The New Year

I've spent the past two days with my boys and I have to say I became spoiled by it. Being back at work today and the having to be up at 6:30 royally sucked...but I'm here and actually feeling better then I had been feeling at the end of the year. There are a few things that I am trying to work with as far as resolutions. Although we will see how I do with them.

One of the big ones is my weight. I need to lose it again. I did it before and granted I was still smoking at the time but I can/will do it again. I am swiftly approaching my one year of having quit smoking which I am proud of. I occasionally still want one but from what my hubby tells me even after all the years it's been since he quit he still wants one from time to time.

My first venture into this weight loss...which some may think is comical...I start Belly Dancing classes on the 14th at work. Yes it means coming into work earlier 2 days a week so that I can take the class and still have time to take a shower/grab something to eat but I start that journey on Monday's and Wednesday's soon. I'm really looking forward to it. I was wavering when Tara was trying to talk me into taking classes with her and then they started offering at the gym here at work. We had both talked about it and decided it was a sign I need to get my butt in gear...well in this case my hips. We shall see how it goes. But I am being optimistic. If it goes well here then I may venture into Tara's classes with her.

Another thing I need to work on is I want to be less of a "Sunday Witch" You know the one that only does stuff on holidays and Sabbats. I need to push myself more to meditate every day and work more in my craft. I'd like to try and so my initiation this year. I'm still learning and I'm WAY beyond studying for a year and a day. Classes actually start back up in March which I cannot wait for. A developing Psychic Skills class is the first one. Definitely excited about that one.

I want to be a better wife and mother. This may mean curbing the computer addiction but I think instead of being on the computer when the kids are home sending some real time with the kids would be better...even if it's back to knitting while sitting with them and they are watching cartoons. The Guitar Hero Marathons we had over the holidays were a blast even just watching. It's given my oldest a new appreciation for some older music (He played Crossroads for hours until he got it right *giggle*)

I need to cut/get rid of things that are dragging me down and holding me back. Stop worrying about things I cannot change. It's the past...it's over with. In other words LET. IT. GO!!! There is no saving some people if they don't want to be saved. You can't force them to see "the light" they will only see it in their own time. I think I may have to do a ritual to let certain things go. Perhaps one like Turtleheart did with writing down and burning it to let go. I also need to let go of the guilt. If I can't change it I shouldn't feel guilty about it. (It's the old Catholic upbringing coming through)

I know things like the above will all come in time. But I'm feeling positive that this is going to be an amazing year. I will become a Usui Reiki Master this month if things go according to plan. I will do my first degree initiation this year. My greenman and I will have our handfasting. Life is looking pretty good right now. Money is really tight...but we will make it through together as a family.

Blessed be to all for this new year

Quickie again

I was hoping to get somethng more profound here today but it didn't happen. Long day with Doctor's appointments and then spending time with the kids and my hubby when I was finally home for the evening. It was nice to be able to have dinner as a family without it being a weekend. Took some much needed rest this morning and slept in. It will be back to the regular scheduled blogging starting tomorrow I hope if the world around me cooperates. Now it's off to bed for a very early morning.

Happy New Years

Today is going tob e short and sweet. Spent the day with the hubby and my oldest. Stayed up WAY too late last night but thats another story. Time to crash now. I'll have a better post tomorrow.

Blog 365

Well as my last post alluded to I'm going to tackle the bloogin for 365 days challenge. We'll see how well I do. I know Sadie has got my back in pushing me. She'll hit me on top of the head if she has to...lol Linda from Straight up and Slightly Dirty is doing it as well.

But in case anyone was wondering these are the rules for it.

• Blog everyday for 365 days.
• Feb.29th is a Free Day and will be the Blog365 day of rest!(Thanks Leap Year)- You do not HAVE to post to the same blog as long as you post everyday.
• No internet? Write your post locally and post it once you are back on the grid.
• Computer Broken? Grab some paper and do some old school blogging.
• A post is a post, not everything has to be in writing. Photos, YouTube videos, and the like are all considered content.
• Have fun, because that's the whole point!

Note: If you post offline work, consider changing the date on the post to reflect the day you actually created the content

So Wish me luck. No Matter what I'm going to have fun with it. I did it for November...I think I can do it for all of 2008. There will probably be silly days where it's just a quick snippet or a you tube video...but hey...that's the beauty of this being my blog...it can be anything I want it to be.

Was debating on...

...if I was going to try blog 365. As we can all see I haven't done so well for December for the blogging. I made it all through November, but December...well I didn't do so well. I completely gave in to the need to go inward as I tend to do during this part of the year. I usually draw myself in away from everything else much like the earth as everything continues going through the wheel of the year. Which has always struck me as funny with the holidays and the hustle and bustle being in December with it being human nature...well nature in general to retreat and renew. Yeah...I'm babbling....sorry.

Anyway I was debating it and thinking more and more that I wasn't going to do it. I sat her this morning thinking why on earth would I do it...I mean...who reads my blog anyway. I talk to Sadie just about every day and yeah I know I need to give the support to my BFF as she tries for 365 but...but....but....

Well the excuses kept coming and then I logged into blogger and there was a comment from
Linda saying that she learns so much from my blog.

So...thank you Linda and Sadie for giving me the push I needed to attempt and take on this insane quest!!

Yule

Tomorrow is Yule. It's hard to believe it went by so fast. Feels like almost yesterday it was Samhain.

Yule, (pronounced EWE-elle) is when the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light half. Starting the next morning at sunrise, the sun climbs just a little higher and stays a little longer in the sky each day. Known as Solstice Night, or the longest night of the year, much celebration was to be had as the ancestors awaited the rebirth of the Oak King, the Sun King, the Giver of Life that warmed the frozen Earth and made her to bear forth from seeds protected through the fall and winter in her womb. Bonfires were lit in the fields, and crops and trees were "wassailed" with toasts of spiced cider.

Children were escorted from house to house with gifts of clove spiked apples and oranges which were laid in baskets of evergreen boughs and wheat stalks dusted with flour. The apples and oranges represented the sun, the boughs were symbolic of immortality, the wheat stalks portrayed the harvest, and the flour was accomplishment of triumph, light, and life. Holly, mistletoe, and ivy not only decorated the outside, but also the inside of homes. It was to extend invitation to Nature Sprites to come and join the celebration. A sprig of Holly was kept near the door all year long as a constant invitation for good fortune to pay visit to the residents.

The ceremonial Yule log was the highlight of the festival. In accordance to tradition, the log must either have been harvested from the householder's land, or given as a gift... it must never have been bought. Once dragged into the house and placed in the fireplace it was decorated in seasonal greenery, doused with cider or ale, and dusted with flour before set ablaze be a piece of last years log, (held onto for just this purpose). The log would burn throughout the night, then smolder for 12 days after before being ceremonially put out. Ash is the traditional wood of the Yule log. It is the sacred world tree of the Teutons, known as Yggdrasil. An herb of the Sun, Ash brings light into the hearth at the Solstice.

A different type of Yule log, and perhaps one more suitable for modern practitioners would be the type that is used as a base to hold three candles. Find a smaller branch of oak or pine, and flatten one side so it sets upright. Drill three holes in the top side to hold red, green, and white (season), green, gold, and black (the Sun God), or white, red, and black (the Great Goddess). Continue to decorate with greenery, red and gold bows, rosebuds, cloves, and dust with flour.

Deities of Yule are all Newborn Gods, Sun Gods, Mother Goddesses, and Triple Goddesses. The best known would be the Dagda, and Brighid, the daughter of the Dagda. Brighid taught the smiths the arts of fire tending and the secrets of metal work. Brighid's flame, like the flame of the new light, pierces the darkness of the spirit and mind, while the Dagda's cauldron assures that Nature will always provide for all the children.

Symbolism of Yule - Rebirth of the Sun, The longest night of the year, The Winter Solstice, Introspect, Planning for the Future.

Symbols of Yule - Yule log, or small Yule log with 3 candles, evergreen boughs or wreaths, holly, mistletoe hung in doorways, gold pillar candles, baskets of clove studded fruit, a simmering pot of wassail, poinsettias, christmas cactus.

Herbs of Yule - Bayberry, blessed thistle, evergreen, frankincense holly, laurel, mistletoe, oak, pine, sage, yellow cedar.

Foods of Yule - Cookies and caraway cakes soaked in cider, fruits, nuts, pork dishes, turkey, eggnog, ginger tea, spiced cider, wassail, or lamb's wool (ale, sugar, nutmeg, roasted apples).Incense of Yule - Pine, cedar, bayberry, cinnamon.

Colors of Yule - Red, green, gold, white, silver, yellow, orange.Stones of Yule - Rubies, bloodstones, garnets, emeralds, diamonds.

Activities of Yule - Caroling, wassailing the trees, burning the Yule log, decorating the Yule tree, exchanging of presents, kissing under the mistletoe, honoring Kriss Kringle the Germanic Pagan God of YuleSpellworkings of Yule - Peace, harmony, love, and increased happiness.

Deities of Yule - Goddesses-Brighid, Isis, Demeter, Gaea, Diana, The Great Mother. Gods-Apollo, Ra, Odin, Lugh, The Oak King, The Horned One, The Green Man, The Divine Child, Mabon.

2nd degree Usui Reiki Attunement.

Well I have to say...just like with the first one OMG WOW!!! We did the 2nd Degree Usui and then Tara also did an Isis Blue Moon attunement as well. Isis Blue Moon feels a lot colder then the other one but still was buzzing on the way home. This one is apparently going to be a big one on the cleansing...so I fully expect in about a week or so to feel like utter crap. Tara said I sucked up the energy really fast. All in all I felt amazing on Saturday and as usual...I was around Tara...so hubby was really happy later that night *giggle*