As of May 31, 2018, I am happily retired! Now, to figure out what to do next! :-)

Writing the Witchy Way: Big Huge Mega Giveaway for The Witch's Broom

Writing the Witchy Way: Big Huge Mega Giveaway for The Witch's Broom: a Rafflecopter giveaway It's the big one! I'm so excited that THE WITCH'S BROOM is coming out on April 8th--only a month away...

The Wheel of the Year

Witch's Thanksgiving

MABON

Mabon is the 2^nd Harvest Festival....a time when nature declines, and draws back into bounty, getting ready for Winter and its time of rest. It is also known as Alban Elfed, Harvest Home, Winter Finding, Autumnal Equinox, Time of Changing Winds. These are days of divine balance waiting, hanging and being centered and posed before the energy shifts and wanes.

Mabon is a Celtic/Welsh god often referred to as the Son of Light (hhmmm, I believe in Christianity sounds like the equivalent of a man named Jesus). Mabon is the son of the Mother Goddess Modron and is also considered to be the male counterpart of Persephone. Mabon is a deity for truth and justice, music and youth......was separated from his mother when he was young. Persephone was dearly loved by her mother, Demeter, and when she was taken by her destined, Hades, Demeter lost it. Demeter caused the land to dye and diminish, taking her sorrow and grief out on the earth and all who lived. Mother Earth draws back into herself at this turn of the Wheel.

This is the time of reaping of what had been sown in the fields as well as in our lives. Mother Earth lays over the land a patchwork quilt of rich and subtle colors. Bronzes, oranges,, dark dark greens fading ,. Mother is getting ready for the long rest and opens her arms to draw in her children. All are getting ready for the winter. This is a time for us to ponder what has grown and what has diminished in our lives.

This is one of my favorite seasons (along with Yule). I love decorating with pumpkins, scarecrows, witches, and faerys. Browns and oranges and golds and greens decorate shelves, tables and shrine. The nights are nippy and the days are cool...but they are filled with the anticipation of the coming winter.

This is the Witches Thanksgiving....have family over for turkey, corn, cornbread, sweet potatoes.....speaking of corn, it is the mainstay of the season; corn chowder, roasted corn, corn meal, and so on.

This is the time I do my reflections, and I seem to gather energy to do my fall cleaning....maybe because of the cooler temperatures. This is also the time when I am more attuned to the faerys and otherworldly beings....I was born in October, so maybe that is why I feel more vibrant, alive and in tune than at any other season.

Whatever you call this time of the wheel, it is a time for drawing in and for cozying up to each other, for gathering not only sustenance but friends and family as well.

Goodbye Jack, I Wish I Knew Ye....

Goodbye Jack – I wish I knew Ye




Jack Layton, leader of the National Democratic Party in Canada died Monday, August 22, 2011 at 61 years of age from Cancer. I watched his funeral on television – he was rightfully given a State funeral. I watched, laughed, hummed to the music, and cried. And I learned more about the person who was Jack Layton.


Ever since moving to Canada, I have admired and thought highly of Jack Layton. He seemed sincere, honest and a fundamentally caring person. It turns out I was right.


And after listening to the heartfelt eulogies of Stephen Lewis, Rev. Brent Hawkins and his beloved children, and well as Chief Aleto, I learned even more about this public figure and person who deeply loved his country, its people and values and I am left wishing and hoping people, in and outside of the NDP and politics will see the importance of carrying on the same ideals, policies and general and honest principles of Jack to help make Canada and the Earth itself become an even better place to live.


Yes, I wish I had known Jack Layton, I wish he could have sat with us, maybe for dinner or just around and had been able to discuss, well, just stuff.


My heartfelt sympathies go out to his family and friends. And I wish him a speedy journey to his next adventure wherever that may be. And I wish his family and friends and those who knew him even a little continue to celebrate the life he lived and the person he was.

My Self-Induced Guilt

How do you not feel guilt. How do you not feel helpless? How do you not feel angry? And how do you not feel lost on what to do?




All of these feelings hurt in one way or another. And all of them I bring on myself when it comes to helping and/or not being able to help the kids.



Robert and I are by no means wealthy – not even close….like so many others we are an emergency away from the poor house….hell, we probably couldn’t even get in the poor house….it surely would be the streets instead. We work hard for what we have….granted, we do have more than some others, but not as much as a lot of people. We are close to retirement (Ha! I can’t retire until I’m like 70-something, if I am even able to work THAT long!), we don’t have any savings to speak of and we need to look after ourselves first and foremost.



And then there are the daughters. The oldest used to live with us, so she knows our financial situation…which is considerably worse since she had to move to the States and makes as much as Robert and I put together. The youngest has no source of income because she suffers from Lupus and Fibromyalgia and all the ailments and problems that arise when your immune system is compromised. And she is a single mom who is raising her daughter who has Type 1 diabetes. And she often needs financial help. Which we used to be able to do occasionally, but find it very hard to do now. And of course, this hurts us and makes us feel guilty. My daughters have not had the best life….I was not the best mother, but I did what I could do….maybe not my best, but as I said, not too perfect. And I have come to accept that about myself. I have always loved my children. And still do…



So – when we can’t help the kids, or if we get upset and kind of chew at them for something that happened and they turn on the tears….I feel the guilt, the helplessness, lost and angry that it isn’t better for them or us.



But, I do have a loving husband who makes me see that I do what I am capable of for them, granted it may not be enough for them, but I try. And I don’t feel as bad because they are adults and I realize I have to look out for my husband and myself in our old age…



And the Universe knows I love those girls….and our granddaughters…..always have, always will and I hope someday their lives will be better, enriched and easier for them.



And for us.

I am not technologically minded

Crap!  I just deleted all of the comments that were on my blog!  To those of you who commented, thanks and I am sorry I accidentally deleted your words....won't happen again (maybe  lol)