Production!
Current mood: productive
Category: Writing and Poetry

I have just completed a new essay on weather magic and submitted it to the Witches' Voice.  I think I may wait the few months until they publish it before I put it on Blacklight, but I could change my mind.  I have a few more essays I'm working on, including a treatise on self-determinacy (which will probably take me some time to polish up), one on free exchange of information, and one I have an idea for on getting laid magic.  We'll see what I come up with -- hopefully I'll be as productive as I'd like.

Currently reading : The Color of Magic By Terry Pratchett Release date: 2000-02-02

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Witches, Crones, Sirens
Current mood: annoyed
Category: News and Politics

On May 9th, in Berkeley, California, the radical leftitist group Code Pink, as part of its long-running campaign against a Marine recruiting office, decided to cast a spell to drive the recruiters out and end the confliict in Iraq, and presumable end all militaryconflict and masculine agression in the world.  Code pink has been waging its own war against this particular recruiting office for some time, being granted exotic permits from the left-leaning city council to set up their protests in the recruiter's own parking lot and doing all they can to harrass the Marine and disrupt their work.  Apparently, simply giving people the option of joining the military is an evil that cannot be tolerated.

The political considerations here, however, are not what interests me -- people on the far left demonizing anything to do with military service or freedom of action is nothing new.  I'm interested in the stereotypical and pseudo-religious dressing they decided to give to this particular "protest."

The item on the Code Pink website states:

This smacks of the radical feminist attitudes toward witchcraft that have lingered since the emergence of the neopagan movement.  The fact that Wicca actually acknowledged a goddess led many feminists to conclude that it only needed a goddess, and they developed such wonderful pseudo-anthropological theories as GAM and patriarchal dominator societies.  Wicca and witchcraft, they decided, were not means of attaining religious enlightenment, but feminist political empowerment.  The image of the witch was appropriated as the image of the empowered womyn, who weilded the forces of creation that men could not comprehend, and thus feared and suppressed.  This is the attitude that led that nice Dianic seperatist so many years ago insist that I was I liar when I said I practiced magic, because men simply can't do magic.

Please keep your radical feminist politics out of my religion. Yes, Starhawk, this means you and your Code Pink club, too.  Oh, did I mention that Starhawk is a prominent member of Code Pink?  I'd have hoped that as such a high profile member of the neopagan community, she'd want to project a more comprehensive image of neopaganism than simply as a feminists plaything.  Then again, I've read her books.

It gets better, though.  Take a look at this picture from the "event."


Do those look like the peaceful, white-light witches that so many have worked to build the image of over the decade?  Do they look like empowered womyn who are seeking to bring peace, enightenment, and understanding to heal a bunch of warmongering hypermasculine brutes?  Or do they look a bit more like the stereotype of the evil, cruel witches of past folklore, who use their power to control and harm others?  Do they look enlightened and peaceful in the least, or do they look hysterical?  Thanks for the positive PR for our religion, ladies.

I'm not one to want to restrict the magical or religious practice of others.  Hoestly, if you feel that you have the obligation and the ego, I mean ability, to cast a spell to end a war, go right ahead.  I've considered using spellwork to support some political initiative I'd like to see go through, and I don't see why othesr should abstain.  But that's not what this is.  This is a group of radicals and hysterics appropriating the religious practices of others for their political purposes.  I don't know about you, but I'd rather not be compared to a bunch of hysteric women who have nothing better to do than break into a Marine recruiting station dressed like the wicked witch of the west and sitting on a hot pink circle.  Can you please make your political points without cultuvating negative stereotypes of my religion?  What, has the noble savage image of the Native Americans been overdone?

Here's the story on this:

.

A Larger verson of the above photo, which sisplays the ridiculous "spell book" and the hot pink magic circle (which I admit looks kind of cool)

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Never Again the Burning Times!!1!
Current mood: aggravated
Category: News and Politics

Not too long ago on the Witches’ Voice, this essay appeared, regarding the case of a Saudi woman who has been setenced to death for witchcraft.  The woman, Fawza Falih, is an illiterate peasant, held since 2005 upon accusations that she caused a man to become impotent.  She was convicted, without the benefit of legal counsel, when, after three years of confinement and torture, she was compelled to place her fingerprint on a pre-written "confession."

The essay in question, "The Burning Times Still Smoulder in 21st Century Saudi Arabia," Does an excellent job depicting this poor woman’s plight, as well as the seemingly futile efforts of some well-meaning individuals to influence the law in a foreign country by signing petitions in the US.  In a very slightly more significant, but likely just as futile move, Human Rights Watch has sent a letter directly to the Saudi King asking him to stay the execution and re-examine the case.

My issue with this article is one simple line in the first paragraph: "Visualize yourself a Witch back in the Burning Times, in medieval or Renaissance Europe."

What has happened to Fawza Falih is certainly a travesty of justice.  In addition, its relation to the "Burning Times" is appropriate in this case.  We have a young woman, most likley unmarried, or she might have had a better chance of legal representation, who was charged with an unprovable crime after an accusation of causing importence.  In all likelyhood, this woman refused sexual advances from the accuser, a situation mirroring possibly thousands of cases during the numerous Inquisitions of Europe.  Illiterate, and with no legal counsel to even explain her charges, she was torured until she confessed, and was sentenced to death.  Yes, the parrallel between this case and the Burning Times is undeniable.

Except for that one, simple line: "Visualize yourself a Witch back in the Burning Times, in medieval or Renaissance Europe."

The chances that Fawza Falih is actually a witch, or that even a few of those killed in Europe so long ago were witches, is about as probable as my cat eating 20 pounds of lead shot and filling her litter box with gold bullion.

Thanks to Gerald Gardener’s unquestioning acceptance of Margaret Murray’s survival theory of witchcraft -- which only suffered from the minor flaw of having absolutely no evidence to support it -- and the eagerness of some neo-pagans to continue to tout Murray’s thesis, we have a commentator associating a poor Muslim woman with the crime she was wrongly charged with.  I have no doubt whatsoever that she would be appaled at the comparision.

Far too many neo-pagans still cling desperately to the Burning Times, and some even continue to repeat the infamous 9 million figure fabricated for publication in the Green Egg.  As a minority religious classification, neo-pagans are sometimes ridiculed and persecuted for their beliefs, and having a pagan version of the Holocaust helps justify that fear of persecution, while also bestowing a sort of moral superiority.

But alas, it just wasn’t so.  The Inquisitions and witch-hunts were targeted as people who would certainly have considered themselves devout Christians, and would probably be severely offended if they knew they were being claimed as witches by later neo-pagan upstarts.  The Burning Times show a serious error of Christian doctrine and practice of the time, and as far as I can tell, it is even worse that they were killing actual Christians.  But to claim these victims as witches -- to pull them under the neo-pagan umbrella just because of the crime they were falsely charged with -- is an insult to their memory and morally dishonest.

So by all means support Fawza Falih.  If you feel so compelled, sign a petition or write a government official, or even the Saudi King.  But do so because it is an injustice that she was charged, tortured, and convicted by fraudulent means, not because you think it makes some statement or progress for neo-paganism.  To pretend that she is actually a witch is an insult to her, and a blatant homage to Hubris.  Remember the facts of the case, and be assured of one thing: if Falih is released, she will thank Allah, not Athena.

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So Anyway...
Current mood: exhausted
Category: Life

As usual, school is kicking my ass again.  Grad school is a bit more difficult than I anticipated, at least when balanced with work, relationship, parenthood, and other such things.  In addition, I have a major personal issue that I'm having to deal with, which will consume much in the way of time, sanity, and emotional stability.  Needless to say I probably won't have much of a relevant online presence for a while, and although I'm working on some ideas for some new essays, I doubt I'll get to them anytime soon.

Just thought I'd at least post a shout-out, since someone out there cares enough to check my blog occasionally.

21:43 - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Progressive Evolutionism on Witchvox
Current mood: busy
Category: Web, HTML, Tech

My most recent essay has been posted on the Witches' Voice this week.  It's been quite a while since I submitted it, so I'm not sure how they liked it.  I'm bothered by two things: 1) The fact that so few essays were posted last week, while so many were posted this week -- it's almost like my essay is being drowned out; 2) Directly below my essay appear an essay supporting the exact opposite position -- coincedence?  Probably, but still ...

View it here, and let me know what you think.

This is the last of the essays I have submitted to them, so no more will appear until I have the time to write them. I will keep people current on anything I submit to Witchvox (or any other site), as well as things that appear on my website, should I get around to updating it.


I've also been really slow on posting feedback from my last few essays, and I apologize (although I'm not sure how many people really readthat crap anyway).  But alas, I'm finishing term papers and preparing for finals -- hopefully I'll ahve the time to update some stuff when I'm done with all that.

Currently listening : Year Zero By Nine Inch Nails Release date: 17 April, 2007

22:59 - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Transmission
Current mood: thoughtful
Category: Life

Today I was re-reading and essay by Phil Hine on Mentors.  It made me think back to my old mentor, whom I have had a deep friendship with for years, with several rocky spots along the way.  We've reached that place where our views and practices are so far apart that we hardly talk shop anymore, and we mostly just hang out.  I've been thinking about this, and seriously re-evaluating how much of an impact he has had on my magical path.

I wonder what I would have done differently if I were in his position.  How would I handle a student, or even worse, an apprantice?  At what point do you decide you are ready to take the responsibility of teaching another how to work the magical arts, to the point that you take full personal culpability for his mistakes?

Of course, I obviously have no problems inflicting my opinions upon others, or with answering questions and giving advice to those who ask.  I have already had a few situations where I have given someone a tool or method that provided much-needed help, and in some cases have pointed people in the right direction.  So far, though, it has been just that -- pointing.  I'm not sure if I'm ready to handle the deep, intimate relationship that mentoring a student or taking an apprentice requires.

A while back, I had an old friend come to me and ask for help.  I wasn't sure what I could do, but since he had made a request, I decided to render aid.  I developed a list of requirements and the beginnings of a magical training program that I felt would help him.  He eventually reneged on his request, fading back into obscurity, but I was left with this odd feeling, that on one hand I wasn't sure I wanted that responsibility, but on the other handing feeling confident I could have helped him, and looking forward to the new experience.  How does one deal with that kind of dichotomy?  I certainly amd not the type to advertise for students, especially as I feel that is kind of poor form unless I'm offering instruction in a class setting, and even then I'd prefer to operate word-of-mouth.  The opportunity for an apprentice is a rare one, and again, I'm not sure if I'm far enough along to handle one.

Of course, I'm working on that one.  I've stepped up my own practice with an emphasis on development and "advancement," and we'll see where it takes me.  More importantly, thought, I've been considering what a magical training program should consist of.  Part of this is due to the simpe fact that my own experience lacked a set of expectations of what I was to learn and what my mentor was to teach, and what the nature of our relationship should be.  I feel that such expectations should be made explicit.  In addition, I feel that a grading system is important, and I wish that some sort of standardized or at least correllated system existed, so that a student could have a sense of how far he has come and how far he wants to go, and others could have some measure of confidence in his attainment of such grades.  Could an international Magician's Guild or something similar proove effective?  Would it enable people to more ably find those capable of teaching the things they want to learn?

So I wonder, how good of a teacher would I make?  I guess I'll find out someday ...

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Online Presences
Category: Web, HTML, Tech

Since MySpace now won't let me include non-approved links on my profile, I shall include such links here.  These are some places that you can find me other than on MySpace.

The Tribe
The Witches' Voice
Yahoo

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New Website Domain up!
Current mood: excited

It is official!  My new website domain of www.blacklightmetaphysics.com is fully operational.  Anyone who has been inclined to show any interest in my site, or who has a link to it on his or her own site, is hereby given notice or this update.

If you have not yet seen my site, please take the time to check it out, and let me know what you think.

23:56 - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Website glitched
Current mood: hopeful
Category: Web, HTML, Tech

My website will most likely be zonky for a couple of days.  I have upgraded to a hosting package that includes a domain name, so the registration needs to go through and the web pages need to be transferred to the new URL.  If anyone is actually interested enough in my site to read it, and can't find a page for any reason, that is probably why.  An announcement and site update will follow when everything is straightened out.

16:52 - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Thunder
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Religion and Philosophy

It rained today.  The clouds built throughout the day, fueled by the scorching heat and pressing humidity that have plagued Eastern Kansas for the past few weeks.  A heavy rain fell, cutting the dense air and releasing the immense pressure in the sky.

I watched the clouds earlier, marvelling at their structure.  Clouds build along fairly predictable lines, with easily recognizable shapes, despite the fact that they don't follow exact patterns.  Like all things in nature, they embody the underlying chaos of the world, only they show it more apparently, fluffing up in a series of fractals that give rise to the pleasant fluffiness we know so well.

Stormclouds show the universe for what it is: a series of mathematical interactions corrupted by probability theory.  No matter how simple the equation, it must first be ground up by the functions of chaos mathematics and infused with the random strangeness that is the essence of life.  It is that quantum indeterminacy, more than anything, that animates the vital qi the permiates creation, which is why aspirations to perfection invariably fantasize about the quiet, sure stillness at the center of creation.  That stillness is the antithesis of all manifest reality, which is perhaps why Lovecraft envisioned it to be inhabited by a mad god.

Thunderstorms have always amazed me for the qualities the show.  All of the elements are present withing a storm, each conflicting yet working with the others as the raw power stored in the air is released.  They act randomly yet predictable, give life yet destroy, rifting through the atmosphere freeing unimaginable amounts of energy.  Truly the wonder they display is nothing more than the unflitered essence of life.

16:40 - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Latest Work
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Writing and Poetry

The Witches' Voice has published my essay on Warding the Home.  Anyone who hasn't seen it yet is welcome to do so.  It is odd, though, that they haven't published my essay on banishing rituals, even though I submitted it first.  Perhaps there have been too many essays on that topic?  I welcome any comments on either essay.

16:29 - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Feedback on "The Color of Self-Esteem"
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Writing and Poetry

The Color of Self-Esteem was published on the Witches' Voice a few weeks ago.  I received a lot of positive feedback.  Apparently a lot of people out there take issue with the wonderfulness of Indigo Chuldren, and the resulting lack of parenting and discipline by those who believe they are raising the enlightened (and narcissistic) future of mankind.

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Website Update: New Discussion Forum
Current mood: optimistic
Category: Web, HTML, Tech

I'm fairly shameless about promoting my website, but this time I have more than a few new essays or gloriously consistent fonts.  Taking advantage of one of FreeWebs' new features, I have added a discussion forum to my website.  Anyone who wants to comment on my site, any of the essays featured on it, or ask for and offer general advice is welcome to do so.  I'm not to sure that my site has enough traffic to warrant such an addition, but I decided to go ahead with it anyway.  

So, if anyone is so inclined, feel free to visit my humble forum, or my website in general.  By all means, make use of the "Suggestions" topic and let me know what you think of the format and topic selection.

14:20 - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

New Offerings
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Writing and Poetry

I pounded out two more essays today.  They are loaded up to my website as of now, although I don't have the rest of the site fully updates just yet.  I submitted one of the essays to Witchvox, but I think I'm going to wait a bit before submitting the other one, and I still haven't decided if I want to submit them to other sites.  If you're interested, take a sneak peek and let me know what you think.

20:11 - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

New Activity
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Writing and Poetry

Summer is here, and that means some available time to focus on my writing.  My first offering of the season is a little piece I call "The Color of Self-Esteem," a not so subtle jab at the self-importance of the Indigo Generation, and the New Age movement in general.  I've submitted itto Witches' Voice and Spiral Nature -- let's see if it's too harsh for them, or if it gets published.

I have a few other ideas I want to work on.  I posted a bit about neopagan sexuality on the Pagan Circle message board, and I think I'd like to to expand it into a full essay.   I have an idea about changing images of the divine that should be fun, and I might also do something on shielding and warding, and maybe even on cursing.   We shall see if  I  end up being so prolific.

23:44 - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment