So when you talk on facebook to someone you've lost touch with, and they were pagan when you knew them, and now they are quoting bible "scripture", here's a warning: Run. Do not try to discuss, do not ask about the bible, certainly don't ask opinions on parts of the bible that have controversy. Just run. I didn't, and I'm sorry. I appologized on facebook, and on IM through FB, and everywhere else. Seemed ok. But now I'm unfriended. I'm direct with communication;
Rob: I don't seem to be on your friends list anymore. Did I offend you that
much?
Born "Again": You just reminded me about a lot of the things about you and your personal interactions that I don't need in my life. I wish you well.

In other words: Fuck off, have a nice day, and Jesus loves you although he's sending you to eternal damnation and agony because you pointed out that the bible, at least at some point in history, says that god promotes slavery and the stoning to death of non-virgins who then marry.

I wanted to say "Jesus doesn't love you, he just wants to get into your pants", but I couldn't.

Good riddance. No room in my life for those chameleons that change "their" "beliefs" to get a mate, that don't want to think, and are offended by simple "What about?" followed by a quote from THEIR book. It saddens me, but pull the plug when someone is brain dead.

It worried me at first. Sure, this land has been used for 20+ years for BPC rituals, but it is not community owned. This was Glenn's decision to have a paid event, to open this event to the general public...so much this could bring.

As it turned out, for me personally, it was wonderful. Friends from my many years at festival on this land, along with "muggle" folk with interest and open minds towards the non-ordinary experience. The ball was great. People all weekend communicated easily, and celebrated, and enjoyed all that surrounded us. It felt like community more than our own community has lately (which I'm hoping changes).

thank you to all the persevered, all that worked, all that just attended. It was great having Sylvia stay with us, and I'm happy we could provide showers for some of the band members before the ball. Special thanks to King Loki, who embodies what I would most want in a king. My respect ever grows for our king, even as he serves by adding toilet paper to the porta potties. Not a glorious job, yet so very important, and carried out with grace and strength, along with all the other jobs he jumped into. And he treats all with respect, showing them their worth.

So many people have stopped by Imagicka to say thank you for the Faery Fest. (Imagicka is just easier to find) I'll pass them all on to Billy, Marianne, Miriam, Glenn, and all. Sponsoring it was an honor, and promoting it a lot of fun. next year will be even better.

I am ________. (sure, fill it in)

Are you an Engineer? Dentist? Leader? ....These are more things you do, so are we human doings rather than human beings?

Are you a Pagan? Christian? Hindu? Atheist? Are you what you believe? Are we human believers?

Are you a Mother? Father? Lover? Son? Are we our relationships? Are we human relaters?

Are we respected? Despised? both? Are we what people think of us?

So who are you? Who am I? "Just" a human being? What does our first instinctual answer say about us? Our culture?

What is the truth?

Perhaps Tyler Durdan is right. "You're not your job. You're not how much money you have in the bank. You're not the car you drive. You're not the contents of your wallet. You're not your fucking khakis. You're the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world. "

It is a mystery.....

As our economy suffers, people seem to be thinking more. The spirit of Yule was very much alive in downtown Binghamton. Sales overall in our community mirrored the rest of the nation, with people buying less stuff. So how come........?

Imagicka's number are up, as are those of most downtown businesses like Chrysalis. I sold 4 drums on Saturday, including my favorite lead drum (and that is a $600 drum)

More people are shopping communally, preferring to support their local businesses over the big box stores and all their "stuff". People opted for more meaningful gifts, and more meaningful, thoughtful, and caring shopping experiences.

So in that matter I am blessed. I'll continue to work hard to give the people what they want, but mostly what they want seems to be changing to what Imagicka has to offer.

Thank you to all of you the shopped Imagicka for the Holidays, and especially to those that felt the joy of finishing their shopping in a relaxed atmosphere in Downtown, without ever going to the madness and shallowness of the big box stores.

Namaste'
Rob

I'm happy here at Imagicka, and feeling thankful to those that support my little shop. There seems to be a growing feeling of community in downtown Binghamton, perhaps the tough economic times has some benefits. A couple recently bought books here instead of going to Barnes and Noble, because they wanted to shop locally. (They even had a B&N discount card) Downtown businesses are sharing advertising, and seeing each other as being on the same side, instead of competition. We send each other customers, and we are each others customers as well. Expenses are up a little, but my sales seem to be better than last year. As Circuit City, Bad Bath and Beyond, and others look at bankruptcy, Imagicka is healthy.

I have great gratitude to those that shop here. Everyone is buying stuff for the holidays as gifts, and for those that choose to shop with me, I say thank you.  To those that have not finished their shopping, what better way to build community than to support those that support true community.

Bright Blessings,
and have a cool Yule
Rob

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He was my teacher, for 2 semesters when I was 19. I met him again a few years later, as the father of Glenn Herbert, Owners of magickal land, and both with big hearts, willing and wanting to share their good fortune with others. Norm passed about 1 month from his 80th birthday, and he was what we all want to be at that age. Strong, active, adventurous. He will be dearly missed. Most of our community knew him, although only a little. Always gardening, always filling the wheelbarrow with gravel to improve the rode we all used to get into the land. Blessed Be, Norm Herbert. You will be missed, and you were greatly appreciated.

Current Mood: sad

You are The Chariot

Triumph, Victory, Overcoming Obstacles.

The chariot is one of the most complex cards to define. On its most basic level, it implies war, a struggle, and an eventual, hard-won victory. Either over enemies, obstacles, nature, the beasts inside you, or to just get what you want. But there is a great deal more to it. The charioteer wears emblems of the sun, yet the sign behind this card is the moon. The chariot is all about motion, and yet it is often shown as stationary. It is a union of opposites, like the black and white steeds. They pull in different directions, but must be (and can be!) made to go together in one direction. Control is required over opposing emotions, wants, needs, people, circumstances; bring them together and give them a single direction, your direction. Confidence is also needed and, most especially, motivation. The card can, in fact, indicate new motivation or inspiration, which gets a stagnant situation moving again.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

http://www.care2.com/ecards/p/9296-5566-13403-8933

I can't believe my luck some days. This happened a couple of nights ago, but I haven't gotten to relaying it till now.

A member of Stomp, Nicholas, found Imagicka, and wouldn't you know it? He's pagan.  He needs some white sage and some stones to clear out the energy of the hotel room he's in. Funny guy.
 
Next day, a few more Stomp performers, playng my little frame drums, doumbeks and djembes like they were magic. Sean buys a djembe, and says he might be able to get me a ticket for that night's show. Great!, but I have plans with Laurie, so I tell him I need 2, and am willing to buy the second. He gets 2 for free for us, whee! great show, Petra joins us and she gets a ticket right in from of us (8 rows back, near center)

After the show, near Imagicka, Laurie sees 2 of them and calls out "Nice show".  One of them is Sean, the other hasn't been in Imagicka but has seen Sean's new drum. So of course, we reopen the store to show them around. More Stomp performers knock on the window. We spend the couple of hours drinking mead (Thanks Magpie, they loved it) eating chocolate, stompers trying all my percussion toys, talking about life, philosophy, getting pagan book recommendations, and of course shopping. 

I understand why some people resent my luck. Some days everything turns to gold.