Good Bye 2008

Well in a few short hours 2008 will be gone forever, I would like to add good riddance but I won't for I would like to think I have spiritually grown past that, and while it has been emotionally the hardest year I have endured in many, and an incident that happened on Christmas that affected our whole family really put the icing on the cake so to speak, yet I have also been Blessed as well.. so I will list a few of them here and be comforted by the fact that Hecate looks after her own.

My son married his sweetheart and he grew up so much.
I became a Nana for the first time to my wee grandson - Corben James William
My daughter moved home temporarily and I got to spend a wonderful 5 months with her, before we found out we were moving Interstate.
I truly accepted I am a Daughter of the Goddess as I recognised Hestia and Hecate working in my life.
I/we received what we needed, when I stopped struggling and said thank you for what I ALREADY had.
Returning to the country of my birth I realised my ties where no longer there and I was free to move on.
I also learnt that I don't need to feel guilty and keep people in my life who treat me or mine badly.

Before I close this last post for 2008, I would like to share something with you all... It is a story of Cherokee Wisdom which helped me put the last year in perspective.
There was an Indian Chief who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest.., in turn.., to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. The first son went in the Winter, the second in the Spring, the third in Summer, and the youngest son in the Fall.When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen. The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted.The second son said 'no' it was covered with green buds and full of promise.The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful. It was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life.He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up. If you give up when it's Winter, you will miss the promise of your Spring, the beauty of your Summer, the fulfillment of your Fall.Moral:
Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. Don't judge life by one difficult season. Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come.

As 2008 closes it's doors and 2009 dawns for us all, May the Goddess hold each and everyone of you close and her Blessings be bountiful to, you and yours. May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night and a smooth road all the way to your door.

Unconditional Love

I would have to say, this has been the toughest year for me since I migrated to this country... With my only son getting married in another country and us not being able to attend, followed by my daughter in law developing Postpartum Cardiomyopathy,while delivering our first Grandchild prematurely, I was already on an International flight to get to my son's side, when my little grandson developed such a serious infection that we were told to prepare for the worse, just when it was looking up, his larynx collapsed. Amidst all of this he was suffering serious side effects from the medication his mother was on, thank the Goddess for a very switched on nurse who picked up on it! We had a few months reprieve before my Rheumatoid Arthritis came out of remission and we had to move over here to Western Australia.. So it has been a pretty tough year, topped off by an incident on Christmas Night that has left me feeling pretty disillusioned and somewhat un-trusting..( due to it's nature I am not feeling OK to share it in a blog) so for the last for days I have been feeling a cross between depressed and plain blimmin angry, but you know, kids can be amazing - be it little kids or big kids.. I opened my email a little earlier and found a poem my *big* daughter had sent, written by Roger Pinchers.. it reads like this:

YOU ARE LOVED:
When the road seems too long - When darkness sets in, when everything turns out wrong
And you can't find a friend Remember ~ you are loved
When smiles are hard to come by - And you're feeling down when you spread your wings to fly
And can't get off the ground Remember ~ you are loved.
When time runs out before you're through - And it's over before you begin
when little things get to you and you just can't win Remember ~ you are loved.
When your loved ones are far away and you are on your own
When you don't know what to say, when you're afraid of being alone Remember ~ you are loved.
When your sadness comes to an end, and everything is going right may you think of your family and friends and keep their love in sight a thank-you for being loved.
May you see the love around you in everything you do, and when troubles seem to surround you
May all the love shine through - You are blessed ~ you are loved.

It made me cry, well I am a Mother and we do that stuff.. then I went to my gmail account and found another she posted for me on MySpace..

A MOTHER'S LOVE:
A Mother's love is something that no one can explain,
It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters even though the heart is breaking . .
It believes beyond believing when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendoured miracle man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence of God's tender guiding hand.
~Helen Steiner Rice~

Sarah my adult daughter is such a Blessing to me, she is a beautiful, smart, funny and thoughtful woman, we do not share the same beliefs but she respects and tries to understand mine, and I hers. I could not want a better daughter and I am so happy that we are able to love each other unconditionally and I am so Blessed she understands..

A work of art

Wow, things have moved up a gear being this close to *Christmas* Yesterday was Summer Solstice for us down here, and I felt so blessed to have been able to take some time to go and give thanks for all that it meant to me.. before rushing off to pick my daughter up from the airport.
So the house has been so busy, I have felt some guilt at not following my normal daily devotion time. However today while checking my email, I found this wonderful wee snippet and I thought to pass it on to you all. As I am entering my Crone years, admittedly at times - with a bit of a struggle, I found this piece of writing to be very truthful and touching.. I hope each of you have had a Blessed Solstice no matter which hemishpere you dwell, and that your holiday season is a safe one.

Sister Mary Gemma Brunke has so beautifully written:
"It is the old apple trees that are decked with the loveliest blossoms. It is the ancient redwoods that rise to majestic heights. It is the old violins that produce the richest tones. It is the aged wine that tastes the sweetest. It is ancient coins, stamps and furniture that people seek. It is the old friends that are loved the best. Thank God for the blessings of age and the wisdom, patience and maturity that go with it. Old is wonderful!"
"Beautiful people are acts of nature," it has been said, "but beautiful old people are works of art."

I hope someday to be a work of art..

Is it really Jolly?

Well the holiday season is truly upon us, the season to be jolly... families and friends gather to celebrate, share gifts and feast together.. The celebrations are named many things depending on your beliefs and traditions. One holiday tradition I am noticing more as the years pass, is the tradition of irritable parents, frazzled shoppers, rude people, crying children and arguing couples.. and this is all at the local mall!
Saturday morning dawned sunny and bright, so we decided to head off to the local mall nice and early to finish a few last minute errands. Well nice and early turned into mid morning and by the time we got there, the place was rocking.
It all started well for us, but as the morning progressed I started to feel little hot and bothered, a question was asked me and I really felt agitated by it - biting back the need to snap the answer.. then the power went off.. Nooo it wasn't me I had nothing to do with it (least I don't think so) lol.. masses of people filed out of the shops, jamming the walkways - so we decided to leave.. Now I am not claustrophobic but when I got outside, my man turned to me and said, "gee's your sucking in the big ones".. I hadn't noticed to be honest until he mentioned it - Big cleansing breaths.. why? Because I had just walked out of a place filled with a number of people none to jolly.. Have you ever noticed that? Becoming totally smothered by the negative energy of the rushing throngs and the noise of the squabbling and impatience.
It is kind of sad, that so many people bow to the pressure of advertising company's, feeling the need to compete with Joe Blogs gift from last year, or turkey size .. blowing credit card limits and budgets for the sake of appearances all leading to the reasons for the season being left far behind. Don't get me wrong I have so been there myself and ended up not quiet as jolly as I should have been..
As I walk along this Pagan path though, I feel blessed to be learning to get back to basics, to realise that people are more important than things. I am blessed to know that each day is a celebration and is sacred to me. I am learning that the greatest gifts I can give are not material but things of myself.. love, friendship, trust, understanding, hope, knowledge, joy, wisdom.
Do I still buy gifts? of course I do but the pressure to *compete with the relatives* has been replaced and each gift is bought with love and forethought..
Our shopping trip? well we came home, ate a quiet lunch, centered and went back out.. to a mall with power and with my own energy source intact again.
Bright Blessings

Dark Pagan Rede

I have been so busy this weekend, as my daughter Sarah arrives from Melbourne in 13 days (yes I am counting) it has been only seven weeks since I have seen her, but I am missing her to bits.. I really want the house in order before she arrives.. My man and I went out most of the day on one of my least favourite past time, shopping... and then putting in a few more veg and herb plants when I got home..Yesterday my mother in law to be gave me the most beautiful hydrangea, so it is now housed in a pot on the patio.. Y'all need to remind me not to do this moving thing again, as I am feeling like a kid in a candy store going from one thing to another, feeling antsy and unstructured, I feel I have even lost my ability to write almost... What I need is a morning with my Goddess, just being STILL! As it is Monday here tomorrow I may in fact just do that.. But in the mean time, one thing I found today while cleaning out a folder from an ecoven I am a member of is this wonderful piece of poetry that you may or may not have read.. I love it.. So thought to share with you all..

The Dark Pagan Rede
We are Witches, we are ancients those that stand out among shadows. We are weavers, healers and shamans, and warriors, judge and jury and this is our Creed. Do not offend but defend, give your kin a house if they have no home, remember in all forms are we the goddesses children in one way or another. She is the weaver, the threader and the cutter of life no matter what name she is called, she is the great mother, the All, the source. Know the great dance and the Spiral is never ending and your day's walk long and most often someone will try and break your paths but when the wolves tear at your heels, remember only the hardest paths are the paths worth walking.
Life will not be without troubles, fights, hardships and we are not witches too get nor gain for that is but an empty path that leads too greed and the ruin of your soul. We are the witches, singers, shamans, dreamers, weavers, healers and warriors of the wild winds, in the storms and in the fury of the storm and of life. Our knowledge is all knowing, yet we continue too learn things everyday, as is our right. Treat your kin with as much respect as you wish too be treated and you can not be lead astray.
Treasure everyday as it were your last, cherishing the beauty of all life and all things. Protect this rugged earth mother as best you can. Honour her. Even if it is but a rock, know that it to has its own spirit. Life is everywhere, and magick can be breathed in as its purest essence.
Know as the Goddesses child, no matter what you call her she is always there beside you, inside you and with you. Believe this always and you will never be forsaken, even when there is a lesson too be learnt that she must teach you, even if that lesson whips you across the face, it has purpose and reason.
Keep your eyes and your ears open, and listen not only with the physical eye, but the astral ones, for their are signs in all things. In the wind, the rain, the sky and the deep earth. Never look back on your past until you feel you are ready, and remember we have a long way to go. There is strength in the darkness, in shadows and also in the Light, and shadows can not exist without perfect balance of Light and Dark. We are the children of grey Magick, and its power is thine to wield! May the Goddess keep you and bless you in all things, always. Go In strength, love, peace and honour be blessed in unity.

The original poem was written by a witch in the 1960's; this version is what is remembered by a witch by the name of Morrigan Stormraven and she simply asks that she be given credit The Copyrighted Dark pagan's Rede 2.0 sole

Litha - Yule and Christmas

While many of you celebrate Yule, we south of the Equator will be celebrating Summer Solstice - forget about Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping on your nose -down here it is steak on the barbecue and sand between your toes.. While I will be celebrating Summer Solstice on the 22nd, I still have non Pagan family who enjoy traditional Christmas, so I do both. I have an altar dedicated to Litha in the family room and in the lounge room the families’ tree will be up ( no it's not there yet lol)
I am so not prepared this year, nothing much is organised which is so very unlike me.. I have made the Christmas cake and am now totally second guessing myself, as I decided for reasons beyond me to stare away from my tried and true, been using it forever recipe for a new low cholesteral one.. I can feel another baking sessions coming on .. I am planning on doing a bit of work on my other blog The Witches Kitchen over the next few days and tossing in a few Christmas recipes including my best ever - fruit, egg, butter, brandy, girth expanding tried and true Christmas cake!

Dawn the Camera and me

Well as promised I have spent a few minutes organising and resizing a few photos that I shot on the trip from the East coast of Australia to where we are now on the West roughly 3450km away. Surprising as it may seem to some, Australia is actually the size of the American Continent but with about the population of greater LA . Most of the bigger cities and population is over on the East Coast. Here on the West Coast Perth the largest city and the surrounding areas have about 1.5 million people..lol.. not that this has anything to do with photos. Perhaps it was explaining the travel time from East to West..

The usual three days we spread to four, mainly for R & R reasons, well actually I wanted to stop at this little German tourist town called Handorf.. Welllllllllllllllll we stopped for a night, thank the Goddess it was just a night, we pulled in about 4pm, tired and weary after a full days driving, to find Handorf closes at 5pm even on a Friday night, We did manage to find a German pub for a few rather pleasant ales and a traditional German meal.. My mother would have been proud that I tossed up my comfort zone chicken Parma meal for the traditional fare of my youth. German Rouladen .. oh divine- tender beef wrapped around bacon, dill pickles and poached in a dark German stout, served with a generous helping of sauerkraut and boiled baby potatoes. It was the best thing about the visit.. getting back to the motel about 9pm we were then to find bed was broken, so after phoning reception and debating about fixing it with a screw driver, we where issued with a new room! .. bliss I thought, as I filled up the newly acquired spa bath only to find on closer inspection it was filthy dirty.. by this stage I was so over it, I showered, climbed into bed and took a call from my precious daughter.. who said on parting "Mum, I hoped they changed the bed linen".. Bless her.

The trip did get better. Two days later at 5am seen us leaving Midura Pass, an outback roadhouse, where I might add we had an amazing evening with the locals (four of them) and the new owners two weeks into there new life here from Zimbabwe .. I digress.. again.. it was pitch black and after endlessly straining my eyes for Kangaroos, I glanced in the car side mirror to see a miracle un folding... When I got out of the car to take these, my heart was pounding, I felt such an incredible sense of awe and wonder as this beautiful sight, there was a cold soft rain falling and an unseasonmally cool desert wind but it mattered not, the photos do not do this sunrise justice, but I thank the the Goddess for such beauty.
I have kept the photos in sequence...