February Full Moon Altar: Sedna

This month's altar honours the Inuit form of the Divine Feminine, Sedna, Goddess of the Sea and of Marine Mammals. There are many versions of Sedna's creation myth, but they all involve her vengeful father chopping off Sedna's fingers as she clings to his kayak in the Arctic sea where he has thrown her. Sedna sinks down deep into the frigid water, where she grows a whale's tail as she morphs into a mighty sea goddess. Her severed fingers become the marine mammals (seals, walruses, whales) on which the Inuit people rely for food. If Sedna becomes angry and withholds her food source animals from hunters, Inuit shamans perform a hair-combing ritual to please and placate her since, lacking fingers, she cannot comb her own hair.

This lovely soapstone carving is by Lisa Douziech, an Edmonton carver, which I bought about a year ago. I don't know if the artist intended the carving to represent Sedna, but that's who it is to me. The fibre-optic tea lights with their ever-changing colours are meant to represent the Northern Lights of the Arctic.

The altar cloth is a quilted panel created by the quilters' group at an Edmonton seniors' recreation centre where I take art and poetry classes. I placed Sedna and the candles off to the side so as not to obscure its beautiful Arctic scene.

[Photos © Debra She Who Seeks, 2025]

Farewell, Jackiesue

Very sad news in the blogosphere today -- long-time blogger Jackiesue Denney of YellowDog Granny has passed away at the age of 81. I was privileged to call her my friend and I will miss her tremendously.

On her blog, Jackiesue described herself as a "liberal pagan living in West, Texas. Yes. That West, Texas." She was a fearless hell-raiser and always spoke her mind, no matter the pushback or opposition. Her blog had the very best and very latest political memes skewering right-wing intolerance, discrimination, hate, politics and wrongdoings. She was a fierce and uncompromising supporter of all minorities, including the Black, Latino, Jewish and LGBTQ+ communities. Yet Jackiesue also had a fantastic sense of humour which was displayed regularly on her blog and in person.

Jackiesue was a tremendous volunteer in her community, driving for Meals on Wheels, organizing holiday parties and cooking special meals at the seniors' home, always ready to lend a helping hand. Jackiesue adored her family and doted on her great-grandchildren in particular, attending all their sporting events and being so proud of all their achievements.

Passionate about feminism, paganism and the Goddess, Jackiesue's favourite deity was the Norse Goddess Freya. I have no doubt that she is now sitting at Freya's right hand, feasting and carousing with the Valkyries and other warrior women in Freya's Hall.

No tribute to Jackiesue would be complete without noting her favourite word, used lavishly and in all possible situations --

I feel that the following meme, taken from her YellowDog Granny blog, serves as a fitting farewell on her behalf to all of the enemies, trolls, demons, haters and fascists she spent so much of her time fighting . . . 

. . . just as I'm sure this other meme from her blog represents Jackiesue's parting invitation to us all to carry on her fire, spirit and audacity --

Hello, Is It Me You're Looking For?

I Need a Vacation

Language, Spelling & Grammar FUN!

Imbolc Cyberspace Poetry Slam

Today is Imbolc, a pagan holiday which celebrates, not Spring per se, but rather, the promise of Spring. It is also the sacred day of Brigid the Bright, the Celtic Goddess of (among other things) poetry.

The Imbolc Cyberspace Poetry Slam has been celebrated for quite a few years now by various pagans around the blogosphere. On February 1st (Imbolc Eve) or February 2nd (Imbolc Day), people post a favourite poem written by themselves or by another poet so that, collectively, an internet web of poetry is woven to honour Brigid.

This year I am posting a poem by Mary Anne Perrone, who is an educator, activist, and spiritual guide. For over 30 years her area of focus has been on human rights in Latin America. This poem goes by various names on the internet (such as Christmas at Midlife, Life at Midlife, and She Is Fire) but I have used the title I think is most representative of its theme: No Longer Waiting.

The only good photo I could find of the poet is from 30 years ago in 1994 --

No Longer Waiting

by Mary Anne Perrone

I am no longer waiting for a special occasion;

I burn the best candles on ordinary days.

I am no longer waiting for the house to be clean;

I fill it with people who understand that even dust is Sacred.

I am no longer waiting for everyone to understand me;

It’s just not their task.

I am no longer waiting for the perfect children;

my children have their own names that burn as brightly as any star.

I am no longer waiting for the other shoe to drop;

It already did, and I survived.

I am no longer waiting for the time to be right;

the time is always now.

I am no longer waiting for the mate who will complete me;

I am grateful to be so warmly, tenderly held.

I am no longer waiting for a quiet moment;

my heart can be stilled whenever it is called.

I am no longer waiting for the world to be at peace;

I unclench my grasp and breathe peace in and out.

I am no longer waiting to do something great;

being awake to carry my grain of sand is enough.

I am no longer waiting to be recognized;

I know that I dance in a holy circle.

I am no longer waiting for Forgiveness;

I believe, I believe.

A Gentleman in Moscow

Three or four years ago, I enjoyed reading the novel A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. This work of historical fiction tells the story of Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov. Not long after the Russian Revolution, the Count has his death sentence for being a social parasite commuted by a Bolshevik Tribunal to lifetime house arrest in Moscow's famous Metropol Hotel, where he was living at the time. The rest of the novel concerns the subsequent decades under Stalin's authoritarian regime and how the Count uses his flexible social skills and not inconsiderable charm to adapt by making friends, creating a family, finding meaningful work inside the Hotel, and ultimately thwarting his enemies.

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of watching the 8-part miniseries made from this book (which is currently streaming on CBC Gem in Canada and, I believe, on Paramount+ and Hulu in the United States). The series does a marvelous job of bringing the novel faithfully and compellingly to the screen. Ewan McGregor stars as Count Rostov, with his real life wife Mary Elizabeth Winstead starring as Anna Urbanova, the Count's love interest. They are both outstanding in their roles, as is the supporting cast of actors. Highly recommended, if you get a chance to see it!