Altars and high places.

Altars and high places.
I am ignoring the kitten today because he is fine except he wishes to uses me as a climbing frame/chew toy. He has eaten, peed and pooped and is just complaining in my general direction. So I turn up the peaceful music and only with slight guilt talk about altars.
In one way my whole home is an altar of sorts. It is a space that I set aside from the world out side and a space where I choose (for the most part) what I want within my temple walls.
Still I like altars. I have 3 of them. One for the time of year/sabbat workings. One for healing/other peoples needs and wants. One for myself where I keep things that are special to me.

Now my "work for other people" altar has spell work that I wish to be slightly longer term. I often put hope candles and such like and list maybe more than one person. I use crystals, rocks, candles, flowers, herbs, shells, pictures, tarot cards and other images.
Well my guilt seems to be getting the better of me, as the dog is now barking at the kittens pitiful cries.
Excuse me I seem to have a mauling with my name on it.
 

So Typing one handed...
I had the beginnings of a blog about magickal names vaguely in my mind after a g+ post last night...
Now in the morning kitten is keeping me typing one handed and I forget some of the finer more salient points.
Names have power. They have an energy all of their own, and a magickal name is important. It is a statement. An expression and a wish.  
Well for me I always about keeping it simple, and expressing something pure about ME. I never use it online and keep it quiet with people I don't know really, really well.
I prefer to keep it as simple as a tree, river, flower, place that is totally important and expresses who you are as a spiritual person. You can have it in English or a language that you are drawn to; though if it is not of your path (ie a first nations name when you are mostly Irish is a bit weird but can sometimes work) it might work against you.
It should speak of where you are, and where you hope to be and can change of the years as you grow.
I have known people choose the weirdest names in languages they do not speak and find it hard to pronounce. It for me was lacking, and lacking a sincere, authentic quality.
Yet some people are "Pixie" or "Troll" more Jeff or Ellie; while the wood of Willows only one or two really seem...willowy?
I also dislike the thing of collecting names often like children putting on jewelry, more is not always best.

This space is where my blog would be if I had not been up half the night with a kitten, who now wants me to play.

Guided meditations- Pathworkings

 Seating should be comfortable and distracting sounds should be masked by soft music. Breathe with the meditation and take your time. You do not have to cast a circle if you do not want to but I think it is a good idea before you start your guided meditation work.

The Key

Slowly. Gently close your eyes. Take a few slow and steady breaths and then allow your breathing to relax. It does not need your attention. Allow your mind to let go of all the thoughts and feelings from this moment. It is okay to allow yourself to do so. Let them go with your exhalation. You can be relaxed and centered. Now begin to visualize a long corridor before you. At the end of this is a large and ornate door. Light is streaming through the keyhole and from under the door. With each step you take towards this door way you feel your past fading. Your old hurts and wounds lessen with every step. You can hear music and laughter. You feel lighter and happier with every step you take.

When you are before the the door your hands smooth over it's surface. Notice how it feels, it's texture and temperature. Around you neck is a chain and on it hangs a key. Study the key and see how it feels, how it looks. As you remove the key from round your neck you feel the last of your anxieties and troubles lift from you. You place the key in the lock and it turns easily. The door now pushes open. The room if full of light and people who seem to know you and love you well. They welcome you warmly with much affection. It is a party for you. This party is a welcome home. They may be animals as well as people. The room if so bright and yet so comfortable. One of the many there will come and show you around this special place. Drink in the sights and sounds, the room, it's shape. The furnishings. The gifts for you. Your guide shows you to a quiter spot and there are four people waiting their for you. They give you warm welcome. Then in turn they place your hand on first a cool solid beautiful stone. Then a bowl of sparkling, shimmering water. Then through the sweet perfume and curling blue smoke of incense. Then a flame, that warm doesn't burn or hurt you. Then the key, your key is then placed in your hand. The key shakes and shivers in your hand. It turns into a golden liquid that soaks into your hand. It becomes one with your body. When you turn your hand this way and that in the light you can see it shimmer slightly and slowly as you look the image of the key reforms like a picture in shining gold on and through your skin. This is your key. It will open any door within this place. At anytime when you journey within your mind and with your spirit this key will guide and remind that you are an inspired being.

The party is still going when you re-enter the main throng. There is wonderful music. Allow this music to flow into you. It is uplifting and beautiful. When the music is done your guide shows you to another door. Your guide places your hands on the door and as you push it opens. You step into a cool garden. You see a path with images of keys glowing above the ground. You confidently walk this path. It takes you deeper and deeper into the dark. You are unafraid. You are safe. You breath deeply and hold your key to your heart. You breath and stretch you fingers and toes. You know you have the power to walk, journey when ever you want to. You slowly open your eyes.

So I wanted to share a poem about loving, gentle darkness. Not evil darkness or scarey darkness but how I feel about this wonderful balance against light.

Loving Night.

Oh loving night
Hold me in your embrace.
Comfort and hold
With your faceless grace.
Touch deep my heart
Let me dare to dream
Wipe away my tears
Silence all my screams.

It washes over me.
Silently
Kissing the night
For an eternity.



Now this wasn't the whole poem but I can not remember the last verse or find the particular note book with it in. Now the wheel turned. It dark. It is cold and all of a sudden people are being mean, less generous in spirit and well grumpy. Now I know that with people adjusting back to school life this can make folks tired and cranky or in our households case has every bug, flu and virus going around.
I know that I am only going to heal and be immune to the next batch, but this has been an interesting week! Big thanks to TK and my little witch for taking care of me, even when it got really gross.
It is dark, that doesn't mean mean, or cruel or scary it means dreams and healing, hope and inspiration.
"Darkness" has it's own power and balance and it not evil. If you are frightened of the dark it is not the not the darkness outside of you, but the one within, rattling it's chains. Your fear and anxiety, your desires or hurtful impulses.
I have looked into my darkness, I even lived there for a while. It has it's place of power but there must be balance. Having faced my own darkness I am no longer afraid. There must be thoughts without fear, and pain and anxiety, because all thoughts are magick, and life is full of beauty and majesty and pie.
   

Strong women.

So I have spent today meditating and de-programing my negative thoughts. I think I needed a little tune up.
Then I got this little quote on G+ about the strong women. I summed up my feeling about what strength and femininity.
A have known many ballsy, ambitious tough women. I admire them a lot. Yet these women also suffer greatly. Sometimes because they are doing a "man's" job, or not. They feel that if they are vulnerable, open or even forgiving then they are "less".
This desire to be strong at all costs, that they must be tougher, stronger and together often means they damage themselves inside and out.
While this kind of strength has a place and I prefer open, direct and honest women; I feel for them.
I wish they could see and learn that being soft takes a courage and strength. That their bodies and emotions are not to be feared. That crying isn't about manipulating people (some girlie girls do and ya know it) any more than laughing is. That it is okay to forgive, exhale and let go. That getting mad, and staying mad is an expression of pain. While it might mask your vulnerability it doesn't fix anything it only causes more pain.
I understand this. In some ways I am still working on it, but I can see now how gentleness takes courage and inner strength, how we are inhaling and exhaling, and how both are important for both genders to grow. Sometimes women need to be tough, to protect the ones they love, even if it is from themselves. Woman can not be the carpet people wipe their feet on, they must be partners building the world, different but equal. They must express themselves clearly and well rather than deal in mind games and politics to get what they want. It is easy when everything still seems like a fight, at work, at school and at play to be respected and treat, not as one of the boys but as a whole person, not a walking baby-maker, pair of tits, sock-washer, whore, mother or property, not to be angry; not to fight.
While their is so much "out there" that can seem to want to destroy you as a whole person, if you can not let the ball-buster guard down for a minute, they have already won.
If you mellow out fixing car engines, or geeking out in a lab, running and playing with dogs, that is fine with me. Just remember it is okay not to be in control sometimes, it is okay to cry at commercials and not know why. It is okay to love someone and say it without knowing how it will turn out. It is okay to just be soft sometimes. I grant you permission and space to be a whole person.
I have seen where that closedness, that shut-down, that angry bitter place leads. It leaves you alone, with all the negative ideas about people and the world, and especially yourself in a cycle of pain and disappointment.
There are people out there who get it. There are men who are graced with so much beingness that they will freely grant you the same. Men are not some race of thugs who "only want one thing".
They are people. There might be some who have been taught that "only this is woman/female/girl" but even they can learn. Being as closedminded as they are doesn't help, it only hinders us all.
While there is work to be done on respect for women everywhere from respecting dominantly female jobs with better pay and kudos, to standing up against the derogatory De-humanizing speech about and to women. Lets all try and gift each other space for a whole person. 

I celebrate the abundance and gratitude that flows into my life.
I celebrate the love and the lovely positive and beautiful people in my life. 
I celebrate the joy that is my body that is so strong and healthy and heals so easily. 
I celebrate the inspiration that flows to me endlessly and effortlessly.
My inner Goddess grows stronger and brighter every day.
My Sacred elements are in balance and I am in harmony.
I am in harmony with Earth.
I am in harmony with Air.
I am in harmony with Fire.
I am in harmony with Water.
I am in harmony with Spirit.