a “satanic altar”.

Anyone one else want to join me in a “WTF??”

What I do like about this, is now the media is going to experts to get some straight truth. They are calling academics who have spent their careers documenting and commenting on the Wiccan and Neo-Pagan movement, and looking the media are looking towards organizations that have been around a long time to get information checks.

This is important: it means there is a real shift in the public attitude about Witchcraft. Clearly O’Donnell isn’t aware of it–or wasn’t 11 years ago when the clip was made (when more people would have believed what she said). Honestly, I don’t know one can say she “dabbled” in Witchcraft when she only went on a date with a guy. I dated a guy who was into IronMaiden. Does that mean I “dabbled” in rock ballads? If I visit a LDS church, am I “dabbling” in Mormonism? Sorry. Does not compute.

I actually feel bad for the Satanists too. I’m sure they don’t want to be equated with yuppie fundamentalist republicans either.

Oh, and one other thing:

PROOF!

I spent a great deal of time in college. Several, actually. I honestly understand when people say it was the best time of their life. I love the academic atmosphere, and I would love to teach at one someday. Autumn reminds me that it is time to return to school, and even when I’m working in the real world, there is a sense that it is time to curl up and start a new reading interest or a new course of study. To me, it is the University that connects us to our ancient Greek ancestors, and shows us that the Gods are alive and magic is afoot.

University: An Observation in a Courtyard

"Where have all the Flowers gone?"
Two by two small plotted boxes
In a meadow of brick and mortar.
Daffodils and hot-house snowdrops
Say "Spring is here!"
Or is it?
They have nothing to lose
But daylight.

Single Druidic Idol
in a courtyard
(they constructed the building around it)
says, "fuck you, Civilization!
If it takes a hundred years
I will ruin you
I will wait."
One brick at a time.
It's a root thing.

Here and there and between
Heathen imagery
of birds and heroes of Old Europe are
Falsified by Artisans and Architects
With great care
But unnoticed by the living creatures--
The Urban Wildlife--
Crows, Seagulls and the Free-Spirited.

Free-Spirited because
they lost the sunshine
in the courtyard.
Lost their way
Running
To Study.
Directionless without
a mochachino.

A Little College Space

‘The Quad’ was a name that felt ridiculous
I mean, it’s not like it’s an actual
square, or anything.

It was clear that an artist hadn’t named
this space.

Oh, I suppose you could argue
that it was square-ish: but an artist, as
was she, would argue that a bunch of criss
crossing walkways, never straight and
always intersecting, was one hell of a mess.

When she walked these walkways, she had
this fear of running into Someone when one
path of concrete meets another.

That’s why she’s sitting on the bench,
laughing at the others,
who use the dangerous walkways
when it would have been quicker
to cut across the grass.

Transfer Student

Foreign walkways
Exactly the same bricks
As the other
Both intended
To mimic
University over the Pond
Clink, chink-chink
Tell me how late I am to class

Strange…
The back of a head
The corner of an eye
Recognize a friend
For one
Measly
Second
Before they change back
To a stranger

Home away from Home
My ass
But moving out
Means not going home
Anymore

Dear Witchful Thinking,

Ok, I love Athena as much as the next Pagan, but what’s with that ugly face depicted with her? She’s so smart, why does she need to be around something so hideous?

Sincerely,

Little Owl

Dear Little Owl,

That ugly little face is called the Gorgon. Specifically, it is Medusa. Ovid tells us that Medusa was once a beautiful maiden, who was raped in the temple of Athena by Poseidon. Now, Poseidon and Athena already didn’t like each other, mostly for fighting for the affection of the people of Athens. And I don’t really know why, but instead of punishing Poseidon for desecrating her temple, she punishes Medusa by turning her hair into snakes. (Come to think of it, I bet she COULDN’T punish Poseidon since he is very powerful. Plus, Zeus wouldn’t allow it and Athena is a hard-core daddy’s girl). Anyway, now anyone who looks at Medusa is turned to stone. According to another author, Medusa and her two sisters were born of cthonic monsters, and the hero Perseus comes and chops off her head. Interesting that Perseus is favored by Athena. Our hero later gives Athena the Medusa head, which still turns people to stone, and she puts it on her shield or her armor.

It is clear that these two figures are connected. I would argue that they are actually the same. Here we have Athena, the ultimate Animus, who was literally sprung from the head of her father and has hardly any feminine qualities. She is sharp, quick witted and has a flexible kind of cleverness. She’s an intellectual, way up in the air. Even in battles she doesn’t get her hands dirty, but like a general controls things from behind the scenes.

According to Jung, she would have to have some shadow side, which I believe is the Gorgon Medusa. I like the idea that inside every God is a human. Athena is so intellectual, and has so little to do with mortals, that I want her to have some vested interest in us. She’s not like Aphrodite or Pan, who are constantly upon the earth getting into mischief and taking lovers. I think few folks are intellectual enough to have the meeting of minds that Athena would enjoy.

Athena’s feminine side would have to be hidden and dark. The cthonic elements of the snakes ground her in all the worlds from the high tower of intellectualism to the low moist earth. The Medusa isn’t sensual, but she is, or was, beautiful (and the argument goes that, even with the snakes for hair, she was still beautiful to look at). In whatever form, monsters unerringly mean chaos. Beauty cannot be controlled (you either have it or you don’t) and its gift makes men go crazy. The Trojan war was, after all, started by a fight over the possession of a beautiful woman. This chaotic element is something that Athena would not be able to possess. Yet if Athena is to have the knowledge of all things, she must know this too.

What I like about Ovid’s tale is that it gives Athena a whole story arch to grow in. Follow with me: Here we have untouchable wise Athena, whose counterpart is beautiful Medusa. She’s what Athena can’t be because Athena is her father’s daughter and part of the patriarchy. If we follow that Medusa is Athena, then when Poseidon rapes Medusa, he is raping Athena, which someone already attempted to do before. Athena, in her retramatized fear of rape, is actually attempting to save herself from being abused further–by making Medusa, that inner part of her, ugly, no man would dare attempt to take advantage of her.

So Medusa could be this wounded part of Athena that she doesn’t want to deal with, so Medusa wanders the dark places (where Athena wouldn’t really have access to). Mythologist Joseph Campbell tell us that the hero must face their monsters within, but Athena, being unable to do so in this patriarchal society, sends Perseus in her place. Percy is her champion and she tells him how to defeat the Medusa. When he brings her the head, Athena integrates the Medusa into herself, by making it part of her shield–her protection. The Gorgon head turns people to stone, and on Athena’s shield turns the intellect to stone, making it hard to come to creative solutions, and making thinking rigid, giving Athena the intellectual advantage.

Above all, Athena projects the male principal into the world. That is her job. The fact that she’s a woman makes her masculine traits that much more powerful. She is literally the law of her father, of civilization and order. Athena has no female life of her own in the traditional Greek sense. With no husband or children, she will not be tied down to their influence, and is free it explore her intellectual pursuits, or her career, or whatever she chooses to pour her passion into. However, she is bound by the rules of the patriarchy, the will of her father, and societies laws. How does she deal with that rigidity?

I suspect that in the dark of night, Athena would indulge in her inner Gorgon, being beautiful and hideous, wailing at the injustices and the hurt and violations she experienced and haunting the dark places of the night, turning intruding men into stone. When she’s the Medusa, she doesn’t have to try and outsmart anyone, doesn’t have to play their puzzles and answer or create riddles–she can just be, knowing that she’s safe from intruders.

I’m not really that excited about America. That is, I’m not particularly patriotic. I think most demonstrations of patriotism are closer to fascism. I’m the kind of person who quit saying the pledge of allegiance everyday because it has “Under God” in it…you know who else did stuff like that? The Romans. And Nazi Germany. But there’s something about 9/11 that makes me feel grateful and happy to be in America and to be an American.

My experience of September 11, 2001 was quite different from many peoples. I was 18, and had graduated high school in June. For the previous three years, I’d been saving money for a trip to the United Kingdom, and through a very odd series of coincidences, I was saved from a mess of trouble. My trip was to be 15 days, and I was scheduled to fly from Seattle to New York, and then on to London. A week or two before the trip, I had the travel agent (we had those back then) change it to a direct flight from Seattle to London. When I arrived at the airport with my parents in tow, the plane was grounded due to mechanical failures, and my travel agent pushed the entire venture back one day.

As a result, I was not on an airplane on Sept 11th flying to New York. I was still in Ireland, with a ticket home while everyone else was freaking out. Absolutely, the Gods were looking out for me then.

Because I was on vacation, the company I was touring with didn’t want to ruin our experience by telling us of the horrors at home. I had been in a bus most of the day, stopping and shopping at little towns. I should explain that, over there, by simply opening your mouth and speaking, people know exactly where you are from. So every time I asked a shop keeper where the restroom was, or the time, or where the bus would come from, they would apologize and treat me extremely politely, but with a grave solemnity. It was only at the third or fourth person that I stopped to ask what was going on. They showed me to the TV, and I could see these buildings and it looked like they were on fire. Everyone was speculating–an accident? an explosion? No one thought terrorism. I watched the second plane hit the towers. People in the shop gasped. Someone from my tour group was crying. All the Aussies and Kiwi’s kept asking me how I was going to get home. That was my thought too.

As a result, I barely knew what happened. By the time I returned home, everyone was burned out and grief-stricken from talking about the details. It was all about what to do. There was a cry against terrorism, and I watched my country unite against hatred and desperate to do something and not knowing what they could do.

Over the next couple of years, it was only with the specials on TV coming out that gave me the details. I think because it was so abstract for me when it actually happened, that I didn’t really deal with the emotions of it. It’s been almost a decade, and I still can’t stand to see the footage of the towers falling. 9/11 is more real for me than Veterans day or even Independence day. The emotion is really present for me. I feel for those families that lost someone, I grieve for the people who felt like this was their only option. My heart aches for soldiers and their families who are fighting to keep us safe–my heart even goes out to those families whose soldiers are fighting for our stupid excuses. I hate war, but Athena has taught me that it is sometimes necessary, if done with thought and care. This war wasn’t, or we’d be done by now and Osama Bin Laden would be charged for crimes against humanity.

9/11 is still real for many people, but there is a difference between being angry and scared at being attacked and in taking it out on people. Muslims did not do 9/11 to us FUNDAMENTALIST CRAZY PEOPLE did! That is something I’ll never forget. Muslims died in 9/11 because our country honors the fundamental right that people have a right to their religion. America welcomed them with open arms as immigrants and the children of immigrants. Just like they did with my ancestors coming from Germany, Ireland and England. The only difference is about 150 years, but we are all still here together as Americans, and every one of us was attacked that day.

So when I hear about FUNDAMENTALIST CRAZY PEOPLE burning Qur’ans, it, no offense, gets my panties in a wad. I’m pissed about it! How absolutely un-American (but I’ll support your right to do it, so how American is that??). When I hear about FUNDAMENTALIST CRAZY PEOPLE booing and hissing at a fellow who wants to build a Muslim community center near Ground Zero, I’m embarrassed at the reaction of my people. Clearly they didn’t learn what I learned from 9/11. What happened to that Unity? What happened to people being open and accepting and tolerant of other religions? Why does our unification have to be at the expense of someone else? Why does the spread of Democracy have to be so…undemocratic. WTF?

Have you read the Qur’an? Did you know it has many of the same books as the Bible? It has a lot of beautiful poetry. I keep a translated copy next to my Book of Mormon, the Tao Te Ching, and a book about Hinduism. Because being American is about letting every voice have a say, and every person have an equal opportunity for happiness, and it is up to me to learn what these voices are saying and where they are coming from. I protect their right to speak because I know if we can silence one group, we can silence another. Pagans are all about polytheistic plurality. We see diversity as a good thing because diversity in nature makes a healthy ecosystem for everybody. My magic is to stand up and speak. Yes. It is that important.

Dear Witchful Thinking,

I found your site in a search for ways to protect my home from a guest who I am going to have to invite into my home, but this woman, who is also a Witch, does not not like me and I do not trust her. I am Wiccan also, my distrust isn’t due to her beliefs. I need some advice on ways to protect my home when inviting an unfriendly guest who could cause harm into it. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Blessed Be,

Kelly

Dear Kelly,

There’s an old saying that goes “guests are like fish, they stink after three days”. Ok, it’s not a very nice thing to say, but there is something to it. Back in the day, maybe our parents generation, folks knew what it meant to be a guest. This included cleaning up after yourself, offering to cook one night, and generally not trying to be much of a burden on the host. Now-a-days, guests expect it to be like at a hotel, where they are waited on hand and foot. Some open communication with your guest could really help–especially establish when she will be leaving.

I assume that since you have to invite this guest into your home, that you are either 1) related, 2) working on a business deal, 3) trying to please your partner who wants them to visit, or 4) taking a charity case and you are the nicest person ever.

In Wicca, we recognize that sometimes people we don’t like are actually very like us. It is what we see in them that we don’t like about ourselves. So what is it about this woman that you dislike so much? Is it her manners? Her attitude? Or just the fact that she doesn’t like you? And does she really not like you? Or do you just think that she doesn’t like you?

I don’t know what kind of harm this woman can do to you that you would allow. If she breaks something like a vase, that harm can often be mended. Even if it is irreplaceable–it’s just stuff. If she leaves “bad vibes”, you can clean them up when she’s not looking, and recognize that it’s probably only upsetting you anyway (you’re the sensitive Witch, after all!). Will she physically hurt your animals or children? That’s unacceptable for anyone, Witch or no, and she should know better (after all, who needs that kind of 3-fold return Karma??). So what kind of harm are we talking about?

www.explodingdog.com is worth a look!

Not everyone will like you. Sometimes they are projecting their own past on you. Perhaps you symbolize something distasteful to them. Sometimes they just have the wrong impression. Often their values are different than yours. It doesn’t make sense, but I think you know it is true. Something about you scares them–and that there is valuable information that you should try to find out! With that info, you can work on it and learn to help them have some compassion for you. Here’s the thing: it goes the other way, too: As Above, So Below, right?

Remember that Wiccans work for the highest good for all involved, especially because we reap our own Karma. Is starting a Witch War going to help you do that? Your guest may not have the same values that you do, even if you are both Witches, but hold true to YOUR highest ideals and strive ever toward them (Thanks Uncle Al!).

So, it sounds like you can’t change the situation. But you can change your mind. Imagine this woman is, well, a Witch–she challenges you and rubs you the wrong way and might cast a spell on you. You can’t fight her with sword and shield, so you must defeat her in less obvious ways. You are the hero in the journey and story of self-awareness and personal growth. You will defeat her because you know the ways of magic. You know that you are powerful, and nothing she can do will truly harm you (after all, a curse only works if you believe in it). You listen to her and are kind to her because you know that she can teach you something about yourself and about the world.

My advice in real life? Kill her with kindness. Make food she’ll enjoy. Make her comfortable. If she gets petty, take the highest road. If you think she’s casting spells on you, utterly ignore them. If her vibes are trashing your house, cover them with your light vibes of peace and tranquility (and a little sage or cedar never hurt either). Do not sink to her level and engage in a Witch War. I promise you will both lose.

Perhaps this isn’t the advice you wanted. But I honestly believe that when you cast spells on people, your Karma gets tangled with theirs. And I know I don’t want to be tangled with someone I don’t actually like. I trust that the Gods and the Laws of Karma will even things out in the long run. Until then, I’m free to change myself–and so are you. You have a valuable opportunity for learning here. I suggest you take it and run with it!

Otherwise, check out this article on clearing spaces and keeping magically safe.

Tangled Karmic Yarn.

A great way to get to know the Pagan and Wiccan culture is to subscribe to magazines and periodicals that cater to those of us who fancy the magical. They can help you learn the “who’s who” of the Wiccan world, and you’ll pick up customs and etiquette (not to mention find out where to get some sweet stuff!).

In the Witchful Thinking Store, I’ve added a section for magazines and periodicals such as calendars. There are some great ‘zines for organic gardening, green living, homesteading and, of course, tattooing. But there were some great magazines out there that (for some inexplicable reason) I can’t seem to get into my store. But I’m excited about them and want you to know about them anyway!

One of my favorites is Witches and Pagans, the magazine for, well, just what it says. It used to be PanGaia, the magazine for thinking Pagans, but they merged it with one focused on natural magic. The result is a great publication with articles on spellcraft, astrology, Wiccan lore, ethics, theology and the occasional archaeology report. Plus issues focused on magic, music and much much more.

SageWoman is focused on celebrating the journey of women and finding your inner goddess. It is full of rituals and wonderful writing. Some of your favorite female authors have probably written for this publication.

These are all published by the same company, BBI Media, which means you can totally subscribe to them all and save some cash. Some even come electronically so you can save paper (or if you just prefer to archive your magazines on your hard drive). They also have a magazine dedicated to older women and mothers called Crone. So there is really something for everyone. I was able to get that one in the store, so check it out there!

If you know of any magazines or periodicals that Witchful Thinking readers might be interested in, send them to me! I’ll add them to the store or at least share.

We all must speak out to counter anti-Muslim prejudice

In a recent Wall Street Journal article, terrorism analyst Evan Kohlmann said that anti-Muslim rhetoric in America is bad news for anti-terrorism efforts: “We are handing al Qaeda a propaganda coup, an absolute propaganda coup.”

By many accounts, the man who could blunt the power of that coup is Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the religious leader behind the planned Islamic Center near Ground Zero. The imam has been surprisingly mum on the issue while he travels in the Middle East. What message of faith could he offer to Muslims and non-Muslims alike that could turn this moment of division into a time of healing?

The question is not what Imam Rauf should say to counter anti-Muslim prejudice whipped up by Fox News distortions about plans to build an Islamic community center in lower Manhattan, many blocks away from the site of the World Trade Center destruction. The people who are whipping up anti-Muslim frenzy aren’t listening to him or anyone else who is speaking truthfully and rationally. Imam Rauf is a moderate Muslim, a member of the mystic Sufi order, who has written a book called What’s Right with Islam is What’s Right With America. As Time Magazine says: “Park51′s main movers, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and his wife Daisy Khan, are actually the kind of Muslim leaders right-wing commentators fantasize about: modernists and moderates who openly condemn the death cult of al-Qaeda and its adherents — ironically, just the kind of “peaceful Muslims” whom Sarah Palin, in her now infamous tweet, asked to “refudiate” the mosque.” Equating Imam Rauf with terrorism is like conflating Martin Luther King with Timothy McVeigh, just because they both happen to be Christians.

Time Magazine link:

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2008432,00.html#ixzz0xiyc6byC

No, the question is, what should every other religious leader be saying? And the answer is-stop it, folks! Turn off the hate-spewing commentators and go out and meet your neighbors. Practice the tolerance, love and compassion that every religion at its best preaches. Remember–if we fail to support the right of any one religion to meet, worship and educate, our own rights are jeopardized.

Pagans know that when politics and public discourse descend to a hate-fest of blame and condemnation, we could be next. And as someone born Jewish just six years after the defeat of the Nazis, when you start burning books and demonizing religions, I start asking, “When will you be coming for me?”

Imam Rauf has already spoken. It’s up to the rest of us to stand with the voices calling defending the foundational American value of religious freedom.

// // By Starhawk  |  August 26, 2010; 11:26 AM ET  | Category:  Islam , Pagan , Religious Freedom

From the Washington Post