My Stuff Monday: I give myself away

It's still Monday where I am so I can still get this post in :)

 Giveaway #1:

Interested in Relationship Reading?  I would prefer you bought one but... you can win one here.  The fantastic Damla at the international giveaway blog Sweepstakes Lover has done a lovely review of a reading I did for her and also agreed to give away a Love and Relationships Intuitive Tarot Reading.

Damla has been such a joy to work with and read for.  She's also in a rad band in Turkey that's really worth checking out.  Many thanks to her for supporting international giveaways of awesome things!

Head over here to enter to win me!

Giveaway #2:

And if that wasn't enough, I'm also giving away a spell kit of the winner's choice on the blogs of the fabulous Laura DeLuca.  Another fantastic write up from a talented author posted on her Author blog (check out her awesome books) and her New Age Mama review blogs as well (only enter once, please).

Laura has also been lovely to work with and I intend on doing a Guest Post for her on Basic Ritual Construction sometime soon.  So excited and many thanks to her as well!

Head over here or here to enter.

Pagan Blog Project WK08 - D is for Dragons

Welcome to this weeks edition of the Pagan Blog Project.  I hope you'll take a moment and check out the post just previous to this as there is a tie-in... Dragons.  There are pretty ones there and I'll talk about them in a witchy context here.

Yup, Dragons... what a lame topic (lol)...

So instead of focusing on Dragons in Myth I'm just going to tell you my own Dragon myths and it's up to you to discern fact from external truth from internal truth from fiction.  Ready for a random ride?

1) Once upon a time there was a Dragon Prince who wanted to be a Priestess.  It was known from his birth that he was his fathers favorite and the eventual heir to the crown of the Dragon Court, however his heart was always called to the life of a Priestess.  He marked the cycles and changes of the Court and the world and felt the pull to serve the Great Dragons, but he feared deep inside that it was not to be.  Due to his disappointment he outwardly became the most precocious and frustrating child known to Dragonkind, but underneath his arrogant and ignorant exterior he observed, cataloged, learned and waited.  When his Father finally forced his hand and gave him the Throne this Priestess turned King demonstrated such a deep understanding of the Court and the way of Dragons that none could stand against him, though they tried, and none could move against him from the shadows, though they tried.  He will rule with head as he must and heart when he can, knowing that his time to serve the Great Dragons is but delayed.



 2) Once upon a time there was a Bastard who took the throne, once.  The King of the Dragon Court had many children, most of them bastards, but there is only one known as The Bastard.  If the Bastard had been legitimate perhaps the Heir would have been free to follow his calling, but we'll never know for certain.  The Bastard, motivated by the scorn of the Throne, dedicated his learning to politics and martial weapons and became the most feared potential opponent of his father.  This fear was well grounded as one day the Bastard used all his skill, defeated the King, sent him to the the dungeons and claimed the Throne, for at least a little while; a feat not matched before or since.

3) Once upon a time, between the world of mortals, lay the Courts of The Fae, the Wizards and the Dragons (among others).  These courts intersect the world of mortals in dreams and myth and sometimes in blood.  There are mortals among us who carry the blood of the Courts, some more than others thanks to intersecting lineages.  Some mortals can call to the Courts and even exist in them in the between.  Interestingly enough, the Courts have only an uneasy alliance as they wait for the end to the Reign of Angels and Demons and the beginning of the Reign of Elementals.

4) Once upon a time, when Dragons rules the skies and Atlantis ruled the sea, the people of Atlantis and the Dragons of the moral world were at peace.  Specially chosen Priests of each race even bonded into a fighting pair of Rider and Dragon to protect their homeland and peoples.  As the end of the Reign of Elementals came to an end, heralding the Reign of Angels and Demons, the balance of the two Atlantean races shifted and man begin to believe that they were more equal than the dragons that shared their land.  Thus came about the end of a great nation and the presence of dragons in the between of the mortal world.

Featured Favorites Friday - Here there be Dragons!

This is the coolest dragon's eye ever.  It's a Fantasy Dragon's Eye watercolor from Andi Pace of NightTime Birds, also found:
http://twitter.com/#!/Nighttime_Birds
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nighttime-Birds-Art/127264633968461

This painting makes me want to stretch out my hand and dry the water from the eye ridge.  It just feels watery and full of life and wisdom to me.

Do you believe in the wisdom of dragons?

This is the tote bag of my dreams.  It's the Golden One dragon lady tote made by Melissa Lewis of Haute Totes with the amazing artwork of Meridith Dillman.  These ladies can also be found:

http://twitter.com/HautTotes

http://www.facebook.com/HautTotes

http://www.facebook.com/theartofmeredithdillman

http://meredithdillman.blogspot.com/

I want to be that beautiful in a kimono and have a little red dragon friend.  Since that's not possible I'll settle for walking around with some beautiful art on my arm.

Have you ever wanted a dragon for your very own?

I want this dragon to protect my daughter's room.  He's a CelticKnot hand-carved Dragon from the amazing Coop and Katrina at Signs of Spirit.  They can also be found:
http://signsofspirit.com/
http://www.artfire.com/users/signsofspirit

I've personally met both Coop and Katrina at the Maryland Renaissance Festival and cannot think of a more positive and spirit-filled pair of people.

Do you have decor in your home made with such amazing love?

Tarot Wednesday - The Wishlist edition

I have a tarot card problem, it's like my shoe problem... I have lots.  When one has lots (like over 30) of tarot decks storage becomes interesting.  I have a couple collectible decks that just stay in their box on the shelf barring a very very special occasion, but most decks are not as special.  The main deck I use for readings lives in a velvet box with a tarot cloth and a big red tigerseye sphere and my Atlantis Deck demanded a golden silk wrap and it's own box.  My other decks have to share trunk space in a big wooden box and it sometimes makes me sad.  I would like each of my decks to have their own special home... like these:

My Crow Deck would LOVE this bag.  It's awesome and bold, just like the cards.  The craftsmanship looks outstanding and the feedback for the shop looks great.  This is totally on my wish list!

Red Suede Leather Tarot Bag
at My Grandmother's Hands
by Kim Soares 

 

My Tarot of the Dream Enchantress is the perfect deck for this beautiful pouch.  The brocade is a fantastic choice and the pouch is fully lined in popping teal taffeta satin.  The best part of all is the zipper closure!  I dislike the floppy and drawstring closures of most tarot bags and think a zip close is a great solution!

Brocade Trarot Bag - Gold and Teal Blue

at Gypsy Red

Can also be found at her Blog and Twitter

I think my Romani Tarot would revel in the bright, bold color of this tarot cloth.  The silk would also probably help contain the sparkly energy of these talkative cards.

Hand Dyed Yellow Orange Silk tarot Cloth
at New Moon Tarot and Botanicals
by Puisun

 Many thanks to such marvelous crafters!

Hypocrisy much?

This post is not going to win me a lot of friends, but I hope we can all be adult enough to agree to disagree.

I am really frustrated at the call for a potential boycott of Pantheacon.
Why are people who claim to preach tolerance tearing down someone's belief in the same breath?!
Freedom of Religion means ALL Religions, even the ones we don't agree with, even the ones that challenge our own faith. Isn't this what we ask the Christians to do?


Thank you, Star, for articulating my concern far better than I ever could.
Should There Be Freedom Of Religion Within Paganism?

Sunday Intentional: A-Z of Me

Welcome to the Lamest Sunday Intentional ever!

A. Age:  Almost 30

B. Bed size:  Queen, cause I have an awesome DBF who talked me into a bigger bed
C. Chore that you hate: Cooking.  There is absolutely NOTHING better than walking into a complete homemade meal every night.  I hate cooking.

D. Dogs: Are not quite as awesome as cats with a few exceptions (cause Tia is awesome!)

E. Essential start to your day: My most amazing daycare-mom ever always sets me up with a cup of coffee for the ride to work.  Did I mention she's amazing?
F. Favorite color: Atlantic gray.
G. Gold or Silver: I'm allergic to gold of almost any kind so I'm a .925 Sterling kinda gal.  (Though I would love to be a platinum kinda gal.)

H. Height: 5’10"

I. Instruments you play: I played the clarinet and marched bass drum in high school, though my best instrument is my voice.
J. Job title: Quality Assurance Technician, Tarot Reader, Pagan Community Organizer
K. Kids: Yup, a 5yr old munchkin who is a fantastic cross between a Valkyrie and a Princess
L. Live: Baltimore, MD

M. Mother’s name: Sandy

N. Nicknames: Well... Kat is the most known one.  The others are only allowed by family, except for Megatron, but Rahat's special
O. Overnight hospital stays: Can't think of one other than the C-Section.
P. Pet peeves: Interrupting me in the middle of a sentence; this is my dad's fault.  Oh, and the word irregardless.
Q. Quote from a movie: "You keep using that word.  I do not think it means what you think it means."

R. Right or left handed: Right

S. Siblings: 2 younger sisters, who rock

U. Underwear:. Typically boring cotton, sadly
V. Vegetable you hate: Peas... they just taste green... ick!
W. What makes you run late: The aforementioned 5yr old
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Teeth, ankle, back, and an CAT scan and MRI for good measure
Y. Yummy food that you make: A version of my mother's chicken in white sauce.... delicious!

Z. Zoo animal: The big cats, any of them :)

Next week will be much more deep and meaningful.

Look, a Giveaway over Here

So perhaps you may win... but I want to too...

Check out this FANTASTIC giveaway!

Beneath the Witch's Moon: Time to Give Back!!: Since I started this blog late last year I have been welcomed to the online Pagan community in such a wonderful way. I have participate...

-Kat

Pagan Blog Project WK07 - D is for Daily Ritual

Do you have a daily ritual?  I'm sure the answer is yes if you think about it; it probably involves brushing your teeth, combing your hair, possibly a caffeinated beverage of some sort.  Just google 'daily ritual' and you will be directed to an amazing number of sites that offer something to improve your life as long as you do it every day.  Unfortunately the top ten results have little, if nothing, to do with someone's spiritual practice.  I know I personally keep better balance in my world if I am checking in with the PTB* on a regular basis. 

Every time I get in my car I am reminded of the triple faced goddess to whom I owe allegiance because hanging off my rear-view mirror is an amazing piece of art crafted just for me by Anne from her shop Artisanne.

It's an amazing piece that reminds me of my goddess and the power of the sea all at once every day.  Even if I don't intentionally say hi when I step in the car, as the car moves around the first turn out of my development I automatically reach out, stop it from swinging and smile to remember the amazing divinity in my life.

As strange as this my sound, my daily afternoon cigarette is also a moment of divine contemplation for me on a daily basis.  In the hectic pace of the day I take that 5-7min out, install cancer and yet enjoy the divine within and without.

I plan on adding one more Daily Ritual to the routines, and this one with my Munchkin.  I would like to, after teeth are brushed but before story time, take a moment to teach her how to pray.  I want to teach her that praying is a way to have a conversation with your Gods/Goddesses thanking them and saying good night, after all Thor is kinda like a grown up.

-Kat


*PTB = Powers That Be, my slang and less that devout term for the divine.

Featured Favorites Friday: Awesome Trade Edition

One of my absolute favorite parts about the amazing sellers on etsy.com is trading with them and I have been very blessed.

One of my most recent trades was with a very talented tatter Karen from TattingForSpirit.  I was first drawn to her amazing mini-medallions followed by the beautiful Goddess Within Knots and traded for a medallion for inner balance and a set of beautiful knots.
Her packaging was fantastic.

And the pieces are truly beautiful.  I very much appreciate the time and effort that went into all of them, especially her research and choice of gemstones to include in the medallion.

I very much suggest you wander over to her shop or facebook and browse all of her creations including jewelry and chakra meditation pieces.

The next beautiful creation I'd like to show you was not originally a trade but simply a generous moment by a Witches Cottage team mate, Rachel from SpiralHawkStudio.  Not only does this amazing seller have jewelry, wands, and worked glass they also have amazingly detailed and beautiful spiritual artwork.  I expressed an admiration of this Goddess print and she just offered to send it to me (so I sent her a little biit extra in her order).  It's amazing and I am so thankful!

You can find this great shop on facebook and pinterest.

Capital Witch: American University Faculty Member Launches Commun...

Ladies and gentlemen,

I know I've been very absent and I fully intend to make it all up to you and get 100% back on schedule, including updates to the 2012 reading challanges.

Firstly, however, please click on the link below and learn about a Community Needs survey being conducted to increase and better research about the Pagan community (in the broadest sense).  I know Dr. Reece and have full faith in her commitment to the local, regional, national and global pagan community. 

Capital Witch: American University Faculty Member Launches Community Needs Survey: Please share with love - an effort to assess the needs, challenges, barriers, and perceptions of risk faced by Pagans/Witches/Heathens

-Kat