Author: JordanB

I grew up watching a show called Cheers. The theme song for that show had a chorus that went:

“Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name
And they’re always glad you came
You want to be where you can see
Our troubles are all the same
You want to be where everybody knows your name”

This song resonated with me in a number of ways. But one of them was I was a big nerd. My family, my teachers, even some of my “friends” thought that my hobbies were a waste of time, silly, immature, frivolous, childish. But my love for D&D and miniatures let me see places where people were treated the same. You were judged by your skill in the game, not by your gender, your race, or your wealth. These were outlets where people could unburden themselves from the shackles of the day to day grind and just be free to express themselves. Part theater, and part game, people could express themselves without judgement.

Recently I attended a convention in the Chicago area for these hobbies, and I was struck by how many people are talking about mental health. But of course we were. We grew up as nerds, being put down for our hobbies, being told that the games we played were either outright wrong (Satanic Panic of the 80’s and 90’s where the Christian right wing tried to ban these games) , or at the very least that it was silly and childish. The thing is, we were looking for a place to just be ourselves and be free to express our emotions.

Some of us were LGBT+, some were minorities, some of us were just frustrated pubescents and pre- pubescents, some of us just had no where else to actually feel free to say certain things or to act like a child; we had never had a childhood, we had been forced to grow up too soon. Whatever the reason, this was our escape. And people wanted to dump on us for having it.

So of course the community that grew around these hobbies is now talking a great deal about mental health, depression, and suicide prevention. We lost people. They never felt okay in the one place that they wanted to. They were made fun of, once again, for the one thing they tried to do for themselves. They found a place to be okay and maybe work through some things, and then other people decided to take it away from them.

There’s a difference between Networking, and a Community. We use the phrase family of choice quite a bit, because that expresses what a community really is. People taking care of each other, not just knowing who the other person is, but really caring for and being there for each other. Otherwise, you are just networking. At my convention I saw people break down, out in the open in front of everyone, and I saw them be held by their friends. I saw people go out of their way to encourage children, to bring people of every age, race, gender, and sexuality into the fold and to the table. I saw people stop talking, backtrack, and really listen when they were told that what they had just said was offensive, and they really meant it when they apologized.

My hobbies have nothing to do with my life’s work: to being Council for Covenant of the River. But at the same time, it kind of does. We all just want a place where everyone knows our name. We all want a place to be heard and held and understood. Of course my hobbies have turned towards talking about mental health. Of course my family of choice has done a great deal of work on trying to be inclusive. We all know what it was like to feel alone. No one should feel alone. You’re not alone. You just need to find your Cheers and they’re always glad you came. I hope that we build such an environment for you. If not, please let us know what we might do to help make it better.

Jordan

Summer is in full swing and so is Covenant. We, as usual, have a lot going on. Yard Sales, and Sanctuary care days aside we have Fort Collins Pagan Pride Day coming up, we just had Untamed, and we’re gearing up for our autumn events like Witches Ball.

It’s enough to make the head spin. So in that vein I’d like to take a moment to remind everyone that we can only do so much. No one expects any of us to be super human and do everything with a smile. We each have our limits, we each have our own home lives to attend to and all of that is okay.

We often say that everyone is welcome to participate as they are able. Not mandated to participate, not expected to give until it hurts. As we are able. You are all very giving and caring people, and Council thanks you for your participation whether it is every week or just from time to time. And yes, together we accomplish so much more than we could alone. But please remember to be gentle with yourself. Remain compassionate with others as they face the stresses of their lives. The saying goes: everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. So when you need to take a minute, a day, a week, or even longer for yourself, do that.

So as we celebrate our accomplishments and plan for the future, remember to make time for yourself. You are all precious to us and we will always have more to do, more to build later. But if you burn yourselves out it does no one any good at all.

Many, many blessings to all of you. Jordan

Who among you has ever made a special dish when not feeling well, in order to make yourself get better faster? At the very least we’ve all heard the cliche of chicken soup when someone is sick right?

This concept is nothing new, and it’s not just “old wives tales”. In fact there are cultures who have their entire cuisine based around this concept of food being medicine, or being essential to optimal health. Of course today there is an entire field of food science dedicated to finding out why a food is good or bad for you, and searching for the optimal human diet. But I’m talking about cultures that have been practicing this for hundreds or even thousands of years.

Chinese Medicine is probably the most well known example of this, balancing the body with Yin and Yang foods, but also working with the various flavors of spice, bitter, sour, sweet, and savory to adjust the body to counter what ails it. But less known are other cultures that based their entire cuisine upon similar ideas. Many Native American tribes of North America used food to keep the body healthy and in balance as well. Ancient Greece and Rome also had this concept with many recipes we have from that age specifically including the ailments it is good for treating. Pliny the Elder wrote: “Garum is [an] exquisite liquid. . . a choice liquor. . . it’s capabilities of healing all form of ailments is well known.” Gallen a well known physician at the time wrote: “Garum can be used to treat ulcers, dysentery, and sciatica. It regulates the bowel, and gives one energy and vitality.” And while this is just one food item they wrote of, they wrote this way about many, many foods.

Even in Dark Age Europe many recipes took on a tone of magic spell rather than what we would consider a traditional recipe today. In fact some nursery rhymes originate with those recipes: Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot 9 days old. A simple recipe for soft porridge of peas and root vegetables that could be kept for up to 9 days by reheating it each day to boiling.

Okay, so the ancients had some ideas about health and diet, so what? Well, modern food science is starting to acknowledge that while they may have gotten a lot of the “why’s” wrong of what it does inside the body, they weren’t too far off on the ideas of which nutrients help keep us healthy. And any food culture that works on the concept of balance automatically had a leg up on keeping people healthy. “Overall, these beliefs and attitudes shape the food culture of the study population into one that greatly values both eating pleasure and healthy eating. The importance of traditional beliefs about the hot-cold properties of food in this study population is consistent with findings from previous studies in many regions of the world including Asia . . . and can lead to a properly balanced diet.” (Inam et al., 2003; Manderson, 1987; Mellin-Olsen & Wandel, 2005; Wandel, Gunawardena, Oshaug, & Wandel, 1984; Wu & Liang, 2018)

So I say cling to your food cures and traditional recipes. As long as they have not been fully debunked by modern science, and they are safe to eat go for it. I know I have my favorite coldbuster soup which for me works wonders. You are not alone in your belief in food to heal, and science is starting to say there may be something to it. We’ll bring more on that next time it’s my turn to blog. 😉

Coldbuster Soup:
Saute 1 large diced white or yellow onion in olive oil, add 4-8 large cloves minced garlic and reduce heat, add 1 liter of your favorite broth, add 1 tsp oregano, 1 tbsp of ground nutmeg, 1 tbsp ground ginger, 2 tsp ground cayenne pepper, 1 tsp turmeric, pinch of salt and black pepper as well as basil to taste. Drink it while piping hot.

We fail. Therefore we ware human.

And that is not a bad thing. Failure is often a dirty word. Ooooh, you failed. Guess what? So do I, so does everyone. It is from failure that we learn.

There’s some stigma around trying and failing for some reason. Much like the stigma around not knowing something, anything. Like seeking knowledge, like being undecided is some dirty word? Undecided means you are still gathering information. Not knowing, and admitting it, that’s not a bad thing, it’s a good thing. It’s a learning process. Failing too is part of a learning process. Trying and failing is part of the process of getting good at anything.

It doesn’t matter what the thing is, ritual, magic, art, public speaking, anything at all. You have to try first. And really when you think about it, trying should get a lot more credit than most of western civilization tends to give it. Did you put yourself out there and actually try? If so, you are doing better than a large portion of the population. If not, well, that’s what the majority does. Not trying is safe. Trying requires bravery. We should honor that. And that means embracing failure.

Think about it. Would you rather have a friend who tries and fails, and admits their failures? Or would you rather have a friend who never tries? They don’t try to see your side, they don’t try to expand themselves, they don’t try to do anything new?

You want to do something great? Try. And that means failing first. Show me someone who has never failed, and that is someone who has never tried, never excelled, never expanded themselves.

I embrace and honor your trying, your seeking, your learning, your failing. I fail too. I fail hard.

Jordan

Imbolc for the ancient people of western Europe, especially the people of the British Isles and Gaul, was a sign of change in the seasons. They would begin around this time to notice the lengthening of the days, and they would see their cattle (especially sheep at this time) start to produce milk. It was a sign that they should take stock of their food stores to weather the last part of winter. But it was also a time of divination, reading the weather on Imbolc was a long standing tradition. If the weather was bad, it would be an early spring, if the weather was good you were said to be in for a long winter. Of course today this tradition is mirrored by the groundhog.

But the idea that this day centered around change remains, and personally I find it fitting that it be paired with divination as well. Because the seasons, the cycles, the stories of the Gods and Goddesses, and all the ancient legends mean little if we do not apply them to life today. If we cannot learn from our faith how to be better, more, different, then what are we doing with our spirituality? Faith exists not to serve the Gods but to serve the people. So we look to the day’s message of change, and it’s ties to divination, and what does it tell you?

It tells me that change requires introspection, thought, and care. In the human sphere of influence this has always been true. Change without direction or purpose is simply self aggrandizing, it’s change for change’s sake. But change when taken on with a purpose, and care for what the outcome may be is change for good. And I mean that in all senses of that word ‘good’, it is good vs evil kind of good, it is good as in good for you good, and it is change for good in that it lasts. Long after our bodies have gone, what will we be remembered for? I think we will be remembered for the way in which we treat one another and the things we left behind for others. What traditions will we form? What ways will we leave a positive mark on the world, or at least on our communities?

None of this means that we need obsess over our legacy, everything in moderation. And it does not mean that every change comes about exactly as planned (there is no way I would have believed you when I was 20 if you told me that someday I would be a member of this Council) change comes often in its own time and own way. But as we walk through the world we can be mindful of the change we are making, look ahead to see if it is something we like tying our name too, and if not we can adjust accordingly. We will never know all the outcomes of our lives or the work that we do. But we can take the time to try and think before we act. To plan. We can take time to be introspective and apply all that we know before we begin. And that is an enormous gift we possess.

Today I give thanks for this gift and all the multitude of gifts that we have. I give thanks for the community that loves and supports one another. I give thanks for change. And I hope . . . and more importantly plan, to be a positive force for change. I wish you all the best and brightest of blessings! Hail the returning of the sun!

Blessed Imbolc!

I know shoveling is not our favorite activity, and driving or walking in the snow isn’t always fun. But we are in a record long dry spell, in the middle of a drought.

Human impacts upon mother nature have changed our climate drastically already. And now the chickens are coming home to roost. If we don’t get a very wet, snowy winter, there will be some hard times ahead for all of the western half of our country. There won’t be enough water for crops. We may have to have water rationing. And the fire season may be incredibly dangerous.

So I think perhaps you will forgive me, and even join in with me in praying for snow. The weather forecast today says some rain, and tonight a little snow, but it’s less than an inch of accumulation. We need some heavy prolonged snow this winter. So that’s what I am praying for: several heavy snow falls all winter long.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

A new kind of blog this time. Let us know what you think of this audio post. Chel and Jordan sat down to talk about their introductions to Paganism and to Covenant. Click on the play arrow below. If you have trouble let us know.

This midweek moment was supposed to be posted, as its name suggests, in the middle of the week. Wednesday, maybe Thursday, something like that. Today is Saturday. My point is, that it is okay to not be okay and to say it.

How that relates? It’s been one of those weeks where everything seems to take way longer than you expect, things that should really take you thirty minutes seem to take three to four times that. And just like that, poof, there goes the entire week. In addition the way my depression manifests itself is in one of two ways: anger, or what happened this week – lack of motivation. I got writers block, not just on this blog post, but in everything I was doing at work and for Covenant alike. When I get behind on things, my depression tends to come on strong. This week, I am not entirely okay. Nothing is wrong, but I’m behind and I am depressed. I am saying it, because it is okay to not be okay.

There is this notion that some people like to push, that everything should always be alright, that if we are healthy and nothing is actually seriously wrong then we should be happy. But that just isn’t reality for most of us. Nothing can be “wrong” and we can still find ourselves depressed, or struggling in a number of ways. And I want to say it. You’re not alone in this. It is okay to not be okay. You can’t just make yourself be happy if you are not. You’re not alone in struggling for what seems like no reason. You’re not alone in getting behind on projects. You’re not alone in just sometimes not feeling 100% or being at your best. And that is okay. We need to cut ourselves a little slack for this, because beating ourselves up over it will just make it worse. We have to just keep doing the best we can, keep moving forward, try to elevate our mood sure, but don’t feel ashamed of being down or slow or just not okay. It happens to most of us. We are human and this is part of being human. Find a way out of it if you can, and cut yourself some slack if you can’t. You are worthy, you are loved, you are valuable, and you are enough just the way you are. Blessings!

Jordan

We made it.

Another season passes and the wheel keeps turning. Summer is passed and we stride into October.

Fall is the season for all senses. The feel of cool, crisp mornings and evenings after a long hot summer. A warm, palate of vibrant reds, oranges and browns take over the trees and hillsides. The taste of pumpkin spice seems to be in everything. The sound of crunching leaves underfoot. The smell of woodsmoke without it meaning wildfires.

The season for many brings joy, for others sadness. But for each of us the seasons bring specific associations. And the changing of seasons is the basis for the Neo-Pagan calendar. In fact, the changing of seasons was the original purpose for calendars to be invented at all. At the dawn of modern civilization human kind stopped migrating with the change in weather and settled into towns and started farming for our food. In order to ensure people had enough, you had to time your planting and harvesting carefully with the seasons. Plant too late the food won’t grow enough, harvest too early you may be missing out on more growing season. So the ancients tracked the sun and moon and broke the year up into sections which could then determine when was optimum to plant, and when to harvest.

The Sumerians and Ancient Egyptians had this system down to a science (possibly one of the earliest sciences) and their calendars became a model for other civilizations. They tied the seasons to their deities and celebrated holidays to encourage the bounty of the land. Today as Neo-Pagans we still honor and celebrate the season of fertility and planting, and as we march into Autumn we will celebrate the harvest time. In this way we keep truly ancient traditions alive. The names may change, the traditions may not look the same from culture to culture, but we are all tied together through out time and across the globe. As the Shawnee saying goes: We are all one people spinning through Mother Sky together.

So what are your connections to the Fall season? How are you marking the change of the seasons? And what does Autumn remind you of?

Blessings! – Jordan

We’re going camping!!!!! YAY!!!! We have to get ready for camping. . . . ugh.

For many of us, the camping season is a highlight of our year, but getting ready for it can be difficult. Balancing work, personal life, and trying to prepare to be away from civilization for almost a week can be rough. I don’t know about the rest of you, but for myself it triggers a very nasty aspect of my depression: Lethargy. And that doesn’t help at all. Right when I need the most energy and to get the most done, my motivation dries up. Great. Thanks for that brain.

But whatever the reason for our stress, we don’t have to let those influences win. For me I have found a counter intuitive method of dealing with the stress and getting past my lethargy when it comes around. It may seem odd when I am extremely busy, but my solution is to be still.

In my personal faith meditation and sitting still, to sit with and analyze my emotions is an integral part of practicing spirituality. We are often so busy that we do not sit, we do not process. This can lead to a build up of excess emotion. It can lead to even more stress, less resolution, more frustration. In Taoism we practice what is called Wu Wei which simply means action through inaction, or doing by not doing. Taking a little time o sit with my problems, my thoughts, my feelings can allow me to control them rather than letting them control me. This was one of the most powerful lessons I learned from my martial arts training. Not the moves or strikes, but sitting and listening to myself. Everyone wants to feel heard. So shouldn’t we give ourselves the respect of listening to ourselves at least?

Next time you feel stressed try taking a moment. Sit with your thoughts and process where they come from and what is really yours to handle and what is beyond all human control? It isn’t always easy to do, but if like me you find that you have the least energy right when you need the most, it might be of use.

Blessings!

Jordan