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I am really missing that cat's eye marble talisman that let me pass in and out of the spirit world once per month. Usually I would wait until the full(er) moon, cross over, and practice working magick in the umbral woods by my cabin. Now? I'm confined to my cabin sanctum, lest I tempt paradox while practicing with vulgar magick. While it's nice to be able to practice working vulgar magick without concern of backlash in the cabin's sanctum, it's CONFINING and SMALL. I feel limited, especially when working Forces magicks, to the confines of the cabin's walls. And the magnitude of the forces I've been working with over the past year? One slip and I could bring the cabin down.
It's like that scene from Aladdin where the genie goes "PHENOMENAL COSMIC POWERS! Itty bitty living space."
Things switched up a bit Sunday night when I got an email from Salem:
Heads up: Jacinta isn't in charge anymore; Thane challenged her and won. Unknown if he'll still allow kin into the caern, but you're going to have to be extra cautious even if he does, because I wouldn't trust him an inch to be reasonable. -- S.
Well, shit.
This prompted me to drop my work with ley lines and begin work on a new charm: one designed to reflect Forces back at anyone who comes at the wearer with hostile intentions. I'm thinking an amulet with 合気道 ("akido") inscribed upon it. If I can get that to work, I'd like to start work on a second charm that does the same thing, but against incoming hostile magicks, gifts, rites, etc. Reflecting the magick is probably beyond me, but I can definitely erect a shield. (I bet other mages might pay for something like this. Maybe I can make some of those, trade them through Pavel, and get something in return?)
Last night, Jacinta sent a Wind spirit to essentially ring the doorbell and ask to visit. I welcomed her. She looks still beaten up over that fight with Thane, but she'll live. Jacinta shared that Mouse had challenged Thane for Alpha and failed. (Dammit.) But Mouse had survived, thank God. In our discussions, I brought up the question as to what my obligations to the sept might be in light of this turnover in its leadership. I told Jacinta I still intended to aid the sept and protect the caern, but I was hesitant to reveal myself to a Shadow Lord. Perhaps it is better to fade into the shadows once again. Jacinta cautioned that Thane, as a Shadow Lord, was not worthy of my trust. " I do not know what the Shadow Lord will do, what decisions he will make, but I know that he is true to his tribe, and will act in selfish ways while making grand statements. Take care, for all that you have done for us, I would not wish to see you harmed by his choices." She advised using Salem and Mouse as a barrier between Thane and myself. I, however, am concerned that working through Mouse and Salem may pull Thane's wrath down upon them.
Sadly, Jacinta has taken the defeat as a sign that the spirits want her to relocate to another sept, Clear Water. I expressed that this would be a huge loss to the sept and hated to see her go, but I didn't argue for her to stay. Instead, I told her I had come to really respect her and her words/honor. She, in turn, said she considered me to be "Angalkuq" (Eskimo shaman) instead of Warper. I'm certainly no Dreamspeaker, but... How could I not be flattered? I offered her aid in the future. All she need do is send word. She, essentially, said she would likewise aid me if I called for her.
After Jacinta left, I went back to work on the protective charm. This is now my full-time job, with overtime. If the shit hits the fan, I can disappear pretty quickly. And I suspect, if need be, Jacinta would offer me shelter/protection under the auspices of the Clear Water sept. But I certainly hope that is not the way things play out.
