Daring

"Quit resisting your greater good...Dare to trust the bigger plan. Open your heart wider. Allow grace to flow through you and out into service. You were not put here to be cowed by circumstance." ~ Cash Peters

Time Is On My Side: Yes It Is

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Today began with an anxiety attack.

You see, today was the first day I didn't have to go to work in six days. I slept in, which was lovely, and reconnected with my partner and my little dog, and then...well, I had the time to really give attention to my surroundings. I looked around my apartment and thought about all the things that I Needed To Do and that I Should Be Doing (imagine quite the list of chores and cleaning inserted here) and I flipped out, because really, I wanted to just Sit and Read and Be but I was clearly on a warpath toward being cranky and anxious for the rest of the day because there just wasn't enough time in the day to do all the shoulds and the wants.

But what happened next was Magic. What happened next was this:

And the pieces begin to fall together...

The call to change has been coming to me, in bits and pieces of desire that, at first, appeared to be all over the map.

After a wonderful Feri weekend, I decided to start an art open house a few weeks ago. I've been burning up to connect artists and make space for more creativity to blossom around me.

And then, inspired by Anne Brannen, I have been dipping my toes into Danielle LaPorte's Desire Map; specifically, I have been thinking about how I want to feel in my life, and working from there to identify where I'm going and how I want to get there. I've identified that I want to feel: Fed. Calm. Present. Self-Possessed. Energized. Charismatic. Honest. Powerful.

And last week I asked my partner, a talented graphic designer, to whip up a logo and some stationery. On a whim, just a whim.

And then today, I just contacted a web designer to get a price quote for a website for my spiritual work.

Right after sending off the email to the designer, it hit me:  I am stepping forth to do what I love. These steps that seemed to be random are not so random after all.

Hmmm. Interesting. Appropriate. Aventure.

Remembering

Nothing has broken
the convex lens of my heart;
my breath comes easy,
Royal, expanding past
these meager borders.
No storm shall crack this compass.

Let it In, Let it In

I try to give every year a motto. I learned this habit from my wonderful friend DHG a few years ago when she first told me of her 'Year of the Cracked Pot'.

2013 revealed it's motto to me quite early. I woke up one morning and realized that this was the year of Accepting All Gifts.

Dangerous, yes. Exciting, definitely. Who knows what is lurking in the Mystery Present.

In 2013, I will find out.

The following have already shown up:

Gifts Accepted in 2013:
1. Revelations and Divine Intercessions
2. Potent Rages that have lead to Big Changes and
3. A free dining table

I plan to keep a running list of the wonders of the Mysterious Present.

What's your motto for 2013? Does it scare you just a bit?

It's Been A Long Time!

Sorry, my dear, dear blog. I have neglected you for a long while. In my defense, there was a lot of stuff going on!

Right now, I'm inspired and inflamed in all the right ways. My heart feels like it is on fire, and things are shifting quite rapidly. I am starting an artist's group, Flaming Heart, that meets once a month to work on the art that feeds. I am doing more ritual. I am planning a class focused on developing meaningful personal practices. My honey and my doggy are doing well. 2013 has started with a bang, and feels Very Different from 2012.

Today, I'm loving the little bits of wisdom that the fabulous Danielle LaPorte has compiled here. Read them, I'm sure you will love them, too. I am really in this place today:

Affirmations are like screaming that you're okay in order to overcome this whisper that you're not. That's a big contrast to actually uncovering the whisper, realizing that it's a passing memory, and moving closer to all those fears and all those edgy feelings that maybe you're not okay. Well, no big deal. None of us is okay and all of us are fine. It's not just one way. We are walking, talking paradoxes. -Pema Chödrön, Start Where You Are

What place are you in today?

On behalf of Miss Drusilla Pelham...

I've begun working on a new creative endeavor with my partner...here's a teaser.

More to come...

Stay on Path: Morning Existential Crisis Reminder

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It seems that it is now de rigueur to have an existential crisis each and every morning:

"What am I doing?"

"What has meaning?"

"What is my real work?"

"Is this my real life?"

"Why do I drink so many lattes?"

I listen to Pema Chödrön audiobooks on the bus to work; she tells me that these thoughts/feelings are signposts, that my ego is experiencing the fundamental ambiguity of life. She tells me that sitting with these thoughts and feelings is the experience of Buddha nature.

...and it comforts me, a little, to think of Buddha, counting his lattes, gently weeping while collating papers and making bookkeeping adjustments in QuickBooks.

Today, it comforts me just enough.

Call for Guest Bloggers

Hey, y'all!

I am looking for some awesome guest bloggers to write about spirituality and passion and how they manifest/intersect in their lives. I'm interested in hearing from people of all spiritual backgrounds.

If you're interested in guest blogging, please email me at song.of.embers@gmail.com.

Staring Into The Abyss, Choosing Not To Ride The Ride: Loving The Sanity Of The 12 Steps

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I'm not sure where this post is going to go, but I do know that I need to write something about how I am feeling today, how grateful I am for the 12 Steps in dealing with my codependency, how grateful I am that recovery is possible, and how aware I am of the fragility of my codependent sobriety. This work has helped me notice when I'm staring into the abyss, and given me the tools to choose a different path.

Benefit By Doing

Today, I am home sick. More accurately, I am working from home...while sick. Head colds are awful, and I think I picked this one up while riding the bus, as I am new to public transportation, and thus my immune system is like that of a baby at the first week of daycare.

I digress.

A sizable piece of my job is dealing with the company's social media. I spend a good portion of my time posting on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. This reminded me that it has been a while since my last post here, on my own bibbity-bobbity-bloggy.

A big theme in my life as of late has been actively working toward manifesting the reality that I would like to live, day to day. So, today, I spent a period of time working on my own social media campaigns- specifically, I did some work getting the Facebook page for my tarot business closer to publication. (Soon, very soon, it will be ready.) I also did a bit of advertising for the Elements of Magic weekend intensive I'll be teaching this October with the lovely Pamela. (If you know of anyone that might be interested in attending, please pass the information along to them!)

Today, my job reminded me to do my Work. I guess this is an example of elegant manifesting, yes? I do like it when the areas of my life cross the streams, so to speak.

And now, I shall go and lie down and rest, so I can feel better tomorrow. Toodles!

Time to Get Up!

Whew! This summer is busting my butt! Still, there's not a lot of fodder for complaint. I started a new job this week, though, and I'm working my way through the sludge of "I don't know what I'm doing"s and "I'm totally overwhelmed"s, which doesn't leave a lot of time for my typical navel gazing.

I am present, though...very present to most moments. This week has been an eternity, mostly in good ways. Most everything was (and still is) new this week. I started taking the bus to work every day, and I'm really enjoying it. I'm working downtown, and I'm still getting used to that aspect of my day. I'm in a new office with a brand new office culture, and I'm working to stay in the moment and honor my personal boundaries while working toward excellence. My routine with J has shifted, too - he also changed places of employment, and is working all sorts of different hours during the week.

Life is unpredictable right now, and it feels good. Even the bumps and skinned knees that come with learning a new course feel appropriate and necessary. I feel awake.

Elements of Magic Class, October 2012

Elements of Magic Class:  October 20-21, Pittsburgh, PA

With the art of magic, we deepen our vision and focus our will, empowering ourselves to act in the world. In this class we begin the practice of Magic, Witchcraft, and Goddess spirituality by working with the Elements of Magic: Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit.

Techniques include: visualization, sensing and projecting energy, chanting, trance, creating magical space, spellcraft, and structuring rituals. Group experience follows feminist consensus process. We hope to provide a fair and nurturing environment for all participants.

The intensive is structured as a ritual, and includes practical ritual and magical skills. Elements of Magic allows us to explore these skills in a supportive group setting. This class is a great way to connect with other people exploring Reclaiming-tradition magic and witchcraft.

We welcome both beginning students, and advanced students who want to deepen their experience of the sacred elements.

Prerequisite: Reading of the first six chapters of The Spiral Dance by Starhawk. We ask that applicants be committed to attending both days of the intensive.

(description of the class courtesy of Reclaiming.org: http://www.reclaiming.org/classevents/core.html#Elements)

About the instructors:

Lora: As a Feri/Reclaiming Witch Lora’s passions are community building, divination, ecstatic ritual, poetry, and whatever good book has currently captured her attention. Committed to teaching in the Pittsburgh pagan community, Lora brings her experiences in leadership training, small group facilitation, tarot, trance techniques, and ritual arts to the teaching table.

Pamela: A non-trad identified Witch until I met Kin in 2009 and began to focus on the Reclaiming/Feri path. Leadership Team member of a local CUUPs group and of a monthly Pagan Spirituality class for almost 8 years. Transitional magic surrounding life/death/rebirth and transformational magic particularly working with shadow energy are my areas of grace. I believe laughter is one of our most effective magical tools.

Date:  Saturday, October 20, and Sunday, October 21, 2012

Time: Saturday, October 20th, 10am-5pm; Sunday, October 21st, 10am-5pm. Breaks and a lunch hour will be worked into the intensive.

Location: Private Residence, Friendship/Pittsburgh area

Cost: $75-$150, sliding scale

***Deadline for registration: Saturday, October 6th***

Things to Bring to Class:

- Spiral Dance by Starhawk

- water bottle

- notebook and pen

- a curious attitude and an open mind

Workshop participants are expected to attend all classes. Space is limited, first come, first served!

Interested? Email witches2brew@gmail.com with the following:

- preferred name and contact information

- a short statement describing what interests you about the class/why you would like to attend

Feri Initiation

I had my Feri Initiation this past weekend. Good stuff :)

Today's Tarot Card: Eight of Pentacles

Hello, y'all! Long time no blog!

I've been doing a lot of breezy, summertime things, but it appears it is time to get back to work, as my card for today is the Eight of Pentacles. This card reminds me to put my nose to the grindstone and to pay attention to the fine details of the task at hand. This card always says "excellence through hard work and repetition" to me. What I often notice:  I become excellent through the process of perfecting my skills and honing my craft.

What have you been working on? What has been working on you? What requires your full attention, your best self, your focused will?