I've had a lot of fun doing the one-card draw for people this week. Tarot has been my primary spiritual practice for many years, but I have neglected it over the last two years as I've tried to get my life under control. This week, as I've done readings, I've once again realized that every time I read for someone, I also read for myself in a way -- I get insight into my own situation. As a result, I want to start doing serious divination work again. Having a new deck that I love is also a major impetus.

So....

If I started another blog that was all divination-related, would you read it? I'm envisioning a space where I can review divination tools and methods, blog about my own Tarot and oracle practices, etc. One a week or every two weeks, I would put out an open thread with the tip jar and offer to do something like the one-card draw I did this week. But it might not be Tarot -- it might be Medicine Cards, Goddess Inspiration Cards, Ipod divination, runes, or any other tool I'm working with that week. I'd be doing this as much as a service and for practice with different tools and methods as for any financial benefit -- as with the post I did this week, I don't "charge" per se. (I am available for paid consultations, but that would be separate from the open threads.) I might branch into other forms of divination as I go, as this is a practice that really fires me up.

So?

I'm probably going to be a little quiet for a while. I'm working out some stuff, and I've realized that my "second life" online is sort of taking my energy away from those things. I'm OK, so nobody worry -- just going through a growth spurt, as it were. I'm going to scale back my community participation and stuff for a few weeks to get centered again.

I'm still going to be reading and occassionally posting, just not with my usal (obsesssive) frequency.

If there's something you need, you can either PM me, comment to this post, or email me at  [myljname] @ gmail dot com

I'll be back up and running in a couple weeks, as soon as I sort through this clutter in my head...

....though we did not get snow :(

First, thanks to jerosejr for the paid account and icon time! This has made my holiday season! *massive hugs*

BunBun is studying for her finals and doing her Latin translation in the bedroom, so it looks like I'll have at least an hour more of quality time uninterrupted in the office nook. I've done my UoP posts for the night, applied for a fellowship at Bryn Mawr, and taken a preliminary look at the rest of my job materials. This meant realizing I'd missed a couple deadlines, which is sad, but I'm moving on. I was just too overwhelmed and disorganized this fall, and if learning that lesson means missing out on a couple of opportunities, well, then that's why they call it a learning experience. I'm going to bang out a couple more cover letters before I crash for the night, so I can print them off on the good printer at work tomorrow and get them in the mail.

Why the push? Well, academia being what it is, the entire world is basically going to grind to a halt for two to three weeks, starting at 5pm next Friday. So anything that has to be received by January 1, I need to get moving now. I have a little leeway in there to do some of my work over the break, but I'd really rather it be out of my hands before every campus in the nation shuts down next week. I know nothing, or at least almost nothing, will move on the job search in that time. So I'd like to have my part of it done, so I can also move on to other things like finishing my book proposal and getting it in the mail, submitting a couple articles, and catching up on the encyclopedia entries I'm supposed to be writing. It will be nice not to think, breathe, and live job search for a few days. Though if I know me, I'll still be stressing a little bit.

Didn't get the new soaps up on the site tonight, that has to be priority this weekend if not before. Fortunately, things ship fast and cheap so I can take orders up through next week and still be able to get things to people in time for the holiday. I feel like I should have done more with the site this holiday, but I also know that searching for a Real Job (tm) had to be priority. *sigh* Y'all just wait until I'm a full time prof with more free time...:)

I also need to start on my cards and things for holiday_wishes , as I have quite the list. Perhaps I'll do some of those and then hit that fellowship application for Cornell...

I have been thinking about the nature of blogging and in particular the various things I do with my blog these days. Obviously, this space has become very political of late. I think it's quite clear that I care passionately about my country and what happens to it, and equally clear that I don't hold my punches as to what side of the various lines I stand on.

It's been suggested that such use of one's blog space is in fact hatemongering, when we should be focusing on unity and togetherness. I am all for unity and togetherness.

I also agree with the Tao when it tells you not to bring a spoon to a knife fight.

White light is all good, but I have always believed that education is better. I believe that when faced with a barrage of lies and half-truths, sending white light and fluffy bunny thoughts does not change the situation. Direct challenges to the lies and misinformation, and those who would hold stubbornly to their ignorance and bigotry, is the best chance to make change.

I considered filtering this blog. But that's against everything I stand for. I get a lot of drive-by traffic on this blog, and filtering would prevent those who come over randomly from seeing the content they, by and large, come to see. And for me to start filtering my political posts in some way says to me that I am ashamed of my stance.

I am not.

The only, repeat, only material I filter in this blog is that of the most personal nature.

So I won't be filtering, and I'll be continuing to post. If that means you stop reading me for a while, or in fact permanently, then I respect that. If you think less of me for standing up for my beliefs, and sometimes doing it in ways that are strong, snarky, and non-PC, then so be it.  If you're going to publicly chastize or berate me for my content, then are you really better than what you accuse me being?

There's a disclaimer at the top of the blog. You've been made aware of its contents. Proceed as you see fit.

I'm standing strong, and speaking out, til November 4 and far beyond.

Poll #1090310 Ask the Dakotawitch...
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 27

What would you like me to blog about in the near future?

I'm not using this space as efficiently as I might, partly because there's a lot going on in my life I'm not really ready to share with the world (or at least the LJverse). So, I ask you, dear readers, to complete this poll and give me some inspiration....