Spirit-Guide Sunday; Orangutan

I recently got a new deck of Oracle cards; "Animal Messages" by Susie Green.  It's a beautiful and fun deck with many different animals and the spiritual messages of each.  Today I was part of an online conversation with some friends about Spirit-Animals, Animal Totems, and spirit guides, so I thought it would be a perfect day to pull a card from this deck and share it on my blog.  Also, if you follow FlyLady, you know that Sundays are "Renew Your Spirit Day" when you are encouraged to take some time for yourself.  This is similar to pampering day; pampering can be a way to renew your spirit; but also a day to focus on doing something that rewards, relaxes, and renews you on the inside as well as the outside.  With all that in mind, I decided to draw a card from the Animal Messages oracle deck.  I asked for an animal Spirit-Guide to present itself, not only to me but to my friends who read my blog.  I asked for this animal to bring us all a message that will help us through this coming week.

ORANGUTAN

"Working to live joyously, not living to work."

"Orangutan, utterly content in his lush rain forest, sees no pressing need to swing on agile limbs from his soft arboreal bed at dawn.  He rises when refreshed, stretching great arms before breakfasting unhurriedly on ripe fruits, and only then carrying on with the business of his day.  For Orangutan understands the true value of time and counsels that you use it wisely.  Are you working to live, or living merely to work?  Adjust your priorities lest time slips silently away, taking pleasure with it."

For me, the sentence on the card really hit home.  How often am I living to work, rather than working to live?  I tend to base my entire day's schedule on whether I am working or not, often choosing to put off doing things I enjoy because "I have to work later", or "I just got off work."  That's not right!  Yes, work is a necessity, but I can't continue to put off what I enjoy just because I work, the whole point of working should be so to support the life and the joys that come before & after I clock out!

Another thought I am having here; Orangutan is telling me that I should take more joy and pleasure in the work that I do at home.  Yep, the housework.  Because it should be a joy to take care of my home and family... because I love them!  And when I get the basic and necessary things done, I will have more time for leisure!  Not that I need to rush around to get things done... (I don't think I have ever seen or heard of an orangutan being in a hurry for anything)... but more to simply enjoy each moment and live fully in the moment for each task that I undertake.  It's not about being lazy or slow, it's about being in the moment and really living each moment with joy and pleasure.  Even when we have an unpleasant task to do, we can take joy in it by remembering that; 1) it won't take forever, and 2) we will feel better and have time to relax once it is done.

Here are some tasks for you to undertake this week to embrace the message of Orangutan.

• Go to bed earlier!  You need your sleep!  Don't deprive yourself of this!
• If you need to, sleep in late!
• Eat more fresh fruits.  Take time to really be in the moment when you eat.  Let yourself be aware of the sensations and tastes of eating and nurturing your body.  Try not to be thinking about what you need to do next while you are eating; be aware.
• Turn on some fun and happy music while you are working or doing housework.  Just like with eating, try to live in the moment and be aware of the task at hand rather than thinking or worrying too much about what you have to do next.  Allow yourself to feel joy and pride at the completion of each of your tasks.
• Take pleasure in some simple pampering and self-care.  Nurture your body and spirit so that you can nurture others in your life.  When you reward yourself with relaxation and leisure, really enjoy it!

I hope you all have a wonderful week and allow yourself to Work To Live Joyously!  In the words of the Discworld's most famous Orangutan; The Librarian, "Oook."

Breath Meditation

This simple breath meditation can help you find peace about a problem in your life or a situation that is causing you stress.  It is from the book 'The Earth Path" by Starhawk.  Please make sure you have read Air:The Gift of our Ancestors before doing this meditation.  You could possibly find someone to read it out loud to you, or even make a recording of yourself reading it out loud.  If you can't do those, copy it down or print it out so you can read it to yourself slowly, taking time to breathe and close your eyes between certain segments.  Ideally you would want to do this meditation out in nature on a nice spring day, somewhere with a slight breeze, or in front of your Air Altar.  You can light your Air Element Candle or hold your Air Element Witches' Ladder if you want.


Breath Meditation
by Starhawk, from "The Earth Path"

"Read the story of "The Gift of the Ancestors" or have someone read it out loud as a guided meditation.  Now close your eyes for a moment and simply breathe.

Breathe in with gratitude to the ancestors and with appreciation for the great creative powers of life.

Breathe out with love, as a conscious gift back to the green world.

This air is the gift of the early ancestors.  What you breathe in, this moment, originated billions of years ago.  This air passed through the lungs of dinosaurs and mammoths and the earliest human beings.  Is there a great teacher or hero from the past that you admire?  You are breathing the same air that passed through her or his lungs, sharing inspiration.

Breathe in with gratitude; breathe out with love.

Is there a problem you're stuck on, an issue that seems hopeless?  A place where you've given up in despair?

Just breathe in, taking in the creative power of the ancestors, of life, asking that power to infuse you and help you transform your issue.

Breathe out, with love and commitment, acknowledging your grief and pain or hopelessness, not trying to change it but just making space within, to breathe in again, filling yourself with creativity and power.

Continue as long as it feels right.  Don't try to solve your problem instantly; just keep breathing into it and trust that you can shift the energies around it and open the space for inspiration to come."

Air; The Gift of The Ancestors

This story is from the book The Earth Path by Starhawk.  I think  it's an important and enlightening story for us all to read as we study the Air element.  It gives a very life-affirming understanding of Air and it's role in life on this planet... and the other elements as well.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, and I hope it will help open your heart and spirit to what the Element of Air really represents to us.  It is Life; past, present, and future.  We are breathing the Gift of our Ancestors!
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The Gift of The Ancestors
by Starhawk, The Earth Path

Life on earth was still relatively new.  At first, simple, one celled beings filled the seas, living by changing the energy patterns around them, breaking down large molecules - complex clumps of dancing energy and form - into smaller clumps, using the energy released to move and dance.  They filled the seas in promiscuous abundance, constantly exchanging bits of DNA, sidling up to one another and crooning the bacterial equivalent of "Hey, hey, hey baby - the thought of trading genes with you makes me cr-crazy!"  They formed one life-whole, one global gene pool, one planetary well of information and experimentation.
But after a time, life reached a crisis point.  Life began to run out of food.  There weren't enough of these complex molecules for all of life to continue, and life began to starve and die.
Yet life has always been inventive and creative.  Those simple, one-celled beings were already experimenting with different forms.  Some were long and skinny and wriggled and swam.  Some were round and fat.  Some adapted to hot and some to cold.  And always they were trading genes, shifting forms, changing and transforming.  At that time, there wasn't yet a brain on the planet, yet life came up with something so brilliant, so amazing, that it transformed the whole nature of existence and the atmosphere itself.
Life invented a mandala.  A beautiful molecule, like a patterned flower, with a magic quality.  For when a photon of sunlight struck the heart of this pattern, it began to vibrate and shiver and set off a chain of reactions that harvested the sun's energy to turn carbon dioxide and water into food.  Chlorophyll and the process of photosynthesis were life's next great invention, and the green things, the sunlight harvesters were born.
Green things filled the seas and the crevices of the shores, flung a smear of filmy life over rock and sand.  Life flourished as never before.
But there was one problem.  The miraculous process that used sunlight to make food gave off a waste product, a toxic gas that burned and destroyed everything it touched.  And as life grew, over hundreds of millions, and then billions of years, the very air became polluted by this gas, so that life could no longer avoid it's touch of death.
But life continued to experiment and invent.  Some of tiny creatures dug down in the mud to avoid the toxic gas.  Some clumped together for protection.
And some discovered another miracle, that by reversing one of the moves in the dance of photosynthesis, a new process could be born - one that could take the toxic gas, which we call oxygen, and use it to burn food and make energy.
And so the breathers were born, those who dine on the sunlight-harvesters, burning their bodies as fuel for life.  In burning food, the breathers give off carbon-dioxide, which the green things (with help from the sun) transform to food again.  And the green things give off oxygen, which the breathers again use in burning food.  Gaia began to breathe, passing her breath back and forth from red to green, continuing to build up oxygen, to transform herself.
And after millions of years, the breathers took the mandala of the chlorophyll. switched the atom at it's heart to iron, and formed the hemoglobin that swims in the cells of our red blood.
And so the cycle is complete, and the earth breathes in and out, red to green to red.
And this air we breathe is a gift of the early ancestors.  With each breath in, we take in the results of their great creativity.  With each breath out, we give back.
And the balance is so perfectly kept that oxygen remains at just the right level to sustain life.  For if there were only a few more percentage points of oxygen in the air, any spark would light a fire that would ignite the whole atmosphere.  And if there were only a few percentage points less, no fire would ever burn and we could not live."
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Take some time to read this story to yourself slowly.  You may even ask someone to read it out loud to you so you can close your eyes and use it as a guided meditation.  Breathe in and out slowly and evenly.  Contemplate the miracle of the exchange of oxygen and carbon-dioxide.  Think about how your ancestors many years ago, breathed in oxygen, and created carbon-dioxide which then fed the plants and trees.  Those plants and trees became a part of your breathing ancestor by taking in the carbon-dioxide they created.  Those plants then created oxygen, which your ancestors' children breathed in.  And the cycle continued, and even now, every breath you take, contains a particle that has at some point passed through every one of your ancestors, every breathing life form, and every green, light-eating thing alike.  You are breathing the history of this planet.

Message from The Angels; Pollution

This is from the book, "Messages From Your Angels" by Doreen Virtue.  Doreen works very closely with the Angels, who are non-denominational beings of Light and Love.  She can see, hear and feel them, and she wrote this book of messages she has channeled from the Angels for all humans to hear.  I fell this is an important message to share right now.

Message from The Angels on Pollution
     "We are grateful that you are examining this situation concerning pollution, and that you are consulting with us for our opinion and direction upon this matter.  For as much as it saddens you to face this topic, it is only through direct action that any measurable effect can come about.  The concern for pollution comes from its effect on all bodies upon the earth, in lowering their energy and morale, as the choking smog and toxic soil create heaviness everywhere.
      This is a case where Heaven and Earth must work in unison to make shifts within matter, to avoid saturating the Earth with toxins and pollutants that pierce through your body's defenses.  You, who are working for the Light, must bring more physical light to the planet by allowing the sun's rays to reach your planet without filtration from soot in the air that you breathe.
     In some areas of the universe, there is no need for oxygen because the bodies that inhabit the planet are different from your own.  They are made from lighter, less dense materials, barely visible to human vision.  Your own bodies would not be adaptable to such an environment, however, as you have lungs that inflate to propel your cardiovascular system with energy molecules.  Without oxygen, your light would still shine, but dimmer still, and without the benefit of your body as a learning tool.
     So, we seek to party the sooty darkness from the atmosphere surrounding this sacred planet, and let you breathe the fresh air that God intended for you.  This air is a gift so sweet and soft that your first breath of it would cause you to rapture.  Yet, many have forgotten the feeling if ingesting sweet oxygen, and have adapted to air of less quality.
     There is pollution on your planet today because of your intention to provide goodness to yourselves through dense, material means.  With the emphasis today that is upon the teaching or reteaching of the ancient sciences of manifestation, these old means should be eased out soon enough.  When that occurs, your lesser dependence upon machinery will create relief on the earth's soil and atmosphere.  You will witness a cleansing like the earth has never before seen!
     Yet, during this time of transition, with continued dependency upon machinery and increasing use of electrical telecommunication powers, we must advise you to seek another course for the manifestation of your cleaner environment.  We see many of you taking means to use cleaner products within your household environments, and we assure you that such efforts are not minuscule by any means!  Your intentions are charged with an energy that inspires and excites those around you, and you are thus a role model for care taking of the environment.  Never fear that your efforts go unnoticed or that they are wasted.  Beloved One, you are deeply honored for your contributions, and every action of care for your planet is viewed as a highly significant act of great love.  You who are attempting to rid yourself of machinery and electrical dependency, your intentions are honored!  You who are voluntarily changing your lifestyle to support the animals and farming to be free of noxious chemicals, you are honored!  You who collect rubbish from the grounds of nature, you are honored!  You who invest in household goods that are less harsh than others, you are honored!
     And together, we hold an eternal viewpoint of nature in her pristine glory.  We do not saddle our thoughts about the planet with anger, or cloud our vision with fear and see only the soot filled air.  No!  We refuse to gaze at the mistakes, but peer beneath them to the beautiful truth that the planet's will for health is stronger than the environmental mistakes that could be temporarily conflicted.  Join with us Angels, then, in holding this elevated viewpoint of the clean and healthy planet body.  See her body as healthy and healed, and you will soon discover the enormous power that such a viewpoint holds."

Air Quality Control Bath / Aura Cleanse Bath (for detoxification)

These are two homeopathic bath remedies designed to help detoxify the body and skin, and I thought they would be perfect for this week because of our message from the Fairies urging us to Detoxify.  (see yesterday's post).

Air-Quality Control Bath and Face Mask
to heal the effects of air pollution and smog to our faces and skin.
Mask: 2 tbsp. powdered brewer's yeast, 3 tbsp. warm water
mix until smooth and apply to face and neck in gentle upward strokes.  For acne, add 4 drops of Tea-Tree Oil.
Bath: Fill bathtub with hot water, add 2 cups of Epsom salt and 5 drops each of Lavender oil and chamomile oil.. 
Leave the face mask on for 15 - 30 minutes while relaxing in the bath.  Afterwards, rinse face with cool water.

Yogi's Aura-Cleanse Bath
a powerful chemical detox and spiritual/auric cleanser.
Bath: 1 lb. Baking Soda, 1/2 lb sea salt or coarse kosher salt.  Dissolve all ingredients in a bathtub full of hot water, soak for 20 to 30 minutes in the tub.  Rinse your body with lukewarm to cool water after the bath.
For added spiritual and auric cleansing, you may choose to place several clear quartz crystals in the water with you, or around the edges of the tub.  Light several white candles around the bathroom.  Burn incense while you bathe; preferably Sage, Sandalwood, or Dragon's Blood.  You may also want to listen to some relaxing meditation music or a meditation cd.  (I would suggest the Chakra Clearing CD by Doreen Virtue)

These bath detoxification's were not written by me, but they have been paraphrased and are not quoted directly from the source.  I copied them down from a copy of a friend's book several years ago and while the recipe is exact, I may have added some of my own suggestions.  The book that I originally got the recipes from was called "Water Magic: Healing Bath Recipes for the Body, Spirit, and Soul", by Mary Muryn.  From what I recall, it was a wonderful book and I hope to someday own my own copy!  When we study the water element, I will describe more about magickal baths.... and although this may seem like Water Magick, I am including these in our Air Element study because of their powerful detoxification qualities and the fact that they help cleanse our bodies and skin of toxins we may encounter in polluted air.  And also, because of yesterday's Fairie message about detoxification, of course!!

In my Book of Shadows I also found this Detoxifying tea recipe, though I don't remember where I found it.

Body Cleansing Tea
to promote the immune system, for clear skin, and to remove toxins from the body.
3 tsp. chopped nettle leaves
1 tsp. parsley
1/2 tsp. lavender flowers
juice of 1/2 a lemon
Boil in one cup of water, allow to cool to drinking temperature, enjoy!

FlyLady - Pagan Style; Get Enough Sleep!

As you may have noticed, I have been posting the FlyLady 31 Baby Steps and my thoughts on them. I have been adding my thoughts on how cleaning your house, even the simple stuff, can be part of a spiritual devotion, and how the babysteps and the FlyLady program encourage you to think positive about yourself, your home, your habits - all to make life a little easier and better for you!

Today is Day 17 of the BabySteps! So far we have developed a few simple habits of things to do on a daily basis; in the form of simple morning & evening routines. Our goal is to make these routines a habit... if we do them consistently enough then they just become second nature!

Morning Routine

• Make Your Bed!
• Get up and get dressed to lace-up shoes; fixing your hair and face
• Look at your posted reminders in the kitchen and bathroom.
• Recognize the negative voices and change them. Remember, you are FLYing now!
• Put out your Hot Spots for two minutes
• Five-minute Room Rescue (pick any room in the house). Set your timer and go!
• Spend 15 Minutes decluttering each day. You can’t organize clutter!

Before-Bed Routine

• Keep your sink shining
• Lay out your clothes for tomorrow
• Put out your Hot Spot. It will make you happy in the morning!
• Go to bed at a decent hour!  Set a bedtime and stick with it!

For day 17, FlyLady wants us to think about how much sleep we are getting.  If we stay up too late and don't get enough sleep, we aren't doing ourselves any favors!  I know this is something a lot of adults struggle with.  For me, I tend to stay up late because after the kids go to bed is the only time I really get to myself!  Yet as much as I resist the idea, I know that getting a better night's sleep would be beneficial for my health!  I thought it was ironic that the "Motivational Essay" I just posted for yesterday's babystep was also about getting enough sleep!  Wait, not ironic... but obvious now that the Universe is sending me a message that I need to get more sleep!

From a Pagan/Witchy perspective, I think our time spent sleeping, in itself is a magickal thing.  It is a time for our bodies to heal and rejuvenate.  It is a time for our mind to rest.  It is a time for our spirit to be free!  Many magickal things can happen to our spirit while we sleep!  We can receive special dreams, we can have visits from loved ones or astrally travel to different places (even if we don't remember those, they happen!)  We sometimes receive spiritual lessons from our angels and spirit guides in our sleep!  Again, we might not remember these... it's like a file was downloaded to our system and then once we are awake, we have to be open enough to receiving the message before we can find the file!  Otherwise the "file" is stored for when we are ready!
If we aren't giving our self enough time asleep, what might we be missing?!
Last year I read this amazing book, called The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep.  It deals with some more complex aspects of Buddhism and Yoga, but it's written in a way that is easy to understand and gives some great insights as to how important our sleep cycles are and how to make our sleep cycles a part of our spiritual practice.

Here is a great video by the author of the above mentioned book!

I know as a Pagan, it's hard to set a regular bedtime also because so much of our ritual work is done at night time!  We wait until the moon has risen high in the sky to get the full energy effect of some of our rituals!  For Pagans, our spiritual time isn't at 10 am on Sunday mornings!  It's anytime.... but preferably at night for many reasons!!  So sticking to a regular bedtime just isn't part of our spiritual path... and that's okay!  The key here is to forgive yourself on the nights you DO stay up late, but on the nights you don't have to stay up, don't!  Don't just stay up late for no reason!  Recognize that sleep can be a magickal time as well as the times you are awake, invoking the moon!
Getting yourself on a regular sleep schedule can be hard!  But if you are consistent, you can reset your inner clock.  Part of what's great about the FlyLady routines is that you develop a routine of things you do before bed.  Once those routines are done consistently, your body knows that when these things are done, it's time for sleep!  Even if you don't do your before bed routine, just consistently going to bed and getting up at the same times will help you retrain your body, mind, and spirit!  I found this excellent article with some very practical tips on how to get enough sleep, it is worth looking at to see if you can make some changes that will help you fall asleep easier!
http://healthylifejournal.org/healthy-living/how-to-get-enough-sleep-at-night/

Parenting with the 5 Love Languages

I recently read the book 'The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman and it really inspired me to be a better wife and learn how to show my husband love in the way that he will fully appreciate and understand.  For anyone in a relationship I would recommend that book and I think that knowing and understanding the 5 Love Languages can improve all of your relationships!  While I was reading that book I was thinking a lot about how I could apply the concept with my children, and I was pleased to find that there is a book written specifically about using the 5 love languages with children!  I have been reading through this book and it has left me with a lot to think about, and it has definitely inspired me to be a better parent to my three children!e

You can find this book on Amazon!

This book explains the 5 Love Languages in detail, so even if you haven't read the first book you will gain a good understanding of them.  Each chapter goes over a specific love language and how you can express that language to children.
The Five Love Languages are;
Physical Touch
Gifts
Acts of Service
Words of Affirmation
Quality Time
you can read more about each love languages here.

One of my favorite concepts of this book is that all of us have "A Love Tank", and like a car if it is full of gasoline it will run better, but if it low or empty it will begin to have problems.  The Five Love Languages give us clues and tips as to how to help fill the "Love Tanks" of our family members.  With children, when their Love Tank is full they will be a lot more receptive and less defiant.  If their Love Tank is empty or low they will begin to act out as a way of testing whether or not you really love them, or out of fear or anger that their emotional needs are not being met.  Additionally, knowing their Love Language will help you know what you can do to fill that Love Tank!  It's like knowing what kind of gas or oil your car needs for optimal performance... if you keep filling it up with the wrong stuff, you may be wondering why it isn't performing well enough or having problems.  You may say "I Love You" to your child every day but if they aren't receiving love from you in the Love Language that they understand, they may be doubting your words, because they just don't feel it.
Another main point I have gathered from this book is that children need to be loved in all five love languages.  This not only helps ensure that their Love Tank is full, but it teaches them the value of all the different ways to express love and helps them become more balanced individuals.  The difference is you should focus on giving them "an overdose" of love in their primary love language, as this is what will mean the most to them and truly speak your love to them loud and clear.
Figuring out your child's Love Language isn't easy.  The book does include a quiz (also found on this website) but relates that the best way to actually figure out your child's primary love language is to watch your child's reaction to the different love languages as you express them.  Once you figure out what your child's primary love language is, continue speaking all five love languages but make sure you give them "extra" of their primary love language.

Here is a list I compiled of ways to express each of the 5 Love Languages.  I wrote this list with my own children in mind so feel free to come up with your own and add to the list!

Speaking The 5 Love Languages to Childrenexpress your love in these 5 ways every day!

Physical Touch;Hugs, Kisses, Pat on the back or head, Back rub, Back scratch, massage, foot rub, Brush their hair, paint their nails, manicure or pedicure, hold hands, cuddle, tickle, wrestle (physical play), have child sit in lap while watching tv or reading a book.

Words of Affirmation;Specific compliments, "Good Job", Thankyou's and words of gratitude, specific praise for accomplishments, randomly tell them something you like about them or some way you are proud of them, say "I love you" often and with inflection, play the "I Love You because..." game (go back and forth with parent and child exchanging words of why they love each other.)

Gifts;Gifts for no reason (does not have to be costly!), special surprises, gifts and cards on special occasions, make a gift of picture for the child, make a collage of photos of the child or a special time you had together, love notes (hidden in lunch boxes, backpacks, or bedroom where the child will find them), stickers, rewards, hide a gift to be found and give the child clues on where to find it, gift of a movie or trip to a favorite restaurant, make every day items a "present" by how they are given (If you wrap up that new toothbrush or those new socks, the "giving" becomes the focus!)  The gift of an ice cream cone or a Popsicle!

Acts of Service;Help with their homework, help with a project, brush their hair or give them a manicure or massage, make a special snack for them, make their favorite meal, help them learn a new skill, help them study, help them fix things, help them clean their room or help them with their chores.

Quality Time; Read together, watch movie or tv together, play a board game or cards, spend extra time at bedtime to tuck in/say prayers, set aside daily time to talk together, do a puzzle, make a meal or snack together, do arts and crafts or coloring together, do chores together, eat together, take walks or hikes or bike rides together.

Obviously there are so many ways to express each love language!  I really encourage any parent to read the book to understand the full nature of the Love Languages and how they should be used.  I have found it inspiring and I am (slowly but surely) changing some of my own behaviors in order to better fill those "Love Tanks" of my children!

The book also covers how the love languages are important in other areas of parenting, such as discipline, anger, and even in how a child learns.  It has a chapter on Love Languages for single parent homes or divorced parents too.  Learn more here.... http://www.5lovelanguages.com/

Weekly Housewives Report 4/18 - 4/22

Weekly Houswives' Report 4/18/2011 - 4/22/2011

The week began and I drew this card for myself from The Housewives Tarot - The Fool.  I could certainly relate to this harried housewife, running around in somewhat of a frenzy, excited about the prospects of her week but just not quite in control.  Like the housewife on this card, the multitude of tasks and responsibilities of the week were just an unorganized mess of plans and emotions.  Once I saw this card I knew I needed to just slow down, simplify, and FOCUS.  Not always an easy thing for me to do!

With the FlyLady.net program this week we were focusing on the Master Bedroom.  I figured that focusing some of my energy on renewing my personal space would be a perfect way for me to slow down, simplify, and prioritize.  When my Bedroom is clean and inviting I tend to spend more time taking care of myself.  I sleep better, I meditate more, and I just feel better!

 So... this area needed some work.  This was my bookshelf next to the bed.  Most of my books were either in the closet or in the computer room because there just wasn't enough room for them here.  I had gotten a new book shelf a couple weeks ago, but hadn't brought it in here yet.  I hadn't really decided if it was going to go in my Master Bedroom or in another room.  But I decided my books and tarot cards needed a better home than their present location, sooo....

 Ta-Da!  Transformation!  ALL my "woo~woo" books in one place!  Now I actually WANT to stay in my room... I mean with all my books straightened and easy to find, I've got my own personal witchy library here and I love it!

 My Tarot and Oracle Card collection... now in it's worthy home that deserves some showing off!

And my Tarot Library!   Still growing... but it just makes me so happy to see all my tarot books in one place, happily on a shelf together with my tarot journals!

The lower shelves contain my spiritual books with topics ranging from Astrology, Meditation, Yoga, Wicca, Witchcraft, and other Pagan Paths.

Tuesday night I had my Yoga Class and our meditation on Awakening your Inner Child.  I was inspired to write a couple blogs about that experience...
Awakening Your Inner Child
Peace of Mind
Thirteen Ways to Awaken Your Inner Child
I was also reminded that as a child, our personal space in the world is our bedroom, it is our sanctuary, our kingdom where our imagination can roam and our play and fantasies really come to life.  This inspired me to keep working on my bedroom, even when it began to look like this.... 

But 30 minutes or so took care of THAT problem....

Ahhh!  Feels so much better now, doesn't it?!?!

I ended the week by getting rid of some clothes from the closets and dressers and immediately taking those clothes to my local Goodwill thrift store.  I got myself 1 new pair of jeans for work, and found a new lampshade to go with the lamp I got at a yardsale... so now my Master Bedroom is not only clean and organized, but well- lit also!  The sheets and comforter have been washed today also, so I'm about to crawl into bed and enjoy the scent of lavender on my sheets as I drift of to sleep in my energetically cleansed sanctuary!

All in all, I think this Fool managed to pull herself together and accomplish exactly what needed to be done!  Now I'm ready for the next stage of my journey, whatever that may be!

Book of Shadows

Prompt: Book of Shadows
This was a suggestion by one of our regulars, and it will surely bring a wide range of answers.....What is your Book of Shadows/Grimoire like?Is it digital or hand-written? A spiral bound notebook, loose leaf pages in a binder, or in a handmade binding?What kinds of things do you keep in this book, and what things do you leave out or reserve for another book?If you are willing, perhaps take a picture or two to share with us.How do you ensure the safety of this information? Where do you keep it?

My Book of Shadows is a work in progress. I use a three ring binder so I can add stuff in different sections or move things around if I want to. It varies from hand written, decorated scrapbook style pages, to plain handwritten pages, to some typed and computer printed pages. I have so much more that I would like to add to it but haven't yet... as I said, it is a work in progress and it is always growing and changing (like me).

I used to have just one, but later divided some stuff into seperate notebooks. I have a seperate binder for all my Tarot related stuff (and I have a couple different tarot journals as well - which are blank journal books or spiral notebooks). I have another binder that is my "Wheel of the Year" journal, in which I keep everything related to Sabbats and Astrology. My main Book of Shadows is the collection of everything else; Prayers, Rituals, Correspondences, Elements, Chakras, whatever I have studied over the years. Here is my current "Table of Contents" for my Book of Shadows -

Book of Shadows Blessing
Wiccan Rede
Blessings, Prayers & Poems
Ritual Information;
* Altar and Tools * Ritual Outline * Ritual Preparation * Opening Prayers & Invokations * Closings
Moon Power;
* Table & Correspondences * Moon & Astrology * Moon Prayers & Chants * Moon Rituals & Spells
Elements
Earth Power - Correspondences * Earth Prayer * Spells & Rituals
Air Power - Correspondences * Air Prayer * Spells & Rituals
Fire Power - Correspondences * Fire Prayer * Spells & Rituals
Water Power - Correspondences* Water Prayer * Spells & Rituals
Personal Power;
* Chakras * Meditation * Yoga * Grounding & Cleansing

I don't have any pictures of my B.O.S. to share with you today but it's a great idea to take some pictures, I will have to do that soon! I keep my B.O.S. on my special bookshelf/altar in my room, along with my other metaphysical / Pagan books.

http://paganprompts.blogspot.com/2009/10/prompt-book-of-shadows.html

Should or Could?

Time for some more soul-searching and bearing my soul open for all to see. I am journaling today from an excersize from the book; "You Can Heal Your Life" by Louise L. Hay. I posted this as a Journaling excersize at "Journal Yourself Awake" - please come check it out! Even if you don't post your results publicly in a blog - try out this journaling excersize it is really amazing!

Should Or Could?

I Should.....
* I Should Have a cleaner house.
* I Should be 100% smoke-free by now.
* I Should be more patient with my kids.
* I should be more ambitious when it comes to work and money.
* I should spend my time more wisely.

Why Should I?
* Why should I have a cleaner house? Because my mom's house was always cleaner than this. Because I'm embarrassed and worried about what others would say. Because I should be more organized. (Look - another "Should"!)
* Why Should I be 100% smoke-free by now? Because it's been 32 days and I need to get serious about quitting smoking! Because I should have more self-control, I need to be more strict with myself! ( Look - another "Should" - and some self-punishing thoughts as well!)
* Why should I be more patient with my kids? If I lose my temper too often they will never trust me or love me. I should be a more loving mother. (In other words, I don't feel like I am a loving mother, and when I say "I Should be more patient with my kids", I am actually saying to myself, "I am not patient or loving enough, and I don't deserve their love.")
* Why should I be more ambitious when it comes to work and money? I am almost 30 I should be doing something with my life other than waitressing. I need to be making more money. (says who? I'm happy doing what I do, and being rich isn't a goal of mine - only being happy is!)
* Why should I be spending my time more wisely? Because life is short. I have so much to get done, and not enough time. ( those sound like answers based on fear, or words that ther people use)

If I really Wanted to I Could...
If I really wanted to I could have a cleaner house.
If I really wanted to I could be 100% smoke-free right now.
If I really wanted to I could be more patient with my kids.
If I really wanted to I could be more ambitious when it comes to work and money.
If I really wanted to I could spend my time more wisely.

.... wow... I feel better already!

Why haven't I?
*Why haven't I made my house cleaner? Well, actually, it's pretty clean. I'm sure there are places a lot worse than mine. It's crowded, and it's Lived In! My whole idea of needin it to be cleaner comes from fear of other's judgements. But if I just lesten to myself and not those other voices, It's not bad. It's healthy.
* Why haven't I completley quit smoking? Because I enjoy my 1 cigarette every night before bed. Because quitting cold-turkey hasn't worked for me in the past, I am trying something different. I am letting myself indulge and rather than punishing myself for it I am trying to learn more about my cravings and addiction, and go slowly. I know when Iam ready, I will be totally able to give up that 1 cig. a day. I am not failing, and I don't need to be punished.
* Why haven't I been more patient wth my kids? Because I need to learn better communcation skills. Because who can be patient with 3 crazy kids? Am I being too hard on myself? Perhaps it's just me being too hard on myself as a parent that is manifesting as problems with them!
* Why haven't I been more ambitious about work and money? Because I am happy doing what I do. Because I am afraid to try something different - afraid that I might fail.
* Why haven't I spent my time more wisely? Because I don't know how. Because I'm afraid there isn't enough time.

.... This was very revealing, and yes, very healing for me. Just recognizing my thought patterns and acknowledging them will help me to begin to change them from negative to positive. And I am going to stop using the word "Should" and replace it with the word "Could".. how about you?? Don't forget to check out the original post for some more insights on this concept and from the book! http://journalyourselfawake.blogspot.com/2009/08/should-or-could.html

Quitting Smoking = Healing My Life (part 1)

So, I've made it to the one week mark. I quit smoking 7 days ago. I've been using the nicotine gum, and doing pretty well! But I have a confession. There is one hurtle I have yet to overcome. That last cigarette before bed. After the kids and hubby are in bed and the housework is done, when it's just me and my thoughts. I have not managed to give up that last cigarette each night. So, the ticker at the top of my page isn't 100% accurate. Take away 6 or 7 cigarettes from the part where it says "Number of Cigarettes Avoided."

But I can't think of myself as a failure. I can't judge myself badly for that. This is a habit that is 10 years in the making. So it's time to look deeper. Why do I feel the need to smoke? What have the cigarettes been a "smoke screen" for?

I have the book, "You Can Heal Your Life" by Louise L. Hay. I have read it, but I haven't really taken the time to apply each lesson to my life. But now I think it's time. Perhaps if I really take the time to work thru some core issues, I can truly give up this habit for good!! Did you know this is my 3rd or 4th time to "Quit" smoking??

I started smoking when I was 17, but just socially. When I was 18, I got pregnant, and quit smoking, but as soon as Miss Z. was born, I started smoking again, and not just socially. I kept smoking until I was 23, when I got pregnant again. So I quit again. After I had Princess A, I didn't start smoking again. Not for 3 years, until after the birth of my 3rd baby. At first, again, it was just socially. When I was drinking, or when I was stressed, but of course, this accumulated to the point of being a full-on smoker again. In '07 I tried to quit again. I made it about 1 month, then started again. I blamed it on stress. I've Always blamed it on stress.

This time, I don't want to start again. I don't want to continue to use smoking as a vice to help me deal with stress. I don't want to lose my commitment as soon as life turns stressful again; and it will!! So I think this time around it will be time for a little more soul-searching. Time to heal not just the addiction, but the roots of the addiction itself!! So, remembering that this book had some great advice for Healing all sorts of problems, I dug it out of my bookshelf, and re-read chapter one.

I'm going to quote some key points from this chapter and then talk about how I can apply these points to my life, right now, and my goal of quitting smoking.

1) Life is really very simple. What we give out, we get back.
The more I stress and worry about quitting, the harder it becomes. If I simply trust that I can do it, I can! I need to fully believe the the Universe / Life will assist me with my goal. Staying positive, uplifting myself, and never criticizing myself will create the positive outcome I desire!! Also, in treating others with love, kindness, respect, sympathy, and support, I will get the same back!!

2) The Universe Totally Supports us in every thought we choose to think and believe.
So, rather than thinking "It is so hard to quit smoking", or "I am having trouble quitting", my thoughts should remain focused on the positive outcome! Affirm!! Celebrate!! "I am a non-smoker!" "I have successfully quit smoking!!" "I am in control of my cravings!! I make healthy choices!!!!"

3) The Universal Power never judges or criticizes us.
When I am struggling, God/dess does not see me as "weak". If I make a mistake, The Universe does not label me as a failure. I should not pass these judgments on myself either! When I see myself in the same loving light that God sees me in, it is so much easier to simply smile and move forward. No "Tallying up the failures", no criticizing the past mistakes.

4) Most of us have Foolish ideas about who we are and many, many rigid rules about how life ought to be lived.
"I need a cigarette to calm down. I need to smoke to wind down. Wow, I'm stressed out, I need to smoke. Quitting smoking is harder than quitting a drug addiction. I can't deal with stress. If someone else is smoking near me, I need to smoke too." These are some examples of some of the beliefs that I have held, some of the attitudes I have had, that have further enabled me to continue smoking. Changing these core beliefs shouldn't be too hard, once I accept that there is no truth behind any of these statements.

5) When we are children, we learn how to feel about ourselves and life by the reactions of the adults around us.
Okay, at this point things get deep. I may have to reserve another blog for this (and the next) entirely. My parents were loving and kind, but not always supportive. ("You just can't stay focused. What were you thinking?") And they were very strict and protective of me. So, thinking of this - am I still smoking because I am STILL, at 29 years old, rebelling against my parents? Do I have trouble quitting because my mom always told me that I was a naive', scatterbrained, silly little girl who could not focus or get things done? (No, she did not say it in those words, or even in a mean way. But this is the feeling I remember.) And then my dad, always so positive, but harshly judgemental at the same time. How would I ever measure up? I remember as a teenager, realizing that I could NEVER live up to their standards, so why try? Then came the smoking, drinking, and drugs.... sigh..... Yes, it is all connected.

6) When we grow up we have a tendency to re-create the emotional environment of our early home life. However, we should not blame our parents for this.
(Louise L. Hay goes on to say that we cannot blame our parents, because they were just recreating what they had learned as children, and they their parents before them. We cannot place the blame on others, because this just creates resentment. And resentment causes illnesses and addiction - it's counterproductive.) In what way am I recreating my home life by smoking? Neither of my parents smoked. But I would agree that they each had their vices and addictions, their ways of avoiding the stress rather than dealing with it. And then I, wanting to rebel, and feeling like I would never be accepted by them, chose smoking as my vice. Perhaps even my previous failed attempts of quitting smoking is just mirroring the way that I always felt that my parents were trapped with each other, trapped in a lifestyle that didn't seem to make them happy. I don't have to be trapped. I'm not trapped, and I don't need to rebel anymore. But I still feel the need for their approval, and I still feel like I will always fall short. Like I said, this may need a whole different blog post. After all, this is just the first chapter!


7) We Choose Our Parents.
Louise L. Hay belives along with myself, and many others, that before we are born we get to choose certain things in our life. We get to choose who our parents will be, and what life lessons we would like to learn. It's good to take time to remember this. No one has perfect parents. No one has a "Perfect" relationship with their parents. It's all part of the human experience. Some may be learning a very difficult lesson; in having no parents, or in having abusive parents. Some simply have to learn to overcome the beliefs instilled by their parents, or to embrace them. So I must ask myself, what wonderful things have I learned from my parents? Because I must have choosen them because of what they could teach me - beyond the negative. I think that from my mother I have learned about Faith and Trust. And from my father I have learned Humor and how to stick with something and not give up, To Go After My Dreams. These things are all lessons that I can utilize to help me quit smoking!

8) The point of power is always in the present moment.
When I am feeling most weak and tempted, I am thinking of my past. I am thinking of how I used to be, how I smoked one cigarette last night, so I obviously can't control myself, and that I should do it again. Or I am thinking of my past feelings of addiction; the past feelings of pleasure I may have had from smoking. I must bring my awareness to the NOW, and remember that past and future do not dictate this moment. My power, my spirit, my thoughts, my beliefs, are HERE and NOW. One of my favorite affirmations is hanging on the wall above my desk. It says; "In the here and now, I am strong. I have Divine energy, wisdom, insight and ability. In this very moment I can accomplish anything I want with my own willpower and spirit! "

9) The only thing we are ever dealing with is Thought, and Thought can be changed.
When I think "I am weak, I need to smoke." or "Gosh I really want a cigarette right now.", these are THOUGHTS. Not realities. If I change my Thoughts, I change my reality. "I am strong. I have done so well. I am really doing great in reaching my goal. This gets easier every day."

10) The innermost belief that creates negativity is "I'm not good enough."
Why is it so hard for most people to look themselves in the mirror and say "I AM WONDERFUL" ? I've got a head start on this one, because my spiritual journey over the past few years has been about learning to Love myself. Fully and Truly. I am still working on it; it's hard to overcome generations and decades of society telling us all that we're not good enough, not pretty enough, not rich enough. But I know, deep inside, that I am worthy of self-respect. I am worthy of love. My body is worthy of being treated like a temple! When I am tempted to smoke, I need only remind myself that I am good enough and worthy of being healthy and free of addictions!

11) Resentment, criticism, guilt, and fear cause more problems than anything else.
Boy, do I know that one. I know and can admit that it was my own feelings of guilt, fear, self -criticism, and inner resentment that caused me to smoke in the first place. As a teenager I began to drink, smoke, and do drugs to try and mask or self-medicate these feelings, but these masks did not help the problem, did not cure the feelings, only made them worse. Worse, but buried. Now they are buried deep, and have probably bee festering for a long time. I've come so far... I have been clean from drugs for 8 years. I hardly ever drink, and never get drunk anymore. So I'm chipping away the mask, little by little. Once I get through this last part, I think I can finally begin to heal these inner feelings which cause much more than just my addictions. Who knows what else in my life can be healed once I face these innermost beasts?

12) We can change our attitude towards the past.
As you might be able to tell from the previous paragraph, I have a rocky past. It's not easy for me to think about it or talk about it. So changing my attitude about it? Hmmm. What I already know is that our past does not have to define our present. I was a drug addict. Not anymore. I was an unmotivated slob, with no housekeeping skills. Not anymore. I was a smoker....
Not Anymore!

13) To release the past, we must be willing to forgive.
True forgiveness can be really hard when you have truly dark things in your past. When I think of my past in terms of forgiveness, I feel those old resentments bubbling up. Anger. Fear. Yes, even Hate. How can I really forgive those who have hurt me? Rape. Physical Abuse. Mental Abuse. Even thinking about it now makes me shake, and suddenly I am fighting an urge to go smoke!! There it is, there is the core of my problems, the roots of my insecurity. Those feelings aren't gone, they are just buried and masked. And hardest of all to forgive is myself. The book says "We may not know how to forgive, and we may not want to forgive, but the very fact that we say we are willing to forgive begins the healing process. It is imperative for our own healing that we release the past and forgive everyone."
I forgive you for not being the way I wanted you to be. I forgive you and I set you free.

14) All Dis-Ease comes from a state of unforgiveness.
Whether it be our parents, ourselves, or someone else that has hurt us, I know that holding onto resentment can create no good. Resentment is a thought, and thoughts become feelings, and feelings manifest themselves in physical ways. Have you ever been so stressed that you give yourself a stomach ache? So sad or depressed that you make yourself sick? Resentment might not create these instant illnesses such as headaches or stomach aches, but since it is such a deep feeling it can cause the deeper illnesses. Chronic pain, digestive problems, additions, even cancer. Working on forgiveness; of myself and others, is the true way to Heal my Life.

Thursday's 13 - 13 books I have read this year

http://thursday-13.com/2009/07/15/thursday-13-week-28/

13 Books I have read this year (between January 2009 and July 2009)

1. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccoult
2. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
3. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
4. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
5. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
6. The Host by Stephenie Meyer
7. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
8. Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
9. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
10. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
11. The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
12. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
13. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

http://thursday-13.com/2009/07/15/thursday-13-week-28/

My Sister's Keeper

Okay, it is time. I have been holding this in all night and day, and I have to let it out! I will do this in two parts; Book Review and Movie Review.

"My Sister's Keeper" by Jodi Piccolt
I loved this book. Yes, it was a tear jerker. The author does a really great job of tackling some hard subjects; Childhood Cancer, family problems, making choices as parents, and dealing with the concepts of children's rights. The characters are believeable and each has a voice throughout the book - you can actually see all points of view and decide for yourself what you want to make of it. The underlying story is one of love and how we make sacrifices for others, and when to know and accept that we have sacrificed all we can. I read this book earlier this year and it has become one of my favorites, I reccomend it to anyone who likes to read. Even though it is not the type of book I normally read, I was really suprised by it, and it has helped me try to broaden my horizons when it comes to what type of books I will read.

Now, the movie.....

Last night (Sunday) I went to see the movie with some friends. Of the 5 of us, 3 of us had read the book, and we had high expectations. We left the theater extremelly dissapointed, and yes, even pissed off!!!
I know that many movies have to leave things out, so I was expecting it to be not exactly as the book. There is only so much you can do in translation of book to film. (Example; Twilight ) BUT, this movie went beyond the acceptable "leaving things out" - to the point that I don't think ANYONE who has read the book will leave this movie feeling good about it. Here is my official list of complaints;
#1 - they left out a main character!!! The woman who was assigned by the courts as the Gaurdian AdLitem had a huge role in the book, and she is NOT EVEN IN THE MOVIE!
# 2 - There was an important side story with the Gaurdian AdLitem and the Lawyer, Campbell. Of course, without one character, you pretty much have to leave that out. But this also leaves the character of the Lawyer quite unfulfilled and lacking in substance through the movie. You don't get to know him at all.
#3 - there were also important things going on with the brother in the book; and they totally left that stuff out as well. I stated before I can understand when they leave things out, but these events were groundshaking and shaped the family dynamic in a strong way - how can you leave that out???
#4 - this is the BIG ONE. The Ending is wrong. I mean, they have the absoluter wrong ending, the book did not end anywhere close to the way they ended the movie, and the whole point of the book was lost by changing the ending. Not only was the ending of the movie predictable and anti-climactic, but that is NOT THE WAY IT ENDED!!

AAARRRGGHHHHHHH!!!! (screaming & pulling out my hair)

Okay. My opinion has been stated. If you plan on reading the book, Read it!! It is well worth it!! But save yourself the pain of dissapointment and DON'T see the movie if you read the book!! Just forget they ever made a movie and savor the book for what it is!!
If you don't plan on reading the book; go ahead and see the movie, but know that you are missing the main point. Or if you want to, see the movie first and then read the book; if you are prepared to let go of all preconceived notions created by the movie before you read the book. Whatever. Just don't come telling me you liked the movie, unless you think you can survive my sacrastic wrath......