Monthly Archives: October 2008

Dark Lightning

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I’ve disliked my tradition’s Samhain ritual for years. YEARS. Its got a vaguely condescending tone to large swathes of it, it doesn’t show so much as TELL, there are bits that don’t align with anything else in our mythos, and — worst of all — it is incredibly wordy. (Less of a problem in person, but online — deadly!)

Since last year, yes a full year, I’ve had it on my ‘to do’ list to rewwrite the Samhain ritual. Let me just point out that I am not a procrastinator. But I am at the mercy of the Muse and although I tried to tackle this task a number of times throughout the year, I failed. I had conversations with various people. I researched alternate styles and methodlogies and mythos’.

I failed.

Today, at 1:30 — a mere five hours before we were to gather in preparation for the ritual — the Muse came to visit. Two hours later I had a completely redone ritual. Completely.

And you know what? Its damn good. (and I don’t say that lightly.)

Many blessings, Muse. Many thanks.

My Johari Window

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The Johari Window was invented by Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham in the 1950s as a model for mapping personality awareness. By describing yourself from a fixed list of adjectives, then asking your friends and colleagues to describe you from the same list, a grid of overlap and difference can be built up.

Which words do you associate with me? http://kevan.org/johari?name=Lisa+Mc+Sherry

I’m interested for a variety of reasons — and you know I can take criticism. I promise I’ll share the results (presuming more than five people reply 🙂 otherwise it isn’t terribly valid.)

Samhain: Season of the Witch

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The Season of the Witch – what on earth does that mean? Traditionally, Samhain (pronounced SOW-in or SOW-aine and which non-Pagans call Halloween) is the celebration of the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. The word comes to us from Old Irish word for the month beginning on November 1. The feast celebrates the end of the harvest – a huge effort for agricultural communities as they rushed to gather the grain and fruit (August and September) and then slaughter the meat needed for the harsh winter months (October). Once that was over, they could rest and throw a party.

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Strength, Preparation, and Muay Thai

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(this is sparked by a colleague’s LJ post — it’s locked, or I would share).

I think just about everyone should take classes in Muay Thai — particularly anyone who believes they are weak, or helpless. MT is a dynamic, strength-building, flexibility-enhancing sport that builds mental and physical capability. Participants end up with the cardio workout of an aerobics or high-energy dance class and the strength-building of lifting weights. Moreover, you learn what fighting feels like in a safe environment. Bruised knuckles, aching jaw, sore elbows, and aching muscles all over — sounds like a typical post-MT feeling, even if you’re using pads and protection. It just happens.

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10 Commandments: My Version

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ysabetwordsmith posted (from another LJ) the “10 commandments of Coyote” and I found them amusing. They inspired me to do the following:

1. I am the Divine; by whatever name you shall call Me, I AM

2. Worship Me, not My image.

3. My name — any one of them — is Sacred; to speak it is to invoke Me.

4. Keep the holy days in ways that are pleasing to Me.

5. Honor those who raised you.

6. Take not the life of a sentient being.

7. Engage only in consensual adult sexual pleasures.

8. Take not another’s earnings.

9. Do not lie.

10. Eschew envy.

Democrats v Republicans: Do the Math

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This article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/31/business/31view.html?_r=2&em&oref=slogin&oref=slogin does a very good job of breaking down the presidential candidates economic policies.

But this post (http://yaforobama.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2246335%3ABlogPost%3A8502) from Scott Westerfield walks the reader through the economic history of Republicans and Democrats.

Its hard to imagine the difference being this easily seen, but it is.

Theme Changes

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I know at least some of you are near-daily readers, and I apologize for the recent theme changes. Its just that I like to change themes seasonally. This time I ran into a hassle with the chosen theme (the autumn leaves against a blue sky) was missing a line of code or somesuch that I needed to run a specific script. It’s been a-heck-annoying.

So now you know. This theme will (as you may have guessed) stay up through early November.

“Don’t Pay Your Mortgage”

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This is the best answer for the average person? Sure, your credit rating might be hurt, but you’ll save $1000s and get treated like a rich person by politicians.

Why do I think this? Today’s thought-provoking blog post at wisebread, which relates to an article by Peter Schiff at the San Diego Union-Tribune saying just that.

“Nobody likes foreclosure, least of all politicians. The new law clearly indicates that the government will make major efforts to reduce foreclosures through “term extensions, rate reductions and principal write-downs” of the troubled mortgages that it buys from the private sector. In other words, your new landlord will bend over backward to keep you in your home. The legislation telegraphs this by including a provision that extends until 2013 the exclusion of loan reductions from taxable income. “