Book Review: Magical Destinations of the Northeast

Review: Magical Destinations of the Northeast 

Five Stars

Photo by Amy Blackthorn

From the back cover: Every state in America has sacred sites―places that change you, heal you, and make you feel alive. Magical Destinations of the Northeast details more than 300 spiritual destinations perfect for meditation, magic, and just plain fun. This hands-on guidebook also includes spells and rituals and provides tips for the magical uses of official state plants, flowers, gems, minerals, and trees.

There are pockets of magic to be found everywhere―places that make you stop in your tracks as powerful energies speak to your soul. This book is filled with awe-inspiring destinations, featuring little-known gems, natural landscapes, and manmade creations, as well as Native American and African American heritage sites. With everything from witch’s temples to Druid circles, spiritualist communities to mysterious stones, this book will make your next trip a truly magical journey.

Features more than 300 destinations in:

• Maine
• Vermont
• New Hampshire
• Massachusetts
• Rhode Island Connecticut
• District of Columbia
• Maryland
• Delaware Pennsylvania
• New Jersey 

• New York

-------------------  

     Can I tell you how much I really enjoyed reading this?  Cover to cover.  I've been following the exploits of Natalie Zaman, the Wandering Witch, for what seems like, ever.  Natalie and I both wrote for Thorn Magazine for a while, so we'd run into each other at functions and so when I read her column I was always able to read her adventures in her voice.  

     This book reads just the same.  A warm voice, with a conspiratorial tone that says, "I know where all the best secrets are."  She really does know them, hidden nooks in DC to the forests of Maine.  They tell their secrets to Natalie and she lets us in on the secrets in this book. 

     I'll admit, I've never read a travel book all the way through before.  The ones I'v picked up in the past were simply to thumb through, glance at the town where I was and pick a spot.  I think that's changed after reading this.  What incredible finds am I missing by not making plans when I travel?

     I love to travel, but I hate travel plans.  I like to wing it.  I'm the kind of traveler (never tourist) who wants to immerse myself in wherever I find myself.  I'll throw a bag in my Xterra, or on the back of my motorcycle and go where the road bends.  So reading and reviewing a travel book almost seemed anathema.  

      This isn't a travel book.  Or rather, it's not like anything you're used to.  This is part diary of the journey that is life.  It is part spell book.  It is also a really fantastic road trip story, waiting to happen.  

     "Oh my god, remember that time...?"  Yes.  We do. Starting in Washington DC and heading North, by Northeast. 

     This book has the feel of a well loved map in the back of the family van.  Only instead of merely creasing with age, it points out a wide variety of sacred places for friends, family and loved ones to carve out new memories.  There's even a little Witch guiding you across the bottom of the pages as she flies from the far left, to far right, the further north you get.  

     Inside you'll find not just locations, (what fun would that be?) you'll find people.  You'll find yourself.  You'll find history.  

1. Enchanting Emblems- The official stuff.  The state bird, bug, rock or other item that really will help you get a feel for the state.
2. Bewitching Tidbits- You know you want the juicy gossip!  What's the history worth knowing? Which places are really haunted, versus just play for tourists.
3. Magical Monuments- Not just the ones we're told to check out.  Sacred spots for statues too.
4. Sacred Sites and Magical Spots- Public temples, and other sacred spots that are welcome to respectful public. The list of festivals in these states is impressive.  I've already added several to my calendar! 
5. Map Some More Magic- On site fun! Other things of interest that are close by.  
6. Find a...- If you don't live in the Northeast, how you can bring some magic nearby.  Delaware has a lavender farm that I have visited previously, but there are lavender farms all over the country.  My friend Julie tells me there are some spectacular ones in Washington state.  
7. Stop By for a Spell- There's a spell, a meditation or a story for each state! 

    What you don't see is too many shops. While they are an important part of the communities surrounding these sacred sites, the sad reality of the internet age is that it can be even more difficult for brick and mortar stores to stay open.  The turnover rate is such that even if Ms. Zaman triple checked the store's info, by the time the book came to print, 1/3 of those shops could be closed. So absolutely, check around the places you'll be visiting, because there's probably a witchy shop near there that could really use your tourism dollars. 

     One of the things that I really adore about this book, isn't just that it contains history, lore, love and workings.  It is the fact that it lends itself to being a tour guide for my own backyard.  There are plenty of places in this book that I either haven't heard of before this, or were too busy to stop and check out.  Now that I now they're there, I'll relish not only playing wandering witch on my own, but planning road trips with friends. 

     There are still a few states in this book that I haven't explored yet, and Magical Destinations reminds me that there are plenty of unexplored spaces to roam!

     If you don't have a local store that stocks Llewellyn's publications, you can find a copy on Amazon.  

https://www.amazon.com/Magical-Destinations-Northeast-Oddities-Monuments/dp/0738747904/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475991353&sr=8-1&keywords=magical+destinations+of+the+northeast

Win your own AUTOGRAPHED copy!

Photo by Amy Blackthorn

The author has given me two copies to give away!  One copy will be given away here.  Simply share this blog with your friends, and let us know you did.  Extra entries for every social media you hit.  Facebook? Check!  Twitter?  Check! Instagram? Check! Google Plus? Check!  

The other copy will be given away on the snarky, fun Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ThugWitchcraft/ Just LIKE the page and Share; come back here to tell me you did!

Deadline for Likes, Comments and Shares is October 17th at 11:59 pm Eastern. 

Feel free to follow me on Twitter @morriganswitch and instagram too! http://www.instagram.com/amyblackthorn/

*Full disclosure- I've read this book prior to its release.  I took the author photo. http://www.facebook.com/AmyBlackthornPhoto/

Subscription Box Review: Enchanted Crystal Subscription Box

Review: Enchanted Crystal Subscription Box

Four Stars

http://enchantedcrystal.com/subscribe/

Photo by Amy Blackthorn

     This box is delightful.  Simple. Real.  There's a note from Adam the curator for this box.  He talks of buying trips to find the stones required for the boxes as well as encouraging subscribers to let him know what kinds of stones folks are interested in so he can look for them on buying trips.  "Your feedback is valued! DM me on Instagram @enchantedcrystal ."

Photo by Amy Blackthorn

      Quartz, Amethyst, Chlorite Quartz, Green calcite, Pyrite, Aegerine, Sodalite Zeolite, Selenite, Hematite Lemurian Quartz.  Thirty stones in all at $28 plus shipping.   

Photo by Amy Blackthorn

     I arranged them how I would, but with no set directions you can do it how you feel drawn to. 

Photo by Amy Blackthorn

      I tried to get a better photo of the Aegerine but it is so dark it's like looking into deep space.  I'll get out my lighting rig and get some brighter photos of it soon.  According to Crystal Vaults, "A Stone of Integrity and Self, Aegirine is a most noble crystal, aligning with one's truest convictions in life and providing the courage and confidence to follow those convictions. It encourages acceptance of self and others, and to follow the heart."

Photo by Amy Blackthorn

     Look at that Hematite Lemurian Quartz. So nice.  I really love the grid I set up, and the crystals that Adam chose.  The only thing that kept me from making this a full five stars was the fact that most of the stones were so small.  The amethyst points were 1/3 the size of my pinkie fingernail.  I know they have value as stones, and in my grid.  I'd rather have 20 slightly larger stones than 30 teeny points.  

     I'm happy enough with this subscription box that I'll order a large box for next month and see what comes.  

Review: Enchanted Crystal Subscription Box

Review: Enchanted Crystal Subscription Box

Four Stars

http://enchantedcrystal.com/subscribe/

Photo by Amy Blackthorn

     This box is delightful.  Simple. Real.  There's a note from Adam the curator for this box.  He talks of buying trips to find the stones required for the boxes as well as encouraging subscribers to let him know what kinds of stones folks are interested in so he can look for them on buying trips.  "Your feedback is valued! DM me on Instagram @enchantedcrystal ."

Photo by Amy Blackthorn

      Quartz, Amethyst, Chlorite Quartz, Green calcite, Pyrite, Aegerine, Sodalite Zeolite, Selenite, Hematite Lemurian Quartz.  Thirty stones in all at $28 plus shipping.   

Photo by Amy Blackthorn

     I arranged them how I would, but with no set directions you can do it how you feel drawn to. 

Photo by Amy Blackthorn

      I tried to get a better photo of the Aegerine but it is so dark it's like looking into deep space.  I'll get out my lighting rig and get some brighter photos of it soon.  According to Crystal Vaults, "A Stone of Integrity and Self, Aegirine is a most noble crystal, aligning with one's truest convictions in life and providing the courage and confidence to follow those convictions. It encourages acceptance of self and others, and to follow the heart."

Photo by Amy Blackthorn

     Look at that Hematite Lemurian Quartz. So nice.  I really love the grid I set up, and the crystals that Adam chose.  The only thing that kept me from making this a full five stars was the fact that most of the stones were so small.  The amethyst points were 1/3 the size of my pinkie fingernail.  I know they have value as stones, and in my grid.  I'd rather have 20 slightly larger stones than 30 teeny points.  

     I'm happy enough with this subscription box that I'll order a large box for next month and see what comes.  

Three NEW Teas!

 Three NEW Teas!

     Just in time for my blog post to go LIVE on Samhain Sirens today I'd like to introduce you to some NEW members of the Blackthorn Hoodoo Blends Family!

My-Tea New Moon (Non alcoholic Mocktail)

For a MIGHTY start to your New Moon cycle, try this non alcoholic beverage. 

http://blackthornhoodooblends.com/products/my-tea-tea

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 8 minutes

Yield: 1 

Drink Ingredients: 

1 tbsp My-Tea spice tea (unbrewed)

2 cups apple cider

1 tsp agave nectar

1 tsp fresh lemon juice

Add Tea to Cider in sauce pan. Gently heat apple cider on medium heat. Add Agave to sweeten and lemon juice to taste. Enjoy! 

Sweet Rosemary Syrup -- Lattes and Steamers await!

      Recently a friend posted a photo of her homemade latte on FB. I don't even drink coffee and this concoction looked divine.  It was inspired by the utter delicious magic of Talula's Table, Rosemary Latte, in Kennett.  I'd always adored the flavor of Rosemary as a savory flavor, but had never thought of it as a sweet flavor.  The same friend had a recent dinner party.  I honestly can't remember if it was during an Ostara bonfire or just a nice dinner one weeknight.  Nonetheless, after dinner, coffee talk started.  "You have to try this," Laura said to the guests.  As I mentioned, I don't do coffee so I was just enjoying the chatter of the evening.  Laura had different plans.  Knowing how much I adore rosemary Laura suggested a rosemary steamer instead of a Latte.  I'm down!

     It was heaven in a mug.  Heaven.  I quickly asked Laura how she had made such amazing treats in her kitchen and I was hooked.  Laura had used rosemary teabags, but I didn't find them in the stores I looked, and frankly wasn't thrilled about rosemary I couldn't see or smell beforehand.  I just grabbed the herb pack seen above from my local produce section.

     I grabbed four healthy sized sprigs of rosemary and threw them in my tea infuser (below) and filled it with three cups of boiling water.  I let it sit over night to steep, though with rosemary being woody, I could have sped the process by boiling the rosemary with the water and making a decoction.

     Because I had left the infusion over night, I boiled 2 cups of infusion to bring it to a boil.  I added two cups of sugar to a pyrex bowl.  Once the rosemary infusion was boiling I added it to the sugar to stirring vigorously to make a syrup. I did have to add a teeny bit of infusion to bring it to an even 4 cups of syrup.  I then added a splash of homemade vanilla syrup because vanilla is awesome in just about everything.  

     Once I finished my syrup I couldn't wait to try it, so I heated a mug full of milk slowly on the stove, poured it into my mug and topped it with fresh Rosemary Vanilla Syrup.  Heavenly.  Now I can enjoy whenever I want.  My husband is thrilled because now I'm drinking milk. Everyone wins.

     My fabulous mug is a favorite from Dancing Pig Pottery that says, "Gruntled Minion".  Thanks to my friend Laura for the inspiration for this blog.

      

Pagan Festival season approaches: Safety Concerns

Trigger Warning: This article discusses the topic of sexual assault and rape.

Here's another excerpt from my old Pagan advice column, originally appearing in Thorn Magazine. Reposted for Festival season. -Amy Blackthorn

Of Green and Glass: Where Down to Earth Solutions and a Glass Edge Meet. By Goewin GreenWitch

Dear Goewin,

         The pagan festival season is fast approaching, and I’ve had a group of friends ask me to go with them.  I’m able to take the time off of work, and I’ve saved what I need.  I’m kind of worried, though: I heard from a friend that a dear friend of hers was raped at a festival last year. I want to go, but I’m worried about my safety. Is there a way I can be safe?  Are my fears grounded in reality, or am I just being paranoid as my friends have suggested?

                             Signed, Safe Camper

Dear Safe,

        According to a study reported by womenshealth.about.com, sexual assault is the most rapidly growing violent crime in the US, with fewer than 50% of rapes reported.  Many victims are ashamed of what happens, and may believe they are at fault in some way. This is not the case.  Rape is about power, not sex.  Eighty percent of rapes are committed by someone who knows the victim, and 61% of female victims are under 18 years old. Although the majority involves male perpetrators and female victims, 5% of reported rapes happen to male victims.

Unfortunately, there have been recorded cases of sexual assault at festivals, and not just pagan ones.  Mainstream festivals, campouts and concerts, as well as many other public events, have been known to attract predators.  But don’t let this keep you home and afraid-- then they will have won. 

Just because they walk around hearing “Harm None,” people think that nothing bad could ever happen in a pagan community event. Pagan campouts involve just as much common sense as every other camping event. I have a black belt, I've taken Tae Kwon Do, Judo and Aikido, but I don't go walking down dark alleys, with iPod headphones in my ears.  

Any good friend would be worried about your safety no matter where you’re going, so use that to your advantage and remember the buddy system.  I don’t care if you have to use the Spot-a-Pot at three AM, take a friend with you!  Make a habit of walking with others and stick to paths with good lighting, in public view whenever possible.

Get to know the security at the event you're attending.  You're paying to be here, know what you are paying for.  Ask registration how to contact security in case of an emergency.  What protocols are in place for someone's violation of laws? 

Parties are often found at festivals.  Observe the same rules you would at a bar.  Don’t leave your drinks unattended.  If you MUST, go get a new one.  Don’t take the chance that something went into your drink while you weren’t around. Don’t drink to excess, you want to be in control of your faculties to be able to say “No” if you need to!  If you are too drunk to walk back to your tent, then you are too drunk to fend off an attacker. 

Many police agencies suggest carrying pepper spray with you, but since every state has their own restrictions, please check with local law enforcement.  The states with the stricter restrictions include New York, Michigan, Hawaii and Wisconsin. Also, don’t just throw it in your purse, as it is unlikely that you will be able to find it in the bottom of a bag if you need it.  If you have a belt, many spray canisters come with holsters.  It’s a lot less recognizable in a holster than carried in hand.  A few rules to remember when buying pepper spray: When you buy, but two.  Take one outside away from people and pets.  Spray it until it's empty.  You need to know whether it is a stream or fog, how long it sprays, how far the spray will reach, and how long before it is empty.  If you are going to use it on someone, empty that thing.  It's cheap, you can buy another.  You cannot buy another you.  Always buy pepper spray with an expiration date.  That tiny, pink, pen sized canister may be cute, but you need safety, not another accessory.  If it doesn't have an expiration date, it's not worth your life.  Re-purchase yearly.  The propellant that forces the spray out of the can will dissipate over time.  You want to know it'll be there if you need it.  Some brands come with UV dye.  This means that if your attacker escapes and washes their spray soaked face, and the police locate them a few days later, they may still have UV dye on their skin they didn't scrub off. 

Make sure to avoid areas that seem deserted, and stay aware of your surroundings!  It’s harder to sneak up on someone who knows where she is and where she’s going.  An aware and confident stance makes you less desirable as a potential victim.

Just because this is a pagan gathering, don’t fall into the thinking that everyone there thinks the same way you do.  Just because “Harm None” is your motto doesn’t mean that the creepy guy on the other side of the fire circle thinks so too.  Don’t go off with strangers, don’t let them into your camps, and don’t go back to a stranger’s tent. 

What to do if you are assaulted while at festival:

• Get to a safe place, away from your attacker! Many rapists will threaten to hurt you if you report them. They are trying to command power over you. After all, that is why they forced themselves on you to begin with: to command power. Take your power back by taking control of the situation.
• If you are raped, your first instinct might be to take a shower or bath to wash away what has happened to you.  DO NOT bathe, change your clothes, or wash your hands or face! Valuable forensic evidence can and will be lost! If you’re able, you can bring a change of clothes for after your discussion with hospital personnel or doctors. 
• Do not alter the scene, straighten anything, or remove items. If the scene is your tent, zip it up and get out as soon as possible.  The police will want to examine the scene to determine if there is any additional evidence they can use to prosecute.  Fingerprints, fibers and the like can be lost or destroyed, so it’s best to let the forensic team do their job.
• If you are there with friends, find one you trust to come with you to report. You are allowed to have someone support you at the hospital and with police. Witness statements have been proven to be the most reliable within the first twenty minutes of any traumatic event, so you need to get help. If your cell phone has a voice memo feature record your voice relating details of what happened as soon as possible so you don't lose any details with time.
• Every festival has someone in charge. Go to a registration area or find security-- usually, those in charge will have radios. If there isn’t a phone available, get someone you trust or someone in charge to get you a ride to the hospital as soon as possible.  This is very important due to the number of diseases that are spread through sexual contact. In most states, the hospital will have to report the rape to the police.  If no one is available to go to the hospital with you, or you feel shame or fear, victim's advocates are on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week in most states to go to the process with you.
• Some victims choose not to press charges because they “just want it to go away.”  Immediate medical attention helps when deciding to report the crime, providing evidence needed to prosecute the rapist if a criminal case is pursued. If you've been raped and think you don't want to report it, you could change your mind later — this often happens — and having the results of a medical exam can help you do this. If evidence is collected, then you are protected no matter what you decide to do.  At any time during the medical exam, you can say if you don't want a certain test performed or evidence collected. Your body is your own, the hospital just wants to help catch the person who assaulted you and make everyone safer.
• If you think you've been given a rape drug, a doctor or technician can test for this, too. Be aware that this toxicology test covers any and all illegal drugs.  If you have used illegal drugs, this does not mean you are at fault for what happened to you, police and hospitals ask this so that they can better understand the timeline of events and possible interactions.
• Lastly, seek professional counseling. Make sure you allow yourself to talk to those around you. Your friends and family are there for you. If you feel you can’t talk to them and don’t have the ability to talk to a therapist, there are many free and anonymous help lines you call to talk to someone who knows what you are going through.  Please, if you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual violence or rape, talk to someone.  Don't deal with this by yourself. 

Now, I hope you understand that I’m not telling you this to keep you away from festival; I want you, all of you, to be safe.  Unfortunately, it seems our society believes that it is more socially acceptable to gossip about who is in what coven now than how to protect oneself in the real world. Discussing protection and pagans doesn’t have to be about which herbs to place around your tent: the real world belongs here, too!  

National Sexual Assault Hotline | 1.800.656.HOPE

For more information please visit:

http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/azhealthtopics/a/rapehealsurvive.htm 

http://www.rainn.org/  The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network
http://rapecrisis.com/ The Rape crisis hotline 24hrs

http://www.malesurvivor.org/

About:  Amy Blackthorn has been Greening her magical world for 22 years.  When she isn’t writing, she can be found teaching classes on Tasseomancy, Floriography, Hoodoo, Magical Perfumery, Herbal Wisdom, Astrology, and a variety of other topics.  She also enjoys reading (with her Tarot Cards, her gardening books or a good Paranormal Romance), cooking for her husband and friends, and walking her dogs. 

Her new Tea Store Blackthorn Hoodoo Blends is now online. 

Blackthorn Hoodoo Blends tea!

Hey!  For you Witches, Bitches, Root Doctors and Joes alike, I've launched a new line of Hoodoo Teas.  They're modeled after traditional recipes for oils like Vanvan, Triple Fast Luck, Helping and more!

 Hey, guess what!  My FUNDLY Guest Blog just went live, EARLY.  :)  Learn what made me decide to start making tea and more.

http://fundly.com/2014/03/guest-blog-tea-store/

Here are some sample teas to whet your appetite for tea!

Vanvan Tea he most popular Hoodoo oil in a Tea form. Removes Obstacles with just a hint of caffeine. Defeat Mercury Retrograde! Purification. Banishing. Ritual Preparation.

Come to Me Tea This spicy milk and honey flavored tea is a love drawing blend to bring the right lover your way. Just a hint of cinnamon flavor means it is good with or without sugar and the rooibos base means no caffeine.

Peaceful Home Tea This comforting, caffeine free blend of vanilla, lavender and peppermint will help you focus on the path you need to get your house in order. Bring peace back into your home with this comforting blend. It’s your favorite cardigan with a hint of lavender.

Helping Hand Tea Feeling hit from all sides? Get a leg up with this caffeine free blend. Energetically promote healing, calm and boost your luck too! Soft mint and vanilla lifts you over the hurdles life brings your way.

Triple Fast Luck Tea This light mint and vanilla blend paves the way and cinnamon brings your good luck on in a hurry. Lightly caffeinated and great for a gentle morning ritual, brings good luck all day.

Of Green and Glass: Where are all the Pagans?

Of Green and Glass:

Where Down to Earth Solutions and a Glass Edge Meet

By Goewin GreenWitch

Dear Goewin,

            This may seem like a silly question, but where is the “pagan community”?

Is there a secret handshake or a hidden sign I’m missing?  No matter where I go, or how hard I look I’m not seeing it / them.  I’m not vain enough to think I’m the only Pagan in my area, where are they hiding, and why doesn’t my area have an easier way of finding them?  I’m new to the Craft, and eager to learn, but how do I learn if I can’t even find others like me? Thanks!

-Lonely Pagan

Dear Lonely,

            No, there isn’t a secret handshake or sign.  It does however take a lot of legwork.  By now I’m sure you’ve googled, “My town” and “pagan groups” or the like.   Have you tried looking at email lists and groups on The Witches Voice or Yahoo Groups?  There are always places like Meetup that offer you a chance to meet other people interested in the same topics as you, whether it be Paganism, scrapbooking or gardening. 

            Here’s a question for you.  If meeting others in person is that important to you, why not start your own meeting or group.  I’m not saying you become that person in every community who reads one book and decides to start their own tradition.  Just put a notice up in area coffee shops, pagan stores and the like that you are creating a safe place for people to discuss similar belief structures, and then you can all learn from each other.  No matter how many years in the Craft, everyone has something that they are better at than everyone else.  There are free and low cost promotional materials available via websites like VistaPrint. 

            All in all, it really takes people that care to get something really good going.  Once you have a core group established, you can take that meeting to free places like The Witches Voice, Facebook, and Yahoo. 

Of Green and Glass: Funeral wishes and last requests

While going through materials I've written for a book, I thought I'd share some of my 

'Of Green and Glass'  columns I wrote for "Thorn Magazine".

Dear Goewin,

            My family has recently suffered a death in the family.   While it was difficult to process at first, this is not the reason I’m writing to you.  During this mourning process, and funeral I started to wonder about how my funeral would be handled by my loved ones.  If I am not married to a Pagan, or my family does not share my beliefs, how can I explain the funeral customs I would like to partake in? Should I just leave instructions?  What basis do current society’s rituals have in common with earlier pagan rites?  What does a “Pagan Funeral” consist of? 

-Planning Ahead

Dear Planning Ahead,

            I’m sorry to hear of your loss, and hope by the time you read this, the grief will have dulled some.

            Let me start by saying that writing your wishes down only helps if you explain them to the person or people you are going to ask to carry out those wishes once you have crossed to the Other Side.    

            There are many funeral customs that have their roots in superstitions surrounding death and dying.  For instance flowers were placed at the graveside to appease the spirit of the deceased, and special clothing was worn by mourners to disguise their identities from returning spirits.   The loud and rowdy parties referred to as a “wake” were just that, the townspeople and family were trying to see if the person was indeed deceased, or just sleeping.  Twenty one gun salutes started in an earlier form where tribes believed that evil spirits hovered near the dead and the grieving, so they would hurl spears into the sky to drive off the spirits.

            When it comes to Pagan funerals, it’s just like many other things in the realm of Paganism, in that it’s up to individual Traditions and practices.  I polled about sixty Pagans in order to find out what they wanted done after they die.  The two most popular responses I got were, “Bury me without chemicals in the most natural way possible, and plant my favorite tree over my grave,” and “Cremate me, scatter my ashes in a beautiful, meaningful spot and have a party without tears”.   I only got one response of “bury me in the way of my parent faith”.  I did however get a few, “I’m not there anymore so it won’t matter to me” answers. 

            When it comes down to it?  The thing that is important is that you know your wishes will be taken care of by someone you trust.  Whether that person is a spouse / family member or a friend / coven mate that is up to you.  Just try to be as clear as possible, and it’ll all work out.

‘Juju’, Creepy Crawlies and Bad Omens

‘Juju’, Creepy Crawlies and Bad Omens:

 the Realities of Feelings

Black Salt, Good for Banishing Spirits & Protecting a Home

 
     A friend and former coworker tagged me in a comment on Facebook sometime during the night. I rolled over and checked my email as I wake up, the way I do every morning. (Hey, some people drink coffee, I read my email to get my brain in gear.) He had encountered an animal on his way home from work late and it left him with a feeling of foreboding. The discussion progressed to supernatural reasons for seeing such a thing. Without something to add, I moved about my morning.

     Once I’m at my office and settled in, I pulled up Facebook. Right now, my job involves a lot of hurry up and wait. So they allow me to occupy my brain, as long as I make sure the customers are taken care of. So, back to Facebook, I’m looking through my feed when I see an update from the same friend.

     “So update to last night's story- I had a flat tire this morning and I'm just waiting for something bad to happen. Creepy, eh?”

     I told this friend I’d be writing a blog post about our interaction because this is something I’ve seen more than once and it’s something I wanted to discuss.

     Amy Blackthorn: Fuck that waiting around shit. Don't allow it into your space. Do something. Dump a McDonald’s packet of salt into a cup of water and anoint yourself. Say a prayer. Say, "Fuck off!" Light a birthday candle. Cast a circle. Cast a Square. Don't just sit and wait for bad shit to happen. Well protected is good. Just remember what they say in martial arts, "No matter how good you are, somewhere there's someone better." We have those senses for a reason. Any time I've had that sense and didn't do something about it,

BAD SHIT happened.

(Hello Tractor trailer, 27 broken bones, 72 pins and years in a wheelchair).

     I’m trying to figure out where we are in our personal evolutions. Go to a gathering of Pagans or Witchy folk and you’ll likely hear a mention at some point about feelings, ‘juju’, or the like. Most people are quick to jump in with their experience, but that’s usually where it ends. People want to talk and share their experiences and occasionally they’ll ask for opinions, personal revelations or simply validation of their feelings on the subject.

     I’ve noticed this outside of our little world in one place in particular, “Reality” ghost hunting television shows. People hear something go bump in the night, and the next thing you know, you’ve got a bunch of yahoos in fatigues running around your house with night vision cameras strapped to their heads. Viewers see people attempting to antagonize the dead, using dramatic pauses and fervent “Did you hear that?” questioning. One of the issues I have with shows of this ilk is If they find something they feel is compelling evidence, they show the owner of the property, and then pack up and go home. “Yup, it’s haunted. Bye!” Wait. What just happened?

     Why do we stop there? Why acknowledge the fact that you feel something bad is going to happen, only to sit around and wait for the other shoe to drop? Magic is supposed to be a last resort, after all of the ‘real world’ things have been ruled out. That doesn’t mean we have to sit idly by and wonder at our fate. If it really is fate, that the other shoe drops, it will. However, if taking a step out of the way saves your bacon, I’d take that step. Wouldn’t you?

     If we accept that we have developed these feelings for a purpose, then it stands to reason that we were meant to DO something with them. So do it. Rearrange the furniture so that energy doesn’t have a place to lie. Smudge the house. Open the windows and let the fresh air in. Get rid of your clutter. Just do Something.

Int'l Pagan Coming Out Day Part 2: A Price above Rubies

     I intended for this to go live last night.  Instead, I spent my evening counseling a student with a crisis, and then meeting a friend for dinner.  We were meeting discussing her non-profit women’s group she’s launching and wants help with. During part of my evening my Superego was screaming, “International Pagan Coming Out Day is rapidly coming to an end! Cut this short and go WRITE!” and sometime during my evening the Ego said, “Look. This is Important. Your history took almost 22 years to write. Don’t limit your experience to one day.” So here we are, part two.

     With my friends, I’ve been out of the broom closet since I talked to my parents in 1995. At one point, I’m sure people in space knew. Not because I introduced myself, “Hi, my name is Amy and I’m a WITCH!” As silly as it sounds, I’ve met those people too. It’s called immersion. You have a spiritual or identity change and you feel the need to spend more time with those people that identify similarly, because they understand. Most people deal with it for a little while and then happily, move on to a more subdued attitude.

      However, I was attending school in a county where a particularly violent hate group preached in broad daylight on the street corners on Sunday. Being out of the broom closet (OOTBC) was something that was a scary option at first. So, at school, other than some close friends, I was ITBC.

     Back in those days I wore a simple, beautiful crescent moon pendant with a tiny star (not pentacle) on the tip of the moon. One day a girl I believed was a buddy (not friend exactly) of mine asked whether my moon made me Muslim. I gave her a simple explanation about nature, staying away from buzz words like Witchcraft, Wicca, Witches or magic. It turns out this ‘friend’ was holding a grudge that her ex-boyfriend left her, and a month later asked me out and she spread my note (Yes, back in the stone ages before texting.) like wild fire. It came back to me scribbled with horrible things written in the handwriting of most of my grade. One of the ‘popular’ boys went so far as to corner me and threatened to kill me. The Witches Voice had recently featured a sad tale of a 14 year old girl who was beaten to death by members of her high school football team because her school mates found out she was a Witch.

      I brought it home that day, and went next door to my best friend’s house to cry. My 16 year old self was convinced that life was over. He came up with a most inventive and highly cathartic way of destroying the letter and the feelings that I had about those people. It was beautiful and empowering. (Just one of the many reasons my then best friend, is now my husband of 8 years as of May 1.) Even with dealing with feelings of betrayal, loss, and more, someone important in my life helped me see that, though it was an awful day, there can be beauty in all of life’s shitty days.

      It’s important to me to remember the hard days of being Pagan, because honestly, if it were easy, anyone would do it. I’ve had millions of moments of beauty that being Pagan and out of the Broom Closet has brought me. The cruddy moments I can count on one hand and still have fingers left over.

      During Blessed Be and Meet Me in DC in 2001, a particularly moving ritual by Elspeth and Nybor was interrupted by Rugby players from the next field over. The park police that we had informed of our event showed up and the 2 players and 1 coach were escorted from our Space and no harm came to our people. It gave the participants the organizers hope that we could be treated just like anyone else by authority figures.

     In late 2004 I created the Newark (DE) Pagan Meetup (which is still going strong, though I stepped down years ago, and is still being held by original members) and its ranks swelled to 200+. We had a setting on the website to prevent anyone under 18 from joining for liability reasons. If any of the moderators got emails from persons under 18, they were encouraged to discuss it with their parents and their parents could join, and attend meetings with their children for propriety and safety of the minor. A few years after the meetup was established one such request came through. The pre-arranged response was given. The next thing I know, my meetup linked email is filled with email. Screaming, hate filled threats dripped from my inbox. Threats to picket the business where the meetup was held were popular, but also included threats to burn down my house, kill my pets and my family.

     While the hullabaloo lasted a week or less, and never amounted to any actual harm, it was a stressful week. It never made me regret being a public face and doing public outreach for other Pagans. I was glad that I always used my Magickal last name, but it didn’t dissuade me, or make me crawl back into the broom closet or to stop meeting with those of a like mind.

      Just like anything else we do of import, it’s not always easy. It should be. It really should be. It should be easy to just be who you are, no matter your faith. To me, that feeling that my faith is something that has stayed with me almost 22 years, though ridicule, threats, and a near death experience is worth its emotional weight in rubies.