There's something about a storm...

There's something about being alone in the house with the wind roaring through the woods behind us that has me thinking witchy thoughts. There's incense burning on the altar, and a shelf full of witchy books to read. But I've realized I have no general witchy books. All my general pagan books are about specifics. Encyclopedias of goddesses, books full of prayers, books about witchy housecleaning or herbs or tarot or astrology. I don't have any general witchcraft books. So I'm searching Amazon for interesting books. Not that I have the money to buy them right now, but perhaps the library has some of them?

So far I've been looking at Ann Moura's Green Witchcraft series, but I think it might be too wiccan-y for me.

I've also been looking at Lora O'Brien's Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch and A Practical Guide to Irish Spirituality.

Paganism: An Introduction to Earth- Centered Religions looks really interesting. The same author has published Pagan Spirituality: A Guide to Personal Transformation as a sequel.

I've heard conflicting reviews about Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft, but I guess it has to be a classic for a reason, right? And of course there's Silver Ravenwolf's Solitary Witch: The Ultimate Book of Shadows for the New Generation which is also a little iffy to me.

Anyone have any recommendations for general pagan/witchcraft references?

Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America is another one I'd like, but it's more a recent history of the people, and not so much a reference on the religion itself.

C is for Car Trouble

You may have noticed I haven't posted much in the last week and a half. We were in a car accident last Wednesday, and the car's been in the shop since then. (We're all fine, medically, but the car's pretty banged up.)

Sascha still hasn't found a paying job since moving here, so we're still living on his unemployment. I had a job over the holidays, temp work at a craft store, but that's over and done with. So the financial stress plus the car stress has left me in...less than a writing mood, shall we say.

I blogged about the Cu Sith, or Black Dog, a couple of weeks ago, and how it contributed to our last major car accident. I had finally almost completely gotten over my anxiety about THAT car accident when we had this one. Now I have flashbacks from both accidents mixing in my brain and nightmares. So I haven't been sleeping well, and only go to bed when I'm exhausted for fear of staring into the dark and rehashing both accidents. (Which is why this post is getting written at 3 am.)

When we get the car back I'm planning to do a protection spell on it, but I haven't figured out just what I'm doing yet. I know I want to trace a pentacle on the hood, both sides, and the rear, but I'm not sure with what yet. Obviously I don't want anything permanent. Maybe just some water with essential oils in it? I'm thinking of smudging the inside of the car too. I have a sage stick lying around somewhere.

I know a couple of protection prayers, to Brigid - I should find something to weave a Brigid cross out of, perhaps, and hang that in the car.

The other logistical thing I'm trying to figure out is - where to do this. We live in an apartment; the parking lot isn't exactly private. I could perhaps pull it off at the parking lot at the brewery where Sascha is volunteering - it's a bit more secluded, and all his co-workers are, if not outright pagan themselves, completely accepting of it. (His boss wears the Norse hammer around his neck at all times!)

(If you're in the Maryland/DC area, you should totally come by and check out the brewery - it's Baying Hound Aleworks in Rockville. The people rock and the beer is tasty. I'll probably be there Saturday, and looks like I'll start being there most Thursdays from here on out.)

Hmmm. I just found this ritual. I like it. I'll modify it, of course, for my gods, but it's a good starting point. Has anyone protected their vehicle? What did you do?

C is for Crows

Ah, crows. Crows and ravens have always been special to me. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest; there are crows EVERYWHERE, and the occasional raven. I remember walking to school, and seeing a crow sitting on the sidewalk, simply watching me as I approached, until he finally hopped to the side of the sidewalk to let me pass. Perhaps some of the connection came from the tabletop roleplaying game I was playing at the time, in which I was playing a were-raven. I could see the intelligence in the crows that made the game creator think they could be humans in disguise.

A crow in the forest behind our current apartment

So I grew up loving crows, and in high school when I started role-playing, found a deeper appreciation for them.

And early on in discovering my own witchiness, I spent some time with a dear friend of mine near Seattle. She's a witch, and had been for quite some time. Enough that she knew what she was doing at the time, and helped me with a lot of my questions. More than I think she realized I had. Simply being around her and observing her helped answer a lot of my questions. She has a close connection with a murder of crows. Watching her interaction with her flock, how they occasionally guided her through city streets or appeared when she needed a sign, deepened my appreciation further.

A year or two later, I was again in the Pacific Northwest while Sascha was deployed, and found there was a murder of crows that roosted in the trees surrounding my apartment. Every day I found feathers. Every day. And always in multiples of three. Always. I now have a large plastic bin full of black feathers; not enough for a cloak, which is what I'd really like to do with them, but a lot. I keep a couple of them on my altar.

I no longer live near a murder - at least not year-round. (There was a giant murder roosting in the woods behind my apartment for a week or so this last fall.) But I still occasionally see crows when I'm pondering hard questions. They always seem to show up immediately after I've made a decision, as if verifying I've made the right one.

When we moved from North Carolina to Maryland, we saw them on the shoulder of the highway every couple of miles. As if moving was precisely the right thing to be doing.


To the right is Boudi, being very curious about the bowl of crow feathers on the table. (That bowl is about a third of what I wound up collecting, and yes, that is a normal-height table, Boudi's just huge.)

Educating myself!

So I've enrolled in two classes on Coursera that start today. Coursera, if you haven't heard of it, is a website offering free structured classes; they have weekly readings, video lectures, and sometimes homework. It's an international site; you can take these classes from anywhere in the world that has an internet connection.

So the two classes I'm taking are:
Contraception: Choices, Culture, and Consequences
It lasts 5 weeks, the readings are a free download. It starts today, and I'll be diving into the videos and readings as soon as I'm done with this entry.

Introduction to Philosophy
This one lasts 7 weeks, also starting today. There seems to be online videos and readings. I've taken one philosophy course before, Introduction to Ethics, and I LOVED it, so I'm expecting to enjoy this one as well.

So I'm excited, and will probably be talking about these two classes on the blog in the future!


Oh! And in this same note, I've been watching Crash Course videos on Youtube. They have series on World History, Biology, Ecology, and Literature. I'm halfway through World History, I'm keeping up on Literature as it comes out, and I've started on Biology. But I find John Green, who does World History and Literature, a lot more watchable than his brother who does Biology and Ecology. (Though Sascha feels the opposite, so to each their own!) These are the same brothers that did the Youtube series Vlog Brothers. (I never watched that, but I'm told it was popular.)

Education. It's fun. :)

Sunday Photo

Boudi doing what she does best - cheering me up. This time by being derpy.

B is for the Black Dog

The Black Dog is a figure in British Isles Mythology. He has many names; Cwn Annwn, Garmr, Cerberus, Cu Sith, the Barghest, Hairy Jack, Padfoot - there are many more listed on the wiki page.

Seeing the Black Dog is usually a harbinger of impending death or doom. He's also associated with lightning storms, but he's most known as the portent of death.

I'm writing about him today because I've had a personal encounter with the Cu Sith, or Black Dog.

Sascha and I were driving from Oregon to North Carolina. He'd just come home safe from Afghanistan, so we were moving back to North Carolina. Most of our stuff had been shipped; it was just Sascha, the cat, and I in the car, along with the stuff we needed for the two week journey. (We were stopping to see sights as we went.)

In the middle of Montana, miles from anywhere, we were cruising along at 75 MPH (the speed limit on their interstates) when a very large black dog ran in front of the car. We swerved, attempting to miss it, hit it anyway, spun out of control, across the road, and into a fence. The car was totaled. Sascha was life-flighted to a hospital sixty miles away with a punctured, collapsed lung and two broken ribs. I waited with the car until a nice SPCA employee came to pick up our cat (she kept her at her house until we could pick her up again!) and then the tow truck driver drove me to the hospital. I had twisted an ankle, but was otherwise unharmed.

And it was on the hour ride to the hospital, while I was quietly, inwardly panicking because I had no idea if Sascha was alright, that I realized the dog we'd hit was black. (SPCA later told us it survived, somehow, but disappeared from the road. They THINK the family who'd lost it came to get it, but they're not sure.)

Sascha spent a week in the hospital. It took us another week to find a new car, pull our stuff out of the old one, and pick up Boudicca so we could continue across the states. But Sascha survived, and is pretty much back to normal now, a year later.

Running into the Black Dog remains the scariest moment of my life. I still have nights where I think back on it, and the moments after we hit, when I looked over to see Sascha with blood running down his face, telling me he couldn't breathe. Those are bad nights. I still have moments in the car when I think I see movement at the side of the road. It's been pointed out that I seem to have a mild case of PTSD, which I think I agree with, but I'm getting better. Those nights are few and farther between now.

Looking in from the back of the car, you can see how the driver's side buckled inwards and broke Sascha's ribs. Boudicca's carrier was right behind me. The actually had to cut Sascha's door OFF to get him out of the car.

View of the car from the front.










Part of me wonders at the timing. The only real ritual I've performed was just after Sascha deployed to Afghanistan; I performed a protection ritual to keep him safe. Every night he was gone I prayed to Brigid. And he came home safe, but it was like the universe rubber-banded on us. I pulled too much and it snapped back.

Sascha has mentioned this principle in regards to weather-working. He doesn't do it much, because it tends to backlash eventually.

Has anyone else observed this with magic? Energy backlashing when you've pulled to hard the other direction?

Has anyone else had encounters with the Black Dog?

Abortion Laws - MA, MI, MN, MS

Massachusetts - #16 - B-
29% of Massachusetts counties have no abortion provider.
Bans
Massachusetts has not repealed its pre-Roe ban, though it is now unconstitutional and unenforceable.

Biased Counseling and Insurance Prohibition
Partially unenforceable/unconstitutional requirement that a woman receive and sign a packet of state-approved materials 24 hours before an abortion.
Health insurance policies provided by the state for its employees may not provide abortion coverage for certain post-viability procedures, with exceptions for the woman's health.

Refusal Clause
No one's required to participate in abortions or sterilization procedures. Private hospitals don't have to provide/refer contraception, and religious organizations don't have to provide contraception or abortion insurance coverage.

Restriction on Young Women's Access to Abortion
Unmarried women under 18 must obtain the consent of one parent.

TRAP Laws
Unconstitutional and unenforceable restriction that abortions after 12 weeks must be performed in hospitals.

News Stories
Court upholds Massachusetts Abortion Clinic Buffer Law
Wiki entry on John Salvi, who murdered abortion clinic workers in Massachusetts in 1994


Michigan - #32 - F
83% of Michigan counties have no abortion provider.
Bans
Several bans, almost all of which are unconstitutional and unenforceable. But they keep trying.

Biased Counseling and Counseling Ban
24 hours before an abortion a woman must receive a state-approved packet of materials.
State Department of Community Health funds for pregnancy prevention cannot be used to counsel about or refer to abortion. They also must give funding priority to organizations that do not provide abortion except in the case of emergency.

Refusal Clause
No one has to participate in abortions; religious employers may choose not to provide contraception coverage.

Restrictions on Low Income Women's and Young Women's Access to Abortion
Public funding for abortion is prohibited except to save the woman's life or in cases of rape or incest.
Women under the age of 18 must obtain parental consent from one parent with no exceptions for rape, incest, or child abuse.

TRAP Laws
Facilities have their own unique licensing scheme, effectively requiring abortion clinics to be mini-hospitals. Doctors must have referring privileges at local hospitals.

News Stories
Michigan governor signs new abortion law


Minnesota - #18 - C+
95% of Minnesota counties have no abortion provider.
Biased Counseling and Counseling Ban
24 hours before getting an abortion a woman has to sit through a state-approved lecture, in person or by telephone.
Family planning grants from the state can't go towards abortion. They also can't make grants under the "Positive Abortion Alternatives" program for abortion services.

Restrictions on Young Women's Access to Abortion
Women under 18 must wait 48 hours after notice is delivered to BOTH parents, either by certified mail or in person by the attending physician. Waived in cases of child abuse.

TRAP Laws
Abortions after the first trimester must be done in a hospital or licensed "abortion facility" (which usually have to be mini-hospitals themselves.)


Mississippi - #48 - F
99% of Mississippi counties have no abortion provider. (Soon to be 100%!)
Bans
Several unconstitutional and unenforceable bans on abortion, with one near-total criminal ban on abortion to take effect if Roe v Wade is ever repealed.

Biased Counseling, Counseling Ban, and Insurance Prohibition
24 hours before getting an abortion a woman must sit through an in-person, state approved lecture by the attending physician.
Public school nurses are prohibiting from counseling about abortion. No money from the Mississippi Children's Trust Fund may be used for abortion counseling or services.
No public funds can be used for abortions for state employees, except for rape or incest of inviability of the fetus. Insurance plans under the new state exchange cannot cover abortion except for rape, incest, or health of the mother.

Refusal Clause
No one is required to participate in ANY health care service.

Restrictions on Low Income Women's and Young Women's Access to Abortion
Prohibits public funding for abortion except in cases of rape, incest, to save the life of the mother, or if the fetus is not viable.
Unmarried women under 18 must obtain the written consent of both parents. No exception for rape, incest, or child abuse.

TRAP Laws
The TRAP laws in Mississippi are forcing the state's sole remaining abortion provider to close its doors. After remodeling and following all the mini-hospital guidelines, none of the doctors have been able to secure admitting rights at any nearby hospitals. The law requires them to have such rights, but does not require the hospitals to give it to them. Which shuts them down. The LAST REMAINING CLINIC IN THE STATE. All of the surrounding states have 24 hour delay laws, which means the women of Mississippi will have to travel out of state, stay overnight in a hotel, and THEN get an abortion. As if getting an abortion wasn't stressful enough.

Other laws

Section 97-29-11 of the Mississippi Code makes being the parent of an illegitimate child a misdemeanor, and requires that the State Health Department report out-of-wedlock births each month. The misdemeanor is punishable by “not less than thirty (30) days nor more than ninety (90) days or by a fine of not more than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00), or both.” For repeat offenses, the jail time and fine double.  While this policy is not enforced, it is still valid law in Mississippi.

News Stories
Mississippi's last clinic fights to stay open
Mississippi and the state of Abortion 40 years after Roe


National Report Card
Part 1: Intro and Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas
Part 2: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware
Part 3: Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho
Part 4: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas
Part 5: Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland
Part 6: this post

Abortion Laws - KY, LA, ME, MD

Kentucky - #41 - F
98% of Kentucky counties have no abortion provider.
Bans
Unconstitutional and unenforceable criminal ban on abortions after 12 weeks.

Biased Counseling, Counseling Ban, and Insurance Prohibition
Partially unenforceable law about the state-sponsored packet of materials that must be received 24 hours before an abortion. Court blocked the in-person requirement; still must get it by mail or telephone counseling session.
Hospitals providing sexual assault care cannot inform the woman of her option to abort. School districts can't offer information or referrals to/about abortion.
Insurance can't cover abortion except to protect the life of the mother, unless the woman buys an optional insurance rider.

Refusal Clause
No one is required to participate in abortions.

Public Facilities Restriction
Abortions may not be obtained at publicly owned hospitals or other publicly owned healthcare facilities except to save the life of the mother.

Restrictions on Low Income Women's and Young Women's Access to Abortion
Prohibits public funding from being used for abortions except in the case of rape, incest, or danger to the life of the mother. Portions of the law are unconstitutional and unenforceable.
Unmarried women under the age of 18 must obtain parental consent from one parent with no exceptions for rape, incest, or child abuse.

TRAP Laws
Doctors must have admitting privileges at local hospitals, abortion facilities have specific regulations, and clinics are susceptible to inspections at any time with no provisions made for the privacy of patients.

Other Laws

"If . . . the United States Constitution is amended or relevant judicial decisions are reversed or modified, the declared policy of this Commonwealth to recognize and to protect the lives of all human beings regardless of their degree of biological development shall be fully restored."

News Stories
Kentucky heading for more anti-abortion legislation


Louisiana - #50 - F
92% of Louisiana counties have no abortion provider.
Bans
Several unconstitutional and unenforceable bans on abortion.

Biased Counseling, Counseling Ban, and Insurance Prohibition
A woman seeking an abortion must sit through a lengthy state-approved lecture by the doctor at least 24 hours before the abortion.
No one employed by the state or receiving government funds can advocate for abortion.
Health insurance policies in the state cannot cover abortion, no exceptions.

Refusal Clause
No one is required to participate in abortions except in emergencies to save the life of the mother.

Public Facilities Restriction
No public facilities or public funds can be used for abortion except to save the life of the mother.

Restrictions on Low Income Women's and Young Women's Access to Abortion
Prohibits public funding for abortion except to preserve the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest (reported to law enforcement).
Women under the age of 18 must obtain consent from one parent, with no exceptions for rape, incest, or child abuse.

TRAP Laws
I don't even know how to summarize this, just check the link. Unique requirements for the facility, unique medical malpractice liability, other stuff.

Other laws

"The Legislature does solemnly declare and find in reaffirmation of the longstanding policy of this State, that the unborn child is a human being from the time of conception and is, therefore, a legal person for purposes of the unborn child's right to life and is entitled to the right to life from conception under the laws and Constitution of this State. . . . [I]f those [abortion-related] decisions of the United States Supreme Court are ever reversed or modified or the United States Constitution is amended to allow protection of the unborn then the former policy of this State to prohibit abortions shall be enforced." 

News Stories
Report says Louisiana is the most pro-life state


Maine - #7 - A
69% of Maine counties have no abortion provider.

Refusal Clause
Maine has some pretty extensive refusal laws. People don't have to participate; pharmacists don't have to fill prescriptions if it's against their conscience, religious employers don't have to cover contraception in their insurance plans.

Restrictions on Low Income Women's and Young Women's Access to Abortion
Prohibits public funding for abortion except in cases of rape or incest, or to save the life of the mother.
Women under 18 must obtain consent from one parent with no exception for rape, incest, or child abuse.

TRAP Laws
Only licensed physicians may provide abortions.



Maryland - #5 - A
63% of Maryland counties have no abortion provider.

Refusal Clause
No one is required to participate in abortions, sterilizations, or artificial inseminations. Religious employers are not required to provide contraception coverage in their insurance.

Restrictions on Young Women's Access to Abortion
Women under 18 cannot get an abortion until one parent has been notified, unless the physician believes notifying the parent would not be in the best interests of the minor. No exception for rape, incest, or child abuse.

TRAP Laws
Maryland's trap laws are somewhat reasonable. A facility that provides surgical abortion as a regular service must be licensed as a surgical facility.

News Stories
Anti-Choice protestor disturbs inauguration



This post is part of a series.

National Report Card
Part 1: Intro and Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas
Part 2: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware
Part 3: Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho
Part 4: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas
Part 5: Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland
Part 6: Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi

Abortion Laws - IL, IN, IA, KS

Illinois - #17 - B-
92% of Illinois counties have no abortion provider

Bans
Unconstitutional and Unenforceable ban on abortion.

Counseling Ban and Insurance Prohibition
Grants provided under the "Problem Pregnancy Health Services and Care Act" which is designed to "expand and improve the availability of, and access to, needed comprehensive community services which assist problem pregnancies and to obtain proper care and assistance to those persons in need" cannot include reference to or about abortion.
Insurance paid for with state funds can't cover abortion.

Refusal Clause
No one is required to perform an abortion.

Restrictions on Young Women's Access to Abortion
Unenforceable currently, pending court judgment. Would require parental notification.

TRAP Laws
Requires abortion facilities to be ambulatory surgical treatment centers, regardless of types of abortions performed.

Other Laws

The General Assembly "solemnly declare[s] and find[s] in reaffirmation of the longstanding policy of this State, that the unborn child is a human being from the time of conception and is, therefore, a legal person for purposes of the unborn child's right to life and is entitled to the right to life from conception under the laws and Constitution of this State. . . . [I]f those [abortion-related] decisions of the United States Supreme Court are ever reversed or modified or the United States Constitution is amended to allow protection of the unborn then the former policy of this State to prohibit abortions unless necessary for the preservation of the mother's life shall be reinstated." 

Indiana - #36 - F
95% of Indiana counties have no abortion provider.
Bans
Ban after 20 weeks or viability, whichever is earlier. Ban after 12 weeks ruled unconstitutional&unenforceable.

Biased Counseling, Counseling Ban, and Insurance Prohibition
At least 18 hours before an abortion, the woman must sit through a state-approved lecture. The employees of the Indiana Office of Women's Health may not advocate for, promote, or refer to abortion. Health insurance policies under the new state exchange may not cover abortion except for the health of the mother, rape, or incest.

Refusal Clause
No one is required to perform or participate in abortions.

Restriction on Low Income Women's and Young Women's Access to Abortion
Prohibits public funding for abortion.
Women under age 18 must obtain written consent from one parent, with no exceptions for rape, incest, or child abuse.

TRAP Laws
The State department of Health has authority to enact further trap laws without government approval. Abortions must be performed in hospital/hospital licensed facilities. All abortion providers must have admitting privileges with local hospitals.

News Stories
Fetal Anomalies and Medication Abortion Next Targets of Indiana's Anti-Choice Legislature


Iowa - #19 - C+
91% of Iowa counties have no abortion provider.
Bans
Unconstitutional and unenforceable ban after 12 weeks.

Refusal Clause
Individuals and Hospital that are not controlled, maintained, or supported by a public authority may refuse to perform or participate in abortions except in emergencies.

Restriction on Low Income Women's and Young Women's Access to Abortion
Prohibits public funding for abortion care unless the pregnancy threatens the life of the mother, the fetus is physically deformed, mentally deficient, or affected with a congenital illness, or the pregnancy is the result of rape (reported within 45 days of the occurrence) or incest (reported within 150 days of the occurrence).
Unmarried women under the age of 18 cannot get an abortion until 48 hours after one parent has been notified by certified mail or in person with the attending physician. Includes exceptions for child abuse, rape, and incest.

TRAP Laws
Only physicians licensed in surgery may perform abortions.


Kansas - #46 - F
97% of Kansas counties have no abortion provider.
Bans
Criminal ban on abortion after 22 weeks, measured from the woman's last menstrual period. In addition, allows the offending physician to be sued by the woman, her spouse, and her parents if under 18.

Biased Counseling, Counseling Ban, and Insurance Prohibition
24 hours before the abortion a woman must receive an extensive packet of state approved materials.
Kansas Department of Health may not enter contracts with organizations that provide abortions.
Health Insurance Policies may not cover abortion unless a woman purchases an optional rider.

Public facilities and employees ban
No public facilities or employees may participate in abortions.

Refusal Clause
No one may be required to perform/participate in an abortion or sterilization. In addition, no one may be required to provide birth control, including pharmacists.

Restrictions on Low Income Women's and Young Women's Access to Abortion
Prohibits public funding for abortion except to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest.
Women under the age of 18 must obtain consent of BOTH parents, with the exception of incest. Additionally, she must attend a counselling session with a parent, guardian, or other trusted party over the age of 21.

TRAP Laws
Abortion providers are subject to their own, very restrictive set of laws. They must be located within 30 miles of a hospital, and every physician at the clinic must have admitting privileges at that hospital. All facilities must be open to inspection at least twice a year, one of these without notice. Records must be available for inspection, with no privacy for the patients. (This section is fairly extensive, I'm not going to reiterate it all here.)

Other News Stories
Kansas is probably the most well-known for the murder of Dr. George Tiller, one of the last doctors to provide late-term abortions in the U.S. His clinic is set to reopen this spring, after four years. They had to remodel it to meet TRAP laws first. Abortion opponents are trying to stop the remodel.
The ACLU has given up trying to stop the Insurance Ban from going into effect, but it's going to court anyway.



This entry is part of a series on abortion laws across the U.S. Other parts can be found here:
National Report Card
Part 1: Intro and Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas
Part 2: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware
Part 3: Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho
Part 4: this post

Part 5: Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland
Part 6: Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi

B is for Breaking Bonds

I mentioned in last week's post that I no longer felt I had to hide my altar; that I was happy that I knew no one would be entering my house who would judge me for it. There's a reason for this development. But first, some history.

I was raised very conservative Christian. I was the good little Christian girl. I was saving sex for marriage. I was homeschooled until eighth grade. I thought dinosaurs lived alongside humans in biblical times. (Hey, Job mentions leviathan and behemoth, those are obviously dinosaurs!)

It wasn't until a few years out of high school that I really started questioning those beliefs; Sascha helped a lot simply by asking me questions and encouraging me to think - really THINK - about why I believed certain things. Even so, while I was questioning things, I didn't really make up my mind until I moved away from my home state, away from my family's influence. Without the constant pressure to be the good daughter, without fear of family judgement, I was finally able to decide that no, I was not Christian. I don't believe in God and Jesus or hell.

Making this entire process slower was the way I'd been raised; women are subordinate in the household; you should be quiet and obedient. I mean, that wasn't said in so many words, but men were the heads of households. Men were pastors and elders of the church. Women don't get positions of authority. So mixed up in these religious beliefs were also beliefs about my place, and the lack of confidence in my own judgement and reasoning. (Trying to make a decision? Don't make it alone, look it up in the Bible and pray about it, because your reasoning is never good enough.)

That was five years ago. It's taken me this long to realize my judgement is sound; I can be logical and reasoning. I have a right to make my voice and opinions heard. And they are NOT the same opinions as my family.  I've even somewhat repaired the damage to my history and science education.

So this last holiday season, my family, as usual, made a big deal on Facebook about "It's Merry Christmas, NOT Happy Holidays!" and "Jesus is the Reason for the Season." Being a pagan who celebrates the Solstice, and having pagan and Jewish friends who are also celebrating holidays other than Christmas, I couldn't let this go. To one of my mother's posts (the one with Ben Stein saying he's not offended by Merry Christmas, if you know it) I posted three very long, very thought-out comments refuting the speech, statement by statement. Including the Snopes link saying that most of that is not, actually, from Ben Stein. My mother deleted the post.

My favorite cousin re-posted the Ben Stein thing about a week later, which was when I discovered my mother had deleted hers. I told my cousin I would have linked her to my response, but I couldn't find it, so I just left the Snopes link. My mother FINALLY commented in reply, saying "I don't care who said it" but then continuing on to say "I'm sorry we failed you and I hope you see the truth someday." Saying she didn't care about the truth of a thing and they saying she hoped I found the truth pissed me off and made me laugh out loud at the same time.

There were other Facebook posts that I objected to, and either didn't get replies to my comments or they were to the same effect. I did not get mad in my comments, I simply pointed out there were other holidays being celebrated at the same time, and I'd rather be inclusive with my "Happy Holidays" then exclude everyone who wasn't Christian.

Well, last week I posted a picture I found that said "If in 2012 I have said anything that pissed you off, annoyed you, or offended you in any way, SUCK IT UP BUTTERCUP because 2013 isn't going to be any different!"

My mother replied and said since I was comfortable saying the "F" word but offended by Merry Christmas, she was blocking me from her Facebook feed. I promptly removed her, my father, a very religious aunt, and another conservative uncle, leaving only my older brother, his wife, and two cousins. I'm guessing my brother and his wife will probably follow shortly.

And I feel FREE. Holy shit. The last several months I'd gradually stopped censoring myself on Facebook; my friends know who I am. To try to pretend to please my family was tiring. But I still had the "well, I'm gonna get flak for that statement!" stress when I posted things I knew my family wouldn't agree with. And it's GONE.

It's taken almost six years, but I finally feel free to be my complete self. My pagan, feminist, pro-choice, liberal, profane self. 2013: the year I finally broke free.

Just a few quick but depressing links this morning

An Indonesian Supreme Court nominee says Women enjoy rape

Most Americans under the age of 30 don't know Roe v Wade was about rape (and other interesting statistics about people's SAD, lacking knowledge of this landmark ruling.)

Most poor women would have gotten abortions earlier if they could afford it

Fetal Heartbeat bills introduced in Wyoming (because obviously the fetus is more important than the mother.)

Troubling number of women denied their constitutional rights based on pregnancy status

Idaho lawmaker equates abortion to prostitution

In better news:
Indian Men don skirts to protest rape culture

Abortion Laws - FL, GA, HI, ID

Part 3 in a series.

Florida - #29 - F
72% of Florida counties have on abortion provider.
Bans
Unconstitutional and unenforceable ban after 12 weeks.

Biased Counseling and Insurance Prohibition
May not obtain an abortion until provided a state-approved pack of information as well as a mandatory ultrasound.
Health insurance provided by the new state exchange established under the new health care laws may not include abortion if paid in part or full by state or federal funds, including tax credits or cost-sharing credits.

Refusal Clause
No one can be forced to provide any abortion OR CONTRACEPTIVE services. Yes, this means a pharmacist can refuse to fill a prescription for birth control.

Restrictions on Low Income Women's and Young Women's Access to Abortion
No public funds can be used for abortion services except in cases of rape or incest or to save the life of the mother.
No young woman under the age of 18 can receive an abortion until 48 hours after one parent is notified by telephone or in person by the attending physician. If parents cannot be notified, there must be a 72 hour wait after notification is sent by certified mail. Not waived in case of rape, incest, or child abuse. Waived in case of emergency.

TRAP laws
Abortion clinics must keep records of patients for five years, organized for easy retrieval. No limitation on who may have access to the records, and no guarantee of privacy for the patient. Abortion clinics must also obtain special "abortion clinic" licenses.


Georgia - #30 - F
94% of Georgia counties have no abortion provider.
Bans
Abortions after 20 weeks prohibited. Unconstitutional, Unenforceable ban on abortion after 12 weeks.

Biased Counseling
24 hour wait after receiving a state-approved lecture covering the usual: age of the fetus, development, estimate of viability, adoption services, pre-natal resources, etc. If she chooses to review the materials in written form she must wait 72 hours.

Refusal Clause
No one is required to participate in an abortion. Pharmacists are not required to fill or refill contraception prescriptions. County and State employees are not required to participate in Family Planning Services. No one is required to participate in sterilizations.

Restrictions on Low Income Women's and Young Women's Access to Abortion
Prohibits public funding for abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the life of the mother.
Women under 18 must wait 24 hours after a parent is notified by the attending physician, or 72 hours after mailing notification by certified mail. No exception for rape, incest, or child abuse. The young woman can, however, provide a signed statement from the parent saying they've been notified; the 24 hour wait can be waived if the parent certified in writing they have previously consulted with the young woman or if the parent accompanies the young woman to the procedure.

TRAP laws
Abortion facilities must be "available at all reasonable or scheduled operating hours for observation and examination" by state officials. No regulations provided for the safety or privacy of patients. All abortions other than D&E procedures must be performed in a licensed hospital or ambulatory surgical centers.

News Stories
Georgia's 20 week ban blocked temporarily by state judge



Hawaii - #4 - A
20% of Hawaii counties have on abortion provider.
No bans other than the Federal ban

Refusal Clause
No person or hospital may be required to participate abortion procedures. They must make reasonable efforts to find the patient a doctor that will provide the necessary services and continue to provide care until the patient is transferred.
Religious employers, defined as non-profit organizations whose sole purpose is a religious one and primarily employs people who share the religious values of the company, are not required to provide coverage for contraceptive services in their insurance plans.

TRAP laws
Only a licensed physician, surgeon, or osteopathic physician or surgeon may perform abortions.


Idaho - #44 - F
95% of Idaho counties have no abortion provider.

Bans
Ban after 20 weeks, no exceptions. Unconstitutional, unenforceable ban after 12 weeks that also outlines punishments for providers, including jail time, fines, and loss of medical license.

Biased Counseling and Insurance Prohibitions
24 hour waiting period after being provided with state-approved packet of materials.
Disability insurance policies, individual insurance policies, and managed care plans may not include insurance coverage with an exception only to save the woman's life. Abortion coverage may only be obtained by an optional rider paid for with additional fees; no requirements for insurance companies to offer the rider. Health insurance offered in the new state exchange may not include abortion coverage with exceptions to save a woman's life or in cases of rape or incest.

Refusal Clause
No one can be forced to participate in abortion or sterilization services; refusal must be in writing. Exceptions for emergencies.

Restrictions on Low Income Women's and Young Women's Access to Abortion
Prohibits public funding for abortion except for saving the life of the mother, rape, or incest. Rape or incest must be documented by law enforcement or attending physician; a requirement that it be verified by two physicians was deemed unconstitutional.
Young women under 18 may not obtain abortions unless they obtain the consent of one parent, except in cases of emergency, rape, or incest. No exception for child abuse.

TRAP laws
Unconstitutional requirement that all second-trimester abortions be done in a hospital. Providers must have "satisfactory" transfer arrangements with one or more acute-care hospitals within reasonable proximity. No exceptions for rural area clinics, or requirements for hospitals to make the agreements. Only physicians licensed by the state to practice medicine and surgery, or osteopathic medicine and surgery may perform abortions.

Idaho state code states:

"The supreme court of the United States having held in the case of 'Planned Parenthood v. Casey' that the states have a 'profound interest' in preserving the life of preborn children, Idaho hereby expresses the fundamental importance of that 'profound interest' and it is hereby declared to be the public policy of this state that all state statutes, rules and constitutional provisions shall be interpreted to prefer, by all legal means, live childbirth over abortion." 

News Stories
Idaho lawmaker compares abortion to prostitution

Other posts in this series:
NARAL's Report Card
Part 1: Intro, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, and Arkansas
Part 2: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware
Part 3: this post
Part 4: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas
Part 5: Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland
Part 6: Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi

Abortion/Contraception Laws: CA, CO, CT, DE

California - #1 - A+
22% of California counties have no abortion provider.
No bans other than the federal ban on certain second-trimester abortions.

Refusal Clause
Allows certain people/organizations to refuse to have anything to do with abortion services; does not apply to pharmacists. Applies to doctors, nurses, and religious organizations. Does not apply in emergency medical situations. Health-care providers can refuse to provide care they don't agree with, but must assist the patient in transferring to a doctor who will provide such care. Religious employers who disagree with contraception may exclude it from their insurance plans.Only applies to employers who are non-profit religious organizations who primarily employ people who share the religious tenets of the organization.

Restrictions on Young Women's Access to Abortion
Ruled unconstitutional and unenforceable, this law would require a woman under the age of 18 to obtain parental consent before getting an abortion, regardless of rape/incest/child abuse.

TRAP Laws
Only licensed physicians or surgeons may provide surgical abortions. Only licensed physicians, surgeons, or someone who has obtained a specific license for it may provide non-surgical abortions.

California has written the freedom of choice into their state laws:

"The legislature finds and declares that every individual possesses a fundamental right of privacy with respect to personal reproductive decisions. . . Every individual has the fundamental right to choose or refuse birth control. . . Every woman has the fundamental right to choose to bear a child or to choose and to obtain an abortion. . . The state shall not deny or interfere with a woman's fundamental right to choose to bear a child or to choose and obtain an abortion. . ."

Pharmacists are prohibited from refusing to fill contraception prescriptions. California has a protection from clinic violence policy, and allows for Medicaid/public funds to be used for low income women's family planning and abortion services.

Colorado - #22 - C+
78% of Colorado counties have no abortion provider.
Bans
Colorado has an unenforceable, pre-Roe ban on abortion.

Refusal Clause
Hospitals, hospital staff members, and people employed by hospitals may refuse to do any abortion services, but the refusal must be in writing. Private institutions, physicians, and the employees of such may refuse to offer contraception or abortion services. County and City employees may refuse to offer family planning services. No hospital or person may be required to participate in a sterilization. None of these refusal clauses have exceptions for emergencies.

Restrictions on Low Income Women's and Young Women's Access to Abortion
Colorado prohibits public funding for abortion except in the case of rape, incest, or danger to the life of the mother. Some of these provisions conflict with federal law that allows Medicaid to be used for abortion; therefore they are, for the most part, unenforceable.
Women under 18 must wait 48 hours after notification has been sent to at least one parent, by certified mail or personally delivered by the attending physician. Not waived in cases of rape or incest, but waived in cases of child abuse if the physician has reported the abuse. Also waived in emergencies. These requirements may be waived by a judge.

TRAP Laws
A law predating Roe v Wade requires all abortions to be performed in a hospital; ruled unconstitutional. Only licensed health-care professionals may provide abortions.  (I certainly have no problem with that.)

News Stories
Colorado Senate proposes "gender-based" abortions ban (uh, there's nothing suggesting these are happening...)
Bill proposed to make abortion a class 3 felony


Connecticut - #3 - A
13% of Connecticut counties have no abortion provider.
No bans other than the federal ban on certain second-trimester abortions.

Refusal Clause
No person may be required to participate in any part of an abortion for any reason. Religious organizations may refuse to provide insurance coverage for contraception and abortion services.

TRAP Laws
Clinic that provide abortions, whether surgical or not, must have a standard operating room. Clinics must hire counselors who are supervised by a person with a graduate degree or training in social work, psychology, counseling, nursing, or ministry. Only licensed physicians may perform abortions; however the CT Attorney General has issued an opinion stating this only applied to surgical abortions, and that state-licensed nurses, mid-wives, and physician's assistants may provide mifepristone (medical abortion drug) as long as they are acting under a licensed physician.

Young Women's Access to Abortion
Women under the age of 18 must have a counseling session before an abortion, explaining options and exploring the possibility of involving the young woman's parents.


Delaware - #21 - C+
33% of Delaware counties have no abortion provider.
Bans
Unconstitutional and unenforceable pre-Roe blanket ban on abortion.

Counseling and Delay Requirements
Cannot receive an abortion until 24 hours after she gives her own written consent. Prior to giving consent, the woman must sit through state-mandated counseling. (Standard pack - other options, effects on future children, risks, etc) Waiting period has been ruled unconstitutional and unenforceable.

Refusal Clause
No person or hospital may be forced to participate in an abortion. Religious employers may refuse to provide insurance coverage for contraception and abortion services.

Restriction on Low Income Women's and Young Women's Access to Abortion
Prohibits public funding for abortion unless the life of the mother is in danger, or the pregnancy is the product of rape or incest reported to the police. (Exception, the physician notes in writing that the woman had just cause for not reporting the rape to police.)
Women under the age of 16 may not receive an abortion until 24 hours after one parent has been notified. No exceptions for rape or incest, only for emergencies.

TRAP Laws
Only a state-licensed physician may provide abortions.


This is part two in my "Abortion Laws by State" series, you can find the other parts here:
NARAL's Report Card
Part 1: Introduction and Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, and Arkansas
Part 2: This post
Part 3: Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho
Part 4: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas
Part 5: Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland
Part 6: Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi

Abortion/Contraception Laws: AL, AK, AZ, AR

Yesterday I posted NARAL's pro-choice report card of the United States, in which the country as a whole received a D. Which didn't surprise me, but did surprise Elena-Maria of Wiccan Fusion. Her comment made me realize that I do get page views from outside of the U.S. and those visitors probably don't know what's been happening here in regards to anti-choice laws. So in the next three days I'm going to go state by state and give a basic summary of the anti-choice laws.

As an overall view, yes, we still have Roe v. Wade at the federal level, meaning abortion is legal. Women have the right to an abortion. At the state level, governments have been putting in restrictions left and right "for the health of the mother." They're saying women can still get abortions, so long as abortion clinics obey new and extremely restrictive, hard-to-follow laws. Several states have had personhood amendments introduced (and thankfully defeated) that would have given fertilized eggs full rights as citizens, thereby making abortion murder. A personhood amendment has even been re-introduced at the Federal level by none other than Paul Ryan, the Republican nominee for vice president last year.

The Affordable Health Care Act (also known as Obamacare) requires that companies provide insurance plans that offer contraception with no co-pay. There are exceptions for religious organizations like churches, whose sole purpose is a religious one, but none for companies headed by religious people, such as craft store Hobby Lobby. They did come up with a compromise, in that if the company won't pay for the contraception, the insurance company will foot the bill, but that's not enough for some employers who continue to cry that it's against their religious beliefs. Hobby Lobby has reportedly stated that they will pay the fines (up to 1.3 million US dollars A DAY) rather than provide contraception coverage for their employees. Meanwhile, most companies still don't offer paid maternity leave, and still cover viagra in their insurance plans. (I don't know the details of Hobby Lobby's insurance or maternity leave.)

Federal funds are prohibited from being used for abortion; so non-profits like Planned Parenthood, that provide a huge amount of women's health services, very carefully do their accounting so none of their federal funding pays for their abortion services. Only about 3% of what they do is abortions; the rest are contraception services, mammograms, pap smears, cancer screenings. Nonetheless, conservative-run states have been trying to defund Planned Parenthood, even if it means giving up federal funds. Texas successfully defunded PP this year in their state, foregoing federal funding for their other womens' health programs to do it.

Today we'll go over the laws for four states, after the break.

Sunday Photo

So this isn't exactly a photo, but large graphics. NARAL just came out with their pro-choice report card, ranking the U.S. states by their pro-choice/anti-choice laws. I found it pretty interesting. (And I've added it to my resources for determining which states I will NEVER live in!)
So here's the map, followed by the actual report card:

I was very pleased to see my home state of Oregon got an A, as well as the state I live in now, Maryland. 

The actual report card:

This is the beginning of my summary of abortion laws by state. You can find the other posts here:

Part 1: Intro and Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas

Part 2: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware

Part 3: Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho

Part 4: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas

Part 5: Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland

Part 6: Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi

A is for Altars

Yeah, I'm sure everyone is going to be doing altars this week, but every altar is different, no? So let me show you mine. I don't have the best light on this wall, so the camera's flash throws shadows a bit oddly.

I'll have closeups in a moment. So this is the last part of the hallway into the living room; the door to the kitchen is just to the right of the altar. That means I walk past this spot multiple times a day. I like that it's in such a well-traveled spot; it keeps me mindful of it. The necklace hanging on the left side of the altar is a sun, the necklace on the right is a moon. The statue in the middle I found in the same shop that I bought the little statue of Ganesh and the little statue of Shiva. I don't see it as a fertility symbol so much as a sexuality symbol. Here's a close up of it:

 

When I'm not wearing my necklace, it hangs here. It's a trinity knot inside a dragon ouroboros. The statue stands on top the tarot card The Sun, for family, love, and loyalty. Turning to the left side of the altar:

It looks cluttered in this shot, but it's really not. Ganesh is sitting on top of a glass cube with a dragon etched inside; That represents me. I coil my hematite bracelet around the cube when I'm not wearing it, and there's two more pieces of hematite to either side of the cube. I love hematite; it grounds me and makes a lovely worry stone. (Those two pieces occasionally go in my pocket if I know I'm going into a stressful situation.) I usually keep a tarot card or two under the glass cube for various purposes. The crow feather is one of many that I own; Crow is rather dear to my heart. On the left wall of the altar is a stuffed bull - I am a Taurus, after all!

Now the right side of the altar: 

This glass cube has the Marine Corps' Eagle, Globe, and Anchor etched into it; it represents my husband until I can find a Peter Pan statue. Shiva sits next to him; Sascha rather likes destruction for creation's sake. As he's still looking for a job, there's a coin sitting on top of the cube; it happens to be a British pound coin, but it more the monetary symbol of it. (It was also left in our car by a dear friend and not discovered until we were halfway across the country from said friend, so it's a special coin to us.) In front of Sascha's cube is a dragon sheltering a fairy under his arm, a good symbol for us.

The two goblets on either corner hold small lavender candles for serenity. The altar cloth has an aquatic theme; I may be a very earth person, but I have Pisces rising and can be watery in my imagination and emotions. The entire altar is the top shelf of a bookcase (one of many in our house!) but this bookcase holds my pagan/feminist/philosophy/mythology books. 

I'm very happy with my current altar; it's the first time it's really been out in the living space instead of hidden in a bedroom. I like not having it hidden anymore.