Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Potlatch

A potlatch is a gift-giving festival and primary economic system practiced by indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast.

At potlatch gatherings, a family or hereditary leader hosts guests in their family's house and holds a feast for their guests. The main purpose of the potlatch is the re-distribution and reciprocity of wealth.

Different events take place during a potlatch, like singing and dancing, sometimes with masks or regalia, or the barter of wealth through material gifts. For some cultures, such as Kwakwaka'wakw, elaborate and theatrical dances are performed reflecting the hosts' genealogy and cultural wealth. Many of these dances are also sacred ceremonies of secret societies like the hamatsa, or display of family origin from supernatural creatures such as the dzunukwa. Typically the potlatching is practiced more in the winter seasons as historically the warmer months were for procuring wealth for the family, clan, or village, then coming home and sharing that with neighbors and friends.

Celebration of births, rites of passages, weddings, funerals, namings, and honoring of the deceased are some of the many forms the potlatch occurs under. Although protocol differs among the Indigenous nations, the potlatch will usually involve a feast, with music, dance, theatricality and spiritual ceremonies.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Symbol of God

"The entire universe is but one vast symbol of God."
— Thomas Carlysle

Sunday, July 10, 2011

They fight crime...

There used to be a writing prompt generator, "They fight crime..."

He's a lonely Amish hairdresser on the run. She's a mentally unstable tomboy stripper living homeless in New York's sewers. They fight crime! 

He's an unconventional overambitious cat burglar possessed of the uncanny powers of an insect. She's a cosmopolitan cat-loving stripper from a secret island of warrior women. They fight crime!  

What else could they be doing? 

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Mushroom, mushroom

What do you expect psilocybin mushrooms has for an effect?
Invent a drug with an amazing effect... does it have side effects? Would it really take you to another level? Time travel drug? Love potion?

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Quality Store

"When I was a little girl, I made up a story about the store where they sell Qualities. More like a trading post or library than a department store or supermarket, we could go to the store where they sell Qualities to taste, try on, and sample various qualities."
-- J. Ruth Gendler

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Lammastide

In about a month some Pagans will be celebrating the First Day of Autumn, Lughnasadh, which is also the first harvest feast. Think what the world might look if Lammas was as beloved and celebrated as Yule...

There are several descriptions of Christmas in Little Women. It starts with thoughts around Christmas, and the author ties it with another Christmas the next year in chapter 22 of First book.
Write something similar about a Pagan family at Lammastide.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Horace Walpole and Strawberry Hill

Horace Walpole and Strawberry Hill at Sunday Times


"Not only did he use his inherited wealth to amass thousands of objects, from Joshua Reynolds's portraits to an Aztec mirror used by the Elizabethan magician Dr Dee, he created a fantasy world in which to display them. In doing so he built the wildest, most extraordinary house in 18th-century Britain: Strawberry Hill. "


Monday, July 4, 2011

Parapsychology

A lot of people don't believe in psychic powers, ESP, PSI and other such phenomenon.

What do you think should happen so that people would accept these phenomenons as real?

Write a story about when "it" happens.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Live Celebrities

Think time before moving pictures, television, radio...
Think back to Lady of Camellias... Opera, theater, variety would be the public entertainment, religious passion play, minstrels, what else? Think about Jo's theater activities in Little Women, and the theater activities in Mansfield Park. Think about playing piano, singing, reciting, reading out loud, and other possibilities people had to entertain themselves before radio and television.
Now, think about your favorite celebrity, and write about his/her life, what it could have been during time like this.


Friday, July 1, 2011

Creator's Soap Opera

I am a Theist Pagan. I believe in God, a Highest Power, the Creator, who is everywhere and who is keenly interested in Her Creation. She follows the happenings on this planet with all humans, other animals, plants and other life forms, as if it was Her favorite soap opera. She never misses an episode, and She loves all the characters. Write a bit about how part of one episode of this soap would look like, with you as one of the characters of the scene.

Pagan writing prompts?

I am Pagan. To me Pagan writing is something special. I would like to see more of that.

I know the name of this blog will turn away a lot of people, who in my understanding allow their prejudices make their decisions for them, but that will only harm them, not me.

If you are not Pagan, you can still use the prompts, if you'd like to. Just adjust them a little, to fit your faith, religion, beliefs, spirituality or lifestyle. Just edit out all the "offensive" words and ideas, and replace them with something you don't find offensive. Some don't need any adjustment at all, as Pagans are people too :-D