Bookies Bar co-owner and the incredible amor fati of social media respectability tap dancing

The population of Detroit consists of those who smell of church oils, vesta powder, and clean pressed shirts with just a hint of the scent of transmission fluid, and a large percentage of African American peoples. Mark Jerant, the co-owner of Bookies Bar & Grille in downtown, seemed to forget the power of that population once it mobilizes. Why does this matter in a column devoted to Paganism? Because Mark Jerant's cyclical fall from grace, apology, and ultimate fate are tied to the collective focused energetic will (see egregore) of the people that arose from post-Young Detroit's populace. In other words, there is punitive spiritual action afoot.

Image: Michigan Municipal League

The clicking nails that denote the keystrokes of offended patrons are no doubt resounding loudly in his consciousness. The Detroiter's who may or may not involved themselves with racial and socioeconomic activism on a daily public basis, are the same ones that have decided as a body to engage in modern-day "witchcraft of the mouth" through social media to punish Mark Jerant for his commentary on the outrageous killing of 40-year-old Terence Crutcher. The components for this work are the personal concerns that consist of his wrongheaded and loose talk revealing his true level of regard for the diasporic clientage he serves.


Let us take a look, shall we, at the good Mr. Jerant's comments juxtapose Mr. Crutcher being gunned down.

Do you mean the unarmed man Who didn't listen to police....... Again.

The one who continued to resist by waking away from the police .... Again.

The one who continued to walk away with his hands up, and proceeded to disobey more orders all the way back to his vehicle.

Tthen put his hands down continued to disobey orders and then reached into the open widow of car? That unarmed man? That one that simply didn't listen ....... Again.

Get ready for the liberal media frenzy of BS. Then the audio will come out, then everyone will say he didn't listen, then after a false narrative for 3 months by BLM and "rioting peaceful protests" everyone will say ohhh I guess he was wrong, and the police were right? Then after a real investigation the truth comes out?

Simple story never changes. Listen to police who have guns pointed at you and don't get shot. It isn't hard.

Here we go again. "Hands up" until they aren't anymore. The media will cut video then, just wait until mainstream plays the clip. CNN we are ready for your half story !!! They will ignore everything else. Clicks and ads it's always about money not the truth. watch and see.

Of course, now the obligatory apology has been rendered unto the public via a public relations screen in order to soothe those shocked and outraged by the above statements.  Indeed, his candor on his personal insights has led to these statements going viral to the point where there was no other choice except to hire a professional "fixer". Alas, it is a case of letting the cat out of the bag on a person's true beliefs, parading the cat around, letting it spray the Ethan Allen chaise (shout out to a Michigan company), and then trying to spray it all down with Febreze. The stain, and the stink, are not hidden.

Well isn't that special? I am sure that it does not escape the readers' attention what the word "candid" means. According to the MacMillan Dictionary, it means  honest and direct, even when the truth is not pleasant. So, then, it is clear that it was precisely his intent to convey his true feelings, using the words he did,  when he made that earlier post on his social media. Sometimes, the fox gets his tail wet when crossing by trying to be too clever. Feeling a little soggy, Mark?

Maybe Detroit business owners need to take a lesson from Populux. Oops, I mean the Magic Stick. After all, Populux learned the hard way about popping off that incendiary trash about humanity. Especially when the population of his locale is over 80% African American. Money is powerful, nobody wields the ritual tool of it like the Motor City. 

Oh, and in case you didn't know, I don't believe him or his apology via public relations hired gun. The old trope of the "African American friend pass" is over and tired. Just like your business may be soon if you don't watch your mouth.

The Michigan Midwest Witches Bazaar will rock your stripey sox for 2016

The Midwest Witches Bazaar: A Magickal Marketplace Shopping Experience will be celebrating its 6th year with a blast this time around with swag bags, new vendors, and wares that are sure to dazzle the eye and make light the purse. A part of an overall day of celebration, it is held as the morning event for the Michigan-Midwest Witches Ball.  

The ball has been the top social and charitable event in Michigan, and one heck of a party, for 20 years. And as usual, it has been sold out yet again. OH, and this is happening! Dorothy Morrison is doing something splendid.

As a sponsor of the ball, she was given four tickets. Since she cannot attend, she wants to give back to the Michigan community who has been so loving to her. In an effort to support both the local community and local vendors, Candle Wick Shop will be working with Dorothy to select the two couples who will receive free tickets to Midwest Witches’ Ball.

All you have to do is send an email message to fundraiser@candlewickshoppe.com and nominate the couple of your choice.  You have to give a quick summary of why you think they should win these tickets in the email. Make sure to include their contact information and ages, because this is a 21 and over event due to alcohol.  Nominations will be accepted between Sept 1st and Sept 30th 2016.

But you don't have to be over 21 to shop at the bazaar. It is the perfect place to pick up some adornments and charms from folks that come all the way here just to be at this event. It is free and open to the public on October 8th, 2016 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.. You don't have to have a ball ticket to enter.
 
A select and lucky few got the spots to be in the Bazaar. To make the cut, they had to be the tops at professionalism, standing, and public demand. Meeting and networking at the Bazaar is one of the biggest Pagan shopping days of the year.

And did you know, that something special is happening at the BAZAAR this year? Something marvelous! There will be Swag Bags for the first 200 people through the door. From what I have been told, and gotten a sneak peak to see, these are amazing.Wares from vendors and artisans from all over are stuffed into these little lovelies. For a list of sponsors, visit this link.http://midwestwitchesball.com/2016-sponsors/


If you want a tiny cheater's chance at getting one, try to win one at Ancient Faiths Alliance's All Hands Together Harvest Festival this weekend. The Midwest Witches Bazaar donated one of them as a prize. To find out what's inside, you've got to win.

See ya there. Shop til you bop. Here is some theme music from a hometown girl.

 

Heathens, Pagans, and Burners put ethos before egos in Detroit

On August 14th, Detroit was again the site of the powerful Street Store phenomenon. In the shadow of the Masonic Temple, volunteers from various areas of  Southeastern Michigan came together to put forth their hearts and hands in providing good clothing and material needs in service to the homeless residents of Detroit. This time, the event was at Cass Park, 600 Ledyard Street.

Matt Orlando and Kyle Coviak added their hands and hearts to the Street Store Image: Kenya Coviak, all rights reserved

Matt Orlando, of Ancient Faiths Alliance and Northern Mist Kindred pitched in to lend an arm. A busy man, he found time to come in and put feet to the street to get to know the people who may not get to speak to candidates up “close and personal”. He is running for Representative to U.S. Congress under the Libertarian ticket this election. And though the folks who live in this district are not his constituents, he expressed his belief that people don’t stop having needs at the edge of a voting boundary.
The good Reverend Gerrybrete Leonard-Whitcomb, of Universal Society of Ancient Ministry dashed off before I could get an image of her dropping off a fresh batch of clothing. She put out a call on the Pagans In Need Facebook page for men’s clothing in larger sizes in the week leading up to the event. Though sick, she still made it a priority to drop and dash back for some needed recovery time.

Modest beginnings lead to big things. These racks below look like they are very thin. However, within minutes they were groaning under the weight of hundreds of donated, clean garments. Bins and boxes waited in readiness as they were continuously emptied by all who came.

Burners Without Borders set up the store across from the Wobbly Kitchen Image: Kenya Coviak, All Rights Reserved

Kyle Coviak, of the GLWC of Michigan, and Ancient Faiths Alliance, also hit the park site with strength and energy. He is known as one of the faces of volunteerism in the local spiritual communities. Working in tandem with a system of constant flow, he kept the clients happy and the lines stocked with clothing and home wares. Neat and tidy is his watchword and it showed.

Lifting and loading. Image: Kenya Coviak, All Rights Reserved

*Full disclosure: He is my husband, and at this time we shall all ask for prayers, as I am definitely NOT neat and tidy. His struggle continues.*

In addition to these items, hygiene kits were available as well.  Food items were on hand and ready to go. This seemed to work hand in hand with the mission of the good folks across the green.
The Wobbly kitchen, as a gathering and an institution, is all about good feelings, good folks, and food. The smells coming from the buffet were mouth-watering, and the music was jamming. If you want to see more, catch them the 2nd and 4th Sundays.
The Burners Without Borders Detroit chapter plans to do this again. If you want to volunteer, you can go to their WordPress to keep yourself in the loop. The place may change, but the mission remains the same. Be a part of a growing momentum and give of yourself. It feels good. And you might just get to share ice cream at the end.

Burners Without Borders Detroit, Matt Orlando, Kyle Coviak Image: Kenya Coviak, All Rights Reserved

 

 

This article, and more like it, can be found at www.pbnnewsnetwork.com

My path of peaceful war

So the topic came up today, talking to one of my closest friends here in Michigan. The question of me, and why I did not pursue my career in the military.

The fact is, I wonder how life would have been had I not walked away from that candidacy board that night and decided "no".

What would my life be like if I had not decided that I did not want to fight upstream? With the grade scandal that surrounded my school because of the Marine Corps students, should I have really tried to pursue my naval career anyway?

I turned away for a number of reasons, primarily due to questioning of my test scores being in their minds. I had a proven record of excellence, but that doubt would have followed me. It was not worth a 15 year stretch of that. 

But the biggest reason was that the Goddess, or God, or Both, reached out to me and touched my heart through encounters with other people. I have told Kyle, my husband, many times that week was the first time I really understood that what I would do would be done to people who had souls. And that changed my mind.

For the record. I was going into a special service area. My files would have been "Black". For those who know what that means, you know that means my true self is a certain kind of way.

For those who do not, let me make it brief. I was going into the service to be an interrogator and an assassin for my nation. When I was a small girl, I wrote an essay that sums up my belief systems.

When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said either a nun or an assassin. They asked me why. I said I wanted to either help people suffering in the world by being a spiritual person, or as an assassin who would kill the people making them suffer.

I chose a different path than what lay before me. I chose the path of peace, yet I still claim the warrior. Because what I did not choose to do in flesh, I do in spiritual warfare.

Make no mistake. I am always who I am. But for some of you, you have never seen me...the real me.

Here I stand.

Public Service Share: School supplies for Oglala Lakota Children's Justice Center

From time to time, this space is used to promote community and civic causes.  Because I can.  I am using it today to spread word about this drive to provide school supplies to Oglala Lakota Children's Justice Center .  This is the relevant information from the event, sponsored by Janet Herzberg Callahan and Barry Callahan.  You can find the event on facebook under School Supply Drive.  The drive lasts through July 17-July 30.

The Oglala Lakota Children's Justice Center (OLCJC)[formerly OLCASA]

Last year we delievered 7 backpacks full of school supplies and other needed items to the Oglala Lakota CASA (court appointed special advocates) - now called the Oglala Lakota Children's Justice Center for Lakota kids in foster care, plus we sent another huge box to the Emergency Youth Shelter in Pine Ridge.

I'd like to see us collect enough supplies for 10 children this year - I haven't heard yet if OLCJC will be doing backpacks again, but need is high on the reservation (most schools are 98%+ free lunches). I'll be setting up a better tracking system this year, which I hope to have organized this week.

Meanwhile....although school in Michigan isn't even out yet, schools on the reservation start up in mid-August, so including shipping, it's time to get started.

Here is the wishlist link on Amazon.  


CJC's request list is out, with 115 backpacks requested. I've got us tagged for 4 right now, but can add on as we're sure we'll get enough to fill all the backpacks.
C11 - boy first
c27 - girl 2nd
C36 - boy 3rd
c47 - girl 4th

The CJC would like to provide a backpack filled with school supplies for each of the children they serve, but they are severely underfunded and have no budget to do so.
Because there are only two paid staff members, the Director and one admin, they do not have resources to stuff backpacks with supplies so for this drive please donate an age appropriate filled backpack for a CJC child in need.
The early grades will need things like paper, pencils, crayons, markers, colored pencils, Kleenex packs, etc. The older kids will need calculators, pens, colored pencils, markers, pencils, mechanical pencils, spiral bound notebooks or ruled filler paper, 3 ring binders, highlighters, two pocket folders, composition books, rulers, pencil sharpeners, pencil boxes or zipper cases, pink erasers, Kleenex packs, etc.
If you'd like you can include some small personal items such as a book, bookmarks, a toothbrush and toothpaste, some colorful or tube socks, hair accessories, or a few Matchbox cars or other small toys, lip balm, and especially appreciated by the teens, antiperspirant.
Also, please do not send any products that depict owls, as they are a symbol of death in the Lakota culture. Any other prints/patterns/colors are fine.
Thank you so much for supporting the CJC kids, who have survived things no child should ever experience.

And a couple things not on the wishlist:
Last year it cost about $10/backpack to ship....which added up far faster than I expected.
If you want to donate towards shipping, or towards picking up random toys and personal items to go in the bags.

Go to paypal.me/TheCallahans and type in the amount. Since it’s PayPal, it's easy and secure.

 Children are our future.  And for those who are of the Paths of Faith, they are also our divine duty to nurture and protect.  If you are able, and so moved, please help.  For more information about the center, please contact them at Oglala Lakota CJC, Inc., P.O.Box 5014, Pine Ridge, SD 57770, or call (605) 867-5643.

Uplifting Peace Rally for non-violence today

Borchard Park will be the site of a rally for non-violence today at 6:00 p.m. in Saginaw.  This event will take place on the corner of Court Street and North Michigan.  This is right across the way from the Court House at 101 N. Michigan. Clergy folks, this is an interfaith event.

 New Ezekiel is a part of the Gamiel Project whose mission is to

empower ordinary people to effectively participate in the political, environmental, social and economic decisions affecting their lives. Gamaliel’s diverse members apply their faith and values to the pursuit of equal opportunity for all, shared abundance, and stronger, more prosperous communities - Gamiel Project

The event is sponsored by the New Ezekiel Project. Communtity groups, ministry leaders, church groups, the Saginaw police and state police will have representatives in attendance. And of course, everyone who wishes to attend is encouraged to come.

This is in accord with their three part approach to their vision for Saginaw. They are seeking to contribute to the positive revitalization of the are through outreach in the areas of transportation, educational projects, and police and community action.  For more information, please contact Jamie@theEzekialProject.com, or call (989) 529-4318.

Spiral Circle (Pagans In Recovery) Meeting tonight

This year, The Spiral Circle Pagans In Recovery was named one of the new charities for the 2016 Midwest Witches' Ball.  Their meeting is scheduled for tonight at the American Legion Hall, located at 37060 Huron River Drive in New Boston, MI at 7:00 pm.  Many of us have been to this location for various Universal Society of Ancient Ministry events, Witches of Michigan gatherings, and more, so it is easy to find.

This is a first for the group, and it is hoped one of the many more upcoming blessings that will be int the future.  For all who are seeking, let their light shine the way.

Your friendly neighborhood inkslinger is presenting this announcement as a public service.  The words of Rebecca Sisler are so whole and complete that there is nothing that this writer could add.  The Spiral Circle (Pagans In Recovery) will be meeting this evening.

  Now, read the words of this healing soul for this evening's announcement.

Tonight the Spiral Circle Meeting will be held at the American Legion Hall, in New Boston, MI. This is an open meeting, anyone is welcomed. We accept all persons with any self-destructive behavior. 

The Spiral Circle Program is based off the 12 steps of AA. It is designed for those people looking for a program of recovery that is non-Christian. I personally do not have an issue with the Christian dogma used in AA or NA. However it has been proven that Christian dogma is alive and well in both AA and NA meetings.

Up until now I have not spoken out about this program. I have heard a lot of people in recovery question this program, so now I am going to address the questions that I have heard.

I have watched many people suffer even in recovery. I have seen people feel isolated and even shunned for their beliefs. On the other side I have seen many people find recovery outside of 12 step programs. I have seen these people find their healing through Earth based spirituality. Some of these people have helped me work my program in profound ways.

 My heart bleeds for all those that NA and AA has not helped. Yes, there are people that these programs have not helped. And while listening I have heard two very disturbing facts.

 One, there are those who feel excluded because their issue is not drugs and alcohol. They have been told that their issues are not as serious. Some of these people suffer from things like cutting, depression, eating disorders, the list goes one. And the truth is that drugs and alcohol are only a symptom of the disease. Self-destruction comes in many forms, and people are dying from self-destruction.

Two, even though these programs say a God of your understanding and a High Power, they are still based in “God” related thinking. For some people this creates an issue. Personally, I have heard many people say at meetings, “the God of my understand is Christ Our Lord”. Where this personally doesn’t detour me from meetings it does detour others. Furthermore, I know of people who have chosen to walk no-Christian paths that have been shunned at meetings for doing so. I don’t feel that people at meetings intend to come across this way however at times they do, and for some this is enough to railroad their recovery.

Perhaps there is a need for another 12-step recovery program that eliminates these issues? Personally, it is not my place to decide. It is for those seeking recovery to decide. And for those seeking out this new recovery program their reasons are personal. I have only spoke of what I have seen and experienced myself.

So, for those who still question the motive and validity of this program all I can say is that I come to you with an open heart. This program is not in completion with NA or AA. I can only hope that this program will save lives, help people find their true spiritual essence, and promote true recovery for those involved. I think that recovery in any form is a good thing and I believe whole heartily that all recovery programs can work together in carrying the message.

 If you have made it this far in reading this post I would feel so honored if you would join us for a meeting. We start at 7 pm. Once again the meetings will be Mondays at the American Legion Hall in New Boston, MI.