In the Footsteps of Aradia

She was born in the year 1313 . . . or so they say.

Aradia, reputed to be the daughter of Goddess Diana and namesake of the origin text Aradia: Gospel of the Witches by C.G. Leland, will be the focus of the upcoming Fall Equinox ritual at Ffynnon land in Oregon, to which I've never been but hope to go this year. Her feastday, and reputed birthday, is August 13th, the day of the gathering discussed here.

Who was Aradia? The name is powerful, ancient, evocative. I chose it for one of my character's names, and High Priestess Phyllis Curott chose it for her Witch name. I knew a little but not much, so I went to a lecture presentation last night at The Hollow. This, as it turns out, is a private home, and yet another of the many nests of witches, warlocks and mages in the Portland area. There were pieces of art all over the walls featuring Greek dieties and classical painted scenes. A bookshelf, loaded with guides to Greek, Latin, Italian and more, plus books in those languages, and fat tomes and notebooks filled with esoterica. What a place! Also attending was Martha, the dear woman I met at We'Moon Lammas, who told me this was the very house where the Hermetics group she told me about had been meeting for thirty years! So, despite taking a big chunk out of my day due to transportation time, it was a fortuitous journey for me.

We sat in the basement on chairs and cushions; a spread of refreshments, appropriately Mediterranean, were provided, including slices of tomato with basil, soft purple figs, homely bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, grapes, berries and wine. The presenter was Katrina, who at thirty began exploring the myths of Aradia, and even began channeling strange Italian words via automatic writing. She received a message from the Goddess to travel to Italy. She did so, seeking --- despite language barriers and obstacles --- to find the Temple of Diana, the so-called House of the Wind, and other landmark places mentioned in the "Witches' Gospel", a book that helped begin the entire modern witches' and pagans' movement. (It seems to persist in its most direct form in Dianic Wicca).

I'm afraid I ended up learning more about Katrina and her trip than Aradia herself, but she did mention a number of books that had helped her in her quest --- and like Hermione, I'm all about the research, and also took copious (compared to everyone else!) notes. Also, the lecture was informative because I want to travel, and illuminated a few of the challenges I might encounter, from maps and car trouble to language issues . . . as well as some of the benefits.

Among the items Katrina passed around, in her treasured possession after 15-odd years, was this little phial of Rose oil, which she'd bought at a small herb shop run by an Italian man, a brief stop of curiosity and convenience during her travels. It still smelled incredible, sweet as fresh-picked roses yet stronger. I thought: This is one reason I want to travel --- to have potion adventures the world over! And to meet people who love making them, do it well, or better yet, both. Since I'm also an ingredient sniffer, that is yet another reason to go touring. But getting to stand where witches may have worshipped a thousand years ago is enough of a reason to put a place on my bucket list!

Raptor Day at Paxton Gate

In a world where we are increasingly isolated from our wilder animal brethren, a chance to interact with them in a fair, supportive, educational and healing way is a blessing.

One of our coolest local shops, especially for both Goths and science-lovers, is Paxton Gate. If you're a serious adherent of PETA or a vegan, you might want to stay as clear of this store as you would Snape's animal-parts-laden potion lab; for those of us into this kind of thing, however, this place is a marvel. Today the focus wasn't on natural science specimens or preserved animals, however, but live ones --- specifically, raptors.

Falconer John with Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture

A pair of falconry experts from Seattle displayed several types of hawks and falcons, a vulture, and even an owl --- specifically, a Eurasian Eagle Owl, the world's largest species. Also spread upon the table were information papers, periodicals, and falconry gear for our perusal. The two men paired the display with educational talk and question-answering, and the birds were rotated out every hour, if not sooner, to let them rest in the store's back room and ensure their maximum comfort.

For a $5 donation, we were each allowed to don a professional falconer's leather glove and hold a bird, with all profits going to the Audubon Society. I had just enough time before work that afternoon to buy a ticket, pick a bird and slip in line. Too many times in the past, I've been either too cowardly, or too nice; not this time! I was out for experience.

Lady Bird, a Eurasian Eagle-Owl. Look at those huge eyes!

I'd hoped to hold the owl, if only to feel how heavy she was (or not). Alas, I'd forgotten about that "buy a ticket" part, and the line backed up quickly. Instead, I queued up to hold --- of all things! --- a vulture, who had the incongruous name of Mr. Peabody Ziggy Stardust (and I may be forgetting one name).

I've nothing against vultures. In fact, I like them. In a generation when every little rich kid was wanting a pet snowy owl (good luck teaching it to send letters; reports hold that snowies are rather stupid, and the hardest to train), I gave my character Isaac a vulture, and even made vultures one of the Sarkazen iconic animals. Face it, there's something wickedly endearing about a Goth kid who walks around with a vulture on his shoulder and tells her, "Hey, beautiful." I'd trust the word of that kid more than the jock boy who begged for a Porsche and oggled celebrities, since I'm drawn not so much to the strange, but to the real.

And there was no shortage of Goths at this event! I was happy to see lots of others of my ilk there, who were also dressed to match, unlike me in my work clothes. Two friends, Nicole and Mikhail, even attended, but at different times than me. I took no pictures of myself holding Mr. Peabody; a lot of these other folks looked more photogenic than I did, I'm sure, and it's hard to take a selfie with one arm occupied by a large, flapping bird.

Holding the vulture was a pleasure. Its weight, as they warned us, could add up over time, but I found it easily manageable, propping my elbow. I learned to hold the jesses in my left hand by watching others learn before me. Seeing the great black wings arched over my head as the creature angled for balance on my wrist was cool, and a great opportunity to admire Nature's living constructive genius from close-up.

The bird then shat on my glove. "Oh! There you go, sanitation in action," John said cheerfully. That's how I learned that vultures (with good reason!) are immune to anthrax, botulism, and a host of other nasties that would kill us; their stomachs are stronger than sulfuric acid. So strong, that this anti-biobug power carries clear through its system --- a vulture's poop is a bit like bird Purell and actually sanitizes the area around where it lives and eats! Pooping on its own feet allows the bird to sanitize its feet and where it walks. Pleasant, to us? Maybe not, but useful? Definitely.

I could get used to a pet vulture, poop and all, though it's the opposite of convenient for me right now (a snake is far more feasible). But I also forgot to ask the men about a critical issue: Legality. These guys, and Audubon, are professionals licensed to own or at least rehabilitate wild birds. Whether an average witch like me is permitted to own one is questionable, but is likely discouraged.

Above: Seattle Falconer John helps a young woman hold Mr. Peabody Ziggy Stardust, a Lesser Yellow-Headed Vulture from Africa. These birds are targeted by poachers and thus endangered

Hawk tethered to special perch; a leather hood signals the bird to think in restful or "night" mode, reducing visual stimulus

A Retreat of Sisters

Behold the Way

Class in Session: Road Opener, continued

My preparation of my magickal oil goes on, as does my research into the craft of Road Opening! Best way to learn potioncraft, and everything else, is hands-on!

Making a new recipe, a completely custom potion, is one thing: The field is wide open, and freedom reigns. But when adapting an old or existing recipe, there is the urge to conpare our product to others, to hedge for maximum effectiveness and "authenticity". Even, and perhaps especially, in magick, which is technically powered by intent, but which has so much inherent mystique and where the results may not be scientifically provable or even visible.

Naturally, I'm constantly asking myself: "Did I do this right? Am I close enough to the real hoodoo/Gypsy/alchemical/Druidic etc., etc. recipe? What can I put in this to make it more potent? What am I missing, if anything?" I have to remind myself to relax: If the faith and magick are there, they're there!

Gearing up: Abre Camino herbs and additional stuff

Late on the night of the 17th, I added some more stuff. I put in a lodestone, my extra oils from the store, and some of my own blood essence since, conveniently, I'd just gotten my moon and wanted to personalize the oil. I put in a few drops of the Road Opener oil I bought, to further "authenticate" my own oil, while thinking: "Hmm, mine smells different. This other oil smells like pure magic temple and hoodoo. What am I missing? More sandalwood. More vanilla."

But perhaps most importantly, I put in a bit of each of the sacred leaves and herbs from the Abre Camino bath mixture I bought. That certainly seems as genuine as I can get right now. I needn't a lot --- just a sample of each, to get the essence in the oil. I enchanted the pieces and put them in, then stirred.

In summary:

Besides base oil, Tangerine, Lemongrass and Camphor essential oils, a couple of added ingredients:
• A few grains of Instant Bliss (condensed cotton candy)
• My own menses, powdered
• Added oils from store:
 - Jasmine
 - Sandalwood
 - Black Pepper
 - Vanilla
 - Grapefruit
 - Clove
--- approximately 3 drops of each.
• A few drops professional blend Road Opener oil
• Abre Camino herbs
• Lodestone
• Old used key.

And I still don't feel finished!

I've been toying with the idea of putting in some special kind of dirt. Something to do with roads. As it turned out, only a few days ago, there was a patch of street marked off near my workplace: I don't know how it happened, but something dug or blew a little hole right through the pavement. It went at least a foot deep, and felt rather hot inside when I cautiously poked my hand in (hoping it wouldn't get blown off!). My fingers came up with a chunk of melted black road asphalt and some age-old dead leaves. I checked my photo files --- this was on Friday the 13th, last week.

A hole in the road!

 My first thought was: "A portal to another place." Rabbit holes. Wormholes. Manhole covers that conceal a tunnel between Andalasia and New York.

 My second thought was of the Underworld, a scary thought. But an under-place needn't be bad, in the vein of Faust or Hades. It could be simply an alternate or parallel state of consciousness. A Disneylike world parallel to our dreary regular one; the realm of magick, second sight, the Faery.

 What I did find indisputable is: This, be what it may, is a powerful force. Powerful enough to literally dig or blow a street open!
 Besides the above, this could embody a much-needed disruption to the well-worn streets and pathways I've traveled for years, a new tangent off of old familiar terrain. Even if it was only time, wearing away at a small pocket already there, that timing was right. And on Friday the 13th, too! A crazy little hole on a magick day!
 Take some, it seemed to whisper. Take some of this medicine from inside the opened road. And I, with a new eye for ingredients, did.
 In this world, intention and ascribed meaning is everything.

 Riding home with a few paper towels loaded with chunks of broken street in your lunch bag, is, well ... kinda weird. If I didn't know before, I'm finding it's all just part of being a witch:

Less than a week later, a crew filled the little hole with fresh asphalt. That oddity, and that magickal pathway if you will, is no longer open. So, this last meaning of the road hole is equally pertinent: opportunity. Just because a road somehow gets opened doesn't mean it will stay open! I don't know exactly why or how yet, but I feel this is good "medicine" for this critical planetary juncture in my life and the world scene. How can I not incorporate this odd type of magickal dirt, offered me in such a curious and timely fashion, into my working?

I haven't added in the Road Hole dirt to my oil yet. But I, ever the diligent researcher, checked out two YouTubes later that night after snuggling down into bed (as that's the sort of mage I am), in which other practitioners demonstrated their methods and recipes for making this type of oil. I got ideas for other types of crystals and herbs to add, should I choose. Things like Citrine quartz, and good ol' crossroads dirt, sacred to Road Opener divinities like Hekate and Papa Legba.

I also picked up on a trend: Both these recipes use negativity-banishing and even explosive ingredients, namely saltpetre and sulfur. These are forceful magicks; they're like Road Opener combined with my delicious-smelling Banishing oil! It seems this time, I'm using two or more formulae in tandem, but it's possible to combine them in one.

As with so many other aspects of magick, there are nearly as many recipes for this stuff as there are practitioners. For each of us, the Path --- the Road --- is unique.

Road Opener or Obstacle Remover Oil Recipes

~ ~ Recipe No. 1: ~ ~
-- For this recipe, be ready to gear up on ingredients and fill a standard marmalade jar.

• Herbs:
 1 spoonful (spn.) Orange powder
 1 piece Orange peel
 1 spn. Catmint
 1 spn. Mugwort
 1 spn. Lemongrass
 1 spn. Sandalwood
 1 Cinnamon stick
 1 small sprig Pine needles
 Couple scales of Pinecone
 1 sprig White sage
 1 spn. Ginger powder
• Other Dry Goods:
 1 spn. Dragons Blood pwd. (if it's a resinous lump, pestle some off into a powder)
 1 pinch Sulfur
 1 pinch Saltpetre
 1 Palo Santo stick
   { 1 broken Camphor tablet  }
   { 2 spns. Sea Salt                    }
    -- Mix these last two ingredients well in a mortar and pestle before adding to jar.
• Essential Oils:
 20 drops (dps.) Orange essential oil (e.o.)
 10 dps. Lemongrass e.o.
 10 dps. Sandalwood e.o.
 10 dps. Pine e.o.
 10 dps. Cinnamon e.o.
 10 dps. Sage e.o.
 10 dps. Citronella e.o.
 10 dps. Lime e.o.
 10 dps. Lemon e.o.
 10 dps. Grapefruit e.o.
 5 dps. Geranium e.o.
• Base Oils:
 Fill half the jar with Sunflower oil.
 Top off rest of jar with green Olive oil.
• Other Ingredients:
 1 Key, used, preferably old
 1 piece Snakeskin sheddings
 1 pinch Crossroads Dirt

--- To Finish: Seal with wax and hang a key on the jar to charge this Road Opener blend. For the spell, this fellow uses a candle combination of green, white and orange.

See how complicated such an oil recipe can be, and how tailored to the individual practitioner's tastes!

Ready to open some road?

~ ~ Recipe No. 2: ~ ~
-- While making up this recipe, the practitioner beautifully enchanted the bottle of oil after adding each ingredient, transferring energy to it with Reiki-like gestures of the hands. This version of Road Opener was tailored for a specific focus of "opening", i.e. psychic work.

• Cleanse: Sage bottle or jar to cleanse it, by inverting it and letting smoke swirl up in.
• Add Ingredients: -- may choose to add with special spoon for potion use.
 - 1 small spn. Saltpetre -- burst of energy
 - 1 spn. Eyebright -- psychic ability
 - 1 spn. Mint -- obstacle remover, sickness healing, cleansing, money
 - 1 spn. Sulfur -- banish negativity and obstacles, cleansing
 - 1 spn. Salt -- for cleansing Self, your own purification. Black Salt is good for this.
 - 1 spn. Dragons Blood -- cleanse, protect, love, money (again, use pestle if it's a big lump)
 - 1 used key --used is important. Or, use key dust, i.e. from a hardware store
 - 1 pinch Crossroads dirt -- may or may not be from a cemetery crossroads. If psychic or working with spirits, latter may be ideal.
 - Chosen Base oil. Fill jar.
 - A hair from your head -- could also use blood, nail clippings, etc.
• Mix: Shake, with intention.
• Charge: Seal bottle or jar with black wax, and hang a key on it.

-- This practitioner also likes to use a blend of Sulfur, Birdseed and Salt for protection, cleansing, etc. Very multi-use, family recipe.

Open the route; embrace the Way.

So, we have a more herbal approach here, and a less herbal but no-less-symbolic approach. And either way, it's clear we have endless room to custom-make a "road opener" or obstacle remover formula.

But what are these oils good for? According to the second practitioner, a recipe for road opening, "block busting" or obstacle-removing magick can have lots of uses, including:
• Finance and business. For example, use a dropper to put oil in the shape of an arrow to your business's doorway. Or, annoint a candle and burn it on top of financial stuff, papers, check stubs, letters, and so on.
• Money spinning, or optimum use of a budget.
• Changing a negative mindset to a positive one.
• Open yourself to love.
• Open yourself to trust others or the "process", especially after you've been burned in the past, and it's thus hard to trust. (Yup, I'm there. Why do you think I stayed at the beer factory.)
• Get a raise, recognition, opportunities at work.
• Get past that obstacle of a boss!
• Artists' block.
• Writers' block.
• Psychic block! Trouble reading Tarot cards? Annoint your cards, tools, space, and so on.
• Trouble connecting to your deities.
• Evil eye, or if you get bad jujus from somebody else.
• Feeling stagnated. In anything.
• Good to use when you're not sure what you want. Annoint your temples to help you find direction, and the next step.

 All too often this past decade, I've been in the last category of, "What do I even want?" It seems so easy for some women: They're corporate climbers in one single company, or they get married and knocked up and that's that. But where am I, and what do I want? Clearly, I'm an independent soul, a wanderer, with very fluctuent states of growth, even when not much seems to happen on the outside.
 The Magician card popping up a lot seems to suggest that maybe all that internal work is panning out, enough for me to choose a direction and manifest big results with it. It's hard to take a step when you can't decide which way the hell to go, or you're doing a lot of practice drives to prep for a huge step. I keep coming back to when I first began to talk. I was three --- and I went right to three-syllable words. I waited, until I knew.
 I guess I'm just one of those folks who piddles about on back roads for years, not very impressive, practicing my moves in secret, finding what I really, really want, until that day comes when I punch it cross-country on the Interstate and head right fucking there --- fully planned itinerary, all the right parts in stock, and no quibbling about gas prices.
 I look forward, too, to incorporating all this new road magick into my tale of Johnny Velton, a young chap whose road of life seems destined to start and end at a small-town (what town?) Southern gas station, until fate lands him on the doorstep of the notorious Slick 66, veteran whore and roadtrip sister extraordinaire, saint of the Old Mother Route --- and witch.


Now for some inspiring photos, because . . .
Oh those crazy roads!!! I may not drive much at the moment, but I love awesome road pics.

Aiming high, sneaking around, or shortest route across.

Jiggery pokery! Squiggly wiggly! Scenic routes and loopy mountain roads from around the globe, Romania to India

Where there's a will, there's a way: Be it over, around or straight through, there's no terrain too steep, too high, or too generally impassably im-effing-possible.

Happy trails . . .

Door County, WI