Pathways Natural Living Expo

Today, I spent most of the day at the Pathways Magazine Natural Living Expo in Bethesda, MD.  It’s not a Pagan expo by any means, but since it’s New Age/metaphysical, I thought some of my lovely readers would be interested in hearing about it.

This was my first time attending the expo, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I don’t attend many conferences/fairs/expos, etc., though I plan on changing that in future (I’m going to Karmafest in May, for example).  What I found was a lot of booths offering metaphysical services, natural products, jewelry by the bucketload, gemstones, clothes, and aura photography.  There were also 80-something workshops throughout the day.  I chose not to attend most of the workshops so I could roam the tables more, but I did attend a 1:00 meditation.  More on that later.

The aura photography was one of my favorites.  I was literally the first customer for it, I was so excited.  The last time I’d had my aura photographed was in Sedona, AZ in 2011, so I was curious to see how it had changed.  I was rather surprised by the result.  It’s very red now, when before it had been red with a mass of yellow.  This seems like a huge change to me, and I’m not entirely certain of what it means.  Because of the large line that had already formed behind me, the photographers couldn’t offer very much insight beyond a quick look at the picture and a few words of their initial impressions.  That’s fine, I understand that at an event like this, everything is going to be more abbreviated than a normal session.  If you’ve never seen what an aura photo looks like, here are two of mine:

My aura photos. The one on the left was taken at The New Age Center in Sedona, AZ in 2011. The one on the right is from today at the Pathways Expo. I’ve covered my face for privacy purposes.

The picture above isn’t very good, since I took it with my crappy cell phone, but you can clearly see that my aura today was very red with a hint of pink at the top. And it’s much smaller than it was in 2011 (pic on the left).

I’ve always believed in the existence of auras, but the aura photography has seemed a little more sketchy at times.  I’m a skeptic by nature, so it’s a bit of a habit to doubt things.  However, this being the third time I’ve had my aura photographed, my skepticism has (mostly) been laid to rest.  Especially since the first two times were done by the same reader in Sedona, but nearly ten years apart, so there was no way she could remember me.  She gave me a lot of the same information the second time as the first, but more than that, what she saw confirmed a number of things about my personal life and helped me get clear on a direction to follow.  Anyway, while I know there are frauds out there (as there are in just about everything), I think aura photography is a fun thing to do and share.  I don’t necessarily think that if a photographer tells you they see disease or something like that in your aura that you should take their word for it, but perhaps consider going to the doctor if you’ve had any symptoms, etc.

[By the way, I apologize if this is a bit rambling.  I'm rather tired from spending the day in a crowd of mostly unshielded people.  It's always draining for me, and the meditation I attended didn't help in that respect.  So I'm a bit tired!]

After the photography, there was a table of polished, raw, and geode stones.  I was in heaven. I adore stones.  I’m always happy to go through stones and feel their differences and just appreciate these natural beauties.  This particular merchant, Mahalo Minerals, had a lot of different stones on display, and very reasonable prices.  I found a table of celestite geodes for very decent prices, and I ended up buying one.  It’s so happy to be home with me, and I’m so happy to have it!  Celestite is one of my favorite stones, for both its beauty and its properties.  Mahalo also had a number of beautiful stone spheres, some very clear.  They had spheres of selenite, which I had never seen before, and I ended up buying one of those as well.

Luckily that was the only money I spent!

After that, it was one booth after another.  My particular favorites were Sranrom Urban Wellness and Melissa Feick’s table.  At Sranrom Urban Wellness, they make natural products such as hand lotions, body cream, room mists, candles, etc.  They don’t use animal ingredients, parabens, glycol, petroleum derivatives, or synthetic colors or fragrances.  I tried the hand lotion and wanted to buy some on the spot.  It left my hands feeling so moisturized and soft without the oilyness that usually happens with other products I’ve tried.  And it lasts a long time–it’s been seven hours since I tried the hand lotion, and my hands still feel super soft!  Sadly, by that time, the representative had already sold out of the lotion, so I didn’t get to buy any, but I am definitely wanting to get my hands on some of their products.  They also have a men’s line, if any male readers are interested.

Melissa Feick is an excellent reader, and I was so happy to meet her in person today.  I’ve had two readings with her in which she connects to my guides and passes to me the information they have (and answer my questions, of course).  Both readings I’ve had with her have been spot on, and I would definitely go back to her in future.  She teaches a number of classes and workshops, and also runs a webinar about ascension.  I had never met her in person–my readings had been done over the phone for convenience, but she is such a warm and loving person, I felt immediately comfortable in her presence (and that doesn’t happen easily for me!) and just felt so welcomed by her.  She’s a lovely person and I have great respect for her work.  If you’re looking to go to an intuitive reader for a reading, I can suggest no one better and encourage anyone interested to explore her website. As I said before, I attended a meditation workshop this afternoon that she led, and the meditation she guided the class through was excellent.  It’s difficult to do in that sort of setting because people want to come in and out, and I have to say, there were a number of rude and inconsiderate (and pushy!) people at the expo today, who thought it was acceptable to try to come into a meditation workshop more than halfway through the hour.  I don’t understand people like that.  Anyway, I’m glad I went, because I felt clearer and better at the end than I had been feeling when I went into it.

I should’ve taken more pictures through the day, but I was too busy looking at everything.  The amount of jewelry was phenomenal, and I nearly spent more money than I had budgeted for the event because of the jewelry alone!  Clothes too, but I just stayed away from those booths.

I can’t wait for next year’s expo!  This was fun and exciting, and it was lovely to be surrounded by so many like-minded people who just want to live a better life, reach their individual potential, and share their experiences and learning with others.

Book of Shadows, Part 2: Formats for a Book of Shadows

(This is part two of a three-part series)

There are many different formats to use for a Book of Shadows (BoS for short), and choosing a format is completely up to each person.  Find what works best for you–you may find that you try a few different methods before settling on one that works best.  Keep in mind what you’re likely to be good at, but also keep in mind that this kind of exercise is meant to be meaningful and worth taking time for–so, for example, writing something down rather than typing can be more meaningful to some.

Digital

A digital BoS could be something simple like a Word document or something like an online journal of sorts.  It can be public or private–though I generally say a BoS is something private and personal that shouldn’t necessarily be made an open book.  The point of the Book of Shadows is to find what works best for you and what doesn’t work, and a public BoS is perhaps a bit less personal.  Anyway, a digital BoS is kept on the computer.  You could print off pages if you wanted something tangible.  If you’re  not very good at writing or don’t really enjoy writing, a digital book could be the way to go.  If you’re a technology lover, then typing may come easier to you than writing, and you may prefer keeping a digital copy.

Pros: Easy to compile and move sections around; portable via Internet or flash drive; printable; easily changed; public or private.
Cons: Completely technological; no writing involved; can be lost if not backed up.

Spiral Notebook

A spiral notebook is pretty simple and easy to use as a Book of Shadows.  It will keep everything in one place and neatly together.  If you like to write, this could be a good option.  The spiral notebook doesn’t look like anything special however, so if you’re looking for something with a “witchy” feel to it, I’d say go with the journal.  It’s hard to turn a spiral notebook into a medieval-looking book.  However, if you want to insert pages or keep other materials with the book, there’s no way to keep things with it or insert pages or materials unless you glue it in, and that can be messy.  A spiral notebook could be used alone or with a three-ring binder to keep printed or extra materials together with the book.

Pros: Good for writers; keeps everything neatly together; decent for organization; could be used with a binder or alone; private unless shown to others.
Cons: Hard to move sections around and reorganize; can’t add papers or other materials unless gluing in; finite number of pages without being able to add more.

Three-Ring Binder

This is the option I originally started out with.  I typed up pages and printed them out to keep in the binder.  That way I could write notes in the margins and reorganize whenever I wanted, or combine with notes in a spiral notebook.  In my opinion, this option has the most freedom in terms of organization and combines technology and writing, both of which I like.  You can always add more pages, especially if the binder is large.  Typing is one option, but you can also write on notebook paper and keep it in the binder, which also allows for easier reorganization.  However, a binder doesn’t look very special, even with some decoration–but if you’re in the closet or desiring to keep your BoS looking innocuous, this could be a good option for you.  If you want your binder to look good but aren’t handy with decorations yourself, there are binders you could buy like this one that are pretty nice:

Pros: Good for organization and reorganization; can print out and use with writing; private unless shared; can combine with a spiral notebook; add many more pages; neat and orderly; can include other print-outs or materials in the binder.
Cons: Bulky; not very portable; doesn’t look like anything special.

Journal

The binder may be the most freeing option, but the journal is my favorite option.  This is because I’m a huge sucker for the pretty journals, and I tend to collect journals as well.  However, the journal format can be somewhat inconvenient for your Book of Shadows if you decide halfway through that a different organization of the entries would work better–there’s no way to change things around!  But if you enjoy writing, and appreciate the magical act of writing, a journal could be a good way to go.

Pros: Pretty; good for writers; everything in one place.
Cons: Difficult to reorganize; finite number of pages.

Part One: What is a Book of Shadows?
Part Three: Books of Shadows, Then and Now  Coming Soon!

Honoring Those Who Have Passed

I learned some sad news the other day.  One of my favorite fantasy authors, Sara Douglass, passed at the end of September from cancer.  Her books are fantastic, filled with rich detail, action, and the strands of mythology and history woven into new stories.  Her series, The Troy Game, even featured reincarnation as part of the basic premise of the plot in all four books.  It is a fascinating series.  I’m saddened that she is gone, though I’m glad she’s out of pain.  I never met her, though I would have liked to, but her work spoke to me and became a staple of my library.  Her spirit lives on in her work, and I can think of no better way to honor her or express my appreciation than by passing the word on to others about her books and to reread her work when the mood strikes me.

The reason I’m mentioning this on my Pagan blog is to ask the question: how do you honor the dead?  Especially when you’re honoring people you don’t know, have never met, but feel some sense of kinship with or appreciation for?

I like to light a white candle for the person and leave it lit as long as I can.  The flame, to me, speaks of the flame of the soul and the eternal spark of life.  Then I may close my eyes and say a thank you to the person’s soul, or send out a wish that their soul rest in peace.  I just want to focus on that other person, maybe remember their life and their work, and not focus on me for a time.  It reminds me that there are other people in the world and it’s not all about me.  Even if the act is not public (and most of the time, such acts are not), I think it’s important to honor and remember those who have come before us, whether they came before us in our bloodline, by creative work, or just before us in age.

Even if you don’t think the souls or spirits of the passed appreciate such acts, if can be good for the living to acknowledge the deceased.  It makes a good reminder that life is short and shouldn’t be taken for granted.  It makes a good reminder that each person’s life intersects with others and can have profound effects, for better or worse.

Weekly Deity: Athena

Image taken from Google Image search

I chose Athena as the first goddess in my weekly review because she is probably my all-time favorite.  Something about her speaks to me and she has been a favorite since I first began reading mythology as a child.

Athena (also spelled Athene) is a Greek goddess of war, wisdom, and crafts.  In Rome her equivalent was Minerva.  She is also called Pallas Athena and Athena Parthenos among the Greeks.

Attributes

Athena’s attributes (the items she is normally portrayed with in art) include a helm on her head, a spear in hand, and either a shield or an aegis or both.  An aegis is a breastplate, and Athena’s is actually Zeus’ aegis that he had given to her.  At times the shield or the aegis or both are portrayed as having a Gorgon’s head on it, which was actually a symbol of protection to begin with and only later is associated with the ability to frighten or terrorize.  Owls and snakes are sacred to Athena, and she is often shown with one or both.  When in her aspect as a war goddess, the snake is sometimes shown twined around her spear or on her shield, but in her aspect of a craft and wisdom goddess, the owl is often with her instead of the snake.

Myths

Some of her myths include the myth of Erectheus/Erichthonius, her birth, Medusa, Tiresias, naming of Athens, and the myth with Arachne.  Athena is the child of Zeus and Metis (a Titaness whose name meant something like “wisdom” or “cunning wisdom”).  The myth goes that Zeus swallowed his pregnant wife Metis to forestall any possibility of her producing a son that could supplant him the way he had supplanted his father Ouranos.  But since Metis was already pregnant with Athena, she had to be born at some point.  Metis crafted her daughter clothing and weapons, but the hammering of the metal was too much for Zeus to bear.  Zeus was in so much pain from this torture that he asked Hephaestos to crack open his skull and relieve the pain.  Hephaestos took up his hammer and cracked Zeus’ head open, and from the crack Athena emerged, fully grown and carrying her armor.

Image taken from Google Image search

Probably the well-known myth of Athena is the story of Arachne (whose name means “Spider”).  A young woman named Arachne boasted that her weaving was as good as or better than the weaving of the goddess Athena.  Athena heard this boast and decided to approach the girl first in the guise of an old woman.  The disguised goddess warned Arachne about challenging the gods, but Arachne ignored the warning and wished she could have a weaving contest with Athena herself.  The goddess revealed herself and took up the contest.  The best tapestry would win the contest, and both worked hard to make their tapestry the best.  Athena’s tapestry portrayed her victory over Poseidon in winning Athens.  Arachne’s tapestry depicted the infidelities of the gods, namely Zeus.  While Athena admitted that Arachne’s tapestry was indeed flawess, she was outraged that Arachne would choose such a subject.  So Athena destroyed Arachne’s tapestry and loom.  Arachne was so distraught and shamed that she hung herself.  Some version of the myth say that Athena then took pity on the girl and turned her into a spider to live again as a weaver.

Athena and Poseidon, the sea-god and Athena’s uncle, had a dispute about the naming of the city of Athens.  When neither would give way, they agreed that each would give the Athenians a gift, and the best gift would win.  The Athenians gathered to decide outside the city walls.  Poseidon struck the ground and caused a spring to well up, giving the Athenians a water source.  But the water was salty and not very good for drinking or growing.  Athena instead offered them an olive tree, which would bring them oil, wood, wealth, and food.  The Athenians accepted the olive tree and the patronage of Athena.

For more information on mythology, I suggest taking a look at Encyclopedia Mythica.

Light side

On her light side, Athena is courageous, wise, intelligent, and artistic and crafty.  She is the embodiment of an intelligent and strong female leader who not only has all the womanly arts but is able to move in a man’s world as well. Athena is the spirit of wise leadership.  In her aspect as the goddess of wisdom, she is also a representative of what the Greeks call “sophia,” or wisdom, and thus divine wisdom and knowledge.  With this divine wisdom she has the ability to inspire humans to their craft, their studies, or to battle.  As a virgin goddess, she is not a motherly figure, but rather a protector of the home and family.  She also can act as a guide or a counselor, but she can only advise from afar, as she was for Odysseus in Homer’s “The Odyssey” and as judge of Orestes in Aeschylus’ Oresteia.

Dark side

Like all deities, Athena has a dark side as well.  She is proud, as in the Arachne myth when Arachne grows boastful and stings Athena’s pride with her weaving.  Athena is a goddess of the Mind, and this can create the problem of being too rational and detached.  While she is the goddess of craftsmen, her inspiration of their arts does not come from the heart or a passion for the craft, but from a cool and reasoning part of the mind that takes functions from numbers and logic instead of passion.  Weaving, for example, is a craft that must be plotted and planned, and perfection can only be mastered with a great deal of practice.  She is an intellectual, and while this quality can be a great thing, it can also be highly negative by turning the person too far inward into themselves–an introspective outlook.  Athena can be see as cool, stubborn, and detached.

An interesting website I came across in my search was this one: Warrior Archetype.  It has more information on the qualities of Athena as warrior, virgin, and intellectual.

Personally, I like Athena a great deal.  I think there are many things to admire in her, and she is the goddess I felt an attraction to first and longest.  Her courage and wisdom inspire me.  However, like all things, her dark side is just as interesting and just as valid as her light side.