Incense Holders

I have never really liked the dark wood appearance of most incense holders, as I prefer lighter colours and, to be honest, the designs didn't appeal either.  I prefer the idea of keeping anything lit under protection, but given most incense boxes caused my incense sticks to burn out forcing me to relight them every so often, I tended not to use boxes at all.   I did buy one tower, but it was of dark wood and I just couldn't find a place to put it where it wouldn't stand out.

In Wicca Moon on Saturday, I stumbled across this tower incense burner.  Given I have a fascination with the heart shape and it was washed in a light green, I had to have it.   The bonus was when I got it home and started to use it: because the holes in the cut-out heart shapes are so large air easily circulates, so the sticks never burn out and the smoke escapes in lovely plumes filling the room with the aromas of the incense in no time at all.  It can burn four sticks at once and/or a single cone which allows for a greater intensity.

I am so happy with the stylish little purchase.  I realise it will not be to everyone's taste, but it suits me and my accommdations.  If green doesn't appeal, it also comes in white and blue.  I think I may purchase another one and have my own version of The Two Towers.

Thank You

Would just like to thank Edain for The Sunshine Award left for me at her blog and her kind comments on one of my previous posts.  I'm glad that my blog helps you, even in some small way.

Megalithic Tour 2010

Ballymeanoch IV

This is a photograph, the first of hundreds, which I took on my tour of the north-west of Scotland with Megalithic Tours. I hope to process all my photographs soon and publish an account of my experiences at the various sites here on these pages.

I truly enjoyed my time with the group and in Scotland and I hope to return many times to Scotland, and, gods willing, move there permanently. I feel so much more connected in Scotland, without even trying, and the pull is strong.

I made a few offerings as discreetly as I could, and I believe they were well received. Certainly, the tour went without a hitch, despite weather forecasts threatening the crossing to Lewis. I would have been disappointed indeed had I not seen Calanais again.

So, back in the south-east of England again, but aready thinking of next year's journey north.

A Wishlist

I have a wishlist of things I know I will never own, but still desire and I have to add this the list.  It's currently listed on ebay, but it is beyond my means.   It still doesn't stop me from wanting it though.

Description:

Culture:	Romano European
Date:	Late 1st Century BC
Size:	Diam @ 17mm
Description:	A rare ring which has survived in excellent condition with a small elegant band with oval bezel which describes a single sheath of wheat. For the assigned date for the ring it may have had associations with the Roman God of Crop Protection "Robigus". The patina is of blackened silver and has a gloss finish. Calcite deposits are seen within the inner band and behind the bezel which attest to the great age of the ring. In very Fine Condition - Ex French Private Collection.

White Dragon Magazine

Once upon a time, I used to read a magazine called White Dragon.  In fact, I was a subscriber, so I always received the magazine through the post at least one or two days days before it would arrive in the local shop.  Since Samhain 2009, however, I have not received the magazine and my emails have not been responded to.  I see that the forum is down, not that they were ever that active but, even so, it's another sign that the magazine is no more.

I have searched on the internet, in vain, trying to ascertain what happened, but, alas, all is silent.  If anyone does have any news about White Dragon, please let me know.  I especially want to here that it is to return.  I certainly hope that the website is not lost, as there are some interesting articles and reviews to be found there which indicate the kind of quality that will be lost if the magazine has indeed folded.

Consumerism

I gave into the consumer in me on Saturday and purchased a clay cup with a stag's head on it.  It's not perfect, as can be seen from the picture, but it's cute. 

I have no good reason for the purchase, as I am not going to use this item in rituals or any celebrations.  I intend to use it as a daily item,
and drink my cordials from it.  I like it; it's quirky. 

I just wish I could justify spending money on a want, rather than a need.

More Pagan Dating Sites for Singles

It seems the Ning network has two places for pagan singles to meet others. The first is the Wiccan/Pagan Singles Club, and the second is Pagan Singles.

So, for those who are looking for free sites, these might be worth a look.

Pagan Dating Chat

Finally, a pagan dating site has enabled chat, allowing members to communicate in real time, rather than resorting to conversing purely through the dating site. Most sites don't allow you to insert your mail address or telephone number even in private messaging and then, there are limits to the number or private messages allowed to individual members, making it difficult to make real life connections.

So, well done, Olde Souls, for installing a live messenger/chat section for us single pagans. I think I may be visting more often now.

The Hermit

A friend of mine has decided to create her own tarot deck and has made a request of me: to model for The Hermit card. I have agreed as I think it will be an interesting project. An artist has been hired to create the cards from the ideas of my friend, and these will all be modelled on things personal to her, including her friends, family and pagan folk of her acquaintence.

At this stage, the deck is to be majors only, but some of the ideas I've heard sound wonderful.

I am sure it will be a few years before the deck is finished but, when it is finished, I will be sure to post a picture (friend's permission permitting) here at my blog.

All rather exciting I think.

Britain BC

Author: Francis Pryor
ISBN: 9780007126934

It has actually taken me two years to read this book. I started it in July 2008, and I remember finding it hard to comprehend. It seemed all over the place and I had difficulties with the way Pryor went into long, confusing descriptions of various archaeological dig sites. I felt extremely stupid as I just could not visualise that which he attempted to illustrate with words in detail. I became frustrated and, instead, found other books to distract.

This year I have made a concerted effort to finish those books I struggled with in the past. I picked up Britain BC again, but instead of returning to the beginning, I continued from where I had left off in order to distance myself from the earlier frustrations. It worked! I was able to read this book somewhat more comfortably and actually absorb most of the information.

The detailed and wordy descriptions of various artefacts and archaeological digs sites still left me reeling, but pictures and illustrations are provided (more frequently in the second half of the book) which help to clearly demonstrate what Pryor is tries to describe in words. In some cases, I still skipped the details in favour of understanding how the site/artefact furthered the understanding of a particular time, people, community or way of working.

Britain BC did provide me with insight in the world of archaeology; its progress over the years; and an idea of how archaeologists work today both in terms of learning about our past and in preserving it for the future. I marvelled at the amount of speculation involved in seeking to put finds into context, giving the impression that the purpose of a site or artefact can never be certain where archaeologists are involved. This was quite a lesson for me. I found it disconcerting that as Pryor dismantled the ideas of others, he sought to replace them with his own imaginings, a few of which I thought less credible than those he had just rejected. Still, what do I know?

I was taken by the idea that, immediately prior to the arrival of the Romans, British society was not necessarily a cohesive whole but rather made up of small community groups, some of which had banded together to form larger societies. Pryor also speculates that some of these communities did not have a formal structure, but were loosely banded together, and there may not have been an elite class as previously thought or imagined by rich burial sites.

Prior to reading Britain BC, I was unaware the Iron Age extended into the early part of first millennia CE with crannogs and brochs being in use in 600 CE, but only in those areas where the Romans had not tread. Although I have gained some insight into what is known about the various “ages” of prehistory, I might have assimilated more if the author had refrained from flitting between archaeological dig sites, with a quick tangent into the future of one or another site "... but we will explore that further later in another chapter" (to paraphrase) and back again. As a reader, I felt disconnected from the finds or how they corroborated what was known about the people and/or communities of the age and how they lived in the landscape. I was lost quite a bit of the time; I needed lots of breaks from reading this book in order to take my bearings. I know the author is enthusiastic - I can read it in his text - but I think more careful editing might have made the evidential information more accessible.

Overall, the book did provide me with a basic knowledge of prehistory in Britain and it's all in one place instead of the myriad of bits and bobs floating around in my head from reading news updates from various archaeological websites. I have definitely learned more than I ever did at school about the subject. It's just Britain BC is not a book I would, or even could, use as a reference to with which to check my understanding.

I am not sure what is says about the book when the first thing I can say about it is: "I now know the difference between pre-history, proto-history and history".

Rating: 4/5.