a Pagan Israelophile goes Australia

Veiling: A Different Take On Pagan Womanhood

migdalit — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 05:45:03 +0000

Probably ever since I first started studying Islam – and later on Judaism – the concept of a woman veiling has fascinated me. There is a, not too extensive, post I wrote about it over in Pagan Israelophile a couple of years ago.

Anyway today I came across an article, Veiling: A Different Take On Pagan Womanhood. And while it’s not new to me that there are some Pagans that Cover I figure it may be a completely alien concept to many and the article linked above is one of the most well-recerched I have seen among the blogsphere for a fair while so: enjoy.

The article reminded me a lot of my time in Israel, back in 2007, when I got to know R., a young mother and wife (and I believe also a farmer) who lived in a kibbutz (aka. “illegal settlement”) in the “West Bank”. Being religious R. started covering when she married but she did so in the most natural – and probably most beautiful – way I have ever seen with amazing Tichel loosely wrapping the main part of her hair with bangs and small braids staying loose in the front.

For her the cover did all it had to: It was a sign to the outside world that she was a strong, grown woman and wife. It was a sign to her (Jewish) god that she did obey his commandments. As plain and simple as that. And she was the first one to giggle about how Jewish women in the diaspora would wear wigs to cover without looking like they cover or, even worse, religious women in Jerusalem who wore – and I agree on this one - something that comes quite close to a potato bag on their heads. And it really is not so much their bad taste in fashion that would be so funny but rather how the covered just to have it done with without knowing – or probably even caring – why.

Me, I still think we should start something like a Women’s Veiling Day were feminist, emancipated women all over the globe cover their head for a day as a sign of unity and strength. Plus I still cannot keep from staring when I see a particularly breathtaking hijabi on the streets – and some of them are amazing. Meanwhile I am physically unable to keep as much as a Tichel on my head for more than half an hour … I would like to blame my hair but then that’s probably one of the oldest excuses of mankind so I’ll just shut my trap

Girlpower goes Mining

migdalit — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:01:19 +0000

In Australia there is a series of ads aiming to get more people working in the mining industry called “This is our story“. Of course they are that tiny little bit one-sided, neglecting the fact that environmentalist philantrophes are somewhat rare in the industry but who can help it if they are just so skillfully produced?

Anyone the clip that really got me today is project manager Heather Parry‘s. I saw it at the gym and had to look it up and re-watch it at home. She is just so true.

And she got awesome horses and kids

(Can you tell I am just that tiny little bit jealouse?)

Clouds on Earth and Exoplanets

migdalit — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:58:07 +0000

Astrobiology just seems to be taking off at the moments. Just check out this article:
Earth’s cloudy past could reveal exoplanet details

Awesome!

In Case you have Wondered

migdalit — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:03:26 +0000

Little surprisingly the question of the difference between Austria and Germany pops up regularly just after people realise that Austria is, in fact, not a state of Germany. And whilst the states and cultures seem to be reasonably alike on the first glimpse I can assure you they most certainly are not. They are, as Austrian Oscar winning actor Chrstopher Walz pointed out, rather “like the English and the Irish”.

Of course Austrians are the Irish in that equation

Christopher Walz on Austrians and Germans

an obituary

migdalit — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 03:37:14 +0000

“Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: – Knowing when to come in out of the rain; – Why the early bird gets the worm; … – Life isn’t always fair; – And maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies, don’t spend more than you can earn and adults, not children, are in charge.

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife Discretion, his daughter Responsibility, and his son, Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame and I’m A Victim Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, do nothing.”

(source unknown)