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{"id":448,"date":"2017-03-22T13:39:37","date_gmt":"2017-03-22T21:39:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/tempest\/?p=448"},"modified":"2017-03-22T13:52:22","modified_gmt":"2017-03-22T21:52:22","slug":"witchcraft-is-cookies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/tempest\/2017\/03\/witchcraft-is-cookies.html","title":{"rendered":"Witchcraft is Cookies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

$\"cookies\"$ I swear, the things that come out of my mouth when I\u2019m teaching. \u00a0Which then take on a life of their own. \u00a0They inspire the people who hear it firsthand from me, within context. \u00a0Then probably confuse the hell out of people who hear or see it afterward.<\/p>\n

(It could be an argument for me to watch what I say. \u00a0But I think it\u2019s a better reason for why you should experience me live in person.)<\/em><\/p>\n

At Paganicon<\/a> this past Friday, I taught \u201cThe Authentic Witch: Crafting A Working Tradition.\u201d<\/em> I talked about defining\u00a0authenticity and how to truly craft a tradition\/path that works for you. I also alluded to many of the issues I tackle right here in this blog. \u00a0In particular, one topic that\u2019s been percolating for the last few weeks in my head.<\/p>\n

And that is: cookies as a community\/personal metaphor. In particular, the sandwich cookie \u2013 may that be an oreo, or fudge cookie. \u00a0Basically picture a cookie that has two crunchy sides and a creamy filling uniting them.<\/p>\n

How is it a metaphor? It may sound silly or flippant, but I\u2019m pretty serious about cookies \u2013 almost as serious as I am about Witchcraft. \u00a0There\u2019s nothing fluffy about it, if you look past the creamy filling and crumbs. (But gods know, having a sense of humor does help our outlook on things \u2013 more on that in an upcoming post\u2026)<\/em><\/p>\n

Current trends in our society (all the way down to our marginal community areas) tend to be very extreme when reacting to news and events. \u00a0That if someone did or said X, then they\u2019re completely good or completely bad, depending upon what X is\/was. \u00a0Everyone seems quick to jump on the bandwagon of praise or set someone on fire for their supposed crimes. But life isn\u2019t like that, it\u2019s far more nuanced.<\/p>\n

Human beings are mixed up, messed up, complicated creatures. \u00a0We can do great things in one breath and make stupid mistakes in the next or previous. Considering that we are spirits embodied in physical (and often flawed) containers, that shouldn\u2019t be a surprise. \u00a0But we\u2019re often so quick to forget that and paint something or someone as one thing or another. \u00a0That it must be this side or that side of the cookie. \u00a0But both sides are identical in many ways. \u00a0Which one that is\u00a0on top or bottom is a matter of perspective \u2013 and they\u2019re united nonetheless by the squishy, creamy center. No\u00a0amount of licking will remove the creamy center that connects the sides.<\/p>\n

The two sides of the cookie can be any number of issues, opinions, and realities. \u00a0One good example is age: young vs. old.<\/a> \u00a0It\u2019s important to understand that with every generation, how we communicate changes. \u00a0We see ourselves as one side of the cookie\u2026then over time, the cookie flips, and BOOM! We\u2019re now on the other side.<\/p>\n

So it\u2019s vital, especially as Witches, that we take time to consider what connects us. \u00a0To not see everything in hard terms, but the soft space in between. \u00a0To perceive beyond the obvious and look deeply into the liminal. That we take time to consider the intent and meaning behind both words and actions, not just our own reactions and possible triggers. So that when it matters most to define or discern someone or something, we know we have made a solid, balanced, thoughtful choice. \u00a0 To know that we understand and taste the whole cookie and not just its parts.<\/p>\n

And sometimes that cookie is oatmeal raisin, and it is deemed naughty in our eyes and mouths.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"