Tuesday, April 14, 2020

30 Days of Witchcraft: Out of the Book

This prompt is interesting to me. Does it mean what you have taken from books? Does it mean what you have come up with without books?

I am a mostly feral witch. I'm a mostly feral everything: kinkster, drag king, witch.
As a feral, I put together a lot of my own stuff, taking what works and ignoring what doesn't.
I've read a lot of books, good, bad, useless and useful.

Here is the primary bit of out-of-the-book wisdom I have:
Headology.

A psychiatrist will tell you there are no monsters.
A headologist gives you a bat and a chair to stand on.

There's a lot to unpack in that.
1) You have to meet people where they are, not where you want them to be.
The story is told of a young mental patient who locked himself in the bathroom claiming God was angry at him. People argued and persuaded to no avail. The night nurse came on to find this situation. She wrote a note and slipped it under the door. The young man came out, all smiles.  the note read "I'm not angry with you. I love you. --God."

2) You cannot discount their experiences.

3) You have to offer solutions based on their experiences, not yours.
My mother's best friend was having a hard time when Mom died. Her mother told her it was a sin to cry when someone died, because you're just being selfish. I asked her "What's the shortest verse in the Bible?" She said "Jesus wept." I said "Do you know why? It's from the story of Lazarus. They brought Jesus word on the road that Lazarus had died, and Jesus wept. He knew he would be raising Lazarus but he still cried. If Jesus can cry for his friend, you can cry for Mom."  She felt much better.

 Most witchcraft is headology. You must know your will, know what is real, know the outcome and act accordingly.

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Where to find me

I'm here, there and everywhere during this thing.

A Long Strange Trip: gay and pagan and other fun stuff

Let's go to Disney for Free: my saving and planning blog

Dreamwidth.  My household and planning blog

Facebook anything and everything

Twitter mostly celebrity stalking

Tumblr  doing daily photodumps during quarantine

Pinterest lots of crafts and recipes. Also a new board for Covid Coping

Instagram My pictures

Patreon writing and crafts and other fun stuff

Bedtime stories me reading for the grandkids

Drag work me being a drag king

30 Days of Witchcraft: Sticks or stones

I have been a rock hound since childhood and ripped out more than one set of coat pockets filling them with rocks.

 

I do the hairnets with glass pearls, or howlite skulls or actual semi-precious beads (amethyst is popular)

And I make tree of life pendants from any pretty chip gems I find.


Oddly,though, I'm not a geomancer. I don't do much with rocks, outside of jewelry making. But I make some lovely jewelry and personal adornment.

I have some soapstone owls on my altar, around the feet of Athena, and then there's my banishing rock. (Any rock is a banishing rock if you throw it hard enough)



Thursday, April 2, 2020

My favorite Afghan Pattern

I don't have an actual name for this. I transcribed it years ago from a lost pattern book.

Gorgeous Afghan



40 oz yarn
H hook (I recommend larger. Never again on an H!)

Strip (make 6)

Center:
ch7, join to make ring
Row 1: Ch3, 12 DC in ring; (do not join) 13 dc
Row 2: Ch 4, turn. dc in next dc (ch 1, dc in next DC) across, 12 ch-1 spaces. Mark last DC
Row 3: Ch 3 turn. DC cluster (*YO, insert hook in space, YO and pull a loop, YO, draw through 2 loops, repeat from * once more, draw through all three loops) in next ch-1 space, (ch2, dc cluster in next ch-1 sp) , dc in last dc. 11 ch2 spaces.
Row 4: Ch 5, turn. ( sc in next ch 2 sp, ch 5) 11 times, skip next cluster (sc, ch1, dc in space before last dc)
Row 5: Ch 3 do not turn. 8 dc in last space made. 9 dc
Row 6: Ch 3, slst in beginning ring. ch 1 turn.  dc in next dc (ch 1, dc in next dc) 7 times; 8 ch 1 sp
Row 7: Ch 3, turn. Dc cluster in next ch1 sp (ch 2, dc cluster in space) 7 times, sl st around DC post (end of row 2), 7 ch 2 spaces
Row 8:  Ch 3, do not turn. slst  in top of DC at end of Row 3.  ch 5 , turn (sc in next ch 2  sp, ch 5) 7 times. place marker around last ch 5. Skip next cluster.  sc ch1 dc) in sp before last DC
Row 9: Ch 3 do not turn. 8 dc in last space made. 9 dc
Row 10: Ch 3, skip next 2 rows, sl st around the post of dc at end of next row, ch 1, turn; dc  in next dc, (ch 1, dc in next dc) 7 times, 8 ch 1 spaces
Row 11: Ch 3, turn. Dc cluster in next ch1 sp (ch 2, dc cluster in space) 7 times, sl st around marked DC post, 7 ch 2 spaces
Row 12:  Ch 5, turn. ( sc in next ch 2 sp, ch 5), 7 times, place marker around last ch 5. Skip next cluster.  sc ch1 dc) in sp before last DC
Row 13-88: repeat 9-12, 19 times
Row 89: ch 3 do not turn, 12 dc in last sp made ; 13 dc
Row 90: Ch 3, sk next 2 rows, slst around post of dc at end of next row, ch 1, turn, dc in next dc ( ch 1, dc in next dc) 11 times, slst in marked ch5; 12 ch 1 sp
Row 91: Ch 3 turn. word dc cluster in next ch 1 sp, (ch 2, dc cluster) 11 times slst in marked chain 5 sp
Row 92: Ch 5 turn; (sc in next ch 2 sp, ch 5) 10 times, mark last ch 5 sp. skip cluster, sc in next ch 2 sp.  ch 5, skip next cluster, slst in sp before last DC, finish off.


Border:
Rd 1: With right side facing, join yarn in marked ch5 space. ch 3, (sc in ch5 sp, ch 3) 9 times.

Work TRCluster [(uses 2 ch 5 spaces) *YO twice, insert, Yo and pull up a loop; YO draw through  2 loops twce, repeat from * once more, YO and draw through all loops], ch 3; *(sc in ch5 sp, ch 3) 5 times, work TRC, ch 3, repeat from * 9 times% (sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3) 16 times, repeat  from % to % once more, slst in beginning sc.

Rd 2: Slst in first ch-3 sp, ch 1 (sc, ch 5, sc, ch 3, sc) in the same sp 5 (sc, ch 3, sc) in each of thee next 3 ch3 sp, (sc, ch3, sc, ch 5, sc) in next ch 3 sp ( sc, ch3, sc) in each of the next 69 ch -3 sp% ( sc, ch 5, sc, ch 3, sc) in next ch 3 sp. Repeat from % to %, join with sl st in first sc

Joining:
Hold 2 strips wrong side together and bottom to the right, join yarn with sc in first corner ch 5 sp on front strip, ch 3, sc in corresponding corner on back strip. ch 2, *sc in next chain 3 sp on front strip, ch 2, sc in next space on back strip, ch 2* repeat to end, finish off. Join all strips

Edging:
Rd 1: With right side of a short edge facing, join with sc  in top right ch 5; ch 7 ( sc in same sp, ch 5) twice, *(sc in next sp, ch 5) across to next corner. [ sc, ch 7 (sc, ch5) twice] in corner ch5, repeat around

Rd 2: Ch 1, sc in same sp, ch 3, (sc, ch5,sc) in next ch  space, ch 3, * ( sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 3) 3 times, (sc, ch 5, sc) in next sp, ch 3; repeat from * around to last 2 ch5 sp. sc in next ch 5 sp, ch3, sc in last ch5 sp, ch 1, hdc in first sc to form last ch3 sp.

Rd 3: Ch 1, sc in same sp, ch 3, sc in nect ch-3 sp, 9 dc in next ch5 sp, sc in next ch3 sp. *(ch 3, sc in next ch 3 sp) 3 times, 9 DC in next ch-5sp, sc in next ch3 sp; repeat fro * around to last ch3 sp. ch3, sc in last sp, ch2, sc in first sc to form last ch3 sp.

Rd 4: Ch 1, sc in same sp and in next ch 3 sp, dc in next dc (ch 1, dc in next dc) 8 times *sc in next ch-3 sp (sc, ch3, sc) in next ch 3 sp, sc in next sp, dc in next dc (ch 1, dc in next dc) 8 times, repeat from * around to last ch-3 sp.  sc in last sp and in same sp as first sc, ch1, hdc in first sc to form last ch3 sp.

Rd 5: Ch 1, sc in same sp and in enxt ch-1 sp, ch 5 (sc in next sp, ch 5) 6 timez *sc on next 3 spaces, ch 5, (sc in next sp, ch 5) 6 times; repeat from * around to lasr ch 1 sp. sc in ch1 sp, join with slst, finish off.

Monday, March 30, 2020

30 Days of Magic: My Magical Face

 My face is an interesting thing. I don't think much about it, except when I see it in a mirror and say "Wait a minute, why don't I look like Harrison Ford, circa 1983?"

Then I remember I'm 12 years older than Ford was in 83, and even he doesn't look like himself these days.


This is one of my favorite female pictures of me doing the witchy thing.
I have always been Earth, the Crone, Winter, The Mountain Between my People and Trouble for the coven, in every iteration, by sheer virtue of age. This was Samhain, at least 10 years ago.


 This is me now. Through the magic of clothing and contouring, I'm looking a bit more like myself these days.



And this is nothing resembling a Black Magic Woman. This is the dark magic face, the one that curses and binds and has no problems with ignoring "harm none."







Saturday, March 28, 2020

What am I doing during quarantine?

I'm keeping busy, loves.

I've been cleaning. (with help) I'm running low on curb space for trash bags. I've found my dutch oven (Missing 7 years and declared legally dead) and my cookie cutters.

I've been knitting. Because I need the soothing.

I've been reading online.

Sparrow's nest has children's stories. I read these for my grandsons. But sometimes, even adults need a bedtime story

Wild Hunt, chapter 1 and 2 are up. The rest will be at my patreon.
That's https://www.patreon.com/NickRowan $1/month gets you all the reprint you want

I've been doing daily photodumps at Tumbler
https://nicholasrowan.tumblr.com/

I'm going to move a couple of chairs and use the front room to choreograph new drag routines.

Stay in.
Enjoy the videos.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Things to do while quarantined

All right, so we're all stuck at home for the next month. There's talk of going back to school April 24, but I'm not sure.

Anyway, so we're going a little stir crazy after we have burned though all the netflix we really wanted to watch.

Here are some ideas to fill all those hours we're used to working.

Establish a routine. If you're working from home, work at the same time every day. If you're off, as I am, try to get up at the same time and do the same things to start your day

Start a new hobby.
Michaels is still doing Buy Online, Pick Up In Store orders and offering curbside delivery.
Drawing takes a pencil and paper. Writing, ditto although a word processor is a good idea. Origami just takes paper and a youtube tutorial. Crochet is yarn and a hook. Knitting is yarn and 2 needles.

Weed your current hobby supplies.
(tomorrow's task here, I just found a rubbermaid of yarn)
Shopping for craft supplies and using craft supplies are two different hobbies. We all have more than we need. Sort it out, label each potential project and get rid of the excess. That 1970s hideous yarn you will never use. The tiny orphan balls (or use them up, right now for that scrap afghan)

Weed your library.
I have stacks and scads and boxes of books. I have 4 bookcases full and need a couple more. But am I going to read all of these? Unlikely. Some have monetary value. Some have sentimental value and are autographed. Some are just ephemera and need to go to new homes.

Do the house things you always you would.
I've put off a lot of housework. Am i doing it while I'm off? Yes. I've cleaned out cabinets and closets, cleaned up my art, cleared out the catch-all of my front room. I'm running out of curb space for the trashbags of stuff. And I found my dutch oven, missing these last 7 years!
Get organized

Plant a garden
(this also gives you an excuse to go to dollar tree for seeds, they're 25c/package)
Planning a garden. Starting seeds. Digging the plot and planting, then the daily tending can help you establish a routine. If the supply chains start having trouble, you have food. If they don't, you have tasty veggies this summer.

Exercise
Just because the Gym is closed doesn't mean you can't do something.
The Y has online classes https://ymca360.org/
Chris Hemsworth is offering a 6 week free trial of his new fitness app
There are lots of dance tutorials on youtube. (work up that very choreographed drag routine!)
Create your own routine

Take an online class.
There are lots right now.
Make pasta with Nonna Nerina, an 84 year old Italian grandma
Gardening classes
Some universities are offering classes too https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/7-elite-universities-offering-free-online-online-classes Just little schools like Duke and Harvard.

Visit a museum or zoo online.
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/travel/a31784720/best-virtual-tours/
Want to go to the Louvre, the Vatican Museum, the Smithsonian?
The San Diego and Atlanta zoos are clicks away
You can even do Disney Ride Throughs and pretend you're there.

Join Pinterest.
If you want Disney snacks after your virtual visit, there are lots of copycat recipes on Pinterest.
You can find anything you want here, from recipes to craft patterns to organization ideas.
(I'm valarltd and my copycat recipe board is here: https://www.pinterest.com/valarltd/food-copycat-recipes/)

Learn a new language with Duolingo
It's a challenge. but Duolingo is fun and easy.

Read.
Get some of that reading in. Go through your shelves. Go to Project Guttenburg. Get free ebooks everywhere. (Including here, if you leave a request in the comments)

Expand your cinematic vocabulary
Check out AFI's lists for suggestions. https://www.afi.com/afi-lists/
Or try the 1000 movie challenge https://www.listchallenges.com/1000-movies-to-be-seen
Or the 1000 movies to see before you die. (I've seen 258 of them)

Blog or keep a diary
These are Interesting Times, folks and diaries are useful for the future.

Before you go to bed, make a plan for the next day.
Tomorrow is Thursday
I will get up, get dressed, make my bed, put in my teeth
I will eat breakfast (cold cereal)
I will swish and swipe in my bathrooms
Declutter 15 minutes in my bedroom and clean off my nightstand
I will put away dishes and wash more.
I will soak cookie cutters
I will scrub my tubs and mop my bathrooms
I will clean out the Nitro so I can pick up the washer on Friday
I will work with my cleaning crew
I will plan my garden based on seeds I have
Dinner is cheddar brats and tater tots