Giving thanks,

While most of America will be sitting down to a traditional supper of taters and turkey, I will be doing none of that. I will be giving thanks to Her. Hekates deipnon synced up nicely with Thanksgiving this year.

At the start of November, I found myself sinking back into old habits. I was in a spiritual lull. Dragging my ass into my room to do devotionals was hard. My attention was gravitating towards unproductive activities, there was a general malaise about everything. I kept kicking myself for feeling this way. Spiritual lulls aren't supposed to happen right? Wrong. They happen. What I find myself getting really frustrated over, is not being able to find a way out - it's like a black fucking hole sometimes.

One night, I put myself in front of Her altar lit the candles and incense and unloaded. I asked Her for the guidance to find my way out, a method to deal with this reoccurring theme in my practice.

Yesterday it all fell into place, in no particular order:

1. No weed (still an issue for me).
2. Spiritual cleansing on a regular basis.
3. MEDITATE.
4. Devotions, daily.
5. Regular offerings.
6. DO IT.

I know, it's pretty basic shit that I should know already. It was a real DERP moment when it dawned on me. But when I get into those lulls, I have no idea where to pick my shit back up again. I often feel like I am trying to catch something in pitch black darkness. I needed to learn how to pick myself up properly and shake the dust off so that I may continue on my merry way.

It started to click as I was preparing the house for the deipnon and Noumenia yesterday. We've been out of weed for a little while, so my head was clear. I ritually cleaned the living shit out of the house, worked up a sweat and got a bit of a blister and all. Found some time to meditate, which has become something I seriously must keep up, my ADD brain can be painful at times and I find much relief doing it regularly. If you haven't read Jason Millers thoughts on meditation and think you cant do it, then I strongly suggest you read a few of his books! Then I spent the evening baking banana bread for Hermes (he seems to like bananas, more on that later), sprucing up his shrine and writing in my physical journal. When my "OH DERP" moment hit me, I ran to Hekate's altar and sang my thanks to Her.

I found myself feeling measurably better. I need to reinforce my practice when things are feeling lackluster. No, sparks aren't always going to fly, but you maintain that connection. Falling down is part of the process, it just all in how you pick yourself back up.

I give you praise Hekate. Queen and mistress of the crossroads. Illuminator. Key bearer of the cosmos and all that lies between.

The offering,

Hit the local herb shop (which boasts over 700 types of plant material!) today to collect incense supplies. I would have wild-crafted what I could find, but city living tends to send you to store bought instead.

I really wanted to add some storax to the blend, but this was a spur of the moment idea. I wouldn't have the storax till next week some time and I'd like to have this made during the dark moon.

I was considering (shed of course) snake skin as an ingredient, but I somewhat hesitated because A. I knew I had to ask someone for it. B. I didn't want them asking WHY I wanted it and C. weird? Whatever. I walked into the reptile store and was mesmerized by a great wall of tiny baby corn snakes: opals, lavenders, butters, bloodreds, fire, charcoals. They're one of the MOST colorful species of snake and the most docile (I once had a miami corn (R.I.P. Bartholomew) that disappeared while I was on a mad trip to Chicago once). Getting back on track now, there was a perfectly intact skin next to a little bloodred. The lady behind the counter wasn't at all threatening so I wasn't too shy to ask and she was happy to give it to me - no questions asked.



Shit yes, there will be snake skin in my incense! Something gives me the feeling it will add an extra kick of awesomeness.

Questionable vegan behavior by some I suppose, but look at it this way: little brothers skin isn’t going in the trash, it is being honored. As far as I'm concerned, if it fell off, died naturally, I found it, etc. I will USE it in my practice as it sees fit.