The Pagan Family

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.

2012 Resolutions - The Year of Win.

2011-12-27T22:48:00.002-06:00

We are all sick here at Many Hands House. A rare thing for me, I have always had an immune system of iron, while Chris' is more like a sieve. It's a rotten time to be sick. So many friends to not be visiting, so many festivities canceled. However, I have been trying to see the silver lining in it. After weeks of constant running around, shopping, cooking, cleaning, we are forced to just be. Taking care of each other. Taking turns reading aloud (The Outsiders). And dreaming.
So today we wrote our New Years' resolutions. We write them every year. And we named the upcoming year as well. Last year was called "Up and Running". This year "The Year of Win".

1. Eat salads with every meal.
   We were doing really well with this. It was on last years list too. But when the weather cools off, we seem to forget.

2. Exercise more.
    Again, so easy when the weather is good.

3. Help Méabh communicate.
   Méabh has frequent speech therapy, and we are working on signing. It gives me hope to recall that last year we were helping her learn to walk, and now look at her. You should see her bellydance!

4. Write personal goals with the children and help them achieve them.

5. Chris will continue with grad school awesomeness.

6. I will make my midwifery and unda more thoughtful and successful.
   Both have been through big changes. But I'm not giving up. This goal is vague, I have written my own lists for both.

7. I will put more energy into homeschooling.
    It is so different to homeschool teens! And I will make sure that my focus is in line with Waldorf education.

8. I want to cultivate important friendships and end those that weigh me down.

9. And of course, the long list of home improvements:
    Organize the basement; fix the hot tub; rent a dumpster; a new arch for the prarie; more bees and trees; great gardening

10. Two reliable vehicles would be nice.

11. Blog more!

(OK - there were only 10 originally - I added the cars part just now as I was typing this.)

You know what is most striking to me is how normal these resolutions are. And isn't that wonderful? No "I hope my sons operations go well", or "I hope this court case ends soon." Just nice comfortable plans. And I bet they are similar to yours.

What are your New Years' resolutions?

Mother Berta's Coming To Town

2011-12-05T08:22:00.001-06:00

by Steven Posch

Tune: "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"

You better watch out when winter comes nigh
You better not doubt, I'm telling you why
Mother Berta's coming to town

She carries a sack made out of skin
She dumps the toys out and stuffs the kids in
Mother Berta's coming to town

She rides on Master Skeggi
A Goat whose back is strong
Her beard is grey and scraggly
And her tail is ten feet long!

With six or eight horns, a moustache or two
Make a mistake, she's coming for YOU!
Mother Berta's coming to town.

She knows with whom your sleeping
She knows with whom you wake
She knows each thought you're thinking
So don't THINK! For Goddess sake

So when the winds howl way up in the sky
Listen as she and Skeggi pass by

Mother Berta's coming
Mother Berta's coming
Mother Berta's coming
Mother Berta's coming to town!

Herb Walk: Yellow Dock & Dandelion Root Iron Syrup

2011-10-15T15:55:00.001-05:00

It's the time of year for digging up roots. And that's what I have been doing this week. Mostly yellow dock and dandelion. I was planning to make an iron tincture, but my friend recommended this Iron Syrup recipe from herbalist Aviva Jill Romm:

1/2 ounce each dried dandelion root and dried yellow dock root

1/2 cup blackstrap molasses

1/8 cup brandy (I used rum, because I like it and it's what I had)

First I gently cleaned them, then chopped them up finely.
I put the chopped roots into a quart jar.

Then I poured very hot water over them and left them sit over night.

Next, I strained them into a pot and simmered until I was left with 1 cup of liquid infusion. This is called a decoction.

To this I added the blackstrap molasses while still heating.

As soon as it was mixed, I removed it from the heat. Then I added rum.

It tastes good! I am keeping it in the refrigerator where I hope it will last 3 or 4 months.

I've been taking a spoonfull every day, along with a Vitamin C chewable. I love it!

What herbs are you gathering? What have you been creating?

The Charge of the Goddess

2011-10-11T18:35:00.000-05:00

Listen to the words of the Great Mother, She who of old was also called among men Artemis, Astarte, Athene, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Dana, Arianrhod, Isis, Bride, and by many other names.

“Whenever ye have need of any thing, once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full, then shall ye assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of me, who am Queen of all witches. There shall ye assemble, ye who are fain to learn all sorcery, yet have not won its deepest secrets; to these will I teach things that are yet unknown. And ye shall be free from slavery; and as a sign that ye be really free, ye shall be naked in your rites; and ye shall dance, sing, feast, make music and love all in my praise. For mine is the ecstacy of the spirit, and mine also is joy on earth; for my law is love unto all beings. Keep pure your highest ideal; strive ever towards it; let naught stop you or turn you aside. For mine is the secret door which opens upon the Land of Youth, and mine is the cup of the wine of life, and the Cauldron of Cerridwen, which is the Holy Grail of immortality. I am the gracious Goddess, who gives the gift of joy unto the heart of man. Upon earth, I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal; and beyond death, I give peace, and freedom, and reunion with those who have gone before. Nor do I demand sacrifice; for behold, I am the Mother of all living, and my love is poured out upon the earth.”

Hear ye the words of the Star Goddess; she in the dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven, and whose body encircles the universe.

“I who am the beauty of the green earth, and the white Moon among the stars, and the mystery of the waters, and the desire of the heart of man, call unto thy soul. Arise, and come unto me, For I am the soul of nature, who gives life to the universe. From me all things proceed, and unto me all things must return; and before my face, beloved of Gods and of men, let thine innermost divine self be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite. Let my worship be within the heart that rejoiceth; for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals. And therefore let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you. And thou who thinkest to seek for me, know thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee not unless thou knowest the mystery; that if that which thou seekest thou findest not within thee, thou wilt never find it without thee. For behold, I have been with thee from the beginning; and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.”

-Doreen Valiente

Samhain Giveaway!

2011-10-10T18:24:00.000-05:00

Sorry we've been such neglectful bloggers. We have been Internet free (thanks to country living and the sleazy Hughes.net) for over a month now, which isn't all bad. But we have missed you all! And so to make it up to you, we promise to blog something every day this week, even if we have to type it all with our thumbs. And if that's not enough, we are having a book give away!

Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Tradition by Starhawk, Anne Hill and Diane Baker is a treasure trove of ritual, story, seasonal activities and advice. Our family reads from it at every Sabbat and uses it often as a reference and for inspiration.

To enter the drawing, you must do two things. Sign up to "follow us by email" (if you already have, just let us know, and thank you!) AND leave us a comment sharing your plans for Samhain.
We will randomly choose a winner, this Sunday, at 5:00.

We look forward to your comments!

Mirth and Reverence

2011-09-17T17:11:00.000-05:00

The Green Phallus

I (Melanie) love penises.

I have worn a penis necklace often for decades:

I have worked to keep penises intact.

I love Anaïs Nin’s story of a woman who loved penises so much that she pretends to faint during a Scottish parade so as to get a better view.

And yet, I am uncomfortable with the adventures of “green phallus”.

When I first saw the green phallus at a festival, I loved it. It embodied so many things I love: fiber arts, amigurami, penises.

But as time traveled on, I began to feel uncomfortable with green phallus. Or rather, the way it was being treated. Paraded around like a joke. People openly performing sexual acts upon it. Now, you all know that I am bawdy. But in public space, with children present, at 10 in the morning? Even my strong stomach turned. What if this were a vulva? Vulvas are fun. They are sexy. They are sacred.

But can you imagine a toy vulva being licked, worn, fucked, etc, at a morning meeting? It might be upsetting!

Chris also feels very conflicted about the adventures of the Green Phallus. On one hoof, he loves the humor, and holds humor as a sacred thing. He enjoys the light-hearted play around the Green Phallus adventures. We don’t want to offend anyone, many of whom we love and respect, who have been having such a good time with it.

So, we are offering the following in the spirit of balance, and not criticism; to be viewed in addition to the fun, not instead of the fun.

Our ancestors have employed the symbol of the phallus in their worship for millennia:

Ithyphallic deities are present in many pagan cultures:

Frey, King of Pleasure, Plenty, and Peace:

The God Pole, axis mundi of the God Pole Rite, and site of a beautiful hand fasting at Pagan Spirit Gathering 2011:

So we are torn. Are we being (gulp) puritanical? Do we need to loosen up? Or perhaps green phallus needs to be treated a little more respectfully? What do you think?

Post Modest

2011-08-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

When you think of Melanie Moore, many words probably come to mind. Modesty isn't one of them.

I am suffering from PFD (post festival depression). Those of you who are festival goers can relate. It is so difficult to go from Witch hippies in the forest to mainstream muggles. That first stop at a gas station, everyone is so clean, and the attendants don't want you to hug them. And the pressure from society to wear a bra. Ugh! It's 102 degrees people!

So with this PFD, I was dreading my first official meeting with the homeschoolers and supervising teacher. But I adjusted my attitude. Canoeing at Saulsbury is always fun, and some of the moms are my friends.

On the way out, I checked my mail box. One of the homeschool moms had written me a letter! It was long and seemed friendly. How nice! But as I read on I realized that this letter was actually a "shit sandwich" (something nice, something mean, something nice). Buried in the letter was a suggestion that I dress more modestly.

Of course.

Growing up, I was a German exchange student. A country where there are topless soap commercials, nude beaches, and you can sit naked in the community fountain.

I am a witch. I shall be naked in my rites. And my rights.

I am a bellydancer. Women's bodies are beautiful!

Yes, that is 8 month pregnant me. A filthy harlot.

I am a breastfeeder. A promiscuous breastfeeder! This puritanical bullshit is making things more difficult for young mothers!

I would never feed my baby like this!:

Can you see that no young mothers will be inspired to breastfeed by this?!?

But like this:

Now, sometimes, there is a place for "modesty". Like with children. But my definition of modest might be different than yours. I would much rather have my children dress like this:

Than like this:

I have had pregnant mamas ask what they will wear when they birth. Have you seen this?


The "Amazing Modest Birthing Skirt" - Tell me, how am I supposed to catch my own baby underwater with all that fabric floating around?

Once I gave birth like this:

But now I prefer to be more in charge:

Modesty is a remnant of our puritanical past. Not only does it keep women oppressed, it twists their sexuality. My aforementioned letter writer suggested I check out http://modestyispretty.blogspot.com/
So I did. In the FAQ, the blogger mentions that she rubs up her legs with lotion before the photos so they are shiny. How un-modest and twisted is that?

But in case you wanted to see how I'd look modest, my friend Rock took care of things:

And as a quiet form of protest, this post was typed completely in my birthday suit:

Thanks to all of you who helped me feel better about this, especially Chris, Michelle, my PSG peeps, and the ladies at Foul, Drunk & Hostile Bellydancers.

Next homeschool meeting I'm wearing a bikini and a boa.

A Sacred Harvest Fest Give Away!

2011-08-17T19:34:00.000-05:00

We are back! What a wonderful Sacred Harvest Festival we had! Many thanks go out to Harmony Tribe! And we met so many beautiful talented people. One of those people was the Sacred Harvest Festival special guest Crystal Blanton.

She is a mother, grandmother, witch, author, tarot card reader, blogger and counselor. Her new book is Bridging the Gap; Working within the Dynamics of Pagan Groups and Society . In it she explores relationships within Pagan working groups and covens. As I was reading it on the drive home, I realized that much of it could be applied to all types of groups! Here is a description from her website:

As we evolve it becomes increasingly clear that being an incredible ritualist is not all that is needed to be a competent leader or member of our pagan society. Unless they come to the Craft already equipped with these skills from professional training or other life experience, the leaders in our community have not possessed the skills to effectively model or train in these techniques. For all the intensive training we endure in the Craft, pagans as a society are still ill-equipped to competently cope with the growing needs of our own community. Bridging the Gap: Working Within the Dynamics of Pagan Groups and Society will look at filling the common gaps in our community by using techniques as tools to assess, understand, and work with the changing dynamic of any group or coven. While maintaining a professional polish, the book uses humor, common scenarios, exercises, and resources to examine the commonalities between techniques used in the counseling profession; giving the reader concrete, professional solutions to coping with common problems. The book addresses: • Basics of common techniques used in counseling including anger management, assessment tools, boundaries, behavior shaping, restorative justice and many others • The common traps that occur within groups, which lead to devastating effects and dissolution • The creation of the group mind and how it is effected by the budding dynamics of a group • Creating boundaries to effectively mentor students • The importance of creating clear objectives and expectations as a group • The art of holding your group members accountable • When it is not your fight

And so, dear readers, we have another give away for you! Answer the following question, and one of your answers will be chosen randomly on Sunday to receive your very own autographed copy of Crystal's book!

The question: How did YOU celebrate Lammas/Lughnassadh??

The Rigs O' Barley

2011-08-01T09:18:00.000-05:00

by Robert Burns

(song by Paul Giovanni)

It was upon a Lammas night,

When corn rigs are bonnie,
Beneath the moon's unclouded light,
I held away to Annie:
The time flew by wi' tentless heed
Till 'tween the late and early,
Wi' sma' persuasion, she agreed
To see me thro' the barley.
Corn rigs, an' barley rigs,
An' corn rigs are bonnie:
I'll ne'er forget that happy night,
Amang the rigs wi' Annie.

The sky was blue, the wind was still,
The moon was shining clearly:
I set her down, wi' right good will,
Amang the rigs o' barley:
I ken't her heart was a' my ain:
I lov'd her most sincerely;
I kiss'd her owre and owre again,
Amang the rigs o' barley.
Corn rigs...

I lock'd her in my fond embrace;
Her heart was beating rarely:
My blessings on that happy place,
Amang the rigs o' barley!
But by the moon and stars so bright,
That shone that hour so clearly!
She aye shall bless that happy night,
Amang the rigs o' barley.
Corn rigs...

I ha'e been blythe wi' comrades dear;
I ha'e been merry drinkin';
I ha'e been joyfu' gatherin' gear;
I ha'e been happy thinkin':
But a' the pleasures e'er I saw,
Tho' three times doubled fairly,
That happy night was worth then a',
Amang the rigs o' barley.
Corn rigs...

Bump Off Day!

2011-07-20T09:01:00.000-05:00

When Archer was around two years old, He developed a "bump" under his jaw. I figured it was just how he looked. People started to ask questions. Strangers in the store. Concerned relatives. I figured, if it's not bothering him, we'll leave it be.
Then one night he wasn't feeling well. His bump was much bigger than before. And blue. I was scared. So off to the emergency room we went. It was Christmas Eve and the hospital staff was definitely the "B" team. They too, were scared. Lots of MRIs and exams! Eventually it was decided that he was in no danger that night, and it was off to a specialist the next day.
The specialist was great, but also pretty stumped. He thought it was perhaps a lymphatic malformation. Lots more imaging done. He decided that we could let it be for now, just continue getting frequent check ups.
During this time I did a ton of research. My friends at The Farm Midwifery Center helped me with internet searches. Archer used homeopathic remedies and received chiropractic care. His bump grew slowly, but sometimes would swell or hurt. It caused Archer to vomit sometimes and it was difficult for him to breathe in his sleep unless he was sitting up.
A friend who worked at The University of Iowa told us about their research in Vascular Malformations. We set up an appointment for Archer. We were very excited to learn what was going on.
Now I love the UofI. They saved my daughters life! But, with Archer it was a mess of misdiagnosis, lost x-rays, and poor prognosis. They said they would operate, but there was a good chance his facial nerves would be damaged.
Around this same time I learned of The Vascular Malformation Clinic at Children's Hospital in Boston. I called, they were brilliant! I sent them Archer's images, had phone meetings, and they were confident they could help Archer.
And so began the long journey to have Archer's bump removed. Yearly trips to Boston Children's Hospital, travel, insurance woes, time off work, research, worry, excitement! And TODAY he is having what we hope is his final procedure! I am so happy and nervous all at once!

Here is an overview of what Archer's "bump" is:

What is a venous malformation (VM)?

VM is a bluish lesion on the skin, mucous membrane, or in any organ system. It is composed of abnormally formed, dilated veins. The walls of these channels are unusually thin because of a relative lack of smooth muscle cells. VMs are the most common type of symptomatic vascular malformation. The older, incorrectly used term for VM is cavernous hemangioma.

What causes VMs?

The deficiency of smooth muscle lining cells may be critical. DNA studies from rare families with multiple VMs have shown mutations (alterations) in genes responsible for the formation of and communication between the endothelial lining cells and the smooth muscle cells in the walls. No known food, medication, or activity during pregnancy can cause a VM.

When do VMs occur?

VMs are usually present at birth, but are not always seen. They can appear in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood.

Where do VMs occur?

They are most common in the skin, but can be present in other tissues, e.g. muscle or bone, or in any organ, e.g. the bowel, liver, or spleen. The estimated incidence of VMs of the brain in the general population is 0.5%.

What do VMs look like?

They are dark blue and are usually soft, although they can become firm if a clot forms in the VM. The appearance of VMs ranges from small dots to large lesions involving skin and muscle. They can be single or multiple.

When should a vascular anomalies specialist be consulted?

A specialist should be contacted whenever a VM becomes symptomatic (is in a critical location, such as around the eye, on the face, or in the neck, or if it involves the hands, feet, or an internal organ, such as the gastrointestinal tract, liver, or brain).

What are the possible complications of VMs?

VMs tend to grow proportionately--in other words, they grow at the same rate as the child. They also can suddenly expand as the result of clot formation within the VM. They also can enlarge as the result of injury or during puberty and pregnancy, or if a woman is taking birth-control pills. Large VMs can be associated with a clotting abnormality. A VM within the brain or gastrointestinal tract can suddenly bleed.

How are VMs diagnosed?

The history and physical findings usually provide sufficient clues as to the diagnosis. The bluish appearance is typical. VMs also tend to be painful, particularly in the morning upon arising, or if they are struck. VMs often swell if the affected region is made dependent (lowered below the level of the heart). VMs in the head/neck region enlarge when the patient tries to force air from the lungs with the vocal cords held closed (Valsalva maneuver). The diagnosis can be made or confirmed by ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or computed tomography (CT). VMs of the gastrointestinal tract are often best seen by looking in the mouth or the rectum with a telescope-like device called an endoscope (endoscopy).

How are VMs treated?

Only very small VMs can be treated with a laser. The two main treatment strategies are sclerotherapy (injection of an irritating solution to shrink the abnormal veins) and surgical removal (either total or subtotal). Sclerotherapy for all but small lesions should be done by an experienced interventional radiologist.

What research is being done on VMs?

Mutations in several genes that cause VMs have been discovered by DNA analysis of families that have multiple lesions. These discoveries will enable investigators to better understand how VMs occur and may lead to the development of new treatments.

What are the types of VM?

Glomovenous malformation (GVM) is the most familiar form of VM. The cutaneous (skin) lesions contain glomus cells in the walls of the abnormal channels. Glomus cells are abnormally-formed smooth muscle cells believed to function in the normal regulation of blood flow. From studying families with these lesions, the gene is located on chromosome 1p, it is called glomulin. The lesions are often multiple and can occur in any part of the body as blue-purple, often painful, nodules or large plaques.
Cerebral-cavernous malfomration (CCM) is a familial disorder characterized by the formation of multiple VMs in the brain. These lesions often bleed and expand. About 10% of patients with this disorder develop skin VMs. The causative gene is KRITI.

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome is characterized by of multiple VMs of the skin and internal organs. The rubbery, bluish lesions vary in size from a pinhead to many centimeters in diameter. They can occur on the trunk and limbs, as well as within the gastrointestinal tract, where they may cause bleeding and anemia. The lesions tend to get larger and more numerous over time and may be painful. The intestinal lesions can cause lifelong bleeding, intermittent abdominal pain, or sudden bowel blockage. They are difficult to confirm by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and may require endoscopy and nuclear medicine imaging for diagnosis. The intestinal lesions, of which there may be hundreds, can be successfully treated by an interdisciplinary endoscopic and surgical approach in which as many lesions as possible are removed.

If you are reading this blog because you have a child with VM or LM, know that there is hope! Here are some links that really helped me:

http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site1830/mainpageS1830P0.html

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/lmsupport/

http://www.staycalm.org/

http://www.liamsland.org/

http://www.birthmark.org/contact.php

When Archer gets home, we are having a "bump off" party! We cannot wait!

Apples and Toasters

2011-07-07T18:32:00.000-05:00

When you compare Christianity to the Pagan religions, you're not comparing apples to apples, or even apples to oranges. You're comparing apples to toasters.

-The pagan religions are not religions "of the book", like the Abrahamic religions (which are relative newcomers to the historical scene). In the modern pagan religions, personal experience equals or trumps any authoritative texts.

-There are no necessary statements of belief in the pagan religions. Hel, you don't have to believe in anything to be pagan (just like it was for our ancestors).

-This world is sacred to pagans, and not something to necessarily transcended. Many pagans believe they're coming back here to live again!

-Since the Greek pagan philosophers, pagan ethics has been an exploration of how to best act in different situations, and not the creation of absolute laws of ethical behavior.

-Et cetera.

To my well-meaning Pagan brothers and sisters who reach out to Christians by citing commonalities, I say this: Paganism won't ever, ever measure up to Christian standards, no matter how hard you try. Most importantly, Christianity isn't the supreme religion of world, by which all other religions should be measured. Don't fall into that trap. Christianity doesn't corner the market on legitimacy, or morality, or anything. And it sure doesn't measure up to Pagan standards. Should we strive for peaceful dialogue and coexistence with those of other religions? Of course! It doesn't mean licking the boots of every fundamentalist who screams devil because we don't bow down to their god.

We should be too busy figuring out what this current iteration of Paganism is; we should be creating our own culture. We don't have time to pick on Christians, but we also don't have time to stand around and hope they notice us in the hallway.

~~Christopher~~ Frebur

Weed Walking!

2011-07-05T21:31:00.000-05:00

My good friend and bellydance teacher Michele Donner Ramsey wrote this blog post after a visit. Check out her blog Learning to Live - Living to Learn. My notes are in purple.

I visited my most gorgeous friend Melanie the other day. We share many loves and the one I plan to explore in great detail is herbalism. I have signed up for TWO herbalism courses recently and right now I am focusing on identifying common local herbs, especially the so-called weeds! Melanie is a fabulous resource for this! She identified a few weeds in my own yard (Yellow Dock and Lambs Quarters) to my delight. I just had to go on a weed walk in Melanie's yard while there!
We identified so many things that my poor brain did not retain it all. I should have taken my notebook with me on the walk so that I could write the names down as I took pictures... lesson learned. But I do now remember a few of them (borrowing a few books for identification helped!)

Thimbleweed

Mugwort - This one made it into one of my very first jars to make a tincture. I was supposed to make a dream pillow with it, but I forgot and tinctured it instead. Ha! I also tinctured some wormwood.

Wild Rose - this one I could identify but I snapped the picture because of those odd globes attached to the leaves, I wanted to know what those were. (galls from a gall wasp)

Foxglove! the picture does not do it justice.

Prairie Milkweed!

We tentatively ID'd this as trefoil. It seemed smaller than it was described as the book, but all other attributes matched up.

Burdock - now we're trying to decide if it's first year growth or second year.

And here are some that I forgot their names, so Melanie will have to fill in the blanks for me!

Comfrey!

Spiderwort

Melanie said the flowers were lovely but they close in the evening.

Echinacea - getting ready to flower

I found this new one right outside the front door. I tasted the leaves. Nothing. I tasted the seed pods. Yum! Wild mustard!

We saw a lot more, but I did not take pictures of everything especially since I knew most of them. We saw yellow dock, lambs quarters, red clover, thistle, nettles, shepherds purse and yellow wood sorrell. (Don't forget the plantain! She's an abundant treasure!) I knew fleabane, which I think was one that Melanie hadn't been familiar with. And she had a mint she did not know, which I was sure was catnip (an easy verification with my cats took care of that ID).
I had the best time! I can't wait to do it again, this time perhaps more prepared (I'm thinking of pressing samples!)

OK all you Green Witches, here's a reader challenge. What the cuss is this? It grows near the artemesia on the south side of the house. It has small white flowers.

What's growing in your yard? I look forward to your responses. Thanks again Michele!

Blog Giveaway #2!!

2011-06-30T23:04:00.001-05:00

Okay, here's how it goes: Answer the question, and a randomly chosen participant will win Steven Posch's wonderful CD of stories: Radio Paganistan. The winner will be chosen at 5pm on Sunday.

Here's the question:

If you had the time, what pagan practice would you take up? What have you always been meaning to do? Sunset offerings? Observing every full moon? Meditation? What?

That's it. We can't wait to see what you come up with!

-Melanie and Chris

Solstice Pilgrimage

2011-06-17T22:39:00.000-05:00

     It's 10:20 p.m. We've spent all day shopping, cleaning, organizing, and packing. This night, the night before we leave for our yearly pilgrimage to Pagan Spirit Gathering, is my traditional night to ask myself, "Why are we doing this?" Why are we going to tent camp, for eight days, and (as is forecast) in the rain?? Why all the effort, the expenditures, the hassle? Why on Earth would anyone spend their precious vacation time working (working!) at a gathering?
     It's because, if I asked any of my children if they'd rather not go, or if they would rather do anything else with our time and money, they would scream in protest. It's because my oldest children, both out of the house, are going of their own free will, and wouldn't miss it for the world. It's because, for a few days, we don't have to be the "eccentric" family. When we arrive there, I can point to hundreds of people and say to my little ones, "They're all pagan, like us."
      It's because hundreds of pagans gather every year at the Summer Solstice and work to grow a pagan culture together; one that will hopefully take root in our children, so that they will be willing to do the work when we no longer can.
     I might ask myself "Why?" while pounding tent stakes into the mud tomorrow, but the answer will always be the same, and will always be worth it.

Herb Walk: Yellow Wood Sorrell

2011-05-28T20:41:00.000-05:00

I know you all already know this herb, but I was so surprised and delighted by her appearance today that I needed to mention her. I was weeding the garden, contemplating a blog post on plantain (soon.....) and there she was, conveniently next to the chive patch.

Here is what to do with wood sorrell: Take your lover by the hand. Fill your own hand with wood sorrell leaves and flowers - the unopened buds are the tastiest - and some chive tips. Sit in the garden together eating nature's salad and rejoice that it is no longer winter.

Need more info? http://www.squidoo.com/oxalis

Our response to "The Pagan Household'"

2011-05-28T09:18:00.000-05:00

     Yesterday, Melanie and I responded to this post on "The Pagan Household". Our response did not show up on the blog. If it was removed, we completely respect that decision. However, we think this issue is very important, and so we have decided to post our response here on our blog.
      Pagans are famous for their internet "flame wars". This is actually a product of monotheist thinking. We can disagree with each other, we can debate ideas, we can criticize each other without becoming enemies. It's not an "all or nothing" dynamic. Also, our polytheistic heritage teaches us that there are always more than one, or even two, ways of thinking about things. With that in mind, please comment if you have any thoughts about this subject. We have to start having these difficult conversations if we're ever going to learn from each other!

     I'm am so sorry that your life situation is difficult. However, I do
not agree with your advice. In fact I think it is bad advice. Our
Goddess is not the same as the Christian god, and I think it is
important to teach our children that. Can you imagine a Mormon or a
Jew telling their children to keep their religion a secret? Is it
mentally healthy to lie to your children about God? And where does
that end? Heaven? Sin? Baptism? How do you answer important questions
like "Where do people go when they die?"
If Pagans want to be treated like a "real religion", they should
start acting like they practice a real religion. My children have
never come home professing to be Christians. I cannot even fathom it!
A child who comes home professing to be Christian has been given no
roots in Paganism. Paganism needs to be a culture that a family lives,
from the day the child is born. Celebrate the holidays, go to
festivals, find people of like mind. Your child would never want to
be Christian if they enjoyed being Pagan!
What would Paganism look like if it were completely unfettered by
society-at-large? What if no one were afraid to call themselves
Pagan? What would that look like? Only when we can hold that vision
clearly in our minds, will we have the courage to fight for it.

Tell the in-laws you're pagan, already!

2011-05-20T22:16:00.001-05:00

      I'm going to be blunt: pagan parents, start rearing your children as pagans. Stop hiding, stop treating our religions as dirty secrets so as not to upset the in-laws. It's one thing to hide your paganism from your parents when it's just you; it's inexcusable to make your kid an accomplice.
     Stop hiding behind the excuse that you want to "expose your child to many paths" or "to let them choose their own paths". You can expose them to many paths, and still raise them as pagans. Don't be fooled; no one grows up in a spiritual vacuum. If you do not provide a pagan worldview, another worldview will be provided for them by the culture-at-large, and you may not like it. They may move on when they're older, but at least they have pagan roots. Give them a spiritual context to start from, so that they CAN evaluate other paths, instead of leaving them to drift along aimlessly.
     We are just beginning, as pagan people, to rebuild what we have lost. Together, we can create the songs, the customs, the art, the poetry, the dances, the philosophy we need to make our many traditions into a thriving religious culture.

     So, go on, just tell them.

     -Chris

Herb Walk: Shepherd's Purse

2011-05-20T13:16:00.000-05:00

Time for another weed walk! Let's meet Shepherd's Purse Capsella bursa-pastoris (a.k.a. Witches' pouch or Mother heart):

Shepherd's Purse grows wild all around my house. I bet it grows all around yours too. Sneaking up between sidewalk cracks. In the swampy wet places.

Some folks eat its peppery seeds in salad, but I regard Shepherd's Purse as MEDICINE. Please do not take this herb if you are pregnant!!!!! If I want a peppery salad, I prefer Shepherd's Purse's brother plant, Poor Man's Pepper, which usually grows nearby.
Shepherd's Purse is used to control bleeding. It is a vasoconstrictor. The fresh tea is used for heavy periods, the tincture for helping post miscarriage and childbirth. The tea can be used as a poultice on a bleeding wound. Soak cotton balls in it and place them in your nostrils for a bloody nose.

SHEPHERD'S PURSE / YARROW TEA for heavy periods

2 parts nettle,
1 part shepherd's purse leaf/flower,
1/4 yarrow leaf/flower.

Use four to six tablespoons of herbs per quart of water. Place herbs in quart jar and cover with boiling water. Cover tightly and allow to infuse for at least twenty minutes (though the longer the better). Strain.

FLOOD GATES - TEA

2 parts shepherd's purse leaf,
1 part nettle leaf,
1 part yarrow flowers/leaf,
2 parts white oak bark.

Use four to six tablespoons of herb mixture per quart of water. Place herbs in cold water and slowly heat to a simmer. Simmer over low heat for twenty minutes. Strain.

In my midwifery practice, I use a tincture of Shepherd's Purse for post partum bleeding after the delivery of the placenta. I had been purchasing the tincture for quite a few years, paying near $12.00 for a 1 ounce bottle. Little did I know, making it is easy and cheap! the herb is free and local, and I get a big bottle of vodka out of the deal!

To make a tincture, (these instructions will work for ANY herbal tincture, not just Shepherd's Purse) gather up a lot of fresh Shepherd's Purse. (Add equal parts yarrow for a menstruation tincture) The entire plant. Cut it up into little pieces:

Then pack it into a glass jar:

Then fill the jar a second time with vodka. Poke out the air with a chopstick and top off:

The next day you'll need to top off again with a little more alcohol. Susun Weed says it's because the herb fairies like to take a nip. Then seal and date your tincture, and leave in a dark place for six weeks.

When the six weeks are up you can strain your tincture and pour it into tincture bottles.

Do you use Shepherd's Purse? What's your recipe?

Herb Walk: Stinging Nettle

2011-05-17T15:21:00.001-05:00

This week let's take an herb walk at Many Hands House, shall we?

Today we'll take a look at Stinging Nettle, my Spinster Sister.

When she is young, and the leaves are tender, she looks like this:

When she is bigger and tougher, she looks like this:

In full flower she looks like this:

And after you've picked her with your bare hands for a while, they will look like this!:

Stinging nettle is rich in pagan folklore. In Norse mythology Thor the God of Thunder is often represented by nettles, and burning them on the fire will protect you from his lightening during thunderstorms. Also in Norse mythology Loki, the trickster God, spun fishing nets out of nettles. Actually a very good string can be made out of nettle fibers, and it was widely used in the ancient world. It was especially used for making "nets".

In “The Wild Swans” by Hans Christian Anderson, the princess Elissa is guided by the queen of the fairies to gather nettles from graveyards without uttering a word. As she gathers them, she has to tread them with her bare feet; she then knits the nettles up into coats that will rescue her brothers from the swan form bestowed upon them by an evil queen.

The Buddhist saint and yogi, Milarepa, is said to have eaten nothing but nettles and to have turned green as a result; hence, many of his images are constructed from green jade.

Stinging nettle is a nutritive herb, meaning, well, it's all around good for you! Use the young leaves for tea and in salads. Midwives recommend a tea made from nettle leaf, oatstraw and raspberry leaves for their pregnant friends. Nettle root is a hair and scalp tonic. It supports your thyroid and your urinary tract. Nettle is high in vitamin A, B, C, K, calcium, potassium, iron and many trace minerals.

Yesterday I gathered up young nettle leaves to try making into juice! I ran a large unrinsed bowl of leaves through the juicer and only got a shot glass worth! It smelled so green! And looked so green!

But the taste was, well, overwhelming. Like a glass full of sting.

Next time I'll stick to tea.

Here's Susun showing you how to make it:

Have you found nettle in your yard? What's your favorite nettle recipe?