It’s been a while, longer than I realized until I noted the date on the last entry. November and December found me in a period of hibernation from online activity. But I am alive and well – physically, emotionally, spiritually – with some exciting changes afoot.

In February I posted an essay here about Samael. It gave a very basic overview of how he appears in a range of cultural, religious, and magical writings, as well as some of my own UPG. To my surprise, it became one of my most-read posts, and since then I’ve been contacted by a number of people who work with him. To me, this suggests a hunger for more information about him…and that, like Lilith, he’s been active lately.

Scanning The Wild Hunt today, I saw a link to a blog post by Yeshe Rabbit, the founder and high priestess of CAYA coven. In the essay, she gives her perspective and personal experiences of the controversial Lilith Rite at PantheaCon 2011, presented by the Amazon Priestess Tribe, a sub-group of CAYA. I first responded to this incident, from the perspective of a priestess of Lilith, here. A follow up post can be found here.

Coming eight months after the incident itself (although a statement had been issued earlier), Rabbit’s post is rather long, as it details the parameters of her relationship with Z Budapest, the rationale of CAYA coven, P-Con itself, and the aftermath she experienced.

So, this is not the update on Samael many of you are waiting for, and this will surely be old news to most of you. However, this was in response to a request.

I was recently asked to make a brief introductory document about Lilith to be turned into a pamphlet for people new to the Lilith’s Tribe meetup in NYC. I happily complied, although it was certainly difficult to narrow Her down sufficiently for such a short document.

If some of this sounds familiar, I do lift some lines from my own book. (Sheepish grin)

So, if someone asks you who She is, feel free to direct them here!

Our forty-five minute session had somehow stretched into two hours. My body ached and dripped with sweat. I struggled to keep focus and not give in to the fatigue, to the fuzzy mind. I wanted water, but it might as well been a thousand miles away. I wasn’t going anywhere until she gave me permission to leave.

She was displeased for good reason. This was sloppy work, and the doubt creeping into my mind was not helping matters. I steeled myself as I went through the intricate forms again and again. Finally, she nodded and stopped me. I bowed deeply and thanked her.

Upcoming Blogs:

-More on Samael (including more insights on His relationship to Lilith, His relationship to Choronzon, recent UPG, and what I learned from an ambush ordeal)

-On Learning vs. Training vs. Understanding (and why this distinction matters in spiritual seeking)

In the meantime, here are some things you should do:

Read this: At the blog at Temple of the Flea, Salena has posted an insightful and moving piece of writing about saying “Yes” to being a spouse – an act that sometimes happens after the marriage. I like that this post captures the real, difficult wrestling with understanding and communicating with a deity who is also your partner.

Watch this: at The House of Vines, Sannion has linked to this short music video depicting the throbbing, pulsing wonder that is Dionysus.

Help this: at Twilight and Fire, Elizabeth shares an appeal from Maetreum of Cybele, the only Pagan convent in America, in a legal battle with the Town of Catskill in Upstate New York.

For the past three years, I’ve been firmly entrenched in all things Norse – marriage to a Norse god, nurturing relationships with Norse deities, and a general Nine Worlds mentality. During this period, I did write Lilith: Queen of the Desert, maintained a strong, regular practice with Lilith (and eventually Samael), and had clients who fell under Her umbrella. My education, however, almost entirely concerned shamanic practices as derived from Norse writings and the writings/experiences of my community elders. My key teachers during this time have been either Heathens or Northern Tradition Pagans.

Now, all of that is shifting. Post-Beltane, my wyrd shifted. After three years of letting Odin guide my education, Lilith has taken control of it.

First, thanks to all of my readers who have given feedback and support on my writing here over the years. It certainly means a lot to know that what I write is enjoyable, useful, thought-provoking, or personally necessary.

I want to open the door to requests from readers – new or longterm – for topics you’d like to see covered. I will continue to write little essays as inspiration comes to me (and have a few in queue for that), but if there’s some topic, issue, or problem you’d want me to explore here, reply to this post or email me privately. If you’d like a refresher on my big topics of interest, check out the “Contacting Anya” tab at the top of the page. Of course, I am willing to stray out of these areas, but I may call in reinforcements for that.

 

 

I haven’t posted on Loki for a while, but that doesn’t mean other people aren’t writing inspired things in His name. Author, spiritworker, and Loki-consort Elizabeth Vongvisith has written a great piece at her blog, Twilight and Fire. This latest essay examines the wrong way to wear the Trickster hat, lessons from Loki’s own stories, and the potential costs of fulfilling the true purpose of this role:

On Being a Catalyst: Lokeans and the Trickster Role

You really should be reading her blog anyway, particularly if you’re seeking insights into Loki, devotional work, or monasticism, to name a few of her recurring topics.

 

Fellow Odinswoman Galina Krasskova has added my prayer beads to her online shrine dedicated to devotional writing on Odin, called Odin’s Ve: Prayer and Praise for the All-Father. It’s part of her blog, which I also recommend reading.

You can also find information on her published devotional writing to Odin, Walking Toward Yggdrasil and The Whisperings of Woden, both listed under the “Current Publications” menu.