Granny Sage's Almanac

You Must Read Threshold by Devin O'Branagan

2012-01-17T23:30:00.000-08:00

"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?

2011-12-04T12:57:00.001-08:00

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

2011-11-14T15:05:00.001-08:00

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

2011-10-08T01:03:00.001-07:00

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

2011-09-21T19:45:00.001-07:00

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

2011-08-21T09:03:00.001-07:00

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

2011-01-23T17:04:00.000-08:00

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

What HaveYou Dabbled in Lately?

2011-01-02T12:27:00.000-08:00

The Wheel of the Year keeps turning. We blasted past Yule and are coming up on Imbolc. As a crone, it seems to turn even faster. Since it is a new year, I thought I would compile some thoughts for your amusement and enlightenment.

What first comes to mind is the the #1 quote for 2010 was “I am not a witch” by Christine O'Donnell. It seems she “dabbled” in witchcraft years ago. At first glance that is a pretty funny quote. But when you think about it further, what other religion would you say you “dabbled” in? I can say I “dabbled” in Christianity years ago, or “dabbled” in Eastern religions ever more years ago.

The definition of dabbling is “To undertake something superficially or without serious intent.” Lots of people, including teens, express an interest in witchcraft or say they are witches. Often it is to shock one's family or friends, or to be seen as “cool.” Some people just want to belong to a group, as pagans are very accepting of different lifestyles such as homosexuality.

Some seriously want to learn more, but decide the path is not for them. Others go on to make a commitment to continue learning about this religion called Wicca. It is a lifelong course that becomes part of one's life. Wicca has been recognized by the U.S military and U.S courts as a valid religion (see Dettmer v. Landon)

My concern here is not about the quote itself, although I find it hilariously funny.The deeper concern is the fact that being a witch is treated more as a joke than as a serious belief system. Pagan author Starhawk wrote about this issue in the faith column for the Washington Post.

Real witchcraft deserves respect --not O'Donnell's dabbling

“Witchcraft deserves the same respect accorded to any other spiritual tradition. And O'Donnell deserves the same respect as any other politician: that we judge them by their record, their abilities and their policies, not by stupid, offhand remarks they made decades ago.”

I agree. After watching more of her appearances on TV, I've decided I would never want her in office. She is a black and white thinker, and freedom of religion is certainly not on her agenda.

But just for fun, watch this parody of O'Donnell's campaign ad.

~Magickal Graphics~

The Wheel Turns to Mabon

2010-09-21T18:34:00.000-07:00

Actually the wheel of the year has turned quite a bit since I last wrote in my blog. My last post was just after Imbolc, when pagans celebrate the coming of spring. I am writing this just before Mabon, the second harvest festival of the year. That is about 7 months, much too long to be away.

But I haven't been idle. Mabon, also known as Harvest Home and the Autumn Equinox, is a time to rest from our labors. We harvest the seeds that were sown in the spring and share it with others. We prepare for the winter to come.

So I felt it was fitting to look back on what seeds I have sown and what I have to harvest. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my baskets are overflowing with abundance.

I have spent most of my time creating Squidoo lenses and participating in the community there. I have found it to be the best place to play with my creativity. I have accomplished much.

Our cat, Lady Ghost Whispurr, published her own lens called “Lady Ghost Whispurr Speaks.” I was hired to be her “ghostwriter” and we had a great time together talking about cat stories. I was hoping to get paid, but she told me that her payment is to keep “Daddy” happy. I can't complain about that.

Lady Ghost was proud to have her lens reviewed by the bevspaper at Squidoo Lens Review.

“There are a few humans who have become so in tune with the cat or cats that own them that they communicate in cat speak at a much higher level. Take Grannysage for instance, she is so loved by her cats and so adept at cat speak that her cats Lady Ghost Whispurr and Wileykat convinced her to write their stories and to explain about cat rescue, cat behavior, feral cats, and so much more. You will find her stories humorous, informative, and filled with love. In my opinion, Lady Ghost and Wileykat picked the purrfect woman to share their lives with.”

Because books have always been my friends, I decided to write about my favorites, the series of Oz books by L Frank Baum. I was shocked to learn that many people do not know there is more than one book. They have seen the movie, “The Wizard of Oz” but do not know that Dorothy returns to Oz many times to have more adventures. I have written two chapters of a series on the author and the books and am working on Part 3.

Part One: Following the Yellow Brick Road On August 17, 2010, Following the Yellow Brick Road was a winner in the Summer Sunshine Award contest, which provided money to both me and my chosen charity, First Book

Part Two: Still Following the Yellow Brick Road.

I was granted a third Lens of the Day award for Woman Who Hobbles After Wolves on July 27, 2010, This is particularly amazing when you stop to think that at the most, only 365 of these awards can be given out each year.

My newest lens was a work in progress for a long time. It was inspired by the movie “Avatar” which I loved very much. It was also the hardest lens I have every written, and many times I wanted to give up because I didn't know how to say what I wanted to say. But I had an inner voice, perhaps the voice of Gaia, that would not let me quit. I experienced a lot of synchronicities while writing it, mostly involving webs and spiders showing up in the books I read, shows I watched, and of course, in real life.

Web of Connection, Inspired by Avatar the Movie was finally published to the world and has been very well received. It has received a purple star which is a mark of excellence that used to be only granted to Giant Squids (those who have made more than 50 lenses) but now is open to all lensmasters. As of this writing I have gather 6 other purple stars which is great since purple is my favorite color.

Web of Connection was also reviewed at the Squidoo Lens Reviews by lensmaster bevspaper. This is what she had to say about it.

“Diane goes deep into the meanings of the movie and explains in her sagely way the connection that all things have in life. She tells us in the first paragraph about her comment to her husband as she left the movie. "This is what the mystics and shamans and holy men and women have tried to say for centuries. We are all connected." I was moved by her feeling because it was almost the same thing I said when I saw the movie, too.”

One of my older lenses was also reviewed, this time by lensmaster kimmanleyort

Des Moines, Baryshnikov and Grannysage

“What is a quality Squidoo lens? This is a question that I am always trying to answer and what we are striving to discover on Squidoo Lens Reviews. Since we all perceive things differently, what is quality to me may not be quality to you. However, if an article grabs your attention, keeps you mesmerized, makes you think and you keep remembering it afterwards, then it was quality for you. This is what happened when I first read Grannysage's lens, "Des Moines, Baryshnikov, and Me."

Bright Blessing this Mabon. We give thanks to the Mother for her many gifts. For more information about Mabon, I recommend this lens by lensmaster NanLT.

The Power of Appreciation

2010-02-13T17:53:00.000-08:00

“The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.”
William James

February has been an incredible month so far. In fact, the blessings started back on Jan. 21, when my lens "Romantic Gifts: Fairies Not Flowers" was selected for Lens of the Day at Squidoo. The previous title was "My Husband Never Gives Me Flowers." This was a huge honor to me, and I was overwhelmed by the number of people who left comments wishing me well. It was very well timed, for it came at a time when I was once again questioning why I keep writing when so little seems to come of it.

During one of those low spots I wrote another lens called, “How Granny Gets Her Groove Back.” The topic is about writing in general and how to be true to yourself. I particularly like this quote from Seth Godin, the founder of Squidoo, about mediocrity.

"On the road to mediocrity

Along the way, we settle. We settle for something not quite right, or an outfit that isn't our best look, or a job that doesn't quite maximize our talents. We settle for relationships that don't give us joy, or a website that's, "good enough." The only way to get mediocre is one step at a time. You don't have to settle. It's a choice you get to make every day." Seth Godin.

Well, much to my surprise, another lens was selected as Lens of the Day on Feb. 5, 2010. This was a fairly new lens I had published entitled “David McCallum: The Real Reason I Watch NCIS." I felt extremely honored and appreciated, especially when I read what was posted in the Lens of the Day blog.

"Grannysage doesn't just tell you what shows her favorite character has been on and where he grew up. She tells a story of what she remembers of him throughout the years. Some lenses use storytelling as a background filler between sales modules and Wikipedia articles. Grannysage builds the story first, and supports history with examples. Some long lenses struggle with module titles, while this lens expertly uses the story to flow between them."

I feel like I am on the way to something great. Success is around the corner. I have been noticed and not found wanting. Right now I am working on another lens about our cats. This one features Lady Ghost, the cat that we got from the Humane Society. She wanted to write her own lens so she has employed me as her “ghostwriter.” Watch for it soon.

Does Time Really Fly?

2009-11-07T18:16:00.000-08:00

I was going to start this post with the words "Time flies." But since I have been reading the book The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, I would have to change that to quote, ""Life is now. There was never a time when your life was not now, nor will there ever be"

My life lately has been filled with the day to day going to work and trying to squeeze in some time to work on lenses. It must have worked for a I have added several more. The one that uses the quote about is called, "It is What it Is - Just a Cliche?" I became intrigued with the saying when we were planning my mother's memorial service, and so decided to write about it.

We spent a quiet Halloween at our house.....although I did dress up as myself to go to work. It is funny when I tell people that it is the one time a year that I can dress as myself. I usually get the reaction, "Oh, you are not a witch!" like that is something bad.

I had to add something to the Squidboo section of Squidoo so I re-wrote a story I had written for a pagan forum. The lens is called "The Witch who Danced with Ghosts." Be sure to watch the videos, for they illustrate the story quite well (not to mention it took me a long time to find just the right ones to use).

For a long time I have been nagged by my personal crone to write something on that subject. I really worked hard on the graphics and html and am very proud of the result. Whispers of the Crone also features artwork by artist Hrana Janto, used with permission.

I have been encouraged by some to strive to become a Giant Squid. Giants are lensmasters who have 50 or more quality lenses. I don't think that is realistic for me in the near future, because it takes me so long to create a lens. As my Swedish ancestors said, "I be slow, but I be sturdy." I am my biggest critic, and I can't hit the Publish button until I am satisfied with what I have done. So I plod along, but I am pleased that I am getting good reviews on those I have written.

As far as my personal life goes, I have once again beat the breast cancer beastie that tries to creep up on me when I am not looking. I had an abnormal mammogram and so had to have more tests, including a needle aspiration (poking a hole in my breast is not my idea of a good time.) The good news is that all the tests were negative.

A Visit to Yooperland to Say Goodbye to a Great Lady

2009-07-11T12:07:00.000-07:00

I recently returned from a trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the land of my birth. The reason for the visit was that my 95-year-old mother passed away. My family gathered to say our goodbyes. She had been ill for many years with dementia, so her passing was not unexpected.

Still, burying a parent is not easy, so it was good to be surrounded by my family. My son, Joshua, had been ordained a Catholic priest just a couple weeks prior to the Memorial, so he presided over the service. Although we have different spiritual beliefs, I am very proud of my son for finding his path and following through. And I know his Grandma was very pleased with his gift to her. Photo is of Father Joshua saying prayers at the Memorial.

Violet Johnson Miller, was a very unique woman. She grew up on the island of Isle Royale, now a national park. Her father was a commercial fisherman. She married Henry Luoma, who was my sister’s father. Together they started a lapidary business. After Henry died, my mother married my father, Eino Miller. They continued to cut and polish stones, and bought the Keweenaw Agate Shop in Copper Harbor. It was there that I spent most of my childhood. This is a picture I took at an art show where we were selling our copper enameling work.

As a Wiccan, I felt the need to say goodbye in my own way. While waiting for the family to arrive at Fort Wilkins State Park (I was lazy, I drove the car while they walked) I watched as the little Fanny Hooe Creek wandered over the rocks toward Lake Superior. I found a branch nearby and wrote my mother’s name on it. I charged it with memories of her life, and then dropped it off of the little bridge, to make its way to the lake.

The stick got stuck on a portion of the bridge! So I found a long stick and poked at it until it became free. Once again, it got stuck on some rocks. I waited for a long time, but the stick would not move. I realized then that my mother was not yet ready to move on. Like the show, Ghost Whisperer, some spirits feel the need to stay around until something is finished. I think Mom was enjoying having her family all together, and just wanted to enjoy being with us a while longer.

Most Wiccans believe in reincarnation, so I do not grieve in same way that others might. I know that she will live again, and our paths will most likely cross again. Perhaps, next time I will be the mother, and she the daughter.

Later we watched a mother duck and her ducklings swimming in the same area. It was appropriate as ducks are linked to emotional comfort and protection. In this picture you can see the stick and the mama and baby ducks, if you look closely.

I also enjoyed spending time with my middle daughter, Lucy, and her husband and two children. They were busy taking in all the sights, while I lounged around in my cabin. The picture to the right is shows Lucy and my grandson Shepherd on the docks while his Grandpa shows him a pretty flower.

It was with great pleasure that I was able to show the area to my youngest daughter Alex, who was only a baby when we were last there. She loved the trees, the lakes, the wildlife, and everything about this very special place. On the way home, we stopped at the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota, where we got to see the wolf pack as they went about their day. The picture shows Alex watching the wolves at the Wolf Center.

I took lots of pictures, some of which will be added to my Squidoo lenses. To refresh your memory of the UP of Michigan, be sure to look at Yooperology: Exploring All Things Related to Yoopers.

Below is a picture of my sister Pat climbing around on the rocks at a rock formation known as Devil's Washtub. Josh, Alex, and my grandson, Taylen, are watching her.

My husband Gene, standing by my favorite spot; the chrysocolla vein near the Copper Harbor lighthouse. You can seen the "green rock" stretching into the lake behind him.

This picture is of me showing Alex the vein of chrysocolla.

And since my last post, I finished two more lenses. Please take a look.

The Adventurers of Wanderer the Gnome talks about our traveling gnome and some of the places he has visited.

Des Moines, Baryshnikov, and Me is the story of an imaginary date I had with the great ballet dancer when we visited the city of Des Moines.

Granny Sage Gets a Squidoo Award

2009-04-20T17:02:00.000-07:00

Tis True. One of my lenses has received a lovely award at Squidooland. It is the lens called Ostara: The Sabbat with the Rabbit.

I received the first award given by the Goddess Group, which is a group of lenses that feature one or more goddesses. Click on the award shown below and you will be taken to the Goddess Headquarters.

The unexepcted award and Ostara herself, reminded me that this is the season of growth, and many more unexpected blessings are in store for all.

I am also pleased with the lens because it features the artwork of Mickie Mueller. Mickie was the artist for Raven Grimassi and Stephanie Taylor's "Well Worn Path" divinatation series. So it is worth a peek just to look at more of her artwork.

Spring has come to the heartland, and we are making plans for another trip to the UP of Michigan. More about that, and the reasons for the trip, later.

Granny Sage Becomes A Squidooholic

2009-03-08T12:47:00.000-07:00

I've been a very busy witch. After experimenting with both Squidoo and blogging, I've come to the decision that Squidoo is the place to be, at least for most of my writing. I will always keep this blog, because it is a history of where I've been and where I'm going.

So I've been moving some of my writing and blogs over to Squidoo. I like the flexibility that a Squidoo lens offers. I can be creative, change thing when I want, and I get paid monthly. So far the payments have been small, but I've been adding lenses which will increase my earnings down the road.

So here is what I have added:

Save the Tree Spirit, Save the World (moved from the Friends of Fairie blog) Be sure to look at the Greenman artwork I've added by fantasy artist Mickie Mueller.

Woman Who Hobbles After Wolves. I moved the whole blog over to Squidoo and the wolves seem to be very happy there.

My Husband Never Gives Me Flowers. This was an article I published at Helium.com. I am no longer getting money for my articles there, because I refuse to be forced to rate other people's writing in order to get paid. As I still own the rights to this work, I gave it new life over a Squidoo.

White Cats Can't Jump If you remember the movie, "White Men Can't Jump," it was based on a stereotype that a white man could not play basketball well. Borrowing on that theme, I dedicate this lens to my cat, Wileykat, who is a "special needs" cat.

Where in the World is Northern Michigan University? Northern Michigan University is one of two universities in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, although there are many smaller colleges. It is located in Marquette, Michigan, in the heart of Yooper country. It is my alma mater and the source of many fine memories.

The Art of Copper Enameling I am gradully moving my blog of the same name over to Squidoo. It has received the most traffic of all my blogs, yet has brought in very little money. I think it looks very elegant in its new home.

I am also working on making a lens using my article, "Ostara: The Sabbat with the Rabbit," also published at Helium.

By the way, Ostara is only a few weeks away. Yeah for Spring!

About Freedom of Speech and Witch Hunting

2008-11-16T13:01:00.000-08:00

GrannySage has been very busy, mostly getting used to the routine of my new job. I can thankfully report that I am no longer in the employ of Walmart. I very quickly found that I could not handle working two jobs. My feet are very grateful for the reprieve.

However, I find I have very little time for writing, which saddens me a great deal. I did get a new article written called "An Insiders View of Call Center Customer Service Jobs." I also had a couple of interesting experiences lately with having posts deleted on other people’s websites. The first one was in a pagan forum that I used to belong to. I say "used to" because I have very strong feelings about censorship and believe there must be a very strong reason to ever censor other writers.

In this case, the administration had decided to stop posting anything political until after the election, mostly because people were getting their feelings hurt by the strong opinions being voiced by others. But then I ran across a video about Sarah Palin that I felt that pagans should be aware of. The video shows her being prayed over by a witch hunting minister. I get very nervous when I see witches and witchcraft being portrayed as something that people need to be protected from. It shows that we really haven’t gotten very far from the Burning Times.

This is the video that I referred to in the post that was quickly deleted.

Shortly after that incident, I was reading an article on our local newspaper’s website about our local transit system. Since I ride the bus to work every day, I took some offense at the posts of some people who stated that only the homeless drunks rode the bus, that people would get more exercise if they didn’t have a bus to ride to Walmart to buy junk food, and other insulting stereotypes. So I wrote out a lengthy response, listing the diverse types of people who ride the bus, the places we go to on the bus, and how we probably get more exercise than most people who drive cars. About 15 minutes after that was posted, the whole thread was deleted.

Which got me to thinking, “I wish I had some place to voice my opinions where no one would be able to censor me.” Silly me, I have my blogs and my Squidoo pages, which often get neglected. So, I am making an effort to get them all caught up with new information.

BTW, in case you are curious, I did end up voting for McCain, with great reservations because of Palin. I felt I could not vote for Obama, but now that he is elected, I am willing to see what the man can do.

But I don’t think we have heard the last of Palin. I support Starhawk’s statement, “For reasons which must be clear to the astute reader, I have a vested interest in weird and irrational religious beliefs not being a barrier to public office. But anyone who might be a heartbeat away from the highest office in the land must be someone we can trust to uphold the Constitution. She or he must be someone who respects the tremendous diversity of religions and spiritual beliefs in this country. And we must test their policies on the hard rocks of reality and merit, not the misty clouds of faith.” (See her whole post at the Washington Post On Faith website)

Starhawk is the author of many works celebrating the Goddess movement and Earth-based, feminist spirituality. She states on her website, “I’m a peace, environmental, and global justice activist and trainer, a permaculture designer and teacher, a Pagan and Witch."

In another post, "Will You Defend My Constitutional Rights?" Starhawk also verbalizes my own thoughts about the kind of fear mentality exhibited by Kenyan Bishop Thomas Muthee. "Unless all of our rights are protected, no one is safe. If Witches can be targeted, so can Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, Muslims, Native Americans who maintain their indigenous spirituality, Catholics who venerate Mary, even rival evangelical churches. When guilt or innocence can be determined solely by one person's inner revelations, dreams, celestial visitations or paranoid fantasies, we're in a nightmare world where anyone can be accused of anything, tried and convicted not by evidence but by hysteria, with judgment enforced by the mob. We've already normalized torture and endless imprisonment for suspected terrorists. Shall we bring back the thumbscrew, the rack, the Inquisition, and burning at the stake?”

I believe that the real danger here is not that Palin was blessed by the pastor, but what that pastor and his followers believe, and the actions they take because of those views. They have instituted "Spiritual Warfare" in certain cities to drive out what they perceive to be demonic influences such as tarot readers. Read more about it at Talk to Action.

I recommend reading some of Starhawk’s books, even though I don’t always agree with her thinking or her methods. She certainly has not been afraid to speak out about this issue. The very first Wiccan book I bought was Dreaming the Dark : Magic, Sex, and Politics. I also recommend The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Goddess, which is a classic and her novels, The Fifth Sacred Thing and Walking to Mercury.

Anyway, plan to see more of my personal and sometimes controversial thoughts popping up on this blog or the others. It is my way of saying NO to censorship.

"The worst, most insidious effect of censorship is that, in the end, it can deaden the imagination of the people. Where there is no debate, it is hard to go on remembering, every day, that there is a suppressed side to every argument." Salman Rushdie

And just for fun, here is a picture of GrannySage dressed as herself at Samhain.

GrannySage Wears the Pink Ribbon

2008-08-19T12:38:00.000-07:00

This has been a busy month and I’ve had little time to keep my blogs up to date. The good news is that I will soon start a new job. I’m going to be doing data entry for a company that tracks implanted medical devices such as pacemakers. The wages are good and I’ll have benefits. And, better yet, I won’t have to talk on the phone!

However, I am going to try to keep my Walmart job for awhile to pay off some bills. I’m a little worried about being able to handle it physically, so will probably devote all my spare time to sleeping. Thus my blogs will get even less attention, which makes me sad. But, we have to do what is necessary to survive.

I also had a little scare during a routine breast exam. I am a breast cancer survivor of 7 years, and my recent mammogram was good. I was very fortunate to be able to get a free mammogram through my health care clinic, because I had neglected that area of my health due to not having insurance. My experience at the Breast Center that provided the mammogram was extremely positive, as they had relaxing music playing in the exam room and very friendly and compassionate technicians.

So when I got the results stating there was no sign of cancer, I felt relieved, until I was referred to a surgeon for what was described as a “routine follow-up.” However, when I got there I found out that my previous mammogram, taken two years ago, showed some suspicious spots. He recommended a sonogram and then decided to do a fine needle aspiration.

Needless to say, I was in tears, for I dreaded the thought of going through the whole process again. I didn’t get the results for several days, and it felt like I was standing under a boulder, just waiting to find out if the boulder was going to drop or if I was going to be fine. It turned that everything was fine, but it brought home the fact that once you have had breast cancer, there is always the possibility it could reappear.

I have never really been fond of those pink ribbons that many people wear to indicate support for Breast Cancer Awareness, not because I don't like them, but because I don't like to be part of a crowd. However I decided it was time to buy a pin to wear in celebration of the good news and to encourage other women to have regular check-ups. I put off my check-up for too long because I was not aware that free mammograms are available if you don’t have insurance or the money to pay for it. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers free or low-cost screening and post-screening diagnostic services to women who can't afford them. In its ten years, the program has screened more than one million women. For information on getting a free mammogram in your state, call the CDC at 888-842-6355. For more information about mammograms, visit the website Healthy Me.

I also recommend visiting the website Susan G. Komen for the Cure which has a wealth of information and offers support. Their mission statement is "To save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures."

As a postscript I want to add that in 2001 when I was first diagnosed with cancer, I learned that another Wiccan was also diagnosed. She decided to rely solely on magickal workings and alternative treatments to combat her illness, while I chose a combination of modern medical treatment along with magickal workings to add healing energy to the process. I am sad to report that she did not survive. I fully believe in the power of magick, but also believe in science. The two work together, and I also believe that magick is science that hasn't been discovered yet.

The Millennial Gaia Statue

2008-07-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

I first met the Millennial Gaia sculpture several years ago while living in Escondido CA. I say “met”, because my first impression upon walking into Raven's Loft, and seeing this sculpture, was one of awe and an almost immediate desire to have her come home to live with me. Raven’s Loft was a store owned by the author, Raven Grimassi, and his partner, Stephanie Taylor. They have since closed the store but continue to sell Wiccan and Pagan products through their on-line store.

The store was also featured in an independent movie called “Mind Forest,”in which both my husband, Arawyn, and myself acted as extras. You can find more about that movie, and watch the trailer, at the Mind Forest website. At this time it is not available for purchase, but there is hope that at some time it will be made into a full-length feature. Here is a picture of Arawyn as the character, Malcolm Wallace. He was also one of the technical advisors for the movie, along with Raven Grimassi. He also is responsible for the chant "We Call to Thee" that is interwoven throughout the movie.

But, back to the Millennial Gaia. Gaia is the primal Greek Goddess personifying the Earth. She was created by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, the founder of the Church of All Worlds. Along with being an artist who enjoys sculpting images of the Gods and Goddesses, he is also a author, lecturer, teacher, transpersonal psychologist, metaphysician, shaman, and priest of the Earth-Mother Gaia. He likes to call himself a “wizard.” He is credited with formulation of the thealogy of deep ecology, which has become known as The Gaea Thesis.

Zell designed his vision of Gaia with a planetary globe forming Her pregnant belly. Every part of Her body contains symbols of the living Earth. Sculpted in the back of Her hair are animals tracing the evolution of life on land and those Her legs trace the evolution of life in the sea. One breast represents the moon, the other the is a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables. Similar engravings on her arms show the forests: Redwoods on Her right arm, and the tropical Rain Forest on Her left. Her facial features are a blend of all races. She symbolizes the interconnectedness of all being. The statue comes with a printed guide to every image. This is one altar statue you will treasure forever.

You can get your own Millennial Gaia statue from Gaiam by clicking on the image below.

For more information about Obereron Zell visit his official website.

Here are some Earth Mother chants that can be downloaded.

Amazon.com Widgets

Relief for my Aching Feet

2008-07-10T14:23:00.000-07:00

There are times when I feel called upon to strongly recommend a product or service. This is one of those times. If you have been reading this blog, you are aware that I have been having problems with my feet ever since starting work at Walmart. There are some nights that I have trouble hobbling home (hence the name for my new blog, Women Who Hobbles after Wolves).

Last December I bought my daughter a foot massager that I had been eying for myself. I only had enough money to buy it for her, although I had every intention of returning to buy one for me. But it happened that I was not able to afford it. Many a night I sat and rubbed my feet thinking, "I wish I had that foot massager."

So when I found out that she really wasn't using it, I begged for it back. And since then it has been sitting in front of my couch, and it is the first thing I do every night when I get home. The product is the HoMedics FM-CR Foot Pleaser Foot Massager. It uses the concepts of shiatsu massage or reflexology by giving deep kneading action with its massage heads. It also has a setting for infared heat. It has literally saved my feet! I wouldn't be without it.

You can buy this through Amazon.com for a very reasonable price. If you have sore feet, I highly recommend it.

Interview with Amber K

2008-05-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I posted in the Almanac. I have to confess that the daily grind of life has gotten me down. Although I realize that this "reality" is not all there is, I find it hard at times to keep my focus. Having a regular job has interfered with my writing, for I find I cannot squeeze creativity into small blocks of time.

In search of inspiration, I went You-Tube surfing, and found an interview with Amber K and Azrael Arynn K, from Living the Wiccan Life.

Amber K and Azrael are both Wiccan priestesses and are life partners. Amber K has written such books as "CovenCraft" and "True Magick" and together they have written Candlemas: Feast of Flames,Heart of Tarot: An Intuitive Approach, and their newest book, RitualCraft: Creating Rites for Transformation and Celebration

from Amber K's True Magick
"Perhaps this is the goal of all spiritual paths: to reconnect with the Source, to bridge the chasm of illusion which makes us feel separate and alone, to come Home.

But the quest requires us to change, and magick is an effective tool for this. The scary part is this: we can't know who we are changing into until we actually experience the change. By then it's too late for second thoughts. We cannot change back -- we can only keep changing, or wither."

This certainly has been true in my life. I only wish that I could figure out where all the changes are leading.

In "Covencraft, Witchcraft for Three or More" she gives this advice

Counsel to an Elder

If you don't know who you are by now,
then choose who you desire to be.

Listen much, speak little.

When the teacher is ready to learn,
the students will come to teach.

You can affect the lives of others, but in the end
their lives are their responsibility.

Coyote has a standing invitation to your life,
issued by Himself.

You may live to be a hundred, but will you have lived a hundred years,
or the same year a hundred times?

Always have a rubber trout or its spiritual equivalent
on the altar.

We are by nature a young and frolicsome species,
Never consider yourself too old to play.

All that you have seen or sensed in every God/dess
is within you.

Bless all about you. Blessed Be

Amber K is the Executive Directive of Ardantane, a pagan learning center in New Mexico.

Amber K's and Azrael's website

The You-Tube interview:

Words of Power - Be Careful What You Say

2008-04-29T13:49:00.000-07:00

For most of my life, I have worked in the social service field, and for 15 years I worked as a social worker in nursing homes. That was a very emotionally stressful job. which often required me to juggle 10 balls. or projects, at a time. During those stressful times, I would often emphatically tell my co-workers, “I’m going to quit this job and get a job as a Walmart Greeter!”

Well, as they say, be careful what you wish for, for you might get it. Last night, I went to my job as a Sales Associate at Walmart. The managers informed us that due to staffing issues, we all had to take a 30 minute turn as a door greeter. As I was sitting on the stool in the front of the store, doing my part by greeting all the customers, I remembered those words that I had said over and over again. I had to laugh at myself, for there I was, a Walmart Greeter! It was a very striking example of how words have power, even words that you think you really don’t mean when you say them.

Years ago I had read some of the Seth books. These books are the record of Jane Roberts’ experiences channeling a discarnate entity named Seth. Her husband, Robert Butts, recorded the whole process verbatim. Though I found the concepts interesting, I had difficulty reading them due to their format, which I found to be disjointed and difficult to follow. Though I have picked up the books again from time to time, I always find myself putting them down again.

However, with the wonderful invention of the Internet, I have found others that have been able to read the books and have compiled Seth quotes that I can access. And in the book The Seth Material, Seth states, “You must watch the pictures that you paint with your imagination... ...your environment and the conditions of your life at any given time are the direct result of your own inner expectations. You form physical materializations of these realities within your own mind.”

Marion Weinstein, in her book, Positive Magic, also talks about this concept. She has a chapter devoted to Words of Power and warns the reader to be very careful to say exactly only what one means. “Watch what you say! Say what you mean, and mean what you say.” She goes on to say, “All words are incipient Words of Power. All words contribute to setting up causations (Causes) and bringing back Effects on the speaker – or on the spoken-about. Perhaps (when one is just idly conversing) the effects are not as swift or as obvious as when one has consciously worked a Words of Power Statement – but the results eventually show up.”

And so it did for me. I have now accomplished my stated goal of being a Walmart Greeter. Now I can move on to bigger and better things. I am letting the Universe know that I am drawing to myself everything that I need to fulfill my needs. I am working for myself as a Freelance Writer and I am receiving money for doing what I love. The money comes with perfect ease and is more than enough to meet my needs. And as I Will It, So Mote it Be!

For more about Words of Power visit
Visit Marian Weinstein’s Earth Magic Productions Website

Wolf Captured

2008-04-06T10:13:00.001-07:00

I've been a bit busy lately, getting used to my new job at Walmart. It hasn't been easy as it involves being on my feet all day. My body, particularly my feet, have been protesting. So I've been trying to relax on my off time. I have been enjoying reading a fiction book called "Wolf Captured" by Jane Lindskold. It is one of series of books about a young girl who was raised by highly intelligent wolves, known as Royal Wolves. The girl's name is Firekeeper, and when she is found and brought back to human society, she must learn about human culture and politics. Still, she considers herself to be a wolf, and is accompanied by Blind Seer, a wolf from her pack.

I first got interested in this series because of my daughter's interest in wolves. She has been fascinated with them since she was a young child. To the Native Americans, Wolf people have the medicine power to lead us into new paths and discoveries. From Animal Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small by Ted Andrews, "Wolves are the epitome of the wild spirit......When wolf shows up, it is time to breathe new life into your rituals. Find a new path, take a new journey, take control of your life."

Wolves have been highly misunderstood and have a bad reputation. They have been portrayed in folklore as fearful, evil creatures who were waiting to eat you, as in Little Red Riding Hood. In fact, they are very family oriented, friendly, social, and highly intelligent.

They have been hunted almost to extinction and have slowly been making a come-back. The US Fish and Wildlife Service's has de-listed the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Rockies wolves from the endangered species which would seem to be a good thing, but opens up the door to hunting. Even now, in Alaska, the state has authorized a predator control program which allows the shooting of wolves from airplanes and helicopters. For more information see the Defender of Wildlife's website. Below is Defenders of Wildlife's latest television ad aimed at stopping aerial hunting of wolves.

There is so much more to say about wolves that I believe I shall have to create a blog or a Squidoo lens just for them.

The mournful cries rise in the night.
We are seeking!
Wolves' song greets the Moon so bright.
We are brave and wise!
Sleek, muscled bodies beneath the Moon.
we help turn the wheel of death and rebirth!
By our magick we send a boon
Of true dreaming

from Animal Magick: The Art of Recognizing and Working with Familiars by DJ Conway

Ostara: The Sabbat with the Rabbit

2008-03-19T14:56:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally finished an article I have been writing about Ostara. It's original title was "Ostara: The Sabbat with the Rabbit." Of course, at Helium, you have to submit it under one of their titles. It felt like I had given birth, I labored over it so long. Which is kind of fitting since this is the season of rebirth. Click Here to read it.

I also started a new Squidoo Lens called Yooperology: Exploring All Things Related to Yoopers. It will cover the land of my birth, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I wasn’t a great fan of Squidoo at first. It has some limitations as compared to a blog such as this one, mainly that it can easily become overfilled. But it is also very easy to use and can become addictive playing with all the toys. So as time goes by, I may add some more lenses.

The picture is of Copper Harbor, MI, where I grew up.
Photo, courtesy of Pasty.cam

I’ve been working on a full website as well. I keep changing its name, because I can’t find what really works. But I am going to use it to post some of my lengthier writing pieces, such as a spiritual allegory I wrote some time ago.

But I may have to slow down some of my work because I had to get a.......job. Yep, I am going to be working at Walmart. The bills have to be paid somehow, and so far none of my writing ventures are paying money. I am going to miss my at home lifestyle I’ve become accustomed to – staying up till the wee hours of the morning and sleeping in. I feel like I was born to this lifestyle, and I really want to make it work. But for now, in order to keep the lights one and the computer running, I have to play the job game.

“The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without one.”
Oscar Wilde

One Year Older - A Celebration of Cronehood

2008-03-11T17:09:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday.... we won’t say how many it’s been. Just say I have earned my Crone status. The Crone has always been perceived as an ugly, withered old woman; a hag; something to be feared and hated. Why, then, would I celebrate my Cronehood?

In Wicca and Witchcraft, the Crone is an archetype that represents the third phase of the Goddess. The first two are the Maiden, and the Mother. Many women choose to have a Croning ceremony when they reach the age of menopause, although there is no specific age at which you can say, “Aha, now I am a Crone.” It is more a realization that you have walked enough miles in this incarnation, and a willingness to share the stories. The ceremony acknowledges and celebrates a woman’s age, womanhood, and power.

In olden times, crones were the wise women, the village herbalists, and the storytellers. They might have been shamans or healers. Their wisdom was valued because the society often depended upon this knowledge to survive. They were the elders of the tribe and were treated with respect.

In contrast, in today’s society, older people are often pushed aside, as if they had no more value. We make jokes about ‘senior moments” and are embarrassed to admit how old we are. We spend a fortune on cosmetics and drugs to keep a youthful look, not realizing that a woman with many wrinkles has her own beauty and grace.

Raven Grimassi and Stephanie Taylor have created a wonderful divination deck called the Well Worn Path. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in divination because it uses the image of a path that has been trodden by those who have gone before. They make great use of the Crone archetype, referred to as the “Crone of the Cottage,” who serves as a guide and an intermediary who communicates with the beings of other realms. She has a deep understanding of the cycles of life and death, and is also associated with the waning phases of the moon.

The Crone appears to us as different aspects of the goddess, depending upon which pantheon speaks to you. Hecate is a Triple Goddess who also appears as the Maiden and Mother, but is usually thought of in her Crone aspect. Her origin is Greek. She is the guardian of crossroads, a place that stands between the mortal world and the spirit world. She holds a torch to provide light as you choose which path to take.

Another Crone Goddess is the Celtic goddess Ceridwen. I heard her name in my mind many years ago, when I didn’t even know who she was or what it meant. I found out that she is the keeper of the Cauldron of rebirth and inspiration. She is associated with the dark moon.

The Nordic Hella is another aspect of the Crone goddess, and she is the Queen of the Underworld.

We can call upon Crone energies when we have need of wisdom or wish to learn about our darker sides. We can call upon the Crone to assist us with understanding magick and ritual, as well as the art of divination. The Crone is also helpful when dealing with death and resolving grief over the loss of a loved one. She helps us accept our own mortality and reminds us that death is not the end, but a new beginning on the cycle of life.

So on this day of my birth, I celebrate my aging and sagging body, and the wisps of grey that are appearing, for they indicate a life lived fully, with many experiences to share.

The Crone

By the fire, She sits, the Crone
Relaxing there upon Her throne
Of vines that intertwine and twirl
Within the foggy, misty swirl,
The twinkling eyes that light the dark
The smile that warms the night so stark
Belie Her sassy disposition
A pure and simple contradiction
To everything that you've been told
About the Crone, so wise and old
Her laughter rings out through the night
She claps her hands in pure delight
At the joke She's helped to play
On those afraid to pass Her way
For She knows She's nothing like
The Wretch of whom historians write
Instead, She's hip and full of fun
And rewards you for a job well done
By offering Her many treasures
Her friendship, love and joyful pleasures
The only catch, please understand
Is that you have to take Her hand

-----Dorothy Morrison
From the book In Praise Of The Crone

Other books you might enjoy on Crones include

The Crone: Woman of Age, Wisdom, and Power
by Barbara G. Walker
A probing account of the honored place of older women in ancient matriarchal societies

Maiden, Mother, Crone: The Myth & Reality of the Triple Goddess
by D.J. Conway
Maiden, Mother, Crone is a guide to the myths and interpretations of the Great Goddess archetype and her three faces-so that we may better understand and gracefully accept the cycle of birth and death.

Rumors of Spring

2008-03-09T10:34:00.000-07:00

I heard a rumor that Spring might make a comeback again this year. It's been very cold here in the Midwest, and my long underwear are about worn out. So I am looking forward to the return of warmer weather. I am also working on an article on Ostara, the pagan celebration of the Spring Equinox. For some tips about Ostara rituals, foods, and customs I recommend Ostara: Customs, Spells & Rituals for the Rites of Spring by Edain McCoy.

I've been a rather busy, worker bee lately. I've had two more articles published at Associated Content. I wrote a fun article called, "What I Learned about Writing from Watching Project Runway." Yes, I had to admit it, I am a Project Runway junkie.

Then I finally got the next social work article done. This one called "Do Health Surveys Actually Improve Nursing Homes?"

I've been updating all the other blogs with cool stuff. Check out the links on the sidebar. And I've decided to explore Squidoo. Because the posts here on several DVD's I liked received some attention, I started a "Lens" called "An Ex-hippie's Thoughts on Music." I’m not sure how well I like that format, it is not as easy as they claim it is. But we will see how it goes.

I Approve of This Ad

2008-03-03T20:27:00.000-08:00

Lest you think I have only been playing with my music collection, I have also been busy in other areas. I have almost finished a new social work article that focuses on the healthy survey process in nursing homes. I added two posts to my Customer Service blog, one about our local bus service and one about Runza. The city of Lawrence looked at the bus post and said it was "great."

Other than that I've been tweaking all the blogs and doing research for new articles. Notice the Whale and Friends affiliate banner I've added as well as a cool Moon phase gadget. I've added books and music I discussed on these pages to the Amazon Recommended Books sidebar. I've always been very pleased with the customer service and value you get at Amazon and I am proud to be one of their associates.

The E-Bay live auction Widget shows some remarkable and beautiful Wiccan ritual items and jewelry. I am always fascinated anytime I log into this blog to see what is being offered now. It almost makes me wish we still had our E-bay store.

There are links to my favorite Pagan Forum, The Pagan Grove, and my two freelance writing sites, Helium and Associated Content where you can read other articles I have written. And I have become a member of Witchvox, one of the most comprehensive NeoPagan Networking sites on-line, and so I added a reciprocal link.

And don't be afraid to click on the Google AdSense ad. I know, I always feel funny when I see them on other sites because it feels so impersonal. But I personally selected the ads that show up on this one. I like to have control over what products and services are recommended on this site. So if it shows up on the sidebar, then, as the presidential candidates say, "I approve of this ad."

Blown Away by Concert for George

2008-03-03T20:04:00.000-08:00

I promised I would talk about the Concert for George. I was wandering through Barnes and Noble one day when I saw it sitting on the video shelf. As a lifelong Beatle fan, I felt like it would be a good addition to my library. Little did I know how moved I would be watching it.

On Nov 29th 2002, the one year anniversary of his death, George Harrison's friends got together to pay tribute to him. The first half of the concert is a special composition by his friend Ravi Shankar, played by Ravi's daughter, Anoushka, and an Indian orchestra. That is followed by a special selection of Monty Python skits which George enjoyed so much.

But my favorite part is the concert given by his friends, organized by Eric Clapton. The concert included many well known performers, such as Jeff Lynne, Paul McCartney, Tom Petty, and Billy Preston. The Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers set featured "Handle Me with Care" from George's Traveling Wilburys days.

The highlight for me was Sam Brown's bluesy rendition of "Horse to the Water," accompanied by Jools Holland on piano. Click on the title to link to the You-Tube version so you can get a feel for what it was like. Other great cuts include Eric Clapton singing "Beware of Darkness" and Clapton and McCartney on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

I wondered why Bob Dylan was not a part of this event. Wikipedia reports "Dylan, a friend of George's, could not attend "Concert for George" because of tour commitments in the US. So instead, roughly a week before the concert he played George's song "Something" as a tribute, at a concert of his at Madison Square Garden on 11th of November 2002"

George's son Dhani plays guitar throughout the concert, and was the co-writer for "Horse to the Water." Olivia, George's widow, tells Paul McCartney that with Dhani on stage it looks as though George stayed young and everyone else got older!

A Concert for Georgeis another must for your music collection.

Concert for George website

Going to the End of the Line

2008-03-02T19:28:00.000-08:00

Some days can be so frustrating. Today I was trying to multiask, because basically I needed to edit an article and I was bored to tears. So I tried to break it up, doing research on two other topics and some other tasks as well. I had three Word docs open and abut 5 open windows on the Net that I would flip between. I know the rule about "Save Often" very well, but for some reason, today wasn't the day. When my computer froze and I had to reboot, I lost about three hours work.

But as Tim Gunn says frequently to the designers on Project Runway, "make it work." I took a short nap and am back on the computer, updating my blog and doing more research.

This blog is developing into a potpourri of my life experiences. Last night I caught the end of a PBS show about Bob Dylan. That inspired me to watch the DVD of one of my new favorite bands. It is not a new band, in fact, two of its members are deceased. But the band is new to me. I am talking about The Traveling Wilburys

If you've never heard of them, don't feel alone. I don't know where I was in 1988 (well yes I do, I was raising children and watching Sesame Street), but I had no idea what this group was all about. I discovered that former Beatle (yes I was a huge Beatle fan) George Harrison got together with some of his friends, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, and Bob Dylan, and in a span of ten days produced an album's worth of original songs. The combination of creativity and the blending of very distinct voices (Orbison and Dylan singing together?) is pure genius.

And what is most amazing is that this was not intended to be a polished production, but came together mostly by happenstance. But what they created is timeless, and all the more poignant because two of its members have died. Roy Orbison passed away in Dec. of 1988 and the video for the song "End of the Line" shows an empty rocking chair with his guitar sitting in it. In the documentary video, you can see that Orbison was enjoying himself immensely, and he definitely embodied the spirit of the song. The lyrics are hopeful and encouraging.

"Well its all right, even if you're old and grey
Well it's all right, you still got something to say
Well it's all right, remember to live and let live
Well it's all right, the best you can do is forgive

Well it's all right, riding around in the breeze
Well it's all right, if you live the life you please
Well it's all right, even if the sun don't shine
Well it's all right, we're going to the end of the line

The other member of the group that is missing is George Harrison himself, who died of cancer in 2001. All the other band members admit that The Traveling Wilburys was really George's band and his inspiration. This is very movingly demonstrated in the other video I watched last night, Concert for George. I will discuss that video more tomorrow.

What's a Kindle?

2008-03-01T10:08:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I went on a field trip, to a place called a library. Yes, even in this technological society, there are still something called books. It reminded me of a Star Trek Episode where Picard was lovingly holding the only real book he owned. Everything else was read on the computer.

While I was there I went to the bathroom, and while drying my hands on the blow dryer, I read, "helps to save trees." I thought that was pretty funny, since I was standing in a library with many books whose publication has contributed to the cutting of many trees. But I am one of the old fashioned ones that still likes to hold a book in my hands, instead of reading it on-line. Although I do say I am getting lazy in some ways. It is so much easier to "Google" when you are looking for information than figure out which book you read it in, and then start paging through that book.

So I was wondering, why aren't we doing more of our reading on little hand-held e-book readers? It makes a lot of sense environmentally, and it would be handy as well. I was riding the bus yesterday and had to carry all of those heavy books in my backpack. Okay, I'll be honest, I made my husband carry them. Still, they were heavy. It would have been so much easier just to download the books into a reading device.

So what do I stumble upon when I am browsing Amazon today? Something called a Kindle. What's a Kindle, I wonder? So I checked it out and found out that a Kindle is......drumroll.....Amazon's new wireless reading device!. According to their product review it has:

1. A high-resolution screen that looks and reads like real paper.
2. It is simple to use. You can buy a book and have it delivered wirelessly in less than a minute.
3. You can read books, newspapers, and blogs
4. It is "lighter and thinner than a typical paperback; weighs only 10.3 ounces."
5. Kindle utilizes the same high-speed data network (EVDO) as advanced cell phones—so you never have to locate a hotspot.
6. Includes free wireless access to the planet's most exhaustive and up-to-date encyclopedia—Wikipedia.org.
7. Email your Word documents and pictures (.JPG, .GIF, .BMP, .PNG) to Kindle for easy on-the-go viewing.

I want one, I want one, I want one! Unfortunately, due to high popularity, it is temporarily unavailable. Still you could go ahead and reserve one so you will get it as soon as it becomes available.
Click on the word Kindle above and you fill be re-directed there in a flash.

Up Close and Personal, Animal Totems

2008-02-28T19:37:00.000-08:00

Today I had to force myself to write. It seemed like it would be much more fun to play on my blogs. But successful writers (read those who make money,) recommend writing something every day. So I bit the bullet and did a rough draft of another social work article. That was hard because it brought up a lot of memories.

It was easier rewriting the whale watching article to include information on animal totems and published it on Helium.com. No upfront money, but my one article there was getting lonely. And that article had moved from 3 out of 9 to 2 out of 10 in ratings, so that was encouraging.

So you can see that article here: My Working title was Getting Up Close and Personal with my Animal Totem, Whale Watching but it is listed under Animal Facts: Gray Whales.

The book mentioned in the article is Animal Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small by Ted Andrews. I use mine as a reference for information about animal totems a lot. I also recommend Animal Magick: The Art of Recognizing and Working with Familiars by Edain McCoy, and Medicine Cards: The Discovery of Power Through the Ways of Animals by Jamie Sams & David Carson.

I started the customer service blog over at Wordpress.com with the thought that I would keep the Wiccan information separate from the commercial. Although I am not ashamed of my religion, I am realistically aware that there are people who will refuse to do business with me if they realize what religion I belong to. I was going to separate this blog as well, but when I started looking into Wordpress more, I found that they do not accept Affiliate Blogs. And since that is one of my goals, offering quality affiliate links for me readers, based on recommendations and suggestions I might blog about, I do not think that will be the spot for me.

So for now I am keeping the writing together with the Wicca subjects, because in many ways they are related.

I Have a Writing Gig

2008-02-27T14:31:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I was feeling like I wasn't making much progress in this writing venture. Every thing seems to take so long, yet the need for money is very real. Today, when I got on the computer, my spirits were uplifted. I checked my Associated Content page and found that the page views had been updated. It was showing that I had 115 clicks on my first article, and 750 clicks on the Copper Harbor article! I believe the higher clicks on the Copper Harbor piece came about because I posted a note at the Pasty.cam forum.

It is amusing in a way, because one of the goals of the blog is to drive traffic to my articles, yet so far I am getting 1-2 clicks here compared to 885 there. But it gave me hope, and some ideas of how to continue to promote myself. They also published the whale watching article, although they took out my pictures. I am not sure why. I used only pictures from a public domain site, but it wasn't from one of their select few, so that might be why they were deleted. But frankly, Wikipedia has a very limited source of pictures, and I'm sure they are overused. I had found some excellent whale pictures at Flickr Creative Commons and I was disappointed they weren't used. You can read that article here.
"Where to go Gray Whale Watching in Oceanside, CA"

But my confidence is increasing and I know I can do this. I actually got a real writing gig! I went out today to drop off a resume at a nearby bank. They need a part-time teller, which would be perfect for me because I could walk to work. Since it is part-time, I would still have time to work on the freelance writing.

On the way home, I stopped off at a local burger place to get a cheesburger. The man behind the counter was visiting with customers and talking about how many of the specialty hamburgers he has made over the years. I told him he should write an article. He replied that he had been trying to convince a friend who writes for a local paper to do it.

So I mentioned that I publish articles on-line and would be happy to do a review of the restaurant. He said they really need a blog, and I said I could do that as well. So I agreed to write a sample review and show it to him and we would go from there. I ended up buying the specialty hamburger, instead of the regular cheeseburger I had planned, so that I could make some comments about it.

I also decided to start a new blog on Customer Service. When I apply for jobs, I tell them I don't necessarily know that particular job, but I Do know customer service. So since I do have expertise in that subject, it is a good topic for a blog.

The Use of Magick to Change our Lives

2008-02-26T09:28:00.000-08:00

"Magick is the art and metaphysical science of manifesting personal desires through the collection and direction of energy. The letter "K" has traditionally been added to the word magic to distinguish it from sleight-of-hand stage magic" Encyclopedia Of Wicca & Witchcraft by Raven Grimassi

Amber K, a well known Wiccan author, says that Magick is based on certain "Laws of Magick" They are:

"Energy is Abundant
Everything is Connected
Possibilities are Infinite
The path lies within you."

True Magick by Amber K

Therefore Magick can be used to help us realize our goals, whether those goals involves relationships, material needs, changing habits, or spiritual development. But in True Magick, Amber K also says, "But the quest requires us to change, and magick is an effective tool for this. The scary part is this: we can't know who we are changing into until we actually experience the change. By then it's too late for second thoughts. We cannot change back -- we can only keep changing, or wither"

This is the process that is happening to me now as I continue to pursue the magickal path. Yes, I have done magickal workings for increased abundance. Is it that which is leading me down this path of freelance writing rather than a job working for someone else? I love writing and working on the computer in my PJ's. I don't want to go back to work for others and live by their rules. Therefore, I affirm today that all my needs are being met and success is already in my hand.

It's a Scary World Out There

2008-02-26T09:13:00.000-08:00

Job hunting is so frustrating. It really feels like a roll of the dice whether you actually get a job or not. I've been sending out resumes since I quit my job at the call center in January. I had been working in the National Contact Center for the EEOC for over a year, but they cancelled the contract in order to bring the operation in-house. So I was laid off for a couple of weeks and then transferred to another department.

I found I just couldn't make the adjustment and being on the phone for 8 hours a day. I was a nervous wreck. So I quit and started sending out resumes immediately. I have a background in social work, but no longer want to work in that field. I was looking for a simple data entry or clerical position, or a job in a retail chain.

Well it is a month later, and I have had only two interviews. I know that they look at my resume and think "overqualified." Why would I want to work for $6.00 an hour when I've made up to $21.00 an hour in the past. I try to explain, if they bother to ask, that I know longer want the stress that comes along with the higher paying job. Now I just need something to make ends meet while I get my freelance writing career off the ground. I am a dependable worker, with attention to detail and great customer service skills. Yet I am never hired.

I really don't know what to do at this point. We can't pay the bills on my husband's salary alone. It's a scary world out there.

Affiliate Shopping

2008-02-25T11:52:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a busy day. I worked at the computer all day and finally got off about 9:00 pm. But it was a productive day. I updated this blog and started a new blog, The Art of Copper Enameling. I added counters to both blogs. I finished my Gray Whales article and submitted it to Associated Content.

My task today was to figure out how to become an E-bay Affiliate. Becoming affiliates of different sites is another way to make money on your blog. So I went to E-bay.com, studied the information, and signed up. I now have an E-bay link on the Copper Enameling site that will lead you to all the copper enameled pieces that are for sale right now on E-Bay. And if you buy something through that link, I get a percentage of the profits.

My article on Copper Harbor was just published as well so I spent some time e-mailing people that might be interested, such as the businesses I had mentioned in the article. I also put a note on Pasty.net where I am also a member. Promoting what you write is very important to drive traffic to the site.

So here is the link to the article "Common Questions Tourists Ask About Copper Harbor." Enjoy

Everyone Will Get a Turn

2008-02-24T13:03:00.000-08:00

I have a war going on in my head. I couldn't sleep last night because I have so many deities, animal totems, and other entities clambering for me to write about them. They all want to be first! Me, me, me they say. I haven't written anything seriously in over 20 years, which is when I had my last daughter and my brain just went to mush. Since then I haven't felt like I really had anything important to say. Sure, I've done some posting of things, and a few stories, but nothing that felt like I was truly a writer again.

So I have a backlog of stuff that wants to get out and be written about. And everything I do brings two more ideas to mind. For instance, I wrote an article on bears in Copper Harbor, and one on whale watching in CA. Then my mind says, why not use that research and add the information on animal totems and make a totally new article. Then I read an article on Faery Magick that someone had written and it was horrible. She felt she had to list every type of faery there was and it went on and on and on and on. So now my faeries are demanding that I write something about them.

So I didn't know what any of this meant, and there was so much noise in my head I couldn't think. So I got out of bed and came back to the computer. I told the entities that they had to get in line and quit pushing. They are behaving better now and waiting patiently for their turn in the spotlight.

I came up with another bunch of ideas for articles and for making money. For instance, I have been learning that there is all kind of money to be made in blogging. So I plan to start some other blogs and add some affiliates. All I can say is that I am on some kind of wild trip and I am not sure where it will end up! But just for the record, we are now almost at the end of our money, and somehow I need to start generating some. So I am going to give all of these avenues a good effort and you will all be here to witness what success I have with it.

Still Learning

2008-02-23T10:47:00.002-08:00

I'm still learning about how to make money writing. So far I've earned .04 at Helium for one article. Associated Content has paid me upfront $9.67 for two articles, plus .03 for pay per view. So for now I am going to concentrate on Associated Content and see what develops. I have another article on Bears in Copper Harbor I'm going to submit.

I have to say I have been having so much fun. I actually look forward to getting up every day and spend the whole day in front of the computer. I haven't really written anything serious in over 20 years. My last weekly column was before my last daughter was born. I had started to think I was never going to write again.

So I am excited and actually have the time to put into this project. I've been doing some research on Making Money Blogging. I'm not sure how that works, but I'll get back to you when I've learned more.

Getting Started Again

2008-02-21T19:45:00.001-08:00

So many things have happened since my last post. I am no longer working at the call center. I have started a new project. I have started publishing my writing on two websites, Associated Content and Helium. I have one article posted at each site and I am busy working on more.

I'm amazed how much information I have stored in my brain. I have a whole series of "Days in the Life of Nursing Home Social Worker" planned and some travel articles about Copper Harbor, MI, which is where I grew up.

I am also going to work on some Wicca articles. So this forced period of unemployment has been a blessing because I have the time to do what I have always wanted to do, and I have the incentive to make some money soon. So I encourage anyone who stumbles up this blog to visit my other writing sites by clicking on the links below.

The Lonely Windmill

2007-03-18T20:19:00.000-07:00

VISION QUEST
The Lonely Windmill
by Diane Wallace

Once upon a time there was a lonely windmill, which was standing by itself on a small farm. This windmill had been designed to pump water for the farm. The man who owned the farm used the water for his cattle and his crops.

When the wind blew, the windmill’s vanes would turn, which would activate the pump, bringing up the water from an underground well. The windmill had no control over the wind. Some days it would blow fiercely, on other days it was a gentle breeze. On some days it would hardly blow at all.

When the wind was strong, the little windmill worked very hard. His vanes would spin furiously, his pumping arm would go up and down very fast, and water would gush into the trough. He would creak and groan and hope that nothing would break. When there was little wind, the windmill would move more slowly, but then he would worry that not enough water was being brought to the surface for the thirsty cattle and crops.

The farmer also had no control over the wind. His job was to make sure the windmill was in proper working order by keeping it oiled, and checking for bent or damaged parts. He could also increase the amount of water that was provided by adding more windmills to the array, because there is only a finite amount of water one windmill can pump, no matter how hard the wind blows.

Recently I began reading a new book called "Vision Walk: Asking Questions, Getting Answers, Shifting Consciousness” by Brandt Morgan. I have always been fascinated with the concept of the Native American Vision Quest and would have loved to participate in one, but life kept getting in the way. From raising children, making a living, paying bills, washing dishes, it seemed there was never the time or money for a three or four day spiritual journey.

But when I saw the title of this book, I was intrigued. As Brandt says, “The beauty of the Vision Walk is that you can do it almost anytime or anywhere: on a weekend getaway to the beach, during a hike in the mountains, or a layover at the airport, in the comfort of your own home, even over your lunch hour or a coffee break.” (Page 25)

I put it to work even before I finished the book. The book instructs you to ask a question in a meditative state and then begin walking, expecting and looking for an answer from something you see or encounter. My current job is as a customer service representative in a very busy call center. We get many calls daily from people who are experiencing difficulties in their lives that they are hoping we can resolve. In addition, I have added responsibilities of preparing the paperwork to send to these people. At times, we have to do both at the same time, which produces a great deal of stress and frustration.

One day I was walking to a different restroom than the one I usually used. I had the thought in my head, “What can I do to lessen the stress of working in this environment?” Turning a corner I saw two pictures hanging on the wall. They depicted a lonely, well-worn and apparently forgotten windmill in the midst of a vast prairie.

The concept of The Lonely Windmill leapt into my consciousness. My job is similar to that of the windmill. I, too, have no control over the wind, or in this case the call volume that we receive daily. I can also only produce a finite amount of paperwork each day, depending up the number of calls and other factors such as computer problems.

The farmer(s)read management) also have no control over the wind. They can however increase the number of “windmills” by either hiring more customer service representatives, or re-allocating resources to have more “windmills” doing the paperwork. They can also monitor for burnout, frustration, and low motivation. They might also provide on-going incentives and maintenance to ensure efficient, smoothly working “windmills.”

Walking back to my cubicle following that short walk to the restroom, I felt like a huge burden had been lifted from my shoulders. It was inspiring to realize that my colleagues and I were the windmills in this scenario and that we were providing a very important service. Becoming aware that there were factors that we couldn’t control was also very freeing. My job is simply to pump the water, which the farmer will use to run his farm. I no longer felt like I had to worry about what was out of my control, but just concentrate on the task at hand.

And sure enough, in a couple of days, the farmer decided to add several more windmills. So now I no longer feel like The Lonely Windmill.

Finding a Magickal Name

2007-01-06T22:41:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time, a Kansas housewife started out on a new spiritual journey. She did not know, when she took the first step, where she would end up, but felt that it was important to begin, because somewhere along the line she had lost the essence of who she was.

The journey began simply, with visits to a spiritual chat room called SpiritWeb. There she met many interesting people. At the time she was living in Western Kansas and had very little chance to engage in thought provoking or metaphysical discussions. When she joined the group she learned that it was appropriate to use a “handle” when chatting in cyberspace. (Remember she lived in Western Kansas so didn’t have much knowledge of such things.)

She didn’t really have a suitable nickname, but felt that something special was called for, so she looked through the journals she had started to record her shamanistic ‘journeys.’ In one of these journeys she ‘met’ a shaman who had told her that her real name was Sageblossom.

So as Sageblossom she entered the world of SpiritWeb and soon found herself among a group of like-minded spirits who nourished and challenged her in ways she had only dreamed of. She was drawn to one particular group who hung out in a ‘room’, which was named ‘Machu Piccu.’

One of the rituals of this virtual group was to gather each evening to light a virtual fire, which acted as a spiritual beacon to draw others who were searching for meaning in their lives. This min-ritual was usually led by a spirit who called himself Fire Eagle. On occasion Fire Eagle could not be there, and one day Sageblossom drew on an inner strength she did not know she possessed, and stepped up to lead the rite.

As time went on, Sageblossom felt herself growing and changing within. One day while coming back from a field trip with her daughter, she wrote a new fire lighting ritual. The lighting of the fire involved everyone in the group, who were encouraged to give something they valued to the fire. Then, when they least expected it, Sageblossom walked into the fire and was consumed!

Very shortly, a strange woman, carrying a walking stick, approached the group. She said her name was SageWoman. She had been transformed from the spiritually young Sageblossom who had been very unsure of her path, to a more mature and confident spirit. SageWoman continued to use the power of words to create a magickal place where other searching spirits could gather to discuss deep thoughts, exchange new ideas, make new friends, and follow their individual spiritual paths.

About this time a new spirit entered Machu Pichu. He called himself Arawyn, and he was very chivalrous with the ladies. He thought that SageWoman was a very old and wise Native American woman and although they engaged in conversations, they didn’t interact on a personal level.

Till one December night when SageWoman experienced an emotional crisis at home and turned to her virtual friends for consolation. Arawyn happened to be there and provided empathy and understanding. Their relationship grew and very quickly they discovered that they had been together during many lifetimes. They fell deeply in love and soon Arawyn was painting the virtual overpasses with the words, “Arawyn loves SageWoman.”

Well, cyberspace being what it is, many thought this was a fleeting on-line affair, but Arawyn and SageWoman knew differently, because he had been doing magickal workings to attract the right spirit mate for himself, and SageWoman had asked the universe for someone who would treat her as a Goddess. Be careful what you wish for, for very often it comes true! And very shortly, she was leaving Western Kansas, and her family (but that’s another story) and traveling by bus to meet someone she had never even seen in a picture.

This started a new chapter in SageWoman’s life. Arawyn found out she was not the All Wise and Wonderful SageWoman (although to his credit he still secretly believes that). They traveled the road of life together and SageWoman continued to grow and change as she explored the mysteries of Wicca, participated in Esbats and Sabbats, and became the High Priestess of Hidden Grove coven. My how this Kansas housewife had changed.

She continued to take herself on shamanistic or pathworking journeys which, she discovered, was a common magickal technique to alter consciousness. When she first started the practice, she thought she was going insane, and she had had no one to help guide her on the path. During the journeys, she would often visit a cave under a waterfall, where she would visit an old woman named Sage. This woman often provided advice and answers to her many questions. She thought she was talking to a spirit guide, but one day she went to the cave and no one was there. She went back several times and still Sage was nowhere to be found.

One night, as she followed the well-worn path to her sacred spot in her mind, she decided to sit in the now empty chair where her mentor had sat. As she sat there, she realized that Sage was not a spirit guide outside of herself, but her own Higher Self, who had guided her during this process of awakening. And so SageWoman evolved into Sage, whom she had been all along, but was not able to see at the time.

As the Charge of the Goddess says, “And you who seek to know Me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without.” The journey never ends for there are always new knowledge to be learned and deeper understanding of previously learned knowledge.

This is not the end of the journey, for one’s spiritual life continues to evolve and there are new challenges and mysteries to be explored. Sage’s alter ego is Granny Sage to reflect her new stage of life as a crone and a grandparent. Granny Sage is more of a kitchen witch and likes to dabble in herbs and potions. “Where did I put that wormwood”, she asks herself?

A magickal name can be a personal record of the spiritual journey and can be ever-changing as the spirit itself.
"Magical names harken back to rituals deep in our past when we first named ourselves, when we first looked at ourselves and knew that we were sacred." (pg. xv of The New Book of Magical Names Author: Phoenix McFarland) Phoenix also states in her first book, The Complete Book of Magical Names, “The source of our power is in our own minds. To understand ourselves is to gain control over that which creates our reality. Most of us haven’t a clue as to who we are. Perhaps such understanding begins with the name by which we call ourselves. This may be a key to spiritual transmutation.” (p.35)

Our birth names are given to us by others, who may or may not be tuned in to our spirtual nature. Native American cultures often had special naming ceremonies when a child completed their first vision quest, to honor the rite of passage to adulthood. We have lost a great deal of the rituals of rites of passage, although Roman Catholics continue to choose another name at the time of Confirmation.

Sage’s baptismal name is Diane and she hated it for most of her life, until she finally learned to love herself, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Had she realized at an earlier age that it was also the name of a great Goddess, it might not have taken so long for her to reclaim her connection to the Mother. She chooses not to use it in ritual, however. She has added other magickal names to the first one, Pendragon to honor the sacred partnership with Arawyn, and another ritual name, which is only used during ritual.

Finding a magickal name and deciding how and when to use it is a personal decision and like many pagan and Wiccan practices, it is appropriate to use what works best for you.

Me Do It Myself!

2005-11-13T19:22:00.000-08:00

I am feeling really sore and tired lately. The bus riding and walking up our hill each day is playing havoc with my scoliosis. If I had some extra money, I would go to a chiropractor, which normally takes care of the pain.

At times like these, I really admire my second child, my daughter Lucy. Her level of energy and determination to succeed amazes me. She is almost 23, a single Mom, going to college to get a Bachelor’s in Nursing, and works as a CNA at a nursing home. She has been working on buying her own home. I know that at her age I could not have done all these things and kept my sanity.

But Lucy has always been an unusual and {dare I say it?} challenging child. When she was about three years old, we took her and Josh trick or treating in the small town where we lived. They each had a paper bag with handles to carry their candy in. We traipsed up and down the street with their bags getting heavier and heavier. I offered to carry Lucy’s bag for her, as the bottom was in danger of falling out. Her response was, “No, Me do it Myself!”

And that has been her approach to life for most of her young life. Lucy has always had a strong, independent spirit and chooses her own direction in life. When she was in the third grade she came home from school complaining that the school librarian would not let her check out books she wanted out of the library. This seemed a little bizarre to me, so I went to talk to the librarian. She informed me that my child had the audacity to want to check out books that were designated for the 4^th and 5^th graders, instead of sticking to the books that were designated for her age group. “What if she gets one home and can’t read it?”” the librarian asked plaintively. I firmly told her that if that were the case, which was highly unlikely since Lucy, like me, read everything she could get her hands on, then she would bring the book back.

During her teenage years Lucy did more than her share of rebelling against parental authority. We were not very successful at protecting her from herself, as she got involved in drinking, shoplifting, and skipping school. She argued with her teachers, something I would have never considered when I was in school.When I left to move to California, she was forced to grow up quickly and had to step in as the mother figure for her younger sister Alex. She held down a job and even when she became pregnant at age 17, managed to finish high school.

This was a girl who wouldn’t even set foot into a Wal-Mart store as a teenager. I had to give her a clothing allowance, giving her the equivalent of whatever her brother got at discount prices, and let her figure out how to make it stretch. Now that she has a child of her own, she tells me that Wal-Mart is her favorite store! I must admit I find this change in values amusing.

She also changed her mind about education by the time she became a mother. She started telling me, “those freshmen just don’t take education seriously.... they give the teachers such a hard time.” Yet just a short time before that, her teachers were telling me the very same thing.

I love most Lucy’s spirit and zest for life. I love the fact that she never gives up and she always has her own opinions about life {although they seldom agree with mine!}. I am in awe of her and wish I could bottle some of that energy to use myself. I also wish I could make a great deal of money so she wouldn’t have to work so hard to get the kind of life she and my grandson, Taylen, deserve to live.

“Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They came through you but not from you and though they are with you yet they belong not to you”.

To a student: Dear Miss — I have read about sixteen pages of your manuscript . . . I suffered exactly the same treatment at the hands of my teachers who disliked me for my independence and passed over me when they wanted assistants. . . . Keep your manuscript for your sons and daughters, in order that they may derive consolation from it and not give a damn for what their teachers tell them or think of them. . . . There is too much education altogether." Albert Einstein, (1879-1955)

"Determination gives you the resolve to keep going in spite of the roadblocks that lay before you." Denis Waitley, American personal development expert

The Road to Happiness

2005-11-05T20:11:00.000-08:00

Last week I met two young men who reminded me of my son. One was sitting right across from me on the trolley and had very sad, pensive eyes. It reminded me of Josh when he is deep in thought or worried about something. The other young man I met while waiting for my bus to work. He had a “Spawn” sticker on a box he was carrying. I told him that my son really liked the Spawn comics and figures. He was about the same age as Josh {24} and was an art student at a local college. studying animation. We talked about He-Men, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Thundercats and all the cartoons he enjoyed as a kid. He said he was enjoying college because he never thought he could do anything well since he had trouble learning as a kid. He very proudly showed me a cartoon he had drawn.

The conversation made me sad, though, because at this time my relationships with my children are strained. They have never forgiven me for leaving their father (and thus also leaving them) and changing my religion to Wicca. At this time Josh is a second year Catholic Seminarian. I recently got e-mail from him and I must confess I don’t know how to respond.

He wants me to be proud of him. I am proud, for many reasons. He is creative, imaginative, kind and caring, a deep thinker, and has a great sense of humor. I enjoy being with him. I am proud of the young man he has become. What is difficult for me is to fully accept the path he has chosen, not so much because it is different from mine, or that we totally disagree on our outlooks on life.

I would be a staunch supporter if I felt that this path was his true destiny, and that he was truly happy with it. But in his letters he states that he does not feel happiness is the highest goal of life. He embraces suffering as the way to salvation. I can understand because I was once at that same place. I was a very devout Catholic and did a very good job of programming my children to believe in these things. Should I be upset, then, when they continue to do so, even though I have moved on and embraced other beliefs? Is it a bad thing to pursue happiness?

“People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost.” H. Jackson Browne P. S. I Love You

“The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.” M. Scott Peck

More than anything I have to say that I miss the He-Man, Ninja Turtle-loving Josh who liked to play the dark side in role playing games. It is hard to find him under the new verbiage he is using, the boy turned man studying to be a priest. What can we talk about anymore? What do we have in common? Will we be able to get to a point where we can totally accept each other’s paths and live in a state of unconditional love? I sincerely hope so.

“The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved – loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.” Victor Hugo

There is nothing that can destroy my love for my children. I love them all, Josh, Lucy, and Alex, no matter what they do or who they become.

Is the Universe Laughing?

2005-10-30T17:30:00.000-08:00

Just as we have begun to seriously work on increasing our abunance and prosperity, we have experienced a series of events that would make us wonder if the universe was laughing behind our back. For one, our car has evidently taken offense at having the Wiccan bumper stickers removed (which we had decided to do to become more politically correct to the potential Pre-Paid Legal cutomers we were approaching}. But as we were heading down the hill to attend Witches Night Out, a huge Halloween party attended by about 500 witches and pagans, our car told us in no uncertain terms to turn back or we would be walking home.

This was disappointing because we had planned to give away a lot of goodies for raffle prizes, something we do from our Hidden Grove business twice a year. But we did not dispair, and immediately made plans to take the bus to our PPL Super Saturday event in downtown San Diego the next day. We got up at 5 am and made our way down there, arriving about 10 am. We were able to make about 5 exposures on the way down and back, so it turned out to be a good thing {time will tell I guess}.

However, we had a couple of losses. Arawyn left his walking stick at one stop and I left my jacket at another. But they can eventually be replaced.

We are now looking forward to several weeks to months of bus riding, something we had hoped to be down with after our last 9 month adventure with it. It is a drag because I h ave to get up for work earlier, it takes longer to get places, and then we have that long walk up the hill before we can get home {carrying our groceries}.

Well, people pay good money to go to the gym to get exercise. We will get ours for free. Still I hope this phase of life is over soon and the prosperity we are expecting starts to flow. According to our horoscopes {we are both Pisces} our finances should improve next month. Yahoo! I'm all for that.

Blessed Be and Happy Samhain to all!

Granny Sage Begins Again

2005-10-23T11:28:00.000-07:00

I have been reading a book called "The One Minute Milionaire" which I received for free at a local holistic fair. One of the tasks readers are asked to do is to review our past successes. Looking back at 53 years of life, I realised the my most satisfying moments revolved around writing. I wrote stories as a child. I kept journals. I had a very successful website called Caverns of the Soul. I had my own column in a weekly newspaper for four years. I have won state writing awards and had my work published in a variety of venues.

It's been over 8 years since I have written anything of substance and I decided that this would be my first venture back into the world of imagination and prose. I am not sure how this will evolve. Stay tuned for more.