Welcome to Dakotawitch Speaks (or The Dakotawitch Doctrine). Sit back and listen to a little SR-71 for your standard disclaimer...

( SR-71....Video )

Lovely handmade jewelry. I want like...all the earrings....Click for shinies!

And for once, it's not me :)

My friend thewenchywiccan is going through a rough patch financially right now, as so many of us are. She has a list of awesome books up for sale at her journal, and is also offering her superior witchy wares -- poppets, potions, and the like. Take a look and see if there's anything that strikes your fancy! You can find the goodies here.

I have been off LJ since before CMA Samhain for a variety of reasons -- financial stress, my Internet was actually out for a few days, getting ready for CMA Samhain, then being at CMA, then returning to find an epic to do list which has still not abated. I'm trying to catch up on the Flist, but if there is something from the last two weeks you think I need to see, please drop me a comment with a link. I'm going to be caught up with things in the next days, and regular posting will resume.

Not that I think you're all out there waiting to read my ramblings with bated breath, but I know this is the primary way some of you keep tabs on me...

There is new content up at Betty's Daughter Speaks Out, including a post featuring a story shared by our own lovely chevy49girl

Get your Full Moon insight over at dw_divinesPlease feel free to pimp out!

Hey, Dallas area peeps....

Anyone out there throwing a holiday party and looking to hire a Tarot reader? I'm curious about expanding my Tarot experience into this arena. I've done public readings before, and I kinda miss it. I'm also looking to bring in a little extra cash between now and New Years. Rates are reasonable and negotiable....

Hey, Pagan readers,

I'm working on an article that looks at Pagan and Witchcraft books that are marketed specifically to teens. If you have any of these lying aroudn that I can peruse, drop me a comment. Also, if you just have some titles for me to consider, let me know. I'm looking specifically at stuff written for and marketed to teens. I know lots of us read Cunningham, etc., as teens, but the piece I'm doing is a little more focused. (Stuff marketed specifically to teen girls is of special interest.) I'm more interested in the "how to" type of books (Ravenwolf's <u>Teen Witch</u> and its ilk) than in witchy-themed novels, though I will also consider those, especially if they are written by Pagans who also publish the how-to stuff.

I'm on a tightish deadline, and doing my own research (of course),but thought I'd turn to my well-read Flist for some other resources.

Over at WordPress. Betty's Daugher Speaks Out

There won't be much overlap in content with this LJ -- this is my personal space, and while what I'm talking about over there is personal after a fashion, it is going to be issue focused without the daily stuff. I'll be keeping this blog for my personal exploration, Tarot, etc., and will always link here when I update Betty's Daughter.

I thought some of you might like to see what I'm up to in my role as loudmouthed feminist rabble rouser.

It's Mabon, the turning of the Wheel into Fall. One of my rituals at this time is to get a reading to see what I can take from the last season and what I need to store up for the next. I thought it might be interesting to offer some of the readings I do to those who would like some insight at this time as well.

As always, the One Card Draw thread (posted separately) is free. If you'd like something a little more detailed, please consider:

Celtic Cross Reading
$25
Basic, ten card spread that most of us are used to. This gives you a view into the prevailing forces in your life and likely outcomes. I tend to focus on the places where we have made choices and have the opportunities to make other choices.

Wheel of the Year Reading
$25
This 13-card reading gives you a month by month overview of the year, plus a general view of the themes of the coming year. Excellent for planning long-term goals and developing awareness of patterns.

Medicine Card Reading
$20
This reading, done with Jamie Sams's and David Carson's Medicine Cards, shows you the animal guides and energies at work in your life.

Yes/No
$5
What the name implies. Give me a question, I'll give you an answer

Three Card Relationship Spread
$10
This short reading looks at the main issues facing the two people in a relationship (of any kind) on a personal level, and the main issue that is between them. Ideal for two-person partnerships. I can do a similar spread for relationships involving more people (triads, quads, etc.) as well.

Add a Medicine Card or Goddess Inspiration Card draw to any other reading for $1 per card. These are wonderful ways to focus your energy and get a meditation or affirmation to work with as you address the issues your'e facing.

I can also custom design a reading for your situation, and quote you a rate.

If you'd like any of these readings, comment below with your email address and which reading you want. All readings will be done over private email, within 48 hours. When your reading is complete, I'll invoice you through PayPal.

Suggestions welcome!

This is your open one-card draw thread. I will be reading off the Fenestra Tarot.

If you'd like a draw, comment below. If you would like your reading by private email, leave me an address. I'll get to these over the next day to day and a half.

The tip jar is out. Donate if you feel so moved. If you can't at this time, or feel funny about it, that's fine too -- simply pay forward by doing something nice for someone else.

You will soon see ads on this journal, as in an attempt to earn some extra cash, I've decided to give Google AdSense a go. If it's a royal cluster, I will opt back out, but I can use any little sideline I can get.

...the current President accuratley discussing a section of the health care bill is exactly the same as the former President telling a series of lies that led to more than 4,000 US military deaths.

Never mind, Keith says it better than I ever can...

Last night I sat down and made my "HOLY SHIT" master list of all the stuff that's stressing me out. One of my jobs this week is to break that down into categories so that I can start addressing some of the things on it. Two and a half pages of notebook paper. Seriously. I feel better for having it down in front of me, but still....holy shit.

Anyway....

To Dos for the first two weeks of September 2009

Scholarship related tasks
Submit Mothering article
Revise bisexuality article
Submit bisexuality article to editors
Submit abstract to JARM
Peruse calls for papers and flag as needed
Files made for each scholarly project
Finish Folklife articles

Nonacademic writing tasks
Files for each project made
Pull sources for Bitch article
Outline Bitch article
Touch base with Bitch about contributor's agreement
Check upcoming themes for Sagewoman
Check upcoming themes for The Beltaine Papers
Finish and submit three more PanGaia reviews
Check into Examiner writing gigs

Job search related tasks
Peruse job boards daily
Folders made for each job and fellowship app
Due dates on calendar
Update CV with new publishing projects

Freelance related tasks
Put up Craigslist ad
Put up Moonlady ad
Submit DV for dissertation advising service

Career development tasks
Schedule GRE
Follow up with chair at UH

Etsy related tasks
Pay Etsy bill
Take down stagnant listings
Put up new listings

Household related tasks
Photograph sales merchandise
Sales posts
Daily Home Love tasks
15 minutes per day of declutter
Repot garden and toss dead plants

Things have been pretty crazy around here, hence the lack of real updates. I'm trying to get back into the swing of journalling, both here and on paper. So much of the last two or three months has simply been too painful to write about, and there is something about committing it to paper or screen that made it Real in a way that I guess I wasn't ready to handle. However, as I am now emerging from the darkness, I feel like I can take up these pursuits again, and I'm grateful for it.

I am more OK than I expected to be at this point. I still hurt over Bun sometimes, but I also know that right now I'm living the life I'm meant to live -- or at least the beginning stages of it. I am learning to love What Is instead of What Was or What Could Be, which those who have known me longest will realize is a fairly big shift in my concsciousness. I'm starting to get my life back under me and take control back, and while part of that has been a deep sadness at what degree I allowed that control to slip, it feels good. My apartment is slowly becoming mine as I purge the unnecessary and replace what needs replacing. The lovely Betty Bleubird provided me with a "Home Love' routine which is working well for me. My place is no show place, but it is slowly coming together and starting to feel like *mine* rather than the "place I used to share with Bun." There are a number of thigns I will need to replace over the next months -- I could do it all now, but would rather take time to both budget wisely and choose things I really love, rather than choosing replacements for the sake of replacements: dishes, kitchen implements, bed linens, etc. I'm not replacing any large items until I figure out if and when I am moving, though I am getting rid of some things.

Careerwise I'm up in the air. I'm glad I didn't do the breakneck speed move to Houston to do the program at UH. I may still do that -- I put off my application until January, and if they come across with a good financial aid package, and none of the other things I am applying for comes through, I will relocate to th Bayou City to pick up my sociology hours and thus expand my career options. Until then, however, I'm grounded in DFW, and I'm OK with that. I have a metric fuckton of writing projects to get done, and if I were in school and in a new city, I would not be doing them. Plus, I need to know that if I go to Houston, I am going for me. The move to Houston was originally an adventure Bun and I were to have together, and I need to make sure that, if I undertake that move, it is wholly my own. The state of the academic market is rough, but there are jobs and fellowships to be had, so I am exploring all options.

My Mountan View class did not make, which is not the best thing, but I think it will turn out to be a blessing. I need the time to write, and things are busy enough with The Boss and UoP that I am already having a hard time carving out the time I need for my own scholarly pursuits. So I am going to take it as a sign that I need to be writing more than I need to be earning the money I would have gotten from MVC. Besides, now that I am only supporting me, my finances are starting to untangle. Plus, The Boss is now generating new material on the Blaine book, which means I have acres of transcription work, which can be done at home. So I can put in hours on that job at night, or in the early mornings, and still have my writing days at the house. Transcription is actually kind of relaxing for me, and I'm fast at it, so it will work out OK.

I've been quite social the last month and a half. Doing so very casual dating -- and I do mean very casual. I've gone out with three very nice young women, all of whose company I enjoy very much. And that's the extent of it for now -- spending time, enjoying company, getting to know interesting and attractive people, and enjoying the fact that they are enjoying me. I don't need to be involved in anything serious right now, but it's fun to feel attractive and to get to enjoy the fun of meeting new people.

I'm spending time on Facebook of late, which is sort of new, but sort of fun. I have an account from waaaaay back when you had to have a college email to sign up, so if you want to add me, comment here.

Life is beautiful. It is occassionally painful still, and sometimes confusing, and sometimes empty-feeling. But on balance is it full, rich, painted in bright colors and calming neutrals. And most of all, it is mine.

[[[Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen books you've read that will always stick with you. They don't have to be the greatest books you've ever read, just the ones that stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes.

Copy these instructions and tag your friends - because I'm interested in seeing what books are in your head. ]]]

Ok, here goes....

ravenShadow by Win Blevins
The Temple of My Familiar by Alice Walker
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Calling the Circle by Christina Baldwin
Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham
All Quiet on the Western Front by Eric Maria Remarque
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
Orientalism by Edward Said
The Vulnerable Observer by Ruth Behar
Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism, and the Future by Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards
Fargo Rock City by Chuck Klosterman
Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War by Tony Horowitz
Cane River by Lalita Tademy
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd