Goodbye Secret Life

My dearest friends,



2016 has been a difficult year for all of us. As we're in Mercury Retrograde and our end-of-year reflections, one of the issues for me has been to make a decision about The Secret Life of the American witch. The domain name runs out tomorrow, December 25, and I've decided it's time to let it go and move on.


I've been blogging under this for many years. I started in 2009, under "The Secret Life of the American Working Witch," because so many of the witchy-type blogs were from stay-at-home moms, and I wanted to represent those of us who worked outside the home. After awhile, it just seemed cumbersome. In 2013, I decided to try something new, and open up the "Imramma" site, which just never really felt like home. I returned to my 'roots' here, where it's been both a boon and a bane.


This blog has been a major catalyst in growth for me, and I believe it's been a tool to educate and entertain others. Lately, I haven't been blogging like I used to. My life this year has been a roller-coaster ride of joys and disappointments, which would normally lead me to write about it all. This year, I've been focused on my health, my family, and on closure. It's a number 9 year for me, and I've seen quite a few endings. This is simply one more. While it's difficult to let go, it's a necessary conclusion.


I've decided to write at kallankennedy.com. It's a work in progress right now, and I won't be officially opening it up until after the Mercury Rx. My Facebook page's name will also change to reflect this as well.

For my tarot and totem clients, I will still be serving you with readings. My plans are to continue the daily magic guide, to share articles of relevance to our Pagan community, to focus more on totems and to write more in the coming year. I have a few book ideas rattling around, and I may just pitch them to a publisher. Samhain's Sirens will be returning in October, and there are other interesting ideas on the horizon.

I hope you'll stay with me and share the new path to come. Thank you so much for your loving support over the years, and even for those few kicks in the pants that some of you are wont to deliver. I love you all more than I can express in words.

Sláinte,
Kallan

Of Infamy and Sleeping Giants

December 7, 1941- a day that will live in infamy.

USS Arizona
I was born in 1963, just 20 years after World War 2. Growing up, a lot of my mother’s friends were WW2 veterans. One in particular stood out for me, because of his huge forearms and gorgeous dark green anchor tattoo. His entire finished basement was decorated in all things naval. He would tell some of the best stories, but my favorite was his Pearl Harbor story.

You see, this man was a boatswain’s mate. They work in the bowels of a ship. The men who do these jobs are amazingly tough and dedicated to seeing a task through. His huge forearms were the result of pulling on massive cables and ropes all day long for many years- years that he almost didn’t have.
He was on one of the ships that was bombed on Pearl Harbor day; one that would sink to the bottom of the ocean... and he was in the bowels of a battleship when it started to go down. His pupils would dilate when he spoke of the booming concussive sounds that resounded throughout the ship as the first waves of bombs connected with their targets. They were all caught by surprise, and the scramble to determine what was going on delayed actions that could have saved lives.

USS West Virginia

The trauma would surface in his countenance as he spoke of pulling friends out of the boiler room who had lost sensory organs and limbs. One man carried out two of his dead buddies, because you don’t leave a shipmate behind. They got to the top deck just minutes before their home-away-from-home would plummet to the depths of the ocean. Many of their shipmates were not so fortunate.

The confusion and cacophony onshore slapped them out of their stupor, and they immediately fell back on their training. The devastation was overwhelming for them all. The United States had never experienced an attack like this prior to December 7, and my mother’s friend would say on many occasions that, “our arrogance cost us lives that day. The day you think it can’t happen to you is the day it probably will.” To my fellow veterans and anyone whose parents or grandparents or great-grandparents served in Pearl Harbor on this day in 1941, I salute you.

 As Franklin Roosevelt said in his speech, it was a “day that will live in infamy.” Japanese Admiral Isaroku Yamamoto is attributed to having said, “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.” I don’t know if he said it or not, but the giant awakened that day, and has been on a rampage ever since.

May we all remember and forget, and sing our songs of peace, so that the giant may return to quiet slumber.

Sláinte

Samhain Reflections:Lessons from Coyote

*
It's Samhain Eve, and the season of introspection has begun. While the majority of witches call Samhain "The Witches' New Year," I don't view it this way. Yule is my time for rebirth and renewal. From now until then, it is "The Time Between the Times," in which I review, reflect, and ruminate on lessons learned over the year, and prepare for the new year to come.

 This is a number 9 year for me, the last of the 9-year cycle, according to numerology. A time to complete unfinished business, tie up loose ends, and rid one's self of things in his/her past which have been keeping him/her from progressing. I'd chosen my year's theme as "The Year of Living Artfully," thinking I would create new art, and try different forms of it.  I learned very early that this will not happen in a number-9 year. Artful living has taken on a whole new meaning for me this year. I'll be exploring this in various blog posts over the next few weeks. For now, let's talk about love.


I've had a string of Coyote-men relationships my entire adult life. For those of you who aren't familiar with Coyote's symbolism, he is the trickster of American continent's totems. The way of the coyote is to teach through ways that do not appear straightforward. He may also use subterfuge or trickery to reach his goal or deliver his message. All totems are sacred, and yes, there are Coyote-women, too. Coyote is not my totem, but he has been trying to teach me how to love myself for my entire adult life. His lessons are sometimes brutally painful, but his intention isn't to make life soft and comfy. Trickster-remember?

This year, I had been dealing with a 30+ year old relationship with the first Coyote-man I met as a young woman. He was always charming, sweet, playful, and brilliant. He was dangerous for me, because he would disappear, then show up days/weeks/months/years later, always ready to melt my heart and charm me into welcoming him back, only to disappear just when I needed him most. There were pleas, pacts, and promises, and each time he arrived, I would believe that this time would be different. This time was different.

Coyote-man arrived just in time for the spring equinox, and we fell into our usual pattern. I hadn't seen nor heard from him in many years. For months, we talked and planned for a future together, but inside, there was a voice that kept nagging at me. A voice he didn't know and couldn't charm. The last time he and I were like this, I was recent to taking my vow to the ancestral call.  Now, it was deeply ingrained- a geis that would not let me go.

He tried to woo me back to Christianity. I couldn't do it. I cannot unsee what I have seen. I cannot un-know the things that I have learned. I have been cured of the sickness and inoculated. I was (am) unable to be re-infected.

He began interrupting me a lot. Extraverts tend to do that naturally, and he is a 'talker,' but this became progressively worse. Each time we would talk, he would cut me off a little sooner, not really allowing me to finish a thought. He began making assumptions based on very limited information. I recognized the mulengro and began withdrawing.

He sent me budget sheets in which I was supposed to write down all of my expenses so he could put me on a budget (I know- I see your witchy faces right now. I hear your voices saying, "Are you fucking kidding me??" No, I am not,) and of course, I could not comply- I earn my money, and I'll spend it however I damned-well please.

He made comments about how he believes one person needs to be the "head of the household," which is a very Christian belief. I could not agree, because if anyone will be head of my household, it will be me. He did not want a level playing field. Instead, he wanted to dominate and conquer me.

https://maugryph.com/2015/08/13/trickster-coyote-monster-17/

All of my adult life, Coyote-men have found me a challenge. They would woo and charm until they believed they had me where they wanted me; then, they took from me- my time, my innocence, my trust, my love, my freedom,  and so much more. They left me burdens to bear, and huge messes to clean up, every single time.

Each time, I've had to pick myself up and pull it all together. Each time, I got faster at getting up- stronger for the experience.

Over the years, I have learned from Coyote's painful lessons, how to love myself. I did not need this man, although in my heart for all of those 30-some years I believed I did. I thought he was "the one," even though there no such thing. Coyote came to me this year to teach me this final love-lesson.

We parted ways, on my terms this time. I performed a ritual to dissolve the ties with him, and all Coyote-men. I thanked Coyote for his lessons, and sent him on his way. He seemed pleased that I (finally) understood him. There was no remorse, no tears- just gratitude for the lesson, and pride in my growth.
Attribution here

This year has been filled with the lessons of closure. I look forward to seeing what my new year brings. I don't think I'll miss Coyote. He's gone in a different direction. This path ahead looks promising.

Happy Beltane to my friends down-under, and Samhain love to my friends up here in the northern hemisphere.

Sláinte,
K

*Google search produced no artist to attribute. If you know the artist, please reach out. I'd love to give him/her full credit for that beautiful work!




Samhain Reflections:Lessons from Coyote

*
It's Samhain Eve, and the season of introspection has begun. While the majority of witches call Samhain "The Witches' New Year," I don't view it this way. Yule is my time for rebirth and renewal. From now until then, it is "The Time Between the Times," in which I review, reflect, and ruminate on lessons learned over the year, and prepare for the new year to come.

 This is a number 9 year for me, the last of the 9-year cycle, according to numerology. A time to complete unfinished business, tie up loose ends, and rid one's self of things in his/her past which have been keeping him/her from progressing. I'd chosen my year's theme as "The Year of Living Artfully," thinking I would create new art, and try different forms of it.  I learned very early that this will not happen in a number-9 year. Artful living has taken on a whole new meaning for me this year. I'll be exploring this in various blog posts over the next few weeks. For now, let's talk about love.


I've had a string of Coyote-men relationships my entire adult life. For those of you who aren't familiar with Coyote's symbolism, he is the trickster of American continent's totems. The way of the coyote is to teach through ways that do not appear straightforward. He may also use subterfuge or trickery to reach his goal or deliver his message. All totems are sacred, and yes, there are Coyote-women, too. Coyote is not my totem, but he has been trying to teach me how to love myself for my entire adult life. His lessons are sometimes brutally painful, but his intention isn't to make life soft and comfy. Trickster-remember?

This year, I had been dealing with a 30+ year old relationship with the first Coyote-man I met as a young woman. He was always charming, sweet, playful, and brilliant. He was dangerous for me, because he would disappear, then show up days/weeks/months/years later, always ready to melt my heart and charm me into welcoming him back, only to disappear just when I needed him most. There were pleas, pacts, and promises, and each time he arrived, I would believe that this time would be different. This time was different.

Coyote-man arrived just in time for the spring equinox, and we fell into our usual pattern. I hadn't seen nor heard from him in many years. For months, we talked and planned for a future together, but inside, there was a voice that kept nagging at me. A voice he didn't know and couldn't charm. The last time he and I were like this, I was recent to taking my vow to the ancestral call.  Now, it was deeply ingrained- a geis that would not let me go.

He tried to woo me back to Christianity. I couldn't do it. I cannot unsee what I have seen. I cannot un-know the things that I have learned. I have been cured of the sickness and inoculated. I was (am) unable to be re-infected.

He began interrupting me a lot. Extraverts tend to do that naturally, and he is a 'talker,' but this became progressively worse. Each time we would talk, he would cut me off a little sooner, not really allowing me to finish a thought. He began making assumptions based on very limited information. I recognized the mulengro and began withdrawing.

He sent me budget sheets in which I was supposed to write down all of my expenses so he could put me on a budget (I know- I see your witchy faces right now. I hear your voices saying, "Are you fucking kidding me??" No, I am not,) and of course, I could not comply- I earn my money, and I'll spend it however I damned-well please.

He made comments about how he believes one person needs to be the "head of the household," which is a very Christian belief. I could not agree, because if anyone will be head of my household, it will be me. He did not want a level playing field. Instead, he wanted to dominate and conquer me.

https://maugryph.com/2015/08/13/trickster-coyote-monster-17/

All of my adult life, Coyote-men have found me a challenge. They would woo and charm until they believed they had me where they wanted me; then, they took from me- my time, my innocence, my trust, my love, my freedom,  and so much more. They left me burdens to bear, and huge messes to clean up, every single time.

Each time, I've had to pick myself up and pull it all together. Each time, I got faster at getting up- stronger for the experience.

Over the years, I have learned from Coyote's painful lessons, how to love myself. I did not need this man, although in my heart for all of those 30-some years I believed I did. I thought he was "the one," even though there no such thing. Coyote came to me this year to teach me this final love-lesson.

We parted ways, on my terms this time. I performed a ritual to dissolve the ties with him, and all Coyote-men. I thanked Coyote for his lessons, and sent him on his way. He seemed pleased that I (finally) understood him. There was no remorse, no tears- just gratitude for the lesson, and pride in my growth.
Attribution here

This year has been filled with the lessons of closure. I look forward to seeing what my new year brings. I don't think I'll miss Coyote. He's gone in a different direction. This path ahead looks promising.

Happy Beltane to my friends down-under, and Samhain love to my friends up here in the northern hemisphere.

Sláinte,
K

*Google search produced no artist to attribute. If you know the artist, please reach out. I'd love to give him/her full credit for that beautiful work!




Monday Musings: Breaking Free in Uranus Retrograde


I am an Aquarian, ruled by the planet Uranus. OURANOS (Uranus) was the primordial god  of the sky. The Greeks imagined the sky as a solid dome of brass, decorated with stars, whose edges descended to rest upon the outermost limits of the flat earth. Ouranos was the literal sky, just as his consort Gaia (Gaea) was the earth. Uranus goes retrograde from July 29 through December 29 this year. Freedom is the theme of this rx, and it's time to look at life from a fresh perspective.

Unlike other planetary retrogrades, Uranus becomes more potent during the rx periods. Basically, Uranus wants us to get real with ourselves. It's time to shake things up and determine what's really important in life. If you're in a bad relationship, stuck in a job you don't like, living in a place that doesn't feel right or spending time with the wrong people, Uranus will alert you to this in coming months. The realization may dawn on you slowly, and it may involve an uncomfortable period of anxiety -- but when you do have those epiphanies, pay attention. Make the needed changes; break up, make up, change jobs, move or do whatever you need to do to shake it up and move on to something better. In other words, be brave and embrace your freedom to go after it. And, the heavens are in your favor.

According to astrologer Kelley Rosano:

"Saturn and Uranus make a fabulous trine (harmonious energy flow) starting in December 2016. This supportive aspect continues all of 2017.  They dance in harmony from 20 degrees Aries/Sagittarius into 0 degrees Taurus/Capricorn. This can mead a promotion. A windfall. Sudden Opportunities to do the things you only dreamed about. It can empower to make the needed changes in your life with grace and ease. You can work within the system to make positive changes. You can work within the structures in your life and make it better. This is creative revolution for greater freedom. This energy empowers your creative self-expression. Free yourself. You will free all. All Are One."
Take the time to figure out what you really want in life. Be bold, be brave, be blatant about it. It's time to make things happen the way you want.

Go, rebel ;)

The Sunday Stir: July 24-30


A light read for your Pagan Sunday Morning!






In the News

Disclaimer: These are not authored by me, nor are these necessarily articles with which you may agree or believe. These are meant to provoke thought and discussion. These are out there, on the net, and are being read daily.

South African Pagan’s Rights Alliance fights against witch-hunts

Fresh veggies, clothes offered at Pagans in Need food pantry

Damh the Bard sings mystical myths of pagan folk

Old-time religion to be found at Pagan Pride Las Vegas Project Ice Cream Social

New webseries Bwitches combines feminist comedy with witchcraft

Witch Hunt: Build Your Altar and Celebrate Lammas With Us

'Witch' Prison Revealed in 15th-Century Scottish Chapel



Book Review The Big Book of Practical Spells



Description: Practical, inspirational, and comprehensive, The Big Book of Practical Spells is a useful tool and resource for beginners and experienced devotees of the magical arts. Here in one majestic volume is a basic introduction to magic; a psychic glossary; a primer on the four elements, colors, and magical supplies (including minerals and botanicals); and a compendium of spells for any situation you may face.

With Judika Illes as your guide, you will learn how to enhance your psychic power, cleanse your aura, protect yourself from malevolent powers, and create and use a wide variety of spells. There are spells for marriage, fertility, pregnancy prevention, babies and children, money, healing, and transitioning to the next life. These are spells that will help make life easier, more productive, and stress free.

Previously published as Pure Magic (and also as Earth Mother Magic).

This is a delightful book for anyone's reference shelf. As always, Judika Illes writes conversationally, and the reader is given a sense that we're sitting down in her kitchen with a nice cup of tea, just talking about practical spellwork. The author is thorough and well-researched, without making the book seem too academic. Her passion for the subject is evident throughout. This book would appeal most to those just starting off in the Craft, but is also an excellent source or review for those who are well-versed in the art of spell-casting.

You can find this book at Red-Wheel Weiser for $18.95


Astrology


Monthly Horoscopes from Darkstar Astrology
Weekly Horoscopes from Tarot.com

Remember to get your Daily Magic Guide on the Facebook page each morning!




This Week's Totem: Dragonfly



Key words: Power of Light,/Color, Illusion, Dreams

Dragonflies are very ancient- they’ve been around for over 180 million years. They inhabit both water and air, and it is not unusual to find those with this totem who had very emotional childhoods, but as they mature, they balance it with greater mental clarity and control. As dragonflies are always found near water, the combination of the two is important to those with this totem. 
Dragonflies are daytime creatures, and summer is their power-time. This is usually true for those with this totem, and they need to be out in nature to recharge. Dragonfly people are masters at illusion and are adept at dream interpretation. While they seem delicate, many indigenous stories speak to dragonflies having been dragons whose form was changed, or souls of ancestors. 

Dragonfly people are very strong in spirit and make excellent healers. You may find that you are called to heal others on a metaphysical level. Dragonfly’s main predator is the frog. It is helpful to study those traits in order to do shadow-work. Frog medicine is also that of a healer, but mostly through use of water. 

Dragonfly totem is the totem of transformation. It can help you throughout your life on your spiritual journey, as you grow and transform. 



Have a wonderful week!
Sláinte (to your good health and happiness)
 Kallan Kennedy  is a writer from Irish/Greek (Celtic) origins  living  in  Northeastern Maryland, USA. She has served the community in  several  capacities as Editor-in-Chief of The Sunday Stew for six  years, and  sponsor of Samhain's Sirens for four. Both projects were  laid to rest in  2015. She is currently doing artful things and playing  in the woods.

  She holds a degree in Religion and Philosophy, and is working on    degrees in English and History. She is both an ordained minister and  a  U.S. Navy veteran.

  She is an adventurer, bibliophile, and baking enthusiast who loves learning, science, religion, philosophy, geography, anthropology, politics, peppermint, her children and grandchildren, friends and friends who are family, being outdoors, animals,  walking, hiking, and the earth.

Monday Meditation: The Summer Solstice

The 2016 summer solstice, also known as Midsummer, officially arrives at 6:34 pm today on the East Coast of the U.S.. That's about two hours before the sun goes down at 8:34 pm.  On the day of the summer solstice, the north pole is at its maximum tilt toward the sun, and the sun reaches its highest point in the sky all year, causing more light to reach our planet. For my area, the longest day will actually be Thursday, as the sun will rise at 5:36am and set at 8:35pm. Semantics, really.

I once was a summer child, reveling in the school break, hot days spent at a pool or the river, getting tan, eating all of the lovely summer fruits, picnics, barbecues, et al...  I still love the thunderstorms.

Everything has a season. Summer is meant to be boisterous, bold, loud, and fruitful. It is the zenith of youth, where it marries adulthood, and produces strength and beauty. Its arrival should be celebrated with abandon. It is so short-lived, that enjoying every moment is mandatory. On this day, it has reached its peak. In a few days, the sun will begin to rise later, marking the downhill run to autumn and harvest. Tonight, the lightning bugs will dance in numbers not seen before nor again this season. The Fair Folk will be mischieving about, and magic will flourish.



Dance with the gods. Sing your beautiful song. Rejoice in the life you have been given. Feel your connection to all that is. This is your night. Enjoy it to its fullest.

Sláinte,
Kallan