Category Archives: Tee

Welcome to the Retrograde ~ Pray

Posted on by

Welcome to the Retrograde

retrogradeThe first Mercury Retrograde for 2016 happens on January 5 at  8:05 am EST  and goes direct on January 25 at  4:50 pm EST.

Well this is a fine way to start the year. However, You can make it work for you.  While we often think that this is the time where communication goes wrong (and sometimes it does), we can take this time to set a NEW habit for the rest of the year.

Whether he said it or not, these words ring very true: (thank you Tiny Buddha)

If you propose to speak, always ask yourself, is it true, is it necessary, is it kind  ~ 

Well is it?  This is way to curb those knee jerk responses and make all your avenues of communication work for you.  If you need a bit more? Here’s what I suggest:

 

  1. Get every “lucky” item you have and take them with you. Seriously. These will be what are called  “Touch pieces.”  I myself have several Mercury dimes all of them from leap years, which makes them hard to find and especially lucky.  Why the leap year? For myself, I find the day lucky and, for the calendar’s sake, a way to use up all the extra “time” bits we lose in the earth’s orbit around the sun. It’s an excellent way to store up do overs!1943D_Mercury_Dime_obverse
  2.  Another touch piece I have is a $2 bill from the US. Why? While they went out of circulation in 1966, they were reissued in 1976 – a leap year. 800px-US_$2_obverse-high
  3. Burn a reversal candle. My good friends at Kellys Kandles make GREAT ones! This is mine after SEVERAL retrogrades.  As my patron god, Lugh, is a cognate of Mercury, I always include offerings 🙂 Reversalcandle
  4.  Lastly, when you find that you’re in a really terrible place where nothing is going right? Stop. BREATHE. Go.stopbreathego

Good Luck!

RvT <3

Friday the 13th – No really, It’s a good day!

Posted on by

Friday the 13th – No really, It’s a good day!

Friday13Mar2015

Many of people suffer from Triskaidekaphobia  – a fear of Friday the 13th. Yes, it’s a real thing. There are many reasons why: the Apollo 13 launch and explosion or the arrest of the Knights Templar by Philip IV of France. Some say that the fear goes back to the former Apostle Judas – who was the 13th.   It’s true. Many hotels don’t have a 13th floor. Some parking lots have no numbered spot that has the number 13 in it. The Society of the Irish Motor Industry  even registration system of new vehicle plates adjusted in 2013. http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/2013-number-plates-to-be-changed-to-avoid-unlucky-13-26890349.html

It’s true. There have been some horrible things that have happened on Friday the 13th in history:

• Buckingham Palace was hit by five German bombs on Friday September 13 1940 with both King George VI and Queen Elizabeth coming close to being killed. One member of the royal staff died and the palace chapel was destroyed

• A Chilean Air force plane ‘disappeared’ in the Andes on Friday 13 October 1972, with 16 survivors turning up two months later. They had been forced to eat dead passengers in order to survive

• Rapper Tupac Shakur died of his wounds on Friday September 13 1996 six days after being shot multiple times in a drive-by shooting

• The Costa Concordia cruise ship ran aground on Friday 13 in January 2012 off the western coast of Italy killing 30 people

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/11990659/Friday-the-13th-How-did-it-come-about-and-why-are-we-so-scared-of-it.html

But you know what? It’s no different than any other day. Horrible things happen all the time, and every day. We as a society just choose to focus on this one day as it rarely occurs. This is one fear that I refuse to perpetuate.  Friday the 13th is my lucky day. I can’t think of a single thing that has gone wrong for me on this day (unlike Mercury retrogrades, ugh!). I got an idea. Let’s bring back the 13th Club – and this time? We make it cooler!

13thClub

The original Thirteen Club, founded by one Captain William Fowler in 1882 and had at least FIVE U.S. presidents as members. While these guys pushed the superstitions to the limit, walking under ladders and opening umbrellas indoors, we don’t have to do that! http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2015/03/13/morituri-te-salutamus/  The new 13th Club would explore superstitions from around the world. And if we can’t defeat them? We minimize them! I’m a witch after all! Who’s with me?

Posted in Tee

Honouring the Ancestors ~ Pray

Posted on by

Honouring the Ancestors

I’m one of those witches and pagans that honours her ancestors weekly.  I learn their names and their stories.  Normally, I give offerings of thanks for all that they have done for my families just by living and teaching us how to survive. This past week I did something different. I thought of all I’ve given to the ancestors for offerings. More and more, no single “thing” I gave felt like it was enough – or appropriate.  I decided to take a different approach. This past week, while I did light my candles for the ancestors, I gave no offerings. This past week I fasted for the ancestors. 10271232_10154828375530403_6032422796395863039_o To be clear, I set a time for my fasting. I had a protein shake for early breakfast and set my fast end for dinner.  As a diabetic and compulsive snacker, you can see where this would be difficult for me.   It lasted eight hours. While I stuck it out with only having water, coffee or tea, I thought of my ancestors. From both sides of my family, my ancestors were labourers, farmers, soldiers, hard workers and harder spiritual workers.  They came from not so poor families themselves. While everyone could read and write, not everyone had three meals a day, or even a bed to sleep in at night.  They worked long hours in risky places for less than optimal pay even for the times.  They served their countries and put their lives on the line for their families and friends. If they could make that sacrifice, surely I could stick out eight hours. If  you ask my friends, they may regale you with stories of the feasts that were held in my home. Food is how we celebrate life and death.  This time, I chose to recognize not just the lives of my ancestors. I recognized all they sacrificed so that I would have a better world to live in and make the world a better place for others. And so I did.  After eight hours, I had my first solid meal. It was plain food. I don’t even remember what I had. I do remember thanking all those of my blood who only had one meal a day – maybe – for all that they have done for me and for their sacrifices.

Upgrade Your Magic ~ Pray

Posted on by

In the past few years the economy has tanked, it’s true. We’ve all had to save our pennies for the really nice things we want. So why not do the same for your magic work?

Here’s the thing. The prevailing theory behind most magic is “as above so below.” The translation? “Garbage in. Garbage out.” If you can afford to get better quality of materials yet choose to go cheap? Guess what your magic results will be?

Now before everyone loses their minds, read the above again. Now read it out loud. The part that should stick out is the ” if you can afford to get better quality. ” if you’re still trying to get food on your table to feed yourself and your family? I won’t begrudge you on that point. However, if you’re shopping for a new video game or crystal? Some bling that you really don’t need to survive? Seriously, just get better spell materials.
BestBadges

I have to admit that I have an ulterior motive here, Not just for myself. Since the economic fubar in the past few years, a whole new class of artisans have emerged. From all natural candles, hand made fantastic incense, fine crafted jewelry to some great soaps and artwork are all available for you – made by people you know who understand the importance and value of good work.

Yes, it may seem expensive. Just give them your money.

So I hear some dissenters in the crowd. Ok fine. Let’s say that item A seems steep on price. Answer these questions:

  1. Can you get it anywhere else?
  2. Was it hand or machine made?
  3. Can you talk to the person who made it and look them in the eye?
  4. Can you get it customized specifically for you?
  5. Can you get all that from the $1 store?

And more importantly, will you have a better magical experience with a product that you know will work and work as intended?

Hopefully the point is clear here. Save your shekels and get the good stuff. If you’re looking for me to plug my own business, you’re out of luck. HOWEVER, Check out the Pagan Business Network to find a whole new world of great products made by great people.

Posted in Tee

Not like the others ~ Pray

Posted on by

 

Sometimes, when I’m quite tired, I admit that I’m

jealousy

I’m jealous of all those who seemingly commune with their gods,  deities and spirits – and get answers, get direction,  get a pat on the head for being a good little devotee.

See it’s not like that for me. My prayer time is more like turning in a field report and awaiting further orders.  I salute,  tell of my findings, play down the mishaps, under represent my achievements and wait to get sent off on another adventure.

For a long time I wanted to be like my peers, the ones who told of magical journeys to the Other World  there the deity of their choice bestows some awesome spiritual gift upon them.

Yeah, my reality is nothing like that.The Flash of Lightning and the Fiery Arrow are hands off most of the time. But when my patron do deities call?  Well, you know how your parent, partner or guardian calls you by ALL of your names?

hide
You stand still hoping that a building doesn’t fall on you as you frantically search for a place to hide. Yeah. That feeling.  I know I’m *usually* not in trouble but I get nervous nonetheless.

 

Lugh decided He wanted an online shrine. THEN gave me something else to effectively keep me away from it.  Did I mention that  the something else was to expand my skills so much that I didn’t realize just how much I  can do?  (I can send you a resume if you’re interested in the craziness. It’s only good for a day or two.) When the bouts of crippling self doubt hit,  my reward is a burst of brain only power for learning a new cool skill that I’m more suited for.  Talk about never ending homework. I usually don’t find out until months or years later that the “thing” Lugh wanted me to do is needed at a certain place and time. You guessed it, I’m the one with either the answer, the skill or the knowledge to say “yeah you really don’t want to do that….”

Brighid reminded that, while she was the daughter of a wealthy and influential family, She *really* dislikes non functional tools.  That’s why I now wear a two pound hammer instead of an athame.  While she’s not that keen on Lugh,  she (and my mentor) led me to not even bother with a boline. I now carry a cobbler’s very pointy awl.
Hammer and Awl
Where do I even start with the Ancestors?  I acquired a railroad spike – a symbol of many things not only for my African American ancestors but all who traveled to new places to rebuild their lives.

The spike is made of iron. As I have learned while I work through the Iron Pentacle, iron is my birthright.  It is in my blood. It’s of the stars the earth my ancestors and all that is. Anchored by the past, rooted in the present and reaching for the future  I am whole. Forged in the fire, I am the flame than no one shall quench. Though this spike is small,  it is important.  For one loose spike can unsettle or derail an entire train.

And for all of that?  The potential builds quietly, waiting for the call – the next set of orders.  The hammer is clean. The awl is sharpened. The spike is oiled.  I’m given smaller tasks to fulfill and magick to make. No epic journeys,  no deity manifestations. Just the occasional  healing candle, tarot reading or house spirit fight to break up.

I don’t flame tend or well watch for Brighid.  My poetry isn’t that great and I don’t make mead. I don’t speak Gaelic for Lugh. My chess game is terrible. I don’t own a kilt, though I want one badly. I don’t have tattoos in ogham and can barely pick out words in it.  Hell, I’m not even a natural red head.  (Looks the mirror) Nope. Still not a ginger!
 

I am not like the others.  I don’t fit neatly into the crowd. As an African American (with First Nations heritage), I stand out in a crowd of Celts.  I’m a little jealous of all those who either look like their gods or have shared ancestry. And the ones who look like they stepped right out of a fairy tale! Yeah I’m talking about you mythic Valkyries, warriors and oracles. (sigh). That’s not me.
 Standing Out
If you’re looking for me, check for the brown skirt, red boots and the tool belt. Yup, there I am: in the back with my non Celtic djembe, singing new words to old gospel hymns. I’m there on the outskirts, working candle magic and sigils that don’t look like the ones in the books. I’m over on the side scribbling notes as I find new roots to work with and create new spells.

 

To be clear,  I am not bored – at all. I’m way too busy to be bored. Just a little jealous.  Then again, I’m quite tired right now. I’m sure I’ll be busy with fresh orders,  inspiration and new magic in the morning.
Posted in Tee