Saturday, July 2, 2016

NaJoWriMo, Grimoires, and Krav Maga



written: July 1st
 
It’s the first day of July, which means the first day of the National Journal Writing Month Challenge (NaJoWriMo for short).  I’m shooting for an entry every day, and around 500 words per entry.  Seeing as how I get off of work around 4:30 and the husband doesn’t come home until 9 pm AND I’m not taking any classes this summer, I figure I should be able to make the 500 word mark.  Hopefully.

I am finally getting my butt in gear and doing the 2016 Grimoire Challenge.  Yeah, just a few months behind, but it just matters that I’m beginning!  After watching a couple dozen (or more) videos on YouTube of various Witches, Pagans, Druids, etc showing their Book of Shadows and/or Grimoires, I’m rather geared up to begin on my own once more.  Hopefully this will stick a bit better this time around.

But back to the Grimoire Challenge, there are some journaling prompts that I’ll answer during the NaJoWriMo.  The lady creating these challenges, threw out a ton of “basic” questions that one typically answers in a Grimoire/Book of Shadows, but they do require a lot of thinking and some serious writing to answer them properly.  So I’ll be dividing and conquering those over the course of the month, plus any other ones she tosses out.

I’m housing-sitting for the Robinsons once more.  I’m hoping to really take advantage of the pool once more.  And the quiet house in the mornings when I let their dog, Sammie, out to answer the call of nature.  Hopefully I’ll get a bit of writing in at that time as well.

Sam (one of David’s coworkers, and a person we both just adore) spent most of the day with us.  I’m just glad she knew how to deal with a VERY excitable pup.  Josey didn’t even phase Sam.  I wish our dog was better behaved, but she’s getting better.  

We all snagged dinner from 5 Guys Burgers and Fries and ended up watching Gods of Egypt.  I was disappointed that Sekhmet didn’t appear in the movie, but they did a good job of hinting at Hathor’s other side (aka Sekhmet).  Over all, decent movie.

Sam left around 9 pm, and I was utterly worn out by that point from socializing.  I should do more socializing to build up a tolerance to it.  ::laughs::  My anxiety is getting worse – especially my social anxiety.  

So now I’m debating about going back to therapy.  Or maybe just taking some Krav Maga classes instead.  David suggested the self-defense as a way to combat my fears on multiple levels.  He feels that if I know I can handle myself in most situations, that it will definitely help my anxiety of being out in public.  And I have to say, it does make quite a bit of sense.  So the debate now is do I spend the money doing therapy that may or may not work…or do I spend the money on Krav Maga that may not help my anxiety, but will get me into shape and show me how to defend myself?  I’m kind of leaning towards Krav Maga.

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Thankful Thursday



I am thankful…
1.       Surprise check from my Starbucks stock – a $540 I wasn’t expecting.  Woohoo!
2.       Will be house-sitting for the Robinsons again.  They are paying me to hang out in their awesome new house, play with their dog, and swim in their pool.  Sounds pretty damn awesome to me!
3.       Beginning an awesome four-day weekend.  I’m hoping to do a lot of swimming, relaxing, and creative time.
4.       That I have three pen pal letters that I need to respond to.  Love getting snail mail.
5.       Our lil home.  It ain’t perfect, but it’s OURS.
6.       That I was able to rescue the TINY little gecko from David’s toilet last night.  Cute little bugger. 
7.       All the various YouTube videos I’ve been devouring about other Witches/Pagans’ Books of Shadows.  I’m finally diving back into the art of keeping my own.
8.       The Tech Job – while it isn’t the greatest job EVER, it is worlds better than Starbucks ever was.
9.       New tennis shoes (sneakers, as David calls them) arrived a day early today!  Woot!
10.   Found a new style of jeans that fit me better than the “Long & Lean” style I used to wear.

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Catching Up



Damn it’s been ages since I’ve written here.  I’ve been doing a lot of more handwritten journaling in a cheapy lil composition notebook that I’ve taken to carrying around.  I’m also FINALLY delving into Bullet Journaling….ish.  ::laughs::  I know, I know.  I spent the money to get the “official” bullet journal and haven’t really touched it.  Instead, I’m playing around with it in my lil composition notebook.  Because, it doesn’t matter if I screw it up there.  But I’m figuring out what I do and do not like.  Maybe once the fall semester begins for me, I’ll switch over to the “official” bullet journal.  Who knows?  I’m not sweating it though.

Next month is another round of the National Journal Writing Month Challenge.  And I’m thinking of doing the daily challenge, combined with the 15k word challenge.  That’s a little less than 490 words a day.  And seeing as how I’m only working the Summer Tech job, I should be able to hit that mark.  I mean, I’m off of work at 4:30 pm and the Hubs doesn’t get home until 8:30, so that gives me FOUR FRIGGIN hours all to myself.  I SHOULD be able to bang out 490 words a day.  

The journal swaps I was in are finally over for me.  The one I joined up via the Month of Letters challenge (back in February) really wasn’t all that enjoyable for me.  I mean, I liked reading what the journal owner wrote in her journal and all, but I don’t really KNOW her, and have little to no connection.  So it was just words on a paper.

The journal swap I hosted went quite well.  But I don’t know if I’ll do that again this year.  Trying to do a journal swap, plus my 1st semester at grad school, PLUS move, plus dealing with Holly’s passing (RIP Old Lady Dog), AND dealing with a very spirited pup (Josey), was just way too much to handle.  Oh and don’t forget adding in the ending of the school year, with its normal level of sheer chaos….and then I found out a month before school let out that I was required to pack up my entire office & supply closet as they are remodeling our school (FINALLY).  But holy damn, that was a brutal stretch there.

So with it being summer time, I managed to snag one of only TWO slots in the Summer Tech Job.  Pretty damn proud of that.  I realized this is actually my 4th year now of doing this.  Pretty damn cool.
My MoonTime is impending and I’m restless as hell.  I’m wanting to CHANGE something.  Anything.  Like, on Monday, I wore a skirt over to Hazel’s for ritual (Litha)…and you know what?  I get the appeal now.  I might have to look into getting me a few more plus some tops to wear with ‘em.  It was just too damn hot to wear jeans.  

Litha with the group….was…anticlimactic.  But it was nice to be back with the group.  I hadn’t realized how much I had missed it.  I like that we are small group.  I got to meet Danu and her daughter this time around.  I like them and Danu is quite the firecracker.  Should make future rituals interesting.  ::laughs::

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

12 Pagan Questions

So a “friend” on Facebook, who’s big into the YouTube community posted a 12 Pagan Question thingie. The original “rules” for it was the person was to make a video of themselves answering the 12 questions, but I don’t do video. But I thought it would be fun to still answer her questions. Honestly, they are pretty shallow (damn, I’m in a snarky mood at the moment), but interesting enough.

1. What is your Witchy Name?
First off, I don’t really care for the whole “witchy” word to refer to my personal practice. Witch is just fine. I personally feel that calling it “witchy” is a way to “sweeten” the image, and I no longer find that necessary for my practice. ::shrugs:: As for my Magickal/Pagan name, I am a collector of spiritual names. My two public Pagan names that I use are “Walks” (short for Walks with Wolves, which is the shortened version of She Who Walks With Wolves) and “Manitou Wolf”. I do have another private spiritual name that I only use in ritual and that only a handful of people know. My private one is one I guard quite jealously. I feel that names do have power, especially ones that you have created yourself and that you use to sum up your spirit. That one will not be up for public consumption ever.

2. What is your Fave Subject in the Craft
This refers to the various things one can study within Paganism…which, let me tell you, it’s practically unlimited. I personally love studying anything to do with animal magick (ie totems, using animal fur/bones/teeth/antlers/claws/feathers/etc in ritual, honoring those spirits that show up in my mundane life, etc). Gemstones are also a new interest of mine, along with the Tarot.

3. Fave Witchy Song or Group
Ug, again with the “witchy” adjective. My favorite Pagan song would be “Walpurgisnacht” by Faun or “Fee Ra Huri” by Omnia. My favorite group would the Omnia or Brule Airo (though they are Native American, not necessarily Pagan).

4. Last Witchy Item You Purchased
Le sigh. The last “true” PAGAN (ie, it is made by a Pagan for Pagan use) item I purchased was this GORGEOUS Solstice Sun Candle by The Briar Wood for the upcoming Sabbat, Litha/Midsummer. Can’t wait to use it.

But the last item I purchased that will be used for Pagan rituals/ceremonies, even though it is not specially made for Pagan usage is a custom painted extra-large galaxy coyote skull by Divya Taxidermy. And I’m not usually big on painted skulls. I prefer them to be natural. But I utterly fell in LOVE with her galaxy painted skulls and knew I had to have one. I’m sad that New York has a wolf ban, or I would have had her paint a wolf skull. But an extra-large coyote skull will work as well. It’ll be a few weeks before I will receive it, but know that once I do, I’ll be sharing photos for damn sure. Can’t wait!

5. Fave Witchy Book ( Fiction or Non Fiction)
Is it possible to strain one’s eyes from rolling them so much? My favorite Pagan book is “Book of Shadows” by Phyllis Currot. It’s a lovely, embellished, fluffy “memoir” of her journey into Witchcraft, but I just adore it. I reread it quite often, when I’m just needing a re-enchantment of my own spiritual Path. I’m counting this book as Non-Fiction, though it is a good mixture of fiction and non. As for my favorite Fiction book – “The Cheysuli Chronicles” by Jennifer Roberson. Gimme those shapechanging Natives! ::grins::

6. Fave Color
Not sure why this is a thing, but ok. Favorite color – lavender. Though I am also very partial to black, red, blue, and silver/gray.

7. Do You have a Familiar
Nope. Honestly? I’m not even sure I believe in these when people claim their pets are their familiars. I work with spirit animals, so could those be called familiars? I have a wolf spirit that I’ve worked with for my entire time on this Path – (does the math) – which means I’ve been working with her for 20 years now. But honestly, I don’t call her a familiar. That, to me, implies a level of domestication, that will NEVER be present in her.

8. Fave Witchy Scent
Favorite Pagan scent – this “Artemis” incense I purchased from Harvest Moon Haven that I will TOTALLY be purchasing more of. I also love her “Black Crow”….and her “Dragon’s Blood” is to DIE for. Such amazing strong aroma. Love, love, LOVE it. Can’t sing her praises high enough.

9. Fave Sabbat
My knee-jerk reaction is to immediately claim Samhain (aka Halloween). It is one of my top Sabbats and holidays. I just love it. But if I stop and really think about it, I like Mabon (Autumn Equinox) better. It’s the signal that summer is truly coming to a close. The nights will grow longer. The weather will turn cooler. Just love it.

10. Are you in a Coven or Solitary
I would say that I’m a Solitary that occasionally dabbles in Coventry. ::chuckles:: I’ve been a member of four covens (Ancient Paths, Withywind, Rose Hollow, and Hearthstone) and am a member of a lil group of local women that occasionally get together. But given that Hazel’s life has been completely turned inside out and upside down, we haven’t met up in a while.

11. Fave Witchy Shoppe
Geez, I think next time I’ll just replace the damn “witchy” adjective with a not-so-friggin-fluffy adjective. My favorite Pagan shops are typically online. The ones in my area are just too damn expensive. And while I would love to support local Pagan businesses, I’m not paying $30 for a gemstone I can get for $3 online. Just ain’t happening.

12. Fave Food / Drink for Before, During Or After Ritual
Depends on the ritual. Like Mabon and Samhain (especially Samhain), I have pomegranate juice to drink. Most of the time, it’s whatever I have in the house. Used to, I would cook fried honey cakes for my previous Covens’ rituals (Ancient Paths and Withywind). Maybe I should get back into that habit once again.

Now, the final part of this is to “tag” other people to answer the same questions. But I figure, if you want to answer them, feel free.