Merlyn's Musings~

Mag 105

2012-02-20T06:13:00.000-08:00

image: epic mahoney

Cosmic phone
I hear you calling
I answer
but don't know what to say

Except "I'm here. I'm listening...."

More Magpie Tales here from other writers....want to see what they wrote about this writing prompt pic? Click here....

Composite Me

2012-02-15T07:14:00.000-08:00

You know, I've always dreamed, made goals, plans, to do lists, counted calories,
did the "I shoulds" for the most part...

But maybe I've been doing things like that and it's been the wrong way.

Maybe I should hold a different image of myself.

What would I wish to be?

They say in society we can be whatever image we want to be.

My life has come to some conclusions.
College, marriages, kids, home, career. All somewhat accomplished and in my back pocket.

What now?

My wishes include: travel, a kick ass body, money, love, lust, fantasy and fame. Oh, and adoring fans too :)

SO

What would this Vixen look like?
Well, she'd look like ME, only UBER me, more svelte, more tan and with longer hair.
(and TALLER....as a friend recently said, "There is no one shorter than you." :(

What would this ideal Vixen act like?
Well, for starters, she'd be more immune to assholes and bullshit, she'd suffer no fools, she'd be sensible, down to earth, emotionally in control of herself, content with what life has given her, yet still up for adventure and FUN.

Sort of cross between:
Me, Loreena McKennitt, Madonna, Candace Night, Janis Joplin, Mary Magdalene....and Rita Rudner :)

Aside from the part where I need: money, a full time counselor, a life coach, personal trainer, fashion consultant. chiropractor, personal massage therapist, dance instructor and agent.....

I think it is doable

I think I will attempt to put this image out there for me to follow as a beacon.

OH Naughty, Naughty Zoot.....

StoryBook Club~ Damsels in Distress

2012-02-14T10:55:00.000-08:00

Last ee'en we donned our nicest suit of armor, picked up our sword and shield and went off to search for "Damsels in Distress" as part of our monthly StoryBook quest!

And we found them!

In all kinds of stories, from myths and fables, to classic storybooks, to modern movies.

Just a few named were: Gwenivere, Shirley Temple movies, Beowulf, nearly ALL the Disney stories, modern day movie shoot 'em ups (where there is almost always a female kidnapped or at risk), Super hero comics and YES....cartoons.

Society it seems, has delivered to us the notion that women are silly creatures and need protecting and saving from their own families and even their own selves.

Only recently, has society started changing its tune, with the role models changing as well.

The movie "Shrek" for instance has Fiona actually staying as an Ogre and all Princesses in that movie rocked and came to save the day! The princess Mulan actually was The rescuer instead of the rescuee.

Movies and shows like: "The Devil wears Prada", "Charmed" and the "Big Bang Theory" are starting to show that women can be both beautiful, practical and smart and in charge.

While there is good reason why we all have roles to play, nothing is written in stone these days, what with Stay at home Dads, and Career Women... sometimes roles can be switched and all is still well.

It was a lovely evening with themed foods:
"Damsel Hair" (garlic & angel hair pasta), "Poison Apples" (baked apples), "Curds & Whey" (cottage cheeses), Chocolate covered strawberry "Roses", Fresh bread with cinnamon and sugar and berries, "Fresh Cherries" (in honor of the Maidenhead ;), "Lady Finger" pastries and of course, Chocolate!

the centerpieces on the table were Corsets, Gowns, roses and of course....Froggy Princes :)

We also watched "The Princess Bride" (..."as you wish" :)

All in all a very lovely and silly time with stories of our own that included our versions of Damsels in Distress were told (most of which included bats or flat tires.... :)

And while I would tell you that I am an Independant woman, and have "evolved"...

Call it a weakness.....

but I would be lying, for I too, am always willing to trade you for changing my flat tire

to do your laundry instead :)

Mag 104

2012-02-12T15:35:00.000-08:00

Of all the loves

Of all the embraces

Of all the promises

and fantasies

That time cannot erase....

Desire be a poor fool

And temptation a sly seductress....

You will find that time

cannot outshine

A love like mine.

Magpie tales

A writing project just for fun by writers who are having it :)

Mag 103

2012-02-06T05:12:00.000-08:00

Mag 103

a grave at the Novodevichy Cemetery, Moscow

Of all the things you took from me,

You forgot one.....

My lasting love.

Surf here for more stories made for this weekly pic blog~

Mag 102

2012-02-01T05:58:00.000-08:00

Mag 102 by Merlyn

Red Spot II, Wallisy Kandinsky

There's lots on my plate.

Logic, Lore, Magick, Math.

To-do lists of laundry and paybacks.

Chaos surrounded by decorative Order.

Loving friends and posers with no remorse

I'm glad that the Love Apple is my main course.

A place for poets.

Click here for more Magpie Tales of this pic.

The family bathroom

2012-01-31T06:28:00.000-08:00

It wasn’t a fancy place.

It was functional and clean with a little bit of frill with my mother’s white ruffled Priscilla curtains. The front window, which you could see when you sat on the potty, looked out towards the front road and the barn. It was small, but you could still squeeze 3 people and a dog and several cats in there.

Which we did.

You see, our family bathroom was sort of a communal place sometimes. Oh, it was a private place for thoughts or body functions, but in times of need, sickness or family practicality, it took on a feeling of community.

Dad never grew a beard or a mustache in all his life. I sometimes wonder what he would’ve looked like with one, but I can’t imagine it. Evidently, he couldn’t imagine it either, as he shaved every day, and sometimes again in the evening if he and mom were going out.

I “shaved’ with my dad.

Even though, I was a 5 year old female with no whiskers of any sort, I was allowed to “shave” with my dad. He’d get out his cup and shaving brush and whip up a frothy “Old Spice-y” lather and apply it to his face.

Then dad would get out his razor to shave. He’d give me an empty one without the razor blade in it and I’d get to soap up and shave my girlish face too. Then came the patting dry towel, and the brisk splash and ritual after shave slapping to wake you up.
Shiny and fresh were we.

I saw my mother naked here for the first of many times. She is gone now, as is my dad, but their memories are still with me. The bath was a place I could have my mom's undivided attention as she sat in the tub and bathed and I would sit on the rug or the lid of the potty and chat. We would chat about this and the conversations that happened there were as real and true as the reality of the total person that was there behind the shower curtain. Mom had 6 kids, and her belly was stretched from it. Her belly pouch sagged into a comfortable shape of a W. At first disconcerting, then sort of sweet and loveable I found myself conforming to this womanly shape as I aged. Yes, I am turning into my own mother. (even as I nurture my inner child, my body is mimicking my mother outside).

My own grown daughter now jokes about inheriting this body shape and we consider it just part of our own heritage.
We feel the "W' is for Wonder Woman.

If you were sick, you could always call for someone to come to the bathroom to help you, get more TP or fetch you something to help you in your current hour of need.

There were also times of work in the bathroom, cleaning it or cleaning the dog or cats that needed baths. Giving the cats baths was always a time of swift and deliberate labor, with bandaids given as treats for afters.

The most fun, how’ere, was bubble baths with my little sister and I. We would beg mom for a “Mr. Bubble” bubble bath and about once a week we could have the treat. We would play with the bubbles on our faces, making bubbly beards like Santa or the Devil or moustaches like Snideley Whiplash from Dudley Doo-Right. We’d search for toys and submarines and have oceanic epic battles with our boats.

Then, tragically, when the water was too cold to stay in anymore, we’d pull the plug and stay in the tub, not wanting to leave, but have it drain down all around us.

This is when the last and bestest fun was to be had. We lay side by side on our backs in the tub, with the warm porcelain next to our wet, clean skin, and by just lifting a stuck arm or small of the back, we could make horrendous fart sounds.
They would carry for miles and miles, as well as the sound of our infectious, bliss-filled squeaky clean, potty humor laughter.

This is the real reason why we didn’t have TV.

Mag 101

2012-01-29T04:58:00.000-08:00

From Boris Hoppek's Tokyo exhibit "Ever"

A Blanket of You

In a harsh, cold sterile world

Nothing makes me feel more safe

than being wrapped up in your love

Click here for more of This week's Magpie tales
This is a writers project ...they give you a pic once a week....and you write the words.

Magick of Mortality

2012-01-27T19:44:00.000-08:00

I think, in retrospect....

THE most magickal aspect of this trip is the fact that total annihilation was avoided.

Really.

Our car problem could very well have been a different ending.
Even though we'd had the car checked out and work done on it before we left for FL (front end alignment and inspection recently, and radiator and water pump changed before we left....)
The CV joint was bad on the front end of the car. The universal was about to break. Boot cracked sometime on the way down to fl...the fluid drained out. We went all over hell and high water....

I mean we went from Central NY....drove thru the Troll Country of the Mountains of Va....all the way to Fort Myers....then down and across Alligator Alley back and forth....back up to Tampa area ....back and forth the Skyway Bridge....back to Fort Myers....

ALL ON A BAD CV JOINT.

When I finally talked Harry into 'getting an appointment to have it looked at", my water bottle in the car's cup holder was shaking like it was put in a paint spinner. The car was shaking our livers out.
We put it into the shop JUST IN TIME.

We were SO LUCKY it was MAGICK!

1) We were able to stay at our dear friends' house, safe, and happy....with a little extra time with them for a visit while the car was worked on before the trip home...(which we couldn't made any other way).

2) We didn't lose control of our car while we were on any of those highways and crash and burn and have to get scraped off the road.....

3) We had a reputable dealer that was recommended...(i.e. NOT BillyBob's Garage in South Bumfuck late at night on roads we didn't know...)

4) We got out of it with a brand new CV joint, 2 brand new tires (of the RIGHT size w/all tires now matching!) all for less than $500. (We'd like to thank Larry's Auto & Truck Service in Cape Coral, FL for being so kewl with us. We even brought the 2 wrong sized /but good shape tires, back with us. Any one need a pair of 215s? All season tread. $25 bucks for the pair....alright so we're trying to recover some bucks on this one....)

5) We even got better gas mileage on the way home!!
Gas mileage on way down was 20mpg....and got 25 mpg on the way back.

We are VERY LUCKY.
It was a MUCH better car after that mechanical operation. The "tapping" sound we heard earlier, that we thought was a "lifter"...was gone. There are some noises we've yet to investigate, but we are HOME, happy and SAFE.

I read another book outloud to Harry on the way home. It is something kindred to share a story, while passing the time... and it sure goes by faster.
Two- twelve hour driving days can be hard back to back.

For my Big Bang Theory friends....I read the book "Supernature" by Lyall Watson.

Sort of a "Sheldon" book of science investigating super nature-al subjects. Very interesting. A South African, botonist, zoologist, biologist, entymologist...combining String theory and Clairvoyance and Dowsing and Telepathy all rolled into one strange 1970s book.

Some of it was mind boggling.
Some of it was bizarre.
Some of it was archaic by our standards now.
All very curious.

We saw things on this trip that you usually don't see....

Oh, and we bought some Page Oranges.

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
This is Sunshine on your plate.
The SWEETEST hardest to peel oranges you ever had.
I think I've eaten 10 in a food frenzy.
A drippy, sweet, savory, citrusy delightful, food frenzy mow down.

We saw lots of the world.....

Glad to be home. Monty has been soaking us up and was so glad to see us.

Nick took VERY good care of him. They were buds.

Our "adopted" son, Nick, did fabulous here with Monty. Sort of like a young novice hermit holed up with the squirrels and Monty. Very hermetic. Protective. Zen like, Spartan existance. Very respectful. He didn't even eat the leftovers I left for him. And he even changed the sheets and did his dishes. And I still have food.

Here's my boon acquisition :)

Like I said. It's all very lucky.... and a perfect end to the Magickal Mischief Tour.

Dragons & Fairies & Orbs, oh my!

2012-01-23T10:58:00.000-08:00

The faire was AWESOME.

The weather was great, about 80 degrees, sunny and a bit of a breeze. Being from the frozen north, it IS good to escape the weary, dreary weather and have a break with real SUNSHINE.

It is a tonic. So is being in garb, meeting friends, playing music!

We are blessed to have friends and fans down here so far away from home!

There were some fun things hither today!

Anoles at St. George's Dragon Orphange! (these little critters changed color when put on my 12 string :) At first they were dark brown, and when they rested on my guitar and I played it a bit, they turned bright green with the vibrations! Kewl huh?

And this is what a Renaissance Faire "Rolls Royce" looks like. Now, THAT'S a hood ornament!

Check this out my StoryBook Friends!
An antique Vampire Killer Kit! Complete with Cross, wooden stakes, strychnine, Holy water, garlic oil, hammer, dagger....a bargain at the Manna booth for $175!

Tonight was the last night of the faire. We played at the pub for our final set and it ROCKED. Faire patrons were all waiting for us and buying us pints at the last set! I couldn't drink them fast enough!! I gave away about 3 pints that were backing up....Here's Hoppe and some of the great waitstaff there at the pub.

This fellow, Aradon, even danced his boots off! (NOTE boot :

Should you take advice from a devil with a fiddle? :) Will played with us a lot and it was wicked fun!

Faire friends~

Oh, did I tell you that Miss Wisconsin came to our sets today? AGAIN? She asked us when we were going "back to Wisconsin to Bristol Faire again". (We've never even ever been there ONCE :)

Thought you'd like that.

Here's PROOF :)

Check out the ORBS here after the last of the music was done on the last night of faire!

The Orbs even followed us to the car for the way home! BTW...Abby told me when she saw this pic, that the tail lights on the car nor the inside car lights were on when this pic was taken. Sure looks like it though, aye?

My heart is warm.

We are home at Dre & Max's. Harry has taken our Suburu into a shop Max recommended. It is shimmying and shaking our liver out. Terry, the director of the faire, (who owns a garage) thinks it sounds like a tie rod. I'm amazed we have gotten around the whole state as much as we have! We've been to the bottom of the state and back up to Universal Studios and back again. I do NOT wish to get stranded in south bumfuck with a tie rod or broken transmission (resulting problem) off some exit in God knows where....at Bubba's garage...saying "You sure are purty....so (hack) you got some engine problems huh??" And then ...hearing BANJOES.
***********
So we've traveled hither and yon all over the long state of Florida...
over the Alligator Alley back and forth,
over the Skyway Bridge 3x...
and I guess the Magick of this part of the trip is that, unbeknownst to us, the tires on the left side of the car were 205s and the ones on the right side of the car were 215s. How weird. We've had it in to several shops since we bought it and nobody caught it....

Then over time, the car, wiggling over the miles being "sided" wrong, made the "boot of the cv joint" break on the way down...all the grease came out of the joint over our journey. We are lucky, lucky, lucky.

Am now in process of getting it all fixed and eating Max & Dre's leftovers and will head out on the morrow for points North...

Gods willing and the creek don't rise.

As I said, it's been a really lucky and Magickal journey!!

A magickal trip to Hogwarts and The Lost Continent....

2012-01-19T20:17:00.000-08:00

Our magic started early today....
Ravyn, Harry and I set off on an adventure!

and it was spent going to Mecca. Yah.

Harry Potter's Hogwarts Theme Park at Universal Studios.

Like I said.

Mecca.

And in the words of the Genie Johmbie, "Mecca lecca high, mecca hinney ho!" This turned into our chant as we set off to Orlando to arrive at opening at 9am. Of COURSE the first character we saw welcoming us into the gates was a GENIE. (no shite).

As I said, "Mecca Lecca Hi, Mecca Hinney Ho!" :)

The whole place was awesome! There was Dr. Seuss Land and a bunch of kooky trees....

As Horton says...
"We are Here! We are Here! We are Here!"
and lots of fun stuff for us to play with :)

and we sorta kept on our path, because we wanted...nay, NEEDED to get to Hogwarts.

And then?

THERE it was!

It was PHENOMENAL.

We went straight to Olivander's Wand Shop

and then to Hogwarts for the ride.

I was concerned, because I'm not a big ride person (long story) so I was pretty hesitant with all the disclaimers along the way to the ride.

We wandered through the castle on the way....

(BTW~ an aside...I never saw this Unicorn tapestry. It is the magick of this place. I see I was right BY it...never saw it till now when I'm adding pics!! )

But, after getting buckled in and a few moments of disorientation, it was great! I was almost fried by a dragon! I narrowly escaped having my life force sucked away by a Death Eater!

I also know now how awesome it would be to fly in a Quidditch match! You have to be fast when being chased by dragons in flight! There were enchanted pictures on the wall,

and Dumbledor himself welcomed us to the school!

Looks like I was even under the "Sorting Hat" at one point!!

Slytherin wants me bad. :)

I told Harry that I will make him a robe, because he does look very similiar to him and he would look SO GOOD! So we got Harry a Dumbledor's hat...

and well...

Scabbers the ratty HAD to come home with me.
(and YES....he is missing a toe :)

We had just finished our fabulous ride, when Merlyn said, "I need a pint after being so brave on that ride!" and we ducked into Hogsmeade Tavern

for a drink and some fish & chips.

Even Scabbers got a nosh and a drink :)

Harry saw a Hogwarts "student" sitting next to us, and asked to have his pic taken with her (it's only fair after all the pics we get asked of us at ren faires :) and she obliged. She also ended up asking us if we wanted to pal around with her, and go on a rollercoaster ride with her. Her name was "Aria" because...she liked to sing :)
She showed us the ins and outs of the park, turned us on to Butter Beer (YUM!) AND (BONUS!) gave us her employee discount on a few purchases (which included Dumbledor's wand for Harry!)

We traveled to Jurassic Park....I had made mention that IF we were to see Jeff Goldblum that "he was MINE". But we didn't....damn. I would've run after him like a velociraptor :)
Speaking of velociraptors, I saw the birth of a baby raptor! And well, then we had to run for our lives like crazy when a pack of Velociraptors saw us...we managed to get away with our lives.
Thank god there were others behind us that couldn't run as fast :)

Then we went to The Lost Continent

and sat in on the "Eighth Voyage of Sindbad" stunt show and then we almost were trapped forever in Poseidon's Temple by a demon. Thankfully it all turned into a pretty great pyrotechnics and water works show as "Poseidon's Fury". (whew :)

The last bit for us this day was our visit to Super Hero Island. Ravyn went on "The Incredible Hulk Coaster" and we all went on the "Amazing Adventures of Spider Man" ride. This ride was fun and crazy and wild and a 3-D adventure where I was nearly killed by several Marvel comics nemesis! All while dropping thousands of feet (in my head) or topping skyscrapers!

Then it was HAPPY HOUR and time for Marguaritas in Marguaritaville!

Scabbers was even hoping for a sip...

We thought about it....but Harry said NO SALTY RATTIES :)

All in all a VERY magickal day! I am SO tired! It's hard walking the pavement, being chased by toothy dinosaurs, being on the Quidditch team, and fighting crime and scaling buildings with Spiderman.

And all in a single day.

Now I'm off to bed....

with a fellow who looks remarkably like Dumbledor...

and I hope Scabbers doesn't snore :)

A mini trip to the Orient

2012-01-18T15:36:00.000-08:00

Magic this day found us in the form of relationships!

Harry & I drove across the dragon path of Alligator Alley to the Coconut Grove area and we arrived to see my brother Gus and outlaw Barb :) Also saw my niece Jessica and got to meet her sons (my great nephews!) for the first time! A wonderful visit with them.

Chatting about our wonderful father (who shares a birthday with Gus) on a day close to the anniversary of our dad's passing, really made us feel that dad was with us. We chatted about memories and influences from our childhoods. I got a new shot in the arm from Gus about my writings and will be working some more on a direction for my special blog I've been sharing with only a few. :)
It's so good to meet up and it was truly heart filling for me to be with them. We played some music for the boys (who were uncharacteristically shy we heard). We so enjoyed chatting with them, and soaking them up.

We look forward to seeing them again next time we are down this way.
You see...
For...Magically speaking, we "were in the neighborhood" so to speak...even being 1500 miles from our shire!

We said our goodbyes and drove only a few miles farther (surprising coincidence) to arrive at Star & Mikal's and visit with them and Jay & Abby for an overnight there.

You see....Merlyn had a plan. I heard that we all had a similiar piece of apparel in our belongings and decided to all wear it to go out to a MAGICAL dinner that Star & Mikal recommended at "Shinju Japanese Sushi Buffet"!

This restaurant was phenomenal! We don't have anything like this kind of delicacy much up by us. I told Abby that I knew really nothing about the cuisine, so could I tag her and have her teach me the ropes. She surely did!

I got a plate at the gorgeous looking spread of sushi, sushimi and salads made of seaweed. It was amazing. Abby had a pair of tongs in front of me and picked out many wild and delicious looking rolls of this or that. Slices of raw fish from the deep sea and topped it with Wasabi and dipped in soy sauce was mouth watering! We all were in heaven and making Winnie the Poo "yummy sounding hums" as we relished in the company and the atmosphere! Hot tea, pickled ginger, wasabi and so many beautiful delights on our plates! Harry wasn't sure he was going to like it, but he surely did!

Here's some extra fun~
As we were leaving with bellies full from treats from the Far Orient....we asked a hostess to take our group picture there. This beautiful Japanese lady happily agreed to help us, and as she was focusing our camera on this fun motley crew, with the camera's magic eye, she stopped...looked at us and said with a surprised smile,

"Oh! You all same shirt!"

And it amused her as much as it did us :)

The morning light found Abby, Jay, Harry & I playing music before breakfast all in our jammies. We worked out several pieces of delightful music with them. We all wish we lived closer to each other to work up more! We figured out "Nonesuch" and also a haunting dirge called "Saint James Hospital". (no, not "St. James Infirmary"...that is the later version.)

They spoiled us all with a MOST delicious brunch of bagels, cream cheese, lox and capers and french press coffee! YUM!
We thanked Star & Mikal ....

Took off and made it 5 hours drive later to Ravyn's house up in Gulfport.

Our car is making the trip, a little complaining, but so far so good. Our "horse" on this journey shivers and shakes occasionally if we push it and it has a new infrequent grinding sound when you turn the front wheel. How'ere, we are far from home, know no reputable garages and we are still motivating....so we will try to keep the miles going forward, carefully so and pray to the Gods and hope for the best.

Recap:
Pulling into port with a familiar family tie...yet far from home.
Food from the exotic Orient.
Magic Music before breakfast.
A faithful steed.
Kindred spirits~ both friends & family.

As I said.....

a Magical Adventure!!

Fort Myers Medieval Faire 1st weekend 2012

2012-01-16T19:54:00.000-08:00

Our first weekend of faire was a wonderful one, with the opening day rather brisk and blustery, with pennants snapping, jousters shiny, gypsies jingly and vendors being hopeful.

It's a fun faire and a mixed ground if there ever was one, and quite enjoyable to watch and participate in!

Trekies, Steam Punk, Pirates, Faries, Vikings did abound...oh yes, and wenches, knights, and rogues were there. I see that Steam Punk has really invaded the renaissance faires lately. Before this it was pirates, and I have to say it is interesting to say the least. Kind of unnerving for die hard rennies, but kind of creative in a fun costumey sort of way. League of Extrordinary Gentlemen to Braveheart. It's like Sheldon at the faire as Spock sometimes. I've seen Scarlett O'Hara, at least 3 Captain Jack Sparrows and a Beowulf.
Here is where gypsies dance and face-tattooed pirates fill the pub.

Our days were magickal in so many ways.

What I really love, is when a song affects a person emotionally.
You can be playing a simple song for someone...and all of a sudden...they are crying. Crying with happiness or loneliness or with memories of past lost loves. It always amazes me about the emotion that is evoked with melody.

Hard hearted men are melted and stubborn women can be turned into weepy dear hearts.

It is a magickal thing. Grown men dance and act out Johnny Jump Up at the pub and then leave YOU a tip of a gold coin. (they already "paid" me by dancing! :) Groups of garbed pirates, wenches and fiddlers appeared to sing and pound on tables and yell "Huzzah!" and buy you pints.

A bar wench came by and laid two pints of hard cider on the table in front of us. Me, being the good minstrel, thanked them in between songs (oh my mouth was so dry to sing :) and started pouring it from the taboo plastic cup into my ren mug...and my guitar was SO excited it "jumped up" and spilled the Johnny Jump Up all over my guitar body, strings. I wiped the hard cider off the strings with the hem of my skirt and kept playing!

Wondrous happenings included some snowbirds flying south to this faire and join us! Our friends, Lori, Chris and Maria all came down to play. Maria joined us on "Katie Sings" and we did an amazing "Auld Lang Syne" at the Manna booth.

I love the Manna Booth! A large tent filled with gypsies, readers and drummers.

Both evenings at faire we played for pubsing and it was a blast. Saturday night, The Harper and the Minstrel
joined us for a rendition of "Our Mother the Mountain". Sunday, while Lorie was here for the weekend
she and Ravyn started a dancers line for "Celtic Circle Dance" which is always fun! Except this night, Will the fiddler and Darin Graves jumped in as extra fiddlers, so it was a full band and dance extravaganza!

And if you REALLY want a treat....

check out this clip! We are in the news and you might recognize a few of us! :)
http://www.fox4now.com/news/local/137364268.html

Aye! Nothing like the traditional fare of "chicken legs" at the faire :)

LOVE this clip! The faire is just like this, a sweet little magickal faire!

Anon my loves!

There's magic in the music....

2012-01-14T19:02:00.000-08:00

Hey Ho. So, what a time we've had here so far. There IS magic at the faire here and with our friends.
We arrived safely to Ravyn's and then to her daughter Dre's. They have been wondrous to us.
We got in on Friday during the day, and Jay & Abby were at Dre' & Max's here and hanging out playing music. We played ren music and then Led Zeppelin (Abby says I'm the only one they've met so far that can play Led Zeppelin on the bodhran :)

Today we had to be at faire on site, dressed in garb, at 8 fucking o' clock. (it's a 30-45 minute drive...which meant we had to be dressed in garb at 7 o'clock. ) UGH.

The morning meeting said important information such as; "Don't piss outside your tent." (like....pissing IN your OWN tent is ok???? I've personally thought that pissing outside next to your OWN tent was ok..I mean...don't you? I mean...really? who wants to walk across the campground to waste 3 tbls of urine?)
and.."Opening is 9am. No showers cuz there was vandalizism who fecked with the showers last year....and now we can't have showers anymore..."

and shite like that.

But while that may not seem magickal... it was, because we were able to play some amazing music with friends....and thank the GODS for Dre & Max....we can hang out with them at their home with Jay & Abby and Lorie & Chris...and eat drink and be merry....and have SHOWERS :)

It was a bit blustery and windy and chilly today...I have a wind burned face....
and tired feet and achy body...but it was great to play with Empty Hat's new fiddler, Darren, who came to listen to us and have some fun...

Also....
Some amazing stuff was ....Maria (the Queen at the Sterling faire) was here today and came to our shows...and I called her up to sing "Katie Sings' with us (which was beautiful)....

And BONUS....

Jay & Abby (The Harper & the Minstrel) and we played "Our Mother the Mountain" tonight for our pubsin piece and it was ORGASMIC.

I swear I needed a cigarette afterward....

and I don't even fucking smoke anymore.

Love you...

signing off....
from a couch filled with friends, full bellies of pasta and meatballs and tequilla and beers....
and listening to Max play some great jazz....Abby & I are on Internet catching up...Harry and Jay are zoning out....and the bed is calling me....

I'm TIRED.

OH!

And ....

MISS WISCONSIN came to several of our shows today :)

I am off to LalaLand....
and snuggles....
and back to faire on the morrow.

Gods willing and the Creek don't rise.

Goodnite from moon lit Cape Coral.

Magickal Mischief Tour: Saddling up and heading out

2012-01-12T10:12:00.000-08:00

It was a full moon… late twilight till almost dawn… when we left Squirrel Haven.

This is to be a Bardic journey through time to find Magick. My life has changed and I am searching for new enchantments. I am keeping my mind and heart open to what comes my way in gentleness and truth.

On this journey to points south, along the way, I am reading a book called, “Faery Tale: One Woman’s Search for Enchantment in a Modern World” by Signe Pike to Harry as he drives.

The synchronicity of it, is that this book is also a travel story and it is adding interesting elements to our journey. In sooth, the coincidences (? ) reveal themselves to us on every page I turn.

The author is from Ithaca, she talks about Corning, NY, places where Harry & I have spent time in and there are stories of travel (as we ride) black dogs (Monty) and of her meeting Colleen O’Shaunnessy (with whom I’ve met and worked at some psychic festivals with).

We are also going to be passing by, shortly, Charleston, which is the place the author writes about in her book. That, and well, the search for finding faeries!

I usually name our tours, once on the road as it opens itself up for perusal. But for this journey, I have been led to name it as we set out. It is “The Magickal Mischief Tour” in honor of my mood, latest blogs and synchronicity and the fact that we plan on visiting “Hogwarts”, the new Harry Potter Park at Universal while we are on our adventure.

Magick indeed!

So whether you are a Muggle or a Witch or not sure of the difference, climb into our story with us for the magick carpet ride.

We head first to visit our friend, Valerie on our way south. She has been so generous to us all the time that we’ve known her. She wants us to stop on “the way by” so, we veer off the beaten path a bit and go to find her.

But, like finding and searching for faeries, it isn’t always as easy as you’d like. (read: we got lost). She came and found us and led us to their home. She lives on top of a mountain. We travel up, up, windy, snake-twisty roads to their home. Looking at the hillsides covered in bare winter branches and rock formations piled in fields, we agreed that we were, indeed, In Troll Country.

Valerie and her mate Keith, offered for us to sup in a most grand fashion, once we arrived. Cheeses, homemade pesto, compotes and jams to slather on fresh hearth bread. A glass or two of hearty red wine and a wondrous dinner of sweet potatoes and char-grilled steak had me feeling right at home in their cozy abode. They were sweet, fun and generous and the bed was warm, dry, clean and safe.

We, as the gypsies we are, offered our music to them for a gypsy trade. We were their own private bards for an ee’en and it felt good for us to tune our instruments and relax.

It’s good to have mates on a journey.

They also own several dogs and one is a Giant Schnauzer named Britta.

She is beautiful, very shy and looks almost exactly like “Old Iron Guts Joe’ the wonder Schnoodle. Only Britta is skittish and quiet and BIG. And I loved her instantly, but she wouldn’t come to me. So, I quickly devised a scheme to sneak pets of her beautiful black coat while blatantly offering her morsels of sweet potato and steak and bacon. I miss our black dog, Monty, already. He is our faithful cur and friend. Monty guards Squirrel Haven like Cerberus guards the gates of Hell.

And that’s ok. :)

I am also reading now about “black dogs” in my book and how they can be faery guardians of magick realms. Harry & I heartily enjoy the black canines in our lives at the moment and have to agree that they are magickal friends and protectors as well!

After waking and partaking in Val’s morning repast of eggs, bacon, warm rolls and jams, she filled our mugs with coffee, we packed our saddlebags again and we left with hugs and kindred smiles.

Setting off, we find ourselves high in the Blue Mountains, in a dense blue fog that covers everything. It lifts to rain and it is reminiscent of a grey day in Mordor.

And yes, it’s also raining in the story in the pages of the book too….

My life has taken many changes and twists and turns in the past few months. I am aware of how much I’ve changed and how my circumstances have also changed.

Oh, I’m still a babe and a mother and a lover and a bard…

But like Stevie Nicks’ sings:

“Well, I’ve been afraid of changing, cuz I built my life around you. But time makes you bolder and children get older and I’m getting older too. Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love? Can the child within my heart rise above? Can I sail through the changing ocean tides? Can I handle the seasons of my life?”

And that’s where I seem to be right now.

I am hoping to handle the changing seasons of my life. I am turning from Mother to Crone and I embrace it and am terrified at the same time. In the last 3 months, I have realized all this.

My hair has turned grey. On this journey, it is graying even as we spake.

I am curious...and letting it do so.

What will it look like?
What will I look like?

I am trying to find myself and who I am now.

Who is this aging Enchantress?

Who is this graying songbird?

Maybe I’ll find an outer beauty that is new with the addition of silver hair.

So, I've been thinking...maybe I'll be brave.
Ok...I'll grow it out a bit.

Maybe I'll go the route like some brave sister musicians have chosen to go...

Maybe I’ll look like Bonnie Raitt

and Emmy Lou Harris and their luscious graying locks.

Or Joan Baez

Maybe I’ll “rock the grey, baby” like my friend Duchess O’Donnegal says.

Hopefully.

Hopefully I will grow into my age with grace and beauty and wisdom that I have earned so hard pressed.

But like the firm believer in change that I am…

I have an emergency box of magick color at the ready for a Gemini moment of impetuousness, up my sleeve.

It’s a nice and easy magick trick.

Mag 99

2012-01-09T08:31:00.000-08:00

What shall I leave you with?
What monument could possibly attest to my life?

A song?
A building?
A statue made of brass?
A word?
A poem?
A name?

My heart?

Click this link for more Magpie Tales from other participating writers!

Magickal Mischief Tour!

2012-01-07T20:49:00.000-08:00

Well, it's that time of year again when Harry & I put on our traveling shoes and pack up gear and garb and
push off for points SOUTH.

Sunny Florida!!

Harry & I will be playing music at the Fort Myers Kiwanis Medieval Faire weekends Jan14-15 and 21-22.

The car is as good as it's gonna be for the trip.
So far this year, my Suburu Forrester has had:
A head gasket replaced, fixed the catalytic converters, a new radiator, oil change, and a new water pump.
Probably a few other things too...I can't remember.

Oh yah, a front end alignment, but they can't figure out why it shakes a bit over 50.

I'm 51, so I sort understand it :)

We are going to be pushing off, on a wing and a prayer next Tuesday.

I will try to blog along the way or here and there to tell you about the MAGICK we find along the way!
If you would like to follow us on our band journey, please join my "Merlyn's Musings" blog at my sister page:
http://www.Merlynmischief.blogspot.com

I will post any special magickal happening here :)

On the agenda while in Florida ....is catching up midweek with long lost family and close friends...
and a trip to Universal's Harry Potter's Hogwarts!!!

WOOOOT! Talk about Magick!!

Generally, we are perfect traveling companions, as we enjoy the traveling, as long as the transportation isn't an issue...

Here are some of the Tour Names from yesteryears...

2004 The” Dear God I hope the Van will make it there” Tour

This is the trip when our blue van's transmission was going and we went thru a CASE of oil on the trip...

and thusly.....

Also several subsequent bottles of Absolute Vodka :)

2005 The “Southern Acoustic” Tour

With a vehicle that had no (knock on wood) problems!

2006 The “All Lasagna” Tour

This is the trip where Harry decided to sample Lasanga at every restaurant that we stopped in :)

2007 The “Titties and Beer” Tour

Caravanning down with Ben Beavers. Nuf’ said. :)

2008 The “Cottage’s Maiden Voyage” Tour

Our 1978 new to us camper trip. Complete with him losing the steering wheel WHILE DRIVING.

2009 The “Kit’n’Kaboodle Oodle of Schnoodle” Tour

We brought everything…the kitchen sink…and Monty’s first real Road Dog Trip!!!

2010 “Santa’s Holiday”

With Harry’s white beard recently grown long for Christmas Santa gigs… we were frequently asked if he was, indeed, Santa. And our musician friend, Jay Michaels, was his “Head Elf”.

2011 “Fire & Ice- Circle of Life” Tour on which we saw all of that and so much more!

Usually, we don't listen to music much on the drive (too much talk or Jesus Radio in the southern states...)
we practice singing while we drive, and polish up a bunch of acapella pieces.

I always share a book I'm reading with Harry, by reading outloud to him as he drives.
On this "Magickal Mischief Tour", our elective "Hogwarts Textbooks" of choice are:
"Faery Tale: One Woman's Search for Enchantment in a Modern World" by Signe Pike
"The Wizardology Handbook: A Course for Apprentices" by Candlewick Press
and "Super Nature" by Lyall Watson. These should really get us thinking and appreciating the magick that is all around us!

Usually, Harry takes a 1000 pictures while he drives at 60mph, hanging out the window, or snapping pics in front of my face..
How'ere, this year, the camera situation is fubared.
So, we shall see....maybe one will magickally present itself to us!

NOW...........

On a wondrous AUDIBLE note:

Our 10th CD is DONE! "Christmas Presence" was finished just last night :)
We are stuffing it in along with us for the ren faire.
And NO...it's not LATE for Christmas.

It's EARLY! :)

So, with hope in our hearts, and song on our lips we shall sally forth.

Gods Willing and the Creek don't RISE :)

Mag 98

2012-01-02T06:24:00.000-08:00

Mag 98

I thought of you here this day

The geese honked so wildly above as they flew south.

It's quieter now.

So calm.

So clean.

*************************************

Instructions

1) Write a poem or short vignette using the picture featured in this post as your inspiration.

Feel free to take the photo to use for your post.

2) Link back to Magpie Tales from your post.

There are writers who bond. Be One.

2012 & the Meaning of Life (good title, huh? :)

2012-01-01T08:55:00.000-08:00

I had a friend stop me in the store the other day to say "hi". After the pleasantries and wishes for the new year ahead, she dropped her voice and said, "What do you think of all scary end of the world Mayan 2012 stuff?"

I said, "Well, the Mayans never predicted an "end" if you will, The calendar resets itself and goes on certain numbers of years, with cycles.

But do you know what I really think? I think that the Mayan guy that was responsible for making the calendar was counting on his beads and charts, one day in hmmmm... 56,000 B.C and called it quits for the day.
He figured, "I've calculated till 2012 A.D...that's good enough for a day's work."
But then he:
a) was a victim of clan wars
b) was thumped him from behind by the Spanish while he was calculating
c) slumped over while at his measuring numbers at his abacus

and well, they either never replaced the guy after the funeral, with another person well suited for it, and they thought, ."that's good enough."and then they all died of the Small Pox that the Spanish and English brought in their ships while carrying off the Mayan gold.
THE END.

We had a great party last night for New Year's Eve.
One of the fun things we did as a group, was we watched "The Meaning of Life" by Monty Python.
A great perspective adjusting movie!

It's now a New day, month and year.

An EVEN year.

2012.

A year full of prophecy, fear and hope.
A New Day with No Mistakes in it. :)

See, what you have to remember in all this is....
the thing is,
you could get hit by a bus tomorrow.

Live NOW.
Don't worry about things that COULD happen.
Asteroids, earthquakes, floods, famine, war.
There have ALWAYS been these things on this Earth since the beginning of time.

Earth IS a changing planet.
It's molten at it's core, for God's sake.
Don't you think all the molten lava moving around changes shit?

Life IS change.

Here's what I think:

If you've hurt anyone in your life, try to fix it and your KARMA if possible.

Love those who need you.

There is a reason you are here.

You are learning from others....

You are teaching others with your input.

And THAT'S The Meaning of Life.

and ah....

if you want to live long and prosper...

Don't eat the Salmon Mousse. :)

Walking the Janus path

2011-12-29T08:50:00.000-08:00

I like New Year's Resolutions.

Some people hate them,
or don't make them,
or drop them shortly after January 6th, when the Epiphany strikes them that they aren't going to follow their resolutions...

Me?
I feel I am always in need of an adjustment in my ever growing life and world.
I am constantly upgrading.
Merlyn 7.0

But how to start?
I start by making a list of my "Goals" this time of year,
and then I break it down to monthly lists/weekly lists.
I shoot for really trying to work on them all year long.

After making my yearly, monthly, and weekly lists,
I keep them on my clipboard which is my circular file for ongoing ideas and thoughts.
The resolutions then make it to the last page.

I was sorting out my clipboard and I found my list for the last two years running.
It is interesting looking back.

Like Janus.

2010 wants were:
To organize working on my writings, change out 3 windows of the house, get my car on the road, a proposal out, to learn certain songs, to paint the porch and to back up my writings.
I DID all those things! I crossed them OFF my list!

Some things that weren't crossed off that year were:
To lose 25#, to plan 3 outings to visit Cathedrals, permanent awning over the hot tub, deal the foundation under the porch and to finish the Christmas CD.

The 2011 wants were:

To start a StoryBook Club, To start a Creativity Circle, Cataract Surgeries, fix the porch roof, make a Civil War Show, get a dumpster for a spring cleanup, fix the grill, build a new garb rack, finish "Heroes & Rogues" CD and put roll up blinds on the porch.
I did all those things! I crossed them off my list!

The ones that were NOT crossed off were:
Finish organizing cleaning the living room, fix the generator, touch up the steps, and make another video.

HOWERE.....
2010's "lose 25# was nearly completed (albeit a year later...and please don't count the holiday pounds I've put back on ...they are going SOON. ) and I DID visit St.Patrick's Cathedral....and we are currently finishing the Christmas CD now.

Some things take time to cook, I guess. :)

As I said, it's good to make resolutions. I mean, how do you wind up where you want to be, without a plan?
You NEED a MAP.

My Map this year for 2012 looks like this:

To get on with my life with daily love and happiness
To find new love....starting with loving myself
To finish one of my books in progress.
New Website
Miriam video done
Christmas CD done
Get Harry playing more fiddle this year
Merlyn playing mandolin more
Buy another autoharp
Make a "Spirit Show".
Get the Generator fixed (yes, it's still a carryover from 2010 :)
Sell the Cottage....buy a pop up camper.
and the most important:
A Beautiful, Adjusted, Inspiring, Happy Merlyn will Emerge this year :)

So Janus.....

I've looked back.
I've planted my feet in the snow.
I'm looking forward now.

The January Man (released on our CD "Kismet" many Januarys' ago...)

Oh the January man he walks abroad in boots of leather

The February man still wipes the snow from off his hair and blows his hands

The man of March he sees the spring, and wonders what the year will bring, and hopes for better weather.

In April rains, the man goes down to watch the birds come in to share the summer

The man of May stands very still watching the children dance away the day

In June the man inside the man is young and wants to lend a hand and grins at each newcomer.

And in July the man in cotton shirt he sits and thinks on being idle.......

The August man in thousands go to watch the waves and find the sun

September man is standing near, to saddle up and disappear and autumn is his Bride-o.

And the man in new October takes the reigns and early frost is on his shoulder

The poor November man sees fire and wind and mist and rain and icy air

December man looks thru the snow, to let 11 brothers know -they're all a little older.

And the January man comes round again in woolen coat and boots of leather

To walk along that icy road
he knows so well
The January man is here
To walk along that icy road....
For'ere.....

Magpie Tales: Mag 97

2011-12-27T11:36:00.000-08:00

MAG 97

It was a problem Marilyn had.
The chameleon lived within her like a tapeworm.
It turned on and off at the click of a flashbulb
and the sound of running tape.
But
Sometimes
At night
She didn't even recognize her own self.

http://magpietales.blogspot.com/2011/12/mag-97.html

Twas the night AFTER Christmas (with apologies to Clement Moore ;)

2011-12-25T17:24:00.000-08:00

T’was the night after Christmas

by Merlyn :)

T’was the night after Christmas
and all through the house
not a creature was stirring, no one would rouse
Their belts were loosened, a belt notch or two
and pies they were eaten, and ribbon candy too.

Children of the land were overtired & wouldn't go to bed
until their mommies threatened to tan hineys red
and mama in her sweats and he in his jams
doing dishes till 10 and picking at the ham

When out on the porch there was such a clatter
Monty on his chain growling, a whole different matter
away to the door I flew.... like a snail
skittering papers and wrappings and yesterdays mail.

The light on my breast in the cold winter air
reminded me that I was half naked, my top almost bare.
When what to the neighbor's wondering eye should appear
but Harry outside, with his hand on a beer.

He said, "I thought I saw Santa, so bring a flashlight quick!
He didn't bring what I wanted, that selfish little prick!
And bring my crossbow, from my pirate garb!
I think I can nick him and nail him with a barb."

"Oh, Harry you silly! That wasn't Santa elf!
But Carl from next door, I saw him myself!
Come on inside, and shut the door tight...
There's mischief about on this holiday night!"

Our guests have just left with a word to the fools
"When you ride in the Prelude, here are the rules....
No open containers, No food, No trash,
And NO FARTING in the car.... or I'll kick your fecking ass".

Said my guest as he left, and his passengers one by one,
"Aw, this sucks when you drive, you are no fun!"
On Shawna! On David! On Tristan! On Jesse!
We did pretty good, the house's barely messy!

As dry leaves before the leaf blower do fly,
When their almost raked off, blow suddenly by
So do the wrappings and bows and ribbons bags
the boxes and packages, cards and tags.

And then, in a twinkling, of Harry's roving eye
He pinched and he squeezed me as he walked by
The kids are gone, and everyone's to bed,
Soon led me to believe what was going on in his head.

He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot
If PETA sees you honey, they'll surely shoot.
With a bundle of videos he got for us to view
and we settled nicely on the couch & the doggy did too.

His eyes how they twinkled, his grey hair how merry!
His cheeks were all stuffed like a hampster with a cherry
his black jeans were drawn up like a roadie in a show
his tee shirt was black, (stage blacks, don't you know?)

His hair was drawn back in a tight little band
and his beard was snow white and his face was all tanned.
He had a happy face, and a round little belly
from too many beers, doritos, peanut butter and jelly.

He was happy and round and a little bit chubby
Like Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, he's my Chubby Little Hubby.
He gave me a present -massage gift certificate.
This Christmas was great, you know, really significant :)

He spoke not a word, but went straight for the lips,
kissing and hugging and dancing his hips
and laying a finger aside of the bed
soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He sprang to the sheets, to me, his wife, gave a whistle
That teddy looks great, honey, you're such a pistol!
But I had fun and exclaimed, ere he was done for the night
"Honey, you're the best gift now, or any night" :)

(And NO, that's not really Harry in that pic.....but it COULD be :)

Christmas Eve in a Stable

2011-12-24T07:19:00.000-08:00

Growing up on a farm was a wonderful thing. Although, at the time, the chores, the early mornings, the stalls to muck out didn't seem like a gift, it was not what I wanted to do, but did it anyways.

They say that there is Magick in the hour of midnight on Christmas Eve in a barn....

It is said that the heavens honor the lowly stable at that hour in remembrance of Christ's birth among the animals.

I for one, wanted to hear the animals talk. So did my sister, Dorothy. We stayed up very late on Christmas Eve and put on our barn boots and coats and walked across the road to dad's barn.

The sky was clear, there were no clouds to cover. It was a cold night indeed. Stars twinkled so brightly out here in the country. Deep navy blue sky, bright stars so cold and crisp. We had flashlights and opened the big double door to the barn. This beautiful old barn with its smells of aged wood, tools, hay and animals.

The first to greet us was the Barn Owl who sat in his perch on a high beam in the rafters.

His haunting face and shrill cry was like meeting a Banchee in the night. Scared the shit out of us, even though, we sort of knew he was there. He (or She) was an apparition of sudden fright and to watch our step! It flew out the door with a silent surge of powerful wings and was gone as quickly as we were accosted.

To learn more about Barn Owls and to see them check them out here:
Click here to see a video about Barn Owls! :)
Truly a Magickal Bird!

We walked past the tractor and stepped on the threshold to the pig pen.
The pigs were piled up together, grunting in their sleep.

We watched them for a minute. Saw a ratty in their trough, eating what little was left from the piggies earlier feast of slop.

I fed the pigs in the mornings. I had the privilege of taking them their water and breakfast. Breakfast for the pigs consisted of whatever was leftover from dinner the night before that we didn't want to keep, along with any toast bits or oatmeal from breakfast. Put all that in the trough with 4 scoops of feed and fill it to the brim with water. They LOVED their morning swill. Would get excited in the morning as soon as the barn door opened, that their breakfast in crib would be delivered. They would hardly wait for you to pour it into their trough. Then they would stand with their mucky feet in it and splash around, eating, talking, swallowing as much and as fast as they could.

They were silent now, here at midnight, their bellies full and heating up each others bodies so toasty in their straw beds.

We pushed on quietly, to not disturb any magickal happenings to the stall where Nanny and Princess lived. Nanny was a lovely bay mare

and Princess was a beautiful and obstinate russet pony.

They were happy to see us, but surprised. They murmured their greetings in their horsey way, and checked our hands for treats.
Of course they found them. We had brought cigarettes without the filters for them. The cigarettes disappeared like magic. We petted them and brushed them lightly with our hands, and only spoke a few times to them to soothe them. It was an odd hour. The barn was so quiet. The horses were so still.

It was a magick moment. For even though, the wished for talking animals did not utter human voice to our secret wish request....there was a reverence there, in that place, that no human could replicate.
For even though, the baby Jesus may or may not have been born on this night, the fact remained that it was a goodly place for a birth. It was WARM. It was SAFE. It was alive with hope and comfort and food.

It was also Solstice.

Yuletide here in the barn.
A long night and a cold one. In the pagan tradition, the Sun God was being reborn. Reborn in Nature. On the longest night the moon had it's position as reigning monarch for its realm. Tomorrow the sun would start it's long slow journey to adulthood, rising and growing every day.

And here in the barn, the animals waited for spring in all it's green pasture glory.

No stockings hung here, but only fruity promises of clover and cowslips and timothy filled their heads.

Dorothy and I watched the horses breathe in the cold, crisp air and warm it in their chesty lungs and breathe out warm puffs of steam. The world was a better and bigger place because we were here with them.

We kissed them on their velvety muzzles, and turned out the light and let them go back to their dreams of sunshine and apples.

We tiptoed back by the snuzzling piggies and left them to their dreams of found quails eggs and truffles.

We carefully managed our way back past my father Alice Chalmer's tractor and looked up over the pump house door to the Barn Owl's nest. But he was gone like silent feathers in the night. Out and about on other errands this fine night.

I closed the heavy weathered barn door and bolted it.

I knew there was magick in the barn this night. The tales were true.
The animals DO talk.

If you only listen.

Merlyn's Christmas Card for You!

2011-12-21T07:37:00.000-08:00

I would like to Wish each of my dear heart friends a Warm, Welcoming Yule, Hanukkah and Christmas Holiday!

Harry and I will be spending a lovely Christmas Eve day together.
Plans this week include the obvious shopping, wrapping and cooking that everyone is doing...

PLUS

We will continue our efforts on our Christmas CD "Christmas Presence" that we've been working off and on for the last few years. My thoughts are it's almost done! Just a bit more work of recording on these last few days of 2011 that we have off together ought to do it!

Christmas Eve dinner will be Harry's favorite! Merlyn's Lasagna! Antipasto and Wine.

Yes, and thanks to my dear friend Ditchy, there is Mistletoe! :)

(I have caught several people here already, and have made a few folks give kisses at Open Mic too! I'm such a stinker! It's wicked fun! :)

After a long winter's nap....with Harry & I "spooning" and all toasty warm pretzeled up together....

Our Christmas Day will start with Special Coffee, and Mimosas... and usually Merlyn's "Special Eggs" (my own concoction of deviled eggs topped with cheese and baked in the oven. Heart attack on a delicious plate!) and Danish. Altho, this year, I may try to make Scotch Eggs instead of the other eggs :)

We will then have our Christmas morning presents and see what Santa brought!

(I have only asked for a couple of clean up projects ....I hope Santa can fit in time for them!)

Then Christmas Day will be with Harry, my girls, Jesse and Shawna, their dad, Dave and Jesse's boyfriend Tristan. A quiet and very loving and warm day with my dearest ones.I told them all to just wear their sweats and comfy clothes as we will be laying around and watching some great movies for the rest of the day...
Hot chocolate, wine and snuggles and a warm house!

Christmas Dinner will be: Roast Turkey and Vegetables, Scalloped Potatoes, Stuffed Mushrooms, Wassail and Pear Tart and whatever extra goodies my guests bring!

Monty will get a new bone and some doggy cookies. Please don't tell him our secret!!

He's such a good boy and we adore him. He still believes in Santa....

As DO I.

I wish YOU ALL a Very Happy, Healthy, Fun Christmas Season
and I hope you get all you Wish for!!!

Love and Hugs

From Merlyn (who is off to pull delicious goodies from the oven and hide a few presents! :)

A door shuts ....a window opens...

2011-12-19T17:00:00.000-08:00

To my readers and friends~

It's almost the end of another year.
2011.
And what a year it's been!

We've all seen the news and so I won't bore with recanting that...
but rather, would ask my fellow travelers, enchantresses and wizards...

How did you fare this year?

I've been thru a lot.

Mostly good things.

Some harrowing.
Some inspirational.
Some disruptive and devastating.
Some treading water.
Some shaking off excesses.
Some regrouping.
Some growth.

All for the better methinks.

While....

I've given up on a love dream.
I've gained knowledge and truth.

I've lost some pounds.
I've gained eyesight.

I've gone thru a lot of money.
I've tried to keep up my car and home and heatlh.

I've sang a lot of songs.
Love and Lust songs....and Lived them.

I've sung a lot of drinking songs.
I've drank a lot of alcohol too.

I've taken care of my doggy, removed tumors and patched him up from his accident.
And he's returned the favor and is my bestest buddy and keeps me company.

I've worked hard.
I've laid around.

I've follow fanciful dreams.
I've taken out the mundane trash.

I've been to amazing Churches.
I've gone through Hell.

I've taken courses.
I've taught others.

I've cried on shoulders.
I've wiped others tears.

I've obsessed.
I've not given a damn.

I've overeaten.
I've fasted.

I've thrown things and shouted in anger.
I've held loved ones and prayed with them.

I've put my ducks in a row.
I've made terrible messes.

I've shouted "I love you!" and "I hate you!"
on the very same day to the very same person....And occasionally, it was to me.

The thing is that I TRY.
"The Gods love those that try" they say.

And oh....
I am very trying :)

But here am I
.
At the end of this tumultuous year.
And all in all, it's been good.

I've grown,
I've shrunk,
my heart has experienced pain and pleasure.
I've seen faraway places, and enjoyed my own garden.
I am holding onto my mate, Harry's hand, while I stand on my own two feet.
I am well.
I am upright and breathing.

I hope you have enjoyed your ride with me here on my writings.

I shall endeavor to keep you informed, amused, shocked, comforted and all those contradictory things that this Gemini woman IS.

In finishing off this year...
I'm thinking about next year....

I want you to think about it too...

There will be a TEST.
:)

Hugs~
From A Seeker of Good Things Always
Your Fellow Rider and Magician~
Merlyn

A Tale of a True Goddess, Amazon & Heroine

2011-12-18T08:02:00.000-08:00

For my final project for the “Goddesses, Amazons & Heroines” in my online course at Grey School of Wizardy, I am choosing a local and national hero.

Harriet Tubman

I believe that she WAS all of these things when you hear her story.

She was born Araminta Harriet Ross 1820- and lived till 1913. Her life’s events wove in an out of American history during a very progressive and tumultuous time.

She was born a slave in Maryland and was hired out and beaten by those masters. Her family was separated from each other by slavery.

Once she was hit in the head with a heavy metal weight. She was left bleeding and unconscious for 2 days without medical care and the resulting head wound gave her seizures, headaches and powerful spiritual visions for years. She believed that the visions came from God.

She then escaped slavery and fled to Philadelphia but then was courageous enough to GO BACK and forth saving relatives, one by one. Imagine that. After escaping being raised in terrible, harsh environments, that she was brave enough to go back to it and try to rescue other people from it!

She eventually married a free man, and she went by her middle name “Harriet”. He was “manumitted” and given his freedom, but she was still a slave. This meant that any children born to them would be SLAVES because their mother still was! Many called her “Moses” for she brought so many out of slavery. She was a “wanted” woman.

In 1857 it was the hay day of the Erie Canal here locally. Much travel was done on the canal and she used a combination of boats, walking and carriages to rescue as many people as she could. After the “Fugitive Slave Law” was enacted, she took people as far away as Canada.

When the Civil War broke out, Harriet then became a cook and nurse at first…
but then came to her true gifts as an ARMED SCOUT and SPY.

She was the first woman to be given this post to, and she lead 700 slaves out as an armed leader. This lady knew her calling, and it didn’t take long for her to be an important cog in the war.

She also was very involved in the Sufragette Movement in the late 1800’s.

Ladies....here is our "Sister Suffragette!"

"Votes for Women!!"

Harriet Tubman, had a house given to her in Auburn, NY by William Seward (at that time, he was Senator of NYS, later he became Secretary of State.

And an aside, The Seward House is also in Auburn, and he was friends with Abraham Lincoln who also spent time in Auburn.) While it was “against the law” at the time, Seward sold to Tubman that house for a modest sum”. Great leaders of our time, recognized this woman as an equal even tho’ all odds were against her. She was awarded a monthly pension by Congress!

Harriet Tubman, should’ve by all the impediments given her in life (being a poor black female born in slavery and abused and physically impaired by it) could’ve remained in that way of life, being beaten down by it.

Instead, she took up arms and stealth and by wits and courage became a most ferocious protector and deliverer of those who were bound by it. She was punished for being who she was. She balked the system. She fought with what she had. She was rewarded in so many ways.

I honor Harriet Tubman as one of the truly documented “Goddess, Amazon & Heroine” of our land and folklore.

As a musician and storycologist, I love bringing stories forward, with either tale or music. Melodies that I have in my repertoire, "Suwannee River", "Poor Wayfaring Stranger", "Bring 'lil' water, Sylvie", "Amazing Grace" and "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" all support this tale.

It's a tale that needs to be sung....and I like to sing.
Her life was quite a song.

New York History Net. 2008. http://www.nyhistory.com/harriettubman/

Harriet Tubman. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Tubman

A Santa Story!

2011-12-12T15:31:00.000-08:00

Wilard Chapel came alive on Sunday, December 11 with a lot of Christmas spirit as “Christmas Present” himself, Santa, came to visit! He was there as part of the Literacy Volunteer’s Annual event, and when Santa walked in with his sleigh bells, a joyous sound went thru the beautiful Tiffany chapel!

There were many families of happy and excited children and parents there waiting to see him come thru the door!

Santa was in a VERY good mood, for he is, as you know, “a jolly right elf” and we all laughed when we saw him, in spite of ourselves!

The first thing Santa did was to gather all the children about him, but he didn’t even really have to ask, as they were all crowding around the merrymaker and jostling each other to get close enough to the magical man.

He held counsel with the wee ones for a bit and there were some interesting questions and answers!

“Does anyone know my name?” the bearded one in the red suit asked.

“SANTA!” they cheered.

“Yes, but I have many names, do you know any of them?” he asked with a twinkle.
“St. Nicholas!”

“Father Christmas!”

“Pere Noel!”

and one little tiny girl chirped “Krip Kingle”

“Almost…that’s Kris Kringle!” and he laughed and laughed and squeezed her tight.

“Santa when you come, can your reindeer come inside my house too?” queried one ambitious young man. “Well….someone will have to clean up afterwards!” said Santa with a wink.

The young man thought better about it and smiled …and then decided to ask him instead, “How do you get to the North Pole, Santa?”

“Well, do you know North Street here in town? Just take that north and keep going!” the children thought that was a very good and likely answer.

He took out a pair of spectacles and placed them on his nose. "Oh it's hard to get old" he giggled (as did most of the parents). Then Santa had them all gather round for his reading of “T'was the Night before Christmas”.

St. Nick said to them, “This is a very special story! It’s very old, but do you know why I like it best? Because it’s all about ME!” He laughed and his belly did jiggle like a bowlful of jelly!

Of course, he showed the children the special pictures on every page, and he stopped to answer questions all through the story as well.

When he got to the part of the tale about “He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot” , he stopped and whispered to the wee ones, “Poor Mrs. Claus…she has a terrible time with my laundry the next day…I get so filthy!”

He especially thanked all the children and their parents for the cookies and milk that they leave out every Christmas eve, but to be also sure that they don’t forget Rudolf and the reindeer! “They work SO hard that night, and they need to keep up their strength, so make sure you leave out a carrot for them We don’t want them to get jealous!”

He listened to the wishes of every last child, as if they were each the only one there. He heard about their Christmas desires from dollies to IPODs.

“This is VERY important! I want to make sure you are very good and helpful to your families and be GOOD!” the jolly old man said to all the attentive kids there.

The children were then encouraged to pick out a brand new book as one of their first holiday presents. Santa LOVES to read and gave them all a book to tide them over till Christmas Eve!

“We have refreshments available for everyone here” said one of the volunteers. “Santa, would YOU like to join us for some cookies?”

“Me? Want cookies? What a question!” belly laughed Santa,

and like a Pied Piper, he led the children clutching their new glorious books, all the way to the fun holiday treats that the Literacy Volunteers had prepared for them. It’s always magical when Santa comes to Wilard Chapel! Merry Christmas!

Saints & Angels

2011-12-09T11:13:00.000-08:00

I believe in Angels.

REAL Angels. Not pretend ones. ("For by their fruits ye shall know them")

Warrior Angels

I saw the Archangel Michael when I was a child...and no, you can't talk me out of it.
He was AMAZING. Came at a time of need. Appeared during a time of trauma in my wee life.

Brilliant white and gold and silver....armored to the teeth....beautiful beyond compare.
Scared the shit out of me because He was SO awesome. I asked to not see him, (I know, I wished I hadn't now....but I was so little then, He freaked me out) and He hid himself...

BUT He is still with me.

I know it. I can feel Him and even hear him sometimes. He keeps me safe.

Yes I believe in Angels.
And Saints too.

They are the Church's answer to Polytheistic faith.
Different helpers for different reasons.

My course in "Goddesses, Amazons & Heroines" in my Grey School of Wizardry has me doing a lot of research and I offer for your amazement, education or just plain edification a most amazing Warrior Woman.

Joan of Arc.

She believed in Saints and Angels too.

Joan was the youngest of five children born to a farmer.

I too, am number five of six children and was raised on a farm and relate to Joan in many ways and so I am drawn to her and her story.

She was indeed a WARRIOR WOMAN.

It is said that Joan did not learn how to read or write, yet she was quite versed in the knowledge of scripture and of the spiritual world. It was also said that as a child, she danced and played around the “Faery Tree”, a tree in France that was meant to have meaning, and wove wreaths and sung to the Lady there.

After the age of twelve, she put away such things and was a most pious child.

But at the age of 13 & 1/2 , Joan began to hear “voices” and to see a grand light when the voices spoke to her.

She accepted them as friendly and they seemed to be from the heavens to her. She recognized them as the Angel Michael and other Angels, and also St. Margaret and St. Catherine. These voices along with the common local notion that certain prophecies of a maid from the oak wood (near where the Faery Tree was) was bound by legend to save France by a miracle.

The voices told her to seek out Robert Baudricourt who commanded for Charles VII. Joan was not well received by him, but was mocked. Again she tried to get thru to the King, so insistent were the voices to prod her, that she finally was able to get audience with the King of France. She was escorted in and she wore a manly attire. This was to protect her maidenhood....and also, it's a man's world, and she was guided to be strong and put on the strength of a man.

By some secret sign (given to her by the Angels, it is said) she gained the Kings' trust.

Although she was examined in great length and detail, no theological discrepancies could they find in this poor peasant girl. She was given the trust by authorities and would be tested again and again to no avail nor to her discredit.

She was 17 when put in command of an army! When given the offering of service and a particular sword to wield, she refused it and instead, wanted a certain ancient sword that she said was buried behind the altar of St. Catherine d Fierbois. Saint Catherine, who was the patron of soldiers and known for her miracles.

They found the sword, just as Joan had described where she thought it lay. It was a sword with 5 crosses engraved, and they say it never left her side and was with her when she was captured.

At this time, there was also a special heraldic banner made special for Joan. A standard bearing the words, Jesus, Maria and sporting a picture of God the Father and kneeling angels presenting the fleur-de-lis

There was at this time a prophecy made about Joan by Sire de Rotslaer, and was registered at that time of 1429 and attests before any of the following events that happened that: "that she would save Orleans and would compel the English to raise the siege, that she herself in a battle before Orleans would be wounded by a shaft but would not die of it, and that the King, in the course of the coming summer, would be crowned at Reims, together with other things which the King keeps secret."

All of this came to pass. Joan inspired the army to fight and win....and while it is said that she never did actually slay anyone, surely her leadership in pushing the French army onward to victory resulted in MANY deaths!

From the readings I've been doing I want to share this:
"The city of Orleans was the last great city that the French held and it had been under siege by the English for almost 7 months and was about to fall. Saint Joan went there and, in only three days of fighting, reclaimed the strongest fort the English possessed which caused them to lift their siege and retreat. The battle has been compared to other key turning point battles like: Marathon, Stalingrad, Gettysburg, Midway."

Later on, after many successful and some unsuccessful campaigns, she was abandoned to her fate by the apathy of Charles and his men and while they had prisoners to exchange to the English, instead they chose to sell the Maid to the English for several hundred thousand dollars at the time. The French were ungrateful and awful to this wondrous heroic maid who had inspired their army for so long in bloody battles.

The English were afraid of Joan of Arc because of the dread she inspired in their men, and also because they were ill at ease superstitiously of her power of religion and voices. They were determined to put her to death. While they could not sentence her for having beaten them in a battle (which she did) they certainly could get her sentenced as a witch and a heretic (which they did).

During her imprisonment, in an all male prison, she was chained hands, neck and feet. She wished to be in a church prison and to be attended by females, but she was denied that privilege and also denied any spiritual devotion and was not allowed Mass or worship. In the Inquisition that followed, her answers always proved to be fair, just and true and beyond reproach. The fact that she was held in these ways, proved later on that her incarceration was illegal, her trial was rigged and her punishment unjust.

She held true to her inspiration and only at the end, she was worn out and deceived and signed something, but still then she still held to her belief that the voices she held were from God.

They say that her presence at the stake was such as to make her most bitter enemies cry.

She asked for a cross, embraced it and continued to call out to her God until at last she declared that her voices came from God and had not deceived her.

After her death her ashes were thrown into the Seine River.

Thru Shakespeare’s time, Joan was still reviled to be a witch, but in more modern times, and thru the deciphering of documents, her honest, bold spirit was determined to be virtuous and her supernatural gifts were agreed to be true.

Both the King of France and the Church admitted that a great injustice had been done and Joan was declared a SAINT, as even the fellows of her own time had known that she was Divinely inspired.

She was beatified in 1909 and canonized in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV.

Joan was a Warrior Woman, who believed in her heart and followed her Muse.

She fought for what she believed to be the Truth. We must admire a woman such as this.
She is our standard to follow.
To follow our inner voice as we hear it, individually.
To follow our path, no matter where it leads us.
To not be afraid to take up the sword or believe in Angels and Saints.

As she was then to those that followed her, and as she is now...
She is Saint Joan.

A TRUE Warrior of the Noblest Kind.

StoryBook Club ONE YEAR OLD!

2011-12-07T08:14:00.000-08:00

Hey Ho Storycologists!

Last night was the 1 YEAR Anniversary of our StoryBook Club!!!

In the past year of fun, food and frivolity (oh I do love f words :)

we have studied the following themes!

Dec. 2010 Hansel & Gretel (we tried to meet 3x due to snow storms!)

Jan. 2011 Little Red Riding Hood and also The Snow Queen

(so she would leave us ALONE with no more snow storms...)

Feb. Baba Yaga

March Finn McCool

April Beatrix Potter

May Faery Stories

June Dragons

July Vampires

August Werewolves

September Frankenstein

October The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

November Zombies

December The Golem

Last night we studied "The Golem" It was indeed a most interesting and new tale for some of us.
We learned that:

Man (like God) creates creature for a purpose.
Creature has no conscience.
Creature develops conscience and/or Creature runs amok.
Creature fulfills purpose
Man takes away creatures existence.

We are not sure how a creature w/o a conscience develops one...unless it is sort of "Nature vs. Nurture"....

All very interesting and was the precursor to Frankenstein in many ways. Adam was a Golem. So was The Gingerbread Man. Computers are on the make to be a Golem. "Gollum" in Lord of the Rings name is an anagram of "Golems" (Smegol)

Stephanie (our resident expert in all things Jewish) told us many tales of her family and the culture and she said we did right well on the food, table and centerpieces!

And such a table it was...Right?
Of COURSE, right! :)

Such yummy do food ...again....as USUAL for this creative group!

There was Jewish Apple Cake, Bagels/Lox/Cream Cheese/Rubens/

Broccoli Casserole, Chocolate, Wine, Gingerbread men (another golem!)

And there was "Fiddler on the Roof" for dessert! (and much rejoicing and kvetching was done! :)

Next Month's THEME?

Why TROLLS...of course!

I will find the newish release "The Troll Hunter" for this!
(It was pretty good in a documentary sort of way :)

And as far as food goes?

Well, trolls eat about the same as people...

with the exception of the eating people part...and porridge as well....

so I leave it to our creative group member to their own creativity where food ideas go!

Until then....

So....

Happy Trolling for Stories!

Merlyn (who feels like a troll today....)

It was "Just like New York City" :)

2011-12-05T06:25:00.000-08:00

My wish list has always included hopping across the pond and going to France, Italy and Greece to see castles, temples and cathedrals. While it is not in my budget at the moment, this does not mean that I have to put my dreams on hold.

NAY.

I signed myself and my daughter, Jesse, up to go on a bus trip to NYC along with friends, Debbi and Christine. My ultimate mission was to see St. Patrick's Cathedral and possibly St. John the Devine Cathedral there. Oh, yes, we were going to sight see, and shop...but my main mission was the visiting the Churches.

Since I was a child, made to wait in Catholic churches quietly for my mother, who was having great length theological conversations with the priest, I have been very much at home and fascinated with great architecture of the sacred kind.

High vaulted ceilings, long naves, marble floors, carved sculptures, and stained glass do it for me.

So, we packed our saddlebags and headed out on a pilgrimage to the Cathedral, as so many before me have done.

It was dark when we boarded our magic bus, cinnamon coffee and bagel in hand for the long trip. But I was sitting with my dear ones, and we were on an adventure! The day dawned bright and clear and mild for a December day and we pulled into New York City and were dropped off at Macy's on 34th. It was a miracle :). I have longed to go here to bang around, but have been warned by folks how awful the city is, or that I shouldn't wear my jewelry, or that I would be mugged, it would be too expensive, or, or, or, or ad nauseum.
I did not listen to these naysayers. I went with my silver on, my bag over my shoulder and my friends and maps at the ready. I was undaunted.
After all....

It can't be THAT big and bad!

After checking our compass.....

You are Here! (but Where the F is Here???)

We decided to head in the direction of the Cathedral and Rockefeller Center, but first trying to find a restaurant that was recommended to us. We walked past the Carnegie Deli (altho' we'd LOVED to have stopped there...the line was a full BLOCK long. I shit you not). We instead found "McGee's Irish Pub and Restaurant" on 55th and 8th Ave. We walked right in and altho we had no reservations, we got a table in the first 5 minutes we were there. Rubens, Pints and Shots of Jameson's were acquired :)

After our Noonday repast, we walked until we found Rockefeller Center and such a crowd was there, enjoying the skating rink,

Mercury sculpture and the enormous Christmas tree of renown!
As were we!

We should have a pic of us in front of the tree! :)

But there was only one place I really really wanted to go see....
and we set our feet ...

Across the street from Rockefeller Center was the JEWEL of our day.
St. Patrick's Cathedral!!

I was THRILLED to say the least!!

When I walked through those big doors, I have to tell you, that I was overwhelmed by it's beauty, it's charm and it's ethereal space. I was nearly in tears. So LONG had I waited to see this place!! And I was HERE.

One of the most amazing things about this place, was that it was open to the public, it was swarming with people....AND? It was QUIET.

There was an inner peace that all these people came to experience here. Even tho, by rights, with all that hard surface stone and metal, the sound should've been bouncing around like crazy...it was like a hushed bunch of whispers from the crowd.

Jesse and I lit candles for ourselves and others. I prayed at the feet of Mary and of St. Brigit. (a pagan Goddess ensconced here at this beautiful sacred space). I marveled at all the side chapels, the statues, the Nativity....I was indeed blessed and felt it in my heart.

We walked a 1000 miles this day and it was worth it.

We saw so many things...we window shopped a couple of fiddles for Harry :)

We saw many things: Times Square, a 1/2 naked cowboy minstrel, Radio City Music Hall,
a "flare of NYC fire fighters"

A Statue of Liberty man

A bling store, the fashion district, Herald Square...flowers for sale outside in December!

We then walked another 1000 miles back to Macy's area where we decided to go in.

We had a whip, a chair and a machete. We were armed and ready.

I have never in my whole life seen a bigger swarm of people in a building before in my life. ANTS. Ants punctuated by display cases. The shoe department on the 5th floor was RAVISHED. All the displays knocked over, people trying to find shoes. The clerks were in shell shock. How do people WORK there? How do people SHOP there?? There was a constant and steady flow of people on the escalator, fully filled, every second of every minute of every hour there. There was a clerk stationed at the bottom of each floor of the exiting escalator chanting, "Step Forward! Move OUT!"
(otherwise the crushing crowd of shoppers would have puddled up and pooled in a melee of mangled limbs on the last step of the escalator).
The constant common comment phrase heard while we were here was "Don't fucking PUSH ME". ...by little old grey haired ladies.
Yes. Macy's. "Cattle R Us"

We escaped with our LIVES and went to find our last meal of the day at "Andrew's Cafe" next door to Macy's. My body ached with the walking. My hips hurt. I was dehydrated. We saw a sign that said, "Bacon and Beer" and in we went. (wouldn't YOU? :)

It was AWESOME. We got a table right away (again!) and sat in the back and ate, drank, were merry and pounded Ibuprofen and Coronas with lemon. And designer pizzas.

The four of us had SUCH a wonderful day of adventure, friendship and fun! We all went loaded for bear with shopping money...but ...aside from eating and drink money...the TOTAL HAUL for the FOUR of us was:

ONE JEWELED HAIR CLIP.

ONE.

I bought it at the bling store for my Victorian costuming. $10 bucks.

The rest of the money was spent on ourselves and having a damn good time.

We all had a FABULOUS adventure with each other and we took a bite out of the Big Apple :)

And it was YUMMY!

What's in a dream?

2011-12-01T06:14:00.000-08:00

Hey ho my enchanted ones~

Today is my Dreams/Learn/Practice Day....
and so, I woke up with many dreams to decipher!

I love Dream Analysis, always have and enjoy helping others with it as well.

What's in a dream?

Well, it all depends what's going on in your life.
Some people swear that they don't remember their dreams, and that may be true, especially if they don't have enough Vitamin B in their diet. Also, the reason people don't remember their dreams, is because they don't want to. We, as spiritual beings, teach ourselves, and try to work out things in our dreams.

Lately, I have been going to sleep asking my Higher Self, to give me answers to certain questions. Or I may ask my Inner Enchantress to send me some information. I believe that we even "walk" in our dreams to other places, far off lands or into others homes. The spiritual plane has no boundaries.

Most interesting to note to me today....are NUMBERS.

I awoke at 3:33am....and again at 5:33am.
I had the number 17 in my dream very well displayed.

So I thought I'd tackle these numbers, as they do reoccur in my life.
Also I sometimes get some other numbers repeated, but for today I thought I'd do some research and share with you what I found out.

(I LOVE to research things too, by the way)

Here's what I found:

Numbers come to us through the Angels.
They talk to us in our dreams and waking moments with numbers.
Do you often see the clock read a certain time? Say 11:11? Or 2:22?
These are significant.

I researched these numbers today. Here are some of the results:

333
Angels testify with your thoughts. Truth. Sign of the number 3 or Trinity. Gain control over your mind, body and spirit. Transition, change, travel. To awaken physically and spiritually.
Ascended Masters are near you, to let you know tyou have their help, love companionship. Call upon them often: Jesus, Moses, Mary, Quan Yin. They agree with your thoughts and feelings and give you a cosmic YES to your questions and ideas. You are close to something BIG. You are on your path.

533
Ascended Masters want to prepare you for a big life change that is imminent. These life changes on the way will be of long term benefit to you and are in alignment with your Divine Pourpose and Sould mission. Auspicious opportunities.

17
New beginnings, ambition and success. Inner strength, persistance, knowledge, wisdom and truth. You are on the right path in your life's journey.

This is just a bit of all the gathered information out there.

So my Wizard Friends and Enchantress Sisters, I ask you this day to ponder your dreams, and note NUMBERS and their meaning to you.
Sometimes we can get information from dream dictionaries, and sometimes the best translation comes from within US. WE are the best one to tell ourselves what we need....if we can only just LISTEN.

Don't be afraid to DREAM.

And while you are at it....
if you get a lot of numbers...repeatedly...

You may want to buy a lottery ticket :)

Night Muse

2011-11-27T23:00:00.000-08:00

Sleep.

You are my elusive and sporadic friend.

Occasional chirps from a bird outside.

I guess you are sleepless too.

Too dark to fly

Too awake to sleep.

You and I together

In this twillight moment

We are the same

Flightless in our dreams.

Merlyn A-Z

2011-11-23T11:45:00.000-08:00

Merlyn A to Z :)

Hey ho my loverlies!

I have been pretty busy and hope you are well and happy....and have a Great Thanksgiving!

Just a quickie for now, these little survey thingies are fun and I haven't done one in awhile, I stole this from Lynn on her "So I was Thinking" blog.....Enjoy!!!

Age: 51

Bed size: Queen. Mattress and box spring on the floor by choice. It us better for our backs, lovemaking...and well....no monsters can live under the bed that way :)

Chore I hate: Sorting socks

Dogs: JOE!! As in "Monty "Old Iron Guts" Joe ,the Wonder Schnoodle of War :)

Essential start to my day: Spooning up behind Harry for snuggles for 5 more minutes....then COFFEE.

Favorite color: to wear? Navy or Turquoise. To live around? Hunter Green and Sangria :)

Gold or silver: Silver silver silver. Silver makes me feel awesome. If I feel "off", I just buy a new bracelet...

Height: short :) But only short on one end

Instruments I play: Voice, 12 string guitar, bodhran, mandolin and autoharp

Job title: Depends on which hat I'm wearing. Musician or Admin Assistant

Kids: 2 wonderful girls. Grown. Happy.

Live: Squirrel Haven

Mother's name: Bernie

Nicknames: Honey :)

Overnight hospital stays: a couple

Pet Peeve: when people add an "r" onto words that don't need it. Like "Idea" becomes "Idear". ack.

Quote from a movie:
Moonstruck:
"Do you love him Loretta?"
"No ma."
"That's good, cuz when you love them they drive you crazy."
Then later.....
"Do you love him, Loretta?"
"yah mom, I love him awful",
"That's too bad."

Right or left handed: ambidextrous

Siblings: 5

Time I wake up: early bird

Underwear: most days :)

Vegetable I hate: Okra. Well....not okra so much as.... "okra slime".

What makes me run late: Harry :)

X-rays I've had: yes.a bunch over the years...

Yummy food I make: I am a great cook! I can make something out of nothing. But some favorites are: Scalloped potatoes, roasts, 7 layer casserole, eggs Benedict, tuna casserole, enchiladas, lasagna

Zoo animal: Lions and Tigers and Monkeys!

I also have a theory that everyone has a "Nightmare Dinner" .

This would be a dinner that you would have to pass on, (even the no thank you bites) if a friend offered it to you at their house.
Now, I'm not a fussy person at ALL....but....here's my "Nightmare Dinner":

Snack: Fritos' corn chips. (they smell like cat's feet. Go ahead. Compare.) and Jax
Drink: Cream Soda
Vegetable: Okra
Carb: Grits (they have no flavor and if you have to doctor something in order to eat it, why bother?)
Main dish: Chicken Fricasee and dumplings. (read: slime and rocks)
Dessert: Green tomato mincemeat pie
Candy: Orange circus peanuts
Alcoholic Beverage: Yukon Jack and Southern Comfort. (never, never, never again)

What's YOUR nightmare dinner?

Enchantress words: "If life gives you lemons....."..

2011-11-21T20:02:00.000-08:00

Good ee'en my dear riders on the wind!

Today was "put away" day....and it started with a friend who stayed over from the night before/s party.
Coffee....and a doggy walk....chats....then off to work. Took Jesse for a consultation for her wisdom teeth.

Yah. They need to go.
So we made the earliest appointment for her....which was....
TOMORROW at 11:15am.
I encouraged her to get it done and out of the way.
"Better out than in" sort of thing.

What I was heartwarmed to find out is that, she wants her mom to take her :)
And so I shall take my "baby" girl of almost 26 to the dentist tomorrow.

She is brave.

And so are YOU.

YOU are also brave.

Being here, living in the moment, being YOURSELF.
We, Enchantresses, here, daring to BE.

I'm proud of you. You who are willing to say who you are....
you who are daring to stand up for yourself....
You who is mad as hell and ain't gonna take it anymore....

I salute you!

SO

"PUT AWAY" your fear...
put away your guilty doubt...
put away your foibles ....

Bring out your strength...
bring out your personality...
bring out your "SALT"-y self.

I'm here holding the lemon and tequila.

Fun on Absurdity Weekend!

2011-11-20T18:55:00.000-08:00

Play weekend!

Yesterday early morning found us driving to Wellsville Library and we were set up, with backdrop, wireless sound system and in garb, as pirates at 10:30am! The kids were great and the library and its theatre were fabulous! Such a wonderful venue! I love teaching with story, costuming and song!

My new backdrop worked out great with a Jolly Roger pinned on it as well.
After loading out, we stopped in at "Texas Hot" (the local famous diner) and then headed home.

Harry has always wanted to stop at the Glenn H. Curtiss Aviation Museum, in Hammondsport,

so we stopped on our way back.......
and it was SO worth the stop and we highly recommend it!
Check this out....
This is the bike that won the award for "fastest man in the world" on a V-8 bike in 1907.

Can you believe someone RODE this thing?
138 mph!
in 1907!

It looked like this:

Can you imagine??
138mph on that thing???

Lots of the very first prototypes of planes, bikes, boats, cars, engines.

They also had a Doll house and miniature display for this month and next.
Very kewl.

We also had a party this day for "Absurdity Day" here at Squirrel Haven with a bunch of grand friends, food, drink, laughter, music and silliness!
Let's see there were": Rum balls, edible penguins,

"Bacon Explosion", (bacon wrapped in pork sausage wrapped in bacon :) WOW...that was awesome! There was: bread boat, cheeseburger pie, bean stew, veggies, chicken riggies, pie, danish, pickles, hummus, brownies..homemade hard cider, wine, beer, rum, seltzer,

A FEAST!!

It's good to go on adventures, piratical or aeronautical, and to relax totally with friends, food and fantasy.

Here's hoping that you too, had friends around you to play with and enjoy close to your heart!

Implementation makes a hearty appetite!

2011-11-18T19:55:00.000-08:00

Hey Ho~

Today is my "Implement" day.

Which started with a PLAN.
And Harry was ONBOARD. We were supposed to "clean up the clutter" (which of course meant his shite :)
I started the day with lots of coffee and getting set for our away gig on the morrow. A pirates gig, which has costuming, backdrop, and sound system.

Harry started this day with a wake up call and the man DID spring into action....
albeit a bit lethargically...
and he did start working more enthusiastically on the office on threat of me becoming celibate.

All I had to do to entice him was to show him "the girls".
(a morning ritual here at Squirrel Haven :)

That did it and we were off!

After I packed up the costuming, backdrop, props....
I offered to help him sort out some of the piles that make up our shared office.

My desk is way more organized than his....

Personally, call me crazy...
but I think that his office chair should be utilized as a chair and not a shelving unit...
and for him to work at his desk (with his 2, count 'em, 2 computers)
and for him to get the fuck off my desk (which is uncluttered)
and ...
like that.

Yah, that's me being the "non-directive" type worker...

So, now....it is the evening.

Actually it is NIGHT.

Here is what has transpired this day.

I helped him.
We roused the evil monster that is Harry's office clutter.
It swarmed.
It got bigger before we started firing bullets into it's complicated hide.

I sat in a pile of HIS papers...
making more piles:
Invoices for him,
Invoices TO him,
manuals,
receipts,
gear,
media,
JUNK....(*my favorite pile :)

At one point...when the swearing sailor in me got to be too much...I actually started filking words to a song on the radio to show my displeasure...

I ran off...(read: I ran away!)
did my errands...spent a shit load of money on groceries for our upcoming party on this coming Sunday.
and for Thanksgiving...

And den?

I read.

I took a hot bubble bath.

I went to a seminar in Geneva for a memoirs writing program. Sonja Livingston who wrote "Ghostbread" gave some great tips this ee'en....and I spoke with her about my writing :)
She was very encouraging!

I came home and Harry was knee deep in setting up our wireless setup for the morrow's gig...and he's still packing the car.

BUT

It should be awesome.
We are leaving early. To be pirates. Far, far away.

I am now watching "Julie & Julia" about a lass who is undaunted and blogs daily on a dream.

How art imitates life, eh?

BUT
I did a good job today.
I helped.
I worked.
I implemented.
I listened to a woman who, like me, documented her life story.

She IS.

I AM.

As are YOU.

So...
fucking DO it anyway!
regardless if others don't like it...
think you are crazy...
even you think you are crazy....
ENJOY the PROCESS!

IMPLEMENT.

And as Julia Child would say:

"Bon Appetit!"

Self care means different things to different people~

2011-11-16T08:18:00.000-08:00

Got a call from my grown up girl, Jesse, yesterday, saying in a very sad voice....

"Mommy, I'm SICK."

Jesse is a no-nonsense kid. She isn't a complainer. She works full time, goes to college full time, and is keeping an apartment with herself and her nice boyfriend. She's TRYING.

She has been sick off and on lately, working at a day care....no insurance...It seems her wisdom teeth have become unbearable. She can't open her mouth. Swelling has gone down her neck into her shoulder. She's in PAIN. Poor kid.

Thankfully, at least I knew what to do next. "I'll call my new dentist and see if they can get you in. They are awesome and really nice." At least that seemed to help her psyche. Sometimes when you are in so much pain, you can't think what to do, who to call, where to turn. At least she turned to mommy. That's always good. :)

My doctor could amazingly get her in on an emergency appointment 2 hours later. They did a full pan of x-rays and an abbreviated exam. They gave her a recommendation, a referral to an oral surgeon and a prescription for a Z-pak for the infection.

She needs to have all 4 of her wisdom teeth out asap. I don't know how she will manage it. But the doctor says, (and i agree) that if she could swing the money for all 4 out at once, and only get knocked out once, that would save her some money, time and pain. She is almost 26 now.

I had this procedure done when I was 18. Had all 4 of my wisdom teeth taken out in one sitting. Two of them were impacted. The doctor had to give me "extra sodium pentathol" for the procedure. I don't remember walking out of the office, the elevator, or getting to the car with my mom on one side and the nurse on the other walking me there.
What I DO remember is this: A knight in shining armor with gleaming armor and pennants flying.

Yah. True. My mom was driving me home, and a next door neighbor was riding his horse and mom stopped the car to talk to him for a moment. I didn't see the neighbor on a horse. I saw a KNIGHT on a horse with SHINING armor that hurt my eyes, and pennants flying. Even in a drugged state of post traumatic healing...my Arthurian nature called to me.
Drugs are an amazing thing. Some people pay good money for an experience like that. I'm sure my mom did on her insurance bill. I was glad to get the surgery done.
I am so hoping that Jesse can figure out how to swing it. I wish I could do more for her...moral support, transportation and nursing is about all I can give her.

Yesterday was my Self Care day....and while I did some things for me, I actually helped my daughter more. I told her she needs more rest. To eat better. To be more creative. I am hoping she will try to care for herself. It's hard to be a mommy sometimes from a distance.
I put myself on "hold" for so many years...
caring for others...
making things "nice" for everyone.
Now, I encourage myself to do for me, and for you to do for YOU.

I went out with Harry last night to play an open mic for a lark.
My self care included 2 Gin and Tonics and singing my heart out in a dark bar.
I reminded myself about my love and Mentor Janis Joplin by looking at her pics and story yesterday.
I have some pics that are very similiar.

I am very similiar to her in a lot of ways.
I need to get in touch with my Janis side again.

She was wild, free and unchecked.

Yes, she was a bit whacked.
Yes, she was SO hard on herself.
Yes she could belt out a song.
Yes, few people understood her.
Yes, she walked the edge.
Yes, I wish she could've found the love for herself that she so easily gave to everyone else.
Yes, she loved too much, and sometimes the wrong people for her.
Yes, I wish she hadn't died.
She was fucking COOL.
She IS still cool to me.

Know what?
She was an ENCHANTRESS.

And people didn't "get" her.

It was good for me to remember her when I was singing.

And it got me thinking...

I have loved this "Wizard's Blog".
But wizards have been engrained in us as a MALE image.
(Too bad for that, eh??)

So I will give you another image.

ENCHANTRESS.

For my riders on this quest with me....
WE are wizards of our own worlds....making our way...

but let's give our feminine natures a boost today.

Let's adopt the word, "ENCHANTRESS"

instead of the word, "Wizard"...(which is unfortunately...so male oriented, don't you think?)

instead of the overused word, "Goddess" (so presuming of perfection...and we need to embrace our flaws. Socrates said, "An unexamined life is not worth living" It's GOOD to see our flaws...so we can improve ourselves)

So, my DEAR Enchantresses...and Fellow Wizards,
Here below are some ideas I found for giving YOURSELF some pleasure and pampering....
Surely you should do something for YOU today too:
To make some MAGIC for YOU.

YOU DESERVE IT.

Janis did.
She should've used more of these....and less escapism...
maybe we'd still have her today.
I wonder what Janis would be like today....if she hadn't OD'ed....

She should've done more of the following....

Watch clouds
Meditate
Practice feeling contented
Focus on your breathing
Learn a new skill
Ride a bike
Go on a picnic
watch a favorite show
visit a park or woods
clean your silver
get your hair done
mani/pedi
hot bath with oil finish
put a positive word on your water bottle
discard something you don't want
look at the stars
enjoy a candlelit evening
kiss someone
go to the library
enjoy a cup of hot coffee
sauna/hot tub
light some incense
have an adventure day (do something out of your comfort zone/try something NEW)
Read
snuggle
take a hike
bubble bath
buy yourself some flowers
facial
listen to some favorite music
go on a retreat
have sex
people watch
garden
do something creative
daydream
have a movie marathon (Harry Potter/Pirates/Star Wars...)
Swing on swings
get some energy work done
massage
nap
game night with friends
have company over
feed someone
write a love letter to yourself
start a gratitude journal
do a brave thing daily
have a "jammie day"
treat yourself to something
say YES to what you LOVE
dance
make a bucket list
do something off your list
eat whole foods
drink more water
read the comics
call someone you've been meaning to call
schedule a "no schedule" day
write
go to an art gallery or museum

There are more....I'm sure you could ADD to this list.
Do something for YOU today.

You ENCHANTRESS you :)

Squirrels to Nuts....

2011-11-14T15:44:00.000-08:00

Hey Ho...

After a wild week last week (the 11-11-11 energies WERE dumping negativity up to that day, for me and for many others I talked to!) and then the quiet that followed it, I am feeling much better.

Still on the path. Enjoying the view.

Saturday was my "Play Day" and I did just that by playing with Shawna and a couple of board games.

Sunday was my "Plan Day" but I ended up doing a bit more playing with friends at our "Creativity Day" at the space I set aside at the local library. And do you know what happened? More magic! :)
The 7 people who came and brought projects to work on, wanted and needed to be there. I did some mending, then started an appliqued wall hanging from a sketch. The others did various projects: Rug hooking, crocheting, quilting, beading, drawing, making fire starters for gifts for the fire place, computer art...

As I looked around at the assortment of people there, working happily away, chatting, I realized that we all had a commonality. We were all psychically sensitive. Several people were those who did "past life readings", some did tarot, some read people, or some had stories about strange happenings...but we were all there, and some were new to each other. Very kewl.

After we got home, the phone rang and my daughter Shawna, (who has Down's ) said, "That's my dad calling". I said, "really? then go answer it" :)
And it was :)

She's always been great about being empathetic and caring...why wouldn't she be? She is the embodiment of innocence and sensitivity.

Today is my "Put away day" and I have to tell you, that this theme day makes me feel better than any other...including my "Self Care Day". I think it's because the weight of things (mail/filing/to do lists/clutter, etc) is so daunting sometimes that it really makes you feel good to "put things away".

I also try to get some emotional issue "put away" too.
I called a friend and we talked about things left up in the air.
It's good to get things of all sorts..."put away".
It just feels so much better!

Harry and our friend Nick also "put away" the squirrel problem that has been dogging us for years.
We were even having to turn up the movie louder we were watching in order to cover the noise of their antics!!

The guys climbed ladders and cut down overhanging limbs (read: Squirrel Highway)
and then they searched until they accidentally found out where the wee bastards were getting in!
Under the porch (where it's too narrow to crawl w/o tearing apart the porch)
they found the riddled holes in the house under the siding.

The squirrels have been SO loud, chewing, eating, fucking, running, riding dirt bikes,

fighting, rolling the black walnuts in their bowling tournaments, having orgies, parties...
punk band practice...

it's been HORRID.

Well, the guys took off the lattice, surrounded the porch underbelly with wire screening, and then replaced the lattice.

Now.....

It is QUIET.

AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

Of course, there are some squirrels now seeking a winter home...

And that's VERY OK with ME :)

OH!

and I also "put away" a double cheeseburger, some pie and some chocolate. :)

How about you? How are you doing on your Wizard's ride this week?

~ Spellwork

2011-11-12T05:59:00.000-08:00

My day yesterday began by waking up with dreams...
Dreams that I analyzed and acted on.

They told me to "clear" and to "cleanse" the toxicity of my emotions. I got the numbers 6 and 1....
and in looking it up with "The Oracle" (read: Google :)
It told me:

Six represents harmony, balance, sincerity, love, and truth. Six naturally reveals solutions for us in a calm, unfolding manner. We invoke the Six when we need delicate diplomacy when dealing with sensitive matters. The spiritual meaning of number Six also deals with enlightenment; specifically "lighting" our path in areas we require spiritual and mental balance. Sixes beckon us to administer compassion and consciously choose forgiveness in a situation.

One primarily deals with strong will, positivity, pure energy. The number One reflects new beginnings, and purity. The symbolic meaning of number One is further clarified when we understand One represents both kinds of action: physical and mental. This combined with Ones urgency for new beginnings, we begin to see Ones recurring in our lives indicates a time to exert our natural forces, take action, and start a new venture. One encourages us our action will be rewarded in kind.

It was also a day of NUMBERS yesterday with the 11/11/11 date.

So I looked up an exercise (spell) that I could do to cleanse my heart and do something of importance on this important day of numbers that my dreams inferred that I should do.

I took Monty on a walk to our nearby Skaneateles Creek where there is a wee waterfall. I also brought with me a clean empty bottle and cork, some lemon balm and sage leaves from my garden and my time piece (my cell phone).

I got to the rushing water just at the precise moment of 11:11am. I dipped my bottle into the rushing bubbling cold local waters, and while praying to my God(s) and Goddess(s), I prayed for Divine Guidance, Divine Timing, Healing, Cleansing, Love and Forgiveness of self and to give others. I pushed in the balm leaves into the narrow neck of the bottle for a healing balm. I added 6 (from my dream) sage leaves for wisdom, and I looked down and there was a most perfect golden maple leaf that had fallen on this specific day and I added that. "The water to wash away, the balm to heal, the sage for wisdom to help myself and others, the leaf for today, the cork for catching and holding the earth's goodness and to contain the blessings of this day."

I capped the bottle and finished my prayer with releasing tears, while Monty waded in the water and lapped up the fresh stream water. The rain that had been sputtering and falling on us, stopped at that very moment that the cork went into the bottle tightly.. I imagined that I could feel people all over the world at that precise moment praying their prayers of hope for the world too.

It's good to be at one with the Universe....

If only for a magickal shared moment of humanity..

It's good to release tears for yourself and others.

It's the first step on the path of Healing.

I walked Monty back home and I put the bottle on my altar. It sits upon the shelf and I know that I am being healed. I take the forgiveness of the Gods and I pass it on to others. The healing waters are mine.
We all need healing from time to time.

I spent the rest of the day, being kind to myself. A day of rest and pleasure.

And the feeling that I got, was that the Gods said it was GOOD.

I hope your world is a better place today for you being in it.

The thoughts that I am thinking after this is:

"We are not good.

We are not evil.

We just.....

ARE."

So, Go ahead! Give your special personality, your dreams, your support to the world around you.
For that IS your flavor that you offer to the world.
The "Salt" that makes the world taste good.

Today I will make a spell for healing.

It will be a jar filled with green and silver and white things (gems/paper/sparkles)
I will burn a candle and shake the jar 9 times (accomplishment and inventiveness) and then tie it round with a green healing ribbon. I will shake it from time to time to spread the good and healing thoughts through to my psyche. Instead of being all shook up with bad thoughts, I will shake in some good ones. For me. And for YOU :)

Harm none, do what you will.

Love and Hugs to you and yours on this day.

Bright Blessings from your friend ....

who listens to the wind....

and follows her heart....

who makes it up as she goes..........

~ Uneasy Rider

2011-11-11T07:07:00.000-08:00

Dear Fellow Riders~

I had a fall off my magickal steed yesterday.

It stumbled and I was tossed from the saddle into a prickerbush of thorns.

Thorns of mine own pricked consciousness.

I weeped.
I bled.
I dragged myself back to a safe place.
I lived.

For I did stumble upon the strong energies of this day... this magickal day.

11-11-11

It was like I stumbled over an invisible body on the road.

I did.

It was ME.

All my foibles, worries, pain, past wrongs, and fears were laying there for me to trip on.

I needed to dispel some negative energies and my horse could not bear them AND me together.

Today is my "Implement Day".

I am taking this day to quiet myself, to heal, to rest.

I give you this blessing of a video link below, that I did find, which helped me and may help you.

Sharing this video ~Divine Miracles...a 22 minute pep talk from the Angels, for 11-11-11 and for YOU.
Today I will be doing quiet spells of healing, and of opening myself to enlightenment.

I am resting here for now, putting balm leaves on my wounds,
wrapping my soul in an bindings of love....
and I am letting my horse (who is very weary) graze unmolested and unfettered.

May this day be good to you.

I hope to see you on the path down the road....

~ Dreamwork

2011-11-10T09:58:00.000-08:00

Dreams to me are very important. I love to analyze my own dreams, and also help others to interpret their own.
I've been having some interesting dreams and they always help me try to dicipher my current feelings and situations.

I am a Dream Weaver.

I am a Dream Unraveler.

It's good to dream and to have goals too.

One of the things in my saddlebags, is a pouch with a wish rolled up inside. This wish is to visit Cathedrals in Europe. I would SO love to go to see the temples in Greece,

the Cathedrals in Italy and France...
I do so love the large spaces of worship. The grand portals, the turrets, the vaulted ceilings.
I want to study architecture more. It takes me back to being in my Art History class at college and being enthralled with the sculptures of Chartres

and Notre Dame.

It's all so breathtaking and to think that we, as humans, could sculpt, carve, paint and build these huge precipices and buildings of mortar, stone and stained glass to honor something that is, in the end, ethereal, spiritual and as wispy as the waft of smoke to our senses.

But for right now, though,...
I am here.

Not in Europe.

But it does not mean that I have to put my dream on hold.
No.
I could "bloom where I am planted".

I could still study, adventure and learn and make my dream a reality...

Even if it is smaller in concept, it is large in hope.

Today is my Dream/Learn/Practice Day.

So I have started searching on the magickal web for churches/cathedrals in my area.

It's not that I want to "go" to the church for Mass or services for spiritual reasons of converting or being courted as a new member. I don't. No.

But I may want to visit a church or a religion that I know nothing about.
To experience their form of worship.

To learn about love and God or Goddess in new ways.

I have a list of local churches (based upon my magickal google search and it's images of likely places) and I have a list of numbers to call.
I have contacted a few already to see if and when they are open to the public, for a tour or a visit on off times.

I am going to start on one of my dreams, in this small/big way, but learning HERE and NOW..

I am also going to order some books on Architecture today from my library.

Because, learning about new things, opening up large books of knowledge and visiting with an adventurous heart....is a Wizard's job.

Learning IS Magick.

What are you Dreaming of ....or Learning today?

~ Manifest your Creativity

2011-11-09T05:18:00.000-08:00

I am so happy to say that this Wizard's Journey Quest is working in such a positive manner for several of us on this trip!
Hearing from you all, makes my ride so much more comfortable, knowing that you are there, and that I am here for you as well.

Yesterday was my "Self Care" Day. I started by looking back on my path this year on where I've been, how far I've traveled already.
The first of the year found me with high blood pressure, dim and poor eyesight and heavier on the scale than I am now.

So I took stock.

Since February, I have had 2 eye surgeries which corrected my vision to 20/20 without cataracts!
I can see without spectacles now!
This has been "more than just the eyesight gain". Indeed, my "Sight" has improved in a lot of ways too.
I am seeing myself and others thru different eyes in other ways as well.

I've worked on my weight and lost about 23 pounds! Evidently, I was carrying more baggage than I needed :)

I went off the pill and am operating on my own steam and trying to regulate my body back to ME.
I am celebrating being me and finding out who I am now without it. I have been crying off and on this month, due to hormones and emotional pain, but I am that person.
My blood pressure this morning was 89/64! I am less pressurized. I am dealing with stress better.

I had a tooth give me problems in August, so since then I had a root canal, and had the tooth patched. Hopefully it will hang in there with me for the duration. I want to keep it. If I loose it eventually, I will cross that "bridge" if necessary. Teeth are (in Louise Hay's opinion) a symbol of Decisions.
Root canals are, in their base form, a "core change in root belief". Indeed, my life has had some ups and downs that I have pondered. I also, spent time and money on myself getting a new fabulous doctor dentist, and have had my teeth super duper cleaned, and had two fillings done. I am now done with my dental work and can just keep up my quarter annual cleanings. I am being more decisive.

I am turning into a Crone.
An older wise sage of a woman.
And it's ok.
Oh, sure, I'd like to not have grey hair (so I don't :).
I'd love for my hair to grow like it did when I was pregnant. (but I'll not make that trade :)
I'd like to have less wrinkles (but they are from smiling and laughing so that's awesome).
I wished I had the body I want (but who does?)
I'd like to cry less (and I think the hormones have a lot to do with this...so I'm just letting it flow when it comes.)
I'm digging up fears and childhood memories in a special blog, and while it is painful, it is healing too. I am loving my inner child and comforting her by telling her story. (she is the sweetest, funny little thing).
I am looking in the mirror daily and saying: "I love you. I will protect and take care of you." (Wizards throughout the ages have often gazed into pools or ponds conjuring in this way :)

So I will just try to accept the ME that I am,
and know that she IS wonderful, and try to take care of her.

I have spent my life caring for others.
I put myself... on a shelf.

But it's my turn now.

Yesterday, I went happily to my dentist and she finished my last filling, I gave myself a mani/pedi, enjoyed a HOT bath, a delicious dinner, some wine with great relish. I took care of tasks that made me feel and operate better. I wore something attractive to work. I walked straighter and taller and felt good in my skin. I go to bed early if I want. I read. I walked my doggy in the sunshine. I praised myself for doing all that I do.

I finished 3 banners for the Merry Mischief music stand (one for Erie Canal/country music/general gigs and one that is a red tartan which will work as Pirates/Scottish/Christmas and a red, white and blue one which will work for our Civil War/Memorial day gigs.) It felt pretty damn good to make 3 functional pieces with our name emblazoned on them, from an idea, to a finished product.

To Create.

And that is my Quest for this day.

To Create.

It is a day of Creation.
"This is the day the Gods have made. Let us rejoice and give praise in it".

We can be a God or Goddess of Creation.
Of our own creation.

Today will be filled with music, friends, stories, and I will start a project just for the sake of art and my enjoyment in creating it.

I am also letting you know that I am hosting a "Creativity Circle" at the Jordan Library, Mechanic St. Jordan on this coming Sunday afternoon from 2-5pm.
I have created an "Opportunity" for others to be creative.
A place and a time for creation, friendship and focus on our talents.
If you would like to come, bring your project (sewing/scrapbooking/journaling/photo albums/Holiday cards or gifts, etc) and a snack to share. There are tables there that you can set up for your own space to monopolize, spread out on, engulf with your creativity and inspiration! There will be a CD player and music on and a time to chat. Gossip. Dish. Support. Encourage. Brainstorm. Inspire.

A time to BE.

What are you creating in your world today?

~ Where things go....

2011-11-08T05:23:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my "Put Away" day....
and I think that this is one of my best days yet.

I found that by focusing on just picking up, putting away, things, filing paper,
clearing emotions, saying what needs to be said...putting feelings where they go...

It really helps SO much.

Humans need to pick up after themselves...
not only the clutter...
but word and deed.

It's being responsible.

It clears the way for more love, productivity
and helps you settle what's what, what is,
and what doesn't belong there.

I put away some things yesterday.

I felt like Merlin packing up his house to one little wee satchel...
making the big things smaller...

so that I could take it all with me...
but not so big that I could not carry it myself.

And now today, is my "Self Care" day....

and it follows perfectly.

For now I have room....

for ME.

How are you doing on your Journey?

I'm waiting on the path here for a bit, for us all to meet up and share our
single journeys,
as we ride together :).

The winding path of faith.

2011-11-07T04:16:00.000-08:00

Well, my compatriots, yesterday was a interesting day on my journey...

I set off in the saddle riding with my mate to visit a local chapel, as he had been called in to listen to the sound system there and trouble shoot it. The best way, of course, is to see how they use it in action.

As I said before, one of my quests and interests lay in Cathedrals and Temples....as a Wizard, I do enjoy learning and growing and the customs and cultures of others.

When we walked in, the ushers greeted us immediately, and asked to show us to our seats (the church is not big)...
and one asked Harry, "Which side would you like to sit on?"
To which he smart ass replied: "The Bride's side".
Which I thought was funny, but sort of stumped the usher.
Then of course, Merlyn, being the walking encyclopedia of useless information, proceeds to say, "That would be the LEFT side".
The usher looked at me incredulously. I said, "In days of olde, most men were trained to sword fight with their right arm/hand. The scabbard is worn on the left so he can pull it from the right. The groom would be able to pull his sword and fight with his right hand, while holding tight to and defending his Bride with his left hand."

"Oh". she said.

Ok, so I was gonna try to make it fun. It was a long shot this morning with that cause. Now, know you, I've been to LOTS of services in my day. All kinds. It matters not. But this morning, was the most tedious, joyless, going thru the motions service I think I'd ever been too.

Excerpts:

The kids sermon was over their heads, and the lady pointing out how to find the passage they were looking up together, couldn't find the book of 1st Peter in the Bible she had, because: "This is not my Bible, I'm not familiar with hers". (??!! They are laid out all the same, lady!) OY.

The pastor started to read from the New Testament for one of the gospels, and one of the congregation ladies interrupted the pastor to tell the congregation to find the passage: "It's in the Bible".
(???!! WOW. Why didn't I think of that?)

The mother behind me let her baby kick the seat and talk instead of using the "crying room". I hate that. While it's great you take your kids with you...be sensitive of other people. No one wants to adore your baby when the time is for personal meditation. Be respectful.

The service ran long, and they hadn't done the Offering yet, and it was also "Communion Sunday"...so the pastor thought it best to just "combine the two" and "when you are coming up for Communion, you can put your offering in the plate by the altar." (I, ah, thought this was a free salvation...usually the Offering is done at the beginning of the service and not bumped up into the Communion. I felt it was crass. Harry was thinking of going up for Communion, but not after that. No way. Didn't want to commune with that.)

They didn't sing the Doxology (one of my favorites) but skipped it for time's sake.

The sermon was about tithing...and the pastor informed the congregation that her "commitment this year would be "close"...but not so, because the Church doesn't know all the things I do." (she is paid by the Church. If you want people to tithe...be an example...)

The gift of the Church ladies was to "send blankets" to a third world country because they need them." How'ere, the blankets they were sending were gray, scratchy army blankets with the Church logo on them. Good grief. Send them soft, plush velour ones for God's sake. And lose the emblem. If it's a gift of the spirit, it's the thought that counts. Not advertising. Ugh.

The closing hymn, was "This little light of mine" an old FUN spiritual...was hopeful to Harry & I to actually have fun to sing with something before we left. (we did enjoy "Sing with all the Saints in Glory" and that was good)...but the last song...this little light.... resembled NOTHING about the song in tempo or melody...except the words. Who changed THAT? And WHY??? It certainly didn't improve the song.

Needless to say, after giving up my free hour for this service, of which I felt deprived of ANY spiritual input..and of which it ran LONG....I realized that my services that I do at the UU are so much more fun, giving, and touching.

So I guess I did get something out of it after all. I did enjoy the space, the candles, the organ music, the smell of everyone's mingled perfume and the vibes of all the anticipation. Harry & I enjoy singing, and we were complimented on our lending our voices to the hymns. There were several people who reached out to us as newbies there, with a smile and a handshake and that was nice. But...that was the extent of the good parts.

I didn't say a word. I got to the car, shut the door and before I could say anything, Harry spoke it precisely for me: "That was the worst church service I have ever gone to in my whole life."

Bzinga.
At least he was able to listen to their wireless mic and check their sound system out to help them to be heard a bit better. For what it's worth. I admire their faith and their mission, but I think they missed the point.
JOY. SPIRIT. LOVE.

So we traveled homeward having had the wide world in front of our eyes.

I planned my week ahead for my Wizards Journey this week.
There is much to do.
There are problems to fix.
There is magick to work.
There is joy to be found in the mundane.
I made a plan for each day of the week and what to try to accomplish.
I will then just take each day as it comes, with the sun, and do my best.
There is a saying in my bathroom (filled with quotes and pictures) that says:

"Keep on keeping on. It takes faith. It take courage. It takes integrity."

We had company over of my good friends Lori and Chris and Nick.
We cooked, we ate, we drank, we laughed, we spoke of cabbages and kings,
we communed with each other.
We felt feelings, we cried, we hugged and we loved.

And that was the best Church of all for me.

Psychology of a Shit Sandwich~

2011-11-06T05:04:00.000-08:00

So you go into the restaurant of life with a friend..

And you tell them you are famished but you need to privy, so could they just order you a roast beef sandwich?

They say, "Sure baby, anything for you". You blow him a kiss and you leave for the necessaries.

You come back, he's sitting there with the food he's ordered for you both.

"Looks good!" you say.
"Dig in!" he says as he starts to eat several plates of this and that at once.

But while you are eating, you realize that your sandwich doesn't taste so good..
Well...PARTS of it taste good.
It's made on really good bread.
It came with chips.
But really what you've got here is....
a shit sandwich.

Of course your friend will deny ordering it for you.
And he says it with such truth in his eyes that you believe him.

So there are several things you can do, in the psychology of what's been delivered:

You can send it back.
But you're hungry, and parts of it are good, so you try to try to make the best of it.

You can NOT eat it.
But you'll hurt his feelings and well, you are hungry.

You can use the Martyr approach: Just eat it and not complain.
But you know you ordered something wonderful, and you shouldn't have to stomach this crap.

You can try the Fussy Kid approach: You can take a "no thank you bite" for mommy, and leave it and let your friend eat it if he wants it, after all, HE ordered it for you.
That's a great choice, especially if you can watch him eat it,....but you are still hungry.

You can complain to your friends that you ate a shit sandwich.
They'll say, "Duuuuuuude! You are eating a shit sandwich! Stop!"
And you'll say, "but I ordered the roast beef, and besides...the bread is good".
So they will watch you eat it, while you hope it will get better.
It doesn't.

You try the Stoner approach:
"This is great! I love this! It's really good!"
Then after you've eaten most of it,
and you've come down from your high,
you realize it really DOES taste like shit.

Then of course, there is Denial.
"That wasn't a shit sandwich. That was just bad roast beef"

There is the positive thinking approach:
"Ok, so you ate a shit sandwich.What did you learn?"
Well....I learned I don't like shit sandwiches.
They taste like shit.

Then there is the Freudian approach:
"Yes, but WHY did you eat a shit sandwich?
You obviously craved something about it.
How was your childhood?
Did you eat shit sandwiches a lot?
Is this a cultural thing?"

Then there is the Angry Pirate approach:
"You motherfucker! You twisted my order and you got shit for me and I trusted you!
I hope you gag on your own shit sandwich!" you rail at your "friend" who ordered
and stab him with words cuz you left your sword on the ship.
It feels good....
but a sword would be a MUCH nicer carving utensil.

Then there is the I've Risen Above it Forgiving approach:
"So, you ordered me a shit sandwich. I don't know why you felt compelled to do that.
But I forgive you. What doesn't kill me makes me stronger" sort of thing.
Which is nice in theory.
But, let's face it....
you aren't Jesus....
and you really don't forgive them...
even tho' you say you do.
You secretly hate them and always will.

Then there is the No-Nonsense Friend approach:
Your friends will tell you: "So... dude... don't eat one again."
"But I have this bad taste in my mouth." you say.
"So eat something else." they say.
"But I'm just not hungry anymore after that" you say.
"Just forget about it." they say.
But you can't forget about it.
The taste in your mouth is BAD and your stomach is all upset.

But when it comes down to it....

You trusted someone to order for you, when you should've ordered for yourself.
You ate a shit sandwich.
Get over it.
Try not to get too upset.
Try not to blame anyone else.
It was your fault.
After all...
YOU fucking ate it.
For one reason or another.

The only thing you really can do now...
is try to find something better or different to get the bad shitty taste out of your mouth.

And NEVER have that person go out to eat with you again.
EVA.

Unfortunately, you are gonna remember it for a long time.

And....

Well.....

All in all....
That's probably a good thing to remember, the next time you order.

Play is good for the Soul

2011-11-05T18:33:00.000-07:00

Today's theme was "Play Day" and I started it with sleeping in and enjoyed my honey and my bed for a little extra while this morning. After kicking up the Wizards Duel Quest plan all week, and doing such a good job on my progress all week, today was a good day to just ENJOY.

I went for a lovely walk with Monty, did some writing, I also raked leaves while chatting with Nick talking about StoryBook Club, did some sewing, worked on my MM banners and finished one! I enjoyed reading, having a hot bath and just relaxed with Harry, watching movies and puttering. Also, I decided I might make a new embroidered wall hanging...just dreaming up the layout now....

And a BONUS today!

A MIRACLE.

Harry agreed (finally) to work on uncluttering our office. His pile was overflowing his desk and had engulfed the loveseat in there, making it unuseable for the last year. So NOW, tonight, after he worked on it for the whole day, he's made a lot of progress! It is encouraging and I feel that my path is opening up in front of me. The brush is clearing! :)
.
Monty has already found the loveseat and crashed on it and claimed it :)

I also have been re-reading a lot of Louise Hay's works, and together, we are watching several of her videos. Very encouraging, very inspiring! She uses "affirmations" to make positive changes in life.
If you haven't heard of Louise Hay, she's a motivational speaker, non-denomenational.

For it to really work for you, for positive change is that you must put the Affirmation into a "Present Tense" and act as if it's already acquired.

I liked some of these affirmations from her book "I can do it" - How to use affirmations to change your life":
Thought you might like some of them for ideas to use in your life:

"I radiate success and prosperity wherever I turn"

"I am discovering talents I did not know I had".

"I draw love and romance into my life and I accept it now." (I'd like to add lust to this one too :)

"I love and appreciate my body"

"I love me and take care of me."

"I do the work I love, with people I enjoy and I earn a good living".

"I am willing to change".

"My partner is the love of my life. We adore each other.

"My talents are in demand, and my unique gifts are appreciated by those around me."

"I do something new or at least different every day."

These are fabulous, bolstering affirmations. Louise Hay suggests that you look at yourself and say your affirimations many, many times each day. That change starts happening within first, like a seed that grows and then blooms.

If you have something that you would like to add to your life, consider using affirmations to add it into your consciousness.

What affirmation would you like to use as your mantra?

" Playing in the Water with a Kelpie" ~

2011-11-05T09:20:00.000-07:00

Today is my "Play Day".

I am enjoying my day and hoped you like this story that I played with :)

As a Wizard I stopped by Loch Ness this day, and pondered the still waters while Harry & I enjoyed a leisurely pipe full of rabbit tobacco, after which I was inspired to write this story (which also doubles as one of my assignments for Grey School of Wizardry.....always the practical magick wizard here.)

My story subject matter this day is about a magickal creature called:

THE KELPIE

My ancestory is from Scotland on my father’s side, and so the stories of Scotland and its music are always of interest to me.

The Kelpie is a shapeshifting water horse, first and foremost. It is one of the fae, but it is one that spends its time alone, and does not associate with the other faery folk.

There are many variations of stories on this creature. The ones that stand out as being the most repeating, is that the Kelpie takes the form of a beautiful horse or handsome man.

In its horse form, the kelpie usually wanders like a lost horse or pony. It is usually black, and sometimes white. The kelpie’s skin is like a seal skin and its mane is usually dripping with water, damp, or has bits of seaweed entangled in it.

The kelpie then lures the unwary child or traveler to him, and when the person touches the horse, having gained its trust, the kelpie’s skin turns adhesive and the unfortunate soul is then “glued” to the animal. The kelpie then makes a beeline for the water, where it takes its hapless rider into the gloaming and drowns it in the dark depths, and eats it.

It eats all except the heart and liver.

In its human form, the kelpie takes the form of a handsome man (or sometimes beautiful woman, although this is rarer) and presents itself to a woman traveling alone on the loch. When she falls in love with him, he then turns back to his water horse form, taking her out into the briny deep, and devours her after she has drowned.

They say that there are several waterhorse in the different lochs of Scotland. They say that the Loch Ness Monster is also a waterhorse, but there is so much publicity that it is hard to catch it.

Remember too, that the waterhorse/kelpie is one of the Fae. The kelpie is protected by magick to remain unseen, until it is too late.

The whole kelpie phenomenon, is, I think, an analogy for certain types of human behavior. I think of some people in this world that also operate this way. I have analzed the psychology of the kelpie to some human behavior as follows:

The person (or I’ll refer also here as “kelpie/person”) always present themselves as one particular way that is an illusion of how they really are in real life.. The kelpie/person usually appears lost. Vulnerable.

Then an unwary, kind person happens to meet them in a lonely part of their own journey. The kind person wants to help the poor animal (which is the nature of a kind person. To help, even if they are the ones who need help at the moment).

The kind person reaches out and touches the vulnerable kelpie-type person. Then the kelpie/person’s drama (or story, or situation, or good looks, or personality) captivates them.

The kind person reaches out to grab hold of the kelpie/person in their kindness, loneliness or desperation. Then the kelpie/person’s glamour turns to adhesive. The kind person is then fatally GLUED. Cemented. You are now IN their story.

The kelpie/person now has you. It won’t let YOU go. It takes you, your heart and your emotions down to the depths of despair, for the count. After you struggle, and try to get away (and rare are the ones that do get away unscathed, once sucked in) the kelpie/person then drowns you, overwhelms your heart with pain and takes away your breath and yes, your lust or willingness for life. It devours you.

Then in its true form…it reverts…and goes back to the beginning….

To wait for another victim to enter their watery ever changing world.

The kelpie/person does not eat the heart or the liver though . You see, the kelpie/person never really falls in love or lets emotion actually affect its heart.

Neither does it detox itself and cleanse itself thru the liver’s function.

It is forever a heartless monster that preys on emotion.

~ Implementation

2011-11-04T16:37:00.000-07:00

A day off, with a loose plan. Meandering with my steed this day, but on the right path.

Made a lot of ground especially on creative projects!

I've been working on a "Self Love" project. A friend responded to my special blog (not posted here) about what did I look like as a child? So I started looking thru pics and made a booklet called "The Book of Merlyn" (with apologies to T.H. White, and the "Once & Future King" one of my all time favorites)
...anyways...it's all pics of me, my important highlights for one reason or another.

It's interesting to look at yourself from a hawk's viewpoint.
Or a merlin's perhaps.
Thru the years.

You see patterns.

You see things in a different perspective.
Sort of detached and you can love yourself looking at yourself,...from a distance, sort of thing.

It's good to have an experience like this, to shape shift a bit and see yourself through different eyes.

So, I was creative, relaxed, took time for myself, (my Dove chocolate promise today, the first one out of the bag said, "Take time for yourself" )
...and so I did. and puttered. Implemented things into the mail, made me feel good to just DO. Took Monty for several rides and walks. Am now lounging with Harry and wine....watching movies.

Kinda like staring into a fire.

Watching "Moby Dick" and checking out the story, movie, costuming, themes and symbolism.

Capt. Ahab sure was a dick.

Been really retrospective lately. You know, hindsight is 20/20.

I'm home.
I have adventured this day,
I have made progress.
I am well :)

Also, I did "implement" a new style of blog wall this day...which I really liked.
But I can't figure out how to "share" that blog with FB....so I am back to this format.

So you can implement and try things....and if it doesn't work out...
you go back to the way it was.

And that's ok too. :)

And YOU my lovies?? How did you do today?

~ Book of Shadows

2011-11-03T19:31:00.000-07:00

Today was "Dream/Learn/Practice" Day

I worked on my courses at Grey School of Wizardry, deciding to make one of my assignments on my "Merfolk" class, by doing a research project on "Kelpies", (who seem to be plaguing me at the moment symbolically.....)

I wrote another amazing story from my memories for my "special blog". It took my breath away after I finished it. It was good to do, revealing, heart ripping and somehow, transforming. It's hard reliving this, but I really think that when it's all done, it's a page turner and quite interesting as a story, not to mention, TRUE.

Was melancholy for about 3 hours afterward after the writing purge.

I also advanced my reading on my "Goddesses, Amazons and Heroines" course. Really interesting. From

the Morrigans, to Amazons to Wonder Woman or Xena the Warrior Princess....

I felt............ Empowered.

As I SHOULD.

I also advanced someone's knowledge of their own self this day.

Gods and Goddesses Willing.

Played guitar and started learning 2 new MEGA songs:

"Loch Tay Boat Song" (always a FAVORITE of mine)

and

"Lannigan's Ball".

Hell, I figure if I can learn "Rocky Road to Dublin" I can learn "Lannigan's Ball!"

Oh, and I burned a wish on a cat's grave for someone to just learn their life's lesson.

And soon.

With tears.

On a gibbous waxing moon.

Then...

I saged the house.

I feel MUCH better.

Relieved.

You know.

"Wizard stuff."

Because when it comes down to it:

As well I should.

Also, I changed over Halloween decorations to Thanksgiving on my altar/bookcase at the entryway to Squirrel Haven.

I took a long walk with an old girl friend, and our friendship is made new again.:)

I also cried today.

And prayed.

I "practiced".

It was a good day.

I am feeling advanced in SOUL today..

All in all.....

A good day for "Dream/Learn/Practice".

How was your day?

What did you learn?

~ A Day of Conjuring

2011-11-02T17:30:00.000-07:00

A magickal day. Our wands are our power of Creation, and I was directed to make some magick happen this day.

For this was my "Create Day".

I started by getting up early, wrote a great story for my special blog readers, made up 3 notebooks with shows in them for our MM school gigs, and finished putting on iron on letters to a Civil War banner for our MM music stand!

I took Monty for a walk, dropped off pics at Staples for a photo artwork project and got this all done before work!

Magick INDEED.

It felt really good to create, to finish, to plan and have it come together!

A GOODLY DAY :)

I also have planned out my day for tomorrow which will be my special set aside day for:

"Dream/Learn/Practice"

I have my plan. I am liking these themed days.
They are working for me.
That way I can focus better and not have to take the world on....
but there are days for everything.

To everything there is a Season and a purpose unto Heaven. :)

How are you doing today?

~ We ride :)

2011-11-01T20:47:00.000-07:00

Hey Ho~

My 2nd day today, on my Wizards Duel Plan started at 6:30am.
Up, read, wrote and got a whole shite load of work done before 11am!

It was my "Self Care" day, which started with me being good to myself last night, and getting in my HOT bath and oil following it.
I stuck to my scheduled list of time to do stuff (which seems to be helping me).
Having charted out the week in my MAP....Each day is a different Theme.
I then plan out the day (the night before) with loose time frames for getting certain things done...
so I don't get lost on my path. It can be a very winding path and gnarly going when you are a Gemini.
Things just seem interesting and you can wander off the path so easily. (Squirrel! :)
Made treats for StoryBook Club, took my doggy for a walk (for me in the sunshine... as much as him :)
Cut a bunch of ratty snarls off Monty Joe...because I wanted to pet him and have him feel better too on our Self Care Day :) Then washed my doggy. He loves his baths too. He'll jump right in the tub for me (cuz a happy doggy is a clean wild man doggy running thru the house crazy man, I swear he LAUGHS after)

and DEN?

I washed my tub for ME for my hot baths later on.

Had a great day, wrote a hard story for my special writing I'm doing....accomplished that. Went to a big meeting for Shawna, then got some lunch and went to work. After work, I met up with a bunch of friends for drinks, dinner and some awesome smart conversations about literature. About ZOMBIES. :)
Had folks come in all the way from Buffalo, Rome and Rochester for our StoryBook group! HUZZAH!

TIRED NOW! (I'm blaming it on the vodka at the party...or maybe the wine... :)

Tomorrow is my "Create Day".

How's your day going?

I have moments of brilliance and yet some of my writing is making me melancholy.
I guess that's the way of the road, eh?
Adventurous...and tiresome from the journey.

Talk to me about your life.

Hugs and nighty night. I'm off to snuggle next to a toasy Harry ...who is already snoring up there.

G'night.

StoryBook Club~ Zombie Zombies Everywhere!

2011-11-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

This month's StoryBook Club was held at Phil & Christine's house which was already in full bloom for Halloween! We were greeted by a flying witch at the doorstop. (and no, I didn't get scared and spill my "zombie eyes" nor my "salty bones" but laughed a hearty witchy cackle instead :)

There were about 5 "Virgins" there tonight for their first meeting! Their 1st time at StoryBook! :)

Dinner was GRAND!
Chili (zombie stew), Zombie Eyes (deviled eggs w/ whole olive & pimento), salty bones (biscuits) a graveyard cake (apple crisp) red vampire vodka (cranberry) blood red wine, brain jello, eyes (chocolate) "parts', and a delicious veggie stew (bugs and guts) and "garlic" soup and spaghetti squash with RED marinara sauce among more goodies!

We discussed zombies: Their origins, their behavior, their symbolism that relates to today.

We fear that our culture is breeding Zombies at an alarming rate. What with Second Life, World of War Crack and some video games, not to mention that people rarely know their neighbors next door, and are just feebly going thru the motions of their day to day life, until they get to set down at night to plug into their "REAL LIFE" which is their Second Life game or whatever.

Tis Sad.

They are Zombies and have traded their Creativity and Community for a Sham.
They will go thru their day, motivated minimally, and die having not really LIVED. You can't call virtually living really LIVING. I know a guy....he lives for Second Life.

Eat, breathes, smells it in his day to day life.
He has made an avatar that has more fun than he does. His avatar is a stripper in a night club. So he "dances" and has his avatar strip in clubs online.

His avatar has no flaws, a 1000 outfits, and as perfect a being you can make. An ANGEL.. You can make anything come true there. Pity is, in real life, he is no angel, has no money, and has a Narcissist Personality Disorder. So Second Life seems perfect for him, because he doesn't have to BE himself. His girlfriends there all have big tits and money and PAY him to be their friend. In real life, they are women he takes advantage of their good graces....

In this world, he doesn't have to change, doesn't have to grow, he doesn't have to give to his community, he doesn't have to be creative. He can just click away and be a fake person. Which is the truth. His zombie finger grows longer on the mouse clicking away every day. He talks to other zombies. He has zombie romance.....yes...and virtual zombie sex.

He can have a 1000 girlfriends, who drool for his avatar, and will put up with his personality disorder, because THEY TOO aren't living in the real world. They think he IS all that. Because that world becomes REAL to them.

I wonder what would happen to them if they had a power outage and their internet went down??
They couldn't exist in real life. Oh, they'll hook up...in real time....and have their moments, I'm sure, but he can't carry a relationship for long term. He just doesnn't have the capacity or the evolved personality to be REAL for long. I wonder what would be like if these women knew the REAL him?

Now, isn't that the life YOU want?
UGH.
Give me a REAL life, with REAL friends and lovers anyday!!

But surely I digress.

The night was spent discussing zombies... NOT being one.

No, this club is FAR from Zombieland.
These are thinking, feeling, doing, creative, happy, well adjusted and well read people who get together to eat, drink, be merry and discuss BOOKS. Stories! Themes! Symbolism!

We take on the world as we know it.

How fucking kewl is THAT?

Here is our table tonight:

Pretty posh, huh?

Next month, our StoryBook Club celebrates a whole year of fun and research on Stories of all sorts!

We have decided to look into "The Gollum" story.

NOT the LOTR Gollum, but the Jewish Gollum. Just in time for Hannukah :)

Till then, may you live a REAL TIME "Happily Ever After!" :)

~ First day in the saddle

2011-10-31T18:30:00.000-07:00

How did you do today, my dear traveling companions?
Are you saddle sore?
Did you make the progress you needed/wanted to on your plans for your dreams to come true?

Well, I must say that today went just fabulous. I got up at 6:30am (been laying there awake since 6am...)

Looked at myself in the morning mirror and said, to my buck ass, chubby, bed head, morning glory self:
"I love you. I'm gonna take care of you today." And I smiled at me. And I meant it.

Got showered and back into sweats.

Let out the doggy Joe and fed him and made coffee. Did my reading/writing/emails from 7 till 8am with coffee. Got Shawna up, breakfasted and off on her transport (she usually spends a night a week with us.)

Then I jumped on my steed and went saunteringly so into the schedule I set for myself.

Today was my: Day 1 Plan: "Put Away Day"

This seems to be a perfect Monday plan for me!

It rocked!
Put away. I did just that. I put away: dishes, laundry, book piles, took returnables to the store, dropped off dry cleaning, returned an item to A.C. Moore's (in advance of Create Day)., songs/lyrics sorted, cleaned off my desk by sorting it off, recycled stuff. The only thing I cleaned was just dishes, and I threw in a couple loads of wash. I am also adding a room a day to my mix. Just a 1/2 hour or so of dedicated attention, in some fashion, to one room of the house. Today, I picked the porch. It is the first "room" that people come to here at Squirrel Haven, and I put away the summer stuff, put away the folding lawn chairs and I swept off the leaves and "put away" the morning glory dead vines. It looks a lot better. Added to this is walking the dog, working at the college and also playing an hour for an evening's entertainment at Shawna's residence with about 18 other disabled adults plus staff.

It was a really productive energized day!

First off, the hot bath last night, the pretty good sleep and the alarm set were all helpful.
As was the "plan" I set for myself with times to do certain things by.

Also, for me to be able to just do an "Action", rather than a "to do list," seems to work more pointedly for me and it is loosely interpreted, seemed to make a huge debt in the weekend's clutter in a short period of time.
I mean, I usually drag out the vacuum or add other elements to my day and try to do it "all". By just focusing on an "action" (put away) the house got cleaner faster.

Tomorrow is a busy day tho', as I am committed to doing many things. Prepping food in the morning for StoryBook that night, (I'm making "Zombie Eyes" (deviled eggs with whole olive eyes) and "Salty Bones" (refrigerator bisucuits baked to look like bones). I also have a long meeting, have to go to work after, and there is StoryBook Club too! This time it is being held at Phil & Christines' so at least I'm not on duty for it tomorrow nite this time.

The morrow's theme is "Self Care" Day.....

So, I figure, if I can manage to do all what I have to, and also add in painting my fingernails, and having a hot bath and oil before bed, I will still call it a successful day!

One of the most important things I can do for myself, is Self Care. So I am going to go to bed early tonight. Samhain/Halloween is winding down, and it's been fun.

But tomorrow there are Zombies to contend with.

And I need my rest.

Cuz tomorrow....

We RIDE :)

Wizards Duel Challenge Turns to Adventure

2011-10-30T15:38:00.000-07:00

Today, I conducted a service for Samhain. I saged the circle and all within it. We called the 4 winds and directions to be with us and to protect us. We prayed and thanked others for being in our lives, and that they had made our lives better for it.

There was music and love and tears and joy and gratefulness. I encouraged the congregation to let go of unwanted traits, behaviors, wishes, failed relationships written on papers which I burned and sent to the Univsere as prayers of release to the Gods. Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust.

I encouraged forgiveness and gratefulness and depth of feeling, with a hefty dose of hope and heart.

Much good was done this day. A feeling of well being and hope for the future welled up in us all.
Indeed, it DID feel like my heart grew "3 sizes" today :)

I also spent time in the company of good friends, playing music, laughing, and having a tankard and some harder spirits. Eating, feasting, making merry and resting.

It was a perfect day of rest and merriment before a Wizards' Adventure..

I asked you what "fed your spirit" and I have isolated my special treats for being some of these:

Hot baths, Books in bed early, Walking my dog with fresh air and light, Gatherings of friends, Artwork, Music.

I have looked at my dream destinations from this past week.
I have laid out a map, and unrolled it on my week's table and made a plan for each day.
I have forgiven someone and said my goodbyes.

Our Wizard's Journey will start for me tomorrow. I am glad you are riding with me as saddlemates :)

Personally, my plan looks like 7 days a week mapped out, (along with my other regular work and daily life)...
with the majority of the progress (on many different areas) being loaded onto weekdays, M-F with Saturday being a play day to enjoy and Sunday being a planning day for the week ahead.

I have covered areas that include organization, creation, self care, dream/wish fulfillment, implementation, play and scheduling.

Monday-

"Put Away Day"

books/coats/clothes/ paperwork/dishes/laundry/garb/instruments/

file stories – save to thumb drive/

anything that needs to be settled or returned to it's place.

Tidy Porch

That's it. No cleaning. Just a simple focus to put stuff back where it goes.
I have also chosen a different room every day (for 2 weeks) to work on it for 30-45 minutes.

I figure that if this plan works with some focus on different portions of my life, on certain days a week, consistantly, over time, that there would be a positive impact on the end result of getting closer to my dreams.

Sort of a healthy erosion of measured productivity....

against the immoveable mountain of "wish I coulds".

I see several mountains ahead of me.

HOW'ERE,

I now have a route mapped...
and I'll try to cover a certain length of ground daily.

Just like I would, on a trip with you, my Wizard companions, on our mounts.

A bit of ground every day. We will try to meet up here at the end of each day and tell each other of our progress.

I offer you a Blessing on Your Journey, Your Dreams, Your Life Change Choice :)

What are your plans for the trip?

Please give us your Itinerary, so that we may look for you along the road, ride together or meet up :)

Merlyn's Musings~

Mag 105

Composite Me

StoryBook Club~ Damsels in Distress

Mag 104

Mag 103

Mag 102

The family bathroom

Mag 101

Magick of Mortality

Dragons & Fairies & Orbs, oh my!

A magickal trip to Hogwarts and The Lost Continent....

A mini trip to the Orient

Fort Myers Medieval Faire 1st weekend 2012

There's magic in the music....

Magickal Mischief Tour: Saddling up and heading out

Mag 99

Magickal Mischief Tour!

Mag 98

Instructions

2012 & the Meaning of Life (good title, huh? :)

Walking the Janus path

Magpie Tales: Mag 97

Twas the night AFTER Christmas (with apologies to Clement Moore ;)

Christmas Eve in a Stable

Merlyn's Christmas Card for You!

A door shuts ....a window opens...

A Tale of a True Goddess, Amazon & Heroine

A Santa Story!

Saints & Angels

StoryBook Club ONE YEAR OLD!

It was "Just like New York City" :)

What's in a dream?

Night Muse

Merlyn A-Z

Merlyn A to Z :)

Hey ho my loverlies! I have been pretty busy and hope you are well and happy....and have a Great Thanksgiving!

Enchantress words: "If life gives you lemons....."..

Fun on Absurdity Weekend!

Implementation makes a hearty appetite!

Self care means different things to different people~

Squirrels to Nuts....

~ Spellwork

~ Uneasy Rider

~ Dreamwork

~ Manifest your Creativity

~ Where things go....

The winding path of faith.

Psychology of a Shit Sandwich~

Play is good for the Soul

" Playing in the Water with a Kelpie" ~

~ Implementation

~ Book of Shadows

~ A Day of Conjuring

~ We ride :)

StoryBook Club~ Zombie Zombies Everywhere!

~ First day in the saddle

Wizards Duel Challenge Turns to Adventure

Hey ho my loverlies!

I have been pretty busy and hope you are well and happy....and have a Great Thanksgiving!