I promise this isn’t one of those posts. You know, the kind that needlessly beats you over the head, stating how all Pagans and all magickal practitioners are bound by the Wiccan Rede (or the sometimes stated, and quite loathsome, Pagan Rede –of which there is no such thing*,) that any action that causes harm damns you to some sort of New Age hell (perhaps as being reincarnated as one who is convinced of such misinformation..?) and that your life must be filled with “love& light” and must radiate such out to all who cross your path. 
 
No, this is not one of those posts.

I often think of polar bears during my pregnancies. The momma polar bear lost to a death like slumber while her young are born and hurriedly crawl to the warmth of belly fur and a warm teat. Does she even notice? Is there a moment when her sleep becomes less deep, if only on a subconscious level, that she may feel her tiny children leave her and the umbilicus sever? Does she sigh in her sleep as each latch on for the first time, content to do her part in the great cycle of life, death, and rebirth? Or does it all escape her, the squirming cubs suckling and crawling on her a springtime surprise, yet as unexpected as the warming temperatures that, bone-deep, she knew would be there when she woke?

It has been quite a while since I've posted a new article, a problem that I am happy to say has been remedied today! And despite a Mercury retrograde, I am mostly finished with tweaking the website. Just little changes here and there, a search bar, some photos, and a footer filled with handy little links to various places on the site. There will be a few more changes coming, nothing major, and probably nothing that anyone other than me will notice.

So, now that I've shaken most of the dust off the website, I will also be posting articles regularily, every Full Moon, as well as blogging regularily, too. If you happen to notice anything glitchy, let me know, or if you have any suggestions for making the Articles page easier to navigate and/or user friendly, do also let me know (that page continues to stump me...)

Wishing you all a productive Full Moon, without too many surprises.

Namaste,
Althaea

Sunlight brought the taste of Spring but night-wind brings the smell of Winter, still clutching vainly to the Earth -a reminder to us that a promise is not a guarantee and that the pendulum swings both ways. Though progress is the way, the nature is cyclic; one must always return to the place they came from but no one does so unprepared.

And so my thoughts run this Saturn retrograde. The past returns but not solely for introspection and analization; the Waxing Moon encourages manifestation.

Consider the past, but remember the present; be whole as you plan for the future.

It's been nearly 8 months since my last proper blog post, and as I mentioned in my last brief post, so very much has happened since then. There were some rather bumpy moments, moments when I was truly scared and not sure how things were going to work out, or if they even could. However, one of my mottoes, if that's truly the proper term, is that there is always a solution*. I also have profound faith in my Gods; I'm a good little priestess and They have yet to not help when I sincerely asked, and as a witch I couldn't allow for anything other than for things to work out.

We were lucky. Things falling into place just as they needed to, money arriving unexpectedly when so desperately needed, and through it all my husband and I managed to not entirely lose our bearings (hell, we even managed moments of optimism and joy.) Like I said, we were very lucky. 

The time between this and my last post is concerning to me. But due to an unfortunate incident with a laptop the situation was rather unavoidable. Thankfully, that situation has been remedied and now with a functioning computer seated firmly beneath my fingertips, I am trying to make up for loss time.

My goal, at present, is to finish up with all the techy bits by the Full Moon. So far, this means just prettying up the place and cleaning up the navigation (it also means a snazzy new search bar at the top right, which I'm thrilled about.) I'm also trying to come up with a better way to organize the Articles page as it seems clumsy to me (suggestions appreciated!) Starting at the following Dark Moon, I will resume posting regular articles, aiming for every Dark Moon; expect blog post as the inspiration comes.

Many changes have happened in my life since my last post, so, in the interest of catharsis and polite gossip, I will be posting a catch-up post soon, too.

Untilt then, may today's Dark Moon treat you gently.

Namaste,
Althaea

First off, I don't normally talk about controversial or political anything in this blog. This isn't because such things don't concern me, or that I'm not interested or following them, but rather that those topics aren't truly within the scope of this blog or this website. Besides that, there are many, many wonderful Pagan bloggers out there who cover these topics and issues, with wit, humor, and empathy; I encourage you to search out their works in regards to those topics.

However, the topic of coming together and forming a community is within the scope of this blog, as is holding to one's own truths and needs.

With dreams of our farm in my head, visions of goats, honey bees, and dirt, I wander about the small container garden we have. There are 20-some pots this year (mind you, that's counting the garden outside only, not the jungle inside, of which a tour wil have to wait till another post...) with a mix of veggies, herbs, and flowers.

A good many of the plants are perrenials, some ones that I've had for years (eight years on the longest) though many of them, this year, are brand new to the family. I'm hoping they'll last the coming Winter.

So, come along on a little tour of my and my family's garden.

The last of the herbs layed on the counter. I measured out some thread and
quickly bundled them together. The pressure released their oils, and the mixed smell of Dill, Spearmint, Marjoram, and others only served to further instill in me the proper mindset. There was work to be done.

The children ran lauging out to the car as I carried a backpack, loaded heavy with a cauldron, wine, incense, and the freshly made herb bundle, among other things. We drove out to my mom and stepdad's house: they would be watching the kids for us for a few hours.

My husband and I drove away and further into the country side. Our first choice of location was full of people, despite the storm clouds to the North. We drove on, deeper into wildland.

Sky filled with ominous clouds, deer and horseflies swarmed; the storm had them on edge. The cold wind sent shivers through me as we walked down the trail. It would only be a mile or so, but already my barefeet were scolding me: there was fresh gravel on the trail.

We walked quickly. The wind picked up, not quite enough to deter the flies, but enough to give us chills. Though, now and then, I couldn't tell if the chills were truly from the cold wind or the power that was slowly building. This was going to be an amazing night.

Omens are building again. Little signs slowly appearing, in surprising places, just as they normally do. Apparently the Universe is in the mood for talking; I am grateful.

Things stalled for a while. I got distracted: focused too stronly on maintaining focus that I lost track on where I was going; of course, I ended up not going anywhere.

The end of Mars retrograde certainly helped. It was about that time that things started rolling again: I shook off my funk, took a look around, and noticed a large, draining hole in my life.

That recognition has mulling away in my mind now.