Songs of a Cricket - blog

Shadow Work: White Fragility

6/19/2020

Honestly I had never heard the term before until I was watching a video by Kelly-Ann Maddox on YouTube, a content creator I adore and have spoken to frequently. I didn't truly understand what it was and figured it just didn't affect me. Boy, oh boy, am I so wrong!

Today I watched a video, which I will link below, that features author and University of Washington professor, Dr. Robin DiAngelo in which she speaks about white fragility, a term she is credited for creating. I found myself identifying with a lot of what she speaks about and took some time to contemplate this shadow within myself. I spoke at length about it with my husband, who then watched the video as well.

White fragility refers to feelings of discomfort a white person experiences when they witness discussions around racial inequality and injustice. Racial stressors may cause a range of defensive behaviors and emotions. White people may act in a number of ways when black people or people of color discuss racism. These reactions may

Black Lives Matter

6/4/2020

So much is happening in the world as of late and it scares me down to my core. We as a collective want change and I believe change is necessary. It has been necessary for a long time now, but change is frightening because it demands us to look into the unknown where nothing is guaranteed. The greatest changes occur when there is great suffering. Pain is a strong motivator and many people are hurting right now. Many human beings are angry and frustrated and fearful. I know I am fearful. I am scared for myself, but mostly for people of color, especially for those of the Black community.

I was raised by my white parents to be color blind and until recently I thought that was a "good" thing. I mean as a child I

Update and Plans

5/29/2020

I have been absent from my blog for a while now. It seems that the last time I posted was September of last year. I am going to change that and I have made a personal goal of posting a blog once a week beginning today. It's time to get back into the online pagan / Witch community and liven up this website.

I've been busy in the time I've been away. I've been spending my time writing. I also published Volume II of the Secrets of Syn series and then took a break from writing i.hat as well as I concentrated on other projects I was working on. I will be picking up the series again in a few months to continue Angie's story. I find that she has been seeking me out and speaking to me as she has more to say and experiences to share with her audience.

During my time away, I've been dealing with the transitions I wrote about in the previous blog post. I am still without a Matron or Patron and it is still uncomfortable, but I am learning how to deal with it.

Transitioning and Growth

9/29/2019

It's been a while since I've posted anything here on the blog, but it wasn't because I hadn't been thinking about it. I have been - constantly. I just wasn't sure what I had to say as I've been transitioning within my own practice, my own Craft since we relocated from the East Coast to the West. And honestly, it has been a challenging transition for me. I mean, I knew I was going to experience a shift in my practice, but I was naive to think it was going to be easy and simple and quick. It has been anything and everything but that. We, as Witches, experience changes within our Craft because, well we are human beings and as we all grow, right? We are not the same person now as when we were five years old or fifteen, as we live our lives we have experiences ... some are profound like a messy divorce or the death of a parent while others are

Do Spirits Age?

6/26/2019

I was watching a video featuring The Long Island Medium the other morning and she was answering questions that she’d been asked by her audience one of which was, “does spirit age?” and her response to that question was yes, they do. She relayed her own experience with spirits of children who died and how they appeared to her as years older and grown. While I cannot validate or refute her experiences with my own understanding of the nature of spirit and through my own interactions with spiritual entities including the Beloved Dead, I strongly disagree.

Aging is a process in which the physical body becomes older, showing indications of the time in which that specific body has resided on earth. Age is a measurement that human beings use to determine the length of an individual’s existence extending from their birth (manifestation) to the current moment in which their age is being determined. This measurement is a human notion and relies on the concept of time, which is just another manmade construct. We have created the concept of time so that we are able to organize our lives, but time is not as linear as we believe it to be. We perceive time as linear here on the physical plane of Earth, but beyond this limiting reality it does not exist.

Anniversary of His Death

6/17/2019

It's been a year since we had to euthanize him, my beloved Alchemy. Since then we adopted a new cat, my adorable Oberon, but he hasn't filled the void that still exists in my life, the one that was held by my Beloved Alchemy.

RIP
3/26/2007 - 6/12/2018

Understanding Witches' Runes: Scythe

6/5/2019

The symbol for Scythe is an abstract pictograph of the scythe, which is a tool that dates back as far as 500 BC and was used for cutting hay, wheat, grain or other crops. The tool was crafted with a long curved blade that was fastened at an angle to the end of a long pole with one or two short handles. It replaced the sickle for reaping crops by the 16th century. The scythe is associated with the Grim Reaper and is symbolic of the harvest of souls at the end of life.

Scythe corresponds with death and things associated with it including; funerals, burials, Wills, inheritance, heirlooms, legacies, and ancestry. It also represents endings in all forms; divorce, graduation, loss of job, illness, important life changes, painful or difficult choices, separations, and sudden traumatic changes. It may also symbolize foreboding, danger, and resentment.

Understanding Witches' Runes: Harvest

5/29/2019

The symbol for Harvest is an abstract pictograph of a plant ready to be harvested, which represents the conclusion of the growing cycle for that particular crop. Since ancient times the harvest season has been of social importance and has been the focus of celebrations and festivals that can be found within many religions and spiritual practices. It is symbolic of spiritual enlightenment and fulfillment.

Harvest reflecting the agricultural references to the word corresponds with; abundance, growth, wealth, fortune, prosperity, rewards, benefits, and blessings. It also represents physical and emotional aspects such as manifestation, security, practicality, stability, self-employment, starting a family, responsibility, happiness, ease, and openness.

Understanding Witches' Runes: Crossroads

5/22/2019

The symbol for Crossroads is two intersecting arrows; one vertical and one horizontal, which represents the intersection of two opposing directions, a place where the individual is suspended at a point in time while facing the potential of each direction and choice. Within the occult it represents liminality, a place “neither here nor there”, “betwixt and between” where two realms touch enabling spirit communication.

Crossroads corresponds with all aspects of choice and life decisions including the bravery, discipline, and willpower we must have to make them as well as the obstacles that may stand in the way of implicating our choice. It represents strategy, trials, troubles, conflicts (both internal and external), confusion, stagnation, fear, frustration, opposition, karmic bonds, misunderstandings, lack of support, and loneliness.

Understanding Witches' Runes: Rings

5/15/2019

The symbol for Rings is three interlocking horizontal circles with the middle being the largest of the three and the other two being of equal size. The symbol represents the bond between three aspects of something such as the body, mind, and spirit or the interconnection between three separate things.

Rings corresponds with the association between things and people, whether this connection is manifested in a relationship or partnership, a synchronicity of events or situations, or simply the impersonal energetic bond that can be inherently found. It also represents support, agreements, vows, promises, bindings, relationships both platonic and romantic, and reunion.

Understanding Witches' Runes: Romance

5/7/2019

The symbol for Romance is an ancient Celtic symbol called the triquetra, which means triangle or three cornered and is a symmetrical triangular shape created by three interlaced arcs or Vesica Pisces. The symbol is used to represent ideas and concepts holding a triple nature while representing the bond between these three concepts, whether they are spiritual or mundane.

Romance corresponds with connections, emotional bonds, harmony, estrangement, resolutions, unconditional love, passion, obsession, scandals, and attraction. It also represents relationships in all their manifestations; friendship, enemies, family, marriage, and soulmates.

Understanding Witches' Runes: Flight

4/24/2019

The symbol for Flight is an abstract pictograph of flying birds, which since time immemorial have been regarded as messengers of the gods due to their proximity to the heavens and their ability to traverse between the earth and heavens. They are symbolic of transcendence and eternal life.

Flight corresponds with communication in all forms, whether spoken or written and includes gossip, ideas, information, data, contracts, documents, solutions, inspiration, and wishes. It also represents movement in all forms; travel, change of plans, synchronicity, freedom, and times when physical distance may become an obstacle that is required to be overcome.

Understanding Witches' Runes: Waves

4/17/2019

The Waves symbol being a spiral surrounded by curved lines represents the unpredictable nature of the element of water as well as being one of the oldest geometric shapes found throughout the ancient world. This shape is fundamental to our natural biosphere and is used to represent creation and growth by many ancient cultures and spiritual traditions.

Waves correspond with our non-physical self; the aspect of each human being that dreams, imagines, and is in alignment with our intuition. Within the depths of ourselves we are able to seek solitude, hide our insecurities, and bury our undesired emotions, which can lead to self-deception, self-delusion, and self-sabotage; all which are represented in this particular rune stone. It also represents human feelings and emotions, not only about ourselves and those we interact with, but also situations and events we are involved with or witness.

Understanding Witches' Runes: Woman

4/10/2019

The Woman symbol, a letter Y or an edited symbol for the planet Venus, represents the receptive or inactive feminine energies that are present within each manifested thing and being on the physical plane of existence. The shape represents the womb of the human female gendered body where creation occurs and has been associated with reproduction within fertility cults; the consort of which is the symbol for Man.

Woman corresponds with the receptive feminine energy that is manifested in the physical plane. It represents the physical female body and may represent a specific person within the throw especially an individual that physically as a woman, regardless of age. Woman represents vulnerability and the empathetic nature of humanity, which allows for the fluidity of energy and expansion of the individual spirit though it can reveal a lack of boundaries. Woman is about Being rather than Doing. It also represents the subtle realms of human consciousness.

Understanding Witches' Runes: Man

4/3/2019

The Man symbol, an arrow pointing downward is an abbreviated symbol for the planet Mars, represents the projective or active masculine energies that are present within each manifested thing and being on the physical plane of existence. The arrow is a phallus symbol, which has been associated with reproduction for many years within fertility cults; the consort of which is the symbol for Woman.

Man corresponds with the active masculine energy that is manifested in the physical plane. It represents the physical male body and may represent a specific person within the throw especially an individual that presents as a man, regardless of age. Man represents energy with forward momentum or drive, and thrives within structure as it is expressed through the physical realm though it can be controlling and manipulative. Man is about Doing rather than Being. It also represents intellect, logic, practicality, and is analytical in nature.