The Visionary Art of Paul B. Rucker

This past week was filled with many highs and lows.  Today, I'm going to concentrate on the "high".

One afternoon, while waiting on a customer, I heard the tinkling of the bells on the door and in breezed this extraordinary man.  His energy was colorful, happy and joyful.  While talking to my customer, I noticed he sat down in the Big Comfy Chair by the library and was browsing through our magazine selection.

I bid adieu to the customer and this gentleman rose up from the chair, and seemingly floated across the room to me, charging the air with a rainbow of electric energy.  He placed a magazine on the counter that he wished to purchase, then proceeded to introduce himself by holding up the most recent copy of Circle Magazine we had on the shelf and saying "Hi! I'm Paul Ruckert and this is my artwork on the cover!"  He had a smile on his face that brightened the already well-lit room. 

Paul B. Rucker is truly a visionary and deeply spiritual artist.  His works are vibrant, eclectic, and imaginary.  Without a doubt, his presence and personality are infused into each piece of art that he paints.  His art work has been featured on the cover of such publications as Green Egg, Hecate’s Loom, Mezlim, Psychedelic Illuminations, Tapestry Journal, and Reclaiming Quarterly.

"I think of myself as part of the Tribe of Dream", he quips on his website.  And when you see his pieces, I think you'll understand what he means.

The afternoon was spent chatting with Paul about a wide variety of subjects, including his ideas on marketing, and me teaching him how to incorporate simple hula moves in his spiritual expressions. 

The best part of the day was the opportunity I had to purchase some of his pieces of art, to sell here at Eye of Nuit!  I do hope you'll enjoy them as much as I enjoyed picking them out - and the magickal afternoon spent with the enchanting Paul B. Rucker.

Queen of My Own Damn Life!

In the World Of Snowy (hereon known as WOS) there is one absolute:  I am Queen of My Own Damn Life.  Sound egotistical?  I think not.

It takes a LOT to become Queen of Your Own Damn Life, and it's actually a title that every woman can assume.  And that's peachy keen in your own life, but when you cross over into the WOS, respect the crown!  LOL!!

For those of you who truly know me, you know that I am the LEAST egotistical person in the world.  My BFF Kallan Kennedy has to remind me over and over again what talents I possess, what my true calling is, and what I have to offer the world.  The Honey is consistently my rock when I am feeling down.  (The Honey is that wonderful man I share my life with)

My belief is that we need to not only believe in ourselves, but we have got to learn to think very highly of ourselves.  Appreciating, loving & nurturing our Queen Selves goes a long way in our overall well being and survival.

I recently told The Honey that for the past several years I've allowed myself to be a punching bag for others with deep seated personal issues.  Trust doesn't come easy for me anymore.  The WOS has been rocked several times when out of nowhere, people I've placed trust in have just hit me so low, it was like a TKO!  I've blogged (probably on several occasions) about The Lie Monster.

The Lie Monster is that energy that is created by those who lack self esteem, harbor petty jealousies, and covet The Good and Wonderful that you possess.  They just can't get it for themselves and have NO CLUE where to start.  So - they lie! 

On another note:  I also came to the realization recently that I am very spoiled by my Black Forest Clan training.  But... that won't make sense to a lot of people.

Have you felt like a punching bag for others?  Do you think you are not worthy of A Good Life?  My advice to you is to get your head out of the sand and start being Queen of Your Own Damn Life!  Speak up for yourself, let no one take your Personal Royal Power, and polish that crown!

Be proud of yourself, even for the smallest accomplishments.  Remove that which does not fulfill you on a spiritual or emotional level from your life.  Fill your life with people who uplift you, who honor and respect you, and who just think you are the best thing since sliced bread!

Give of yourself, your time, and your energy - but do so wisely.  For, to continually give of yourself with no appreciation in return, you are breaking the Code of The Queen!  Rid yourself of Emotional Baggage (THAT is a tough one!!)  and fill your cup with The Spice of Life.

Are YOU the Queen of Your Own Damn Life?  If so, tell us about it - if not, let us know what we can do to help you!

Bad Juju vs. Good Vibrations = A Fractured Pagan Fairytale

The controversy surrounding what can be done by the pagan community about the DC 40, spearheaded by John Benefiel of the Heartland Apostolic Prayer Network (HAPN)  has taken some interesting, but not surprising, twists and turns.

Hecate Demeter shares a lot of good (and well worth reading) information on what HAPN is planning, along with End-Time Handmaidens (a name I find curious as it suggests that they see women in a subservient role... but I digress) and gives a peek into this group of conservative christian extremists view of the "District of Columbia".  

Distressing to just about every pagan out there?  Absolutely.  And yet - as is typical of pagan nature - so difficult to get a group of free thinkers to agree on what - if anything - should be done.

I watched a highly respected blogger Kallan Kennedy be admonished by a self professed "new-agey practitioner" on her Facebook page when she explained her views on using magick to defend herself against negative attacks.  Her philosophy (one that we share) is that "a witch who cannot hex cannot heal"  His response to her was "your karma, not mine".  Really?? 

On Alison Leigh Lilly's blog she admonishes pagans who are basically using a "fight fire with fire" means of fending off the negative impact something like this DC 40 imposes on us all.  A clear voice that rings out the "let's all just play nice and they will like us!" mentality.  Again.. REALLY??

Apathy, disconnect from each other as a pagan whole, and the lack of being able to put certain views aside to collectively come together for a very important cause is exactly why the extreme conservative christian right is gaining power POLITICALLY on us by leaps and bounds.  And gaining POLITICAL power means they have the gold and are getting to make the rules.  Is this what we really want??

Yeah... I said the "P" word.  Too many pagans shudder at the thought of it and run down their pagan rabbit holes, refusing to deal with it.  If pagans would start working towards more involvement - even at a local level - in the politics of this nation, then we might gain more ground and effect more change.  Don't want the government to allow the extreme christian belief system to color your rights?  GET INVOLVED!  That means, go vote, get elected, write to your Congressmen/woman and Representatives.  Make calls, contact the folks at Covenant of the Goddess and just make noise in general.


Pagans want either religious equality, or the complete separation of church and state (both noble thought processes) - but WAY too many are afeared of POLITICS.  Brother and Sister John and Jane Pagan COME OUT OF THAT RABBIT HOLE!!

 So - back to the Bad Juju/Good Vibrations concept.  Does it really have to be only one or the other?  Why can't the "love and light" side accept that there are others who will willingly pick up the magickal sword and do battle against the oppression?  For as we all know - energy is just that:  ENERGY.  It is neither good nor evil.  It's the INTENT that counts.  And if putting a stop to the negative energies of the christian extremists to protect the INTENT of our Founding Fathers means using every ounce of energy I have to deflect and PROTECT then I will.  

Good Goddess, people - didn't approximately 3,000 soldiers die on the battle field in Gettysburg alone just trying to (and SUCCEEDING) protect those freedoms?  They gave their lives - are some of you so narcissistic that you won't risk your "karma" to at least support those who are willing to do battle?  

I personally invite the "love and light" pagans to send their own INTENT along with ours, so that it melds together into one big ball of  WE DID IT!  What deflates the overall intent is the strong argument that these same pagans use to try and shame us into thinking WE are evil.   Your negativity has the potential of deflating the overall balloon of success!

 We can't overcome the "Us vs. Them" until we overcome the "My Juju is Better Than Yours" attitude.

 That's my Fractured Pagan Fairytale.  What's yours?