Shooting From the Hip Ain’t Necessarily Bad

Editorial

by Cendi

One of my (previously) secret Imbolc fantasies has been to be the maiden who wears the Candle Wheel on her head in ritual. But alas, I am neither maiden nor virgin. I’m also a craft klutz. I feel at-home with a knife and a piece of wood, but glue is a problem for me, as are craft instructions. So I sit around planning for Imbolc, wondering how others put together those flaming hats, imagining my worst fears about wax melting onto my head, or candles tipping over and burning my hair. Then I remember the instant pudding in the kitchen drawer and decide to focus on the ewe’s milk aspect of Imbolc instead. But I guess that’s appropriate, since I’m in the Mother aspect of life.

Even in the kitchen where I feel comfortable, I find it hard to follow a recipe exactly as it’s written. So I find a recipe that loosely resembles something appropriate for the Sabbat, twist it to suit my preferences and create something I can call mine. Sometimes formality is right and appropriate. Other times, it’s too confining or impractical under the circumstances.

This issue of Widdershins is dedicated to the magickal MacGyvers and wily kitchen witches who show us that shooting from the hip ain’t necessarily bad. One of them is the lovely and quick-thinking Freya Ray, who shows us how to heal with nothing but dirt and a Marlboro at hand. John Palmer explains the meaning of magick and lays down some simple rules for kitchen witchery. Lori Campbell illustrates us how impromptu ritual can be an effective means of encouraging individuals to engage. Finally, Black Cat says we already have the tools necessary to practice witchcraft, and offers simple exercises to develop magickal skills without them.

In the Yule issue of Widdershins, we printed a thought-provoking article from a psychic vampire. This issue, we bring you readers’ responses, which are as juicy as the article that inspired them. See “Mind-Mingle or Mind-Fuck?”

For something light-hearted, see Sienna Newcastle’s interview with LaSara Firefox, the featured guest of the upcoming Magickal Winter Weekend in Portland. Also in the spirit of celebration, Kevin Filan shares a story about a party he recently attended, held by Orgasmateria, a New York Burning Man camp.

Widdershins staples round out this issue: Genevieve Williams writes about online music in Earth Tones, and Anita completes her series on planetary rituals in her column, As Above, So Below. Happy reading!