So, it’s been almost a month since PantheaCon, and I’m just now getting around to reviewing my notes! I’m not entirely sure where the last three weeks have gone. Thus, without further ado, I present my first PantheaCon write up, with more to follow this week!

PantheaCon 2017 Report: Advancing Devotional Practice with Silence Maestas, February 18, 2017

Saturday morning, I actually managed to get out of bed earlier than I do for work (and getting up for work is no small feat, let me assure you—morning is something that happens to other people) to pull myself together to attend a 9:00 AM workshop with Silence Maestas on”Advancing Devotional Practice“. I’ve read Silence’s book “Worshipping Loki“, so it was great to finally hear her speak in person!

Silence began the discussion with the question, “What is devotional practice?” For her, it means prioritizing your emotional engagement with your spirituality, which I think is a fantastic working definition. Regardless of what you say your priorities are, your actions reveal the truth about what you value.

One of the keys to devotional practice is “radical solitude”, which gives us the time and space we need to get in touch with our selves and our truths. As she put it (I’m paraphrasing here), self knowledge is knowledge of the path, and we have to be our own manuals. I found that especially relevant, as it seems we are constantly being told by the dominant culture that only designated experts have the real information, and we must turn to them for answers. Despite the staggering number of self-help books in the spirituality section of your local bookstore, you are still the authority on your soul, your truth, your life.

From the theoretical, the conversation turned to the practical. You can’t get a room full of pagans together without the subject of altars coming up, and since altars are a significant part of devotional practice for many of us, the discussion was lively and useful.

We exchanged Handy Pagan Household tips (use a paper bag and an iron set on low to remove candle wax from carpet), discussed the acceptability of electric candles (perfectly useful, especially if you need to leave the flame unattended), and raised the question no one could really answer—”How do I keep my cat from drinking from the water offering bowl on the altar?” The general consensus was that the cat is going to do what the cat wants to do, and if you can’t keep the cat out of the altar room, the cat is going to drink the water.

From there, the conversation went to expectations versus reality in devotional practice. Many people commented that they wanted to spend more time in practice, but found it difficult to create the time they needed. Silence suggested starting by recognizing your expectations for what you want to do can be a goal, rather than an obstacle. Rather than trying to do everything right now, start with where you are, and work towards where you want to be. Which, really, is useful advice for pretty much any undertaking!

As a follow up last week, Silence did a great blog post on “Devotional Practice Shouldn’t Make You Feel Like a Failure“, expanding on some of the discussion in this workshop.

This workshop was fun, engaging, and useful, and I hope to see it again next year at PantheaCon!

A Woman Meets an Old Lover
~ Denise Levertov

‘He with whom I ran hand in hand
kicking the leathery leaves down Oak Hill Path
thirty years ago

appeared before me with anxious face, pale,
almost unrecognized, hesitant,
lame.

He whom I cannot remember hearing laugh out loud
but see in mind’s eye smiling, self-approving,
wept on my shoulder.

He who seemed always
to take and not give, who took me
so long to forget,

remembered everything I had so long forgotten.’

The Giants’ Tarot, Raven Kaldera

Draw for March 13, 2017
Active Influence: Surt/King of Wands
Rune: Ehwaz/Horse
Hidden Influence: Mjol/Eight of Wands

For the fourth day in a row, both cards are from the same Minor Arcana suit, and this completes the cycle of the suits. (I’m waiting to see what happens tomorrow!)

Wands are fire, inspiration, and action. Ehwaz is your horse, that is, whatever action you need to take to move forward. Surt, the King of Wands, holds a torch to light your way in brilliance and intensity. Mjol, the Lady of Wind and Snow, is not a fire giant, but She brings the same intensity and rush of energy on the winds which carry the powdered snow. Fire and water, heat and cold, all balance to create the push  you required to do what you need to do. What are you waiting for?

Life on Earth is Unsteady
~ Anonymous, from Hemachandra‘s Grammar

Life on earth is
unsteady
death alone lasts forever, my love
Let go your pride
One day of anger
seems like a hundred
years of the gods

The Giants’ Tarot, Raven Kaldera

Draw for March 12, 2017
Active Influence: Bestla/Ten of Coins
Rune: Teiwaz/Justice (reversed)
Hidden Influence: Grid/Knight of Coins

Today is the third day in a row where both cards are from the same suit. Today’s pair of Coins cards means it’s time to focus on material aspects of your life. Things may not be fair, but that doesn’t mean you can compromise your integrity, and you’re certainly not going to be permitted to give up without a fight. You have a better chance of victory than you might believe. Allow that to give you confidence, but don’t get arrogant. There’s still plenty of fight to be done.

Bestla and Grid are both fierce figures of female strength. Bestla is the mother of Odin, and so the mother of the Aesir. Bestla is calm and confident, and can teach you much about life and magic. That She made a life with Bor and raised Odin, Vili, and Ve should give you a good idea of the kinds of strength and skills She can teach you.

Grid trains young warriors, helping them find their best weapons and fighting style, and is a wise and strong fighter Herself. She can see your worth, and She expects you to value yourself honestly and work to strengthen your character.

Bestla and Grid can teach and guide you through whatever difficulties you face today. Talk to Them.