Now, I know a lot of people like to tout Samhain as the pagan new year, but for me, my year always sort of starts on Imbolc. I think of it as "time to make the doughnuts," in a way. It marks the end of my hibernation.
This year in particular is going to be a very big one for me- it marks the biggest Witchcraft 101 class I've taught in ten years, and it also marks the last of that series I'll be teaching for a while. For the last decade, I've dedicated myself to the education of witches in the basics, teaching everything from healing and conjuration to ritual practice and different models of deity work.
Season's Greetings from the Geekomancer's desk, everyone!
Now, I know this season is not always holly-jolly for everyone, sometimes thanks to religious issues or philosophical differences, sometimes due to more practical or emotional concerns. That's why I thought it might be helpful to show you how this pop culture witch celebrates the Winter Solstice, in hopes that it will assist you in finding new and innovative ways to deal with this, the most (expletive) time of the year.
Not too long ago, I worked a booth at a local anime convention, where we sold magically useful things for people who practice geekomancy. I also read cards and dice from my various geek-centric magical traditions, and actually did really well. I could wish every gig was that successful (although really I've had pretty great luck with events, to be honest).
Anyway, I was chatting with a friend of mine about it, and he brought up a question that I think he'd been meaning to ask me for a while. We've been friends for a long time, studied quite a bit in the same vein, and he never really "got it."
I told you all in my previous article on wands that they were my favorite tool, and I wasn't kidding. I've always loved the idea of waving a wand and casting a spell. I used to carry around wands, staves, and rods as a kid- some made of driftwood, some more ornate deals of crystal and metal. It helps having a mother who was a sci-fi fan and also essentially pagan, when one is secretly training to become a first-class sorcerer and witch. That was my ambition as a child, and honestly I'm rather happy with how things turned out.
But I digress- the point is, I've had wands of all shapes and sizes since I was very young. And one thing always used to drive me crazy about them.
This week has been very busy here in Geek Central, NV. Pokemon X and Y just came out, and three of us have been exploring the wild world of strange talking animals for quite a while. This isn't actually terribly unique, considering that six months out of the year, there's a heavy amount of obsession over My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
In this house, a geeky obsession is more than a sudden-and-inevitable commitment of time and finances. It's a chance at initiation into some of the magicks of the world.
