Plans for the Next Year

By Ken Crawford, Veil Nebula, via Wikimedia Commons

So my goal for this blog in the upcoming (now on us!) year is to publish a post on or about every full moon.  Sometimes rituals, sometimes recipes, and sometimes philosophical thoughts on the nature of magic, the gods, faeries, etc.  Additional posts will be made by myself or Leanne whenever we have time or something interesting to write about.  I also plan on writing short, solitary devotional rituals for the 4 fire festivals, which I will try to get out before the actual day—no promises.

My personal goals, for my own practices of both magic and worship, are, right now, more ethereal.  I plan on starting daily practice of meditation, and morning and evening prayers to my gods.  I'm devoting the next year to learning about Manannán mac Lir (specifically), the Tuatha Dé Danann (generally), and, of course, Hecate (who claimed me first some 20 years ago); so, it's only polite that I offer to them all.  I'm going to figure out a schedule for offerings to the spirits and faeries, as well—I'm thinking bimonthly, but haven't made any definitive decisions yet.  All this will start in February with Lá Fhéile Bríde (Imbolc), which is when I plan to formally start my studies.

Beyond all that, I'm hoping to find the time to study ceremonial magic.  I've always been more comfortable with hedge- and kitchen-witchery, small spells, fairly simple, but lately I've been finding the need to change the way my brain operates, the way I see the world, and I've been reading John Michael Greer's Well of Galabes blog and really digging what he's saying.  So I bought—a while back—his book The Celtic Golden Dawn and it seems interesting.  I think I can learn something from it, so I'm planning on following the lessons and incorporating what works for me into my magical practice.

In another effort to rewire my brain, I'm going to study two languages: Mandarin Chinese, because I think it's beautiful, and I took 3 years of it as an undergraduate, and I'd like to work on my proficiency—which is sadly lacking after several years of nonuse; and, Gaeilge (Irish), because I've always wanted to learn it, and it seems appropriate right now considering what I'm about to step into. Language is a powerful thing.  Words are powerful.  Learning a new language will help me look at the world with a different view, I think.  Anyway, it'll be fun and I've been bored since getting my Master's degree and I can't afford right now to go after my PhD.

So those are my plans.  They will require more time studying and less TV, which I think is a very good thing.  Once I figure out my daily practices I'll create a post or a page here outlining them, and then, occasionally, I'll write about my experiences—successes and failures.

Expect a post at the next full moon!

Happy New Year, everybody!

Update: News, Plans, and Other Likely Stories

Miranda–The Tempest, John William Waterhouse via Wikimedia Commons

I can't believe that it's been six months since either of us has posted anything!  Seriously, I started this blog with the express purpose of posting at least something once a month.  Leanne expressed to me the same desire.  Life, it seems, had other ideas.  Leanne spent those months preparing for and then welcoming her son to the world.¹  While I, like the ship in the picture, spent my time crashing against the rocks with a major case of burnout that ultimately cost me a job; granted, it was only a part time job, but since my other job is also part time I'm feeling the damage.  We've had no time for magic, is what I'm saying.  Or recording our magical practices, anyway.  More's the pity.

That, however, is changing.  I don't know about Leanne, because babies take a lot of time and effort, but I am planning on posting more.  I've promised my gods that I will observe all the Celtic Fire Festivals (Lá Fhéile Bride [Imbolc], Lá Bealtaine [Bealtaine], Lá Lúnasa [Lughnasa], and Oíche Shamhna [Samhain]) and I'm thinking I'll probably celebrate the solstices and equinoxes as well.  Everybody like a party.  I will record my ritual doings here.  As well as any major or minor magical happenings in between.

My religious leanings–polytheistic–have been pushing me more towards a more devotional practice, and towards Irish reconstruction and the Celtic pantheon.  I've been dreaming of Manannán mac Lir for months now, and, more recently, Brigid.  This change of perception requires a boatload of research, practice, and patience.  I will likely post articles about my path and what stumbles befall me.  It should be interesting.  Also, if you're interested, I've constructed an eShrine for Manannán (and Hecate and Bendis) over on Tumblr.  Check it out.

In addition to spells and rituals, and witchery of all types, I'm hoping to add poetry, prayers, stories, and songs.  I'd also like to add more reference pages/posts, which, I think, will come in handy on my journey, and will hopefully be helpful to our readers as well.  So keep an eye out for posts on: gods, gems/stones, the fair folk, plants/herbs, tools, shrines/altars, divination, and whatever else we think of.  Though, likely, those posts won't come any time soon.  There are a lot of changes happening in our lives, Leanne's and mine, in a lot of ways we're both having to rebuild from major upheavals, so please be patient!  We'll get this blog rolling again soon.

¹Cutest baby boy in the world, her son!  Not cutest baby in the world, as that title currently belongs to my brother's new daughter. ;)  I'm an aunt twice over (kith-aunt & kin-aunt)!  So exciting.