Sucking the Marrow out of Down-time

I read my cards at the April full moon. I don't often read my my own cards, because, to me, Tarot is for understanding one's own inner workings, and I think I'm pretty good at doing that on a daily basis. But in April, just a few weeks before I finished college and whilst I was wanting Dream Job so much, I turned to my cards.

In a nutshell, my cards said I was the Hanged Man:

suspending action
pausing to reflect
feeling outside of time
taking time to just be
giving up urgency
living in the moment
waiting for the best opportunity

I have done what needs to be done; I have the applications out there and have been on three interviews. Until I get a call for one of these jobs, I'm hanging out at Nestlewood, resting, reading, sewing, watching movies, cooking, spending time with my kids, and all of the above at the same time.

Spells and Whistles

Firstly, I left all my tools out on the back deck to charge under last night's full moon. This morning when I woke up, I went outside, cast my circle, lit my candles and thanked Mother Moon for Her energy. Normally, I don't like to bring any objects that haven't been cleansed or charged into my circle, but I felt this spell called for exactly that. Here's what I did:

Yesterday afternoon, I thought long and hard about what I wanted in and from a job. I want financial security, flexibility, so that if I need to drop everything and be mama, I can do that. I want to feel as though I am doing good things for others. I know that most wouldn't consider organizing and abstracting medical data to be beneficial to others, but we information nerds know the beauty in having pertinent data at the touch of a computer keyboard. I want a job that will not stagnate. Meaning, once I have my experience and expertise, I can move onto bigger things, ie, consulting, travel positions, etc...

The elements of my spell? It was actually really simple. I laid a dollar bill on my table, and laid my watch on top of that, lit a candle, spoke what I wanted, finished with "and it harm none" and sent the energy out with a big push.The dollar and the watch had not been cleansed, because, as I am going into the world, I wanted to prove to myself that 40 hours per week in the work force will not change who I am. I will be influenced, surely, but will remain me. The dollar was a symbol of financial security, the watch a symbol of using my time efficiently, the candle (my favorite color and scent) the light and heat of my hopes and dreams.

So mote it be.

Chris took this picture of a blooming dogwood yesterday afternoon. Feel free to keep this and ponder it in your heart.

I know my son

Huck has the flu. We went to the doctor yestereve, and it has been confirmed. Last night he had tummy trouble, aches and a temp of 103, and it was not at all fun, for either of us. There is a relatively new medication called Tamiflu, that helps shorten the duration and severity. He's taking that and Advil and Tylenol, so he is able to cope, when the meds are working. When they wear off, he is miserable and angry and breaks my heart. (That's another funny thing about Huck, he takes it as a personal affront when his body betrays him and he gets sick. It makes him MAD.) As I said, I know my son.

He is a smart kid who doesn't like to go to school, so he is always thinking of ways to stretch out any random thing in order to stay home. Monday is President's Day, so he says that doesn't count as a missed school day, since he would get to stay home anyway. He has made up his mind that he is going to stay sick until Tuesday so that he can stay home that day too. I believe in the power of thought, so I think if he plans to stay sick, then he certainly will, so I have found a way around this. I told him that if he will do everything he can to get better; eat, drink, rest, take his meds, etc.., then I will let him stay home from school on Tuesday, even if he is perfectly fine.

This is quite the dangling carrot. So, without a murmur of protest, he is doing everything he can to get better. There is power in that.

I can relate...

Know what is completely fabulous, yet a little twisted? My favorite aunt wants to donate her body to the Body Farm. She has aleady talked to her children about this, and, as they know and understand her, are cool with it. My aunt, BTW is the older one in the pic. My mom is the younger one.

Anyhoo, I know exactly how I want my body to be treated once my soul leaves this mortal coil. My eyes, as I am very close to legally blind, will be of no use to anyone. Because of my affection for chardonnay, my liver likely will not either. But everything else is to be donated to folks who need it. Just think of the glorious wig that can be made from my mahogany curls! My skin could be used for burn victims. My heart is strong. My lungs are the lungs of a singer! Therefore, stronger than the lungs of the average bear.

Whatever is leftover can be incinerated. The ashes can then be scattered. And Annie Lenox (Into the West) , Libera ( Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep) and Kansas (well, obviously, Dust in the Wind)can sing while all those whom I loved and love me to eat, drink and be merry.

Magick is Afoot

Thumbelina is positive that she has magical powers. She KNOWS that she is part animal and can talk to animals. Just this very moment, she is making a potion. African violets for protection, eye of newt, dragon's scale, tooth of the wolf. She is putting all of these in a little glass dish. She wants to let it sit under the moon.

She, Huck and a neighbor are going out to the woods to the rock where the "dragon claw mark is." Huck said "Do you want to bring my BB gun?" Lina said "No, because if there are any magickal creatures, the gun will scare them away."

Can you tell she is my child?

Conversations with the Devil

Of course, if you know me, you know that I'm being completely facetious with that title,as I do not believe in the devil. Most pagans do not. Don't get me wrong. I do believe that there is much evil. The evidence can be seen all around us. But I do not believe that one fallen angel is responsible for all of it.

I believe we humans have free will. I choose to work with "the Light side of the Force". Joy, Peace, Good Wishes, Hope for my brothers and sisters and such. The witches' rede "And it harm none, do as you will" is my golden rule. Really, if one thinks about it, everything falls under that phrase. And, wow, is that a difficult commandment to follow. Most non pagans assumes it means " do whatever you want". But it doesn't.

To be a pagan, to me at least, means that I am connected to all. All people, Animals, Plants, Stones, Trees, Fire, Water, Air. We all share the same spark of divinity. The essence of "god/dess" in the cat is no more or less than the essence in myself. So, it stands to reason that harming anything or anyone harms anything and everything else, as we are all connected.

Some would call me a fluffy bunny. I would disagree. I took my first step onto this spiritual path in 1993. I have a peace that I could have never imagined. The more I read, the more I realize and more fully understand what I believe and what I don't believe. What works for me and what doesn't. What seems like bells and whistles and what seems real.

No, I can't say a rhyme and make the wind blow. I can't use the power of my mind to start a fire. But I can see that Fire, Wind and I share the same spark of god/dess. And I can see that they are willing to help me, just as I am willing to help them. Because we are one and the same. Just different manifestations.

A Harp Gig, A Ritual and some Kitchening

Tonight I play my harp for a local art museum. They let all the members get together and schmooze once a month. Tonight, I am their musical wallpaper.

Tomorrow I am going to be a kitchen witch. I'll be making candy and soup and bread. Two dear friends are coming over to join me in the Solstice ritual. This is new for me. But I am really looking forward to it.