Thunder Magick

Ah, Hawaii.

Rarely does Oahu get a good thunder-boomer going - but when we do get them, they come in from the North Pacific Ocean and generally dump torrential amounts of rain on us.  They are also not the typical Hawaiian rains, in that they stick around and pour for hours (usually, if you don't like the rain here, wait five minutes.)

But this is important rain - this is what keeps the island green, and keeps this land healthy.  And thunderstorms... well, a Hawaiian thunderstorm is no Great Plains boomer, carried across the land on the mighty wings of Thunderbird, but they have their place in magick, as well.

Speak, for the cup of hemlock is not yet on your lips.

Sun: 09'Cancer
Moon: 16'Aries
Last Quarter Moon

In the United States, we are very fortunate that the Constitution protects our freedoms of both religion and free speech: of all the objections raised to the original writing of the document, the rights of free speech, press, religion and assembly were the first to be preserved specifically to the populace by the Bill of Rights.  Religious fundamentalism of any stripe is at odds with both of those rights.  Christian fundamentalists attack both the freedom to believe as one wills and and the right to say it (the brainless claim that non-Christians are waging a "War on Christmas" rings a bell here) within our own country.  Islamic fundamentalists (and others) do the same elsewhere.

It is a courageous few, comparatively, who stand up and speak for all by saying they wish only to be left to their own beliefs in peace.  This blogger in Bangladesh was almost murdered - and still lives in fear for his life - for no reason other than the fact that he believes (or, more accurately, does not believe) as he chooses and speaks about it.  And his words are the title of this post, which I quote in respect.

What cowardice could motivate a person to attack from the shadows, to murder or attempt murder in defense of a theology that claims God (by any name) is all-knowing, all-powerful, all-present and created all things (including the one being murdered), and then slink back into the shadows convinced that God will protect and absolve that crime, the theft of the life and free will of another of His creations?

Speak, for the cup of hemlock is not yet on your lips.  Speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, and if those around you are silenced, let their voices join yours and roar defiance at those who would silence freedom forever in the name of religious tyranny.

Summer Solstice 2013: Prometheus and Hellenic Reconstructionism

The BBC came out with an article yesterday that I thought was an interesting, and too-brief, look at the Greek phenomenon known as Hellenic Reconstructionism and the challenges it faces.


These folks see Greece as a pagan nation under occupation by the Orthodox Church and are, quite literally, attempting to reconstruct the ancient religion of Greece.

The Cult of the American Flag?

Sun: 28'Gemini
Moon: 00'Scorpio
Sun Trine Moon - Waxing Gibbous

I will make no friends with this post, I am sure.  It is a mix of both theological thought and politics, fair warning, but it should be said despite the common convention.  (After all, you came here, and it's your choice to keep reading or not.)  And there's no better time to explore the deep-seated psychological thoughts and urges than under a Scorpio Moon.

What defines "sacred?"

This question came to my mind after noting the incident in which rapper Lil' Wayne stepped on, or was perceived to be stepping on, the American flag. 

Now, I normally don't give a flying rat's ass about what goes on in popular culture, and the rap "scene" is just really not my thing at all.  However, this caught my eye as both a Pagan and an active servicemember.  And my thoughts are not precisely what one might expect from either perspective. 

A discussion on Fire

Sun: 24'Gemini
Moon: 29'Leo

A burst of colorful flowers in the sky, fading away in smoke trails just before another illuminates the night.  A campfire crackling merrily away, toasting your marshmallows, before it escapes the confines of its coals and transforms into a raging wildfire.  A volcano spewing embers into the storm it generates to wreathe its own summit in rainless lightning a la Etna, or fountaining smooth streams of heavy basalt into the sea as Kilauea so iconically does  A candle, steady or flickering in the wind.  The scent of bread baking in the oven and meat roasting on the barbecue.  The light by which you read these words.  The fury of the nuclear fusion at the heart of the warm sunlight on your skin (and the painful red burn it may leave after)...

These are some of the physical manifestations of Fire.

Earth may give us form and Water life, Air is breath (or death).  But no element has brought people together again and again the way that Fire does.  It is as beautiful as it is dangerous, tough to contain but impossible to live without.

Religious Freedom and the Constitution: The Summer Solstice Protests in Pahokee, Florida

Sun: 09'Gemini
Moon: 02'Pisces
Waning Moon, approaching Last Quarter



Among other rights, the US Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of religion to all American citizens.  Any religion, none at all - that is the right of the citizen.

The Bible says to love thy neighbor as thyself.  One interpretation of this, in the social-responsibility context, that if you would like to continue to exercise your rights, you must allow and fight for your neighbor to do the same.  I note, however, that the words of Jesus make no mention of categorization or exception: there's no exemption to loving your gay neighbor, even if you don't like the idea of two people of the same sex in a loving, committed sexual relationship with one another.  And there's no exemption to loving your Pagan neighbor, even if you don't agree with their faith.

So I am curious how the good Evangelical Christian folks of Pahokee, Florida justify the bigotry in their own ranks.  Bigotry is a strong word, but take a look at these gems...

Was monotheism really that much better than polytheism?

Sun: 07'Gemini
Moon: 00'Aquarius
(Mars: 28'Taurus, conj. fixed star Algol)

I found a fascinating link this afternoon over at Free Thought Blogs: was the advent of monotheism truly that much of an advancement over polytheism?

Find it here, and jump below the break for my thoughts (and perhaps, hopefully, a discussion)...