Sunday evening I have the good fortune of being able to interview successful two-term governor and presidential candidate Gary Johnson. This is thanks to Gov. Johnson’s willingness to talk to average, ordinary people and PNC-MN’s Cara Schulz and her tireless efforts. I’ve gotten some great advice on things to ask Gov. Johnson, some of the best from my own sister who thinks a funny question or two might reveal the governor’s personality (we are both wary of people who can’t... Read more
I love Linux. I’m likely not nearly geeky enough to be a Linux lover, but I do generally know enough to customize things the way I need them. That’s why I love Linux. It feeds my need to tweak and customize. It helps me get my tinker on. The thing about Linux is, it gets no love from the big boys. Microsoft products don’t work well with it, and even worse than not being able to use Word? No Netflix.... Read more
I think we sometimes have this idea that religion’s sole purpose is to comfort us. In The Invention of Lying, Ricky Gervais certainly does believe this to be the case. Religion is expected to be spiritual comfort food, the way to get our spiritual jollies and if it doesn’t do this, then we think it has failed. I had a fascinating conversation yesterday with a friend who is an initiate of another faith tradition: the LDS church. Knowing I had... Read more
I’m going to try to regularly shine a spotlight on Pagans doing cool things, and right now I want to shine a spotlight on Lamyka, founder of Proud Pagan Podcasters, creator of Lamyka’s Wiccan Podcast, Pagan Bedtime Stories and Pagan Women’s Podcast, as well as the owner of Haumea Botanicals. Lamyka is a native Hawa’iian and really busy lady. Besides creating a dynamic organization to trade tips and promote Pagan podcasts, Lamyka has been creating a series of bedtime stories... Read more
Some of the shock and bewilderment have passed, I’m eating solid foods and life is sort-of back to normal. Some folks wanted me to unpack my experience a bit, and I’ve had some interesting insights that I can share, so here goes: Even if my initiation wasn’t oathbound, I still really couldn’t tell you about it. Some human experiences can’t be effectively communicated. I’d imagine giving birth or losing a loved one to a wasting disease are good examples of... Read more
Or not. See, I thought I could at least unpack my feelings regarding initiation without revealing anything oathbound, but I can’t see any way to do that. Not in any useful fashion. But I can tell you a few useful things. You will likely be disappointed. Initiation is not for the faint of heart or half-hearted. If you honestly can’t enter in perfect love and perfect trust, you’d better not attempt it. If you find a coven/tradition that you respect,... Read more
Today I get initiated. I know a lot of you are tired of reading about this and ready for me to go back to talking about other things. I respect that and will be back to other topics soon. For those who find this interesting, here is what will happen to me today: First of all, I have fasted for two days. Not a strict water fast, but I’ve drastically modified my diet. I’m trying to push my body without... Read more
This book is bold, and not at all what I expected. Although he’s been one of the author’s on my “to-read” list for years, I actually met Raven Grimassi before I read one of his books. At the urging of one of my teachers, I sought out a copy of The Book of Ways I & II, and then wished I’d spoken with him more when I met him at Pagan Spirit Gathering. Having picked up Old World Witchcraft, I... Read more
I heard today that the Emperor of Japan had sex with the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu. Crazy, right? How did this not make the news sooner? Apparently, the coital union has led to all sorts of trouble for the Japanese economy, not to mention the creation of a general, “atmosphere ruled by the powers of darkness.” Ouch. And…confusing. Sun Goddesses typically are associated with the Sun, and the Sun gives off light. But somehow this goddess actually is responsible for darkness…... Read more
I am a Wiccan. Wicca is a form of religious Witchcraft, and I love it dearly. I didn’t always love it. For a few years I desperately tried to find another Pagan path that spoke to me. Yet I came back to Wicca, though at the time I was not enamoured of it’s history and skeptical of it’s theology. I was an eclectic solitary Wiccan, now a traditional Craft student, and soon to be an initiate of a Wiccan tradition.... Read more
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