Witch Mama

Interviewing Your Midwife

2016-09-05T21:23:00.004-05:00

(This is a rewrite of a client hand out I wrote in the early 90's. It was funny to change phone numbers into website links. And interesting to note that some of the questions had changed. For example, I had to include 'how far past my due date may I go?'. -xoxo Midwife Melanie)

You've decided you want a natural birth. And you know a midwife is the best person to support that decision during your pregnancy, labor, and birth. But how do you go about finding a midwife? And once you do, how do you know she's the midwife for you?

In Iowa, there are different types of midwives:

Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) are the most widely recognized group of professional midwives. They are registered nurses who have gone on for additional training as midwives. After attending an educational program accredited by the American College of Nurse Midwives Certification Council they must pass their examination and then are licensed. CNMs generally work under the supervision of a doctor (but in Iowa they can be independent!) Most carry malpractice insurance and participate in hospital births only. However, there are some CNMs that do attend homebirths and often they accept insurance reimbursement.

Direct Entry Midwives (also called traditional, lay, independent, or Certified Professional Midwives) are not required to become nurses before training to be midwives. They arrive at their practice through a variety of routes including personal study and experience, formal training programs, and/ or private apprenticeship. Direct entry midwifery is not recognized in Iowa or Illinois, so these midwives might be more difficult to find and do not accept insurance. (My readers in Minnesota and Wisconsin are far luckier!) However they are homebirth specialists!

A Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) is a type of direct entry midwife who has had her skills and experience evaluated by the North American Registry of Midwives and passed a written examination.

The first step is finding midwives to interview. Ask friends who loved their birth experience. Go to the local La Leche League or Crunchy Mama facebook page and ask around. Also, check out midwifery websites like the ACNM, MANA, NARM, and Midwifery Today.

It is important to interview two or three midwives before you make a decision. It will help if you have an idea of the kind of birth you would like. Do you want to deliver at home? Hospital? Birth Center?Do you want a midwife who will massage and encourage you during labor or do you want someone who will basically sit in the corner and knit, intervening only if there is a problem? Do you want FHTs to be monitored with a fetoscope intermittently or hooked up to an electronic fetal monitor? Do you want to deliver in water? Although midwives are alike in many ways, in many more ways they are very different.

Here is a list of questions you can ask when interviewing your midwife. Don't be shy, midwives like to know their clients are a good match!

-Why did you become a midwife?

-What kind of training have you had?

-Do you practice at homebirths? Birth Centers? Hospitals?

-Are you certified or licensed?

-Do you belong to professional organizations, attend conferences and workshops, subscribe to professional journals?

-What basic philosophies guide your practice?

-How many births have you attended?

-How many births do you attend a month?

-What tests do you require prenatally?

-How far past my due date will you allow me to go?

-Do you deliver VBAC, breeches, or twins?

-What emergency equipment will be available at the birth? What isn't available?

-What kind of emergency situations have you handled?

-Have you ever given birth?

-Did you breastfeed?

-Who will attend my birth with you?

-How will you monitor my progress?

-How will you monitor my baby's health?

-May I eat and drink during labor?

-May my other children be present?

-Do you use herbal or homeopathic remedies?

-May I deliver in a birth pool?

-May I or my partner catch my baby? Assuming all is well?

-If we transport to the hospital will you stay with me?

-What is you transfer rate?

-What is your induction rate?

-What is your cesarean section rate?

-What is your episiotomy rate?

-What is your fee and what does it include?

-What kind of commitments are we responsible for; childbirth classes, back up doctor, lab work, hospital registration, birth certificates, new born testing, supplies.....?

-What do you consider your responsibilities as our midwife?

These are initial questions to be asked at your first meeting. There are hundreds of other questions that you will ask through out your pregnancy. It should be very important to your prospective midwife that you know the complete answer to each question. Try to schedule a special interview visit, so you aren't sitting on an exam table wearing a sheet.

It is important to remember that midwives are providing a service to you. As a consumer, you should be fully informed of your options. This will not only help ensure that you feel empowered by your birth experience, but will also change birth, for all women and babies, for the better.

Wolf's Birth Story

2016-08-27T20:58:00.003-05:00

Aeddon Wolf Valdimar
VBAC, 6th Baby
"How wonderful life is, now you're in the world"
Sunday, August 27, 2006

(This post is my first in a few years. What better way than to blog about Wolf's birth on his TENTH birthday?!)

I was dreaming of a family friend fighting a lion. I awoke in a puddle of water. I rushed to turn on the light and woke my husband. But I could smell it was just pee, so I tossed a towel over it and went back to sleep.

I awoke again a few hours later to the sound of my teenage daughter, Tabitha, rushing around getting ready for work. I jumped up and drove to Muscatine with the dawn. I hung out at the coffee shop for a few minutes while Tabitha made me an Americano. I told her my hips felt "wonky" and maybe today would be the day. She said not to wait too long to get her if I was.

At home my husband Chris and I read the newspaper and had fun sex.
Mmmmm…

Being Sunday it was "clean the house day". As I worked I noticed cramping- of course I had been cramping everyday, but these seemed more regular.

I was sweeping at 10 am when Chris said, "everything okay?" I confessed to contracting every 15 minutes but tried not to get too excited.

Chris cooked me two fried eggs with salt and maple syrup. Yummy!

At 12:30 I thought I'd see if a walk "in the wild wind" would be helpful. I went alone. My contractions were 6 minutes apart. I would stop and focus on butterflies. Sometimes I would pee myself. Guess the baby's head was moving down! On my walk I saw a flock of geese and a beautiful heron. I took it as a sign of good luck. I walked one mile.

Back home I sat on the porch swing with Chris. We talked about setting up a birth tub in the dining room in case of heavy rain- it was very overcast. I told Chris I really wanted Tabitha to come home, even if this was a false alarm. But I had no cramps while we swung and he said we could wait until she got done at 3:30.

Chris cleaned and set up the birth tub. I folded the laundry. I got a few bigger contractions. On my walk I imagined wings unfurling from my hips, but now it was more like knives twisting. Chris finished the tub and left to pick up Tab.

My 13 year old son Rowan played with the other children while I lay down for a nap. I missed Chris. I remember enjoying a nap with him at our last birth. Contractions came every 7 minutes, but I did sleep between them.

Chris and Tab return around 4. I tried doing a few chores. Chris told me later he saw me pause to squat while hanging sheets to dry. I then sat in the outdoor hot tub for a few minutes but it seemed to slow things down. I decided to watch "Moulin Rouge" with the kids while Chris started making sushi.

Pearl (midwife 1) called on a hunch to see what was going on at my house. I told her I was contracting, but not regular enough, so we'd call later.

Chris checked my cervix. 8? 9? No head though.

I called K. (midwife 2) to check in. We spoke for 9 minutes during which I had 3 short contractions. Maybe she'd stop out after supper… By now I was singing pretty loud with Ewan and Nicole.

One more trip to the toilet (bloody show!) and I was off to the hot tub again.

The contractions were really strong now. I felt nauseous and asked for a bucket. I checked myself. Lip of cervix, bag, head. I told Chris he should give up on the sushi and call the midwives.

I floated sideways in the tub. It helped me to remember I didn't need to hold onto the contraction. I could 'let it go'. Then a calm. The contractions slowed. The pain lessened. Chris' face was there. "The midwives won't make it in time". I closed my eyes.

I remember my friend Jenni once saying "you don't have to push". I said this to myself for many urges.

Then it felt better to give a little push. My water broke. My whole beautiful family was watching. Rowan had the video camera. The kids were all taking pictures.

I would change positions often. Hand and knees. Squatting. Kneeling. This baby sure was taking a long time to come out!

I could feel the head inside my labia. Chris leaned in and felt. Tabitha leaned in and felt. The water wet her white t-shirt and her pink bra showed through (like in Duece Bigelow the teens said.) It made me smile.

The baby kept kicking and wiggling inside me. "Let me do it, baby", I said. The head would crown and go all the way back in. "Come on, monkey". I always call my children monkeys. Crown again. In again.

The head finally came. So intense! What a big head! Wait for the next contraction. I leaned back and put some traction on the head. No rotation. The baby squeezed its own arms out. Stuck at the armpits?! Chris is in the tub now. I unwrap the cord from the baby's neck. Push again. Finally born!!! 8:08 pm. Beautiful! "What is it?" I ask Morgan Finn (5). "A boy!" my children move in close to touch their brother. This is one of the most perfect moments of my life.

After a while it is dark. Rhiannon (10) cuts the cord. I get out while Archer (8) wraps the baby. I move into bed.

The midwives arrive. Archer, Morgan Finn and K. deliver my placenta. Pearl and the children make placenta prints. Tabitha cooks the placenta for me - delicious! We eat enchiladas and drink wine. We sing happy birthday and eat birthday cake with a zero candle.

The first scale says 11 pounds, 11 ounces. We try two more scales and settle on 11 - 8.

The midwives go home. The children spread sleeping bags in my room and I am tucked in with Wolf. Bliss.

Brigid Story

2014-02-02T16:50:00.000-06:00

Queen of Four Fires

taken from:
The Storyteller's Goddess, Carolyn McVickar Edwards, Marlowe &
Company, 2000.

A long time ago, near the beginning, at the first crack of pink in a
young morning, near the waters of the magic well, the goddess Bridget
slipped into the world and the waiting hands of the nine sisters who
swayed and crooned in a great circle around her. The waters of the
magic well burbled their joy.

Up rose a column of fire out of the new goddess's head that burned to
the very sky. Bridget reached up her two hands and broke away a
flaming plume from her crown of fire and dropped it on the ground
before her. There it leapt and shone, making the hearth of the house
of the goddess.

Then from the fire of her hearth, Bridget used both hands to draw out
a leaping tongue of heat, swallowed it, and felt the fire burn
straight to her heart. There stood the goddess, fire crowning her
head, licking up inside her heart, glowing and shooting from her
hands, and dancing on the hearth before her.

The nine sisters hummed and the waters of the magic well trembled as
Bridget built a chimney of brick about her hearth. Then about the
chimney, she built a roof of thatch and walls of stone. And so it was
that by the waters of the magic well the goddess finished the house
in which she keeps the four fires which have served her people
forevermore.

Out of the fire on Bridget's hands baked the craft of bending iron.
Out of the fire on Bridget's hearth and the waters of her magic well
came the healing teas. Out of the fire on Bridget's head flared out
writing and poetry. Out of the fire in Bridget's heart spread the
heat of compassion.

Word of the gifts of Bridget's fires traveled wide. People flocked to
learn from Bridget the secret of using fire to soften iron and bend
it to the shapes of their desires. The people called bending iron
smithcraft, and they made wheels, pots, and tools that did not break.

All the medicine plants of the earth gathered in the house of the
goddess. With their leaves, flowers, barks, and roots, and the waters
of her magic well, Bridget made the healing teas. She gave a boy with
weak teeth the tea of the dandelion root. She gave a young woman the
tea of the raspberry leaf to help her womb carry its child. An old
man, a cane in each hand to help him walk, took from Bridget
wintergreen bark for his pain and black cherry juice for the
rheumatism. She gave comfrey to a girl with a broken leg and blue
cohosh to bring her bloods without cramps. Bridget brewed motherwort,
licorice root, and dried parsley for a woman who was coming to the
end of her monthly bleeding. "Cup a day," said Bridget, "that you
stay supple and strong."

The people wanted Bridget's recipes. "But we can't remember which
plants for which healings, where to gather them or how long to steep
them," they told Bridget.

The fire on Bridget's head blazed bright. She took up a blackened
stick and made marks with it on a flat piece of bark."These are the
talking marks," She said. "They are the way to remember what you
don't want to forget."

The talking marks also let the people write down the stories of her
wisdom.

Once two men with terrible stories of leprosy came to Bridget.

"Bathe yourself in my well." said Bridget to the first man. At every
place Bridget's waters touched, the man's skin turned whole again.

"Now bathe your friend," said Bridget.

Repulsed, the man backed away from his friend. "I cannot touch him,"
he said.

"Then you are not truly healed," said the goddess. And she gave the
first man back his leprosy and healed the second man. "Return to me
with compassion," she said to the first man. "There find your
healing."

Every year at midwinter the people thank Bridget for her well of
wisdom and her fires of hand, hearth, head and heart. "Thank you,
Bridget, for the simthcraft, for the healing teas, the talking marks,
and compassion. May you dwell with your fires in your house by the
waters of your magic well forever."

An enlightening quote

2013-11-24T20:03:00.001-06:00

"We believe in the Horned God and in the Goddess of the Moon. Now this doesn't mean that we're silly enough to think that the Moon in the sky is a goddess. I don't think any educated pagan ever did think that. What this means to us is that the masculine and feminine powers of nature were symbols; magical images, and by means of our imaginations, we can make a real contact with these cosmic forces: the forces of nature, the forces of life." -Doreen Valiente

Listen to Auntie Doreen herself at about 4:00.

Homeschool Fall 2013

2013-08-19T20:30:00.004-05:00

Planning this year's homeschool. This year both Rhiannon (17) and Morgan Finn (12) have decided to do public school, so I'm down to three children at home - Méabh (4); Wolfie (7): and Archer (15).

Méabh is way to young for any formal schooling. I would like to get her some language resources for her special needs.

Wolfie is ready for homeschool Waldorf kindergarten. So delightful. I have all the Oak Meadow curriculum so we'll be using that (although I frequently fantasize about buying Live Ed!).
Subjects:
Alphabet stories
form drawing
sewing
book making
shoe tying
recorder
outside time

I am excited to do high school with Archer. He'll be using compass on line for core subjects, and we'll be adding some of our own. I really enjoy working with my highschoolers because I learn along with them!
Subjects:
Compass (on line)
To Kill A Mockingbird
Drawing
Piano
Calligraphy
Spanish
P90X

What are your homeschool plans?

Melanie's Witch Book List UPDATED!

2013-08-18T16:10:00.003-05:00

There are so many great Pagan and Wiccan books out there. And some really awful shit. These are the books that shaped me. And that I recommend. My list is completely different from yours. So feel free to leave some suggestions in the comments.

Apocalyptic Witchcraft by Peter Grey

Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth: Her Stories and Hymns from Sumer by Kramer and Wolkstein

Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler

The Spiral Dance by Starhawk

The Witches Bible Complete by the Ferrars

Circle Round by Starhawk

The Complete Book of Witchcraft by Buckland (yes, I went there...)

Women's Rites, Women's Mysteries by Ruth Barrett

Ariadne's Thread by Mountainwater

Medicinal Plants and Herbs - Peterson Field Guide

Hatful of Sky by Terry Prachett (pretty much everything by Terry Prachett. I would say he and the Ferrars shaped me the most!)

Read, listen, watch everything you can get your hands on by Steven Posch:

Radio Paganistan

Steven Posch youtube

And this woman's blog is a constant inspiration: http://sarahannelawless.com/

I have just purchased the following books - I'll let you know when I finish them:

The Confessions of Isobel Gowdie

Letters from the Devil's Forest by Robin Artisson (possibly the most eloquent witch on Facebook)

This list is a work in progress. These are the books that came to mind just this afternoon. Check back soon to see my additions, and the suggestions in the comments!

PSG 2012 Planning (2 days to go)

2012-06-14T07:16:00.002-05:00

Chris' birthday is Friday, so he received his gifts a bit early:

And we went grocery shopping:

We came home to some pretty awesome creations:

And the pile at the end of the day. I'm not taking the fishtank. But yes to the tiger.

PSG 2012 Planning (5 days to go)

2012-06-10T08:53:00.001-05:00

     Frebur, here.
     I attended my first PSG in 1995, accompanying the one and only Sparky T. Rabbit. That innocent trip to Eagle Cave in Wisconsin my life changed forever.
I was, at the time, engaged to a religiously tolerant Catholic woman (!). We were getting ready to settle into a quiet suburban life with no kids (!!!!!!!), and with my altar tucked away in a dresser drawer.
     PSG was a huge culture shock at first. It did not feel like "coming home"; it felt like landing on Mars. But after getting to know the wonderful people there, and after living in a culture of such kindness, freedom, and creativity, PSG had me under its spell. I remember one evening, lounging in the grass at an outdoor feast, music wafting in the air, watching women dance ballet at the edge of the trees (I think one of them was named Melanie, maybe...). After moments like this, I knew that my body could go home, but my heart would always stay.
   And the rest, as they say, is history.

PSG 2012 Planning (7 days to go......)

2012-06-08T23:31:00.000-05:00

In the late 80's I went to Disney World. I saw a beautiful girl alone in line for Space Mountain and invited her to ride with me. Her name was Jana, and a friendship was born.
A few years later she sent me a newspaper all about a gathering in Wisconsin called Pagan Spirit Gathering. My hands shook as I read the paper. She was going. Did I want to go with her? I lived at home and had a small baby, but she would pick me up and we could camp together.
My first PSG changed my life forever. I met beautiful Pagan families, (even moms with nose rings!) took part in rituals, and danced naked under the moon. I met Selena Fox, Circe Queen Slacker, Otter G'Zell, Robin Grimm, and very importantly, Steven Posch. He told me stories that would forever shape my life, and even introduced me to Mother Berchta!

I had planned to upload a zillion pictures from that year, but a quick search of the basement was unproductive. Except for this one. I'd recognize that spin anywhere.

PSG 2012 Planning (8 days to go....)

2012-06-08T09:45:00.002-05:00

It's one week until Pagan Spirit Gathering. There is so much to do! My list writing is in top form. To do lists, to buy lists..... We pile what to pack in front of the hearth. Here it is today.

Also today we did some costume shopping (it's a surprise...), practiced hair styles, double checked raffle tent paperwork, and made a PSG tote for Wolfie. He has been wanting one to carry his Magic cards around in.

And our Dandies vegan marshmallows came in. They are smaller than I expected. For SHF I will try Sweet and Sara.

I went shopping for a bikini top. Nothing like bikini shopping to help motivate you to diet. I will be on a "wine only" diet until PSG.

One of the most difficult "to dos" today was going over my and Chris' PSG schedules and deciding what each of could realistically do.

I will keep you posted on our progress, shopping lists, activities, etc.

How do you prepare for festival?

This I believe...

2012-03-20T23:00:00.000-05:00

I am a pagan. I have been for about 19 years. I love our many paths, our community, our arguments, our festivities. I am true to my gods and goddesses: Sun, Moon, Earth, Green, Horn, Storm, Winds, Sea and Fire. I create rituals, I help at gatherings, I practice magic, I publicly defend our ways.

But, unlike many of my pagan brothers and sisters, I don't believe (and, yes, I practice magic, but that's a previous post). I guess you could call me a "pagan atheist", but don't. I'm pagan. There is no statement of faith in our religions. There is no creed. Which means I can stand right in ritual right next to someone who does believe, and we're both pagans. Neither of us is wrong, or bad, or less-than-authentically pagan.

Let's leave our Christian baggage at the edge of the circle.

-Frebur

Salt Dough Ostara Tree

2012-03-17T21:46:00.000-05:00

I wanted to make a new Ostara craft this year. I followed my "hard fun" philosophy, and decided to make a salt dough Ostara tree.

I got the idea from The Easter Craft Book by Petra and Thomas Berger

Here is the salt dough recipe:

1 cup water
2 cups salt
3 cups white flour
2 tablespoons liquid starch

Pour the water into a saucepan. Add the salt. Stir continuously as you bring it to a boil. Add all the flour and starch in one go. Stir and knead it all together. Allow the dough to cool.

OK, I probably added more water and starch. And I used starch as a glue as well.

I made the main body of the tree first. Then added the details. It took about a day and half for me to finish, while also rearing seven children, playing Game of Thrones card game, etc. At night I covered it with a damp cloth - but it was a little mashy in the morning, so maybe plastic wrap would work better.

When it was finished, I baked it in the oven for 8 hours at 200 degrees, checking it frequently.

Problem - I accidentally baked that egg into it. But it was collapsing in the oven otherwise.

So - how to display it? My brilliant friend suggested I "modge podge" and mount it? I had imagined it to be more temporary, but like this idea. What do you think?

My children also created:

Happy Ostara!

Renaissance Biographies

2012-03-09T14:21:00.000-06:00

Today we began a Waldorf homeschool unit on Renaissance Biographies. I am new to this lesson and will post what I do along the way. Here are some of the resources I am using:

Live Ed! Renaissance Biographies

This website recommended these books:

And some Netflix movies!

Today we did a recap discussion of the crusades influence on the Renaissance. Also we talked about the Medici family (I need to recheck the beautiful book about them from my local library....). I hope to cover da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo. Maybe Botticelli, because I love him.

We watched a Netflix movie about Leonardo da Vinci. ( I had planned to wait a few days on this...) We got into a really great talk about what his religion and sexual orientation was.

Finally we looked at this website and the boys drew/painted a picture of Il Duomo in their main lesson books.

Have you done a junior high type unit like this? I'd love to hear about it!

Game Night

2012-03-05T16:37:00.002-06:00

The past few weeks I have been making an effort to play a game with the children every single day. This works out well because I love to play games (always have) and it's definitely quality time.

Here are our favorite games:

Psi Run
Set
Settlers of Catan
Magic: The Gathering
Clue
Scrabble
Scotland Yard
Uno
Risk: Godstorm
Apples To Apples
Princess
German Wooden Ladybug Race (for baby - I bought this 20 years ago.....)
Cadoo
Beyblades
Game of Thrones (OK, actually just me.)

What games did we miss? What are your family favorites?

Wolfie Makes Breakfast

2012-03-03T23:17:00.001-06:00

This is what happens when you have foodie children:

2012 Seed Order

2012-02-29T21:33:00.002-06:00

Once again I ordered from Seed Savers. Here is my order form:

Item	Price	Qty	Total
Beet, Detroit Dark Red , Packet 100 seeds	$2.75	1	$2.75
Carrot, Danvers OG, Packet 250 seeds	$2.75	1	$2.75
Carrot, Dragon , Packet 250 seeds	$2.75	1	$2.75
Cucumber, Parade OG, Packet 25 seeds	$2.75	1	$2.75
Eggplant, Diamond OG, Packet 25 seeds	$2.75	1	$2.75
Kale, Dwarf Blue Curled OG, Packet 100 seeds	$2.75	1	$2.75
Arugula OG, Packet 500 seeds	$2.75	1	$2.75
Lettuce, SSE Lettuce Mixture , Packet 250 seeds	$2.75	1	$2.75
Pea, Green Arrow OG, Packet 50 seeds	$2.75	1	$2.75
Radish, Early Scarlet Globe , Packet 250 seeds	$2.75	1	$2.75
Spinach, America , Packet 250 seeds	$2.75	1	$2.75
Swiss Chard, Five Color Silverbeet OG, Packet 100 seeds	$2.75	1	$2.75
Squash, Cornfield Pumpkin , Packet 25 seeds	$2.75	1	$2.75
Squash, Waltham Butternut OG, Packet 25 seeds	$2.75	1	$2.75
Herb, Basil Purple Dark Opal OG, Packet 250 seeds	$2.75	1	$2.75
Herb, Cilantro OG, Packet 250 seeds	$2.75	1	$2.75
Herb, St. John's Wort , Packet 250 seeds	$2.75	1	$2.75
Sunflower, Sunflower Mixture, Packet 100 seeds	$2.75	1	$2.75

We will also be planting tomatoes, grapes and peppers, but we'll buy those as plants.

And now on to chickens and bees!

What garden plans are you making?

The Game Show

2012-02-27T12:02:00.001-06:00

After weeks of scrambling to get a camera and laptop, days of planning, and a house full of plasticine, my sons' entry for the library movie contest is complete! Hope you enjoy it!

Foodie Family

2012-02-25T20:01:00.000-06:00

I have been wanting to write about this for a while, but wondering how to do it without offending. Many awesome Waldorf homeschooling families have gotten on board with Simplicity Parenting's food rhythms. The idea being that children like regular repetition in their meals. So the Waldorf homeschool blogs exploded with simple meal planning, simple meals, eat from the cupboard or spend nothing on food months, etc, etc, ad nauseum.

Now, I realize that this can be a money issue. I have been a single mama on welfare. I get that. But when that's you, you don't need an internet food challenge to inspire you to eat simply.

It is NOT HEALTHY or GOOD to only offer your children the same foods over and over and over. If you do choose to do that, don't be surprised later if they have food allergies or are picky eaters.

If you want children who think trying new foods is an adventure, feed them a lot of foods from the begining! It's OK if they don't like something the first time, it's cool. Try it again! Buy or borrow cookbooks with lots of photos and let them choose some recipes. Have ethnic nights, with music. Have fun cooking together.

Down with Taco Tuesdays!

Saved by the Post Man

2012-02-22T12:01:00.001-06:00

Sometimes I think that the post office holds on to my mail, goes through it, and waits til the box gets full to deliver it. But today that was just fine, because after a craptacular day of supervising teachers, fundy Christian judgement and dental fillings, it's nice to come home to a mailbox bursting with fun.

I'll spare you the medical bills. Here is the good stuff:

My beautiful brilliant friend Girly Onebird recently treated my family to a dinner made from this book. You'll be hearing more about this cookbook!

Interweave Knits. Not super impressed with this months issue, but I am liking the Evolvere Shawl.

And a Knit Picks to go with it!

I am soooo addicted. Which is funny, because I am discovering that I totally suck at this game.

And as if a gift of Crispin Glover's book from a New York bellydancer isn't cool enough..........

Eat your heart out.

Anything cool turn up in your mailbox today?

May Fair Babies

2012-02-03T09:49:00.001-06:00

It is said that in the Old Times, men and women would dance the May Pole on Beltane and party all night with abandon. They were free with their love, and babies that were conceived during Beltane trysts were considered sacred. Conceived on Beltane, born on Oimelc/Brigid. They were given special last names, like May, and considered holy children of the village; the Goddess' love made flesh.

Remember this the next time you think to jump a Beltane bonfire. (Jack be quick.) Especially at Many Hands House. We follow the Old Ways here.

Breastfeeding Images I Love (For Imbolc)

2012-01-27T22:28:00.000-06:00

By Nataly Dauer http://nataliadauer.500px.com/#/0

Mother Breastfeeding, sculpture from Vigeland's Sculpture Park in Norway

http://www.wmagazine.com/celebrities/2008/11/brad_pitt_angelina_jolie

http://www.katehansenart.com/madonna-and-child-project.html

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0WDP/is_2002_April_8/ai_84640284/

http://milkydreams.com/FR/node/110

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2005/apr/07/thisweekssciencequestions/print

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_of_Neptune,_Bologna

http://www.babble.com/celebrity/celebrity-moms/public-breastfeeding-pictures-celeb-moms-photos/?page=6

http://momotics.com/week-5-the-original-nipple-cap/

http://blogs.babble.com/strollerderby/2009/07/30/photo-of-woman-breastfeeding-a-child-and-a-deer/

http://www.milkydreams.com/content/georgia-breastfeeding-her-dad-save-him-cancer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-L-Fg7lWgQ

http://www.salon.com/2000/05/03/jungle_2/

Kai Nielsen Vandmoderen statue in Copenhagen, Denmark. Image provided by NY Carslberg Glypotek museum.

Even baby Ganesha fiddled with the other nipple.

The Virgin and Child Madonna Litta, about 1490-2, Leonardo da Vinci

Charity, by Stephen Cefalo

Arthur Rackham

Of course She Hulk breastfeeds!

http://www.drmomma.org/2011/06/international-breastfeeding-symbol-with.html

http://madebymomma.spreadshirt.com/weaning-is-for-quitters-A7855265

No More Mundania

2012-01-26T23:15:00.001-06:00

I'm going to cast a spell. No need to clutch at your pentacles; I'm casting a spell in the old sense of the word: a tale, a story. But a spell isn't just a narrative, oh no. A spell is a narrative that shapes the way we see the world.

This is a magical spell, or, better yet, a spell about magic. Here goes:

Magic is the act of making the imaginal real.

There is magic of the obvious variety, like creating blueprints of a house, and then building that house. You just cast a house-building spell. What once existed only in the imagination is now real.

There are also spells of the more subtle variety. When you cry real tears from watching a movie, when you are angered by insulting words, when you buy things because of the commercial, you're under a spell. Nothing has been made, per se, but the effect of the spell is very real.

Of course, this includes all of the rituals, charms, and incantations that we normally associate with the idea of "magic" in the paganisms. But I would add that no magic happens unless some real effect (physical, emotional, etc.) manifests.

Magic is all around us. When the courts declared that corporations are people, they created, before our eyes, a real, live, non-corporeal entity: a spirit! (Or a demon, depending on your perspective.) Want to see a real magical item? Look in your billfold, and there it is: magical green paper that you can trade for your worldly needs. Use your witch's eye and look at all around you, and you'll see magic everywhere.

Magic is real, but, more importantly, "real" is magic!

-Frebur

Magic: The Gathering

2012-01-24T14:11:00.001-06:00

The family that plays together, stays together.

http://www.wizards.com/magic/tcg/productarticle.aspx?x=mtg/tcg/darkascension/productinfo

Can You Make Me A Witch?

2012-01-23T16:35:00.000-06:00

I often meet people who are wanting to become witches. They ask a lot of questions and read a lot of books. Then when I see them again, they have joined a local church. Which is fine, but I feel as if I have somehow failed them, and Paganism at large. I have been tossing this around in my head lately.

I need to remember that these folks are "seekers". And as a witch, I don't proselytize. And I am a loner. And a sucky friend. When you become a witch, it's not all free childcare and basement potlucks. There's no catechism. And there are definitely no easy answers. Especially when life gets difficult.

That's not to say you won't make new friends. Go to a festival. Join a book club. But for the most part, you've got to do it yourself. Want a ritual? Do it! Invite your friends or your neighbors or your children. Or not. Start a study group. And you might get teased. But you might not. Just be proud. Being a witch serves an important social function. And not everyone is cut out for it.

Being a witch means changing people's perceptions. You might be just the witch of your family. You might be the witch of your apartment building. Your trailer court. Your town. Even the witch of a Pagan festival. Or a country. You can do it, if you want to. And although I'll do my best to inspire you, I can't do it for you.

Seven Days of Blogging: Day 1, Unprofound

2012-01-22T23:39:00.000-06:00

So I haven't been blogging much lately. Much of it is the fault of this:

And some of it is because I don't want to post anything that is not profound.

I have a friend who is a successful blogger. We were visiting and she said " You're posts don't have to be profound, people just want a glimpse into your life." Maybe that's true. Maybe she's a liar. She did also say that bangs were going out of style.

So what was my day like?

It began with a Bollywood:

Then apple galettes.

Then, a lot of ladies came over to watch FCBD Vol.9 with me. What? You weren't here? I invited you!

One of them gave me a gift.

And I had an interesting discussion with one of their nine year old boys on the appropriateness of the godesses' breasts, and the salvation of my soul.

Then I had some emotions about troupe dynamics.

And for dinner we had potluck leftovers.

And rum.

And I ordered a vulva necklace. Take that, nine year old.

So what did you do today? Do you want to read my unprofound posts? Well, if so, you're in for a week long treat. And if not, brace yourself.