The dreaming place…

I’ve been casting more often in my dreams now. Last night (or this morning, really. I’m a night owl.) I called the quarters, which isn’t my usual in life format for magic. Previously in dreams it’s been palms to earth and call power sort, the sort I visualize when I set out offerings and talk to Father Oak. (I’m not in a comfortable position yet with one side of the neighbors as far as acting out my thoughts for ceremony is concerned. Still stepping out of the broom closet as it were.) This might be because Spring is coming, and as far as Southern California is concerned the rains are here and everything is bursting forth with green. My hind brain may just be picking up on all that shifting of life and using my dreams as a platform that I’m comfortable with. Or I could be completely wrong. I’ll have to experiment a bit.

Tomorrow morning I’m off to visit my Aunt again, and see my Mother while she’s there for court stuff (oh, Family Drama.) Praise be to Asphalta who keeps me safe on the roads!

Small Talk

Elizabeth
International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in the Celebici Judgment. The judgment quoted the 1958 ICRC commentary on the Fourth Geneva Convention: Every person in enemy hands must be either a prisoner of war and, as such, be covered by the Third Convention; or a civilian covered by the Fourth Convention. Furthermore, “There is no intermediate status; nobody in enemy hands can be outside the law,” because in the opinion of the ICRC, “If civilians directly engage in hostilities, they are considered ‘unlawful’ or ‘unprivileged’ combatants or belligerents (the treaties of humanitarian law do not expressly contain these terms). They may be prosecuted under the domestic law of the detaining state for such action”.
“unlawful combatants” cannot be tried by the military and must be tried in a civilian court, apparently.

Robert
is UCMJ not considered a domestic law?

Elizabeth
UCMJ?
ah
google, yay.

Robert
Uniform Code of Military Justice

Elizabeth
nope, applies to all uniformed services, minus the CG, but including NOAA.

Robert
does that statement prevent the military from trying UCs?

Elizabeth
unless the Coast Guard is operating in conjunction with the Navy

Robert
define domestic, please

Elizabeth
one sec

Robert
lets say domestic means civil.

Elizabeth

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/10/usc_sec_10_00000802—-000-.html

POWs, yes. but then that brings it all in a circle.
unless, I guess, they’re part of any treaty we’ve previously signed, such as child soldiers.

Robert
In that case, an UC would be charged under US law with sedition, aiding and abetting the enemy. the proscribed punishment is death.

Elizabeth
convoluted! So, since we signed the Geneva Conventions they’re considered a part of municipal law, in accordance with the Supremacy Clause in the Constitution of the United States. In addition the US Supreme Court validated this premise, in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, by ruling that Common Article Three of the Geneva Conventions applies to detainees in the War on Terror, and that the Military Tribunals used to try these suspects were in violation of US and international law
*facepalm* I’m so glad I’m not a lawyer

Robert
how is what I said convoluted? I said tried in civil court, you cited a court decision that military trials are not to be used. Apples and oranges
and US law only applies to American citizens and/or soil
hence the problem with trying them to begin with

Elizabeth
no, this whole thing is.
in Boumediene v. Bush, that Guantanamo Bay captives were entitled to access the US justice system. not all of them were captured on US soil.

Robert
that court decision is contrary to us law
why would the laws of the US apply to citizens of foreign nations on foreign soil?

Elizabeth
The Court applied the Insular Cases, by the fact that the United States, by virtue of its complete jurisdiction and control, mantains “de facto” sovereignty over this territory, while Cuba retained ultimate sovereignty over the territory, to hold that the aliens detained as enemy combatants on that territory were entitled to the protection of the writ of habeas corpus
because we control that soil, basically.
as well as it violating US and International law regarding prisoners

Robert
I was not speaking of Gitmo, which is sovereign US soil, I am referring to the foreign soil they were captured on
how so?

Elizabeth
They’re being held on what is basically our soil, and going to be tried by our military, therefor they’re supposed to be given the rights that that situation accords them

Robert
you already stated there is little legal precedence for such great numbers of UCs, so how could it violate laws that dont cover it?

Elizabeth
the status of UC isn’t in accordance with the Geneva Conventions. It’s only a legal status within the Military Commissions Act, which in turn was overruled by the Supreme Court in Boumediene v. Bush. So we must either give them the rights of a POW and try them in a military court, or they are civilians and must be tried in municipal court. they can’t be held as they are.
the Geneva Conventions are considered to be a part of municipal law in accordance with the Supremacy Clause in the Constitution. So, either way we’re supposed to abide by the Geneva Conventions which do not allow for the status of “UC”
by giving the status of UC we’re violating our own Constitution

Robert
how so? just because they do not enumerate them, that doesn’t mean they do not exist. If there is a such thing as a lawful combatant, there must be in turn an unlawful combatant. Spies for example, are the primary precedent

Elizabeth
spies are tried in a municipal court, such as the 1942 Quirin case

Robert
and trying them for sedition, which is something we have not done, is the proper course of action, which I already stated

Elizabeth
which, coincidentally, is the case that started the whole UC thing.
well, I have to go do the dishes.

Robert
I think we agree that the whole thing doesn’t make any goddamn sense

Elizabeth
no, it doesn’t
which is probably why we’re just treating them as POWs now. easier that way.

A bit of my conversation tonight with an old high school classmate. Yes, these are the kinds of debates I thrive on. Though I do have the usual weird and/or mundane types. I’m just much less likely to post them here.

‘Night all.

Dreams

I have lately been having very vivid ones, complete with a coherent plot. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been listening to music while sleeping, or if it’s the music choice. (May well be the latter. Tonight I might experiment with that.) Or even the time in which I go to sleep. I have no idea.

But some things are recurring themes now. I’ve started to do magic in my dreams. And not the movie kind, the kind I think of doing when coming up with ritual. Palms to earth and gather power kind. I also dream of vengeance. This isn’t too surprising, considering my personality. I don’t take kindly to people harming others for their own gain. So I dream.

I usually don’t remember them beyond the general feeling, or snapshots. The one from this morning is like that now, and I should have written it down before going back to sleep. Ah, well.

When you dream, what do they contain?

Prayer for the new year

Oh, Great Spirit
Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all the world,
hear me, I am small and weak,
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes ever behold
the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have
made and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand the things
you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons you have
hidden in every leaf and rock.

I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother,
but to fight my greatest enemy – myself.
Make me always ready to come to you
with clean hands and straight eyes.
So when life fades, as the fading sunset,
my Spirit may come to you without shame.

(translated by Lakota Sioux Chief Yellow Lark in 1887) published in Native American Prayers – by the Episcopal Church.)

Sorry for the delay, haven’t been well lately.

Take a deep breath. We can change this, we can change this…

Sometimes I joke about being asexual. And sometimes I wish it were true.

The prevalence of sexism in gaming being one reason.
And the fact that women writers sometimes STILL have to pull a Brontë.
And this bullshit spewed by One More Idiot Male.

Those are my reasons for wishing that today.

I would say “I told you so…”

because of this, but I think the article speaks for itself.

This whole debacle is why much of scientific research is only seen by peers. I don’t care if you want to see it. I know in America you have the right to, but the majority of laymen would not understand the data. Which is of course what happened when the emails were stolen and leaked online. If you freaked out about the “faking” of global warming I ask you, did you read the all emails personally? Did you understand all of the data? Could you recreate the research done? Can you understand the pressures behind the individual doubts? Or the fact that money backing specific research can skew results, such as that done by the American Petroleum Institute? (Remember the Tobacco Industry research on cancer? Just like that.) Or that grant money, for the best possible shot at unbiased statistics, can be fucking hard to get? I’m betting that unless you do some sort of scientific research yourself, or know those who do, you probably forgot those facts.

So, when the media, who loves to blow things out of proportion or take things out of context as we all know, tells you to believe something for their own gain (because they’re owned by Corporations, too,) take a minute. Think about it. Use that logical thought process (I hope) you were taught as a kid. Then, make up your own damn mind! And if you’re wrong, gracefully admit it. If you’re right, don’t gloat. It’s doesn’t do anyone any good.

Naming

Reading the latest post at Pagan Godspell triggered something in me. Ruby Sara is correct in that we are a culture obsessed with naming. Everything must have it’s label and it’s place. But that doesn’t cut to the core of what something truly is. And that is the reason for this post.

Do you, dear reader, know the Name of Fire? Any single word cannot suffice, nor even a string of them. A clinical description of the chemical process of combustion would be too cold and unfeeling, if accurate as far as science is concerned. But that is not it’s Name.

Do you know the word for Tree? The all encompassing word that tells you it’s life, from seed and seedling, to strong trunk and branches, to fallen monarch rotting to feed the earth beneath? Do you Know? I feel it within me, my animal hindbrain says “Yes, but it is secret,” and there is no way to push it past my vocal chords. No way to tell of it.

I have no idea if anyone else feels words like I do. No, not really words, that’s not right. They are truly Names. There isn’t one for “computer,” or “phone,” or “money.” Nothing frivolous. There are Names for Life, and Freedom, and Family or Friend. There the Names of the individuals you know, and each animal or plant. And then there are the overall names of groups. Like Human. You know what it is to be Human, but there is no way to tell someone of it. There is the Name, though, that I feel and cannot say.

It is like taking the cycle of life of a species (or planet, or galaxy, etc) and showing it in a single utterance. Anything and everything that specific can be, or do is shown within that sound. That, dear readers, is the best way I can illustrate what a Name is. It is the core, the root, the heart, and every possible variation or example at once. The entirety.

Maybe this is what we are trying to find again with each name that we give something, each different language gets closer and further, never hitting upon the mark our sleeping mind has set for us. Perhaps we are speaking with the wrong voice…

Goodnight, and good ponderings.

(This is something which the book The Name of the Wind was based around, I think. The human urge to name what we Know and Feel, but cannot speak. It’s why I love the story so. Kvothe is much like me in his ravenous curiosity.)

Any little bit helps.

I know many of you are already having to keep things pretty tight this holiday season, but this is one organization that is close to my heart. I have had 4 miniature Bull Terriers so far. I love these dogs so very much. At this point in my life I can’t adopt one the cuties available. If I could, I would leap at the chance. But, I currently live in someone else’s home, so it is not an option.

One big donation fell through for BT Rescue that they were counting on. At this point they may get shut down by LA County. Anything helps, old blankets (not stuffed,) a box of treats, a bag of food, even as little as $10 can help one of the dogs. Your prayers would also be welcome, I’m sure.

Take a little time for our four-footed friends. They often get overlooked.

Monist, panentheistic, polytheist.

That’s me, in a nutshell. It’s the best way I can describe my personal theology.

Monism: I believe in Godhead, or one source of Divinity.

Panentheist: I believe the Divine is in all things, but not necessarily all things are Divine.

These two tie in with physics. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed. It only changes form. That is Godhead to me. It is also in everything, runs everything.

And then, most simply, I’m a polytheist. But you have probably figured that out by now. Care to share your basic theology?

Thanks, and all that

Family is here for Thanksgiving, and I’m glad. I, if you really want to know, don’t have much of a social life. I’m a very insular person. In a lot of ways, I don’t “need” other people. But my family and friends remind me to be human. So, I’m thankful they’re here to visit.

I’ve started a not quite Book of Shadows. I found this wonderful journal for it at B&N. It’s less recording ritual now than ancient prayers to the Goddess. (At this point, found translated primarily in the book When God was a Woman.) Ritual will come later, when I’ve found what feels right to me. Mostly, my rituals consist of libations or offerings at the base of Father Oak in the back yard.

For ritual, what I really want is my own altar set-up. Maybe come Yule I’ll have the basics. I’ve found a perfect box for use as an altar and storage of items, recently. Unfortunately I have to wait to buy it, hopefully that will be tomorrow. My Aunt gave me a dry offering bowl that she threw in ceramics class that is perfect for burning inscense. As far as the rest of the trappings go, Etsy has me wishing I had more job hours. There are some truly wonderful artisans on that site.

That’s enough wishing what I could be thankful for. Thanks to those who read this sporadic blog, and thanks to the Dieties for all the rest.

‘Night all.