LIFE has been happening fast and furious the last few months. I have kept up with my MySpace page more, so I have been able to keep up with a few of you there, but haven't had a chance to visit my friends here for a while!
My job is always crazy in April and May, then dear friends celebrated their Handfasting in May. We have been happily busy with our Coven too. The last two weeks we have focused on our youngest who graduated from High School on June 4. Spent as much time with her as possible, had a party for her and she got to go to the shore with friends a few days before we dropped her off today at the Recruiting Station. She left for processing in PA and then will be sworn in to the Army tomorrow. We will go see her sworn in and then she will leave for Missouri. This was not an easy thing for me to accept when she first told us of her decision in December. She joined the Future Soldier Program and last Saturday was given her Pvt. status. She was accepted in the field she wanted, Carpentry and Masonry. Saying goodbye today was hard, but I knew I would get to see her tomorrow. Tomorrow will be VERY difficult. This is our baby!
Which leads me to our transition. Today, our daughter left this house and is now officially an adult. She will come home to visit, but our little girl is all grown up now, as are her sisters. Lovely girls with lives of their own. Now, while this is rough to let them go, there is some excitement to this as well. When we married we blended our families so we have never been just a couple. Another chapter of life begins for all of us!
The last few days I have been off work and have found I was not sleeping too good. So I have been trying to keep my mind of our gal leaving by catching up on emails and updating my different web pages and my site THE RAVEN'S NEST. Sure would love to find a job where I could play on the pc all day! And that too is something I am feeling may be on the horizon. I am feeling more and more that it is time for a job change, but with the economy being what it is, that is not going to happen too quickly I fear.
At 50, I find myself reflecting on what I have accomplished so far and what it is that I truly want from the final chapters of my life. I still have a few dreams tucked away that I would like to fulfill and enjoy with my wonderful hubby. So while tears will flow a bit in sadness for all the empty bedrooms in our house, I will look forward to celebrating the events of our girls and their families as well as new adventures for hubby and I!
Friday, February 15, 2008, 09:53 AM EST [Personal Stuff]
I was looking through graphics and came upon this pretty one to send my friends, but it bothered me because it said "Best Friends". I guess it is that leftover stigma of high school cattyness from that term that raises red flags. The nasty "you aren't my best friend" taunts, etc. But then I thought, okay, I am 50, get over it.
I realized, hey, being best friends should be something we strive for in ALL of our friendships and it doesn't mean you can only have one selelct friend! I have all sorts of levels of friendships, my coven brothers and sisters are like my family and I have a deep love for them. I see them often interact with them on a regular basis and have the opportunity to nurture these relationships. I have many aquaintances that I enjoy spending time with. Still learning to know some of these folks so I continue to cultivate those relationships. And then my online friends, so many of you I have gotten to know well through posts and correspondence and I know if we were closeby, would be fast friends. I treasure my online friends.
So my point to this rambling.... (I am getting stir crazy, been in the house sick since Sunday! Humor me! LOL) BE THE BEST FRIEND YOU CAN BE TO EVERYONE!
The first snowflakes fell in our area yesterday and today the winds are howling. It is quite cold and I am enjoying the first true days of winter. I love the cold and the dark months. For me they are a time of reflection and meditation and further study. I see it as a time to for us to draw closer to the dieties.
My desire to learn has only been heightened by my joining a coven and the study group we have is wonderful. I am in that phase of the more I learn the more I realize I do not know! I feel I have found a group where I can truly grow and I am so excited about that. Challenges in my personal life only make me more determined to increase my knowledge of the craft.
Decorating for Yule is pretty well done and so I can just enjoy the evenings curled up and reading! Wishing all my friends here enlightenment and peace during the dark months!
It has been a busy couple weeks but good ones! I got to see my newest little grand this past weekend, she is a doll at 3 months! The weekend passed too quickly but it was a wonderful visit. She did great on her first airplane flight.
And the other exciting part of my life is that after 3 years as a Solitary, I have found an amazing group of folks I am now going to study with. I knew a year ago I wanted to join a Coven, just hadn't found the right fit. My dear soul friend and guide told me I would know when I found the place I was to be. He was right!
Driving to the first ritual I attended I was reflecting on my path. It was really foggy as I drove over the mourntain to get there. I love fog, I love to just be surrounded by it and let my mind take me away to other places. Of course this is not good to do on a winding mountain road!
As I drove I was thinking of Morgaine in the Mists of Avalon as she for the first time rode through the water in the fog and parted the mists. Yes, you can laugh now, I even put my hands up as if to clear the path in front of me. As I came down off the mountain into the clearing I could see my destination laying in the valley before me. Hmmm, my little Avalon. On one side of the mountain my mundane life, on the other my magical. I have been wandering through the mist and found the spot that parted and led me through to the clearing!
While many of us recognize Mabon as Thanksgiving, I am sure most of us also participate in the "Pilgrim Thanksgiving" too. I had our big dinner for the family this past weekend so I am looking forward to a 4 day weekend! This way too the kids can go visit all the other family. Off on a trip with my coven on Saturday to attend Full Moon Ritual at FOUR QUARTERS SANCTUARY in PA. I can't wait for this!
Blessings to all! I give thanks for all my dear online friends here at CovenSpace!
Matron Goddess: Brighid Patron God: Manannan mac Lir Other Gods and Goddesses I work with: Cerridwen, Airmid, Cernunnos, Dian Cecht Animal Totems: Raven Herbs and Flowers I feel drawn to: lavender, rosemary, sage Stones I feel drawn to: lapis My Metal(s) Of Choice: copper & iron
Trees that I feel drawn to: oak Astro stats: Libra (born on the cusp of Virgo & Libra, 9/24) Favorite Sabbat: Samhain! Favorite Season: Autumn with Winter a close second! Favorite Element(s): Water and Fire Mythic Creatures I feel drawn to: Sea Creatures and unicorns Spells that come easy to me are: Healing, Water and Candle Magic Types of divinations/witchy services you do: Still learning tarot and working on better results with scrying Favorite Ritual Tool: Though I don't use it a lot, my staff. I hand made it, charge it in the sea when ever I get the chance to go there and have decorated it with "gifts". For example, last trip to the beach I found 3 small shells with perfect little holes to hang them and my granddaughter and I both found lovely feathers from sea birds that I have attached. Type of Witchcraft you practice: I focus on using my herbs for healing and magic. I am not much on labels, if I have to pin it down, a witch following a Celtic path works!
