Imperial Dragon Oracle

by Administrator, posted in Products, Reviews

A while back Lynn, my friend at U.S. Games, asked if I have any interest in dragons. Of course I do, because really, who doesn’t? I’m glad I said yes because I got the wonderful surprise of a copy of the new “Imperial Dragon Oracle” by Andy Baggott and Peter Pracownik. Does the name Pracownik ring a bell for some of you? It should.

That’s right, if like me you were around for the big collectible card game boom, you’ll remember the game “Wyvern” (also done by U.S. Games). Pracownik was the artist who did all those beautiful cards. I never even played the game, but I still bought a few packs of the cards, just for the art. With that said, you now know why as far as I’m concerned this deck is worth owning just to look at. But for those of you who need more than that information, let’s talk specifics of the “Imperial Dragon Oracle”.

What we have is a 22 card deck of over-sized (when compared to the standard tarot deck) cards featuring the beautiful dragon artwork of Pracownik. I consider this oracle deck to be all killer, no filler. By that I mean you get 22 cards that coincide with the traditional tarot card deck’s Major Arcana. No Minor Arcana here, which is fine because honestly, just between you and me, I find the Minor Arcana a little boring. I mean the Major Arcana is where all the tarot coolness is found: The Fool, Death, The Emperor, The Hanged Man. So as much as I wouldn’t mind even more cards illustrated by Pracownik, I don’t feel as if I’m being deprived. (Before I get emails from people who are actually knowledgeable about tarot, unlike myself, I’m sure that all kinds of bad assedness abounds in the Minor Arcana, but I’m a rube so I focus on all the Major Arcana shininess. All better now?)

With the deck comes a nice little booklet that has a whole lot of information about dragons; history, myth, folklore, etc. That’s followed up with a very thoughtful, practical guide about how to prepare and begin working with the “Imperial Dragon Oracle”.

When everything is said and done, this is a great item for anyone who is interested in dragons in any way, shape, or form.

Magical Buffet Mythology: Santa Muerte

by Administrator, posted in Christianity/Catholicism, Religion

By Rebecca
Illustration by Will Hobbs

I stumbled across Santa Muerte on the internet, in a beautiful photo journalistic piece on the Global Post website. Santa Muerte, as most of you can guess translates to Saint Death. I wanted to learn more and found out there had been a documentary in 2007 about this very topic.

Who is Santa Muerte? In Eva S. Aridjis’ film “La Santa Muerte” she lays out the closest thing to a known origin of this saint. A statue was discovered in a church that was associated with Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, a medieval French saint. Since the Saint was portrayed as a skeleton, the Mexican people viewed it as an image of death. They began to venerate it as a female instead of a male saint, since the pre-Columbian goddesses of death, Mictecacihuatl and Coatlicue, were feminine figures. When the priests realized that the people were worshipping the image as Saint Death, the image was moved to a private dwelling. The Catholic Church does not recognize Santa Muerte as a saint, so people must worship her at home or at public altars.

Santa Muerte is always portrayed as a skeleton, often times looking like the grim reaper, complete with scythe and scales. However, just a quick poke around the internet and you learn that she can take on many looks. Santa Muerte is always a skeleton, but sometimes she is dressed like a queen, or in robes, or as a bride, and just about any other thing you can imagine.

Who worships Santa Muerte? Anyone obviously, but primarily she is worshipped in Mexican communities, with Her stronghold being the most violent parts of Mexico and prisons. Places where people feel death pressing down on them take comfort in knowing that Saint Death is there for them. By showing devotion, in a ritual mix of Catholic worship and what I’m surmising is a throwback to ancient sacrificial offerings (it looked a lot like Voodoo to me), Santa Muerte protects them, provides for them, and when the worshipper’s time is over, She comes for them. Her followers bring Her gifts, such as cigarettes and tequila, burn candles, and say prayers to Her. In the documentary, some had conversations with Her, like you would a mother or confidant. Others would perform a mass.

The Catholic church may not like Her, and the Mexican government may call her followers a “cult”, but I like Santa Muerte. She’s an everyman’s kind of deity. Rich or poor, man or woman, good or evil, we all die. And if Santa Muerte brings comfort to people, especially those living closer to death than myself, more power to Her.

Spiritual Transformation

by Administrator, posted in Guest Authors, Wiccan/Pagan

By Leandra Witchwood
(This article first appeared on her website, used here with her permission)

We live in a very tense society. We are pulled apart… and we all need to learn how to pull ourselves together… I think that at least part of the answer lies in solitude. ~Helen Hayes

To become spiritual begins we must experience stages of transformation. Some of these experiences are short and fast, while others seem to take forever. More often than not, spiritual transformations are painful and difficult. Nevertheless, these stages are necessary for achieving our ultimate goal in becoming spiritual beings on this plain and the next.

My most recent transformation began about two years ago and is nowhere near an end! I do admit some days change is hard to bear and I wish it would hurry the heck up, but then there are days when it all makes perfect sense and I don’t mind the lag.

It all started with a standard Medicine card reading. The intent is to focus my efforts in the right direction for the day or week depending on the situation and project. I could feel myself becoming unbalanced and disoriented on my path and felt a strong need for some clarity.

I know many of us who specialize in divination do this kind reading for others and ourselves all the time. Usually they are basic, the person in question draws a couple of helpful cards, and we are on our way. I honestly thought that this would be one of those simple readings. As the universe would reveal, I was very wrong.

I remember it clearly; I was sitting at my usual spot in the park over looking the Susquehanna River during my lunch hour, when I pulled a very distinct arrangement of cards. The spread I was doing was intended to show me how to achieve balance through Father Sun and Mother Earth (above and below) . The shock came to me as I revealed my cards. Instead of balance, they spoke specifically of change, and chaos.

First, I pulled Dragon Fly. On the surface Dragon Fly teaches us about Illusion. The story of Dragon Fly talks about how he was once a very powerful Dragon who was tricked by Coyote into the form we know today. When we look at Dragon Fly, we see the Magick bottle up within Dragon Fly through the iridescent shimmer of Dragon Fly’s wings.

Knowing this we also consider Dragon Fly to be a symbol of locked up potential. When we see Dragon Fly in a spread, it tends to mean that the person in question is not living up to his/her true greatness/potential. This blockage is usually evident through some sort of illusion the person places in his/her life.

Dragon Fly is also a symbol for change over time. It takes about 2 years for many Species of Dragon Fly to transform from an egg to an adult Dragon Fly. Therefore, as a reader I recognize that Dragon Fly is telling me that I will be entering into a 2 year transformation. Dragon Fly is also one of the few creatures equally associated with Air and Water.

For me, this card fell in the Mother Earth position. This position teaches us to receive the goodness Mother Earth has to offer through time and patience. This energy is of the Female trinity; Maiden, Mother, and Crone. This ever-changing female energy opens us up to creativity and psychic pathways.

Therefore, from the start of this reading I am told that slow change is coming two fold. I am also told that all seeds require time to germinate and need nurturing before they can grow into their true potential, again two fold.

The next card I pulled is for the Father Sky position. This is of Male energy and Warrior Energy. In this position, we are taught lessons of how to heal, how to move forward, and how to look at things in the material world. This energy is faster and plays a distinct contrast to female energy, which is slower and less analytical.

As I turned my second card to face me, I was dumfounded to see Frog. I was not sure what to make of this spread. I even looked up at my favorite tree for some clarity, but only found the words “accept it” instead.

I thought to myself, “Did I not shuffle properly? There is no way both of these cards could end up next to each other in this spread. However, there they were, and their message was clear.

If you have not guessed, Frog is another symbol for transformation. Frog’s association is with Earth and Water, which is only one of its many links to Dragon Fly. Like Dragon Fly frogs goes through a transformation, but only faster.

I sat back and knew that I needed to expect some serious changes. I knew that at least the next two years would be hard. Change is not always easy and lets face it we humans are not very welcoming of change, especially when the change promises to be BIG! Nevertheless, I was glad to have the warning.

I have moved past the two-year mark of this foretold transformation. I look back and see that so many things have happened. I was laid off from my high paying desk job, began working in the theater as a seamstress, started a business, ended the business, had a baby, developed some really great friendships, and then lost them.

So now, I am here… Where exactly is “here”? I am not sure yet. I know the journey is not over and there are more big changes coming. What I do know is that I have transformed.

What mattered to me before seems superficial. Having a high paying desk job that allows me to buy the latest and greatest is no longer a priority. Instead, I am happy working a low pay job that allows me to be with my family.

Instead of having, a bunch of friendships that are shallow and dare I say it… fake. I now focus on friendships that are meaningful, fulfilling, and pure.

I have to admit that through out these past couple of years I have taken some hard hits, so much that I have almost completely moved myself from my local Pagan Community. I have even shed myself of most Pagan friendships. Through it all, I experienced some severe depression, anxiety, and remorse over the people and things I lost.

Often I found myself alone to wallow in my self-pity, but it is through this solitude I found my strength and myself. Although this journey has been tough, I am walking forward with so much more than I had before. I have learned to listen to my inner voice more closely, which has drastically improved my empathic abilities. I am now more skilled in reading my Medicine cards, especially for others.

I am spending more time worrying about the Earth and my family, rather than worrying about being included in the next big ritual or concert. I have discovered the true character of those who do a very good job of pretending. More importantly, I have discovered my own true character, which surprisingly enough has not changed much. Instead, I have raised my standards.

I am spending more time teaching true seekers who want to learn and grow. I have shed the need to look “good” in the eyes of others and I am now starting to look good to myself. I focus less on the superficial and more on the bigger picture.

Now, I find solitude valuable. I am no longer afraid to be within myself as I find peace and enlightenment.

As much as change stresses us out, it is necessary. If I learn nothing from all I have gained and lost, I at least know that I have not yet reached my full potential and that I have the opportunity to keep going. When I was in the deepest darkest depression morning all I had lost, one thing pulled me through; I always have the opportunity to stand up and move forward.

Through pain, we know happiness and through self-discovery, we evolve. When faced with losing it all we have a choice to make. Do we deviate and weaken on our spiritual path or do we rise above to become our true potential?

In every event and through every trial we have a choice. Everyday, we are empowered to make that choice.

About the Author:
Leandra Witchwood has served her local community as a Minister of Earth-Base Spirituality, an Animal Card Reader, Spiritual Counselor, Leader, Teacher, and much more. Leandra enjoys facilitating Labyrinth walks and educational seminars. She also teaches classes on mediation, Witchcraft, Wicca, and various Magickal techniques. Her spiritual teachings and readings are inspiring and revealing. Leandra is currently writing books and blogs to benefit the larger community.

To learn more, visit: http://leandradraconiswitchwood.blogspot.com/

The Logos of the Aeon and the Shakti of the Age

by Administrator, posted in Books, Magic/Occult, Reviews

“They died within two years of each other; she within the smog-enshrouded Middlesex Hospital, amid the massive bomb damage done to London by six years of war; he in the salt-sea air of Hastings, in a large and stately boarding house with the evocative and curiously apt name of Netherwood.

When the woman died, on 8 January 1946, taken by acute myeloid leukaemia, it had been quite unexpected. She was still young (a mere fifty-five) and had lived a decent life; eating healthy food, taking appropriate exercise in various dimensions, engaging in stimulating mental activity involving august spiritual beings, and she had once written a book about the nature of Purity.

When the man died of a lung infection, on 1 December 1947, unloved in any usual way, no one was at all surprised. In fact they marveled that he had lasted so long. He was seventy-two, had lived a life full of adventure, indecency, and excess; had wrestled with demons of the darkest kind; had been branded by the national press as the Wickedest Man in the World; and finally his drug-wracked body had just given up.”
And so begins Alan Richardson’s “Aleister Crowley and Dion Fortune: The Logos of the Aeon and the Shakti of the Age”.

This book is described as a comparative biography of Crowley and Fortune (perhaps two of the best known occultists of the 20th century), and that’s a fair description. However, I feel it doesn’t do the book justice. The poetry of the writing, the nearly epic scope of the stories, the love, passion, and romanticism on the part of the author defy an easy summary, so forgive me for not trying. Richardson masterfully tells the stories of these two larger than life characters, all the while showing how their magical lives danced around each other; sometimes intersecting, other times diverging, but always close.

The book tells the stories of Crowley and Fortune’s lives in reverse, starting at death and going forward to their births (homage to training the Magickal Memory, remembering events in reverse sequence). Therefore, the book begins with Fortune and Crowley’s respective deaths in the Prologue, and then continues with seven chapters: Deaths and Afterward, The Wars of Their Worlds, Priests and Priestesses, Temples and Their Truths, Initiations and Other Awakenings, Falling to Earth and Other Trauma, and Past Lives and Similar Futures.

Although the author stresses that his book “is not meant as an exhaustive biography” on either of the subjects, I found (with my amateur level knowledge about Fortune and Crowley) that this book definitely hit all the marks, and certainly unearthed some extra information I had never heard before. At the very beginning of the book Richardson apologizes if the work seems to have a Dion Fortune bias, since he is an admirer, but stresses that he tried to treat both subjects with an even hand. I feel he succeeded. It is difficult to discuss Aleister Crowley. Generally, much like the man, people who write about him touch on the extremes of his character. I think fan and hater of Crowley alike will find the author’s treatment enlightening. Also, despite his concern that his affection for Fortune will color his writings about her, here too Richardson succeeds in offering the whole person, strengths and weaknesses alike.

This book tells the fascinating story of perhaps two of the best known, and best beloved by some, occult practioners of our time. Yes, their lives were fascinating, but only the talent of someone like Richardson can make them mythic.

10 Questions with The Vigilant Citizen

by Administrator, posted in Interviews, Magic/Occult, Music, Symbols

1. What made you decide to discuss occult symbolism through the prism of pop music, and particularly music videos?

My two passions in life are music and occult history. If I’m not focusing on one, I’m most probably focusing on the other. The more I gain knowledge on western occultism, the more I understand its importance in pop music. The weird or strange symbols I saw on album covers or music videos become easily readable. I collect old vinyls from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and I’ve noticed a great number those groups integrated this knowledge in their songs and artwork. It was done in an artistic way. I’ve however noticed a different type of occult symbolism in recent videos: it is used by mainstream pop artists, insidiously hidden and aimed at a young crowd. Far from being artistic, the imagery used in videos pushed by international media corporations is often deceptive and inherently sinister. I felt the urge to discuss those taboo issues so I’ve created Vigilant Citizen.

2. Do you feel the prevalence of occult symbolism found in pop music comes from the artists and video directors, or is it a coincidence stemming from occult symbolism seeping into the general consciousness?

I believe there are two types of occult symbols: the “artistic” ones – emanating from a desire to express one’s reality through symbolism – and the “corporate” ones – which often come from elite secret societies. A true artist using symbolism to in his/her art will be inspired by his/her surroundings and his/her inner being. Occult symbols are extremely powerful and are believed to be embedded in our subconscious so it is only normal for them to appear in artistic expression.

However, “corporate” occultism takes symbols from organized secret societies such as Freemasonry, or Illuminati and “plants” into mass media in order for them to become the norm. Confucius said “Symbols rule the world, not words nor laws”. In other words, you can recognize who is truly in power by identifying the symbols in popular culture. During the Middle Ages, almost all of popular art was religious and Christian. The Christian Church ruled the Western World.

Now, occult symbolism is increasingly apparent in popular art. Who rules the world? Occult secret societies.

3. I loved your interpretation of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” video. Did you see dream analyst Carolyn Wills’ discussion of the video on Leslie Gornstein’s “Answer B!tch” blog? Thoughts?

I’ve read a couple of interpretations of Bad Romance and I can’t say that any of them is flat out wrong. Good art can have multiple layers of interpretations and, I have to say, this video is good art. When it came out, many readers of the site bombarded me with e-mails, pointing out symbols I’ve discussed in other videos. Bad Romance is definitively part of a bigger “movement” in music videos.

4. Often times the occult symbolism you find in music videos paints a dark and ominous picture. However, your analysis of The Black Eyed Peas “Meet Me Halfway” is actually quite uplifting. Does this mean that occultism doesn’t automatically equal bad?

Occult means “hidden”, not “bad”. Occult schools believe esoteric knowledge is too powerful for the profane to dabble with it. So it is kept hidden, the same way mothers hide knives from young kids. It is for their own safety. According to occult schools this knowledge can lead you to two extremes and everything in between: it can liberate you from the shackles of materiality, put you in direct contact with divinity and make you nothing less than immortal… Or it can also make you deal with demons, black magic and leave you into eternal torment.

“Meet Me Halfway” seemed to portray this positive side of esoteric knowledge. It is indeed quite uplifting.

5. In your post “The Occult Roots of The Wizard of Oz” you say, “the entire story of the Wizard of Oz is an allegorical tale of the soul’s path to illumination – the Yellow Brick Road.” However I feel that it could be argued that the concept of the “hero’s quest” or “hero’s journey” can be found before the Theosophical movement. Is this a what came first, the chicken or the egg kind of debate? What came first, the spiritual concept or the basic storytelling device?

Theosophy is nothing more than an attempt to find the common underlying knowledge found in ancient religions. It did not create any new concepts; it tried to put them together in a cohesive way.

Almost all ancient civilizations had allegorical tales which could be fully understood through the glasses of esoteric philosophy. Whether we look at Egyptian mythology, Greek epic poems or Native American legends, there is a “face value” meaning and a hidden meaning that can only be understood by initiates. The Wizard of Oz is what we can call an American allegorical tale.

6. Was there any nefarious occult symbolism in Miley Cyrus’s 2009 Teen Choice Awards performance? Because honestly, that was just evil.

Didn’t watch that, sorry.

7. Do you look at books and film with the same eye towards recognizing occult symbolism? If so, the Twilight series…discuss. Obviously werewolves are rife for the teenage males confronting puberty analogy, and vampires originally reared their fanged heads as a nifty way to confront sexual themes in repressive societies, but did Mormon author Stephenie Meyer accidentally push any big occult buttons?

I’d have to read the books to give a definite answer on Twilight’s underlying meaning (it there’s any). I’ve however watched both movies and I can say there is a definite use of “occult lore” in the movie but it is all done in a very superficial matter.

I think the movies focus on tapping into the primal needs of young girls (and not so young) such as: fascination with the mysterious and dangerous, feeling protected by a strong man, attraction towards the “forbidden fruit” and….oh yea, watching a bunch of shirtless guys.

8. Lady Gaga and Rihanna have both been big on your website as of late. Who is going to be the next artist trending heavy with occult symbolism?

Taylor Swift and Adam Lambert. They are definitively next.

9. I’m going to be honest with you, and in turn, some honesty for me. I love Lady Gaga and own both “The Fame” and “The Fame Monster”. Does Lady Gaga ever make its way onto your CD player?

Honestly, not in my CD player…I…I..just can’t. But I can’t say I get mad when one her songs come up in a dance club. Her music is has better production value than most of the crap out there.

10. Parting shot! Ask us at The Magical Buffet any one question.

OK, you’ve asked for it! Have you ever witness true magic resulting from a magical spell or ritual? If so, can you describe the event?

Alas, I have never witnessed what I would consider true magic.

About The Vigilant Citizen:
My quest for knowledge led me to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Politics. I’ve mainly studied the way power uses mass media to shape and mold attitudes of the general public. My education was perfect to hold a job in marketing or PR but did not satisfy my thirst for truth.

My efforts to further understand the forces governing the world lead me to study secret societies, mystery religions, esoteric sciences and ancient civilizations. I’ve spent the last five years researching Theosophy, Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, the Bavarian Illuminati and Western Occultism. These schools of thoughts have many things in common: they are based on Hermetic teachings (Hermes, Thoth, Enoch, Mercury), they attach EXTREME importance to symbolism and they recruit within their ranks the most prominent people of all fields of society, especially politics, law and public service. The natural result of this phenomenon is the display of occult symbolism in all aspects of society, whether it be music, movies, buildings or else. My goal is to bring out the meaning of those symbols in a clear, concise and entertaining way.

I am also a music producer who has composed music for some fairly known “urban” artists. My work in the music business has led me to deal with talent agents, video directors and record companies. Through my experiences and my contacts, I have discovered some of the darker aspects of the entertainment industry which I found were in direct connection with my studies in occultism. My understanding of the state of mind that prevails in the higher levels of the ladder makes it probably easier for me to decifer the symbolism in music videos than it is for everyday people.

Learn more at The Vigilant Citizen’s website.

Feels Like the Same Old Year to Me

by Administrator, posted in Messages from Rebecca

There is a Garfield strip I remember from my youth. In it, the new year has started and as one would suspect, Garfield is holed up in his cat bed covered by his blanket with no inclination to get up. Then Jon tries to reason with him that it’s a NEW YEAR, to which Garfield responds to by sticking his paw out of his box and feels the air. Funny, he says, feels like the same old year to me. (Or something to that effect) However off my paraphrasing here may have been, the spirit is just right, feels like the same old year to me.

For some reason I am lacking the ability to get excited about this new year. Despite it being 2010, a year significant to me because I have vague memories of playing on the theater floor being bored out of mind while my father watched the movie “2010”. I remember something about a baby. And honestly, all the “end of decade” stuff isn’t helping because the decade won’t be over until the year 2010 ends, and even though my husband is perfectly aware that I know this fact he insists on expressing his frustration about it to me, as if I told Rolling Stone magazine to do a decade recap. It’s just silly, if I could tell Rolling Stone to do anything it would be give me another Rosario Dawson/Rose McGowan cover and write as much as they want about “the end of the decade”.

However, I am writing this before the new year hits (even though you’re reading it afterwards….oooooo….technology), and this is the time for introspection. So I have to ask my self, what gives?

I think the issue is that it really does feel like the same old year. Big deals have proven to be less exciting than most would have thought. Although I recognized Barack Obama as a moderate while he was campaigning, most felt (and still feel) that President Obama was a progressive and his election would bring a dizzying tidal wave of change to our country. It’s safe to say that we haven’t had a political upheaval of tsunami proportions. And thanks to my careful following of the health care debate I can now say that I need to disagree with Otto von Bismarck. After seeing how laws are made, I’m quite comfortable watching sausage get made. (And if you follow The Magical Buffet on Twitter you would have heard that line already.) There was a unity government formed in Zimbabwe that was supposedly a BIG deal. Now Mugabe is saying that Zanu PF just needs to wait until the unity government expires and they can have total control again. Who knew there was a time limit on the unity government? Not me. Despite everyone claiming that they hate reality television, it hasn’t gone any where, still dominating helpless little networks that used to be resources for music lovers (that’s right, I’m talking to you MTV). On a personal level, the health issues I’ve been dealing with for the past three years are going strong right into the new year (perhaps I’ll write about that another day, for now, just know it’s not lethal and I’m not ready to talk about it on the website). Heck, even marriage is business as usual with New York failing to legalize same sex marriage.

Now before you get worried, this isn’t meant to be a big ol’ bummer of a welcome to the new year essay. However, why does it feel like the same old year to me? Because in retrospect, it is pretty much the same old year. That said, there was a lot of good news in this past year that bodes well for 2010.

The sitcom has made a comeback thanks to one of the funniest nights of television: “How I Met Your Mother”, “Accidentally on Purpose”, “Two and a Half Men”, and “The Big Bang Theory”. Thank you CBS! Take that reality shows! Sweeping change may not have rolled over our country; however we have a President that I don’t worry about when he’s talking to other foreign officials. Starting this month I’m going to be doing all kinds of new and crazy stuff to help with my health issues. I’m having trouble finding the sunny part of the Zimbabwe story. Hmm, as long as the country is screwed I have stuff to write about? Maybe? Well, it’s the best I’ve got.

Last bit of good news. The Magical Buffet has all kinds of fun stuff lined up for the new year already. Author Deborah Blake will be reporting on Pantheacon for us, I’ve been busy working on a mammoth project that I’ll hopefully be sharing with you all sooner rather than later (this will answer the question of what did Rebecca do as a follow up to reading the House health care bill), we have an interview with The Vigilant Citizen (he talks occultism AND pop culture, Becky likey), a review of a book SO good it’s hard for me to not run around yelling about it now, and much more.

Yes, 2010 seems to feel a whole lot like 2009, but at least 2009 is done and over with. No point in looking back….it’s the future or bust.

Because When You Realize that You Want to Spend the Rest of Your Life with Somebody…

by Administrator, posted in Messages from Rebecca, Movies

…you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

Despite my love of action movies I’ll admit that I have a soft spot for some films considered to be more “chick flick” in nature. One of my favorites is “When Harry Met Sally”. After seeing that movie I could never look at New Year’s Eve the same way again. So to celebrate the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010 I want to share one of my favorite New Year’s Eve moments with all of you.

See you next year!

(Spoiler Alert: This is the very end of the movie, so if you watch this you’ll know how it ends. Also, you might want a tissue before pressing play.)

12 Days of Blogging

by Administrator, posted in Geek Stuff, Messages from Rebecca

You may think this is going to be a Merry Christmas, God bless us everyone, holiday post, but you’re wrong. In fact, this post is in reference to the fact that today is the FIRST day of Christmas. You know, the one where you get the partridge. Anyway, the new year is approaching, making this the time that’s rife with best of, top whatever, lists. Since I’m a blogger these days, I figured I would share with you fine folks my favorite blogs (assuming that somehow having a blog gives me the authority to recommend other blogs). And, since I fancy myself as a clever girl at times (much like the velociraptor in “Jurassic Park”), I thought that I would acknowledge that today marks the first of the twelve days of Christmas, the twelfth day being the last day before Epiphany, the commemoration of the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi, and go with 12 Days of Blogging. That’s right, I’m getting Catholic on y’all!

With that said, below are my 12 Days of Blogging, with the twelfth day being the arrival of the Wise Men, which makes number twelve suddenly even more amusing. If you want, you can read one paragraph a day and make it an event (and generate more hits for my website), or you can read it all now and immediately begin telling me about blogs you like in the comments section.

On the first day of blogging I would suggest to thee, a visit to Sketch Please. Artists challenge each other with weekly subjects in a public forum, how cool is that? The answer my friends is, very cool. It’s all art, so some may not consider it a “blog”, but I do, and it’s one of my favorites.

On the second day of blogging I would suggest to thee, subscribing to What Greg Eats. My friend Greg has this nasty habit of talking to me about food in a way that inevitably makes me crave that food beyond normal human levels. Now he spreads his wicked gift with his blog.

On the third day of blogging I would suggest to thee, Michael Ruhlman’s blog. I became aware of Michael Ruhlman after seeing his appearance on the Las Vegas episode of “No Reservations”. His blog discusses all things food: preparation, recipes, cookbook reviews, news, shopping, everything!

On the fourth day of blogging I would suggest to thee, bookmarking The Wild Hunt. I just became aware of this site a few weeks ago and it’s already a must! It’s you’re one stop blog for everything going on in various Pagan communities and everything outside effecting them. If I do this list again next year, I suspect this will end up in my top five.

On the fifth day of blogging I would suggest to thee, subscribing to 101 Cookbooks. Just loads of great recipes. Vegetarian, occasionally Vegan, mostly whole grains. If you’re looking to fall in love with whole grains, visit this site right now!

On the sixth day of blogging I would suggest to thee, Anthony Bourdain’s blog. Generally his blog is active when new seasons of his show “No Reservations” are airing, and they discuss the stuff that you don’t see in the episodes. Also, from time to time he’ll just write about other stuff, like learning to let go of his Rachael Ray hate, or children’s television programming. I enjoy his writing style and his show, so I check out his blog at least once a week to see if there is anything new.

On the seventh day of blogging I would suggest to thee (who aren’t easily offended), a visit to Perez Hilton’s website. I know, I know. Perez Hilton is stupid, or mean, or hateful, or bigoted, or whatever. I’m not saying I love the photos of celebrities with a penis drawn on them, but here’s the deal. Perez Hilton posts more videos and links to things I’m glad to see than any other entertainment blog. If I didn’t read his blog I wouldn’t have found out about Robyn’s latest CD and Ida Maria’s debut album, I wouldn’t have seen the best performances from the American Music Awards, and I wouldn’t have realized that Lady Gaga was the person behind every dance song I liked this past year. In other words, Perez Hilton’s website has made my life better. Sorry folks, it may be sad, but it is true.

On the eighth day of blogging I would suggest to thee, Neil Gaiman’s Twitter feed. Gaiman, author of the awesomely fantastic “Sandman” series, “American Gods”, “Stardust”, and more, technically has a blog, but since The Magical Buffet is on Twitter, I find it easier to just follow him on Twitter. His blog posts show up in his Twitter feed along with other fun observations and news.

On the ninth day of blogging I would suggest to thee, William Gibson’s Twitter feed. Gibson has a blog, but even he admits on it that you’re better off following him on Twitter. Gibson, author of one of my all-time favorite fiction novels, “Neuromancer”, is surprisingly prolific in the microblogging format. He’s much funnier than I would have expected and he frequently post links to news stories that I end up glad I’ve read. Yup, William Gibson’s Twitter feed is one of my news sources.

On the tenth day of blogging I would suggest to thee, a visit to Wil Wheaton in Exile. I totally had a crush on Wil Wheaton when I was younger, and I suspect if I hadn’t found the king of all geeks and married him, I would probably still have a crush on Wheaton. Instead, I am now what is politely referred to as a “fangirl”. I can’t help it; his blog is a delightful mix of all things geek along with personal introspection. One day I’m hearing about a Dungeons and Dragons campaign, the next I’m learning about trying to survive the Hollywood casting process, and the next I’m given a recipe for breakfast. I dare say our blogs are eerily similar except for a few minor differences, he doesn’t really talk religion and he’s a better writer than me.



On the eleventh day of blogging I would suggest to thee, daily visits to Least I Could Do. Technically Least I Could Do is a webcomic. One of the best webcomics I’ve ever read. Great writing, fantastic artwork, and there is a new strip every day. If you like comic books, action movies, sex, television, fantasy novels, and I don’t know, just about any other pop culture niche, you should be reading this comic. Since it is original content that’s updated daily, I would consider that enough to call it a “blog”, but just to satisfy any nitpickers, I’ll point out that the home page also has blog posts from the writer Ryan Sohmer and occasionally artist Lar Desouza. Sohmer’s blog is a favorite of mine. Whether he’s discussing politics or home improvements, he does it with his fantastic wit that you read daily in his comics.

On the twelfth day of blogging I would suggest to thee, to Go Fug Yourself. I’ll admit it; I’m not a “fashion” person. My ideal wardrobe is nothing but blue jeans and assorted t-shirts. Not what you would necessarily call “fashion forward”. I couldn’t follow the designers mentioned on “Sex in the City” and I genuinely only check out Vanity Fair for the articles. I guess when it comes to fashion; I’m more like a man than a woman (if we’re going to paint with the broad strokes of generalities). All of that changed when I stumbled across Go Fug Yourself. You don’t need to know about fashion, or even really care about fashion, to love this site. It’s filled with fantastic writing that’s littered with varied pop cultural touchstones to discuss celebrity fashion. One may expect vapid, superficial talk, but you quickly realize these women are smart, and have a wit that could cut a man. I hope my writing is like theirs when it grows up.

Also, for those of you who celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas! God bless us, everyone.

What People Are Saying

by Administrator, posted in Messages from Rebecca

As most regular readers know, I attended the 2009 Northern New York Paranormal Expo. What most readers don’t know, is that The Magical Buffet was given the opportunity to have fliers out at the event. Suddenly needing to create fliers I found myself in a bit of a pickle, what on earth does a flier for The Magical Buffet have on it? I came up with the idea that maybe some of the awesome, creative, fabulous people who have contributed to The Magical Buffet would be willing to say what they like about The Magical Buffet and we’ll put that stuff on the fliers. My logic being that all those people are cooler than me, so other people would be duly impressed that those too cool people would say nice things about this less cool person.

Most everyone I asked responded enthusiastically. Honestly, I was caught off guard by the seemingly genuine affection that people had for myself and The Magical Buffet. Being a human, I obviously found myself going, well I LOVE this! I decided that I would post their kind words on the website, thinking that perhaps someone new to the site would go, well if that’s what all these cool people think, I should DEFINITELY read this blog regularly! Also, to be honest, I’m just so darn proud that I couldn’t resist publishing them here so I could brag some. Forgive me my pride.

Now there is a new page on The Magical Buffet website called “What People Are Saying”. Take a moment to check it out!

https://themagicalbuffet.com/blog1/what-people-are-saying/

Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Nightmare!

by Administrator, posted in Guest Authors, Movies, Television

It’s funny how this article from guest author Alice Diehl came about. As I sat at my desk I couldn’t ignore the fact that the holiday season was approaching. The Magical Buffet’s original format generally ignored acknowledging holidays, but with this new blog format it seemed wrong to not acknowledge some holidays as they approach or as they occur. So there it was, Christmas was coming. The question was, what was I going to do about it? Write some heart felt personal piece about Christmas, not going to happen. Talk about the Pagan roots to so many beloved Christmas features, it seems better informed and more talented writers would be addressing that else where. Honestly, I wanted to find the evil opposite of what most websites would do for a Christmas post. I found my mind wandering to some of the bizarre slasher movies set around the holidays. And the rest is history.

I’m friends with Alice from our interactions on the website MyNerdGirl.com (join us there!). I knew she was funny, intelligent, and more importantly a huge fan of horror movies. I asked her to compile a list of her favorite seasonal horror films and I’m pleased to share with you the results.

Hey there Ghouls and Girls! I know you all have that common Christmas picture in your heads, let me set the scene for you: Your stockings are hung by the chimney with care; you’ve just gorged yourself on sugar plums and gingerbread. The children are all nestled in their beds, and in the middle of the night a man with a slight weight problem breaks and enters into your cozy suburban home…lo and behold in this scenario we assume he is bringing gifts upon this midnight clear, but if the modern day world and the advent of film has anything to say about it Santa’s bringing an axe this Christmas!

During a time of the year that promotes togetherness I ask you to cozy up, get the egg nog and cover the kids’ eyes as I count down my top five Holiday Horror treats.

#5: Jack Frost

On the way to his execution a serial killer is genetically mutated into a murderous snowman, who’s only enjoyment comes from seeking revenge on the lawman that took him down.

I gotta tell you kids if you’ve got a phobia of Styrofoam this film is not for you. Who can forget that climatic battle in the end where our killer meets his demise “a la kool-aid acid” chemical peel.

#4: Silent Night, Bloody Night

Let me pull up some key descriptive words: Old Mansion, Mental Institution, Deranged Killer, Weird Townsfolk, and Warhol? If you’re down for decking the halls with a little blood this one is for you. Beyond all the normal horror holiday highlights check this usually unheard of gem out, with appearances by many of Warhol’s Factory superstars as mental institution inmates it makes for a bloody and kooky trip.

#3: Gremlins

It’s a classic…period end of sentence, if you haven’t seen it, it should be on your wish list. I know I’m hoping to find Gizmo in my stocking on Christmas morning. Or possibly Phoebe Cates. (smile)

#2: Black Christmas

Who doesn’t love a film that gives you a reason not to pledge as a sorority sister, or store your decorations in an attic? The film touts a cast of lovely ladies, inappropriate phone calls (who hasn’t savored the holiday punch and dialed some old friends) and that classic scene with Clare’s body propped up in the attic window. Plus, Steve Martin LOVES it…and that takes the cat’s pajamas in my book.

#1: The Shinning

Okay, so this one isn’t exactly holiday themed, no Santa, no holiday meals, but it has all the winter and seasonal essentials. Snow. A ski resort. Family togetherness. I connect with this film on a personal level, having grown up in a small snowy mountain community and having hung out at the local ski resort more times than I can count. It’s an age old question that’s being answered with this film; does all that family time really make for holiday spirit or daddy’s ultimate meltdown?

Honorable x- mass-acre Television Mentions:

Tales from the Crypt “All Through the House”

Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Amends” Season 3, Episode 10.The one where Angel finds his wing, so to speak.

I hope you enjoyed my selections….”Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good nightmare!”

About the Author:
Alice has been a horror movie buff since she was a little girl. Particularly the “Halloween” series. She hopes to be the first scream queen on wheels. She’s also an advocate for LGBT as well the disability communities. Been a nerd since conception. So proud! You can catch her on www.mynerdgirl.com as well her Facebook page.