Sometimes it would be better if I was a...

Drag Queen... They have all the best stuff, and those boys can do make up better than any woman I know! I love Drag Queens, I loved the movie, To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar.

Right now however I'm questioning how the great FB can decide to collect real names after "Drag queens win right to go by preferred names".

Facebook’s chief product officer, Chris Cox said one Facebook user reported several hundred accounts as fake, which prompted their incorporation into the company’s weekly fake names report. He said that 99% of the accounts that make that report are “bad actors doing bad things” like impersonating and bullying, and said nobody at Facebook had noticed the pattern of one person reporting specific types of accounts.

I'm not impersonating or bullying anyone, I don't know how my account would have been reported. I had around 500 friends, so if someone did report me, I would never figure out who it was. My theory is that they pull a chunk of names in and flag them and send the dreaded "change your name" e-mails.

*sigh* Since the dawn of the internet NO ONE has gone by their real name 'cept for celebrities and news people.

I guess Zuckerberg is going to change all the rules, and you HAVE to go by your real names.

See I think they are missing a great financial opportunity here, they could just charge you to go by an alternative name! I'd probably pay if it was a reasonable fee. Every time you wanted to change your name you could pay the fee again.

Meh, what do I know?

Still here...Urglaawe??

Yep, I'm still here, no FB yet. I guess this is a form of social media isn't it.

Regardless, I just spent the morning creating  calendar, of my hearse and hearse related adventures. It was pretty fun to look back at my pictures from last year and make something that I will enjoy moving forward.

Perhaps I am old fashioned still, enjoy paper calendars. It's sort of like a mini Christmas at the end of every month. Then you get to look at this, hopeful, cool image for a month.

Some of the images I selected were probably not the most artistic or beautiful, but they trigger a memory for me of a fun trip or something fun I was doing... I'm thinking I should do this every year!

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Urglaawe...

So I've been kicking this idea around for a year, and I'm totally stealing it from my friend at the Nerdy Druid blog, I think. I'll have to look it up later. Anyway, the IDEA was to celebrate a full year's worth of holidays in the Urglaawe tradition.

"Skullarix, what is that?"

I'm so glad you asked in the most brief text, it is the Pennsylvania Dutch/German/Deitch Heathen tradition.

Sort of out of left field, I know! Hey, let me Google that for you: http://www.urglaawe.org/Englisch.html

I was going to start last month but I was intimidated by all the YULE traditions. As a Celt, and yes I still think of myself as a Celt, that has never changed. For another blog post, I should list out what I think is "Celtic" I find that it differs from most people.

As a Celt, we don't have many Yule traditions in particular. In fact this time of year I often feel cut off from my gods and traditions. Not so much this year, but I feel I was drawn into the muggle Hexmas drama a little more than I like.

So all that being said, here is a list of the common holidays... I guess I need to prep for Groundhog day or Grundsaudaag.

Yuul around the winter solstice
Grundsaudaag onFebruary 2
Oschdre at the vernal equinox
Walpurgisnacht on April 30
Midsummer near thesummer solstice
Hoietfescht in late July or early August
Erntfescht at the autumn equinox
Allelieweziel at Halloween

Slàinte mhath!
(Good health!)

Whats in a name?

So even though the drag queens won, FaceBook is requesting my real name... Sh!t, Skullarix is as real a name as any I go by. I don't want to give it to them. However now that I've spent about two days with out said FB, I am really realizing how isolating it is. There are 5 groups that I am owner or moderator of, that are either gone or not being monitored. Countless people that I would really like to keep in touch with, up coming events that I would like to go to that I'm now cut off from.

At the same time that I am missing my "friends" I am realizing who my real friends are, the people who are texting me out of the blue asking how I'm doing.

Geez remember back in the day when NO ONE and I mean no one went by their real names on the 'net? It was all internet handles? What happened? Not that I am terribly prone to believing on conspiracies, but it kind of smacks of being cataloged. NSA linking us all together, traffic cameras tracking where we go. 1984 was a warning not a guide!!!!!!

So I am at a cross roads, while I have enjoyed social media for years now, starting with LiveJournal and ending with FB. Should I stay or should I go? Should I just leave it all gone or should I continue on? I was thinking of nuking my internet presence in a couple years anyway... maybe now is the time.

ADF Resignation

I volunteer for a lot of things, pretty much this is ADF’s fault (if there was only one good thing that came from my membership). You learn a lot of things while volunteering.

I had volunteered for the local Irish Festival break down, and there were these red canopies that belonged to the city of Phoenix. We had to move this canopies from the middle of the park into the fenced off portion a.k.a. courtyard of the Irish Cultural Center. One would think this is not an issue until you have the added news of, “you can’t break them down and they are really heavy.” I didn’t think that would be a problem, I mean how heavy could they be, right?

One by one I saw my fellow volunteers, the old timers who had been volunteering for years, “find” something else to do, some even laughed at me. I didn’t think too much of it, until three other people and me had to heft one of these monsters. It was taxing and just generally sucked.

The important lesson I learned that day, if the other volunteers are laughing and disappearing on you, find some other task to do.

ADF is the same as those damnable red canopies. Former members tried to tell me, they tried to warn me about the truth of ADF and I didn’t listen. I looked at the Vision statement and believed: https://www.adf.org/about/basics/vision.html

I use to wonder how people could drop out of the pagan community; it’s always been the furthest thing from my mind once I entered the community. Now I know, my heart is heavy and I feel spent.

It is with a heavy heart that I write this, especially since the Grove took on four new members recently. All the ADF nay sayers were right. It’s not a place to be, run by a bunch of stuffy old bearded Druidy types that want to be the first Druid Catholic Church.

Somehow ADF has forgotten about the pagan community at large, and have decided to embark on a journey that makes ADF everything pagans abhor, an organized religion. Though anyone who raises a concern about this issue are malcontents that have problem with authority. Just who the fuck do they think makes up the pagan community that they are pulling members from?

From the Mother Grove meeting notes from April 30, 2015:

Motion to change the bylaws:

   Article 5, Section 3, Subsection 1 Archdruid (AD), add number 8. "The Arch Druid must be an Active ADF Priest".

   Article 5, Section 3, Subsection 2 Vice Archdruid (VAD), add number 6. "The Vice Arch Druid must be an Active ADF Priest".

  * Motion by Jean, Seconded by Kelly

  * It was pointed out that this is not the best place to change the bylaws, it should be in Section 4, Subsection 5, Item 7.

  * Motion amended to be:

  * Change Section 4, Subsection 4, Item 7, qualifications of the AD and VAD

    From:

      Candidates for Archdruid or Vice Archdruid must have their Dedicant's Path completed.

    To:

      Candidates for Archdruid or Vice Archdruid must be ordained members of ADF Clergy in good standing, i.e. Active ADF Priests.

  * Amended motion by Jean, accepted by Kelly.

  * Point raised of what would happen if we lost all clergy due to some disaster.

  * It was pointed out that if a clergy member cannot be found to lead the church, is it really a church?

  * Point raised we are limiting who can run, and limiting choice by our members.

  * Point raised that we may be better served at times by a secular leader

  * It was stated that the Administrator is supposed to take care of the administrative.

  * It was pointed out that a significant portion of the AD's job is administrative, not just spiritual.

  * It was pointed out that this is being done with no input from the members.  It is likely most don't care, but a change this large really should have the input of the members.

  * 7 yes (Kirk, Jean, Flip, Kelly, Jeffery, Barbara, Sean), 2 no (Robb, Sharon), 0 abstain, 0 no vote

  * Motion Passed

(If you are a member, go check it out here: https://www.adf.org/members/blogs/mg/20150430)

A change like this should have at least been brought to the membership for thoughtful consideration and input. OH but that last little bit I highlighted? We the unwashed masses won’t care.

Well I care, because I know some of ADF’s priests, and I wouldn’t follow them across the road! There are ADF members who have merely completed their Dedicants Path, that I would gladly pipe into Hell. (Yeah, with the extra L.)

A friend of mine made a comment regarding ADF on her FB page and this was the response from Rev. Jeffrey Wyndham (Ian Corrigan) (former Arch Druid and current member of Stone Creed Grove in OH):

ADF is always managed by a committee elected from the membership - really by a series of committees, with varying powers. The central Board of Directors is tasked with preserving and directing the vision of the org, and elected by the membership to do just that. As in most elected leaderships, the officers are not elected to "do the will of the membership" (that is simply not part of the mission) but rather to protect and develop the org, its goals and the procedures that sustain it. There is not the slightest reason to think that a vote of the membership at large would be better able to guide the org than the decisions of a committed and informed Board.

I was still sitting on the MG when the AD/VAD vote was cast, though I am no longer a voting member. The MG seats turn over regularly - this election saw major offices change hands. There is no 'MG party' that is influencing the org, and the MG are not separate in any way from "the membership".

If a member doesn't like the current regime, but supports the work of the org, I advise hanging around - the AD chair itself will be an open-seat election next year.

You ever smash your thumb/elbow/knee and that pain reverberates though your entire body? Yep that is exactly what happened when I read that sentence. I cannot believe that he believes that. WTF do I vote for? ADF has gone completely mad!

The sense many of us members feel is that ADF is moving to only allow priests to lead Groves, and that the rest of us are just followers. NO ADF PRIEST can talk to my gods on MY behalf better than I can, and fuck you for thinking that ADF. As pagans we are all our own priests, wasn’t that kind of the point when most of us departed from the main stream religions?

I’ve been a Sr. Druid, I lead my Grove for three years. I was your FACE ADF, I was your FACE! I towed the party line, I missed family events to do ADF high days. I have literally bled, sweated and cried for ADF for the last seven years. I feel as if ADF is completely disregarding me because I’m NOT a priest. Somehow seven years of hard work being the FACE of ADF was for nothing. I am completely heartbroken that something I loved and supported had dumped me in the trash.

I only see two options, I can become a priest of ADF (even though I am already legally ordained) or I can quit. Frankly the thought of becoming a priest now wearies me, there was a time when I was going to work in that direction. Then once I became a priest, I’m sure that the rest of the "old boy's club" priests would brow beat me into complying with what they wanted anyway.

I know that ADF doesn’t care, because I’m just a piss ant out here in the bumb fuck Southwest, but some people remember me, I’m the one with the Mohawk and a hearse. 

Since I couldn't be beautiful, I made myself into a monster.

Recently I made the above post to my FB.

Many of my friends rushed to tell me that I was beautiful inside and out. While I was not actually phishing, I appreciate your compliments and well wishes.

Have you noticed that I never refer to myself as beautiful, sexy, attractive or hot? I will refer to myself as "awesome." Most people take that word to meaning a superlative of good. Awesome can mean that, but it really means; causing or inducing awe; inspiring an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, or fear.

In the not very much wider world than my friends I realize that I make some people... uncomfortable. What with my high hair, resting bitch face, contacts, tattoos, monster-mash shoes and the car. There are people out there who think for someone to want to look like me, they have to be a mental defective, immature, on drugs or worship Satan.

How many parents live in fear of their kids looking like me?

Can you see it now? Can you see how I'm some people's monster? Hence the post...

Trust me, it's not bad being a monster, everyone who is worth knowing is actually a monster. We have to decide what kind of monster we want to be, the kind that destroys or the kind that creates.

On the beauty thing, I realize that my time has come and gone to be that typical beauty. The blonde cheer leader with big tits. I never cared to be this nor am I lamenting any perceived missed opportunity. I hope that I am interesting, because I think that is much better to be an interesting monster rather than an insipid beauty.

Halloween 2014 - the year of the Hearse

On October 30^th I lay awake trying to sort out in my mind what I was going to do for Halloween. I am so excited I can't sleep anyway. I had the ultimate Halloween prop, the hearse, this was our first year together.

I decided on a couple of different plans, I had hoped that I would be able to fold myself up at the bottom of the casket, hopefully being completely hidden by the second lid. I could also hide in the back of the hearse and come exploding out… or I could crouch down at the front of the car and run to the back when there were Trick or Treaters.

Finally morning came and then , I kept saying to hubby, "Hey, hey, guess what?" He would dutifully say, "what?"and then I would say, "TODAY IS HALLOWEEN." He would then say, "yes dear, you've told me 500 times today." Then I had to wait ALL DAY for it finally to be the “witching hour” when the Trick or Treaters would arrive. Seriously I think I am more excited than the kids.

I parked the hearse catty corner in the drive way so Trick or Treaters could see the side of the car. I put the purple lights in around the top and on the door. Harvey and Mildred my skeletons were in attendance. Harvey was sitting in one of the camp chairs, and Mildred was sitting in the back of the hearse as she often does at the car shows.

Malice placed many of her Living Dead Dolls on the table. We couldn’t find the usually candy bowl/cauldron this year, so I cleaned out all my sewing projects from the one cauldron and it was filled with candy. We had three 245, piece bags, and we went to the store for more that morning, by the end of the night we were OUT!

Next it was time to pull the casket out of the hearse and put it on the ground behind it. In pulling the casket out of the hearse and opening it fully we discovered that someone had already lain in the casket (with dirty shoes) and that the hinge for the bottom lid was busted, and someone had used a cotter pin to secure it to the top.

So with the crumby hinges, I wasn’t going to be able to swiftly open the lid at the appointed time to scare the kiddies. So begrudgingly I agreed to just lie in the casket and when Malice uttered the words, “don’t be afraid of the skeleton” I would pop up and reach out. I thought this was never going to work, I’d be instantly be made by anyone.

I laid down as the first group came, as I suspected no one was scared. I could also hear myself breathing in my mask, it was so loud! I don’t know how anyone else couldn't hear it! The next group came and lo, I did scar some, one poor little, little kid that was dressed like a foot ball player.

As the night wore on I hit some and some made me as soon as they walked up. I learned a couple new things… When you make yourself into a prop you don’t get to eat candy and drink booze while ooing and ahing over the Trick or Treaters costumes. I also learned that some parents are mean! So often they would tell their kids to come over and look at me and I would pop up and scare them!

Some neighbors that had been driving by wanted to come over and see the set up, they made me as soon as they walked up. We offered them shots and they stood around talking to Malice and Dragon. I was sitting up as well getting a drink. I had my mask up, I saw some kids coming so I lay down, assuming that they saw me.

So I lay still and hear people around me, and then a little boy says, “hi, skeleton.” I assume I’ve been made so I sit up and reach out for the boy, I think I even brushed him. He took off running and made it passed the neighbors house to the stop sign before his parents were able to yell for him to stop! Of course we are all evil and started laughing.

About 8:10pm a couple older kids came by, and they made me of course. They were given a couple big hand full’s of candy. They then said they had to put on a show, so the proceeded to do a choreographed sword fight! They were pretty good!

Malice’s kids were over and her grandson and son in law assisted me with a good scare. They poked me and said that nothing would happen. Then when I heard someone close I sat up, scared a couple.

It was a fun night, and now I feel like one does after opening all their Christmas presents… 365 more days to go until I get to do this again! Ugh... Oh well on to Krampusnacht...

Woe to the Woad

For me, woe to the woad all began when I was watching Highlander (the TV series), and one of the immortal characters was using eyeliner to draw blue markings on herself. I thought to myself, "I wonder why they didn't have her using the original paint, instead of something modern." Later, I met someone who was also interested in the Celts that told me woad was made of seven different ingredients, and a recipe could be found in an ancient Welsh manuscript. I began researching from there, but could find no such manuscript. I began to doubt the existence of woad, until recently. A theory that I feel has credibility has been brought to light.

Anyone who has an interest in Celts or Picts has probably heard of woad and the warriors it was applied to. Visions of nude blue warriors running through the mist adhere themselves to the psyche, especially when woad has been featured in such movies as Brave Heart and Arthur. What was this mysterious blue concoction?

Most re-enactors, pagan, Pictophiles and Celtophiles, will tell you it is a plant; woad Isatis tinctoria, mixed with various substances from fat to distilled cow urine. Woad itself produces a dark blue to black color like indigo. In fact, woad was the predecessor to indigo. We do know woad was used to dye cloth, however it did not turn blue until it contacted air. This causes a problem if one is mixing it with fat; air contact would be minimal and would take some time to occur. Another problem I see is that indigo is nearly black and a contemporary writer, Julius Caesar, states the color is virtrum I believe that is a blue like lapis or perhaps a Ginseng Arizona iced tea bottle. Pliny observed, women were said to paint their bodies blue like Ethiopians before festivals. Curiously, woad plant seeds didn't show up in Britain until the late Iron Age (the Iron age ranged about 400 B.C.- 400 A.D.), so the Picts and/or Celts probably would not have been painting themselves blue with the woad plant for centuries as some believe. They had to be using something different to paint themselves.

I have spoken with some people who have tried to re-created the woad mixture; all of them said that it didn’t work. Other substances had to be mixed with the fat or some such binding agent. This could smear, or it would just dry and flake off. I have also been told some of the woad re-creations smelled pretty bad (I could imagine if anything near urine was used. I have also read that the indigo plant doesn't smell very good itself whether or not that pertains to woad, I couldn't say).

Unknowingly the idea of using eyeliner put forth from the Highlander TV episode offers some clues. Some of the ingredients of eyeliner include: Ferric ferrocyanide and iron oxides. Ferrocyanide pigments are known to create colors such as Iron blue, Prussian blue and Chinese blue among others. Iron oxide would most likely produce a red to orange color. We know the Celts mined and worked metals. They could then, of course, have easily gather the metal oxides and used them to create body paint.

Of course we don't have a living breathing immortal to tell us what woad was, but we do have a witness of sorts, Lindow Man. In 1984 in Lindow Marsh, Cheshire, UK two peat cutters discovered a well formed human foot, which led to the discovery of a mummified body of Lindow Man a few days later. Lindow Man has been dated to about 2 B.C.-119 A.D. some time in the middle of the Celtic Iron age. What is very interesting is that the skin testing of Lindow Man (along with other bog bodies) found iron, copper, ferrocyanide oxide and clay based paints but no plant based paints. "All test for indigotin (the colorant in woad) were negative; the test itself is very sensitive." Lindow Man: Body in the Bog pg 41.

There are a few scattered writings from contemporary peoples that really only give faint clues as to the composition of the body paint used by the Celts or Picts. The bog bodies can give mute testimony to the use of metal oxides. Only future research may give us certainty as to what components were in the body paint. If the woad plant or indigo created such a superior blue color, why is it not used in cosmetics today? Clearly in centuries we have found nothing better than metal oxides.

Contributing texts and web links:
The Conquest of Gaul by Julius Caesar
The Picts and the Scots by Lloyd and Jenny Laing
Lindow Man: The Body in the Bog by I.M. Stead, J.B. Bourke, Don Brothwell
The Ancient Celts by Barry Cunliffe

Links
http://www.cyberpict.net/sgathan/essays/woad.htm
http://www.hippy.com/albion/woad.htm
http://home.columbus.rr.com/herneswood/Fashions%20of%20the%20Peat%20Bogs.htm