Plentiful Earth's #30DaysMagicalRoots Challenge Day 5: Energy Work

I learned Reiki several years ago with the intent of using it with animals. While I do still use it with animals, I've never really spent much time applying it to people other than myself.

I think that energy gets stick very easily when we do the same things every day. I slouch in front of the computer far too much, and have developed truly terrible posture. I'm quite certain that my energy is permanently screwed up by that. :-)

There are some great energy un-stickers, like massage, that I'd love to indulge in more often. I do make time for a hot bath every evening. A handful of Epsom salts is particularly soothing to me.

What do you do to get unstuck?

Plentiful Earth's #30DaysMagicalRoots Challenge Day 4: Intentions

It's time to set an intention for this month. I mulled this over for quite awhile before deciding that I need to develop a better schedule for myself. I fall into periods of frenetic action and total lassitude, feeling guilt over not getting All The Things Done.

For this month, I'm going to more carefully structure time for work and play. I don't want summer to slip away without enjoying it, but I need to prioritize which things are important. I think this will lend itself to deciding which activities support my dearest goals, and jettisoning the rest.

One of the things that I need to kick out are time-wasters. I can spend way too much time in front of the computer, feeling busy but not getting much done. Time to turn off the internet and get into a deep work/play groove!

Plentiful Earth's #30DaysMagicalRoots Challenge Day 3: Centering and Breath Work

Today’s challenge is all about breathing. Like many of us, I find that I tend to just breathe shallowly I’m not thinking about it…which is a lot. Carving out some time to do nothing but breathe seems like a luxury, but I think it’s important to manage my stress.

I sat outside on the patio today for my breathing session and just listened to my breath and the birds. I realized how much I don’t pay attention to this, and how much I should. I have a hard time staying in the present moment, and always want to rush ahead on plans for the future. Otherwise, I'm reflecting on things in the past that I can't change. 

Once upon a time, I took a mediation class that involved an hour of meditation. I stuck with it for several weeks, but I found that my mind wandered. A lot.

Do you have any tips and tricks for staying centered in the present moment? 

Plentiful Earth's 30 Days Magical Roots Challenge Day 2: Grounding

It's day two of Plentiful Earth’s #30DaysMagicalRoots challenge! The topic for the day is grounding, and I thought I'd share a bit about grounding. I talked about dirt time in a previous post, and I think it's still the best way. But sometimes, I'm just too busy to go out and sit on the ground for the time I need.

When that happens, I try to carry with me a good grounding stone. My favorite is obsidian. It has a sharp but still energy to it. It feels alert, connected, but not sleepy. I have several pieces that I adore...silver sheen, rainbow, golden sheen. But the most special ones are the ones I find outside myself.

I carry a piece with me in my pocket when I feel disconnected. I also picked up an obsidian bead bracelet, which also works for me. You can also slip a piece underneath a pillow or drop one in your bathtub while bathing. 

What's your favorite technique for grounding? 

Plentiful Earth's 30 Days Magical Roots Challenge Day 1: Divination

I’m doing Plentiful Earth’s #30DaysMagicalRoots challenge this month. For details on the challenge to step up your magical game in the month of August, check here. I haven’t been as present in my magical practices lately, and I’m looking forward to diving deeper with a daily practice.

Day 1: Divination

Today’s challenge is divination. I love Tarot and all kinds of divination decks. This is one I’ve acquired this year that I absolutely love…Lucy Cavendish’s Oracle of the Mermaids. I’ve been obsessed with mermaids for the past year, and this is a really lovely, beautiful oracle.

I drew a card to signify where to focus for the month of August. I picked “Sisterhood – Friendship, allies, compatible souls, loyalty, joy, delight.” 

It sounds like August will be a great month to connect with other witchy folks…I hope that you take the magical challenge and join me, too! 

Do you have a favorite oracle? It can be an old favorite or new favorite, and doesn't have to be cards. I have a friend who's learning to read tea leaves, and that sounds amazing!  

July’s Mystic Muse Box

July’s Mystic Muse subscription box was even better than last month’s! I’ve been waiting for a quiet evening to break out these lovely tools, and I was not disappointed. In this month’s box…

•         A nice, chunky amethyst point. As amethyst is one of the most versatile stones, I am always happy to add one to my collection. This one has a pleasing amount of heft that can be dropped in the bottom of a handbag or a pocket without fear of damage.
•         Love by Luna Energize + Citrine Gem Juice. A really lovely citrus fragrance…not too sharp, not too sweet, just ripe.
•         Designs by Katie Leigh diffuser bracelet. Ohhhh….I’ve been wanting a diffuser bracelet FOREVER. Add fragrance oil and go…finally, it won’t wash off my hands! This one has a beautiful onyx bead. I love onyx for protection and grounding.
•         Mystic Muse alchemy patch. As a fan of all things alchemical, I am plotting the perfect jacket to add this to!
•         Sage bundle. Yasssss, I need to smudge, and smudge often, to remove the gunk that’s circulating out there. This is a good reminder.
•         Goodnight Darling Co. Deep Detox Bath Soak. I love bath salts…and this has rose petals, eucalyptus, and lavender. The fragrance is very subtle and not overwhelming, the texture is lovely, and the rose petals are decadently abundant.
•         Palmetto Derma Rejuvenating Antioxidant Mask. Oh, yum! I love this. As a gal with oily skin, clay-based masks are my friend, and I’m thrilled to finally have one with antioxidant goodness that doesn’t make my face look like an oil slick. Two thumbs up!

I am loving these mystical surprises in the mail. Can’t wait for August! 

Grief and the Gift

Hi, Folks:

Sorry I’ve been away from the blog for so long. One of our beloved cats who has been ill for some time took a turn for the worse and passed away a few weeks ago. We’re doing okay. Sydney was a sweet, gentle cat, a silver tabby with a cloudy, marble-like left eye. I found him and his sister as adult ferals back in 2001. I trapped them, brought them inside, and it took a long time to tame them. It took Syd a year before he learned to purr.

Syd was a good, kind, sweet fellow. He was unfailingly kind to the additions to our household. He let a baby cat chew on his tail, soothed others when they were sick, and patiently taught the newcomers the ropes. He was the patriarch of our little cat clan, respected by all.

Syd had his challenges. He was blind in one eye, and both he and his sister were FIV+. Still, they lived long and happy lives. We were fortunate that Syd was able to pass away at home with the help of our veterinarian, who does house calls. He was able to pass away in my arms, which was a gift.

We buried him in our back garden, near the bird feeder. With all of our cats who have passed on, I bury them with a piece of rose quartz. I put larger pieces of rose quartz on their gravesites. For the time of grieving afterward, I carry rose quartz with me. Rose quartz is a heart healer, and it’s soothing to me to feel as if I’m still connected to Syd.

Three days ago, I had a surprise. I went out to fill the bird feeder near Syd’s grave. There’s a flat sandstone rock there. I feed the birds with bird food close by, and put cat food in a plate just a yard away for any neighborhood cats traveling through. The spot is in the shade of a few sunflower stalks.

Perched on the sandstone rock was a pink glass marble, the kind that florists use for decoration. It’s exactly the same color as the rose quartz. 

I picked it up and held it. It’s warm, like sunshine. I can only think that perhaps one of the bigger birds, like one of the ravens who love cat food, brought it. Our ravens are shy, I know that they grieve, too. Perhaps they missed seeing Syd in the window overlooking the bird feeder. Perhaps they saw me, and knew something was wrong.

It’s the most precious gift, this little pink marble. I don’t know where it came from, but I’m taking it as evidence that Syd is missed. And that he is well. I hope he knows he’s loved.