'A Fanciful Twist' Halloween Blog Party

I'm so glad you stopped by today! Before we start the party I'd like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Vanessa at 'A Fanciful Twist' for hosting this party! Be sure to stop by 'A Fanciful Twist' and partake of Vanessa's yummy post as well as links to all the other party participants!

I'm taking a bit of a different route this Halloween/Samhain. I've been intrigued with the colors of Black and Cream ever since I saw a layout in the fall Better Homes and Gardens magazine (I really need to purchase that copy!). It was gorgeous and it inspired me to create outside-of-the-box . . .

This time of year always makes me turn introspective and especially so since I turned 50 last year. I'm beginning to shrug off the old stereotypes of women being past their prime and over-the-hill. I certainly don't feel that way. In fact I feel better than ever and wiser too.

Season of the Crone

Crone of Winter's spellbound cold,
in Her cauldron of black are told
secrets ancient, truths and tales:
mystery Her light unveils.

She is wisdom, She is changes:
time and space She rearranges.
In Her hands, the card of Death,
for transformation is Her breath.

Crone of Winter, Grandmother wise,
look into Her gargoyle eyes.
Let Her lessons teach you well:
life is but a magick spell.

by
Gerina Dunwich

And as this time of year always does, it conjures up images of Witch's with warts on their noses, wearing pointy hats and flying on broomsticks . . . I think it's about time to leave those out-dated images behind . . .

. . . and relish a new image of the Crone . . .

"[The Crone] holds an unspeakable wisdom in the very cells of her body. The beauty and the horror of all life are held together in love. Being with her . . . we begin to see everything from two sides - the side that is totally in life, and the side that is already dwelling in disembodied soul. The Crone helps us hold the paradox."
~ Marion Woodman ~

I hope you enjoyed visiting today and have fun popping around to all the other delights waiting for you!

Mabon Blessings!

The Wheel of the Year is turning into fall and with that comes the fall harvest Sabbats. Mabon falls on September 23rd this year and I'm looking for the colors of fall and enjoying the cooler weather after a summer filled with extremely hot and humid weather.

Mabon, which falls at the Autumnal Equinox, is the second harvest celebration. As at the Spring Equinox, it is a time of balance between light and dark. In the autumn, we move from light to dark and from warmth to cold. It is a time to gather the harvest of summer, apples, grapes, corn, wheat, and vegetables such as squashes and gourds, and prepare for the long winter ahead. It is also a time for thanksgiving and enjoying the bounty set before us.

One of the best known harvest mythologies is the story of Demeter and Persephone. Demeter, was a goddess of grain and of the harvest in ancient Greece. Her daughter, Persephone, caught the eye of Hades, god of the underworld. When Hades abducted Persephone and took her back to the underworld, Demeter's grief caused the crops on earth to die and go dormant. By the time she finally recovered her daughter, Persephone had eaten six pomegranate seeds, and so was doomed to spend six months of the year in the underworld. These six months are the time when the earth dies, beginning at the time of the Autumn Equinox.

The Sumerian goddess Inanna is the incarnation of fertility and abundance. Inanna descended into the underworld where her sister, Ereshkigal, ruled. Erishkigal decreed that Inanna could only enter her world in the traditional ways, by stripping herself of her clothing and earthly posessions. By the time Inanna got there, Erishkigal had unleashed a series of plagues upon her sister, killing Inanna. While Inanna was visiting the underworld, the earth ceased to grow and produce. A vizier restored Inanna to life, and sent her back to earth. As she journeyed home, the earth was restored to its former glory.

In the British Isles, the ancient name for the goddess of this time was Modron, which means 'mother'. Sometimes she was pictured as a trio of women, each seated on a throne. Together, they were called the 'Mothers'. They were responsible for abundance and sustaining the life of the people in the Celtic myths, as was Modron's son who was stolen away into the underworld. Whenever we feed the hungry, we honor the Mothers.

This Sabbat takes its name from the god 'Mabon'. He was called 'Mabon, son of Modron', which means 'son of the mother'. Mabon is such an ancient god that most of the stories about him have been lost. All we know is that he was stolen away from his mother when he was only three nights old and imprisoned until he was rescued by King Arthur's companions. Because Mabon knows what it is like to be imprisoned, he is also the god of freedom. He frees animals from their cages and loosens the bonds of all those unjustly imprisoned. He protects all things wild and free. His totem animals are the owl, blackbird, stag, eagle and salmon. We honor Mabon when we protect animals and when we work for freedom for all people.

The Mabon altar can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. For a simple altar you can have an arrangement of some of the things harvested that will keep for a few weeks like winter squash, dried corn, wheat, pumpkins, and pomegranates. Autumn leaves, a bouquet of late-blooming flowers, a picture or figurines of animals are also appropriate for your Mabon altar.

Candles in various shades of autumn colors like yellow, red, rust, and orange are also nice additions. You may also add fresh herbs like juniper berries, sage, campunala and cloves. Crystals are also a nice addition and I've included ones like carnelian, red tiger's eye, garnet, orange calcite, and citrine. You can also include incense such as sandalwood and myrrh.

Be sure to get outside as much as possible now and enjoy the sunlight. All too soon, we will be enveloped in darkness and cold as the wheel turns into winter.

Mabon Blessings!

A Season . . .

When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But only for a season . . .

Over the course of my adult life I've been a Big Sister three times. The first time was to a young girl who I was only a Big Sister to for a few weeks. I can't really remember the reason why it was so short-lived except that her family decided to pull all the children from the program.

The second time was to a little girl who was just adorable and fun. After about six months she started to change becoming increasingly angry and aggressive. Our case worker at the time contacted me and asked if I'd noticed anything different about the girl. I said I had and explained. I was then informed that it was discovered that the father had been abusing her. Unfortunately, it was decided that the Big Sister relationship would end so that the family could sort through the ramifications of such a terrible situation. My heart broke . . . I loved that little girl and I was devastated that someone could do such an awful, unspeakable thing to her.

The third time I became a Big Sister was about two years ago. I enjoyed a year long relationship with her and after the year committment was up, I decided to end it. Although I enjoyed spending time with her, she was at an age where friends are the focus and so on our outings it seemed we always had her friends around. I knew she was doing okay and so we went our separate ways.

Each of these young girls taught me something about them,about myself and about life. That it's not always fun, not always perfect, not always as we wish it could be. That it's downright cruel sometimes. But in the inbetween places, it is fun, it is perfect, it is safe, and it's exactly as we wish it could be.

I hope they learned something from me to and that all of our lives are better for the experience of sharing and learning about each other. And, yes, I remember each of their names . . . they're imprinted on my heart . . .

A Reason . . .

There's a saying that goes "People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime".

The older I get, the more I understand this simple phrase. Let me explain . . .

A REASON . . .

A number of years ago I went on a trip with a couple of friends to Las Vegas where we were meeting up with my mom and a friend of hers. The trip started out well enough with a few blips from one of the ladies I was with. We got to Vegas and made it through the first day without any problem. Then on the second day, right from morning breakfast on throughout the day it became a disaster. Oh, did I mention it was also my birthday? Anyway, we got through breakfast and decided to go check out the strip. We shopped in a few little boothes along the way, settled at an outdoor cafe for a drink and some entertainment and then were heading back to the hotel for some rest before our big night out.

At this point one of the ladies I came with decided that she needed to do some shopping for pantyhose. So we all went along for what we thought would be a quick ten minute shopping excursion. Well, she decides to do some real shopping! After about half an hour I was loosing my patience. I mean, I didn't come to Las Vegas to shop much less follow her around shopping. So my patience expelled I as much said so and walked away. She didn't flinch an inch and continued shopping. My mom now is losing her patience and she as much said so. At this point we agreed that my mom, her friend and I would head back to the hotel and my other friend would stay with 'this lady'.

A short time later my friend came knocking on the door and started screaming at us about how upset 'the lady' was and that she was crying . . .

Now you have to understand about this 'lady'. She is a Drama Queen in the largest and fullest extent of those words. This isn't the first time she's blown a situation out of proportion, but it was the last time for me. I'd had it and unfortunately it had to happen at this particular moment.

So, I go across to our room and she's busily and happily putting away all of her new clothes. Not crying, not even a red eye. What the heck? So by this time my friend is finished yelling at my mom and comes over, closes the door and basically blocks my exit. 'The lady' has the nerve to ask ME what's wrong and not wanting to give her drama-like ways an audience, I suggest we go into the bathroom. She heads towards the bathroom, I follow her in and then all of a sudden she realizes she doesn't have an audience, PUSHES me against the wall and makes a hasty exit. By this time, someone has called security, my mom is standing outside the door and I'm inside, all sense of reality has left me and I'm beginning to hyperventilate. Finally, security demands that the door be opened, I exit and go to my mom's room whereupon the drama winds down, an oxygen tank is called for because I'm crying and hyperventilating so bad I can't breathe.

After a time, things settle down, I can breathe again, and I'm left wondering 'what the heck happened'?

After a few more sullen days it's time for me to go home. By myself. I have to endure the long plane ride home by myself knowing the other two are on the same plane. Torture . . . pure torture.

Now here's where it gets interesting and the REASON for the whole story I've just shared . . .

So I'm standing outside of the hotel with my mom waiting for the shuttle bus to come and pick me up. As we're standing there, a limosine pulls up. The driver exits the car comes towards me, looks right at me and says 'you need to come with me'. I politely thank him and tell him that I'm waiting for a shuttle bus (which I booked the night before). He smiles and goes about his business of loading a couple of other passengers. A few minutes later he's pulling away and then does a U-turn, pulls over to the side of the road, exits the car and says to me again 'you NEED to come with me'. I look over at my mom who is incredulous and we both agree that I should go with him. He comes and takes my suitcase, I hug and kiss my mom goodbye, head over to the limo and he escorts me TO THE FRONT SEAT of the car! The whole trip to the airport I felt protected and cared for. Amazing!

So there I am at the airport, the other two ladies arriving by cab at the same exact moment. And there they are, in front of me at the check-in counter. I can't breathe and it's all I can do to hold myself together to make it through the check-in, which I do, barely. After asking to have my seat changed and checking my bag, I make my way through security and wonder around aimlessly for a few minutes. Then I'm able to compose myself and head over to a book store where I pick up a book, purchase it and head over to the gate.

After making myself comfortable I open the book and begin to read. I don't remember the name of the book, but I remember it talking about TOXIC people. I'm beginning to think someone is trying to tell me something. Sitting next to me is a lady who happens to glance over and makes the comment that she's read the book and that's it's a good one. We start talking and I find out she's a MINISTER! We talk about many things and I relay my story to her. She looks on sympathetically and offers such kind words that I'm now left with a sense of relief and peace. The time comes to board the plane, we exchange goodbyes (after discovering that we are not seated anywhere near each other), she gives me her card and the next thing I know I'm seated comfortably near the front of the plane while the other two are at the back.

After landing I make my way through the seemingly endless hallways and finally I'm melting in a heap of tears into Brian's arms. He takes me to the car and goes back for my suitcase. It has never felt so good to come home . . . where it's safe, calm and free from drama.

Some days later and many discussions with my mom, I came to realize that these two people were sent to me. To protect me, to guide me, to offer me comfort. They came into my life for a short time for a REASON and I'm grateful to the universe for sending them to me.

Oh and about my friend and 'the lady'. Well, my friend and I patched things up within a few days of arriving home. 'The lady' is no longer my friend and I'm better off for it. And here's a funny thing I also realized after some time had passed . . . I'd been wanting to end that relationship for some time because it never felt quite right. There was always drama and negativity surrounding her. She was toxic. I always felt it, but never did anything about it because I tend to hang onto relationships, even if they're not good for me. Well, the universe had had enough of it and finally decided to kick me in the butt. And I'm grateful for the butt-kicking . . .