Fridays are Fine

Holy Smokes! It is going up to 55 degrees F today! Cue the Spring Fever music!! We still have plenty of winter left, but at least for today, it will be pleasant not to wear the Big Coat.

Look what showed up at my house yesterday! A gift from a dear friend who is always surprising me with things. She is a treasure!

Snow Witches!!

I am ready for the Full Moon tonight. The moons have many names, this month I like the name Quickening Moon. On the verge of the Wheel's turning, everything seems poised to jump into a new season. I am not an officianado of Full Moon lore, but I enjoy reading blogs of those who are. This morning I refer you to two of my favorite witchy blogs that both have great information if you would like to learn more about this month's Full Moon. Take a peek at Kallan Kennedy's blog The Secret Life of an American Working Witch  and Aine O'Brien's blog  The Deepest Well  I love these blogs!

I would like to thank everyone who commented on my post yesterday about my disenchantment with some pagans who for reasons unknown spend a lot of time criticizing other pagans. Perhaps some of that energy they expend in negative ways would be better spent focusing on their own path. I am blessed to have many great followers who "have my back" as they say!! You are awesome!

Psssst!!! The Power of Three Giveaway is coming! Intrigued? Look for details next week!!!


Blessings to All from Robin.

I Got a Ticket from the Pagan Police

Okay, I am being melodramatic here. I did not get pulled over on the Internet Highway. But I have to say sometimes I feel that way. There are many, many wonderful blogs and websites written by pagans. It is an informative and educational experience to visit; to learn about other pagan paths and to meet people that, as a solitary practitioner, one would not otherwise come in contact with. Usually, this is a positive encounter.

Unfortunately, I have also run into some very judgmental people. As a pagan this is disappointing, and at times, hurtful. Pagans in general are accepting of all paths. Pagans also understand that people in "mainstream" religions can be critical of and prejudiced against pagans, mostly due to misconceptions and lack of information. To run into this kind of prejudice from other pagans is, to say the least, disheartening.

Here are a few examples, paraphrased, of statements I have read. I will not name blogs or websites; it is not my intention to be confrontational.

Wiccans are not witches. They do not practice magic or witchcraft. Wiccans are "wishy-washy" about any kind of magic other than white magic. Wiccans are the most uptight group of people ever. Wiccans have too many rituals.

You get the idea. The right to have your own opinion is obvious. You can write whatever you want on your website. Just be sure to state that you are voicing an opinion, not necessarily a documented fact.

Wiccans are many and varied, as are most pagans. There are uptight people in all walks of life. Does that mean that if you meet, say, a teacher who was uptight, that all teachers are uptight? One bad apple in every bunch?

I am Wiccan. I also call myself a witch. I do know that there are Wiccans who do not call themselves witches, but that is their choice. Practicing magick and/or witchcraft is a personal choice. Some include it in their path, some don't. As a Wiccan, I choose not to practice black or gray magic, I prefer to practice magick that heals, helps and supports the Earth and all upon it. That is not to say that I am unfamiliar with defensive magick. I am capable and ready to protect myself and my family if the need arises.

Without belaboring these issues and opinions, I would like to state that my Wiccan ways may not be particularly appealing to pagans of different paths and beliefs. Just as those same pagans may not appeal to my path. The point is, we are all pagans doing our best to live our lives the best we can, with the skills and knowledge, beliefs and ideals that set us apart from mainstream practices. It is at times a difficult path we take. The last thing we need is criticism and judgment from our fellow pagans. Tolerance, at the least, would be appreciated.

Don't Ask Me...You Write the Caption

My apologies for getting to my Tuesday post too late to write anything of interest!! Busy morning and now I am running off to lunch with a dear friend.  So in lieu of a decent entry today, I give you this sketch for your consideration.  Don't ask me what exactly is going on here...perhaps my dear followers can fashion some interesting captions.

Image Credit

Wiccan Reads--A Discovery of Witches

Firstly, Happy Valentine's Day to everyone. Most of us do not need a special day to show our loves how much we love 'em. But still, it is romantic to do a little something sweet. I love my hunny a bunch!


Just finished reading A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness.  I would like to state from the start that I am not a fan of vampires, be they present in books, movies, tv shows or politics. I know I am probably in the minority, given the current plethora of vampires everywhere you look. And if the book had been titled, "A Discovery of Vampires", I most likely would not have purchased it.

from Viking, The Penguin Group copyright Deborah Harkness, 2011

Our plucky heroine, Dr. Diana Bishop, is a historian with a special interest in Alchemy...its history, roots, practiioners and processes. Dr. Bishop is also a witch. She is not happy about this inherited trait and tries her best to ignore it. She lives in a world of witches, vampires, and the odd daemons. These creatures do not play nicely together, and there is a tradition of loathing and violence between the species.

Now, we have an ancient, bewitched alchemical manuscript and things get hairy. Suddenly Diana  is surrounded by interested parties of the creature-kind who want to get their hands on this manuscript, but cannot touch it until the bewitched book is released from its spell.  Enter the vampire, Dr. Matthew Clairmont. Very tall, very pale, and very handsome. Also very ancient. And he practices yoga! The fireworks between Diana and Matthew set off a wary collaboration between the two that leads, you guessed it, to a serious romantic involvement. An involvement that is strictly forbidden by the mysterious Congregation, leading to bigoted responses from all creatures.

The book changes locations, introduces new characters throughout and generally keeps the reader's interest.  I found the middle of the book bogged down a bit, and was anxious to get into the heart of the story. The pace does pick up again and Diana has to face terrible ordeals, as well as shocking revelations about her witchiness. Her parents were killed when she was a child (shades of Harry Potter), she is forced to learn how to deal with new, awakening powers, and throughout it all is her growing love for the vampire, Matthew despite his ferocious temper and the possibility that he could take a bite out of her at any moment.

I enjoyed the world that Deborah Harkness has created, loved the mystery she has fashioned and the majority of her characters and subplots were quite fascinating and real. Though I wonder how her vampire could possibly have known and been friends with some of the most famous people throughout history and continents.

You will like this book, just suspend belief a bit, which readers of this kind of fiction must do anyway. I look forward to reading the second installment of this trilogy which is due out sometime in 2012.

Short and Sweet

Today, it is my turn as Guest Blogger over at Danni's Whimsical Cottage. She has been hosting her February Fairies celebration all month. If you would like to visit her and see my guest post  click here

There is another giveaway brewing here at Wiccan Writes. Stay tuned for details!

A very short post today; please have a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

Lexie and her ducky-toy, both worn out!

Prisms and Inspiration

Looking for inspiration today. Actually all week. Inspiration for writing, crafting, cooking, even cleaning. Right now, out my window, the sun is shining spectacularly. Blinding, even. Because we do have an awful lot of snow, snowbanks, snowdrifts, snowcovered trees, houses, cars. But the sun is shining. On my window sill are three clear glass cubes. One tall, two small. Embedded inside these cubes are laser-etched objects. A hummingbird, a lighthouse and a sailboat. As the sun comes streaming in, passing through these cubes, rainbow prisms form on the floor. The sun's rays gradually move these colorful prisms up along the wall and across the ceiling. An old-fashioned sun dial, sort of, tracking time passing by the progress of the prism.

I love the prisms...not just because they are cheerful and colorful, and made by the sun through glass. They are like tiny works of art, painted by the sun. Perfect representation of light and color. I love them because I am immediately inspired to smile, and pause and think about their beauty. Inspired to want to make something beautiful either through writing, or crafting. These prisms are only visible once in a while, in winter, when the sun is bright. The sun is not bright often. So when I get a sudden glimpse of these pretty little things, I have to stop and watch them.

It is good to stop and watch something a little out of the ordinary routine. Maybe to be inspired to do something a little out of the ordinary. A small thing really, watching the prisms play in my kitchen.

Inspiration comes in unexpected ways. See what you can find for inspiration today.

Good News!

There is very good news about the fundraising for the Syracuse University pagan students and their trip to Stonehenge for the Spring Equinox. They have met their goal of raising the funds required for the trip. Mary Hudson, the SU Pagan Chaplain has written a wonderful post called "When Magic Happens". You will find it very interesting reading. Just click here Congratulations and brightest blessings to everyone involved in this effort.

MidWinter To Do List:

Keep bird feeders filled.

Knock off ice from feeders, over sliding doors, front door, back door.

Keep wood-stove burning.

Spend ten minutes getting dressed to go outside.

Spend ten minutes getting undressed after coming back in.

Towel off the dogs after they have been rolling in the snow. (ten times a day).

Do not wear flannel pajamas to bed when there are flannel sheets on the bed. (You will not be able to move).

Pretend to be shocked when the weather forecasters get it wrong.

Be prepared when the weather forecasters do not predict the foot of snow that fell overnight.

Look for missing glove.

Spend hours looking at garden catalogs.

Get more hot cocoa mix.

Remember to enjoy winter.