Betsy Snow White Bibliophile

Category: Uncategorized

  • What I love most about October

    It’s finally here! October is my favorite month. I got married in October, the sixth to be exact. October houses my absolute favorite holiday Halloween. The weather, usually, begins to get cooler and the leaves in ohio change to the golds, reds and oranges of autumn. Pumpkins, apples, apple cider, candy corn (I am pro candy corn and think it is delicious, but I understand the naysayers), spooky things, costume parties, and witchy things everywhere make me a happy fool for the whole month.

    I have so much planned for the next month including witch walks, anniversary plans, moving my little sister into her house, a wedding, parties and more Renaissance Festival. I am planning to post a blog a day for all of October. Let’s celebrate the 31 days of blogtober. See you again soon. 🧡🎃🧡

  • Magickal Monday (okay Tuesday) – New Moon

    Happy New Moon! It is a monthly time of beginnings. Anything new with you? Any plans up your sleeves? Now is the time to get started. 

    In light of the full moon I decided to play with my cards a bit. First I asked for a focus from the Halloween Oracle. I received: 

    Werewolf is about exploring your wild side. Maybe it is time to return to nature, or to do something crazy, like how at the Moon. Basically it is about allowing yourself to be more free than may be normal for you. Embrace the more animal side of your nature. 

    I also pulled for a new moon spread I found on Pinterest using the Deviant Moon Tarot.

    My pull looked like this: 

    1) What intentions can I set to strengthen my practice? Eight of Pentacles: It is time to put in some work. Establish a regular practice, even if it is a simple one. Find small rituals that resonate for you. These do not have to be elaborate, they just have to be done.

    2) What intentions can I set to strengthen my spirit? XI Strength: You are stronger than you think. You have been told that because you are emotional you are weak. That is not true. Empathy can be a great strength, as can sympathy which is different but important. Build your strengths, and learn how to use them to your benefit. 

    3) What intentions can I set to strengthen my creativity? Ace of Wands: Create! Don’t think about it, don’t plan it, don’t procrastinate! Just buckle down and make things, write things, paint things, etc. Creativity builds on itself, and soon you will find it burgeoning. 

    4) What intentions can I set to nurture my relationships? IX The Hermit: Be sure to take time for yourself, because that is healthy. Don’t go too far though. Escape is good, but don’t go into hiding. 

    5) What intentions can I set to inspire others? Five of Wands: Be the calm voice in the chaos. Diplomacy is a gift, so use it to be a bridge. 

    6) What intentions can I set to broaden my compassion? Seven of Wands: People are feeling lost and confused, and you know this feeling, so reach out. Be the light for others. Be compassion. Help. 
    In my witchy world I officially bought our passes to Earth Warriors Festival. If you have never been to the festival it is a multi-path pagan festival that is housed at Camp Graham in Clarksville, OH. It is truly one of the most open festivals I have ever attended. I could not recommend it more. And this year is the 10 year anniversary, so the festival is bringing in even more authors, teachers and musicians. 

    Blessings.

    Betsy

  • Magickal Monday – Witchy Haul!

    Magickal Monday – Witchy Haul!

    Happy 4th of July Eve to my American Friends! To everyone else Happy Magickal Monday!!

    I have done some witchy shopping in the last couple of weeks, so I thought I would share some of my recent purchases.

    From a little shop in Yellow Springs, Ohio called House of Ravenwood I bought a piece of statuary that is a Merlin/Wotan – Odin. The workers and I thought it to be Odin. The box called him Merlin, but to me he is an Odin as the wanderer piece.

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    From my friend Seamus’ shop The Magical Druid I picked up a beautiful copper bracelet with pentacles on it. I also picked up a gorgeous piece of peacock ore, and a nice chunk of Black Tourmaline.

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    And a new oracle deck called The Halloween Oracle. The imagery on this deck is beautiful. I love Halloween, so this deck is right up my alley.

     

    I shuffled until a card popped out as a simple one card spread and I got the card:

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    Nightsong – Hidden Talents:  Should this beautiful but shy bird sing to you by appearing during your divination, know that you must unwrap the present of yourself. Look! Some of the gifts within you remain unopened! The time has come to step into your true potential and claim all possibilities for yourself. There is no more time to waste. No more excuses! – Stacey Demarco

    I am so excited to continue working with this deck. I think it is quickly going to become a favorite.

    My younger sister has gifted me with a beautiful picture which I am planning to frame to add to my altar space. I have no idea where it is from, or who the artist is, so if you know them please let me know.

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    I also made a trip last Thursday to my friend Heather’s shop Violet Flame Gifts in Newark. I was picking up the gorgeous drinking horn she made that was just begging to be owned by my husband. While I was there I found a gorgeous wand that I could not resist. Labradorite and Turquoise are two of my favorite stones. I am thinking of this as my Pisces wand, because of the shells and starfish motifs on it. I am so in love.

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    That is all, and enough, lol. Expect to see more of the oracle deck, and of that wand.

    Bright Blessings!

     

     

  • Things I Love Thursday – GLOW

    Things I Love Thursday – GLOW

    So, it all started a couple of weeks ago when I was staying up to finish a paper for school. My husband had gone to bed so I decided to turn on something random that I wouldn’t have to stay up to finish. I decided on a documentary about women wrestlers from the late 80’s called GLOW: The Story of the Glorious Ladies of Wrestling. I ended up staying up quite late to finish the documentary.

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    I fell in love. Instantly. I did not watch the show when it was on, and honestly younger me would not have appreciated it, but oh it hit something within me. The glitter, the drama, the silliness, the humor, the insane costumes, and everything. If you have not watched the documentary then you should.

    Then just a few weeks after I watched the documentary Netflix announced a show based on the original show called GLOW. Starring Allison Brie, Marc Maron and Betty Gilpin. We binge watched it as soon as it hit, and I loved it. At first Allison Brie’s character, Ruth, was ridiculously annoying. By the end of the season, though, she had grown on me and really come into her own as a character. I cannot recommend the series more.

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  • Written Words Wednesday – Book Wyrm Post

    Written Words Wednesday – Book Wyrm Post

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    I believe I mentioned previously that I am a bibliophile. I consider myself a Book Wyrm rather than a Book Worm, because I horde books like a dragon. Today I thought I would share what book I am currently reading, and a couple of books I recently purchased.

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    I am currently reading Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman. If you have ever read, or attempted to read, the Poetic Edda you know that it can occasionally be hard going and sometimes things just get lost in translation. In Norse Mythology Gaiman successfully modernizes the language of the myths, but loses none of the meaning and beauty. My favorite re-imagining in the book so far is The Treasures of the Gods which is the tale of when Loki stole Sif’s hair and, after being threatened by Thor, comes up with a way to get the Dark Elves (Dwarves) to craft her new golden hair. The twists and turns and Loki’s slippery nature are a very entertaining read.

    I am in the middle of reading the story The Mead of Poets, so I am about halfway through the book. That being said I would already recommend it highly, especially for lovers of mythology.

     

    Seth and I wandered into Barnes and Noble the other day, because I was wanting to pick up a Squirrel Girl comic or two. As you can see above I found one, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl – Like I’m the Only Squirrel in the World.

    I also picked up another Graphic Novel called Spell on Wheels by Kate Leth, Megan Levens and Marissa Louise. The tag line on the back reads: A road trip story. A magical revenge fantasy. A sisters-over-misters tale of three witches out to get back what was taken from them.  Sounds intriguing, right? I will report back with what I think.

    On a sale rack I found The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer for $6.98. I already have the book in audio form, but could not pass up a physical copy for that price. If you have not read this beautiful book, do it. Or buy it as an audio book and Amanda will read it to you.

    Happy Reading!

  • Day 2 – Beautiful Freaks Fest

    Day 2 – Beautiful Freaks Fest

    Not as dark as some, but today I decided to create a pair of actual beautiful freaks. This is an altered journal page. Enjoy the Amazing Lafontaine Sisters.

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  • Day 1 – Beautiful Freaks Fest

    Day 1 – Beautiful Freaks Fest

    full-moon

    On night’s like this the blood calls

    with an ache that pulls from the

    marrow of my bones.

    The moon impels my limbs to move,

    to run, to seek, to rend, to rip.

    to HOWL.

     

    So, I sit in the dark of this room.

    Chains binding my arms and legs.

    That moon staring at me

    through a single window;

    taunting me and tempting me.

    Freedom is here, it says,

    Just let go and come play.

     

    I feel the change coming.

    I will not fight it off.

    The chains will hold.

    The chains will hold.

    The chains…

     

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  • Magickal Monday – It’s almost the Solstice

    Magickal Monday – It’s almost the Solstice

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    The solstice is on Wednesday and we are heading to Newark to attend a drum circle inside the Newark Earthworks. I grew up in Newark and often went to walk and play within the Great Circle Mound. The mounds were built by the Hopewell people between 100 B.C. and 500 A.D. You can read more about it here. The drum circle is being hosted by my friend Heather, the lovely proprietress of Violet Flame Gifts.

     

    The Sun: XVII The Star – A time of creativity and spirituality, of hope and good things. (This is a good sign for the solstice.)

    1. What in my life has been in shadow, that I need to shine a bright light on so I can see clearly what it is? XIV Temperance – I need to work on finding better balance in my life. I also need to find balance in my personal life.

    2. What in my life am I trying to force into happening when instead I need to be still and patient? XXI The World – I cannot force myself into happiness. I need to calm down, be still and let my happiness happen.

    3. What in my life is fertile and productive now? Where are my opportunities for growth? XVIII The Moon –  I need to listen to and follow my intuition. My dreams are leading me in the right direction and I simply need to heed them.

    4. What is waning in my life? What do I need to release? Seven of Wands – I need to let go of self-doubt. I am more than capable of making my life more, and it is up to me to do it.

    That is a lot to think about for the Solstice. I also think I will be joining Molly Roberts in a 28 days of Beauty challenge, so look for more on that soon.

    Solstice Blessings!!

     

  • Things I love Thursday – Go Team!!

    Things I love Thursday – Go Team!!

    I will be walking in a 5k this weekend called the Cheddar Challenge at a local Dairy Farm. We have participated in this 5k for a couple of years, and it is seriously fun. You get a milkshake, and cheese samples. The course takes you through the barns and by the baby cows. It is so much fun.

    Our team for this race consists of myself; my husband, Seth; my sister, Traci; and my mother, Karla. We are The Lactose Intolerants. I laugh at that stupid name every time. Last night, I made the team shirts for everyone.

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    My shirt with nickname, AlphaBetsy
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    Seth’s shirt with nickname Tuna.
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    Traci’s shirt with nickname Shmoo
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    Karla’s shirt with nickname Kage.

    After the race we will grab a shuttle down into the Yellow Springs Street Fair. Yellow Springs is a wonderful little alternative community just outside of Dayton Ohio. There are beautiful galleries, lots of little shops, and a generally lovely feeling to the whole place. This is the town where Dave Chappelle lives.

    At the street fair I know we will find our absolute favorite soap company, Elder Forest Soap. We swear by Katie’s soap, as well as her salves, and natural deodorant. I am so excited to renew my stash.

    This is a photo from our team in 2014. I can’t find a more recent one.

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  • Magickal Monday – Grimoire Thoughts

    Magickal Monday – Grimoire Thoughts

    The front of my Grimoire
    The inside front page
    My favorite page.

    I have a problem with Grimoires (Books of Shadows, Mirrors, Light, etc.). My problem is that I never know what to include. I don’t want to treat it like a journal, but I also don’t want to make it impersonal. It is a struggle for me. I am getting ready to jump back into it again, and I am trying to decide what I want from my grimoire.

    In the past I have done a lot of copying from books, and adding pages from the internet. I really do not want to do that again. I want something more personal. I am thinking that rather than regurgitating what I find online, or in a book, I should be recording my personal take on things.

    Molly Roberts has a couple of amazing videos about this. This video and this one are both good starting points to giving your grimoire a makeover.

    I am going to go back over some pages I have made that I am not very happy with. I will share what those look like as they happen.