Renna Shesso's Blog
March 29, 2013
North Star, spinning, “baa-ram-ewe…”
I read a post recently from someone looking for “cruelty-free” wool, coming (I guess) from an assumption that all human dealings with domesticated animals are certain to be cruel and exploitive.
Wool isn’t like that. Sheep-shearing doesn’t hurt the sheep any more than a haircut hurts us. It’s done in the spring as the weather warms and the lambs will be arriving. The shearing creates better sanitary conditions for the lambing. And that thick wool “coat” is hot, so the sheep don’t mind having it removed. Another plus: wool is a renewable resource.
Once we just wore animal hides (and perhaps a fig leaf or two). Gradually we clever humanoids figured out how to twist plant fibers together – linen, nettle, the fibrous long-stalked stuff. Eventually a shift from plant fibers to wool changed what we wear. Wool takes dye much better than linen, so our clothing became more colorful, and color-based weaving patterns evolved.
Nowadays, many women are spinning from their own sheep – it’s like the organic gardening of fiber production...
The blog continues here
Wool isn’t like that. Sheep-shearing doesn’t hurt the sheep any more than a haircut hurts us. It’s done in the spring as the weather warms and the lambs will be arriving. The shearing creates better sanitary conditions for the lambing. And that thick wool “coat” is hot, so the sheep don’t mind having it removed. Another plus: wool is a renewable resource.
Once we just wore animal hides (and perhaps a fig leaf or two). Gradually we clever humanoids figured out how to twist plant fibers together – linen, nettle, the fibrous long-stalked stuff. Eventually a shift from plant fibers to wool changed what we wear. Wool takes dye much better than linen, so our clothing became more colorful, and color-based weaving patterns evolved.
Nowadays, many women are spinning from their own sheep – it’s like the organic gardening of fiber production...
The blog continues here
March 22, 2013
Bone-Dancing with the Stars
Once a month, I meet with a small circle of well-experienced shamanic practitioners to work together. Wednesday night, we chatted, checked in, caught up, but then went on to the main event: Journeying.
Our format: We begin with personal journeys, connecting with our spiritual guides and asking our personal questions, then we “take requests.”
During the evening’s first journey, my main Power Animal told me, “Ahem! Yes, you! It’s time for a dismemberment!” So, after One Person’s healing journeys, the group drummed for me...
See more at my link
Our format: We begin with personal journeys, connecting with our spiritual guides and asking our personal questions, then we “take requests.”
During the evening’s first journey, my main Power Animal told me, “Ahem! Yes, you! It’s time for a dismemberment!” So, after One Person’s healing journeys, the group drummed for me...
See more at my link
March 1, 2013
Inanna at 9 AM
This was the weekend for PantheaCon, out in San Jose, CA. A first-time attendee, I decided to dive in at the deep end, so submitted a workshop proposal, based on my Night Sky book, and – surprise to new-be me – it was accepted.
My workshop, “Re-enchanting the Night Sky: Planets, Stars and Spirit” was on 9 AM on the final day, and turned into sort of Dance of the Planets. Why act out the Chaldean order with apples and oranges when there are obliging and friendly pagans to take these celestial roles?
It felt like a lot of juicy info got covered, and those who came seemed engaged and attentive. As lovely Ms. Literata Facebooked today:
Another great Pcon moment: Renna Shesso saying “I’ve said ‘vulva’ enough, now let’s move on to Mars.”
Glorious Inanna AKA Venus does have a way of waking people up.
See more blogging at my link text
My workshop, “Re-enchanting the Night Sky: Planets, Stars and Spirit” was on 9 AM on the final day, and turned into sort of Dance of the Planets. Why act out the Chaldean order with apples and oranges when there are obliging and friendly pagans to take these celestial roles?
It felt like a lot of juicy info got covered, and those who came seemed engaged and attentive. As lovely Ms. Literata Facebooked today:
Another great Pcon moment: Renna Shesso saying “I’ve said ‘vulva’ enough, now let’s move on to Mars.”
Glorious Inanna AKA Venus does have a way of waking people up.
See more blogging at my link text
