Most of our summer was spent facing a serious challenge. 

One of our dear loved ones was faced with an episode of mania and psychosis. These conditions are not like they are portrayed in the media. Nor are they like what is described by psychologists. The individual may become very hyperactive, and personable, and energetic. Sentences become incoherent, reasoning is something out of a fairy-tale, and impulsivity is rampant. They can also transform into an unrecognizable screaming rage demon, leaving their family members baffled. It's a total Jeckyl-and-Hyde experience. It's even worse when they have Anosognosia, which means they do not understand that they are ill.

The so-called "mental health community" proved to be no help whatsoever. Because I did not have guardianship, I could not get diagnosis or speak on my loved one's behalf for treatment. Guardianship is needed to get the paperwork in order to get guardianship. It's a Catch-22.  None of the doctors, social workers, or court officials seemed to have any clue as to what to do (until the second hospitalization, see below).

Holding a person against their will, even one who is maniacally raving, is against the law. It's considered kidnapping. So is forcing an adult to take prescribed medication.

If you wonder why there is such a severe homelessness problem in America, this is why. The psychotic individual often runs off into the wilderness -- or city homeless encampments, same thing -- and gets lost. Literally lost. For six weeks, we did not know if our loved one was even alive.

They can go to an emergency room, and be "petitioned" to go to a mental health facility. It can take several days, and they are often held for only a few days. This is not long enough for treatment to take effect. Then they are released while still psychotic. Rinse and repeat.

They often get into trouble with the law, for screaming at strangers, panhandling, relieving themselves in public, attacking other people, and public intoxication. Some of them fatally attack people, such as the person with mania who stabbed 11 innocent bystanders in a Walmart in Traverse City. The mentally ill individuals often self-medicate with dangerous street drugs such as methamphetamine and fentanyl. This just makes their condition worse. 

My loved one was raging, screeching, and throwing things inside an oncology clinic, which they mistook for a hospital emergency room. They were arrested, petitioned, and court-ordered to a mental health facility. It was a nightmare -- for them, for their family members, as well as the cancer clinic patients and personnel. My loved one has no idea what they did to warrant being locked up.

Most doctors are unwilling to sign papers granting guardianship, or even to diagnose severe mental illness.

Finally a nurse found a paper that had been signed a few years ago, graning me limited power of attorney, which I could use to get court documents and hospital records. I was able to use this to petition for guardianship, which costs money, and to convince mental health professionals to hold my loved one against their will and to do some type of aftercare. One individual from "Integrated Services of Kalamazoo" and a social worker at the mental health facility were helpful. But it took an arrest, petition, and court order, as well as lots of groveling from me, to get there. And prayers and workings. Many, many prayers and workings.

Both political parties contributed to this mess. Liberals insist that mentally ill people have "rights", even though the individuals have no comprehension about what is wrong, what treatment is needed, their anti-social behaviors, and sometimes, ​not even their own name. They closed all of the long-term mental health facilities, claiming they were "cruel". Like letting someone who is incapacitated live outdoors without food, water, or medication isn't. Like letting them rave at innocent bystanders isn't. Conservatives cut funding for needed services. Both of them are culpable for our current mental health crisis and homeless epidemic.

I have some solutions to this problem, but I'll save it for another day. I'm exhausted.

​Since last posting, I’ve had lots of exciting things occur in my work life.

WitchCon Online was an amazing magickal conference that has presenters from all over the USA and the world, giving classes on a plethora of subjects. Despite a couple technical glitches on my end, I’d say my “Magick 101 for newbies” went very well.

Our first WitchCraft TV show, “Festival Fun” were posted on the WitchCraft TV site, www.witchcrafttv.online and on their You Tube page. We interviewed the always-interesting Christian Day as well as two of the con-chairs from ConVocation Take a look! 

Our family attended ConVocation – always a wonderful time – and presented a few classes for kids and teens, including a folkplay, the Stag Hunt. Shad the Stag was well and thoroughly dispatched. Awaiting photos! The entire event was so well-organized and everyone was very friendly and nice. And drumming. Lots and lots of drumming. We had a blast!

Recently, I have been reporting on my news site some disturbing events in my tiny Midwestern city. Our local council, who were annoyed by people spreading rumors, adopted the following resolution:
"Motion to allow City Attorney ___ to file charges with the court against all parties involved in statements that have caused harm to the city."

Anyone who knows anything about the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the First Amendment will see a problem with this resolution. The attorney later quantified the resolution to say that it actually meant statements that were "untrue" and "defaming".  But that is NOT what it actually says. As worded, the resolution could mean complaints about blight, calling the police to report a crime, criticism of government, funny parodies of city officials, NEWS ARTICLES, or ANY statement which the council and the attorney deem harmful. What matters is WHAT is WRITTEN, because that is what passes into LAW.

The same thing must be considered when doing acts of MAGICK.

When speaking your will into manifestation, choose your words carefully. Think it over. Write them down. Practice them to yourself silently, before enacting a rite to bring them into being. Ensure that your word is truly expressing your will. 

For example, say you do a rite to increase your abundance. Do you want an abundance of kittens, an abundance of weeds in your yard, or an abundance of money? How do you want your abundance to manifest? Do you want a beloved relative to die and leave you their life insurance? Do you want to be injured and collect a settlement, yet be disabled for the rest of your life? Or do you want your hard work and good ideas to pay off?

Be very cautious in uttering words of power. You wish to manifest your desires in ways that are beneficial, specific, and positive. Boed Felli / So Be It!

Just a friendly reminder, WitchCon Online is coming up THIS weekend. My class is Saturday at 11:30 Eastern Daylight time. It is geared for those brand-new to the Craft. Other classes are for everyone from beginners to initiates to those who've practiced for many years. There are over 100 presenters, including very famous authors and teachers: Maxine Sanders, Laurie Cabot, Silver Ravenwolf, Priestess Miriam, Oberon Zell, David Shi, Z Budapest, and many more. The presenters represent traditions from around the world: Bulgaria, the UK, Australia, Brazil, Korea, African-American Hoodoo and Voudoun, and so many more. WitchCon only costs $100 and you can watch ALL the videos, including those from previous years, forever afterward. There are also vendors, a drumming circle / concert, and opening and closing rituals. Please join us!

Many common Imbolc and Candlemas rites have to do with counting the days until Springtime. Of course, it's six more weeks until the Spring Equinox, no matter what.

Phil The Groundhog saw his shadow in Punxsutawney, PA, meaning six more weeks of winter weather. Yet Woody from Michigan did NOT see her shadow, predicting an early spring. Good news, since we sometimes get slammed with snow as late as April 29. In Medieval England, it was a badger who predicted the weather.  This tradition may have come from the Teutonic countries, brought to the USA by German immigrants.

In Ireland, the Cailleach Buehr (old woman of Winter) used the hours of sunshine to gather more firewood to burn during a long winter season. If it was cloudy on Brigid's Day, the Cailleach would sleep in, ensuring that spring would arrive earlier. The Cailleach may be the flip-side of the Goddess Bridget, in her Crone aspect. 

Christian traditions replaced some of this Pagany stuff with their own rites, including burning candles for various spiritual reasons. Yet candles were also used for lighting the home during the long winter evenings. For the first time since Halloween (in the Eastern Daylight time zone) the sun sets AFTER 6PM. The period of daylight will lengthen until the Summer Solstice. There is a little verse about it: "After the time of Candlemas Day, goodfolk put your candles away."

In Cymru / Wales, Imbolc wasn't widely celebrated, prolly because the sheep were busy lambing, and the people were outside helping them at 3:00 AM. Instead, Catholics celebrated Gwyl Fair y Canwhyllau, pretty much the same as Candlemas, in which candles were blessed in church for the year. Yet there are plenty of Pagan overtones: divination, processions, candle-lit vigils, wassailing, and Mari Lwyds. If sunlight shown through the window, there would be a good harvest in autumn. You can read an article (in English) on Nation Cymru here: https://nation.cymru/feature/gwyl-fair-y-canhwyllau-marked-across-wales-today/
​
One of the symbols of approaching springtime is the snowdrop, the first flower to emerge in spring, often poking through the snow. The ones in my yard have yet to come up, since we still have a foot of packed, frozen snow covering them. In fact, the snowdrops might wait 'til March.

​The image of Brigid’s cloak is from https://godspacelight.com/the-expanding-mantle-of-st-brigid/

​Today is the eve of St. Brigid’s Day in Ireland, called “Candlemas” by the Catholic Church, and Imbolc by Pagans and Witches of European-based traditions. Michael Howard of Folklore, Ireland states that recently, the holiday has not been called “Imbolc” in Ireland. Instead they have a bank holiday (national day off) to celebrate Brigid’s Day. The time is significant in that it’s the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. In ancient times, it was considered to be a fire festival, and a “quarter day” for paying rents and engaging in commerce.
 
There are many legends about Brigid as a pre-Christian goddess, the daughter of either a druid or the Dagda. She is also called Bridget, Briget, Brighid, Bride, Bríd, Bridey, Madame Brigit in Hoodoo traditions, Bergitte in Germany, and St. Vrain or Fraid in Wales. Goddess Brigid is in charge of fire, healing, poetry, dairying, motherhood, and brewing beer. As a saint, she was said to have been the midwife for Baby Jesus.
 
Some Imbolc traditions include making Brigid’s crosses out of rushes, reeds, withies, or even paper. These four-armed crosses are used as good luck talismans.

Imbolc means “in belly”, referring to pregnancy. Oimelc refers to sheep milk, since lambing occurs at this time. We do lots of things related to sheep: spinning and weaving wool, eating goat or sheep cheeses, and feasting on lamb or mutton stew. The sheep are to Cymric and Irish people as bison are to the Indigenous people of the USA.
 
Another tradition is leaving a piece of cloth or scarf outdoors overnight to be blessed by the Saint / Goddess Brigid as she passes by. According to the Woodlarking Facebook page, this cloth is “known as a Bratog Bride in Irish folklore... this special garment can then be used as a cure for headaches or sore throats.” On the Brigid Kildare page, it is called the Brat Bríd. This site states: “The fabric can be a small cloth, handkerchief or towel that is either the personal effect of a person or for the household. Others use a ribbon (ribin bride). These are usually placed on the windowsill, a fence or shrub near the home or hung on the door, tied around a tree or hung on a tree branch.  
“This tradition honors the generations old belief that St Brigid traveled on the eve of her feast day visiting & blessing the faithful who welcomed her by leaving these fabrics (or a St Brigid’s Cross, candle and/or food) at the window or at the door too.)
“On St Brigid’s Morning, the fabric or ribbon would be brought inside & kept for the year & used whenever someone was sick or in need of help for any ailments or troubles. The cloth would be placed on the person’s head or around their neck (or taken along with them in their pocket) for blessings as a prayer to St Brigid was recited.”

Look for Brigid’s footprints in fireplace ashes in the morning of St. Bridget’s Day. A bed can be made for her with a small box, straw, blankets, and a priapic wand to ensure the fertility of springtime.
 
Candlemas involves, of course, the lighting of candles, which might be an allusion to the fact of extended daylight. Beginning today, the sun does not set until after 6 pm, and the time of daylight increases until the Summer Solstice. Lighting candles is said to compel the sun to return, and to invoke good luck on a household.
 
In Ireland, there are dozens of holy wells associated with Brigid. The most famous one is at Kildare. People collect its sacred water which is used for healing and blessing.
 
Braw Dai Vrain! 

     I am thrilled to announce that I will be doing a twice-monthly program for the WitchCraft TV network, along w/ Harold Sanford Carter III, aka the Lone Wolf. This network has wonderful interviews, programs about Magick, vintage television shows, music, kids' entertainment, and lots of educational material.
     Our show is called Festival Fun and is, of course, about Pagan festivals, gatherings, conventions, events, conferences, Pride days, and campouts. These activities are geared toward Earth Religious practitioners, Pagans, Witches, Nature Spirituality folks, and other magickal people.
     Viewers will learn about the dates, locations, and activities at various spiritual gatherings, along with info about featured guests, workshops, music performances, kids' activities, prices, and what to bring.
     As may readers know, my husband Dave and our family have attended many Pagan gatherings over the past 40 years. We have the experience to tell our viewers what to expect at a conference or campout, how to meet like-minded people, and how to make the most out of your festival experience.

You can connect with WitchCraft TV Online by watching on their streaming web page or You Tube site. For a small subscription fee, you can view the music channel, kids' channel, the "Core Classes", and the main TV channel. Go to https://witchcrafttv.online/ to find out more.

I am super excited to see the Press Release for my new fiction book, Woman Afraid of Water, coming in Summer 2026 from City Owl Press!