November Dark Moon Prep

November 18th Daytime

I had said I would commit time to me for... self-care... to try to come to terms with what has happened. I know I am not coping well. Last night when Blythe offered to talk, I hit that edge of panic... like PTSD. Looking back at it, I can see more clearly that it was totally a PTSD reaction. I don;t trust the technocrats nor the "therapists" here. So, I don't really have anyone but Brighid to talk to about all this. I don;t want to worry my parents.

Meditation helps me balance. Training with Andrew or mom does too. As does teaching Blythes twin girls. That last is actually a lot of fun, more fun than I expected. I love expanding their awareness of the wilderness and sharing my passion about tea with them.

Once I finished setting up my place, as a way to rebalance, I have decided to commit to some of the more spiritual aspects of what I was raised with. I think my dad would be proud. Maybe... maybe I will invite him to something I do. Like Yule... if we are all still here then. Or the Full Moon on December 3rd.

For now, we are the Dark Moon today. The Dark Moon is for introspection.

See dad? I have actually paid attention, even if it didn't seem like I did.

I think I will relook at my oaths and virtues. The Dark Moon is a good time to start that... AFTER I show the girls color changing tea... like MAGIC! (without and "deviant" magic involved)

 

November 18th Evening

Why do I feel nervous about doing something spiritual? Maybe because I am concerned that there is no such thing as divine beings? Ok... If I run with that, then Divine Beings can be just greater spiritual entities or great magical beings that ideally have our greater good in mind... unless you worship something with evil intent because you are that kind of person. I think I will devote myself to more vague concepts, like the Moon as a symbol of Wisdom.

I will blend some of what Mom practices with some of what Dad practices. Make this my own. This also gives me the chance to actually practice magic... and not the "fluffy bunny" kind of any sort.

Along with the Do and Jo training, I have spent much of the week just practicing the sensing aspects of the magical spheres I am less familiar with: Forces and Prime mostly, but also some Spirit. I am pretty comfortable and confident with my Life sphere. This can be next week's project, to work much harder on these lesser used spheres of magic.

I am glad Dad ordered in (or was able to procure however) a number of odd things I asked for. Time to really set up an indoor ritual space. In my meditation room on the tatami mats, I put my zafu and zabuton, just off center with the low bamboo tea table I use as a working altar, tea table, or journalling surface. I started by fetching a big rock from outside, the biggest I could carry. Fuck... heavy! Moving something like this ought to be some sort of rite of passage! After scrubbing it clean, I plopped it in the north corner of the room. There. North... EARTH! It had a little flat surface on which I set a black earthenware bowl the size of my palm and filled it with salt and herbs. 

I set up a standing brass brazier with its 18-inch diameter dish in the east corner. I filled it with sand and places in the shelf below it a box of 3-kings charcoal and several boxes and pouches of resins and incense sticks. My favorite incense is a Japanese sandalwood stick, but sometimes other smells are more evocative of certain moods. There. East... AIR! 

In the south corner just past the door on the southwest wall, I screwed in an iron bracket and hung a lantern. In it I places a candle. 

 

I walk past the window and to the west corner. I pushed in a triangular bamboo stand that has a large shell for a water basin in it. Tucked right into the corner is a little vase with a cluster of growing bamboo. There. West... WATER! 

(no picture as I cannot find what I imagine in my head)

The four key elements as my father taught me... done in my own style. The setting sun shines in thru the southwest window. 

On the northwest wall are mounts for my Jo staff and any future Do tools, as well as a trunk with the rest of my magical supplies that I don't use on a regular basis. An Alder wood trunk containing magical and ritual supplies and inscribed with protection symbols on the inside. This is the most expensive piece of furniture I own as the wood was imported from Ireland. Above the trunk is a rice paper banner of the 7 Bushido Virtues in Kanji calligraphy. My wall mounts are above and below the banner.

On the northeast wall is one of those wonderful shelves I managed to get back here, all ebony (imagine the image in naturally black ebony wood) with cultural books, magical texts, tradition material texts. One shelf (central octagon) is dedicated to honoring his ancestors with a little urn of collected ashes, a tealight candle, small incense pot, lighter, box of Japanese sandalwood incense, all on a slate of Sodalite.

I set a red candle on the bamboo tea table with my teacup, my thermos full of charged tea beside it. I also set my journal and fountain pens on it. I think I am ready.... OH! Fire! I get a little lighter, too. I have yet to learn how to manifest fire with magic. I am pretty sure that is part of Forces. I will have to ask Dad.

I go outside and collect fallen momiji leaves: all reds, oranges, and yellows. Inside and cast my circle with them and perform the Rite of Consecration for the space. I press a few of the leaves in one of the books from my shelf for a later project. There is a smaller window close to the north-northeast whereby I can see the momiji tree outside.

I think I am ready to begin.... except for a craving I won't sate till later.

What is that craving? Momiji Tempura. MMmmm... dipped in maple syrup.