Month: February 2009

  • wcfq 34c: Fears, Worries, and Wonders

    What scares you the most?
    Viol3tt

    Sometimes I sit and think... what if this isn't really my life? It's an unreasoning fear, so I'm pretty sure it is, in fact, my life, but sometimes I wonder about the times I've blacked out from injury or illness and wonder if I'm a "walk-in." Walk-ins are kind of like midlife reincarnation. If you're injured or your original spirit decides it can't take it any more, another spirit may agree to take over. When I look back at who I was as a child, it just amazes me that I have changed soooo much. I can point to specific events that I *think* have altered my perceptions of self and others and that have contributed to the person I've become, but how do I really know? I know I sound paranoid, but I wonder sometimes if this life is mine and if I'm not going to wake up some day and some other me is going to be standing there, ready to take over because I'm doing it all wrong or I was just a temporary replacement for the original me who inhabited this body.

    Pretty weird, huh? It's actually been bothering me a lot lately.

    I also sometimes worry that maybe the scientists and atheists are right and existence is entirely mechanical in nature. It's not a really big fear because I have faith in my gods and spirituality, but I do sometimes wonder about the inevitability of destruction. Not of death, but of black holes and the sun going nova and eating the Earth. I worry about the challenges my nephew will face in his life and what his children and their children will have to face because of the choices made by the generations before I was born. I wonder if existence is worth it when the long term choices that need to be made are so important that they make those best equipped to make the changes impotent in the face of equally important short term choices. I'm afraid that people have forgotten the necessity for sacrifice and how to see the "big picture." So I wonder if the scientists and atheists are right because if they are, then this is all we've got and we're screwing it up royally. If the mechanical universe is just a phase, then everything's all well and good. But if it's not, we can't ever make it right in the next world, and religion is delusion even if you have faith.

    Less fretful fears are that I'm secretly sick and don't know it yet. That the reason I never stop menstruating (yes, I'm still bleeding... it's been a year), is because I have cancer or that my feminine guts are liquifying from some ebola like infection that only affects women. I know... pretty gross. Sorry. I wouldn't worry if the gynecologist would agree to see me, but they said they couldn't do anything for me until I stop bleeding and that's not going to happen any time soon if it hasn't happened in a year. I worry sometimes that my headaches are tumors. That I will go blind like my great grandmother. That the random aches and pains in my hands, legs, or spine are arthritis like my mother suggests. Even less disturbing are my fears that all my hair will fall out because of poor water quality or some illness. I'm rather proud of my hair, so I don't like to think I might lose my best feature. Given my first fear noted above, is it any wonder I also sometimes worry that I am already quite mad and this life is just a drug induced illusion. Perhaps I am really sitting in a cell somewhere, wrapped up in a straightjacket and dosed into a stupor. Hey! It happened to Buffy! lol

    I worry even less that I will lose my job. Some people worry about that a lot these days, but for me it would almost be a relief. Considering I want to start my own business, time off and unemployment would help immensely with getting my butt in gear. I do worry about losing my job a little because I worry about the circumstances. Will the store close? Will my coworkers lose their jobs as well? Or would it be something I did or didn't do? When I first became a supervisor, I worried about all kinds of things I might accidentally do... like forgetting to lock the front doors at night or accidentally taking money from the register home instead of dropping it in the safe. (I've actually done this three times now, so it's not a big fear any more lol). I do worry about whether my business will be successful if I ever manage to start it. If I even managed to open a brick and mortar store would I be the victim of a hate crime because of my religion? Would I be successful in opening people's eyes, or would people cause a scene and picket to get the "witch shop" closed?

    I wonder about these things. These last few aren't even really fears or even worries so much as they are wonderings. I wonder, a lot. I actually wonder about my job less than I wonder about my health and the nature of existence. Does that make me more impractical or more spiritual than the average person?
    February 6th

    The Sapporo snow festival in northern Japan is held to honor the spirits who bring water to the island. Miniature shrines are created in igloo-like structures, and for one night, children are allowed to wait in these huts, receiving visits from family and friends. The festival began in 1950 when local high school students made six snow statues in Odori Park along the city's main street. It attracted an unexpected number of spectators and, through the following years, the festival gradually became a part of life in Sapporo. Today the festival has grown to Hokkaido's biggest winter event and attracts more than 2 million visitors annually. 



    Today is a festival of Aphrodite.



    St. Dorothy's Day is said to bring snow.



    The 23rd day of Pamenot is a Feast in honor of Horus.



  • WCFQ 34a: Space, not the final frontier

    In 1969, the astronaut who made headlines was Neil
    Armstrong, who was the first human to set foot on
    the moon. In 2007, the astronaut who made headlines
    was Lisa Nowak, who drove across the country in a
    diaper to confront a romantic rival. Has interest in the
    space program waned over the decades? What role
    does the media play in public perception of the space
    program? And what can be done to re-energize
    public interest in space exploration?
    Praetorian1001

    As interested in space as I am for the sake of our species and the spirit of exploration, I think before we can consider colonizing non-terrestrial locations, even the airless moon, we need to fix the problems here. Though colonization of other planets might help alleviate the social, economic, and environmental pressures we currently face, leaving earth without first correcting these issues will only ensure their continuation. 

    Right now the focus is on the environment and rightly so. Though I agree with the non-ecologically minded sentiment that the world can heal itself, I don't believe it can do so if we keep kicking it around like our own personal landfill. Or rather, it will do so eventually... once it's succeeded in finding a way to decrease our populations or get rid of us altogether. After all, the world doesn't need us. We need it.

    Has popular interest in the space program waned over the years? Not if the science fiction genre is be believed. Considering there are parts of our own planet which are still the "great unknown," and they usually have air even if they are fairly inhospitably. Even the sea is closer than space exploration, and has similar difficulties.

    The problem with space exploration, other than the obvious physical difficulties involved in getting humans into airless space and back, is that the media portrays most people interested in outer space as more than a bit off. What are you, rocket scientist? is an insult, not a compliment. The people at SETI listen to static and the crackle of stars dead a million years. Belief in aliens is ungodly. In short, the media portrays anyone interested in space as stupid, irreligious, crackpots, and has done so for years. The thing with Lisa Nowak just gave them more fodder for their propaganda machine.

    If interest in space is to be rekindled, it needs to be done in a very practical way. For instance, from time to time (usually after the fact) some mention will be made of an asteroid which has just missed the earth by a narrow margin. No one really pays attention, but the prospect of going out like the dinosaurs is a pretty scary though. The media mostly downplays these events because they don't want to create a panic, and they are after all, only reported when the danger is done. But the possibility that the earth could be struck by a meteor or other celestial object is really not so far fetched. Look at all the craters on the moon, on the moons of other planets, and at earth. There are still craters left by asteroids of millions of years ago if you know where to look (the gulf of Mexico is one massive crater). By playing on society's fear of imminent destruction (and asteroids are far more imminent than global warming), the media could possibly increase public interest in space. If the focus is on the possibility of an extinction level event, and how it can be averted, then it becomes a practical problem that even someone not trained in astrophysics is equipped to contemplate. Once we have a plan in place for averting such a disaster we could conceivably adapt that plan to space exploration. For instance, a moon base would allow us to keep a watchful eye on the stars and act more quickly to avert disaster. A moon base could also be used as a step towards more extensive exploration of Venus or Mars, and further. By taking a step towards the stars in order to safeguard ourselves from extinction, we could also cater to the exploration and colonization groups.

    And of course, lots of new science fiction shows like Babylon 5 and Firefly and Farscape couldn't hurt. In fact, bring back Farscape. I want to know what happened to John and Erin's baby!!!!
    February 5th

    St. Agatha, the Christianized version of the Greek goddess Tyche, the Roman Fortuna, and the Norse Wyrd, has her holy day today. This day is especially powerful for all forms of divination and fortune telling.



  • Songs that Rawwwwwk

    I'm a bit beat tonight and I can't seem to get warm, so I think I'm just going to post today's holy days and crawl into bed with my heating pad.

    The only thing that I'll add is that I finally dipped into my iTunes gift card that I got over the holiday and bought Mondo Bongo by Joe Strummer (I've loved it since seeing Mr & Mrs Smith), Kashmir by Led Zeppelin because it's almost sacrelige not to have that on one's iPod, and White Zombie's More Human than Human because it's an ubercool song no matter how you cut it.

    Which of your favorite songs would you recommend to me?
    February 4th

    Setsubun is a Japanese celebration designed to drive away the evil spirits of winter in preparation for the spring. Home-owners walk through their house scattering beans into the corners to drive out any demons hiding there. The beans are saved and eaten at the first clap of thunder in the spring. Pointed branches graced with sardine heads are placed over doorways to keep the demons from returning. In temples and shrines through out Japan, purification rituals are performed to expel the sins of the people. The most respected citizens, priests, actors, and sumo wrestlers, perform mame-maki, ritual bean tossing aimed directly at the congregation. It has become common practice for well-known personalities born under the Chinese zodiac sign for that year to be invited to throw out beans as a means of soliciting visitors.


    A fair was once held today in honor of the Frost King but died out during World War I.



  • Haiku News

    Remember that horror haiku contest I mentioned on horror-web.com a couple days ago in a "pulse?"

    Well, I won! The prize was $17, a dollar per syllable. He's also thrown in a shirt. heh Not bad considering I found out about it at the last minute and only took about a half hour to come up with the three and send them in.

    Here are the three poems I entered:

    The door was open;
    it had been shut. From behind
    a sigh. The air, cold.

     **

    Twisting from the branch,
    the wind's marionette; my
    love, you dance once more.

     **

    Rats heard between walls
    scurry to and fro. Judge me
    not! You've heard them too.

    I won't say which one won, but I'll let you guys guess. And see if you can get the literary reference in the third horrorku.
    February 3rd

    St. Blasius or Blaise is one of four holy helpers invoked to help sick cattle. This saint is also responsible for helping people with sore throats. This is a masculine form of Brigit.



    This is the last day of the Lesser Eleusinian Mysteries.



  • Writers Choice Featured Questions Week 34

    five questions for this week

    unfeatured questions stolen from the featured question chatboard, dated from October of 2007
    In 1969, the astronaut who made headlines was Neil Armstrong,
    who was the first human to set foot on the moon. In 2007,
    the astronaut who made headlines was Lisa Nowak, who drove
    across the country in a diaper to confront a romantic rival.
    Has interest in the space program waned over the decades?
    What role does the media play in public perception of the space
    program? And what can be done to re-energize
    public interest in space exploration?
    Praetorian1001

    What scares you the most?
    Viol3tt

    Do you think it is possible that superficiality benefits mankind
    in any way? If so, how? If not, why?
    badgertalent

    Is political correctness good for anything other than comedy fodder?
    AvenueToTheReal

    Would you move into a house that was listed as "haunted"?
    BlitzkreigBeauty
    Answer any one or all of these questions in the coming week. I try to mix the whimsical with the serious here, so hopefully there is at least one question here for everyone.
    February 2nd

    The Februalia festival of candles honors Juno Februa. Candles are lit in honor of Juno Februa, the Purifier and Mother of Mars, and to scare away evil spirits. Februalia and Imbolc became Candlemas under Christian dominance and is now held in honor of the Virgin Mary.
    If Candlemas Day be bright and fair
    Half the winter is to come and mair (more)
    If Candlemas Day be dark and foul
    Half the winter was over at Yowl (Yule)

    This tradition is obviously continued in the celebration of Groundhog's Day.

    The Swedish Lucia-Queen is a girl wearing a crown of seven tapers set in a circle. The Crown of Lights is often worn by a very young girl, presumably to symbolize the extreme youth of the year.

    This is the second day of the Lesser Eleusinian Mysteries of Demeter and Persephone.

    Sul-Minerva of Bath is a British-Roman deity associated with Brigid as a goddess of knowledge and healing. Her sanctuary is described as an 'ash-less' fire, referring instead to her sacred spring. If Sul is cognate with the Goddess of Silbury Hill, there might have once been a procession to her sacred spring, the Swellowhead which begins to flow again in February 'when the Queen comes from the mound.'

    On the 19th day of Pamenot, Nut was born.




  • Tattoo & February

    Tattoo
    the webnovel so far...

    Chapter 1: Blood is Thicker
    Chapter 1.1 in which Glory is not mindful of the store
    Chapter 1.2 in which Glory is made to do something she would really rather not
    Chapter 1.3 in which Glory thinks she might be sick
    Chapter 1.4 in which Aaron makes a mistake
    Chapter 1.5 in which Glory is made to see the error of her ways
    Chapter 1.6 in which the circle remains unbroken

    Chapter 2: A Farewell to Arms
    Chapter 2.1 in which Aaron makes another mistake
    Chapter 2.2 in which Glory reflects on her path
    Chapter 2.3 in which we learn Aaron is not really a nice boy
    Chapter 2.4 in which Glory speculates on the holiness of salt
    Chapter 2.5 in which Glory learns of the necessity for upper body strength, but makes do with  what she has
    Chapter 2.6 in which Aaron tries to make amends, but is still pretty much an ass

    Chapter 3: Small Sacrifices
    Chapter 3.1 in which Glory is spat on, twice
    Chapter 3.2 in which a cop is threatened
    Chapter 3.3 in which someone is crying
    Chapter 3.4  in which there's more to the moon than meets the eye
    Chapter 3.5  in which Glory comes face to face with an loony environmentalist
    Chapter 3.6 in which Glory gets turned around
    Chapter 3.7 in which Glory is threatened
    Chapter 4: The Shape of Things to Come
    Chapter 4.1 in which a doctor makes his rounds
    Chapter 4.2 in which Glory is asked some awkward questions
    Chapter 4.3 in which Glory adopts a pet
    Chapter 4.4     in which Glory gets a surprise, but decides she should not have been surprised at all
    Chapter 4.5 in which Glory explains why there are no debts where duty is concerned
    Chapter 4.6 in which a shapeshifter is an enemy to no man
    Chapter 4.7 in which Glory defends Toby's right to make a phone call
    Chapter 4.8 in which the nose knows
    Chapter 4.9 in which good pizza is wasted on a possum
    Chapter 4.10 in which the ruse is discovered and much blood is shed
    Chapter 4.11     in which names are dropped and there is much frustration

    Chapter 5: Of Mice and Men and Other Things
    Chapter 5.1 in which money can't buy happiness
    Chapter 5.2 in which Glory makes herself at home
    Chapter 5.3 in which Glory indulges her passion
    Chapter 5.4 in which Gozala speaks of things stolen
    February

    February was named for the Roman goddess Februa, mother of Mars and the Latin name for February was Februarius. As patroness of passion, she was also known as Juno Februa and St. Febronia from febris, the fever of love. Her orgiastic rites were held on February 14th, St.Valentine's Day. In Norse traditions, she is equated with Sjofn.

    The Irish called this month Feabhra or an Gearran, the gelding or horse, and also Mi na Feile Bride, "the Month of Brigit's Feast." The horse was used to draw the plow, but Gearran also means 'to cut' and 'Gearran' can be used to describe the 'cutting' Spring winds. To the Anglo-Saxons, this was Solmonath, "sun month," in honor of the gradual return of the light after the darkness of winter. According to Franking and Asatru traditions, this month is Horning, from horn, the turn of the year. The Welsh called February y mis bach, "the little month," or Chwefror.

    The first full moon of February is called the Quickening Moon. It shares the titles Snow Moon with January and November, Wolf Moon with January and December, and Storm Moon with March and November. February's Moon is also called the Hunger or Hungry Moon, and it has been called the Ice, Wild, Red and Cleansing, or Big Winter Moon.

    Aquarius and Pisces share power over February, with Pisces taking over around the 19th of February. Violet is the flower for those born in February. Though jacinth and pearl appear on some lists, amethyst is the jewel for those born in this month and for Pisces, while aquamarine is the stone for Aquarians. Other stones associated with Aquarius are chrysoprase, garnet, labradorite, lapis lazuli, and opal. Albite, aquamarine, chrysoprase, fluorite, green tourmaline, labradorite, moonstone, and opal are linked to Pisces.




    February 1st
    Imbolc or Oimelc marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring through the influence of Brigit, the three-fold goddess of fire, poetry, and healing.

    The first Day of the Lesser Eleusinian Mysteries of Demeter and Persephone lasts three days. This is the Preparation for Initiation.

    The Eleusinian festivals are divided into the greater and lesser mysteries. The events celebrated at the Lesser Mysteries commemorate the descent of Persephone into the world below. The Greater Mysteries honor her return to light and to her mother and were celebrated between autumn and seed time. These lesser mysteries were observed at Agrae near the Ilissus. In later times, the smaller festivals were preparatory to the greater, and no person could be initiated at Eleusis without previously seeking purification at Agrae. It was required that the person initiated in the Mysteries was of unblemished moral character.

    At the beginning of the month, Juno Sospita, the neighbor of the Phrygian Mother Goddess, was honored with new shrines. The name literally means "Juno the Savior", but some scholars maintain that the word "sospita" is derived from a very early form of Latin and may mean something considerably different. Some see Juno Sospita as the protector of women in childbirth (and, by extension, the goddess of deliverance); some see her as a warrior, while others have a completely different view of her purpose in the Roman mythology. The Temple of Juno Sospita was in the Forum Holitorium in Rome.


    This is the 18th day of Pamenot in the Egyptian calendar, a Feast of Nut.