Interpersonal Neurobiology: The Science of Wyrd and Frith
I read an article in the New York Times last week about the relationship between the brain and love. Or rather, about the relationship between the brain and relationships. In this article, the author (Diane Ackerman) shared a deeply personal story about her husband’s recovery from a left-hemisphere stroke. She wrote about how their bond,...
Kirk Cameron and Free Speech
This week on The Grand Overseer (i.e. Facebook) I watched an argument over whether or not Kirk Cameron’s comments regarding homosexuality on Piers Morgan were out of line or not. The argument centered less around the content of what he said and more around whether or not Kirk Cameron has the right to have and...
Gary Trudeau on The State of Texas House Bill 15
Last week, a Doonesbury cartoon that was a commentary on Texas House Bill 15 (from the 82nd legislature) became a meme via social networks.* The Princesses saw it courtesy of the Grand Overseerer. The panel shows a woman, who is seeking an abortion, undergoing a procedure mandated by Texas House Bill (HB) 15. She is...
Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy
Orthodoxy – Correctness in doctrine and belief (from Greek orthos “right†+ “doxa†belief) Orthopraxy – Correct practice or action (from Greek orthos “right†+ praxis “actionâ€) A couple folks on a Heathen listserve I belong to started throwing these words around, and while I was pretty sure I knew what orthodoxy meant and I’d...
Venus and Jupiter: A Planetary Conjunction in March 2012
March 2012 is proving to be a celestially active month! Not only did we get solar flares last week (which made the Aurora Borealis visible to more people), we also get a planetary conjunction this week. How cool is that?! Venus and Jupiter were tightly snuggled earlier this week, but they remain close and bright...
Pre-Adoption Update (Oh my gods this is really happening)
Goodness gracious, life can change so quickly sometimes. It wasn’t two months ago that I wrote about the challenges of giving up biological motherhood and how TheScott and I were starting classes to become foster/adoptive parents. Well… those classes are over. We have most of our paperwork in, we just had an exit interview, and we’re...
Here Comes the Sun: Solar Flares and Sun Worship
You’ve probably heard that starting March 6th, the sun will experience active solar flares. This will be the most flares since 2006, but likely not the most volatile flares in the current solar cycle. We are in solar cycle 24, which is predicted to have the lowest solar peak since 1928. A solar peak is...
Heroes and Magic and Gods, Oh my! Recommended Readings on Heathenry
Last week in the comments a reader asked for reading suggestions for those interested in learning more about Heathenry. I realized I had a lot to say about this topic, so I made a post out of it. Please know I am not a scholar and while I have been a Pagan for a long time...
Pulling on Paganism to Cope with Fear: The Princess’s Guide to “Don’t Panic!â€
I’m having a little trouble with fear lately. Or maybe it’s more worry. I think these two emotions are interwoven. I did something to my body and am numb in my left hip and thigh and my left lower back and abdomen. Argh! I’m not sure where the “owie†is actually located, but it’s most...
