Sonnet VI
~ Caroline Norton

Where the red wine-cup floweth, there art thou!
Where luxury curtains out the evening sky;–
Triumphant Mirth sits flush’d upon thy brow,
And ready laughter lurks within thine eye.
Where the long day declineth, lone I sit,
In idle thought, my listless hands entwined,
And, faintly smiling at remember’d wit,
Act the scene over to my musing mind.
In my lone dreams I hear thy eloquent voice,
I see the pleased attention of the throng,
And bid my spirit in thy joy rejoice,
Lest in love’s selfishness I do thee wrong.
Ah! midst that proud and mirthful company
Send’st thou no wandering thought to love and me?

The Giants’ Tarot, Raven Kaldera

Draw for February 13, 2017
Active Influence: Nidhogg/Strength
Rune: Laguz/Flow
Hidden Influence: Hymir & Hrod/Five of Swords

Circumstances require you to move beyond your comfort zone. Today, that is easily done. You have the strength and confidence to do so, and the universe is providing energies and events to support your doing so. You are not certain who or what you will find, and that’s okay. Be open to pleasant surprises, synchronicities, and serendipities. You can go far once you take that first step.

Orchards in July
~ Zbigniew Machej
Translated by Czeslaw Milosz andRobert Hass

Waters from cold springs

and glittering minerals

tirelessly wander.

Patient, unceasing,

they overcome granite, layers

of hungry gravel, iridescent

precincts of clay. If they abandon

themselves to the black

roots it’s only to go

up, as high as possible

through wells hidden

under the bark of fruit trees. Through

the green touched with gray, of leaves,

fallen petals of white

flowers with rosy edges,

apples heavy with sweet redness

and their bitterish seeds.

O, waters from cold

springs and glittering

minerals. You are awaited

by a cirrus with a fluid

sunny outline

and by an abyss of blue

which has been rinsed

in the just wind.

The Giants’ Tarot, Raven Kaldera

Draw for February 12, 2017
Active Influence: Suttung/Six of Coins
Rune: Eihwaz/Defense
Hidden Influence: Loki, Angrboda & Sigyn/The Lovers

As the saying goes, “It’s complicated”. You may feel like you need to be on your guard, without being able to articulate why. The devil is in the details, and you’re not entirely sure who to trust. Pretty promises are made, but you’re not able to discern the actual intent. You want to keep what you have, and you want more.

Instead of keeping it all for yourself, and running the risk of losing it all in your effort to gain more, try sharing some of what you have in order to make room for new abundance. Share a bit at first, and give yourself time to suss out the other person’s real motives. A small gesture of generosity now could save you from greater loss down the line.

Are you going to PantheaCon in San Jose this year? If so, you can join me for two workshops on Sunday, February 19!

The first one is “Working with Difficult Gods” on Sunday at 3:30 PM in the Silicon Valley room.  Working with the Gods is not all hearts and rainbows. Every deity, no matter how bright, has a dark side. Some of us choose (or are chosen) to work with Gods who are Themselves difficult and demanding, and additionally are perceived as “bad” choices by others in our community. The Gods are not fluffy bunny friends; They are strong and fierce, and we must be strong and fierce in our devotion to Them. We’ll talk about balancing devotion with practical considerations, and how to handle people who think it’s their duty to inform you of the error of your ways. This workshop is new this year, so you will be the first to hear it!

The second workshop is a an updated and expanded version of “The Futhark and Beyond!“, which I presented at last year’s conference. This workshop will be at 9:00 PM in the Boardroom. If you are familiar with the Norse Runes, you know the 24 Runes of the Elder Futhark. Beyond that, there are the Younger Futhorc, the Anglo-Saxon Runes, and the Northumbrian Runes. Also, there are some random medieval Runes designated for magical purposes! Suddenly, we have 41 magical symbols to work with—which also conveniently spell words that can be used to create further magic! We’ll mention a few other systems, such as the Gothic Runes. Come venture with me through the Aetts and meet the Runes old and new—or would that be old and older? There are several Rune workshops this year, but mine is the only one which covers all 41 Runes!

I also have cool badge ribbons to hand out, in case you need additional incentive to attend!

See you Sunday!