Planning to write something serious, I saw this picture this morning and it brought a smile to my face: Kind of disturbingly funny too, considering two male goats and a dog were the traditional sacrifices, and patrician Luperci were anointed with the blood of the sacrifice, then expected to smile and laugh. Instead of that, why not look at some pictures of some cute puppies and goats? We can smile and laugh at those and still celebrate the season. Read more
Tomorrow is Valentines Day, beloved of romantics and dreaded by cynics. Even I, veritable grump and Grinch that I am, am not immune to the vibe in the air. Love is an emotion that needs open windows, fresh air and room to dance. For many Pagans love forms a key component of their faith. Wiccans are known for valuing “Perfect Love.” Most of us consider love an integral part of our human nature, and many of the rights we fight... Read more
The music of your childhood will always stay with you. I wasn’t allowed to listen to contemporary music often as a child. When I did it was on rare occasions, playing on mall speakers, or, my favorite, driving around with my older sisters. Whitney Houston was everywhere: the radio, the mall, doctor’s offices, and television. The cynic in me will make crack jokes. Whitney was no saint. She wasn’t a musical genius in the league of Michael Jackson or John... Read more
Some NSFW language. You may be offended by what I’m about to write. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. The internet is all agog over the latest bit of outrage: an angry father shoots his daughter’s laptop as a punishment for being a whiny, spoiled brat. Wow, everyone is so upset that this young woman who has three stable parental figures in her life, a roof over her head, food to eat, a faith community to rely on, and an... Read more
Word on the street is Depp’s production company optioned Damien Echols still-to-be-written memoir for a movie. Pretty nebulous in a way, but still exciting. Here’s media maven Perez Hilton on the story: Johnny Depp and his partner Christi Dembrowski and their Infinitum Nihil production company just nabbed the rights to an upcoming memoir about the West Memphis Three… which is being written by one of the Three himself — Damien Echols! It’s still soon-to-be-published and still as-yet-untitled, but it reveals... Read more
I could use some music today. How about you? I’m officially filing this under 13 Things, but I had to add a little extra awesomeness. Read more on Lupercalia. Always makes me think of Mark Anthony running naked through the streets of Rome. Rawr! 14. Tainted Love – Soft Cell 13. Pagan Girl – Emerald Rose 12. Sunshine of Your Love – Cream 11. This Kiss – Faith Hill 10. It’s Friday I’m In Love – The Cure 9. Just... Read more
There seems to be a theme of violence in the news this morning, and before I attempt to wrap my head around the concept of idol-worship (stay tuned!) I want to talk about violence. The first regards a local story on WSB of an investigation into child abuse because of a Santeria ritual. A daycare called the police after finding cuts on a 4-year-old girl’s chest. Apparently the cross-shaped cuts are made as part of a religious ritual in order... Read more
I love me some RuPaul. I am already looking forward to Episode 3 of Season 4 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. While some of you may play fantasy football, I play fantasy Drag Race, and my team of queens are doing fabulous. Having followed the show for awhile, and being a big fan of drag queen movies, I’ve come to realize there are some real lessons that can be learned from these glamazons: 1. “If You Can’t Love Yourself, How The... Read more
I’ve spent the past week being far more social than I normally am, and last night I went to a friend’s birthday party. It was lovely, the people I have been spending time with are lovely, but I’m exhausted. Being social is something I’ve been more mindful of since I self-diagnosed as Asperger’s. I have always pushed myself to be social and worked hard at it all my life. I try not to turn down a social opportunity if I... Read more
Modern Pagans consider many religions to be our spiritual cousins: Shinto, Vodou, Santeria, First Nations religions, etc… One of our spiritual cousins, from our point of view, is Hinduism: a religious movement as diverse and fluid as our own Paganism. Some Hindus feel the same way towards us, as evidenced by the presence of the Hindu American Foundation at PantheaCon last year. One thing I recall vividly from observing the HAF panel last year is how Hinduism is taught as... Read more
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