Changing tunes...I have let this lay quiet too long.

First, things first, I will graduate with my Masters in aproximately EIGHT weeks. This ol' witch got it done. Second, I am still working where I have been for 5 years and still it challenges me every day. Third, I am going to begin doing some Wicca 101 online classes for the general community. There are twenty seven interested, and who knows I think there may be witches there. SO....Drum roll....I will begin using this blog to share some thoughts some interesting comments in general but also some that the class inspires in me. Nothing personal about the participants, but rather where the conversations take my mind, as it is my turn to step back and let others explore. I will share some thoughts myself here...and perhaps some of them will stumble into the Web themselves.

Tornado's, Covid 19, Grad School, Work, Social Distancing.

Well, it has been a busy few months, the country is exploding with a disease that could kill me if I caught it. (I have 4 of the worse co-morbidities). So I have adopted my official hermit status. I am still going to work/school just at a distance. I miss people. I miss giving a friend a hug. I miss giving my father and mother hugs. But this is better than me potentially getting and sharing a disease with them that will kill them. Note this is not bothering my brother and his family, hey they believe that the whole thing is overblown. I am so scared for my family. And that is where this witch is...I am devoting my energy to seeing a protective shield around my parents, which means I am taking a less taxing method of protecting self, which is distance. So do me a favor, and if you read this, Stop, and do a witch a favor: wear a mask, social distance, and lets flatten the curve...we can do this if we all give a damn.

Croning, Crafting, Graduate school, and Working

It has been over a year since I last posted. At the time I said, "do not wait, get your stuff done..." I am exactly 1/2 way through Grad school now...and thinking of taking a semester off just to keep my sanity. But that is because my life is exploding in other ways. I have decided it is time to do my Croning, but I don't want to "Be Crone Alone", so I am organizing a Croning for my other Crone friends to share in. No one grows old alone, even if you are not speaking as you age so are those you have touched through the years unless they have already crossed the veil. So why have a solitary Croning when you can CELEBRATE (Good times come on) (Kool and the Gang) ONE more Time (its a celebration) Daft Punk (my fave) Lets get the party started (PINK) ....But that takes planning, and so that is something new to do... I am also creating a new BOS to summarize what I have found... And did I mention Working and doing new crafts? Oh and Grad school... So LIVE, LOVE, LEARN, and BE! There is never a time like now!

Simple lesson from life

I realize what the role of crone is: reminding people that they are not too old to dream. Why is it my role, because when I hit my late 30's I felt old. So old that I gave up on dreaming. I doubted myself. Doubted my will, my magic, my way. But now in hindsight, I wish I had kicked my ass. I am in grad school, editing my books, working, and living and I see years I wasted because I believed myself too old. What if I had done one of these things at 37? I would have a Masters. Or I would be 4 1/2 years away from early retirement. Or I would have books for sale. So the lesson is: DON'T WAIT. School will still be school. That story will still need telling. So the lesson is simple. Believe in yourself, and do the impossible. You might be surprised at what you can achieve.

Shortened holidays. Yule party. Friends. and Editing?

This holiday season was pre-empted by a nasty cold. So I'm taking fewer days off to make up for lost work, but I still had time to have a clean-up day/yule party. Had a smallish party (5 friends and cards) and my house looks good. Now to edit the first chapter of my science fiction political thriller. Yes, the crone writes. The crone also is going to grad school and working full time. So it's a full life. Which is what I am noticing. In my youth, I tried to be cool, or popular, or smart. Now, I know that popularity, coolness, and "smarts" are mere illusions. You want people to like you because it makes life more enjoyable, however, pursuing popularity is not worth the effort. You don't know why your personality and others don't blend, don't worry about it. They are not who you have to worry about. Now if a friend levels a realistic critique, then you need to take a close look at your actions. The difference is not that the opinion of another should impact your life, but rather that for some reason you have labeled this person "friend" which implies that you have some respect for them. And their critique may be bull's swallow, but you need to take the moment to see. Coolness, wow, what a concept. There is a glamour about coolness. I am using that in the magical sense. It comes from charisma and willpower. For an artist, politician, or someone in the public eye that is useful, but in your day to day life, nice but really do you want your energy to go there? I would not mind being cool, but expending energy to do it...nahhh. Smartness. I test well. That said, I think most tests are bullcrap. I am more impressed by someone who takes information and transforms the world in a positive manner. A great test is a rabbit trick. It can get you in the door. The rest, as they say, is up to you. And that is not about testable smarts but about creativity, productivity, adaptivity, and ingenuity. I have several friends who have all those qualities in spades and never tested well in their life. It is not about theory, but about the application that the world revolves. So don't spend your time trying for the illusion, find the reality and embrace your creativity, will-power, ingenuity, and your true self. There is your true self.

Time passes

And people wonder. Did she fall off the face of the earth? No, but I have been busy. So many things going on. The good, bad, and indifferent ate away at my time and energy. But I am getting it back. So hopefully I will once again be able to speak truth. Until then, know that I am around and will pop up to sprinkle some ol' witchy wisdom on the world.

Trying again. Two blogs. And Yule lessons

I have a blog dealing with writing. And this one dealing with the Craft. Notice that I don't associate "the Craft" with writing...maybe that is wrong. Writers create worlds with their words. Novels often inspire the Craft. In Triumph of the Moon, early craft was linked not to ancient religions but the writings of early 19th-century romantic authors who were fascinated by neo-platonic thought and Nature itself. I find my own Craft studies draw me to study science, philosophy, Eastern and Western Religions, Ritual as well as introspection of self. Note that though I have the magic "woo-woo" of 3rd and have Eldered, I still study the Craft. Achieving any goal only means you have to work harder, look deeper, examine the Craft, YOUR Craft with more care than before. Your words gain power when you spend time in silence, your heart calmness with wisdom, and you never cease becoming the Witch you are. So For this Yule I am beginning a new cycle. I will attempt to post around each of the Sabbats. But then again I may not. This Yule was one of darkness and sorrow. My companion of 8 years, my partner in crime, my familiar, passed over the rainbow bridge around midnight on the 20th going into the 21st. And like every day, her leaving me was heroic and tragic. She had been ill for 3 weeks. That day she had been better. She had eaten, and drank and was standing better. Then she fell, and that fall had her twisting so she broke her neck. She left me. And my heart broke. Though I have cried, and cried for her, I find my Craft teaching a blessing. I know that her spirit moves on as her physical body decays. I know that she may return to me through another dog. I know that I need to spend time grieving so I don't get another pet just to try and fill the void that was left behind. I Miss her. Next Samhaine when I listen to the Little Prince, some of my tears will be for her. I had a treasure, and I knew it, but I also knew that I did not appreciate it constantly. Now the world moves into the light, and my God has taken my friend away. She gave me peace, and happiness, and joy. I have to learn to stop looking for her. I have to follow the advice I would give to anyone else. Take the time to honor my grief. Only then, after that time has passed, can I begin the search. Though if life has taught me anything, it is that my next companion will come when I am ready. I will struggle. I will try to avoid losing my heart, but I will be hopeless against that love. That is how the wheel is turning for me this year. I had a very dark night. One of pain and sorrow. But I KNOW that the sun will rise because it is my belief. I know that my companion will return, or send the next one to teach me because that is my belief as well. Even death has a cycle, and we must learn to accept it. Fear is the enemy. Yes, death itself the process is painful, but so is grief. And accepting that pain, honoring it allows us to see the light. The brilliant light of the sunrise after the darkness of night. And though my companion went through the veil, and I grieved, I have to remember that the Lady gives relief from the pain of life. And that may have been the greatest gift of the season to one who had been such a gift to me. She is not in pain. She is not hungry, or thirsty. She is not struggling to stand. She can play now. Fair well.