Sunday, November 28, 2010
Looming Aloneness
My husband starts training for his CDL tomorrow.. and after 3 weeks-ish of training and working to get the license, he will be going on a one month long trip on the road. He may be gone on each trip for 3-4 weeks at a time. Knowing that this time we have had the last few weeks could be the most we see each other for the next few months has been the hardest part. Trying to spend time together without spending too much time getting annoyed with each other is rough. Our nerves are on edge, but we all know this is the best thing for us long term. If my husband puts 12 months on the road for this large company, he will be able to get hired anywhere making great money, and securing our families future. And I do have goals for personal growth and for my son while he is gone.. but first step is getting used to being the only parent around most of the time while my husband is gone.. first we get that taken care of.. then we move onto the goals.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Early Sunday Mornings
You never thought that waking up early on a Sunday morning was ever going to be a good thing did you? Of course no one wants to be up early.. but around 7ish you hear "Mommy.. Mommy.. Cereal" and it is so darn cute you can't resist the call to get out of bed and go get them the biggest bowl of cereal you have ever made...your head is in a daze because you really could have used any more sleep that you could have gotten. But watching your little one chow down on cereal and slurp bananas and milk is just priceless.. you can't even remember making the bowl.. but you just sit in a meditative trance wishing for coffee to make itself.. while they enjoy every bite. They take their 3/4 eaten bowl to the sink and spill the milk on the floor.. and say UT OHH.. and you hand them a towel and they wipe it up with joy.. and you sit back and wonder "how did I get so lucky".
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Why I Don't like Cunningham
Due to the response of several of you guys and on several message boards, It has been asked of me to elaborate why I am not a fan of Cunningham.
My Disclaimer: I like things in its truest form.. like pizza. I am only a fan of pizza made in pizza places in NYC or mom and pop places.. I can't stand pizza hut or papa johns.. If I am going to eat tacos, I would rather have it at real Mexican restaurant instead of Taco Bell. I am this way with many things in my life, including Wicca. I am a traditionalist and I will always be that way. This is part of the reason I sought out traditional training with a lineaged coven over ten years ago. I wanted to learn what Wicca was and I felt that so many of the 101 books out there left many things unanswered.
When I was at the beginning of my spiritual path, I too read Cunningham. It was a good 15 years back, and I found his work to be decent at the time. But after reading more and learning more I found that this was not the case. Cunningham said I didn't need to go through training and that I could learn on my own.. and I did learn allot on my own. When I started getting more into the Wiccan way of life, I found over time that what Cunningham writes about is nothing like the Wicca that has been in our country for decades. Some of the only ways to fully experience the full spectrum of the Wiccan path is still to this day through training in a coven setting. Now Cunningham did start a movement in the pagan world that is a wonderful thing. He provided an easy form of practice for a solitary eclectic witch. However, the movement that he started is nothing at all like the Wicca that was brought to this country by Gerald Gardener. And at one point it has to be admitted that how this new form of witch craft and practice is presented, is no longer Wicca.
Say you are making apple sauce. You have your basic ingredients of water, sugar, apples and cinnamon. You start to make it and say to yourself that you want lots of cinnamon, so you add a little extra. You then add allot of water and it becomes soupy and has lots of chunks. You strain it.. and then you realize that you aren't left with applesauce at all. In fact you have made a wonderful glass of hot apple cider, the apple cider tastes wonderful. However, this drink is still not the same as applesauce. They may share similar origins, and ingredients, but they are not the same. This is allot like Cunninghams take on Wicca. He changes many things about traditional Wiccan practice and molds into something different. And the problem I have with it is that I don't want to buy a jar of apple sauce and get juice, and vice versa. I can go on and on about the changes he made and what is different and the whys and hows.. but really that is for each seeker to find on their own journey. Wicca in itself is a long journey that will take decades, if not the rest of your life, in study. If you really feel that reading a single book sets you out on a path and makes you an official Wiccan, than you have a longer journey than you think. And honestly, I feel sorry for those that are stuck in that mindset.
Back to the apple. It represents, in this analogy, paganism. Only you can decide how you want to eat the apple. There are so many ways to cook it from pies, butters, jellys, sauce, fritters.. I can go on and on. You as a pagan have to decide if you want to try just the juice and stick with that, or if you want to enjoy the many different ways you can eat an apple. Only you can make that choice. But remember, apple pie is not the same as apple chips.
Oy, I'm Hungry.
My Disclaimer: I like things in its truest form.. like pizza. I am only a fan of pizza made in pizza places in NYC or mom and pop places.. I can't stand pizza hut or papa johns.. If I am going to eat tacos, I would rather have it at real Mexican restaurant instead of Taco Bell. I am this way with many things in my life, including Wicca. I am a traditionalist and I will always be that way. This is part of the reason I sought out traditional training with a lineaged coven over ten years ago. I wanted to learn what Wicca was and I felt that so many of the 101 books out there left many things unanswered.
When I was at the beginning of my spiritual path, I too read Cunningham. It was a good 15 years back, and I found his work to be decent at the time. But after reading more and learning more I found that this was not the case. Cunningham said I didn't need to go through training and that I could learn on my own.. and I did learn allot on my own. When I started getting more into the Wiccan way of life, I found over time that what Cunningham writes about is nothing like the Wicca that has been in our country for decades. Some of the only ways to fully experience the full spectrum of the Wiccan path is still to this day through training in a coven setting. Now Cunningham did start a movement in the pagan world that is a wonderful thing. He provided an easy form of practice for a solitary eclectic witch. However, the movement that he started is nothing at all like the Wicca that was brought to this country by Gerald Gardener. And at one point it has to be admitted that how this new form of witch craft and practice is presented, is no longer Wicca.
Say you are making apple sauce. You have your basic ingredients of water, sugar, apples and cinnamon. You start to make it and say to yourself that you want lots of cinnamon, so you add a little extra. You then add allot of water and it becomes soupy and has lots of chunks. You strain it.. and then you realize that you aren't left with applesauce at all. In fact you have made a wonderful glass of hot apple cider, the apple cider tastes wonderful. However, this drink is still not the same as applesauce. They may share similar origins, and ingredients, but they are not the same. This is allot like Cunninghams take on Wicca. He changes many things about traditional Wiccan practice and molds into something different. And the problem I have with it is that I don't want to buy a jar of apple sauce and get juice, and vice versa. I can go on and on about the changes he made and what is different and the whys and hows.. but really that is for each seeker to find on their own journey. Wicca in itself is a long journey that will take decades, if not the rest of your life, in study. If you really feel that reading a single book sets you out on a path and makes you an official Wiccan, than you have a longer journey than you think. And honestly, I feel sorry for those that are stuck in that mindset.
Back to the apple. It represents, in this analogy, paganism. Only you can decide how you want to eat the apple. There are so many ways to cook it from pies, butters, jellys, sauce, fritters.. I can go on and on. You as a pagan have to decide if you want to try just the juice and stick with that, or if you want to enjoy the many different ways you can eat an apple. Only you can make that choice. But remember, apple pie is not the same as apple chips.
Oy, I'm Hungry.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
My Daily Facial
I have very sensitive oily skin.. do you know how hard that is to maintain? Most sensitive skin products do not clean the oil off my skin.. and the oily skin products make me break out because they are too strong. However, greening my daily facial care regimen was the best thing I have ever done.
-I wash every morning with Burt's Bees Soap Bark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream. Not only does it clean well and very gently on my skin, it contains herbs that make my skin tingle and it always makes me feel cleaner. When I get out of the shower, my face feels so smooth and I love it. I will be using this soap for a very long time.
-When I get out of the shower I use Burt's Bees Rose Water and Glycerin Toner. This stuff is awesome! It makes me feel even cleaner and smells like heaven. I use it through out the day as well for times when I start getting oily in my T zone.. keeps me fresh all day.
-Lotion I only use sparingly, because my skin is so oily to begin with I rarely have dry skin unless it is the dead of winter. I use Burt's Bees Radiance Day Lotion, about the size of a half a pea and it is enough to keep my skin from ever drying out. I only use it if I am going to be in the sun all day or it is a very dry day.
After I switched to this daily routine I found that my skin was way healthier. I do not get acne anymore and I have even noticed that son dark aging spots I had developing faded away. I have a healthy youthful glow and I still get carded. I also rarely wear makeup at all..only to formal occasions. I have found that with using natural products my skin doesn't need to have make up on it barely at all. I highly suggest greening out your face.
-I wash every morning with Burt's Bees Soap Bark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream. Not only does it clean well and very gently on my skin, it contains herbs that make my skin tingle and it always makes me feel cleaner. When I get out of the shower, my face feels so smooth and I love it. I will be using this soap for a very long time.
-When I get out of the shower I use Burt's Bees Rose Water and Glycerin Toner. This stuff is awesome! It makes me feel even cleaner and smells like heaven. I use it through out the day as well for times when I start getting oily in my T zone.. keeps me fresh all day.
-Lotion I only use sparingly, because my skin is so oily to begin with I rarely have dry skin unless it is the dead of winter. I use Burt's Bees Radiance Day Lotion, about the size of a half a pea and it is enough to keep my skin from ever drying out. I only use it if I am going to be in the sun all day or it is a very dry day.
After I switched to this daily routine I found that my skin was way healthier. I do not get acne anymore and I have even noticed that son dark aging spots I had developing faded away. I have a healthy youthful glow and I still get carded. I also rarely wear makeup at all..only to formal occasions. I have found that with using natural products my skin doesn't need to have make up on it barely at all. I highly suggest greening out your face.
Friday, November 12, 2010
The Bad Book List
The more pagan boards I surf, the more I notice that in general pagans these days are reading crap. Its like they get stuck on a certain type of Author and just stick with these books and never get onto books that will further their knowledge of the craft. So here is my guide to these books.. feel free to flame or comment away because I know that since so many pagans out there think these books are "gospel" that I am bound to piss off someone.
Lets Start with Cunningham..
...His books on herbalism are decent books, you can't go wrong with those in a collection. However, it seems like every pagan has read "Wicca A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner". And so many pagans take this to mean that Wicca is primarily a solitary faith and practice. Wicca was evolved by Gerald Gardner as a practice for covens and group work. I am not saying Solitary practice isn't a valid and beautiful path at all. I am saying that there is so much more out there to Wicca.. many things that are not in a book and can only be taught through experience with a group and that you shouldn't put yourself out on that because you feel that this book and the rest of cunninghams work is so awesome.. there is so much more out there.
Silver Raven Wolf
..She isn't called Silver Raven Twat for no reason. Not only is she criticized for being one of the worst pagan authors in history..but she has also been called unethical, a bigot, uneducated and an idiot. Not only did she publish a book geared for teens that makes Buffy look like an encyclopedia..but she also threatened one of my friends who wrote her about this book and told her she didn't think it was ethical to print it. An example of her work is that she actually recommends using Venus, a love goddess, in money magic...explain to me how that works.. please.
Laurie Cabot
Have you ever seen a video or picture with this woman in it??? Seriously.. if you were walking down the street and someone who wore more makeup than Elvira and Marilyn Manson came up to you and announced that they were the "official witch of Salem".. what would you say to them? Beyond the "books" cover.. this woman is extremely feminist.. she pays no attention to a god figure and her entire work is mainly about feminism. In my experience of 10 years being initiated I have found that most Wiccans are about balance.. between Male and Female. Going off what this woman says is purely one sided and you are missing an important half of the equation. Wiccan practice is about fertility.
Fiona Horne
In this day and age pagans should know better than to follow a person based on their looks.. if being a playboy model turned pagan is a way to get famous and sell books than we have huge problems here.
Most pagans became pagans in the first place because they questioned the bible..I just think that we all need to take a step back and give the same questions to pagan books too. To be continued..
Lets Start with Cunningham..
...His books on herbalism are decent books, you can't go wrong with those in a collection. However, it seems like every pagan has read "Wicca A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner". And so many pagans take this to mean that Wicca is primarily a solitary faith and practice. Wicca was evolved by Gerald Gardner as a practice for covens and group work. I am not saying Solitary practice isn't a valid and beautiful path at all. I am saying that there is so much more out there to Wicca.. many things that are not in a book and can only be taught through experience with a group and that you shouldn't put yourself out on that because you feel that this book and the rest of cunninghams work is so awesome.. there is so much more out there.
Silver Raven Wolf
..She isn't called Silver Raven Twat for no reason. Not only is she criticized for being one of the worst pagan authors in history..but she has also been called unethical, a bigot, uneducated and an idiot. Not only did she publish a book geared for teens that makes Buffy look like an encyclopedia..but she also threatened one of my friends who wrote her about this book and told her she didn't think it was ethical to print it. An example of her work is that she actually recommends using Venus, a love goddess, in money magic...explain to me how that works.. please.
Laurie Cabot
Have you ever seen a video or picture with this woman in it??? Seriously.. if you were walking down the street and someone who wore more makeup than Elvira and Marilyn Manson came up to you and announced that they were the "official witch of Salem".. what would you say to them? Beyond the "books" cover.. this woman is extremely feminist.. she pays no attention to a god figure and her entire work is mainly about feminism. In my experience of 10 years being initiated I have found that most Wiccans are about balance.. between Male and Female. Going off what this woman says is purely one sided and you are missing an important half of the equation. Wiccan practice is about fertility.
Fiona Horne
In this day and age pagans should know better than to follow a person based on their looks.. if being a playboy model turned pagan is a way to get famous and sell books than we have huge problems here.
Most pagans became pagans in the first place because they questioned the bible..I just think that we all need to take a step back and give the same questions to pagan books too. To be continued..
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Tooth Paste- where it all began.
My journey to switching over to green products started with tooth paste.. ya I know how lame does that sound? I have always had issues with tooth paste though even when I was a little girl. I think strong mint flavors taste like shit.. actually I would imagine that shit might taste better. Honestly who are they kidding with a burning sensation like that in your mouth? I tried every kind on the market in regular kinds.. but my gag reflex always gave in. Cinnamon and spear mint were my only options that didn't result in me trying not to puke every morning and evening.
Fast forward a bit to when I was pregnant. Tooth paste created my morning sickness problems... I swear by that to this day... I would start brushing and then the coughing fits came and then.. well you get my drift. I soon found myself steering towards kids tooth pastes.. the only one that worked Toms of Maine silly strawberry... it was a miracle at the time.
After pregnancy and the negative experiences with tooth paste I had.. I found myself with a different problem... that kids tooth paste just doesn't make my teeth feel clean enough. So I do like the Toms of Maine brand, it doesn't bother me taste wise, but my teeth do not feel their cleanest. I currently have a tube of Burts Bees.. now despite how thick it is.. I really feel very clean teeth. However the taste is less desirable.. I would love something a bit different, maybe since it has cranberry extract in it to help remove plaque..why not flavor it like cranberries.. just a thought!
Fast forward a bit to when I was pregnant. Tooth paste created my morning sickness problems... I swear by that to this day... I would start brushing and then the coughing fits came and then.. well you get my drift. I soon found myself steering towards kids tooth pastes.. the only one that worked Toms of Maine silly strawberry... it was a miracle at the time.
After pregnancy and the negative experiences with tooth paste I had.. I found myself with a different problem... that kids tooth paste just doesn't make my teeth feel clean enough. So I do like the Toms of Maine brand, it doesn't bother me taste wise, but my teeth do not feel their cleanest. I currently have a tube of Burts Bees.. now despite how thick it is.. I really feel very clean teeth. However the taste is less desirable.. I would love something a bit different, maybe since it has cranberry extract in it to help remove plaque..why not flavor it like cranberries.. just a thought!
The Green Makeover
I have been slowly switching to all natural and organic bath, body and other products the last few months. Part of my reasons for this is my incredibly sensitive skin and my wanting to do whats best for my health and the environment. I have been trying many different ones trying to find what is best for me. Over the next few weeks I will be reviewing the ones I have tried and offering what I have learned up to you. I will also be doing research about different products to get further understandings of the ingredients in the products we use on ourselves so that wise choices can be made. I hope you enjoy!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Magic of Curry
In our home, Curry Chicken is one of our favorite dishes, not only does it smell wonderful.. but it tastes even better. But today we will discuss its magical properties and break down the ingredients in this wonderful mix of spices.
"Most recipes and producers of curry powder usually include coriander, turmeric, cumin, fenugreek, and red pepper in their blends"
Coriander- Used in love charms and magic, what a great way to add a little love to your families diet :-)
Turmeric- research has found that the more you eat the lower your chance of cancer..I am sold! It has also been used for dyes in many Asian/Indian weddings.
Cumin- Brings peace and harmony to the home.
Fenugreek- not only good for increased breast milk supply, but aids in digestion, is considered an aphrodisiac and helps attract money.
Red Pepper- a fiery herb that is great for protection.
Ginger (which many blends have)- passion.
I don't know about you, but all of these magical uses sound like something I could definitely use more of in my home!
"Most recipes and producers of curry powder usually include coriander, turmeric, cumin, fenugreek, and red pepper in their blends"
Coriander- Used in love charms and magic, what a great way to add a little love to your families diet :-)
Turmeric- research has found that the more you eat the lower your chance of cancer..I am sold! It has also been used for dyes in many Asian/Indian weddings.
Cumin- Brings peace and harmony to the home.
Fenugreek- not only good for increased breast milk supply, but aids in digestion, is considered an aphrodisiac and helps attract money.
Red Pepper- a fiery herb that is great for protection.
Ginger (which many blends have)- passion.
I don't know about you, but all of these magical uses sound like something I could definitely use more of in my home!
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