Happy Pumpkin Day!

Wishing all a blessed and safe Halloween Day.  Make merry, embrace magic and have fun!  Happy pumpkins to you!

Writing Through a Dry Spell

Blank.  Absolutely blank today.  No idea what to write about.  What do you do to feed your own creative flow?  How do you maintain output when the well is dry?  Writing through the dry spells...  It happens to everyone.  Advice, tips, suggestions?

In Wonder

I'm not one of those people who gets gushy over babies.  In general they do absolutely nothing for me.  But I am overjoyed, delighted, and just plain thrilled about the newest member of my family- my beautiful little niece Aisling.  

How is it possible to love a new person so much when I'd never even met her before?  To feel an emotional pull at the first sight of a photograph, the first sound of her name?  And then to feel such surprising wonder and immediate connection when first presented in person?  Over the last three days I have amazed myself at how fiercely and protectively I love her.  I can't imagine my world now without her in it.

A Birth Day Blessing

Dear Aisling,

Little one of the fay, Celtic faery child, may you always live wrapped in protection, magic and love.  May the gods protect and guide you, may the spirits of earth and heaven embrace you, may you walk with truth and light always.  May you be strong and wise.  May you connect with a wise and knowledgeable step upon the earth.  May you dance joyously under starry skies.  Daughter of magic, of dreams and visions, little Aisling, may you lead a charmed and blessed life.

Happy birthday little girl.  Welcome to this world.

Aisling

Today our family is blessed with the birth of a new life.  Welcome to the world little Aisling.  May the gods smile upon you evermore.

Voice

Voice.  Finding my voice.  Speaking my voice.  First words.  Today the first child of the next generation of my family line was born.  She is the voice of the future.  I now join the ranks of the ancestors, those who lead and protect and live on after our own.  The voice of the past.  The voice of the family.  The voice of our heritage.  The voice of our people.  I take this honor seriously.  May I speak words of truth, of wisdom, of love and strength.  May she love and remember my voice always.

You can view other bloggers' posts on the topic of "Voice" here at Five Minute Fridays.

Stasis

Stasis.

Still.

I want to pull in and withdraw from the world.

I think the weather is partially to blame.  It could also be this nearly month long flux of creative output on my part for the 31 Days Challenge.  On top of that, I'm feeling overextended from long work hours, multiple meetings, and too many interactions with too many people.  Time to hibernate.  Time to recharge.  

TRX

TRX class tonight, hooray!  All day I was feeling blocked, tired, cranky and on edge.  An hour long workout on the straps this evening and I feel back in the flow again.  Magical living means balance on all levels: mental, physical and spiritual.  Exercise is a big part of that for me.  Try it, it's fun!

The Smell of Rain

The air smells so delicious the morning after a rain storm!  Cool and clear, refreshing to mind and spirit.  I needed that today.

Gnomes

Are the faeries still about at this time of year, when the weather turns to cold, damp and dreary?  Or do they nestle away, hidden in secret glens, waiting for more hospitable times? 

I believe the gnomes are still out and about.  My garden gnome sits tucked away behind the foliage on my deck, in his usual spot next to the sliding glass door.  Day and night, rain and shine, he watches and guards our little home.  Personally, I think gnomes prefer smaller homes.  Why?  Because they are cozy, with little nooks and crannies, and corners to perch in and peer around.  It feels that much closer to being in a magical little cottage nestled in the woods.  Or in this case, a little condo nestled in suburbia.  But magic certainly knows no such limiting bounds. 

Fig Season

Today I had what may have been my last fig of the season.  There are two small fig trees on my deck.  One is a start from my grandpa's tree, and still only a few feet tall.  I purchased the larger tree at my local garden store several years ago. 

If you haven't tasted the difference between a store bought fig and a fresh one picked from the tree, trust me when I say there is no comparison.  None.  My own crop is very small.  One or two figs here, three or four there.  More often than I would like, there is nothing ripe and ready to eat.  Sometimes I will purchase a basket of figs from the supermarket, but each time I end up disappointed.  Fresh figs are the only way to go!  

Taking a "Me" Day

 

Today was a "me" day.  I had nothing I needed to do, and nowhere I needed to be. When was the last time you took a day all for yourself?

White Geraniums

I love geraniums.  They are bright and cheerful and thrive just about anywhere.  I have had geraniums growing around me my whole life.  At my childhood home there were (and still are) lush red geraniums stationed like sentries on either side of the driveway.  Cheery single blossomed geraniums in various shades of pink smile and bob along the front of the house, and throughout the back yard as well.

At my condo I now have multiple varieties and colors growing.  At first I resisted planting them.  They seemed so common and mundane.  I wanted to plant roses and hydrangeas and more lush exotic plants.  The roses succumbed to some strange parasite that encased them in thin webbing and then sucked them dry.  The hydrangeas withered and rotted.  The shade loving flowers like fuchsias and even the supposed sun loving ones like chrysanthemums and alyssum all dried up in the driving heat of the sun, reflected off the wooden walls and concrete composite flooring of the deck itself.

But the geraniums…  The geraniums bloomed and blossomed and thrived.  Standard geraniums grew tall and proud in their stately faux ceramic pots.  Ivy geraniums tumbled down in a profusion of delicate looking leaves and ruffled petals.  Okay, the scented geraniums didn't do quite so well, but that could have also been due to my own haphazard and irregular care schedule.

So I started with one geranium, then two.  As the other flowering plants slowly resigned and faded away, another geranium soon took their place.  I now have such a profusion of colors.  This morning I looked out through the sliding glass door, and right in front of me was a lovely offering of white geranium flowers.  In the morning sunlight they were fresh and joyous, full of life. 

As I was wrapping up this post I decided to do a search on the meaning of the geranium flower.  I found the following:  "The word geranium means crane, referring to its long stem, and the emotional meaning is gentility or peace of mind."  I think immediately of the white egrets (cranes) I have been seeing recently.  White geraniums in particular are "symbolic of happiness, healing and renewed joy.  They remind us to take time to savor the moments in life that truly make us happy."  And that they did this morning as they caught my gaze, and I paused for a simple moment of peace and enjoyment.

Look

In the morning everything is still and clear.  I love this time of the day, at least when I take a moment to pause and really enjoy it.  When I draw open the thick burgundy curtains darkening my living room, I get my first view of the morning light outside on my deck.  The little plants are green and flowering, the thick redwood trees wrap behind my condo and sway in the breeze.  Squirrels race and leap from one branch to another, finches flutter and chirp, the occasional butterfly floats by.

My two cats twitch their tails and chirp with excitement, peering through the glass panes at the wonders beyond.  I pause, exhale, and give silent thanks for the wonders that surround me each and every day.


You can view other bloggers' posts on the topic of "Look" here at Five Minute Fridays.

Crow

For the second time this week a crow has been standing and waiting on my morning path.  Both times it was in almost exactly the same location, which leads me to think it quite possibly is the very same bird.  Today it was very close, very visible, and we were very aware of each other.  

My first thoughts were, wow, that thing is big and black.  Yeah, I know, obviously.  It's a crow lol.  I see crows quite a bit around my area.  So the sighting itself was nothing unusual.  But it is still always a surprise to me when I see one close up.  They are so present and aware.  And so large!

Today we silently eyed each other, both of us standing still on the sidewalk.  My feathered visitor then joined a second crow on the rooftop and they flew off overhead together.  I thought of Huginn and Muninn, Odin's two great black birds of "thought" and "memory."  A caw sounded off in the distance.  And thus began my day.

I've heard that birds are messengers from the Otherworld, the "Fairy Land."  I've been blessed with quite a number of winged messengers lately.  Perhaps the word is out that I am one who is open to hearing them, who will listen to what they have to say.

Day to Day

After a long day of work, followed by errands and an intense TRX workout at the gym, I am ready to kick back and relax with one of my new books and a cup of chamomile tea.  I can't believe how much time I have spent writing this last couple of weeks.  It's a good thing, but my internet forums, stacks of unread books, and Netflix movies are piling up.  How to manage them all and still maintain my own personal steady flow of creativity?  Hmm...

Heimdall

Hail to Heimdall, honorable and fair!  Hail, unfailing protector of Asgard and sworn enemy of chaos and treachery.  Hail!  Today I write about one of my favorite Norse gods.  Heimdall is the ever present guardian of Bifrost, the rainbow bridge.  He is a god of liminality and transitions.  As Odin gave up an eye to Mimir's well on his quest for knowledge and wisdom, Heimdall in turn gave up an ear.  In exchange, he received supersensory abilities.  He can see and hear far and wide, throughout the realms of heaven and earth.  Thus his extraordinary ability to ward and protect.  

In literature Heimdall can seem rather serious, but energetically I have found him to be quite the opposite.  He is wise and honorable, but also friendly and jovial.  Working with him in ritual brings smiles and easy laughter throughout.  Think of a fun favorite uncle, who always looks out for your well being, but is never too busy to joke and play.  You can trust him at all times to watch out for you and care for you.

Heimdall is known to be a beautiful god- white skinned and gold toothed.  He is quoted as being the son of nine wave maidens, and the father of mankind.  He is a "first god," one who appears at the beginning of time and remains through the end.  Perhaps that helps explain the close familial connection that can be so readily felt with him.

One of the things I love best about Heimdall is his forthrightness and reliability.  He has sworn to do his duty, and he can be trusted to do so.  He is on the up and up- what you see is what you get.  The world needs a little more trustworthiness, a little more dedication, a little more fealty.  The world needs Heimdall.  The world needs Heimdall energy.  Always a fan of good food and drink, let us lift a horn of mead and toast in his name:  Hail Heimdall!  Blessed is He!

Synchronicity

I stopped off at a local bookstore on the way to a dentist appointment this afternoon.  Somehow I never really noticed the beautiful stained glass piece in the store window before today.  It is a white egret, just like the one I saw flying last week.  A lovely synchronicity.  

I Am a Writer

When I was little I wanted to be a writer.  I kept secret journals, and filled decorated notebooks with fantastically imaginative stories in my neat cursive writing.  I had an ongoing serial novel running through my brain for years on end.  I was constantly creating and in the flow. 

When I was in high school I wanted to be a writer.  I remember I wrote a short story for a freshman English class assignment.  The teacher gave me an A+ with a perfect score of 1200 and commented in red ink, "Thank you for this story.  This is what short story writing is about."  I was so proud of myself and so immensely proud of my own writing.  

When I started college I wanted to be a writer.  I signed up for a creative writing class at the local community college.  I wrote constantly- short pieces about my life, my loves, my thoughts, my dreams.  But I was shy and I held back in class.  Years of high school had left me insecure about myself and my own abilities.  

There were others in the class who seemed like real writers.  I remember one boy in particular.  He was beautiful and talented, with long brown hair and piercing eyes.  He even had the perfect "writer's name."  He was charming and edgy and self possessed, and I felt completely unworthy around him.  The teacher adored him.  The other students idolized him.  I shrank further into myself, and changed majors after that semester.  I stopped writing.  

I always told myself I would write again someday.  I still wanted to be a writer.  But I stopped writing.  Until now.  And that is the magic for today-  finding my voice again, finding my flow, finding my inner writer who was always there, just buried underneath fears and blocks and years of built up stuff.  Today I am a writer.

Light a Candle

Today looks to be another lovely fall day.  The morning is sunny, but the light is muted and filtered.  The air has a slight chill along the edge.  I watered the plants on my deck outside (newly rebuilt thanks to my HOA) and smiled at their sweet energy- little spirits alive, alert, reaching up to the sunlight and waving in the breeze.  A blue jay hopped in circles and called down from the redwood tree overhead, while the mischievous neighborhood squirrel ran along a railing down below. 

I came back inside and lit an evergreen pine scented candle.  It may sound simplistic, but often the simple act of lighting a candle is the fastest way for me to center and bring myself back into a magical state of mind.  It could be habit now, deeply ingrained from years of creating altars and practicing devotions.  Or it could just be the magical spark of creation lit anew each time.

Blackbirds in Flight

In gratitude for the abundance of inspiration all around.  Thank you blackbirds.

Race

I used to always be on the run, on the move, always needing to achieve, to acquire, to do, to prove.  I was in a race to get ahead, to prove to myself and everyone else that I was the best and brightest.  To be number one.  To do it all.  Now I am learning to slow down, to pause.  To be in the moment and be truly present to what is happening "now."  To be more authentic.  To just be me.  

I feel so much more in touch, more connected, more grounded, more real.  I am present to the magic in the everyday- the purr of a kitten, the sway of a tree, the smile of a friend.  Magic is alive.  Magic is real.  It is embodied in every living thing, every single moment in time.  Wake up.  Be still.  

(You can view other bloggers' posts on the topic of "Race" here at Five Minute Fridays.)

Under Grey Skies

The sky is tucked away behind a thick grey blanket of foggy cloudbank.  It looks like a giant comforter, and puts me in the mood to snuggle under one of my own when I get home from work.  I feel like I should be sailing a longship under northern seas, not driving a commuter car along a suburban freeway.  

For a brief moment, they become one and the same.  Dots of rain on the windshield morph into flecks of salt spray.  Freeway exits beckon, leading to untamed worlds waiting to be conquered.  I hold fast to my charted course, drawn above all by the call of hearth and home.  At heart a Viking forever more.

Fall Is Here

Only 7 pm tonight and it's already dark out.  When did that happen?  Last week at this time it was still sunny and bright!  Now rain clouds hang heavy in the sky, what little can still be seen of it in the fading light.  The air is chill and brisk.  Last night I heard the screech of an owl outside my bedroom window as I prepared to nestle into sleep.  It's definitely fall.

Benzaiten

Today I thought I would write a bit more about my personal relationship with Benzaiten.  As I mentioned yesterday, I've been working with her energetically.  Historically she is well documented, with roots originating from the Hindu goddess Sarasvati.  She is one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Japan.  She conquered, tamed, and then married the dragon king.  She is a patron of artists, writers and geishas.

To me, Benzaiten energy feels very classical and refined.  She comes across as polished and precise, calming and soothing.  Think "Inhale, Exhale,"  like the feel of a slow deep yogic breath.

Benzaiten is simultaneously comforting and revitalizing.  She also has a playful, girlish, almost "valley girl" side that reveals itself on occasion.  I have yet to experience the warrior side of her, but I know it is there.

Lately when she has made herself present I have felt a welling up of potential inside, which has been manifesting thus far in a steady outpouring of creativity.  For quite some time I felt like I had a "block" within keeping me from writing, drawing, crafting, manifesting.  Now with Benzaiten energy the waves of words just come pouring out.  It is a wonderful feeling.  She truly is an amazing and multifaceted goddess.

A Moment of Grace

So what do you do on days when you're feeling not so magical?  When you're tired, running late to work, stuck in unending meetings, and dealing with flaky people?  Yeah it was one of those days today.  Sometimes they happen.  

But this afternoon I saw a white egret flying over the BART tracks as I was driving home.  Whenever I see one I always think of the goddess Benzaiten.  I have a special affinity for her, and have been opening myself up to her energy lately.  Benzaiten is a Japanese goddess of love, luck, beauty and creativity.  She is a patroness of learning and the arts, "that which flows" -a warrior goddess who also grants wishes and good fortune.  She is strong, graceful, poised and refined, and can definitely hold her own in any situation.  

Later I went to the gym for a session with my personal trainer.  I think I may have strained my neck a bit during my workout, which makes me frustrated.  Hopefully two Advil and a hot shower will help.  So there is my update for today:  In the midst of the stressful and the mundane, out of the blue sky (literally) a magical moment appeared.  

Sunday Morning

Toast with honey and a morning cup of tea…squirrels are leaping from branch to branch in the redwood trees out back…the weather is cool but the sun is shining.  Feeling at peace and in the flow.

The Blackbirds Return

The blackbirds are back!  As I left the gym this afternoon two were hanging out on the sidewalk in front of the entrance door.  I carefully passed by on my way to the parking lot, then paused at a grassy median strip to continue watching them.  After a couple minutes I turned around, ready to finish walking to my car.  But there on the ground was another blackbird in the grass, only a few feet from from where I stood.  

I kept still, expecting that it would take fright and fly away.  But it came even closer, until it was standing not more than two feet from me.  With its sidelong unblinking little eye firmly cast upon mine, it proceeded along the raised strip in between the cars, passing right in front of me.  I stood and watched, mentally sending it a message of greetings and thanks.  I believe it heard me too, as I was acknowledged with a steady gaze in return.  Slowly I stepped off the curb and over to my car, where yet another blackbird once again flew overhead.  As I drove away I looked back, but they were gone.  Well, at least until next time.

Cookies and Tea

The weather is changing.  There has been a heat wave for the last few days.  I am not a fan of hot weather.  It makes me feel simultaneously agitated and droopy, with the need to escape and retreat from the relentless solar assault. 

Last night though, there was a dramatic shift, and today it's been overcast, cloudy and grey.  What I like to call "witchy weather."  A time when the Otherworld is within grasp, and magic is possible.  Grasses rustle in the chill air, crows caw and circle with messages from beyond, and the transitory state of nature is a reminder to appreciate the moments as they pass. 

I am snuggled within my cozy condo, a candle burning merrily on the altar, happily feasting on jelly cookies and lavender tea.  It feels so good to be home.

Welcome

Welcome is walking into my house at the end of a long day at work.  Welcome is a hot cup of tea with cookies on the side.  Welcome is a purring cat in my lap.  Welcome is an inbox full of exciting and friendly emails.  Welcome is a deck full of green thriving plants.  Welcome is always welcomed.  How are you welcoming others in your life today?  How are you welcoming yourself?

(You can view other bloggers' thoughts on "Welcome" here at Five Minute Fridays, another blog site that is also participating in the 31 days challenge.)

Speaking With Trees

Have you ever tried to talk to a tree?  I don't mean you have to walk up and open your mouth and start speaking, although that is certainly one way of doing it.  I mean pausing, directly your full attention to that tree, opening up your consciousness and sending out a friendly intention.  A silent "hello" or a "virtual wave" if you will, an acknowledgement that before you is a living being with its own spirit and awareness, that rejoices in sunshine and soaks up the rain waters, that is a living part of this planet.  

The first time that one talks back, it will change your life... if you let it.

What IS Magic?

So what is magic exactly?  I think everyone probably has a different definition.  I used to think it meant casting spells, brewing up potions and formally invoking any number of a multitude of otherworldly beings.  It was my intellectual definition of magic, what I thought it should be.  I've grown out of that narrow interpretation over time.  I was focused more on an externally created construct of what I thought magic was supposed to be, than what actually felt magical to me.  It was more about the trappings and less about the content.
  
What I think of now when I think of magic probably looks a lot more understated on the surface.  It may even look like just regular day to day life.  Because I've come to realize, that's where the magic actually is.  It's around us, it's within us, it never leaves us.  To access it all we need to do is be present, and allow the child within to look out through our grown up eyes.  We need to stop trying to be so "cool" all the time, to lower our walls, release our facades, and embrace authenticity, embrace our true selves.  When we do, the universe opens up to us and can reveal her wonders.  We only need to see what is already there.

Blackbirds

Yesterday two blackbirds flew directly over my head as I was walking to my car after working out at the gym.  It felt just a little bit unusual, you know?  In fact I almost wrote about it for my blog entry yesterday, but then I thought…No…that would be silly.  So I blew it off.

Then today after work I was walking out to my car, through 90 something degree heat, blaring sun beating down on me and the hot pavement of the surrounding parking lot.  Gathered together directly in my path was a small group of blackbirds.  Well, one dark brown, and probably five or six black.  BUT…two of those were redwing blackbirds!  

I don't recall ever seeing redwing blackbirds hanging out in an asphalt parking lot.  In tall grass, yes.  Near water, yes.  Concrete pavement…not so much.  

Okay birds, you've got my attention.  They scattered a bit as I walked towards them, and three alighted in the shadow of a car parked directly across from mine.  They all lined up in a row, evenly spaced.  I opened up my car door, sat down, and simply watched them for a moment.  They were lovely.  

When I got home I looked up the symbolism for blackbirds online.  I found that they are a harbinger of creativity and a connection to the magical world.  Their message is to embrace your own talents and manifest them, to share them with the world.  Perfect.  And perfectly synchronistic as I start this 31 day blog.  Namaste blackbirds.  Thank you.

Everyday Life

Well, some days are just regular days.  Perhaps I can appreciate the magic in that.  Work, home, health, pets- I am grateful for the cycle, the structure, the consistency.  Just being at peace, being at home, is good.  The magic of everyday life.

Back on the Magical Path

So technically I've been walking the path of the "magical life" for quite some time now.  But somewhere along the road I lost my way.  I became distracted by the mundane, the grind, the everyday.  Recently I have felt myself going through a rebirth, my eyes reopening to the wonders of the world.  

That which is focused on, grows.  

I choose to focus on the magic.  I look for the synchronicities.  I honor the divine.  I light candles often, I create altars everywhere, I talk to trees and plants and wild animals, and sometimes they talk back.  So here's to the first day of the next 31 days.  Happy October!