Hallowe'en is in the Air
Oct. 7th, 2003 02:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
arisbeAnd the little world of LiveJournal is all aflutter. What must we do to keep the holiday aright, so that we don't wake up on All Hallows day with the aching disappointment that those Good Kids are prone to feel on December 26?
For one thing we can keep our decorations up, at least indoors, through the full moon of Scorpio on November 9 up to the new moon on the 23rd. (Yes, I know, the full moon is not in Scorpio, but opposite the sun, which is in Scorpio, or at least where Scorpio used to be a couple of thousand years ago. Gimme a break.)
But how do we handle the religious objectors, I mean the Pagans? You know, the ones who talk about "Samhain" and pronounce it sahween or even sahm. The ones the badass dudes call fuzzybunnies. The ones I identify with -- every other day of the year. Now give me a break from sweetness and light.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Dark Side. And now is the time to embrace it. Without losing the rest of us. If you can't see your shadow you're not walking in the light. If you do not put on for a time the mask of the shadow you will never know what you are -- or control what you do.
I saw two thousand lives destroyed by men blinded by the light, who could not acknowledge their shadow side, who projected it outward on to us. I walked home on September 11 resolved to keep November Eve.
And if you don't have a yard to turn into a haunt, or your mate doesn't like to dress up, well, after all, it's the spirit that counts. Read some M. R. James or J. S. LeFanu. Even Bram Stoker will do in a pinch. Walk around Halowe'en Adventure on Third Avenue and think of all the stuff that you would buy if you had a use for it. Buy it anyway. (Just kidding. Buy one thing, maybe a set of teeth to wear to the university. Especially if you are the Chancellor.)
What will I be doing at the end of the month? I have the annual occult night at Greater New York Mensa on Thursday, and a party at the home of an LJ friend on Saturday, and to the latter my spouse is committed as well. Friday is still free. Shall I do the parade for the first time since I moved into town in (can it really be) 1970?
What shall I wear? Straightening up the apartment I found one of those pumpkin suits with the big old grins. I thought that might do nicely with a revolting enough mask. (I also have the black sheet I bought from the sale bin at Century Twentyone.) And I saw a rather nice over the head gas mask which I ordered because every New Yorker needs one anyway. (Two years ago my doctor bought a gas mask on the street for two hundred dollars in cash, but sounded rather sheepish about it. I guess he doesn't do Hallowe'en. And it looked rather pedestrian.)
Stay spooky, people. And to all the professional and semiprofessional haunters on the list, be a little extra spooky for me!
For one thing we can keep our decorations up, at least indoors, through the full moon of Scorpio on November 9 up to the new moon on the 23rd. (Yes, I know, the full moon is not in Scorpio, but opposite the sun, which is in Scorpio, or at least where Scorpio used to be a couple of thousand years ago. Gimme a break.)
But how do we handle the religious objectors, I mean the Pagans? You know, the ones who talk about "Samhain" and pronounce it sahween or even sahm. The ones the badass dudes call fuzzybunnies. The ones I identify with -- every other day of the year. Now give me a break from sweetness and light.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Dark Side. And now is the time to embrace it. Without losing the rest of us. If you can't see your shadow you're not walking in the light. If you do not put on for a time the mask of the shadow you will never know what you are -- or control what you do.
I saw two thousand lives destroyed by men blinded by the light, who could not acknowledge their shadow side, who projected it outward on to us. I walked home on September 11 resolved to keep November Eve.
And if you don't have a yard to turn into a haunt, or your mate doesn't like to dress up, well, after all, it's the spirit that counts. Read some M. R. James or J. S. LeFanu. Even Bram Stoker will do in a pinch. Walk around Halowe'en Adventure on Third Avenue and think of all the stuff that you would buy if you had a use for it. Buy it anyway. (Just kidding. Buy one thing, maybe a set of teeth to wear to the university. Especially if you are the Chancellor.)
What will I be doing at the end of the month? I have the annual occult night at Greater New York Mensa on Thursday, and a party at the home of an LJ friend on Saturday, and to the latter my spouse is committed as well. Friday is still free. Shall I do the parade for the first time since I moved into town in (can it really be) 1970?
What shall I wear? Straightening up the apartment I found one of those pumpkin suits with the big old grins. I thought that might do nicely with a revolting enough mask. (I also have the black sheet I bought from the sale bin at Century Twentyone.) And I saw a rather nice over the head gas mask which I ordered because every New Yorker needs one anyway. (Two years ago my doctor bought a gas mask on the street for two hundred dollars in cash, but sounded rather sheepish about it. I guess he doesn't do Hallowe'en. And it looked rather pedestrian.)
Stay spooky, people. And to all the professional and semiprofessional haunters on the list, be a little extra spooky for me!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2003-10-07 11:38 am (UTC)w00t w00t!
no subject
Date: 2003-10-07 11:51 am (UTC)http://kibbles.smugmug.com/photos/994216-S.jpg
;)
Looks good to me
Date: 2003-10-07 11:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-07 12:24 pm (UTC)Amen. (she says bowing her little "pagan" head! ::grin::)
Little pagan head
Date: 2003-10-07 12:29 pm (UTC)Re: Little pagan head
Date: 2003-10-07 05:02 pm (UTC)Pagan is an insult
Date: 2003-10-07 08:10 pm (UTC)Your name did look a little Kemetic to me. I must admit that some boys want to be firemen when they grow up; I wanted to be an ancient Egyptian.
I have read a bit on ceremonial magic, but have no personal contact with it, though I know a retired clergyman who once bought a ritual sword... and now I am glad to know you too.
Since I went over to the Eastern church, my interest in magic is more theoretical. When I participate in the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, especially in the old Slavonic, I can't imagine the Golden Dawn being any grander. It's like being in the middle of a Wagner music drama.
Re: Pagan is an insult
Date: 2003-10-08 06:46 am (UTC)The Catholic church practices ceremonial magick...the High Mass is just a High Magick ritual. And let's not forget that though they prefer not to take it out of the closet...they do still practice exorcisms. They've also retained a rather diluted image of the Goddess in Mary, and they have the saints instead of the godforms.
As far as my husband is concerned...we do not discuss the subject. He is a wonderful, wonderful man who spoils me rotten. In some ways, he's a lot more true to spiritual tenets than most of the so-called "spiritual" people I meet. He's honorable and has a big streak of nobility in him. He's my White Knight. (and what girl can resist a white knight?) But I cannot even discuss this in front of him and even my friends have been asked to avoid the topic when he's around because he will belittle it and I don't want to hear it at this point.
I honor everyone's path. I honestly feel that wherever he is right now is the right place for him to be. I don't try to change him, I love him just the way he is. But I don't want to have to hear his comments on it either. He's entitled to his opinions, I'm entitled to mine. We're very different in a lot of ways, he and I. In spite of that, I have one of the best marriages I've ever seen.
It's not a case of "opposites attract" -- there are some very important ways that we do think alike that make it easy for us to live together. We're a very good balance for each other I think. We very rarely fight. (although when we do it's usually a beaut!) and for all the years we've lived together, we still really like each other. We still "date!" "Don't fix it if it ain't broke" is my attitude on the subject. Most people are surprised knowing how spiritual I am that I'm married to a man that doesn't believe at all. But they shouldn't be. I see the God in everyone. This is just his way.
Re: Pagan is an insult
Date: 2003-10-08 06:47 am (UTC)As for the name I chose for the journal, someone asked me about it once, so I posted something here you might find interesting:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/weret_hekau/44391.html
must admit that some boys want to be firemen when they grow up; I wanted to be an ancient Egyptian.
I find that absolutely delightful!
I have read a bit on ceremonial magic, but have no personal contact with it, though I know a retired clergyman who once bought a ritual sword... and now I am glad to know you too. </>
I'm really "all over the place" when it comes to magick. I never saw one form as being any better than any other...just different. There is no good label for me.
Since I went over to the Eastern church, my interest in magic is more theoretical. When I participate in the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, especially in the old Slavonic, I can't imagine the Golden Dawn being any grander. It's like being in the middle of a Wagner music drama.
I still defend Catholicism and Christianity in general because I don't believe one should fault the religion for some of the people involved. Christ, in my opinion, was an Ascended Master. And Catholicism especially always struck me as very beautiful. I have to admit, I always liked the masses in Latin. (now I'm giving away my age!) And I always felt a tremendous sense of energy and renewal in church.
I actually started practicing magick on my own when I was twelve, but I was still very involved with the Catholic church. I used to work with a group that did the folk masses. (remember those?) The priests used to let me do readings at the masses because I seemed to have such a knack for that sort of thing. (big concession on their part, to let a young girl fulfill a role like that...especially one who asked Father Rooney the kind of questions that made him so angry his face would turn beet red and I was sincerely afraid I would give the man an aneurysm someday!)
I didn't leave the church completely until I was 18. I couldn't stand the hypocrisy I saw in too many people. And I didn't accept all their teachings so I left. The mass itself still gives me a good feeling though...it actually gives me chills sometimes. There is something to be said for "where two or more are gathered in my name." (husband's family still churchgoers -- and I've actually stood godmother to two children -- their parents really wanted it in spite of the fact I explained I'm a "fallen" Catholic and the church wouldn't like it if they knew. As my girlfriend explained to me "I want the person I feel is best for my child, regardless of what her religious beliefs are." On those grounds, I accepted.)
So I understand perfectly how dynamic the mass is for you. It sounds like the people involved are truly devoted. It's glorious when that happens. And that's what a mass is supposed to be....a celebration of life and the divine. When people put their hearts and souls into it, one can't help but feel it. It raises energy. We all have our paths. Whatever it takes to get closer to the divine is what's right for a person. All these paths are leading to the same place in the end. I truly believe that.
Introibo ad altare Dei
Date: 2003-10-08 07:27 am (UTC)My little church owes a great deal of inspiration to Soloviev, who was devoted to Sophia as the female aspect of the Godhead, with whom he had three visionary encounters. But if you ever visit us on Mulberry Street, please don't refer to the Liturgy as the Mass!
Father Deacon likes to say that we bless the waters at the same time that the Eqyptian priests blessed the Nile. Of course the way the Egyptian calendar slipped around, that would be true any time, but it's the thought that counts!
Re: Introibo ad altare Dei
Date: 2003-10-08 07:49 am (UTC)please don't refer to the Liturgy as the Mass!
LOL! So sorry, my ignorance. So tell me more about this. I am unfamiliar with Byzantine Catholicism.
My little church owes a great deal of inspiration to Soloviev, who was devoted to Sophia as the female aspect of the Godhead, with whom he had three visionary encounters.
Ahhhhhhh.....I like to see the Goddess recognized. We need the balance of all aspects of God. Especially with all that's going on in the world today.
Actually
Date: 2003-10-08 09:52 am (UTC)My little community is here (http://stmichaelruscath.org/) on the Web.
There is also an LJ community,
Re: Actually
Date: 2003-10-08 10:12 am (UTC)You got me thinking
Date: 2003-10-08 11:10 am (UTC)Re: You got me thinking
Date: 2003-10-08 11:32 am (UTC)Keep the Webs!
Date: 2003-10-07 12:36 pm (UTC)Could use a few of those
Date: 2003-10-07 12:51 pm (UTC)Got far too many of the others!
Date: 2003-10-07 04:08 pm (UTC)With a little effort...
Date: 2003-10-07 12:37 pm (UTC)Re: With a little effort...
Date: 2003-10-07 12:48 pm (UTC)Re: With a little effort...
Date: 2003-10-07 12:57 pm (UTC)LOL! The Abramelin! Yes, indeed. I once put some in a plastic bottle on top of my frshly painted altar before I went to work. On my return, the plastic container had melted and the oil had separated all the paint from the wood. Back to the old drawing board.
As an aside: Abramelin made from pure engredients wont do that. ;)
I once
Date: 2003-10-07 01:07 pm (UTC)Re: I once
Date: 2003-10-07 01:20 pm (UTC)I'll bet that got everyones attention. I have to remember that. Peppermint oil is a wonderful thing. 1001 uses... now 1002. :)
Re: I once
Date: 2003-10-07 02:11 pm (UTC)Re: I once
Date: 2003-10-07 02:21 pm (UTC)As anyone who has ever ran out of gasoline and couldn't find anything but a styrofoam cup can attest too. It happens rather quickly. :)
Re: I once
Date: 2003-10-07 06:58 pm (UTC)Re: I once
Date: 2003-10-07 07:05 pm (UTC)LOL! You wouldn't have to try very hard. Perhaps when the finances are good? I would love to come visit. :)
Re: I once
Date: 2003-10-08 04:49 am (UTC)Your finances or mine? Seriously, we should start considering a month in the future - like "September of 2004". I have a list of people who must visit and you're on it.
Re: With a little effort...
Date: 2003-10-07 04:07 pm (UTC)Re: With a little effort...
Date: 2003-10-07 04:13 pm (UTC)Some of the synthetics that are sold in the shops are actually dangerous to consume, too. :/
Real Abramelin is expensive (Galangal and Myrrh are pretty pricey)... and it smells nothing like the stuff sold in the shops. Email gm@thelemicknighst.org if you are interested in oil.
no subject
Date: 2003-10-07 07:00 pm (UTC)Village
Date: 2003-10-07 07:52 pm (UTC)Years ago Mensa would march together, but I didn't then either. Maybe we can get the LiveJournal crowd to meet somewhere. (Actually, the organizers facilitate that.)
Re: Village
Date: 2003-10-08 04:48 am (UTC)Re: Village
Date: 2003-10-17 10:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-07 09:44 pm (UTC)So fabulously well stated! I am very glad to have come upon you as a lj friend. :)