Jan 31, 2010

Time and Clarity

I'm having a bit of a hard time figuring out where this month went! Although January and I are not fast friends, I'm still suprised that the month is nearly over and February is peeking around the corner.

This week has gotten away on me but I did find time between birthday dinners, work, unpacking, shopping, and hockey games to do some full moon meditations and two rituals this weekend. I'm not sure how I did it all, but I think it has something to do with the fact that I've only gotten five or six hours of sleep the past few nights, rather than my much-needed eight.

My meditation time has been increasingly profound, and I'm not sure if it's the full moon energy or that during this time of change that I've been going through, there is much to be gleaned from the journey. At any rate, it's very rewarding to be getting clear messages even if they aren't always things that are easy to hear!

I hope you've all enjoyed this full moon weekend, and had some quality time to yourselves too! And now Imbolc is a heartbeat away from being upon us, and there is more celebrating to be done!

PS - thank you for the sweet sentiments on my last post. It's not easy for some of us to toss our bits out there for the world to see and read. It's fellow bloggers and friends like you that make it so rewarding to have a little space here where I can be myself! I just adore each and every one of you!

Jan 26, 2010

Not That You Need More "Me" But...


Witch By Nature, Bitch By Choice over at Antics of a Tameran Witch sweetly passed me this award. You should definitely pop over and check out her blog - she's great! Plus, she's posted pics of her Yorkie puppy Titan, who will be coming home in a few weeks, and those images are good for a whole day's worth of smiles! Not to mention she's a very talented artist - check out her illustrations in her BOS!

Seven Rules:
1. Thank the person giving the award.
2. Copy the award to your blog.
3. Place a link to the blog who passed the award to you.
4. Name seven things people dont't know about you.
5. Nominate other bloggers who you admire.
6. Place a link to these bloggers.
7. Leave a comment on their blog notifying them of the award.

I believe I did this last Fall, so please don't feel that you have to read more about me - lol!

My Seven Things:

1. I've suffered from nightmares my entire life. I can still sleep 8 hours though!

2. I hate the thought that I might be making someone go out of their way for me. This is part of the martyr complex I am trying to rid myself of.

3. I eat garlic-stuffed olives like candy. Which may explain why I haven't had a date in a while...

4. I will avoid, rather than confront.

5. I have more martini glasses than anyone should rightly have. I could open a bar.

6. My name is Jen. Rue came to me and wouldn't leave, so it became my Path name. (One of my very first posts explains.)

7. I am a real person. (Bet you didn't know that!) But I HATE being photographed. So this may be one of the few photos you ever see of me: (Excuse the baggage, I didn't sleep well last August when this was taken!)


I am in awe of all the bloggers I read every day - and can't pick favourites (I could never play Red Rover as a kid either) but these are a few people who popped to mind today and I wanted to pass on this award to them:

Faerwillow at Serendipity
Lavender Moon at One Magickal Year

Jan 23, 2010

Treasure Finding

I've finally moved into my suite and am now unpacking the remaining boxes and trying to find space for everything. Along the way, I've found the requisite number of "toss" and "giveaway" items, as well as a surprising number of funky things that I had forgotten I owned.

I seem to have a collection of ice cube trays. But not ice cube trays. There is not a cube to be found. There are trays with holes shaped like pumpkins, skulls, flowers and sticks. But no cubes. I will never be bored with an iced drink!


I also seem to have a rather ecclectic selection of tea pots. Everything from a huge 12 cup pot, to a small tea-for-one set.

I have hanging star lanterns in every colour of the rainbow.



And a collection of egg cups that I didn't know I had. One set even looks like the bottom half of a duck - sitting on funny webbed feet!

The best find though (so far) is a jar of Carrot Cake jam my friend brought me from a trip last summer that got pushed to the back of my cupboard and forgotten about. I can't wait to have this on a scone or bagel - yum!


Hopefully by Monday, I'll be back to some sort of schedule and a normal life again (whatever that is!) Tomorrow, my only task is to catch up on blog-reading! And perhaps finally get a good taste of that jam!




Jan 18, 2010

Forcing Ideas


"Bare branches of each tree
on this chilly January morn
look so cold so forlorn.
Gray skies dip ever so low
left from yesterday's dusting of snow.
Yet in the heart of each tree
waiting for each who wait to see
new life as warm sun and breeze will blow,
like magic, unlock springs sap to flow,
buds, new leaves, then blooms will grow."

- Nelda Hartmann, January Morn

For those of us who are able to get our hands on fresh prunings, forcing branches can be very rewarding and bring beauty to your home long before the trees blossom in the Spring. For some forcing tips, check out Martha's ideas here.

With Imbolc coming up, I'm going to have to find another idea for a ritual. Last year I burned my Yule greens in a fire pit at a local Provincial park on a lake. It was cold and snowy, but I was warm by the fire, and it was so great to be able to observe this Sabbat outside.

Because I was moving, I didn't buy any greens this year for Yule (aside from a wreath which has made it's way to the flower garden to protect my perennials from frost.) So...on to planning a new ritual...

What do you do to mark this Sabbat?

Jan 16, 2010

Renewal


Renewal is in the air. The moon is waxing, and the sun has come out in it's full glory. It was a spectacular day!

My time spent reaching out to Kali last night was enlightening. I actually feel like a weight has been lifted. She really has a way of cutting to the core of things and getting rid of what's not needed. (Very helpful when you tend to drag around baggage from time to time, like I do.)

I did have strange dreams last night, of airplanes and boats and travels. New paths...forging ahead...journeys...many messages there. Too many to sift through right now, so I'm filing them away for future reference.

I am a few days behind on my blog-reading, so please forgive my silence. I like to keep current with everyone, but have had a busy few days. Hopefully tomorrow will be more relaxing and less running. Looking forward to catching up with everyone!



Jan 11, 2010

Finding My Sanity...And Then Keeping It

Nonresistance, nonjudgement, and nonattachment are the three aspects of true freedom and enlightened living. ....Page 225 "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle

I'm having a bit of a hard time with non-attachment and the like, since mopping up an entire bucket of water off the brand new flooring in my suite. The snow has been melting rapidly here and the downspout couldn't handle the pressure. It gave way and the water went directly down the side of the house, into the earth, and aparently through a weak spot in the cement into my basement suite.

I've fixed the downspout and rid myself of the water, and have been blasting the spot with a space heater, hoping to dry out the flooring and be left with minimal damage. Regardless, my brother - the landlord - is in for a treat when he gets back from Mexico next week. He's going to have to dig down into the lawn at the side of the house to find the weak spot and fix it so I don't have the same problem when the Spring rains come.

In the meantime, to prevent myself from thinking about the work ahead of me while still only part-way into this move, and buying a business, and doing year-end at my bookkeeping job, I've been distracting myself by:

*Reading up on Groundhog Day, and those thousands of crazy people who make the trek up to Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, PA each year to see if Phil can stave off 6 more weeks of Winter. Crazy or not - this is something I'd like to do.

*Eating Tim Hortons' doughnut of the month - the Caramel Apple Fritter.

*Drooling over Sylar now that Heroes has returned. (I know, the show is going the way of Lost - strange and incoherent - but I can't get enough of Sylar. Maybe they'll spin him off to his own show "Eyebrows and Mayhem.")

*Cuddling with my kitties and wishing for sunshine and Spring.

I'll get there....


Jan 8, 2010

Pruning


As I drove two towns over to my Chiropractor appointment today (yes, I really love my Chirpractor - enough to drive 45 minutes just to see her,) I noticed warmly dressed men with large pruning shears out in one of the orchards.

Could it be pruning time already? The snow is on the ground and it is still very cold, but there they were, working diligently through the rows of trees, leaving piles of sticks behind them.

The sight filled me with joy, because it made me think of all the blossoms I would see on the trees in a few months. And I thought a while, on the purpose of pruning.

The dictionary says:

Prune/Pruning

1. to cut or lop off (twigs, branches, or roots).
2. to cut or lop superfluous or undesired twigs, branches, or roots from; trim.
3. to rid or clear of (anything superfluous or undesirable).
4. to remove (anything considered superfluous or undesirable).

While moving, I feel as though I've been doing some pruning of my own - removing things that no longer serve me, or that I will no longer use. It's a good feeling to clear away things, but I do suffer from a bit of guilt when I put something in the "giveaway" or "goodwill" boxes that has been given to me by a friend or family member. So many things though. What do you do?

Another project I'm thinking about (not that I need another one) is picking up a book from Oprah's list, called "The 21 Day Consciousness Cleanse" by Debbie Ford. Even though I've come a long way, I still struggle with regret about things in my past, and limiting feelings about myself. These are things I would like to prune, including guilt, fear, and self-doubt.

I think I have a whole new appreciation for pruning. Although I don't envy the men I saw today out in the cold, I know that their efforts will pay off. I'm hoping that by putting in a little effort in my life and doing a bit of pruning, I may have some blossoms of my own, come Spring!

Jan 5, 2010

Still Dreaming of Spring...


Blueberry picking. 4 Girlfriends + 8 kids + a sunny, warm day = Bliss!

These are the things I think of when there is a foot of snow outside my door, and I really should be shovelling my way out to go to the office. Another cup of coffee, cats chittering away at the birds in the trees, and me - dreaming of Spring.

I know I'm supposed to embrace each season. Appreciate each turn of the Wheel. But January and July are not my favourite months. One is far too cold, and one is far too hot. I'm a little like Goldilocks - I like things....just right.

I'm also trying to get back to my daily practice. I've had two weeks of sporatic meditation and ocassional yoga, and not nearly enough walking, and my body and mind are feeling the lack.

What do you do to get back to 'real life' after the holidays? I've done my cleaning - which is a start. But the organizing is going slow, and the move is going slower. Any ideas to kick up some energy, when all I feel like is hiding inside?

Maybe I'll pull some of these blueberries out of the freezer. A little cobbler never hurt anyone. And perhaps that will count as "doing something" today! I'll just say that I'm taking my motivation, one blueberry at a time.




Jan 1, 2010

Sowing the Seeds....

I know - it's only January 1st. But I can't help it.

The snow has turned to rain, and I can see little pockets of dirt showing through the snow in places. And all I can think is...I'd really like to throw some seeds in that dirt!

I have plenty of time to plan - and I'll need it, being that I'm starting new gardens - but I can't help wishing for an early Spring when I'm pouring over online seed catalogues.

Check out Burpee and Stokes if you really want to send some warmth to that winter-chilled green thumb. Unfortunately Burpee doesn't ship to Canada - which is strange, because I can buy their products in my garden centre. But I've sent away for a Stokes catalogue and can't wait to circle, dog ear, and drool all over it!


Also, Rowan over at Candles & Wicks is a witchy woman after my own heart and is tossing about some fine Imbolg/Imbolc/Oimelc (however you prefer) information. She's ready for the next Sabbat, and I'm right there with her!

I'm a firm believer in "living in the now" but sometimes you really must have something to look forward to. And when you have to get through Winter in a Valley where the clouds are low and sunlight is scarce, a little garden-wishing and celebratory looking-ahead is a good way to pass the dark days!

Now where is my Farmer's Almanac.....