Magickal Politics

It's the end of an era. I cried, I wept. I applauded and for the first four years of his presidency I kept an altar for him, our now out-going President, Barack Obama.

I kept an altar for him during that first term because I didn't want to see any harm come to him. I didn't want his Presidency to be marked by scandal. And as he was the first ever African-American President, I knew he would be held to a higher standard than a white President, which those standards have now been evidenced by our President-elect, Donald Trump.

I let the altar go after his first term. I stored all the precious things away and trusted he'd be all right during his second term. And honestly speaking, tending an altar every day is hard work. My appreciation goes out to all the magickal workers past and present who tend and keep altars. It is a sacred committment. One that once is entered into, the promise must be fulfilled.

Today we have entered into a new beginning. The Moon is almost full and it's time to move forward. I didn't want to accept the goodbye of the Obamas from the Oval office, but go they must. Now we must embrace the change and hold fast to the magick, beauty, power and knowledge that makes us practitioners and believers in the power of Nature, our goddessess and gods.

The time of weeping is over. Let us harness our collective strengths and prepare to begin again.

Blessed Be.

Memories of Loved Ones

My family and I have been touched by the “Falling Leaf” spell, we recently read in Llewellyn’s Spell-A-Day Almanac, written by Mickie Mueller. We’re still trying to catch a falling leaf, which has been harder than one would imagine, but it is so magickal trying to grab one as it falls from a tree.

There’s a sadness that comes with this time of year. As we watch the leaves float down, loss of loved ones, things we’ve lost or discarded, situations that didn’t quite work out come to mind.

For me, I find I am still grieving the passing of our dog, Shadow who crossed over in January.

I don’t know why after 9 months I find myself missing her deeply. Perhaps it’s because she loved this time of year, or maybe it’s because her coat resembled a beautiful Fall day, or maybe it’s because the veil is thinning, and she was a magickal, spirit dog. And perhaps it’s all of these things.

My first Samhain (pronounced Sow (like cow) –in) altar I put up many years ago was in honor of our beloved dog Misty, gone many years now. I was thrilled to find the sacred in Halloween season. I had always believed there was more to the season, than just violence and horror, and being freaked out of your mind. Not that I don’t love Halloween, it was just as a lover of Nature, a believer in the Turn of The Wheel, I knew there had to be more to the Holiday than just goblins and ghosts.

For those of us who practice the Craft as our religion, October 31^st is the night we honor our loved ones who have gone before us. It’s a wonderful way to touch and remember our loved ones on the other side. 

It’s wonderful to have a special night that occurs annually, when we can be with our dearly departed. It keeps their memories alive in a special way. It gives us a chance to be with them in our homes or sacred spaces. And it adds reverence to the night of October 31^st.

There will be several others who will also share our ancestor altar. But this year, the star guest, will be our little dog, Shadow.

Congratulations Mr. President!

May Goddess Bless him and keep him!

Blessed Be,
Priestess Najah

Tending the President Obama Altar

Today I awake with joy and happiness in my heart that President Barack Obama, has been re-elected for a second term. 

Millions of people voted and worked very hard to bring this vision into manifestation.  For my part, I voted and I tended and kept an altar for him for four years:

On the eve of the last election in 2008, I lit a candle for then candidate Barack Obama.  I felt called to do it. No one asked me to do it, it was just what I felt needed to be done.  When he won the election four years ago, I decided it would good idea to keep the altar going for his entire term.  Little did I realize how the altar which was very small at the time, would grow into the beautiful space it has become!  On the altar is a hat my friend gave me from his hometown of Chicago, an Obama doll which was a Christmas present, the Esquire magazine which had him on the cover, one of my prized possesions - an Obama cover comic book, a homemade Obama Christmas ornament - which was a gift, candles that burned in significant ways, and the latest addition, the 2012 Obama-Biden bumper sticker!

All these items came to the altar of their own time and accord.  I learned a lot about tending an altar and making such a committment.   For starters, the purchase of candles became quite expensive and time consuming.   I've never asked for any financial support, so I had to find ways to adjust the frequency of lighting the altar, so I wouldn't break my pocketbook.  Then there were the times when I didn't agree with some of President Obama's decisions and I had to keep the altar.  That was a time of spiritual growth and dedication to my committment.  I am grateful to the Great Goddess for her bountiful blessings upon my work.

Now that President Obama has been re-elected, my charge and committment to the altar is done. I have done my duty.  But will the altar come down?  Will I stop tending it?  Is it still necessary?  These are questions I will need to answer for myself.  We will just have to see.  And if you are reading this and have any comments or suggestions, I appreciate your feedback!

Bright Blessings,
Priestess Najah

Altar for President Obama

Update! November 5, 2012:
  Hail Moonday-Monday! As has been my charge for the last four years, the altar for President Obama is lit! May the blessings of re-election be ours and his! Blessed Be, So Mote It Be!

As Priestess Najah, I've been keeping an altar for President Barack Obama since November 2009.  Recently over the past few Moon cycles, I've had trouble keeping the light going on the altar.  I've cleaned the altar, added new herbs and powders, lit the candles on different days and still nothing worked.  I attributed this to lots of negativity and bad juju being sent President Obama's way.

I may not always agree with our President  or his policies or decisions, but it has become my Charge to keep this altar for his entire term, and thus I am doing so.  So after trying all I knew to keep the light going, I contacted my good friend Dr. Christos Kioni and he helped me out!  Dr. K suggested I move the altar.  So after waiting for the appropriate time and using divination, I moved the altar to its new home.

I'm pleased to say the candle is now burning the strongest and brightest it has burned in a long time.  Thanks so much Dr. Kioni for your help, you ROCK!
When I began this altar I offered to light a light from my altar, for anyone who would also like to the keep the light going.  If you would like a candle lit from my altar, just send me an email.  You will need to provide your own candle.

Peace and Blessings to us all.