On Tarot Tuesday (a rambling dissertation of self examination and disclosure)

So this morning (it must be my week for personal lessons/growth), I have been given the opportunity, through my own actions in a friendship situation, to examine myself and my behaviors, motives, etc.
The really great thing about this, (aside from the personal growth factor, of course) is that it's given me another themed day for this blog. This is a great thing to me because:
a)It presents another facet of me to you, which is my true intent for this blog. To give the reader a context within/from which to better understand my thoughts/opinions/positions, etc. Although I love reading political, spiritual, magickal, feminist etc. themed blogs in and of themselves, it is my personal desire to present a fuller, more contextual blog. I am not defined or labeled by any one of my interests, passions, beliefs, or political views. I haven't touched much on my spiritual/magickal self, and this is a perfect way to add this content as another expression of self.
b) It helps me remember that I am more than my politics, my outrage and my despair. One downside of being an activist for me is that I am a bit obsessive and too empathic. As a teenager and into my mid 20's, I read about politics, philosophy and war, torture and genocide, oppression, racism, feminism and the historical contexts from which many of these things arise. At some point I became overwhelmed and felt powerless and decided that the only answer was to work on myself. If I wanted the world to become a better place it would only happen one person at a time, and I must needs start with me. So I checked out. Almost. I refrained from watching or reading news, and the only activism I participated in was a very personal one to me (that I still practice), which I call the "Silence Implies Consent" rule. When confronted in my life with prejudice, judgment, sexism, etc. I spoke out. I refused to stand by and imply my consent to things/views/statements or actions that I was morally opposed to.
During so-called "Desert Storm", my personal resolve broke and I became marginally involved in paying attention, again. To my dismay, I broke out in shingles and had a minor emotional breakdown over it. Thorne retreats again.
About 9 years ago I began to take some small steps in activism. Learning... searching for answers, voting again (both locally and nationally), signing petitions, writing a few letters, calling my congressperson.
It has slowly led me to this. Here. Now.
But again I have found myself repeatedly on the brink of despair. Obsessively reading and researching to discover what new ills humanity and The Mother our earth is suffering. Finding myself unable to let go of the outrage, the despair and hopelessness that so often assails me when I consider the world and all of its denizens. I turn from my beautiful desert, my esoteric studies, my meditations and my joy to this computer and seek and find poison. So this Tarot Tuesday is another attempt of mine to seek balance in my life, thoughts, emotions and experience, and thereby share that balance with you, my readers.
I'm going to try to rearrange my links/blogrolls soon to reflect this. Sorting by primary area of interest or lack thereof (as in my case). I'm also, without putting myself on too rigid a schedule, (I don't do that well), going to try to limit my political and issues reading a bit. Being committed to writing on different topics will by necessity keep me incorporating them into my life. I'm thinking I must needs add some sort of gardening or nature day, too. That will come as/when it will.

(Tarot Tuesday Post to follow, but prolly not until tonight, as I have a tattoo appt soon)

3rd and Final Official BAT Post or...

What's in your Playlist???

Okay, so I'm late. Fuck that!! In Thorne's world, today's not over until I wake up tomorrow. Thank you for an incredible ride, BlueGal, Neural Gourmet, Talk2Action and Mock, Paper, Scissors!

Wow!!! BlueGal you are amazing!!! I wanna do a shout out to First Freedom First. THANK YOU!!!!

Oh, ow. Man, I'm wiped out. A little tense. I think it's time for some....tunes. Ahhh... (dammit, where's the lube?) music. Yeahhhh.... Hmmmm... That's better. Tonite's playlist has got to be the blues. Stevie ray Vaughn, Candye Kane, Johnny Lang and ahhhh Eric Clapton, Thass right. A lil slooooow haaaand...

Hmmm. Where was I?! Right! Blogswarm. So I started my day with this:
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948

On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the full text of which appears in the following pages. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."


Article 16.

(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.

(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.

(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled
to protection by society and the State.


Where the fuck does it say anything about the gender of these people?? NOWHERE!!!! Even "spouses" refers to them without use of a gender specific pronoun. Nor is there a definition of what constitutes a "family"

In a true DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS these terms would be left intentionally undefined, to leave room for growth, change!! This document was created to protect ALL OF US!!! We could do lots worse than adopting a declaration such as this for our own. Uh... wait a minute. We already are doing far worse than this...uh; ummm - you know what I mean
*pant, pant, pant* Oh, my. This shit wears me out.

Ahhh. No, really. That panting was from getting all worked up - I mean pissed off- earlier. (It had nothing to do with my newest iPod accessory. Cross... my... heart).

Then I found this sorrowful and succinct summary of the State of The Union entitled This could have been a beautiful place.

I found This article which was not directly part of BAT, but was cited in this excellent submission by No More Mr Nice Guy The first article is a permanent bookmark in my references file.

I was kinda wondering on n off throughout the weekend if this apparent surge of RRF Dominism is like the whole sky is falling, Y2K, End of a Millenium panic that comes 'round in reasonably predictable cycles. I was happy to get a whole shitload of history about this from Jeff Sharlet in Harpers, who tells us that: We don’t like to consider the possibility that they are not newcomers to power but returnees, that the revivals that have been sweeping America with generational regularity since its inception are not flare-ups but the natural temperature of the nation.
Not to minimize the threat in the least; a well researched article worthy of serious consideration.


Then I wandered rapturously through the blogswarm pausing to play with Balls and...Walnuts!!!
My comment:
This was a great article, but the comments and your continued interaction with them really made it for me. I especially love your anonymous friend's rant. Although I've never been (even by the furthest stretch of the imagination) a christian, I have to admit that the whole idea of the rapture and Armageddon has always appealed to me in a perverted sort of way. I dunno... maybe I read too much survivor type science fiction as a kid. Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein. I always kinda wished those rapturous freaks would disappear, body and all (so we "left behind"-ers wouldn't have to deal with the bodies and general clean up.) One particularly vehement rapture-ist once informed me that I specifically, would be in the direct employ of satan in the endtimes. As a tattoo artist, I would be in high demand to mark everyone with the number of the beast. Ha-ha. Now, that's what I call job security!!! Really, though... all seriousness aside. I think it might be kinda cool to rebuild without all those religious zealots. Who knows what we might achieve in the aftermath of a global abortion. I think Big Mama (aka Mother earth) is getting pretty tired of this crap, anyway. I mean; check out the bees.

After a bout of coitus interruptus, caused by an insane video game for good christian kids that made me eat my words about wanting to live in a post-apocalyptic world and almost blew my whole sexy innuendo thing I got goin' here...

(Thank god[dess] for science. I mean, who woulda thunk there could be so many cool accessories for an iPod??)

Anyway I went from Balls to RamboJesus. Oh my!! Now this is a Jesus I could go for... (oops! there's that damn lesbian "dick tooth" [in the immortal words of Margaret Cho], again) Stopped by the Chocolate Jesus because a "dick tooth" is one thing, but a "sweet dick" tooth??!! Mmmm. (Melts in your mouth, etcetera and so on.

Ohhhhh.... Mmmmmmm.... Ahhhhhhh....

and finally ended up at Cycle A man shaped by religious neglect of his poor lonely penis who hilariously brings us Jesus Boobies! ( Boobsalot, boobsalot, I like boobsalot... It's true (oh, it's true) I'm with you, Cycle!!

Oh!! Uh - huh. Ungggghhh. There. Whew. Mmmm hmmmmm.... *sigh*
Much better. I think I can go to sleep now.

Oh, yeah. Here's a small sample of my playlist.

Aerosmith
Alanis
Big & Rich
Bread
Bruddah Waltah
Candye Kane
Clint Black
Dave Matthews
Dixie Chicks
Elton John
Eric Clapton
Evanescence
Fiona Apple
Flyleaf
Grand Funk
Hoobastank
Indigo Girls
Joe Cocker
Johnny Lang
Kitaro
KD Lang
KT Tunstall
Limp Bizkit
Little Feat
Marilyn Manson
Melissa Etheridge
Molly Hatchet
Mozart
Natalie Merchant
Nickelback
Pavarotti
REM
Social Distortion
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Toni Childs
Van Morrison
Vivaldi


Tell ya what. Don't fuck with my music, and I won't fuck with yours. Amen, hallelujah.
Peace out.

A chatty interlude including but not limited to:

... the Blog Against Theocracy

Really, there are entirely too many great bloggers participating in this blogswarm, and an incredible wealth of opinion, perspective and information, but I just have to mention a few of my personal favorites. I have found a few of these folks to be so charming, smart, witty, talented, etc. that I'll be adding them to my blogroll (I hope I'm using that term correctly as the list of blogs I'm linking??!!) in the coming days.
I've delightedly found some blogs that are similar to my own in that they are personal and public, and present a variety of topics. I think I'm going to enjoy interspersing these with my regular issues blogs. (Sometimes I get so angry and depressed after reading those that I feel quite defeated before I've really even begun my day!!)

So, a couple of links:

writ-small.html

is a well written, thoughtful glimpse into personal responsibility. I was incredibly moved by this piece.

OneActInTheEternalPlayOfIdeas

Is a thought provoking statement in an unique (to this blogswarm) voice; fiction. A stupendous read. The author writes with a simple eloquence that is undeniable. Look for this gal in future on the NYT Best Sellers' List.

Parishioners Wanted
This one is great. The creation of a brand new religion to support the blog and make the blogger as rich as any Jerry Falwell. NOT!!! Really though, a bit of sincerely funny (funnily sincere??) concepts for a great web-church! I tried to sign up, but the comments were closed and I couldn't find the slot in my laptop to insert the bills.

MockPaperScissors
A number of witty, creative and powerful pieces here

Then there's Bob (or "Bubba", as I affectionately call him) who is sure that we are all doing a Hit Job On Easter
This is an interesting (if only to sorta help us "know thine enemy") site that appears to be dedicated to spreading the word about the BATS as he terms the BAT and the Blog Against Theocracy Conspiracy to undermine Easter and christianity in general. Bubba also has disabled comments, (to those outside of his flock) so don't anybody think he might care to engage in actual dialogue about his opinions. He saves that for the spam he leaves in the comments boxes at OUR blogs. Stay tuned, as one blogger said Bubba seems to search links to his blog on a regular basis so he can find outlets for his vitriol in higher trafficed places than his own blog. Yippee! He might grace us with his glory! ( This one is filed under: Things that make ya go "Hmmmm".)

I could go on and on about the great stuff I've found amongst the participants of BAT, but this particular entry speaks to my soul in a way that so much of what is going on in this country does. I really don't know whether to laugh or cry. My laughter these days has a bit of an hysterical ring to it, and my tears could damn near drown me if not for that ark I'm building out back.

On a lighter note, and nothing to do with BAT (wellll...I suppose it almost could be...no. Sorry! Hahaha) check out relentlesslyoptimistic for a cute and totally irreverent take on Happy Easter. (THIS is funny... I don't care who you are!!) Love it!!

And this one (you tube) is for my GLBTQ family, although some of you straight folk with a sense of humor might like it, too.

If I can stop my head from spinning (yes... it's almost to the pea soup stage), and stop this manic surf I'm on (FEED ME SEYMOUR!!! Must have information, more data!!) I'll eventually get around to doing my own post for BAT later today. (After we string up the sacrifice and enjoy our burnt offerings for this auspicious day).

Blog Against Theocracy, Day 2

Marriage. NOT Gay Marriage necessarily, but Marriage as a Legal Contract

I've been giving this whole Gay marriage topic alot of thought for a long time. Back when I was happily married to a man who I loved with all my heart, I supported the rights of gays to marry. He died in 1998 and now that I am living with my other soul mate, who is a woman, like me. These days I'm giving it even more thought and in different ways.

Whether everyone really realizes it or not there are alot of different takes on this subject even within the LGBT community. There is a large faction that would happily settle for a "Civil Union" which allows us all the rights and responsibilities of a straight marriage. Alot of these folks feel that we don't need to imitate the straight lifestyle, and that marriage for gays somehow betrays the gay lifestyle. (I could go into a whole thing on so-called lifestyles, but I would go soooo far off topic!!)
Then there's the folks who want the same rights as everybody else, no matter what! As for me, I can respect both positions. I see merit in both arguments, just as I see flaws. My take on the topic of Gay Marriage is this:

Nobody should be legally "married"

.
That's right; nobody. Marriage is a religious ceremony/institution/ritual/law. As soon as it became a part of state and federal legislation, the wall between the separation of church and state was crossed. Period. Marriage as a legal, binding, contract should never have been. I say, forget promoting gay marriage. Let's cut straight to the heart of the matter and abolish legal marriage. Really!! Let's instead push for legislation that truly separates church and state in this area, at least. Let's admit that the better solution would be to admit that "marriage" is a religious term applied to a government filing of two people entering into a personal, domestic, contract.
A civil union, as opposed to a business partnership.
Because that is what it is.
If you want to go into a business partnership with so and so, you draw up a contract, have it notarized and then file the appropriate papers with the courts.
Same with a pre-nup. Isn't a pre-nup just an additional filing attached to the so - called "marriage contract", made to further protect one party of the "partnership"?
Let's just let marriage be what it was intended to be; a religious ceremony in which the rules vary from religion to religion.
If we are to truly separate church and state, then nobody should be married under law. Let all those straight folks go down to the courthouse and file their "domestic partnership" or "civil union" papers just like everybody else.

Be sure to stop by Blog Against Theocracy to check out all the great bloggers that are participating in this event and speaking out about the separation of Church and State, and don't forget after the event is over to get continuing info and updates on the struggle at Freedom First

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Happy Holiday Musings

Yule was lovely. A made it home after driving from LV in time to enjoy the day, B joined us for the day and was his usual fun, charming self. My Tam went to spend some time with her Mom (last minute guilt tripping by T's Mom, but T and I made it through it with no game playing or hurt feelings. Yippee! I have to admit that as much as I detest family drama, I do so enjoy not participating in it.)
My Mom joined us for parts of the day, popping in and out in her PJ's (pretty cute, really) and sharing her somewhat eccentric enthusiasm at the opening of every gift. Tam and I made a simple meal of baked ham, mashed taters w/gravy, and steamed zucchini. It was nice to have only a small kitchen mess for a change!
B spent the night so my F could use his truck to go to her OB yesterday. The ultrasound was done and DR. is reasonably sure it's a girl. If F is disappointed she's hiding it well. I of course, am overjoyed that she's having the 6th generation in a matrilineal line of first daughters.
The worst thing about these holidays for me is that I've pulled my head out of the sand once again to start paying more attention to what's really going on in our world. I have this habit of doing this. I go along for months playing ostrich because I just can't stand it. The war, hunger, disease, human suffering and cruelty, ignorance...
I remember during the so-called "Gulf War" (isn't this just the same ongoing war without end??) I broke out in shingles. From the stress. Big ol' tough woman like me, and I'm a freaking marshmallow. In the past I have become physically ill when I allow myself to pay attention to the truth. The horror of the truth of american politics, of hate and bigotry, of the crimes perpetrated in the guise of religion (no matter what religion), of ignorance, of persecution and separation...
So anyway, it seems that I have decided once again, to see if I can live in awareness without the horror of it all overwhelming me. I'm spending alot of time at Clipmarks.
I'm hoping that I can do some small good by clipping bits here and there, taking action and helping spread the non-main-stream-media truth, without getting buried in it. I'm also posting alot of my clips at Yahoo 360, but I'm not really sure where they're ending up. I haven't really figured the site out.
This might be nuts, but I'm going to see if I can somehow separate my politics from my life. I mean, that's always been my problem. I get so caught up that I get ill. So I just go along, doing what I can, (recycling, reusing, speaking my truth and refusing the silence that implies consent whenever physically confronted with hate, ignorance, bigotry and so on; living my life openly as a woman, a lesbian, a witch). What I'm going to do/try this time that's different, is continue to BLOG my life here in my journals, while being active elsewhere. Occasionally I may post political bits here, but overall I'm thinking if I can force myself to separate things, I may be able to avoid the overload that always eventually makes me run and hide my head in the sand.
I don't know. I may only be kidding myself. But I want to try, again. Of course, if it works, my non political readers will never know, because my BLOGS will just go on (or on n off) as usual. And if it doesn't, only my Clipreaders and such who check in on my BLOGS from time to time will know, because I'll disappear from the political postings and readings and activism.
An experiment for the New Year!!!

My New Year's Resolution:

To seek and find balance. Balance between my inner and outer lives. Balance between living my life and the responsibility of living as a fully present human being. Balance between planning and doing.