Three Forest Paths Meet: Goddess Diana’s Trivia Crossroads

Three Forest Paths Meet:
Goddess Diana’s Trivia Crossroads. Francesca De Grandis,
October 14, 2024

October 14, 2024

They say all roads lead to Rome.
It’s true because all my roads to Italy led to Reno.
I move there on November 15.

Sudden?
No.
Three Italian language courses,
two years of grueling application for Italian citizenship,
the reduction of my possessions
so I could bring their essence across the sea,
dogged pursuit of flexibility,
recovery from shattered trust,
Italian songs memorized,
and … and …—
all those efforts combined to create
a shortcut where a wind is at my back.
I am swiftly, easily, peacefully, and happily
relocating to the land of The People:
Paiute, Shoshone, and Washoe.

Every effort enlarged my capacity for joy.
I smile about a Mediterranean climate
unlike Rome’s.
Rome gets wetter,
but Reno is hotter, sunnier, and more extreme.

I wanted to return to my ancestors’ land.
Maybe I will. My application for Italian citizenship continues.

But life’s roads go where they will.
I am merely their traveler.

Goddess Diana’s three-pronged crossroads,
made by wild animals,
is where I make choices.

… My Anglo grandmother was a showgirl.
Reno is not my ancestral land,
however my grandmother’s spirit will greet me there.

Life is Magic

Note: She was not my biological grandmother, but my stepfather’s mom. She is an ancestor in spirit.

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Abundantly Well and a Tribe of Kindred Spirits

Abundantly Well
and a Tribe of Kindred Spirits

This article started as a review of Susun Weed’s’ book Abundantly Well—Seven Medicines. As you will see below, I did write the review. And doing so led to wanting to share a personal story. Here goes:

Finding a Kindred Spirit: Spiritual Outlaws

Looking for a like-minded individual is like hunting for long-lost pirate’s gold. The search is not easy for everyone. A sought-after treasure can end up a shiny disappointment.

Luckily, over the years, I have been able to build a tribe of spiritual outlaws.

I Used to Feel Like the Lone Ranger

I teach Shamanism. Among my lessons are principles that are contrary not only to mainstream beliefs but also to a lot of Paganism. Here are three of those teachings:

1) The Great Goddess—Magna Mater, Creator of All—and life are the same. By life, I mean both the force of creation and every happening—nursing a baby, riding a bus, walking a dog, sleeping, losing a loved one. Within the Goddess are all powers. Thus, life can keep my spirit whole and heal it when needed.

Shamanism that removes us from life, tossing us up into the air without wings, is neither traditional nor healthy. No spiritual or mystical teaching replaces life. Shamanic teachers and techniques are vital. But I want Shamanism that has my head in the clouds, feet on the ground.

One of my goals as a Shaman is to create rituals that help you embrace life in all its beauty, horror, and empowerment.

The rituals include ones that help you circumvent rabbit holes, wild goose chases, and other distractions from your power.

2) Life is the body’s ultimate healer too. The erroneous idea that doctors, herbs, etc., are the healers interferes with letting life heal us. Western medicine, herbs, massage, acupuncture, and other treatment modalities are wonderful parts of life, not replacements for it.

3) Leaning into whatever life brings can help overcome barriers to life goals. Accommodating life just as it is can also help heal health problems, anxiety, and even trauma. Leaning into life is leaning into a magic that carries all blessings to me and carries me to all blessings.

The above teachings and almost everything else I teach go against oppressive culture. After sharing my teachings since the ‘60s, I felt like the Lone Ranger sometimes—an outcast.

Supporting a Sister Wild Child

But I have found my kindred spirits. Susun Weed is among them.

I read one of her books a few decades ago and thought, Oh my Goddess, she sounds like me. I need to meet this woman. I recognized someone who represents the unpopular type of wisdoms I espouse.

I do not mean represents those wisdoms only in the sense of talking about them. I have my share of imitators who talk my talk, but I can tell they do not walk it. They co-opted my ideas because—as an example—they thought appropriating material from my best-sellers would give them best-sellers too. Susun is another matter. She is no imitator. Her words come from her cells and her desire to serve.

I love opportunities to support Susun in gratitude for a kindred spirit:

She is an organized wild woman
devoted to
organizing herself and tribes to create
joy, wholeness, and fruitful rebellion.

Spiritual outlaws support each other. When someone is a wild child, they do fabulous things that I want to support. Like this book:

Susun’s Weed’s Abundantly Well—Seven Medicines

I am excited about Abundantly Well because it is amazingly useful.

I also support it simply because I’m grateful to know someone other than me who insists that life is the ultimate healer. I do not care if all her ideas on the topic are the same as mine. Below, I’ll talk about how important it is that she and I are different. But I have immense gratitude for her in-depth understanding of life as healer, with its many subtleties.

For example, a number of authors present music, laughter, or orgasm as healing modalities. That’s an important service to the community. And many of these authors could serve community even more. Their writing limits results by representing music, laughter, or orgasm as health-giving activities if set apart from life. That approach disconnects readers from some innate healing abilities.

Abundantly Well is a much-needed contrast. Susun’s discussion of music, laughter, and orgasm embodies life as healing.

I am also grateful for all the commonalities in our teachings. They have helped keep me from feeling like I’ve been the Lone Ranger saying unpopular things for decades.

Instead, I feel like Susun is another friend shoulder to shoulder with me.

I Love Rebels Like Me
Who Are Also Not Like Me

Susun and I are very different and teach in different styles, in different areas. For example, she focuses on medicine and brings ritual into it, while I focus on ritual and am not an herbalist, although herbs are my close friends.

Forgive the kind of false distinctions in the above paragraph. Medicine, herbs, ritual, and my feet are all the same when I look at them with my otherworldly eyes. Sometimes, dividing life into categories stops us from understanding any part of life. However, I need to use categories sometimes, just to be able to speak.

An important aside: I truly experience a world in which everything is everything. But saying, “Everything is everything” is not always useful input.

Another important aside: Life, Goddess, and Shamanism are the same. However, remarks are often contextual. For example, during their wedding ceremony, if marital partners say, “I love you,” they are probably expressing romantic love and devotion. If someone makes a hilarious joke and I laughingly respond with I love you, my remark is likely an appreciation of their humor.

The statement Life, Goddess, and Shamanism are the same could be misunderstood in the context of this essay. For example, I do not mean that Shamanism is a replacement for medical treatments. But I feel compelled to say:

One of my core beliefs/understandings is that Goddess and Shamanism are one, and living accordingly has been endlessly fruitful. So much abundance, beauty, and power come my way. As do chances to be of service and ways to overcome adversity. I could only learn this truth experientially, embraced by Shamanic culture instead of stifled by Western cultural norms.

Everything is everything and Life, Goddess, and Shamanism are the same cannot be understood in the context of Western culture. But they become practical and can be applied to maximum benefits in a tribe that embodies Shamanic culture.

Participants in my classes receive experiential lessons in Shamanic culture, become part of a community, and learn practical applications of my Everything is everything type of statements. This empowers them to manifest abundance, serenity, and other life goals. For information about upcoming courses, subscribe to my newsletter here.

Back to what I had been saying: Susun and I are very different and teach in different styles, in different areas. The Gods need many roads to journey to our aid. It’s wonderful that Susun’s and my different approaches work to the same ends—power, freedom, joy, lustiness, choosing your destiny, and more.

I am blessed with a community. I am blessed that its members represent a diversity that allows true change through many different strengths working together. I am blessed that my students come from all walks of life, adding their love and power to my tribe.

Wild organizing dedicated to joy, fruitful rebellion, and wholeness of individuals and community fosters, embraces, and celebrates diversity.

Review of Susun Weed’s book
Abundantly Well—Seven Medicines

The full title is Abundantly Well–Seven Medicines: The Complementary Integrated Medicine Revolution. The publisher reports that the seven medicines encompass all options for optimum health.

That promises a lot in one book. It is not hype. Susun delivers many times over what some might think possible. The back cover of the book has more promises you can trust:

* More than 125 complementary medicines to build good health
* Protection if you need drugs, surgery, or chemo/radiation
* Certain to become a cherished reference
* The best foods, tonics, and herbs for living long and well

This extensive body of knowledge is integrated with a message of joy. … Although integrated is not the best word because joy heals, and Susun knows it.

Her call to joy is never covert advice to bury your head in the sand. Instead, she provides tools to meet health challenges.

AbundantlyWell is
Vital wisdom
Accessible wisdom
Well-organized wisdom
Wisdom meant to provoke your wisdom
Joyful wisdom
Wisdom that helps create joyful health
Eccentric wisdom that is greatly needed

You want happiness, you want wholeness, you want health? Read this book. Purchase it here.

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Bardic Performance on Zoom

Update: Tickets Are No Longer Available

————————————————————

A Fairy Nomad’s Shamanic Journey

A One-Woman Show
in the Tradition of the Wandering Bard

* Original Pagan Music * Lyrical Storytelling *
* Ecstatic Witchcraft *

The performance will be live on Zoom.

A Fairy Nomad’s Shamanic Journey. A One-Woman Show in the Tradition of the Wandering Bard

2024 New Event

You are invited to a new and unusual
musical theater experience.

A Fairy Nomad’s Shamanic Journey is ritual theatre. It takes place in the Fey realms. We will traverse other worlds, in a nomadic adventure that fosters new awareness and honors your power.

The nomadic spirit is part of being human. A nomad’s powers are deep within every person, even those who always live in one place.

Whether you roam or stay home, you can embrace your nomadic powers: In A Fairy Nomad’s Shamanic Journey, we celebrate free spirits, relish sacred wildness, and honor the significance of following our own stars.

Bardic tales, Enchanting Music,
and Unique Magical Fun

Reviews of Previous Shows

Reclaiming Quarterly: There’s nothing ordinary. Francesca’s heart and gut echoing the timeless quandary of human beings. You will be as touched and enchanted as I was.

Oberon Zell: Francesca rocks! Her musical performances are alive, magical, witty, fun and fabulous!

Gary Menger: Vibrant. Compelling. A real-one-of-a-kind. Her voice and her on-stage personality are unique.

The Bay Area Reporter, Adele Prandini—former artistic director, Theater Rhino: A dynamic stage presence. Her voice seems propelled from her entire body. A marvelous entertainer with lots of heart and soul.

Understanding the Venue:
What to Expect and What to Do

A Fairy Nomad’s Shamanic Journey is a live performance on Zoom. You need a Zoom account to attend. Free accounts are available here.

Please arrive five to fifteen minutes before the scheduled time so you can settle in before the show starts. You might also need that time if you are not used to Zoom, experience technical difficulties, etc.

Dates and Times for
A Fairy Nomad’s Shamanic Journey

The show is approximately an hour and fifteen minutes. There is also a fifteen-minute intermission halfway through.

There are two performances:

Sunday, October 27, 1:00 PST

Friday, November 1, 6:30 pm PST

You Choose What to Pay

I’m excited to announce that A Fairy Nomad’s Shamanic Journey is a fundraiser to support the next leg of my nomadic travels—wherever the winds may take me!

I will be enormously grateful to all contributors. Your kind patronage helps open Fey-touched roads for all who wander.

Admission prices range from $20 to $1000. Choose your price in the drop-down menu below.

If you can’t afford admission, scroll past the payment details for assistance.

Limited seating. Admission purchases are not accepted after midnight October 16. Purchases are non-refundable and non-transferable to another person, date, or event.



Choose Your Price

Choose Date



After payment, watch for an email with the Zoom code and password you need to attend the show.

If you don’t see that email within a few days, check your spam. If the email isn’t there, you have questions about Zoom, or you need other information about the event, please call me at the following number.

No One Turned Away Due to Lack of Funds

Call me by October 12 to learn about free admission. I promise a friendly chat—no hoops to jump through! In the past, many people requested to have costs waived for events, even when they could easily afford it. Others expressed interest in participating for free but didn’t show up, leaving empty seats someone else could’ve used. So I began asking for a phone call. The troublesome individuals I described won’t usually call. This spares me headaches and helps secure a spot for you. I look forward to hearing from you. Call me at the above number.

To attend the event, you do not need any more information. The rest of this post is for anyone interested in my thoughts about the show and its history. I feel so passionately about A Fairy Nomad’s Shamanic Journey that I wanted to share my happiness by posting the following material.

Happy Productive Wandering

My experiences as a spiritual explorer inform this bardic show. So do the many physical roads I have traveled. For example, many people think wandering is a foolish choice. E.g, it is called flaky. However, spiritual and physical wandering can be irreplaceable pilgrimages. This show provides a joyful pilgrimage for everyone who comes.

After trusting my wandering for decades, I understood and embraced it even more once I wrote this two-word poem: Fairy Nomad.

A Fairy Nomad’s Shamanic Journey will be a journey you and I share. We will be Fairy Nomads together.

A Personal Story and Mini-History of the Show

I produced and appeared in one-woman shows in San Francisco decades ago. I returned to live in San Francisco a few years ago. Shortly after, I started writing this play. I hoped to serve the Bay Area community with shows again.

I also thought A Fairy Nomad’s Shamanic Journey would be a fun fundraiser for the next leg of my nomadic travels.

The S.F. in which I had flourished years ago was so grassroots that my almost nonexistent budget was enough for my shows to be in major Bay Area venues. Things changed. Now, it is play to pay. That is unsuitable when I’m trying to raise money and not spend the cash I’ve saved bit by bit for my next nomadic adventure. (Please don’t insist, “Spend more to raise more.” I know what works for me. Started producing shows in major clubs when I was 14 years old.)

Life wanders this way and that. As it does, life events bring messages from my Gods and clarify them. A message came—the seeds of a script for a musical—in a vision. During the same ritual, almost simultaneously, my longing to serve the Bay Area community as a performer emerged after years of not doing shows. My longing was another part of the message; my desires can be signposts from the Gods.

San Francisco’s changed art scene helped clarify the message: I believe in Divine Synchronicity—the city’s change was a block in the road, and a roadblock is often a message. It was that a Zoom performance could offer fun, music, and magic to more people than the local Bay Area performance that I had originally envisioned. During all these twists and turns, members of my tribe asked how to support my next move. Their requests were additional guidance. It opened me to receiving support—which can be hard for me to do sometimes. Offers of support also opened me to my magical show being a fundraiser. Message complete and clear!

Life wanders,
messages wander,
friends wander
alongside me,
Gods wander
alongside me
in my journey as a Fairy nomad.

Content Creates Beautiful Form

I like the expression “Content over form.” Mainstream art is often polished until it is bland.

Instead of polishing a performance until nothing is left except shine—so no earthiness remains—I want to offer a substantive experience by presenting a whole. If I am shown an entire tree, from its leaves glistening in the sun to its dirt-covered roots being eaten by insects, I am more likely to notice a wild-eyed Fairy hiding in its trunk. That grubby mystic might be extraordinarily entertaining and educational.

I work hard to perfect a performance. This includes carefully choosing where to focus my efforts—what to polish most. In a standard entertainment venue or recording studio, I usually go high-tech. Tech provides specific opportunities to communicate from my heart.

In other venues, like this new show, I go low-tech, low-fi. It helps a show be personal, powerful, and magical—all of which is also from my heart.

Focusing on what’s important gives me the time and energy to do the important stuff right.

Happy Reminders

Preparing for A Fairy Nomad’s Shamanic Journey, I came across two old photos from the 80s. The first was a publicity shot. The second was a snapshot taken during a show. Here they are.

I probably won’t play an instrument during A Fairy Nomad’s Shamanic Journey. The photos are happy reminders of my gender-bending back when women were “not supposed to” play electric guitar. That memory spurs on my attempt to break new ground in A Fairy Nomad’s Shamanic Journey. The electric guitar also symbolizes my love for writing bardic songs in the rock, jazz, blues, and European folk genres. I can’t wait to sing for you in the new show.

I’m in my 70s and don’t look like the photos. Every wrinkle on my face marks a road I traveled. That is good.

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Fairy Witches, Neurodiversity, and Taking Pride in Yourself

Fairy Witches, Neurodiversity,
and Taking Pride in Yourself

Most Fairy Witches I know are neurodiverse. That says something wonderful about autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and the like. It says something equally spectacular about Fairy Witches.

I Take Pride in My Neurodiversity

I do not consider my autism a pathology. My autism is a blessing from Fairy Gods. I celebrate it.

If someone doesn’t accept me, I still accept myself as an amazing person. I wrote two fun affirmations to help me do that:

Knowing I am fabulous is part of my autism.

Knowing I am fabulous is part of my autism and threatens oppressors.

If those affirmations do not seem powerful, I hope you try them anyway. They help me. They are tongue-in-cheek, which I think adds power but may make them appear less powerful.

If you are not neurodiverse, I hope you take pride in yourself.

Here are the affirmations adapted for everyone:

I know I am fabulous because Fairies told me so.

Knowing I am fabulous threatens oppressors.

Everyone Is Magic

Magical Gods made me. I am innately magical. Every part of me is part of my magic.

My experience is that finding the magic in me and using it well gets easier the more I accept myself as I am, take pride in who I am, and celebrate who I am.

That includes accepting, taking pride in, and celebrating my autism. I’m going to do that right now by saying the following: My neurodiversity helps me in every part of my life, including my magic.

Neurodiversity and Magic

You can find personal accounts—including my own—of how magic and art weave with neurodiversity here.

Stickers To Celebrate Neurodiversity

A few years ago, I put each of the affirmations about autism on a sticker. I painted celebratory tongue-in-cheek borders to match the sentiments of the affirmations.

Only six of each affirmation sticker were printed. I had designed them for my personal use and only wanted a few. But the smallest number I could print was six of each. I gave some away already. One of each is left. I’m raffling them off to my newsletter subscribers.

One of my lucky newsletter subscribers will receive both. Here’s what they look like:

Raffles and Giveaways for Fey-touched Pagans

The raffle is exclusively for subscribers. If you do not subscribe to my free Fairy Witch newsletter yet, it is too late to enter this raffle, but click the banner below to participate in future giveaways and raffles. I celebrate you.

Click here for newsletter. Fairy giveaways, magical events, and sparkly joy

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Happy Mental Meanderings

Happy Mental Meanderings / Sacred Wandering / Impermanence Feels Natural / I … Just … Move / Francesca De Grandis May 18, 2024 / Dedicated to my nomadic companions

Happy Mental Meanderings
Sacred Wandering * Impermanence Feels Natural * I … Just … Move

For decades, I have tried to wander through my day without rigid plans. It puts me in a good mood and, lo, following the day’s path as it unwinds is not irresponsible. My responsibilities get met. And then some.

I’ve pursued this wandering on and off, as I am able.

A DNA test points toward my having nomad blood.

In her book, The Hero Within: Six Archetypes We Live By, Carol S. Pearson says the wanderer archetype is looked down upon, and yet it is vital to self-realization. (I am paraphrasing because I no longer have my full library, so I might be misrepresenting it. In any case:)

Tolkien wrote, “Not all those who wander are lost.”

A recent development allows me to claim my wanderings in new ways. Here’s how:

The Italian city I was planning on living in is probably not viable. I am making a list of other cities that I want to live in. There’s no time to research any cities in depth before I move in December … should everything work out for me to still move in December. … I suspect that what I consider less research might be what most people consider too much. In any case, assuming I can move in December or shortly thereafter, I just move. I … just … move. Regardless of the amount of research. That is new freedom. That freedom feels incredible. That freedom feels natural to me. I am a nomad, a wanderer. I’m claiming that more completely now.

I suspect that most people equate permanency with safety. While I was thinking about not having time to research places as much as is my wont, the idea of impermanence hit me, as joyously welcoming as a lighthouse beacon to someone drifting at sea. I now assume impermanence in Italy or wherever else I land. If too many residents of a place wish me harm me, so what, I’ll leave. I don’t need a lot of friends. I will get the ones I need. I got stuck In Meadville, but I’m not stuck anymore. Impermanence is freedom. I’m a nomad.

My example about moving if I am disliked might imply that impermanence beckons because it allows me escape. However, it’s so much more than that. Impermanence in and of itself seems second nature to me and offers an abundance of blessings only found when I wander.

Impermanence feels natural and normal. I’m a nomad, a wanderer. I’m finally claiming that completely. I can breathe more fully now. I can live more fully … even grieve more fully until the sorrow is spent. In all ways, I am more fully alive, present, and powerful.

For me, impermanence is a path that leads to new opportunities every day—chances to create abundance, experience joy, learn wonderful crafts, and know all other blessings.

Affirmation: I trust what feels natural and normal. It is a gift from the Fairy Gods. I respect my inclinations, drive, and impulses. These are gifts from Fairy Gods. In all ways, I am fully alive, present, and powerful. The Gods help me choose fluidity over fearful rigidity. My nomad path brings new opportunities every day, helping me strive for all blessings. So mote it be!


Note: My mental meandering is not comprised of non-sequiturs, exceptions aside. There is a logical rather than random sequence. I notice connections between ideas or events that some people do not see. I point the connections out, perhaps indirectly by providing an experiential process whereby the reader can discover them firsthand. Sometimes, when I move from one topic to another, I might wonder if I’m off on a tangent. But if I keep going, I usually find the underpinning logic: my subconscious made vital connections, and mental meanderings bring the connections to my conscious mind.

Click the Baba Yaga’s Apprentice banner
for a modern fairytale about a Goddess who roams among us.

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Wandering Holy

Wandering Holy, Before I Move to Italy, Francesca De Grandis, May 9, 2024

For Doric, who endures my distracting muttering when walking me through computer problems. For Cassandra, because I sent her a DM then realized it was the first line of a poem—this post.

I’m wandering through the apartment addled and hapless.

It is 250 square feet. The refrigerator, kitchen counters, shower stall—everything—is in that space.

It’s hard to wander addled and hapless in less than 250 square feet.

But I’m wandering through a studio, addled and hapless, getting things done.

For one, am preparing to throw out my old desktop computer—it’s gotten too hard to use—by removing all its files, etc.

… Need to update something on the hard drive to even use the desktop. … It hasn’t been updated for a year? It’s been that long since I used it? Waiting for the update to finish, I put laundry away. I set the paint on a blouse I painted two days ago.

An album of my original music wasn’t on the desktop. Hunting through both laptops, I can’t find it there either. … Maybe the files are in that other folder. … The update failed. I start over.

It’s okay, I have an archival CD of the album. But why can’t I find it on my laptop?

I kept the desktop for so long in hopes that, in its antiquity, it could process music files from my ancient recording studio equipment.

I hang wet clothes, which take up more of what little space is in this studio. The desktop is a no-go. The unreleased music album on my recording studio equipment may be lost. Years of work. Compositions and recordings drawn out like fine needle aspiration biopsies from the centers of all my cells.

There is no waste. Everything is fodder.

So I am as proliferate as God.

Is everything a Shamanic quest, all the losses, all the laundry, all the love? All the liturgies comprised of wanderers’ wonderings? Even the addled hapless hours?

Yes, everything. I asked because I had forgotten—once again.

I lived in San Francisco for a quarter of a century, then rurally for 20 years. Now, back in SF, I use my city magic. Wandering a San Francisco studio apartment, I’m on a safari through civilized wilds, a shaman hunting not for the answer but for a question. … It is an urban nomad ritual. Wandering is holy.

Wandering is magic.

Wandering is ritual.

It is 4 in the morning. I feel lovely—content, serene, and embodying my Fairy ancestors. I’m going to eat breakfast and then go to bed.

Note: It took until my 70s to fully admit I am semi-nomadic. Seventy-four years were enough to settle down sometimes and give it a good try. But remaining in place never worked. Even during many consecutive years of residence in San Francisco, I left to live in Europe for a while (wait, living in Europe negates consecutive years), moved within the city more times than I can count, and otherwise needed to be in movement.

Click the banner below for a fairytale
about a wild, free Goddess who roams among us
and Her apprentice who helps people travel happily.

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New Faerie Shamanism Class

Fairy Nomad Magic: A New Course in Traditional Witchcraft

Fairy Nomad Magic:
A New Course
in Traditional Witchcraft

Cast Unusual Spells
to Be a Free Spirit and Reach Life Goals

Whether you roam or stay home, this class is yours. Nomads symbolize free spirits, self-realization, and the ability to live as you choose. The nomadic spirit is part of being human.

In the Fairy Nomad Magic three-month course:

* Your sweet, sacred wildness is empowered, even if you remain a happy homebody.

* You learn nomadic mysticism that creates prosperity and all other blessings, whether you hit the road or not.

* Unusual magical spells are revealed—rituals that can make all the difference in your life.

The Powers of a Happy Wanderer
Have Been Obscured

I believe nomadic cultures embody specific strengths that are less developed in settled cultures. I have always had some of these powers, have claimed more of them, and now will teach as many of them as I can pack into these lessons.

I believe Shamanic nomadic culture fostered these powers in some ancient nomadic tribes. And that recorded history retains only remnants of Shamanic nomadic cultures that included large bodies of rituals, sophisticated wisdom, and lore.

Unusual Magic Spells
that Are Missing Pieces of the Puzzle

My heart, DNA, and common sense always told me that settled civilizations lack crucial rituals, wisdoms, and other Shamanic culture. I needed these missing pieces of Shamanism to successfully navigate life and knew they had to have been in ancient nomadic culture. I cannot prove that, but new archaeological finds usually validate beliefs that stem from inspiration.

I invoked ancient nomadic Shamans to help me channel the missing material—Fairy nomads rituals, wisdom, and other Shamanic nomad culture. This unusual material probably has the missing pieces you need for effectiveness, wholeness, prosperity, and other important goals.

Shamanic Nomadic Culture and
Baba Yaga’s Wandering Hut

There is good reason some people dream of hitting the road, living off their wits, and going with the flow.

The highways and byways symbolize untold wonders and triumphs—like the Fey enchantments you’ll learn in this course and the triumphs they will give you.

A bit of Gandalf’s adventurousness is in everyone, including people who happily remain in one place. Baba Yaga’s wandering hut resonates in many a Witch’s heart. Travel between the worlds with me to
* Discover a nomadic style of flexibility that is a magical spell for everything you desire.
* Experience visions that you need right now.
* Learn a Nomadic mindset that helps you travel light instead of carrying excess emotional, psychic, and spiritual baggage.
* Be a happy wanderer who discovers pleasure and adventure whether on the road, in a settled location, or between the worlds.

The open road symbolizes other wonders too. Keep reading.

Be Feral, Happy, and Magic like a Cat

Here are more wonders that the Fairy Nomad Magic class explores:

* Your primal, ferocious intelligence. You came into life as a wise wild child. Society often suppresses that energy. We will nurture it. The wild child’s feral wisdom, savvy joy, and simple magic free you to do what you want.

* Nomadic creativity. I believe some nomadic cultures have specific creative approaches. They help you form creative solutions to seemingly insurmountable dilemmas and brainstorm about how to be serene and prosperous in your life journey.

* Mystical adventures that lead you to your deepest truths. I will be your fellow traveler and guide.
I noticed a hidden path. It led to a Fairy realm. A dragon shared his treasure with me.

Francesca De Grandis 1997 photo by Susanne Kaspar

In addition to the benefits already described in this post, the unusual shamanic material helps you:
* Overcome stress, trauma, and oppression.
* Stop feeling stuck, befuddled, and overwhelmed as you drift in mind and spirit. Instead wander creatively and mystically to reach your goals.
* Fully battle, celebrate, and create the life you want, by unleashing your untamed spirit.

Practical Magic:
Wander to Good Purpose

I teach Shamanism that transforms you and your life. The Fairy Nomad Magic lessons are practical—not musings from an ivory tower. I do not have an idealized, misled, romanticized notion of nomadism. For decades, I have taught people how to wander to good purpose, which helps them succeed on the mundane plane.

When I began teaching, I started a tribe that continues today. Building a longstanding community of feral freethinkers required practical—yet unusual—community-building skills. I will share tips with you on building a tribe of high-functioning spiritual explorers.

Attend by Phone. It’s Easy!

We meet in group phone calls. No app needed. Simply call the event phone number to attend.

We meet in group phone calls. No app needed.
Simply call the event phone number to attend.

Schedule

We meet for 13 consecutive weeks.

You have two schedules to choose from:

Enroll in the class that meets Sundays
from 4:00 to 5:00 pm PST, starting August 18, 2024.

Or in the class that meets Wednesdays
from noon to 1:00 PST, starting August 21, 2024.

Reserve the usual hour on Sunday November 17 or Wednesday November 20, respectively, for a makeup session in case I’m unavailable for one of the planned meetings.

Enrollment

Enrollment ends Midnight Wednesday August 14.

Cost is $200 a month for three months. Your carrier might charge you for the calls. No refunds. However, if you want to drop out, cancel your subscription once it pays for your current month of classes.

Click the Subscribe button below to enroll securely through PayPal.





After I receive your enrollment, I email you to ask which of the two class schedules you choose. If you don’t receive that email within a few days, check your spam. If the email isn’t there, or you want to discuss a scholarship, semi-scholarship, trade, or payment plan other than the subscription, or you need additional information about the classes, please call me at the phone number below. A few days before our first meeting, you receive an email with the event phone number and other details.

This course can serve as one of the two qualifying electives needed before the advanced Fairy Witch (Faerie Shaman) training.

My Qualifications for Teaching Fairy Nomad Magic

I am a Shamanic guide with over 40 years’ experience helping people from all walks of life reach cherished goals.

I have lived semi-nomadically. Seventy years on this planet has given me time to be nomadic a lot and be settled in place a lot. My happy wanderings and happy times in one place inform this course.

I live head in the clouds, feet on the ground. For example, the mysticism in my book Be a Goddess! broke publishing rules; even the book’s mystically-based lesson organization was new and frowned on. But I had my feet thoroughly on the ground: got a top literary agent and turned Be a Goddess! into a best-seller.

Since then, the book’s organizational style, voice, and other mystical attributes have repeatedly been copied by people because they wanted bestselling books. They missed the point. They followed my star, not theirs. Explorers looking to celestial bodies for direction know which ones to rely on. I follow my star, so I can help you find and follow yours.

I created this course material through my visions and intuition, integrated with my more left-brain abilities. My approach resulted in lessons unavailable elsewhere. I didn’t try to create unusual material. But new—and yet ancient—magic came through me.

My left-brain approach included anthropology.

De Grandis’s insightful research in anthropology led to her innovative work in the modalities of spiritual healing. She made numerous breakthroughs.—Steven Kushner, Professor of Anthropology

To acquire my degree in Shamanic studies in the ‘80s, I created my own course of studies. My research included anthropological perspectives on Shamanism, myth, and urban environments. (Cities are settled societies. Looking at them from an anthropological perspective helped me understand nomad society.)

My father probably descended from a nomadic tribe. His DNA impels me to wander. I’ve tried to understand this through various means. For one, I drew on my love of anthropology to research traditional and modern nomadic life, from the practical to the spiritual, from the plundering nomadic hoards of Genghis Khan to traditional nomadic agricultural practices. (Agriculture does not always rely on settled civilizations.)

I have also come to understand the influence of my DNA in the way a free spirit does: My intuition, heart, and whole self taught me.

Efforts to understand how nomadic DNA influences me were in-depth experiential lessons that increased my sovereignty and autonomy. In turn, I can help you increase yours.

My Adventures
Bridge Fey and Human Realms:
An Affirmation

When I hike a mountain trail
or cross a room carrying laundry,
I walk in magic.
I am always home.
Its enchanted hearth
and well-stocked larder
keep me safe and sated
wherever I am.


Click the Subscribe button below to enroll.





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International Summer Solstice Ritual 2024

The Generous Sun, Francesca De Grandis, 2013

In my upcoming international Summer Solstice ritual, there will be a guided Fairy Witch meditation. During it, the Goddess will appear to participants and help them
* Overcome obstacles inside and out.
* Enjoy a blessed life.

Also, I will give everyone who attends a direct spiritual transmission. The spiritual transmission gives good luck and protection. It also provides other benefits, which you can learn about here.

The ritual, including the spiritual transmission, is free. I usually charge over $100 for one of my transmissions.

This one-hour Fairy Witch ritual can make all the difference. Or can be a vital beginning.

No experience is needed. But advanced magicians will experience the depths and power they need.

The event will be a teleseminar—aka group phone call. Participants can call in from anywhere.

If you subscribe to my newsletter, you have the information about how to attend.

If you have not subscribed yet and want to attend future free rituals, click here or this banner:

BotmBevldNwslter

I hope to see you at a ritual soon.

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My Trickster Security Blanket

My Trickster Security Blanket

Are you wondering what a trickster security blanket is? It is an idea I had. And it gets trickier (see the joke in this sentence?) because it’s actually my trickster security-blanket blue jeans. Keep reading for explanations.

A while ago, I posted the following on social media:

Moving to Italy is my dream but includes scary challenges.

I’m patching a pair of jeans. The decorated jeans will be a magical “security blanket” for me, here and in Italy.

I’d like to add a patch or two from friends. It would add such loving energy.

The patches need to be machine washable. Other than that, it could be a fabric scrap, piece of embroidery, commercial patch, wee bit of crochet, or anything else. I’d treasure it as a tiny keepsake.

Would love a Harley Quinn or Bugs Bunny patch. Trickster energy takes care of me. And these will be my Harlequin patched jeans.

Can anyone help?

Patches for My Trickster Blue Jeans Arrive!

The first patches arrive! A Bugs Bunny and two matching rabbits from my friend, Kathleen Marshall. The above photo shows Bugs and one of the rabbits sewn onto the jeans. Bunnies!

Forgive some blurred photos. They give you the gist.

Here’s a better picture of the rabbit. It is on a fabric scrap with embroidery that is possibly the first I’ve done in decades.

My Trickster Security Blanket
Starts to Come Together

If it’s fun or inspiring for you, the next photo shows the Harlequin-style security blanket starting to come together. I tentatively arranged patches, though I knew more would arrive. Wild trickster energy isn’t always unplanned. Feral magic can require planning. I arranged and rearranged the patches carefully, changing the design. The project took months. That’s okay, it is wearable art.

The fool is not only a symbol of chaos, but also of unlimited potential. There were endless ways to arrange the patches. I took time to find the way I liked best.

Actually, the project took a lot longer than months. Some patches are my art from years ago. I waited until the right time to use them. For example, in the photo below, the two patches on the right are prints of my paintings. I want to apply unlimited potential thoughtfully. Otherwise, I can scurry off on wild goose chases and down rabbit holes. Contrary to popular belief, a fool is thoughtful.

I see a fool’s clothes as talismans. I want to create mine thoughtfully.

Here, I’ve added almost everything I had made or already owned:

At this point, I was waiting for other contributions and the chance to also sew on the last pieces I made or already had. Then my trickster magic blue jeans could be completed, yay!

What is a Trickster, Sacred Fool,
Holy Clown, or Harlequin?

Often, this post directly or indirectly defines a trickster. My definitions tend to be unlike the prevalent ones. More about those difference momentarily. Indirect definitions are one way that I, a trickster, explain. Here are two examples of implied definitions from what you’ve read here so far:
* Trickster security blanket
* Trickster energy takes care of me.

Trickster Security Blanket Blue Jeans

I came up with the concept of Trickster security blanket blue jeans shortly after the project began. For one thing, I realized that many of the images I wanted were tricksters. And, contrary to most representations of tricksters, they make me feel safe.

I have a different view of the trickster archetype. I’ve already said a few things here that differ from typical Trickster lore and the usual ideas. Read more of my theories in my two-volume Book of Shadows set.

Fear of Tricksters

The Book of Shadows set has my pivotal trickster essay. It covers some of my trickster theories in depth. (Addendum: after finishing this post, I believe it is a pivotal trickster essay too. It turned into a lengthy piece. Not that a quantity of words creates value. Instead, the love my tribe showed by sending me patches for the blue jeans nurtured my spirit so much that I could maintain the energy, enthusiasm, and creative authenticity long enough to do a great deal of important writing. This blog started with personal tales. However, that was a perfect jumping-off point to explore some of my trickster archetype theories that are not in the Book of Shadows. Also, some theories in the Book of Shadows had the chance to reveal different aspects of themselves here.)

Here’s the background for a personal tale. Exu is a trickster God Who opens the channel so that you may speak to other Gods in the same pantheon as He. The pantheon is African. He’s somewhat like Papa Legba or Eleggua in case you know who They are.

Exu loves explosives, whiskey, and hot foods. In one tradition, His altar is not allowed inside the home. He is considered too wild and dangerous to bring indoors.

You can find lore about Him online. Some of it will contradict what I say here. I have never met anyone who perceives Him like do. For example, everything online, unless my influence has been felt more recently, will contradict what I say here about Him being gentle and kind to me. He’s not known for that, which is unfortunate.

A few years ago, a friend gave me a traditional statue of Exu that she acquired in the sixties. I was so happy. Exu owns my head. Owns my head means that he is my patron God, or one of my patron Gods.

Since many people fear Him and His magic, both readers who told me Exu is my patron were apologetic about it. I told them I had no reason to fear Exu. He’s never been anything but kind, gentle, and supportive to me. For example, when I was preparing an opulence ritual for my clients and myself, He helped, as He does in all my activities. He offers me unlimited potential, gentle guidance about using it well, and magic that is not “too wild and dangerous” to manage. For one thing, wild does not necessarily mean dangerous.

The Exu statue just being en route to me in the box brought more magic and abundance into my life. (Trickster Gods are often prosperity Gods.)

When the statue arrived, as soon as I lifted Him out of the box, and though He was still in His wrappings, I could feel His love and dynamic magic.

My heart was full with His presence and the generosity of the friend who gifted me the statue.

Important aside: If He does not own your head, His magic could be too dangerous for you, beyond His opening the gates for you to talk to other Gods. False egalitarianism is common in modern Paganism. This leads to the belief that any magic can be used by anyone. In ancient Shamanism, it was understood that each Shaman is born with different power(s). What is perfect, easy, and powerful for one Shaman was understood as possibly dangerous, unnecessarily difficult, or a waste of time for another Shaman. Use magic that suits you, and you can create miracles. If you don’t recognize your magic(s), make an appointment for Shamanic pastoral counseling to learn.

Why My Trickster Friends
Helped With My Wearable Art

One of the delights of this project was getting to know some people better. Another was learning why folks helped and how they chose their contributions. Yet another was sharing joyful energy with them.

It was wonderful discovering how much they enjoyed the project or were energized by it. It had been hard to ask for help. I have fun helping people and hadn’t remembered that other people do too.

They really gave their contributions thought. That touched my heart, demonstrating that the project and I meant a lot to them. Though it was hard to ask for this support, folks gave it willingly and abundantly.

Look at these darling flowers crocheted by Paula Amero. Aren’t they sunny and cheerful!? This was kind and generous of her. She gifted three pieces to me despite crochet being her profession. They suit me to a T. She even left little tails on as “thread” to sew the flowers to my blue jeans. Thoughtful!

Kerry Congdon was a Facebook friend that I barely knew until this project. I didn’t even know why we became Facebook friends. So I wondered what motivated her offer.

Then she wrote, “I would love to send you a few patches before your big move! I have been playing with the idea of enchanting clothing recently so this is so great!”

Ah, so enchanted clothing was part of her motivation, interesting!

Kerry also explained she decided to send a Harley Quinn patch because, “I have been a Harley fan since the beginning! I grew up watching Batman: the Animated Series and I’ve had a number of figures of her over the years. I love Batman villains!!!”

I had no idea how Kerry felt about me, until she added, “I have long admired your work and considered you a spiritual elder.  … I appreciate you and all you offer the world.”

Trickster Kindness, Enthusiasm,
Joy, and Generosity

My perception of the trickster archetype as joyful, enthusiastic, kind, and generous is unusual. Or rather, I perceive a different route to joy, kindness, enthusiasm, and generosity than the typical trickster archetype fosters. The usual trickster perpetrates cruelty that is supposedly for your own good. However, I see that as an excuse for malice—evil mischief. The idea that license—disregard for people’s feelings and other well-being—can generate joy, enthusiasm, and generosity is ridiculous.

Authentic tricksters are not mean. Their power ultimately is gentle kindness. That generates enthusiasm, joy, and generosity.

That is all I need to refute about the usual trickster archetype for now. I negate it in depth in my aforementioned trickster essay.

It ended up that most—if not all—of the contributors to the security blanket are tricksters, or seem to be by my measure.

They exemplified joy, enthusiasm, kindness, and generosity.

For example, Kerry’s package moved me deeply. I’ve already shared part of how I reacted to her gift, but here is more.

Kerry enclosed a doll she made. She explained, “She is just a little spirit that came to me, and with Her being pregnant with new life, and having the protection and growth of the serpent, seemed perfect for your new adventure in Italy!”

That she, in addition to the patch, would gift me a doll she made was so generous. It was also thoughtful: the doll’s nature and size are perfect. The latter because I am paring down radically to move to Italy. In fact, one reason I asked for the blue jean patches was because it meant tiny keepsakes from friends.

The biggest contributor was my dear Kathleen Marshall. She is always there for me! And Kathleen knows me so well. Along with a Bugs Bunny patch, I also wanted cute bunny energy! Lo, she sent those cute bunnies.

As soon as my new trickster garb began, Kathleen’s energy was in it. Someone had made a cartoon of Kathleen. Well before the trickster project, I asked permission to make the cartoon into a patch. It was a way to bring Kathleen’s love with me to Italy.

Here the cartoon patch and one of the cute bunnies has been sewn onto the jeans:

Kathleen embodied trickster enthusiasm and generosity in a few chats we had. And, as I said, sharing joyful energy, learning why people got involved, etc., was lovely. The conversations demonstrated that too:

Me: I’d love anything you make, but I don’t want you to overdo it. I know how busy you are.

Kathleen: Sometimes taking time to make things is therapeutic, especially if I know it’s for someone who will appreciate it.

Unbridled enthusiasm is a joy to be around. A few times, she couldn’t restrain herself and sent yet something else. She saw a pic of the jeans when they were about 3/4 of the way done.

Then she told me, “I think you may need more tiny rabbits!”

Me: Ahahahahaha! That’s perfect! … Not only would it be a great design visually but, hey, rabbits proliferate, right? I’m off to look for more tiny rabbits, LOL. … Or are you offering?

Kathleen: Mwa-ha-ha! Check your mail Monday!

Me: Ahahaha! I love you, you are so much fun and so generous. Thank you. These trickster security blanket blue jeans are a wonderful project for me. Part of that is getting to share joy with my friends who are helping. Including the joy of your trickster energy, you rabbit-sender you!

In boundless trickster creativity, enthusiasm, and love, Kathleen also sent a bunch of teeny tiny plastic bunnies. It’s wonderful when friends know your quirks and support them, I decided to stick the wee rabbits all over the apartment, in all my suitcases and purses, and everywhere, I’ve already stuck about six bunnies in odd places, they’re so tiny that one fits on a very slender door jam top. Did you hear this paragraph as one long breathless statement? I was so happy and excited and thankful.

Kathleen: “I thought you could find something to do with them.”

Happy bunnies are cracking me up, tucked around the apartment like mischievous wee stealth guardians.

Kathleen also crocheted stars, even more beautiful than in the photo she took of them (below). They are happy.

So much enthusiasm and support from my cohorts made me feel safe enough to share a vision with Paula. When we discussed what she might make, I explained, “I wouldn’t want overtly Pagan patches because I’ll be living in an Italian town that might be very conservative. I love girlie stuff so flower(s) or something lacy would be perfect. A flower or flowers could symbolize Mother Earth, and that I am at home on Her wherever I go. Lace could symbolize the loving weave of the cosmos holding me in safety wherever I go.”

Everyone’s kindness was so nourishing and continues to be. It is exactly the sense of safety and being loved I wanted from this project.

My friend and student Chris nourished me with her hard work on a heartfelt contribution. She created a cloth leaf modeled on the leaf pin from Lord of the Rings. It’s in the lower right-hand corner of this photo:

She even wrote the Tolkien line Not all those who wander are lost on the back of the leaf, even though no one would see it once it was sewn on. I asked her permission to show it here though.

She chose a perfect line and image for me because I love traveling, have moved so often, and now am wandering off to Italy.

Friends sent more than I could use for the jeans. Generosity! These gifts will grace other endeavors.

Trickster Synchronicity

Trickster energy creates wonderful coincidences. The crochet from two different artists combined beautifully. Three people (myself included) happened to contribute leaves, which created a theme. I was already planning on using my little leaf painting, which is in the above picture next to Chris’s leaf.

Deb sent the third leaf. Speaking of Deb, let’s go back to why people contributed: I asked Deb what motivated her to get involved. She said that I had appreciated the Tree of Life quilt she had made. So she thought I would enjoy a leaf on my blue jeans. Below is a photo of it is after I sewed it on, which Deb made much easier because she backed it with HeatNBond to turn it into an iron-on patch.

The photo’s Barbie-style letter D is another enthusiastic contribution from Kathleen. Knowing I wanted a Barbie addition to the jeans, she offered to send a Barbie patch of my choice. D for De Grandis!

Another synchronicity. Chris embroidered with silver thread. I happen to have an identical thread. I used it to sew her leaf onto my jeans. The consistency looked sweet.

More Trickster Fun and Synchronicity

Again, I disagree with the trickster lore that cruel tricks of Gods and humans are sanctioned when they are meant to teach you lessons. My Book of Shadows essay shows that’s not really a trickster. In any case, working with real tricksters is actual fun, and they add beautiful energy to an event.

Backstory: I committed to buying no art supplies this year. I have a lot already. It’s easy to let it sit unused and buy new ones instead of figuring out creative ways to use my old ones. End of backstory.

Trickster Kathy Crabbe surprised me with silk scraps from items she had dyed and painted.

Divine, fun synchronicity aka trickster energy was at work. Kat’s scraps don’t suit the blue jeans, but were perfect anyway. I really really really needed something for other wearable art pieces and didn’t have it. Let’s not forget my commitment to not buy new craft materials. Her scraps are perfect for the other pieces.

I made the first of them—a necklace. To make it, I ripped up some of Kat’s scraps into strips and tied them together for the cord and tassel. I painted the necklace’s wooden spool. The necklace is called I love and am loved. I only expected one or two people to contribute to my project. I was blessed by so much love instead. Here’s the necklace:

All my activities are trickster projects in some ways. Synchronicity aka beneficent chaos rules my life.

Trickster Speed and Competence

Tricksters are portrayed as lazy incompetent loafers, but it’s not true. Everyone quickly sent me their contributions—again showing generosity and enthusiasm.

Speed was important. I needed to wrap up the project quickly. My entire apartment is about 250 square feet. That includes space occupied by kitchen counters, refrigerator, stove, shower stall, etc. Plus it is a live/work space. It’s crammed. 

That is fine, this is a transitional home between a three-bedroom house and my new home in Italy.

But space is at a premium. The trickster project occupied areas that I’d need soon for other activities.

I didn’t take anyone’s kindness or artistry for granted. So I didn’t want to hurry anyone. Different artists need different time frames. Heck, I took ten years to write a single song.

I figured if anyone needed more time than was within my framework, I could use their piece on later trickster clothing. … I make myself a fair amount of trickster clothing.

And if a timetable made anyone change their mind about contributing, their loving offer was the important thing. I had requested support, and they’d given me that by wanting to contribute.

There were no changed minds or delays. Do you know how amazing that is in a bunch of artists?

I had to bend down to photograph myself, so the jeans are bunched up and tight, but the project was completed, and I’m in my trickster magic wearable art talisman:

Trickster Reciprocity

There was a sense of reciprocity in this endeavor. For example, at least one person gifted me in appreciation of the Shamanic work I’d done over the years.

Kathleen and I were continuing a decades-long tradition of crafting things for each other. It is not reciprocity as a trade but as mutual love and support.

I think that reciprocity is part of trickster generosity and enthusiasm. In gratitude, I sent one contributor a digital talisman—a digital file of my original shamanic art. Circling around, in a circle of sharing.

More Trickster Synchronicity
aka Chaos Magic

This may seem completely random, but nothing is random (and I will delete it if it proves insignificant to the matters at hand): Three contributors enclosed stickers in their packages. I adore stickers. … Do all Pagans adore stickers? I’m not saying that everyone who contributed is Pagan. I’m saying maybe I’m just like all other Pagans. Chissà. (That is Italian for Who knows.)

Ah, I just saw the connection between stickers and patches. I’ll get to it in a moment.

What Does The Harlequin Pattern Symbolize?

The harlequin pattern is a checkerboard comprised of diamonds, not squares. I imagine it symbolizes a fool’s patchwork clothing and is a stylization thereof. It is worn by the Harlequin of the Italian commedia dell’arte. I capitalized Harlequin in the previous sentence because it refers to the commedia dell’arte character.

I created a meaning for the harlequin pattern that is personal to me: it represents the trickster’s freedom requiring self-control, but not perfection. Here’s how I came by that meaning.

Wanting a harlequin pattern patch, but committed to not buying supplies, I painted the harlequin pattern on a piece of cloth.

This commitment to not buying blessed me because I had spiritual realizations while painting. Art really is about the process. My thoughts went roughly like this:

I’m not good at painting perfectly symmetrical geometrical rigid patterns on cloth.

… How can a rigid geometric pattern represent a trickster, someone comfortable in chaos?… The historical reason is it’s probably a stylization of fool outfits for theatrical and court performances.

But, for me, it also represents that the trickster is part of the whole.

There is a saying in the alternative schooling community: Freedom, not license. Freedom requires being engaged in ongoing disciplines. The rigid geometric diamond pattern can represent that for me.

Moreover, the trickster contains all things within, according to my view of trickster and my belief that each item of existence contains all other items.

So discipline is within the Trickster archetype. Thus, being disciplined does not rob power from a trickster.

The Harlequin Pattern:
Trickster Freedom Doesn’t Require Perfection

I continued painting and thinking:

Though discipline is important, painting exact symmetry repeatedly on cloth would physically hurt. That wouldn’t be healthy discipline. That would be self-abuse. (Dear reader, I could physically manage it digitally. I don’t mean AI. I will never make AI art. AI art and digital art are not synonymous. For example, I use my finger or stylus as a paintbrush or pen, with the screen as my canvas or paper, so I actually draw and paint.)

… I don’t need my usual high standard because I’m not selling these jeans—they are for me.

… I deserve a high standard for the art I wear.

… I love the painting exactly as is. It’s beautiful.

And trickster clothes get ragged on the fool’s endless, marvelous adventures!

Here is my harlequin pattern patch. I ended up using it in a later wearable art piece. Ignore the blue ink, which was from my initial sketch and will wash out.

Trickster Clothes for a Patchwork Ragtag Harlequin Fool

Here are more pictures of the finished wearable art. A tribe can create wonderful magic.

Patches start near the bottom, leaving the very bottom clear for when I cuff the pants.

Patches sweep up on the outsides, so the top and mid center are clear. Here is the right outside:

This is the left outside. Years ago, I hand-dyed lace and had a green scrap left:

My security blanket took a lot of hand-sewing. I am proud of that. I’m not good at sewing, let alone by hand. But I accepted my sewing as it is. My sewing machine was among many objects I released to move to Italy lightly.

I love the medley of patches. It ranges from my embroidery to commercial patches to crochet. There’s a medley of themes too.

I’m obsessed with patches. That makes sense. Harlequin costumes suit a trickster.

It’s occurred to me that both stickers and patches are easy methods of adorning items. Used in abundance, they create a lovely raggle tag appearance. Many a clown, fool, or other trickster has a raggle tag look.

So my love of stickers is consistent with my trickster soul. There’s another connection that I’ll get to in a moment.

Coincidences and Shamanism
Go Hand-in-Hand with Trickster

There was a tradition that a Shaman would never perform a ritual without a trickster by their side. After the ritual, the Shaman would split the fee with the trickster. I do not know if the tradition, which was possibly Hopi, continues.

I work toward my goals while remaining flexible. Shamanic culture integrates goals with happenstance … and there is no happenstance. Here’s a story about that.

This project fed my obsession with patches. Once it ended, I started painting more patches.

Painting a rabbit trickster totem, I was surprised when it turned out both cute and fierce. The latter was not my goal.

But I sewed it on a T-shirt, while trying to learn a cute Leporid-trickster-warrior’s ferocity. In doing so, I was attempting to embody coincidences, shamanism, and trickster hand-in-hand.

Angels Catch the Fool Who Falls Off the Cliff

The Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot deck has a card called The Fool. They are dressed in patchwork and stand at a cliff’s edge. Decades ago, I don’t remember where, I learned that if the fool falls off the edge, angels catch them.

Here’s how this connects to my love of stickers. Thinking of stickers led to thoughts of fools. Thoughts of fools led to the angel lore. I need it right now. It is reassurance from the Goddess that my crazy move to Italy—which is a fool’s choice—will be protected by angels carrying me safely.

Seemingly random connections from thought to thought to thought, or feeling to thought to intuition, are process-oriented. These processes are innate to us and create wisdoms as important as those more overtly logical connections provide.

Fools Symbolize Unlimited Potential

There are many reasons I believe trickster Gods offer unlimited potential. One is that the Fool card represents, among other things, unlimited potential. Another is that trickster Gods are so loving, and love holds all power. There are plenty of other reasons, but here are two:

* In embracing whatever occurs in the moment—supposed coincidences—we access unlimited potential.
* When we risk foolishness, as long as we keep our feet on the ground, miracles occur.

A Trickster Blessing

One of the final steps for the security blanket was to pray to my trickster Gods to bless my blue jeans. Talismanic blue jeans. Clothing can be amulets. I prayed that the jeans make me feel safe and loved wherever I am.

However, they were already blessed by magic. The efforts contributors made, whether by purchasing something or by crafting something, are pure love. Love is pure magic.

My trickster Gods added Their love in answer to my prayer.

Gratitude and Blessing to Trickster Friends

My final step is to thank contributors again. To you all:

Grazie mille! Vi voglio bene, amici miei. That’s Italian for “thanks so much! I love you, my friends.” Italians don’t use the word amore with friends. Amore is for romance. And that’s your Italian lesson for today.

For All Tricksters

My trickster colleagues, we travel together, whether we’ve met or not, and even if we don’t know about each other. Fools, clowns, Harlequins, or whatever you call yourself, thank you for walking the joyful path with me. Thank you for being of service. All our acts of service support each others’ efforts.

… Instead of saying, “I am obsessed with patches,” I want to say, “My trickster enthusiasm kept me painting patches.” I painted Totoro from Studio Ghibli. So here’s more bunny energy for you. Look at how happy and adorable the rabbit Totoro is, and their Trickster love for you.

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Her Winged Silence: A Shaman’s Notebook

Update May 9: all copies of the book have sold. Now I have a few more bucks for my move to Italy, and a few more people have the book. One of them told me they had wanted it for years. That was so flattering. A few copies of The Ecstatic Goddess still remain here. End of update.

Until recently, I didn’t know I had copies left of my self-published book Her Winged Silence: A Shaman’s Notebook.

I found two copies! They were tucked away in my file cabinet.

They are available for purchase.

This little chapbook of about 60 pages was published in 1989. According to records I could find, 500 copies were printed. That fits with my memory of my tiny budget allowing only a tiny print run, plus I know I printed more than I could sell directly to consumers because the online world was small. Instead, I sometimes sold to bookstores.

It’s from different era, when independent writers did not have the publishing resources available now. The book was printed by photocopy, back when photocopying was not slick. There’s even a small piece of paper glued to the back cover. I received a blurb after the chapbook was printed. So I printed the blurb and glued it on the book.

Many independent writers from that time look back and take joy in the results of our economically-based limits. The funky printing jobs are beautiful in their own way and became badges of honor to us because we triumphed by putting our work out into the world regardless of technical limits imposed by lack of money. What counted was the quality of the writing. … Heck, it took a lot more work to publish something on a pittance, and we were proud of that extra effort.

Please note, though the print quality is as described, the quality of this post’s photos is further diminished and does not represent the actual product’s print job.

I was a much younger priestess when I wrote it. Looking at some of the book’s entries now, I think sometimes I achieved depth that was beyond my conscious understanding but that came through me regardless as a channel of the Goddess. There are pieces that I still use in my classes.

Some material is a bit juvenile. Those youthful ideas were seeds of more mature realizations. This adds to the book’s significance for collectors who want historical and other background on my work.

Despite its flaws, I love Her Winged Silence and am proud of this first attempt to complete a manuscript, let alone self-publish it.

Reclaiming Newsletter reviewed Her Winged Silence shortly after it was released:

The chapbooks’ condition is good. I see three minor flaws. To see them, look at the top photo and the two photos below: The books are curved after decades on end in my file cabinet. One book has a tiny stain on the edge of some pages. And one of the back cover’s pasted-on reviews curls up a bit at its end.

Way back when, I signed them with my old name on the back page.

I saw a copy on Amazon for $300. A major London bookstore priced it comparably.

I’m pricing these last two for collectors, but much lower than rare book dealers:

The cost is $150 per, plus $10 shipping. If you want both copies, I will combine shipping.

I ship only in the U.S. to non-military addresses.

Use the drop-down menu to choose one or two books. Be sure to give me your shipping dress and phone number. Then hit the Buy Now button to pay securely through PayPal.



Purchase one or two copies

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