Neko

I think of my personal practice as a sort of syncretic christo-paganism. I believe both in a all-loving power that cares for humanity and the world, and in many lesser powers for, against, and neutral to Them. I serve divine goodness as well as I can. I am comfortable asking other powers that serve the same goal for guidance and protection.

A story about me: I started thinking about spiritualism and magic from a young age, younger than I can remember. I had books of Grimm's fairy tales, Chinese folktales, Japanese stories, and books of Gaelic magic. I would read them by flashlight under the covers even before I was old enough to go to school.

The Crane Maiden taught me about helping every stranger on the road, and respecting the wishes of every guest. Baba Yaga and Frau Winter and the Fair Folk taught me politeness and helpfulness- and the Fair Folk taught me cunning.

Never deal with a man at a crossroads, bells purify the air, iron is cold and uncaring (and sometimes, that's what you need).
Don't take more than what is freely given, and freely give what is asked. Be polite.

Don't step on ants. The trees are kind to those who are kind to them. Be kind to trees. Be kind to crows.
Coyote means you no harm. Do not go through doors in the woods. Stairways have power. Secrets have power.
Keep your secrets and keep other's secrets, and if you're going to go secret-hunting for God's sake be clever about it.
Death means you no harm. Bear is your great-uncle because he guides your aunt.
Your mother is Turtle and your father is Thunderbird, but you listen to Coyote and Crow.
Stepping stones are a good thing to step on. Be polite. For God's sake be polite.
Dreams are real in some sense, and listen to them if they tell you something. Ginger is good in soup for sick people.
Water is purifying like bells and cold like iron, but kinder. Don't drink the wine They give you.
Grandmother Pawpaw is loving and ancient. Walk lightly on this land. Remember the marshes.
Don't step in mushroom circles and don't lie down in grass that is too green.

Laugh loudly, for it is the strongest form of prayer.

Kneading bread is good for the soul. Lavender is wise, but hagstones are both wise and cunning.
Have as many names as possible. Names are a beautiful thing to have. Tarot gives answers, but playing cards give gentle answers.
Rain is old and kind, but changable. Winter is not evil but neither is she gentle. The Sun is not evil, but neither is she gentle.
The Sun and Hawk have many things in common. North is a powerful direction to go, but East is the way you walk.
The smell of Spring on the wind at the end of Winter is a sacrament. Don't take life for selfish reasons.
Give your belongings freely and generously, and new and wonderful things will be given to you.

Be kind.

Thistle-down is old. Dandelion is old and young and laughing.
Everything has some power about it and there is no need to buy your magic.
Your magic beats within you like a heartbeat.

I listen to Coyote and Crow, Pawpaw and Dandelion and Lavender (and perhaps Morel).
My times are when Spring turns to Summer and when Summer turns to Fall.
I make exceptionally good herbal tea that I grow myself. I take very little from the forests.

Questions

I'm seeking answers to the meaning of a symbol I made a long time ago:
Hand braided cloth Lavender threaded through a hagstone. It has a certain clarity about it. I hang it where I sleep.

The Heraldric Sun, The Sun Estoile: what does it mean, to you?