Reblogged from The Crossroads Companion:

Reblogged from Mommy Mystic:

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Two things are asked of us as we move through the journey that is motherhood - that we open our hearts ever wider, and that we let go, let go, let go. Motherhood is a journey of loving and letting go. The same can be said of the journey of awakening, of enlightenment. Historically this wasn't recognized by most of the world's major spiritual traditions, which honored monasticism and retreat from the world as the greatest pathways to spiritual realization.

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Reblogged from Feminism and Religion:

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May Day/Beltane (Calan Mai to the ancient Celts) is almost here and our hearts turn to thoughts of love, flowers and the bounty of our Mother Earth. Both Beltane and Halloween/Samhain (Calan Gaeaf) were liminal or threshold days, considered to be outside of normal time. These sacred, mystic days were more important than the solstices in the Celtic world view.

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Reblogged from Feminism and Religion:

The word liminal comes from the Latin word limen, meaning "a threshold." The word threshold has several definitions.  It can be the sill of a doorway or the entrance of a building.  Ultimately, it means any place of point of entering or beginning. In psychology the term limen means the point at which a stimulus is of sufficient intensity to begin to produce an effect.

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Reblogged from Spiritblogger's Blog:

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THE PAGAN HOLIDAY BELTANE - May 1st 2013

Happy Beltane Spiritblogger Fans!
May Day is fast approaching and I wanted to take a moment to thank you for all your love, light, and support for the site! Thanks for all your emails and feedback - I really appreciate each and every message you've sent! I've really enjoyed running this blog for the last four years since my first post in May of 2009.

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Reblogged from Journeying to the Goddess:

From Stifyn Emrys

What makes this even more tragic and seems to send some type of message, is that the 2 bomb incidents that detonated were placed in the last mile of the marathon dedicated to the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting massacre.  Despite the horror of the aftermath, many people pulled together to offer aid and assistance where they could and I wanted to share some of the stories with you:

Stories of Kindness After the Bombing

12 Examples of People Being Awesome After the Attack on the Boston Marathon

Heroic First Responders at the Boston Marathon (PHOTOS)

It’s stories like these of these unsung heroes that give me hope and faith in humanity.

I especially found what Donna Hamilton wrote this evening to be very profound:

“May Boston Be The Moment When The Healing Tide Turns . . .

Perhaps it is time for a massive FEELING FESTIVAL where everyone is brought together to let it all out. The hidden hurt, the guilt, the shame, the need to blame and the desire to be right at any cost . . . So much of what is building in an uncontrollable way is the inner power of love that is pushing all things unloving to the surface so it is transformed. We must honour our feelings and trust them to guide us through the darkest hours. Even when we cannot understand the greater purpose in why we feel what we feel – it must be REVEALED TO BE HEALED.”

If you so feel moved to do something or help, please visit this link to see what you can do - Boston Bombing Aftermath: How You Can Help.

From SHARIng (Sunshine & Love) with SHARI

“Valkyrie” by ~Edli

Before I started the claim process today and digging through old paperwork to find supporting medical documents, etc., I drew a single rune – Algiz: rune of protection and opportunity, rune of strengthening of hamingja; ”the image of the Valkyrie in mythology is fully representative of the way in which the energies of Algiz work to protect you. Meditating on the image of a Valkyrie in her teacher, swan and warrior forms is a powerful method of invoking Algiz energy” [2].

So, with hands shaking and heart pounding as I recounted events and put them into words on the computer screen, I hit the “submit” button and have more documents to scan and fax.  On one hand, it is a relief, but on another it’s kind of nerve wracking because I don’t know what else the VA will want as far as further examinations and/or paperwork and documentation other than what I have or what the outcome will be.  I’m hoping that facing these “demons” (and hopefully not having to have a confrontation with one who has caused so much strife) will melt the ice – Isa – that has been popping up here and there, especially back in early February.

Again referring to Saturn in retrograde, “Saturn is in a fixed water sign Scorpio, and this can portend a time of self discovery, with more inner show downs during the retrograde period. Don’t forget that Scorpio is a sign of emotional courage — this bodes well for profound healing, facing what we’ve been too afraid to face.”

One way this can manifest is by becoming aware of these parts of the self that are in deep freeze. With Saturn so close to Neptune, for much of the retrograde, the arts and spiritual practices are tools for self-transformation. The gift there is the release, and more of the soul’s energy is with you, in the present. If you’ve felt that a part (or parts) of you are out of range somehow, this is a good time to gently coax them out of the shadows…” [3]

And now, I wait…

First, an altar to Frigga.  I decided to set this one up in the dining room on the buffet.

Altar to Frigga

There is a covered offering bowl for liquids; a plate to burn incense; blue tea-light candle holders; a piece of blue lace agate, a piece of unakite, moonstone pendant and a small quartz crystal ball – these just felt right.  Also, a Glade glass candle holder as an offering bowl – I just really liked the spirals etched in the metal – reminds me of spinning and wyrd.  I plan to add other items later to include flowers, keys, maybe some representation of ducks or geese (my pair of pink quartz Mandarin ducks now that I think about it…) and a small distaff and/or a small replica of a spinning wheel.  I’m also waiting on a hand-crafted Frigga soy blót candle I had ordered several weeks ago adorned with a Perthro rune hung on handspun Blue Moon baby camel and merino yarn.  I’d also like to incorporate 12 small white tea-light candles around Her to symbolize Her 12 handmaidens.

Next up is an altar to Odin.

Altar to Odin

I had originally thought to set this up above my computer desk upstairs as that is where I spend a lot time seeking knowledge.  When I set Odin’s statue up on the window sill, I had a rock knickknack/paper weight there that said: “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – totally reminded me of Odin.  So, I went back downstairs and set Odin’s altar up above my Ancestor altar.  There is also a wood carved raven; a smokey quartz; a piece of black obsidian, and a blue optic crystal ball – totally reminded me of the eye he sacrificed at Mimir’s Well for a single drink of enchanted water that granted him wisdom and fore-sight.  Also, an offering plate and a cup in back with depictions of  pinecones and evergreens on it.  I am also waiting on a hand-crafted dark blue soy candle charged with Baltic Amber and 9 sacred herbs of Northern Tradition shamanism including Mugwort, Plantain, Nettle, Fennel, Chamomile, Sweet Cicely, Watercress, Crabapple Wood and Viper’s Bugloss adorned with a raven charm.  

Knife unsheathed

So yeah, some neat things in the works