Samhain....

I awoke to a beautiful Samhain morn. C and I are currently continuing our daily morning ritual of sipping coffee while we are on our respective computers catching up on what has transpired in the world over night. I've taken today off from work, something I try to do every year. I do have to stop by the store and put my weekly orders in, but that shouldn't take more than 1/2 an hour. Then I'll be able to focus on the holiday.

I plan to construct a small Ancestor Altar, go for a long meditative walk, do several tarot readings (that I plan to post whilest they happen), and prepare an amazing feast for tonight. Samhain is a time of deep reflection. I feel its a day to not only look back and honor what has passed, but also a time to look forward into the world you wish to inhabit.

Several years ago, I remember reading something Thorn Coyle had written regarding working ritual into daily mundane tasks. She used the example of washing away negetivity while showering. As part of my re-devotion to my spiritual side and as a way to honor the Sacred Wound while letting go and moving forward into a more nourished and fulfilled me, I used this sort of ritual this morning. I often walk away from ritual feeling tired, needing grounding, and yet knowing that change has occured deeply within. Today the feeling of change is there, but it is just below the surface, slowly taking root so that it may flourish. Here's to a new year filled with wonder!

feet first...

Its been a busy week. The holiday shopping season is certainly upon us at work. Thus, the holiday induced stress of retail has taken hold of my mind, body, and spirit. I'm struggling with the concept of working in the "real" world lately. I keep a job only to pay the bills and to hopefully save for the future (which honestly doesn't happen as much as it should). I would prefer to merely make art, garden, and work as a full-time priestess. Which I'm sure is something a lot of people wish they could do. I have many friends who have tried to make it on that path and have left it behind, for several real world reasons.

Yet, as this year comes to a close and I reflect upon this fact, I'm thinking its time to concentrate far more on the things that bring beauty and wonder into my life, so that I may break with working in the "real" world and live the life I love. I was commited to this path once before and doing well. I was managing to balance the need to maintain a 9 to 5 in order to make doing the things I enjoy easier. I lost my way when I moved to South Dakota, due to fear, due to a need to survive in a place where my support network wasn't. So, as I move forward in this cycle of my life and prepare to move across the country once again, I feel its important to begin focusing on projects that will shift my daily life towards the life I want to live.

I have a to do list ahead of me in order to make this all happen. So far it includes the following:

~Finish writing cookbook and get it published. I'm setting a Nov. 30th deadline for writing.

~Focus more on my spiritual path. This blog is a gateway for just that.

~Spend less time procrastinating on facebook, reddit, etc... and more time on the above goals.

Wish me luck!

Today's Tarot:

Eight of Swords

This card always comes up when I'm feeling penned in and unable to focus. Most of the last few days have certainly felt this way. Including an MS flair up that caused my left eye to lose most of its focus all day Friday and parts of Saturday. This flair up served as a friendly reminder that I should be living the life I love. The Eights in all suits represent a decision to move forward and need to find direction. Well I've made my decision, and I will be moving in the direction of my destiny. Fear be damned! It's time to jump feet first.

Alignment...

I've been doing a lot of thinking about chakra alignment this week. I'm thinking of working on a meditation or trance that focuses on them as a pathway to balance and centering. It could be worked into a grounding exercise or used as the main work of a ritual. I wonder about it being used in combination with yoga poses that are meant to open each of the chakras. Thoughts?

Today's Tarot:

Ace of Cups

This has been a Cups heavy week. Perhaps I am to believe that my cup of creativity and love runneth over? I have felt more in harmony and more creative lately. I've been tapping into my emotions more effectively as well. Perhaps my emotions are beginning to balance back out again. I've been trying to focus more on my compassion for others and for myself lately. This seems to be having a positive effect at work. Which is where I need it most. Compassion helps me combat the frustration I often feel.

Moving forward...

I had an excellent time getting all dressed up and going out last night. The costume party was a huge hit. I realized this morning that C and I once again completely forgot to get any photos of us in our costumes. Here's hoping we remember to get some next weekend at Deadweird in Deadwood.

Today's Tarot:

The Wheel of Fortune

Expansion of possibilities is indicated by this card. New experiences and a burst of creative energy are possible. New life is represented. Fated encounters and happy experiences are on the horizon.

Creativity....

Our first Halloween adventure is tonight. I'm excited to come home after I work this morning to finish up my costume. We're going to the LGBT Equality Center's costume party. It should be a great time!

Today's Tarot:

Knight of Cups

More love and creativity today! That works for me. Yesterday was, as I had hoped, fairly frustration free. I was too tired to take advantage of being creative once I got home last night though. Here's hoping today's love and creativity are well taken advantage of.

I'm toying with the idea of starting a meditation group here in Rapid City. I'm fairly certain Janis would let me use the yoga studio for space.

Let the love flow...

I'm having one of those days where I wish I could just stay in bed. I ache from head to toe and didn't sleep well last night. I work a 9 hour shift today, and am not looking forward to it. When I left the store yesterday, I noticed a lot of random shoving of merchandise going on. There is a large portion of our staff who either don't understand merchandising or just don't care. This frustrates me to no end. It also means that our loving bosses are paying two of us to do the same job. Paying them to shove it on a random shelf, paying me to re-organize and make it shop able for our customers. It's going to be a long day.

Today's Tarot

Ace of Cups

Let the creativity and love flow. This Ace denotes the waters of emotion renewing and encouraging new beginnings to flow forth. Fertility is also a theme of this Ace, and as I awoke at 3 am with cramps straight from Hades, it certainly fits. Here's hoping I can harness the spirit of flowing love and creativity while fighting off frustration through out my day.

frost...

There is a protective layer of frost upon my car this morning. A true sign that winter is on its way to South Dakota. I like cold weather, but I dread winter here. Winter lasts from mid to late October until May or June here. It's just too damn long. Plus it has a tendency to block my two favorite seasons, Fall and Spring. The other issue is that they aren't so keen on plowing/sanding/salting the roads here. Which is sort of a problem, seeing how I live at the top of a very steep hill and often have to park at the bottom and walk the 3 1/2 blocks up to my apartment in the snow and wind.

Today's Tarot

Ace of Wands

The beginning of new vision and creativity. This is a good day to start new projects. Here's hoping for a day filled with new ideas and creative solutions.