Under the Spell of InstaTweetBook

So I've finally made my rounds on the social media train. While still unsure exactly about where I'll go with my career, or life for that matter, I realized that not only has the internet become increasingly important for making connects. It is in fact necessary.  In the beginning I was always late to the game, at times cringing at the ability of facebook to promote an unwanted enhanced knowledge of my family's religious and political thoughts or for making me feel the need to spy on middle school classmates.

But in fact, I've grown to really love each of these sites for their various purposes.  Instagram, revolving around photos, is certainly still a program I use for close friends, but my Facebook, google+, blogger, and LinkedIn have grown increasingly focused on expert articles, fitness blogs, joining intellectual groups, and my favorite authors.  There's nothing better than having a PhD candidate read your term paper or seeing a personally reply from your favorite author on a comment you posted.

Thus far it seems most of this talk has been about the personal tendencies of social networking. To emphasize it's more than that, think about how lately the job market has dwindled.  One of the complaints that job seekers, including myself at times, had was that the personal interaction has been taken from the search.  "I would have gotten a call back if I had a face-to-face interview!" some cry.  However, I believe this system can also provide more opportunities in wake of the ones that were taken.  What it comes down to is not limited opportunities, b
ut a change in nature moving into a world we shouldn't be afraid of.  So update those profiles and share your projects, work, and interests.  Just don't underestimate the power of the internet to destroy, but don't undermine it's ability to create.

Just like the magic we do to build a connection with the divine, to commune with like minded people, to feel attached to the lives we live and the natural world we are in, the internet has evolved to meet some of human's most basic needs.  Social networking provides the invisible web of links trying us to people and places we would never otherwise have access to.  And just like in magic, we would do well to keep protection in mind by guarding some of our personal details, and remain always vigilant about what our intent truly is and even take care to note what the intent of others who see our information may be. To know, to dare, to will, to be silent.  These are the rules we are taught for using the power we have, in whatever form that power may come.

Full Moon Mania

So now that I am getting a little bit more settled - unpacked, cleaned, started some part time work, in the midst of my online classes, and starting a new educational technology blog....I can finally start getting back into my magical groove as well.  I've certainly been missing it, hardly even feeling like a witch. Afterall, as they all say, it's a way of life.  I made it back to my class to participate in my year and a day ceremony.

But more importantly on that front, I managed to get my etsy shop open and listed an item or two from my wedding (with more to come!). It's a good start to have a few items listed but as I've discussed in previous posts, my end goal was to make homemade soy candles for household magic and general decorations alike.  Usually I am morbidly unprepared for the various holidays and cycles. Short of stopping by a CUUPS ceremony, I don't generally have the items or ritual prepared for my own solitary work, and each time I watch a sabbat or esbat come and go with not much more than a meditation.  Sad, I know.

But alas!  I opened my planner, saw that beautiful and exciting white circle indicating a full moon.  I had some work to complete and dinner to make/eat with the husband but I got it all done and sent him off to bed. I stayed up, prepped my jars, cleansed them with the elements and a small chant (after starting with a very thorough physical cleaning, of course).  As I was using glass jars I emptied and cleaned from my own items I wanted to make sure the essence of pasta was not lingering and muddling up our intents here.  I melted a big batch of soy wax, added lilac scent for a light, heavenly sense, and finally covered the top (didn't wan't bugs in my fresh wax) and left the candles out to bask in the full moon glow overnight.  I finally have full moon candles ready to be decorated and listed on my site - so keep an eye out!  If we can get this kicked off, I may find more types of containers online and try to keep a steady and consistent design going.

But guess what, that's not all!  I found a simple, quick full moon spell in my witch's almanac for Monday and was able to do before getting ready for bed. The husband even decided to join in, and he's normally a little intimidated about actually doing spells as opposed to just celebrating sabbats in a group ritual.  This one involved only paper, pen, and some water. We wrote a wish for ourselves on the paper, said a chant provided by the almanac, and tossed our wishes into the water while sitting on the porch under the moon.  I must say, I'm rather proud of my full moon participation this time around. As a solitary, it's usually pretty hard to make sure I don't have work/school/family/friends preventing me from setting time aside. But I believe the secret will be preparation ahead of time, and finding quick simply things to do alone (or with a loved one!) to remind us of the special events that continue around us, with or without our noticing.