Sunday, June 14, 2009

Changing things up...

I've decided to try and mesh my two sides into one blog. I won't be posting here for the foreseeable future. If you want to keep up with me, you can catch me on my other blog.
Blessings
~*~

Friday, May 29, 2009

lack of posting

Well, I'm thinking about doing away with this blog...again. I seem to be spending most of my time on the other blog. It just seems that I have very little to say of a "witchy" nature lately. There is so much going on that I find myself not posting much at all.

In addition to working on a big home remodel that involves packing out everything in my house, I'm also in the process of expanding my little side business. I have finally purchased a domain and am working on the website. I'm also preparing goods to be sold at a 'shop local fair' that is coming up in July.

I took the day off today and have been working on some of these projects. I cleaned out my bedroom closet today. I ended up with half the clothes in bags to take to Goodwill. I've still got to sort through the shoes, but should be done soon. Then I'll get to work on a new knitting project. I'm making a baby blanket for my sister in law's sister's new baby. Her shower is in a month but the baby isn't due until August. I'm hoping I'll get the blanket done by the shower...but we'll see.

I still on the fence about closing this blog. When I set it up originally, I had grand ideas of it being a witchy, spiritual site, but it didn't work out that way. I guess I'll leave it until things settle down later this summer. I'll post when I can and hope that you won't all get bored with my lack of new posts.

Blessings
~*~

Monday, May 25, 2009

change

I found the below to be particularly interesting this morning when I opened my inbox. I am off to spend the day with family members that I would rather avoid. Several I utterly despise and many I just wish to not associate with. I'll have to pay careful attention to the day and my reactions to these people.

From: The Daily Om

May 25, 2009
The Start of Change
Breaking Family Cycles
It is easy to believe that in leaving our childhood homes and embarking upon the journey of adulthood, we have effectively removed ourselves from harmful and self-perpetuating familial patterns. In looking closely at ourselves, however, we may discover that our behaviors and beliefs are still those that were impressed upon us during our youth by our parents, grandparents, and the generations that preceded them. We may find ourselves unconsciously perpetuating cycles of the previous generations, such as fear of having enough, not showing affection, and secrecy patterns. Yet the transmission of negative patterns from one generation to the next is not inevitable. It is possible to become the endpoint at which negative family cycles that have thrived for generations are exhausted and can exert their influence no longer. Breaking the pattern is a matter of overcoming those values imprinted upon us long ago in order to replace them with pure love, tolerance, and conscious awareness.

Even if you have struggled with the cumulative effects of family cycles that were an expression of established modes of living and a reflection of the strife your ancestors were forced to endure, you can still liberate yourself from the effects of your family history. The will to divest yourself of old, dark forms of familial energy and carry forth a new loving energy may come in the form of an epiphany. You may one day simply realize that certain aspects of your early life have negatively affected your health, happiness, and ability to evolve as an individual. Or you may find that in order to transcend long-standing patterns of limiting beliefs, irrational behavior, and emotional stiltedness, you have to question your values and earnestly examine how your family has impacted your personality. Only when you understand how family cycles have influenced you can you gain freedom from those cycles.

In order to truly change, you must give yourself permission to change. Breaking family patterns is in no way an act of defiance or betrayal. It is important that you trust yourself implicitly when determining the behaviors and beliefs that will help you overwrite the generation-based cyclical value system that limited your individual potential. Many people are on the earth at this time to break family cycles, for all of you are true pioneers. In breaking negative family cycles, you will discover that your ability to express your feelings and needs grows exponentially and that you will embark upon a journey toward greater well-being that can positively impact generations to come.


Blessings,
~*~

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Saturday, May 09, 2009

Wise Woman Ways



This year I signed up to take a course about wise woman healing. It is an apprenticeship type course, where we meet once a month for nine months. This year is part one of the course and there are two more years after this one.

Today was class number 4 and we made motherwort tinctures and st. joan's wort oils. I am having a wonderful time with this course. We have been shown how to make tinctures, oils, decoctions, infusions and balms/ointments. I've been introduced to plants I've not come in contact with before, like stinging nettle (it really deserves that name too). I've also been introduced to permaculture gardening, which is something I'm going to have to research.


{angelica}

I've been adding to my herbal garden, finding plants like stinging nettle, joy pye weed (also known as gravel root), anise hyssop, holy basil, self-heal, job's tears, calendula and comfrey. It's been fun adding plants of both medicinal and magical uses.

All these plants are of course causing me to spend most of my time in the gardens. If the weather is not bad and the sun is still shining, I'm to be found in the garden. I still have lots to plant and lots of sections to clear out before I can plant. It is good for me, it helps me exercise, it allows me to work out some frustrations (pulling up and clearing out sections) but best of all, it helps me to reconnect to nature and the earth.



I'm not sure that I want to become an herbalist, but I think that the things I'm learning will help to make me a better witch. :-)

Blessings
~*~

Sunday, April 26, 2009

altars and herbs

On my other blog, I participate in the Photo Hunters project. This weeks topic was "Protect(ion)". After giving some thought to what I would like to photograph, I decided to use my protection altar for the shot. After taking a photo, I ended up taking photos of several of my altars.

I have several altars setup in my home. Each one is important to me and is used for various things, including rootwork/conjure jobs, witchcraft spells, and honoring ancestors or various Lwa.

Here is a peak at several of my altars...


blessing altar


enemy altar


an altar for Maman Bridgette - this photo is from last summer and the altar has changed a lot. i guess i need a more recent photo...


this altar is for Ayida Wedo

I have more altars than these. I have a money altar, my main altar and an ancestor altar. I also keep a St. Michael candle burning in my kitchen window (it faces THE neighbor's house) and have a St. Michael card there so it could be considered a small protection altar.

This week there were several herb sales around the area. Normally I go to the two big sales, but this year I just went to the one at our local farmers market. I really racked up on plants. :-)



I got several very cool plants of the medicinal/magical variety. I bought Holy Basil, Joe Pye Weed (also known as Queen of the Meadow or Gravel Root), Purple Coneflower, Self-Heal, Russian Comfrey, Foxglove, Calendula, Anise Hyssop, Lemon Verbena, Bay Tree, Pennyroyal, Blue Vervain. I also bought Parsley, Italian Basil, Oregano and Cilantro.

So, does anyone else grow their own magical/medicinal herbs or have altars set up in their home?

Blessings
~*~

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

i've been away too long...

It's been a long month. Lots of work happening around my home and lots on the spiritual front. I've spent a bit of time helping a friend and her family remove a negative entity from their home. This is something I've done before, but it had been a really long time. It required me to spend a lot of time in contact with the spirits and entities that hang around.

Most of the time, I try to block all of that out (and usually end up with migraines). Sometimes I just open myself up and observe or absorb everything around me, and sometimes they just take over.

I've done a lot of work on this project and also another project helping someone else. I really can't give a lot of details. I don't want to say anything that would get to the wrong people. I can say it went really well and the family feels much more comfortable in their home now.

I've also been taking an herbal medicine making course. I can't remember if I've mentioned it before. It is a nine month apprenticeship course. It is really three years, but I only signed up for the first year, so far. It has been very interesting. We've learned how to make balms, tinctures, infusions. This months class we made a meal using herbs and wild plants. It was surprisingly good.

Oh, I finally have some pictures of some new projects I've been working on. I made a few memory wire bracelets and took them to my friends shop. It was the first time I'd made anything like this, except for one I made for myself. I really like the way they turned out.


This one is made with Sodalite and Hematite.



Amethyst



Citrine



Garnet


The other day when I was in the shop, they said they had sold one, so that is good. I have some other jewelry designs I want to work on, I just haven't had a chance to sit down and work on them.

I've also been dealing the feelings and emotions left from a very intense dream that I had last week. This dream left me shaking for days. I discussed it with a friend, she's really good at dream analysis, but this one had her asking questions I wasn't expecting and making me examine a lot of my thoughts and notions about my life.

Well, that is a brief rundown of what I've been doing.
Blessings
~*~

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Ostara

Ostara... the first day of spring. The natural world is fresh and new as it emerges from the winter sleep. To me, it is a time of growth, renewal... a chance to start fresh or explore something new.



I have been very busy this week and also full of inspiration and ideas. I've made a few things that I'll take to my friends shop tomorrow. Hopefully she will think they are appropriate to sell in her shop. If not, I have other ideas. I've been looking into opening an Etsy shop. I haven't decided yet if I will, but the idea is interesting.

This past week has been a time of purging for me. I've been cleaning and organizing things in my home, getting rid of things that no longer serve or that I never really wanted to begin with. I've taken stock of my oils and herbs, organizing them and grouping them in a more useful manner. I'm finding myself using them more lately and intend for that to continue and increase.

Happy Ostara, everyone. May the spring bring you a renewed sense of purpose in all that you are and want.

Blessings,
~*~

Friday, March 13, 2009

Happy Friday the 13th!

Does the thought of the 13th day of a month falling on a Friday make you want to stay home, under the covers, hiding until the day is over? If so, you may suffer from Paraskevadecatriaphobia?

Don't be afraid! It is just a normal day, like any other.

Today is the second Friday the 13th of 2009. There was one last month and there will be a third in November. Personally, I love Friday the 13th. I've always seemed to have good luck or no bad luck on these days and so I never developed the fear everyone else seems to have.


So, get up, get out and enjoy your day!

Blessings
~*~

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

trouble?

There was a ring around the moon tonight. It is usually a sign of trouble not far off. It makes me anxious. What more trouble do we need? Is it a sign just to those who recognize it as such or does it affect everyone, whether or not they recognize the signs? Are omens really warnings, or have we just come to notice the "coincidence" of things happening at certain times? I guess it all depends on your beliefs.

I for one, believe in "signs" or "omens". I realize now that I was already feeling anxious, before I noticed the ring around the moon.

I'm tired tonight. I think I will take one more peek at the moon, whisper a prayer and a wish and then go to bed.

Blessings
~*~

Wishing moon


Tonight, at 10:39pm edt, is the full moon. Tonight's moon is the Hare Moon and it is also a wishing moon. According to the Season's of the Witch calendar:
"wishing moons occur only four times a year on the moon closest to the sabbats. They are occasions for planning the goals of the coming quarter and assessing the results of the quarter past."

Today is also a good day for workplace spells. If there is something about your work that you don't like, today is a good day to work on changing that magically.

I've been using the 7th House's Seasons of the Witch Planners for three or four years and I love them. They have lots of good information each month on aspects of the moon, times for workings and energies that are available for workings. Plus, the artwork that is lovely.

You can check them out here.

Be sure to check out the moon tonight and don't forget to make a wish...

Blessings
~*~

Monday, March 02, 2009

my world today

what i woke up to...






i'm staying home today to enjoy the beauty that i wouldn't be able to see from my office with no windows...

i hope that your world is beautiful to you today too...

blessings
~*~

Sunday, March 01, 2009

It's snowing!!

...i mean REALLY snowing... :-)

more on this latest development tomorrow...

blessings
~*~

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Ruts

I'm in a rut again... or is it a funk? I don't know. I did really well last week, made it to work every day and was feeling good. Saturday was a gorgeous day and I ran a lot of errands and had a good day. Then Sunday morning, I woke up feeling like crap warmed over. I've been in a "mood" ever since. This is my second day of not going to work this week. I'm having trouble keeping up with what day it is, much less where the moon cycle is. I missed the new moon and now have missed the full moon.

I have been keeping my "house project" spell going. I don't know if I'm anxious about the house or if there is something else going on. I'm still not sleeping and am just exhausted all the time. Yesterday, when I couldn't talk myself into going to work, I made myself a promise that I would at least be productive around the house. I have a lot to do to get it ready to list and should be spending my time working on it. However, I ended up sleeping until 11, watched Gilmore Girls reruns and read all day. Not one single thing productive was accomplished. (Well, I did go to the doctor for lab work, more on that later.)

Last night, I was all set to go to work this morning. When the morning came, I just couldn't force myself to go. So, I went back to bed for a little while. I got up about an hour ago and have started laundry, taken my shot and eaten a banana, emptied the dishwasher and washed the dishes that were in the sink. I'm going to work on the house today, trying to go through the junk that I can't let go of and either toss it or box it up and get it in the attic. I need to get this house ready to sell.

As far as my being unable to make myself leave for work, it's like a wall goes up around my house and I can't push my way out. It isn't a full fledged panic attack, I know how those feel all too well. But it is similar in that I just can't make myself move. I need to find out how to get to the bottom of these episodes and deal with them. If I'm going to have my dream house, then I'm going to have to work for it. Maybe I'll be able to tolerate the job more when I have a place to come home to that I love and not one that I hate and where I want to beat the crap out of the neighbors.

Ugh...

Blessings
~*~

Saturday, February 07, 2009

Sunday, February 01, 2009

Thursday, January 22, 2009

he's home

The beast came home tonight. They say he did well overnight and have switched him back to two insulin shots a day. He still is not eating much and is doing nothing but sleeping since he came home. I had a call from from the internist department at a big state vet school. His doc had called in a referral. I thought she had just called to ask some questions, I didn't realize she wanted him to go there for testing and exams. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to do that. The basic exam and blood work is between six and eight hundred dollars. If he had to spend the night or had to have anything else done, it would go up dramatically. Plus, since the school is almost two hours away, I'd have to take a day or two off from work.

I don't know what to do. I told the internist that I wanted to talk to his doctor and get a better understanding of what they are hoping to get from this. He is only eleven years old. That doesn't seem so old for a lab. My dad's lab lived to be seventeen. But the doctor says that because he has had diabetes for so long (six years) that he is really much older.

Ugh.. maybe after I talk to the doctor I'll feel better or at least know which way to go.

Thanks for keeping him in your thoughts.

Blessings
~*~

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

beastie update

The beast is spending the night at the emergency vet tonight. The vet is concerned that something else is wrong and that is why he can't get regulated with the insulin. They are running a 24 hour glucose curve and so he stays there tonight and in the morning I pick him up and take him back to the regular vet. I assume it is to finish the rest of the glucose curve.

I did make it back to work today. It wasn't too bad a day, long because I was late getting there and had to stay later than usual to make up the time. Tonight will be cold since I don't have my four legged heater with me. :-(

My tarheels play again tonight, so I'm looking forward to that. Hopefully they have their heads in the game and play well.

Anyway, I have nothing else to share tonight. Thanks for all you kind support for the beast. I'm hoping that everything will be okay.

Blessings,
~*~

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

keeping promises

So, if you'll remember, yesterday I said that I would be going back to work today and would only be taking time off in emergencies. Yeah..well...I'm not so good with the keeping promises like that. I did have every intention of going, but when I woke up this morning and took the beast out, this is what I found...



Yes.. I will use any excuse to avoid a place that I hate and despise with a passion. Honestly, though, I just feel nothing when I go there. I used to go in and look at my job as being productive and that I was useful to someone. Now, it is just this place that I loathe but yet, pays the bills. That is a very important thing. I try to remind myself that I am very lucky to even have a job as lots of people don't. So, I'm trying to work on my attitude about it. Therefore, I will be back to work tomorrow...

In other news, I finished my k2p2 scarf... or maybe I've already mentioned that? Anyway, here's a pic:



The beast is acting funny today. He's not eating and is sleeping constantly. I'm going to take him in tomorrow for a glucose curve. The roads are too dangerous for me today and plus his vet is not there. I don't remember if I mentioned that over the weekend we changed his insulin. He now takes an animal insulin instead of human insulin and he is taking much less. He was pretty wobbly this morning, so I guess it's good that I stayed home.

yeah.. I know... excuses... :-)

blessings,
~*~

Monday, January 19, 2009

Seems like a Sunday

Today has been a lazy day for me. It seems like a Sunday instead of Monday. I go back to work tomorrow. I am determined not to miss anymore work unless it is an emergency. Today I've been hanging around the house, cooking and general stuff.

I went for a nice drive yesterday. There was a lot of beautiful scenery but I wasn't able to get any photos. Maybe next time, I can get some photos.

Does anyone watch Paranormal State? I can't decide if I like it or hate it. I wish they didn't take everything from a strictly Christian standpoint.

Oh well... better go check my chicken and noodles. I'm getting hungry.

Blessings,
~*~

PS: Thanks for all the comments from the music post. I've been trying to keep my head out of my iPod a little more. :-)

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Thursday, January 15, 2009

music

Do you ever feel lost for words, desperate to be able to express yourself to someone, anyone and not have the ability to put words together that will let them understand what it is you are feeling...thinking?

What about when you find a song that says it all for you? Do you feel better knowing that someone else in the world must be feeling the way you do and you aren't alone, how else could the words to the song be so perfect? Or do you feel somehow less, because you couldn't put the words together right, but they did?

I find for me it is mostly joy at knowing that somehow, I can get across what I'm thinking and feeling. Even if I didn't write the words, the resonate so deeply that they are more perfect than anything I could have said.

This song is breaking my heart right now...

I listen to it over and over and can't stop the tears that fall. I wonder sometimes if I disappeared, if anyone would even notice. I am not important here. I make no impact on the world around me, the people that I interact with each day. In fact, lately, I've barely interacted with anyone. Most of the time, I have my headphones in, listening to my iPod. I never go anywhere without it. At work, it keeps me from hearing the joking and laughing at my expense usually and keeps me from having to make polite conversation with people that I'd rather not even be near.

At home, well, I don't know why I keep them in at home. There is no else here to avoid. I just want to hear the music, maybe it keeps my own thoughts buried.

~*~

Monday, January 12, 2009

doggie business

My poor baby boy had to go to hospital today...he has a hematoma in his ear and it needed surgery to repair. Unfortunately, after the exam this morning and hearing my description of some issues we had this weekend - he's been leaving little cow pies behind when he sleeps and also couldn't get into the car by himself, i had to lift his back end for him - the doc decided that we should not put him under anesthesia.

I can't tell you how happy I was to hear this. When I dropped him off this morning, I had a very hard time leaving him. I felt very nervous about the surgery. He is getting older, he's 11 now - but with his diabetes the vet said its more like 15 or so, and he seems to be falling apart.

They drained his ear and wrapped it all up in a bandage. We will have to go back every other day to have the bandage changed for a while. He had this same problem about a year or so ago, except it was the other ear. He looks a little funny and is currently on the floor beside the sofa, snoring to beat the band. At least they wrapped him with a carolina blue bandage. We like our tarheel blue around here...after all, we have tarheel hearts. :-)

Blessings,
~*~

Saturday, January 03, 2009

Saturday Sky 2009



“There is one spectacle grander than the sea, that is the sky; there is one spectacle grander than the sky, that is the interior of the soul” ~Victor Hugo

Blessings,
~*~