Beautiful Night Goddess

I'd love to credit this of anyone knows who it originated with? Please comment if you do.

Visited by Frog

Today I had a special visitor, a beautiful, large frog, and with it the spirit of Frog.

This was a large frog, the size of my palm, with huge back feet beautifully webbed with frills on the edges of the webbing. He was a beautiful soft green with a lighter underbelly. My neighbour found it on her child's pram, which was so strange. Being squeamish, she asked me to remove it.

The frog very happily stepped onto my hand, then sat there quietly and let me check him over. Frog slowly climbed from my palm to the back of my hand, still in no hurry to be off! I've not seen this in a frog before. Eventually I carried it outside and it slowly climbed off my hand at the edge of a puddle. Frog sat there a couple of minutes, seemingly very content, then slowly swam / hopped away into the grass. What a lovely encounter!

Photo from:  http://i.ytimg.com/vi/fuig38ryQbg/0.jpg

For information about Frog as a totem and spirit animal, go to http://www.spiritanimal.info/frog-spirit-animal/

Ras Al Hanout

Ras Al Hanout is a Morroccan spice combination used in cookery. It's composition varies and often it is just referred to as 'Morroccan Spice'. This is the ingredients list given by Alchemists Apothecary:

Rose Petals
Allspice
Black Pepper
Coriander
Mace
Paprika
Cardamom
Cayenne
Cloves
Ginger
Nutmeg
Turmeric

You will gather, it's HOT, so use sparingly!

Contemplating Loki

For some months now I've been thinking about, and starting to work with, Loki and his Family. *Watches as some Asatruer run away*

I've also been asking myself how we know what is interaction with a God, 'angel', 'ET' or spirit, and what is coincidence, delusion or self hypnosis?

Loki's touch has been very light so far, hence me questioning myself . . .  Nevertheless, I have started gathering materials for an altar to Him and his family, and giving serious thought to whether I am doing the right thing and whether I can cope with the additional Chaos that may come into my life as a result of developing a working relationship with Him?

In my head I have been contemplating what form my altar to Loki and his family might take? I was thinking that I need a tray, to hold the various trinkets and bits that will be gifted to Him and Them. What kind of tray would be appropriate, what material it should be made of, what size it should be, were all parts of my lengthy thought processes. Then this afternoon my sister (who does not know me very well and is not aware I am a witch) walks in and presents me with a food parcel for a late Xmas present; the basket from it is exactly the size I had decided I wanted to get for the Loki altar! So, I can hear now, ringing loud an clear in my mind "Hurry Up! Stop dithering! Give me my bling!"

Not only is the basket the perfect size, but some of the packaging off the other gift my sister brought me is perfect for lining the basket so that things don't fall out through the woven wicker of the basket and it fits in it perfectly! LOLs!



I want to recommend the book 'Feeding the Flame:A Devotional to Loki and His Family', by Galina Krasskova.

I also recommend this website:  Northern Paganism

A Difficult Week

This week I attended Seraphina Suite, went to my Mindfulness and Meditation class and practised some meditations.

I was quite disturbed by the work at the Meditation and Mindfulness class this week. We were looking at 'Developing an Attitude of Gratitude', and were asked to list the things we wished for and the things we were grateful for. Both lists upset me because they reminded me of how my world and life have changed. The tutor coped with my upset well, but it has still left me wounded.

For instance, I am grateful for hot water. I have lived without it, so it means a lot to me to be able to shower or bathe or have a hot drink when I want one. Remembering not having hot water upset me.

A thing I wish for is carpeting for my home. I was upset by this because it underlines for me, every time I walk on my bare-wood floors, that I am living in poverty. Not utter poverty, because I am grateful that I have a roof over my head, but it underlines how far my life has diminished.  I feel diminished. Life has kicked the shit out of me and left me for dead. It's no wonder to me that sometimes I figure I might as well actually be dead.

When I went to Seraphina Suite I got into a conversation about how I feel 'Physician Heal Thyself' applies, and how I feel I can't offer healing to others until I am well myself, that it feel hypocritical to consider doing so. My very wonderful friends observed that a) I might not be as I want to be, b) if I wait to be well I could be waiting forever, but that c) I have a wealth of experience and huge amounts of empathy which are enormously valuable in working with others. . . I do. I just wish I could do the counselling course I want to do, because I know I have such a lot to offer, and that doing the course would help me heal further too, because of the self reflection involved. I am very frustrated not to be able to afford to do the Counselling course.

As to practising my meditation skills, I am struggling with completing the Body Scan meditations. I don't know how to project my breath into my extremities. With the Counting meditation, it takes me several attempts to reach a count of ten. We also learnt the three-minute Breath Space meditation this week.

The tutor's feedback included reminding me that there are no goals to what we are doing, and praising me for having made the effort to meditate as often as I have been doing.

I realise I am my own worst enemy when it comes to demanding perfection and solid achievement.


Questions for the Breathing Space meditation (step 1):

1. What bodily sensations am I aware of at the moment? Just accept them.

2. What emotions am I aware of at the moment? Notice where in your body you are feeling these. (Mine were all clustered in my throat chakra today).

3. What thoughts am I aware of passing through my mind at the moment?


Step 2 is Breathing. Breathe normally and notice the qualities of your breath. Appreciate how precious your breath is.


Step 3 is Consciously Expanding your awareness into your whole body, and to accept yourself as perfect and complete just as you are right now.


This weekend is difficult.

Meditation and Mindfulness

I am endeavoring to keep a Book of Shadows this year. It's not a Resolution, but is an aim. In this spirit, I am noting here my current efforts to learn about Mindfulness and Mindful Meditation. Last week my tutor covered the basics of Meditation. Today I was taught the basic principles of Mindfulness and learnt to perform a 'Body Scan' meditation. I also bought a CD to assist me in my efforts because I continue to struggle with remembering procedures taught to me at present.

It has occurred to me that the Body Scan meditation could be used as a preliminary step before employing the Melody Crystal Healing layout for 'Soul Journeying' (p71f in Love Is In The Earth: Laying-On-Of-Stones -The Journey Continues').

I am enjoying the classes I am attending.

Ascension

I recently asked for an explanation of 'Ascension'. In answer,  was passed a copy of 'Ascension Cards: Accelerate your Journey into the Light' by Diana Cooper. The following is an extract from what I read there, and describes what it is like to express the qualities of Ascension:

"Ascension Qualities 

"Ascension means raising your vibration until your cells are filled with light. All your thoughts, words, emotions and actions are vibrations which radiate around you and attract similar energy to you.Ascensions entails watching your thoughts and words and purifying them, cleansing your emotions and acting with love and integrity for the highest good. When you radiate at your higher level you live in joy and freedom and experience oneness.

"Trust 

When you trust yourself you can trust the Universe to look after you. you attract trustworthy people into your life.

"Integrity 

When you are totally honest with yourself and speak your truth, others will trust you for you are in alignment with the divine.

"Blessing   

When someones actions damage or hurt you, make yourself peaceful and bless them. Then the Universe will bring new and better to you.

"Honouring Others   

Accept people exactly as they are without wanting to change them. This is the greatest respect you can offer another soul.

"Joy   

See the best in every situation and person, and feel your heart glow with happiness.

"Peace   

When you are grounded and feel you belong on Earthyou enjoy a sense of deep peace and satisfaction.

"Welcome   

When you open your heart to others you enfold them in warmth and love".

-- Diana Cooper 

Review of 2012

I've been up to all sorts of things in the last year. I feel it's time for a review . . .

Since March 2012 I have been a regular client at the Seraphina Suite in Ashton-under-Lyne. I've received a lot of Reiki healing from people there, especially Sue and Kathy G, for which I am very grateful.

I have learnt more about Shamanic Drumming, Shamanism and Native American healing, courtesy of Gary.

I have learnt about Hypnotherapy, courtesy of Oksana.

I have had a very comprehensive flower essences treatment from Kathy R.

I've participated a number of times in a Lemurian crystal healing group, led by Kathy R.

I've attended psychic development and meditation groups led by Kathy R and by Kathy G, respectively.

I learnt about and experienced crystal singing bowls, courtesy of Janet.

Above all, have made many new and wonderful friends and learnt to love existing friends even more,

I am thankful to the Universe, and to the Lord and Lady and the Power behind Them, for everything good that has come to me in the last year and for the lessons given and learnt in that time. I am greatly Blessed and Protected.