No Longer, PBP

I've been posting a Pagan Blog Project post every Friday. I just want to let my readers know that I've decided to stop participating in PBP. Those that I followed through PBP's FB page I'll continue to read.

Rowan wants everyones posts to be specifically about Paganism. This blog isn't just about Paganism. This blog is suppose to be about my life as a Pagan and creative person. I feel like if I followed Rowan's "rules" I would be stepping away from what my blog is all about.

I also don't like anyone telling me how to write blog posts. I just feel boxed in by PBP's guidelines and that's not what I, as a Pagan, am about.

So I hope those PBP followers will keep reading and commenting. But now its time to get back to what this blog was originally intended to be.

And now I'm off to spend some time at the Innana's Spiritual Center women's group. If your in the Chillicothe area, stop on by! 

PBP: Death

I've been pretty uninspired by the letter D. So I guess I'll just fall back on a simple topic and see what becomes of it.

Most people fear Death and I suppose I have a healthy dose of wanting to live just like everyone else. But I don't feel that we should avoid death at all costs. I have respect for those who know they are dying and don't put their whole family in major debt just to live. I wouldn't want my final expenses to run into the many thousands just to die anyway. I understand the want to live, but honestly is it worth spending thousands of dollars for 1-5 more years of life?

Then there's the thought that nature has her own time table. I'm not saying we should never take medicine or cure illnesses and disease. But at some point you have to realize death is inevitable. Isn't prolonging the inevitable a fools goal? It is to me.

What about you? If you were diagnosed with a terminal illness with no hope of a cure, would you strive to seek any treatment to delay death no matter the costs or would you enjoy the time you had left?

PBP: Dedication

Dedication is simply deciding to dedicate time (Usually a year and a day) to learning and following a path. I remember when  I decided to learn more about Wicca. My grandfather had just died and of course death and the afterlife was on my mind a lot. I had to travel out of state to be with him in his final hours and attend his funeral.

Throughout my childhood my Grandmother is the biggest influence on Christianity for me. It always felt like she was worried more about appearances than what she actually professed to believe. Who cares if you wear a dress or jeans and a t-shirt? To her, it was unthinkable to not wear your "Sunday best". To her, going to church was a social event of the week.

So the weekend of my Grandfather's death and funeral, I chose the moment I viewed his body as my dedication. I had found a cross shortly before and had been wearing it in an effort to believe in Christianity. I kept looking at it, touching it, wondering if it was right for me. The moment I walked up to my grandfathers coffin and viewed his lifeless body, I knew my answer.

Because my grandfather was Christian, I left the necklace with him and made my decision to dedicate myself to Pagan study. I took more than the year and a day. It would be 5 more years before I actually decided I truly believed in Wicca.

Dedication doesn't have to be an elaborate ritual. Though you can certainly make it so if you wish! It simply has to be meaningful to you.

C is for Cold

So I hadn't really planned my second C blog this week. Honestly since Tuesday I've felt like a toasted shit sandwich. I'm starting to wonder if I need the help of someone who has taken online nursing classes. It makes it even worse since I breastfeed and hate to take any medication.  I did break down and take a little Theraflu today. I suppose it was a good thing that my new job is doing an audit this week, which meant they chose I start work next week. I just hope I feel better by Monday. Regardless I'll go because lets be honest you can't call in sick your first day of work. So even if I felt like I was on my deathbed I'd go.

I take vitamin c when I'm sick, but other than that I'm leery of taking herbs when breastfeeding. Some of them are not baby friendly. I'd rather not take the chance. Not to mention even if I wanted to I couldn't afford them.

Sorry if my thoughts sound jumbled. I'm kind of out of it for now.

What do you do for a cold?

PBP: Coincidence

Right next to our bed is boxes with all of our things we packed when we moved in with MIL. For the past few days I've been looking at a cell phone box marked pictures so today I decided to open it when I woke up this morning and just nose around. What I found were a lot of pictures of course, and a memorial pamphlet from my husbands boss who died last year. What really stood out to me is that he died one year exactly from my sons due date. (May 8th). Now you may be thinking, so what? It's just coincidence. Well I don't believe in coincidences. I think everything happens for a reason whether we find out that reason in time or not.

What about you? Do you have events most people would label coincidence happen? Do you think there is such a thing as coincidence or do you believe all things have a reason?

Finding My Balance

What does it mean to have Balance in our life? There are plenty of other blogs discussing why it is important to have balance in your life. If you don't understand I invite you to read Madame Molly's Balance post. But this isn't about why balance is important. It's about how it pertains to my life. Crafty Sandi recently did a reading for me and her message was about me finding my balance again. I didn't realized I'd lost my balance, but she's so right. I have!

Lance(DH) and I usually balance each other. He's normally the over the top happy (sometimes impulsive) guy who does everything to excess. He's also normally the leader. I'm more reserved, always thinking ahead, never impulsive and always must have a plan woman. I'm not a natural born leader, so I will give my input on important topics, but generally am willing to allow DH to have the final say. Put us together and we balanced each other out.

Now I find we are no longer in balance. My leader refuses to lead. He's no longer happy, nor impulsive or decisive. I know our move to Ohio was the right thing. I've always had a dream that I'd end up in Ohio and we'd be happier and more financially stable. Honestly I felt we could be "rich" in Ohio but not necessarily "in the millions rich." I felt we'd have a comfortable life and be happy.

Grasping that dream has been more elusive. I find that I must step into the leadership role. Yet it's not one that comes easy to me. Honestly, I'm afraid I will lead, and then make a bigger mess than we already have. I suppose that's the fear of any leader isn't it.

My biggest downfall is that I haven't followed my intuition. I've allowed my husband to stop me from doing that. I feel we are meant to live in or around Chillicothe. I know my DH is healthier when we join with other Pagans. We found a lovely Pagan group there. Yet both of us are naturally solitary creatures so it can be a challenge for us to integrate into a group.

I think to find our balance again, I need to step up. I've always said I don't let fear hold me back. Yet that's what I have done. Time to conquer my fears and step forward.

This article is in response to the Pagan Blog Project.

I selected this post to be featured on Ethics Blogs. Please visit the site and vote for my blog!

Goddess of the Rising Sun

For this weeks Pagan Blog Project, I'd like to talk about a Goddess well known for her image. She's the daughter of Ra and is said to have protected Ra from the serpent god Apep on his ride to bring the sun everyday. Therefore she is known as the Goddess of the Rising Sun and the All seeing Eye. If your a cat lover, perhaps you already know who I'm talking about.

She is Bast. Other names associated with her are Bastet and  Basthet. I simply call her the Cat Goddess. To the ancient Egyptians cats were protected, probably because they ate vermin which in turn kept the level of disease down. She's said to have great night vision and is associated with both the Sun and the Moon. 


In mythology Bast kills Apep and is then associated with fertility since her deed insured Ra would bring the sun which in turn helped fertilize the land to grow crops.


Bast is seen as a household protector. Her motherly instincts are often called upon to help with fertility, childbirth and protect the young. 


Bast has a reputation for being sensual. She's is said to be the partner of both men and women. (She had three acknowledged husbands) She's associated with the color red, dancing, and music. 


Bast teaches us to dance to our own beat. Just like a cat who comes when they want, not when called. Our beliefs should be decided on our own, not by what others tell us we should believe. I think every Pagan can learn something from her. In a world where we are pressured to fit in, Bast teaches us how to be comfortable with being ourselves and being proud of that fact. 








Source

The Pagan Afterlife

This is my first post for the Pagan Blog Project.  For the letter A I'd like to talk about the Pagan Afterlife. I've already discussed my Thoughts on the Afterlife. But this isn't a repeat of why I believe in reincarnation or what the meaning of life is. I'd like to delve into how we picture the afterlife to look. Is it a meadow where we can run around picking daisies to our hearts content? Is it a vortex where we meet our lost loved ones? Is it a bridge with rainbows? How do you foresee the afterlife to look, feel, taste, smell? Is it just like life? Are we always happy or can we be sad there too?

Ultimately we all must answer these questions ourselves. And I don't believe there are wrong answers because I believe our perception is what dictates our reality in the afterlife.

My perception of the afterlife is just a group of friends sitting around a table talking about what is important to us. Helping one another and working a little witchy magick when needed. Perhaps in the afterlife instead of helping one another we'll be looking down on our descendants and helping them. Whatever the afterlife is, I hope it won't be a boring meadow. I really hate daisies.

Go away Jack Frost

The first snow of the season is officially here. And now is about the time I start complaining that its cold and wet and nasty outside. I'm not a winter person. I really am not a snow person. I will not drive on the stuff. I've had too many close calls to be comfortable driving on it. So it figures I'd have to move north where we'll get more of the stupid fluffy stuff!

Here's the view from my front door. Nope folks I won't even step outside to get a good picture for you! lol

OK so your saying to yourself that's not a lot. Well no it isn't. It just started. But to me one little millimeter of snow is too much! I really should live further south! Realistically I know it's natural and needed in the grand scheme of life. But I really could do without snow.


But just in time for the cold weather, I've completed a scarf for my daughter. You may recognize the yarn choice. I used it on her slippers too.

I used the afghan stitch. I think it's my favorite stitch. So easy to do! Now I have to figure out what's next. I think maybe I'll attempt making a purse.

I've also joined One Witches Way Pagan Blog Project. I think this will be a fun way to bring more Pagan topics of interest to my blog.