My heart whispers...

Just saw Avatar again *sigh* such a good movie! Incredibly inspiring and hopeful, even now (this is the third time I've seen it. ^_^; ).

I am taking an idea from Deep Inside my Broomcloset; the idea is to choose a word for yourself for the coming year. This is to be your 'theme' as it were for the new year. Originally I was thinking Inspire, but its just not quite right. I'm very creative and I get inspired a lot--its more the theme for the year before last. This past year's is Maintain (or Perservere, or Struggle...). This coming year's is a word that is very dear to my heart at the moment~

Hope

This is the word that picks me up when I fall. This is the word that incites me to keep going. This is the word that reminds me that there is always another hill when you come up out of the valley, that whispers soothingly that happiness is there if you only open your eyes to look. This is my word. Right now this is me.

Merry Christmas All!

I know, its a day late. I slept in, took care of the neighbor's cat, and visited a friend before heading out to family about 2 hours drive north. (You can tell I live in the midwest can't you? Distance is measured in hours!) I got a decent haul...it took me a long time to realize how well-off my family is. The guy and I got a nice toaster-convection oven, a blender/grinder, a REALLY nice wine kit, and a dining room table/chairs set, as well as a card table/chairs set and several other little things. I really appreciate the table and chairs, we haven't had a place to sit besides the futon since we moved in! >.<

Holidays like Christmas are some of the few times I allow my family to help me out money-wise. I became determined in my freshman year of college that once I got my degree I was making my own way, and it hasn't been easy. Coming from an upper-middleclass family I took a lot for granted growing up, and the prospect of being on my own terrified me. Sure I could ask my parents for money when I'm in a pinch, but I refuse to now. I need to learn these lessons in life, learn what it's like to not know where my next meal is coming from. Am I crazy? Probably. But I want to learn to actually appreciate what I have in my life, not take it for granted that I live in a nice apartment with a wonderful man.

Wow, that got a lot darker than I intended it to...so...
Side note! I found I great 'pagan traditions selector' over at gypsy magic! Turns out I'm a Celtic Reconstructionist with a strong vein of Old English Heathenry...doesn't sound like me at all, does it? :-P


More Free SelectSmart.com Widgets

Happy Yule

I would write more but this is an incredibly sleepy Leathra who knows she has to get up early tomorrow. We had a short'n'sweet ritual, did a past life regression for shits'n'giggles, then went on a walk in our little winter wonderland here to ground. No way I can keep vigil all night...sorry sun, ya've been doin' alright without me for the past...dunno...several millenia? I'll get up before the sun tomorrow and light a candle for you as I watch you rise. Hope everyone had a wonderful Yule

P.S.--if you are pagan or would like to feel better about life, watch James Cameron's Avatar.

P.P.S.--if the P.S. message didn't make much sense, read the previous post. Then see the movie and post about it on your blog to spread the word.

I See You: A Call

Hello my pagan dearlings: I would like to share something with you.
I have just returned from a movie that was exactly what many of us need in our lives right now: a message of hope.

The movie that I saw was James Cameron's Avatar.

You may have heard mentions, you may even know the basic plotline. Those spiffy movie-goers out there who do their research will know that the major critique for it is that it is "Dances with Wolves", but with aliens instead of Indians. Well, that is entirely true--but it is so much more.

Imagine if the makers of "Dances with Wolves" had put the spirituality aspect under a magnifying glass...then imagine that the spirituality aspect was scientifically verifiable. That would be a bit closer to what you get.

The white-skinned dicks have done it again--they're raping another indiginous people. This just happens to be another planet we're attempting to colonize. No, not even colonize: we just want to rape Mother Pandora (the name of the planet--yeah, I love it too. XD), strip her bare and mine the life out of her. This is headed by the businessmen, the corporations back on earth. No mother there--by this point in human evolution humans have killed their planet.

My dear ones, my heart aches because I cannot explain in detail just why this movie is so wonderful--it would ruin the anticipation. But I support this movie. I support it so much that I will see it again, and again after that. Many of you know I'm really hurting for money--but I will scrape what I can together just to experience this again. It is entirely beautiful.

The movie does show a bit of ignorance...in trying to make the corporation understand the lead scientist exclaims "This isn't some pagan voudoo bullshit, this is real!" lol.

I support this movie. To James Cameron, to everyone who helped bring this movie into realization, and most especially to the playwrite(s): Thank you. May the Gods grant you Their brightest blessings.

Awesome Rune Giveaway...Take Two!!

Remember that absolutely fantastic rune set I posted about back in November? The Willow Set from Mother Moon's Message?

Well....she's giving away another set!!!!!!! XD As she promised back in November, she donated a set to the Wiccamom's 31 Days of Yule (see sidebar). You can only enter through Friday the 18th at approximately 9 pm.

If you're a rune reader or want to pick it up, hurry on over there! This is truly an amazing set, but it won't last long!

Cookie Frustrations

Hey all. I'm grumbling about an absolutely fantastic recipe that is being stubborn with me. The cookie recipe in question is Domestic Witch's Death by Chocolate balls (http://domesticwitch.blogspot.com/2009/12/death-by-chocolate-balls.html) I've made everything successfully--up until the point that I dip them in chocolate. I have white chocolate, and well--it doesn't really melt. It does for a very short period of time and then becomes like chalk. I've even added vegetable shortening to liquify it--gratuitous amounts--still no dice. My balls are looking pretty sad indeed...

(Tee-hee! Okay, I couldn't help myself... He's got big balls, and she's got big balls, but we've got the biggest balls of them all!)

I lost a follower?

*Puzzled* I have gone from 36 to 35 followers. Yes, I'm a dork, I do check out who follows me. Every time I get a new follower I make sure to check their blog(s), if they have any and if they're not blocked. Blocked blogs make me sad. :(

In any case, this puzzling loss has me wondering--why? Not that I'm being conceited, but I want to know what, if anything, I've done wrong. Have I been offending people? I try to be mindfull of all walks of life and strive to avoid offending. Granted I will speak my mind openly, but with consideration.

I suppose what I should really ask is what can I do to improve? My life has been quite...drained recently what with learning to work 40 hrs and I haven't been crafting as much as a result, but I do have a pattern I will be posting when I get the chance as well as some crafts I'm making for friends and family. Unfortunately I won't be able to post those until after yule/christmas, as I don't know who of my friends actually reads my blog.

Perhaps I'm not being...magickal enough? I no longer do a rune of the day 1) because I've gone through the runes and 2) because I just don't have the time anymore. Instead I'm trying to do a tarot card of the week. I don't really know the tarot as I do the runes. Is this a drawback? I am attempting to learn the tarot cards as I post them, and as such will not have as much insight or remembered trivia.

Frankly, while I greatly appreciate all feedback and will take it into consideration, I will continue to do things here as I see fit. That doesn't mean that I will continue unchanged, but rather I will pick what advice I choose to follow. As much as I love all of my followers, this blog comes from my soul and will never grow into anything that does not reflect that.

*sigh* It seems I'm living up to my 'name' yet again--being a dramaqueen. My initials spell HAM, and I have been hamming it up since I was very young. I apologize if I'm making this all way too big of a deal. Mountain out of a molehill? Possibly. I still want to know if I did something to chase people away. It will keep nagging at me, unfortunately. This isn't a popularity contest--I'm honestly concerned. What do you all think? Negatives? Positives? Don't spare my feelings. I look forward to hearing feedback!

Tarot Card of the Week

This week's Tarot Card is #8: 'Poetical Justice' (Fiorheart Macha). This card is normally found as just Justice, but as stated before I have a unique deck.

"Karmic Destiny; Divine compassion is required to endure the trials and tribulations in which you may find yourself involved; the trinity holds the scales of justice--the power to control the end result is not within your hands; give birth to new pathways; deliver that which is just and fair, being mindful of the law of love."

What a lovely card for the week. This is an admonishment to me, saying that yes its a rat's race and if you want to have a place to live you've got to run it. Beggars can't be choosers. *sigh* I was bitching last night that while I like the people and the place I hate the actual work. Jobs are so tight though that I'll take what I can get--even if I have to temporarily turn of a good part of myself to function. Lovely, card. Just lovely.

Death and Dying...

The meeting went alright. Not spectacular. I got there...and I was the only one. The person who is usually the LAST ONE to meeting was there second. When my guy came up he said he knew of three cancellations. Granted, the weather wasn't the best...but it wasn't nearly icy enough to cause people to not come. It's DECEMBER people, what are you going to cloister for the entire month and beyond?? Guess what--winter has ice. GAH!!!!!! I'm fucking pissed off. This was a topic that meant a LOT to the member who requested it because her grandfather recently died, and this is what people do to her? Because it MIGHT be icy enough to skid on but isn't actually if they just went out and fucking checked?? I am so PISSED OFF!!!

...rant aside. A couple more people did show up--we had a grand total of six. So we were able to hold the meeting, but barely. Our token catholic can't seem to stay on topic and doesn't pause long enough to take a breath, so without multiple people to interrupt it was very difficult to actually say something about how we as pagans feel about death and dying. We did get to say a bit...but not enough. Not enough at all....

Meeting tonight.

Tonight is another meeting of pagans in touch, and as the discussion organizer we have a rather sobering topic: Death and Dying. Its a topic I can carry on at length with, and it was requested by members of the group. At the same time I'm not sure I should have made it the topic for Yule...well, no changing it now. I shall give you a review either after the meeting or tomorrow.

I'm also going to a friend's graduation party as well as going to see Zombieland at our dollar theatre before the meeting. I'll talk to y'all later!

Oh...!

Such an amazing giveaway! The giveaway I am referring to of course is of the adorable little Dragon pin over on The Soccer Mom's Guide to Wicca! Hurry hurry, go check it out! So cute! *sigh* and something else I'll have to save money up for...
http://wiccamoms.com/?p=1856&cpage=1#comment-2229

Tag! I'm it!

And while I normally disagree with chainmail type things, this masquerades as holiday fun so I let it slip on past the radar

Want to play along?

Copy and paste the questions into your blog,

•Then tag 5 or more of your favorite blogs, and leave them a comment telling them they’ve been tagged.

•When you post on your blog, please spread some Christmas Cheer, and leave a link back to Heather's blog and the blog that you were tagged by.
Well then: http://toptenchristmasblog.com/
http://thedomesticwitch.blogspot.com/

Heather would like any blogger to participate in this game, even if you have not been tagged She will go back and add your blog link to the list if you wanna play along.

Survey says....

1. Have you started your Christmas shopping?
Umm...I guess? I shopped for baking ingredients...but as I have been participating in Domestic Witch's Home 'Crafted Holidays you can see that I am making my gifts this year and have had most of the ingredients needed for some time.

2. Tell me about one of your special traditions.
Wow...I think I have better Halloween traditions than Christmas traditions. Umm...aside from leaving cookies and milk out for Santa I can't really think of any special traditions. Decorating the tree is also big, as well as making cookies, but there are always moderate levels of stress intrinsicly tied into these traditions. Ah...yeah. Not sure.

3. When do you put up your tree?
When I can?

4. Are you a Black Friday shopper?
Nuh-uh. No way Jose. Store shopping is really stressful to begin with--and tons of people getting rabid over their items? Not good for an empath, even with slight abilities.

5. Do you travel at Christmas or stay home?
Both. The first half of the day (at least while I still lived at home) we opened presents from mum+dad and from Santa. Noon we left to arrive at whichever relative's house it was that year by one. Of course there was a lot of stress inherent in the getting ready (dressing up in our sunday's finest) getting the car loaded and heading out on time...rushing the said relative's house to sit bored for a few hours until presents. There wasn't anyone my age on dad's side of the family, which meant I got to sit staring out the window until something interesting happened. This year...I'm not sure what I'll do.

6. What is your funniest Christmas memory?
...err. Funny doesn't come to mind with Christmas. Stress and embarrasment, yes. Hmm...maybe that's why I go Christmas crazy now I have my own place? I'm trying to make it fun...(off to pick my own brain)

7. What is your favorite Christmas movie of All time?
Home Alone and Home Alone II...and Rudolph the Red-nosed Reigndeer... OH!! The Life & Adventures of Santa Clause!!!! That one, definitely. I like the claymation 1985 one as well as the newer cartoon remake. Both favorites! ...not really surprising seeing as I'm pagan, huh?

8. Do you do your own Christmas baking and what’s your favorite treat?
Yes. It's a tradition. I guess I don't really have a favorite though...does it have chocolate? Then its good in my book. White chocolate-covered pretzels I suppose....

9. Fake or Real Tree?
Real. It has to be fake this year, but nothing beats finding the perfect tree (white pine preferred--it has long soft needles and a great pine-y smell) and getting it all set up.

10. What day does the actual panic set in to get it all done?
HA! Err...*ahem*...when do the preparations for Christmas start?

11. Are you still wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?
Not usually...my parents got on my case long before that point.

12. What is your favorite family fun time at Christmas?
Mmm...I suppose getting the tree is the best part. Actual Christmas?...the presents?

13. What Christmas craft do you like the best?
....craft? Frak, I'm supposed to be the crafty witch...but outside of elementary school we never did Christmas crafts! >.< Well...what I would like to do is when I have a house of my own I would like a pine tree outside that I decorate with strung cranberries/popcorn as well as pinecone birdfeeders. All natural and fun!

14. Christmas music? Yes or No, and if yes, what is your favorite song?
Yes. I don't think I have a favorite song though...I just like the genre.

15. When do you plan to finish all your shopping?
I did a while back? Oh! CRAP! I can't say that, I've still got the guy's gift to get! (and I'm not saying where I'm getting it as he might read this)

This is normally the part where I tag other people...but I really hate obligating other people like that. SO...I'm leaving it on a first-come first-serve basis. Do you want to be tagged? Leave me a comment. First five will be tagged by yours truly! ((Oh...jtarwin, I'm totally poking you to get tagged. Backwards? Yes I know, but that's part of the fun.))

Pagans take another step up

I heard about this from Pagan Culture, and it is absolutely awesome!  Here are some articles, check out how pagans have some more equal footing.

 

http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/civil-religion/general/2009/12/obama-administration-reps-meet-with-many-faiths-at-pwr/

 

http://wildhunt.org/blog/2009/12/obama-administration-officials-meet-with-patrick-mccollum.html

 

I forgot!

Gah!  I forgot to do a Tarot Card of the Week!!  I'm sorry everyone!  I will do one tonight when I get home.

 

Perhaps I should pick a card Sunday night instead of Monday morning...?

Giveaway Alert!!

Mother Moon's Message is having an absolutely wonderful giveaway!!!

....and I have to keep myself from repeating everything she has listed...so I would recommend going over to her blog. http://mothermoonsmessage.blogspot.com/2009/12/december-giveaway-few-of-my-favorite.html

But really, it's like the giveaway made in...heaven? The summerlands?...in any case its ideal. I am a huge shawl nut...and I've been trying to get a bird feeder up for forever. And I adore tea. And...have I mentioned its perfect? I mean PERFECT.

Go see it for yourself. Seriously. The power of awesomeness compels you!!!

Deep Breath...

...and go to sleep. I know I have to go to work again tomorrow...I know I have to wake up very early. I know there's a chance the heating system in my car won't work when I turn it on. I know I don't really have enough money to buy gas. But take a Deep Breath...

...and relax. Calm your mind. Open yourself to the world around you. Let yourself be lulled to sleep by a lullaby echoing from childhood. Listen to the silence as it sings of the now, of the was, of the could be. Feel the warmth slowly envelope you, surround you, inundate you. Take a Deep Breath...

1...2...3...

1...

2...

3...

1...... 2...........

The Recruitment Begins!!!

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!

I have successfully recruited a good friend of mine to Submit! and create a pagan/writing/whatever-the-hell-he-feels-like-at-the-moment blog!!!

My dastardly plan to induct my pagan friends into the Blogosphere is working! Working I tell you! Bwahahaha!!

...Yes, I have had quite a bit of sugar. As he has literally just posted his first post and doesn't even have a button yet, here is his blog:
http://thewritingshaman.blogspot.com/

Uh Oh...

Illness and Fatigue besiege the Halls of our Home. Dreary eyes fall shut whilst the time calls us to task...

Yeah, I'm in a more poetic mood. I've got a migraine while the boy's got a nasty hacking cough. There's no way I'm calling in sick to work, so hopefully the Excedrin kicks in. I"ll check back later, make sure the boy's doing okay. Chat at y'all later.