Thursday Book Review: Parker's Astrology

Parkers' Astrology New Edition by Julia & Derek Parker, by Julia Parker and Derek Parker

I've been eyeing this book for some time now, so when I found it for 9 bucks at my local used book store, I snapped it up.

And let me say - I'm in love. This book is AMAZING. Most books have charts to let you figure out what signs various planets are in, and what your rising sign is and such - this book teaches you how to draw a chart from SCRATCH. Like, how to calculate not only what your rising sign IS, but what degree it is, and what degree all the planets are in the houses and signs and OMG. I'll be breaking out a calculator in the next few days and drawing up my chart. I have my chart from Astrodienst, but to be able to draw my own? All by myself? This is AWESOME. There's a really nice introductory section that covers signs and planets and houses, then the calculation section, and then the back has ALL the aspects, and just SO MUCH DETAIL. I feel like I've found an Astrology textbook.

Seriously, if you want to draw charts, or if you want to investigate astrology much at all beyond "tee hee my sun sign!" GET THIS BOOK. You will NOT regret it, I promise!

44 Days of Witchery, Day 22: Current Moon Phase

Well, it seems to be a full moon tonight. It's in Virgo currently. I'm not really sure what to say about that.

Kitchen Witch Wednesday

Well, today WAS going to be my first week of participating in KWW, but I haven't a clue what to write today!

I cleaned the oven today, that was about as kitcheny as I got. And it wasn't exactly witchy. I need to find a more natural way of cleaning the oven - preferably something that works as well as the "spray it on at night, let it sit overnight, wipe it off the morning" heavily chemical stuff. Because I burned a lot of stuff to the bottom of the oven (my cream of mushroom pork overflowed, okay?) And it just wiped right off. I didn't even burn my clove-orange mix of oils like I normally do when working in the kitchen.

Normally I turn on some music (lately a mix of S. J. Tucker and Jewel), light the candle under my oils or the Brigid candle on the stove top, and wash dishes. But today I slept in, had shit to do, and just did it without my normal ritual. Which might play a part into why I don't feel as peaceful afterwards as I normally do, I suppose.

Oh well. The oven is clean, laundry's in the machines, the cat's litter box is changed, and I still need a shower before the spouse's meeting tonight. And I have to make dinner. But tonight that's pretty easy; I'm just going to throw some "Tuscan Tomato Marinade" (by Lowry's) together with a bit of brown sugar, some herbs, Worcestershire, a can of diced tomatoes, and a can of olives, pour it over some chicken thighs, and serve that with rice. Usually comes out pretty good.

44 Days of Witchery, Day 21: A Favorite Scent

Oo. I have several, actually. I've always loved the scent of lilacs.

Orange and Clove is a combination of oils I LOVE.

Peppermint.

Garlic sauteing in oil before I add the rest of the ingredients.

Freshly cut grass.

Tarot Tuesday (also 44 Days of Witchery, Day 20: A Picture of a Tarot Card and its meaning)

Sorry for the poor quality, I used my webcam today.

The Page of Swords came up in a reading for me today and I immediately identified with it. I actually had a lot of swords show up today, of the "cutting through the bullshit and telling it like it is" variety.

You see, I may have unfortunately alienated my parents, and a few other relatives, by being so pissed off about Rush Limbaugh calling Sandra Fluke a "slut." I think I am rightly pissed off, as he, in effect, called me a slut as well, as well as every other woman on birth control. And as far as I know, Limbaugh's book is still on my parent's headboard, they still listen to his radio show, and still borrow his newsletter from my grandmother when she's done with it. My father used to tape his television show and watch it. So I basically said on Facebook that he thinks I'm a slut and a prostitute, and since they listen to him, do they think the same? 

Personally, I think everyone who still supports him approves, in some way, of his hate speech. But the way I phrased it caused my dad to comment with "wow, I didn't realize your opinion of us was so low."

I commented back and asked if they'd stopped listening to Rush, and if so, I was sincerely sorry. No one replied. 

If standing up for what I truly believe harms my relationship with my (conservative christian) family, then I guess that's the way it must be. I'm tired of hiding who I am and what I believe. I'm tired of hiding that I'm a feminist, an environmentalist, a liberal, and a pagan. 

I am following the Page of Swords, and I am cutting through the bullshit.

Monday News Roundup

This will be a mix of links to articles and a few sentences about some of them - primarily feminist news, but anything that catches my fancy, really.

Women Make Less Than Men at Every Education Level

A Depressing Digest of Proposed Anti-Abortion Laws

Boycott Rush  A list of Rush's sponsors, and sponsors who have pulled their ads due to the peoples' efforts on behalf of Sandra Fluke. And if you don't know what I'm talking about...
Sandra Fluke Not Allowed to Testify about Birth Control
Sandra Fluke Testifies about Birth Control
Rush Limbaugh Calls Fluke a Slut
Every Insult of Fluke by Rush Limbaugh, compiled in one neat list (and also demonstrating his lack of understanding of the way birth control works - you take a pill every day whether you're having sex or not, dumbass.)
President Obama Calls Fluke to Offer Support
Limbaugh "apologizes" (but only for his word choices, not for the sentiment, and only after several advertisers pull their ads)
16 year old gets bullied because of Rush She takes birth control to make her periods livable; fellow students found out and called her a slut because Limbaugh did...

Pair jailed for killing boy they believe to be a witch what makes this particularly terrible is the boy was the woman's younger brother; and he wasn't the only one they tortured, just the only one that died.

Santorum says Obama's religion is environmentalism (includes a bit on environmental pantheism)

I am Sandra Fluke!

or Spartacus and Sandra Fluke - Why we need to protect each other

Sandra Fluke stood up for every woman who takes birth control, in front of a Congressional Hearing on Birth Control on February 22nd, 2012. She'd been denied the chance to speak a week earlier, and instead an all-male panel spoke about a women's health issue. She persevered and stood up for us anyway. Rush Limbaugh, a conservative talk-show radio host, has called her a "slut" and a "prostitute" for doing so. For wanting preventative medicine to be covered by health insurance. I'm standing up for Sandra Fluke. I also take birth control. I refuse to let Rush Limbaugh get away with calling a strong, outspoken woman these names. I refuse to let women be silenced. I refuse to let my rights and my interests go unspoken. I am Sandra Fluke.




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Sunday Photo

44 Days of Witchery, Day 19: Fire Element

Hm. I am mostly an earth-and-water girl. My Venus is in Aries, which is part of why I love Sascha so much. I need a powerful man I can respect; someone who is more powerful than I am. I'm full of fire and passion. ;)

Other than that...mmmm, fire. I love candles. I love bonfires. There's something about the fire, the flickering orange light, the soft cracks and pops, the heat rolling off it in waves. I've always loved the phrase "cleansed in fire." (I'm sure this is partly influenced by my love for dragons....)

My favorite goddess is a fire and hearth goddess. Brigid is a wonderful, maternal influence in my life, and I love her dearly. Home and Hearth magic is really where I tend to focus; I want my home to be a welcoming, calm center for all who step into it. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, cooking, working with "fire" (though naturally, I hope to NOT be working with actual fire most of the time!)

And incidentally, my main toon in World of Warcraft is a Fire Mage! (Yeah, I'm a geek. :P )

44 Days of Witchery, Day 18: Paranormal Experiences

I have had many paranormal experiences; those who read my LiveJournal can go check my paranormal tag. I don't think I'm ready to share them here yet.

I'll simply say I have three spirit dogs that follow me around on occasion. And when I say dogs, I mean big, burly, Rottweiler looking dogs. They are my guardians; at the same time I am their guardian. How I found them (they found me?) is a long, involved story that I'm not ready to share in this blog. Maybe someday. :)