This week's Stew is simply delicious! Kestril's starting you off with just the right song, we have our news, Karen's Pagan Lore, Sosanna's delivered a thought-provoking article on the spirit verses letter of the law, Cap'n Dave's talking pirates, Kathi's playing Wheel of Fortune, and I'm interviewing one of my favorite bloggers/shop owners :)
Of course, we have the news, astrology, tarot and totem here for you as well. If you're ready, it's time to dig in!
It occurs to me that many of the great passions of my life started out accidentally. I was going along, minding my own business and -wham! - something kind of amazing caught hold of me. Oh sure, it's good to plan things ahead of time, but keep your eyes and heart open for that bit of magical serendipity. It could be an awesome life changer.
Happy Birthday this week to Tammy Novinger, Volante Gypsy Carlson, Cheryl Perry, Morgan Jones, Shana Enter, Andrea Lapa and Naomi Bermudez! May this be your best birthday ever, and may the next year of your life bring you joy, peace, good health, happiness and all the very best things in abundance.
Jamaica: conversion from Christianity to Paganism
Wikipedia's Anti-Pagan Crusade
Court hears of witchcraft house fire
DR Congo's Witchcraft Epidemic: 5000 children accused
Mother, daughter thrashed on witchcraft charge
Abu Dhabi crack down on sorcerers
Donna Kruger: a witch at work
Senior Tory warns over Pagan weddings
Sunday, May 26
Sacred Well Day. On this day, it is traditional for Pagans and Witches (especially in Ireland and Great Britain) to decorate sacred wells with wreaths and to toss offerings of flowers into the water in honor of the deities and spirits of the well. This custom dates back to the ancient Romans, who celebrated an annual well festival called the Fortinalia, which took place on this day.
Monday, May 27
On this day, the Secular Centennial Games were observed in ancient Rome. The goddesses Diana, Prosperina, and the Three Fates were honored in nighttime healing ceremonies.
On this date in the year 1948, Morning Glory Zell was born in Long Beach, California. She was a priestess and vice-president of the Church of All Worlds, and a practitioner of Celtic Pagan Shamanism.
Tuesday, May 28
A sacred rite called the Pythian Games was enacted every four years on this date in ancient Greece. The rite honored the slain serpent-Goddess Python, and was celebrated in Delphi, the most venerated shrine in all of Greece.
Wednesday, May 29
On this day in ancient times, the god Mars was honored by the farmers of Rome with feasts, prayers, animal sacrifices, and annual rites of purification. The Ambarvalia festival was also celebrated on this day in honor of Ceres, Juno, the Lares, and the Family Goddesses.
Thursday, May 30
On this date in the year 1431, French heroine and military leader Joan of Arc was burned alive at the stake as punishment for committing the crimes of Witchcraft, heresy, and "being given to the forbidden arts of magick and divination."
Friday, May 31
On this day, the annual Triple Blessing of the God Buddha is observed by Theravada Buddhists. To celebrate the god's birth, enlightenment, and passage into nirvana, shrines and houses are decorated with flowers and special prayer flags. Offerings of flowers, incense, and rice are also made. The Triple Blessing often lasts for three consecutive days.
Saturday, June 1
Festival of the Oak Nymph. This Pagan celebration honors all hamadryads (female nature spirits who are believed to inhabit oak trees). Decorate a Pagan altar with acorns and war some oak leaves in your hair. Kiss an oak tree or place a small offering of some kind before it, and the tree nymphs who dwell within it will surely bestow a blessing upon you.
Well, there you have it, another 7 days of Pagan facts, lore, celebrations and more! Hope you found them interesting! See you next time with more Pagan Lore - have a great week, everyone!
Karen
Jen Rue is the author of the blog, "Rue and Hyssop" and is is the owner of Three Cats and a Broom etsy shop.
Q. Jen, tell us a little about you and your background.
A. I grew up in a small town in a gorgeous valley in British Columbia, the daughter of outdoorsman parents. We spent every weekend either going for a drive up the highway just to see where we’d end up, or my father would take us up into the hills to explore and picnic. My brother and I spent our childhood fishing and camping, when we weren’t off on a road trip somewhere. My parents both have explorer blood, which has definitely been passed down.
Q. What drew you to a Pagan path?
A. Having the parents I did, contributed greatly. Growing up with people who spoke so earnestly about environmentalism (before they knew that it was a thing,) left a mark on me. My father would take great care in telling us about the wildlife in the area, the types of trees we were seeing, where each road in the hills led to. Those hills were (and still are) his passion, and it was easy to fall in love with the earth and see it as magical when he spoke about it.
My parents and extended family are Baptist, and I grew up going to Sunday school. Although I left for a while in my teens, I started searching again for spirituality in my twenties and returned to the church for a few years. The pastor was incredibly well-spoken and I hung on longer than I would have, had it been anyone else up in the pulpit. It became more and more apparent though that I was finding “god” in my garden and in the valley hills and in the time spent with my dog and nieces, and not in a building.
I happened upon an online discussion group with a thread that mentioned Wicca, and when the wonderful woman guiding the thread explained her practice, all I could think was “I’ve been doing this my whole life.” I grabbed an armload of books, sought out teachers and never looked back.
Q. What is your passion in life?
A. I’m a bit of a crow - everything interests me. I want to see it, touch it, taste it all. Reigning that in is sometimes an effort. I find a great deal of satisfaction in growing plants, and gardening fulfills my desire to be constantly touching something while also feeding my mind and spirit. I’ve been gardening for about 25 years and there is always something new to learn.
I’ve also had the great joy of helping raise my nieces. They have been my passion for the past 16 years. I’ve accumulated a good amount of white hair under all the blonde since they hit their teens, but it’s been completely worth it. They have gardened with me, travelled with me, and they still want to come over and play cards and have tea and tell me about their day. They are the best thing I’ve ever invested my time in.
Q. Tell us a bit about your business and its mission.
A. Three Cats And A Broom came about after I was visiting my parents and saw my mom use a chemical “cleaning” spray to wash her floor. I then watched as one of the cats walked across the floor and stopped and started grooming itself. The idea that we, and the animals that live with us, could be ingesting or absorbing those chemicals was horrifying to me. I immediately set out to make an organic all-purpose cleaner that would be safe to use all over the house - especially around animals.
From there, it was a natural progression to simply look around at what products I wanted to use in my home and create those from natural plant materials. I cured my eczema with a hand salve made from herbal-infused oils, I swapped out chemical-rich bubble bath for herbal bath teas, and I made my own essential oil sprays to refresh a room, linens or to spray on myself for a little aromatherapy.
I’ve also started teaching locally and will be doing a few herbal crafting classes this summer. The movement away from using toxic products in our home continues to grow, and I’m thrilled to be offering healthy, plant-based alternatives.
Q. What advice do you have for Pagans who are either new to the path or are struggling with their spirituality right now?
A. Stop everything and meditate. It takes practice, but it’s more than worth it. You don’t have to spend an hour in lotus position, chanting. If stillness is difficult for you - any repetitive activity can get you there. My friend meditates while driving her riding lawn mower. You are looking for that place where your conscious mind turns off. If that nattering critic in your head is gone, you are there. I truly believe it is one of the best building blocks and strengtheners of a spiritual or magical practice. When I’m struggling or questioning what to do next, I go back to meditation.
Additionally - take everything you read, hear, and see with a grain of salt. Research multiple sources and then make a decision based on knowledge and how something resonates with you. There are people that are going to tell you that their way is the only way to be a polytheist, Wiccan, animist, Heathen, (insert path here,) and it is simply not true.
Q. Who are some of your Pagan heroes/heroines?
A. There are so many amazing people doing truly wonderful work under the Pagan umbrella, it is really hard to pick just a few!
I’m a big fan of Christopher Penczak and I took the first two years of his Temple of Witchcraft courses (back when he was still facilitating them himself.) His work in creating the Temple - from a small group in a rented space to a large congregation and acquiring a building - has been inspiring to watch. I’m equally enamoured with T. Thorn Coyle and her Solar Cross Temple work.
I also get really excited about “everyday Pagans” who inspire others. Podcasters like Mojo and Sparrow from The Wigglian Way Pagan Podcast are just one great example of Pagans who bring folklore, interviews, music and magic right to wherever you are listening . I think what Anne Newkirk Niven has been doing for Pagan publishing is just fantastic. I'm in awe of all her projects.
There are many great podcasts and wonderful blogs that offer insights, personal reflections on walking a Pagan path, community announcements and news, and so much more. I think that in a society that still sees Pagans as “other” it is encouraging to have so many voices in our community saying “we’re here, let’s help each other, why don’t we share some great ideas.”
Thanks for the great interview, Jen! Now, all of you go visit her blog, etsy site, and like her Facebook page. Check out those great organic cleaners, and tell her I sent you :)
That's it for this week's Stew. Mull. Digest. Enjoy!
Of course, we have the news, astrology, tarot and totem here for you as well. If you're ready, it's time to dig in!
Song of the Week with Kestril Trueseeker
It occurs to me that many of the great passions of my life started out accidentally. I was going along, minding my own business and -wham! - something kind of amazing caught hold of me. Oh sure, it's good to plan things ahead of time, but keep your eyes and heart open for that bit of magical serendipity. It could be an awesome life changer.
Happy Birthday this week to Tammy Novinger, Volante Gypsy Carlson, Cheryl Perry, Morgan Jones, Shana Enter, Andrea Lapa and Naomi Bermudez! May this be your best birthday ever, and may the next year of your life bring you joy, peace, good health, happiness and all the very best things in abundance.
In the News
Jamaica: conversion from Christianity to Paganism
Wikipedia's Anti-Pagan Crusade
Court hears of witchcraft house fire
DR Congo's Witchcraft Epidemic: 5000 children accused
Mother, daughter thrashed on witchcraft charge
Abu Dhabi crack down on sorcerers
Donna Kruger: a witch at work
Senior Tory warns over Pagan weddings
Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo
Good Morning, Sunday Stew readers! Can you believe we're almost to the end of May, which means the Summer Solstice is not very far away? I'm amazed at how quickly time seems to be passing lately! On to this week's Pagan Lore:
Sunday, May 26
Sacred Well Day. On this day, it is traditional for Pagans and Witches (especially in Ireland and Great Britain) to decorate sacred wells with wreaths and to toss offerings of flowers into the water in honor of the deities and spirits of the well. This custom dates back to the ancient Romans, who celebrated an annual well festival called the Fortinalia, which took place on this day.
Monday, May 27
On this day, the Secular Centennial Games were observed in ancient Rome. The goddesses Diana, Prosperina, and the Three Fates were honored in nighttime healing ceremonies.
On this date in the year 1948, Morning Glory Zell was born in Long Beach, California. She was a priestess and vice-president of the Church of All Worlds, and a practitioner of Celtic Pagan Shamanism.
Tuesday, May 28
A sacred rite called the Pythian Games was enacted every four years on this date in ancient Greece. The rite honored the slain serpent-Goddess Python, and was celebrated in Delphi, the most venerated shrine in all of Greece.
Wednesday, May 29
On this day in ancient times, the god Mars was honored by the farmers of Rome with feasts, prayers, animal sacrifices, and annual rites of purification. The Ambarvalia festival was also celebrated on this day in honor of Ceres, Juno, the Lares, and the Family Goddesses.
Thursday, May 30
On this date in the year 1431, French heroine and military leader Joan of Arc was burned alive at the stake as punishment for committing the crimes of Witchcraft, heresy, and "being given to the forbidden arts of magick and divination."
Friday, May 31
On this day, the annual Triple Blessing of the God Buddha is observed by Theravada Buddhists. To celebrate the god's birth, enlightenment, and passage into nirvana, shrines and houses are decorated with flowers and special prayer flags. Offerings of flowers, incense, and rice are also made. The Triple Blessing often lasts for three consecutive days.
Saturday, June 1
Festival of the Oak Nymph. This Pagan celebration honors all hamadryads (female nature spirits who are believed to inhabit oak trees). Decorate a Pagan altar with acorns and war some oak leaves in your hair. Kiss an oak tree or place a small offering of some kind before it, and the tree nymphs who dwell within it will surely bestow a blessing upon you.
Well, there you have it, another 7 days of Pagan facts, lore, celebrations and more! Hope you found them interesting! See you next time with more Pagan Lore - have a great week, everyone!
Karen
Karen is also an Avon Representative. Check out her page here!
Sparkle and Shine with Sosanna
Back in 1994 I started on the Paralegal Studies program at Tidewater Community College. Two years later I graduated with my degree in Applied Science with a major in Legal Assisting.
After graduation I tried endlessly to get a job in the legal field and even with a volunteer gig at the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office in Virginia Beach I found it extremely difficult to get a job. Even though I graduated top of my class with honors I was unable to get past the obvious prejudices of a large woman trying to break into the male dominated field of Law. I ended up giving up and going to work in customer service.
When I moved to California I decided I wanted to get back into the legal field and try to use my knowledge and skills in some sort of LGBT or Women’s Rights area. After two years of studying in Virginia the State of California reviewed my transcripts and even though I was an honor student, the classes offered in Virginia did not quite meet up to their standards. I sat annoyed in “Paralegal 101” with P. Darrel Harrison. Here he taught a very important lesson. “The Spirit of the Law” vs. “The Letter of the Law”. Our laws were set up for the betterment of our society. They were created to keep order and peace in our public areas and allow for everyone to be treated justly.
Now our definition of “everyone” has changed a great deal since the Code of Hammurabi (Babylonia Law Code dated to 1772 BC). The majority of all modern law have roots in this code. Today we regard all people as having rights under the law, including our children which we protect with “age of consent” laws. This leaves the requirements of respectable conduct to the adult in the situation.
Recently two legal cases have come up which challenge what is currently accepted as the respectable conduct for an adult as it relates to children.
First we have Kaitlyn Hunt, a Florida Cheerleader who is being charged as a sexual predator for her high school relationship with a 14 year classmate. Both Kaitlyn and her girlfriend played on the high school basketball team together. It is being portrayed by the media as a public lesbian relationship that was of mutual consent. The younger girl’s parents however have pressed charges against Kaitlyn and she is being charged with lewd and lascivious battery on a child 12 to 16. These charges are felony charges, and will require that Kaitlyn register as a sex offender, virtually ending her hopes of a nursing career.
Now, by the letter of the law Kaitlyn is guilty. She indeed has a sexual relationship with someone under the age of 16. Her girlfriend was not of age to consent and legally her parents have the right to press charges against her in order to protect their child. Now how about the spirit of the law? This law was created as a way to punish individual who manipulate children into sexual situations. They use their age and maturity as a way to trick the children and in turn are indeed sexual predators. From the evidence thus far, I do not believe that Kaitlyn is a sexual predator. In this case the spirit of the law should be followed and the girls need to maintain a distance until her girlfriend is 16. I do not believe Kaitlyn should go to jail.
The next case that caught my attention a case of a couple in Paris France that were sentenced to five years in prison for the death of their infant daughter. The couple, who are Vegan, were found guilty of causing the death of their baby thru and unbalanced diet and their failure to seek medical attention. The eleven month old was found to be vitamin deficient and was fed exclusively breast milk. The legal system in France is different from the US but for sake of argument I’ll apply the same legal “logic” to the case. First letter of the law.
Did the couple’s actions cause the death of the child? Yes, legally they are guilty of allowing their child to die. People are held accountable when they cause the death of another person. Heavier sentences applied for certain circumstances such as motive or premeditation. Now, spirit of the law. Did this couple willfully and with malice kill their child? No. They are vegan. They care about life around them. She was breast feeding her child. She wanted her child to have the best she could provide. This couple is guilty of not seeking help. They tried their home remedies to help this child. Are they negligent? Yes, I believe they are. However if a surgeon saw me trying to fix a broken leg with a splint he may well call me negligent.
The letter of the law is a hard fast line. It has no flexibility. When I’m in a situation that I need the law, I hope that I am in the presence of someone who goes by the spirit of the law. The spirit of the law is about justice. It’s about fairness. Much like my deity, the Goddess Hecate, the spirit of the law can deliver swift and direct justice with one eye on the letter of the law but allowing the spirit to sparkle and shine.
Namaste & Blessed Be
Sosanna
)O(
You can read more of Sosanna at Confessions of a Modern Witch.
Uncharted Seas with Captain Dave
A Pirate's Life for Me
A question I am often asked is...am I a real pirate? Well, okay, I'm asked this by the kids, but from the adults, I get a similar question – why a pirate?
Pirates of legend were typically known by their ruthlessness. Cutthroats and thieves, exercising brutal discipline and often a mishap by one of their crew would be grounds for summary execution...however, not all pirates were this way, only those whose names were indelibly etched into the fabric of human history. Names like Edward Teach, also known as “Blackbeard”, arguably the most notorious of the lot, or Anne Bonney, “Black Sam” Bellamy, William Kidd (“Captain Kidd”), Mary Read, even Sir Francis Drake!
Aye, but there were some pirates who lived by a code of honor, such as the aforementioned Francis Drake. Even Samuel Bellamy was renowned for his generosity toward his captives by decrying to Captain Beer upon having just taken his ship, “"I am sorry they won't let you have your sloop again, for I scorn to do any one a mischief, when it is not to my advantage.” (This after his crew had already voted to burn the ship to the waterline.) Bellamy then offered Beer the choice to join his crew. Beer declined, stating that it was against his conscience, to which Bellamy replied, “You are a devilish conscience rascal! I am a free prince, and I have as much authority to make war on the whole world as he who has a hundred sail of ships at sea and an army of 100,000 men in the field; and this my conscience tells me! But there is no arguing with such sniveling puppies, who allow superiors to kick th, em about deck at pleasure.”
Damn to the hellfires these Hollywood scoundrels that do an injustice to the label of “pirate” by making them out to be nothing more than murderers and brigands, or clothing them in fineries and turning them into the reluctant heroes – the “Robin Hood” of the seven seas, as it were. And thrice be damned the media that turns the modern-day pirate into terrorists and tyrants when most are merely resorting to desperation to feed and clothe their people in the wake of a fascist interim military dictatorship. (continues here)
You can follow Captain Dave's adventures through his blog, Uncharted Seas
Sunshine's Meanderings with Kathleen Lane
Today!
Today reminds me of the scene from The Wizard of Oz when it starts to snow and the Scarecrow looks up and says "Strange weather we're having!" Yesterday we were in the high 80's and today we have the heat on because it is in the mid-40's.
Last week my husband and I were in Newport, RI and had a great time. We stayed at a lovely inn there called the Attwater. Now I have emptied one more thing out of my bucket list. I have been in every one of the states.
With all of the strange weather and craziness that seems to be the norm, I did a single card Tarot this morning. I used the Phoenix deck and the Wheel of Fortune came up. Then I did the same thing with my Gill deck and ended up with the same card. I must admit that was something of a shock, but decided the fates were trying to tell me something. Both of them were in the upright position and since upright symbolizes good luck, karma, life cycles, destiny and a turning point I am going to take it as a positive sign.
My life is going along in a relatively smooth path so I hope the good luck is for everything and everyone for whom things are going so badly. It would be nice to see a change in the mental outlook for this country and a change in the crazy weather patterns for the better. Maybe we could promote a "National Day of Positive Thinking" and change things in this country.
Kathi
This Week in Astrology
May 26: A void of course Moon occurs from 6:23 AM EDT, with the Moon's last aspect before changing signs (an opposition to Jupiter), until 5:29 PM EDT, when the Moon enters Capricorn.
May 28: A void of course Moon occurs from 2:41 PM EDT, with the Moon's last aspect before changing signs (a trine to Mars), until the Moon enters Aquarius at 5:49 PM EDT.
May 30: A void of course Moon occurs from 7:57 PM EDT, with the Moon's last aspect before changing signs (a square to Mars), until the Moon enters Pisces at 8:31 PM EDT.
A Last Quarter Moon occurs on Friday, May 31st, 2013, at 2:58 PM EDT.
May 31st: Mercury enters Cancer 3:07 AM
May 31st: Mars enters Gemini 6:39 AM
Weekly Horoscope from Darkstar Astrology
Weekly Tarot: The Lovers
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Vanessa Tarot |
Key words and phrases: relationships, personal beliefs, personal values, sexuality, decisions
Gemini is the sign of The Lovers card. The Lovers represent perfection, harmony, and trust. Each one of the two depends upon the other for strength and the confidence to overcome. This does not necessarily represent a sexual relationship, but it can. On a personal level, this is more about establishing your own personal beliefs and values, and/or making decisions that will impact your life dramatically. This is a decision not made lightly, and should be considered with the long-view in mind. It could be a moral decision where your beliefs and values are being challenged. Consider all consequences before acting. Examine your own motives and beliefs as well.
This Week's Totem: Woodpecker
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Pileated Woodpecker |
Key words: Communication, Initiation, Prophesy, Opportunity, Discernment
Woodpeckers have a fascinating totemic history. In Roman myth, a woodpecker fed Romulus and Remus as babies, and is associated with Mars as a symbol of taking initiative. You've heard the phrase, "Opportunity Knocks". For the woodpecker, trees are their doors, and they find their own opportunities.
To many Native American nations, the woodpecker is an otherworldly messenger and prophet. Have you ever heard Morse code being tapped out? It sounds very much like a woodpecker. Woodpeckers not only tap to find food, but also to communicate with one another.
"Carl Jung observed the woodpecker as a symbol of a return to the womb of creativity. In this observation the tree is symbolic of a womb; earthy, grounded, sturdy and secure. The woodpecker's home within the tree is analogous of a fierce determination to return and protect that which is sacred to us." ~Avia Venefica
As many of you are aware, I'm a geek. It's sort of a requisite that geeky girls like me watch the Syfy channel. I was watching 'Merlin' the other night, and he had lost his magic. He went to the "Cave of Crystals" to see if he could regain it somehow, and the spirit of his father appeared to him. His father told him that he was a part of the earth.. the land, the sky and the sea... therefore, he could never lose his magic. He simply had to remember his true name.
Woodpecker helps us to remember who we are. Woodpeckers are associated with oak trees, which are symbols of ancient wisdom. Tapping into that wisdom is a part of the woodpecker's message. Remembering who we are and our true names.. listening to our intuition.. creating our own opportunities,... woodpecker assists us with all of these.
The Shameless Plug
I did things a little differently for this week's Shameless Plug. I'm featuring someone whom I admire for her wisdom and balanced approach to life, and also featuring her work :)
Jen Rue is the author of the blog, "Rue and Hyssop" and is is the owner of Three Cats and a Broom etsy shop.
Q. Jen, tell us a little about you and your background.
A. I grew up in a small town in a gorgeous valley in British Columbia, the daughter of outdoorsman parents. We spent every weekend either going for a drive up the highway just to see where we’d end up, or my father would take us up into the hills to explore and picnic. My brother and I spent our childhood fishing and camping, when we weren’t off on a road trip somewhere. My parents both have explorer blood, which has definitely been passed down.
Q. What drew you to a Pagan path?
A. Having the parents I did, contributed greatly. Growing up with people who spoke so earnestly about environmentalism (before they knew that it was a thing,) left a mark on me. My father would take great care in telling us about the wildlife in the area, the types of trees we were seeing, where each road in the hills led to. Those hills were (and still are) his passion, and it was easy to fall in love with the earth and see it as magical when he spoke about it.
My parents and extended family are Baptist, and I grew up going to Sunday school. Although I left for a while in my teens, I started searching again for spirituality in my twenties and returned to the church for a few years. The pastor was incredibly well-spoken and I hung on longer than I would have, had it been anyone else up in the pulpit. It became more and more apparent though that I was finding “god” in my garden and in the valley hills and in the time spent with my dog and nieces, and not in a building.
I happened upon an online discussion group with a thread that mentioned Wicca, and when the wonderful woman guiding the thread explained her practice, all I could think was “I’ve been doing this my whole life.” I grabbed an armload of books, sought out teachers and never looked back.
Q. What is your passion in life?
A. I’m a bit of a crow - everything interests me. I want to see it, touch it, taste it all. Reigning that in is sometimes an effort. I find a great deal of satisfaction in growing plants, and gardening fulfills my desire to be constantly touching something while also feeding my mind and spirit. I’ve been gardening for about 25 years and there is always something new to learn.
I’ve also had the great joy of helping raise my nieces. They have been my passion for the past 16 years. I’ve accumulated a good amount of white hair under all the blonde since they hit their teens, but it’s been completely worth it. They have gardened with me, travelled with me, and they still want to come over and play cards and have tea and tell me about their day. They are the best thing I’ve ever invested my time in.
Q. Tell us a bit about your business and its mission.
A. Three Cats And A Broom came about after I was visiting my parents and saw my mom use a chemical “cleaning” spray to wash her floor. I then watched as one of the cats walked across the floor and stopped and started grooming itself. The idea that we, and the animals that live with us, could be ingesting or absorbing those chemicals was horrifying to me. I immediately set out to make an organic all-purpose cleaner that would be safe to use all over the house - especially around animals.
From there, it was a natural progression to simply look around at what products I wanted to use in my home and create those from natural plant materials. I cured my eczema with a hand salve made from herbal-infused oils, I swapped out chemical-rich bubble bath for herbal bath teas, and I made my own essential oil sprays to refresh a room, linens or to spray on myself for a little aromatherapy.
I’ve also started teaching locally and will be doing a few herbal crafting classes this summer. The movement away from using toxic products in our home continues to grow, and I’m thrilled to be offering healthy, plant-based alternatives.
Q. What advice do you have for Pagans who are either new to the path or are struggling with their spirituality right now?
A. Stop everything and meditate. It takes practice, but it’s more than worth it. You don’t have to spend an hour in lotus position, chanting. If stillness is difficult for you - any repetitive activity can get you there. My friend meditates while driving her riding lawn mower. You are looking for that place where your conscious mind turns off. If that nattering critic in your head is gone, you are there. I truly believe it is one of the best building blocks and strengtheners of a spiritual or magical practice. When I’m struggling or questioning what to do next, I go back to meditation.
Additionally - take everything you read, hear, and see with a grain of salt. Research multiple sources and then make a decision based on knowledge and how something resonates with you. There are people that are going to tell you that their way is the only way to be a polytheist, Wiccan, animist, Heathen, (insert path here,) and it is simply not true.
Q. Who are some of your Pagan heroes/heroines?
A. There are so many amazing people doing truly wonderful work under the Pagan umbrella, it is really hard to pick just a few!
I’m a big fan of Christopher Penczak and I took the first two years of his Temple of Witchcraft courses (back when he was still facilitating them himself.) His work in creating the Temple - from a small group in a rented space to a large congregation and acquiring a building - has been inspiring to watch. I’m equally enamoured with T. Thorn Coyle and her Solar Cross Temple work.
I also get really excited about “everyday Pagans” who inspire others. Podcasters like Mojo and Sparrow from The Wigglian Way Pagan Podcast are just one great example of Pagans who bring folklore, interviews, music and magic right to wherever you are listening . I think what Anne Newkirk Niven has been doing for Pagan publishing is just fantastic. I'm in awe of all her projects.
There are many great podcasts and wonderful blogs that offer insights, personal reflections on walking a Pagan path, community announcements and news, and so much more. I think that in a society that still sees Pagans as “other” it is encouraging to have so many voices in our community saying “we’re here, let’s help each other, why don’t we share some great ideas.”
Thanks for the great interview, Jen! Now, all of you go visit her blog, etsy site, and like her Facebook page. Check out those great organic cleaners, and tell her I sent you :)
That's it for this week's Stew. Mull. Digest. Enjoy!