Dandelyon's Worlds

It's a New Moon tonight, so I am once again offering to draw cards with the hope of sending some good energy out into the world, to spark some hope and creativity. You can ask about real life or a creative project. I can draw a card for you to meditate on, to represent the Guide you need right now, or to get you unstuck. I can draw a card for a character or can draw a card or cards for you to use as writing or art prompts.

I hope you will stop by my garden. It was wonderfully warm for a few days, but then a storm blew in with thunder and rain, and now it's snowing. But it's nice and warm inside. I have a little round glass table that's etched with a dragon design; we can sit there by candle light or turn the lava lamps on. You and I can share hot chocolate or tea and chat, and you can get a reading if you would like one. Or we could make art together, or sing songs. Both new friends and old are welcome.

Until the end of the weekend, for free one card readings, you can pick from the Brian Froud's Faeries Oracle, my combined Susan Seddon Boulet Animal Spirits and Goddesses cards, or the Shapeshifter Tarot. You can ask a question, ask for a Guide, ask for inspiration, or you can just ask for a card. I don't need to know what your question is, but you are welcome to share it with me if you like.

If I get $50 in tips, I'll use the cards I draw to inspire a painting, and I'll post progress drawings here for you all to see. So far I've received $25 of $50 for this drawing.

The first card is free (though tips are always appreciated). Tips also let you ask me to use any of my other decks, to request a private reading, or to draw a clarifying card. If you want a longer reading, send a direct message so we can agree on the type of reading and rate.

Please consider dropping something in the guitar case below. Readings take time and energy, and even though the Milwaukee winter, like everything else, has been affected by global warming, winter heat is pricey and old houses always need repair somewhere or other. Signal boosts are very much appreciated, and also earn you the right to ask for a clarifying card.

I understand all too well that when people don't have cash or spoons that is generally when they most need inspiration! Don't be afraid to ask for a card if you can't tip.

If you tip, it's helpful to me for you to mention it here so I can connect your paypal information with your request. Tips should be at least $1 (Paypal charges fees). If that doesn't work for you, drop me a message and we'll work something else out.

I've written before about why I do readings and some of the decks I use here, feel free to hop over and check me out. I'll wait.

I will reply to all requests. In the highly unlikely event that the number of requests nears my limits, I'll close this card draw by adding a clear note at the top of the post rather than risk leaving anyone without a response. This weekend, there's a rally for health care and a house filk on Saturday, so there may be a bit of a wait if you leave your request while I'm out. However, I intend to stay open at least through Sunday night, and longer for paid readings since, between the holidays and being in these days of low LJ usage, people may find the post late.

Thank you, and Blessed Be!

As always, these readings are for entertainment and inspiration only. See my "Dandelyon's Readings" page if you have questions.

I got all done with my C post for the A-Z blog challenge, and then I remembered I'd promised to post the words to my Coyote song here. So, two posts, one on DreamWidth, and one over at http://wyld-dandelyon.livejournal.com/200823.html.

Besides, songs are poetry, and April is Poetry Month!!!

Coyote Afoot
By Deirdre M. Murphy

Am C Am
My kitchen draped in plastic, the food hidden away,
Dm7 FM7 Dm7
A dozen pots of dyes in a rainbow were arrayed,
Em Am
In folds, knots, and spirals white t-shirts all were laid,
Em Am Dm7 Am (or C before choruses)
I’d been at work for hours, and my nerves were quite frayed.

Then, from up near the ceiling, a white-clad man splashed down
And landed in my dyes—a clumsy red-haired clown—
He admired his new-dyed suit, ignoring my fierce frown,
And with a tie-dyed grin said, “Let’s go paint the town!”

Then the young man shifted to dispel any doubt
To a four-footed form; he tossed my dyes about
And the clothes were all spattered with bright-colored rain
Then suddenly my guest wore human form again

The Gods are alive, and Coyote’s underfoot
And his feet are full of dye and his eyes are black as soot
And the shirts are all dyed now, though how well I cannot guess
And he asked me out again, and I heard myself say, “yes”.

Coyote is alive, and magick is afoot
And he sure isn’t tame, and he will not stay put
I didn’t believe he could just show up one day
And I don’t know if I hope he’ll go—or hope he’ll stay.

Copyright © 2001 (2/12/01) by Deirdre M. Murphy, all rights reserved.

So, the fan GOH at Windycon decided to bring a guest, a harpist who had never been to a filk.

Such things happen, you say, and of course that's true.

But go thou and look at her Kickstarter campaign video--she made this and started raising money to make cool filk videos before ever going to a science fiction convention: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1242097495/erin-hill-the-sci-fi-harp-girl-makes-a-music-video

I got to be part of her first filk ever!  Thanks, Hugh!

Go, check her out, regardless of whether you have money to support her efforts. 

I was wondering why I've been so tired the last few days. Stress of a new job? Plausible. So, Saturday I slept in, and got up to do a few online and at-home chores, and spent some time submitting stories--enough to not only make my 10 submissions for the month for the first time this year, but to nearly fill up the empty spots for last month too. And I got another "your story made it past the first read" note, making two stories being held at anthologies I'd really love to be in right now.

Then I dressed to go to the housefilk, realized I needed to online-pay a bill before I left, and started to yawn.

I hadn't been up that long! How could I be tired?

My Angel and I headed out the door with instruments, got in the car and I started to sneeze. There was this delicate floral aroma -- "Angel, are you" *sneeze* *sneeze* "wearing perfume?"

"No! When do I wear perfume?"

. . . Spring Allergens!

I stopped at the side of the road to spray my nose with allergy medicine--an advantage of the new diet is I can use those more often without getting nosebleeds, and we headed onward.

I spent most of the next day asleep, or functionally asleep. I totally forgot my plan to do readings on Beltaine. My phone reminded me of my plan to submit a story to one of the online magazines, but their submissions page says both "we are currently closed" and "we will reopen to submissions on May 1". I broke down and sent a query today. I'd really like to send that story there next, but if they're staying closed, I don't want the story lost in electronic limbo.

The Muse Fusion might be this weekend; if it's not, and the allergies abate a bit, maybe I'll do readings then.

In the meantime, Happy Spring Pollen Season, everyone!

A poem for the full moon, and for solstice.  This one also has a tune, though I'm still lacking a way to play it for you except in person.  One of these days, that will change.  Though I did sing it at Barisha's housefilk tonight. 

After I laid down for a brief nap and woke up six hours later...

Goddess Cycling
by: Deirdre M. Murphy


The Maiden Emerging sprouts the seeds
She blesses our lives with crops and weeds
She wakes up everything
The summer’s gifts to bring
She knows our dreams precede our deeds

The Mother of Bounty bids us grow,
The full flower of loving now to know
The height of youth and health
Nurturing autumn wealth
She cares for all the seeds we sow

The Lady of Harvest fills our needs
Her bounty produces our new seeds
She comes with wrinkles clear
She shows us winter’s near
Death comes to everyone she feeds

The Old Crone of Waiting brings us snow
She shows each of us our time to go
She keeps us safe through death
She promises rebirth
And in the spring, our seeds will grow

Copypright 2004 Deirdre M. Murphy.  Most rights reserved.

I wrote this on October 27, 2004*, during a total lunar eclipse; some called it a “blood moon” since it was so red; after viewing the photos, however, I thought of it as the “Chocolate Moon”.

*except for the line I rewrote today. Amazing what happens when you revisit a song after more practice.

A quick Duckon memory:



There were, by this time, very few other people still playing along, and they were not in the frame.  And my attention was on Amy, so apologies to those I missed.  You all deserve a share of the glory.  (Dang--I tried to put in Amy's LJ name and got a defunct community.)

There was lots of other good music too, and even some dancing.

Ellen Million's sketchfest is happening today, for a little while yet: http://community.livejournal.com/emglivejournal/

And I want to be sketching. Or writing. Or alternating the two.

Instead, I'd better go clean house. *sigh*

It's been a slow writing week, but I keep on keeping on. Had a good insight on a story I started this week; maybe tomorrow I can actually write the rest of it. Or part of the rest. filkart  came over today and we actually practiced some songs. Which is good in many ways, but doesn't add to the word count.

Got a request for a rewrite of a story from one editor, which I did, and sent in. Got a nice, non-form rejection on a story and sent it out again.  Got a note from another editor that they're holding a story for consideration in their anthology.   It's nice to get something other than form rejections, though, of course, I'm still collecting those.

Sent out more resumes.  For the most part, if they don't hire you, you don't even get a form-letter rejection these days.  At least employers all accept simultaneous submissions!

Today, I'd like to share another song with you.

Grandmothers’ Stories
By: Deirdre M. Murphy


CHORUS:......When the chores get too hard and the day seems too long,
.......................Or the night is too scary, or a lecture too strong,
.......................Grandmother will be there with a story or two
.......................Just listen and enjoy, she won’t force lessons on you.

Diana was a girl like you, fearless, strong, and bold
She could string a really solid bow, and didn’t mind the cold
She brought home meat for her family instead of ‘broidery and lace
They might not have thought her ladylike, but she won her own place

CHORUS

Grandson, you’ll want to hear of Loki’s latest tricks
You’ll laugh when Thor grabs his hammer and gets only painted sticks
But it’s not so great when Loki needs a friend because he’s down
And no one helps, ‘cause all his tricks are the talk of every town.

CHORUS

Granddaughter, I’ll tell you now, a tale of love gone wrong
Of a young wife who did listen to the gossip in a song
She’d promised to not look upon her husband in the night
But he left her when she broke her word, and peeked by candle light.

CHORUS

And you, small one, I’ll tell a tale of a girl who wove and spun
Such wondrous garments, I tell you now, I wish I had just one,
She bragged that she was better than any Goddess at her loom
But the Goddess heard; she still weaves now, a spider in the gloom.

CHORUS

Copyright © 2003 and 2010 Deirdre M. Murphy (written June 17, 2003) Most Rights Reserved.
If somone wants chords, please ask.


As always, I love to hear from you!

Tomorrow (yes, I know it's after midnight, and so, is technically Saturday already, but I refuse to believe it's "tomorrow" yet if I haven't had my "long winter's nap", at least not unless the sun has risen). Anyway. Tomorrow, Saturday, at 8:00 p.m. the 19th Street Coffeehouse's annual talent contest starts. Since I survived the auditions, I will be playing three songs.

Wish me luck!

You're welcome to come cheer me on.

I'd feel a lot more positive about it if my back wasn't all stiff, and affecting my finger dexterity. But hopefully tomorrow will be better.