Festival of Hecate

Today (November 30th) is the Feast of Hecate Trivia, one of my favourite goddesses. Today’s celebration honours her as goddess of the crossroads. Trivia roughly translates to mean “crossroads” in Ancient Greek, specifically a crossroads where three roads meet. In Ancient Greece, altars to Hecate were often placed at crossroads and people, especially women, who were traveling at night left offerings in return for safe passage.

If you’re at a crossroads in your life, unable to make a decision or in need of a solution, call on Hecate today to guide you. Be warned, she doesn’t suffer fools and she’s not gentle.

Hecate is one of the dark goddesses, deities who rule the darker aspects of life including death, the underworld, magic and rebirth. Dark goddesses, Kali and Lilith amoung them, are known for their ancient wisdom and swift action.

Hecate is also a triple goddess, meaning she represents the cyclical aspects or phases of life. These include:

Birth-Life-Death

Earth-Air-Water

Full-New-Dark moons

Past-Present-Future

Maiden-Mother-Crone

Underworld-Earth-Heaven

Originally a goddess of women and childbirth, Hecate governed the beginnings of life. During the Hellenistic period, she became a triple-faced goddess of Witchcraft and magic. Her involvement in the myth of Persephone lead to an association with death. She is the keeper of the key to the Underworld and keeps Persphone company while she resides with Hades. However, Hecate is also responsible for leading Demeter to rescue Persphone. Because of her psychic and magical gifts, Hecate was the only person who could hear Persephone’s cries while she was trapped in the Underworld.

Today, Hecate is celebrated as the goddess of change, death, life, rebirth, Witchcraft, magic, psychic abilities and crossroads. She is also associated with fertility, the dark moon, psychic abilities and truth. She is worshiped at this time of year, from October through the winter, when everything is dead and dormant and we become introspective.

Hecate’s Correspondences

Symbols

key, torches, cauldron

Animals

dog, owl, cat

Plants

poisonous and hallucinogenic plants like Nightshade and Belladonna, also garlic, myrrh and cardamon

Flowers

poppies, lavender

Stones

obsidian, jet, moonstone, amethyst

Colours

black, silver, purple

If you’re going to ask for her guidance, you should properly introduce yourself first. Spend some time meditating and try to connect with her. In spell work, be swift, direct and respectful. Do not waste her time. Leave her an offering and remember to thank her.

Also, remember that she works quickly, cutting through pretenses and bringing about abrupt and sudden change. As a result your life may get worse before it gets better. For example, if you ask Hecate to help you decide whether or not to take a job offer, be aware that you may be in the wrong career. Hecate will know your true path and completely change the direction of your life. Think you want to be a doctor? Maybe your true path is in the arts. You might find yourself fired from your job or dropping out of law school, but it will ultimately be for the best. Keep this in mind when asking for her guidance with love, friendship, money, travel or anything else.

I warned you.

 

10 Fictional and Nonfictional Women Who Should Be My Friends

So often, women are placed on a pedestal simply for wearing a pretty dress or having shiny hair. Wouldn’t it be nice if your personal hero was on the cover of a magazine, instead of the latest airbrushed starlet? Know what I mean? There are a lot of amazing women I turn to for inspiration and guidance. I’d like to take this opportunity to spotlight the brains, spirit and beauty of the real-life and fictional women I admire:

1. Frida Kahlo

You saw this one coming. Frida Kahlo is the love of my life. If she were alive, I’d marry her and have her babies. How freaking gorgeous is she!? She was a goddess on earth. A tequila swigging, chain smoking goddess. LOVE HER.

2. Fairuza Balk

Gorgeous

I feel like we could be best friends. She’s Pagan and loves black eyeliner too! Plus, she’s a talented character actress and has that awesome L.A. bohemian vibe I love so much. i read somewhere that she’s of Roma heritage which intrigues me to no end. Sooooo, if anybody has her number…

3. Darlene Conner

I learned the meaning of "sarcasm" while watching "Roseanne"

Darlene IS teenage me. Mopey, depressed and sarcastic, my favourite flavour of anti-hero. I told Fiancé the other day that he is the David to my Darlene, which he may or may not have appreciated even though I meant it as a compliment.

4. Roseanne Barr

If I look half as good when I'm 60, I'll be ecstatic.

Roseanne Barr is the crazy aunt I’ve always wanted. She’s a fiercely outspoken feminist and a pioneering woman executive AND she’s hilarious. For the record, “Roseanne” was THE show when I was a kid (next to “Are You Afraid of the Dark”) and it was the only show on television that was even remotely relatable. Remember how Roseanne wanted to write children’s books and Dan wrote songs and dreamed of being a musician but that didn’t work out ’cause they got married, got pregnant and had to work dead-end jobs and be stuck in Lanford? That’s the story of every single adult I knew growing up and it’s quickly becoming the story of everyone I went to high school with. There’s a lesson to be learned here… something about moving to a macadamia nut farm…

5. Marie Antoinette

I want that hairdo EVERY DAMN DAY!

Marie Antoinette is the original party girl. We could eat pastel coloured macarons and drink bottles of champagne. I’d borrow her clothes and she wouldn’t mind if I spilled chocolate fondue on her petticoats ’cause Louis could just buy her better, prettier petticoats. Plus, she was supposed to be a loyal and loving friend who valued the company of smart women. A woman like that is a rare gem in today’s world.

6. Hypatia

She just looks smart, am I right?

Hypatia is a Pagan saint (yes, they exist.) She was a gifted mathematician, scientist and philosopher in the ancient world who was the last keeper of the great library of Alexandria, Egypt. According to this article:

“Hypatia dressed in the clothing of a scholar or teacher, rather than in women’s clothing. She moved about freely, driving her own chariot, contrary to the norm for women’s public behavior. She exerted considerable political influence in the city. “

There was much upheaval at the time (415 CE) between Christians and Pagans. The Christians didn’t like Hypatia because she was Pagan, outspoken and possessed knowledge of devilish magic (a.k.a. scientific principles) so they killed her. She’s one of the great minds in all of human history. Think of all the amazing conversations we could have while smoking weed and staring at the stars. Not that I do that….

7. Lisa Simpson

As a child, Lisa Simpson was my role model. I love her as if she were a real person. Sometimes, when Fiancé and I watch “The Simpsons,” he’ll just stare at me and be all, “Wow… you ARE Lisa Simpson!”

My favourite Lisa moment can be found here on Youtube.

8. Mindy Kaling

Beautiful girl, beautiful brain

She’s hilarious, smart and accomplished. She writes for “The Office,” has a best-selling book and her articles are published in The New Yorker and Elle Magazine. She basically has the career I’ve always wanted. So, let me take this opportunity to say, “Hey Mindy, need a writing partner?”

9. Hello Kitty

Happiness

She’s adorable and beloved by millions. Hello Kitty is a symbol of happiness and optimism and I need more of that in my life. Her very presence would brighten my day, except that she’d probably look weird standing in my living room in 3D…

10. Wednesday Addams

Adorable.

If the Goddess could promise me a child EXACTLY like Wednesday Addams, I’d have a baby. I think Morticia and Wednesday are one of the best fictional mother-daughter pairs. If only a highly intelligent child with a morbid sense of humour and a”pilgrim-chic” fashion sense existed in real life…

SO TELL ME:

Who are your favourite women?

Who’s brain do you admire?

What character inspires you?

What’s Making Me Happy This Week

This is the loveliest photo of Marilyn Monroe. She looks like a beautiful, windswept mermaid.

I love November. People shouldn’t complain about it as much as they do. November is a grey, rainy sea of calm. The holidays are on the horizon (but not close enough to worry about) and the nights are long and peaceful. November is quiet rejuvenation after the glaring summer sun and the chaotic magic of October.

What’s Making Me Happy

This Post on quarter-life crises.

This Thanksgiving post about being thankful for your fur babies.

This NPR interview with Alexander Payne, one of my favourite diectors (“Sideways,” “Election”) and I can’t wait to see “The Descendants”

Have you read “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman? It’s one of my favourite short stories (read it here for free) and it’s super creepy. The story comments on the treatment of women in Victorian society. I was ecstatic when it was mentioned on this week’s episode of “American Horror Story,” which is a FANTASTIC show and everybody should watch it:

I organized my books by colour and it makes me SO happy. It’s like having a beautiful rainbow in your room. Example:

This talk by Elizabeth Gilbert is amazing. It’s about how there’s no roadmap or example for being a modern woman and it’s both exhilarating and terrifying:

Have a great weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving America!

Look, I made you a turkey:

Hand turkeys: not just for 5 year-olds.

Happy American Thanksgiving!!!

Canadian Thanksgiving was just last month, but I think everyone should embrace American Thanksgiving and spend the next four days binge eating starches.

On that note, may your weekend be full of pumpkin pie lattes and jumb0 shrimp.

Please don’t trample anyone on Black Friday; there are enough 65 inch plasma TVs for everyone.

Okay?

Okay.

P.S. I’m thankful for my readers… awwwww…

What’s Making Me Happy This Week

Remember "Bunnicula?!" My brother read it in third grade and he's been afraid of rabbits ever since.

This week was full of crayon-coloured sunsets, cuttlefish education and the first snowfall of the season.

So what’s making me happy?

BAT-CAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Elle Magazine did a little article on celebs who have seen ghosts

My pin boards on Pinterest!!!

If you’ve ever wanted to read Tarot cards, this site is an excellent place to start

Judika Illes was a guest on the Modern Witch Podcast and she discussed her new book “Encyclopedia of Mystics, Saints & Sages.” The interview was AMAZING. Lots of great information for you witchy education. <—- That rhymed. Yay me!

I hope everyone had a spectacular week! Now off to binge-drink the weekend away…

Conversations with Fiancé

This is what my personality would look like if it was a person.

The following conversation occurred at 8pm on a boring Saturday night:

Me: What are you up to?

Fiancé: I’m playing this video game. The graphics are awesome. You can totally see this guy’s brains being blown out when I shoot him.

Me: WTF?! That’s fucking disturbing! Why would anyone want to see that shit? What’s wrong with you???!!!

Fiancé: Uh….. What are you up to?

Me: Watching “Piranha 3D.”

*Fiancé looks less than amused*

This, darling readers, is an excellent example of what we call hypocrisy.

The next conversation happened while we were waiting for the elevator at 12:45am on a random Tuesday (so that we could do laundry in the basement without running into any weirdo neighbours)

Me: If there was an all-girl Supertramp cover band, they’d be called “Supercramp”

Fiancé: And they’d sing songs about menstruation.

Me: NO! They’d sing Supertramp songs because they’re a Supertramp cover band!!!

*pause*

Me: Bleeeeeeeeder! Nothing but a bleeeeeeeeeder!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(sung loudly and off-key to the tune of “Dreamer”……… obviously)

See how fun it is to live with me?

Confession: I Hate “Mad Men”

The gorgeous Christina Hendricks. She's a goddess. I love that she kept her wedding ring on for this photoshoot.

I know “Mad Men” is the darling of Televisionland right now, but I kinda hate it. Not even my love for all things Christina Hendricks could make me watch this show, and I dyed my hair red out of love for Ms. Hendricks. I know a lot of women are obsessed with the show’s retro fashion and with John Hamm, and I do see the appeal, but it’s not for me. I watched the first half of season one, then I turned off the tv and NEVER looked back.

“DEAR GOD, WHY?????” you ask.

Well, it made me uncomfortable. The blatant sexism and racism made me anxious and annoyed. Obviously, it’s accurate to the time period, but it’s still icky.

There’s a scene where Peggy, Elisabeth Moss’s character, goes to the doctor to get birth control pills (you can watch it here on Youtube) and the doctor smokes a cigarette while looking at her vagina and then basically tells her she’s a slut for wanting the pill.

So my question to you, “Mad Men” fans is “HOW CAN YOU WATCH THAT WITHOUT CRINGING IN DISGUST AND WANTING TO PUNCH SOMEONE?????”

I don’t doubt that women had to endure that kind of sexist bullshit but it makes me SO angry. I can’t watch it.

Has the show gotten any better? Is it less cringe-worthy now? I heard that Peggy is going to become a feminist and the Women’s Movement will be explored through her character. Is that true?

Let me know! I’d love to give “Mad Men” a second chance. Do any fans of the show find it uncomfortable to watch some of the scenes?

Kate Hudson, You’re On Notice

Isn't she cute?

Dear Kate Hudson,

I regret to inform you that you’re on notice. If you continue to behave this way, I will discontinue my metaphorical membership in the Kate Hudson Fan Club. It is because of my infinite love for you and my belief in your immense talent, that I must write you this letter in true “Intervention” style:

“Almost Famous” came out when I was thirteen and it changed my world forever. Penny Lane, the 16 year-old globe-trotting bohemian who slept with rock stars and wore bell-bottom jeans was the hero of 13 year-old Me. Penny continues to be one of my all-time favourite film characters. If “Almost Famous” is the “Cabaret” of my generation (and it is) than your Penny Lane is the equivalent of Liza’s Sally Bowles, which is the best compliment I could possibly give you. Which brings me to my point. My undying love for you is based on three things:

1. Your portrayal of Penny Lane, the aforementioned queen groupie and lost soul.

2. Your amazing boho-hippie style which, let’s be honest, is mostly a product of Rachel Zoe’s styling.

3. You’re face.

Pay special attention to the third one, Kate, because I must confess, I have a type and you’re not it. Super-curvy redheads like Christina Hendricks and quirky, intelligent brunettes like Maya Rudolph are my usual celebrity crushes, but after seeing “Almost Famous” I made an exception for you. You are one of a very small group of tiny blondes whom I find attractive. More than attractive, in fact, I find your whole Young Stevie Nicks vibe to be intoxicating. Sadly, it’s your physical attractiveness alone that keeps me interested these days and definitely NOT your career choices.

It’s time for some tough love.

Should something terrible happen to you, like you’re decapitated in a freak yoga accident or Goldie Hawn decides to eat her young, your obituary will read, “Kate Hudson is remembered for her Oscar-nominated role in ‘Almost Famous,’ and that is all.”

Sad, but true. I tell you this so that you’ll think before taking the role of “Clutzy von Stupid” in yet another vapid rom-com.

I believe in you, Kate.

Even though you’ve starred in “Bride Wars” and “Something Borrowed,” two of the most misogynistic movies I’ve ever seen.

Even though you’d rather play offensive stereotypes than well-rounded characters.

Even though a thousand girls would kill for the career opportunities you’ve squandered.

I’m still a fan.

But I must warn you, one more horrible romantic comedy and I’m jumping off the bandwagon. One more badly written film co-starring Matthew McConaughey, and we’re over. This is your last chance. If the next movie you star in features a sad girl binge eating Ben & Jerry’s and then tripping over a sidewalk crack in $5,000 Louboutin shoes on the way to her job as a kindergarten teacher, I will break up with you.

It won’t even take me 10 days.

What’s Making Me Happy This Week

I LOVE THIS. SO PRETTY!!! (re-blogged from Pinterest by someone who re-blogged from Tumblr.... etc....)

This week’s been full of stormy skies and yellow leaves. My witchy room is nearing completion and NaNoWriMo is in full swing. I’ve also been hunting down a food truck that serves fancy grilled cheese sandwiches…

So what’s making me happy?

I’ve been listening to “Shake It Out” by Florence and the Machine on repeat all day, every day. The new album, “Ceremonials,” is amazing. Check it out here.

Mindy Kaling’s book “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns)” came out last week. I haven’t read it yet, but I’m enjoying all the interviews and articles she’s been doing to promote it. I could listen to her talk all day long. Mindy Kaling is amazing because she’s smart and funny but not at all self-deprecating. She completely owns up to her talent and hard work, something that more women should do.

Mindy Kaling and BJ Novak

Zooey Deschanel’s wrote a letter to Vogue magazine when she was 17 and the first line reads:

“Why would you want to limit the spectrum of beauty to an “ideal” when you, as a popular women’s magazine, have the opportunity to expand it?”

If you’re a mom, you should share Zooey’s letter with your teenage daughter RIGHT NOW.

Everyone knows about all the makeup and clothing “haul videos” on Youtube, right? But have you seen the book haul videos??? They’re amazing. It’s a shopping spree for cerebral girls. Check out Amanda Pearl’s videos. She’s adorable.

What’s making you happy, my darling readers???

November Full Moon: The Mourning Moon

re-blogged from Pinterest

Tonight is the Mourning Moon, also called the Snow Moon. November is the beginning of a new year in the Pagan community so this month’s moon is linked to resolutions and planning.

If there’s anything you need to get rid of physically, emotionally or mentally this full moon is an excellent time to start. Light a candle and meditate on anything you wish to leave behind. Repeat this nightly until the new moon. As the moon shrinks from full to dark, your problem will shrink into darkness as well.

Alternatively, you may want to celebrate new beginnings and focus on a new project. Ask the muses for inspiration in your creative endeavors or invite Minerva to help you with your writing.

The colors associated with November are greys and blues, like the stormy skies.

This month’s corresponding stones are turquoise and topaz.

Plants like thistle and verbena correspond to November as well.

The dark goddesses are still being worshiped at this time, including Bast, Hecate and Kali.

The element associated with the November moon is water, linked to emotions, intuition and communication.

Plan your Esbat festivities around these correspondences or harness the power of the moon to help you keep resolutions.

Happy New Year, my Witchy readers!