January Pagan Moms' Thread - Page 22

[Aeress]

I always enjoy seeing altars.

I want the girls to begin their own...well not want but introduce the idea.

*yawns* Great day! I have a wonderful familly and it was so good for the soul to see and chat with them.

Unschoolma- yes it is great. i needed that time before the crazy/busy getting things put on the table for the meal.

[GoldBerry]

Originally Posted by UnschoolnMa

Actually, I am not a blog person either, but somehow I keep the dang thing up pretty well. Perhaps I just like to hear (err, see?) myself talk lol.

You're a great writer! I wanted to tell you that I was fascinated by your post back in December called "Convert or Die"- it really made me think (I hate video games) and more than a bit freaked out by the Left Behind video game! Oh and by the way, I saw your pic over in TAO and WOW! You're beautiful!!! :

SweetAfton~ I don't have an altar up inside right now as I am working on setting one up out in our woods. Here are some old pics:

Winter Solstice

Summer Solstice

[Jennisee]

It snowed, it snowed, it snowed!!! We've had a couple dustings, but this was the first good snow of the winter. It was also my DD's first time really enjoying the snow because she was only 1 last year and didn't like the cold. I was out in it for 2.5 hours! First, I shoveled the sidewalks and driveways, including the block-long walk to the grade school (I swear, you lose 40 pounds and gain some energy, and suddenly you think you're Snow Shovel Girl ), and then we played in the snow and made a snowman.

Originally Posted by Salvia

Here is an article that I wanted to share with you all. It is called "Using Astrology to find One's Birth Goddess".

This site will help you find the new moon before your birth.

It turns out I was born at almost the exact moment of the full moon, which is interesting to me because I love full moons. It says that makes Selene my goddess.

Originally Posted by SweetAfton

And I have a question that might be too personal. Does anyone have a picture of their alter that they can share? I've never seen one IRL.

I have only been preparing my alter (aka fireplace mantle ) for two sabbats, so it's very much a work in progress and not very Paganish yet. This is what it looked like at Yule, and this is what I have so far for Imbolc.

[Valerie.Qc]

I'm beyond exhaustion again...

DS broke his collar bone yesterday... we spent all day up to midnight on the road and in Emergencies (2) to get answers about him Then I could not sleep because a) I was listening to every little sounds in case he needed help to go to the bathroom or need something to ease the pain and b) I cosleep with DD2 who was/is very clingy due to all the emotions and running around we had and she slept very badly last night; kicking, climbing, crying, turning, etc.

At the first place the doctor was someone I don't really trust from past experience but I tought that maybe this would be better because it was a fracture easy to see on an X-ray but he just brushed off any question or concern we had without giving any explanation then the nurse put the support all wrong and could not attache it yet we were released like that : We came back home to eat something and let DS rest a little than we headed to the Children's Hospital (1h45 away) to get some answers. They didn't do more X-rays, checked his lungs and his nerves, put the support on the right side and showed me how to put it right and answered every questions we had We were exhausted but glad to finally being heard.

DH feels guilty because he was playing with him when it happened and he said he should have known better than play the way they did... I know it was an accident, DS knows it too: it could have happens at his karate class or while he climb everywhere... But DH doesn't hear us and is trapped in anger I only hope no one step on his toes at work because it will be bad :

Healing vibes would be really appreciated.

[**guest**]

Valerie- Healing vibes sent your way.

[GoldBerry]

Valerie! Hope you all get rested.

[Aeress]

Valerie-

[paganmum]

Sorry about the little one and how your Dh is feeling about the accident.

My Dh would be like that too. It might be something that he needs to work out.



We are putting an application in on a rental house so we are crossing our fingers that it will go through with out a hitch. If it does we are going to be moving in the next two to three weeks.
My Dh is a bundle of stressed nerves over it. I'm hoping that he'll calm down.

[Jennisee]

Valerie.

[CariOfOz]

Originally Posted by Valérie.Qc

I'm beyond exhaustion again...

DS broke his collar bone yesterday... we spent all day up to midnight on the road and in Emergencies (2) to get answers about him Then I could not sleep because a) I was listening to every little sounds in case he needed help to go to the bathroom or need something to ease the pain and b) I cosleep with DD2 who was/is very clingy due to all the emotions and running around we had and she slept very badly last night; kicking, climbing, crying, turning, etc.

Oh scary stuff, poor kiddo! I have somehow (with 5 boys) thus far escaped any broken bones ... talk about amazing luck lol. But then the youngest 3 are 5 & under so there's still time for them to give me heart attacks in the coming years. Hopefully dh will think back & remember the dumb stuff he did as a kid and realize that stuff happens, just part of life.. especially with boys Hope your little man isn't suffering too badly and mends quickly!

Originally Posted by paganmum

We are putting an application in on a rental house so we are crossing our fingers that it will go through with out a hitch. If it does we are going to be moving in the next two to three weeks.
My Dh is a bundle of stressed nerves over it. I'm hoping that he'll calm down.

Good luck with the house!

Not even 8am yet and the air conditioners are already running.. isn't that vile? I hate humidity.. every year about this time I start telling DH thats IT, I' m moving to Tasmania!!!! One of these years we're actually going to do it Been out to water my fledgling herbs & veg already this morning so hopefully the 34C (94ihs F) doesn't cook them!

Totally different topic.. today is what would have been my 19th wedding anniversary had I stayed with my ex. : I have moved on to much bigger & better things thank Goddess.. but every year this date weighs on me. I feel somewhat sorry for him, he wanted me to leave & I did.. then he hooked up (and married) the first person he came across and boy is she a peice of work. And he's spent the last 7 yrs miserable, where I've been blissfully married to the love of my life... because of this, I am a lucky woman despite all the things that cause me hurt even now....

pardon the ramble..

[GoldBerry]

I listened to a very interesting show on Fresh Air today about environmentally friendly burials. This seems like an important issue for us Pagans/Earth-based folks.

He talks about moments for natural cemeteries/green burials. Here is a brief list. Some people are setting up small, natural burial areas as a way to preserve land from development. Very cool!

He also talks about Eternal Reefs which is a burial in which the ashes are added to cement which is made into artificial reefs!

It's great to have interesting alternatives to the expensive and poisonous dominant paradigm.

[Jennifer3141]

Hi everyone!!

Valerie, I'm so sorry about your DS. You for sure have healing vibes coming from here.

Wait. There's a "Left Behind" video game??
My confession of the night is that every time I see the "Surrendered Wives" thread pop up in this forum, I want to vomit. I believe everyone gets to choose their own path but that path looks so yucky to me. :

Any rebound migraines, Cari? I hope today was pain free for you. I feel for you on those!!!

I got a little new today. I'm PREGNANT. DH is going to pass out when I eventually tell him. I'm thrilled but terrified.

[CariOfOz]

Originally Posted by Salvia

I listened to a very interesting show on Fresh Air today about environmentally friendly burials. This seems like an important issue for us Pagans/Earth-based folks.

He talks about moments for natural cemeteries/green burials. Here is a brief list. Some people are setting up small, natural burial areas as a way to preserve land from development. Very cool!

He also talks about Eternal Reefs which is a burial in which the ashes are added to cement which is made into artificial reefs!

Thanks for sharing Salvia... I think both of those are great ideas! I am a water baby so the reef idea really appeals to me.

Jen.. no rebounds since the one sunday afternoon thank Goddess. Back to normal (or as normal as I ever was ) now! Congrats on the pregnancy! :

[Aeress]

Jenn- Wow! Congratulations!!

I am very interested in natural burial. I will check out the links later.

[GoldBerry]

Originally Posted by Jennifer3141

Wait. There's a "Left Behind" video game??

Yep. It sounds totally and utter awful. Check out UnschoolnMama's blog if you dare.

Originally Posted by Jennifer3141

My confession of the night is that every time I see the "Surrendered Wives" thread pop up in this forum, I want to vomit. I believe everyone gets to choose their own path but that path looks so yucky to me. :

What?!? Yuck. Missed that one. Moving on so not to have a UA violation. Lalalala...

Originally Posted by Jennifer3141

I got a little new today. I'm PREGNANT. DH is going to pass out when I eventually tell him. I'm thrilled but terrified.

: :

[saphire]

Congratulations Jenn!

Awesome alters mamas! I haven't seen any irl either, so that was a treat.

According to my calculations ( which I plan to double check later) my personal Goddess is Hecate, which really doesn't surprise me at all. I have always felt a little pull in her direction, and I feel that I really understand the whole death/ rebirth thing.
That's really comforting for me right now, because dh's grandma is dying, and will likely not see another week. I am very close to her, and was grieving a lot yesterday. ( I've decided to let the grief out in little bursts in advance, so I don't have to let it all go at once. : )

[Birth Junky]

I've always planned on cremation when the time comes, and I really like the idea of Eternal Reefs. I'll have to remember to show that to DH when he gets home tonight. Thanks for the link, Salvia!

All this altar-talk has got me thinking . . . we moved into our new home in November and I have been thinking since then about putting up a seasonal altar. The only place I can think of that would be safe from baby hands is this corner unit in our hallway with several shelves. I thought I'd post a couple of pictures so that you could see what I'm talking about, and see if anyone has any suggestions.

Here is a full-length view of the shelves, and here's a close-up.

The very top shelf is about eye-level (I'm 5'8") and not very deep--enough room for a small statue, a candle, a large crystal . . . or an assortment of small things. I could also use the wall space above/around the shelves to hang flat objects--pictures, paintings, fabric, etc.

The next shelf down, which is at my chest, is 9" deep. After that there is another shelf (11" deep), and below that level are two more shelves that are within baby's reach, so they can only house baby-safe objects.

I just have to get the darned thing earthquake-strapped to the wall, so that DD can't pull it over attempting to scale it.

So now I'm trying to figure out altar items to represent the season . . . we have tons of tiny pinecones scattered around our yard, so I'm going to collect some of those. And perhaps a sprig of holly from one of our trees.

If anyone has any suggestions/ideas for how to get the most use out of the three-level altar, I'd love to hear them . . . otherwise I'll just keep you posted as the thing progresses!

[Birth Junky]

And because I was nak and it took me forever to put together that last post, and I MISSED a bunch of posts . . .


: : CONGRATULATIONS, JENNIFER!!!!! : :

[CariOfOz]

OOh Birth Junky that could be an excellent altar! (after anchoring to the wall as you said heheh, we have that problem here too!) My altar (linked somewhere in one of my posts) is the hutch in the dining room which has two shelves above it. Up TOP I have my wax melt thingy (mmm smelly stuff), A Bast figurine (She watches over our kitty) and my tarot cards (placed there after they became items of extreme interest for small people ), At the moment the SECOND shelf has assorted candles, a photo of dh's grandfather (that has lived there since samhain) and a handprint pentacle made by Lucas & me out of salt dough & painted up. I has the verse 'earth my body, water my blood, air my breath, fire my spirit' on it. Table top level has my ceramic cauldron, pentacle, small offering dish and usually a Goddess statue as well as God/dess candles but the latter two have been moved due to a naughty feline! (guess she just wanted to visit Bast up there lol)

I think the tiers lend themselves well to having altars that are child safe =) Maybe a statue or picture of your matron Goddess (if you have one that is) up top, bits & peices on the middle shelf up high like your candles and such and your 'working' surface on the widest tier? It would also be gorgeous with seasonal decorations as the wheel turns too! : (pardon the birthday stuff.. Lucas spotted them and insisted they go in lol)

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by CariOfOz

and a handprint pentacle made by Lucas & me out of salt dough & painted up. I has the verse 'earth my body, water my blood, air my breath, fire my spirit' on it.

this sounds positively gorgeous! i would love to steal the idea! can you post pics of it?? (if that's ok, that is... )

thanks!
Maiasaura