Yes I know, it is not Christmas, not even close. But, bear with me I have a point.

As regular readers of this blog know I have been “going back to college” for about two years now. I treat school the way I treat work. I do not see much if any point in being in the broom closet. I gave a brief presentation in my Cultural Anthropology class back during the Summer semester of 2007 and this semester I am writing a compare and contrast essay on “attitudes toward death” using my present faith of Wicca and the Roman Catholicism of my youth as the well I am drawing from.

When I was in college the first time around I wrote a paper entitled “Is Catholicism Harmful?” doing into great detail about the effect of guilt on the human psyche. It was a very angry essay. My only excuse is that I was young and feeling both grateful for finding Wicca and betrayed by the faith I had once loved.

And while my thesis statement (subject to change) is that I personally have much less fear of death as a Wiccan than I ever did as a Catholic, I have no intention of writing an angry essay this time around. In fact I hope to embrace the attitude of Dar Williams in her classic song Christians and Pagans and focus more on how regardless of what religion one practices that it is about “finding faith … the best that (we are) able.”

I am looking forward to writing this essay.  If nothing else my essay is likely to be a unique read for the professor and regardless of what grade she gives it in the end, hopefully she’ll be entertained.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:prayer

Today I am grateful for gifts in the mail. I won a giveaway and now have a copy of Llewellyn’s 2009 Witches’ Spell-A-Day Almanac. I also received a copy of This Is Not the Life I Ordered: 50 Ways to Keep Your Head Above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down from a friend over at Weiser Books to whom I owe a bunch of book reviews as I only managed to get one up.

Today I am grateful for the opportunity each of these books represents.  One of my goals is to start writing as a Witch outside of this blog.  Receiving the spell almanac offers me an opportunity to find the inspiration to start submitting material to Llewellyn.  Receiving the other book offers me the opportunity to work through the disappointment I feel related to how far I’ve come (or more accurately how far I haven’t come) as I approach my 40th birthday.

Today I am grateful for GamerDude being willing to come to Sam’s Club with me on Friday.  I was dragging my heels about going and with his company it felt less like just another chore and more like an outing.  I am grateful for being able to afford food for another week.  I am grateful for being able to afford a frozen cheesecake as a special treat for Princess Nibbles after her play, as her sister got pizza after her award ceremony.

Today I am grateful for talented children.  Miss Artistic has attended two award ceremonies in the past weeks related to a piece of artwork being one of six representing student (K-12) art in Monmouth county at an exhibit at the state house in Trenton.  Princess Nibbles continues to excel in school and in her gifted program and did a wonderful job portraying Queen Eleanor in a play about Robin Hood this past Friday.

May the week ahead be filled with blessings for you and yours

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:gratitude

A call to action – Friday night a tremor started from Alaska vibrating across the blogosphere that is now being felt around the world.  At risk are the rights of all bloggers to speak freely and keep their identies safe.  I posted about it on my other blog, Sanity Rant, but it important enough that I wanted to bring it to the attention of our readers here.  Any one who blogs about hot button issues needs to know the law and know that there are people, including unethical politicians and journalists, who may stop at nothing to uncover identies.  

What happened Friday to AKM, the anonymous author of the blog Mudflats, can happen to any of us.  I hope you take a few minutes to read about what happened, follow the links to get educated about the situation and the legal information.   AKM is a talented writer, and everything she/he wrote was backed with facts and research, she/he  has integrity and grace.  She/he did not deserve to be put in harms way because of a politician’s ego.  I hope you take a few moments to offer your support.   Also if you do contact legistrators or news sources to express your opinion, please be polite, and please do not use AKM real name.  Even though it has been made public illegally by a politican we in the blogging community respect her rights.

Democrat Representative Mike Doogan from Alaska used state office computers and email lists to stalk the blogger, AKMuckraker, who writes the Alaskan blog Mudflats, and then outed her/his real identity to the world. This is a clear violation of federal law and of the state common law right to privacy, as explained very concisely by Regina who writes the Palin-gates blog. This is clearly an act of vengeance on the part of Mr. Doogan, who is mistaken in his claim that “as soon as she (author of Mudflats) began to influence public policy she gave up her right to remain anonymous. ”

The fallout from his actions I’m sure will be great and I can only hope that he is held accountable, and is put in jail. I am stunned beyond words at this man’s actions.

Others are also going after bloggers, Palin supporters from SarahPAC and RedState and Conservatives4Palin have been harrassing another blogger, Celtic Diva, with all kinds of horrible “christian” violent types of threats in emails and Fox News is making threats to stalk and ambush her.

These are not idle threats. Bill O’Reilly of Fox News has recently stalked a blogger from Think Progress. I urge everyone to sign the petition to stop the O’Reilly Harassment Machine and if you have time to contact other sponsors and politely urge them to follow UPS who pulled their advertising from his show.

The implications of all this is staggering. I urge all bloggers to stand together, be strong, and support and defend the rights of all bloggers to keep seeking the truth, freedom of speech, and protect their identies. This is an issue that affects all of us, regardless of political party or ideology, and is something worthwhile to follow up on and keep up to date on what happens as the fall out from this unfolds.

If you would like to let Mr. Doogan know how you feel about his actions feel free to contact him – please be polite.

doogans@gci.net
email: Rep.Mike.Doogan@legis.state.ak.us
PHONE: (907) 465-4998
FAX: (907) 465-4419
ADDRESS: AK State CapitolRoom # 112, Juneau, AK 99801
Doogan’s NUMBER: 907.561.7990

Followups: Regina has posted a comprehensive list of links of contacts that are based on where you are located so that everyone who wants to help bring justice for AKM and protect all bloggers can do so, Fighting Back.

She also provided this extemely informative link: Anonymity Issues – The Electronic Frontier Foundation informs bloggers of their rights and helps in legal matters. EFF has fought for your right to speak anonymously on the Internet, establishing legal protections in several states and federal jurisdictions, and developing technologies to help you protect your identity. “Anonymous communications have an important place in our political and social discourse. The Supreme Court has ruled repeatedly that the right to anonymous free speech is protected by the First Amendment. The tradition of anonymous speech is older than the United States. Founders Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote the Federalist Papers under the pseudonym “Publius,” and “the Federal Farmer” spoke up in rebuttal. ”

Examples of State cases upholding the 1st amendment protecting anonymous speech over the internet:  Reno v. ACLU, 521 U.S. 844 (1997); NAACP v. Alabama, 357 U.S. 449 (1958); Lovell v. Griffin, 303 U.S. 444 (1938); Talley v. California 362 U.S. 60 (1960).

Post on Huffington about the issue that does a great job of explaining why what Doogan has done is so wrong, definitely a must read, post is HERE.

There is excellant response to Mr. Doogan’s actions post on KOS, includes a letter written to Mr. Doongan, info. from a lawyer explaining the illegal actions of Mr. Doogan (“…a violation of federal law and of the state common law right to privacy. The fact that he did it on state time and in his capacity is what is called “state action” for a section 1983 civil rights claim.”) and info. on Mr. Doogan’s past as an anonymous writer of a political column.

**************
Several of our founding fathers wrote under pen names as a way of discussing the issues and not the person and to protect themselves and their families from potential harm.
 
Benjamin Franklin:
“During the eighteenth century, it was common for writers and journalists to use pseudonyms, or false names, when they created newspaper articles and letters to the editor. (Ben) Franklin used this convention extensively throughout his life, sometimes to express an idea that might have been considered slanderous or even illegal by the authorities; other times to present two sides of an issue, much like the point-counterpoint style of journalism used today.”

**********

I urge everyone to get educated, get active and most importantly stay strong and stay safe.

Bright blessings, Lady Rose

Written by Lady RoseTags:blogging, first amendment, freedom of speech

I love the synchronicity of life.  Thursday brought me both surprises in the mail, including a copy of This Is Not the Life I Ordered: 50 Ways to Keep Your Head Above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down from Weiser Books, and inspiration from one of my blogreads, 37 Days.  Both of these coming as I work through Kissing the Limitless: Deep Magic and the Great Work of Transforming Yourself and the World and all three seem to whisper the same message.

Live Your Dream, Do It Now!

This Is Not the Life I Ordered is an inspiring book. It is written by four women who have all overcome difficult situations and downright tragedy to reach a life that both supports and fulfills them.  It combines the personal stories of these women along with exercises, in the form of journaling, to overcome blockages and obstacles and fix your life, find hope, no matter how bleak the future may seem.

To be honest I found myself more inspired by the women themselves that by any of the exercises contained within the book’s pages.  But then, perhaps that is because the idea of adding any journaling to my life right now is overwhelming in the wake of daily blogging, updates on both twitter and facebook, as well as the journal and other writing assignments I need to do for my English Composition course this semester.

But, it was seeing how much these women with the support of loving friends were able to achieve that motivated me.  In simple terms if they can overcome bankruptcy widowhood and cancer then what excuse do I have to not even try?

In Kissing the Limitless one of the challenges is to look deep within and examine what you really want and then, once you’re certain of your goal, start moving towards it.  No excuses!  As I wrote a few days ago the message seems to be if you really want it you should be willing to do whatever it takes to get there.  With that message ringing in my ears Patty Digh’s message on her own blog resonated within me like a gong.

Wherever we are in life, no matter how hopeless things may seem; no matter how stressed, busy, or tired we are, we can find a block of time to do something that helps us get to where our soul cries out to be.  With that in mind I have taken Patty Digh of 37 Days up on her challenge as follows:

37days challenge
March 27 – May 3, 2009

I, Kelly, being of kinda sound mind and body, have willingly decided to try to do one thing consistently every single day for the next 37 days. C’mon, self, it’s just 37 days. The one thing I will try to do every day is this:

I will spend time every day working, not on my blog or on my twitter/facebook, on my book.  The book who’s cincept and title dropped into my brain like a gift from the Gods.  I am going to stop squandering that gift and do something every day that moves toward its completion.

I’m not going to pick two things or nine things because that will dilute my focus –- just one thing. One. One simple action. An action, not a goal. An action, not a value. An action, not a wish. Something I can DO.

I’m doing this challenge at this time because:

I’ve chosen this particular daily action because I believe if I do it consistently for 37 days with no (NONE, ZERO, ZIP) exceptions, I will:

I will have found a rhythm that will keep me focused and motivated so that my book will (not might not could but WILL) see the light of day on a bookstore shelf.

If I should fail, I won’t blame anyone but myself (not even my partner, that idiot with 29 items in the express lane at the Piggly Wiggly, the IRS (so needy!), the people who make frosted Pop Tarts and Lofthouse Cookies, or Fate).

I also realize that this contract is solely with myself and carries no rewards, penalties or punishments other than those associated with the reflection of the strength of my character.

New things will happen for me.

I’m ready.

TODAY IS DAY ONE.*

What can you do to make your life better, to make your life easier, to move toward your own dreams?  Pick one thing and commit to doing it for 37 days.  Will it change your life?  I don’t know.  But, I do know that some progress is better than none at all, and that it certainly can’t hurt.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

* My “day one” was yesterday.

Written by Mama KellyTags:transformation

There’s a bird on my window
And a dog in my bed
There’s a deer in my doorway
That’s all to be said
I live somewhere you don’t expect
I live in the forest, away from the world

by Angelgirl (age 12)

Written by Lady RoseTags:poem

ME!!!!!   *** doing the happy dance*** WAHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!   I can hardly believe it.

My friend from work and I were trying all day yesterday to get the tickets online but we were unable to get them and the site would go down a lot. However, she had family members who were also trying. About 20 minutes ago my friend got a call from her niece who did get 2 adult and 4 kids tickets (time slot 3-5) but decided to not take the day off, so she is giving the tickets to my friend!   And she invited me to go with her to the 2009 White House Easter Egg Hunt!!!!!!

I’m so happy I could just burst. 

My hubby and her boyfriend will most likely come along. They won’t be able to enter the lawn, but will be able to see everything from the South Gate.  My daughter is bringing her two young nieces (both under 10) and my daughter will also get to go since we have 4 tickets for children. Plus we will have the day together to sight see a bit and just enjoy being in Washington D.C. for the day.

I’ll be taking lots of photos and will definitely share them here.

Bright blessings, Lady Rose

FYI:  About White House Egg Hunt

Written by Lady RoseTags:white house

Last week I posted about Goddess Gardens and Victory Gardens.  I included an inspiring video about turning lawns into edible gardens and also encouraged the White House to add a garden also.

It has been recently reported that Michele Obama has planted a wonderful 1,100 organic garden on the lawn of the White House Lawn and it will be visible from E-street.   The garden not only has veggies, but bees too.

Excerpt:  “The Obamas will feed their love of Mexican food with cilantro, tomatilloes and hot peppers. Lettuces will include red romaine, green oak leaf, butterhead, red leaf and galactic. There will be spinach, chard, collards and black kale. For desserts, there will be a patch of berries. And herbs will include some more unusual varieties, like anise hyssop and Thai basil. A White House carpenter who is a beekeeper will tend two hives for honey.”

All I can is, “awesome!”   I’m a huge supporter of President and Mrs. Obama, and by adding an organic edible garden to the White House lawn is like the icing on the cake  It is so very cool and hopefully inspiring to others to also take up gardening and grow some of their own food.

Bright blessings, Lady Rose

Written by Lady RoseTags:garden, gardening, healthy eating, white house

This is a particularly loose ritual format.  It is meant to be customized to the needs of your life and your family.  It is meant to allow you to call upon whatever pantheon you usually work with.

It is split over two days because I know that my own energy and time constraints would not allow me to do everything this ritual would require with only one day to do it in.  You may even spread “day 1″ over the course of a week (or longer).  If clutter has really gotten out of control, or your time/energy/health is significantly limited feel free to take as much time as you need to get rid of the clutter, then spend a day getting the house company clean, then another day to do the house warding/blessing.

Day One

Clean your home, top to bottom.  Open the windows and let the house air out.  It doesn’t have to be perfect.  Do what your time and health allow.  But do pay attention to major piles of clutter and clean the important items, trying to clean/declutter something in each room. You want each room to be noticeably different in appearance and “feel.”

While you are cleaning chant something along the lines of:

Dirt be gone
and clutter too
May this home be filled
with troubles few

Day Two

Take blessed salt water and spurge (sprinkle) each room.  A little goes a long way.

Take incense that you enjoy and go through each room, hitting every corner, even inside closets.

Using your athame, a crystal point, or your dominant hand draw either a pentacle or a rune of protection over every entry into your home. This includes every window, every door, every skylight, every drain, every electrical outlet, etc.

If you live in a detached house you can also go outside and draw a protective circle about your residence, walking deosil/sunwise/clockwise, again using your athame, a crystal point, or your dominant hand.

Once your home is completed cleansed and warded it is time to bless it.

Carry a lit candle into each room and call upon the Divine to fill it with love and light and whatever blessings you feel the need for.  You may use the same words in each room along the lines of

God and Goddess hear my call
Touch each floor and touch each wall
Touch each table and touch each chair
Fill each room with blessings fair

God and Goddess hear my cry
Bless each hello and each goodbye
May each guest be trebly blessed
with peace with joy and with rest

Bless each room, bless each bed
Touch each heart and touch each head
God and Goddess hear my plea
Bless my family and bless me

Or you can offer up a customized request for each area of your home.

• You can bless the kitchen by asking that may all who enter it be nourished in body and spirit.
• You can bless the children’s room by asking that it be filled with peaceful sleep and idyllic dreams.
• You can bless the master bedroom by asking for love and passion.
• You can bless the office/art area etc. by asking for focus and creativity.

Written by Mama KellyTags:pagan, paganism, ritual, verse, wicca, wiccan, witchcraft

Sarah Palin is once again promoting the shooting of wolves from helicopters and started a big promotion of  it again the weekend of March 14, even though it violates legistration.  Fifty-eight wolves have been killed already, with the possibility of 250 or more.  This also includes gassing pups in their dens.  She also has declared war against black bears (she wants to slaughter 60% of the population), and does nothing to protect endangered species such as the bulga whale and polar bears.

Palin is even willing to clash with the federal government on the policy of aerial killing of wolves.  Gryphen posted on March 19 about how the ”predator control programs” hide behind the fallacy of keeping a predator/prey balance to help the subsistence hunter, who is trying to feed his family the way his people have done for thousands of years, but then either severely restrict the subsistence hunters access or forbid him to hunt altogether in favor of rich trophy hunters. Sarah Palin’s policies favored urban and out of state hunters at the expense of subsistence hunters over the years.

Eye On Palin (Defenders Action Fund’s campaign to expose Gov. Palin’s anti-wildlife agenda has attracted the support of actress and activist, Ashley Judd) – lots of information and ways you can help.

Legistration is in the works to strengthen the law to stop this slaughter, we need to contact our Congress and Representatives and make sure it passes.  Then we need to keep vigilant and help Alaskans to get the laws enforced.  Read more here, Sarah Palin and the Wolves.

Helen posted a list of ways we can all help stop this senseless slaughter, here is a brief excerpt: 
1. RESPOND and get educated on the issues and the false information that Sarah Palin uses to justify the killing.  (Video here)
2. MAKE A PHONE CALL and pass along information and encourage others to add their voice to the protest  - it’s easy, you do it every day, all the time. Dial the US Fish & Wildlife Service &  CALL the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service M-F 8am – 8pm at 1-800-344-9453, select option “3” (for endangered species) and hit “0” to speak with the operator. comment on the de-listing of the Grey Wolf from the Endangered Species Act, decry the “collateral damage” to brown bears that will occur because Alaska has decided to kill 60% of the population of black bears. Mention the fisheries crises and overfishing which hurts rural village food supplies, mention that Beluga Whales in Cook Inlet need protection from Palin’s toxic dumping and drilling policies.
3. EMAIL SARAH PALIN! (http://gov.state.ak.us/govmail.php) Politely let her know how you feel the her wildlife policies and encourage her to change.
4. READ MORE so you are armed with facts, and pass on the information.  Truth about Sarah Palin and Wildlife in Alaska.
Alaska Wildlife Alliance – Pedator Control Facts.
Wolf in Govenor’s Clothing.
Palin’s Faith Based Science Creates Policy.
5. WRITE TO YOUR LAWMAKERS!  Defenders of Wildlife has it set up to make writing in easy, HERE.  Be sure check out other issues and information on the site.
4. WATCH AND SHARE this  video about the dire situation facing the Beluga whales to anybody who still doesn’t know about this issue:  Palin’s Toxic Billions and Belugas
5. CONTRIBUTE if you can to the Alaska Wildlife Alliance to help them protect the wildlife. Every little bit helps.
6. BECOME AN ACTIVIST, START A PROTEST, OR MEET WITH AN OFFICIAL, WRITE AN EDITORIAL. Defenders of Wildlife has a lot of information on defending wildlife in your community.
7. ADOPT A POLAR BEAR HERE – they have lots of cute gift too for various donation levels, so you can shop for gift as well as help the polar bears.

There are many other ways to help Alaskan wildlife and wildlife every where.  I urge everyone to do what they can, become active and stay informed.   Mother Earth needs our help to protect her creatures.

Bright blessings, Lady Rose

Written by Lady RoseTags:environment, politics, wolves