Ramblings on books

This is a good card for today! I am using my new Mac Mini and it's all certainly a mystery to me. There have been a few surprises. First, it's not lightning fast -- though to be fair I bought the lowest spec machine. Second, even though it was meant to be plug and play, I have had to buy a new monitor and a cable to get the thing to work, so that's an extra £140 I wasn't expecting to spend. I also thought all those Windows updates would be a thing of the past, and I guess they are -- but since turning it on last night, I've had two rather lengthy 'update' sessions for software on this computer, so it seems like six of one and half a dozen of the other! And finally, I have no idea about firewalls or anti-virus protection and if I need to install something. I assume I do, but I forgot to ask about it in the shop and the guys there never mentioned it. They did say I have two weeks to decide to take it back, so there is the grace period. But maybe in two weeks I will be used to it all.

Now, what have we here on this card? We've got a hare and the full moon. The hare I presume is meant to be leaping over a stream, though it looks more to me like a white fur carpet runner. He's in a grove of oak trees in the fall. An owl watches the scene, and in the corner, some of those fairy mushrooms with red caps and white dots on them so beloved of children's drawings. The keyword is 'Timing'.

"When Moon appears, it indicates that timing is important to consider," says the companion book. "Everything has its moment of greatest potency and expression. What has been hidden from you will soon be revealed, as you let things flow without obstruction...You carry hidden treasures and potentials, which can be effectively explored at the moment. Plant seeds for a bright future and plan ahead."

Well, let's take stock. I'm still waiting for my pack from OBOD. I know they've received payment because my bank statement reflects it. I do hope it comes soon. I've also been reading Witchcraft for Tomorrow by Doreen Valiente and A Witches' Bible by Janet and Stewart Farrar. I'm doing a lot of exploring of old school thought lately. It's like a stock take. The last time I did was in 2010. It's really interesting to look back on the notes I took then and compare to where I am now. Some things I embraced or rejected outright back then are quite opposite now. I guess that is to be expected.

Something I'm finding really interesting in A Witches' Bible is the chapter called 'The Rest of the Book of Shadows', which gives the non-ritual passages of Gardner's Book of Shadows, along with commentary on it from Doreen Valiente and Janet and Stewart Farrar. It presents you with the chance to examine Gardner's notes and practice, read the thoughts of some of the most influential people in the modern pagan witchcraft movement, and formulate your own responses. It's a lot more useful than some fluffy 'witchcraft 101' book that just gives you a bunch of rigamarole like 'burn a pink candle to attract new love'.

Speaking of moon, it's a full moon on Wednesday, the first full moon after Samhain. It seems like an auspicious time for rededication.

Shielding and Opening Up

The Wicca Deck by Sally Morningstar 

I've been thinking a lot about my spiritual practice lately, and so I decided to draw from The Wicca Deck by Sally Morningstar. I've drawn Black Cat, which denotes psychism, clairvoyance and psychic protection. 'Energies around you can guide you to great clarity,' it says, but also, 'watch those within your circle of aquaintances, as someone may not have your best interests at heart. Increase your psychic protection and withdraw your energy.'

Yesterday a mini-cyber-saga played out that reminds why I am solitary. I joined an online circle, which shall remain nameless. I was questioned before allowed to enter, and then when I got in there I saw that the circle claimed to be a 'tradition' I'd never heard of, and I have actually read rather widely. I'll call it the Ralphian tradition. Turns out that it's named after Ralph Jones (not a real name) who lives in Podunk State (not a real state) and has proclaimed himself the 'Witch King' (that is the real title). The photo I found showed a person of such youth that this 'tradition' can't be of very long standing. This sort of thing makes me squint and scoff, but I thought, what the hell, let's see what this place is all about. I decided to post an announcement that a Doreen Valiente museum is opening in Brighton next year, as surely a group that calls itself Wiccan (even if of the 'Ralphian tradition') would be interested in that. A moderator made vague comments suggesting I read the rules. She referenced one of them.  I had read them. I went and read them again. I asked her how this contravenes a rule. She didn't tell me. I said, 'Are you going to tell me what I've done?' Another member of the group started guessing what I may have done, and I thought, you know what, sod this. I've been in this group 2 minutes and I'm already breaking their rules. Plus I've looked at Ralph's rituals and he thinks there's a 'vale between the world' at Samhain. Learn to spell, mate. So I left. One day in a group, I felt burdened. As soon as I left it, I fell relieved. Some of us just don't belong in a group, and that's okay! (Well certainly not that one in any case!)

Wondering what I might need to shield from, I drew three playing cards:

White Knuckle Playing Cards 

At the most basic level, Spade - Diamond - Spade denotes 'a troubled purse'.  Looked at individually, 2 of Spades is exchange and trouble, ie, arguing. 4 of Spades is stability of trouble, ie, par for the course! Now to the middle card, 5 of Diamonds is body/health and means to ends, ie, what is profitable for me personally. I need to psychically shield from anything that troubles or upsets me or has had a history of doing so. Now's not the time for that sort of challenge. Well, obviously. (I might also need to take this quite literally and be careful of my finances.)

So what sort of challenge is it the time for?

White Knuckle Playing Cards

Ah! Hearts - Clubs - Hearts = expending energy on passions. The 8 of Hearts shows thinking a lot about what we love, 5 of Clubs shows hard work in the physical realm, the 4 of Hearts is emotional stability. I'm almost certain I know what this is pointing to. Yesterday I decided to send off for the introductory pack of OBOD. Druidry has plonked itself into my path over and over of late. It started around the same time I started seeing 11:11 everywhere, as it happens. Then at Witchfest on Saturday, Druidry caught my eyes and ears again. The phrase 'people of the sun' has been making itself known to me a lot lately. I visited the website and this cinched it:

Ronald Hutton, Professor of History at the University of Bristol, says in his book The Druids:

"The OBOD correspondence course arguably represents one of the major documents of British spirituality from the late twentieth century."

I felt like it was another sign, because Ronald Hutton is a person who I esteem very, very highly. I think exciting times are ahead!