Taking the Veil

For the last 2-3 years,  have been fascinated with the practice of Veiling or Head Covering for spiritual purposes. I am not a particularly modest, shy, or submissive person, and so thought it was a lovely and meaningful practice, but not for me. I could think of no personal reason to Veil.

Fast forward to now. Nearly every facet of my life needs a positive change. We need to move forward as a family, and I need to move forward in every role I play. Woman, Pagan, Mother, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Friend, Provider, I have either failed, turned away from, or ignored them at some point since September. 

We are battling back. My family is strong and loving, we are a tight little nest of love and support, but swirling around us is a tempest of bad decisions that have shattered our 'outward' life. We had to retreat. We are regrouping and rebuilding. We put everything in storage, got released from our lease thanks to the kindness of our landlords, and moved in with my parents. My family of four humans and two dogs is now residing in the two guest bedrooms in my step father's home. It is a good fall back position, we get along great with my parents and they are glad to have us here both for the time with my girls and because they love my cooking. No matter how nice of an arrangement, I am still a 37 year old mother and wife who had to move back in with Mommy. It's tough medicine to take.

At this time, all I can control is myself, and that control has been badly damaged over the past four months. The Hubs just got the official word yesterday that he got a job driving a truck for a copper mine in Eastern Arizona and will start within the next two weeks. The girls and I will stay here while he moves for the new job until we have enough money banked to officially move. It's good to have something to celebrate, to have a plan and a clear way to begin it's execution. Anxiety and depression have taken my confidence and a lot of my self love. I have lost my ability to earn a living and provide for my family in a financial way. This is a blow. Although I have been a SAHM in the past, it was by choice, not because I lost my dream business and all of my grooming tools and was forced back home. This has begun to pass, and I have once again begun to find joy in cooking for my family sewing, crafting,and keeping house. My Mom said the other day she realizes why men love wives because she loves to come home to a clean house and a warm meal!

Add these issues to the fact I am at my heaviest weight outside of pregnancy and have been in a spiritual crisis...I'm just a hot mess.

So now, the Veil. 

Because Hestia placed her hand on me to lead me forward into the next part of my life. Although The Morrigan is still my patron goddess, She feels I need more care than strength at this time and has blessed me with the gift of following Hestia as well. To honor each goddess, I will Veil, by my own choice, until I feel called to stop.

Because I want to be reminded to become self contained. I want to be calm. I want to be confident. I want to be focused. I want to look inward for answers instead of  trying to do what others want or expect or to  buy them. I want to be poised, centered, and a regal woman worthy of my ideal of a Priestess, because I have fallen far from that ideal in my mind.

Because I want to make my body a Temple. I want to be mindful of what I do to and for myself. I want to remember I am beautiful, so much so I must contain it. I am exceptional, and not for public consumption. I will become the woman I have always seen inside myself, a reflection of the goddess.

Because I have been fascinated for the last 2-3 years and have been buying scarves in that time. My heart knew I would be called, just not when or why.

So today I put on my Veil, Blessed Be.

Getting Crafty

I have been feverishly crocheting lately for two big reasons. 

1) Yule and Christmas are super close and I'm broke. These facts mean those near and dear to me are getting handmade gifts wether they like it or not

2) It's cheap therapy and good busywork to keep my hands busy and my mind blank as I crawl back to normal

This being the case, I see this blog moving more toward being a craft blog written by a Pagan than a Pagan blog written by a crafter .

Not that I won't get back to those posts, just that a big part of my day at the moment is crafting, mostly crochet , and if I don't blog that I'm not left with much .

For you non-crafters, keep checking back, I will get back to posts about Pagan topics as the meat of the blog as soon as I am able.

Until then, enjoy the scarf I made for my step dad!

Much love, Hippie Witch
                                     

Yuma Church reacts to allegations against youth pastor

Yuma Church reacts to allegations against youth pastor

Story by Marie Hamill, Reporter - email

Yuma, AZ- Robert Warren is behind bars for allegedly giving items of a sexual nature to a 14-year-old girl.

"They were basically sex toys. I don't want to get graphic but they could be classified as sex toys," said Lt. Darren Simmons with YCSO.

The 43-year old is a youth pastor at Valley Baptist Church.

The Yuma County Sheriff's Office says they received a call late Saturday night from a mother stating her daughter had received the items from Warren.

YCSO says he admitted to buying and delivering the items to the girls home after he was taken into custody for questioning.

"Right now it's looking like an isolated incident. We don't want to take anything away from the church. People are people. Unfortunately, you can't always tell what they are like. Just because that's where he worked. I Don't think people should hold it against the church," said Lt.Darren Simmons with YCSO.

Glenn Conelle, the church pastor told News 13 off camera that he is shocked to hear about the allegations against warren.

He says this is totally out of Warren's character.

Pastor Conelle says Warren has worked with the church for nearly 20 years and they are standing behind him.

He says they will act appropriately depending on how this case unfolds.

Warren will be in court on Friday to find out if 2 counts of furnishing harmful materials to a minor were filed against him.

He remains in jail on a cash only bond of more than 63,000 dollars.

Farmageddon

As someone who actively aspires to be a small scale farmer and sell at farmers markets someday, this movie has blown my mind. Swat teams serving warrants because people have raw milk? Killing large herds of sheep only to find they were in perfect health 8 years later? Madness...

Writer's charm for NaNoWriMo

Two days till I hunker down and try to reach the elusive 50,000 words in November. I was getting my laptop bag ready today, since my plan is to carry it as a purse all month. You never know when I will have time to kill or be struck with inspiration.

So I had a thought. I made a Writer's Charm to attach to my bag.

I used white coral for organization, ametrine to bring my dreams into reality, and bloodstone for self confidence. 

I used some yarn scraps to stitch them up into a little pouch, and attached a faery, a four-leaf clover, and a hematite and carnelian copper wrapped pentacle to it.

I hooked it on to my USB and now I'm set to rock out the pages this November.

When football players have more common sense than politicians...

Morality of Pagans by The Providence

What is paganism?

Paganism is an umbrella term used today by numerous faiths and individuals to describe their spiritual path. Pagan was once a derogatory term meaning "uneducated country dweller" used by Christians to refer to rural folk who had not yet converted to Christianity. The essence of paganism is in honouring the earth, animals and nature as sacred and deserving equal respect from us as humans.

Who practises it?

I've met pagans who are teachers, professors, doctors, police officers, politicians, lawyers, military, investment bankers ....

Paganism as religion:

Paganism itself is not an organized religion, but many of the spiritual paths under its umbrella are recognized as religions such as Druidism, heathenism and Wicca.

Paganism and Halloween:

Halloween has its origins in the fire festivals of the pre-Christian faiths of Europe and the British Isles. In Ireland and Scotland this festival was known as Samhain and great bonfires were built at sunset and kept fed through the night to scare away evil spirits. The Celts, Gaels and heathens shared the belief in an underworld as the land of the dead and at the end of October they believed the separation between our world and the land of the dead was at it's thinnest and the dead were able to roam freely among us.

A pagan service:

A pagan ceremony is generally performed in nature. Pagans do not have churches or specified places of worship. Most pagans would share the sentiment "nature is my church." Ceremonies take place on the full moons and also celebrate the changing of the seasons. A typical ceremony involves everyone standing in a circle around an altar with the priest and/or priestess in the centre. Offerings are given, prayers made and a sacred communion is performed.

THE MORAL QUESTION

The biggest pagan celebration of the year is Oct. 31. Most people know it as Halloween.

"This is the one time of year when magic is acceptable. It's okay to be a pagan," says Sarah Lawless, 28, a Maple Ridge native who got into paganism 10 years ago as a way of celebrating the natural world.

She says it's fun being scared, but most of the time there's no reason to be.

Pagans say Halloween is a festival of the dead. It is known by its Irish name, Samhain.

It's believed that spirits of the dead come out during this time, which marks the beginning of the darkest part of the year, a time when green plants are dying and living animals are going to ground, leaving space for the other side to surface.

"Dead things rule. They can come out," says Lawless.

There are two kinds of spirits: good ones and bad ones.

Good ghosts are the spirits which come from positive energy like deceased family members.

"People invite good spirits into their homes. They welcome back their grandparents and want to nourish them and say they remember them. It's said as long as living people remember you, you are not really dead."

The bad ones are a bit trickier. She says they could be a bit of bad energy left over from someone who died in an unhappy state.

She has known people to look for ghosts in graveyards and come back frightened by something they have experienced.

"They don't want to talk about it," she says. In Metro Vancouver there are spooky crows and hooting owls in forests. City-dwelling coyotes come pretty close to howling wolves.

Masks are put on to frighten away evil spirits. Images are carved on pumpkins to shoo intruders away.

"A lot of pagans believe the spirits are real. I believe in ghosts. Jack o'lanterns keep away evil spirits from the house," she says.

Halloween is the one pagan festival which resonates with others.

"People get dressed up and have fun decorating their houses. The celebration brings people together," she says.

Paganism is similar in some respects to native North American spirituality.

The sun and moon are celebrated, as well as everything in the universe (even rocks). The universe is thought to be one great being.

"We all come from the same matter. No new matter is being created," says Lawless.

She says pagans got a bad name because the church used the word pagan as a name for people who had not converted to the Christian faith.

"Paganism for me is about respect and honour and love.

"We're really quite normal, everyday people, with ethics and morals and values."

kspencer@ theprovince.com

twitter.com/ kentspencer2

© Copyright (c) The Province

Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/Moral+Question+Pagans/7459666/story.html#ixzz2AiX2b0fU

Pagan beliefs live on locally

Pagan beliefs live on locally

By Chris Bergeron/Daily News staff

The MetroWest Daily News

Posted Oct 29, 2012 @ 12:01 AM

Trick-or-treaters who knock on Heather Jacob’s door this Halloween might be surprised to learn they are

getting candy from a pagan who pray s to ancient deities like Isis and worships the cycles of nature.

A self-described “eclectic pagan’’ who teaches at two area colleges, the Ashland resident believes in “reverence toward

nature and being in touch with its rhythms as a real force.’’

Raised as an Episcopalian, Jacob began studying pre-Christian religions in her late teens and became a practicing pagan in

college.

“That story wasn’t doing it for me. It didn’t fit what my life was coming to,’’ said Jacob. “I’ve always liked studying other

cultures and what truths they held. I want to know what wisdom the ancients had and how to apply that knowledge.’’

Across the region, pagans and Wiccans, a 20th century popularization of pagan beliefs that often includes witchcraft, will

gather this week in homes, bookstores and covens to celebrate the full moon and Samhain, a Gaelic festival usually held on

Oct. 31 , to mark the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter.

Though difficult to confirm, they say their numbers are growing as more young people seek religions that honor nature and

practice tolerance toward those with different orientations.

Baptized a Catholic, Amy Supernor began embracing Wicca at 14 as a way to connect with her Nipmuck heritage.

She took a course in “Wicca 101 ’’ at The Robin’s Nest, a Bellingham store that sells “supplies for all your spiritual and

magickal needs’’ including Tarot cards, incense, herbs and crystals.

A 24-y ear-old massage therapist who works in Hopkinton, Supernor described Wicca as a “nature-based religion similar to

Native American beliefs’’ that celebrates the rhythms of nature and practices “spell work to improve yourself and remove

obstacles.’’

“We’re all on the same path to the same destination, to find our connection with the divine, the divine within us or some

higher power,’’ she said.

Supernor said people sometimes misunderstand the five-starred pentacle bracelet she wears and have asked if she

“worships the devil or casts evil spells.’’

“Particularly around Halloween, I don’t go out of my way to say I’m Wiccan. But I don’t say I’m not,’’ she said.

But Ariana, who asked to only be identified by her Wiccan name, worried her employer and others might misunderstand

why she left the Catholic Church to pursue her interest in “supernatural things.’’

“I’ve always been drawn to nature and found more solace in the ocean or a beautiful sunset than the Bible. I enjoy magic.

Everyone has magical energy that provides an enhanced knowledge of things even if they don’t know it,’’ she said.

But two older men who formerly owned The New Moon occult bookstore said they ’re now pursuing spiritual goals in private

way s away from the public eye.

Bob MacDonald, who first owned the bookstore in Marlborough, said he’d “retreated into private practice’’ in Northborough

where he runs a boarding kennel.

MacDonald, 59, now attends a Unitarian Universalist church but still believes, like Wiccans, he can touch the divine through

nature.

“When I worship I go in the backyard and look around. I don’t feel I need a medium or a preacher to interpret God’s words,’’

he said.

Looking back on his years organizing Wiccan activities from his bookstore, MacDonald said wistfully , “A lot of times it just

got silly .’’

“We attracted a lot of kids. Sometimes it seemed like they just wanted a Goth costume party ,’’ he said. “Now I like to get

together with close friends. Speaking just for my self, by recognizing a divinity in nature, you can be fed by it, nurtured by

it.’’

Once one of the most visible practitioners of Wicca in the region, Sabazius Athame, who later bought the New Moon, said,

“I’ve walked away and fallen in love with God.’’

Born Charles Urban and raised in Framingham, Athame became a Christian minister in Missouri after serving in the U.S. Air

Force. Feeling he “wasn’t connecting with the deepest sources,’’ he studied Asian philosophy , and eventually embraced

Wicca. He took his Wiccan name in 1999 as “part of my passage to the occult.’’

Athame moved the New Moon to Princeton and sold it before moving to Worcester. Now 62, he said he’d felt “some

disenchantment’’ because some Wiccans were becoming so “organized’’ they were cutting themselves off from their pagan

roots.

After battling heart disease and cancer, he said he was sustained through his medical problems “by the one-to-one

relationship with God.’’

“I left the organization but my walk continues,’’ he said.

A witch, pagan and business owner, Tara “Lady T’’ Projin hopes her new store, Charmed, which she describes as a

“metaphysical and occult boutique’’ in downtown Marlborough, provides a welcoming home for “those searching for their

own Magickal path.’’

Located at 163 Main St. in sight of city hall, it sells books, candles, magical supplies and works by local artists.

Jason Matthews, a self-described “psychic empath’’ who can “pick up on the emotional climate of a room or person,’’ gives

astrological readings.

Wayne Needler gives seminars in Wicca and holds a monthly workshop “to make your own wand’’ to use in rituals and

casting spells.

Lady T said Charmed will hold monthly full moon ceremonies and will host a traditional Samhain “dumb supper’’ on Oct. 31

when “the veil between the living and the dead opens at its widest.’’

The meal will feature five courses served in reverse, with desert first, and be eaten in silence so ancestral voices can be

heard from the beyond.

Lady T said she became interested in paganism as a child from her late father’s interest in Gaelic culture and Tarot readings.

She said Charmed staff won’t do readings or sell religious items to customers under 18 without their parents’ permission. She

added that women between 13- and 34-y ears-old are “Wicca’s “fastest growing group.’’

“People are always searching for something more,’’ said Lady T. “People fear what they don’t understand. We’re about

ancient wisdom and respecting people. There’s nothing to fear from us.’’

Copyright 2012 The MetroWest Daily News. Some right s reserved

\

Hunter's Moon for a scared rabbit

Tonight is the Full Hunter's Moon.

According to the Farmer's Almanac, it is a time when the fields have been cleared and hunters could see their  quarry clearly. A great chance to store up for the coming winter.

According to me, in my own words, it is a time to get in touch with your inner Virgin Huntress and remember that "virgin" means not sexually untouched, but not belonging to a man.

Right now my Huntress is wounded, afraid, and hiding in a hole while my man has become my shield against the world. This is a good thing, because I have a man who will willingly and lovingly shield me from a world that I do not have the strength or skills to face alone right now.

But at this moment, the moon is shining Her perfect light down on me, and so I will go outside and sit with her. I will hope that the next Hunter's Moon that rolls around I will feel like the Huntress and not the Quarry.

Something about Mary

I've mentioned before that I am in an incredibly rough patch at this point in my life. That being said, I have been trying to find comfort wherever I can. I can barely quiet my mind enough to sleep, let alone meditate for more than a few minutes. I have been tending my altars, and in my prayers and offerings, I have felt called by  a Goddess I would have never expected to reach out to me...Mary

Yes, that Mary.

 I came from a Christian background in my teens, and when I left the Baptist Church, it was not with anger or disdain.  I simply was no longer happy as a Christian in my heart, and when I found Wicca, and then the broader scope of Paganism in general, I simply felt like I was finally home. I always looked on the Christian God as one of the many Gods I know and recognize, and Mary (both the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene) as Christian Goddesses. 

Many years ago, when I was in the hospital after hand surgery, a co-worker very respectfully gave me a Rosary and a book about the history of the Rosary. I still have the Rosary today, because prayer is prayer and there was a lot of love in that gift.

So when things went way south a couple months ago, I dug out that Rosary and prayed it. It felt a little weird, so I made my own Morrigan Rosary and reworked the prayers to fit my needs. (I will post on that hopefully next week) Apparently, the contact with my Christian days, once or maybe even twice removed because I had never been Catholic, and had been given the Rosary a few years into my Pagan life was all the invitation that was needed.

That first week after we closed the shop doors and were at the grocery trying to stretch the last of our money into as many cheap meals as possible. I walked away from the cart, and plucked a candle off the shelf. The Virgin of Guadalupe. I have gone through 7 candles now, and have actually made one of the empty jars into an oil lamp because I have no money to buy more.

 I have done some research on her, and one of the aspects that drew me to her, that she represents the Great Mother, has made her a symbol of the Pro-Life and Reproductive Rights battles by the Catholic Church. Regardless of this association, she, as in most cases with Mary, took on the robes and inhabited the sacred sites of the indigenous Goddess, Tonantzin. This is kind of blanket term for Earth Mother Goddesses. The one who caught my eye, not surprisingly, was Cihuacoatl. She is an Aztec Goddess of childbirth, warfare, and crossroads. So, that light is burning, reminding me again that I have warriors and mothers, who are usually one in the same, holding me and helping to remind me that although I am weak now, strength is waiting for me to claim, when I'm ready to claim it.

Feeling the Kindle love

You guys are awesome!

My book Magickal Life, was downloaded 697 times during it's free promotional week on Amazon! I don't care if I never make a dime off of the book, twice I have put my work out there, after being a writer since I was a teenager, and between the two nearly 1,200 people have read my work. It's such an amazing feeling, and it's a good shot in the arm right before NaNoMriMo starts next week. It's been so hard to find positive things to concentrate on, and I'm so glad I took that big first step. 

I have always been so afraid to let anyone see my work. It really sucks that I had to hit total rock bottom emotionally to do it, but it's out there and that big first step is now out of the way. I'll keep you posted on my NaNoWriMo progress. I have book two of the Through the Veil series pretty much outlined and hope to get the first draft of it knocked out for the most part. If I don't drag my feet editing, I hope to have it published on Kindle by the first of the year. Much love and blessings to you all!

2012 Samhain pumpkin

I went with a Day of the Dead/Candy Skull theme. I thought it was appropriate since I now live about 24 miles from Mexico!

Puppy Love... and Loss

Two weeks ago I took a big step and went to an "intake" appointment to begin to get myself some help for my growing anxiety and depression issues. It was very hard for me. One of the major problems for me is talking to people about my anxiety just increases my anxiety because my issues are becoming more and more  social. Apparently  I used up all my "faking it" to pretend I was ok on the Indiana trip. It was like as soon as I held it all together for that, I just let the basket slip the rest of the way out of my hands. I am becoming paralyzed by any little situation that might have the slightest bit of discomfort or confrontation for me. Thank Goddess for Blogger because it is that degree of separation to talk about things.

One of the the things we discussed for my plan was to start training my dog Harlow to be my Service/Comfort animal. We were going to get that ball rolling the beginning of November, and I went home and began to work on reminding Harlow of  the training he already had so he would be ready to go through the "official" training.

That was on a Friday.

On Sunday, Jilly went to take Harlow outside to potty, as she has 100 times over the past year and a half, and he bit her. She didn't startle him, she wasn't rough, she didn't do anything to warrant it. She was raised around dogs and knows how to act around them. I saw the whole incident  and I have no idea what happened or why.

 He didn't break the skin, she inherited her mother's reflexes I guess. I can't tell you how many potentially serious bites I have avoided over my years working with dogs. The problem was, he didn't snap at her...he attacked her. He barked, snarled, and knocked her down to go after her. She saved herself from the first bite, me pulling him off her saved her from whatever he was planning to do.

I knew immediately we would have to find Harlow a new home. I love that dog, I can't say how much, but he is a large Standard Poodle and I am shaking right now thinking how much he could have hurt either of my girls. When The Hubs came home, I told him what happened and gave him a list of rescue/foster groups he could call the next day. 

I shut down. I was barely functional before, and this had me in a constant state of panic. The Hubs worked his ass off with a local rescue group and arranged for his new owners, a retired couple with no children, to come pick him up on Thursday of last week. In that time, we were both watching Craigslist pretty closely for a new dog. We both agreed that we had to get me a dog for both my anguish at having to give away Harlow, but also to continue with the plans to get the Comfort dog program.

We found an ad form a man who needed a home for his 7 month old Australian Shepherd because his plans to move from an apartment to a house fell through and he felt he was not giving him what he deserved cooped up in an apartment alone all day.When he and The Hubs talked on the phone, he said he had already turned down 4 people, and he would have to come meet us first. Here was a guy who loved his dog, but could not keep him and was taking every effort to make sure he got the right home.  Exactly what we were trying to do.

He came over on Wednesday, spent 2 hours with us so we could all get to know each other and make sure: a) We liked the dog and he liked us

b) He was good with the girls, who he allowed to climb all over him and take his chew toys right out of his mouth

c) He got along with Bruno, our Toy Poodle, who is a little bully

d) His former owner was comfortable that we were the right people for him

We all decided it seemed like a good fit, and so with many tears, he left the Aussie, who we decided to name Malcolm, with us. We promised to keep him posted by email on how Mal was doing from time to time.

The next day, Harlow's new owners came to get him, with a similar degree of care that dog and humans were a good fit. I am ashamed to say I was absent from this process. I took Mal for a walk up Miller Canyon. I knew I was doing the responsible, adult thing by giving Harlow a chance at a home where he would not have to be kept segregated from the family for fear he would hurt the kids, but I was not in a head space to face it.

So for the last week I have been throwing myself into caring for and training Mal so he will be ready for his certification, and to give myself something positive to focus on. I think the only reason giving Harlow away did not put me in the hospital was because Mal was already here. He has already helped me so much. I have had a few panic attacks this week and he always comes right over to me, wanting me to pet him or play fetch with his toy. He already knows his job. Mom is upset, I need to make her happy.

Hopefully everything I have had to let go of in the past few months will have this same theme. Letting go of things that you love deeply, is killing you to lose, and you had wanted for years is horribly painful, but sometimes you have to let go so the next good thing can come.

I hope Harlow feels the same. I hope as much as he loves me he found a better, forever home and people who love him as much as I do.

Hippie's little book of Magick

It's not big, it's not flashy, but I've been working on it on and off for the last year and a half and it's going to be available as a FREE Amazon Kindle download Monday the 22nd to Friday the 26th.

Please just click the book cover and download your FREE copy. I hope you enjoy it and can work some of my ideas into your Magickal practice!

And although you may have missed the free promotion on it, please take a peek at my first fiction book

Bright Blessings!

First spell in a long time.

The Hubs is job hunting like a monster! Nothing has shaken loose yet, but he is working any and every angle he can think of. This morning he got all cleaned up and after he drops Ladybug off at school he is going to print off a fresh batch of résumés and make some more rounds.
There is one place in particular he will be waiting at the door when they open. Because we hope it is THE ONE we worked a little job hunting spell this morning.
I put one of our last phallus candles and his bear paw necklace next to a shell filled with a foreign coin, a buckeye, an emerald,(non jewel grade,obviously.) a bloodstone, and a leopard obsidian.
Over this I sprinkled Yule pine needles (we always keep some needles from our Yule tree) 4-leaf clover powder, and blessed thistle.
Pray for us today, my friends. Hopefully we will have good news to share very soon.

Patagonia Fall Festival

We had a great girls day at the craft fair in Patagonia today. Good food, great crafts and music, and fabulous people!

The Rev.

This was one of the top 5 days of my life!

Everything that has been going on in my crazy life stopped for a day and I proudly married my best friend to the most amazing woman.

It was beautiful, powerful, and I have had few experiences that match knowing that you helped two people join their lives together in love and joy.

That being said, it was incredibly helpful to my mental state to spend two amazing days with wonderful friends I have known since childhood and become my family. We spent a few golden hours, the evening before the wedding, transported to our early twenties. Let's just say a seedy strip club, several lap dances, and a startling amount of booze ensued. Proudly, I got a new nick name out of it. I am now addressed as The Rev.

Even more friends I have not seen for years at the reception, followed by a beautiful last dance, and many tearful goodbyes in the parking lot after we were nudged out the door by the patient staff.

Now we are on our way back home, back to reality and figuring how we are going to put our lives back into some order. I go home, however, with my heart much more full of love and my mind reminded that there are a lot of people out there who love me right back. That seems like a good foundation to build on.

Back home again in Indiana?

Our trip from Arizona back east to Indiana was long, tiring, but beautiful. We drove through southern New Mexico the first day, through gorgeous mountain passes and vast pine forests to Roswell. We would have made better time if we had gone on but after supper we decided to stay the night there. I'm happy to report we were not abducted by aliens...that we can recall.
We arrived in Indiana Monday evening to the house I grew up in that was then my families house, and is now my sister's house. It feels strange. I feel like an intruder. I did not expect to feel this way.
I was well aware that my hometown is no longer "home" to me, but I was not prepared for the house to feel so foreign and almost hostile.
I have been very much enjoying having time with my sister, so I know it's not that. It puzzles me.
I went to the park last night and sat for about an hour. That, at least, felt familiar and welcoming.
Tomorrow is the rehearsal, Saturday is the wedding, and Sunday morning we head back out west where we belong. Our family and friends have been wonderful, but Indiana itself seems to be done with us.

Let's focus on the positive

I do have some awesome to share. This morning The Hubs and our little Witchlings are taking a road trip back to Indiana. This grand undertaking is due to the fact that my very best friend since I was 13 is getting married and he and his fiance want me to perform the ceremony. 

Thank gods I got bored one day about 7 years ago and got my ordination from the Universal Life Church. We are all super-excited to get back and see friends and family, and I could not be more honored to join my friend and his beautiful bride in marriage. We are borrowing my Mom's car for the trip, since our van could not make that trip again, and we are going to be staying with my sister. One fun fact, she now lives in the house we moved out of to come to Arizona and I can't wait to see the changes she has made to the place.

Hopefully when we get back The Hubs will have some call backs on the jobs he has applied for and I will be in a better state of mind and spirit to get a little winter garden going and start working on my next book

Baby Beardie?

Oh, by the way. When I brought the laundry in from the line yesterday, I brought in a hitch hiker.

Rock Bottom

Well, kids, I really fucked things up.

When we came here to Arizona, I was very quickly offered the chance to buy an established grooming salon. Problem being, I had no capital at all and had just a few weeks to move on the deal. I didn't look, I leaped, and three weeks ago I lost the business. The Hubs and I were both working there (he was just last month released from a work related injury from last year) and now we are unemployed and scrambling. My already fragile anxiety issues crippled me, and I have only left the house 3-4 times since then. I can't talk to my friends, and can only handle short talks with my Mom. 

I am a lucky woman that I have The Hubs, who is willing to handle the outside world for me while he looks for a job. I am not yet looking for a job because I can, at this point, only go about 2 hours without a crying jag. So, I'm doing what I can to keep busy and trying to think of how to proceed from here.

I have been crocheting, I opened a Kitsy Lane online boutique, and I published a short novel that maybe needed a little more polish, but I just needed to do something positive. I guess the good news is I have time now to craft, write, and blog again.

So I guess I'm back, for better or for worse.

Blessed Be

No more Home School for Hippie Witchlings? Maybe...

Year of the Dragon

There has been a strong theme of change in the Monday Message readings lately, I hope everyone has Luck in the Year of the Dragon! 

If you are a Dragon in the Chinese Zodiac or will be bringing a little Water Dragon into the world this year, here is a little info for you.

Personality

Occupying the 5th position in the Chinese Zodiac, the Dragon is the mightiest of the signs. Dragons symbolize such character traits as dominance and ambition. Dragons prefer to live by their own rules and if left on their own, are usually successful. They’re driven, unafraid of challenges, and willing to take risks. They’re passionate in all they do and they do things in grand fashion. Unfortunately, this passion and enthusiasm can leave Dragons feeling exhausted and interestingly, unfulfilled.

While Dragons frequently help others, rarely will they ask for help. Others are attracted to Dragons, especially their colorful personalities, but deep down, Dragons prefer to be alone. Perhaps that is because they’re most successful when working alone. Their preference to be alone can come across as arrogance or conceitedness, but these qualities aren’t applicable. Dragons have tempers that can flare fast!

Health

Considering their hard-working nature, Dragons are healthy overall. They do get stressed and suffer from periodic tension/headaches, likely because they take so many risks. Dragons could benefit from incorporating mild activity into their lives. Yoga or walking would be good as these activities can work both their minds and their bodies.

Career

Dragons prefer leading to being led. Jobs that allow them to express their creativity are good choices. Some good careers include: inventor, manager, computer analyst, lawyer, engineer, architect, broker, and sales person.

Relationships

Dragons will give into love, but won’t give up their independence. Because they have quick, sometimes vengeful tempers, their partners need to be tough-skinned. Dragons enjoy others who are intriguing, and when they find the right partners, they’ll usually commit to that person for life.

Dragons and the 5 elements

 

Metal Dragons – Years 1940 and 2000

Metal strengthens this already strong sign. Metal Dragons are more determined and they’ll fight for what they believe in. They enjoy the company of those who feel mighty enough to challenge their beliefs. They’re true leaders and usually find plenty of others willing to follow.

Water Dragons – Years 1952 and 2012

Water calms the Dragon’s fire. Water Dragons are able to see things from other points of view. They don’t have the need to always be right. Their decisions, if well-researched, are usually better since they allow other’s to become involved.

Wood Dragons – 1904 and 1964

Wood Dragons also are willing to entertain the opinions of others. Their artistic side is strong, and Wood Dragons enjoy being creative and innovative. They get along with others, but will always be the dominating force.

Fire Dragons – 1916 and 1976

A Fire Dragon’s emotions can flare instantly. Fire Dragons put themselves on pedestals, and because they react quickly and recklessly, they sometimes make wrong decisions. Fire Dragons need to slow down and keep their tempers in check as that’s when they’re best.

Earth Dragons – Years 1928 and 1988

More rooted in the ground, Earth Dragons make better decisions because they act more rationally. Earth Dragons are level-headed and able to control their behaviors. They’re more supportive of others, but they prefer being admired by others.

Compatibility

Dragons are compatible with the Monkey or Rat and incompatible with the Ox and Goat.

Monday Message 1/23/12

Wordless Wednesday: I've seen fire, and I've seen rain

Lavander and Amber calming spritz

Monday Message 1/16/12

Crystal Chart

I saw this on Tumblr today and thought I would pass it along!

Enjoy.

"Bare Bones Magick" part 1 Inscribing soap for Purification

An update on my sudden relocation

Healing List for 1/12/12

Heads up for the Healing List!

Just a quick heads-up, I am getting the healing list together for Thursday, and since I've been MIA for a bit I'm a little out of the loop. Please let me know who needs on the list for this week. Remember their name stays on my own Reiki grid indefinitely, and will more than likely be on the Healing List at least 2 weeks.

Brightest Blessings!

H.W.

Monday Message 1/9/12...from Arizona!