My New Aquarium

Well, I hadn't intended on getting a 20 gallon aquarium, but when Brian said it's only a few dollars more to get a 20 gallon from a 10 gallon, I thought 'why not?'. And so we came home with a 20 gallon aquarium for my Betta fish 'Reiki', three glolite tetras and two emerald green corydora (catfish).

After a few days, however, I decided to move Reiki back into his bowl because the tetras were nipping pretty fiercely at his tail. He seems happier back in his bowl and is blowing bubble nests (apparently a sign that they're happy).

So, with Reiki back in his bowl, I decided to add more fish to my aquarium. I added two more glolite tetras. After a week I added two gourami. Unfortunatley, they were fighting (they are related to Betta fish) and so I returned one of them and came home with three serpae tetra. I also added one more corydora as they like to flock together in larger groups.

So, here I am thinking everything is okay, but such is not the case! The serpae's are nipping at the gourami, so I'm going to buy three more serpae's and see if that solves the problem. Apparently, they like to be in schools so I'm hoping that with the bigger school, they'll leave the poor gourami alone. He's not in dire straights or anything, but I think he'd be happier if he was left alone.

So that's the beginning of aquarium life for me. I do enjoy sitting and watching the fish swim about. There's something peaceful and calming about the aquarium . . . and it draws me in . . . every time.

Something's Fishy

I went into the pet store yesterday to buy dog food and Bijou treats and left with a Betta fish! I've been thinking about it for awhile and thought it would be nice to have some company in my Reiki studio.

I love fish! They're so mezmerizing, calming and relaxing. I named him 'Reiki' . . . go figure! He is the prettiest blue with a hint of green. Call me crazy, but when I talk to him he comes right to the front of the bowl and looks at me. I swear he knows exactly what I'm saying . . . who better to tell your deepest, darkest secrets to?

Breakdown . . .

Bowl $20
Decorations $13
Food $6
Water Conditioner $5
Betta Fish $4

Watching 'Reiki' swim around in the bowl . . . priceless!

A Simple Morning Ritual

In our fast-paced, hectic lives sometimes it can seem like adding a mountain to a molehill in trying to work in our spiritual lives with our mundane lives. While reading a book on Feng Shui the other day I came across a very simple morning ritual that takes only about five minutes out of your morning . . . longer if you have the inclination to meditate on the points.

It's called "Invoking by Pentagram". Light your favorite incense or essential oil. Facing East towards the morning sun if you can, take a few deep breaths and start by placing your right hand fingers to your brow, just between your eyebrows. Say, "I am Spirit". Next, touch your left hip and say, "I am Earth". Touch your right shoulder and say, "I am Water". Touch your left shoulder and say, "I am Air". Touch your right hip and say, "I am Fire". And finally, touch back to your brow completing the pentagram and say, "Thus I seal my affirmation". Inhale the incense or essential oil for a few breaths and then begin your day!

The Pagan Pride Project

Do you know who The Pagan Pride Project are? Don't worry, I didn't either until I came across the website for the Pagan Pride Day here in my area (see post below).

The following is directly from their website that you can visit at The Pagan Pride Project.

Statement of Purpose:
The Pagan Pride Project is a non-profit organization. The primary purposes of this corporation shall be the advancement of religion and elimination of prejudice and discrimination based on religious beliefs.

Mission Statement:
The mission of The Pagan Pride Project is to foster pride in Pagan identity through education, activism, charity, and community.

Defining the Mission Statement:
We try to keep our purpose balanced through the inspirations of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth:

Air: Education
We're never going to be able to practice our spiritual paths openly if we don't give the public accurate information about what we do and do not do.

Fire: Activism
People aren't necessarily going to go out of their way to find out what Pagans really do. We have to have the courage to act on our convictions and do what we need to do.

Water: Charity
We know that what we do returns to us. We need to demonstrate this by offering compassion to our communities where it is needed. When we share our own abundance, we show that we trust the Gods to share abundance with us in return.

Earth: Community
We're never going to be able to practice openly if we don't know anyone else in our local Pagan communities. We need to weave networking webs in our cities, in our towns, and in our rural areas. We need these webs to support one another. That support will also show those who would restrict our practice that we are not just a few isolated wackos, but are a growing congregation of people who adhere to a faith that, while different, is as valid as their own.

Don't you just love the use of elements in their mission statement? I know I do! And it makes so much sense. If we don't have accountability for our faith, who will do it for us? Each one of us has a role to play and we must play that role with love, grace, dignity, responsibility, by being informed, and by the way we live our lives.

I'm proud to be a Pagan . . . and I'm proud to share my beliefs in whatever way I can.

Hot and Humid . . .

It was a hot, humid day today with a temperature of 97 and the humidity at 68%. Even with the wind blowing earlier this afternoon it was hot . . . all the wind did was push the hot air around.

Brian and I were sitting in the sunroom this morning (with the air conditioning going) talking about how awful it was going to be for the birds outside today. I had to go out later in the morning for a few appointments and when I got home this is what I saw out on the patio . . .

I thanked him for being so caring and he told me he also filled up the bird bath several times with cold water . . . I think I'm starting to wear off on him . . .