I find it unhelpful to discuss personal magickal experiences as it's so personal and subjective as to be meaningless to others.

I will say I have walked the highways of the dead, but will say no more on the matter.

Well a sensible discussion would begin from experiences and not bare speculation.  I am amazed that despite having Samhain the afterlife only  gets a nod yet we are surroundfed by our dead as well as those of other people.

Well I am not particularly homophobic but I often find a man in drag a shock.  It is not something that I make obvious but it is a shock.  I don't know what it is about .  Do such men expect to pass off as women?  Or is it something about whatever they choose to do and not for the paserby?  I don't know But I get a shock.  I do however support the right of people to express themselves as they feel fit within reason.

The actual questions of societal expectations is not something to be lightly assessed because it seem to go beyond the level of social conditioning in 2010.  I am amazed at how very small children seem to have their own genders clealry identified.  Even those who grow to be homosexual.

Just my thought

Frank

Glad you enjoyed teh Mercian gathering, it was a great weekend I thought

As for the link you mentioned regarding belly dancing.......

Some more info for anyone who is interested...

www.bellydanceelements.co.uk

Classes are all over Birmingham.

Claire Challand, is as you say, very very good and will inspire confidence in everyone from beginners to those that are quite experienced.

And if we can get it sorted she will be doing a workshop at next years Mercian gathering!!   

to be honest when i was at the camp, I only reciaved one bad feedback and I think it was more because of a shock to that person. I even recaived help in pickin the right 'outfit' for me from other people and i don't think they did it for the laughs, but I don't mind them having a giggle over it just as long as they stay respectful.

I personally don't get sexural feelings from wearing a skirt nor am I depressed or unhappy with my gender I simply feel more confortable then wearing trousers however saying that I probably wouldn't wear it in say the city center, i'm thinkin to keep it to camps or the rainbow moot where it is sociablly accapted..

I accapt that theres always going to be a few people that aren't going to like it, but meh, I guess because the amount of postive feedback i got during the weekend I was shocked at someone actully coming up to me and telling me they werent happy although to be fair after that I never saw the guy again.

I will be down after the 14th which is a bummer Will try and make the scruffy moot tho be good to see folk. If anyones up for having and ale and a curry sesh in the city centre or Bearwood way let me know

Thanks (and hugs). The Merican Gathering was great and I am still recovering from it (like the rest of us and the kids, I expect). I am sorry I could not be at the moot tonight; something went "clunk" in my car and I had to get it sorted after work today.

I will make up for lost time next week.

Before I forget; information about bellydancing (as discussed at the weekend). The classes are run on Tuesdays 7.30-8.30 at the Rialto Academny at Acocks Green (it situated between Subway and Pink Nails on the roundabout). It costs £4.80 per class. I can vouch for the instructor, Claire - she is really good.

www.rialtodanceacademy.co.uk

Until we meet again

Blessings, Nat

True, it's not good though is it?  And they're getting some sort of 'kick' out of it that even if not sexual as such, doesn't seem wholesome.   They should take up morris dancing instead.

Yes we all have bad habits- we should try and break them though, not think we can act however we like without consequences.  Self-indulgence isn't the pinnacle of virtue as a lot of people think it to be, thinking they can 'be themselves' to the detriment of all else.  It's all a balance.  We all have foibles and 'vices'- a little bit of what you fancy does you good, in moderation, but there are sensible limits.

Actually - to be fair to Ryuk - I think non-sexual tranvestitism is more common than you imply. Look we don't know what's going on in somebody's mind ever (unless we enter it through the dark arts) but if somebody is wearing a frumpy dress, I'm prepared to assume they aren't into it for the sexual kicks. However if they're wearing fishnets etc. then they probably are.

The transvestites I've met on my travels have rarely been a happy lot. The transexuals even more so. Perhaps this is reason enough to ask whether it's a good thing to make a habit. I don't know. I have plenty of bad habits too - like spending too much time on internet forums.

Marcus

Everything should be running- although you'll miss the heathen moot!  Get down in time for it on the 14th Oct. instead.  The calendar on here is pretty accurate for most moots.