You Must Read Threshold by Devin O'Branagan

"Dear Dad, None of us gets out of this alive"

I am an avid reader, and when I find an author I like, I read almost everything they write. I can't say it often enough, you must read THRESHOLD by Devin O'Branagan. I've read all her books, but this one is her best so far.

The story is about a about a 12 year old boy who has a near death experience. O'Branagan's greatest talent as a writer is character development and you'll be drawn into the lives of all of the unique characters in this novel, including Wigglebutt the dog.

Read more about my personal journey with this book at my Squidoo lens, Threshold, A Near Death Experience Novel.

Do Pagans Celebrate Christmas?

I have just finished three Squidoo lenses for the celebration of Yule. I was surprised to find that one of the Google search terms used to find one of them was "do pagans celebrate Christmas?" I'm glad the question came up because the answer is - NO.

Christmas is a religious Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. Although it has been secularized over the years, much to the dismay of Christians, and has pagan origins, it still remains Christ's Mass.

The date of Jesus' birth is unknown, and I won't delve into the various theories of why Christmas was placed on December 25th, which is the birthday of a Roman god, Mithras. The fact is that pagans do celebrate this season, and actually had the season before the "reason." (In response to the Christian saying, "Jesus is the reason for the season.")

Pagans and Wiccans celebrate Yule or the Winter Solstice which occurs several days prior to Christmas (In the Northern Hemisphere; in the Southern Hemisphere the Winter Solstice is in July). The Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year, a time when indigenous people in northern lands were concerned with making it through the winter. Food was scarce, people died from illness and the cold.

Our ancestors were aware of the turning of the wheel of the year, and knew that at midwinter the days would gradually become longer. It was a time to celebrate the rebirth of the Sun. The many Christmas traditions today can be traced back to these Nordic and Celtic traditions; including the Yule Log, mistletoe, holly,  and singing carols.

So we also decorate trees, light candles, and give each other gifts just as Christians do, but not on December 25th. Therefore I decided to create a few lenses related to Yule decorations and gifts, and a special one for what to wear to the Yule Ball (you do remember Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire? )

I invite you to visit these three lenses
Pagan Friendly Decorations for Yule

Should I Give My Pagan Friend a Christmas Gift?

What to Wear to the Yule Ball 

In the spirit of the season, I invite you also to listen to one of my very favorite Yule songs, a classic by Gypsy called "Bring Back the Light."

Grannysage's Meanderings

RV Park in Cassville, MO

On Sept 1, 2011, my husband and I realized a long held dream. We gave away almost all of our belongings and climbed aboard our 1997 Class A FourWinds motorhome, along with our two cats.

We were free! My husband had retired on his 62nd birthday, I quit my job, and we trusted the Universe to supply what we needed.

We immediately discovered that the Universe, not us, was in charge of our planning. We had planned to go to North Carolina to visit family first. Then up to Massachusetts and Maine for Samhain. We quickly discovered that with the gas mileage this vehicle makes (or doesn't make) we couldn't go far in one month.

So we settled down in Cassville, MO for one month which extended into two months. It was quiet, relaxing, and gave us time to unwind, get used to RV living, and gave me time to write. The weekend of Samhain, when we had planned to be in New England, they had a terrible snowstorm. We would have been there at that time if our money situation hadn't led us elsewhere. So you see, obstacles can become blessings.

In fact, this whole adventure is a result of my decision a year ago to create my own reality.  I was tired of the corporate games at work, having to pay too much for insurance, following  rules that made no sense. I began reading positive thinking books, starting with The Power of Intention by Wayne Dyer.

I put up a vison board in my cubicle to remind me every day to visualize my dream of living  in an RV full time. I fielded off the negativity of my co-workers who repeatedly told me it couldn't be done and that I needed to be reminded of "reality."

Vision Board with a Yellow Brick Road Theme

I went on a negative thinking fast and practiced watching my thoughts and replacing the negative ones with positive ones. I kept reading law of attraction books and started collecting affirmations. I would pick an affirmation every day to focus on.

Finally the day came when I walked out the door a free woman. We bought a 1997 Class A FourWinds motorhome. The payments and insurance were lower than we paid on our car. One day I parked it in the parking lot at my former job and gave tours to those people who kept telling me it would never happen. Even then I heard statements like "I hope it works out for you."

It has been working just great. Right now we are camped in an RV park in Murfressboro, AR, close to the Crater of Diamonds State Park. Yes, I plan to go diamond hunting. Amazing synchronicities keep appearing, letting us know we are on the right path for us.

My Squidoo writing is really taking off and since I am sitting on ground filled with quartz crystals, my creativity level is zooming. I can't wait to see where this new adventure will take us. At least I know I won't spend the rest of my life in a dead-end, mind-numbing job.

“Passion is a feeling that tells you: this is the right thing to do. Nothing can stand in my way. It doesn't matter what anyone else says. This feeling is so good that it cannot be ignored. I'm going to follow my bliss and act upon this glorious sensation of joy.” (Wayne Dyer)
  

One of my newest lenses that you might want to peruse.

Messages from Peace Pilgrim

A Little Story About Halloween

The Witch Who Danced with Ghosts

I wrote this little story to celebrate Halloween, or we pagans call it, Samhain. I hope you enjoy it.

Amplify’d from www.squidoo.com

The main character is an old witch, whose name we never learn. She is about to have a most unusual experience on the night of Samhain, which is what witches call Halloween. As you read the story, be sure to listen to the music, for that is where you will find the full flavor. Read more at www.squidoo.com

 

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/a1ec3w

Whispers of the Crone

Halloween is coming and our thoughts turn to witches and hags and other scary things. This lens celebrates cronehood and discusses legendary crones.

Amplify’d from www.squidoo.com

The dictionary defines a hag as a "an ugly evil-looking old woman." Some synonyms include beldam, beldame, witch, and crone. Wikipedia describes a crone as "a stock character in folklore and fairy tale, an old woman who is usually disagreeable, malicious, or sinister in manner, often with magical or supernatural associations that can make her either helpful or obstructing...As a character type, the crone shares characteristics with the hag Whispers of the Crone looks at the archetype of the hag, the crone, the witch, and the old woman. We will peer into the well of darkness and confront our fear of getting old. We will learn about the Crone Goddesses, Croning ceremonies, and crone stories. And perhaps, if we listen closely, we will hear the Crone whispering to us, "Do Not Be Afraid."

See more at www.squidoo.com

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/a1d986

Good pagan fiction books

I ran across this author Devin O'Branagan while looking for some good "witchy" fiction stories. She is such a talented writer that I fell in love with all of her work. As one reviewer stated, the only thing wrong with her writing is that she doesn't write fast enough.
So I decided to write a Squidoo lens about her to introduce her books to like minded folks.

Amplify’d from www.squidoo.com

I really enjoy reading good fiction novels about witches. Unfortunately there are very few of those around. Most witch stories use the Hollywood twist, evil witches who cast spells and must be stopped to save society. But ever hopeful for some sanity and realism about witchcraft, I keep looking.

See more at www.squidoo.com

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/a1bnfn

Wishes Do Come True

On Saturday, March 01, 2008 I wrote the post, What's a Kindle?  I ended the post with these words:

"I want one, I want one, I want one! "

Well, it is now January 2011 and I have a Kindle! What took so long, you might ask. Something called life keeps getting in the way....you know, rent, food, car payments, periods of not working, minor details like that. But this month my dream came true. I ordered an Amazon Kindle and paid for it with earnings from my Squidoo writing and my husband's Zazzle store.

In case you haven't heard about the Kindle, which would be difficult since it's being advertised everywhere, let me remind you. It is an ebook device that is the #1 seller at Amazon.  It is only 8.5 oz, lighter than a paperback and easier to hold. It holds 3,500 books! Who reads that many books? Well, maybe me, but it will take a while. But you can carry a whole library with you and download books instantly with Wi-Fi.

And it saves trees. Think about how much paper goes into printing books. I remember watching an Episode of Star Trek where Captain Picard had one hardcover book, just for nostalgia. Someday that will be our reality. I'm happy to be on the cutting edge of technology once again.

Right now I am availing myself of the hundreds of free books you can download from Amazon. These are out of copyright books that are in the public domain. I'm rereading some favorites and catching up on some I never got around to reading.

But soon I will be downloading my favorite genre, fantasy books. My husband says that I am no longer allowed to verbalize my most famous complaint, "Honey, I have nothing to read." He says he will immediately pick up the Kindle and download something for me. What a considerate man.

The moral is, never give up on your dreams. It may take awhile, but if you keep holding it in your mind, knowing that it is on your way to you, someday it will happen. My visualization right now is the RV we will be getting in August to start our new adventure, being full-time RV-ers.

Wishes can come true when you wish with all your might...

"The thoughts that you think, regarding those things that you want, set into motion the creation, and eventual fulfillment, of that which you want. And likewise, the thoughts that you think, regarding those things that you do not want, set into motion the creation, and eventual fulfillment, of that which you do NOT want." Abraham