X Men R Us

"If you could have any Super Power.....what would it be?"  This is one of my favorite questions to ask folks.

In Marvel comics, in the early 1960s, a new breed of Superhero was created.

The X Men. In this story, some kids around the world were found to have unusual powers. "Professor Xavier" wanted to give these special kids (otherwise known as mutants to the general populace) some place to learn about and grow into their talents. Supposedly, these gifted kids had a special gene (the X gene) that they said that most humans lacked... and that is what gave them their Super Powers.

So it was- that a force for good was made- to bolster humans and protect them.
Uber Humans or as we like to call them: Super Heroes were born!

Now, while this story is just a fun romp into the entertainment realm...the idea does have merit and we've enjoyed it in other forms in our culture too.

For instance, J.K.Rowling also featured something like this with her academic institution for Wizards called "Hogwarts" where she brought together many gifted magickal children in a supportive environment so that they could learn and grow together in safety and in seclusion from prying eyes and invasive Muggle culture.

In real life, here in Muggleland, we have public and private schools, and there are all sorts of extra curricular groups and activities provided therein...but I ask you this:

"Where do Magickal people go to be supported with their "Super Powers?"

Surely, we still have them.

I'm quite sure that some of you reading this, are gifted and are more like Wizards or X Men than you think you are. Whether you are a "Sheldon" type with  a photographic memory and a penchant for science...\

Or maybe you are an Empath or a Healer....

Or maybe you are a bit psychic and can pick up on vibes or know who is calling you on the phone before you pick it up.

Or maybe you are a Horse or Animal Whisperer.

We ALL carry some gift that makes us unique from everyone else. It may be our personality, or a special talent (voice/creativity/empathy/ideas/words) but we all are gifted with something.

Some folks even have the gift of bringing chaos to order... and vice versa. The Universe is unknowable and who knows why we are the way we are and why we are given the gifts that we have?

What I'm getting at here is this: While we enjoy being entertained by something like "The X Men", there is really more truth to it than we give it credit for.

So back to my question: "What IS the Super Power that you would ask for?"

Maybe the particular Super Power that we crave is a clue to the ability we may lack and thusly desire in our lives for other reasons.

I once asked a friend this same question (as I said, it's one of my favorite questions :) about what Super Power would he want if he could have any.

His answer was "To control the property of water." The reasoning for his choice was this: "Because if you could control the property of water, you could control the human race, as we are made up of 65% water. You could freeze water or turn it into steam and thus you could stop that person. Any person."

Interesting.

But more interesting than that is to note that this particular friend was out of control himself. He knows it deep within. What he may have been saying (even if he didn't understand it at the time) was that HE needed the control in HIS life.. which is (in my honest opinion) at the time of this writing, he is also at least 65% out of control by his own measurements.

What I'm suggesting here is that our wish to have a specific Super Power is sometimes a way to communicate with our own self.  And that is one way we heal ourselves and thusly, heal the world.

My personal wish for a Super Power? Can I have two? Oh sure. I wish for Invisibility and Teleportation.

The reason for these in particular?
Well, I am mostly an open book....so that's the reason for my need for Invisibility. I want stealth because I feel too "open" sometimes. I want some anonymity. But I probably won't get it, because I'm in the public a lot. But that doesn't mean that I can't wish for an Invisibility Cloak! :)
Teleportation? Oh this is definately my yearning to travel without winning the lottery. I'd like to have a Genie power that (blink) I'm in Paris! (blink) I'm in Greece! (blink) I'm in Venice!

So I ask you again: "If you could have any Super Power.....what would it be?"

Then ponder WHY do you need it.....and WHAT would you and the world gain from it?

"Xtra"sensory Perception~

Alright, so I'm stretching on the "X" part for my word of the week here for the Pagan Blog Project...

But that's ok, because here in my blogspot, I am the Creator and I can do whatever I want.
(I love that part :)

ESP or Extrasensory Perception has been described as MANY things:

Telepathy (mind reading- or transfer of info from person to person)

Clairvoyance (clear vision)

Clairaudience (clear hearing)

Clairsentince (clear feeling/sensing)

Clairalience (clear smelling)

Claircognizance (clear knowing)

Clairgustance (clear tasting- being able to taste something and know it yet not having put it in the mouth to actually taste it)

and the great catchall of "Intuition" or the ever popular... "Gut Feeling".

There have been many tests done on subjects that display these powers and the scientific community is still split on proving whether Extrasensory Perception exists or not.
But if it doesn't exist, then why are people convinced that it takes place?

I personally, get messages to call someone and when I do, they have just thought about me or need me at that moment. I can usually say who's calling on the phone before we answer it....things like that.

What is ESP? Well, I think this is something akin to "Animal Instinct."  Why do birds migrate to a place they've never been to before? And butterflies travel thousands of miles and all wind up at the same place at the same time. Bears shut down their bodies and hibernate for months and wake up at exactly the perfect time in the spring to mate. Isn't that amazing?!

Well, why do we get messages from people or things that come in to us out of the blue? I think it is a version of "Animal Instinct" but only it's "Human Instinct". We, as humans, receive information and are given clues through intuition, clairvoyance or telepathy. But as a species, we are tamping down this gift of awareness with suspicion of it being quackery or fakery. Television also is dulling our senses to perception. It changes up our sensitivities and frequency reception. Our lives are one big To Do list and going off schedule or off the beaten path is foreign to some people. 
Those things in effect, flick a switch and disengage our instinctual gifts.

So today, I only ask that you Tune In to yourself. 

Timothy O'Leary was right about a few things: 

TUNING IN is a choice we make to hear our Intuition. 

TURNING ON to receiving the information is another choice. 

DROPPING OUT is one of the things we also have to do in order to drop out of the mainstream sheep way of thinking in order to become aware of our own instincts.

Be Xtrasensitive to the world around you....and IN YOU today. 

TURN ON your ESP Button!!

Waxing Moon Magick

I first realized that there was more to life when I read the Old Farmer's Almanac and it told me when to plant, when to harvest...hell....it even tells you when is the best time to cut your hair to grow longer or thicker.

This is Moon Magic in a way. Listening to the moon, and judging it's effects with tides and growth seasons and cycles.

Waxing Moon is the moon growing in light density, As I said in my last post about Waning Moons I have a bit of a rhyme for you:

"Light on the Right is Might.....(waxing/growing/increasing)

"Light on the Left is Leaving." (waning/ shrinking/decreasing)

Here's a Waxing Moon, just so you can look at it and remember the rhyme.

And here's a Waxing Gibbous Moon....

Gibbous meaning "Almost Full"

Magic for Waxing Moons consist of anything that builds in intensity....growing... gaining power....building
Such as: Love, Courage, Protection, Money, Luck.

It is a time to increase, draw things to you...it's a growing time.

It's a time of Positive energy.

It's a good time to begin new things, save money, build, create.

Think of it as a snowball that builds and builds as it rolls down the hill....

Say YES to the Universe and keep increasing your energy and attractiveness.
Good things will come to you if you just say YES to it in this time of positive energy.

Waning Moon Magick

"I need a W word for my next Pagan Blog Project word, Got any ideas?" I said to my mate.

"Wane" said Wayne.

The waning moon is the decreasing moon in light. It is the beginning process of going from a full moon back to the dark moon.

This is a time of decreasing other things in your life as well. A good time to banish negativity, lessen addictions, ridding toxic people or activities, removing obstacles, cleaning, ending bad habits or getting rid of debt.

Sometimes getting rid of something can make a big difference in your life.

Saying "No" to certain behaviors or activities can actually free you up for spending your time on more positive things!

Don't know what a waning moon looks like?

Here is my very own rhyme so that when you look at the crescent moon you'll know which is which:

"Light on the LEFT is LEAVING" 
(waning/weakening/shrinking)


"Light on the RIGHT is MIGHT" 
(waxing/strong/growing)

What is something you'd like to diminish in your life?

Is there a person whose negative behavior you'd rather not be around anymore?
Start withdrawing from them. You can love them, but start pulling back from them leaning on you and from your support of them and their needs.

Is there a bad habit that you would like to end in your life?
(smoking/drinking/gossiping/laziness..etc) Start by just committing to just a small step for today.

Remember even small steps will make you go forward. 

So today, I tell you to cast off something unwanted or unneeded so that you may lighten your load and pick up only what is helpful to yourself and others.

Mermaids....and the Emotional "Tackle Box"

Our intrepid StoryBook Club went fishing for .....

Mermaids.

Did we find them? Oh yes we did.
I saw an article online that said:
"Thursday, July 05, 2012
"No Evidence of Mermaids, Says U.S. Government"
 

So why the obvious declaration?

Because there have been sightings for thousands of years, that's why. One of the latest was in the 1980s. That's right.  

Now, if you believe in folklore...(and of course we in the StoryBook Club are always open minded...)

you will see that Mermaids are magickal creatures. They can come in many colors, sizes, shapes and varying degrees of beauty.

We studied many stories of Mermaids...and Mermen...especially the story, "The Little Mermaid".

And I have to conclude that we felt that Disney did society and our culture a disservice to change the ending of The Little Mermaid to a Happy Ending.

Why?
Because the original tale (tail? :) didn't turn out so well for our obsessed little Mermaid.
No.

She depicts the epitome of a person in a Co-Dependant Relationship.

You know that old chestnut....a person experiences "Love at First Sight".
She obsesses.

He falls (into the ocean in the story, but it could be anything he needs rescuing from)

and

She SAVES him.

Well....sort of.

He is a Prince.
She is a Princess.
You'd think that would be a MATCH, right?

Nope. He is sort of an idiot. He can't see what is right in front of him. He has servants that wait on him. And so it is with some people who always need rescuing. She tries to save him, but she gets tangled in the net of love, as it were.

She decides that the only way he will even NOTICE her...is for her to go to the Sea Witch.

Down into the depths she goes...spurred on by Flotsam and Jetsam, the eels of negative thinking.

The Little Mermaid makes a deal with the Sea Witch (or the Devil, as this has a lot of Christian elements of a morality story in it). The Little Mermaid TRADES her beautiful fin tail (her Independence) for legs. And she pays for it with?

Her VOICE.

And really... so do we all, that have lived through a co-dependent relationship.

(A nod goes round the room....)

We trade our independence and our voice...our real SELF...that which makes us UNIQUE to please someone.

Did the Prince fall in love with her? Oh yah, he did.

Did the Prince marry her? Well...NO. Not in the original story.

That's where Disney went awry.

You see, in the REAL world...when someone is involved in a relationship where it is one sided...
and one person loves too much...
and the other person is oblivious to the depth of love....and swims in shallow water...

There can be no happy ending.
It just doesn't happen.
 

In the original folktale, the Prince marries someone else.

The Little Mermaid is then going to die on that sunset evening of his wedding if he didn't marry her.

(and haven't we all felt like we would DIE if something like that occurred?)

Instead, in the original story (instead of Disney's fairy tale happy ending...)
The little mermaid's wonderful sisters try to help her by selling their beautiful hair to the Sea Witch for a magickal sword. They give it to her and say: "If you just take this sword, and KILL the Prince, you can get back your fin tail and come swim with us again!!"

But instead of killing that which she loves (and what is killing her spirit) and thusly claim her independence with the death of the relationship....and get her own life and soul back...
the SILLY Mermaid takes the sword and throws it away!
and....
DIES.

THE END.

Yah. That's the REAL and true ending to Co-dependent relationships.

OH....If she'd only taken the daring move to break the bond!
If only she could've broken the cycle of dependence and degradation that she experienced....
she would LIVE again!!

We in the StoryBook Club think that Disney should've told us THAT ending!

Maybe people would all learn that love like THAT... ISN'T love! 

It's Caretaking. It's a trap and hard to break.

Oh Little Mermaid....Honeygirl....
Love shouldn't have to hurt like walking on razor blades! (or eggshells)

If you trade your unique voice, how will you be able to truly love and express yourself?

That was her sin and her fault. So....she got what she got...
and don't let Disney tell you different!!

You think Mermaids are all sweetness and light?

GUESS AGAIN.

Some of the stories we know of Mermaids tell a different story.
These water babies are VERY dangerous.

They call to you...
and speak to your vanity....

They lure you to the side of the ship....

and make you want to jump into the water....

and then

when you do jump and fall head over heels for them?

They EAT YOU.

                                    

Well....

that fixes that whole Co-dependent thought process, now doesn't it?

Talk about the assertive directive...

No Vanity worshippers there, eh?  

Yah...their victim's face is the FIRST to go!

So much for alluring others with that "under my thumb", bait, eh?

That's one way to stop that love at first sight and co-dependent shite.

 But surely I digress. :)

We had a lovely evening dining at Keith and Ed's home. There was a beautiful table set for us!

There were Mermen and Mermaids, and Sushi and Fish sticks and "Chicken of the Sea" and Tuna salad and Seaweed treats! Goldfish and Blue sea sweets. It was a lovely evening!

We also enjoyed seeing the beautiful fish that Keith and Ed keep so well...
They have 3 tanks filled with beauties...and one tank is a salt water tank too!

"The fish in the bowl is lucky...they in for a different fate..."

Check out the centerpiece!

Handsome and Sexy and Alluring ...MERMEN!

Mmmmmm. I'd have to think twice about not jumping o'er board for them, meself...

Lots of fun....awesome conversations....great thinkers...bawdy banter....and good food!

I LOVE MY STORYBOOK CLUB!!

Next month we decided that we needed to visit a story with a MUCH stronger willed heroine.

SO....

In honor of Christmas and Yule holidays will visit Hansel & Gretel for the season!
I'm sure we'll cook up a LOT of fun and mischief!

 Menu choices may include Gingerbread, Bread Crumbs...and Baked Witch :)

Vixens R Us

From the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

vix·en

noun \ˈvik-sən\

Definition of VIXEN

1

: a shrewish ill-tempered woman

2

: a female fox

3

: a sexually attractive woman 


I had to laugh when I first read that description!

I guess I am a Vixen.

Ok, so I'm not always "shrewish and ill tempered". But sometimes I can be.

I'm not technically a female "fox". But in someways I AM. 

And somedays I look in the mirror and I do not see a sexually attractive woman in the reflection.

But somedays, I DO.

Vixens have been noted throughout literature and spoken traditions to be confident, sexually attractive and a bit mischievous. Well, I resemble that remark.

Maybe You do too.

And that's OK.

It's high time we just admit that we are who we are, and don't back down, and don't be intimidated, and don't take a back seat if you don't want to sit in the back seat. 

Be a Vixen.

A luscious, creamy skinned, gossimer flowing, hair blown by breezes, sultry smiling, inviting VIXEN.

As a matter of fact... wear that today. 

Wear it when you stand your ground and say what you feel and do what you really need to do for yourself.

Why don't we just combine those two images and put our VIXEN ON?

Strong and Luscious.