Old Gods and Indoor Plumbing

Incantations

Short Cuts

Josie Long hears stories spell craft, poetry and art coming to life.

What can a poet learn from a consultant sorcerer? Ross Sutherland explores the poetic possibilities of spell craft. A fragment of Sappho’s poetic longing is unpicked alongside a reading by Anne Carson. And at night, in a gallery, art springs to life.

THREAD: I think it would be cool if tons of folks donated to good Charlottesville-based nonprofits those Nazi jerks would really hate. So…

Here’s the @NAACP in Charlottesville. They take PayPal. http://www.albemarle-cvillenaacp.org

Here’s Charlottesville Pride (the good kind.) They take PayPal. @cvillepride http://cvillepride.org/sponsor/support/

Planned Parenthood South Atlantic serves Charlottesville. Donate to them here: https://secure.ppaction.org/site/Donation2?df_id=24415&24415.donation=form1&s_designeeid=1116

Charlottesville’s own chapter of the National Organization for Women @CVille_NOW takes PayPal, my babies! http://www.cvillenow.org/involve.html

If you just wanna learn more, here’s a post by @lifeofDVS about #BlackLivesMatter in Charlottesville https://medium.com/@lifeofDVS/august-12th-facing-the-alt-right-and-everything-after-a077cf41bbaf

African American Teaching Fellows works to diversify a system with only 10% African American teachers. @aatfnews http://www.aateachingfellows.org 

Safe to say it’s not the greatest night to be a Jewish student at UVA. Perhaps you might donate to Hillel at UVA? https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/jML0Uah5iSxU5YZKzwBFkg

While you’re at it, why not learn something about the history of the Jewish community in Charlottesville? http://www.isjl.org/virginia-charlottesville-encyclopedia.html

Congregation Beth Israel is the only synagogue in Charlottesville & the whole county. Tell ‘em you’d like to donate! https://cbicville.org/contact

IMPACT Cville is composed of Muslim, Protestant, Catholic and Jewish communities in Charlottesville. Donate! https://impactcville.com/

The folks at @twicville provide mental healthcare for women in Charlottesville regardless of ability to pay. Donate: http://thewomensinitiative.org

Just learned about @LegalAidJustice which is doing good work - check them out and donate

Are we forgetting our friends with disabilities in Charlottesville? NOPE. Donate to Arc of the Piedmont here:http://arcpva.org/donate/

Here’s a group w/a Charlottesville branch working for independent living for folks with disabilities (h/t @may_gun)  http://www.vacil.org/va_cils_directory.htm

And we can’t skip Big Brothers Big Sisters in Charlottesville! Thx @wildbrad for the h/t! Donate to @bbbsocbr: http://www.blueridgebigs.org 

The good folks @PiedmontHousing help diverse clients access affordable housing in Charlottesville and beyond http://piedmonthousingalliance.org/donations/

Don’t cry don’t cry DON’T CRY DON’T CRY DON’T—

“Yet the custom of assuming a fierce guise to stand up to danger isn’t limited to the ancient Celts. Mahakala is a fierce form taken by the great Tibetan Buddhist Lord of Compassion, Avalokiteshara. This wild looking, powerful being is described in ancient legends and texts as having the fierce energy and determination a mother has for her only child when that child is confronted by danger. Mahakala is a protector. Just as dressing up in scary costumes on Halloween was not always play, Mahakala reminds us that the practice we call mindfulness meditation is not always sweetness and light. The practice itself is comprised of different elements in addition to mindfulness itself, including energy and sometimes fierce determination. We are meant to meet the darkness with the light of awareness.”

Tracy Cochran on Halloween and meeting darkness.