LJ Spencer

Writer, pastor, poest, fiber artist, queer, kinky, and all that.

So, yeah...

Wow. It's October already. We're coming up on Samhain, the days are getting much shorter, and here in Ireland the leaves are nearly done turning color and falling. One more good storm coming our way will take care of the last of the Autumn leaves. Not

Playing Card Oracle Deck -- Week 6 (Final!)

I was inspired to finish the deck this weekend, and so I finished the last 15 cards. I really had fun doing these, and the Wife has already requested a reading once the Mod Podge dries. Some tips if you decide to do your own deck like this: 1. Alcohol

Playing Card Oracle Deck -- Week 5

I was able to shuffle them properly at the beginning, but now, with only 15 cards left, I have to fan them out and pick my card that way. Enjoy! 5 of Diamonds Generalized meaning: pushed to limit, exclusion, needing help The black figure is trying to get help from

Playing Card Oracle Deck -- Week 4

Getting closer to done! Enjoy! 2 of Clubs Generalized meaning: planning, developing abilities. To be honest, I mixed up the generalized meaning of this card with the Ace of Spades. I suppose this just makes it's a very human deck, right? But, it still does connotate change and

An Open Letter to the Authors Guild and the Greater Writing Community

Dear Authors Guild, With what I will assume are good intentions, your organization came up with this scheme where your members, and non-members, could get a special sticker for their books to ensure readers that the book was written by a human, not AI. An author I respect posted about

Playing Card Oracle Deck -- Week 3

Eight more cards for you! 2 of Diamonds Generalized meaning: self care, resources To take care of oneself, you need things that ground you and things that feed you. That's why I drew and apple tree for this card. The Gold diamond is the nutrients we get from

Playing Card Oracle Deck -- Week 2.5

So, this took a bit longer to post since I was waiting for some Posca paint pens and Gel Pens to finish some of the cards before I posted them. What I wasn't expecting was the late arrival of the gel pens. But now, the cards I wanted

Playing Card Oracle Deck -- Week 1

My Wife had a dream a couple of weeks ago where she and I were drawing pictures on regular playing cards so we could use them for divination. (Well, that's the short version, anyway.) We both thought it was a really cool idea (although, we've done

Sneak Peek: Nemetona (Survey Book 5)

More Thoughts than Actual Updates for this Warm August Day

We've entered the Harvest Season now that Lammas has passed. I keep forgetting how much more north I am compared to anywhere else I've lived, and that even in Ireland I'm close to the northern most part of the country than not. Autumn chill

fanfiction

Fanfic: Yoshi's Grief

Five years after the Borg-Changeling incident, Yoshi O'Brien is adrift. Not only is he trying to understand what happened, he's also mourning the death of his husband. Professor Miles O'Brien, worried about Yoshi's deteriorating health, calls his "Aunt" Nerys, who convinces Yoshi to come to Bajor.

updates

A Quiet July

We're past the Solstice and heading towards Lammas, and I've gotten into a quiet, introspective mood. I haven't really been listening to much regular music, or even hung out much on Twitch streams (writing streams or otherwise) because all of it seems too noisy

updates

Musings for a Summer's Night

It's almost Litha, or Summer Solstice, here and I'm getting used to the fact that there's very little darkness at night this far north. Sunset is around ten o'clock at night, and the sky stays the deep blue of Astronomical Twighlight instead

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Night Church Featured

Work in Progress Sneak Peek: Night Church, Chapter 1

Members only

Featured

Work in Progress Sneak Peek: The White Queen, Chapter 1

activism Featured

The American Cult is Killing Us and Most People Pretend it Doesn't Exist.

The American Dream was never for people like me. It’s a lie that’s kept us in line. Compassion without justice is complicity. Forgiveness without change is surrender. I’m done being polite—it's time to speak the truth: the American Dream is a weapon.

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Night Church Featured

WIP Sneak Peek: The Uranian Gambit, Chapter 1

World AIDS Day, 1993

All I wanted to do was help so I made quilt pins with the help of my art teacher and a few others I sold them that day at City Hall and gave the organizer all the money I had earned. I remember him standing and looking at me— He

New Site, who dis?

Sitting in my office in our new (to me) house in Ireland, I looked out my window and saw the above. Staring out my office window has become my new favorite pastime, and the dark rain clouds behind the buildings overlooking the town square made for a beautiful sight. Honestly,

Poetry

Easter Sunday

you rose on the third day but the men didn't believe the women when they said you were gone you walked with men on the road and they didn't recognize you until you fed them you appeared among them and, even with the proof you showed

crucificion

Holy Saturday

Three Hours Agony Looking up at me the women cried men stared soldiers stood watching the crowd I saw them all their souls-- their fear-- everything even as the first nail entered my body they still didn't understand I thought He'd left me I thought He&

green card Featured

If Your View on Immigration Fits in a Tweet, It’s Probably Wrong

It's amazing to me how many people bitch about immigration here in Ireland, in Europe, and in the US, but have no idea what it takes to immigrate to a new country legally. You can’t just pack up all your stuff, show up wherever you want, and

lent

Good Friday

I tell my story in the hopes that someone will change their heart and maybe find compassion for people who just want to live and exist It's a lot less stressful to be kind.

Poetry

Lent Poetry 43 and Maundy Thursday

43 She came through like Water elemental like Earth, dark with loam She is the Land was the Land will always been the Land She is also the Sorceress the One Who Gives Power She filled me then as nothing I have encountered before Later, as I fell asleep She

lent

Lent Poetry 42

her soul shines bright it's light drawing me like a moth to a flame but instead of burning it is warmth and love that flows around and through me feeling like home I always wonder why so many have tried to dim this light that gives me so