/*\ February Pagan Family Thread /*\ - Page 3

[greenwitchymama]

She's really enjoying all this attention I think. If it were me, I'd unfriend her and just keep our interactions related to temple only. I would stop responding and I wouldn't bother trying to get her to calm down or see my side. She obviously isn't interested in what you have to say--she's interested in drama and is looking for any excuse to escalate and continue fighting. Your relationship is not a close one and I don't think it's worth your energy to pursue this. (I confess I find it satisfying to cut off people like this and imagine their frustration with my non-response to their antics...)

[amlikam]

Originally Posted by greenwitchymama 

 (I confess I find it satisfying to cut off people like this and imagine their frustration with my non-response to their antics...)

   sometimes the best way to estinquish a fire is with water, not more fuel. I am coming around to this side too.

[Kaydove]

Unfriend and block. Delete your previous comments on the radio station page. Do any ritual to cut out that negative energy. Don't avoid her or the group you practice with, don't bring it up again, be pleasant but no more chatting.
That's what I would do but I feel the same way as greenwitchymama about the non response. Although I've unfriended and blocked high school friends just because they pm'ed wanting to catch up and I so don't want to spend time chatting with them.

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by amlikam Is there any other community for you to practice with?

Do you have a tarot deck you can meditate with?

No, and yes, but what would I do with tarot for meditating on this?

Originally Posted by greenwitchymama She's really enjoying all this attention I think. If it were me, I'd unfriend her and just keep our interactions related to temple only. I would stop responding and I wouldn't bother trying to get her to calm down or see my side. She obviously isn't interested in what you have to say--she's interested in drama and is looking for any excuse to escalate and continue fighting. Your relationship is not a close one and I don't think it's worth your energy to pursue this. (I confess I find it satisfying to cut off people like this and imagine their frustration with my non-response to their antics...)

Yep...I think you're right. There isn't any "all this" about the attention, though; it was all thru PM. I probably will unfriend her, but not right away as that would SO appear that I am in a snit too and taking my toys and going home...I'll give it a couple of days. See if she does first And no, it's obvious that she is not at all interested in my point of view.

Quote:

Originally Posted by amlikam    sometimes the best way to estinquish a fire is with water, not more fuel. I am coming around to this side too.

I did pray about it during my massage yesterday-- funny that the answer I got was "Be like water"

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by Kaydove 

Unfriend and block. Delete your previous comments on the radio station page. Do any ritual to cut out that negative energy. Don't avoid her or the group you practice with, don't bring it up again, be pleasant but no more chatting.
That's what I would do but I feel the same way as greenwitchymama about the non response. Although I've unfriended and blocked high school friends just because they pm'ed wanting to catch up and I so don't want to spend time chatting with them.

Didn't see your post right away!

Good idea. About deleting. And I have done ritual and meditation over it today-- thanks for that! Very helpful, as well as flower essences. I'm on it, mama

[revolting]

Kaydove: Totes didn't know your baby had a Feb. 21 b-day: a great day to be born: my eldest has that birthday as well. 

greenwitchymama: So sorry you feel lonely. I definitely have felt pretty lonely since we moved. There's no reason to feel bad about struggling even if you have a pretty easy kid. My youngest is a very easy kid and I have the experience of raising another kid, and sometimes, I still feel like I'm struggling with him. Parenthood is hard.

For the loneliness: Is there any way you can connect with other moms when your husband is out? A lot of La Leche League, Holistic Moms, and AP groups have evening meetings? Also, on nights my husband is out late, I definitely see that as a night to order pizza and watch a movie and just snuggle down with my kids and take it easy.

Philo: That sounds like so much fun.

SaguaroMoon: That sounds like a lovely Imbolc. We vermicomposted when we lived in the city, too.

Maia: I agree with everyone else. Not worth your time.

AFM: My youngest turned three. Where did time go? It seems like my oldest should be turning three! We had a lovely little moon celebration. My eldest pulled the Eight of Swords again this month. She pulled this card last month and then again a few months before that. Do you think that when someone pulls a tarot card, it's just a message for them? Or it's also a message for the reader as well? I don't formally interpret the card for my daughter, and I'm not quite sure what she thinks of the card (other than being disappointed in picking that card again for the month). But she definitely seems "stuck" with this card.

[vydalea]

revolting:  you got it and we don't really say it enough or really admit it to our core... PARENTHOOD IS HARD!!  It's a lot of really positive, amazing things but it is hard and it can feel lonely and dejecting.  I think at the end of the day it is so important to admit these things and talk about them because understanding the reality of that makes me feel so much better.  You know? Like parenting isn't a freaking pinterest board.  (not that i don't love pinterest but damn, that place can make you feel sub-par if you let it!)

I've always felt like the tarot is for the person, but I'm not even a novice in this department!!  and, you're her mama not "just" a reader, so...  Also, how is she feeling about school these days?  

amlikam: I'm on a FB purge myself for a bit for similar reasons.  People I know IRL are not the same IRL as they are on FB.  and I say (just to use another acronym) WTF?  

Maia: Obviously this person's actions and words are not really in sync.  It sounds like she has some underlying issue that has nothing to do with you or, really, this situation.  I know it's not easy but I would put it in a bubble and blow it into the wind.  I literally hold my hands up to my face, succinctly think or state the incident, close the bubble and blow it away.  Then I imagine it riding off into the sky far, far away.  Not as easy when you have to see this woman again at rituals. 

I found out for the second time this month that a program that I have helped to plan either has to be cancelled or move because of location issues.  Seriously, the past 2 Mondays I have received this information.  Is the Universe trying to tell me something?  It's really bizarre.  Two very different things (one was for my local alumni group and the other is for the community art exhibit I organize).  Neither has been devastating but has just made me have to rethink, reorganize and take charge quickly.  Think that's the lesson here?  

[Wolfcat]

Maia, I agree with the others. Dump the online contact and keep the IRL civil. I have some friends on FB who are fun IRL but jerks online. I figure I'm just not bored enough to have those interactions... most of the time


I've been reading posts for the last few months, but haven't much felt like posting. These last few months have been really emotionally hard on me.
My beloved van was in the shop for 9 weeks, with financial and transportation stress the whole time. Then my daycare provider quit and we had to find a new one. The new one is great but someone (we think it was the provider before the old one) called the new one and outed my family as pagan to her. Now, we don't hide who we are, but religion isn't something that we just go around saying ˝hi, I'm Sarah and I'm pagan!" Plus, we're in a small town so I am a bit cautious with new people. Turns out, the new daycare provider's biggest concern was that my kids mght watch something that mentions Jesus and we'd be insulted. Lol

My brother is still MIA and I'm still unsure how to feel about it. Still seeing the therapist for that one.

My kids went to gramma's for New Years and they went up north with their cousin for a few days. They came back with headlice and grammar had had antibiotic-resistant bronchitis. O.O Thank the gods it was a light infestation and a few rounds of coconut oil and combing took care of it.

In January, I was sick for three weeks, on and off. The first time, the day I called in sick, they had to call me in to work for a few hours because I run the documentation system with all our records and the FDA had shown up for a periodic audit (we make a supplement).

Now we are undergoing a complete revision of our company structure and I'm really feeling that stress.

DH is trying to catch up on 10 years of neglected dental work and physicals. So we are trying to work with what is coming out of that. Fortunately, he has decent insurance to cover it.

My writing projects are going well although I'm behind schedule on what I wanted to get done because of all the illness.

I did a Tarot reading a few weeks ago and got "abundance" for the final outcome. Also, the Tower seems to be symbolically speaking to me these days, so crossing fingers that this is just the reset button being hit.

[Kaydove]

Originally Posted by Wolfcat 

Then my daycare provider quit and we had to find a new one. The new one is great but someone (we think it was the provider before the old one) called the new one and outed my family as pagan to her. Now, we don't hide who we are, but religion isn't something that we just go around saying ˝hi, I'm Sarah and I'm pagan!" Plus, we're in a small town so I am a bit cautious with new people. Turns out, the new daycare provider's biggest concern was that my kids mght watch something that mentions Jesus and we'd be insulted. Lol.

OMG! Gossiping about you being pagan is crazy! That would stress me out very much. My family is religious and doesn't know I'm pagan and will flip once that comes out. I may put it a different way, not use the word pagan, it would go over better. I'm an atheist pagan, meaning I don't believe in a diety but an universal energy that connects us all to the Earth. A few other beliefs that are still figuring out.

Hope everything settles down for you and you get abundance!

AFM - We're staying with DHs grandma so I haven't been able to do any candle magick or rituals. DH joked its why he didn't get the job in Santa Monica. Any ideas on stealth magick?
Edited by Kaydove - 2/12/13 at 11:39pm

[Fortune Teller]

Wolfcat-  My goodness you weren't kidding when you said you were having a hard three months..!  Yikes, and *hugs*.  

What a strange situation, to be 'outed' as Pagan in such a way.  Sounds like your new daycare provider is more tolerant than the old one though.  That is one blessing at least, in all the craziness you have been going through!  

Sounds like you have some good things coming you're way.  Hold on mama!  

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by Wolfcat I figure I'm just not bored enough to have those interactions... most of the time

Turns out, the new daycare provider's biggest concern was that my kids mght watch something that mentions Jesus and we'd be insulted. Lol

My brother is still MIA and I'm still unsure how to feel about it. Still seeing the therapist for that one.

My kids went to gramma's for New Years and they went up north with their cousin for a few days. They came back with headlice and grammar had had antibiotic-resistant bronchitis. O.O Thank the gods it was a light infestation and a few rounds of coconut oil and combing took care of it.

Fortunately, he has decent insurance to cover it.

Geez, mama! You have been through the wringer! Big, big hugs. The thing about your brother really stinks. I would be so freaked.

And yeah about my online shite-- "not bored enough" really does cover it. This woman recently (a month ago?) got a  new job, and she's on FB all dang day. Nice job, huh?

Make SURE, about the lice. OMG we had them back and forth, ds and me, for two flippin' months, back in August/September. Get this: http://www.ashevillelice.com/products.html I swear to all the Gods, it is worth the money, and the Best.Thing.Ever. That lady is local to me, but she's very, very knowledgable and is so because she has two kids that one time could not get rid of the lice. Oh, and I also have a loupe from an herb class I took ages ago-- very helpful for seeing nits!

Lucky, about the insurance, so there is that
 

Originally Posted by Kaydove AFM - We're staying with DHs grandma so I haven't been able to do any candle magick or rituals. DH joked its why he didn't get the job in Santa Monica. Any ideas on stealth magick?

For me, it's all about intent and focusing, so stealth is basically it, unless I'm alone. As you know, my house is for sale, so I have a "stealth altar" in my room on my dresser-- it's a couple of fronds of pretty things from the yard in a vase (water), a rock (earth), a stick of incense (air), and a candle (fire). It just looks like pretty things, but *I* know what it's about

Originally Posted by Fortune Teller What a strange situation, to be 'outed' as Pagan in such a way.  Sounds like your new daycare provider is more tolerant than the old one though.  That is one blessing at least, in all the craziness you have been going through!  

Yep, this! Blessings. Blessings.

I sent what I thought was a really nice reply to that woman, and it backfired in a huge way. I am getting the feeling (well, no, I have the feeling) that she is just batshit crazy and I didn't know it until I was the target of it. I did some ritual and meditation around it and I am thus far able to let most of it go, but I am not having any interaction with her at all online anymore, and I will be cordial in person, but that's all. She appears to be one of those people that you don't know is crazy unless you're the target of it. Untreated bipolar, anybody? Ye Gods. Dangerous untreated bipolar batshit crazy, from what I can see. Scary.

I am going to the beautiful Episcopalian cathedral up the road, in about 15 minutes, for their Lenten service. Tell you about it later, if y'all want to hear

[revolting]

Vy: She finally likes school. She made a friend, and she has started an enrichment program. Both I think have helped. Of course, there's always downsides: we've had some recurrent discipline and teasing issues on the bus. The enrichment program is still pretty below her achievement level. Maia, you have a pretty gifted kid, right? Any tips? She's still really resistant to the process of getting ready for school (and having a bedtime early enough that will make our mornings go smoothly), but for right now, she's mostly happy with her school experience, so I'm happy with the decision to continue school for the time being.

Last minute changes on those huge projects sounds so stressful. It sounds great that you kept on top of everything and things didn't fall apart. I could definitely do better about being flexible like that.

Wolf: Hugs! What a rough, rough month. I had hoped the situation with your brother would be resolved by now. Good for you for going to therapy.

How was everyone's valentine's day? My eldest came home with the sweetest valentine's day card for me. It said, "If You Do Not Love Me, I Still Will. I Will Always Love You. But Do Not forgit To Love Me. You Are my best." She covered it in stickers, hearts, and xoxos with a big cut out of a tracing of her hand with two fingers folded down so the hand made the ASL sign for "I love you." Isn't that the sweetest thing? My partner came home and set up a lovely bath candlelit bath for us complete with a gift of a new candle holder. It was so freaking sweet. And my eldest shared her V-Day party loot with her brother. I love my family so much! Tonight, we'll drop off the kids with my parents and go see Warm Bodies. My partner loves zombies, and at first I was skeptical, but it's gotten pretty good reviews. We bought tickets at a movie theater that's also a bar before we knew I was pregnant. Oops. But it'll be fun anyway. We've only been once, and each room is decorated with a different classic movie theme, and the decorations are amazing. Plus, tickets are pretty cheap, because they make most of their money serving drinks.

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by revolting The enrichment program is still pretty below her achievement level. Maia, you have a pretty gifted kid, right? Any tips? She's still really resistant to the process of getting ready for school (and having a bedtime early enough that will make our mornings go smoothly), but for right now, she's mostly happy with her school experience, so I'm happy with the decision to continue school for the time being.

How was everyone's valentine's day?

I dunno....I dunno if I'd say "gifted"; I am just used to my boy the way he is At 11, his reading level was between 11th grade and 3rd year college. He turned 12 recently. He lags in math a little bit, but not much, and his emotional level is probably about age 7 or 8. Complex child, this one! What kind of tips are you looking for? He is VERY severely ADHD and is on 4 meds-- two for ADHD (one behind the other, because the first one, Vyvanse, is supposed to be 12 hours but his metabolism is such that it barely lasts 6), one for anger (Tenex, a very small dose) and one for mood-- suspected bipolar, but he's very young yet for dx (Trileptal). I didn't want him on ANY, but at 7ish, we decided to try, and never looked back, really. He can't get through an hour without them.
Mornings are VERY difficult, as are evenings, when the meds haven't kicked in/have worn off. I have decided, in the mornings, to get up early so I can get a shower and a few minutes of peace for myself, and then devote completely one-on-one time to my kid. No phone calls, try not to listen to the radio much. Because he will finally get out of bed, I will tell him to get dressed, and go in there 6 or 7 minutes later to find him still naked, crouched over the heat vent and playing with some toy. I have to stand there, hand him his underwear, actually TELL him to put one leg in and then the other. Then, the pants. Then shirt. Then lead him by the hand (or shoulder or whatever) into the kitchen and guide him to sit down to eat. He just.can.not. do any of this by himself w/o meds.
ON the meds? He is who I think he was meant to be. He's focused (well, mostly), stable, even-tempered, kind, smiley. OFF them? He's an utter arse. Bad tempered, unfocused, mean.
What exactly were you asking me? Did any of that help?

V-day-- my sweet little boy bought me a long stemmed red rose bud, with baby's breath and ferns

My man's dd turned 30 on V-day. For him, the 14th of February is her birthday. He isn't a gifty sort anyway, unless it's spontaneous or unless I prompt him. A lot.

My mom sent me a V-day text

[vydalea]

Originally Posted by Wolfcat 

I've been reading posts for the last few months, but haven't much felt like posting. These last few months have been really emotionally hard on me.
My beloved van was in the shop for 9 weeks, with financial and transportation stress the whole time. Then my daycare provider quit and we had to find a new one. The new one is great but someone (we think it was the provider before the old one) called the new one and outed my family as pagan to her. Now, we don't hide who we are, but religion isn't something that we just go around saying ˝hi, I'm Sarah and I'm pagan!" Plus, we're in a small town so I am a bit cautious with new people. Turns out, the new daycare provider's biggest concern was that my kids mght watch something that mentions Jesus and we'd be insulted. Lol

My brother is still MIA and I'm still unsure how to feel about it. Still seeing the therapist for that one.

My kids went to gramma's for New Years and they went up north with their cousin for a few days. They came back with headlice and grammar had had antibiotic-resistant bronchitis. O.O Thank the gods it was a light infestation and a few rounds of coconut oil and combing took care of it.

In January, I was sick for three weeks, on and off. The first time, the day I called in sick, they had to call me in to work for a few hours because I run the documentation system with all our records and the FDA had shown up for a periodic audit (we make a supplement).

Now we are undergoing a complete revision of our company structure and I'm really feeling that stress.

DH is trying to catch up on 10 years of neglected dental work and physicals. So we are trying to work with what is coming out of that. Fortunately, he has decent insurance to cover it.

My writing projects are going well although I'm behind schedule on what I wanted to get done because of all the illness.

I did a Tarot reading a few weeks ago and got "abundance" for the final outcome. Also, the Tower seems to be symbolically speaking to me these days, so crossing fingers that this is just the reset button being hit.

  WOAH, Mama.  It's a good thing you're such a strong woman.  I say this because even though it sounds like you've had one HELL of a past few months you still seem fairly optimistic.  Sending you love and support energy.  I will send up a special thoughts that wherever your brother is, he is getting the help that he needs.  

Originally Posted by Kaydove 

AFM - We're staying with DHs grandma so I haven't been able to do any candle magick or rituals. DH joked its why he didn't get the job in Santa Monica. Any ideas on stealth magick?

My stealth magick is thoughts and visualizations, usually.  Quiet moments stolen where I can get them and meditate and sending up energy.  I hope you find ways to express what you need to. 

I am going to the beautiful Episcopalian cathedral up the road, in about 15 minutes, for their Lenten service. Tell you about it later, if y'all want to hear

Yes, Maia, do tell!  How do you balance the 2 for you?  I really like the idea of Lent as a time to make a sacrifice and/or be more mindful... I grew up Methodist and it was my favorite time of year.  It felt like the most powerful time for me.  

Originally Posted by revolting 

Vy: She finally likes school. She made a friend, and she has started an enrichment program. Both I think have helped. Of course, there's always downsides: we've had some recurrent discipline and teasing issues on the bus. The enrichment program is still pretty below her achievement level. Maia, you have a pretty gifted kid, right? Any tips? She's still really resistant to the process of getting ready for school (and having a bedtime early enough that will make our mornings go smoothly), but for right now, she's mostly happy with her school experience, so I'm happy with the decision to continue school for the time being.

Last minute changes on those huge projects sounds so stressful. It sounds great that you kept on top of everything and things didn't fall apart. I could definitely do better about being flexible like that.

Wolf: Hugs! What a rough, rough month. I had hoped the situation with your brother would be resolved by now. Good for you for going to therapy.

How was everyone's valentine's day? My eldest came home with the sweetest valentine's day card for me. It said, "If You Do Not Love Me, I Still Will. I Will Always Love You. But Do Not forgit To Love Me. You Are my best." She covered it in stickers, hearts, and xoxos with a big cut out of a tracing of her hand with two fingers folded down so the hand made the ASL sign for "I love you." Isn't that the sweetest thing? My partner came home and set up a lovely bath candlelit bath for us complete with a gift of a new candle holder. It was so freaking sweet. And my eldest shared her V-Day party loot with her brother. I love my family so much! Tonight, we'll drop off the kids with my parents and go see Warm Bodies. My partner loves zombies, and at first I was skeptical, but it's gotten pretty good reviews. We bought tickets at a movie theater that's also a bar before we knew I was pregnant. Oops. But it'll be fun anyway. We've only been once, and each room is decorated with a different classic movie theme, and the decorations are amazing. Plus, tickets are pretty cheap, because they make most of their money serving drinks.

I am happy to hear that your DD is enjoying school for the most part.  The bus is the worst.  Gah.  Don't even get me started.  Maybe I'm more resilient now because of my bus experience.  haha.  

Seriously?  I cried when I read what your eldest wrote you in her Vday card.  What a sweetie pie.  DH and I don't celebrate V-day together... when we first met he spent a semester in Rome.  I went to go visit him and he took me to Paris for a Vday present (it's not as fancy as it sounds: we took the train, we were poor college students and did it up very FRUGALLY) but it was awesome and I told him then that we never had to celebrate Vday again because how could you top that.  I might regret that 15 years later... just a scoonch.  

I totally missed that you were pregnant, revolting.  I am keeping a candle lit in my heart for you, mama!!  

Originally Posted by Maiasaura 
V-day-- my sweet little boy bought me a long stemmed red rose bud, with baby's breath and ferns

My man's dd turned 30 on V-day. For him, the 14th of February is her birthday. He isn't a gifty sort anyway, unless it's spontaneous or unless I prompt him. A lot.

My mom sent me a V-day text

All these cutie presents from your kids make me excited for when Z is old enough to think about Vday differently.  I gave her a book and this plastic toy veggie cutting thing (two sides velcroed together) she loves it - hasn't stopped playing with it since.  She puts random pieces together and gives them to me throughout the day telling me they are my "happy valentines, mama"  It's pretty cute.  

I can feel spring in the air here.  I want to hug every tree I see, kiss the brown grass... Z and I were even out in the backyard cleaning up the outdoor altar area this week.   can't wait!!!!!!  

[Maiasaura]

We loved those velcro veggies!

I love the Cathedral. I grew up Episcopalian so it's not a stretch for me to go there. I love it. LOVE it. The only problem is I can't really get the One God thing, or the Jesus Is The Only Way To Salvation thing...which would really help

So, Lent...I am working on no/reduced salt, and upping exercise. Just 15 minutes a day. I can do that. I think.

Someone posted a blog called Pagan Lent. I thought it was awesome. See if you can find it!

[Kaydove]

Revolting - I missed you are pregnant too! Congrats!!

[glassesgirlnj]

Valentine's Day is one of the feast days for the "ti-miste" we work with (that's Kreyol for "little mystery" - it's not really accurate to call them "Vodou fairies", but that's a shorthand way of explaining to most people from North America.)  

So, she got a nice cup of jasmine violet syrup, and a bowl of candy, served on Royal Doulton china.  (I bought the Royal Doulton place setting on Craigslist for $10... ) 

My spouse and I had gone out two weeks earlier, because getting a sitter for Valentine's Day itself (or even the weekend afterwards) would have been insane.  So, on Feb 2, we got to play Bourgeois Bohemian DINKs for the evening , eating Indian food and hearing John Waters speak in a nearby college town.  It was a lot of fun, but of course my daughter was still awake when we got home. (She was in a good mood, but just WOULD NOT go to sleep for her grandma and her grandma's health aide.) 

I got my mom a couple of vintage pink scarves that I bought on Etsy - very "Mad Men" - and she likes them a lot!  She got me two new tunics for the office (I find that giving my mom broad categories like "tea" or "work clothes" is the best way to get a present I can actually use from her...) 

Annamaria got a new Gyo Fujikawa book (we love her illustrations) from us, and a pair of heart pajamas from her grandma.  And her favorite cashier at the grocery store gave her a free Valentine balloon. (Disney Princesses, grrr... but how can you criticize a free balloon?) 

For Lent this year, I've given up cheese - I eat entirely too much of it the rest of the year.  Also, Vodouisants don't do any "work" for themselves or others during Lent, and don't even make any offerings to their spirits during Holy Week. 

Does anyone here work with Lord Shiva? He has a couple of festivals coming up soon, right?  (DaughterofKali was the first person I thought of, but there might be others.) 

Wolfcat, and Revolting and your new babe, I will keep you in my thoughts as often as I can! 

[Wolfcat]

glassesgirlnj: I follow Kali and dh follows Ganesha. However, we cannot be Hindu as Hindus must be born into Hinduism (there is some debate about this, but we don't feel it is our place to enter that debate). As such, we don't try to follow the Hindu practices, but honor our chosen gods in our own ways.

On a positive note, dh got his results back from the Dr. He has hypothyroidism and will be starting medication for that. We're hoping this takes care of a lot of the issues he's had for most of his adult life.

Dh's parents want him to do their handfasting at Heartland this year. So, it looks like we'll be taking the kids with us. It's sooner than we had anticipated, but perhaps this is best. I'm actually a little afraid to take them; it's an overwhelming prospect for me. This is forcing me to go out on that limb and maybe it won't be that bad...

Oh! I got to interview Kerr Cuchulain, Wendy Rule, and MR Sellars (author of the Rowan Gant series) on the podcadt over the last few months. SCORE!

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by glassesgirlnj Valentine's Day is one of the feast days for the "ti-miste" we work with (that's Kreyol for "little mystery" - it's not really accurate to call them "Vodou fairies", but that's a shorthand way of explaining to most people from North America.)  

So, she got a nice cup of jasmine violet syrup, and a bowl of candy, served on Royal Doulton china.  (I bought the Royal Doulton place setting on Craigslist for $10... ) 

And her favorite cashier at the grocery store gave her a free Valentine balloon. (Disney Princesses, grrr... but how can you criticize a free balloon?) 

For Lent this year, I've given up cheese - I eat entirely too much of it the rest of the year.  Also, Vodouisants don't do any "work" for themselves or others during Lent, and don't even make any offerings to their spirits during Holy Week. 

Does anyone here work with Lord Shiva? He has a couple of festivals coming up soon, right?  (DaughterofKali was the first person I thought of, but there might be others.) 

It is so interesting hearing about your spiritual path! Thank you for sharing. What is jasmine violet syrup for? It sounds like it would be awesome as a tea. What kind of candy? Do you put your offering outdoors?

Free balloons....yes and no. As you know, I live in the south, and at the Western NC State Fair there is a booth that proselytizes to children, and they give out free balloons to the kids with "Jesus Loves Me" on them in sharpie Free balloon, indeed....that was a hard one to say "Yes" to, when ds was like 4. I did NOT want to walk around the dang fair with that!

I can ask my friend about Shiva for you. She follows Hindu gods (but is white American) and also Egyptian ones, and I think Mexican ones. What question do you want me to pass on? Just "Are there festivals coming up"?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfcat On a positive note, dh got his results back from the Dr. He has hypothyroidism and will be starting medication for that. We're hoping this takes care of a lot of the issues he's had for most of his adult life.

Dh's parents want him to do their handfasting at Heartland this year. So, it looks like we'll be taking the kids with us. It's sooner than we had anticipated, but perhaps this is best. I'm actually a little afraid to take them; it's an overwhelming prospect for me. This is forcing me to go out on that limb and maybe it won't be that bad...
 

What are the issues that happen with hypothyroidism, if I may ask? What kind of medication do they give for that? Are there any other modifications (Diet, etc) that can be done, too?

Dh's parents are Pagan? How cool is that. Am I understanding this is a camping event and you are nervous to take the kids because it's camping? I have a TON of camping-with-kid experience. I'll be happy to help and answer questions and ease your mind!

Going to see M on our handfasting anniversary, March 7th I can't believe it's been 3 years.

[amlikam]

Originally Posted by Wolfcat 

On a positive note, dh got his results back from the Dr. He has hypothyroidism and will be starting medication for that. We're hoping this takes care of a lot of the issues he's had for most of his adult life. I felt so much better once I regulated with meds, it took a few months to really notice a difference though (I was really really out of whack, the Dr said she's never seen levels like mine). I do energy work, body work, ritual, crystals, sound and diet to help support it, but from my understanding (and many healers I know) it is the one thing that is best supported with meds.

Dh's parents want him to do their handfasting at Heartland this year. So, it looks like we'll be taking the kids with us. It's sooner than we had anticipated, but perhaps this is best. I'm actually a little afraid to take them; it's an overwhelming prospect for me. This is forcing me to go out on that limb and maybe it won't be that bad... I say "build the intention of good!" Traveling with little one's can be hard, but I try my best to always create success for them (make time before an event where they can run around and burn off some energy, bring special toys, be ok with them getting dirty....) :-) good luck!!!

Oh! I got to interview Kerr Cuchulain, Wendy Rule, and MR Sellars (author of the Rowan Gant series) on the podcadt over the last few months. SCORE!  That is AWASOME! WOW!

Ahhh the Jesus loves me balloon... We've seen them out here too... I'm ok with Jesus loving me, doesn't mean I have the same relationship back...  but I do hat ethe way they try to grab all your info like phone # and such... I just want your balloon, not the phone calls.... thank you.....

Ok, I haven't been fully interactive and just stopping in. Sending blessings to all.