Validation: The Light Ahead

It’s been a pretty thrilling past few weeks for me, compounded by the Vernal Equinox, a beautifully pregnant moon, and the semester pause known as Spring Break. My essay on herbal shamanic journeying and the properties of catnip was well-received, resulting in a lot of really encouraging and inspired comments including those of queer people-of-color who were excited not only by my article’s content, but my mere existence on this path. Solidarity’s a beautiful thing. You can read the full essay here -

Catnip: Procrastination, Commitment, and Energetic Honesty

To make things even more interesting, I’ve begun what could be dubbed my first adult relationship with an incredible guy (you’d all approve) who happens to be Pagan as well! The extra levels of intimacy available through inside jokes, relating of experiences, and shared love for Deity that such a dynamic provides cannot be understated and, to say the least, I’m very very happy.

These instances are only a couple of the many recent experiences I’ve had with pretty immediate and unexpected manifestation. From from asking a friend of mine if it was wrong to really want a Pagan boyfriend who’d understand the value of doing ridiculous things like join me in intimate meditative pursuits (like staring into each others’ eyes for 20 minutes in a candlelit room) a mere week before meeting him, to speaking openly about my need for validation in various areas of my life – only to have an essay I submitted two months ago posted on Witchvox and hear from numerous people about how it might help them in their own lives the very weekend I was at my most insecure.

Validation is a peculiar thing in my life, underscored by my futile attempts at adopting some unspoken warrior philosophy that says that encouragement and pride from outside sources shouldn’t be a necessary aspect of my life. But in truth, it is. We all need someone to tell us how proud they are of us; someone to be touched by a thing we’ve said or deed we’ve enacted; someone to be inspired by our art and our visions. I believe that when we’re truly listening, we can hear these words of encouragement and appreciation from the gods. That is, of course, if we’re not too busy listening to our own self-doubt…

A Word On My Altar

This is as good a place to start as any. I love altars. I love the idea of them. They’re so versatile and have the ability to physically embody a person’s deepest values by way of their following their own creative and intuitive impulses. They, along with the practice of magick, embody Starhawk’s words when she says that “knowing magick is knowing the language of things” (Dreaming the Dark. Get it.) Symbolism is inherent in color, scent, texture, image, and how these all relate to both personal and social memories.

For many Neo-Pagans, altars are our Axis Mundi – our Center of the World. The place we turn to again and again in this stressful fast-changing world to see something that reflects us on a deeper level. And since we are always changing, it only makes sense to me and my friend Dianne Sylvan (noted Wiccan author of The Circle Within who is as yet unaware of my love for her) that the objects on your altar are meant to change as you do. And not just with a new cloth every Sabbat. They should reflect your internal, heck, your daily changes. When I’m on point with my spiritual practice, my daily tarot card is on my altar along with any cards I’ve recently pulled that have spoken to me. So is my herbal ally for whatever epoch I’m in at that time in my life. It’s what I meditate in front of, due spellwork at, and use in ritual. I’m at it daily. Well…when I’m on point…