~*~*~*~Nestling into November : Pagan Family Thread~*~*~*~ - Page 3

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by vydalea   and I'm super delighted to hear that M is still sober.  ROCK ON, M!! 

I'm not so sure, at the moment He had 80 days yesterday. Today he couldn't remember if he took his meds in the morning. He's had super, super bad money troubles since he's been unemployed, washing socks out in the sink, even, counting change, rolling scrap tobacco in found paper...today I sent him $100 for meds and tooth stuff and tobacco and other things that food stamps won't cover. At 1:30 he was yawning on the web cam and said he needed to sleep...but since 2:30 when he called me back, his behavior has been increasingly erratic, he can't understand what I say, and he's been rather unintelligible, and then he started getting kind of snippy, and then kind of blaming when I asked what in the world is going on and was he OK ("C'mon, P____" like my name was a swear word, and in a really tired tone, like "tired of hearing it", not sleepy-tired).
We hung up, my idea, so it wouldn't devolve, and he's been unreachable for the last hour.

Sigh. F***. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think so. It's possible, because he can get really whacked with and without these meds, and not remember things, and act really strangely, but I don't think so. I've been wrong before-- one can hope.

OMG what if he went to J's house...oh, sh*t. OMG if he is drinking I hope to heck he did not drive.

[Laura87]

thanks for all the replies and book suggestions!

i just finished "The path of a Christian Witch" which was so liberating! i grew up Methodist/baptist/evangelical. Methodists are very sweet but could never agree with much of the teachings, never set well with my soul.

 as a teen i converted to Catholicism. i am deeply connected with the mysticism and the blessed mother being connected to Christ but the actual organization pissed me off royally.

 as a child before religion dictated my beliefs i spoke with trees and saw auras. i also could feel fairies and heard whispers in the wind. if i wrote all that on any other forum people would say I'm nuts! lol!

 so i never felt at peace. paganism and mystic Christianity came natural to me but i felt i had to choose, now i see i don't have to.

tell me about yule- what should i do to celebrate?

[Maiasaura]

http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/yulethelongestnight/Yule_The_Longest_Night_of_the_Year.htm

Here is the about.com thing about Yule. I actually like about.com, but I'm sure there are plenty that would take issue with it-- you know how people can be, especially online
 

Here is what we do in our family. I know I have posted it before We hang stockings and decorate the tree long before Solstice, but on Solstice eve, we read the book Sun Bread by Elisa Kleven http://www.amazon.com/Sun-Bread-Elisa-Kleven/dp/0142400734/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352984673&sr=1-1&keywords=sun+bread. And we make a Sun Bread (but we don't like the recipe on the back of the book-- it dries out and gets stale WAY too quickly, and isn't very good, IMO). Sometimes it's not an actual Sun-shaped bread because sometimes we've found ourselves at other people's houses, like my Mom's, and it's not like you can take over their kitchen to make bread

We also read Silver Berries and Christmas Magic http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Berries-Christmas-Urslan-Gaffington/dp/0964781107/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352984859&sr=1-1&keywords=silver+berries which is looooooooong, but really cool-- Santa has a wife who's magic, though they never say she's a Witch but you know she is

On Solstice morning we get up before Sunrise and quietly wait for Him to rise. When He pokes His face over the mountain, we whoop and holler and toss bread up to Him, and eat bits of bread ourselves, and pour libations of sparkling cider onto the Earth, and drink some ourselves. Then we go inside and open stockings. We don't get much in them, mostly small things or homemade things, maybe an orange and a bit of candy. Then we laze around all day I make a Feast. The tablecloth is just a yard of holiday themed fabric I got on sale after Christmas one year. Not even finished edges-- just the cloth, and I can throw it in the wash after. I use it for an altar cloth, too.

I think this year I will maybe have Solstice Stew (beef stew, but made magickally, with golden raisins and sunny-yellow/orange vegetables) and...hmm, I dunno what else yet. I am Paleo and also grain-free, so haven't made up my mind yet what to have. DS is not any of those things so he can eat whatever.

M did indeed drink last night He is finding out quickly that drinking isn't different each time-- it bites him in the ass each and every time.

[greenwitchymama]

Maiasaura--I really love your solstice traditions. I hope we can do something similar. and sorry M was drinking :( It's so hard to watch someone you care about self-destruct. 

For new pagans--I love Ellen Dugan's books, and I second (third?) the recommendation for Celebrating the Great Mother. I have also found that Dugan's books lean pretty Wiccan, if that makes a difference to anyone. I personally don't do the Wiccan thing (I'm way too eclectic and anti-authority lol), so I ended up preferring things like Craft of the Wild Witch by Poppy Palin, and Way of the Green Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock. Those two books set me firmly on my path as a wild/green witch. I'm also fairly Christo-pagan. I was raised mormon, but I find that I am also interested in the mystical parts of catholicism. My ancestors were all Roman Catholic, and of course even farther back they were pagan Celts. So I'm trying to see if I can mix the two. I know a lot of paganism survived in Catholicism for a long time--St. Brigit, anyone? I'm doing a lot of studying on that right now--I'm especially excited about my European archaeology class. I keep learning the coolest things.

Speaking of tarot, I just got a past life reading done and it was amaaaazing. I can't decide if I should blog about it because I want my blog to be read, but I'm not sure how private I should keep this... Any advice? Any other bloggers in here?

[Kaydove]

Sorry to hear that M drank last night. Big hugs to you.

I like about.com for stuff too. Its been very helpful being new to paganism.

I'm really liking reading Cottage Witchery! It was exactly what I was looking for. I have some more to read. When someone links a book from Amazon I send a sample to my Kindle so I have a few waiting to be read. I LOVE my Kindle!

I've been following along but not writing too much, DD has been sleeping less week and typing on my kindle is okay for short posts.

DH has an interview on Monday that a recruiter asked him to interview via email because someone recommended him. Happened before at his level, less about applying and more who you know. He's not excited for it - it would be a step down and for a company that's not doing too great. He's mention before about getting out of the video game industry. Its a tough world. Atleast since I worked on Xbox, I understand. Ugh. I made a prosperity charm in a jar and put it on his desk, the next day he got the email about the interview! So that was something! I just realised that I didn't light my evening candles yet tonight. Oops, I usually do that at sunset.

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[Kaydove]

Originally Posted by Maiasaura 

Here is what we do in our family. I know I have posted it before We hang stockings and decorate the tree long before Solstice, but on Solstice eve, we read the book Sun Bread by Elisa Kleven http://www.amazon.com/Sun-Bread-Elisa-Kleven/dp/0142400734/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352984673&sr=1-1&keywords=sun+bread. And we make a Sun Bread (but we don't like the recipe on the back of the book-- it dries out and gets stale WAY too quickly, and isn't very good, IMO). Sometimes it's not an actual Sun-shaped bread because sometimes we've found ourselves at other people's houses, like my Mom's, and it's not like you can take over their kitchen to make bread We also read Silver Berries and Christmas Magic http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Berries-Christmas-Urslan-Gaffington/dp/0964781107/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352984859&sr=1-1&keywords=silver+berries which is looooooooong, but really cool-- Santa has a wife who's magic, though they never say she's a Witch but you know she is   On Solstice morning we get up before Sunrise and quietly wait for Him to rise. When He pokes His face over the mountain, we whoop and holler and toss bread up to Him, and eat bits of bread ourselves, and pour libations of sparkling cider onto the Earth, and drink some ourselves. Then we go inside and open stockings. We don't get much in them, mostly small things or homemade things, maybe an orange and a bit of candy. Then we laze around all day I make a Feast. The tablecloth is just a yard of holiday themed fabric I got on sale after Christmas one year. Not even finished edges-- just the cloth, and I can throw it in the wash after. I use it for an altar cloth, too. I think this year I will maybe have Solstice Stew (beef stew, but made magickally, with golden raisins and sunny-yellow/orange vegetables) and...hmm, I dunno what else yet.

I LOVE love your Yule traditions!

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Edited by Kaydove - 11/16/12 at 10:33pm

[Kaydove]

Originally Posted by greenwitchymama 

Maiasaura--I really love your solstice traditions. I hope we can do something similar. and sorry M was drinking :( It's so hard to watch someone you care about self-destruct. 

For new pagans--I love Ellen Dugan's books, and I second (third?) the recommendation for Celebrating the Great Mother. I have also found that Dugan's books lean pretty Wiccan, if that makes a difference to anyone. I personally don't do the Wiccan thing (I'm way too eclectic and anti-authority lol), so I ended up preferring things like Craft of the Wild Witch by Poppy Palin, and Way of the Green Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock. Those two books set me firmly on my path as a wild/green witch. I'm also fairly Christo-pagan. I was raised mormon, but I find that I am also interested in the mystical parts of catholicism. My ancestors were all Roman Catholic, and of course even farther back they were pagan Celts. So I'm trying to see if I can mix the two. I know a lot of paganism survived in Catholicism for a long time--St. Brigit, anyone? I'm doing a lot of studying on that right now--I'm especially excited about my European archaeology class. I keep learning the coolest things.

Speaking of tarot, I just got a past life reading done and it was amaaaazing. I can't decide if I should blog about it because I want my blog to be read, but I'm not sure how private I should keep this... Any advice? Any other bloggers in here?

I think I'm very similar to you in thoughts on witchcraft. I'm not Wiccan since I don't believe in gods, more Sacred Earth and life force energy, so I definitely need to check those out. I'm interested in learning more about Tarot and maybe getting a deck.

I've thought about starting a blog. I have two blogs I started and haven't touched in too long. One was a doula blog but that's been put on hold and the other was a mommy blog but I couldn't get into it because the first 6 months of mommyhood were so hard, then I got medicated and I feel SO much better! I need more of a direction for a blog than just writing about my day nursing for ten hours. I think writing about discovering paganism would be easier for me. Anyways, I would Love to read your blog and experience with past lives! (Trigger Maia, drinking mentioned) My DH and I found out that we were a couple in our past lives by getting really, insanely drunk and speaking German to each other while having flashbacks.

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[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by greenwitchymama Maiasaura--I really love your solstice traditions. I hope we can do something similar. and sorry M was drinking :( It's so hard to watch someone you care about self-destruct. 

I know a lot of paganism survived in Catholicism for a long time--St. Brigit, anyone?

Our local public ritual leader-lady focuses on Brigid. She's been to Ireland and lit a candle from Brigid's flame-- have you ever heard of smooring? She smoors a candle and brings it back and passes out little candles at the Imbolc ritual, and we all get to smoor our own candles from the flame of Brigid. It's really cool.

Thank you all for your well wishes about M. He's on day 3-- again-- I'm glad he keeps getting back up on the horse. The drinking times are getting farther apart, at least. And yeah, it's hard for me-- dunno how long y'all have been around, now, but I'm an alkie myself, with 18 years of sobriety so I know what it's like, and it's REALLY hard to watch this. But I have to be forgiving of it-- I keep telling him "You're not a bad person trying to get good. You're a sick person trying to get well".

Originally Posted by Kaydove I LOVE love your Yule traditions!

Gee thanks! I don't consider them anything special They were born of necessity with a hyper little one! But thanks! We have fun. Solstice is relaxing and spiritual. Christmas is the Big Gift Extravaganza.

Originally Posted by Kaydove I think I'm very similar to you in thoughts on witchcraft. I'm not Wiccan since I don't believe in gods, more Sacred Earth and life force energy, so I definitely need to check those out. I'm interested in learning more about Tarot and maybe getting a deck.

 

(Trigger Maia, drinking mentioned) My DH and I found out that we were a couple in our past lives by getting really, insanely drunk and speaking German to each other while having flashbacks.

I consider myself Wiccan but I don't know that you have to "believe" in gods to be Wiccan. I don't believe in any otherworldly beings, really. I revere and respect the Divine in whatever form it takes, and I think my Wiccan self comes into play because I believe the Divine has more than one gender aspect (or maybe none).

No worries on the triggers. I am wide, wide open about my alcoholism and recovery

[Laura87]

I have a request- How does one will a job into being? Is there a spell/prayer I can say?

[Kaydove]

I know that cinnamon is for prosperity and allspice for money so I used Ellen Dugan's charm from Cottage Witchery: 1 cup sugar to sweeten your life, 1 teaspoon allspice, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon, combine in a jar, then focus your intentions on what you want the charm to achieve. I gave the jar to my DH. I also light two big white candles on my altar every evening and sprinkle cinnamon on one and allspice on the other and say out loud what I want the cinnamon and allspice to do. Nothing fancy. In Cottage Witchery, she does have short 4 line chant/poems to say to enchant them, but I can never remember them so I just focus my intentions on it. My DH got a interview offer the day after I gave him the charm so there's that. 

[greenwitchymama]

I am so making that charm. Right now.

[DaughterOfKali]

Sick and in scary pain. Story on my blog.  Please light a candle, etc.

[DaughterOfKali]

Ugh.  I spent yesterday in the hospital.  I had a horrible allergic reaction to an antibiotic.  It was scary!

Hope everyone else is doing well.

[Kaydove]

Oh no! That's awful! I hope you're feeling better! That's so scary!

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[Laura87]

wishes for a fast recovery!

[amlikam]

On Solstice morning we get up before Sunrise and quietly wait for Him to rise. When He pokes His face over the mountain, we whoop and holler and toss bread up to Him, and eat bits of bread ourselves, and pour libations of sparkling cider onto the Earth, and drink some ourselves. Then we go inside and open stockings. We don't get much in them, mostly small things or homemade things, maybe an orange and a bit of candy. Then we laze around all day I make a Feast. The tablecloth is just a yard of holiday themed fabric I got on sale after Christmas one year. Not even finished edges-- just the cloth, and I can throw it in the wash after. I use it for an altar cloth, too.

I think this year I will maybe have Solstice Stew (beef stew, but made magickally, with golden raisins and sunny-yellow/orange vegetables) and...hmm, I dunno what else yet. I am Paleo and also grain-free, so haven't made up my mind yet what to have. DS is not any of those things so he can eat whatever.

M did indeed drink last night He is finding out quickly that drinking isn't different each time-- it bites him in the ass each and every time.

I think I know what I am doing this year!!!

Sorry about the drinking.  I have found (and research suggests) that some back and forth moments are needed before it settles into the habit/ritual of life. It seems you have been journeying with this for awhile. Thank you for sharing it with us and letting us see you here. I wish more people spoke about this part of life.

[Maiasaura]

Why thanks! Like I said, I'm wide open about it, so any questions, go ahead and ask away. I've got 18+ years...I don't know what in the world my higher power has me dong with someone who's got 4 days but I'm sure there's some reason.

[revolting]

DoK: I hope you have a swift recovery!

Maia: Oh no about M falling off the wagon. Hugs!

Just popping in because I recently discovered this and wanted to share it with other people who would think it's just as cool as I do. Hello Kitty Tarot. http://austinpagan.com/kids/ebooks/hello_kitty_tarot.pdf Totally going to keep this as the default coloring pages I offer to my kid, and if she ever finishes the whole deck (or heck, if she just finishes all of the major arcana), I'll laminate it for her to have a deck she "made".

Oh, does anyone know of a book with stories about Cailleach (for kids)?

[vydalea]

hi mamas!   Happy day of eating til you want to puke and then going back for more.  I said a Pagan centered blessing for our grace before dinner today which was cool and not something I would normally do.  I don't really share my spirituality with my inlaws much.  They were like "it sounds very Franciscan" since it thanked the sun and wind and earth.  So I'm glad it spoke to them on some level.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Maia, are you visiting M yet?  I think I remember you saying you were planning a trip this month.  

DoK, how are you feeling?  

Revolting, I'm totally goign to check out the Hello Kitty tarot, thanks for sharing!!

 Much love to all.  

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by vydalea hi mamas!   Happy day of eating til you want to puke and then going back for more.  I said a Pagan centered blessing for our grace before dinner today which was cool and not something I would normally do.  I don't really share my spirituality with my inlaws much.  They were like "it sounds very Franciscan" since it thanked the sun and wind and earth.  So I'm glad it spoke to them on some level.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Maia, are you visiting M yet?  I think I remember you saying you were planning a trip this month.  

DoK, how are you feeling?  

Revolting, I'm totally goign to check out the Hello Kitty tarot, thanks for sharing!!

 Much love to all.  

I am visiting M! It started out a little rough. We're still having issues...but I think they are starting to resolve. I hope. Performance anxiety, and its resultant avoidance, is a beeyotch to resolve He does seem to have ebbs and flows with it. We both had a huge cry last night, and he was able to move beyond it today, so yay.

We went to one meeting together, so far. I liked it. Wanted to go to the Alkathon today, but we really got lazy and didn't leave the house.

Our Thanksgiving dinner was amazing. We had a turkey breast in the crock pot, fresh whole steamed green beans, I had mashed cauli with butter and sour cream and he had mashed potato, I had homemade stevia cran sauce and he had canned jellied cran sauce. I brought him a banana bread that I made, for dessert, and I had a slice of paleo pumpkin bread for me. Nom! We really hardly ate anything, but we got so stuffed so fast.

Cool about your blessing. I said the one my grandmother used to say: "Lord, bless this food to our use, and us to thy service. Make us ever mindful of the needs of others. Amen". M's Catholic self loved that

I think it's really cool when some part of our spirituality speaks across all boundaries. One time I had a bumper sticker that said "As above, so below" and a Christian friend asked what it meant. I thought awhile, how to relate it, and finally came up with "Oh! Um...it's like...on earth as it is in heaven". It worked

Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate it!