~*~*~December Pagan Family Thread~*~*~ - Page 2

[amlikam]

Yammas I personally like Starhawk's books. Solstice has so many traditions and if you think of all the religions which celebrate light this time of year (Christmas, Chanukah, New Years etc) many of the rituals were carried over from early peoples and can be considered "pagan" at root.

We ring bells as this is the time of year for reset and bells are a tool for resetting, it is also a ritual which is easy to do in a mixed age group. We will ask those who wish to invite something in for the new solar year and wishes for the day. Also we attempt a dark night (though this year we will have people at home with us) where we turn off all electricity (except the pellet stove) and eat dinner and do bed time with candles. We invite quite reflection for a bit and exchange small gifts.

We do a tree and also share a piece of citrus together.

[DaughterOfKali]

PLEASE join me in lighting a candle for the children (and their parents) who died in today's CT elementary school shooting.  My heart is breaking.

[amlikam]

Originally Posted by DaughterOfKali 

PLEASE join me in lighting a candle for the children (and their parents) who died in today's CT elementary school shooting.  My heart is breaking.

I feel soooo stressed out thinking about this... my heart too.... 18 children?

[Kaydove]

Thinking about the tragedy and sending love and light to the families. My heart aches for them.


Maia - your house selling would be a wonderful Yule gift!! I've heard a sponsor makes a huge difference in recovery so that's great news for M!
I'm sorry you're dealing with a difficult time for your son! Preteen is such a tough age. Hugs!
I have a lemon tree in my back yard! And making suns sounds like a great craft! A friend and I are getting together on Tuesday and I mentioned that I want to make a Yule craft so that would be perfect! I'm craft challenged but entertaining in my attempt.


For resources - I'm really enjoying Ellen Dugan's books. I love how she writes. I also heard that Scott Cunningham's books are awesome. I just got one on Wicca in the Kitchen!

Gotta go light a candle for DH because he's interviewing right now!!

[vydalea]

  my heart is so full of sadness for the families and friends left behind.  my candle is lit for all of them - sending them love on their journey through this sadness.  

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Originally Posted by amlikam 

 LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!! I have been singing that song all week. This little one growing in me we call our little SunSeed. Mainly because when She (?) was conceived and implanting I had these wild dreams of the moon planting a "sun seed" in my womb.

That's wild!  SunSeed is a sweet little name.  

Originally Posted by Aeress 

We are singing in church this Sunday, One More Circle by Peter Mayer, which will be our theme for Yule week. We are making sun dancers and maybe crowns. We are fighting colds so anything we do to get ready is a bonus!

That's a pretty awesome song, Aeress!  Thanks for sharing!  

Originally Posted by Kaydove 

I love the song Here Comes the Sun!
I went to Kitchen Witch class last night! It was awesome! I feel like I got a good base of understanding and not like I'm floundering anymore! Plus DH watched DD for 4 hours and she didn't cry once! The longest I've been away from her before was 1.5 hours! I SO needed that. They had tons of fun dancing and singing. A huge benefit of DH being laid off is that he gotten so much time with her and they've really bonded. He also gets more of a better picture of how intense she is. He lovingly called her a hellion last night. She's a handful but I wouldn't have it any other way. She's so much fun right now.
I need to find a Solistice craft. Anyone have any ideas?

HOORAY for getting some time away to just be Kaydove!!   What precious time that is.  

For Soltice Z and I make "bird feeders" out of dayold bagels I get from our local shop and we cover them with peanut butter and seeds.  I did this with her last year at 1.5 yrs and she loved it!  We also loved watching the squirrels and birds peck away at them.  

Originally Posted by Yammas 

Hello ladies hope your all well Im interested in paganism and just wanted to ask if you could recommend any good sources of information on the different paths and ways to celebrate the upcoming solstice???

WELCOME!! Circle Round and Celebrating the Great Mother are great places to start!  

Originally Posted by Maiasaura 

Yes! We do too! Oh, and also "This Little Light of Mine"

We have little construction paper suns hanging on our tree. I used a sun-shaped cookie cutter to trace around. They're yellow on one side and black on the other. I probably should glitter them, huh? Easy-peasy, though.

And, dried fruit. I keep forgetting for this year, but I usually dry orange and lemon slices in a really slow oven. They smell SO good when they're drying! Though, I have a dehydrator now. I wonder how that would work. I hate it because it's really noisy, but it's more effective than the oven for jerky.
I hang the dried orange slices on the tree. They look like stained glass if you put one in front of a tree light! So pretty.

Tomorrow, I wrap my mom's things.

I scored for ds on a loft-- $30 from a local mama! Same day (yesterday) that I got it, I dumped the twin-over-full bunk beds. Paid $30 for the loft, $50 for my handyguy to haul the loft home and he'll set it up tomorrow, sold the bunks for $150. Score! I made $70 on the whole deal. I originally paid $200 for the bunks including mattresses, so I'm still making out. Yay!
Oh, and I did finally sell my drums-- got $300 for them. I don't recall putting financial boons on my Treasure Map, but I'll take them. I'm running up the CCs as fast as I'm getting cash, though.

OH!!!! M got a sponsor yesterday! I hope this lasts. I hope he develops a relationship with this guy and actually starts working the steps. That IS on my Treasure Map. Now if the house would just sell....that would be the very best Yule gift.

Maia, how do you change the words to "This Little Light of MIne" or do you just leave out the verses?  In church school I remember singing "Won't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine" which, thinking back is pretty...INTENSE.

WOOHOO!  On the score and money made!!  and M getting a sponsor!  and DS' presents getting wrapped!  Today was wrapping extravaganza here.  Z is at my dad's house and so I could just wrap like a wildwoman and I did!!!! 

I might try drying some oranges and lemons  that sounds awesome and I know Z would love it!! 

[Maiasaura]

DS has actually got a few really good compliments on his improving behavior from the teachers, in private email to me. They said they were sorry they had only been reporting the bad things. Apparently he IS doing better, and this trimester, though it's just begun, has already shown improvement in grades. Cross fingers!

Originally Posted by vydalea Maia, how do you change the words to "This Little Light of MIne" or do you just leave out the verses?  In church school I remember singing "Won't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine" which, thinking back is pretty...INTENSE.

WOOHOO!  On the score and money made!!  and M getting a sponsor!  and DS' presents getting wrapped!  Today was wrapping extravaganza here.  Z is at my dad's house and so I could just wrap like a wildwoman and I did!!!! 

Hmmm....we go to the UU, and my son goes to the "hippie dippy school", so I have never heard those words before! The UU co-opts every hymn and song and rewrites them, and they're the only version I know Let's see, we just sang it on Sunday...there are 3 verses in the UU hymnal. "This little light of mine" is 1st, "Everywhere I go" is 2nd, "Building up a world" is 3rd.

The showing fell through, like I said...but all of a sudden I have another one tomorrow! Oh, mamas....I called my realtor immediately and said "Look, find who's showing it, and tell them I'll talk privacy fence if they are interested". Cross fingers again for us, mamas.

And yeah-- my son is being extra annoying tonight, but I will take it. I am aching, absolutely heartbroken, for the mamas and dads in CT tonight. And, for the mom and family of the shooter. Imagine your child growing up to shoot and kill 26 people and he's not even legal yet I keep hearing about this guy's "mental illnesses"...as if that's an excuse. My child has multiple invisible illnesses and I'm anything but a slack mama.

[vydalea]

Maia: I am so pleased to hear that your DS's teacher took the time to write that private email.  What a big deal.  I am glad they realized they needed to tell you about the positive and I hope they comment to your DS when he is doing something positive!  

Thanks for the lyrics to this little light.  So much more positive than the ones I learned, hahaha!  I will be thinking of you today and thinking good thoughts for your showing.  

I refuse to watch any coverage right now on the shooting.  A few years ago we had a shooting here, in my hometown.  13 people were murdered at the local American Civic Association.  Camera crews were everywhere and their opinions on our tragedy, on our town were everywhere and it just made it harder to work through all the emotions that were going on here.  I am just saying many prayers and sending all the love and healing energy I can towards CT when I think of it.  The whole sorrowful thing.  I will read all about it when things have settled down more and when there are facts being told and stories about the beautiful lives of these people who were lost are being celebrated.  

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by vydalea Maia: I am so pleased to hear that your DS's teacher took the time to write that private email.  What a big deal.  I am glad they realized they needed to tell you about the positive and I hope they comment to your DS when he is doing something positive!  

Thanks for the lyrics to this little light.  So much more positive than the ones I learned, hahaha!  I will be thinking of you today and thinking good thoughts for your showing.  

I refuse to watch any coverage right now on the shooting.  A few years ago we had a shooting here, in my hometown.  13 people were murdered at the local American Civic Association.  Camera crews were everywhere and their opinions on our tragedy, on our town were everywhere and it just made it harder to work through all the emotions that were going on here.  I am just saying many prayers and sending all the love and healing energy I can towards CT when I think of it.  The whole sorrowful thing.  I will read all about it when things have settled down more and when there are facts being told and stories about the beautiful lives of these people who were lost are being celebrated.  

I know-- that email meant so much to me. They're really on it about keeping up with me. Yay!

LOL about This Little Light-- like I said, I've never heard any other lyrics than the ones I know!

That must have been awful, in your town, the shooting and all. I'm glad I don't have news (or cable at all) here, so I'm not seeing it or hearing it unless I turn NPR on. Or find it deliberately online.

My gods, though, ALL of the children killed were either 6 or 7 years old. So young

Y'all-- M is on day 2 of no smoking! Think it'll last? Honestly I care lots more about the drinking. But whichever, I'll take it!

[Valerie.Qc]

Just passing by...

 

and 

[vydalea]

Originally Posted by Maiasaura 

I know-- that email meant so much to me. They're really on it about keeping up with me. Yay!

LOL about This Little Light-- like I said, I've never heard any other lyrics than the ones I know!

That must have been awful, in your town, the shooting and all. I'm glad I don't have news (or cable at all) here, so I'm not seeing it or hearing it unless I turn NPR on. Or find it deliberately online.

My gods, though, ALL of the children killed were either 6 or 7 years old. So young

Y'all-- M is on day 2 of no smoking! Think it'll last? Honestly I care lots more about the drinking. But whichever, I'll take it!

I'm with you, Maia.  No cable here, we have to actively look for it.  I'm glad for it.   Those poor, poor babies and the educators and staff who were protecting them.  I feel sadness right down to the depths of my soul when I think about it.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valerie.Qc 

Just passing by...

 

and 

In Yule news... we started the "Yule" section of our Holiday Activity Stockings with a reading of Sun Bread yesterday.  Z loves it, has had me read it to her bunches of times already.  It's such a good starting point for talking about the holiday.  Later today we make our little animal feeders tomorrow we will light the Yule log for the first time.  I am really looking forward to Friday.  

[crazyms]

Hi! Thought I'd join y'all if you don't mind... dh and i have just made the decision to start practicing paganism openly and celebrating the sabbats with the kids.We may do something simple like a craft just to acknowledge it but i have 'celebrating the great mother' on the way and I'm working on ideas for imbolc as our first real holiday celebration. This is our last year having my family's big Christmas celebration so it is time for our new holidays to start.

We don't have cable either so I'm luckily missing the news as well. It's so sad. I just keep looking at my 7 and 5 year olds and want to cry.

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by vydalea In Yule news... we started the "Yule" section of our Holiday Activity Stockings with a reading of Sun Bread yesterday.  Z loves it, has had me read it to her bunches of times already.  It's such a good starting point for talking about the holiday.  Later today we make our little animal feeders tomorrow we will light the Yule log for the first time.  I am really looking forward to Friday.  

Are you going to make a Sun Bread and toss it up on Solstice morning? What kind of bread? Will you follow the recipe on the book? I don't like it...I have to make it the day before, and I find it gets hard and not very edible. I might just do gingerbread cookies (sunshaped, of course!) this year. Since I don't eat bread, and ds rarely does, maybe cookies might be a better option.

Originally Posted by crazyms Hi! Thought I'd join y'all if you don't mind... dh and i have just made the decision to start practicing paganism openly and celebrating the sabbats with the kids.We may do something simple like a craft just to acknowledge it but i have 'celebrating the great mother' on the way and I'm working on ideas for imbolc as our first real holiday celebration. This is our last year having my family's big Christmas celebration so it is time for our new holidays to start.
We don't have cable either so I'm luckily missing the news as well. It's so sad. I just keep looking at my 7 and 5 year olds and want to cry.

Welcome crazyms!

We still do Christmas...it's the Big Gift Extravaganza and celebration with my family of origin. Solstice is for ds and me, and it's way less gifty. We do small stockings and that's all, on Solstice.

What craft will you do?

[Maiasaura]

Oh yeah-- M is still smoke-free and is 31 days (again) sober! He calls his sponsor whenever I suggest it, but forgets otherwise. He's really having bad psychiatric issues lately...he is SO confused with time. He has no idea what day, date, month it is. He has no idea when appointments are...he had one on Saturday at 9am, and from Tuesday on, he kept calling me in a panic "I have Steve at 9! I have to go!" Um, no, you don't, it's 4 days away. 3 days away. Today it was, you already went there 3 days ago. It's really a mess.

AND, today and yesterday, especially yesterday, he really has been having badly real hallucinations. He kept thinking his dd was there, and his dgs, and his ex. He keeps asking me when I'm coming home, or where I am, and thinks I'm up there. Poor thing is so confused If he talks to the PA who prescribes his meds, she'll just throw more meds on it. I don't think that's the answer- I think one or two of the meds are CAUSING the time thing. I don't know what to do. I can't do a whole lot from 800 miles away

Oh, the other showing-- they had interest, but they also had interest in other places, too. They didn't care about the construction view-- oh PLEASE offer me something! Things would so be easier if I wasn't chained to this dang house.

[redveg]

Hello all. It's been forever since I have been here. How is everyone doing?

[vydalea]

Originally Posted by crazyms 

Hi! Thought I'd join y'all if you don't mind... dh and i have just made the decision to start practicing paganism openly and celebrating the sabbats with the kids.We may do something simple like a craft just to acknowledge it but i have 'celebrating the great mother' on the way and I'm working on ideas for imbolc as our first real holiday celebration. This is our last year having my family's big Christmas celebration so it is time for our new holidays to start.
We don't have cable either so I'm luckily missing the news as well. It's so sad. I just keep looking at my 7 and 5 year olds and want to cry.

welcome!     We still celebrate Christmas in a perspective that it's about giving and being with family.  We celebrate Yule for a week before the solstice.  I love it!!

Originally Posted by Maiasaura 

Are you going to make a Sun Bread and toss it up on Solstice morning? What kind of bread? Will you follow the recipe on the book? I don't like it...I have to make it the day before, and I find it gets hard and not very edible. I might just do gingerbread cookies (sunshaped, of course!) this year. Since I don't eat bread, and ds rarely does, maybe cookies might be a better option.

Yes, we did the sun bread tossing last year and had a blast.  It was so joyful!  I totally just make a boring white bread in the breadmaker.  We don't eat it and it's cheap and easy!  My DH wouldn't let there be a shred of that bread left to eat.  HE LOVED TOSSING THE BREAD SO MUCH.  At every sabbat he says "is this one where we throw bread at the sun?"  like he's 3.  I love him for it.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maiasaura 

Oh yeah-- M is still smoke-free and is 31 days (again) sober! He calls his sponsor whenever I suggest it, but forgets otherwise. He's really having bad psychiatric issues lately...he is SO confused with time. He has no idea what day, date, month it is. He has no idea when appointments are...he had one on Saturday at 9am, and from Tuesday on, he kept calling me in a panic "I have Steve at 9! I have to go!" Um, no, you don't, it's 4 days away. 3 days away. Today it was, you already went there 3 days ago. It's really a mess.

AND, today and yesterday, especially yesterday, he really has been having badly real hallucinations. He kept thinking his dd was there, and his dgs, and his ex. He keeps asking me when I'm coming home, or where I am, and thinks I'm up there. Poor thing is so confused If he talks to the PA who prescribes his meds, she'll just throw more meds on it. I don't think that's the answer- I think one or two of the meds are CAUSING the time thing. I don't know what to do. I can't do a whole lot from 800 miles away

Oh, the other showing-- they had interest, but they also had interest in other places, too. They didn't care about the construction view-- oh PLEASE offer me something! Things would so be easier if I wasn't chained to this dang house.

Woah, smoke free and 31 days sober!  Great!  About 4 years ago I quit smoking, joined weight watchers and started a new job all at the same time.  I am an all or nothing kind of girl and it really helped to do it all at once.  

That is really, really scary about his meds making M not know time.  How frustrating to be so far away and unable to advocate for him in person.    Keeping my fingers crossed for this latest showing to produce an offer!!!!

Originally Posted by redveg 

Hello all. It's been forever since I have been here. How is everyone doing?

REDVEG!!!!   How are you?  The last I remember your kiddos were waiting for school acceptances and whatnot!  How are they?  How are you doing with that transition?  How were your sunflowers this past summer?  I planted some of my own and would think of you occasionally and wonder how it all was going... hopefully well.  So happy to see you!! 

Last night we lit our Yule log for the first time and did the bell ringing for wishes (thanks for that idea!!) it was great.  Z really got in to it and loved taking turns and hearing our wishes, too.  Tonight we read from the Circle Round book.  I think I was going to make props for that... I better go do it while she sleeps!!  Eeekk.... 

[amlikam]

Originally Posted by vydalea 

Last night we lit our Yule log for the first time and did the bell ringing for wishes (thanks for that idea!!) it was great.  Z really got in to it and loved taking turns and hearing our wishes, too.  Tonight we read from the Circle Round book.  I think I was going to make props for that... I better go do it while she sleeps!!  Eeekk.... 

How do you like this book? I almost bought it today (I've almost bought it a number of times......) Very curious. I ended up buying http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0078Y077W/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i01 but still have the circle round book in my wish list.

We are getting more and more excited for Solstice! We were going to start doing things in the evenings for the week but because our windows are getting replaced this week (they started today and I cannot wait to get home to see them) they house has been in disarray and I have been trying not to lose my sanity (being pregnant and all).... So I am doing what I can to be out of the house then next few days until Friday

---

We did sun cookies in my pizzelle maker (a lemon sugar cookie recipe) but we will also do clementines to remind us of the sun. And since reading this book my DD loves the ritual even more.  http://www.amazon.com/Sun-Egg-Elsa-Beskow/dp/0863155855/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355949494&sr=1-1&keywords=sun+egg  (The book has a cute idea, but I was not terribly impressed with the story line, I feel like more could have been done with it- however but I enjoy the concept of a sun egg )

[Kaydove]

So DH didn't get the job at Amazon. He's relieved that we don't have to move back up to Seattle. He talked to a video game specific recruiter on Monday and was super excited about working with him.

We're going over to a friend's house on Friday.

Having a stressful day dwelling on money. Ugh. I hate this time of year.

[Maiasaura]

amlikam, I missed that you are pregnant. Congrats! When are you due?

Originally Posted by redveg 

Hello all. It's been forever since I have been here. How is everyone doing?

REDVEG!!! Yay! Missed ya, woman. Glad you are back on here. How's your kids doing? How does your one like WPI?

Originally Posted by vydalea That is really, really scary about his meds making M not know time.  How frustrating to be so far away and unable to advocate for him in person.    Keeping my fingers crossed for this latest showing to produce an offer!!!!

It's even worse than that, now. He's having seriously psychotic episodes. REALLY, really bad ones. But somehow, I got him to go to the Dr (well, PA) and get the right forms signed so I can talk to her. I don't know how. It took like three hours. 

If he's worse tomorrow, I'm calling her back and making sure he makes it to the hospital, like he was supposed to today. Oh, mamas...I am so worried. He thinks he's fine. He sees people (real ones, I mean, ones that exist in real life, but they're not there) and has whole conversations with them, and was holing up in his kitchen today thinking the house was surrounded by cops And STILL he thinks nothing is wrong. I'm really scared. He has nobody at all, up there. I mean his dd lives half an hour away, but she's a pot head and has no car anyway. AND she has a hell of an attitude-- remember last time, in July, when M was hospitalized? She just got fed the heck up with hearing from me, like I was an annoying parasite, and just stopped answering her phone. I had a heck of a time trying to find him, all the way from NC, and I was frantic. Now I can find him if I need to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaydove So DH didn't get the job at Amazon. He's relieved that we don't have to move back up to Seattle. He talked to a video game specific recruiter on Monday and was super excited about working with him.

We're going over to a friend's house on Friday.

Having a stressful day dwelling on money. Ugh. I hate this time of year.

I'm not even thinking about money, just buying stuff and whipping out the card. I know I am going to regret this. BUT, I did sell my drums, and I do have almost $400 in cash holed up, and I am going to put it straight toward the card when we get back after Christmas.

[Maiasaura]

UPDATE:
He went to sleep. Soon as we hung up, DrX called me back! She took him off the one med that we all think is causing the problem. Now it's a wait-and-see thing, to see if he calms down. She's going out of town till January-something, but there's someone on call if something goes horribly awry.
I told her he's afraid he will lose everything and be homeless. She said "Yep, that happens". Um, where's your empathy? I appreciate that you took the time to call my home number, but um...you don't care that he might end up on the street? Really? What's that about?

[Valerie.Qc]

Well... I had a very hard time feeling the Holiday spirit this year... and now, I don't know why I even tried...

I was supposed to spend the day in the city today, with my best friend, shopping for DH's gift, our new pj's (a tradition in our family on Christmas Eve) and Stoking stuffers...

Thanks to my youngest acting up yesterday, I cancelled...

We are under a storm watch (maybe over 3 feets of snow by tomorrow night and more on Saturday) so shopping won't happen... I don't even know when will be able to do grocery shopping...

This mean DH have to go get his own gift and the stocking will remain empty... and no special meal for Yule nor Christmas...

Can someone wake me up in Spring? I'm done.