Cease to Xist

So I'm helping to promote my friends local metal band. They're a 3 piece band consisting of 3 high school friends; a vocalist, a drummer and a guitarist. They right all their own stuff and are some local talent here in the Lehigh Valley area. Feel free to check them out!!!

Celtic Tree Months

The Beth-Luis-Nion Celtic Lunar Tree Calendar/alphabet consists of 13 lunar trees and five solar trees. The calendar is based on a lunar year as opposed to a solar one, and begins after the Winter Solstice. There are roughly 13 lunar months, which begin and end with the new moon; each lunar month is represented by a tree. The five solar trees represent the 4 seasons of the year, plus the Winter Solstice. The five solar trees are like 'umbrella' trees; they cover a larger portion of the year than the lunar trees do; usually about 2-3 months each.

The system is also used as an alphabet; using the Gaelic names for the trees, the first letters of the lunar trees are the consonants, and the five solar trees are the vowels. This alphabet, when written, is put down in marks, usually on a twig or branch, called ogham. This is an ancient system of writing, and there are almost as many ogham alphabets as there are rune systems.

This entire system; the lunar months, the solar seasons, the trees in both their English and Gaelic names, and the ogham, is the Celtic Lunar Tree Calendar. There seem to be two major Celtic Tree systems; the one that we, the Faerie Faith, use, is called the Beth-Luis-Nion system. Its calendar begins on the Winter Solstice, the months run from new moon to new moon, and the trees are Birch, Rowan, Ash, etc., as listed in the table below. The other system is called the Beth-Luis-Fearn. Its calendar begins at Samhain, November 1, the months go from full moon to fill moon, and the order of its trees is slightly different: Birch, Rowan, Alder, Willow, Ash, Hawthorn, Oak, etc.

Lunar Trees (Consonants):

Tree #	English Name	Gaelic Name	Letter	Glyph
1	Birch	Beth	B	I am a stag of seven tines, or I am an ox of seven fights
2	Rowan	Luis	L	I am a wide flood on a plain
3	Ash	Nion	N	I am a wind on the deep waters
4	Alder	Fearn	F	I am a shining tear of the sun
5	Willow	Saille	S	I am a hawk on a cliff
6	Hawthorn	Huath	H	I am fair among flowers
7	Oak	Duir	D	I am a god who sets the head afire with smoke
8	Holly	Tinne	T	I am a battle-waging spear
9	Hazel	Coll	C	I am a salmon in the pool
10	Vine	Muir	M	I am a hill of poetry
11	Ivy	Gort	G	I am a ruthless boar
12	Reed	Ngetal	Ng	I am a threatening noise of the sea
13	Elder	Ruis	R	I am a wave of the sea
	Winter Solstice			Who but I knows the secrets of the unhewn dolmen?

Solar Trees (Vowels):

Tree #	English Name	Gaelic Name	Letter	Glyph
1	Silver Fir	Ailim	A
2	Gorse	Ohn	O
3	Heather	Ur	U
4	Aspen	Eadha	E
5	Yew	Ioho	I

Each of the 13 lunar months and 5 solar seasons also has its own particular 'glyph,' or line, from the Song of Amergin, an ancient poem said to have been chanted by the chief bard of the Milesian invaders of Ireland as he first set foot to the island in 1268 BC. This poem was reconstructed by Robert Graves in The White Goddess and related to the Beth-Luis-Nion alphabet, as shown in the table above.

Each of these lines speak of a particular essence of the lunar energies, and when studied in-depth, can help lead to a greater understanding of the tree month.

Using The Lunar Calendar With The Gregorian Calendar

Some may feel that the moon names, Birch, Rowan, Ash, Alder, etc., are just alternative names for the secular months of our modern-day Gregorian calendar. This is no more accurate than saying it doesn't make any difference whether someone was born under the sign of Scorpio or Libra, as they're both just names for that particular time of year, and don't have any bearing on the person involved.

The Lunar Tree Calendar, as practiced by the Faerie Faith, is more than simply a system of alternative names for the 12-13 cycles of the moon that occur in a solar year of 364 days. Each of the 13 moons in the calendar is named after a tree. The Birch moon is always the first, and they proceed in the order as shown in the table, with Elder always falling last. The calendar begins within a few days after the Winter Solstice, and always ends on the Winter Solstice, never going past that date. This is a fixed solar date: by fixed, I mean that this is the day when the night is longest and day is shortest. After this day, usually on December 21 or 22, the days will begin getting longer, and we enter a new solar cycle. This fact is recognized by our Gregorian calendar, which begins on January 1, 8-9 days after the Winter Solstice. Part of the reason for this brief delay in the Gregorian calendar lies in the 10 days lost when we converted over to the Gregorian calendar from the Julian calendar, in 1582 in parts of Europe, in 1700 by the Protestant German states, and in 1750 in America and Great Britain.

The date of the Winter Solstice is just about the only fixed point in the Celtic Lunar Tree Calendar, but we can approximate several other dates along the calendar. Let's talk about the length of the lunations: folklore tell us that a lunar cycle is 28 days, the same as a woman's monthly cycle. If you multiply 28 days x 13 lunations, and add in one extra day, you would conveniently get a 365 day year, which is a standard year in the Gregorian calendar (the true length of the solar year is 365.2422 days). But nature doesn't work in accordance with a set 365- day year. In actuality, a lunar cycle can range anywhere from 28 days to 30 days. If you have 13 moons of 29 days each, not even including any of the renegade 30-day moons, you'll have a year of 377 days (actually there are 12.368 lunar months in a solar year. Obviously, if you're trying to fit this lunar calendar system into the confines of the solar year as marked by the Winter Solstice, it just is not going to work.

So what do we do? Instead of trying to begin with Birch after the Winter Solstice and continue faithfully through to the end of Elder before ending the year, and thus having an Elder moon that continues into the next January, and having all sorts of problems with the calendar the next year, we end the year at the Winter Solstice, regardless of where in the lunar cycle we happen to be. No, it doesn't make for a nice neat calendar with exactly 13 moons of 28 days each, but we are trying to work with the natural system of things, rather than a man-made contrivance. Even the Gregorian calendar allows for the fluctuation of days over a period of time with its Leap Day.

That's the easy part. Now the hard part -- when do we begin the next lunar year? Well, obviously it's going to be shortly after the Winter Solstice. I'll give you a hint that pretty much takes care of the guess work. February 2, or Imbolc, always falls with Rowan moon, the 2nd lunation. So find February 2, and follow the lunar cycle back to the new moon. That is the beginning of Rowan moon. It then follows that the day before that new moon was the last day of Birch. Now, follow that lunation backwards. If you get to the new moon before you get to December 21, then you have an entire lunation for Birch, and the days between Winter Solstice and that new moon are the Days Apart. If you get to December 21 before you get to the new moon (working backwards, remember), then you've just got a short lunation for Birch, which starts the day after the Winter Solstice. You'll probably have to find a calendar that lists the moon phases for this to really make sense, which is a great reason to buy the Lunar Calendar: Dedicated to the Goddess in Her Many Guises!

To fully understand the tree calendar, and make it relevant to your life, you should consider yourself a student of the calendar. Study it, research it, learn about it. Most of all, make it an active part of your life. You won't understand the trees by just reading this article, or by any one thing. Look into the mysteries and myths attached to each tree. Read Robert Graves' The White Goddess and Celtic myths and fairy tales. Read all the "Lunar Energies and Esoterica," "Bach Flowers," and "Folklore and Practical Uses" columns in The Hazel Nut. Look at the rituals in Pattalee Glass-Koentop's Year of Moons, Season of Trees, (see review in #14) and write and perform a lunar ritual for yourself based on her rituals and what you've learned from Robert Graves. Make contact with a tree; meet it, talk to it, and especially, listen to it.

Each lunation, each tree, when taken separately, can teach us about ourselves, and help us get more in tune with nature's cycles. Taken as a whole, a study of the tree system can help us integrate our personalities, broaden our intellectual horizons, and open ourselves spiritually to the cosmos, going beyond the physical world. That is, after all, the point of being on the path in the first place, isn't it?

Blessed be, and happy searching!

Retrograde planets

Many people relate the Mercury Retrograde to a breakdown in communications. While, at times this may be true, it is not always the case. Before I explain that, let me explain a little more about the appearance of the Retrograde planet.

The term "Retrograde" of a celestial body means "(1)having a direction contrary to that of the general motion of similar bodies; (2) having or being a direction of rotation or revolution that is clockwise as viewed from the north pole of the sky or a planet." (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 1998) In essence, the term applies to an appearance of moving backwards rather than the actual motion of backward transits. The appearance of the phenomenon is caused by our being on this planet and the perspective that we have of other planets out on the horizon as they are moving around the Sun at different rates of speed in relation to the Earth, which is also revolving around the Sun. Suffice it to say, it is merely an optical illusion based on our perceptions of the planets in relation to the Sun. The term was coined in the 14th Century, when man did not yet know that the Sun was not revolving around the Earth! The term grew out of the Latin term retrogradus, meaning "from" or moving from.

This deceptive phenomenon has been related to complications in the routines of the celestial mechanics. In the case of Mercury, it appears to affect all areas ruled by Mercury. This is mostly noticed in the Communication Sector, but also carries over into Transportation, Education, Health and Co-worker Departments. During a Mercury Retrograde, all types of Mercury Ruled areas in our lives seem to become confounded, stymied and misinterpreted. For example, contracts tend to be missing important pieces of information, car repairs may not be thorough, appointments may be missed, mail seems to get lost quicker, medical tests may not be accurate, prescriptions may not be written or filled correctly, and computers tend to crash quickly if upgraded or repaired during the Retrograde Motion of Mercury. It is not understood why and does appear to depend more on the Sign that Mercury is in when it begins its Retrograde Motion. The basic terms that seem to apply best to Mercury Retrograde are Repeat, Reverse, Re-do, Re-think, Restrict and Regret.

Check out some of the differences frequently noted when Mercury is Retrograde in the various signs.

Sign	Traits of Mercury Retrograde
Aries	Impulsive thinking is slowed down and tends to be forced to rethink the activities in order to move beyond obstacles or restrictions. Not as likely to try to assert opinions onto others and less likely to feel "cooped up" when in a restrictive environment.
Taurus	Tends to get wrapped up in the idea of re-doing in an attempt to find perfection. Impulsive and possibly excessive spending in an effort to find the best deal. Learning is likely to be slowed although we are more likely to talk more than when Mercury is direct in Taurus.
Gemini	The normally talkative Gemini Mercury quiets down and may not listen too well, either. May feel the need to visit relatives or long lost relatives and former friends may reappear. Vehicles intended for transportation are more likely to break down as well as all types of communication tools.
Cancer	Old family issues may be revisited and those issues will typically involve one's parents. Home repairs may not last or need to be redone. Moving at this time will likely involve moving again before the year is out. Childhood enemies may reappear in our lives.
Leo	Hobbies and creative talents are likely to be impacted. Also, one's children are likely to require extra attention during this time. Adult children sometimes need to move back home on a temporary basis. Risk-taking ventures are less likely to succeed at this time.
Virgo	Work environments are more likely to feel restrictive. Previously resolved health issues likely to require review and recheck. Opportunities are likely to be missed due to procrastination. Organizational skills may become enmeshed in confusion.
Libra	Marriages and partnerships formed during Retrograde in Libra are likely to be of short duration, if not postponed for a later date. Legal matters are likely to be delayed. The normally wishy-washy nature of Mercury in Libra is likely to come across as impatient if others take their time making decisions.
Scorpio	The normally quiet Scorpio Mercury nature is likely to turn into a regular chatter box, but the logic may be missing.  Joint business matters are less likely to succeed.  Sexual matters may feel confusing and unresolved sexual sufferings may be revisited.
Sagittarius	Religious beliefs may be challenged.  Credit card debts tend to jump dramatically at this time.  Higher education may be disrupted, forcing the individual to retake courses or delay their graduation date.  Court rulings and legal matters may need to be revisited.
Capricorn	Career and reputation is likely to feel impacted at this time.  New jobs obtained during this time tend to be short-term or job duties get quickly revised.  Traditional family values may feel threatened and may require some level of revamping.
Aquarius	Solitude and meditation feels more important than seeking out communication at this time.  Friendships formed at this time generally do not last long and friendships in general tend to feel strained or forced.  Tends to be a period of unrequited love.
Pisces	More talkative than usual and conversations feel more spontaneous than is normal with Pisces Mercury. Introspection tends to be dampened at this time.  Mental health issues are likely to be revisited.  Issues involving institutions and medical situations are also likely to reappear.

One, often over looked, facet of the Mercury Retrograde is the fact that the retrogrades will cycle through one particular element within a one to two year period. For example, in 2001, Mercury's Retrograde occurred predominately in Air; Aquarius, Gemini and Libra. During 2002, there was a shift from Air to Earth; Aquarius and Capricorn, Gemini, Libra and Virgo. Then 2003, all retrogrades will be in Earth elements; Capricorn, Taurus and Virgo. As the years progress, the Mercury Retrograde transit shifts from Earth into Fire element and then into Water until, over a period of approximately seven to eight years, all four of the elemental groups are covered.

This annual theme by element can also help us to plan for the year since each element has it's own style. See the chart below for a quick description of each element.

Element	Signs	Regroup, rethink, reflect in the areas of:
Fire Signs:	Aries Leo Sagittarius	Enthusiasm, courage, passion and impulsiveness.
Earth Signs:	Taurus Virgo Capricorn	Practicality, materialism, conservation, and inhibition.
Air Signs:	Gemini Libra Aquarius	Intellect, adaptation, logic, and superficiality.
Water Signs:	Cancer Scorpio Pisces	Emotional, sensitivity, placidness, and impression.

Mercury Retrograde dates can be found easiest on a Retrograde Calendar.

In any given year, there are, usually, three Mercury Retrogrades. The Retrogrades generally last about three weeks. Depending on the sign that it is transiting at the time that it appears to go Retrograde, life circumstances may feel out of our control, especially if our natal chart is being adversely aspected by the Retrograde planet. Remember that it is merely a good time to review rather than to force matters through to completion.

Mercury Retrograde can actually be a great time to plan for the future; to map out our plans so that we can review them at a later date when we are actually ready to move forward again. It is a little like taking a much needed nap in the middle of our busy schedule. We need to take time to regroup, at least once in awhile, and this is an excellent time to Regroup and Re-organize our life rather than to implement new changes or activities.

Imbolc and Groundhog's Day

In its earliest incarnation, Groundhog Day wasImbolc, a pagan celebration associated with fertility and weather divination. The word, Imbolcis Gaelic, the language of the Celts. There is a strong association between Imbolc and Brigid, a Celtic fertility goddess. When the pagan holidays were transformed into Catholic equivalents, two new holidays emerged from Imbolc. One, Saint Brigid's Day (a.k.a. Saint Bridget's Day), was celebrated on February 1. Saint Brigid's Day honored an Irish saint, named after the Celtic goddess, who was a contemporary of Saint Patrick's.

The second holiday deriving from Imbolc was Candlemas Day and was celebrated on February 2 (Groundhog Day). Candlemas was the feast of Mary's purification and was marked by a candle procession. The ties between purification rituals and the month of February also hark back to the pagan era. Indeed, our very word, "February," which derives from Latin, unmistakably designates the month as a time for purification (februa means "expiatory offerings"). The Lupercalia, a pagan Roman purification ritual, took place in February.

But how did a groundhog become the symbol for a holiday that was marked by a candle procession? Well, the Romans, for instance, had celebrated a rough equivalent to our Groundhog Day in early February -- only a hedgehog was in charge of the weather divination, not a groundhog. And such beliefs survived the Christianization of Europe (going "underground," if you will), attaching themselves to Candlemas Day as folklore. European settlers in North America kept the pagan tradition alive, but substituted the native groundhog for the European hedgehog. Clearly, Imbolc and the older traditions have won out: today in North America, almost everyone in the general public has heard of "Groundhog Day," while mention of "Candlemas Day" would generally draw expressions of puzzlement!

Most people have now distanced themselves from fertility rites, purification rituals and weather divination (well, except for meteorologists, perhaps!). Nonetheless, on some level, don't we still intuitively associate fertility and purification with spring? Nor can we help but spend our winters speculating on spring's arrival. If hope had a scent, it would be the smell in the air on a warm February day.

If the Groundhog comes out of his winter quarters and sees his shadow, then he will return to his burrow for another six weeks, i.e., on the spring equinox. This is how Groundhog Day turns out most years, namely, with a prediction that good weather will not arrive till the calendar says it's time for the spring equinox. But if Groundhog Day is cloudy, then the Groundhog will remain out, since cloud cover on Groundhog Day is supposed to be an indication of prematurely good weather (just howprematurely is not spelled out by the tradition).

At this juncture, perhaps you're in the scoffer's camp, shrugging your shoulders with a "so what?" regarding Groundhog Day and its vernal prognostications. Phil Connors, Bill Murray's character in the movie, "Groundhog Day," started out in this camp, before his transition (transition, as I argue below, is what the Groundhog Day holiday is all about). Indeed, when pressed for his own prediction on when winter will end, Connors sarcastically gives the date of the spring equinox -- March 21. It's rather arbitrary, after all, to choose a groundhog to play weather forecaster, rather than some other animal; nor should the weather on one day (February 2) weigh so heavily in a 6-week forecast. But such objections utterly miss the point behind Groundhog Day.

Groundhog Day is our only holiday that focuses squarely on weather. It occurs at a time when weather occupies Northerners' thoughts more thoroughly than at any other time of the year. We know we're still stuck in winter, but enough of the winter has elapsed that we feel we can now justifiably look ahead to the promise of the spring equinox. More than any other holiday, Groundhog Day is the "looking-ahead" holiday, a holiday of transition. We're not so much celebrating the day at hand, February 2, as we are a day that is on our horizon, the spring equinox. The spring equinox is simply being celebrated ahead of time, as Groundhog Day, on February 2. Asking us to bottle up our hopes until three weeks in March have passed would be unreasonable, don't you think?

This rationale accounts for all the talk about "forecasting" on Groundhog Day. For it isn't the Groundhog who's looking into the future on Groundhog Day, it is we. And whether it arrives early, late or on-time, this is one prediction that inevitably will prove true: good weather will arrive, one way or another. At least it always has. And on Groundhog Day we take solace in that fact.

If you conceive of Groundhog Day as the "looking-ahead" holiday, par excellence, suddenly you realize that its occurrence in early February is not so arbitrary, after all. Although we mark the passage of a year's time using calendars, I may be able to illustrate my point better by referring analogously to another means of measuring time: the clock. Here's what I mean...

Let's say we wanted to mark off the progress of the earth's annual revolution around the sun using the twelve divisions on the face of a clock, as if we were measuring, instead, the passage within a single day from dawn to dusk (6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.). In this analogy, the winter solstice corresponds to dawn and would be at 6:00 a.m., the summer solstice at 12:00 noon. By this logic, the spring equinox and autumnal equinox would occur at 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., respectively, working clockwise. At 6:00 p.m. we would have come full-circle: it would be dusk, and we'd have as little sunlight as we had started out with, at dawn.

The period that concerns us is that between the winter solstice and the spring equinox (that is, between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.), the time when good weather is so close, and yet so far away. If we looked for the midpoint between these two junctures, it would be 7:30 a.m. on our imaginary clock -- about February 2 (or a few days after), according to the calendar. It would be right around Groundhog Day, in other words.

Yes, Groundhog Day stands at one of the eight major junctures of the year's passing. By the time February 2 arrives, we've already completed the most difficult portion of our ascent out of the pit of winter's darkest days, standing half of the way to the longed-for spring equinox. The future looks bright as we survey it from our Groundhog Day burrows -- and nothing can overshadow our optimism.

History Behind Imbolc

---

The Meaning of Imbolc

The weather may be bad, but we are fortunate. Our highways are quickly plowed and de-iced, our homes lighted and reheated with electrical power quickly restored. 

But for the ancients it was the time of the long night -- great darkness, piercing cold, and dwindling food stores. February was such a harsh and brutal month that it was called the Dead-month.

Since travel at this time of year was so fraught with danger, celebrating Imbolc at a large regional festival was out of the question. Instead the Feast of Brigid was celebrated with small rituals in the village and in the home.

Imbolc was nonetheless an important holiday because its message was "hold on, there is hope...the bitter days of winter are near their end." It marked the midway point between the winter and the spring solstice, a time when hope begins to stir with a longing for the return of spring.

Imbolc (also called Oimelc) was primarily a women's festival. Young girls dressed in white carried a corn dolly in processions. Women made corn cakes from the grains that were gathered first and last in last year's harvest and the women and girls feasted together.

And there would be matchmaking as well. With so many deaths over the harsh winter months, it was important to replenish the population of the community so marriageable young men would be invited to attend as well.

Signs of spring's approach would often appear, if only one would look closely.

• the softening of the ewes' udders to prepare for lactation when the lambs would soon be born. This lent the name Oimelc (ewes' milk) to the holy day
• the thawing of the ice and snow (from "imbolc", meaning well waters), and
• the emergence of a few hibernating animals who awoke early to see if the cold and hungry months had ended.

As inspiration, muse, healer, and diviner, Brigid's divine talents bring us hope. So I bring you some thoughts about . . .

Brigid, Celtic Goddess and Saint
The Celtic goddess Brigid and her namesake, Saint Brigid of Ireland, can lay claim to being the most complex, intriguing, widespread, timeless, and beloved of all legendary ladies. Brigid appears in many different guises, with numerous names, in many different European cultures. And she has survived the ravages of time much better than most.

Known as Bride in Scotland, Brigandu in France, Ffaid in Wales, and Brigitania in England, the Irish goddess Brigid (usually pronounced Breet) is also known by the names Brighid, Bridget, Brid, and others. Her varying identities reflect her original image as a triple goddess, but with each of her three faces differing in their gifts.

The Brigid first worshipped in ancient times was the daughter of the great Irish god Dagda, the 'Good Father'. She had two sisters who were also named Brigid. Taken together, they were called the 'Three Mothers', 'Three Sisters', or simply the Goddess Brigid.

Unlike in Greek mythology where the Triple Goddess represented the three chronological stages of a woman's life (Maiden, Matron, and Crone), the Bridgets were all of the same generation and the distinctions between them were based on their domains of responsibility.

• Brigid, the 'Fire of the Hearth', was the goddess of fertility, family, childbirth and healing.
• Brigid, the '"Fire of the Forge', was like the Greek goddess Athena, a patroness of the crafts (especially weaving, embroidery, and metalsmithing), and a goddess who was concerned with justice and law and order.
• Brigid, the 'Fire of Inspiration', was the muse of poetry, song history and the protector of all cultural learning.

When the Christian church came to Ireland, they had little hope of making converts if they were foolish enough to denounce the beloved goddess of the Druids as a demon-ess. So instead they made her a saint and even the foster-mother of the infant Jesus.  Many of the ancient legends of the goddess were soon to become the deeds of the saint. 

Some scholars cite evidence that Saint Brigid was an actual woman, the daughter of a Druid king and his Christian wife. She grew in power within the church and was eventually given the authority of a bishop . . . a power she wielded in the protection of women's rights in the face of the growing patriarchy.

In whatever form she might take, Saint or Goddess, Brigid is loved as a goddess of peace and inspiration . . . one of compassion, generosity, wisdom and healing.

The myths of both the goddess and the saint are fascinating. We chose to deal with them as separate entities.

Imbolc Hot Chocolate Recipe

1 oz. gourmet milk chocolate grated
1 oz. gourmet dark chocolate grated
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup heavy cream

Optional Toppings:
cinnamon
whipped cream
cocoa powder

In small saucepan, combine milk chocolate, dark chocolate, vanilla extract, and milk. Cook over low heat (do not boil) and stir gently until milk warms and chocolate melts completely. Add heavy cream and cook another 1 to 2 minutes until warm. Pour into mug. top with your choice of whipped cream, cinnamon, and/or cocoa powder.

3 reasons

Name three reasons why you should get out of bed tomorrow...


1.) If I don't take care of the cats int he house, no one else will.


2.) I need to make an effort to get out and find a job.


3.) If I don't move my car by a certain time, then I will get a ticket. nuff said.

10 important things

The 10 most important things in any relationship


1.) Love- love is important because if you don't have love it's not a relationship it's simply a platonic arrangement and probably for financial reasons. I don't think any one should be in a relationship because they are simply used to it. Love should always be present.


2.) Trust- If you don't have love and care for the person it's quite likely that you don't have trust for the person. No one wants to be in a relationship where you are second guessing everything the person is doing.

3.) Compassion- There will always come a time in any relationship where one person will be suffering. instead of shrugging that person off and going about your business you should be trying to help them with it and be able to sympathize with them. If you don't care about what they're going through and that they're suffering, the relationship won't last long in the first place.

4.) Equality- You should be partners in this. Everything should be 50/50 because you are a team. One person shouldn't try and protect the other, one person shouldn't stand behind the other for protection, but they should stand side by side as equals facing the problems that may face their life and relationship.

5.) Acceptance- There will always be little things that bother each other or that we don't agree with. if we got into a relationship with a person, we obviously saw something there we liked. Don't go in there and realize there are some things you decided you don't like and try to change them. If you try to change a person in a relationship, you are simply fashioning them into your own personalize pawn and then no one would want that.


6.) Respect- This should honestly be a given but I've seen relationships that don't have this at all. A girl will invite friends over when her partner is trying to sleep. The guy will go out to a football game with the buddies instead of spending his anniversary with his partner. You really need to be considerate and respect the person you're with. If you know something will bother them, discuss it with them.


7.) Similar Sex Drive/Interests- This is simple. If one person is a horn dog and the other could really do without most of the time this is going to create friction (and not the good kind you're looking for). Also, if one partner is into some more hardcore stuff where the other just likes their plain vanilla this can also cause problems. 


8.) Sense of Humor- i think a great sense of humor is definitely needed in a relationship. Especially one that understand the partners as well. I know I've been in relationships where i make jokes and my partner just gives me this look like i grew 2 more heads and it's very disheartening. 


9.) Respect for your Personal Time- as much as you love each other, sometimes you need to take a break and just have some time for yourselves. Maybe have a girl day at the mall, or wing night with the guys. Your hunny should be understanding of this. 


10.) Similar Goals for the Future- if you want to have children and your partner absolutely won't, then that causes problems. If you want one type of wedding and your partner wants another, that's an issue. You really need to see what their goals are for the future so that you can try and tell if you'll mesh well or not.

you say goodbye, i say hello

"What are you saying goodbye to?" - ANON


I have realized that there are certain situations in my life that I need to leave behind in order to have a better and brighter future. There are things (people and situations) that are plaguing me daily with their stresses and I really just don't need to carry those stressed around with me anymore. The people and situations did hold good times at one point in my life, but i really need to realize that leaving that situation in the past and not holding onto it doesn't mean i need to forget the good times. I need to learn to cherish the good times without letting the current situation drag me down or away from what I really need to be accomplishing in order to make my life better. 


So i am saying goodbye to drama. Saying goodbye to people in my life who are holding me back from being who i want to be and from being where i want to be in my life. I'm saying goodbye to living my life for others and I'm going to start living my life for me. 

Goals

"One thing I want to accomplish TODAY is..." 


I would like to get some job prospects taken care of. Lately I've been job hunting since I recently lost my Christmas seasonal job, and times are tough now and so to remain jobless isn't helping very much. I would at least like to find a place that will call me in for an interview. That would be ideal. 


Also, I've bee having health issues lately. My back as been acting up as well as getting some sort of cold/flu on top of it. I would like to hunt down my Nyquil today and at least start addressing that so that if i do get called back for an interview i'm not notting all over the interviewer. 

Time is Ticking

"Do you ever think about growing old?" - ANON


Considering I just had a birthday recently I do think about growing old quite often. Also recently, I've attended a rally in Harrisburg about home health care which makes me realize that perhaps one day I might need this as well, so it's been on my mind a lot recently. 


When i think about growing old, I think about what my life will be like then. Will I be an invalid unable to do anything? Or will I perhaps be one of those 85 year old women seen jogging around towns at 6am? I would love to believe I would be the latter, but considering my health problems that I'm currently facing at my age, it's not likely, since they will only get worse. it's not that I'm afraid to die, but I'm afraid to be alone and leave behind those that I love. If I get married, I would hope that I pass before my spouse does, because I would be very miserable if it were the other way around.

Also, I would hope that as I grow old, I would have a chance to share the things that I've learned and the stories throughout my life with the family that precedes me. I don't like to think that after all these years of taking care of myself, there might come a day where I won't be able to bathe myself, or dress myself or even wipe myself after using the bathroom. I feel that in growing old and facing such things, you lose a lot of your dignity.

One's Path in Life

"If money didn't matter, what job or career would you go for?" - ANON


I would want to be a psychiatrist. I've always been that person that people come to for advice and to get things off their chest. I've been told that I'm full of good ideas and coping mechanism and that I am a very good listener. I get joy from being able to help people through their problems because in my life, when i was going through a hard time, I really never had anyone that I could truly lean on and run to confide in. 


I've been involved in the mental health system since i was thirteen years old and I know my way around it pretty well. I've studied things pretty in depth and have a basic knowledge for most things. I would greatly love to pursue a career in which every day I make my own little steps to make the world a d better place and to help those that are suffering not from the world around them, but from their own inner demons. 


I would specifically like to work with adolescents and young adults because I feel I could greatly connect with them and be able to help them not only through medicinal knowledge but through my own empathic ways and my own life experiences. I know how hard it is to be a teenager and sent to some shrink that knows nothing about struggle except what they've read in text books, and then have them tell you what you should be doing to make your life better. It's a very hard feeling and I would like to make a positive personal impact on at least one persons life through this field. 

Stop and Smell the Roses

"What five things in life give you joy?" - ANON


1.) The feeling of falling in love. I absolutely adore that feeling of being someone's world and getting to know each other day by day. The anticipation behind the first time you kiss, or hold hands, or go to bed together. The happiness you feel when they get one of your nerdy obscure jokes. When you find out their favorite band is your favorite band. the feeling you get when you realize you've found something truly good and you're now off the market and happy about it. 


2.) Nature as a whole. Watching the seasons change, or a storm roll in on a warm summers night. Being lucky enough to catch an eclipse, whether Lunar or Solar. Watching how vibrant everything gets in the summer. Seeing those first sprouts of green shoot through the cold winter soil. Feeling a warm breeze on a winter's day to signify the coming of Springtime and nice weather. 


3.) Being able to have a truly deep intellectual debate/conversation with someone to the point where your opinions and beliefs can be completely polar opposites and yet you respect each other completely and can enjoy each others company for hours on end just by simply chatting. 


4.) Being able to make a child laugh. I know that sounds really corny but it's true. If a kid falls and scrapes his/her knee and they're crying, there's nothing better than the feeling you get when you dry their tears and see them smile and completely forget about their pain for that split second. Making a child smile/laugh is a great feeling because it usually doesn't take very much to do so because they enjoy the little things in life, and to see such simplistic joy is amazing.


5.) When I meet others that are just as loving, caring and accepting as myself. those who don't judge a person at all and don't look down their noses at people simply because of their sexual preference, skin color, religious beliefs, or perhaps even lifestyle choices. To meet people that are that accepting of the diversity in the world is truly amazing. 

My three closest friends..

My three closest friends..


It's hard for me to really get a grip on this, so I'm going to break it down into some categories.


By Distance
These are the friends that live the closest to me as far as actual distance:
1.) Nate
2.) Dina
3.) Mike


Known the Longest
These are the people that have seen me through the good and the bad in my life and have stuck by me always.
1.) Ashley
2.) McKenna
3.) Miles


Intellectually
This category is for those friends that I can have serious deep discussions with that truly stimulate my mind.
1.) Jedah
2.) Purple
3.) Damen

Everyone Dreams

"What are your goals for the coming year?" - ANON


My goals for the coming year are pretty big. Nothing super spectacular like become a rock star or win the lottery, but honestly, if those did happen it would make my life a lot easier. 


My first goal is to become more in tune with my spiritual side. I've always been a  practicing Pagan, but over the past year or so I've really let my studies and practices slide by the wayside and honestly, I can say that I've felt this impact on my life. I'm not nearly as positive as I once was, and things seem to weigh on me more heavily nowadays than they have in the past. So I figured by immersing myself back into my practices and studies I can make myself a happier person, and then I will also be that much closing to achieving another one of my goals, to be happy with myself.

Another goal that I have is to become as financially stable as possible. Ever since I moved out from my parents house, things have not been the easiest. over the 5 years I've been on my own I've had to rely on a lot of different friends and people to get myself by, but somehow I always make ends meet. granted, there is a lot of stress in living a life such as this, but I've never had to give up and go back to the drawing board (AKA my parents house). So I am very proud of myself for that. I recently got and own my first car, so that is certainly a step in the right direction. I want to find and hold down a decent job, and bank some money away for a rainy day.

Home is where the heart is

10 places I have lived, in order


1.) Philadelphia, PA
2.) Collingswood, NJ
3.) Albrightsville, PA
4.) Jim Thorpe, PA
5.) Palmerton, PA
6.) Mt. Poconoe, PA
7.) Walnutport, PA
8.) Slatington, PA
9.) Allentown, PA
10.) Emmaus, PA

The Good Old Days

"Between the ages of 5 and 10, what was your favorite activity?" - ANON


I would have to say one of my favorite activities was playing on the playground. There was just always so much to do there! monkey bars, jungle gyms, see saws, swings, slides, merry go rounds, and most importantly, friends.  It was always an adventure to go to the playground. you never know what lost treasure you would find dropped on the ground by someone else. You never knew which one of your friends was going to be there, or which new friends you might make that day. It was also really nice to get outside and out of the house for a while.


Another activity i enjoyed greatly was crafts. Whether it was painting, drawing, pipe cleaners, or making clothing for my dolls and stuffed animals, i greatly enjoyed creating things. Especially when I would get so much praise from my parents and those around me for my creative and artistic abilities. I just enjoyed taking some random scraps of things and throwing them together to create something useful.


I also greatly enjoyed watching Sailor Moon. I was absolutely obsessed with this show growing up, and to this day it still holds a special place in my heart. I enjoyed the music, the humor, the animation, etc. You named it, I knew everything about this show. I would print out pictures of our old dial up internet and plaster them all over my walls as a kid! 

A list!

10 things I believe


1.) I believe that everything holds a lesson in life.
2.) I believe God is like a diamond: one complete entity both male/female. Each facet is another representation such as Isis, Jesus, Alah, Vishnu, Shiva, Osiris, Rhiannon, Ceridwen, etc.
3.) Religion is not a one size fits all type of thing.
4.) Ghosts and the super natural.
5.) That no one is perfect.
6.) Trust and Love are equally important. Without one the other cannot be.
7.) fighting for a better tomorrow
8.) Not everyone should be allowed to have children
9.) Everyone should have one thing they're passionate about.
10.) You should never make a hobby/passion feel like a chore

A Recipe!

So, I have been asked to post a recipe that I came up with. I like to call it Vegetarian Shepard's Pie

VEGETARIAN SHEPARD'S PIE
1 big can Asparugus
1 small can of corn
1 can of green beans (the cut doesn't matter)
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 box instant mashed potatoes
cheese of your choice
butter
milk
salt/pepper/ or any other seasonings of choice

(fresh ingredients can be used instead, I just happened to have the canned versions)

*Drain and mix together the vegetables so that it's mixed through pretty well (Cut the asparagus if needed). Add this to a baking pan to be placed in the oven. Take the soup, butter and milk and heat it up in the microwave or on the stove top until it's creamy. Once it is, add it to the mixture of veggies. Sprinkle the cheese of your choice on top of this and then add your seasonings. Next take the instant mashed potatoes (or left over homemade ones work well) and mix them up till they're pretty thick. Add these to the top of the mixture as a coating to seal it. Sprinkle on cheese and add more salt/pepper if needed and bake in an oven 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until nice and golden on top and then enjoy!

Ever Mind the Rule of Three

"What made you decide to choose to follow a Pagan belief system?" - ANON


Well, to start, I really wasn't raised in a religious home. Most people I know who have a defined set of beliefs were raised by parents that followed the same structure. So growing up, I really didn't have that. My parents raised me with a belief in the "super natural" and would always talk about "sending positive energy" in a bad situation or getting "bad vibes" from someone and if something went wrong, or I was making a bad decision, the answer was always karma. I was also raised with a belief in reincarnation and the like, so I guess I was always open to these things.

Although my father had always attended an eastern orthodox church and my mother was raised catholic, a lot of my spiritual beliefs comes from my grandmother who practices Radha Soami Satsang Beas, which is an Eastern religion that follows Karma and reincarnation and believes in a living master. So I was always exposed to a bunch of different things. I was also told that it doesn't matter which religious label you place on yourself because at the end of the day, it's how you live your life and if you're a good person or not. My mother would always say "you can label yourself a Christian, but if you go home and beat your dog, does that still mean you're going to heaven because you've accepted Jesus into your heart? A Wiccan can live a perfectly content life, and be a much better person, even if they haven't accepted Jesus as their savior." She really ingrained in me that it's not about what you follow, it's about how well you follow it.

I guess what got me into it was just a fascination with the occult and a constant bonding feeling with nature. I was completely at home, by myself, in the woods and felt no fear, but comfort. I've always had a belief in the world beyond and have had my connections and experiences with it. I chose Paganism because it's not as structured as other "mainstream" religions. At least in my opinion anyway. I liked Paganism because it was like a spiritual buffet: you can take what applies to your life and leave the rest. Doesn't mean the rest isn't good, just means it doesn't suit your taste, that's all. Religion isn't a one size fits all type of deal. We are all different and different things appeal to us.

The way i look at it is God is like a diamond: one whole entity, but many different facets. Those facets represent figures in other beliefs: Gods and goddesses. Our religion of choice depends on which of those facets we are the most comfortable with and can identify with the closest. So in the end we aren't so different after all. I mean, most religions have a similar golden rule:"do unto others, as you would have others do unto you." "An ye Harm none, do what ye will." It's pretty much all the same.

Also, religion is like exercise: some people bike, jog, run, walk, cardio, dance... in the end the goal is the same: to be healthy and better ourselves. So why should we all be expected to run if that doesn't fit our style?
I chose Paganism because it's very accepting of a bunch of different things and it's a truly beautiful religion with an old and amazing history.

You drive me crazy

"10 of my absolute worst pet peeves"


1.) People who log onto a messenger and say hi to you and then log off like you never even had a conversation going. It's like "if you wanted to friggin talk to me, why would you log off?" WTF!?


2.) Willow Smith. Alright. I know that I might get some hate for this but seriously guys? Will Smiths 10 year old daughter is singing songs about gettin mo shine, and haters and swagger and shit? WHY? Her father was known and respected in the music industry for being a clean rapper not needing to sing about hoes and bitches and such, and here she is doing this crap? what 10 year old little girl has haters and gets her swag on? She must be going to some crunk ass tea parties... Also... Justin Beiber.


3.) Twilight Fangirls. OK. i don't care about twilight. I'll say that right now. If i wanted to hear about the dirty love triangles or pale, glittery vegetarians, I could go to the gay bar down the street thank you very much (and gods know the plot will be better)! I don't care about whether you prefer Team Edward  or Team Jacob. When it comes right down to it, what that question really means is "do you prefer necrophelia? or beastiality?" Think about it.


4.) People who sing the wrong lyrics in songs and SWEAR they are right. Ok. This drives me absolutely friggin nuts. It's 2011 people. There are like 8 billion different lyrics sites online. you can't take the time to at least look up the lyrics if you're SO in love with that song? I mean, seriously.


5.) Advertisements on Youtube. Enough said.


6.) People who wear band t shrits and only like a few songs from said band. Like If you are wearing a metallica shirt and the only songs you like/know are Nothing Else Matters and Enter Sandman then why the hell are you wearing that shirt? Same goes for people who get grateful dead bear stickers because they like rainbows but don't listen to the band.


7.) Itallian restaurants that don't sell cannollis for dessert. WTF guys! 


8.) People who talk louder than they really need to on a cell phone. That bothers the hell out of me.


9.) Religions and followers that all think they are the one right way so they try to make my life hell for not following said religion. 


10.) Those screw on body jewelry balls/spikes. No matter what you have pierced or what gauge it is, you will always lose those friggin things! you could prolly be wearing a size 00 gauge and drop one of those screw on things and lose it!

Words of wisdom

"You have some advice to give to someone.  Who gets it and what do you say?"


I do in fact have advice to give someone. I won't name names, but anyone who is aware of the situation, will know exactly who I am talking about.

First of all, after 3 years of being head over heels for you but being so terrified of commitment that I refused to say anything about it, I finally had you and shit wasn't nearly as good as I thought it was going to be. I was seriously expecting some sweep me off my feet fairy tale ending to this tragic love story we had going on, but boy, was i wrong. You claim that I was always the girl. The only one. Your dream girl, or whatever. Well ya know what? After 3 friggin years of chasing after me and finally catching me, you would think you'd treat me much better than you had.

And another thing. I always felt like I was making the effort here. I've inconvenienced myself multiple times to arrange plans to see you. I've outed myself money to try and help you out and just get a chance to see your face. And what have you done? Nothing. You don't ask to borrow the car. You don't ask anything, ever. Or even make the effort to talk to me, or come see me. Shows how much you really need me in your life when you can go days without speaking to me and then flip shit on me and threaten to leave me every week. Nice job there.

I am a rare catch. Yeah I have my problems and such, and you know what? You do too. You're not perfect and neither am I. You really need to get over yourself. I understand your self esteem is shit, but I've tried to help you with that. I understand you have trust issues, but over the 3 effin years you've known me, I've NEVER given you a reason not to trust me! And yet YOU ignore ME for days and then when you do decide to talk to me, it's accusing me of messing around with everyone while you were busy throwing a pity party for yourself, and crying because no one showed up.

You know what? If you aren't willing to try and save yourself and make your own life better, people aren't going to be there to be your crutch. That's not how life works. We have two legs of our own so we can stand on them. We shouldn't always have to depend and lean on others as if we are some geriatric cancer case! Seriously? That's emotionally sickening. You were draining the life around me and those around you, and yet you wonder why I'm so upset about this? Put yourself in my shoes for once!

I've done everything that I possibly could to help you out. I've loved you. I've supported you. I've done whatever I can to make you smile. But if you aren't willing to learn to fly, i can't teach you. You are in a very negative hole right now, and you need to dig yourself out of it. I've done what I can. And I can honestly say that if things continue down this path, I won't be in your life. Because while your sucking the joy from others and wondering why your life sucks so bad, I'll be making something of myself because instead of having a pity party, I'm going to plan my future and find joy in the little things in life.

What you really need to realize is life is short. Enjoy the little things in life. Love like you've never been hurt. Get over yourself and realize that life is too precious to waste on hate, regret and self loathing. If you continue on this path you will be sad, and alone for the rest of your life.

You've got a friend in Me

"I think a true friend is someone who..."


I think a true friend is someone who has your back no matter what. If someone is talking shit about you behind your back, they would be the first person standing up for you. If they have a problem with you, they will be the one to bring it up to your face and not talk about it behind your back. The won't need to be afraid of their opinions and such, and you shouldn't have to be either.

A true friend is the type of person who accepts you for you, whether you are completely different, exactly the same, or somewhere in between. They know your flaws and they know your strengths and they love you for the full complete package! They respect your decisions, even if they don't personally agree with them, but they won't hesitate to let their opinion on the matter be known.

A true friend is someone that you walk into their house, call their parents mom and dad, and are expected to serve yourself and get your own drinks from the fridge. They are the type of friend where even if you don't keep in touch as much as you sued to, you can still pick up right where you left off, with the same inside jokes and silly behavior as if it hasn't been days, months, weeks or even years since you last saw each other!

The seasons turn...

"Choose your favorite season. Name the season and explain why it is your favorite."


My favorite season would have to be fall or spring. The weather is really nice and pretty usually not too cold or too warm. I'm really not a big fan of extreme temperatures at all. But a nice warm spring day, or a nice cool autumn day is absolutely amazing. Plus, there is a certain beauty about each one.


In the fall the colors of the leaves are breath taking. You can walk down the street and it's like the trees are made from stained glass. Each leaf is different and appreciating the differences in colors has always been a thing for me. I also appreciate the harvest with the pumpkins and gourds. There is a certain smell about autumn that Ive always enjoyed as well. The nice cool, crisp smell. Smells earthy and homey to me.


I appreciate spring because everything is new. You get the watch the flowers bloom, the baby animals run around or take flight. everything is a new green that just can't be seen anywhere else. Everything is fresh and it gives you a feeling of a new start. That everything you've gone through before is over now and you have a chance to start again, anew.