Bridgid's Day

Witches celebrate Imbolc on February 1st or 2nd.  It is sometimes referred to as Candlemas "The Feast Of The Waxing Light".  This day is also celebrated more commonly as groundhog day.  The goddess associated with this holiday is Bridgid.  Bridgid is perhaps the only goddess that was not eradicated by the church.  She was too powerful and loved by the ancient pagans, so they sainted her instead!  "If you can't beat em, join em" we say around here.  I have honored Brigid in much of my work throughout the years.  This is a belt buckle that I cast from wax woven threads several years ago.  The symbol is called Bridgid's Cross.  This piece weighs 72 grams and is the heaviest piece of jewelry that I have ever constructed.  I made several molds at the time and could in fact make a mold from the actual piece if need be in the future.  At the time I first made this ornament I used scrap silver from other projects so it was fairly inexpensive.  I would hate to have to purchase the 72 plus grams of silver to make it today, as silver has climbed in price.

Practical Skills Book

My sister has a book collection that I have been enjoying this winter.  Gene Logson's Practical Skills reminds me of The Foxfire series that I am quite fond of but have not gotten the whole collection as of yet.  Practical skills covers the basics of how to do projects and the the tools needed to do them.  I have taken the book out of the library several times over the years and am pleased that I can spend time studying about the projects that may be in my future or my friends futures!  I write from a computer that is hooked up through satellite, so there is much downtime.  Having a book like Practical Skills around is great on those days when reception is bad or non existent.

Sudden Snow Storm

We had a pop up snow storm yesterday afternoon and it was glorious.  I went outside with my camera to try to capture the beauty and essence of it.  I was shocked to find a happy accident among the several shots that I had taken.  This photograph has not been photo-shopped or tampered with in any way.  I am not sure I could improve or alter it even if I wanted to.  Sometimes we just have to accept a gift as it was given!

Outsourcing Magic

This is a toothpick holder called Ouch by Fred.  Of course it is made in China and would have little effect as a magic poppet unless of it was infused by something belonging to the victim (sympathetic magic).  I have a poppet and voudoo doll collection I sheepishly admit.  Not because I sought to collect them, but because people gave them to me as gifts and ended up with a collection in spite of my dislike.  It is sad that a witch would need to buy a commercial poppet rather than make one for the occasion.  It reminds me that when we (family) were on vacation and shopping for souvenirs on an Indian reservation, that many of the items in the store were made in China, not by the local Native Americans living there.  My mother refused to let us buy made in China souvenirs (35 years ago) with our vacation money.  I think she was on the right track and that our own country has deteriorated because our locals stopped making things here.  We have become a country of lazy people who outsource our jobs and work to other countries.  Outsourcing magic is a very bad idea though as it waters down the potency to say the very least.  Ouch by Fred can be bought on Amazon and would make a great Halloween party decoration.  Poppet magic in real life though is very serious business, and making light of it or fun of it is like telling dead baby jokes (not very funny).  I reserve the making of a poppet for rapist's and murderers.  My circle sisters used them more liberally though, and I imagine there are at least 2 poppets with my name and DNA out there LOL!  Hopefully not in opposition to each other.     

Nineteenth Follower

I had already posted yesterday before I noticed that Concha's Cauldron has a 19th follower.  Welcome The Simple Mom from Texas.  Check out The Simple Mom's blogspot here.

Garden And Gun Magazine

I missed this issue of Garden And Gun in May 2011 that features The Avett Brothers.  I believe that one of the photos of Seth has a nice closeup of Kristi Kloss's pendant that she made in 2010.  I drum with Kristi in The Columbus Women's Drum Chorus, and we have followed the Avett Brothers from small bar gigs to large concert venues.  I didn't get to see them in concert this year but am planning on attending their next Columbus concert come hell or high water!

post note:  Welcome 19th Follower

My Eigthteenth Follower

Welcome Pamela my 18th follower.  I am reminded of a song I heard Gillian Welch sing once called 18 Dogs.
I have known Pamela through some of my "doomer" forums.  She always has something cleaver to say and reminds me a little of Gillian Welch and Oh Brother Where Art Thou.  18 Dogs was written by Hank Dogs and this YouTube was the only one I could find today.  The song is worthy no matter who sings it and the message is clear.  Pamela is an Outsider Artist and you can see some of her work here.


18 Dogs
Poor little house in the country
18 dogs and an M-16 for company
Those cowboys coming over the horizon
They’ll be looking for some hospitality

Come on in, boys, the door is wide open
But I warn you my dogs are born to win
I’ll take the greatest of pleasure
In watching you torn limb from limb

There’s rumors starting down in the village
Those cowboys haven’t been heard of since the day
But if anybody comes ’round asking questions
Well, I’ve got it worked out what I’m gonna say

Come on in, boys, the door is wide open
But I warn you my dogs are born to win
I’ll take the greatest of pleasure
In watching you torn limb from limb

Poor little house in the country
18 dogs and an M-16 for company
Those cowboys coming over the horizon
They’ll be looking for some hospitality

Come on in, boys, the door is wide open
But I warn you my dogs are born to win
I’ll take the greatest of pleasure
In watching you torn limb from limb

Yes, I’ll take the greatest of pleasure
In watching you torn limb from limb