Blessed Ostara!

From my family to yours, I wish everyone a blessed and magickal Ostara!

 

Ostara by K. Michele

 

Home is where the hearth is...

Peasant Woman by a Hearth

Serenity over at The Domestic Pagan blog is writing a back to basics series. I was intrigued when she first posted that she would be writing this series. I've tried for years to get our living space and house in order. It's very hard when you are living with 4 other adults very much set in their ways. And as much as I want to most days, I can't just wiggle my nose and make them do it.

I've been inspired to lead by example and to not get so overwhelmed, one room at a time. Because I refuse to end up like my mother and have storage tote after storage tote (we're down to 5 from 12 large ones) of craft supplies that I won't ever use and an attic full of goodness knows what (have I mentioned the garage is a disaster too? Honestly, how many coolers do you possibly need dad?)

So before my family ends up on an episode of hoarders or something, I'm making it my mission to have this house clutter free and organized before the snow flies. Because as Serenity posted,

"Clutter can have serious effects on you and your family's mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health."

Here's to clearing the clutter of our home environment, minds, bodies, and spirits. I look forward to when the household energies are flowing freely.

Be sure to check out The Domestic Pagan's back to basics series!!

Spring cleaning and our Ancestors

After a beautiful weekend, filled with lots of walks, time spent with my little family, and some creative mess making, today is all dreary and rainy. But as they say "April showers brings May flowers". So I can't complain too much about the rain. At least it isn't snow!

I am taking advantage of not being outside and focusing on a bit of Spring cleaning inside. Mainly downstairs where we spend most of our time. My poor bedroom seems to have been neglected a bit with all my creative mess making. So today is going to be a primarily cleaning and organizing type day. 

But that's not the only thing that's going to happen. I read an article over at The Pagan Household that struck a cord. Today's article was about forgetting our Ancestors. Even if you aren't Pagan, remembering our loved ones both past and present is still very important.

How often have we celebrated our Ancestors on Samhain and only give them a glance thought the rest of the year? I know I have been guilty of this a few times in the past, but I try very hard to think about them on a regular basis. Hubby and I have even started putting together our family trees because we feel it's important for our family to know where and who they came from.

I've been wanting to create an Ancestor altar for quite some time. Hubby and I have talked about where a good place to put one would be. And it has been agreed that a good place would be on the mantel above the heater downstairs. Of course, there is no mantel yet until we get a new stove downstairs. But why is that stopping me from creating one, even a temporary one? 

Reading that article was just the icing on the cake since I had already been thinking of ways to honor my Ancestors. It's a gentle reminder to stop thinking and start acting.

So today I am going to give my grandmother a call to say hello and to chat with her. I will also be constructing some sort of temporary place of honor for all my loved ones who have passed. 

What are you going to do to remember your Ancestors on a daily basis?

Full Moon Ritual

First let me tell you how wonderful it was to be outside and have an outdoor ritual. Last night was the first outdoor ritual that we held here at home in a very long time.

Last night, during the Full Moon, was my purging ritual. It was simple and small. But that's just how I like my rituals. 

I started out by writing every negative thought, aspect of myself that I wanted to change, onto a piece of parchment paper.

And yes, I have issues :)

Hubby had been burning wood all day, in spite of it lightly raining all afternoon. So when everyone decided to go inside for the night, at 10pm there was still some smoldering coals in the fire pit. One piece of wood later, we had a nice little fire going. Perfect size for ritual. 

After casting the circle, calling the quarter elements, ancestors, and the God and Goddess (with a brief conversation with mom tossed in the middle of it because she came outside), we had our little purging ritual. I even used a bit of the Sun and Moon Oil that were made for me from my Midsummer swap partner.

I have to say, it was amazing watching all the negativity burn up and float away on the smoke. As we sat, watching the fire for a bit longer, tears just started to run down my cheeks for no reason. The silence and the peace that I felt that moment was amazing.

I would say that it was a great start to finding myself once again.

~K.Michele

Upcoming Full Moon

With the Full Moon approaching, I find myself thinking more and more about the various things in my life. I've been thinking about the things that I want to purge not just physically and mentally, but spiritually as well. 

There are some things that I want to put into motion at the next New Moon, but I feel there are things, ok A LOT of things, that need to be purged first. 

Somewhere in my life I seem to have lost who I am, my core. Hubby made a valid point, I won't be able to find the self I once was. Point taken. But I still need to find me. The me who is married, has a kid (or kids, because we'd really love to have a second kiddo running around), can easily balance everything about taking care of a household (let's be honest, I'm not very good at that), still find time to sit down and be true to my creative side, AND incorporate my spirituality (more than it already is) into my day to day life. Frankly I've lost my path. I found something shiny in the weeds and haven't found my way back (and if you really know me and my personality, you'd know that is probably the case). Well it's time to pocket that shiny object and wack at some weeds to the path of self discovery.

There is just so much a person can take and absorb before they've had enough. Well this is me saying I've had enough! I'm swinging and not pulling any punches. If people in my life do not like it, well then screw them. I'm tired of walking on eggshells keep things peaceful. My tongue is sore from biting back my words to spare feelings. I'm tired of placating everyone else's desires instead of my own. And I'm tried of trying to treat 2 different households as 1 household when the other party refuses to be flexible and do the same.

Yeah I have a lot of "baggage".

What will you purge?

~K.Michele