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The book that’s been on your shelves the longest.
My battered copy of Aesop's Fables from childhood. It's a gorgeous illustrated version, given to me by my Grandma Phyllis. She worked at Rand McNally, and gave me the best books!

A book that reminds you of something specific in your life (a person, a place, a time)
The Kin of Ata are waiting for you. A fun fantasy novel about a culture of dreamers. It reminds me of being a dyke in Boston. Just the time when I read it and was struck by it were influential in my life.

A book you acquired in some interesting way
The Topping and Bottoming books, by Dossie Easton. Not gonna tell you how.

The book that’s been with you to the most places.
In addition to the 1st book mentioned in this meme, I also have a blank book from my childhood at Girl Scout Camp, in my juvenile penmanship, that has all the words to the songs I earned there. Awesome!

The most recent addition to your shelves.
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth.

Your current read, your last read and the book you’ll read next.
Spirit in the Wires by Charles de Lint. Next? I'll start a new fiction book and a new non-fiction book (I usually read three at a time, and I already finished the childbirth one!) Not sure which ones.Any recommendations?

yesterday, i was given three gifts: a tangerine, 4 insanely fresh eggs, and an antler.

in exchange, i helped to pill a cat and offered reiki to someone in pain.

i was satisfied with these exchanges and they felt infinitely more connected than exchanging my time for the promise of paper that in turn may get me shelter or food. yes indeed.

it has occurred to me lately that i have a lot to learn from my dog. as i get to know him (and us in relation to one another better), he is teaching me some valuable lessons about how to navigate your way through a sometimes scary but always adventurous world. how to pick friends and avoid conflict, and how to celebrate the simple things that fetch so enjoys.

Nagual, my dog, is a rescue with a history of abuse and neglect. he is a Big Black Dog (and part pit bull), and therefore scary looking to many. often people have made up their minds about him before they even interact with him. i have placed a bumper sticker on my car about this after seeing how many dog-bigots there are out there.  it says, "blame the deed, not the breed".

i have seen so many at the dog park sniff in distaste at my overgrown clown of a mutt and say scornfully, "pits", even after their dog (usually a "purebred") was aggressive to another (whereas my guy is as sweet as they come). and while i am angry and outraged on his behalf, he smiles his big doggy grin and continues on his way. he doesn't care what the stupid humans think. as long as he gets to sniff fifi's or sasha's butt, much to the chagrin of the humans who keep their dogs elegantly coiffed and don't want mongrel nose in champion-line ass, he's happy.

Nagual has an anxious personality, and runs pretty hot. his skin often turns red under his dark fur, showing the observant person that even though his tail is wagging, he is nervous. and OMG, he has ridiculous diarrhea when we first arrive at the dog park. i clean up after him sometimes 4 times in the first 20 minutes there. he needs to get over that first bout of anxious energy before he relaxes into the park experience. it's just how he is right now.

he loves the park, though- running around with other dogs free and off-leash several times a week makes him grin and wiggle his butt with happiness. i have noticed he is really a smart dog when it comes to self-awareness. he knows when he has had enough and needs a break. often, after some serious doggy action, we'll look around asking, "where's Nagual?" and spot him in the periphery, being a lone wolf, taking some quiet time for himself. then after a few minutes of recharging, he is back in action- greeting the newcomers, playnig chase, or sneaking kisses from an unsuspecting human with an inappropriately slobber-free face.

he is a big loveable dog to most, and easily the best behaved dog at the park. he avoids conflict and the shit-starters with grace. he loves to play and approach people as well as dogs. he gives kisses to unsuspecting strangers and loves to get his butt scratched by folks.

he is also teaching me how to shape perception and work with the harder stuff too:
he does have one problem that we are dismayed by. when people have randomly passed us or approached us when he walks on lead, he will sometimes growl or lunge. we have been lucky at controlling him on walks, and trying to send the message that WE are alpha, and it is not his job to go on the attack and make judgement calls like that. to our dismay, he mostly tries to attack black men. our dog appears to be racist. this may be complete coincidence, but i'll let you be the judge: we live in a neighborhood with mostly people of color, most of whom are black folks. so when he is walked, he is more likely to encounter them. and we live in a somewhat sketchy neighborhood, where crackheads abound on some of his walk routes. so sketchy people are likely to be encountered on some his walks, too. he has not attacked anyone at the dog park, but we go to the dog park in berkeley and it is hella white there.

we think if he is being racist, it is coming from his sad past- his previous people who abused him and such were african american. but dogs are smart- and their sense of smell is keen. i cannot believe he believes all black men are his former abuser. what to do about this, i wonder? we are hyper vigilant on his walks, shortening his lead to a tight heel when anyone comes near. and we work on positive reinforcement when he pays attention to us and not the surroundings and does good and/or stays neutral. it is a slow process thougfh, and we worry for his safety and future. we can't have him biting our neighbors, ya know?



 

What is the Craft Elder Project?
It is an idea borne out of how the Feri community pulled together to care for Cora Anderson. Our elders are owed a debt of more than gratitude, and we need to care for many physically, materially, and emotionally as they transition into Elder and eventually pass on.
The project hopes to offer:

• visitations for company,
• physical caregiving,
• healing (and hopefully "alternative" healing modalities such as TCM, reiki, and others),
• material assistance (food, rent money, pet supplies, etc),
• help with bureaucratic entities like public assistance, medi-cal/care, and food stamps,
• we hope to offer liaison and power of attorney services to make sure pagan wishes are respected by blood families,
• and we want to incorporate an oral history project to make sure their contributions to their Craft and important history does not go undocumented.

How can I help?
If you have time to volunteer, we know that you can be plugged in! Come to the meeting to learn how.
If you have skills in non-profit administration, volunteer coordination, fundraising, web and/or graphic design- we need you!
If you are a healer, a lawyer, a therapist, know "the system" and its in-and-outs, we can use your expertise.
If you have audio/ video equipment, and would let us use it (or have you use it and give us the recording) to document our Elders' stories, we can use your help!
If you have money that you can contribute (either one time or on a regular basis), we can always use that. Money will be funneled through an umbrella non-profit organization (we have been talking to Solar Cross), and will therefore be tax deductable.

How do I get plugged in?
Come to a meeting! This meeting is the first of many- but we wanted to get the basics out of the way, before a major push for involvement at PantheaCon. Next meeting will be after PantheaCon and will hopefully have many vounteers across many traditions.

What's this meeting going to cover?
At the first meeting, we are:

• mapping out all goals,
• prioritizing them into a 3 year plan,
• determining what constitutes a "Craft Elder" and who benefits from the project's resources,
• assigning key volunteer positions for the first year,
• seeing where we have roles left unfilled,
• setting up the next meeting time and place (hopefully a regular monthly),
• and designing an appeal for help to distribute at this year's PantheaCon.

This meeting is important to attend if you want to be involved in an organizing capacity or have a desire to shape how we design the program for the next three years. Lillitu Shahar, a Feri student with years of non-profit admin, board, and strategic planning experience will be facilitating the brainstorming and strategic planning sessions at this first meeting. No other roles beyond that finite role at this first meeting have been decided.

I wanna be involved, but I cannot attend on that date!
No worries- contact Lilli and she will add you to the communication loop. She will be creating an email group to host meeting minutes and conduct business in-between monthly meetings. Tell her specifically if you have a skill that we need, money or materials to donate to the project, or how much time per week you can spare on average when you email her!

Great, I will be there! What should I bring?
Besides your enthusiasm, bring pen and paper to take notes, and a food or beverage item to share (the meeting happens at dinnertime!)

Where do I go?
Casa Vesperus
2546 Taylor Avenue
Oakland, CA 94605
(please email for phone number, for day-of logistics)

We are close to the 880, 580 and the 13 for all you drivers out there. For all you public transit folks, we will be picking folks up at San Leandro BART at 6:45. Please email for phone number so you can find us or you run late.

rumorofrain  asked for it, so here it is:

1. What are your nicknames?
well, my legal name is Danielle, but anyone using my "muggle name" calls me dani, like at work. folks in my religious community call me Lilli, and one of my sweeties calls me pooka pie punkin pants, but i have no idea why. it sounds like it should be a nickname for one of my caiques!

2. How do you style your hair?
ugh. right now, i have decided to grow it out, so anyway that doesn't look completely dorky. i usually do a mini ponytail and barettes for the wisps that are not long enough for the pony...

3. What's new in your life right now?
herb school, advanced Feri training (including demon work), dog training, and getting out and being more social. dating.

4. What are you wearing at the moment?
a wraparound skirt made of vintage silk, a tanktop with a cropped sweater over it, socklettes, dansko clogs, and a faery star necklace.

5. Do you need music to study/write?
no, but i like them. i can do silence or music. the tv or talk radio is distracting though, unless i am totally engrossed.

6. What was the last book you read?
i'm so po lately that i have not gotten any new books. but i am re-reading many of my old faves- mainly aloud so that Obie can share in them. we don't have a tv, so we spend quiet evenings this way. let's see- we just finished Marley and Me, a Jane Yolen series (Sister Light, Sister Dark and its sequels), and are now reading Reservation Blues by Sherman Alexie and Blood Bread and Roses by Judy Grahn.

7. Do you cook a lot?
not as much as i'd like. my schedule is crazy, but i would to linger over elaborate meals a couple times a week. as it is, i rush to crank out dinners after work, but i hardly call that cooking...

8. Do you have a crush at the moment?
yes, a few actually. one is even a long distance crush!

9. Is there anything that has made you happy these days?
you bet! my animals always make me happy, especially my caiques. being able to help people when things are so tight for me has also been a joy. taking Nagual to the dogpark and seeing him do so well. my new cellphone is waaaay gool as far as gadgets go. and learning new things is awesome. i have two classes a week now, between Feri and herbs!

10. What was the last thing you ate today?
spinach and cheese ravioli, plain. i didn't have much time to cook this eve!

11. What's your morning routine?

on a work day, i get up before 7, get dressed, walk the dog, feed the dog, get the birds up, sit with them as they eat breakfast at the table (and maybe i have coffee), go over our schedules for the day, and leave the house by 9:15 for work.

12. What websites do you visit daily?
lately? livejournal, my two yahoo mail accounts, etsy, ebay, (i am looking for gifts!). i also sometimes check out some news links.

13. What classes are you taking right now?
Feri with Hilary Geller, Foundations of Western Herbalism at the Ohlone Center. Soon i will take Qi Gung at Wild Goose.

14. Which languages do you wish you spoke?
All of them. If i had three wishes, after money and health, i would have the ability to speak, read, and be fluent in every language, ever!

15. What do you want for Christmas/Yule?
um, i guess some cute clothes, paid off bills. most of the things i want right now aren't purchasable...

16. What are you daydreaming about right now?
baby clothes.

17. Who was your childhood idol?
Chastity Bono. seriously, i used to dream that sonny and cher were MY parents, that we were switched in the hospital (never mind she is a few years older than me- i was 3!) and that the boring parents i had were really hers and vice versa. i wanted to be on tv!

18. Where would you like your next holiday to be?
Europe (i'd need a few months, cuz i wanna go everywhere!), Japan, or India.

19. What is your dream car?
not a big car person. my car Gertie (a honda civic) is great- i just wish her dents and windshield were fixed (ooh, that's what i want for xmas!) and she was a hybrid.

20. Tell me something you love about the person who tagged you.
i was stunned that there was someone else in the world that had two caiques and a trans partner. and she raises bees, and i've always wanted to! yowza!

it has come to my attention that the folks i used to call friends in a circle i once belonged to are telling really horrible lies about what happened in the group, my partner (who was also a part of this group), and possibly me.

if you hear such things, i would urge you to get a full and complete accounting from ALL persons involved in the group. it is disturbing and jarring to have a story (that i am involved in) completely mismatch mine. further, these personal accounts of the past goes beyond what Thorn (one of my teachers) has taught me as "the stories we tell ourself", because some of the things being reported by these folks NEVER actually happened.

what happens when someone's "story" is based on a lie? what do you do with that? i mean, maybe they truly believe something that is not true now? or maybe they are in such a place of hurt that they want others to believe a hurtful hateful thing to punish us somehow? i know our memories and recollections are frail fragile things, but this is kind of ridiculous...

to the community at large, i would urge people when listening to opinions, gossip, and personal stories to realize that there are many sides to the story you are hearing, and sometimes when trying to put them all together it will be strange in the telling, hardly ever black-and-white and easy to pick heroes and villians.

even if you love, like or are compelled by the person telling you such a story (or dislike the person being talked about), it does not mean the story is objective or even true. no one goes through life without making mistakes in judgment or harming another. i just find it sad that these folks have a desire or need to hurt us...

1. changed the headlight on my car by my freaking self! well, obie borrowed a screwdriver from the neighbor, but i did the changin'! woo!

2. helped someone(s) in need. a woman i know needs a place for her amazon to stay while the new owners of her rented house rip the roof off (right before she is about to move- why they could not wait is beyond me!). so noodle is staying here for a couple weeks.

3. continued demon work, despite throwing up. fun.

4. made some time for myself. a rare commodity these days.

5. managed to finagle a different weekend off than the one i had planned on, so i can attend thorn's workshop in january!

6. wrangled all the animals alone while obie is in ohio. no small feat. i feel like a lion-tamer sometimes.

7. took Nagual to the dog park. hopefully twice.

8. froze the rest of that turkey so it would not go to waste, despite me being sick of turkey for the time being.

9. got some yule gifts for others.

10. made some serious yule plans: friday, i dance with the darkness all night, then saturday we are hosting a private ritual at the house. sunday is a yule with hilary's classes as well.

i just signed this pledge and i hope you will, too:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/repealprop8

can i rant a little? i mean, if all the people in my state who voted for Obama had also voted against prop 8, we would truly symbolize the "change" i keep hearing about. but they didn't. a vast percentage of people aren't progressives at all- they are hypocrites.

i am more than a little wary about how people are referring to Obama- as some sort of messiah, almost. change, hope, blah blah blah. is he charismatic? yes. does he say compelling things about issues i care about? oh, yes. but i am wary of people giving over their power- because that is precisely what happened after Clinton was elected the first time. i was deeply involved in queer politics and people all but gave up in Boston and SF, mainly because they thought their job was done and someone else was now gonna pick up that torch and run with it.

what i learned from this election is not how much more progressive we are as a people, or how enlightened we are becoming as a species. i learned that elections still go to the highest bidder- be that prop 8, funded by Mormons and Catholics or Barack Obama, who raised and spent more than any other presidential candidate in history. we are a gullible species, swayed by slick advertising.

don't get me wrong- i hope Obama does all the things he promises. i read the agenda page of his change.gov website and was astonished to see some of the content there. i hope those things truly are things to be worked on and accomplished in his term(s). i think he speaks passionately and charismatically about issues that i care about. do i believe that he will fix everything? no, probably not. am i happy that we elected a head of state that the rest of the world respects and likes? yes. am i glad that we finally elected a person of color to the highest office in the land? about damn time. but the proof is in the pudding- and we are only beginning to cook.

the girls (caiques) and i are listening to our mutual playlist, which includes the powerpuff girls soundtrack, radiohead, the magic flute, and a lot of Eels. Tallulah likes to "snap" (make a snapping noise) and bob her head up and down vigorously to the music, whereas Tengu like to screech and whistle and get really close to the speaker and have her eyes pin. i sing along, poke them in the belly, and tell them how much i love them.


we just listened to one of our faves:

I Like Birds, by Eels

i can't look at the rocket launch
the trophy wives of the astronauts
and i won't listen to their words
cuz i like... birds

i don't care walking downtown
crazy auto car gonna run me down
look at all the people like cows in a herd
well i like... birds!

if you're small and on a search
i've got a feeder for you to perch on

i can't stand in line at the store
the mean little people are such a bore
but its all right if you act like a turd
cuz i like... birds!

if you're small and on a search
i've got a feeder for you to perch on

so true. my feathered pirhana monkeys are so preferable to most people...
aw. Loo just gave me a kiss.