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There's something uniquely special about spring. New beginnings, revivals, and rebirth are just some of the prevalent themes. Since there has been a lot of intense and unpredictable energy whipping around these days in the aftermath of the Storm Moon/lunar eclipse, followed quickly by Mercury in retrograde, this could be a good time to pause before diving into that new project or adventure. 

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Communication and travel plans could get wonky until April 7th, as well. So it might be more beneficial to approach new things slowly, with consideration and care. Ask, "Is this really good for me right now?" "Can it wait?" Think baby steps. Cleaning up a room closet or basement are good, slow spring cleaning projects. So is treating yourself to a new homemade facial mask, or bubble bath mixture. Likewise, experimenting with a new recipe that might require more care while listening to some peaceful classical music would be an excellent choice. Take the time to journal and reflect on the things you would like to accomplish between now and the Summer Solstice. That way you can plan with focus and intent.

A Matter of Love

“Beautiful pouch,” says my friend.

He's right. The leather is deftly-tanned: supple, golden, fragrant.

My friend has asked me to read the bones for him: the sacred whitetail knucklebones that live in this same pouch in a jar here at Temple of the Moon.

“It's made from a reindeer scrotum,” I tell him, thinking that the fact will interest him, he being an admirer of all things male. The Saami waste no part of a reindeer: a matter both of practicality, and of love.

Instead, he cringes.

“Ow,” he says.

“No need to take it personally,” I assure him. “I think it's pretty cool.”

“Well, how would you feel if it were your scrotum?” he asks.

Point taken, but I think of Hunter's Law, the Word of the Horned that governs the hunt.

Use everything. Waste nothing.

I smile. In the end, it's really a matter of love.

Your Book of Shadows (BOS) is your record of ritual work. At its finest, it should be a history of all your rituals, energy work, circles, spells, and all the magic you have manifested. It should be a journal of all that you have practiced and wrought. In your BOS, you should keep a record of your research and the lore you have discovered. Is there a particular phase and sign of the moon that works especially well for you? Document it here, and you will be building a practice that you can apply to future rituals. This will also be a great help in recording your ritual work and evolving and developing as a ritual designer. All the astrology, herb lore, crystal information, and other knowledge that I share in this book comes from the detailed notes I keep in my own BOS. I have discovered that the new moon in Pisces, for example, is the best moon phase for me to work rituals of change. After documenting this information and performing both new and traditional, time-tested rituals and spells with the new moon in Pisces, I learned from a professional astrologer that it is my natal placement—the moon is in the same phase and sign in which is positioned at the time of my birth. Thus this moon phase and sign accords with my own energy and creates a time when my personal power is at its peak. Through trial, experimentation, and much practice, you will discover secrets of the universe for yourself and record what you learn in your own BOS.

 The Book of Shadows can be a tremendous aid if you use it daily or as often as possible. Whenever you come upon a bit of wisdom regarding the nature of ritual or magical work, write it down. This should also be a book of inspiration, filled with your own thoughts, poetry, and observations. Most importantly, it should be a record of results. If you track the effectiveness of a ritual, you can use this information and newfound wisdom in the future. Your BOS should be a book you turn to again and again. It can be a gorgeous, hand-crafted volume of handmade paper and ribboned bookmarks or a simple three-ring binder. Just make sure it appeals to you so that you will use it often and well.

A “Theological” Short

In Bollywood, films about the gods are known as “theologicals.”

The Gods are rehearsing a play.

As the Old Gods act onstage, the Younger Gods stand backstage as chorus. One of the Younger Gods, though, keeps dashing onstage and interfering with the action.

Finally the Great Mother, who is directing the show, can't stand it anymore.

“Knock it off, Yahweh,” she remonstrates. Her mouth twists wryly. “Younger Gods should be heard, but not seen.”

The Old Gods laugh.

I headed in to March on the great health news I got in February (see previous post) and I am definitely ready to keep up my Monster Powers and my dedication to perfume. One of my most significant magical and religious experiences of early March is not about perfume, though, but about dance. And of course, Thor. And the Gila Monster!

It was the 5th and it was supposed to be raining. My housemate showed me the weather radar and asked why it wasn't raining yet. I went outside to check, and it smelled like rain. Not the petrichor smell, that happens after it starts raining. There's a particular smell to the air when it's full of water. I had already ground coffee and brewed a fresh pot, which often is enough for Thor to appear. I said, "Maybe if I do my Rain Dance it will rain."

At the Astragalomancy Workshop

(Blows horn.)

Sure beats “May I have your attention, please?”, doesn't it?

(Laughter.)

So, welcome to Paganistan. My name is Steven Posch, and this is the workshop on astragalomancy. Long ago, in the dawn of days, the Horned, God of Witches, gave us the bones, and taught us how to read them.

This is a sacred knowledge, and so we'll begin our sacred work today in a sacred way. But first, some demographics.

How many witches here today?

(Voice from crowd:)

By whose definition?

(Laughter.)

Well, by yours, of course!

(Show of hands.)

Well, to all of you, whatever your pagan tribe: welcome, and a thousand times welcome.

So, members of the tribe and guests of the tribe both, let us together take up our sacred work today. Could I have a volunteer? (Show of hands.) Yes, you, thanks.

Robert Cochrane, the Father of the modern Old Craft movement, once said: “There is no true religion without fire.” (Gestures toward lighted candle.) This Fire has burned continuously for nearly 40 years at the Temple of the Moon here in Minneapolis.

You Sing to Your Familiar, Don't You?

Look, look: up in the air!

It's a bunny!

It's a cat!

No...it's Bunnycat!

Bunnycat, Bunnycat,

what a freakish and funny cat.

Everybody's knows that she

is a minor deity. Look out!

Here comes a kitty that's funny;

her butt looks just like a bunny's.

We call her Bunnycat!

Bunnycat! Bunnycat!

I know she looks a bit bizarre,

but with Bunnycat (Bunnycat!),

that's just the way things are....

Bunny: yesterday my life

was filled with pain...

The little Manx kitty, asleep on the hay....

My Bunny lies over the ocean,

my Bunny lies over the sea,

my Bunny lies over the ocean:

please bring back my Bunny to me....

Bunnycat! Bunnycat!

Oh what a freakish and funny cat!

Bunnycat Superstar:

are you as bad as they say you are?

Bunnycat, Bunnycat,

wasn't always a stumpy cat

till that fateful day when she

backed into a guillotine.

Look out! (Rrrrraow!)

Now she's a kitty that's funny,

her butt looks just like a bunny's:

we call her Bunnybutt!

She's the stumpy-tailed Cat of Heaven,

so well-behaved, so well-behaved,

full of stumpiness like the new Moon,

full of stumpiness like the new Moon....

My kitty is a Manx kitty,

one with a stumpy tail.

My kitty is a Manx kitty,

one with a stumpy tail.

She is the cutest kitty of all:

it's not her fault

she comes from St. Paul.

(How heinous!)