The Good Kind of Lazy ~ Train

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My name is Terrie Brookins. I am what you would call an efficient and perfectionist witch. What does that mean in plain English? I’m lazy.
Enjoying The Sun
If I can do something right once and not have to worry about it again? You bet your broom I’m going to do it. What’s more? If you push energetically in just the right place, all that you need to happen will fall together on their own. That’s why I love the small works of magic.
Now when I say small, I mean in it in the context or complexity.  Candle magic is my favorite. One simple flame and a heartfelt prayer can work wonders. Stone and crystal work is great for me as well. Simple magickal support, even just a teeny push in small amounts, can bring about a mountains of change. It’s all about realizing exactly how magic works as a witch.
Let’s face it. This ain’t Hogwart’s. As much as I’d love to wave my wand and make feathers dance, it ain’t happening. The magick I wield is passive at most, and when overt? It usually moves by the path of least resistance and finding a way through all available paths.   That is to say, it finds the place to give the smallest push to enact the greatest change. One simple wish upon a star, offering to deity or salt over the left shoulder has the potential to work marvels. We all know that that’s the simple way of saying things. I have indeed done my homework on this.
To do these small works of magick requires a larger frame of thought. That frame of thought means looking at any situation in as many different ways as possible.  If I want to removed a dangerous building or structure, do I enchant bulldozers ? Glamour the construction workers?  Or can I plant the idea for a new building in mind of someone who works for the county or a building firm by talking about something new with anyone in their company?   Makes you think doesn’t it? For most people, it gives them a headache.
The headache comes from a high pitched whistling sound. That sound is the air escaping an inflated ego. Can’t have a big head, chip on your should OR let you greed or runaway emotions rule you. Just because you’re angry doesn’t mean you should perform that revenge or hex work.  Wait a day, or a week until you’ve got a clear head and clearer resolve. Sure make your plan, get your ingredients together. Then, in the morning? Decide if the work is really worth the work. Yes, even the small work. And let’s face it, us magic users have an arsenal of deliciously naughty curses for every occasion!
Yes, they are small work too 🙂
So ask you witches and magicians, light and shadow workers, what’s your small work?

God Hopping & Spell Casting ~ Pray

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In my first decade as a witch, I’ve seen some things.  Some of it blows my mind. Here’s one:
Many pagans, young and old, of all cultures have patron deities, the one or two gods that they feel shapes their spiritual and mundane lives.  I, too, have patron deities that I  am devoted to solely.
Now this is where I start scratching my head.
Few pagans of any flavor have gone without casting a spell of some kind – hex, blessing or curse.  Every one of us has been in a spot where we have to use our gifts to enact change on some level. However many wiccan/witchy spells from a myriad of sources (cough *the internets * cough) have the practitioner working with gods they don’t normally petition or have a mutual relationship of any sort. Candle
Umm what?
If you need to ask a favor, do you call on your family and friends? People who know you and can trust you? Or do you ask a celebrity that doesn’t know you from a hole in the ground?  Yes, yes, I’m sure the “Love and Light” brigade will take me to task for this. However, not everything is love and light when it comes to our deities and everyday life.
I am sure that a spell for love would work great by calling on the the great goddess Aphrodite. Since I don’t work with Her, what is Her incentive to answer my plea? Some offering that was dictated in a book and put out only a payment of services rendered?  Yeah – NO.
The real lesson here? If your spells aren’t working, there’s a reason. Do you have a relationship with the gods or spirits you call on? If not? Well there’s your sign to start again.  Develop some kind of relationship with the deity you’re calling on or don’t call on them at all.
What about  your own deities? Why can’t your own guides help? These are some great questions that you can answer. What are you experiences?
Rev. Terrie

May you never hunger – Pray ~ Train

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When I was young, foolish and freshly married the first time, I experienced something I thought I would never know.  I went hungry.

Granted, it was only about a week. However, those seven days of nothing have stuck with me forever. No one should ever have to go hungry.

I remember being a kid at about ten years old where I started the growth spurts. I ate everything that wasn’t nailed down. I remember my father saying that as long as I ate something he didn’t care.   My mom was silently furious. I’m pretty sure I ate some things she was saving for herself. Sorry Mom!

Yet with the background from my parents: my mother: the first of eight siblings, my father: growing up with Rickett’s and having a sibling die of malnutrition, I am extremely spoiled when it came to food. My parents were on the stricter side and fair. I ate was what provided or I didn’t eat at all. And they always provided for me.  The feeling stuck.

That gnawing in my belly. That burning anger that I couldn’t assign a reason to besides privilege. The frustration as I saw many people tossing out food that was still good if prepared properly.  Never again.

I found myself at my church. They had a food bank. I had no idea how to even ask for something to eat. Eyes down and shaking, I remember just standing next to Ms. Norma, the food bank worker. Ashamed, I couldn’t even ask her. She took pity on me. She filled out the forms for me, made me sign at the bottom and handed me a box of food.

donationbox

That was the best damn tuna sandwich I’ve ever had in my life.

I spent the next few months working at that food bank and with my church. No one knew it then, but I was determined to earn every morsel of food I put in my mouth. I smiled warmly to everyone who came in to get a box. I helped them with the forms. I knew what it was like.

Now I am older, still foolish and married for the second time.  I struggle with my weight. Why? Because I know that there are people out there hungry – more than I was all that time ago. Some days I don’t eat. Some days I can’t eat. Most days I force myself to eat. I have to honor my body and the gift that Ms. Norma gave me all that time ago.  I can do more.

Here are some facts about hunger in Canada:

“Each month, close to 850,000 Canadians are assisted by food banks, and 36.4% of those helped are children and youth. … Who is turning to food banks?  There is no single, typical profile.  The people helped include families with children, employed people whose wages are not sufficient to cover basic living essentials, individuals on social assistance, and Canadians living on a fixed income, including people with disabilities and seniors.”

http://www.foodbankscanada.ca/Learn-About-Hunger/About-Hunger-in-Canada.aspx

That not clear enough for you? How about a picture? HungerCount Infographic 2014:

http://www.foodbankscanada.ca/hungercount

http://www.foodbankscanada.ca/hungercount

That’s right.  Your next-door neighbours could have enough to pay the bills – but not eat. More than likely, you’ll never know about it.  Here’s how you can help:

Support your local food bank.

Here are some of the items that are always needed:

  1. Pasta (canned or dry) and pasta sauces.
  2. Canned and frozen meats and fish
  3. Meat alternatives (peanut butter, soy, assorted nuts)
  4. Canned goods (beans, soups, and stews)
  5. Dairy (fresh, canned, and powdered milk)
  6. Canned vegetables and fruit
  7. Whole grain cereals
  8. Infant foods and baby formula
  9. Bathroom tissue and diapers
  10. Personal hygiene products

Moreover, if you are one of the invisible many who are struggling to put food on the table AND a roof overhead, USE THE FOOD BANK.

Here are the food banks that I know of:

* Brock Community Food Bank – 1-877-406-8723
* Beaverton – 1-877-406-8723
* Cannington/Sunderland – 1-877-406-8723

Clarington East:

* Newcastle – 905-987-1418
* Loaves and Fishes–Uxbridge – 905-852-6262
* Operation Scugog – 905-985-7271

* Salvation Army:
Ajax – 905-427-7123
Bowmanville – 905-623-2185
Oshawa – 905-723-7422
Whitby – 905-430-3454

* Seventh Day Adventists–Oshawa – 905-433-8800
* Simcoe Hall Settlement House–Oshawa – 905-728-7525
* St Paul’s on the Hill–Pickering – 905-839-9537

I know the shame.  I know the frustration.  I know the fear of stigmatization. My friends, you can fight all of that better of a full stomach. If you can’t seem to get to the bank. PLEASE reach out to your friends. We’ll help as best we can!

Blessings

Rev. Terrie

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In Defense of Print ~ Train

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I just dropped about $40 on my favorite magazines – and I couldn’t be happier. Magazines

I couldn’t do it anymore. I’ve been using my Kobo and Kindle to combat the tough economy and still support my favorite authors.  I’m uncomfortable when I look at my credit card statement that lists how many books and magazines I’ve purchased – and not read.  Why? The temptation of the screen is too much.

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It’s a SMALL world ~ Pray

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I often joke about having a class or series of posts about things the books don’t teach you about being pagan. Here’s one of those gems.

Your pagan community is actually small. Really really small.

Small World

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forget the distance on a map or the number of members in a group. It’s all the active members, you know, the 15 people who do everything, that make up your community. Guess what? They know everything and possess extremely long memories.  Know what else? They know key members in other pagan communities across the globe. See where I’m going with this?

The caveat is here: When working on any project or within any group, you really should be on your best behaviour. The people you work with in mundane tasks and magic ones will remember every transgression, lie, and episode of rude behaviour you’ve ever done. More than likely they’ll never say a word to you directly. However, you’ll find that you don’t get invited to parties or events any more and possibly shunned at public events.

Oh, and saying “Blessings” or “Namaste” after every message doesn’t get you points either.

Just do good work, say good words and make good magic!

Rev. Terrie