The Snake and The Dog

I don't particularly like snakes, but I don't exactly dislike them either.  I would say I respect them and have a morbid curiosity about them.   I know snake shed has some very potent spiritual powers and is thus used in Hoodoo and Craft spells alike.  I also know its one of my Kung Fu forms.
I love dogs.  Dogs rock.  They're loyal protectors and members of the family.
I have a dear friend who has both a dog and snakes.  The dog and snakes have gotten along for a long time, that is until last night.
My friend who is a gracious snake keeper and truly loves her snakes was helping me to get to know them better.  For the first time in my life I held two snakes tonight and let them crawl around my arms.  Her snakes are boa constrictors.
The first snake was warm and tame and felt warm against my chest.  I was surprised how peaceful I felt just letting it rest in my arms and against my body.  My heartbeat slowed down and  I could feel it's heart beating at the same time.  Very awesome experience.  I held him for a while and we returned it to it's cage.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
Next came the larger boa constrictor.  This snake was quite a bit bigger than the first one and had a beautiful sepia pattern on its body.  I wasn't ready to completely hold this one, but I did let it crawl over my leg while she held the rest of it's body in her arms.  While we had the snake out, the dog was also around, close to the snake.  I remarked how impressed I was that the snakes and the dog got along.
After a while the snake was returned to its cage.  However, we took the snake back out for few minutes to look at some interesting markings on its skin.  I was feeling pretty great about the entire experience.  In the Medicine Cards the snake is the symbol of transmutation, the sign of alchemy, very heavy magick indeed.  I was fascinated with the warmth of its body and its strength, although I could not bring myself to look into its eyes.
Next thing we know the snake draws it's head back and bites the dog in the nose!  Oh my!  This has never happened before.  The dog was ok, mostly shaken up and we felt awful.  It was surreal.  One moment we all sitting pleasantly and the next moment, strike!  I had never felt or seen anything like it.  The snake bit the dog as it was crawling over our legs.
Of course the snake went back in it's cage.  The snake came to the window and peered out.  The dog went to the window and looked in, as if to say "Hey buddy, why did you bite me ?", the dog being true to it's loyal and forgiving self.  The snake said, "Hey, I'm a snake".

Dusty Ole Magickal Books

I wandered.  I decided to stop in at my favorite used bookstore, "Westside Books" http://www.westsidebooks.com/
Lois, the owner greeted me.  It was good to see her as we hadn't seen each other in while.  We start chatting it up and lo and behold my husband comes around the corner!  (Big smile, kisses of joy).  "Did you know he was here?" asks Lois.  "No, I didn't, we came here separately" I replied (big smile).
The magick has begun for me at Westside Books, again.  I love this bookstore.  New, used and rare books stacked floor to ceiling, cramped aisles with old chairs, stacks on the floor, aisles crammed so high and wide with books, you can't see over them.  Just my kind of place.
Today, I tell myself, lets check out some other aisles of the store before heading to my favorite section, the Metaphysical section.  So I did.  I wandered and browsed, gabbed some more with Lois and had a great time, just allowing myself to be led to my section when the time was right.
I finally make my way to the metaphysical section.  It has scattered light peeking in between all the dusty used books and smells of old paper.  I love the smell of old paper in books.
I'm drawn to a book on the Tarot.  I'd been thinking of getting a new Tarot book for a while and there it was.  As I thumbed through the book, I could tell we were a match.  I decided to sit on an old  blue, chair and take a better a look.  Thumbing through the pages, I come to a receipt and this is what it says:
"Seven Rays Book Store...May 23, 1995"! Wow.  Amazing.  A 16 year old receipt in perfect condition.  Hmmm.  One plus six= 7, total price for the book today..$7.00  :)

I googled the store and it still exists.
http://sevenrays.com/
Lois says she gets her goosebump  quota when I visit her store.  Yeah, me too, Lois, me too! I know more shall unfold from this journey today.

Blessed Be.

Disenchanted and Disillusioned

I had a dream.  It started in 2000 when I took a certificate class in Herbal Medicine.  It was the first time I touched the Earth in a magickal way through herbs and instantly I knew I was home.  I was with women who were passionate about herbs and healing and felt this was definitely the place for me.  I soaked up the knowledge like water, my soul had been parched and thirsty for the comradeship of women healers and Earth knowledge for what had seemed like forever.

While I was in that class I met some Occultists, Witches, Seers and Pagans, and even had my own supernatural experience with a ghost.  I felt open, ready and willing to learn more, see more, and help others. Being an avid reader, I immersed myself in books on herbs, healing, The Craft, and Spirituality.  I learned to read Medicine Cards and the Tarot.

In 2001, I became an Ordained Minister through Universal Brotherhood Movement.  I did so, because a dear friend asked me to wed her and her beloved in New York.  Applying for ordination and receiving it was a huge spiritual change in my life and I loved performing weddings.  Its one of my favorite things to do and a gift from my friend that keeps on giving.

From there, I joined a Drum Circle where I really got introduced to The Goddess, the Wheel of the Year and ritual.  I can still see the hall, lit with candles, smelling transcendent of white sage and all the drums in the Circle.  It was a dream come true.  Again I knew I was home.  I was with Mother Drum Circle for eight years and it was a sad day indeed when it came to a close.

And then in 2008 I stepped into the Hoodoo.  Hoodoo came to me on a business trip to New Orleans.  Returning home I found cat yronwode's book in a spiritual supply store and it changed my life.  I read the inside cover and again I knew I was home.  Here was a place where I could put my herbal knowledge, my spirituality and my desire to help others to good use.  I was excited to learn and be a part of such a cultural legacy.  I knew I was on the right track.  I enrolled in her course, studied hard and graduated.  During my first week in the course, I met my first real practicing Witch.

I asked if she would teach me, leading me to initiation.  That led to a Year and a Day study and she dumped me 3 months shy of completing the goal without any explanation.  I continued on my own and self-dedicated.  I tried to start my own Circle - not coven, just a group of women meeting together to honor the Goddess, the old ways and the Moon.  That died.
Next I tried to study with Elder in the community.  That fizzled out.  Each time I tried to touch with the Goddess and set out on the path of initiation it failed.  The latest failure happened this week as I prepared for a ceremony.  Every time I tried to set a date for the ceremony something went wrong or the date wasn't available.

I don't understand why the path to the Craft of the Wise is so difficult.  Has the Goddess forsaken me?  Does she not want new followers in her Craft?  Three years I have knocked on her door and each answer has left me fallen on my face, sad, disillusioned and disenchanted. 

I have gone back in my heart and mind to what I feel drawn to, called to.  I feel called to the Moon.  I love the Moon.  I worship with the Moon, I find my Divinity in the Moon.  Perhaps the Goddess I have been seeking is not the one of the Craft of the Wise.  Perhaps She exists in my Moon,  in whom my heart always find a home.

My birthday is next Saturday.  A time of rebirth and renewal.  I plan to immerse myself in the sacred waters of a healing mineral spring.   I hope when I come up for air a new sense of purpose and direction will be made known to me. 

Blessed Be.

Love, Love, Lucky Mojo!

A year ago this week I was on my way to San Francisco, CA to visit a dear friend and attend the Lucky Mojo Hoodoo Weekend and Workshops.  I was so happy to be back in my dear Cali, the home of my childhood.  I never spent much time in Northern California, so I was excited to be exploring Sonoma County, the beautiful land of trees and vineyards.  While there I took a beautiful drive to the ocean, which I will never forget.  There is a haunting beauty that never leaves you, as you drive throught the forest and then emerge at the ocean.

I was like a giggly schoolgirl the morning of the Hoodoo Workshop weekend.  I had studied hard to graduate from cat yronwode's Hoodoo Rootwork Correspondence Course in 2008.  From the first moment I entered into relationship with her, through her books, I had known I was home.  Now to think I was just a few miles from meeting her in person and seeing Lucky Mojo with my own eyes.  I could hardly stand it.

I drove the beautiful winding road from Guerneville to Forestville.  I parked and walked up to the path that leads to Lucky Mojo Curio Co.  I was hit with the sight of lush green plants and trees, and roses. Oh the beautiful roses!  Luckily you can see it to, through my Youtube Video:

I won't be attending this year, as my travels are taking me overseas, for the first time in my life!  I am so excited to be getting off the North American continent!
However I will miss being with cat and the wonderful Lucky Mojo staff, and all my colleagues from the Association of Independent Readers and Rootworkers (AIRR), eleven of whom are attending this year!  I wish each and every one of them a wonderful, blessed and prosperous weekend.  I will be with them in Spirit.
If you're in the area, be sure to stop by Lucky Mojo, for which you will be abundantly blessed!

Najah

Happy May Day, Blessed Beltane!

I give credit to CelestialElf for this wonderful Beltane Video.  Happy May Day, Blessed Beltane to you!