The most literal witch-hunt in 500 years

So apparently Christine O'Donnell, a Republican Congressional candidate for Delaware, "dabbled" in witchcraft when she was young.

I can understand why a lot of Dems are bringing this up; they are trying to point yet another example of the GOP, the self-styled party of "Christian" values, having members who fail to live up to their own standards. No doubt if O'Donnell were on the other side, we'd be having plenty of conservatives spewing the "thy shall not suffer a witch to live" mistranslation left and right.

I haven't been following this whole thing terribly closely - I'm frankly getting burned out by all the idiotic politicking - but I imagine the GOP is re-spinning this as an example of their open-heartedness and their ability to forgive. After all, O'Donnell is an example of probably the most acceptable narrative for witches in the US: she was a young woman, she "dabbled" in it momentarily, but it was just a youthful phase, and when she "matured" she realized the error of her ways and returned to Christianity - a "real" religion.

What do you suppose the chances are of finding a politician who is a proud currently-practicing witch, who says, "Yes, I perform magick, and it is a valid religious tradition in its own right?" And of having them get anywhere at all?

HA!

I also can't help but notice, in the same way there was a definite misogynist undertone to "liberals" criticism of conservative Miss California's nude pictures, there is a whiff of bigotry to Dems' handling of the O'Donnell/witchcraft non-issue, too. They may say they're just trying to point out conservatives' double standards, but I get the definite feeling they consider being a witch a character flaw in its own right.

(NOTE: Before anyone thinks I'm endorsing O'Donnell, let me make it perfectly clear I think she's an idiot who shouldn't be let within 500 feet of a public office. But even though she's got shit-fer-brains that doesn't mean she deserves to be persecuted because of the way she's chosen to explore her spirituality. Go ahead and criticize her about her ignorance (or callous disregard, or both) regarding separation of church and state! Hell, I do! Every chance I get! But criticizing her personal religious history just isn't cool.)

More than I bargained for.

A thousand apologies for my recent absence. I've been busy recently for a number of reasons.

On the upside, my magickal work has paid off and I got the results I wanted. On the downside, I didn't properly give thanks to the Powers That Be for helping me out, which means I'm getting a lot of complications along with my desired goal.

Lesson learned. Always be grateful.

I have a place of my own now, which means I can set up a full-time altar. I did, but I'm still agonizing over whether I "did it right." Should I make sure it faces North, or should I just have "up," whichever way that is for me when I'm working at the altar, be the symbolic "North"? And if I do have it face "real" North, are we talking true North or magnetic North? I know this is a small thing to fuss over, and I'm sure the Powers That Be don't really care that much, but this is my first opportunity to really make magick and paganism a permanent feature in my home, and I want to do my best.