(no subject)

I've been working on setting up Outlook Express; if nothing else, this is a good opportunity to rid myself of a lot of dead filters. I don't think I'll delete Eudora, though. For one thing, I'm still using it for my old email account (the one with all the SPAM!); for another, there are so many saved messages in it that I really don't want to get rid of. Geez, I'm even a packrat when it comes to virtual storage space...

UPS brought me a Cafepress order of heathen books: The Rites of Heathendom by Eric Wodening (actually this is our second copy of that one, the first had that awful fall-apart-if-you-breath-on-it spiral binding), and Bits of Heathenry, volumes 1 and 2. The latter seems to be mostly short pieces gleaned from internet sources--from looking at the tables of contents I can see that some of it I'll dig, and some of it I'll lift an eyebrow at, but that's all right :). However, since I'm in the middle of Gods of the North I won't be doing an indepth reading of the new books quite yet.

See, we have a philosophy about buying newly-pressed books on heathenry. That philosophy: "Buy them--QUICK!--before they go out of print!" Hehe.

Five questions again!

From athanasios (thanks! :)):

1. How do you define friendship?

I'm not sure I do have a specific definition--it's kind of a "you know it when you see it" thing, and of course there are many different sorts of friendship. But true, long-term friendship is something else--this sort of friend is loyal without taking sides, supportive without losing all objectivity, honest without being hurtful, respectiful without being stiff and formal, close without being invasive, tolerant without becoming a doormat.


2. What is your opinion of Pagan Reconstructionism?

I like it. However, I consider myself to be a semi-reconstructionist, for various reasons. I think that maybe reconstructionist isn't the best word because it implies the possibility of an exact rebuilding, and I don't think that's possible or (probably) desirable in most cases.

However, the idea of a modern faith built on a strong reconstructed base--that I am definitely behind! Without the reconstruction, however, you don't have a pattern to follow. Innovation is best when based on what we already know.

I guess I'm not being too clear here-probably because it's an area where my own opinion is in flux right now.


3. How do you keep your cultural/spiritual interests ordered to the point that they don't bog you down?

Heh, that's saying that I do! :) I gather you're asking about the Hellenic/Norse thing. I think the biggest help is that my experience with each is quite different, that I'm not called to do the same thing with regard to both. For example, my Hellenic practice is pretty much limited to me--my own devotions, my own reading and writing--and my work is directed almost entirely inwardly. In addition, I have a narrower focus there, my devotion to Aphrodite in particular, and that may simplify things.

While there is an inner-work aspect as well to my Norse practice, I'm also very active in working with my kindred and trying to do the best possible job I can to make things go smoothly and to help everyone have a rewarding ritual experience. As I'm sure you know, once other people are in the mix it's a whole 'nother thing (not in a bad way, just in a different way)--I am lucky to be in a group where we share the work, but there's still a sense of responsibility that kind of hovers there, whatever you do. Again, not a bad thing. Whatever I do, I kind of feel like I'm never just doing it for myself, and I look at things with respect to whether they'll be helpful for our group as well as for me as an individual. Just a different approach, I guess.


4. What is your favorite ethnic food? Why?

I like Indian food if it's not too spicy (I know, what's the point! :)), but really I think I like Chinese best. A nice mix of flavors, generally hard to make inedible (although one time I had some that was--I think they'd emptied a can of peas into the mix! :)), and readily available for takeout.

5. You have said you are in the SCA, what do you like most about that organization?

Heh, not a whole lot at the moment. I'm kind of tired of it, have been for a while. But looking back, I think it was the opportunity to do cool stuff--costumes, needlework, cooking--that drew me in. It wasn't the role-playing aspect because I really don't do persona, and it certainly wasn't the fighting, which I find fairly tedious most of the time, and it definitely wasn't the royalty thing because court is deadly dull and I can never remember what crown equals what peer :). But learning to do new things is a lot of fun--that and being with tons of people who appreciate the skill and effort that goes into doing those crafts--in the modern world, most people really don't see the point. And the people, of course-The people you are playing with make a lot of difference with regard to your experience of the SCA. It's fun, I may well get back into it at some point, but right now it's a very, very low priority.


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And I'm asking athanasios five questions in return :).