It Is My Pleasure To Introduce To You....

Today I thought I'd introduce a few blogs that are very good and also full of information and whimsy. Some have beautiful photography and others are more eclectic such as mine. Drum roll please.....

Full Moons &; Black Cats
A wonderful blog by Celestite that researches various aspects witchcraft and magick and a great arena for questions that you always wanted to ask. I love the fact that you do not need to be pagan or wiccan to enjoy this blog.

A Pagan Tapestry
This Blog, also by Celestite, follows the Wheel of the Year, the changing of the seasons, the cycles of the moon. Great informational blog indeed! I like the fact that she is up front when saying this blog is of her opinions and does not try to represent pagans as a whole. We are all degrees of color in a larger rainbow, and we all contribute something special.

28parkave
I just love this blog by Morag Lloyds, her photographs are simply breathtaking!It is diary of her journey's around the Islands of the west coast of Scotland. She is a painter and designer and her subjects come from both her experiences from the sea and her love of different.

Live From The Red Leather Couch
A wonderful blog by Darkly Fey, that deals with everything pagan. Darkly Fey also has a podcast "The Dark Side Of Fey" which I highly recommend that you listen to. I like the down to earth way she discusses topics we deal with from day to day.

Hibiscus Moon
Hibiscus Moon has a great eclectic blog that includes poems, informative content, educational topics and a little bit of everything that appeals to all. She is new to wicca but has a very unique and highly enjoyable viewpoint! She also includes crafts and examples of her artistic expressions.

Barefoot In The Sand
Gypsy has a wonderful blog that has whimsy and and a wonderfully fresh perspective on the world around her as she shares it with us all. Her insight into life is amazing and well worth the read.

I have many more great blogs to list and I think that I will do just that in one of my other posts. I do encourage you all to check out these blogs, they're a great contribution to everyone, involved with magic or not!

Heavy Loads

The Ten Of Wands is an interesting card, in it we see an over burdened little frog that looks as if he might be thinking that he bit off more than he could chew and is really struggling along. In the distance we can see a castle but it's unclear if he is heading toward or away from it's walls. The colors even bring to mind feelings of heaviness and drudgery and it reminds me that any action I undertake must be evaluated as to whether or not it might be just a little too much. Doing favors for people is something that causes most burdens in my life, it's difficult to see one in need and I feel like I ought to offer help but I try to keep in mind, is it really my burden to help carry or is it the results of that person's unwise choices. Life is hard enough and sometimes we just need to let others carry their own burdens.

Archaeology And Origins

Archaeological discoveries have revealed that people worshiped a hunter god and fertility goddess during the Paleolithic period. This has been proved by the discovery of cave paintings which are estimated to be 30,000 years old. There is a painting that depicts a man with the head of a stag. In yet another painting, there is a pregnant woman standing in a circle with eleven other people. These relics go to prove that witchcraft is one of the oldest religions in the world. Wiccan view of God and Goddess aspect of the supreme creative force predates thousands of years before Christianity

In the ancient times, Witchcraft was known as "craft of the wise" as the wise persons were those who followed the path of nature and were in tune with its forces, had the knowledge of herbs and medicines, gave wise counsel and were held in high esteem as Shamanic healers and leaders in the village and community. They understood that nature was superior to human beings and that human beings were simply one of the many parts of nature, both seen and unseen that combine to form one whole. As Chief Seattle said, “We do not own the earth; we are a part of it.” They understood that what we take from nature or use, we must return in kind to maintain the balance and equilibrium. The modern man has, however, forgotten this and has paid the price in form of many ecological and environmental disasters.

Modern witchcraft attracts believers from all walks of life and positions in society all over the world. They come together to understand the life, nature, evolution and mysteries of the universe through witchcraft. Witchcraft is the most democratic religion in the world. There is no rigid dogma and no hard-line regime except for a simple premise that we shall harm none and secondly that we should not misuse the gifts of nature by disturbing its balance.

In A Heartbeat...She was Gone

What follows is a local news story not too very far from my backyard....just a matter of minutes by car. How sad the world seems to be getting when children can no longer live the carefree, innocent life that all children have the right to. They should not worry that they might never see their families again simply because they were walking home...parents should never be seen grieving their loss on national or local television...This should be the best years of their little lives but yet our children are being taken... one by one... day by day and it seems that no child is truly safe. Today... I implore you to hug your children, hold them close and let them know how much they mean to you... teach them of "Stranger Danger" Have them check in often...know their friends...become aquainted with their friend's parents... don't turn your back on them, not even for a minute because they can disappear like a mist in only a heartbeat. The world is not like it was in my youth, a loss we should all be grieving for.

Transient sex offender admits beating Hazel Dell girl after attempted rape

02:07 PM PST on Tuesday, February 24, 2009
By kgw.com Staff

HAZEL DELL, Wash. -- A transient sex offender admitted to police that he violently beat a 13-year-old Hazel Dell girl after attempting to rape her and then moved her body afterwards to "an area where she would be found," according to a court document.
Detectives on Monday arrested Darin E. Sanford, 30, for the murder of Alycia D. Nipp, who was found beaten in a Hazel Dell field. Sanford was arrested on probable cause and charged with aggravated murder in the first degree, based on the confession he provided Clark County investigators.
Some of Nipp’s family members attended Sanford’s first court appearance Tuesday morning.
“They had to look at him and they had to see this monster that did this," Alycia’s aunt, Amber Hager said. “I want to see him sentenced to death, honestly. I think, he took a life and for that he deserves to give a life, his life.”

Post Script~ This very same man was the subject of a news story almost exactly a year ago...he was under arrest at the time for failure to register as a sex offender.

Can You Imagine?

Can you imagine a world without witches,

A world with all people the same?

Where the only known dragons are hiding in books,

And children are terribly tame?

A world without magic would be sad indeed.

I cannot imagine the pain

Of having a world where there's no Santa Claus,

Where wizards are searched for in vain.

Can you imagine a world without spells,

That science and businesses run?

And think of the sadness a unicorn feels

When he no longer plays in the sun

Can you imagine a world without witches,

No elves, and no magical pools?

And can you imagine how dull it would be

If all that we had were the schools?

I cannot imagine a world without witches,

A world with no magical wand.

A world without beauty, or even a dream,

Or a wood sprite of whom to be fond

They say I should grow up and be more mature,

Like a normal adult ought to do.

But I'd rather, at night, go to dance with a witch,

And I'll bet that you feel that way, too.

Can You Imagine?

(For the Child in All of Us)

by Robert F. Potts

Candle Magic

Candle magic is a very old and powerful form of what is called "sympathetic magic," this type of magic is based on the belief that your environment can be influenced through an object ( in this case, a candle) and the focusing of your energy or will. I like to compare it to going into a room with a big smile...sooner or later the smile becomes contageous and others begin to smile too. It is also one of the simplest types of magic to use and a person doing the spell can make it as simple or as complicated as they desire. Fancy complicated rituals are not necessary and once you are familiar with the basics involved in candle magic, it is simple to customize a spell to your needs.

Some of the colors and their correspondences:

* Light Blue - Is a spiritual colour and is helpful in devotional or inspirational meditations. It brings peace and tranquillity to the home and radiates Aquarius energy.

* Blue – Is symbolic of the spirits of the West, and the elements of water. It is used in rituals to obtain wisdom, peace, healing, tranquillity, truth, sleep, prophetic dreams, friendship, physical protection and hope.

* Brown – Is symbolic of the spirits of the North, and the elements earth. It is used for rituals involving animal magic and the home in regards to material increase

* Orange – Is used for creativity, attraction, stimulating energy, legal matters, success, new home, intelligence and mental clarity

* Pink – Promotes romance and friendship, and is the standard colour used for rituals to draw affections. It is used for love, honor, friendship and fidelity.

* Purple – Is used for psychic ability, wisdom, spirituality, success, independence, spiritual growth, power, healing and the feminine divine

* Red – Is symbolic of the spirits of the South, and the elements of Fire. It is used for strength, courage, power, passion, health, energy, vitality, love and will power

* Yellow – Is symbolic of the spirits of the East, and the elements of Air. It is used for charms, confidence, attraction, wisdom, visions, psychic powers, mental powers, activity, creativity and unity.

* White – Is a balance of all colours and is used for meditation, healing, truth seeking, peace, spiritual strength and enlightenment, rituals involving "lunar" energy, purity, protection, happiness, masculine divinity, and may be substituted for any other colours.

Serenity Sunday

I am SO greatful this week to have my bathroom back...well, the kids are pretty darn greatful too since they don't have to run to the neighbor's house any more. Another thing I'd like to say a bit about is the freedom that we all have a share in...the ability to thank a higher power (how ever we choose to see that higher power) and the ability to express that gratitude. Let us not try to judge the differences but be thankful that there are so many colors that make up a rainbow that we call spirituality. Here is my list for this week:

1.) My children

2.) My cats

3.) Cinnamon Creme coffee creamer

4.) A working toilet

5.) The new feather bed mattress I just bought...mmm, snuggly!

6.) The freedom to express my spirituality

7.) My ability to disregard judgements made on me

8.) My fuzzy bunny slippers

9.) Yarn that I make afghans with

10.) Downy fabric softener

I know there are a couple strange things on my list but that's what makes gratitude so wonderful...the ability to take the small stuff that usually gets passed over on any given day and give thanks for it.

Tale Of Two Chariots...

Yesterday, I touched upon the Strength card and the Chariot card as far as soft and hard control and thought it might be fun to compare the Chariot cards from two different decks and how the artists' depiction can subtly change basic meanings. On the left is the Chariot card from "The Baroque Bohemian Cat's Tarot" and on the right is the Chariot card from my "Tarot of the Magical Forest." The first thing I notice is how the BBC Chariot shows a rather dignified kitty, firmly holding the reigns and looking very much in control and in charge but when I look at the Chariot from the Magical Forest, I see a small wide eyed porcupine looking as if he hopes that he is in control but is just unsure enough to look a bit freaked out... to add to it, his oxen don't look any more confident than their driver. It's interesting how both cards have the meaning of control and composure but the differences of artists' interpretation can add a different perspective so that when these two cards come up in a reading, I might say that in the case of the Magical Forest, the individual is feeling somewhat out of control in a situation and might need to step back and reevaluate their position.... with the BBC tarot I would head in an opposite direction and say that there is the feeling that this person is hanging on to their control too tightly and could benefit from loosening their grip a little bit and some relaxation might be in order.

Got Strength?

I drew the tarot card Strength this morning and boy was it a very good indicator of my evening. I had the first stages of my tattoo done and I found myself coming up with all sorts of new and unique understandings of this card that I had not thought of before. I'm pretty much a real weenie when it comes to pain but I must admit there were no tears...which was good since I didn't want to do that in front of a complete stranger. Anyhow, Strength is about trying a soft approach to solve problems instead of the "pell mell down the hill and in your face" like the Chariot card... using kind words and a gentle touch can accomplish so much more than being heavy handed. I liken it to the "catching more bees with honey than vinegar" addage. So, next time things aren't going well, try a different approach and see just what happens.

Elemental, Dear Watson

Wicca is a nature based religion and follows the tides of the moon and the path of the sun in my celebrations. I like to honor the world around me and one of the most important ways I integrate the natural world into my daily life and my expression of this is by honoring the elements. Generally, there are four elements that are recognized by all wiccans, these are Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Depending on the path (or tradition) a person is working like myself, I recognize a fifth element, Spirit. Each element has a different energy and fits into my daily life in its own special way. There are correspondences which focus on the energy of the element that I might be working with. I work a solitary eclectic path ( I do not belong to a traditional coven) and since I am in the northern part of the world, there may be differences in other paths and things in the southern hemisphere are generally opposite of the way I work with them.

AIR...the element of the east in most traditions and is where the sun rises . It is the place of new beginnings and morning is it's time. Air is associated with thought processes and mental working, intelligence and learning... birds, feathers, insects, clouds and the dawn are all associated with air.... its colors are generally yellows and pastels.

FIRE...as the sun moves South, it becomes noon time... the heat of the day. Fire is associated with movement and action, the fires of passion and anger and of our will. Lizards, salamanders, scorpions, deserts, spices, heat and the noonday sun are all associated with fire.... it's colors are reds and oranges.

WATER... is in the direction of the west and is the time of the setting sun, the coolness of twilight.... it is the rain, rivers and oceans and streams. It is the element of emotion and intuition... it's colors are blues and greens, turquoise and aqua.

EARTH... is in the North and is the dark, the time of rest. It is planting and nurturing seeds of all kinds, growth and abundance, but it also signifies the passing (or death) and returning to the earth. Most mammals and earth dwelling creatures are associated with the earth as are plants and trees, stones and seeds. Its colors are greens and browns and black.

SPIRIT... is an element that is difficult to explain and even harder to show. It is the hub of the wheel of the year and wheel of the elements... the top of the five pointed star. It's associations are different for everyone, and some will say purple, gold or white is it's color. I associate it with the manifestation of the goddess and god figure (the spirit evident in all natural creations).

I hope this explains a little of what I incorporate into my life in the form of rituals and spells or even charms. The more people know what goes into my spirituality, the less that there is to be fearful of. I firmly believe that tolerance is a commodity that sometimes falls by the wayside but hopefully, with a little education and understanding we will make great progress in this world.

No Issues Here...

Well, It happened...I've finally turned into my mother! It's been a week and my feathers are still ruffled from my visit to the eye doctor just to find out that I now require bifocals. When did this happen...I was just fine wearing my contacts only two years ago...am I really getting older...I still feel like I'm twenty six years old...?! Well, there is that pesky wrinkle issue but I try not to focus on that too much. I'm now feeling sandwiched between the younger person inside and "acting my age" and it's a very strange feeling indeed. I guess it's like going through the five stages of grief written about by Elizabeth Kubler Ross I'm not quite sure if I should be depressed or stick to denial for a little longer. I used to look at those who wore bifocals as being old and now here I am and suddenly it doesn't seem so old! Well, being the rational (well, maybe not always) person I am...I'll just get a pair of those reading glasses that you see in the local drug stores and put off those bifocals for now.... Now, if I squint hard enough, I can see this blasted keyboard....

Celtic Tree Calendar

Because my roots are Celtic in origin, I thought it would be fun to do some research on the Celtic Tree Calendar, which fascinates me to no end. I've always loved history and it's so cool when learning about the past leads you to realize that the past and present are not so removed from each other. Family's hand down stories and traditions from generation to generation and I just love seeing where a particular belief or custom originates from. I can still remember my grandfather teaching me all about the trees, he was a fire marshal for the local forest service in the town I grew up in and passed his love of nature to me.

The Celtic Tree Calendar calendar has thirteen lunar divisions. Most modern pagans use fixed dates for each month, rather than following the waxing and waning lunar cycle. Otherwise, eventually the calendar would fall out of sync with the Gregorian year that we all use today because some calendar years have 12 full moons and others have 13. The modern tree calendar is based on an idea that each letter in the ancient Celtic alphabet corresponded to a tree. Today marks the end of the tree month Rowan and tomorrow begins Ash.

The tree month of Ash (Feb. 18th -Mar 17) was a sacred chieftain tree and said to "court the flash" as it was prone to lightning strikes. Its wood was thought to be enchanted and was used for Druid wands and spears. Ash people are quick witted, spontaneous and gregarious. They have a lively curiosity and are intelligent, persuasive speakers, enthusiastic, curious and communicative. In Celtic mythology the ash is known as the tree of enchantment and it is said the Welsh magician Gwydion fashioned his wands from ash wood.

The Ogham (oh-wahm) or sacred Druidic alphabet contained hidden secrets for magic and divination and only the initiated could understand these meanings. The ancient Celts had a close bond with trees and we can see in their magical alphabet and in the tree calendar.They had a deep respect for their trees and it is reflected in the old Celtic word for oak (Duir), the word Derwydd or Duirwydd (oak-seer) was probably the origin of the word Druid.

"Nightstand Tag"

My fellow blogger, Hibiscus Moon Tagged me earlier with a rather curious exercise...it's called "Nightstand Tag" I'm always up for a bit of sport so I took a picture of my nightstand and here's the rest...

* One Halloween themed bowl, full of cat food...

* One really ugly and overpriced lamp from Ikea....

* My clock radio that's supposed to wake me up...love the snooze button!

* Last but not least, there's little Jeffery....the whole reason that there is nothing else on my nightstand!

Now that I've accomplished that, I am supposed to tag ten friends and see what they have on their nightstands. I'm not really sure what the sparseness of my nightstand means other than I believe in minimalism (and Jeffery knocks everything off of it nightly!) but it was indeed an interesting little project. Now I have just started blogging and I don't have a lot of friends yet so I hope Hibiscus Moon will pardon me but here are my fellow bloggers whom I've tagged:

(P.S.- if you would like in on the fun, please do join in!)

1.)Laila and Minchie

2.)Live From The Red Leather Couch

3.)Save Moki

4.)The Blessed Bee

6.)Barefoot In The Sand

7.)Oracle Speak

Presidents' Day

I must admit I'm not very savy when it comes to some of our history and since today is Presidents' Day, I figured I would brush up on what I don't know and share with you as well....

Presidents’ Day was originally a commemoration of George Washington's birthday, America's first president who was born on February 22, 1732. After Washington's death, our nation began celebrating his birthday as a way to remember his life and how he contributed to establishing America's independence. In 1865, the year after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, America began celebrating Lincoln’s birthday on February 12th and both February 12 and February 22 were observed as seperate federal holidays. Then, in 1971, the two holidays were combined into one and ever since we have honored all past presidents on the third Monday of February. In honor of this day, I figured that I would post a few Presidential fun facts:

* Eight presidents were born British subjects: Washington, J. Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, J. Q. Adams, Jackson, and W. Harrison

* The tallest president was Lincoln at 6'4"; at 5'4", Madison was the shortest.

* The most common religious affiliation among presidents has been Episcopalian, followed by Presbyterian.

* The term "First Lady" was used first in 1849 when President Zachary Taylor called Dolley Madison "First Lady" at her state funeral. It gained popularity in 1877 when used in reference to Lucy Ware Webb Hayes. Most First Ladies, including Jackie Kennedy, are said to have hated the label.

* Kennedy and Taft are the only presidents buried in Arlington National Cemetery

Serenity Sunday

It seems as if during this week of bathroom remodeling, serenity has been somewhat elusive and as fragile as the gossamer wings upon a tiny faerie. Amidst the noise of sawing, nail guns and shop vac's, I really had to make it a point to to take advantage of the few brief moments of quiet that I could grab. As I was reflecting on those things that I am grateful for, I noticed that some were the same and there were a few new ones as well. It's very mysterious how we can develop a routine in our environment and the slightest hint of disruption or upheaval can throw one into total and utter chaos. Even my cats became restless and cranky, refusing to sleep in the webcam cat bed and wandering from room to room seeking out that one peaceful spot. I suppose that a bit of chaos does have some therapeutic benefits as I have become more sensitive toward the things I normally take for granted.

1.) My children

2.) Good friends

3.) My cats

4.) Sleeping in past the crack of dawn

5.) Sawdust free hallway floors

6.) Having the whole kitchen (minus a 40 lb.chop saw) to work in

7.) Cinnamon vanilla coffee creamer

8.) Actually hearing a television show

9.) Being the only one in the house during the day

10.) Taking a bath in my own tub and not the one at Bobbi and Danny's house (thank you for your super-human patience guys!)

Soothing Homemade Bath Salts

My favorite therapy for a long, stressful day has always been soaking in a hot bath with some soothing bath salts. Bath salts are very easy to make and it's a great idea for that "just because" occasion or for that someone who has everything. I have always thought that gifts made by hand are superior in every way to store bought because it saves money and is a terrific activity that includes you and your children in creating wonderful memories that will last forever.

What You'll Need:
*Large glass or metal mixing bowl
*2 cups Epsom's salts
*1 cup Sea Salt
*1/4 teaspoon Glycerin
*Essential oil for fragrance- such as vanilla, citrus or peppermint
(I like to use a few drops of Patchouli oil)
*Clean, dry jars with cork stoppers or metal screw-on lid
*optional: a couple tablespoons of dried Lavender flowers or Rosemary, you could also add a couple of cinnamon sticks or any other dried herb that you like.

How To Make It:
Try and do this on a day with low humidity, the salt will absorb moisture from the air.
1.) Combine salts in bowl and mix well. Add a couple drops of food coloring and mix well.
2.) Add glycerin and essential oil (4 or 5 drops) and mix well.
3.) Add the dry herbs
4.) Spoon salts into the jars and close them.
5.) Make a gift tag with the scent (if you used one) and suggesting using 1/3 to 1/2 cup in the bath.
Some folks like to put a few drops of food coloring in but I prefer the natural look
**Makes 3 cups of bath salts.**

Love Is In The Air

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and was originally a pagan festival of love, which was taken over by the Church and disapproved of for it's romantic and sexual connotations, and renamed for "Saint Valentine" and a day for martyrs. This day is commonly connected with the exchanging of Valentines Day cards and other such tokens of affection like heart shaped boxes of chocolates and large bouquets of red roses.... symbols including heart-shaped outlines, white doves, and figures of little winged cherubs named cupid are seen everywhere. I still remember to this day how incredibly important it was to put together the perfect cards for your friends and that cute boy that sat next to you in English class (after all, this was THE day that it was totally acceptable to make sure you gave him the best card without drawing taunts or jokes from your other classmates!) It's changed a bit since I was in school and now my children are writing out cards and giggling about that boy or girl of interest and which card should they give to them and I find myself thinking of what this day really means. Where did the days go that found you coloring and gluing red felt and white lace scraps together, actually making your Valentines with your own two hands? Ah, those were the days.... when everything seemed a little more special because you came up with the idea and put it together all by yourself...the days mom baked late into the night, frosting pink and white cupcakes with colorful sprinkles for the great occasion the next day, the days you wrote out poems in the very best handwriting that you could muster in order to impress that special someone that you just couldn't come right out and admit you were smitten with? Have I really gotten that old ( I'm almost older than dirt)...have times changed so much that that kind of effort is no longer the in thing to do? Tomorrow, I ask you to think of those you love and just pull them aside and tell them how special they are to you and that they will always be the most important people in your life, tell them thank-you for simply being themselves and then plant a big fat juicy kiss right on their cheek!

Today In History...

Born in 1884, Gerald Brosseau Gardner was a flamboyant and assertive personality and truly a cornerstone figure in the creation of modern paganism. He had developed an interest in anthropology and the occult ( meaning hidden or secret) while working in Malaya as a tea and rubber planter and a Customs officer, and on retiring to England in 1936 he made this his prime preoccupation. In Hampshire in 1939 he joined a witch coven preserving unbroken medieval traditions, and from 1951 onwards he publicly promoted a fertility religion we now call Wicca. He recruited members into an organized initiatory order of several grades, for which he composed rituals and spells under the title "A Book of Shadows" his system showed similarities to Freemasonry, and to ceremonial magic as practised by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and others in the early 20th century. His Witchcraft Today (1954) is the foundation of Wicca and he also set up a Museum of Witchcraft at Castletown (Isle of Man). He passed away on this day (1964) on the ship "Scottish Prince" while sailing off the North African coast.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOOKS BY GERALD B. GARDNER:

* Witchcraft Today

* The Meaning of Witchcraft

* Witchcraft and the Book of Shadows:

The Definitive Record of the Practises of Wicca

* Gardner's Book of Shadows

This Too Shall Pass

Every day I like to draw a card from my tarot deck to see what the theme of the day might be. Today I drew the Two of Pentacles which shows a smiling little fox juggling two pentacles and just below him you can see waves that to me signifies activity and motion and this week (and it's only Wednesday) has indeed been quite active. The remodeling is nearly finished but it's so strange how something like household improvement can toss the entire routine so carefully constructed into utter chaos! I get the feeling that this grinning little fox is telling me that it's not over yet and even though it might get a bit hectic or stressful, the best course of action is to put on my happy face and remember all those waves beneath my feet are only temporary and will pass. Things go so much smoother when we don't get caught up in all the drama of the moment and simply go with the flow.

Procrastination As An Art Form

I've always been the sort of person that has a fondness for putting the big things off until "later." In fact my motto should probably be "Procrastinators unite....tomorrow!" It's really not an admirable quality and I'm noticing that the kids are picking up on it as well. A homework packet is given each Monday at school and due on Friday and lately all four children are often found at the kitchen table Thursday evenings in a state of panic, frantically adding, subtracting and studying spelling. I remember doing the very same thing when I was their age and I must admit that it does not reflect very well on me, having passed on this less than desirable trait. It's so strange how our habits and routines are soaked up by the little people who watch our every move, even without our realizing it. The really frightening prospect is that if they pick up on so much, what other examples are they adopting from us. It really puts it in perspective for me and I do want my children to develop healthy, positive habits as they grow up, so I as a parent must closely examine my actions and always make sure that I keep in mind that I am the adult that they look up to so I had better shape up and be the example that will benefit them later on in life. Now...about cleaning out that refrigerator......

TAG...You're It!

I was sitting on the couch ruminating this morning amid the sounds of the bathroom being remodeled and found myself wandering down memory lane. I can remember as a child going to the catholic church with my grandparents and staring in awe at the brightly colored stained glass windows depicting a variety of religious scenes. The church itself, although in a small community and not large by any standards, was very ornate and rich with decoration but somewhere deep inside I just couldn't shake that nagging little feeling that something was strangely missing. That feeling followed me through the next few years and as I traveled along in my twenties, I searched many different churches and many different viewpoints looking for one that clicked, one that would give me that wonderful feeling that I saw reflected in the other church members' faces. Finally there came a time when I realized that I could not fit in nor fake the feelings that I so desperately sought and for a several years after that resigned myself to the fact that it just wasn't going to happen for me and I quit searching altogether. It wasn't until I was nearly 35 that I met a woman that lived in the same apartment complex as I and she introduced to me to wicca. All of a sudden it was like a light bulb going off in my head and then it hit me...this is it... this is what I've been searching for all my life! It was so right, so liberating...as if a great weight had been removed from my shoulders. I cannot tell you how free I felt then and have continued to feel every day since. As I continued to sit and think, it occurred to me that this path, this journey I am on... had found me! I had not gone looking or even given any thought as to my spirituality for many years but here I am, knee deep in the craft and it seems so right, so natural...like this is what life is supposed to be about. I am not claiming to know all the answers, life is a classroom and everyday is a new lesson but the insight and perspective I have gained is far more beautiful, more brilliant to me than any stained glass created.

Serenity Sunday

It's been a long and very busy week here in Battle Ground, the bathroom is being remodeled and I never put too much thought into how big of a project it was going be...but I'm learning! I was thinking last night as I was attempting to drift off to sleep at a decent hour (I'm a notorious night owl) and came up with the idea that maybe every Sunday I would list ten things I'm greatful for since during the week life gets very hectic and it's quite difficult to put anything on paper let alone have a complete thought. I found that as I get older, the little things count a whole lot more than they used to and one thing I've grown to appreciate is my rose garden. I take great pleasure now just digging in the the rich, dark soil and pulling those pesky weeds that perpetually pop up ( weeding is the best stress reliever I know!) I appreciate nature more in general and I never pass up an opportunity to kick off my shoes and enjoy the soft green grass under my feet. Anyhow on to my list....

1.) My children

2.) My home

3.) The beautiful colors of a sunrise on a clear morning

4.) Cinnamon creme coffee creamer

5.) Birds chirping in the pine tree by my window

6.) The crisp smell in the air just after a sudden rain

7.) My cats playing with their cat toys

8.) My neighbors waving and saying good morning when I drive by on the way to school

9.) The sound of my brass ship's clock chiming

10.) The new red buds coming out on my rosebushes

I am so blessed in my life and I hope that if there is one thing that I can do before I leave this world, I wish to inspire just one person to choose to make difference.

Why Yes, My Number Really Is 666.

I bet that number got your attention...it happens all the time... audible gasps, people visibly twitch... some even find that suddenly they have somewhere else to be and quickly shuffle off murmuring to themselves. Even the very thought of that number brings controversy so allow me to fuel the fire. Being in the craft can sometimes be interesting, I get a lot of blank stares after being asked what my religious affiliation is and I answer witchcraft... no one is really sure if I'm actually confessing that I am a witch or just yanking their chain and when I'm asked for my phone number it just goes downhill from there. 666 is a number with such a vivid and powerful stigma attached to it that sometimes you just gotta laugh because otherwise all the Prozac in the world could not solve the issues that this number has been known to cause. Just the other day, my friend Peggy wrote her 666th blog posting on Laila and Minchie (there is a link to her blog on the right side of my page) and everyone held their breath....she emailed me just a bit ago so I was able to draw the conclusion that she did not explode and there was no appearance of the anti-christ materializing in a cloud of fire and brimstone. A few comments on her post mentioned the humor in it, ( most did not) but I'm guessing the younger crowd is not as knowledgable about this topic as we older folks are and that's ok with me. For argument's sake allow me to slip in a bit of history on the origin of "The number of the beast"... While reading the information in Wikipedia, I was suprised to see that historians and theologians are now starting to come to the conclusion that more than likely the translation was erroneously understood to be 666 but in fact is probably 616 instead and had more to do with numerology and Nero or Caligula than a christian concept associated with the devil . (In my spiritual beliefs, the devil does not exist and did not in any way, shape or form appear in any activities practiced by the early pagan cultures.) Hmm, interesting.... I suppose you can start sending that email now... I have even given it thought as to maybe including my phone number ...(my actual telephone number is area code (360) and the prefix is 666-**** ) but I won't put the last four digits in because my nerves could not handle it's constant ringing from unsettled readers calling to chew me out but here in Battle Ground, Washington the telephone prefix really is 666!

To read the Wikipedia article:

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_of_the_Beast)

It's Here, it's Here!!

My long awaited purse is here! I am still marveling over it, it's so beautiful...I just wish the picture showed it...

Coincidence Or Universal Gift?

There's this gypsy purse I've had my eye on for quite awhile, it has black fringe, a long shoulder strap and best of all...it is an antique rose tapestry fabric that I simply thought was the coolest! ( I love roses!) I could put my wallet and keys in it...my cell could fit quite nicely and best of all, I could fit my tarot cards snugly inside and take them with me where ever I went! It's been on a wiccan/pagan website that I look at now and then and for nearly a year now they've had only one left in stock. Many times I'd go to the site and gaze at it longingly but always, other obligations came up and I put it on the back burner in lieu of Cheer Camp, zoo trips and various other things that kids need as they grow up. It can be tough raising kids as a single parent but I feel that if you invest in them now, they will be such a gift to the world later so I always told myself "When tax time comes, I'll be sure to purchase that lovely gypsy purse." I got my taxes back the other day and my first thought was..."Ooh, gypsy purse here I come!" I brought up the website and low and behold...they still had it! I could not believe it and of course, ordered it straight away. I couldn't believe I was finally going to get this beautiful handmade purse (and now I'm waiting none too patiently for my poor mail carrier.) I wonder how it was still there...I'm sure there were other folks that thought it was the greatest...? I suppose you could chalk it up to luck, chance or coincidence but maybe, just maybe the universe is just a little bit smarter than I and had a design of its own all along...

By The Pale Moonlight

Today I decided to work with my cards again and asked "What should I write about in my blog today?" Oddly the cards gave me the moon, once again it shines in my thoughts...This card has a strange dreamlike quality about it, in which a grinning moon beams it's light down upon a nighttime scene where a crayfish can be seen in the foreground crawling from a glistening stream. There are two characters in the distance holding what appears to be staffs of some sort and farther beyond that is two tower looking mountains that may indicate a passage way of some sort. To one that is not familiar with the tarot, it might appear oddly frightening and surreal but I often see this card as lighting the path with it's pale light so that you will not stumble or get lost. I thought about the Moon card a great deal and it suddenly dawned on me that there is a message here. I had been having vivid and unsettling dreams over the past few days and always wake to this nagging feeling that just seemed to follow me throughout my day. I don't usually have these kind of dreams and I found myself slightly off balance because of it. Perhaps the Moon card is telling me that these dreams are trying to release my inner fears and doubts that I have in my life right now and my subconscious is lighting these fears so that I am able to see them clearly for what they are and move on and release them. Fear is easily banished when illuminated and examined.

(Deck: The Tarot of the Magical Forest)

The Moon By Any Other Name....

There's just something about the moon...folklore abound with legends and tales of the moon, poetry is written about it and not too far back in our history, farmers still planted and harvested their crops by it. All down through time the moon has played an important role in the lives of many peoples and this coming Tuesday, the 10th, it will be a full Snow Moon. I was intrigued by the naming of the moon each month so I went on a search to find out just how these names came to be. I was actually suprised to find that if I had just thought about it, the names are actually quite common sense. In February, the heaviest snow usually falls and the native tribes of the north and east most often called it the Full Snow Moon or referred to as the Moon as the Full Hunger Moon, since harsh weather conditions in their areas made hunting very difficult and on the wiccan calendar I have on my wall, it's called the Quickening Moon. The moon has always been mysterious and beautiful to me and learning about the different names has only increased my affection.

Snow

fresh white

beautiful soft

Snow

there it is - look

it wasn't there before

it is new - it just appeared

in minutes - now

soft - white - fluffy

immaculate

Snow

sparkling on rooftops

in branches & twigs

on the dry brown

autumn lawn

Snow

it is snow

don't you see it - - -

Moonlight of the full moon!

(Magic of the Full Moon ,Ingeborg Carsten-Miller)

Learning To Be Still

I've never been one to sit in one place for too long nor am I one that you might consider laid back and relaxed. I have a bad habit of pacing now and then or taking little strips of paper and rolling them and re-rolling them (yeah, I know...it's weird...) Anyhow, one activity that I have learned to apply that helps calm my jitters is meditation. It took me a long time to train myself to sit quietly and go within, I'd catch my mind wandering and have to guide it back time and again. Guided meditations are excellent ways to harness the attention span until you feel able to meditate with out the mental wandering. Many times I would have days were I felt like my little internal rubber band was wound so tight it might snap and I always chalked it up to "just my personality" but then one day it hit me, I can choose not to feel like that if I want to... I didn't have to go around so stressed out that the family pets left the room. I feel much calmer after a meditation and able to handle life's little irritations (and we all know some days can be a challenge.) I don't snap at people in the middle of the isle at the grocery store anymore (although, you have to admit, taking up the whole isle is rather rude) and the sense of peace I feel after meditation is terrific. Usually, I try to wake earlier than the household and do a morning ritual of grounding and centering which helps me get connected to mother earth and then I will follow that with another meditation that I like to use to set the pace and tone for the day. At night before I go to bed I also like to spend about a half an hour just meditating on the positive and practicing my gratitude for the blessings in my life.

Blessed Imbolc!

Brighid, Bride of Earth

Bride of the earth,

sister of the faeries,

daughter of the Tuatha de Danaan,

keeper of the eternal flame.

In autumn, the nights began to lengthen,

and the days grew shorter,

as the earth went to sleep.

Now, Brighid stokes her fire,

burning flames in the hearth,

bringing light back to us once more.

Winter is brief, but life is forever.

Brighid makes it so.

Tattoo Who?!

Well, I've made my decision...this year I'm going to get a tattoo. I'm such a weenie, I've been kicking this idea around for about three years now and I think I've scrounged up enough courage to get one. My oldest two daughter's have beautiful lower back tattoos and I must admit, I am a bit envious! I'm not really sure quite what I want but I do know it will have a Celtic flavor, oh, and it has to have green in it...my favorite color. I would like it to reflect the rich flavor of the path that I'm on, something that reminds me that my family is Celtic. I'm going to get to looking I think, I'll be sure to tell all after the experience...hopefully it won't include too much kleenex!