Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Random Little Post

I'm sitting here in my dorm, listening to WitchesBrewHaHa (Episode 40, to be exact), and for some reason, I started thinking about Persephone, who is the closest thing I've ever had to a matron goddess. I wanted to share some thoughts about her with you all.

One of my favorite stories I've ever read about Persephone is when she found out Hades had an affair with a nymph, Minthe. When Persephone she found out about it, she found the Minthe by a river and essentially stomp her into the ground until she was nothing but an herb, mint. I remember first reading that story and being struck with amusement. All the other stories I'd ever read about Persephone had portrayed her as or insinuated as a weak female.

Anyway, short (random) post today. I may post more later, or even record some segments for the next episode of M&M (haha!).

Blessed Be,

VII

Monday, December 19, 2011

Letters

Hey everyone.

    I went on Facebook today, and one of my friends from high school had posted a link to a Good Morning America article about someone, assumed to be Pagan, in Michigan that posted letters on their neighbors mailboxes about how their Christmas light displays and various other Christmas traditions were Pagan in origin. Here's a link to the full article: http://gma.yahoo.com/mich-residents-receive-letter-calling-christmas-lights-pagan-194443043.html

    After reading it, I found myself very disappointed with whoever was behind it. I don't like that this person felt it was necessary to 'educate' Christians on their own traditions, and, I really disliked their method. To be perfectly blunt, I think it was passive-aggressive, tactless, and beyond rude. I MIGHT have been able to understand if it were a Pagan trying to reach common ground with local Christians about tradition ancestry, but that's obviously not what's going on here. I feel the letter (from what of it I could read in the image attached to the article) displayed a "You believe (or don't believe) a certain way, and are, therefore, an uneducated idiot" mentality, and that pisses me off.

   Furthermore, the writer's tone seems to be condescending and patronizing, which, as I understand, is a common complaint many Pagans have about Christians. Of course, it doesn't help that the reporter and the letter receipiant she interviewed turned around with an equally condescending tone toward Pagans. Gee, that really helps our image... Honestly, I can't say I blame the GMA reporter for taking the spin she did (though, it is disappointing).

    The only thing else that I can say about it is this: EVERYONE is entitled to believe in what is right for them. Just because you believe differently doesn't give you the right to piss all over someone else's traditions. Whatever happened to being the change you wished to see in the world?

    Despite this, I still hope everyone has a Happy Holiday, no matter the holiday. Blessed be all.

Always,
VII

Friday, December 16, 2011

It lives!!!

Hey everyone!

    Yes, I have returned, though, no episode in hand. It is on the way. Promise. Really. Don't believe me? Well, can't say I blame you, but, sincerely, I am working on episode 5, that will come out around Yule.

    Yesterday, Fire Lyte from Inciting A Riot wrote an article about shaking off Mercury Retrograde but dancing today, Friday. I'm all about that, seeing as I love music and dancing (and I have a music episode coming up in 2012). I made my playlist, which is epic. (lol) It has the most random collection of danceable songs I've ever compiled. I'll even list a few of them at the end of this post for you all to go look up and listen to so you can shake off Mercury Retro with a little bit of VII-flavor. ^_^

   Also, I've started listening to A Witch's Primer, a podcast by Ariel that is essentially a beginner's class on witchcraft. I've gotten to episode 3, and while there are things that don't necessarily mesh with my beliefs, Ariel's exercises are very helpful. I especially like the guided grounding and centering exercise. I recommend going to iTunes and checking it out.

    With all of that said, this morning did not start off well for me. I woke up late feeling groggy and I was late to work. I listened to a couple of podcasts once I got to work, I listened to a couple of pagan podcasts. I should probably state that I work in an office. A few calls came in, and before long, I was feeling anxious, like all my nerves were set on vibrate. I swapped the soda I was drinking for water, but it wasn't helping much. So, I decided to try grounding.

   It was awesome. Not only was I no longer feeling anxious, but I felt energized, for lack of a better word. I was happy, excited, and eager to do stuff. I made my playlist, put in on shuffle, and proceeded to dance around the office.

   In other magickal VII news, I have found my magickal name and wrote pages of notes on what I believe and questions I have about my path. Quite a productive day, and it's just afternoon!

    Have a happy Friday, everyone!

Always,
VII


Sample of my playlist:
"Awake and Alive" by Skillet
"Black Irish" by The Devil Makes Three
"Bleed It Out" by Linkin Park
"Born For This" by Paramore
"Chop Suey!" by System Of A Down
"Circus" by Britney Spears
"Devil's Dance Floor" by Flogging Molly
"Explosive" by Bond
"Girl Anachronism" by The Dresden Dolls
"Higher Ground" by Red Hot Chili Peppers (mostly b/c it reminds me of Center Stage)
"Jenny Says (Live)" by Cowboy Mouth
"Little Black Backpack" by Stroke 9
"Look Them Act" by Balkan Beat Box
"Mercy" by Duffy
"Ojos Asi" by Shakira
"Popular" by The Veronicas
"Riot" by Three Days Grace (I think of Fire Lyte and Inciting A Riot everytime I hear it!)
"Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes
"Stickshifts and Safetybelts" by Cake
"This Could Be Anywhere In The World" by Alexisonfire
"Up, Up, Up" by Givers
"Waking The Demon" by Bullet For My Valentine

Okay, so it's about half my list, but it's all good music (to me). Check 'em out for yourself!

Friday, September 2, 2011

Wait... You're NOT supposed to work on Labor Day???

Hey everyone!

Wow, I have some new followers on here, too! ^_^ You'll all be happy to know that I am foregoing my work-free, school-free Labor Day, and will be putting the finishing touches on episode 5! It took for-EV-vur, I know, but it will be worth it.  It will be posted on podbean Monday night, so look out for it.

So, now that my main announcement is out of the way, I'm still holding out for more feedback about music. Do you use it in your craftwork? Do you play in your freetime? Is it your job? Anything you have to say about music and its magickal and mundane applications, I want to hear it! You know where to find me! You can leave your comments below, email me at magickandmundane@gmail.com, or find me on Twitter @Eternal_7. Hope you all have a fawesome three-day weekend!

Always,
VII

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Something for the moment

MM Everyone!

As you all may or may not know, I'm going through something of a personal meltdown. It's complicated, sudden, and generally shit-ball cluster-fuck shenanigans. Thank you so much to all of you who are following me and have supported me through my trials, and I'm sorry to all of you who are just coming on to find me on hiatus.

I hope to be making a mini-sode soon, just to catch ya'll up on what's going on with VII, and to do some listener feedback. Thanks for hanging in there with me. I'll get episode 5 off the ground before we know it!

Always,
VII

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

I'm Not Dead Yet!

MM everyone!

If you haven't already seen one of my most recent tweets (@Eternal_7), you probably haven't heard that I will not be attending the 2nd annual Pagan Podkin Super Moot in Salem in September. Personal issues have arisen and prevent me from raising the necessary funds to go.

These issues, sadly, are going to cause my episodes to take longer to come out. I am by no means quitting or pod-fading, just going to be slow. No promises, but I expect episode 5 to come out in July, if things have settled by then. June is about to be tumultuous, at best, for me.

So, don't think that lets all of you who haven't written me about music yet off the hook! I've gotten a few responses so far, but I need more! If you need to know what I'm looking for, please reference the previous blog entry.

Thanks again, to all of you who just started listening, and all those who've been with me from the start. You make doing this even more worthwhile!

Blessed be all!

Always,
VII

P.S. I hereby nominate New Orleans for the location of PPSM3. That is all.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

You Got The Music In You?

MM all!

I am preparing for the funtabulous monster that will be episode 5, the first in my M series. Out of all the episodes thus far, this is a topic I can really sink my teeth into: Music. I will elaborate more on my passion of music on the actual episode, but what I need today is YOU!

Well, your opinions anyway. I've asked for it before, but now it is essential. To make this episode the best episode it can be, I need input on the following:

1) What is YOUR definition of music? I do own a few dictionaries, so no recitations, please. I want your unadulterated opinion on what is music.

2) What kind of music do you listen to, and when and why do you listen to it? Take as much space as needed, b/c I have the curiosity of small child, and I will read it.

3) Do you use music in your magickal practice? What and why?

If you email me your responses, please specify whether or not you want your name mentioned.

I N-E-E-D, need this feedback, so please hold nothing back. I wait with bated breath!

Always,
VII