Am I Still A Filianist? Well, yes but it's weird.

 I apologize but there's no transcript for this video either. My kids kept interrupting me so it took me a few tries to even get it done. I'm amazed they didn't photobomb me. LOL

In this video, I explain where I stand in my faith, give a picture of how I see Filianism relating to Heathenry on my blended path, and try to explain the radio silence from the conservative orthodox Filianic community since 2013. Let's just say that politics got mixed in with religion and it got a little ugly. Now, however, they're starting to be more active on the internet again so perhaps more open discourse can happen between everybody.

Herbs, tools, & treasures: House plants.

 Dear Reader,

This week's subject line is a bit vague. That is because I am covering a broad topic that I have only recently gotten into studying. Almost every witch or nature enthusiast is going to have houseplants. They're lovely to look at. They clean the air of our homes. And tending them can be great for your stress levels. 

There's a lot to recommend indoor gardening (as Beloved calls it) as a hobby. It is, however, very important to keep in mind that many popular indoor plants are not safe for children or pets (or anybody) to consume. I'll give you an example. I currently have a Kalanchoe that looks fabulous. It is one of the most toxic plants that I own. When they're in flower, the toxic compounds of the plant are concentrated most in the blossoms. If you have a pet that likes to nibble on green things, this can kill them deader than a door nail. Kalanchoe poisoning causes stomach cramps, vomiting, and heart failure. If someone or something gets into the plant, you have about 24 hours before it's lethal. Beautiful plant with jade green leaves, very easy to take care of and propagate, and absolutely toxic.

If you have plants in your home that you're not sure are toxic to your family or pets, you should investigate them before you put them at a level where they can get at them. It was only by pure luck that I stopped my son (when he was a toddler and thought all things green equal lettuce) from eating a leaf off of my Golden Pothos. This could have made him extremely sick and put him into the hospital. Since then, I have my plants hanging and have taught my kids that the plants that they eat are the ones that we give them out of the fridge or from the garden. It was a scary moment when I learned later just how sick my 3 yo son could have been.

Now, when I look into purchasing houseplants, I don't just look up how to care for them but also how toxic they are. This determines where I put them and if I allow my children access to them. Some of my plants, if the stems are broken, will exude a sap that can cause an allergic reaction. So, I handle the watering of those plants while the boys handle the watering of the ones that are safer. It is a bit of extra work to find out if that pretty plant in the grocery store is safe but it is completely worth it to prevent a hospital trip or worse.

I love my houseplants and they make me very happy. At the same time, I handle them with care and respect for the potential danger that comes with them. It is funny, to be honest, 98% of the plants in my apartment are somehow toxic where as 98% of the plants growing out in the garden are edible. I think I somehow got it backwards.

Practical Witchery: Spice cupboard = Spell supply cabinet.

 Dear Reader,

I apologize for this post being a day late. Family business had me running about town and getting errands done most of the day. Kitchen witchery is more than a cozy aesthetic. It can be an inexpensive and highly functional way to get spell work done. Many of the spices in your cupboard have magical associations that have been forgotten about.

I can't give you a full list of spices and associations because I don't have a complete collection of herbals. What I can do, however, is point you in the direction of some good resources. Before I do that, I want to explain why spices and herbs are a great tool to use in your magical work. First off, they're easily accessed from your local supermarket or grocery store. You don't have to go foraging and worry if what you're collecting is an endangered plant or not. Secondly, unless someone has a specific food allergy, they're safe for use in all forms of spell craft, including things that are going to be consumed or put upon the skin.

A well stocked spice cupboard is going to include things like Tarragon, which is a plant known to help with psychic abilities and ease with sleep. An older name for Tarragon is Mugwort. You may have seen things that call for Mugwort. There is multiple plants that go by this name, Tarragon is the safest to use and is very gentle in its effects. Other items in your spice cupboard can be used to create incense, which can save you big money down the road. (I have an incense blend for Loki that is a combination of clove, cinnamon, and dried ginger. I put a pinch of the ground spices onto a bit of smoldering charcoal and it smells wonderful.)

It is important to recognize if you are using herbs and spices as alternative medicine that you should consult with your doctor. Almost every herb and spice has some form of medicinal use at correct proportions. Fenugreek, for example, is known to help with gas and is said to help nursing mothers increase their milk production. It can, however, interact with medications that you are on. Don't worry about bringing up the use of herbs and spices in your efforts to be proactive in your health. Today, there is a legion of doctors, nurses, and pharmacists who are trained to know what herbs will interact with what medications. (This includes food too, as I'm on one that I had to give up grapefruit because it causes liver problems with the medication I'm on. It was my pharmacist who explained that one to me.)

Looking up the uses of herbs and spices in a magical and medicinal purpose is challenging. There's a lot of conflicting information out on the internet. I would recommend one begins with actual books that have been published on the topic. While Culpepper's Herbal is interesting, it should be regarded with some caution because it was written long before we understood how medicine worked. M. Grieve's A Modern Herbal (it's two volumes) is a bit dated because it comes from approximately the WWI / WWII era. It does, however, contain a great deal of information on how to use a wide range of plants, including herbs and spices in your work. The best book I can recommend is The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants from Andrew Chevallier. This book covers the science and the history of the use of a wide range of plants (a large number of them being herbs, spices, and edible ones).

Divination: Rune Study - Algiz

 Dear Reader,

Algiz is an interesting rune. It shows up in the Elder and the Younger Futhark. It is associated with the letter 'z' at the end of masculine nouns in the Elder Futhark and the letter 'r' at the end of masculine nouns in the Younger Futhark. It is also associated with the letter 'x' in the Younger Futhark. The meaning of this rune changes when you move from the Elder to the Younger Futhark.

The Elder Futhark name of this rune is Algiz or Elhaz which roughly translates to the word elk. The Younger Futhark name of this rune is Yr, which translates to yew and is in a reversed orientation than what is pictured. This is another problematic rune for all it's fascinating qualities because it was adopted by the Nazis in both orientations. The upright orientation was associated with life and the downward one with death.

Ralph Blum, in his Book of Runes, associated Algiz with protection. He insists this is something he was taught from another. Given that I had seen this association in other places prior to encountering Blum's book which date to before it was published, I think that there is a folk belief that remains that Algiz is protection. This, however, is brought into question by the Younger Futhark rune poem.

The Elk-sedge usually lives in the fen,

growing in the water. It wounds severely,

staining with blood any man

who makes a grab at it. (Source: Wikipedia) 

This gives Algiz some connotations in readings that could be similar to the rune Thorn. In my experience of reading runes, Algiz speaks of protection that comes from one's natural resources like the elk's rack of horns. It speaks of protection given by those around you and of protection that is passive resistance as found with elk-sedge's sawtooth leaves. In a reversed orientation, Algiz speaks of protection being withdrawn, allies departing, and danger. 

Pandemic life is hard and being yourself is just as hard.

 I'm sorry that the video doesn't have a transcript. I just ramble here about how the pandemic life has been hard and the effect it's had on my family, our social lives, and my spiritual life. I also ramble on a bit about how I have been growing to be more authentic in my self presentation. Yes, that is a BDSM collar you see in the cover pic. I've been wearing it off and on for years. Over the course of the last year, a lot of my hesitancy about fully expressing myself has worn off. As a result, I'm transitioning my wardrobe over to goth with pops of color because I've always wanted to dress in that fashion (but past harassment made me reluctant to do what made me happy). I'm also wearing the collar for two reasons. One, it is a comfort item that makes me feel safe, happy, and loved when I wear it. Reason number two: fashion is awesome. I've got that ribbon on not to make the collar stand out (though I don't mind that it has that effect) but because I've worn this thing for so long that the plating on the hardware has worn off and my skin is reacting to the base metal. Metal allergies suck.

The long and short of the video is living through a pandemic is hard and terrifying. Equally hard is working to be your authentic self when you're living in a hostile climate. The boonies of New York state is not as open minded as you may want to think. I've been harassed about my religious convictions since I entered public school and it's continued into adulthood because people suck. I'm upset because the harassment is beginning for my kids and I'm at a loss for how to best support them through it. We're also in an area that proudly declares itself to be 'Trump country' and we are not Trump supporters. We've opposed the man and what he stands for long before he even got into politics. It's a bit hairy at times when the neighbors get going on a tear about how bad 'liberals' are and such. Practicing silence in the face of such things is difficult. But, if you're quiet, people tend to assume that you agree with them and eventually shut up.

But yesterday was a bad brain day and the kids were in need to some help getting their room clean, which is why this video is a day late. I apologize.

Blessed Rosa Mundi & Midsummer

Dear Reader, 

This is a few days late because life got complicated over the last few days. I wish my Filianic and Déanic friends in the Northern Hemisphere a blessed Rosa Mundi. I wish my pagan friends in the Northern Hemisphere a blessed Midsummer. To the Filianic and Déanic community in the Southern Hemisphere, I wish you a peaceful Mother's Night and blessed remainder of Advent until Nativity in a few days. To my pagan friends in the Southern Hemisphere, I wish you all a peaceful and blessed Yule.

♥

Divination: Rune Study - Othala

 Dear Reader,

First, I must apologize for today's post being a day late. I had a ton of family stuff to do yesterday. The post is going to be a little short because I've a fair amount of distractions over here in the form of two young men discussing various topics and occasionally arguing. Life with kids, it makes things interesting for sure.

Now, some people when they're going over the runes would go in the order known as Futhork. I am not that organized right now (see the line above). Today, we're going to discuss the first rune card on my pile, Othala. Some of you may recognize this rune because there are some unsavory people who have taken it up as a symbol of their hatred. The first thing I am going to tell you is that Othala is not a rune of hatred. It is a rune of heritage. It is a rune of history and the ties that bind us to family and society. Othala is a rune strongly associated with the concept of frith (keeping faith and peace with one's familial unit and social group). 

Othala is part of the third major grouping of runes associated with Tiw/Tyr. Since the late 1980s and early 1990s, the 'standard' definitions of Othala are:

• Separation (reversed orientation)
  
• Inheritance
• Ancestral home

Othala is also known as Odal. It is found in both the Elder and the Anglo-Saxon Futhork. It is associated with the letter 'O'.  The Anglo-Saxon rune poem for this rune is given below (from Wikipedia):

[An estate] is very dear to every man,
if he can enjoy there in his house
whatever is right and proper in constant prosperity.

Unfortunately, Othala was taken up by the Nazi SS regiment as a symbol to represent them. It has serifs (feet) on the bottom of it in their interpretation of the rune. It has been banned in Germany on the basis of this association. If you encounter someone who is wearing the Nazi version of the rune, go in the other direction. Don't expect them to keep frith with you. Indeed, some white supremacists have gone with the older version as part of their iconography. Thus, you must be careful with these individuals because they are not going to be peaceable and accepting of views the deviate from their own.