Ex Penna

Hello, at last, to all and any!

I hope you have been hard at work as I have been, though hopefully with more consistency than me. I recently came to the realization that the main reason I have not written here in so long is that it is troubling that I can't talk about the shop anymore. Perhaps people won't even read unless I've got updates for new shiny things to buy.

So, what say you--shall I start again without shop stuff but with more essays and articles for you on living a magical life and being your biggest, baddest occultist possible?

I'm going to assume you said "hell, yes!" and go from there.

Some try to insult me or my intelligence. Doesn't work. Some try to intimidate me into changing my worldview to something more like their own. Can't be done. Others just want someone--anyone--to play the whipping boy for their fears of the unknown and unknowable. That's not why I'm here and I make sure they know that.

You may have encountered these same types of people. Let it roll off you. They're not the folks were talking about today. They can't be helped from thee outside anyway, so just walk on by.

The ones I want to discuss are the interested but non-commital people, the ones who perhaps know the ordinary you first and only afterward get introduced to the witch in you. They are those not opposed to what you do and who you are, but have no frame of reference. They have no proper method for interacting with such foreign concepts, and so can ask or assume some laughable, painful, or otherwise clueless things. It's alright; they can be enlightened.

I've been asked all sorts of crazy shit over the years. I don't mind; it's interesting to me to see where their heads are at. They speak to their own imagination, their own experiences, and what comes out is pure, even when it's offensive. Keep that in mind as you go.

I'm going to assume that the outsider in question has next to no knowledge about the magical community, is open-minded enough to let others have beliefs without needing them to validate their own, and are just confused enough to be curious but will probably never turn this into action. That, you will find, covers most of the people who approach you in a casual way about what it means when you say you practice witchcraft.

Do:

1. Answer only the question being asked.

 2. Make Connections

3. "You Learn By Trying"

4. One Piece of the Picture

5. Magic Improves What It Touches

Don't:

1. Say Derogatory Things About Other Occultists

2. Don't Try to Explain It All

3. Don't Waste Time with Stereotypes or Pop Culture

It sounds all kinds of wrong that I said I'd be keeping things fresh on this blog--even though the shop is no more--and then I swiftly...did nothing of the sort.

Today was another day quite similar to the one I described when I first wrote this article 4 years ago. The names have changed but the bullshit remains the same.

Our son, now in middle school himself, was hit by a similar monster-run-amok as the one who attacked Gigi. Again the belittlement of our religion (oh foolish mortals, aren't we past this?), again the unprovoked violence. It ended with our man, Drake, being hit in the eye in a sneak attack from behind. I contacted the father of this boy immediately so that he could handle his end of this altercation and--what a surprise--he was as vicious as his child. This grown man's tantrum was truly a masterwork full of accusations against my character, my child, and (of course) the fact that I am surely "what is wrong with the world today."

Oh, pal, you have no idea what's about to happen to your world today.

So after I humiliated him with a solid display of tact and fact--ending up with him agreeing with me--Drake and I took to the spellbooks. This wasn't over.

All of this got me thinking back on the incident described in the following article, how I handled it, and even how a local parent managed to uncover my writerly pseudonym and expose me to her church group as a topic of discussion.

Yes, it was just as weird as it sounds.

But, in truth, I was much more careful back then than I am now to appease a reader who might misunderstand and disparage my methods. I am a witch. My whole family believes in and practices magic. I don't care if anyone thinks it's wrong or sinful or filled with Karmic debt. I do what I do because it is my work to fix what is broken, to loose what should be free, to bind what should be restricted. If you can't handle that I do these things, don't bother telling me--just go about your own business.

If, however, you've ever been so mad that your limbs are shaking, if you've ever wondered where you can go from here now that there is no help for you, or--most essentially--if you watch this in your child, see the powerlessness in their eyes, read on and see what magic can do.


P.S. I don't believe I gave an adequate update on the situation you're about to read. The school, at first hesitant to do what clearly needed done, was deeply apologetic to us. The girl's parents were called in to discuss her behavior, ending in her suspension. Gossip around the school was brutal towards her and deeply sympathetic towards Gigi. Nothing of the sort has happened since and, in fact, both now juniors in high school, the girl has made tentative steps towards friendliness with our young woman.

No word if that has made any sort of impression.




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Today the bus arrived at the edge of our snowy yard promptly at 3:30 and I expected Gigi to leap promptly through the door and declare herself home from the forced labor camp that is middle school.  Instead she quietly slunk in, with a red face and redder eyes, her shoulders drooping so low I couldn't believe she was still upright.

Somehow this bold, smart, friendly girl had been viciously bullied on the bus.  Now I take the middle-of-the-road approach to school bullies.  One one hand, bullying has happened since the time of the cavemen and continues the be an issue, in one way or another, for adults as well as kids (pushy relatives telling you how to live your life, that jerk who's out to get your job, etc.).  If we're able, standing up to these people can be a real breakthrough.  Can we (should we?) really eradicate something that is old as time and that many accept as part of learning one's own strength?  On the other hand, bullying is a painful, unnecessary expression of pointless hate (or repressed desire, jealousy, fear, etc.).  How can we pretend that isn't a problem?  How can we accept it without showing our kids that we condone them becoming victims...or monsters?

Cascarilla was my big pride back in 2012 when I first introduced it in the shop (Notice the old labeling? Ah, simpler times...) and I am still in love with both the process and the practice.

Here's what I had to say about it back then. I'm sure you can still find use here, especially if you haven't tried Cascarilla before.








I'm so super proud of this beautiful new item in my shop, I've just gotta brag!  No one on Etsy offers brown cascarilla powder--until now!

• If someone leaves a trick on your doorstep or you find some suspicious item in your home from an enemy, dust your hands well with this powder before picking it up.  This keeps the evil from transferring to you, and you can dispose of it safely.
• Add some to your bath water or sprinkle in the wash bucket for scrubbing the floor to disperse negativity. 
• Use cascarilla powder to make symbols on the floor or altar during ritual or spellwork. 
• Add a bit of water and use it to paint symbols on your skin or use it dry to dust your body for all-over protection.

First off, I am a big fan of Osho (though, I usually call him by the name I first read him under, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh) and I have tremendous respect for his ideas. Osho has caught a lot of heat in the past for his sometimes politically-incorrect views.  One such view came to my attention only recently now that I'm his Facebook friend (Wild, isn't it?  Renowned the world over--and dead--and he's my friend.  I sure must be something special).  In an article linked from his website, he expounded on his thoughts about homosexuality being an expression of socially, physically, and religiously repressed heterosexuality.  He believed that without those conditions, homosexuality would not exist.  Though I don't believe that myself (and, for all I know, Osho himself may have changed his ideas since writing this in 1979) I do see what he's doing by saying it.  And it's a fundamental of teaching, no matter the message.

Here, for your enlightenment (if you haven't already read it) is the original article, taken from his "Be Still and Know" talks.  Read it and watch closely your reaction:

http://oshotimes.blog.osho.com/2012/06/same-sex-relationships/

So, were you intrigued?  Outraged?  Hurt?  Ashamed?  You'd be surprised at how few responses I've seen that answer the first.  Most people seem to say something along the lines of "I used to respect him, but no more!  What a quack!  What an affront!  How dare he?"  Here's a good example, straight from the gay community: 

http://gaysifamily.com/2010/06/07/osho-i-love-you-no-more/

Ouch.  Coming from the point of view as a teacher, I can say that every one of these people who are so grieved over Osho's statement, so hurt, so ready to turn their backs and shun his name, they have totally missed the point.

So what was the point?  Why is it that I can say I know this "as a teacher?"  It's because I've seen it happen plenty in my own teaching.  First you get this fresh-faced student, all geared up and ready to learn at your feet.  Then they hear you say something they don't like, something that offends their little ears.  "I have to practice this?"  "You expect me to do homework?"  "Wait, so I don't get to pick and chose what you'll teach me?"  And then it comes out--"I used to respect you, but no more!  What a quack!  What an affront!  How dare you?"  Yup, they're all yours until you challenge them.

But learning is about the challenge.  That's the reason we go into it.  Maybe it's been too long ago for adults to remember starting school, or maybe they just figure that it's a different story when you choose to take classes instead of doing it by government mandate.  But it's not.  It's still hard, it still takes work and dedication, and it will often fly in the face of what you knew before.  But that's good.  It means you're learning.

Sadly, I've lost more than a few students because they didn't like having to think.  I feel sorry for them.  We seem to have become a community that treasures individuality to the point of not wanting to even consider a teacher's right to say needful, if uncomfortable, things.  I'm not asking for students to worship my words, but I do want them to hear them, mull them over, practice what I prescribe, and then come to a conclusion.  Opinion-forming should be a process, not a reaction.  Just because your brain came up with it doesn't make it right. 

Unfortunately for Osho and I (though I'm not claiming to be in his league at all), people want to worship words.  They want their teacher/leader to say things that are easy to accept and agree with.  They want to nod at every line and be comforted.  "Work" should never enter into it for them.  And that has driven away many potentially enlightened people.  Osho might not have felt this pinch quite as profoundly in 1979 as today, with gay rights being one of the topics at the forefront of politics, but just the reprinting of this talk has people leaving in droves the shadow of the temple they built for him in their minds.  If they had only listened, they wouldn't still be inside it; they'd be out into the light of day.

Neither Osho nor any other teacher is perfect.  They have silly ideas sometimes, they work through impossible theories--they're learning as they go as well.  But they are ahead of the student, often far, far ahead.  We shouldn't follow blindly but we should follow and listen.  I saw in Osho's talk a viewpoint vastly different from my own.  I took some time to think about the possibility of it being true.  Could it really be that way?  What would that mean in general?  What would it mean to me?  How does this change my thoughts?  After that, I decided that it is not likely to be scientifically, literally true, but that there may be a kernel of truth underneath.  But, in the end, it gave me pause for thought.  I had to consider my own ideas and weigh them up against what I was seeing.  In the end, I feel pretty much the same about the topic as I did before, but my mind is just a little bit more open.  I still think about it from time to time, juggling these nearly opposite ideas and considering them all over again.  I think about the worth of speculation, of keeping open options, of not making harsh critical statements without full investigation.   Seeing the anger at other reader's fingertips, I feel sorry that they're missing out on this.  And I miss those students who refused to try to open, not for me, but for themselves.

I haven't read this post in many years and the sight of it gave me quite a smile. Now our Gigi is 16 and as independent a Pagan thinker as ever. She's learned a lot, though we never did create an organized training system. I guess organic learning is my parenting style.

 Enjoy!

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In our home, we don't hide from the important issues and we don't create an information gulf between child and adult.  Sure, there's "grown up" stuff I don't tell the kids, but I figure that if a child's old enough to ask a question, they are old enough for a straight answer.  This has been especially true with magic.

Now, I don't believe that magic is an adults-only game.  Nor do I see it as a membership club where, by someone else's say-so, you're either in or you're out (more about that later!).  So I believe in teaching children as early as possible.  Our daughter, Gigi (11), was only a few years old and making it rain and healing the neighbor boy's hornet stings.  The little man (7) is an expert incensier  (that's my freshly minted word, by the way: incensier [in-cen-SEER] one who compounds incense.  Sounds about right.) and I love employing his little biceps at the mortar and pestle.  But, until now, their learning has been atmospheric.  I always figured that the proper time would come for them to be formally taught.  And now, I believe it's Gigi's time.

Gigi and I were talking before getting her to bed tonight and I mentioned this.  She was happy to and only requested that it be a "weekend thing."  Fine by me!  Weeknights are plenty full as it is.  So I asked her if there was something she was especially interested in learning.  Her reply--dreams and curses.  I didn't say anything for a moment.  She explained that she wants to know how to return to a dream or get a specific dream, and how to give someone a little curse--if you're really mad--like bad test scores.

That set me back a bit.  Yes, the first one's no big deal and they're both easily done.  In fact, I could teach her everything about those two subjects in a day or two.  But...should I?  The kids know that I do magic of all kinds; sometimes I'm nice and sometimes I'm not.  That's just the work of a witch for me.  When I have clients who request curses or people who write asking for information on them, I don't turn them away and I don't tell them their feelings are wrong.  So I tried to look at it from that perspective.  I surely can't tell Gigi that it would be wrong to curse someone at school.  I'd be making a liar out of my practice.  And I can't tell her that it's not for her to know, because that could make her either perversely intrigued in this forbidden topic or dismissive of magic altogether since her lessons won't provide what she wants to know.  So what should I do?

I've been thinking about this ever since she said it.  I told her at the time that we'd talk more about it when it was time to start.  I guess that's the best way to go--talk it out and get to the core of the issue.  I can't say that at her age I didn't have the desire to blast some classmates, but maybe I can reroute those feelings so that she's less inclined to do it to the whole class.

Cursing is just as valuable a skill as any other in magic, so she will be learning it sometime.  Like any other spell, there's a right way to do it and a wrong way.  I believe most of the people who shout about the dangers of black magic and say that curses will always rebound on the witch did it the wrong way once and believed that it was the only outcome.  Training would have changed everything.

So maybe I'll let her get her feet wet.  She's not blasting crops or poisoning wells, just spreading a little revenge.  She'd probably be doing that anyway, and much sloppier too.

Feel free to write in with your feelings on this topic.  What would you do?

After much deliberation, I've decided to close Quill's Occult Supply on Etsy.

This wasn't a flippant decision, nor one based on monetary reasons. On the contrary, the shop was doing quite well and I was finding it difficult to get orders out in a reasonable amount of time. After over 1,000 sales and over 530 followers, I was enjoying interacting with customers but not feeling able to do justice to their trust with my shipping issues. My other projects--including manuscripts still in the pipeline for publication--were suffering while I tried to keep all these separate plans orderly. As you can imagine, it didn't work very well.

So let's talk about where we're at now...

What's Happening to the Shop?

 What About This Blog?

What's Replacing Them?

Van Van is a formula, most often found as an oil, that is lucky in all respects while also removing all barriers to that success. It's the standard item in any good Hoodoo cupboard.

Oddly enough, though there are many successful recipes floating around, the only ingredient they have in common is Lemongrass. It would also seem that there are sellers whose Van Van oil is nothing but Lemongrass.

You can certainly create a starter version of this all-purpose formula with just Lemongrass in a carrier oil, but if you have access to the other Asian grasses found in the complete recipe, I recommend adding a generous dose of each:

Sometimes all you really need is some uninterrupted focus on a topic, and everything will turn out in your favor. This what you are doing when you create an arranged space.

Here we're talking about making room on a shelf, on your everyday altar, or on a special zone set up just for this purpose. Put all things related to the topic on that table as well as a hefty dose of items which are lucky for it and which work in favor of your goals. I like mixing in a few colored papers with positive messages on them and some auspicious tarot cards.

Move everything around until it looks and feels done. I know that I've seen such instructions in books and I've shuddered, but I can say that you will indeed know when it's done. Leave this layout untouched for a week. Take stock at that time. How are things progressing? Need more influence? A bigger push? Add some compelling herbs. Want to smooth things over and let them settle a bit? Change the color scheme to reflect a calmer atmosphere for the work.

Don't actually do a spell.  Let the casting be in the movement and setting of the space. Put all your energy into that and not into words or thoughts. Just allow the space itself to do the work.

You may be surprised at what happens.

Witchcraft Perfume Recipes


What an exciting secret it is to carry a magical item on you and have others under its influence without them even realizing it.  It is, perhaps, the most consistently enjoyable part of being a witch!

Now imagine that doing just that was as simple as putting on a few drops of your signature scent each morning.  It can be just that easy, and this weeks link offers a few good places to start!  Whether you're seeking to add another dimension to your spellwork or to have every day guarded and enhanced by magic, perfume is an option that anyone can enjoy!

So I meet a witch and we begin to engage in that most sacred of magical rituals, the Intellect Dance. Who knows more? Who's read more books? What spells have you cast? What was your most impressive success?

We weave around each other offering tiny boasts, sprinkling the exchange with quizzes and minor tricks.

And in the midst of this--especially when it's painfully obvious that there's no need for it--I offer up too much information.  I say something that gives away what took me years to discover. Or maybe I reveal my ignorance of a popular practice. Or brag that my collection contains illegal items and then spend the rest of our conversation wondering if I can trust you to keep that to yourself.


Then there are the times I've found a conversant who thrills at the topic of magic but has very little knowledge of it. I should take it slow, lay out something soft and easy to digest, but instead, my excitement overrides my judgement and suddenly I'm chatting about my history with coercive love spells. Or I launch into a passionate rant about the value of demonic evocations. Or gossip about the trouble I've had with covenmates in the past.

Yep, I've said too much again.

To this end I've devised a simple method--SCRIBE

SETTING

CONTEXT

Some Life Experience

I can compare that incident to one of my own. I was meeting with our son's preschool teacher for the first time to sign papers, learn about the schedule and whatnot, when he asked if there was anything else about our son that he should know. After giving the idea a quick inspection, I decided to share that our family is Pagan and because our son has been surrounded by it since birth and we haven't hid the fact, the teachers would probably hear about holidays, traditions, and other practices that were unfamiliar.

Keeping Perspective

Flakiness exists in every subculture. There's always going to be that set of people who just seem to float from place to place, ideology to aesthetic, without any real ties to any of it. Such is the way for the ones who inhabit the magical community.

Just what are we talking about when we say "flakes" or "phonies" or "fake witches"? Usually, when that kind of language is thrown around--and generally, with as much venom as possible-- the individual in question displays one or more of the following qualities:

• False knowledge or no knowledge
• Pretentious behavior
• Unwillingness to commit to a coven's expectations
• Free-will taken to a selfish degree
• Carefree turning to carelessness

Dream Bible: the Online Guide to Dream Interpretation


Keeping a diary of your dreams can be a good way to keep track of the hidden things, the broken things, and the undigested knowledge we gain every day.  Some dreams are straight-forward replays of the waking world but others require some delving to understand their true meaning.

To aid you, I offer today's link: an expansive listing of dream interpretations for you to check against the wonderland of your dream world.

PST is a painfully common issue in the modern magical community.  Only through identification, education, and alternative methods can we eradicate it.

I'm talking, of course, about the phenomena known as Pagan Standard Time. 

This malady's main symptom is being habitually and unapologetically late for every Pagan/magical event--whether attending or presenting--causing a stuttering waiting period for things to begin that quickly turns an enjoyable day into a frustration.  For those of us already on a razor's edge of a timeline, this can sound the death knell for any future events.

Because the occult world has very little authority--and we like it that way--there are strong feelings on both sides of this argument.  On the pro side, we see the forefront is about our cherished individuality.  After all, organized religion (that thing that runs opposite to so many magical practices) has schedules and rules that can stifle the free expression and creativity we adore.  If we're going to dig our fingers into the mysterious occult, we've got to forge our own perspective on who is in charge and to what degree.

While it feels good (and oh so counterculture!) to always follow your own directive, it can really get in the way when you involve other people. A teaching arrangement, a coven, a public event--all these have to have some sort of schedule. Keep in mind, too, the ever-present desire to present to the outside world a formidable community can make this an issue with real weight. How much do we--and should we--care about looking "professional" to other paths and spiritual bodies?

The support in favor of Pagan Standard Time is worth exploring, as well:

• When you create something yourself (and the magical community is by far self-made), you get to set the rules
• Many of our people are young and impetuous; free-wheeling is their style
• Timelines feel restrictive and unimaginative
• Magical people adore surprises, mystery, and happenstance. What better setting could there be for these things to thrive than one without borders?

On the con side, though, are points just as important to make:

• To be taken seriously, we must present ourselves in a serious manner
• Punctuality is often linked to respect; not always in the eyes of the person arriving but definitely by those awaiting the arrival.
• People are busy and their days and nights are filled with activity. If you want your event to be a priority to them, you must maintain timelines they can trust

Having been on both the giving and receiving ends of PST, I can say I've learned a lot about how it begins--and how it can end.

How It Happens

Let's be honest, folks.  Events are hard to plan and even harder to host.  Many elements have to be carefully knit together to be successful. If you want to keep them interested, energetic, as well as inspired, you're going to have to have a quick-moving agenda of unique experiences mapped out in advance.  Do you have what it takes to arrange this?  Do you even know what such a thing would look like?  Yeah, me neither. 

Most of us are just stumbling along when it comes to creating great events.  Come up with a way cool

idea, dream about how great it would work out, then watch the reality fall far short.  It can still be nice, still work to a certain extent, but achieving that ideal is probably out of the question. 

Even if you're not asking for the moon (and several perfectly choreographed dancers, drummers, and a poet who will ad-lib beautiful prose in honor of the occasion), there are other factors that go into making events a difficult project that's often over-due or over-time:

1. Events rarely have enough staff

Being a guest at a huge ritual is a helluva lot more fun that working at one.  Considering how rare it would be to find a really big event to attend, it's no wonder that so many people want to enjoy the time spent in that space rather than be its bouncer (or do its set up and tear down, or feed everyone, or pass out papers...)

2. We don't have a lot of good role models to emulate in this arena

Until you've been to a number of events, you won't really know what elements go into making them successful.  Think of the parties you've attended in your life.  Whether you noticed or not, you used every one of those experiences to formulate how to manage social gatherings.  You saw what worked and what didn't, what was fun and what made the evening drag, as well as how the host handled problems and turned the focus of the group away from misery-making things like a brewing fight or an embarrassing drunken episode happening in another room.  You came away with lots of knowledge from that and it helped make your own shindigs a great time. 

What do magic folks have?  Unless you live within driving distance of the festival circuit, the likelihood is pretty good that you consider your events history as a few dull-to-regrettable afternoons with other practitioners who claimed to be having the time of their lives.  I know this one well.

3. Our needs and desires are unique for spiritual groups

This means that general advice doesn't always help us do a better job.  Looking at what works for prayer circles or sweat lodges might not offer any real insight.  We do things in a unique way and we need to find our own voice for that.

The most important element of this is freedom.  Witches are crazy about it but that makes it hard to get everyone to want to do the same thing at the same time, which is a staple of building group unity.  It and individual expression must be in balance without losing focus.

We're also incredibly talkative.  Time has to be divided between work and play, social time and magic.

How to Combat It...

Now that we know a bit about where it starts, let's talk about how it can end. To be able to keep the good aspects of PST while ditching its drawbacks might seem like an impossible task. It can be managed, though, if we're attentive to not only what works for occultists in general, but also for our own local groups.

...as a Presenter

When you're the one hosting an event, you must start out recognizing both the weight and the potential in your position. You have a lot to answer for but you also have the chance to put a personal spin on what others are expecting to see. Where do you want to take this and what do you feel is the surest way to get there? This will take some time, so let's start there.

1. Start planning the same day you take the job

No lie, don't wait a single day to begin the process. Not only is it essential that you have all the prep time you can get, it's also a good idea to begin work while you're still excited about the event and are filled with those initial dreams of its success. This will give you some early fuel.

2. Lots and lots of lists

Start with a basic outline of what you want to have happen at your event, then list the things--large and small--you'll need to have.

How many people would ideally handle each of those aspects? List the positions. List people you know who could fill them.

Where will you get the things you need but don't currently have? Make separate lists for buy and borrow.

Do you have a venue? If not, list ideas. Do you have enough money to do this yourself? If not, list methods of gaining capital, like arranging for donations or requiring payment before or at the time of the event.

3. Know how long things take

Give yourself a generous amount of time for each of the points of interest throughout your event.  Add to that meet and greet time before and food and drink time after. This is how long your event will take.

You can also make a separate plan based on ideal lengths of time and then add in some things that people can be doing in the gaps. This is handy for times when people must take turns at something and everyone else waits for their time to come. Give them something to focus on, something to see or do, and you will keep them interested and involved.

4. Have a definite ending

I'm a big believer that you should always end strong. Give your guests a clear idea of the end of the event approaching and they will be relieved to know they won't miss anything or overstay their welcome.

This can be achieved a few ways, depending on your event. You can pass out programs at the door or have it posted online so guests know what will happen throughout.  You could also have someone in charge of announcements, giving a 5 or 10 minute warning to the end of one act and reminder for the next. Make these brief, clear, and loud.

Moving an event forward is always about wringing out all the worth from a block of time as possible and making people look forward to the next one. This can be achieved with leaving if you give them something to take with them or something to do when they get home. A classic is the "swag bag" or parting gift that each person picks up as they exit, but you can also offer things for them to do afterward such as posting photos from the event, leaving reviews, or using items made during the event.

5. Take note of what worked

This is essential! Over time you'll get good at this, but until then, learn to watch people's reactions and figure out if your plans are having the desired effect. You might even want to make comment cards available for guests to turn in anonymously.  Grow a thick skin if you're going this route, though; people can have startlingly high standards for people other than themselves.

Knowing what to keep and what to cut can really tighten up your timeline for the next event. Also, doing this immediately afterward will keep it fresh in your mind what you thought about the pace. Were you exhausted? More help next time. Did things have to be left out to stay on schedule? Go over your schedule to make sure you gave enough time for the most important aspects and then next time allow lesser aspects to be dropped, if need be.

...as an Attendee

This is usually where things get messy. That person who gives their R.S.V.P. as an insecure upward inflection, "Well...maybe I'll be there? And if I am? It'll be...like...30 minutes later?"

Or how about the member who counts themselves as the backbone of the event but shows up late and bustling through like a hurricane of plastic bags and unfinished sentences, "Oh my god, what a day...Everything's been so...! And I was all set, had the car packed, and that's when it happened--you'd never believe!"

Or maybe it's the one who just decides to swing by and check out what's going on, "Hey, so, did you guys get to the spellwork yet or is it still circle time? 'Cause, it'd be cool to be in on the magic but our paths are different and plus, I've got to jet out of here in 45 minutes anyways..."

Don't be that person, not for your sake or mine.

1. Ask every question you need to when you first decide to attend

Talk in depth to the person who invited you. E-mail or call the host and ask questions. Write down any you want to ask between the initial plans and the event date and contact the necessary person as soon as you can. 

Know where you need to be and when, where to park, what to bring, age ranges, limitations, rules, expectations of guests, event timeline...everything and anything you can think of. There's no such thing as being too informed.

Many events will have opportunities for unscheduled time before and after the main occasion where arriving and leaving are okay at any point. Talk to the organizers about this and find out what the window is. Ask what to do if you accidently must breech that limit.


2. Give yourself extra time for everything

Plan ahead for driving time, then add some. Plan your outfit and a backup in case something happens. Be weather-wise in case a sudden rain, snow, etc. delays you or turns an outdoor event sour. Have appropriate emergency items in your trunk.

Pack the night before. Treat this as an excursion that you want to get just right. It doesn't matter if it's only an informal gathering with people you've known for years. It's important to enjoy it--and benefit from it--to the greatest extent possible, so give planning it's due time.


3. Keep a goal in mind

Are you going mainly to make new friends? To reconnect? To find a possible teacher? To learn a new skill from a workshop or meet an influential person? Know exactly what you're seeking so that you won't squander time or miss your chance when it comes.


4. Be gentle with others

Because PST is more the norm than an occasional irritation, it's going to be widely assumed that your behavior as explained here are strange. Think ahead how you'll handle flakiness when you encounter it.

Be generous with your schedule after this event, as well. If things end on time, great! If not, know how much extra you can spare before you need to get back to your own plans.

Remember, PST is not intended to offend. Most of the time, those displaying it are good-natured but ill equipped to deal with the self regulation needed to keep things running on schedule without outside insistence. There's actually nothing wrong with that; those folks just need some support and a few extra hands to help with the work. Offer whatever assistance you can and what advice you can. If those fail you, take charge and create the structure yourself.

And also note that there's nothing aggressive about plotting the demise of PST. It may be a joke to some, but to many of us it's just a bad habit that needs to come to an end and make way for better, more productive things.

No matter which side you're on, awareness beats all.



Images from:

Amazon.com
Pinterest.com
highlandtownshiphistoricalsociety.com
kkrgowthamgudavalli.blogspot.com

Secret Writings for Spells, Magic, and Witchcraft


Oh, how I adore grimoires!  If you've been reading this blog with any regularlity, you'll know that nothing pleases me quite so much as books, and occult books are, naturally, the very apex of that love.

To wit, this week's link is nothing but grimoires and occult texts.  It's an excellent resource if you'd like to understand the classics or if you've run dry on inspiration from modern reads.

It would appear that the spicy little clove bud has a contentious following; folks seem to either love it or hate it.  Either it's a sprightly reminder of home baking, childhood security, and family togetherness or it's headaches, pungent bitterness, and nausea.

Of course, this doesn't stop that little herb from being a fantastic staple to your magical supplies.  If you are part of the die-cloves-die camp, you might be able to soften their scent--but not their influence--by tempering clove with other additions while the rest of us enjoy them straight-up!

Let's play a little make-believe.

Say you make talismans.  You've made some for friends and family, sold a few to acquaintances, but are generally unknown.  Your work is beautiful and you feel really strongly about sharing your unique take on a classic art; you just need to be where the people are.

Or maybe you design clothes.

Or you're a tea leaf reader. 

You teach witchcraft to students. 

You write magazine articles. 

You host open circle events. 

You lead social justice events. 

You lead a coven. 

You're in a band. 

These things don't have to be a money-making venture, but they're a big part of YOU.  Expressing that on a large scale is the ideal way to live the big, beautiful life of your dreams.  But first, people need to know that you exist.

• We support pop-up business
• We put money into independent ventures and small business
• Our social interactions are rarely aligned by social class, affluence, or upbringing
• Learning is our prime status symbol and authors are our celebrities

#2 Know What You Want to Gain

It's not just what they say about "getting your name out there" or spreading positive word of mouth.  The real question is "Where am I going with this?  What's my final outcome?"

In all reality, your destination is not one place but a succession of many.  For example, I write here because I love to write but also so that I can be recognized as a writer, gaining further opportunities to write for other blogs, leading to more magazine articles, to form a worthwhile author platform for my manuscripts, and to overall interact with a much larger audience than just my shop customers.  That's a bit more complex than "getting my work noticed," but it's that kind of precision that gives a plan its practical value.  I've given myself a way to know if I'm actually succeeding or not.

#3 Go All In

If you can name 3 famous occultists from any point in history, you'll understand this point perfectly.  You absolutely must give your all if you want to be remembered.  Though some of our community's characters might be less than reputable, each one knew/knows how to throw themselves into their work and the promotion thereof. 

What kind of character are you?  Embody that most magical side of yourself, that unique and vibrant persona that you just can't legitimize in your mundane world.  There's something wonderfully individual there and bringing that to your forefront can be not only creative and magical but also deeply liberating.

#4 Connect the Dots 

Don't let any of your social interactions exist as an island.  To make it work, all pieces should find their place among the whole.  Just as you are made up of many interests, talents, memories, and quirks that acquaintances may uncover at different times, so too is your witch persona discoverable in many places.  Be sure that all those places lead to one another, as well as leading back home. 

For myself, my shop, my writing, my spellcasting business, teaching, online interaction, and art have at least 2 threads apiece that tie them to me as a person.  I blog about most of them, share my blog on Facebook and Twitter, then use each of them to promote my art, which I make available online and in person. I use examples from online to illustrate points made in my classes and use student questions as the basis for some of my blog posts.  If we were to meet on the street, you wouldn't immediately know all the places my work is present, but in hearing about one, you would have information leading to the others.   

#5 Don't Stop for Anyone

The most important aspect of any success is the fortitude to persist.  Though the magical community can be a welcoming and open arena for each of us to test and refine what we bring to the world, it can also be quiet and lonely.  Don't expect a pep squad to keep you going.  Be self-driven and persevere.

This goes double for any time you come up against those who try to silence you just because they feel entitled to speak for the whole of us.  Let it be known now and forever that there is no spokesman for the occult, and no one has the right to declare one in or out of the fold. 

Keep doing your thing, keep sharing what you've got, keep shining, keep going.  Even if it's quiet, the world is listening.

Images from:

royal.pingdom.com/2012/08/21/report-social-network-demographics-in-2012/
s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/74/a4/7e/74a47e960b916ae5dbdc2b70d99b838f.jpg
aliexpress.com

pinterest.com/source/polyvore.com

Also see this perfectly timed page:
 http://www.thefrisky.com/2015-12-08/gift-guide-for-the-materialistic-social-media-witch/

"Deactivated by Etsy"

Those are some gawd-awful words, not because my world is Etsy, but because part of my work is only found there.  For many occult sellers, these words--now found on 5 of my listed items--have been the opening lines to an obituary of their public work.