Lost_Warrior

I have thought of it but...ever heard of "starving artists"? Besides, I don't have all the stuff to make copper or iron things and sell them. I have tons of paper, but paper art is for some reason harder to sell than stuff like this and in order to put it in the local gallery, i have to have it framed. That, and I can't part with most of my stuff LOL. Excuses, excuses.

Thanks guys!!

My mom might think that's a little weird...although putting it around in little vases I could see. I'm always doing that with flowers.

Thank you!!

Oh, that stuff grows around here somewhere! I know I've seen it, and always wondered what it was!!

...OK, a LOT of gloating. Copper is so much fun!!! This is what I did today after turning in two job applications. I did it in two parts, mostly because I had to give some serious thought on how to attach the leaf without it looking silly (I wasn't sure how well it would work with the leaf coming directly off the stem as it is. I'm really glad I did it!) Now I need to acquire more scrap. Amazing what you can do with a few pieces of copper, some MIG/TIG wire (for the stem) and a plumber's torch!!! I'm so FREAKIN' proud of myself right now!

You have a point about the iron. That's very possible; I wonder if they did mix something else with the fat and ash. As for the leeches...OMG EWWW. I'll take the Clarol, thanks!

Very interesting Gaius! Does anyone know the make up of this so called Batavian foam? Also, what was the reason that fat and ashes produced red color? What exactly were the ashes *of* that they could produce red? I would expect ash to give a...well...ashy color!

I'm pretty sure men kept their hair close cropped most of the time. Women's hairstyles changed rapidly (and sometimes ridiculously...but then I've dyed my purple so "ridiculous" is clearly subjective) but were always or almost always long. I've read that women favored dying their hair in different colors as well.

LOL I know, right? I wouldn't mind being caught by a Centurion but then again...

Congrats!!! I lack the patience and attention span for novels. I prefer to write short stories.

Today, August 14, 2007 I became an Initiate on the Pathway of the Gods. This wasn't supposed to happen until Samhain, or maybe one of the Dark or Full moons surrounding it. My mother Morrigan, however, had other plans. (And you *don't* argue with Her! ) When I told her I was ready, I was expecting to decide then what date would be right. Instead the reply I got was "well what are you waiting for??" The ritual took place near the same spot in the forest where I did my Coming of Age Rite several weeks ago. In my street clothes, doing surprisingly well to remember the Oaths and Rite, because, I did not bother to memorize it yet nor did I have it with me to read. The words came easily to me; my fear of speaking Ritual aloud has vanished. It wasn't quite what I expected, but I should know better than to have expectations where gods are concerned! I feel an odd sense of kinship with everything living around me; my mother Morrigan is no longer next to me; I am a part of Her, and She a part of me. I wouldn't want it any other way. It took me several hours to regain my bearings again. Time did not exist for me anymore; it was as if it simply vanished. I could not think in a linear fashion. (I hear this is normal for initiations...the feeling went away in a few hours but in the mean time I'm glad I didn't have to be anywhere!!) Tonight I am celebrating, in my own quiet way. A glass of the sparkling grape juice usually reserved for ritual, and watching the sun set from my stone circle. Did I mention I built a circle? Oy vey, I'm behind on this thing! I built it last week sometime. I hauled the stones from the creek (which is pretty well dried up, so the stones were easy to access). Through daily use it's becoming quite well sacred. I feel most connected to the Celtic deities there; and more connected to the Roman deities at my altar inside. I built it for Morrigan. It's Her place. On Saturday I did my Dark Moon ritual. It was the first time I've ever done a moon ritual and it was very moving!! I can't wait for the next Dark Moon so that I can do it again!!

What would the Romans have thought of the meteor showers? Would they have seen it as an omen from the gods? Would they have realized it was a naturally occurring thing that happened once a year or so?

I saw a few last night. I didn't stay up for it, too tired. I got up in the middle of the night and saw a few out the window. And one star that looked like it was about to Supernova or something. It was huge, and flashing, I looked away for a second to see a beautiful meteor with a long, thick tail and when I looked back my star was gone. Then it appeared again, faintly and grew stronger back to it's huge flashing glory again. I don't know what was up with that. I was thinking maybe I was seeing a meteor "head on".

LOL!!! Can you imagine seeing that on the news?

It must've been a huge problem for those fighting. It might not have been as big a problem for some units, but for infantry it would be suicide (probably part of the reason they weren't worn by infantry!). I can also imagine breathing would be difficult (I feel like I'm suffocating just thinking about it!!) but then, that I suppose is something you could get used to.

Come to think of it I do remember seeing this somewhere. I stand corrected. But I still can't figure out how it wouldn't be nearly impossible to breath, or see. I wonder how many deaths resulted from eyesight being blocked by the mask.

I could definitely see a mask such as this being used to inspire fear in the enemy. Quite effective I would imagine!! Since they were found on the battlefield, it's likely that they were occasionally used in battle, at least. However I've got to wonder how anyone could stand to fight in them? The one with the open face would be far more practical for battle as it allows for easy breathing, but they still must be very uncomfortable (but then again, I may be mistaken on that point. I've never fought in one!). That said they do seem as though they could provide a good deal of protection. The "full face" variety I'd be willing to bet were strictly ceremonial. Obviously breathing and eyesight would be greatly restricted, as would speech.

I don't at the moment, unfortunately. I do have a question though; Most of the pictures and writings I've seen reference the Optio carrying not a vine staff like the Centurion, but a staff with a knob on the end of it. Was this a different time period? Or simply a different depiction of the same thing?

That is exactly right; I also believe that gifts were exchanged (masters gave gifts to their slaves). As for the dancing I haven't the foggiest idea!!

Wow Caldrail, good post!! Of course, you beat me too it! I was seriously going to make a rather long winded post on this same subject. (no really I was)

This week has been filled with work on my personal path. I've renamed it Pathway of the Gods (on the suggestion of someone on Covenspace.com; I was clear out of ideas) because Walking With the Gods is just...not poetic at all. I've done a lot of work on the actual *path* part of it. Designing and working the bugs out of curricula, deciding on appropriate coursework, and actually *doing* the coursework myself. On top of that, I've written the Dedication and Initiation (both forming a two-part Initiation Rite that I am planning to do myself on Samhain.) This was a challenge because, it had to be significant not only to myself, but to any seekers that might come my way (I'm not taking on any students until I've done all of the coursework myself, though, and maybe more). I wanted the ritual to be as "standard" as possible while still allowing for personal elements to be added in that would make it meaningful to everyone. On top of all of this, I've been slowly separating the actual Pathwork from the things I've written in my blog so far. Basically this involves keeping separate in my head "Pathwork and Coursework" from "essays written by someone on the path". I haven't removed anything from my blog yet; there are a few things I'm thinking of adapting to pathwork but I don't think I'll actually remove anything that's already there. I've been getting a lot of help on all of this from Mari, who is an elder priestess of the Gwyddonic Order and the founder of the College of the Blue Butterfly. I've actually been giving a lot of thought to joining the Gwyddonic Order myself as their beliefs very closely match mine (to the point that it's downright scary.) I've decided that I really need to get my Pathwork done before I consider doing work on any other path; it may well be that I *never* end up becoming a Gwiddon; or it may be that in a few years, I've devoted myself entirely to that path. Only time will tell. I went shopping today and before I went, I asked that I might find a robe suitable for ritual use. I should have been more specific; I had envisioned a dark blue, or purple, or green or even black robe, plain, and open up the front (to be tied). Or at least a solid dark color. What I *got* was a handmade and used (so slightly stained), WHITE robe with embroidered pink and purple flowers!! It's nothing like what I wanted, but it's perfect. Damnit, the Gods have a sense of humor! Could this be payback for my crack about the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Love Bug? (long story, don't ask LOL) On a more mundane note, I'm still jobless. Turns out Dave really DID only want a subcontractor. No fault of mine, just a misunderstanding. I can't do that job obviously, unless I have a shop to work in, which I don't. I did get ahold of William Poust, who is a blacksmith in the area. He doesn't have anything for me either, but he seemed really cool, and he said he'd keep and eye and an ear out for me. If I don't get any leads this week, I'm going to start looking into different jobs, saving up money and trying hard to get a shop set up. This is not going as planned! I only hope that I don't forget everything by the time I have a chance to start working again!! Either way, I am NOT going to work at one of the busier locations in town. I really do enjoy working with people; but only in small doses. I can't handle another experience like this past winter.

Personally I would get bored with all those hours of grooming. Is there actually any record of someone who's job was *specifically* to pluck nostrils? I would have thought that would be done by the barber (if it was done at all).

I don't know how it happened, but when I was going to screw around with Snapfire, I found a copy of Corel Paint Shop Pro on my computer!! I don't know where it came from; the only thing I can think of is that it came loaded on the computer (it did come with a lot of photo software). It's better than anything I've ever used (so I doubly hope it's not just a trial version that will go away). I am so psyched!! As of this moment, I'm back into digital art. Now it's going to be REALLY hard for me to break my techno habit.

I had wondered about the animals!! Thanks!