if you search instead, don””””t use “vampire” in the description; billions of podcasts come up. But if you put “shadowlore in the description, WE ARE THE ONLY ONE!!!! Please subscribe, review, and spread the word.
Most recent podcast is about Lilith. Previous 1 is about the Nephilim. Also necromancy, feeding techniques, energy work, and more.
And if you would like to present to one of our meet ups, or have a specific topic you would like discussed, please email me so we can set it up.
–
BB,
Vivienne D’Avalon
Soli boni moriuntur iuvenes; audere esse mali!
http://vampires.meetup.com/929/
to call in: http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=17560&cmd=tc
http://twitter.com/VivienneDAvalon
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/vivienne.davalon
]]>This is a very short book, only 90 pages, and it is composed of a series of essays the author wrote for various publications. Most of it is very basic and probably would not appeal to a more advanced worker, so I was a little disappointed. I was looking for something different and new, and something for the advanced worker. But scattered throughout the book are a few very interesting ideas that I have not seen anywhere else, and they inspired me to some new thinking. That is always what I am looking for in a book.
The reader can tell that the author was influenced by Crowley and Ceremonial Magick along the lines of the OTO and the Golden Dawn. Among the most useful ideas was chapter 5, on Banishing and Cleansing. I have made a variation of these ideas a part of my daily practice, which I spell out in detail in the 5 part series that I wrote, the email tutorial that comes with the subscription to the Persephones Haven blog. (See subscription button in the upper left hand corner of the web page). The author is also influenced by Austin Osman Spare and Chaos Magick, particularly the use of sigils, but the beginner will definitely want to read some books by Phil Hine about Chaos Magick first, because the little bit that Mace goes into is not enough at all to really teach anyone what Chaos Magick is about.
In fact, the book deals with too many beginning subjects for the advanced practitioner to get a whole lot out of it, though as I said, there are a few good ideas scattered here and there, throughout. Unfortunately, there is not enough for a beginner, either, because Mace does not go in depth into any one topic. I think that is because the book is made up of a series of short essays that were written as magazine articles, so they are extremely basic introductory ideas presented for people that otherwise would not know about them.
If anything, this is a good book for beginners to read through to make notes about all the different topics that he or she can research and explore in greater depth. The author is obviously very well read and very experienced as a practitioner, so I found myself wishing he had gone into much greater depth and detail on any one or two of the topics that he dealt with so briefly in his essays. I am definitely going to be looking out for more of his books. I am hoping that at least some of them are much meatier than this one. The publisher listed some related books as well, such as books by Phil Hine on Chaos Magick and books by Crowley and others on Ceremonial Magick. However, there is no formal bibliography, and I found myself wishing that there could be an extensive one.
Happy Reading!
BB,
Vivienne
P.S.: If you enjoyed this post and found it useful, please share it by hitting the “share” button below, and let us know what you think by adding a comment to this post. To get our blog posts delivered directly to your email inbox, fill in your email address in the sign up box in the upper left hand corner; never miss a post!
]]>The first and lesser blow was that my lover of almost two years left me at the beginning of July to take a job in Japan. I spent most of June helping him get ready to go, and was understandably depressed when he left; I was also planning a vacation for the last week of July with my niece, in MA. Unfortunately, the day my niece and I got back from our vacation, on August 2nd, her brother, my 15 year old nephew, committed suicide. We got the news as his mother, my sister, was driving my niece and I home from the airport. I spent the following weeks helping my sister and niece deal with the fallout, and dealing with my own grief.
Fall faded into winter and I started feeling somewhat better, and had a brief spurt of activity as I tried to get back into the swing of things. I twittered here and there, dabbled on Facebook… and then the cold weather came, even here in Florida. I do not know about the rest of you, but I do not do well in cold. I have arthritis in my neck, and this year it was made much, much worse by the unrelenting and unusually cold weather, to the point of crippling me — it has been all I can do to go to work each day and sit at the computer all day, and I have had nothing left over when I go home. I have been spending most every evening and weekend flat on my back, and even simple pleasures like needlework and reading have caused me so much pain that I would have to take frequent breaks. Working on the computer in my off hours on my own personal projects has been impossible. Now, I tend to hibernate during winter months anyway, and go into hermit mode. The cold weather makes me feel very sluggish and sleepy and sometimes depressed, and I do not feel up to talking to anyone or doing anything except quiet, passive activities like reading and crafts, snuggled up with my kitties. This year, after everything else that happened, and dealing with crippling pain, that period was much worse and lasted much, much longer than it has in the past.
Now, at last, I am beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel. This week has seen the return of some warmth and spring-like weather, and unlike previous weeks, it did not hit just for a day or two and then plunge back into the 30s at night. I have been in much less pain this week and therefore in a much better mood, and have been able to manage a few hours sitting up in the living room working on my counted cross stitch, rather than ensconced in my bedroom with pillows under my neck. I got a Care and Feeding of Spirits Newsletter out for the first time since November. I booked another speaking engagement for our local Wiccan Meet Up at the end of May (I am speaking about modern day vampires again). And at the vampire meet up last Friday I asked everyone how they would feel about trying to make a book out of the recordings of our last two years worth of meetings. In other words, I am starting to feel up to being productive again, and the urge to write is creeping back into my veins like a caffeine IV. It is amazing what sunshine and a little warmth will do.
I have hopes that we have seen the last of Jack Frost for this season, at least here in Central Florida, and that my neck will therefore also continue to improve — though I worry what next winter will be like for me, as it has never been this bad before, and arthritis only gets progressively worse — there is no cure and there is no reversing the damage that is already done, we can only try to slow it down.
It is times like these when I really resonate with the story of Persephone, spending the winter months in the land of the dead and finally emerging to great celebration and happiness in spring to the land of the living. I hope I will be able to make up for my hiatus with extra productivity over the coming summer months and get some good material written here for you — I can definitely feel myself going into teaching and writing mode. Maybe it is just because it is spring, but I want to create something again, and that is always a healthy and joyous feeling!
Happy spring everyone.
BB,
Vivienne
]]>Tuesdays: 7pm-9pm, at Avalon, 1211 Hillcrest St., Orlando, FL
6/30: Basic Astrology
7/7: Basic Numerology
7/14: Tarot
7/2: Runes
7/28: Intuitive Development
8/4: Intro to Mediumship.
Please pre-register for all classes by e-mailing Kim for more info. Class space is limited to 15 students, so sign up ASAP!
[I will be recording many of these workshops and courses in audio or video format so Kim can make them available for sale to any of you who can’t make her classes in person. To make sure you are notified as courses become available, e-mail her and ask to be added to her email mailing list].
P.S.: If you enjoyed this post and found it useful, please share it by hitting the “share” button below, and let us know what you think by adding a comment to this post. To get our blog posts delivered directly to your email inbox, fill in your email address in the sign up box in the upper left hand corner; never miss a post!
BB,
Vivienne D’Avalon
Soli boni moriuntur iuvenes; audere esse mali!
Persephone’s Haven’s My Space: http://www.myspace.com/persephoneshaven
Vivienne’s My Space: http://www.myspace.com/viviennedavalon
My Twitter: http://twitter.com/VivienneDAvalon
]]>BB,
Vivienne
P.S.: If you enjoyed this post and found it useful, please share it by hitting the “share” button below, and let us know what you think by adding a comment to this post. To get our blog posts delivered directly to your email inbox, fill in your email address in the sign up box in the upper left hand corner; never miss a post!
]]>If you purchase the e-book, On the Care and Feeding of Spirits, at it’s website, http://CareAndFeedingOfSpirits.com, you will be able to participate (for free) by phone and/or by chat, and if you can’t make it, the call will be recorded so you can go back to listen and download at any time by visiting the page url that will be sent to you along with the pdf of the book and the other free bonus materials.
Hope to talk with you on the 11th!
BB,
Vivienne
P.S.: As always, if you find this post helpful, please spread the love by clicking on the “share” button below. Thanks so much!
]]>Meet Your Spirit Guides
]]>These cover memetics, psychology, paganism, magick, psychic self defense, spiritual cleansing, and more, and make a great resource for further study to supplement On the Care and Feeding of Spirits.
Happy reading! If you have any questions about any of these books or the topics they cover, please do not hesitate to ask, either by commenting here or emailing me at vivienne at persephoneshaven.com.
As always, if you find this post helpful, please spread the love by clicking on the “share” button below.
Thanks so much!
BB,
Vivienne
]]>“ISSUE 28 is now available in stores nationwide. Grab it at Barnes & Noble, Borders Books, Hastings, Waldenbooks & B.Dalton. The list of indie stores that carry the mag can be found here
Keep reading for your chance to win a copy!
ISSUE 28 FEATURES
Features in this issue include the 2009 Dark Cities Survey, Enigma Fashions, Kambriel, Morph Clothing, The Night Dracula Called ~ Acid PopTart’s new (mis)adventure, Bats Day with Kynt & Vyxsin, artist Davey Jones, Tonner Dolls, Coffin Quilts, Topsy Turvy, Gothic Weddings, Mirror Mirror (a fantasy style editorial) & more! Music interviews with Mike Patton, La Floa Maldita, Combichrist, The Legendary Pink Dots & Revue Noir. Plus music reviews, product reviews & book reviews.
subscriptions 10% off!
SUBSCRIPTION & GIFT PACK PROMO
From now until June 5th all subscriptions and Gift Packs are 10% off!
Grab one of our popular candle gift packs!
New promo cards for street team members
CARDS FOR STREET TEAM
4 by 6 promo cards are available for Street Team members. Sign up to receive a bunch and help spread the word about our mag.
All Genre Travel Gothic Cruise
2009 GOTHIC CRUISE
We had a lot of fun on last year’s cruise and we are looking forward to sponsoring the 2009 cruise. Fashion show produced by GB with events such as the Masquerade Ball, Rocky Horror interactive viewing and bands The Cruxshadows, Modulate, Cruciform Injection and State of the Union performing. For more information visit All Genre Travel.
WIN A COPY OF ISSUE 28!
We have ten copies up for grabs. For a chance of winning one, simply answer the following question:
Q. What band was also featured on the cover of the first Gothic Beauty?
Send your answer along with your full name and postal address to: contest@gothicbeauty.com
Entries need to be received by Monday, May 25th. Winners will be selected at random from all correct entries and notified by email.
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Gothic Beauty
Take care,
Steven Holiday
Publisher”
***
I love this magazine — so many beautiful clothes and wonderful products — when one of us gets an issue we all pass it around the table and enjoy looking at it together. Highly recommended!
BB,
Vivienne
]]>Happy reading!
BB,
Vivienne
]]>