On All Saints’ Day About All Souls’ Day, aka Dia de los Muertos

I hope you all are still enjoying the season of the dead with the cacophonous cawing of crows, the raucous ravenings of ravens, the misty mornings, the bright orange pumpkins on doorsteps, the turning of the leaves, the smell of woodsmoke in the air (which may be fainter this season due to burning restrictions), the angle of the autumn sun, the “falling back” today, which hopefully translated into more relaxation for you.

Today is All Saints’ Day, known officially as the Solemnity of All Saints, often referred to as All Hallows or Hallowmas. For many, Halloween is the big holiday, but in many parts of the world, Halloween is not celebrated much at all and the focus is on All Saints’ Day, followed by All Souls’ Day, November 2. In areas with a heavy Latin American population, tomorrow is known as Day of the Dead (El Dia de los Muertos or Dia de los Difuntos). It’s also celebrated in Brazil, the Phillippines, certain European countries and the African diaspora.

Caucasians in the U.S. have been picking up on this holiday, as it’s filled with colorful folk art, ancient customs with syncretized Christianity and Indian pagan customs featuring offerings to the dead, ceremonies at graveyards, family get-togethers and altars built to honor the dead. It is often celebrated  in homes and neighborhoods, in communities of Latinos.They offer pan de muerto, sugar skulls, ceramic skulls, statues of Catrina (based on an old zinc etching by printmaker Jose Guadalupe Posada) and Frida, skeletons of pets as well as people, flowers- namely marigolds, liquor, gourds, or the favorite meals of the deceased.

It’s not often shared with Caucasians unless Caucasians create the celebration themselves, participate in a large scale celebration, such as those held in Los Angeles, San Jose or San Francisco.

It is a holiday that is easily appropriated and misunderstood, even though the reality is that one doesn’t have to be Latino to understand it. Its Catholic roots are strong and I recall much of what I learned in Catholic school about it. Many Catholics quietly attend Mass, remembering their loved ones in prayers and candle lightings. But currently, non-Catholics who are interested in celebrating the dead are much more focused on the colorful Mexican celebrations, not the more somber-seeming, strictly Catholic ones.

We can watch videos such as these on youtube.com to get a sense of what it’s all about, experience the incredibly sensuous beauty of the ofrendas, the food, the pictures, the art. The Latinos who participate in El Dia de los Muertos, whether at church, in their home by building an ofrenda (altar) for offerings or with their community, don’t pay attention to what us gringos do. They politely tolerate us, for the most part. For one day of the year, many Americans want what the Mexicans have: an intact, living tradition that is beautiful, creative, loving, powerful, expressive, communal and ancient. The rest of the year, most Americans lacking in Latino roots couldn’t care less about Latino traditions. So if you’re lucky enough to be included in celebrating El Dia de los Muertos, show your respect and appreciation – learn a little bit ahead of time, ask questions and don’t behave as if it’s there for your entertainment or edification, because it’s not.  Remember that November 2 is to celebrate both life and death, which is something we can all appreciate.

The Season of the Witch

A witch riding a black dog from the 1926 book La Vie Execrable de Guillemette Babin by M.Carron. (FORTEAN PICTURE LIBRARY)

This time of year, the Season of the Witch, stands on its own. It’s an amplified view of both Halloween and Samhain, our imaginations, our histories and our desires – especially for women. Witches, be they old and ugly, young and lovely, dark or fair are always powerful, mysterious, often with a foot in this world and the otherworld or the underworld. I think that The High Priestess card from The Tarot of the Witches by Stuart R. Kaplan is a very evocative image:

The High Priestess, Tarot of the Witches

She’s calm, confident, arrayed with mysterious symbols and a cat that might be her familiar.  This next image, showing the witch at her cauldron with her cat watching her back, is what first caught my attention as a child to the Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards:

These images arouse interest in us, a desire to know what the witch knows, to share her power and her confidence. And we live in an era where studying witchcraft is acceptable, as the history has been reclaimed. Many say its history has been revised inaccurately and I do agree that many, many errors were made in the recent retelling of the history of European witchcraft. It behooves women involved with Goddess worship and the study of witchcraft to update themselves with the more accurate knowledge, to lay to rest to modern myths about witchcraft, such as: 9 million died during The Burning Times, that all witches were good, that only Wiccans are witches, indeed, that the terms Wiccan and witch are synonymous, that one must be Pagan to be a witch.

And finally,  those of us who identify comfortably, even proudly, as witches, we need to acknowledge and accept that it is a term that is not a good one in many, many cultures, even in the U.S.  Instead of resisting this truth, or trying to change it, we must look at the wisdom in understanding and accepting that the term witch hasn’t been reclaimed or revised in many cultures, cultures which are older than our Pagan subculture, that have established spiritual traditions and that they are not wrong for the word witch having negative connotations. It just is what it is and I respect this.

When I am with other women who are healers and spellcasters, women who are ok with the word witch, I use the term. We have an unspoken agreement that the word is one of power and knowledge, of respect and wisdom. But when we use it with outsiders, counting on the shock value to teach them that the word is ok, that it’s been reclaimed to connote something powerful and good, the shock value may only be that, having lost its important meaning. This is because those who may not accept the word as something good, or want to associate themselves with it, even if they have practices and beliefs similar to ours, may come from a culture or tradition that uses the word witch to define a practitioner who works against what is good, which is likely to be taboo in their culture. Trying to insist that these folks are wrong and our definition is right is a mistake, in my opinion. I also think it is ethnocentric and smacks of entitlement that is disrespectful of others. We are what we are and we can call ourselves whatever we wish, but that also means being responsible for shocking or inciting others when we deliberately choose to use provocative words, then expect them to agree with that usage.

I prefer the freedom of using the term witch for myself and others like me who are comfortable with the word. I don’t need to force others to accept my point of view, or to use a term that makes them uncomfortable. I find this to be a very witchy, powerful and wise perspective because I respect the point of view of others without having to give up my own self-definition. This is where I think of these very potent words come in, attributed to The Four Powers of the Sphinx, an element of Thelemic instruction and symbolism:

To Know, To Dare, To Will, and To Be Silent

Ok, on with The Season of the Witch! It’s the title of a wonderful song and a wonderfully mysterious book by Natasha Mostert. Here’s the info about the book, from Publishers Weekly:
“This spellbinding tale of magic and seduction from Mostert (Windwalker) shows that the unfettered pursuit of arcane enlightenment can sometimes come at too high a price. William Whittington, a terminally ill London investment banker, hires Gabriel Blackstone, a rakish information broker, to find Robert, his missing 21-year-old son. Whittington’s wife, who happens to be Blackstone’s ex-girlfriend, knows Blackstone once belonged to an organization, Eyestorm, that used psychic methods to find missing objects and persons. When Blackstone draws on his remote viewing powers (“slamming the ride”), he discovers that Robert was murdered by one of two sisters—raven-haired Morrighan or flame-haired Minnaloushe Monk, direct descendants of Elizabethan occultist John Dee, who dabble in alchemy and the “Art of Memory.” As Blackstone woos the suspects to discover which one is guilty, he falls desperately in love.” (Apr.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Check it out – I was completely enchanted and disturbed by it – feelings for me that are what this season is all about!

As for the song by Donovan, more than 40 years later, it can still enchant and charm. Numerous bands have recorded it, from Hole’s version, to Julie Driscoll’s 1968 one, both available on Youtube.com. Here are the fun lyrics:

Season of the Witch

When I looked out my window
Many sights to see
And when I looded in my window
So many different people to be
That is strange, so strange
You got to pick out every stitch
Must be the season of the witch

When I looked over my shoulder
What do you think I see
Summer cat looking over
It shoulder at me
Any strange, sure is strange
You got to pick out every stitch
Beat me its eye to make it rich oh no
Must be the season of the witch

You got to pick out every stitch
The rabbit’s running in the ditch
Beat me its eye to make it rich oh no
Must be the season of the witch
When I go

When I looked out my window
What do you think I see
And when I looked in my window
So many different people to be
It’s strange, sure is strange
You got to pick out every stitch
The rabbit’s running in the ditch oh no
Must be the season of the witch
When I go, when I go

by Donovan Leitch

It’s also the title of a film coming out next Spring, starring Nicolas Cage and Claire Foy, about a young woman in the 14th century accused of starting the black plague. The Church commands Cage and his sidekick to transport the accused witch to a remote abbey so that the monks there can perform a ritual in hopes of ending the pestilence.

There is also, of course, the cult classic “Hungry Wives” which is also called “Season of the Witch” by George Romero. It’s a 1971 film that I saw years ago as a re-release, and it’s not very good. It’s about a well-off suburban white housewife, bored out of her skull, who gets involved in witchcraft, with tragic results and no cure for her loneliness. I don’t fully recommend it, but if it’s easy to get your hands on a copy, you might want to check it out for it being a slice of occult life a la the early 70s, when witchcraft was a big trend.

If like me, you want to relish every stitch of The Season of the Witch, I suggest starting the first or second week of October and then shifting into Thanksgiving mode about a week after Halloween. That way, you can include Dia de los Muertos, All Souls’ and All Saints’ Days, costume parties, trick or treaters, solitary or group time for reflection, and many ways to honor your ancestors if you so choose. Please remember that while this time of the year is special to us who identify as witches, it’s also special to many who are of other faiths and traditions. That is a large part of why this time of year is so potent!

Wookey Hole Witch Icon

Pre-Halloween

Beware! Halloween is coming!

Do you like Halloween? The decorations, the excitement in the air, no pretense of it being the season of giving, no need to make resolutions or give anything up? Do you love the kids’ stories, the scary films, the selection of candy, deciding on a costume, what events to attend? Do you carve pumpkins or leave them whole?

Candy Corn

Do you have kids and therefore have to help them with costumes, take them to parties, trick-or-treating or school events? Well, I love almost everything about Halloween, from the books for kids to homemade-rather-than-store bought costumes, seeing peoples’ yards decorated and deciding what I am going to do during this season.

I understand that most of us Neo-Pagans call it Samhain, which is generally a more somber time of honoring our ancestors. In some ways, it’s like Dia de los Muertos, with the emphasis on our beloved dead. I prefer to celebrate both. I don’t like to lecture non-Pagans about it really being Samhain, because for them, it’s not. It’s Halloween. Not everyone welcomes repackaged information from the days of old being shoved down their throats. I am used to celebrating both, in a manner of speaking, after being raised Catholic and obseving All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day as well as Halloween. It makes sense that those who feel a desire to connect this time of the year to religious or spiritual beliefs can do so and that those who don’t have that connection can celebrate the darkening of the year, this time of acknowledging the underworld and our shadow selves.

Black Cat Handbag, from Archie McPhee

Decorations and costumes to be ugly or scary, precious or lovely. We can connect with our shadow selves in a commercial way or in a manner that is deeply personal and reflective. We can honor our dead while celebrating being alive with parties, treats, companionship and costumes. While we can read about ghosts, goblins, ghouls and other-worldly creatures, black cats, werewolves and vampires year round, during the season of Halloween they are our honored guests who receive extra consideration. Enjoy!

Boo!

You Go Ghoul!

How Does Your Autumn Go?

Sunset Silhouette by Gladys W., thenakedartisan.com

Are you enjoying your Autumn? Have you been able to slow down, enjoy, focus more on leisure activities? Or does Autumn rev you up, filling you with brisk energy & efficiency? Are you celebrating Halloween, Samhain or perhaps both? Does this season seem full of mystery & enchantment for you, or does it deplete you? If you’d like to let me know what you think of Autumn, via quotes or photos, please send them to: siren.says (at) yahoo (dot) com. Below are some photos and thoughts from others.

Autumn Beach, San Gregorio, CA

From Gladys W., professional photographer at thenakedartisan.com: Fall is my favorite season of the year.  The air is crisp and clean.  The sunlight is still warm, but takes on a tea-colored hue in the late afternoons.  The trees start dropping crisp, brown leaves that crunch deliciously under foot.  Nights are cool; perfect for cuddling with your favorite person to watch fall TV or a rented movie.  Food becomes earthy and rich with onions, mushrooms, potatoes, turnips and carrots simmering along side rich meats in autumnal stews.  And when not filled with the smells of savory meals, the air is often filled with the scent of baked goods to both warm the hearth and the heart of those who share in them.  The skies are filled with the sounds of migrating birds seeking warmer nesting grounds.  Candles burn and lights start to sparkle to bring warmth to the darkness that rules during this time of year.  For me, fall is when my friends gather to share laughter, wine, and company.  Even though the world is slowing down, I am energized by the changes of this season, and I look forward to it each and every year.

The Sombrero Gladys W. thenakedartisan.com

Southwest Autumn by Kristina H.

Mike B. says: It’s cold, it’s clear, and it’s a good time to reconsider next year’s goals. Elly P. says: It is funny, because I noticed at the beginning of last week that feeling that someone had flipped a switch and summer had turned to autumn.  I think of myself as a summer person, and I love spring, when you can feel everything springing into life, so the end of summer shouldn’t be a good time for me! But I have enjoyed the last few days, maybe I like the change of summer to autumn – the contrast.  The sense of knowing that the nights are closing in, it is time to hunker down with family, warming food and a fluffy blanket and wait for spring Autumn in California by Jenna M. Jenna M.’s thoughts: I love Autumn!   The crisp air blows away my internal cobwebs and the changing colors warm my soul.  Mother Nature is winking at me.  The magic and abundance of the season leaves me feeling so filled up. Autumn in Texas by Kristina H. Autumn Tomatoes by Jenna M. Elizabeth W. is a big fan of October & has the photos & quotes to prove it:  October is by far my favorite month of the year and always has been.  Not only is it the month of my birthday (and I LOVE birthdays), but it is also the month when I met my husband, the month of my wedding anniversary, my favorite season (Autumn), the time of the Harvest, some of the best weather we have in Northern California, my favorite holiday (Halloween), the birthdays of many friends and family members, and of course, pumpkins!!! I have had an affinity for Autumn, Halloween and pumpkins ever since I can remember.  Growing up, one of my most prized birthday gifts each year was a jumbo pumpkin, which I always got to carve and decorate myself.  Now that I am a mother, it is important to me that I teach my son about my own love for pumpkins and Halloween.  Very often during October you can hear him squeal with delight “Pumpkins! Pumpkins! Pumpkins!” (just as I do), whenever we frequent a pumpkin patch.

Pumpkin's Anatomy by Elizabeth W.

A Plethora of Pumpkins by Elizabeth W.

Early Autumn Corn in California by Elizabeth W.

Rainbow and Pumpkin by Elizabeth W.

Interview With Pagan Author, Garden Witch Ellen Dugan!

The lovely Ellen Dugan, author known as The Garden Witch photo by Micki Mueller

Prolific Neo-Pagan author, gardener, Priestess, mom and wife Ellen Dugan graciously took time out recently from her busy schedule to answer Siren Says’s questions and tell us about her writing.

SS blog: In a nutshell (pun intended) what do you like the best about Autumn, the Autumn Sabbats and Harvest Time?

ED:  The colors, the scents, and the enchanting feel in the air. It’s a season of change and abundance. The Fall is my favorite time of the year!

SS blog: Can you describe how you best like to celebrate this time of year?

The Element of Air photo by Kristina Hathaway

ED: In quiet and profound ways. The family goes apple picking, I add fall flowers and spring bulbs into the garden… I decorate the mantle in the living room with seasonal items. I always cook a big meal to celebrate the day with my family.

SS blog: What was your first published book and what drove you to write it?

Element of Earth photo by Jenna Mahina

ED: Garden Witchery: Magick from the Ground Up was my first book. I wrote the book because I never found the exact kind of down-to-earth magickal book that I wanted to read so I decided, why not write one myself?

SS blog: What inspired you to write Autumn Equinox: The Enchantment of Mabon?

ED: I was approached by Llewellyn when I turned in the proposal for my fourth book, Cottage Witchery; Natural Magick for Hearth and Home. After they decided to contract it I was asked if I would be interested in writing one of the Sabbats books. I said yes, and ended up having 2 books contracted on the same day!

Pumpkins - Symbol of Fall photo by Elizabeth Crandall Whittom

SS blog: What can you tell us about your latest book, coming out in October – Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week?

ED: Here is the book description for Book of Witchery: “Witchery isn’t limited to the Sabbats and to the occasional full moon; magick happens every day. In this treasury of enchantments, spells and witchery, popular author Ellen Dugan presents her personal grimoire of magick essentials to keep you happily conjuring seven days a week! Formerly available as 7 Days of Magic, new and advanced material has more than doubled the witchy wisdom within these pages, yet it still fits into a busy Witch’s schedule. As you learn daily magickal correspondences and themes, you’ll build a solid foundation of knowledge and open up amazing possibilities for highly effective spellwork and witchery each and every day.”

SS blog: What are your plans to celebrate its publication?

ED: I have several author events scheduled from October 2009 through April 2010. To see my tour schedule please visit my website (www.ellendugan.com) and click on the “Tours” tab.

SS blog: How are your online classes being received? Do you have any more in the works?

ED: The online classes are really popular and have been very well received. At the moment I am offering three separate classes:

The Autumn Sabbats (Seasonal stand alone class available through November 3^rd)

The Elements of Witchcraft (Witchery Class I)

Advanced Natural Magick (Witchery Class II)

Yes, I do have another class in the works for the winter months. I’ll put that up after the Autumn Sabbats Class comes down. For more information or to sign up for a class please visit my website and click on the “Online Classes” page.  Or sign up for my newsletter through my Café Press store.

The Element of Water, photo by Kristina Hathaway

SS blog: Your books seem to gracefully run the gamut from beginners to those well-versed in magic. Was that intentional, and/or does it reflect your own journey?

ED: It still shocks me to be working on my twelfth book. I never expected to write so many. In answer to your question, I think it’s a little of both. I was either compelled to write on the topic or it was pitched to me by Llewellyn. For example, Autumn Equinox, Herb Magic for Beginners and How to Enchant a Man were all pitched to me by Llewellyn and they seemed like fun so I ran with it.

SS blog: What do your readers say? Do you have many non-Wiccan readers?

ED: Yes, actually I’m the Crossover Kid. Many of my titles have successfully crossed over to mainstream markets. I do have many readers who are not Witches or Pagan.  I meet more every time I do an author event. The response to all of the books has been overwhelmingly positive.

SS blog: Can you share with us any upcoming projects or other books you want to write?

ED: At the moment I am working on my twelfth book for Llewellyn. It was just recently contracted and will be released in early 2011. I never announce the working title or the topic of the book until after it is finished and safely turned into the publishing company.

The Element of Fire (with Bast statue)

SS blog: Ellen, can you leave us with any witchy words of wisdom?

ED: May your harvest season be an enchanting one, blessed with abundance of the Autumn Equinox and the mysterious magick of the season. Hurray Autumn is here! The Season of the Witch has begun!

Blessed be, Ellen Dugan

Ellen can be vsited via Facebook, Myspace, her wbsite and her online store:

Ellen’s website: www.ellendugan.com

Ellen’s online store: www.cafepress.com/ellendugan

Myspace www.myspace.com/ellendugan

Word press blog: http://ellendugan.wordpress.com

I love Ellen’s blog and website, as well as her presence on MySpace with all the lovely garden and plant photos. I hope you surf on over to see what I’m talking about – this is a magical worker who really knows her way around plants, animals and the natural world. Eleen’s always encouraging people to get outdoors, get their hands in the dirt, plant some flowers and herbs, to learn about the natural world and experience its never ending magic. May your Autumn be full of outdoor magic!

Happy Mabon!

Here in California, Mabon mostly seems like a continuation of summer, even though there are Autumn and Halloween displays at the stores, kids are back in school and the days are rapidly growing shorter.

Autumn Display of Gourds

So it’s a mix of Autumn abundance with still-Summer blooms such as this:

Morning Glory on Mabon

If you’re in the area and have the chance to visit Roger Reynolds Nursery on Encinal Avenue in Menlo Park, you can join in their 90th year anniversary this month and check out their amazing kiwi vines for yourself:

Kiwi Vine at Roger Reynolds Nursery, Menlo Park

There are places to sit underneath, amidst all the gorgeous plants the vines shade. You can look above at the fruit:

Kiwi Vine With Fruit, Roger Reynolds Nursery, Menlo Park

You can buy Autumn plants, check out their amazing display of heirloom gourds and pumpkins for sale in their Carriage Shop, and still feel the spirit of Summer with their edible herbs, peppers, lettuces and other vegetables. In this climate, even at its coldest, the Green Man is never very far away. He may recede into the woods, but he keeps a watchful eye on the area’s incredible flora and fauna.

Green Man on Mabon

Given that in my last post, I mentioned that for me Mabon calls to mind the Queen of Pentacles, here is a drink created by Liani, of Liani’s Tarot ( http://www.lianitarot.blogspot.com/) that she has named “Queen of Pentacles.” Here it is before adding the alcohol:

Strawberry Basil Virgin Queen of Pentacles

Liana says: “I wanted to celebrate the start of the cooler season with fruits of the earth. My favourite herb in anything Italian is fresh basil. Follow that with berries for dessert and I’m anyone’s… You know how sometimes you draw two opposing cards and they combine to make the most precious reading, as long as you add intuition? Well, combining basil and berries works in the same way… as long as you add alcohol! Try this, chilled. I have named it ‘The Queen of Pentacles’ because it’s earthy and bounteous in flavour:

5 fresh basil leaves

1 shot Grand Marnier

1 shot Chambord (or other berry liquor)

3 dashes cranberry juice

Chopped strawberries”

She adds – “PS: This is way too much fun. There have to be other cocktails out there that you can link to tarot cards… Email your recipes to tarotcocktails@gmail.com, along with the card you are naming your cocktail after. The best entries will be published here on the blog and will receive a free 3 card email reading! Get out the blender…”

What a great idea – Tarot Cocktails. I once had a wacky idea for football season: Tailgate Tarot. If you combined that with Tarot Cocktails, you can forget the football! And we all know that if football season is here, it really IS Autumn, no matter how hot it is outside.

Stay tuned for some great Autumn upcoming posts:

• An interview with The Garden Witch, author Ellen Dugan. Her latest book is coming out in October and I was lucky enough to grab a little time with her. She is currently offering online classes and has an informative, fun blog
  
• Profiles of 2 wonderfully talented Conjurers who will also share their other talents
• More from Elka Vera, who was featured in my Aug. 17 post “Magical Charm School: Do Your Own Thing. Better.” Elka has some great surprises in the offing, including more artwork and more classes
• And of course, plenty of writing, profiling and photos for Samhain

Stay healthy, happy and abundant!

Second Harvest: Autumn Equinox

Is it Samhain Yet?

When Neo-Pagans began using the term Mabon for the Autumn Equinox back in the 70s, they didn’t predict the internet and how it spread the word like wildfire. But whatever you want to call it, this year it falls again on September 22.

While the day isn’t truly balanced out between daytime and nighttime, the day is about seven minutes longer than the night at latitudes up to about 25 degrees, increasing to 10 minutes or more at a latitude of 50 degrees. For many in magical and earthwise communities, be they Pagan or not, the Autumn Equinox signals more harvest (following Lammas at the beginning of August), as well as a time of slowing down, preparing to go inward, looking towards Samhain and Dia de los Muertos or All Souls Day. Most of us have the luxury of doing this because we we don’t farm or ranch for a living. However, for Pagan gardeners, Autumn is an important and exciting time. Here in California, it can also be a confusing time because we get so much hot weather through October. It’s hard to look at Autumn fashion displays and feel a real longing to wear long sleeves, sweaters, wool, tights, corduroy or boots when it’s 80 degrees outside. As I write this, we are in a heatwave and I can’t even get excited about pumpkins, gourds, squash or cornucopias. I can, however, get excited about other Summer-into-Autumn images and archetypes, some from my yard and magical practice. Here are ones that I hope you enjoy:

Relax When It's Shady

Foxglove

Borage with Lemon Verbena & 2 Types of Mint

Lantana

Lily

Green Man with Morning Glory Vines

Wilting Morning Glory Vines

Yellow Coreopsis is Friends with Pink Petunia

Marigold Antigua Yellow

Marigold Antigua Orange

Queen of Pentacles

I hope these pictures convey the richness of Summer with its heat taking us into Autumn here in California. Plants need extra care and protection from the fierceness of the sun, as they are both blooming and wilting, giving us fruit and dying on the vine.

The Queen of Pentacles represents this time of year for me. She is surrounded by the gold of Summer and Harvest, sitting quietly, contemplating the riches and bounty the season has brought her. She is queenly and contemplative, with blooming vines above her and water in the background, the Earth sturdy under her throne. This card reminds to me relax and count my blessings, especially during these trying economic times. In this area, unemployment is 12% but the flowers don’t know it, the Earth doesn’t know it, and my waiting-for-Samhain doggy in the top photo doesn’t know it. All of them just keep on keepin’ on, with some care from us. So I’m going to take a cue from the Queen of Pentacles this season and sit quietly on this sturdy, blooming-while-dying-and-being-reborn Earth, counting my blessings, letting myself slow down in the heat, and enjoy the bounty of the overheated season.

Autumn Tapestry

Magical Consultant Susan Diamond of Serpent’s Kiss

Sometimes it makes more sense to hire someone to do magic for you than it does to do it alone or rely on friends – or even a coven.  I say this because a magical adept who acts as a hired gun may be able to see the whole picture more clearly than you and your friends and/or coven. A hired gun may be expert in different types of magic and magical habits that they can call upon.

I have found that having a hired magical gun is just like consulting with an expert in other areas, such as a dentist, plumber, attorney or pharmacist – but certainly more fun! It is very personal, of course, and might even feel initially strange if you are used to solo or group magic. I was very comfortable because the magical consultant I contracted with is a person I have known for years. She knew about the situation I wanted help with, she had a good working knowledge of my abilities and skills so that she could instruct me to work in tandem, and she also has a tremendous sense of justice that aids her greatly in her work. She is intelligent, tenacious, powerful and magically gifted.

Since my issue was a justice issue that affected not only me, but ultimately thousands of others, I wanted to work with someone who could just cut through all the potentially conflicting thoughts, ideas, fears and concerns of those involved, and work on the heart of the matter. In this case, the heart of the matter was corruption and greed, perpetrated by any number of illegal acts visited upon the working poor, disabled, lower income and underserved in my community. If this sounds like the backstory of a legal thriller, well, it is a legal thriller, just in non-fiction form. My intention was to address the foul rotting issues at the heart, turn the tables on the perpetrators and see if we could score winning first steps in a class action lawsuit. And that we did, we did indeed!

A Little About Susan Diamond

Susan is an east coast transplant whose beauty, grace and intelligence are great foils for her no-nonsense approach to working magic. A respectful, inclusive priestess in several traditions, Susan is well-versed with Neo-Paganism, Hoodoo/Rootwork, Palo Mayombe, Ifa, Shamanism, Astrology, divination and energy work.

Susan moved to the Santa Cruz area and opened the much needed Serpen’ts Kiss in downtown Santa Cruz. It’s a magical market that is intoxicating to those interested in magic, the exotic and that which just plain smells good! A sensual redhead, Susan dresses like a gorgeous gypsy and has a graceful, sensual and intelligent presence. She allows her brain and heart to dominate when you consult with her, using excellent listening skills, psychic and divination abilities to address your situation.

As I’ve gotten to know Susan through the years, I have come to admire how she weaves her professional life with magic, humor and creativity, using her excellent sense of discernment to guide her business. She also creates several lines of her own products and I have found them powerful, lovely and compelling. However, in our work together, she didn’t try sell me a bunch of product. She trusted my abilities and the work was authentic, not a guise to sell me product. Frankly, if I had it my way, I’d visit her shop weekly to peruse the latest items. But I have been to places where everything was such a sales push, I felt that what I needed wasn’t relevant and of course, that’s a huge turnoff. You won’t find that attitude at Serpent’s Kiss. Susan and her staff care about clients, about delivering good customer service and about making sure people can buy what they need. The staff are also magically talented in their own right, teaching classes and offering divination and spiritual consulting services.

Serpent’s Kiss also has a workshop space called Community Crossroads. They have many renowned authors do workshops and they also offer their consulting services in this spacious, private area.

So now that you all clearly know I am a big fan of Serpent’s Kiss, let’s get back to the main subject of this post – using a magical consultant. When I first contacted Susan about this legal issue, she listened carefully, talked to me about the outcome I wanted, how we could work together, how to go about it and she named a very reasonable price.

When the time came for the actual work, I sent her all the information I had, including an email outlining the relevant points that she could refer to, information on those on the oppposing side and the judge’s name. She also performed divination to determine the best course of action, instructed me as to what to do on my end and we both set to work. What I wasn’t expecting were all the powerful photos that her partner took of this working. The first photo in this post is one, and here are some others:

Court case magic at work

Honey Jar & Dressed Candle

You Made Your Bed...

Justice - A Dish Best Served Hot

Firing Up Justice

So as you can see, this was a powerful working. On my end, I did a spell which was very clear, powerful and well-directed. – and I am continuing it until the case is fully resolved, If it hits a snag, I know that I can work with Susan again to further our intent. I feel great about our magical partnership; frankly, it was fun, compelling and potent. Most of all, I am thrilled with the powerful results. It makes complete sense to me now to have the choice to work with a consultant.

If you want to contact Susan about divination, magical. shamanic or energy work, she can be reached at: 831.423.5477. The Serpent’s Kiss link is on my blogroll to the right of this post.

A Guide To Being A Good Magical Guest

Do we really need a guide to good etiquette for circles, events, gatherings and celebrations? You betcha! Maybe it’s living in the San Francisco Bay Area where a lot of folks at magical gatherings seem cliqueish, smug and self-involved, but in the last few years, I have experienced this myself and have heard many complaints about unfriendly hosts and awkward social interactions at gatherings. This guide can be used for gatherings public or private, small or large, no matter what the magical practice is, in a class setting or more informal circle setting.

I’ve been thinking about the upcoming Neo-Pagan festivals of Mabon, Samhain and Yule, which around here are three of the biggies celebrated privately and publicly. Here are some suggestions that I have come up with, based on the input of others and on my experience as a participant, teacher and host of magical gatherings. My thanks to Darcey, Julie and Michael for their input.

It’s important to remember that besides showing respect, proper etiquette during a magical gathering also contributes to the overall protection of the group, so pay attention to the rules set out by your host.

Turn Off Your Cellphone!

I know this needn’t be gone into in-depth, as it’s quite easy. Turn it off, or at least to silent. Putting it on vibrate can still be disruptive.

Come Prepared

Are you supposed to bring something – food to share, altar items, craft supplies, notebook and pen, a donation? If so, do so!

Check Your Sense Of Entitlement At The Door

While we all deserve to be treated with respect, you may want to do a fast internal eval to check for hidden or unrealistic expectations before an event or class. Do you want this event or class to replace something else missing in your life? I notice this need for connection a lot more between October-January. Many magical folks crave a strong connection with others during the holidays, just like anyone else. We want to gather with others of like mind, only to be disappointed if it didn’t happen they way we wanted. Please remember we can’t be all things to all people and neither can the hosts or teachers, or even the Gods. Chances are your experience will be richer if your expectations are realistic and you have a regular spiritual practice that is fulfilling and will enhance whatever class or gathering you are attending.

Offer A Helping Hand

At some point, ask the organizers if you can assist with anything. They may have that all covered, but if you are willing to offer an extra set of hands, it is usually appreciated. Merely saying, “Please let me know if I help with anything ” is enough.

Space And Time For Each Person During Ritual Or Class Time

Please take time to spend in contemplation. Try not to crowd others and follow the lead of the hosts. This time is for you, in community, so treat yourself and others with respect.

Be Prepared To Share

As much as we need to give ourselves and each other space, we may be in cramped quarters and have to resources more than we otherwise would we others we might now know. Be understanding about this, be willing to share and use it as an opportunity to build the energy or create bonds with others.

Reach Out To Others

This is where, in my experience, the rubber meets the road. So many magical folks these days are not good at introducing themselves to others. They stay to themselves or in little cliques. While that’s understandable for part of the event, it’s tiresome during the more social aspects of the gathering. I have seen this get worse in the last few years, but I have no idea why. It’s divisive to participate in a powerful ritual or learning situation which has awkward and cliqueish social aspects, as the result is lost cohesion and a watered down experience. I have seen a big difference at gatherings where people are more inclusive – the energy is different, the magic is more potent and deeper bonds are created.

Sometimes the hosts have too much going on to be social, depending upon the type of gathering, so please keep that in mind. Good basic manners can really grease the magical wheels. Some people are a bit shy, but I also think many just have mediocre manners. A lot of people, frankly, are attracted to magic because it makes them feel edgy, different and powerful. Those same people often have inadequate etiquette at social gatherings because of their status-seeking behavior. Be bigger than all of that by being friendly, easy going and polite. Focus less on impressing others and more on deriving pleasure and knowledge from a group event.

Generous Amounts Of Delicious Food

You may not have the time or talent to cook a dish to share, but please be thoughtful and generous with whatever you bring. Is it seasonally appropriate? Is it something most people like? If the community labels food for those with allergies, please do so. If you can only afford a bag of chips and a jar of salsa, so be it – perhaps you can present them nicely, if only in disposable bowls and add a spoon to the salsa so people don’t have to reach into a bag or dip chips individually. When pressed for cash but you have the time, a dessert such as home baked brownies is a good choice, as they are inexpensive to make and most people love chocolate. Bringing something that is seasonal or just plain delicious is also a good way to meet others, by bonding over food.

Keep It Clean

Clean up after whatever activity you’re involved in. It doesn’t hurt to pick up after others as well. If you can’t stay long to do more, at least pick up after yourself.

Say Thank You

Sending a thank you note to the host is always a good idea, whether it was for a well-planned class, a public ritual or a private one. Whatever type of event, it took work, energy and focus, so a thank you will be appreciated. Some folks don’t feel a thank you note is necessary for a class or event that they paid for, believing that their payment is acknowledgement enough. I completely understand this perspective, which is why I suggest that for a class or workshop, send a thank you for an especially well-planned or powerful one. Teachers find it useful to receive polite feedback and if you want more of something, a thank you might get you more. Email is acceptable since you may not know the host’s address.

I know that many of these suggestions seem so basic that they are rote. But if they were, I wouldn’t have written this.

I have included some other etiquette-related links on my blogroll to the right.

Speaking of Charm School…Witch Girl Bunny That Is!

One of my guiltless pleasures has been indulging in the marvelous series Charm School by Elizabeth Watasin, featuring feminine, lovely, good witch heroine Bunny, her girlfriend, the vampire biker Dean, and a dark faerie named Fairer Than, who has the hots for Bunny. It’s a little bit like a queer Grease meets the Munsters.

Yes, I did type that Bunny has a girlfriend named Dean. Dean’s butchy, tough, smart and fast to react. Fairer Than is clever, deep and sexy, a butt-kicker of vampires -  and disturbingly alluring. Bunny, who’s good, blonde, lovely, sweet and not at all dumb, has some super cool advisers and aunties. In fact, these more minor characters are among my favorites: Pippita, demon-witch friend; The Aunties who guard Bunny’s virtue and good name -  Agoosta, Weirdette and Hauntette; and the not-to-be-forgotten Blanchette, the Voodoo Priestess/Princess and witch friend.

I love the story arcs, the art, the ideas, the unapologetic gayness and year round Halloweenness of it all. I didn’t realize that buying these might have made a statement about my lifestyle and sexual preference til one night I was in the comic book store with another straight friend, a woman. I had rushed over with her to get the latest issue and show her more Bunny and crew. While she was somewhat enamored, she was too embarrassed to purchase, “in case they” thought she was gay. When I asked her who “they” were, she gestured around the store, and sotto voce said, “You know, anyone here.” I guess she was referring to the adolescents perusing comics and graphic novels and the store clerk who couldn’t have cared less who we were or what our sexual preference was. I just rolled my eyes and bought my Bunny.

I realize now that I didn’t even realize way back when I bought my first Bunny book that she was gay. It just didn’t matter. It still doesn’t. But I’m writing about this because aside from the cool art, fun characters and intriguing twist on an age-old main plot which all means I recommend the Charm School series,  it shows how we can be stopped by our fear of what “they” might think. Not even of what “they” are thinking or have thought, but what “they” may think. May think. May not. In that moment. Or forever. Or not.

While I understand and even sympathize a bit with my friend, I am so glad to have Bunny and her cohorts in my life, warts and all (pun intended)! I relate a little bit to all the characters, as readers are meant to do, which tells me that Elizabeth has done a good job. I think the Charm School series is a great way for people who are witchily-faeriely-or-vampirely inclined to get more comfy with BGLT issues if they aren’t already. Or for BGLT folks to get more comfy with the more witchy/fey/vampirish amongst us. Or for the families and loved ones of all the above!

Speaking of getting comfy with BGLT issues, there are some folks out there besides activists and comic book writers who are doing their part to educate the rest of us on the relevancy of not just tolerating, but actually accepting and welcoming the BGLT community. Some of these folks are even church members who took a long, hard look at themselves and decided that their own values weren’t up to snuff. The folks to whom I am referring are Unitarian Universalists. They count among their many prominent past members John Quincy Adams, Charles Dickens, Clara Barton, Clarence Darrow, Kurt Vonnegut and one of my all time favorites, Beatrix Potter.

The Unitarians (my church of choice) this year celebrate 20 years of formally including the BGLT community with a program called Welcoming Congregation.  This volunteer program is a certification from the OBGLTC (Office of Bisexual Gay Lesbian and Transgender Concerns, a Unitarian Universalist Identity-Based Ministry) that many Unitarian congregations work towards acquiring.

The Welcoming Congregation vision is also looking beyond BGLT issues into the other oppressive isms that reduce us and make us feel unwanted, undervalued, marginalized and plain old other. If you are lucky enough to have a Unitarian Universalist Church in your area, check out their free religious education programs that might include Welcoming Congregation offerings.

If you don’t mind what “they might think,” check out the Charm School series. It’s a creative, fun way for us to remember that we all feel like freaks, geeks and ghouls at times – that we are all other as well as not.

So go out and get yourself some Charm School, Unitarian Universalism or both and let me know what you think.