As many of you are aware, this Mercury Rx has been intense for quite a few of us. There's a lot going on in the astrological and spiritual world this week. Check out the Astrology and Divination sections for more. We are also very honored to have a guest blogger today :)
Now, on to the stew....
Happy Birthday this week to Vesta Sterenchock, Laura Insightunicorn, Patricia Helleher, Cat High, Talon Thomas, Tatiana Kiseleva, Deanna DeHaven, Linda Munroe, Gina Helvenston, Tamara Mesenbourg, Angie Shields, Julia Perry, Lisa Davis Mills, Indira Durmic, JoLynn Valerie, and Autumn Bloodrose. May this be your best birthday ever, and may your next year of life bring you joy, peace, happiness, health and all good things in abundance!
Guest Blog
I've always tended to be a solitary creature, not always by design. The idea of getting involved in my community wasn't a big part of my worldview. Lately I am seeing that the idea of shared community is going to be important to changing the world we live in. I can't ignore it any longer. Community is a powerful way to fight oppression, hatred, and factionalism For the last couple of years, I have been fixated on the idea of community building at every level. This election cycle has also inspired me, made me realize how important communities can be to creating effective and reasonable policies at the national and international level. Rather than dividing ourselves into exclusive cliques, we need to fit ourselves into communities and try changing things from inside (I am putting my money where my big mouth is and serving on the PTA board for my sons' school, in spite of my fear of being in the spotlight). There is also a lot of disagreement about what role community should play in Paganism. I am concerned with how fractured and discordant the Pagan community, as I experience it, has become. I'm interested in hearing voices included in every community.
For Pagans, of all varieties, who want to partake in the larger, amorphous and undefinable Pagan community, I have a few ideas. It needs to provide acceptance, mentoring, education, charity and support for every stage of life (birth through death). The community as a whole needs to remember that we are all human beings who happen to be Pagan and not the other way around. We need to be able and willing to help each other in crisis, celebrate together when we achieve our goals, and advocate tolerance within our community and in the world. This doesn't mean the community should create jobs for Pagans only, or to support every Pagan project that someone dreams up (some simply aren't feasible and others are downright silly). It doesn't mean we should exclude viewpoints because they don't fit the dominant narrative. It doesn't mean we should tolerate bullying, discord, or hatred. Our community needs to be more than hundreds of blogs, websites and stores that supply Pagans with goods and services (which it often appears as). It needs to be more than Sabbat celebrations and ritual. Community should fill the spaces of everyday not just the special days.
By creating a reasonably peaceful, tolerant and connected community, whether on online as Pagans or in the physical world where we live, building community helps protect us from harm and provide reason and space to celebrate to celebrate Inclusion, respect for differences, diplomacy, and financial support are all building blocks that should be used. I'd like to hear/see/read more conversation about building inclusive communities at every level, and as I wait for those conversations to get going, I'm going to build community by welcoming new community members any place I find them. I'm going to break out of my shell and talk to people, ask how they are and I'm going to offer my support and opinions when I'm asked.
You can read more of Mandy’s blogs at A Cauldron Full of Stars http://cauldronfullofstars.blogspot.com.
Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo
Sunday, November 11 -- Old November Day
In Ireland, the Faerie Sidhe is honored on this day with an annual Pagan Festival known as the Lunatshees. A festival called the Day of the Heroes is celebrated annually on this day by Pagans and Wiccans in northern Europe. The ancient deities of the Norse mythos are honored with prayers and merry feasts.
On this day, the annual feast of Vinalia was observed by the ancient Greeks in honor of the wine-god Bacchus.Monday, November 12
An annual festival called the Epulum Jovis in Capitola was celebrated on this date in ancient times in honor of Jupiter (the supreme god of the ancient Roman religion, identified with the Greek god Zeus) and the goddesses Minerva and Juno. Animal sacrifices were made at temples in the city of Rome and bonfires were set ablaze at sunset.Tuesday, November 13
Back in medieval times, the thirteenth day after the Witches' Sabbat of Halloween was considered a day of darkness, evil, and misfortune. It was believed to be a time when necromancers and sorcerers of the left-handed path summoned up evil spirits and demons to assist them in their practice of the Black Arts. In some parts of the world, the old superstition persists that if the thirteenth day after Halloween falls on a Friday, all persons born on that day will possess the power of the evil eye.
Wednesday, November 14 On this date, an annual Druidic festival known as the Feast of the Musicians is celebrated by many Wiccans to honor the ancient Celtic gods of music. Traditional Pagan folk songs are sung around an open fire as various offerings are cast into the flames. At temples throughout India, children gather annually on this day to receive divine blessings from the Children's Goddesses: Befana, Mayauel, Rumina, and Surabhi.
Thursday, November 15 Ferona, an ancient Goddess who presides over fire, fertility, and woodlands, is honored annually on this day with a Pagan festival called the Feronia. In Japan, a centuries-old ritual for good health (Shichi-Go-San) is performed annually on this date in Shinto shrines. The ceremony involves children who have reached the ages of three, five, and seven. At the end, the children are given candy blessed and decorated with symbols of good fortune. On this date in the year 1280, German alchemist and ceremonial magician Albertus Magnus died. According to legend, he discovered the Philosopher's Stone and also created a supernatural zombie-like servant using natural magick and astrological science.
Friday, November 16 On this date (approximately), the annual Festival of Lights is celebrated in India to mark the Hindu New Year. Candles are lit to honor Lakshmi (the Goddess who presides over wealth, prosperity, and sexual pleasures), and homes are decorated with ancient good-fortune ritual designs called kolams.
Saturday, November 17 The last of three annual festivals of death is observed in certain regions of China on this day (approximately). Paper clothing and money labeled with the names of the dead are traditionally burned as offerings to ancestors in the spirit world.
On this date in the year 1907, famous occultists and author Israel Regardie was born in England. He belonged to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and was a onetime secretary of Aleister Crowley. He wrote numerous books which continue to be popular among Witches, Neo-Pagans, and practitioners of the occult arts. Regardie died in the year 1983.And there's the Pagan Lore for the week! Wishing you all a wonderful week, see you next time!
KarenThis Week in Astrology
Reminder: Neptune went direct yesterday. Intuition and dreams will be strong.
Mercury is in Rx until November 26: http://darkstarastrology.com/mercury-retrograde/
Total Solar Eclipse, November 13 begins at 2:37pm EST and ends at 7:45pm EST. "The total solar eclipse on November 13 is at 21º Scorpio and on Fixed star Unukalhai in the heart of the serpent. This star is in the very snake being held by Ophiuchus the medicine man and unfortunately it has a horrible reputation. The eclipse is opposite Sedna, which can also be treacherous, and the closest aspect in the chart is a poisoned-tongued Mercury square Neptune. Forked tongues, sex, lies and videotape…The whole chart is very slithery indeed. Or is it?" (read more here at Darkstar Astrology)
New Moon, November 13 5:38pm EST: http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Cosmic-Story-Scorpio-by-Cathy-Lynn-Pagano-121110-483.html
Chiron goes direct: November 14, 3:36pm EST
VoC Moon Table
Weekly Tarot: Knight of Swords
The Knight of Swords is the essence of air behaving as fire, such as a tornado: A fearless and skillful warrior, unfettered by emotion or material concerns. One able to boldly take on challenges that others consider terrifying or insurmountable. A person who inspires fear and awe through the purity of their purpose and the intensity of their intellect. Speaking frankly, in an outspoken manner, and with great influence. May portend the swift initiation or conclusion of a conflict, through the decisive invocation of force.
On the positive side, the Knight of Swords is a master of logic and reason. She has a keen intellect that grasps the fine points of any subject. He speaks clearly, directly and always with authority. Her judgments are sure and free of emotion. Others rely on his lucid analyses of problems and solutions. On the negative side, this Knight is not a master of diplomacy. She can be downright tactless and rude. When he thinks you are wrong, you'll know it. He's convinced of his own superiority and has little tolerance for stupidity. She expects others to comply with his views. To her, feelings are irrelevant and illogical.
With the volatile energy this week of Mercury Rx, Neptune and Chiron going direct, and the total eclipse during the New Moon in Scorpio, temperance, shielding, and being careful are watchwords. Additionally, this is a time of death and renewal. It's time to see some ugly truths about ourselves and our lives, shed the old skins that don't fit us anymore, and emerge a new creature. Someone may say something bluntly to you that hurts, but also resonates. Be ready to accept the truth with a receptive heart, but shield yourself against the poisonous venom of those who may not have your best interests at heart.
Weekly Totem: Bat
Bats are highly sensitive to their surroundings and so therefore are considered a symbol of intuition, dreaming and vision. The spirit of the bat has often been invoked when special energy was needed, like "night-sight" which is the ability to see through illusion or ambiguity and dive straight to the truth of matters.
It is a symbol of communication because the bat is a highly social creature, who has strong family ties. Bats are very nurturing; exhibiting verbal communication, touching, and sensitivity to members of their group.
The bat is a symbol of rebirth and depth because it is a creature that lives inside the earth. From the womb-like caves it emerges every evening at dusk. And so, from the womb it is reborn every evening.
If you have the bat as your totem you are extremely aware of your surroundings. Sometimes you can be overly sensitive to the feelings of others. Additionally, you are quite perceptive on a psychic level, and are prone to have prophetic dreams.
If you work with the bat as a totem, you will be put to the test, because it is demands only 100% commitment to spiritual growth. The bat will never accept half-hearted or lukewarm attempts at self-improvement. Indeed, if the bat senses that you are slacking in your psychic/spiritual training it will likely move on to someone else who is more willing to learn the lessons the bat has to offer.
As with most of our hardest challenges, working with the demanding bat will reap some of the most profound rewards you could ever dream of. But be warned, the bat asks a lot of us, like:
Dying to our ego
Loving our enemies as ourselves
Going within to touch our inner demons
Exploring the underworlds of reality (which can be scary)
Renewing our thoughts and beliefs on a moment-to-moment basis
These experiences can be harrowing, but this is all a part of the initiatory experience of bat.
When Bat shows up, it is time to go deep, weed out that which no longer serves us, and renew our mind/body/spirit to begin anew. It may be difficult, but the experience is oh-so-worth-it.
Song of the Week with Kestril Trueseeker
The Shameless Plug
This week's shameless plug is for my friend Loren Morris's beautiful works and shop: Saga's Cottage
Here is just a sampling of her work:
Check her out and tell her Kallan sent ya ;)
That's it for this week's stew. Mull. Digest. Enjoy!
