Tag: Children and Youth

BE THANKFUL

Celtic Comments & Graphics

BE THANKFUL

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.

If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something,

For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,

Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,

Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.

They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary,

Because it means you’ve made an effort.

It’s easy to be thankful for the good things.

A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings.

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Good Black Friday Morning, my dear family & friends!

Good Black Friday Morning, dear family & friends!

How many of you have braved the crowds and the cold this morning? You are a braver soul than I am, lol! We had one of heaters that we use to keep the critters warm go out. So I have to venture out today and pick up a new one. Believe it or not, I am dreading that.

So did everyone have a nice Thanksgiving? Lots of good food & good company? I know I had an excellent meal yesterday. My daughter has turned out to be an wonderful cook. We got ready to leave, she packed me down with leftovers galore. I’m not complaining I will probably has turkey for the next week. I love turkey. I don’t know why I think you can eat it only a certain time of the year. The funny thing, no sooner had we got through with eating turkey and dressing, she started talking about Christmas. She knows I celebrate Yule and she also knows when she was growing up I celebrated Christmas with them. Since both of my children have become adults, I have come out and told them, “I don’t celebrate Christmas.” I do believe that is when I was told I was going to hell, huh? The funny part was, she would mention getting the fixings and me doing the cooking. Every time she would say, “So I buy everything you need and you can cook?” I believe she is getting a taste of what dear old mom did all these years. It is good though to be with family at this time of year. It would be even better that this feeling we have or perhaps tradition to be with family would last all year long. Don’t get me wrong about what I am trying to say. It just seems like at special season, we long for family and friends, to be with them is a must. We should have that feeling last all year long.

I am stopping now, I feel a soapbox moment coming on and I am hushing. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and may the rest of the holiday be relaxing and joyful. Don’t get knocked about in the malls and please don’t get shot (yes, shot! We had a local shooting around here this morning over sales!). Perhaps if you do go out, wear some body armor. We also had several fights around here too. The world, what is it coming too!

I am going to get busy now. Enjoy your holiday and please stay safe!

Luv & Hugs,
Lady A

Good Thanksgiving Morning, dear family & friends!

 

I have a request,  Please don’t run off because I showed up. Today is going to be a very short edition of our daily publications. I will be here probably a hour or two, then I have to run off to my daughter’s house.

I just wanted to take a moment and spend some time with my online family today.  I don’t know if you believe or celebrate Thanksgiving but I know I do. I have always said it, “Pagans have the best of everything!” That is probably why we had so much of our traditions and practices stolen from us, lol! A fight for another day, not today!  I don’t view Thanksgiving as a religious holiday. I believe it is part of my American heritage just as well as my Celtic heritage is. I do stop to thank the Goddess for all the wonderful gifts and blessings She has given me. I thank the Goddess for bringing each and everyone of you into my life.  You have touched my heart and soul so much. I can feel your love, support and caring every time I am here. I am very proud and honored to be able to call each of you my family. I have truly been blessed.

I hope each and everyone has a very blessed and joyous Thanksgiving Day. Don’t eat too much, stay safe, and stay warm.

Happy Thanksgiving, dear family and friends!

Love & Blessings,

Lady A & The WOTC

Let’s Talk Witch – Simple, “Just Be Thankful”

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Let’s Talk Witch – Simple, “Just Be Thankful”

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something,
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
Because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary,
Because it means you’ve made an effort.
It’s easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the
setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings.

Mastering the Element Earth

Mastering The Element Earth….

1- Make a list of things which have the combined qualities of dryness and coolness. However, don’t to this just out of your head. Rather, make a list of
Earth things that you see each day. Practice this for one week. Be sure to record the results each day in your magickal diary.

2- Find a place filled with nature, such as a field or park. Wear as little clothing as you can (if possible, nudity is best), and sit or lie on the ground so that as much of your skin as possible is touching the ground. This is especially easy for women, as they can simply wear a flowing skirt with no underwear and sit on the ground with the skirt spread out. Spend some time contemplating, feeling the coolness and dryness of the Earth. You should do this at least three times within a week.

3- Spend a period of up to three minutes (no more), once a day, imagining that
you are the element Earth. Feel the heaviness, the slowness, the coolness and
dryness of Earth. Feel the way you can absorb the pains and problems of the world (however, do not actually do so). Become Earth. Do this exercise for at
least a week before moving to the next exercise.

4- Once you have leaned to “be Earth”, the next step is to control the element
Earth. Bring the feeling from the previous exercise into your consciousness.
Next, hold your hands 9-12 inches apart, palms facing each other. Imagine a
bottle or box between your hands. Now, as you exhale, visualize all of the Earth
element which is in you going out with your breath and into the container
between your hands. Three to five breaths should be enough to fill it. Then,
with three breaths, inhale it back into you and go back to normal consciousness.

THE TEST
The next time you feel lightheaded, overweight, just heavy and lethargic, do
this exercise. If you feel lighter and better, you have succeeded, with the test
AND with mastering the element Earth.

November 28 – Daily Feast

November 28 – Daily Feast

Cold wind and mist have pushed in to dampen the spirits of grownups – but not the children. These natural things are a part of their enjoyment during a Thanksgiving holiday. The woods ring with voices and the sounds of sword fights as rotten sticks collide in midair. No real duel could be this exciting or cause so many to roll in the leaves or to hide behind the gnarled wild rose. Evening brings a rush of feet. Coyotes have set up their evening concert and the horned owl has squalled enough to impress them that it must be suppertime beside the fire. It has been a good day and something to remember thankfully.

~ I will tell you my people, and I believe it, it is not wrong for us to get this food. ~

CHIEF WENINOCK – YAKIMA

‘A Cherokee Feast of Days, Volume II’ by Joyce Sequichie Hifler

TGIF! Thank the Goddess It Is Friday! Yahoooo! TGIF!


I hope everyone had a marvelous Thanksgiving yesterday. I am sorry I should have told you that we were taking off for Thanksgiving. We might be Witches but we love to eat like hogs, hee, hee, hee! I have a lot to say today but it is running late. So I guess I will get my little rump to work and say…….

Have a very happy Friday

&

A Super Weekend!

P. S. Don’t get trampled by the mobs if you go shopping!

Luv & Hugs,

Lady A

More Friday Comments

November 9 – Daily Feast

November 9 – Daily Feast

The land has taken on the look of Thanksgiving time, of fallen acorns and pecans and walnuts. Now we see the bare branches of oaks like muscled arms lifted toward the sky, and fragrant smoke settles in the valley and hangs like gauzy curtains along the river. Southbound geese, called by the Cherokee as as-u in go di, still put down in the open fields to feed, to flap their huge wings, and to honk. They are not the least startled by passersby. It was a time like this when Wolf George came to my grandmother’s bearing a beautiful turkey for dinner. E li is said, “A fine turkey, good tasting. Did you raise it?” In his gruff full-blood tones he told the truth as he saw it, “No ma’am. Saw it roosting. Got it before someone stole it.”

~ If any white man steal our stock, I will report it openly. ~

SATANTA – KIOWA, 1800s

‘A Cherokee Feast of Days, Volume II’ by Joyce Sequichie Hifler

What A Beautiful & Blessed Day, My Dear Sisters & Brothers!

Good Morning, dear friends! I would have been here sooner but I have been looking for some graphics. In particular, fireworks graphics. I wanted to put up a huge firework display here. Why? Because this is the first morning I have woke up in true peace. And it was all due to the election results. I know some of you probably thought I had when off the deep end about the campaign and the candidates. But, I get these feelings and they are never wrong. Everyone tells me, the feelings are my witchy feelings coming through. For I don’t know how long, I had the feeling of dread and it was due to the campaign for President.  I had the feelings and I would also get quick visions of things to come. I can guarantee you those quick visions weren’t pleasant at all. I know our Religion was at stake and also women’s rights. Now that feeling of dread has passed and I am once again at peace with myself. You don’t know what a wonderful feeling that is! It is fantastic!

I hope everyone who wanted to vote yesterday had the opportunity. I saw on the television were people were having to wait in line for 4 hours to vote. That is determination to make sure your voice is heard. I applaud those individuals. I know all of us left here early because our local TV station was telling everyone to get to the polls early. There was supposedly long line here, yeah, right! I came home and picked up hubby and Kiki and we went to the polls. There were a few there but no long lines, heck we live out in the boonies. I am surprised they don’t use carrier pigeons out here. Walk in, write a little note, attach it to the pigeon’s leg and throw the pigeon out the window. And your vote is off, lol! But I blew the girl at the registration desk mind. Hubby insisted I take Kiki in. So I did. I walked in. The first thing I asked the girl (being humorous, I thought) was “Can I vote twice?” The girl looked at me totally puzzled. I looked at Kiki and told her that she wanted to vote too. So could I vote for her? The girl looked at me very seriously and asked me if Kiki was registered. I said yes, just kidding. The girl started flipping the pages of the book looking for Kiki’s name. I told her I was just kidding and she looked at me like she didn’t understand me. I told her again, I was just kidding. She finally got it and laughed. Brother, never kid with the registration officials! Who knew you could have such fun at the voting polls! Only in the boonies!

I have one thing real quick I want to talk to you about or rather ask your opinion. I have been looking through other Pagan websites and I noticed all of them had put up Yule graphics. I know that is our next Sabbat. But I was wondering how you would feel if I put Thanksgiving on our front page? I know it isn’t a Pagan holiday, of course. But I believe it is a holiday we all enjoy whether we are Pagan or not. Who doesn’t love to pick the skin off the turkey and eat it. Not to mention the sweet potatoes and dressing. I was thinking since Thanksgiving is really a tradition that spread across all Paths and Religions, would you be offended if I put up a Thanksgiving page? I want to hear from you if I would. Seriously. You are not going to hurt my feelings at all. Remember this is your blog, we do this everyday for you and I surely don’t want to offend anyone. So let me know, Thanksgiving page, YES or NO! Hey we are having a Thanksgiving Election, lol! Damn and I thought all the campaigning was over, lol!

Have a super, fantastic day and let me know your opinion on the front page!

Goddess Bless You & Yours,

Lady A

 

More Autumn / Fall Comments

Six Ways to Honor Mother Earth on Her Day

By Barry Dennis

Earth Day is the day when millions of people in 172 countries all over the globe share their appreciation for our beautiful planet. What are you giving back to the earth this year?

You might believe that one person can’t do a lot. But if we take the time to change a few small behaviors, we can make a difference collectively.

Here are six ways to be part of that effort.

Precycle before you recycle.

Precycling is the art of returning a thing to the earth before it was even taken, saving our resources and creating a brighter future. What kinds of things can you precycle? How about bottled water or plastic grocery bags? You can drink water out of a reusable water bottle, and pack your groceries in a reusable cloth bag. You’ve just precycled, preventing two plastic items from ending up in the refuse stream. Less demand for these items leads to less production.

Flick a switch.

This is simple. Begin to make it a habit to turn off the lights whenever you are leaving a room. Turn off the water when brushing or even while soaping up in the shower, then turn it back on to rinse off. Turn off your car ignition when you’re waiting for someone. Every time you flick the switch, you are also flicking a switch in your brain that helps to reinforce the behavior and turn it into a good habit—the habit of conserving.

If it ain’t broke, don’t replace it.

Before upgrading to the newest iPhone or a bigger-model flat-screen TV, ask yourself if it will make your life better than if you simply kept the model you already have. Take a moment to really visualize all the earth’s resources it took to make these items. You could save some of earth’s resources by simply waiting six months or a year before replacing something old with something new. At the end of that time, assess whether the quality of your life was seriously compromised by hanging on to that older model.

Change the demand.

Our system of supply and demand is a good thing. That is, when we demand goods that are actually, well, good—good for our health, our home, and our planet. By bringing greater awareness to what we consume, we change the demand that must create a new supply. Consider organic food, which does not use pesticides or hormones. These are not only better for our home planet, they are also healthier for our “home bodies.” Increasing the demand will change our common agricultural practices so the supply naturally shifts for all our benefit.

Want what you already have.

We sometimes think that “stuff” will make us happy, like a shiny new car or another pair of shoes. But who and what really makes you happy: your pets, your family, your friends? Your work, your leisure activities, your home? Right. This Earth Day, think about those you love, as well as the things around you that make your life easier, more fun, or more comfortable. Give thanks for all that you have, instead of wanting more.

Declutter your life.

In celebration of Earth Day, walk around your house and get rid of everything that’s not useful or healthful. Go through your bathroom, closets, drawers, kitchen cupboards, garage, basement, porch, and yard. Recycle everything you can, and donate the rest. Cleaning up your immediate environment will make you feel happier. Keep your empty space empty. The earth will thank you.

Barry Dennis is an internationally known inspirational speaker and spiritual teacher. His new book is The Chotchky Challenge: Clear the Clutter from Your Home, Heart, and Mind…and Discover the True Treasure of Your Soul (Hay House, April 2012). Learn more at http://www.BarryADennis.com.

I Am The Earth

I Am The Earth

The Earth is a healer,
I am the Earth,
The Earth is a Mother,
I am the Earth,
The Earth is a fountain,
I am the Earth,
The Earth is a mountain,
I am the Earth,
The Earth is in sorrow,
I am the Earth,
The Earth is in joy,
I am the Earth,
The Earth She is crying,
I am the Earth,
The Earth has a song to sing:
I am the Earth,
I am a blackbird,
I am the Earth,
I am a river,
I am the Earth,
We are the Earth,
I am the Earth,
I am the Earth,
I am the Earth,
I am the Earth.

(c)1982 Deirdre Pulgram Arthen

Happy Thanksgiving dear friends!

Thanksgiving Comments & Graphics

I wish each and everyone of you a very Happy & Blessed Thanksgiving! May you spend it with your loved ones whether they be family or friends. Let us not forget what today is all about, whether we are Pagan or Not! It doesn’t hurt Pagans, Wiccans, Witches and the like to stop and take time to be thankful. I know I very seldom get sentimental and most of all I don’t like to reveal to others that I do have a soft side. I guess I always like to seem in control of my emotions but there are even times when seasoned old witches let their emotions out. Ooops! I am not that old just emotional. It started this morning in the kitchen, with my wildcat Razzy. She put her paws up on my calf and I leaned down to rub her. I started talking to her telling her, she didn’t know how much she had to be thankful for this year. Then it hit me, I am the thankful one. I am so thankful that the Goddess brought her and her family to me. I am so grateful that I saved her and she will have a good home the rest of her life. I will love her and cherish her each year. I am also thankful for my older wildcat, Stinker, my little Pomeranian princess Kiki. Then I stopped to think about my family. I am so thankful for my two wonderful, beautiful and healthy children. I am thankful that my son has two healthy and beautiful daughters. I am thankful for my daughter and that the Goddess finally found a man to put up with her. I have a lot to be thankful for. 

I have to stop and think back though. At one time, I loved another man besides my husband. My husband and I were separated and I had known this man for years. He asked me out and we started seeing each other. We started making plans for the future. He loved my two children and my son he was crazy about. He had made plans to take him hunting and fishing and do all the things his father never had time to do with him. We had talked about moving into together. How life would be. But for some strange twist of fate my husband came by to visit the kids one evening. That evening, my husband took me out to the patio and we sit and talked. We talked about how things weren’t really that bad between us. I should let you know at this time why we were separated, I had caught him having an affair on me. Why? I didn’t know I had always tried to be the perfect wife, mother, housekeeper, witch, heck I was even PTA President! I guess I got caught up in being too perfect. He had fallen for a woman totally my opposite. He came to the house one day to drop the kids off some money and he had told me, “I had better sit down.” I couldn’t imagine what it was but he told me I was right and he was living with another woman. He wanted to tell me before I found out about her from someone else. Everything I had thought was true, I cried and cried. I thought my world had ended. I got up and slapped the holy shit out of him and told him to get out of the house. That is when I fell right straight into the arms of this other man. I guess he was my crutch. He loved me and I knew it. The first night, we went out. He took me to his parents’ house and then to his grandmother’s house. All of them told me, that they were glad to finally meet me. They had heard so much about me. But back to the night my husband came over and fate took such a straight twist. We got to laughing and crying together. We had a deep love and I couldn’t deny that. I went back to my comfort zone. I took my husband back. My husband came right out and told me that he didn’t know how to tell the other woman he was coming back home. He said he had left her crying in a motel room. And that if there was anyway possible that he was going to try to work things out with me. He said he had to go back and tell her and get his stuff. He even asked me if I wanted to go. I told him that probably wouldn’t be a good idea. I didn’t talk to the man I was seeing for two or three days because hubby was back home. The man knew where I was working and what time I came in each day. So he decided he would surprise me one day and stop by with his new motorcycle for me and him to go for a ride. I didn’t know he was there I had taken a couple of days off and hubby and I stopped in for a minute to see how things where going. On the stool, waiting for me, was the other man. I could see the look in his eyes when we walked in. He got up and left. He tore out on the motorcycle so quick, my hubby asked me what his problem was. I said I didn’t know. Part of me was crushed when he left on that motorcycle. But I knew where I belonged with my family. The next night the other man was killed in a motorcycle wreck. He was at a bar drinking, left the bar doing about 100 mph and hit a parked van head on. When I found out what happened I nearly died myself. I can say I was starting to fall in love with him or perhaps it was just neediless. But I had never had to do anything more difficult in my life than grieve in silence. Everytime I was alone I would break down and cry. I still cry to this day about it. For the longest time, I blamed myself for his death. I had friends tell me, that I had to stop doing that. But I believe with the help of the Goddess, I know that didn’t actually cause his death and I shouldn’t blame myself anymore. I didn’t make him pick up those drinks. I am sure like I, he was feeling heart-broken. But he didn’t need to get drunk, there were other ways of coping. I found them and he should have too. I miss him and if I had known that was what he was going to do, I would have found a way to stop. Where is this all going?  He showed me a part of life that I only thought I wanted. My path wasn’t meant to be with him. He showed me how to love deeper, appreciate every moment we have in this life because the next might be our last. I have alot to be thankful for just by knowing this man. 

So this Thanksgiving when I look back on the years, I have a lot to be thankful for. My family, my friends, people who I have lost over the years. Some I wish who could be alive now and see me and her grandchildren. But I know that those who have gone on are with the Goddess waiting. I am thankful for the Goddess and all the good things in life she has given me. I am thankful for all the readers of this blog. I am thankful for the friends I have made through it.

All in all, I believe this is going to be the best Thanksgiving for me. I realize what I have and what I have lost, I realize I will never take a moment of life for granted and I will live each moment to the fullest. I am thankful for the life the Goddess has given me and the Path that She has shown me. 

Remember the Goddess in your Thanksgiving this year! Remember my family and I, as I will be thinking about each and everyone of you this year! 

Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving to each and everyone of you,
Love, 

Lady Abyss

 Magickal Graphics