cross posted
Better than this
Sunday, 15Sep2019 Filed in: quotes & thinkums
I'm rather fond of bears.
Can't you just see this one watching?
Can't you just see this one watching?
Comments
Organized Religion and Organized Crime
Sunday, 01Sep2019 Filed in: quotes & thinkums
Swimming and the sauna are two of the few non-sexual activities where nudity is openly accepted.
Read More...The right thingamajig for the job
Sunday, 04Jan2009 Filed in: practicals⭐︎ manifest
Tool fetish
Tuesday, 16Jun2009 Filed in: practicals⭐︎ manifest
Practical thingamabobs
Friday, 15Oct2010 Filed in: practicals
This is a page from the third version of Technopagan Yearnings. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.neowayland.com/C1325529963/E20091015080006
Cross posted at www.teknopagan.com/files/TPY-Thingamabobs091015.html
Pagan stuff you didn't think was Pagan.
Sometimes I think that Crow and Magpie split all the franchises on Pagan shops. There's all the bright shiny things. And the soft silky things. And the exotic strange things. And all the rest that hints at Mysterious Lore Only Revealed to the True Seeker. It's romantic, it's unusual, it's meant to catch our attention and our credit cards.
Today I want to tell you about some useful items that aren't necessarily "Pagan" but that I've found useful.
Once I volunteered to help run a Sunship Earth program. That's when I learned about "hard tools." Hard tool is another name for a Sierra cup, one of those massively useful implements that you'll soon wonder how you did without. Forget finding a "portable cauldron," a good Sierra cup is almost made to order for small scale spellcasting. Just make sure you get at least two, one for "working" and one for you to eat and drink from.
"Soft tools" are another legacy of my experience with Sunship Earth . It's another name for a bandanna. I buy them by the dozen in my favorite colors (I love sweatbands in turquoise) from Trader's International. I give a lot away because I do get unusual colors. Besides wiping up sweat and small spills, in a pinch a bandanna can cover a small unconsecrated work area. And it lets you protect the expensive cloths and weavings.
Many Pagan shop sites have mortar & pestle sets, especially if they sell herbs. I have three, one in laboratory ceramic for salts and minerals, one in marble for organics, and one in stainless steel for consumables. The one in stainless steel is food grade and lives in my kitchen away from the other two. If you haven't found a science supply place, try American Science & Surplus, their prices are great. There's Edmund Scientifics, known to generations of American junior high and high school science students and garage tinkerers, but their prices are higher.
A Leatherman, a Swiss army knife, or a good multitool is an absolute must. It's never the "perfect" tool, but it can substitute for many other tools to get the job done quickly. Some people bless theirs and use it an an athamé, I prefer to keep my ritual tools separate.
Muslin tea bags are incredibly useful for small charms and potpourri. I get mine from a tea speciality place in North Carolina.
Cotton and silk thread can be found almost anywhere that sells sewing supplies. The silk is more expensive, but certainly worth it for some spells. Whatever you do, avoid polyester. it doesn't hold a "zap" as well and it smells terrible when burned.
For more substantial needs, go for the satin cord. It's one of the few things I buy from Azure Green. While the cord also comes in 1 yard lengths, I find it's useful to keep a larger spool on hand, at least at home. It's also useful for amulets and pendents. I used to use leather cord for that, but human sweat is mildly salty and acidic. The combination eats the heck out of leather, especially if it's worn daily. I still keep my grandfather's key on leather, but these days the only thing I use leather cord for is wrapping handles on my staves. Leather and satin both hold a "zap" about equally I've found. I have a homemade tool from satin cord to quickly mark circles, from the end of each end loop it is six and a half feet. There are additional loops to mark one and a half, two and a half, three and a half, four and a half, and five feet.
Parachute cord is cheap and rivals duct tape for sheer usefulness. The best and strongest grade, 550 lb test, is only available in limited colors. You won't be swinging off any buildings with this stuff, but it's great for tying things securely, wrapping tool handles, and at least a hundred and eleven other things. Some people keep about fifteen feet or so woven into a bracelet so it's always handy. I've seen the more wild colors and patterns used as shoelaces and walking stick handles. I've had no luck in getting paracord to hold a "zap" for more than a few hours at best.
I use parchment paper and a little sealing wax for packets of herbs and incense I throw in the fire. I prefer to use parchment stationary cut to size and folded into a packet, but cooking parchment will work in a pinch (and is cheaper too). Commercial candle wax has additives and beeswax burns much too hot. Sealing wax has a lower melting temperature. Some people will tell you that you need a signet, but I've found a little spit and a thumbprint works just as well. Plus, you always know where your thumb is.
For someone who's been known to trip over the edge of sunlight and shadow, small glass bottles aren't always the best idea. Recently I've found these plastic test tubes. These actually are two liter soda bottle blanks before they are heated and vacuum molded to full size. Very durable and waterproof, the test tubes work for keeping supplies sorted as well as sample collecting. My mother wants to use them when she collects wildflower seeds. The neighborhood kids absconded with about 3/4's of my first shipment (I was in a good mood that day). And um, truth to tell, these are the closest practical equivalent I've found to the cylinder things on a certain famous utility belt.
Sometimes you need to poke something without touching it and without discharging the "zap." Wood toothpicks work, but if you really want to get the job done, try bamboo skewers. You can probably find them in your local grocery store
I don't smoke, but a lighter is extremely handy. Of course you can get a cheapo Bic from thousands of stores, but you might think about the classic Zippo. It won't blow out in wind, and it stays lit if you set it down. That's handy when you're sealing the end of your paracord, among other things.
Finally, don't overlook the simple pad of paper and a pencil. Very few things work better to sketch, write, and plan. I prefer graph paper myself, but that's me. Just get something where it's okay to make a mistake and scratch stuff out. Leave the fancy papers and the custom BOS for the final version, after you're tested it.
Today I want to tell you about some useful items that aren't necessarily "Pagan" but that I've found useful.
Once I volunteered to help run a Sunship Earth program. That's when I learned about "hard tools." Hard tool is another name for a Sierra cup, one of those massively useful implements that you'll soon wonder how you did without. Forget finding a "portable cauldron," a good Sierra cup is almost made to order for small scale spellcasting. Just make sure you get at least two, one for "working" and one for you to eat and drink from.
"Soft tools" are another legacy of my experience with Sunship Earth . It's another name for a bandanna. I buy them by the dozen in my favorite colors (I love sweatbands in turquoise) from Trader's International. I give a lot away because I do get unusual colors. Besides wiping up sweat and small spills, in a pinch a bandanna can cover a small unconsecrated work area. And it lets you protect the expensive cloths and weavings.
Many Pagan shop sites have mortar & pestle sets, especially if they sell herbs. I have three, one in laboratory ceramic for salts and minerals, one in marble for organics, and one in stainless steel for consumables. The one in stainless steel is food grade and lives in my kitchen away from the other two. If you haven't found a science supply place, try American Science & Surplus, their prices are great. There's Edmund Scientifics, known to generations of American junior high and high school science students and garage tinkerers, but their prices are higher.
A Leatherman, a Swiss army knife, or a good multitool is an absolute must. It's never the "perfect" tool, but it can substitute for many other tools to get the job done quickly. Some people bless theirs and use it an an athamé, I prefer to keep my ritual tools separate.
Muslin tea bags are incredibly useful for small charms and potpourri. I get mine from a tea speciality place in North Carolina.
Cotton and silk thread can be found almost anywhere that sells sewing supplies. The silk is more expensive, but certainly worth it for some spells. Whatever you do, avoid polyester. it doesn't hold a "zap" as well and it smells terrible when burned.
For more substantial needs, go for the satin cord. It's one of the few things I buy from Azure Green. While the cord also comes in 1 yard lengths, I find it's useful to keep a larger spool on hand, at least at home. It's also useful for amulets and pendents. I used to use leather cord for that, but human sweat is mildly salty and acidic. The combination eats the heck out of leather, especially if it's worn daily. I still keep my grandfather's key on leather, but these days the only thing I use leather cord for is wrapping handles on my staves. Leather and satin both hold a "zap" about equally I've found. I have a homemade tool from satin cord to quickly mark circles, from the end of each end loop it is six and a half feet. There are additional loops to mark one and a half, two and a half, three and a half, four and a half, and five feet.
Parachute cord is cheap and rivals duct tape for sheer usefulness. The best and strongest grade, 550 lb test, is only available in limited colors. You won't be swinging off any buildings with this stuff, but it's great for tying things securely, wrapping tool handles, and at least a hundred and eleven other things. Some people keep about fifteen feet or so woven into a bracelet so it's always handy. I've seen the more wild colors and patterns used as shoelaces and walking stick handles. I've had no luck in getting paracord to hold a "zap" for more than a few hours at best.
I use parchment paper and a little sealing wax for packets of herbs and incense I throw in the fire. I prefer to use parchment stationary cut to size and folded into a packet, but cooking parchment will work in a pinch (and is cheaper too). Commercial candle wax has additives and beeswax burns much too hot. Sealing wax has a lower melting temperature. Some people will tell you that you need a signet, but I've found a little spit and a thumbprint works just as well. Plus, you always know where your thumb is.
For someone who's been known to trip over the edge of sunlight and shadow, small glass bottles aren't always the best idea. Recently I've found these plastic test tubes. These actually are two liter soda bottle blanks before they are heated and vacuum molded to full size. Very durable and waterproof, the test tubes work for keeping supplies sorted as well as sample collecting. My mother wants to use them when she collects wildflower seeds. The neighborhood kids absconded with about 3/4's of my first shipment (I was in a good mood that day). And um, truth to tell, these are the closest practical equivalent I've found to the cylinder things on a certain famous utility belt.
Sometimes you need to poke something without touching it and without discharging the "zap." Wood toothpicks work, but if you really want to get the job done, try bamboo skewers. You can probably find them in your local grocery store
I don't smoke, but a lighter is extremely handy. Of course you can get a cheapo Bic from thousands of stores, but you might think about the classic Zippo. It won't blow out in wind, and it stays lit if you set it down. That's handy when you're sealing the end of your paracord, among other things.
Finally, don't overlook the simple pad of paper and a pencil. Very few things work better to sketch, write, and plan. I prefer graph paper myself, but that's me. Just get something where it's okay to make a mistake and scratch stuff out. Leave the fancy papers and the custom BOS for the final version, after you're tested it.
Technowhizzes I have known
Tuesday, 12May2009 Filed in: practicals
Where did I stick that?
Friday, 05Feb2010 Filed in: practicals
Poking around and organizing
Sunday, 28Feb2010 Filed in: practicals⭐︎ rite & ritual
NeoNote — Not slur words
Sunday, 04Aug2019 Filed in: modern adult pagans⭐︎ NeoNotes
Before you can do one simple task, you have to do another task that gives you what you need to do the first. And before you can do the second, there is a third and fourth that you really should take care of.
Read More...❝Be so good they can't ignore you.❞
Wednesday, 15May2019 Filed in: quotes & thinkums
“Be so good they can't ignore you.”
American obsession
Saturday, 04May2019 Filed in: quotes & thinkums⭐︎ sex
“In which John Green teaches you the history of Christianity, from the beginnings of Judaism and the development of monotheism, right up to Paul and how Christianity stormed the Roman Empire in just a few hundred years. Along the way, John will cover Abram/Abraham, the Covenant, the Roman Occupation of Judea, and the birth, life, death and legacy of Jesus of Nazareth. No flame wars! Let's keep the commentary civil.”
Read More...Getting my internet fix
Thursday, 08Jun2006 Filed in: site news
These blog entries have been reformatted and entered into the current directories. Redirect pages have been placed in the old locations.
Read More...Where to find me
Thursday, 10Nov2005 Filed in: site news
This is a page from the third version of Technopagan Yearnings. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.neowayland.com/C429302356/E1269497429
Actual web locations and frame pages
Sorry about the lack of updates, my offline life has interfered in my news reading. And I am WAY behind on my email. Some of the things I have managed to sneak in are working on my homepage and some frame pages to drive traffic here.
My new homepage is not only my browser homepage, but it's intended to let interested folks know where I am on the web and some more of the things about me. It's still under construction though, but this is where you can find it. Actual address is in bold, frame pages are in italics.
While I was at it, I did some frame pages for my blogs. This is where you can find Pagan Vigil. Again, actual address is in bold, frame pages are in italics.
Technopagan Yearnings, my Pagan blog, can be found here. Same deal with the addresses.
Anyway, that is where I have been, and I should be catching up with posting tomorrow and the weekend.
My new homepage is not only my browser homepage, but it's intended to let interested folks know where I am on the web and some more of the things about me. It's still under construction though, but this is where you can find it. Actual address is in bold, frame pages are in italics.
http://www.neowayland.net
http://members.aol.com/neowayland/
http://www.geocities.com/neowayland/
http://homepage.mac.com/neowayland/
http://members.aol.com/neowayland/
http://www.geocities.com/neowayland/
http://homepage.mac.com/neowayland/
While I was at it, I did some frame pages for my blogs. This is where you can find Pagan Vigil. Again, actual address is in bold, frame pages are in italics.
http://www.paganvigil.com
http://members.aol.com/neowayland/paganvigil.html
http://members.aol.com/neowayland/paganvigil.html
http://members.aol.com/neowayland/paganvigil.html
http://members.aol.com/neowayland/paganvigil.html
http://members.aol.com/neowayland/paganvigil.html
http://members.aol.com/neowayland/paganvigil.html
Technopagan Yearnings, my Pagan blog, can be found here. Same deal with the addresses.
http://www.neowayland.com
http://members.aol.com/neowayland/technopagan.html
http://www.geocities.com/neowayland/technopagan.html
http://homepage.mac.com/neowayland/iblog.index
http://members.aol.com/neowayland/technopagan.html
http://www.geocities.com/neowayland/technopagan.html
http://homepage.mac.com/neowayland/iblog.index
Anyway, that is where I have been, and I should be catching up with posting tomorrow and the weekend.
Posted: Thu - November 10, 2005 at 04:51 PM
Cross posted to Pagan•Vigil and Technopagan Yearnings.
Personally I'd be willing to live and let live with Christians.
Sunday, 24Mar2019 Filed in: quotes & thinkums⭐︎ modern adult pagans
❝I don't understand why any group should change their language, practices, customs or actions when the shooter was not part of the group or the community.❞Read More...
NeoNote — This tragedy does not reflect on Heathens.
“In which John compares and contrasts Greek civilization and the Persian Empire. Of course we're glad that Greek civilization spawned modern western civilization, right? Maybe not. From Socrates and Plato to Darius and Xerxes, John explains two of the great powers of the ancient world, all WITHOUT the use of footage from 300.”
Read More...NeoNote — Religion & morality
“Well done is better than well said.”
NeoNote — Politicos want problems they can stage-manage
Monday, 04Mar2019 Filed in: NeoNotes⭐︎ quotes & thinkums
❝Perfect is the enemy of good.❞
Friday, 22Feb2019 Filed in: quotes & thinkums⭐︎ practicals
“Perfect is the enemy of good.”
Third best, second best, best
Friday, 22Feb2019 Filed in: quotes & thinkums⭐︎ practicals
“Never make fun of someone if they mispronounce a word. It means they learned it by reading.”
Perfect solution
Friday, 22Feb2019 Filed in: quotes & thinkums⭐︎ practicals
“I don’t explain — I explore.”
Curveball
Thursday, 21Feb2019 Filed in: quotes & thinkums⭐︎ practicals
“If you’re not ready to find exceptional things, you won’t discover them.”
NeoNotes — Rape culture
❝Rape is a terrible thing. Pagans and heathens have had more than our share of bad apples. We tend to attract the outliers and nonconformists.
But, America is not a rape culture. I won't speak for Europe. Not anymore.
The #MeToo movement never could have happened in a rape culture. It would not have been allowed. There would not be news stories about rape. Men would not be willing to talk to women about consent and mutual pleasure from sex. Nor would women have the right to own property, to vote, and to accuse rapists.
I bet that for every one person in America that thinks rape is acceptable, I can find thousands who don't. In those thousands, I bet that I can find hundreds who might decide a very physical response was appropriate. Personally I think removing body parts might be a good start.
By all means, do as you will to raise awareness of consent. Do what you can so people can enjoy sex with someone they care about. Respect each other and each other's boundaries.
But America is not a rape culture.
Thinking about it, that may be what bothers me most.
I firmly believe that most people are decent. I think I resent the implication that most men and women (yes, I said women) can't be trusted to behave themselves. There are always going to be bad elements, but most people are basically good no matter what their "race," gender, sexuality, or taste in socks. I resent the implication that people basically can't be trusted.
I think one of my pass-alongs sums it up.
“The people who pay attention to the law aren't the ones you have to worry about.”
Pardon, but I think there is a difference between rapes occurring and rape culture.
Perhaps I am mistaken, but I think a rape culture actively and legally encourages rape. The examples that leap to mind are certain Islamic groups and nations.
We have thieves, but we do not live in a theft culture. We have murders, but we do not live in a murdering culture.
Rape is a terrible thing and absolutely should be punished. But not every person is a rapist, nor is every man. Today women are much more likely to be believed if they report a rape, that wasn't necessarily true twenty or thirty years ago. At the same time, I read about some of the things happening in Europe and Africa right now (even leaving out the Middle East) and I don't think American women have the slightest idea what a real rape culture is.
It's easy to toss the phrase around, but that doesn't mean it's accurate.
That isn't the case with most of American society and culture.
I will grant you that is glamorized and celebrated by certain very visible people. I also think that some if not most "feminist allies" call themselves that and say the "right" things so they can take advantage.
What I see is the assumptions and punitive measures taken against people (men & women) who don't rape or even think about it. And then I see abusive behavior excused if the person happens to have the right politics or connections, like what happened prior to #MeToo.
It's not even a matter of "all men are rapists." Almost all men aren't rapists and would be horrified if it happened to someone they know, much less care for. At the same time, men are castigated if they dare give an admiring look, or actually hold a door open for somebody.❞
NeoNotes are the selected comments that I made on other boards, in email, or in response to articles where I could not respond directly.
Cloned giants
Wednesday, 19Dec2018 Filed in: tellus
NeoNote — Nature and the World are not cruel.
“I'm not shy about heated debate or passionate discourse, but when people get crazy or rude, that's a buzz kill. There's got to be a better code of conduct, some basic etiquette.”
Some monotheists
Thursday, 08Nov2018 Filed in: quotes & thinkums
❝Some monotheists think that their religion belongs on top and take offense when you disagree.❞
Us versus them
“Nature knows best.”— Barry Commoner, third law of ecology
Faith worthy of freedom
Friday, 27May2005 Filed in: beliefs⭐︎ quotes & thinkums
“This week on CC Myth, Mike Rugnetta is teaching you about mythical trees. There are lots of trees in myth, and we've touched on some of them before, but today we're going to focus on three trees from three different traditions. We'll talk about the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil from the biblical tradition, Yggdrasil from the Norse Tradition, and Ashvattha, which is important in both Hindu and Buddhist tradition.”
Read More...Something else
Monday, 20Aug2018 Filed in: quotes & thinkums⭐︎ modern adult pagans
NeoNote — Responding to another Bookworm rant
Thursday, 16Aug2018 Filed in: NeoNotes⭐︎ modern adult pagans
“Damnatio Memoriae, or How to Erase Someone from History”
Wednesday, 08Aug2018 Filed in: modern adult pagans
It's only shame if I accept the premise.
Sunday, 08Jul2018 Filed in: quotes & thinkums⭐︎ modern adult pagans
Practical philosophy
“This week, we continue our look at various Pantheons, and Mike digs deep into the gods of the ancient Greeks. We're talking Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hades, Artemis, Hephaestos, Ares, and Apollo. We're also talking Jupiter, Juno, Neptune, Pluto, Diana, Vulcan, Mars, and...Apollo. Similar gods, different names. We'll start with the origin stories of the gods, talk about their family relationships, and what exactly their specialties are.”
Read More...Heard of brave knights
Thursday, 08Mar2018 Filed in: Gallery⭐︎ quotes & thinkums
Tuesday and Wednesday entries combined. A bit of art, a bit of dream, a bit of speculation.
Read More...“As if withholding belief was a moral crime…”
Friday, 12Jan2018 Filed in: quotes & thinkums
❝But every October, I remember. It's my own werewolf story, with me cast as Henry Jekyll. Dr. Jekyll chose to be Mr. Hyde you see. That's my shame.❞
NeoNotes — Real religion
Tuesday, 26Dec2017 Filed in: NeoNotes⭐︎ modern adult pagans
❝Pardon, I don't think anyone is capable of judging what is and is not a "real" religion. I can't tell you how many times certain Christians have told me that my faith isn't real.
Pauline Christianity is something completely different that what Yeshua Ben Yosef preached. Gnostic Christianity is something completely different yet again. Which is true? Who knows? Who am I to judge what happens between someone else and the Divine?
I think these are the wrong questions. Christians are much nicer when they aren't the only game around. From what little I've seen, the same applies to Muslims.
I think what matters is how we treat others, especially others who do not share our faith and culture. Ramming it down other's throat by force will cause resentment. That's where some monotheists go wrong. It's not that they have the True Faith™, its that no other faith can be allowed. Because of their Greater Understanding and enlightenment, they can break society's rule for the Greater Good. Thou shalt not dissent.
Climate change alarmists stole the game lock, stock, and barrel. It's common for some of the radical feminists too. If anything, I think it indicates a weakness in the argument. Their faith isn't strong enough, they can't convince others, so it must be forced.
Getting back to Christianity, how much would history have changed if Constantine hadn't made it the state faith? How would it have developed if it had stayed one faith among many? How much of the Official® was really about politics and controlling the populace?
Could it be that control is really the issue?❞
NeoNotes are the selected comments that I made on other boards, in email, or in response to articles where I could not respond directly.
NeoNotes — Somebody finally said the C word
Tuesday, 21Nov2017 Filed in: NeoNotes⭐︎ modern adult pagans
This last week in free speech
“Unity in things Necessary, Liberty in things Unnecessary, and Charity in all.”— Richard Baxter
Signs
Monday, 27Feb2017 Filed in: practicals⭐︎ modern adult pagans
❝Faith cannot be given. Faith cannot be taken. To mean anything at all, faith must be chosen freely.❞— NeoWayland
Outstanding
Tuesday, 21Jul2015 Filed in: modern adult pagans⭐︎ simple
No dissent, or The content of his character
Sunday, 07Jun2015 Filed in: modern adult pagans⭐︎ NeoNotes
“A real man loves strong women, whether as lovers or just as friends, because weak ones are boring, often parasitical, and make the worst exes.”— Isaac Bonewits
The Day After Earth Day
Thursday, 23Apr2009 Filed in: tellus
