PBP - Air

So, for this second week of the Pagan Blog Project, I really had to think about what to write? Do I want to cover a new topic, or should I expand on last weeks?
As you can see from the title, I have decided to cover a new topic. The Element Air. As with all posts I do, this is for my practice, and my no means the end all be all.
So, what about Air. For me, Air represents all that is free and light, Slow and relaxing, not fast and invigorating (Water to me).  Birds, Butterflies, Flying Insects, and Fairies all represent Air to me. While they obviously all fly, they are also free to go and do as they please. Springtime embodies Air as everything that you expect to see in the air and around you has finally come back after the long cold winter. Everything is coming alive and feels more alive again. When combined with its direction East on an Altar, incense is one of the simplest representations for Air. Others could also include Athame, a Feather, picture of a bird, Air Representation (instrument, picture), or a bell. Again, whatever feels right to you.
I am keeping this post short, as I am having problems with my Internet tonight, but hope that I have been able to pass along a little bit of knowledge and information to everyone. Until next time Blessed Be!

FLYing

So, with this being a new year, and us moving sometime hopefully in the next 6-8 months, I have decieded to turn over a new leaf when it comes to housework, and keeping the house clean. I remember when it was time to move from NC and what a nightmare it was to get packed and cleaned at the same time. DO NOT want to do that again! I have heard about and actually looked at previously a site called Fly Lady. The short version is that it is simple for anyone to have a home that is ready for people to come over with as short of a time as 15 minutes a day. Basically, instead of tackling the housework in one marathon session, everything is broken down into Zones, and done in 15 minute blocks of time. After all, who doesn't have 15 minutes?

When you start as a Fly Baby, there are 31 baby steps that you are to start with. This is a way to help get used to the program, as well as establish a routine. The first one is Shine your Sink. The concept of this is that if you shine your sink, when you wake up the next morning, you will be greeted by a clean shiny sink, and will motivate you to accomplish the rest. Lets give this a try. I just followed the directions that are provided on the site, and now have a nice shiny sink in my kitchen! It did help, that I decided to pretty much clean my whole kitchen this weekend, but that is not the point. So, along with the baby steps, there are zones of the house for each week to work on as well as missions each day to accomplish in that zone.
This weeks zone is the kitchen. If you are just starting out, she suggests that you start off small in each zone by de-cluttering first. Once that is done, then you can move onto more detailed cleaning. So that's what I did, got rid of some of the clutter on my counter as well as my microwave. Also accomplished the mission for today which was to clean the cabinet doors.
So far so good. Lets see how this works out. If anyone else out there is FLYing, I would love to hear how it has gone for you. I will continue to post about this as time goes on to let everyone know how it is going.

PBP 2013 - Altars

So since this is the beginning of a new year, I have decided to once again participate in the Pagan Blog Project. So starting at the beginning if the alphabet, this week, I bring you A for Altars.
So, what is an Altar? That depends on who you are. If you are Christian (any denomination will do) it is where the priest/ pastor/ etc stands and gives there sermon. However, if you fall under the Very Large Pagan umbrella, the Altar may be a little bit different. It may be where you perform your "spells", or other works. It may be simple set up for daily devotions to the divine. No matter what the purpose, it is uniquely yours. No two are ever the same. Sometimes even with one individual person. I personally set mine up differently as the mood suits me.

So if you are Pagan, what goes on an altar? Again, this is different for each person and the purpose. "Traditionally" you will see representations of the elements and something to represent the divine. So what can you use? ANYTHING YOU WANT TO! Don't be fooled into thinking there is only one thing that you can use. For example, incense has been used to represent Air. I myself do use incense, but I also have a votive holder that has a feather as well as a charm of a bird. To me both represent air, since they fly.

Altars seem to be a topic that many people like to discuss. However, how many people actually are willing to share what they have. I personally love to look at what other people have used to set up their altars. I love seeing the creativity that they put into them, and the attention that clearly goes into one that have been constructed to suit them. It is allot like getting a look at someones personality, and seeing that they hold close to them.

Since I mentioned sharing altars, I have included pictures of some of the altars that I have set up in the past. Please feel free to look at them as inspiration only. As I stated there is, in my opinion, no set way to set it up. Do what feels right to you.

Set up for Ostara 2011. Notice the stuffed bunnies!

This was the first time I got it set up when I got to Germany. Had to go to a smaller table to make the most of the little space I have.

HAPPY 4th of July! There is no reason why blessing cant be performed for "normal" holidays

Memorial Corner set up for Memorial Day

First set up for Samhain

Hope you enjoyed looking at what I have done, and that this helps anyone who may be having issues deciding what to put on their altar

Teaser Post....

So I came across an interesting post on Facebook today, that lead to me doing some digging today. Long story short, it was talking about an empath who was having problems dealing with their gift. Got me thinking and looking around, and all I can really say now is... more to follow. Going to do some more research, and digging. But does seem like a very interesting topic that I should really be looking into.

No more Mirena (Possible TMI post)

So, yesterday, I had my yearly exam, and the hubs and I decided that it is getting to be about time to get ready to maybe have another baby. So I got my Mirena removed and switched back to the pill to try and get things regulated. I am really hoping that getting it taken out will help me with some other areas that I am struggling with as well. I will keep updating as time goes on to let everyone know how it is going. Also feel free to share any experiences you have had, if you have been through a similar issue.

On another note, Christmas shopping is almost done. I have one more thing that I definitely want to get for little man, but other than that, I think we are all done. Oh and it looks like we will be leaving Germany next July!!!!! So excited!

Snow in Germany!

So finally, after we have been complaining about it being so cold for no reason, I wake up to a nice surprise this morning.

Ok, first off, for those of you who don't know, I am originally from Illinois, and LOVE SNOW! I firmly believe that we are supposed to have snow in the winter, especially in December. So, this morning, little man wakes me up, I head to the kitchen to make breakfast. For some reason, I was looking for something on the window ledge, and look out the window, and sure enough SNOW!!! YAH! I know, I'm such a big kid when it comes to this stuff. I'm Pagan, but I still love Christmas.
Every year, I cant wait to get the tree up, and decorated. Finally, got ours up by the way. I love going shopping, but hate spending the money of course. I love seeing all the lights and decorations. On thing I miss about being back home is going to see the Way of Lights. And for the past couple if years, I have been following Santa on his yearly journey. Like I said, I am just a big kid at heart!

Mercury Retrograde

OK, so I am the kinda witch that will read my Zodiac AFTER the fact, and realize, DAMN, maybe I should have stayed in bed. I am also one who usually doesn't give much notice to the Astrological Pain in the Ass.......

MERCURY RETROGRADE(*Spooky Music).

 Personally, I have never noticed much different during the time, and in fact, it usually passes by me without me even knowing it. Not this year!

I am hoping that since it is 900 pm here in Germany, that it is safe for me to talk about this. So pretty much all month, I have been having problems with my phone. First, for some reason, all my contacts that were saved to the SIM card are gone, but still there. I can search through the history, and they are there, but when I go to search the contacts, they are gone. I tried, to save the info from the history, but no luck, the phone thinks it is on the SIM. Also tried to add a new contact, didn't save, but saved. Then by great "Smart phone" decided what it would be fun to just randomly turn off while in my pocket. Yes the phone was locked, and there is no way for the pocket to turn it off, since it was the shoulder pocket of my ACU's. Then it would just turn off when I would put it on my desk. The past couple of days, when I would plug it in to charge, it couldn't make up its mind whether it was charging or not. So that has been the drama with the phone. So over the weekend I was trying to check one of my email accounts and was told that my user name had been locked. That's weird, cause I was just on it 5 minutes before when my computer decided to crap out on me for a min. All that being said, I think I have learned my lesson.
 So what have I learned over the past 3 weeks? Know when to take a step back. Things have been so crazy at work, that sometimes, I just need to remember that I am only one person, and I have other commitments that I have to take care of as well. Maybe sometimes, I need to focus more on my family than my work.
Oh yeah, and keep an eye out for that evil Mercury Retrograde and what lessons may come along with it, cause they will come whether you are ready for them or not.
So how has this Mercury Retrograde treated you, and have you done anything in the past or present to prepare for it? Let me know, I would love to hear the stories.