Photo

Snapped after lunch with the girls...

Brutus would have loved this!

How happy would it make you to make another littler life happy today?

Independence Day

There is always a special feeling in the air on Independence Day. It’s hard not to feel patriotic, I think, and reverence toward your country’s history and struggle as a people. The world’s history is filled with struggles, persecuted pagan people know this, and it’s nice to feel a win for the little guys. It just feels…good, and happy.

My Independence Day this year was spent doing the final touches of cleaning and turning over of the keys from my first place. My first apartment of my own. I moved to be close to work, and in a slightly bigger, slightly nicer place. It was time to make that transition.

But wow, was it tough to go. Really, to pack everything and leave it all behind, memories and first successes…sometimes, living a magical life, you have to let go of the old things to make new ones. There is great myth and magick in destruction. In Hawaiian lore, Pele is the Goddess of volcanoes, fire, destruction, creation and transformation. Because while the Hawaiians know that lava burns away everything in its path – it is also what cools and hardens to create the land they live on. (They were early, primitive geologists!)

Let go of what you don’t need. Keep dear what you do, for it comes from the old. In moon magick, the waning moon leads to the dark night of the new moon, to the waxing moon and into the full moon. In life, the tide recedes to swell the ocean so the tide may pull again.

I feel OK with all this, and happy. I let go of something I didn't need anymore, a responsibility that was holding me to my old life and keeping me from moving on. And so we watched fireworks, my boyfriend and I, in the frame of the old trees and moon. You can see the pictures here. And I celebrated my independence!

Finding Fehu: Runic Yoga

This year for the Summer Solstice, I tried something new: Runic Yoga.


The runes seemed so...archaic, and outdated...and how could the possibly be useful? Cattle, wheels, agriculture...I live in a world far from that, I had no idea how they could apply to me.


But from my love of Freya and the myths, I figured I'd give it a shot. And I already do yoga, so...what the heck. If all else failed, I'd at least be more bendy.


I started with Fehu. In the dim light and calmness of night, I prepared for some meditation. I twisted up my arm and leg into the shape of Freya's rune. The small bit of pain, from the stretching, I gave up to her...a little sacrifice for my Craft.


This rune I have read to represent Freya, and cattle. It’s a strong indicator to me that Freya and Fehu both begin with Fs. The cattle element reminds me of Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of love and fertility, who was a cow Goddess. It also reminds me of the primordial cow who gave birth to the Norse people, in their mythology. Cattle are not the mindless, fat/ugly beasts we’ve come to see them as. They are symbols of fertility and feeding the world, with their meat and milk we still consume. The mother cow, with bloated udders and milk for her calf and even more for the people who care for her, is above and beyond just a simple mother figure. They changed hands as dowry, ultimate boons for brides. The cow - Fehu - Freya, are all intertwined.


That's when the electricity in my house started to flicker from the electricity I felt in the air and in my body. My icemaker started popping out ice cubes. I knew it was turned off, and I got up to check it. Twice. But it kept going. It was such a thrill, and a peaceful and calming joy, to be joined.


Night two was a meditation on Isa. This rune I’ve known to represent ice. I’ve read that it represents the frost giantesses (which, I don’t remember) and freezing in position. A sort of peaceful, don’t move before you think mentality. Ice, however, is a creating force, carving the landscape into lakes, like the lakes of my hometown, and fjords. It is always moving, always alive. In having this meditation, a vision came to me, one I'd never seen. It was in perfect color, moving and alive - of a Norwegian waterfall of such height and beauty that I'd never seen it before. I never knew Norway had waterfalls like oasises. The next day I looked it up, sure enough, the land is full of them. One of these I'd been to, I knew it! (There would come a time, I hope, that I will go back.)


And so I've been having awesome experiences with the runes. Sometimes nothing comes. (Mostly when I fall asleep.) Sometimes everything does. One, the divine twins, Contrasting the horse and rider ehwaz, even came into perfect clarity during a sexual experience! I know this is a practice I will keep with me.

Witch at Work

After a couple months at my new job, I have been hired permanently and offered a raise.

Best advice I got? A older girlfriend of mine was such a goddess. I had a great conversation with them to start with, they said they'd call to set up an interview. I left a message or two, but never heard back. She told me to keep calling until they picked up the phone and told me no to my face! Well, ear.

Beltane Ritual

Beltane is a favorite sabbat of mine! A night when the veil between the worlds parts, it is the Halloween of spring…the faeries and spirits come dance to play while the world celebrates its fertility and life.

I believe in the magick of things. Objects can carry with them the spirit of what they were used for and infused with. On the same token, I don’t believe you should take, I believe you use and give back, or ill will follows you. When I found ribbons at work that had been given to us by clients, I knew they would be perfect for my maypole rite.

Reds and pinks are colors of fertility and Aphrodite, along with green, a Venus color representing life and wealth. My handheld maypole with these ribbons was perfect for my goal of fortune at work and my career. Each wind around the pole had the same effect as my Webweaver Spell did. Each little binding blended the two beautiful magick styles of color magick and knot magick. Infuse yourself into it – sing and even dance to yourself while you do this. Raise the cone of power with the faeries!
One Beltane, try making your own career maypole…I know I will again next year!

Finding Freyja: Interview with a Norse Practitioner

This is an interview I held over a couple occasions with a man who has been a devotee of Freyja for many, many years. Many of the things he said are terribly interesting and useful. Since he is a warrior, I will call him Viking.

Background

Viking: I'm a Norse Pagan. I'm of German and Swiss ethnic background, so it just kinda made sense for me. I'm not as much into it as I used to be, but Ive done a considerably amount of training, such as building the energy ball and boosting my senses and whatnot.

A friend turned me onto it back when I was in high school when I was in a really dark place and it helped me to deal with stuff. I had a pretty crappy childhood, so I had some problems with anger and with dealing with how unfair and cruel life can be sometimes and Paganism helped me to deal and to understand about life. I went to Sunday school and confirmation when I was a kid and the stuff they were teaching really never answered my questions about why things are the way they are. In Paganism I found those answers and an understanding of life.

Julie: That is so fantastic...I started studying Norse paganism recently since I too am from a heavy Germanic background. But I'm kind of eclectic too. When I started studying it seemed there was only Wicca...you know...so that's part of it for me but at the same time not it at all. The draw for me about pagan spirituality was the goddess aspects. Finally a religion where I wasn't inferior! I've been looking for someone to interview to represent the Norse believers.

Viking: I studied Wicca at first too. Then I realized there was much more to it than that and that Wicca was merely the pop culture version of it. Anyone who says that Wicca is the world's oldest religion is full of BS. Wicca was invented in the '50s, although it does incorporate many of the old world Pagan practices. I understand what you mean about finding a religion where you didn't feel inferior. A lot of men feel somewhat threatened by how much Wicca/Paganism empowers women. (smiles)

Julie: Exactly...it was figuring out what the real old world paganism practices were that was fun for me. I still like figuring out what is authentic, and why, and how it all happened. Too simplified to light a candle for "the god" and a candle for "the goddess" and call it a day.

Viking: I agree. I quickly learned to look deeper and find the hidden meaning. What really appealed to me about Paganism is that it was never as simple as praying to some all-powerful being and having my sins wiped away. Paganism pushed me to look inside myself for the answers and to make me strive to be a better person.

Questions
Julie: OK, for starters...What does your background come from....reading mythology or the Eddas or anything else?

Viking: Mostly reading the mythology and whatnot.

Julie: What does your practice comprise of...do you practice rituals?

Viking: Mostly meditation and prayer.

Julie: Do you have a god/ess/gods you focus on more than the others? One that you're drawn to?

Viking: Freya. I’ve always been big into martial arts, so I was really drawn to her because when warriors were killed on the battlefield she would comfort them and help them in their journey to Valhalla.

Julie: And select the best warriors first, for her own.

Viking: True. I actually pray to her quite often. For protection for myself and those I care about and guidance.

Julie: Would you say there are little omens, or any way you feel her with you?

Viking: Yeah, I'd describe it as a motherly presence.

Julie: That's interesting. Many say she's a beautiful, sexy, spunky goddess.

Viking: (Laughs)...I'd agree with that. But its not as if I'm attracted to her in that way.

Julie: Well, no...that would be a bit twisted. By a bit, of course...a lot.

Viking: She has been there for me in the darkest times of my life. And while she offers me guidance, I still have free will and Ive had a few, "told ya so" moments with her.

Julie: Can you explain either one of those more?

Viking: Sure. In the dealings with some of my ex-girlfriends, afterwards she walked me though it and explained to me why things happened how they did and showed me the lesson that I was meant to learn from it. Its a moment of clarity where I see things as they are. From all points of view and with no ego. Sometimes its been pretty brutal but its also been what I needed.

Julie: Would you say it's an advantage then to have a goddess' perspective in your life as a man?

Viking: I think so. It shows me a woman's point of view and shows me things from more of a feminine perspective. Men and women see things very differently and I think that has made me view things differently.

Julie: You explained a bit, but...can you say again how you started on this spiritual path, and what attracts you to it?

Viking: A friend showed me some of the basic stuff (building the energy ball) and I began studying it from there. I found a much greater understand of the world and my place in it. Instead of man being higher than the rest of the world, Paganism taught that we are merely part of it. Interconnected and dependent on every other living thing. Despite all of our technology, we are still merely part of the ecosystem. I also really connected with the concept of the rule of 3. I find that to me true, that the things you do will eventually be visited back upon you.

Julie: Three times over...absolutely. I've had my ass kicked by that one

Viking: (Laughs)...I think we all have. It makes you stop and think though. And I think that’s the point of the rule. It makes you evaluate how you are living your life and the choices you make.

Julie: Do you feel more connected to the environment because of your spirituality, or the other way around...you're spiritual because you're connected to the environment?

Viking: Both. Its kind of hard to explain, I guess. The rule makes me see things from a different point of view. But I do have a metaphysical connection to the world around me. Sometimes I know things are going to happen before they happen. Its weird. I see things without having a picture in my mind, hear things without sound and feel things that I’ve never touched with my hands. It’s like I’m there, but I’m not...It’s weird and its kind of annoying sometimes.

Julie: A regular thing or now and then?

Viking: I guess you could say its kind of like woman's intuition. It comes and goes.

Julie: Having both, yes, I suppose they're very similar sometimes! Do you have dreams? Feelings? Talent at reading people?

Viking: All of the above. For me, the key is the eyes. I can look into someone's else and its like I instantly know a lot about them. Not so much details about their life, but personality characteristics. In the case of people that are a little shady, their eyes look dead. In the case of people who lead good, decent lives; their eyes have a light.

Julie: have you found practical uses for this...business deals or whatever?

Viking: Yeah, its definitely a good guide for whom I want to associate with.

Julie: Well that's very useful then. (smiles)

Viking: Sometimes its a curse too. I sometimes wish I could be ignorant of all this stuff like everyone else and just have fun even when someone isnt exactly the best person. But this knowledge and the feelings associated with it make me not want to associate with people. Or I should say, with SOME people.

Julie: What would you say to someone interested in learning how to relate to those gods, getting to know them? What would you say if they asked you to teach them?

Viking: I would say just read about them, pray to them and try to welcome them into your heart. I got started merely asking Freya for guidance. It's really no different than how other people describe welcoming any other religion into their life.

Julie: I like that...I think some are scared by something so big, that seems inaccessible.

Viking: It is scary. Dealing with magick can be dangerous, especially when you first start out because you can sometimes open a door and you don't know whats going to come out. Not all of the spirits out there are good. After a while, you develop a certain level of control and you can be OK, but you gotta be careful at first. Even now, I dont mess with certain things: ouji boards, seyonaces, haunted places and graveyards at night. When I first got started on this path, I thought I was a bad---, so I used to go to haunted places all the time and I've seen some pretty f----- up s--- that I dont want to mess with again. We have LOTS of haunted places when lots of messed up things happened. That's what I mean about opening a door and not knowing what is going to come through or who you are talking to.

Julie: You know when you're talking to Freya though, right? You need to trust your instinct...listen to your heart?

Viking: The difference is the things she tells me. I've talked to bad spirits too and there is a difference. The bad ones always tried to lead me down a path that I don't wanna go and tried to pressure me into it. Tried to make me do bad things. And the scratches were parallel and at least 6" long, so I don't know how would do that to myself. About 4 years ago I attended a Pagan fest and met a priestess who told me that I was inhabited by 3 demons, she removed them from me and it hasn't happened since. So, at least for now, I guess I'm good.

Julie: High magick for you from now on, I hope.

Viking: Oh, yeah. I'm not big into the herbs and all that. I'm more into drawing energy to my chakras and whatnot. I use it for healing.

Julie: So you're familiar with Chakras...other eastern styles?

Viking: Yes. In addition to Paganism, Ive studied a lot of Eastern teaching of the Zen and the Buddhists. But I'm a Pagan, that's what I relate to the most. I would describe it as a great city, with many roads that lead to the same destination.

We are accountable for all our deeds, be them good or bad and someone is keeping score. When we die, I think we have to answer for the wrongs we did. Sort of like what the ancient Egyptians believe, in that when you died your heart was weighed by Anubis and if it wasn't enough, he eats you.

Julie: Freya and the Valkyries judged the honorable warriors, not those wearing her amulet or begging her to change her mind. I think that will be great for my interview.

Viking: Yes. It's nice to share with someone who has similar beliefs. Blessed be.

Rock Star

One thing I have long enjoyed using in my magical practice is stones.

While you can find many sources on the internet and in books about different types of stones and their various uses, using stones is as much about intuition and the essence of each individual stone as anything else.

Here’s a simple ritual I performed for a dance job I wanted and was right for.

I selected a rounded, pink rose quartz to represent myself. Round stones are female, and Rose Quartz is the stone of my patron Goddess, Aphrodite.

I selected a cube-like, blue Lapis Lazuli to represent the man in charge. Squarish stones are male. I also selected a few cube-like pieces of green Aventurine to represent the few other men involved.


I placed these together in a handmade satchel and tied with twine. I lit a stick of Jasmine incense and meditated on the stones in the palm of my hand, visualizing my intent. Then I placed them under my mattress and slept on them for three weeks or so, before getting the job.

Talking to Animals

I have a sexy, saucy girlfriend I’ll call Lucy. Lucy has several years age on me, in the physical and metaphysical world. I won’t betray all her confidence, but I will say she found herself on the streets far too young, in a world of drugs and sex that would be a death sentence to many. But threaded down the skin of her spine, to the small of her back, is a thin line of spider’s silk. The base of her tattoo is a black widow spider. A female of her species who is strong, deadly, and in control.

Lucy is terrified of spiders, as am I, always have been. But she has adopted this animal as her symbol and a metaphor for her life. She has absolutely earned that right. She is out of that world, on her own, working hard, and is an absolute success.

Many people relate to a totem animal. As a simple example, some relate to Aries the Ram or Taurus the Bull. The Cherokee women of my “ScandinIndian” lineage (thanks for the eyes, ladies) believed that a person has nine or more totems: a totem in each direction (north south east and west,) an animal above, below, to the left, to the right, and within. Each animal serves a different role. Further, totems can come in and out of our lives, omens if you will; bringers of messages. And lastly, a person can have a Shadow Totem. That animal that we fear most of all can teach us the most of all.

Animal totems are not unique to just the Cherokee. I’ll bet not only do all indigenous American cultures have an animal spirit concept, but perhaps all ancient cultures around the world.

I’ve been having a difficult time with my new job. Not a hard time with the new job, not at all, I love it and it’s where I feel I’m meant to be! But I’m having a hard time with the temporary aspect. The not knowing if I will stay or go, if all I have will just be taken from me.

Since the weather has been turning to spring, sunnier and warmer, I really hoped it would be a time of creation in my career and in my life. Sitting by a crystal turquoise pool one beautiful afternoon a couple days ago, with some Hawaiian Huna oracle cards in my car, I decided to do a meditation and card draw. I re-conjured the image of Hawaii when I had visited (and where the cards are from), said the prayer, and cut the deck.

I had drawn Spider. There she was, staring at me. And of course she was. In Huna, Spider is the creatrix. Consider the miracle of her silk, strong enough to handle gale force winds. And talk about birthing, a spider will lay thousands of eggs.

I shared this with a friend, an author I have been in touch with who is the world’s only Doctor of Huna. Lanalana is their Spider’s name (has quite a ring to it). “Lanalana is definitely about creating something yourself, and having the courage to do that!”

While I am thrilled the oracle turned out so well, I also know there is something to using your own power, too.

Web Weaver Spell

It is the first day of spring, truly a time for something new and great to happen. I’ve written the perfect ritual. I’ve used some things I’ve been thinking about, some stones and animal totems (which I’ll post about). I’d be happy to share it.

Part one: Casting the Circle
You can do this in any way you wish. I myself use ceremonial, or high, magick (which means I call a Goddess I have had experience with into each corner), and I set my altar in the west to honor my patron Goddess and Goddess of Attraction, and it is also my hearth. Casting a circle is personal, and I adapt it to my ritual purpose as well. You can do this however you wish. (If you don’t know how, many articles and books can help you.) Gather your items before starting, make sure you are clean (I shower and scrub with sea salt), calm and clear minded.

Light a red candle in the South.
“Guardians of the watchtower of the South, be with me in my rite. Goddess Pele, hail and welcome. Fill me with passion and fire.”

Light a yellow candle in the East.
“Guardians of the watchtower of the East, be with me in my rite. Goddess Brighid, hail and welcome. Fill me with the spark of inspiration.”

Light a green candle in the North.
“Guardians of the watchtower of the North, be with me in my rite. God Odin and Goddess Freya, hail and welcome. Keep me grounded and humble.”

Light a blue candle on the altar in the West.
“Guardians of the watchtower of the West, be with me in my rite. Goddess Aphrodite, hail and welcome. Fill me with the serenity and the magick of the depths of the oceans.”

Carve the circle with your athame, wand, hands or other tool. I used a pointed piece of rose quartz that had sat on my altar for a month. (Normally used for scrying, it told me it was the right time for this ritual.)
“I cast this circle to keep me free from all negativity, and anything that will work against me and my purpose.” (4x)

Smudge your circle. I use incense and a feather from my familiar animal.
“I cleanse this circle of all negativity, and anything that will work against me and my purpose.” (4x)

The circle is cast.
Cleanse your stones in a glass container, in pure water with a piece of Obsidian. (“I cleanse these stones from their previous purpose.”) Use a magickal number, like 3, 7 or 9.

Now for your ritual.
Take a thin piece of thread or floss, and begin tying the stones you have selected for the ritual, to represent different people (known or strangers). (Stones set in jewelry are perfect for this.)
“I weave this web, to bring together the people I need, so I may help them ___________ and they may help me ____________.” Recite this for each stone tied.
Place in a satchel and tie shut.

Close the circle.
With your tool first, the opposite direction.
“I close this circle. May the circle be closed, but unbroken.”
Snuff the incense.

Snuff the blue candle. Guardians of the watchtower of the West, Goddess Aphrodite, hail and farewell.

Snuff the green candle. Guardians of the watchtower of the North, God Odin and Goddess Freya, hail and farewell.

Snuff the yellow candle. Guardians of the watchtower of the East, Goddess Brighid, hail and farewell.

Snuff the red candle. Guardians of the watchtower of the South, Goddess Pele, hail and farewell.

Carry your satchel with you to work, in your pocket. Sleep with it under your pillow. Meditate with it.

Lessons from Barbie

On Monday, Barbie turned 50. Groan you may, but I’m a big fan. Barbie spurs far more use of imagination and activity than today’s television-computer-cell phone world that kids live in. –Barbie is a blank canvas. She comes with no pre-scripting. To a young girl who dreams of growing up to do something great or be something special, she is that white sheet of paper upon which an artist projects her dreams. She's the ultimate career woman, since she comes with such possibility, and you make her your own.

My Barbie was the Indiana Jones of plastic dolls. She was rarely inside the Dream House. She drove a pink jeep, pink speedboat and even had a plastic safari hat. She went pearl diving and mountain climbing (up the cascading bedspread) – having to fight the great bear at the top. All before schmoozing at her evening gala, dancing in a performance, or playing her rock show (or getting married for the umpteenth time to the same noncommittal man). My Barbie was well worn and loved, with ratty hair and missing shoes.

While I didn’t grow up to do nearly any of those things, Barbie can teach us something. Twenty different girls or boys can start with the same thing, the same bent-arm half-smiling plastic doll girl, and end up with twenty different women. We’re a lot like that too. We all start with basically the same body, and we can choose how we want to dress ourselves, what we want to do and how we want to present ourselves.

1. The first step of magick is goal setting. Anyone will tell you that the first step is desire, not just desire but the overwhelming desire in every cell of you that wants what you want. It is conviction paired with willingness to work. This isn’t Cinderella wishing to her fairy godmother to become a princess. The reason many don’t believe in magick is that they expect it to be like that.

2. To start spellcrafting for yourself, you need to see yourself as a canvas, a work-in-progress painting, that is missing something. Then you need to decide what that something is.

3. Then you need to commit to achieving it.

Magick is paired with planning and work. They’re the mundane details no one talks about that always appear in successful spells. If you perform magick for your career, then you pair it with sending out resumes and working for your business deals and constantly seeking success. If you perform magick for love, you perform a spell opening yourself to love and seeking it and actively going out to find love and loving people.

Ask yourself, what do you want for yourself?

I understand the argument against Barbie, that she suggests an unrealistic and unhealthy standard of beauty.

I recall being in a fitting room and I heard a conversation from a woman and her little girl in the spot next to me. By the sound of the girl’s voice, she was maybe four.

Mom: “How does mommy look?”

Girl: “You look beautiful.”

Mom: “Ugh. You don’t think mommy needs to lose some weight?”

Girl: “I need to lose weight.”

Mom: (humoring her) “Oh, you think you do? How much weight do you think you need to lose?”

Girl: “Like, a pound.”

Maybe, call me crazy, but maybe girls get their body image from hearing everyone bash their own selves. This conversation says two things to me: 1. her mom obviously says this kind of crap all the time (about herself, not her daughter, I’m sure) and 2. the girl clearly has no concept of what a pound is or what losing weight means, only that her mom gripes about it all the time and doesn’t think she’s beautiful.

Can’t we take the child’s approach and just see a woman as beautiful, and not judge it down to the nth degree? Revel in what the Goddess gives? Don’t get me wrong, if you want to make yourself better, I’m all for that, and you do that for you, and to HONOR the Goddess and you decorate the temple she has in you. Doesn't that seem far more productive and positive than having so much anger at someone else outside of yourself, or yourself?

Can’t we just embrace play and have adventures and not read into what pure joy really means? Isn’t that what play, be it a Barbie doll or anything else, really is?

Tomorrow is the last day of work before the weekend. It is also Freyja’s Day. I’m going to spend it feeling creative, feeling beautiful, and feeling damn adventurous. Viva la Barbie.

Finding Your Roots

I knew last night when I first got in my car that it would be a good night. I was waiting for a green arrow to u turn (the silly streets here are set up that way) and I fumbled through the radio stations. Crummy run of the mill dance music, soul music seriously lacking soul, overly indulgent love songs…then I hit a station and BTO came out of my speakers. I instinctually turned it up and started singing along.

Old, classic rock reminds me of my father, who, for the entirety of my life, has been an old, classic rock musician. I was thinking to myself as I drove, that these were my roots. Sure, there are the ancient ancestries witches often revel in, but we can’t forget our family, where we came from, and our humble beginnings. My beginnings happen to include a strong base and shredding guitar solo interludes.

I met Angelia at our spot (after we debated going somewhere else and decided not to mess with our favorite recipe). We chatted on the porch before heading inside for a listen to the band, which was playing, wouldn’t you know, rock songs from the late 70s and 80s. The place was just packed with people from all stages of life, and you could see in their faces the various memories they were re-living and just wondering what they were. Before the occasional bar skank plowed into you from behind, utterly trashed, squealing “I LOVE this song!” and re-living her memory a little too publicly. We headed off the main floor after the first break, for a quieter spot in the back. Next to me, I met Don and Sancho.

I was enjoying myself and singing every word to Panama (I don’t even like that sgong) “I have a question,” Don asked me, seriously. “How old are you?” I played along, but had a feeling I knew where this was going. (Where does it ever go?) Then he said, “I’m 10 years older than you and I know these songs. How do you know them?” I just smiled and told the truth, these were my roots.

It was fun talking to the two, even after Angelia left, still hung over from her night before. Turns out they both worked in the field I will be working in. He said when I get established he would take me to some happy hour networking events. Sometimes playing along really does help, I do suppose!

Working Witch

I finally found a JOB! After a long, exhausting search, seeming hopeless at many points, I will be starting with a luxury real estate firm next week. I was feeling like I would have taken anything. Counter intuitively, that actually made it worse. What I needed was a shot of confidence. To stop thinking of myself as a desperate victim, decide I deserved it, to figure out what I could offer them that no one else could and sell it! I'm young, trend-savvy and at times too plugged in...and that turned out to be just what I have to give to an entrepreneurial, progressive employer.

It took a lot of spellcasting. I had gotten in touch with Stacey Demarco (of Witch in the Boardroom fame) on a friendly level, and tore through her book. In there I found a couple spells that really did the trick. (I would post them, however, they're not mine to reprint.) What she also wrote about, though, were the ancient laws that bring us prosperity ("like attracting like," for instance: being what you want to become until you become it. Fake it until you make it.) She also wrote about sending your intention out and then participating. Stopping thinking that magic is going to come from outside of you, and starting to tap into the magic inside of you and making magic happen. In reality, it's fantastic advice for anyone, witch or not!

With all the excitement though, this new job has it's downside. It's temporary "trial" employment to begin with. At first this made me nervous. I wonder if I can cut it, especially since I've done similar marketing but never in this field...but at the same time, I feel that same confidence swell in me again. I know I will try my hardest to succeed at this, I know I am capable if I don't relent at puting my nose to the grindstone.

I went out and celebrated with my girlfriends, Angelia and Gisele. We went to one of our favorite pubs where a favorite band of mine plays. It's just an 80s cover band, but the nostalgia is always a fun time. I was enjoying myself watching the band when the man in front of me asked if I wanted to dance. I noticed that although no one was out there, once we went, several other men and women alike joined us. One girl near me was grooving in her chair, even though she was surrounded by friends, a little nod to her and she jumped up as well. I got her dancing with my gentleman friend and had to leave them there with eachother. Angelia and Gis never danced, but I knew they were having fun.

Angelia sent me a note the next day. I guess a fellow had come up to her and Gis to ask where I was. Why he didn't say anything for the few hours I was there, I don't know. (Gisele is weather hardened - and I mean that metaphorically - with a smokey voice and a huge chip on her shoulder about men. Still, Angie said she really tried to work this guy, leaving her standing there ignored.) I wondered how many people are standing pitched at the edge, toes on the line, ready to jump but never do. It's not a shot of courage they need so much as a shot of confidence. You need to believe in yourself when no one else does, and if you don't, then fake it til you make it. Other people aren't concerned with you. They just aren't. You need to drive yourself, decide if you're either going to matter to people or forget about them. Here's hoping you can be the one they wonder about when you're gone!