Mleh.

Stream of Consciousness

This week feels like it’s been six weeks long, and it’s only Wednesday. I only have one more day of work this week, thanks to Veteran’s Day on Saturday. Yay, federal holidays!

That being said, I just don’t have a lot to say today. I’m just feeling very here and not much more. Meds are working, sure, but this happens from time to time. It’s normal.

Medical appointment tomorrow. Field trip on Friday to see a possible campsite. Witch Crafting get-together on Saturday. May spend most of the rest of the weekend reading, because video games are just not holding my attention this week.

Maybe I just need a hibernation weekend. I know that I will get my groove back. Whether that’s Stella’s or the Emperor’s remains to be seen.

I [Ohio] Voting

NERRRRRRRRD, Stream of Consciousness, Witchy

Today is an election day in the US. It’s always the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November (because that’s not arcane or anything). Here in Ohio, we had two very important state-wide ballot initiatives, Issue 1 and Issue 2. There are a couple of other things, such as the race for Columbus mayor and Issue 16, a tiny tax levy to help support the Columbus Metropolitan Library. I look forward to getting that little round sticker every time I vote.

Issue 1 is about reproductive rights and a woman’s right to choose. Most of my friends know my thoughts on this. I don’t have female reproductive parts, so I don’t get a say in a woman’s rights. That said, I’ll be damned if I let any old mediocre white men decide that for anyone else. They’re all about freedom, but only their freedom. So, you know, screw that noise right in the goat-hole.

Issue 2 is also a personal freedom initiative: legalization of recreational marijuana. I’ve been pro-legalization for decades. It is stupid that it’s not legal. Alcohol is legal, and it is absolutely deadly. You can die from too much alcohol. Do you know what happens if/when you smoke too much pot? You devour a bag of Doritos and fall asleep. It’s ridiculous that we’re fighting this. Let people find a tiny glimmer of hope and joy or escape from this pre-dystopian capitalist hellscape in which we’re currently residing. Plus, those same old mediocre white men don’t want to let out the legions of brown and black people in prison for minor marijuana charges.

On the positive side of today, I got a new book about rituals and coven practices for smaller magical groups (2 or more). It’s called The Everyday Witch’s Coven by Deborah Blake. I’m unfamiliar with the author, and while I’m searching for another magical group, I’m getting together with friends and sometimes a more formalized ritual is nice. I’m sure I’ll have opinions on it, so stay tuned! I know you’re all waiting on the edges of your seats.

Starting the new sleepy pill tonight. I hope it works like I need it to. Wish me luck.

Currently reading: Death’s Rival by Faith Hunter
Currently listening to: A Most Excellent Midlife Crisis: The Good to the Last Death Series, Book 3 by Robyn Peterman, read by Jessica Almasy
Currently playing: Diablo IV
Currently playing: Mass Effect Legendary Edition

Note: I get zero money from these links. They’re all just the most convenient links.

Monday *again*…

Stream of Consciousness, Witchy

So here we are at the start of a new work week. For me, that means my therapy session. My therapist and I have a running joke that, when she isn’t available on a Monday, things go absolutely sideways in my life (Dad going into hospice, coven thing, a couple of other things), so, of course, she tells me, laughingly, that she won’t be in the office next Monday, and we both laughed and I said, “Oh, so things are going to catch fire. Maybe because we know about it, it’ll be fine!” I will try not to make a self-fulfilling prophecy.

After migrating everything over to my new webhost and starting up the blog, I finally got everything working tonight, thanks to my friend Clay who sat on Zoom with me for a good long time tonight. So now, officially, somethingwicked.me points to this blog, and I’m all kinds of happy.

I have so many thoughts going on in my head, and I don’t know how to settle them down properly. I’m hoping that I can get some of them out of my head so that I can sleep tonight. Which means that I really need to get to the pharmacy to get my new prescription.

I’ll be studying a few herbs intensely this year. I mean, there will be many more that I study, but I’ve decided to try three for sure and maybe a fourth if I can find enough information about it. The three for sure are rosemary, juniper, and violet, with the optional fourth as castilleja, which is the non-racist name of the the state flower of Wyoming, the Indian Paintbrush. Gorgeous flower, not so gorgeous name. So far, I can’t find a whole lot about it, but I’m going to try a lot more work to put together a data sheet. Because I can’t possibly be the only apothecary/hedgewitch who wants to know more about it.

I think I’ve gotten everything out that’s going to come out tonight. I’m really appreciating the longform blogging of WordPress. It’s what I’ve been missing since LiveJournal went all shitty, and microblogging on Facebook and Twitter/X has been in the forefront.

Running behind

Stream of Consciousness

So, I missed yesterday. I’m not beating myself up about it, because it’s a new habit, and those take some getting used to, always.

Currently watching: Sex Education on Netflix. I have to admit, I expected it to be silly and fluffy, and to a point, it is, but the character development in it is outstanding. They talk about things like sexual assault (omg, that storyline is gut-wrenching), coming to terms with your sexuality (multiple storylines, also gut-wrenching), how to talk openly and honestly about sex, and even subjects not about sex, like finding a new life path and dealing with the ramifications of such. Brilliantly written, directed, and acted, and the soundtrack is absolutely fantastic. I just started season 3, so I’ve got a total of 15 episodes to go.

Current read: Death’s Rival by Faith Hunter (book 5/15 in the series)

Still trying to figure out why my domain isn’t pointing to the blog, but hopefully, I’ll be able to make it do so soon. We’ll see. The domain transfer went through today, so it’s probably just a matter of me messing around with the backend (/giggety) to make it work. If anyone has any ideas, plz halp.

And how’s your day?

Stream of Consciousness

I worked for the first five hours today, then took the rest off. I had an appointment with a therapist who’s been working with me on my ADHD. I’m starting on another med, but only because I have such a shit time getting to sleep. He said it’s one of the least talked about symptom of ADHD, so he put me on something else. We’ll see how that works out. I’m hopeful. I’ve got another appointment with him in January. He said if I haven’t gotten an appointment for the ADHD testing by then, he’ll officially put in the diagnosis. That would be SUCH a load off my mind.

I got a couple of new Rocketbooks in the mail today. They had a sale on the Beacon Orange ones a couple of weeks ago, and I am a HUGE sucker for Rocketbooks and for anything orange. So yay, serotonin! I was also able to put some new stickers on them, because I am, at heart, a teenage girl, and I need to bedazzle all of my Rocketbooks (I have…. like nine of them; this post is not currently sponsored by them, but I sure as hell wouldn’t say no to that).

These came from the TikTok Shop, and they’re worth every dime. I love them. They are both very ‘me’ but for different reasons. So good.

I’ve also started watching the Netflix series Sex Education. I know I’m super behind the curve on this, but I’m loving it so much. Gillian Anderson is a delight, Asa Butterfield is awkward but super loveable, and the whole story is fantastic. Teenagers and their parents should all be watching this. It would cause many, many fewer problems with communication about life as a teenager between the teens and their folks. Sex is such a very taboo subject in this society, and that’s just sad. So many problems related to, tangential to, and not even in the same area as sex could be solved by just communicating. Hiding something never helped anyone. It’s dishonest and shameful.

…a witch’s life for me…

Witchy

I wwas finally able to get to the Magical Druid and get myself some juniper berries. I also picked up some juniper berry essential oil and got a quick and dirty lesson in flower essences from Mike and Seamus. Chatted with Seamus about some books that he’s ordering for me (because I’d much rather buy local and pay a little more than buy online), so I have that to look forward to next week.

I may see about putting in some juniper bushes next spring, especially if I’m going to be using them for magic and healing. We have a few spots where I think they’d do well, and then I’ll have all of the juniper I need. I’ve already got a great rosemary plant, and I may also look into getting some mugwort going. A friend in Nevada is also going to be sending me some wormwood, so I’ll also probably try to cultivate that.

I’m also trying to decide what classes I’m going to take next year at the Ohio Herb Center. They have a lot of great offerings. I’ll probably also do some volunteering and purchase a membership as well.

I really need to get a handle on the backyard. We need a new fence, but I’m trying to convince the Husband to put up a 6′ chain link fence and fill it in with those plastic slidey thingies to make it less transparent. I want to put in a greenhouse, too. Having a place to grow herbs all year round would be awesome.

Learning the plant stuff is a lot. There is so much out there to know. I try not to let it overwhelm me. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. I still going to keep learning, though.

Superstar!

Knitterati

At work today, I recorded some video footage for our December employee newsletter. The office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion did a write-up about me and my knitting.

I’m always happy to showcase my knitting projects, since it’s a visibility thing and a pride thing; twenty years of doing it is a big deal.

Plus, they’ll be using the video footage on our big screens in the lobbies of the building. That’s pretty neat, too.

I’m excited. Yay, knitterati!

…this way comes…

Witchy

It’s a cold beautiful night, the moon is just past full, and I’ve done my re-dedication to magic and witchcraft. Leaving most of the trappings of technopaganism (though they will always be a part of me; I mean, I need the internet to help me learn!) but leaning more into the realm of green witchery and becoming a hedgewitch is a much different path and, truth be told, somewhat scary; exhilarating, but scary nonetheless

I also acknowledged and named my ancestors, my Mighty Dead, especially the two newest this year, my father and my aunt. I made sure to count among them the Mighty Dead of Spirit and of Orientation, the Witches who have shaped me as much as my blood relatives.

The upcoming year will be filled with challenges, setbacks, and successes. I have goals that I’d like to achieve. I have places to go and things to see, as cliché as that is. I have so very much to learn and do and try and experience. Blessed Samhain to you and yours. May the peace and strength of the God and Goddess be in your heart. May the next year be gentle on you and on all of us.

So mote it be.
Blessed be.