A New Way

So much has happened over the last few months that I can't believe it's been eight months since I posted here. Firstly, we moved house in June so I've been preoccupied with settling in. The new house has come with some challenges, most notably a dark energy that has been following me around for a few weeks. No worries though, once he was discovered we zapped his a** out of here! Still so much to do . . .

My Reiki practice has been keeping me busy and with the fall comes new classes which start next week. I'm looking forward to sharing Reiki and empowering others to use this incredible healing system.

And yet again, my spiritual self has shifted. It seems that Spirit is molding and shaping me for what lies ahead. I've had several shifts and feel that my vibration has lifted into a higher dimension. I can no longer tolerate meat and it seems that water is my drink of choice. I've also become aware that I am an Incarnated Angel and the Angels are asking me to step into my power. I'm not really sure what that looks like, but I know that my voice has changed. Not my physical voice, but by my assuredness in what I'm saying. It's scary and exciting and sometimes I want a vacation from it all, but I'm moving ahead, one step at a time, trusting that all is in Divine order.

I've also become aware that the Goddess Isis is now working with and through me. I'm stepping into my role as an Initiate of the Light and am studying the ways of Isis. She's a lot like Mother Mary, but more human. Where it was difficult to relate to Mary and raise myself to that ideal, Isis is more, how do I say this? - womanly. She has feelings and temper tantrums and uses her feminine wiles. She ripped her clothes off and cut her hair when Osiris was murdered. She wailed and cried and lamented for days, weeks, and months. She was able to find out Ra's secret name and thus step into a greater power. She served her people and made herself as one of them.

I've always been interested in Ancient Egypt, if not somewhat wary of it. It always seemed dark and mysterious. But I find that those are the very qualities that I'm now attracted to, especially because of Isis. I'm currently reading several books, one called 'Isis Magic' by M. Isidora Forrest, the 'Circle of Isis' by Ellen Cannon Reed, and 'The Mysteries of Isis' by deTraci Regula. I'm also working with the 'Isis Oracle' by Alana Fairchild - a beautiful oracle deck with sublime pictures and a book that is wonderfully written. I'm also in the process of setting up an altar to Isis, so watch for pictures to come.

Must run now . . . I'm painting my sanctuary a beautiful turquoise . . .

Happy Mabon!

I'm off to Canada this coming Wednesday and will be gone through to the 25th so I wanted to wish everyone a Happy and Blessed Mabon and if you're looking for a simple, yet meaningful, Mabon Ritual visit the 'Sabbats and Esbats Ritual Pages'.

I leave you with pictures of my Mabon altar . . .

Burnin' Up the House!

Well, not exactly, but I am doing a lot of burning! I've discovered a new hobby in Wood Burning and have been busy burning any and all pieces of wood I have stored away in my basement art studio . . . and there is plenty to be found!

I've decided I like wood burning so much that I've opened a new Etsy shop to share my wood burning aspirations with you. Check it out and hopefully you'll find something you like!

Elemental Altar

Hello and Merry Meet everyone! I hope you're all finding your way over here to my new blog from 'I Heart the Goddess'. I had an URL from Godaddy that unfortunately has lapsed because I didn't want to renew it and so it's not available to view online anymore. Ah well, out with the old, in with the new!

I've been struggling spiritually for about the last six weeks and have been attending mass with my friend hoping to find what I seemingly lost. I even went so far as to think of joining the Catholic church. Chalk it up to menopause, the realization of a past life experience and the fact that I really haven't been acting upon my faith as a Wiccan. Realizing that I have not been following through with Sabbatt and Esbat rituals and it's no wonder I feel empty and lost.

So, with this newfound realization, I am, so to speak, back in the saddle. I am planning a Blue Moon ritual for August 31st (the second moon of this month) and am also planning for Mabon. My altar will begin it's transformation towards the end of this month and I'm planning on making a Mabon thanksgiving upon my return from Canada at the end of September. A few days late, but still celebrating the Sabbatt.

I'm also connecting with the elements. I'm spending more time outside and today I'm even going to the pool to hang out in the sun and water. My spirit is saying (actually it's yelling) YES! I've also created an elemental altar in my kitchen window. I've put some stones there that I gathered from Sedona, creating a cairn. I have a crystal quartz cluster that I received in my Reiki class. I also have an angel that a new friend gave me at the end of our time together in Sedona. And, I'm having a new Elemental Rosary made (more on that in another post).

I'm feeling better than I have in weeks and all because I've reconnected to my true path. I had wound myself up so tightly thinking that going back to church and becoming something I'm not would feed my soul. I was wrong. What feeds my soul is what I've been doing for the last two years. Only now I realize that the Goddess has called me to action. No more laying around thinking about doing ritual or saying prayers. It's time to break out the candles, incense and athame and put myself to rights . . . and for this I am truly blessed!

The Divine Mother

Where would we be without our mothers? Well, for certain we wouldn't be living in these Earthly bodies. The older I get, the more I appreciate my Mother here on Earth. The sacrifices she's made, the unconditional love (yeah, I raised hell in my teens), the values and morals she instilled in us and a belief in God, always respecting our point of view and however we view the Creator to be.

I'm a seeker. Always searching out the answers to questions most of us are privy to. Where did we come from? Where are we going? What is our purpose? And just when I think I've found the answers, more questions are raised. New ideas are layed before me making me rethink what I think I already know. Will I ever know the Truth? I suspect that when I transition, all will be revealed and I will be able to rest in Eternity in perfect love and perfect trust. Until then, I'm left to ponder these Universal questions.

I began my spiritual life as a Christian in the Luthern faith. Not strict church goers we were left to make our decision each Sunday whether or not to go to Sunday School. Sometimes my sister and I would board the Church bus and take ourselves, other times our mother would accompany us. My father was and is an atheist. Although, between you and me, I sometimes think he's actually agnostic. I searched for God in the churches of Luthern, Baptist, Evangelical, Pentecostal, Seventh Day Adventist and at one point or another I read about John Smith (Mormonism) and even Jehovah and Scientology. And while I've always been deeply spiritual, I found these churches did not fill my soul.

A few years ago, after feeling a deep, gut-wrenching emptiness, I discovered Paganism and Wicca. And, more importantly, I found the Goddess, the Divine Feminine . . . I found balance. Or rather, I should say, She found me working in the garden. I embraced the Divine feminine and came to know her as Green Tara and then, as She would have it, Mother Mary. I've developed a strong and undeniable bond with Mary (interestingly enough my Earth mother's name is Mary). She is the one I look to for spiritual support and growth, intercessor and guide in my Earthly life, and companionship in prayer. In short, she's my Go-To-Girl.

Lately I've been reading and learning about the Catholic faith. Don't laugh . . . or cry . . . it's all a process and I'm feeling guided in this direction. Yes, the Church definitely has its' faults, but there's beauty too. Will I become a member or a cherished parishioner? Highly unlikely. You see I also strongly believe in and practice Reiki, something the Church has officially banned. Ah, for closed minds . . .

But then there's also something called 'Science of the Mind' by Earnest Holmes (please don't confuse this with Tom Cruise's Scientology - and what's up with him and Katie, eh?). Religious Science is something that Louise Hay (you know her book 'You Can Heal Your Life') subscribes to . . . positive intentions and affirmations are her trademark. I find this fascinating.

And so you see, spirituality can't be labeled. No one authority holds the whole and complete Truth no matter what they say. I think we owe it to ourselves to explore, to question and to hold true to our own truths . . . I respect you and you respect me should be the law of the land. But then again, who am I? I AM . . . that's all. I'm a spiritual being having a human experience . . . and doesn't that say it all? I believe that my purpose is to learn, to grow, to experience, to question, to love, to explore where no man has (oops sorry, I digress) . . . to just BE as in BE still and know that I AM God.

And so what does all this have to do with the Divine Mother? It's because she's a part of everything and anything that I do. She's there to guide me, to comfort me, to make sure that I stay on the path. She's loving and compassionate and understanding. She doesn't judge, she doesn't chastize. She allows me to be me in all my fullness. She knows my heart. She's my intercessor and my greatest advocate. She never lets me down. And so I go forward in the knowledge that I do not go alone . . . that whatever I do, I have her blessing, because she KNOWS in the end that I will make the right and true choices for me. And so it is for you . . .

Like I said in my moniker . . . up, down and everywhere inbetween.

Theoretically speaking . . .

I think on many things and they seemingly cycle through my thoughts until I've reached what seems for me a probable answer to a question. One of the thoughts that visits me from time to time is the question of the 'virginal conception and birth' of Jesus. How could Mary possibly become pregnant in such a way? I mean, come on . . . really? I suddenly realized an answer to my question that seems to satisfy my quandry. I know it's a little 'out there' . . . well, okay maybe a lot out there . . . but then, maybe not.

As I understand it, the Universe is made up of energy. There is no beginning and no ending to this energy. It goes by many names, God, Spirit, The One, the Creator. I believe this energy was, and is, male and female, what you would call androgynous. In a moment of lonliness, I believe this energy divided itself and became the God and Goddess while still remaining part of 'The One'.

We're all familiar with the Holy Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. To some, the Holy Spirit represents the female (Goddess) aspect of the trinity. So with this in mind, I believe that the God and Goddess expressed their love, whereby the Goddess became pregnant (energetically speaking). As an expression of their love for humanity, the Goddess (Holy Spirit) enetered Mary energetically and thus Mary conceived. Therefore, Mary conceived of the Holy Spirit.

I believe that Jesus was, and is, a manifestation in human form of the God and Goddess and the expressed energy of their love as a gift to humanity. It is also interesting that Mary herself was conceived by her mother, Saint Ann, by 'Immaculate Conception' thereby remaining sinless all her life. Yet another example of the Goddess energy manifesting in human form.