Coffee, Chaos and Cuss Words

Picture credit to: tilt.library.skagit.edu Friends, I have recently been made aware of a pretty severe case of Plagiarism within the Pagan/Wiccan community by Edward Menton aka DAW. This goes far beyond just sharing pictures we find on the internet. I often share pictures I have found on the 'net, most often with their source links showing clearly in the pictures. Sometimes they are public domain or free share pictures. Very often, for pieces of art and photography, I try very hard to find who the artist is when I share something on my Facebook page (not always possible if not signed). For visual images, it is pretty clear to me what is not mine and I want others to know where the image came from to give that person due credit. What has come to light recently has been the theft of Intellectual Property. This is where someone can take the words, ideas, and thoughts that someone has put down and claim them as their own. I'd always been aware of plagiarism in school...when student...

 **Again I am very HONORED to be a contributor to Kallan Kennedy's amazing blog- Please follow the link below and check out all of the fabulous chefs to this week's wonderful Sunday Stew!! The Secret Life of the American Witch! As a fallible human being, I certainly have made my share of mistakes that have been driven by pride and my own unchecked ego. When it comes to my spiritual practices, I have worked very hard to make sure this is not so.  I have always tried to be a good student; I ask questions, I practice, I read, I defer to those who have more knowledge and experience, and have shown respect to those who claim such by ‘title’. One of the first teachings I received when I began my stroll down the Pagan path was, “No matter who it is, no matter what they do, no matter what they tell you, NEVER check your brain at the door.”  I found that to be sound advice, but not all the teachers I would meet in the future would agree. It became harder to discern what teachings ...

*Once again I am proud to say that this blurp is part of Kallan Kennedy's fabulous Sunday Stew. Please follow the link below and check out the entire blog! Nourish your spirit with all the wit and wisdom from all of the fabulous chefs who are a part of it! The Secret Life of the American Witch! “Let not death, nor the graveyard, overcome you with fear, for every see buried in its cold ground, resurrects forth anew, into a blossomed life.”  -Anthony Liccione Shadows define us. They create boundaries that help us understand our place in this world and the next. In psychological terms, the Shadow is the entirety of the unconscious aspects of the self; often deemed as positive (light) and/or negative (dark). Spiritual or paranormal ‘Shadows’ are the souls, energies or apparitions of spirits that linger or travel between the worlds-both separate and part of time itself. We’ve often heard of them through myths, folklore, or just good old fashioned ghost stories.   As the Wheel of th...

I'm thinking this day of hands... Hands held in comfort, in companionship, in love... Hands joined in greeting, in ritual, in prayer... Hands grasping against fear, against desperation, against loneliness... Hands firmly held to build confidence, unity, and energy... Hands gently stroked in affection, in acknowledgment, as a promise... The power of hands clasped together is something people often don't understand. We can know much about ourselves and others simply by shaking hands. That first impression and energy transference is powerful indeed. And even in an age where sex has become so prevalent, holding hands with someone is still an incredibly intimate gesture that really means something special. I remember being a single girl and being envious when I would see people walking hand in hand past me. Many years later, when my husband had asked me to marry him-I had two conditions. Number One-he would always give me kisses and other little 'public displays of affection...

*This blurp is also part of my contribution this week to Kallan Kennedy's wonderful blog- The Secret Life of the American Witch!   Please go check out the blog and visit with all the wonderful chefs who contribute to the Sunday Stew! Why does it seem to take a traumatic event to make us learn some of life’s most important lessons? And even with a major life-changing event, we often fail to notice the blessings or opportunities that arise afterward right in front of us. There is a usually a very perceptible energy shift to grab our attention. Like noticing a draft in the house when a window has been opened…that energy touches us to draw our minds to directions and paths that have been placed before us. These lessons are not always gentle, for some we have failed to act on or recognize for many years. When we fail to act on our own behalf, or when a situation absolutely MUST be changed, something big will happen. Just like when the tectonic plates have built up enough friction pushin...

Samhain's Sirens: It's a Celebration- all because of you!! : You heard the Sirens' Call and responded. On Sunday, we posted that we'd been sabotaged and had lost our Facebook page. You, t...

This is a giveaway not to be missed! 6 different and supremely wonderful prizes! Please check out Samhain's Sirens...the fun is just getting started! Samhain's Sirens: It's a Celebration- all because of you!! : You heard the Sirens' Call and responded. On Sunday, we posted that we'd been sabotaged and had lost our Facebook page. You, t...