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The Right of Refusal and Standing for What You Are For

If you have seen my Facebook page recently then you have seen that things have taken a turn on Facebook for me. You will see links to timely information, petitions for various causes, and as some might say – a slightly activist tone to the page instead of just the regular contemplative posts.

Why the shift?

I feel that there are so many crazy things going on in the world that it is time I begin to exercise my Right of Refusal and say “You know this isn’t really acceptable”.

It is time for me to spotlight what I do stand for.

I don’t listen to the News or read most mainstream journalism. The News shows and most newspapers and magazines these days are considered some kind of entertainment […]

Have a Very Happy Valentine’s ~and give a hand to Wild Life Too!

Valentine’s Day is on Saturday! Spread your love for family and friends—and nature—by sending Valentine ecards from WWF. They are an environmentally friendly way to make everyone smile.

Give a Valentine’s Day Gift for Wildlife
 
This Valentine’s Day, share your love of wildlife with someone you love! Make a donation of any amount to support WWF’s conservation efforts, and send an ecard to your loved one to announce your gift. You may choose to send the ecard on any date—even Valentine’s Day.

Turn Your Relationships into Energy Generators Rather than Energy Drainers

“There is no hope or joy except in human relationships.”
– Antonine de Saint-Exupery

Valentine’s Day is coming up and even if you don’t “celebrate” Valentine’s Day the day might start you thinking about your relationships.

Relationships are important. You may love who you are in relationship with – but still have difficulty getting along with them.

Women are relationship oriented. Relationships mean a lot to us. A good relationship can give us increased energy, support a positive outlook, and the oomph to pursue our dreams.  A troubled relationship can wear us out and zap our zest for life.

Nothing affects us as woman like the quality of our relationships.

Research shows that when […]

The Power of an Enchanting Place

“Pleasure is icing on the cake. It goes beyond comfort–it’s possible to be comfortable without feeling your heart sing!–and it goes beyond mere function. It’s humor, surprise, delight–and above all, beauty.” ~www.care2.com


There is something wonderful about nourishing yourself in an environment that exponentially enhances and amplifies the experience.


Have you looked through magazines with pictures of a gorgeous, relaxing, and peaceful meal time setting and felt the power of a perfectly designed place?


Did you eat your meals in an enchanting beautiful setting where everything infused you with the experience of beauty?


Or do you skip meals because there just isn’t any time to eat anyhow.

[…]

What Seeds Do You Long to Plant?

Another way to celebrate Imbolc is to sit around the fire or candles and contemplate what do you hope to accomplish? What seeds do you wish to plant? You could write this ideas in a journal or discuss them with your loved ones. Then, on Lammas (August 2nd) you can look back to see what progress you have made.
#Imbolc

Traditional Foods at Imbolc

Butter is a traditional food that celebrates the lactation of the ewes. Cake, bread, butter, or porridge are placed in the window as an offering to Brigid’s White Cow. The next morning these blessed foods can be eaten by the family. Butter or oil left out on Imbolc Eve is used to make healing salves and ointments throughout the year.

The herb blackberry is sacred to Brigid and blackberry pies, jams, jellies and wines are eaten in honor of Brigid.

In Scotland a bonnach bride or bannock of Bride with hidden fruits and nuts was made at Imbolc – a large one for the whole family and a smaller one for each member of the family. The family would […]

New Growth

Imbolc means “in the belly”. This refers to the pregnant ewes who are about to birth their lambs, but can also refer to the Goddess, as in “in the belly of the Mother”, for this is a time when the seeds are just beneath the surface, ready to sprout; this is a time of quickening and new growth.
#Imbolc #GreatHarvestFestival

“Each Night Before You Go to Bed, My Baby”

When we were younger, my husband and I would get in bed at night and spend a few minutes talking about our day. Over 45 years this custom has helped us remain connected even as it has evolved.

Over time our nightly review had slowly turned into noting all the problems we had to deal with. And when that got to be a bit depressing for night time talk we just dropped out the whole review altogether.

But when we noticed we were missing that connection we started up again with a new form – appreciations – and we loved it.

At first it was a little forced but now it has grown and evolved into a robust and nurturing tradition.

Our Appreciations

We started by talking about […]

Dusk to Bedtime Evening Ritual and Prayers

 

In the Celtic Tradition – Dusk is actually the beginning of the day and not the end of the day. It can be interesting to see how it feels to approach your 24 hours like this. As evening sets in you are preparing for a good start of your day rather then trying to finish up undone tasks from the day.

Dusk is a time that holds some psychological challenges as well as some sacred potentials and an evening ritual provides structure and support and guidance through this luminous time and the transition from waking to sleep.

Spend some time to bring forth an a short evening ritual, some prayers you make up yourself, and /or some Inner work, that honors […]

Closing Out The Year

The Wheel has turned in the Gregorian Calendar and we are at another new beginning. A fresh start -we love that!

Today we closed the gift receiving of last year by completing the shuffle of the new refrigerator into the old spot in the kitchen and the old refrigerator into a new spot in the mud room. Hooray!

I was reminiscing today about Winter Solstice, Christmas, New Year’s Eve – those markers in our life which signal a confluence of energies and realizations that help to make us who we are and impact how we move through life.

Winter Solstice- Divine and Chaos

Our Winter Solsitce this year was full! Very full :-)

Wonder filled in its fullness – and also chaotically filled with last minute surprises.

Everyone in […]

Winter Woman

“When winter comes to a woman’s soul, she withdraws into her inner self, her deepest spaces. She refuses all connection, refutes all arguments that she should engage in the world. She may say she is resting, but she is more than resting: She is creating a new universe within herself, examining and breaking old patterns, destroying what should not be revived, feeding in secret what needs to thrive.

Winter women are those who bring into the next cycle what should be saved. They are the deep conservators of knowledge and power. Not for nothing did ancient peoples honour the grandmother. In her calm deliberateness, she winters over our truth, she freezes out false-heartedness.

Look into her eyes, this winter woman. In […]

New Life New Year New Beginnings

“We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives…not looking for flaws, but for potential.” – Ellen Goodman
#NewLife #NewYear #Beginnings

New Life New Year Well Wishes

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.
Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.
Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it.
Make your mistakes, next year and forever.”
– Neil Gaiman
#NewLife #NewYear

Your Deepest Desires

“May Light always surround you;
Hope kindle and rebound you.
May your Hurts turn to Healing;
Your Heart embrace Feeling.
May Wounds become Wisdom;
Every Kindness a Prism.
May Laughter infect you;
Your Passion resurrect you.
May Goodness inspire
your Deepest Desires.
Through all that you Reach For,
May your arms Never Tire.”
― D. Simone
#NewLife #NewYear #Beginnings

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