Today I finally got the inspiration for my first mermaid piece, inspired by me.  My long time swimming name "Orca" has been retired and replaced by "Mermom".  All of those days spent drawing myself in university resulted in this... A little more Come Hither than intended (although fits, kind of merfolk MO--lure in and devour--as hubby excitedly commented, "Oh shit, I'd be your first victim!"), and I was trying to smile, but I haven't figure out how to zoom in for tiny detail without accidently deleting the rest of the image...like half of this picture (had to redo that tail twice).   I am happy with the nose, although again, if I had more control with zooming in, I could make it look better with shading and highlights. Also I realized that the sun's position and the highlights and shadows don't line up. Especially with the tail partially blocking the sun.  Everything lined up...until I deleted half of the picture. Well, things for next tim...

 Mornin! The Kindreds are saying,  Enough messin around, let's do a reading! They've picked Fairy Tale Fortune Cards by Liz Dean and Bev Speight. With the pendulum, I ask, "Message or Blessings?  Yes for Message, No for Blessings.  Circle for both." Message . "The Kindred three?" Yes . "Okay, Kindred, what's your message for the Hearth Fox Community? Ancestors  As I shuffle, I see Art .  I see Community, Therapy .  Keystone .  Be the Keystone of your community . The Horse - Good news is coming, be prepared. Nature Spirits Two.  Outside.  Come outside.  I see trees, looking up at them from the ground.  I see faces forming in the bark, and little spirits dancing among the branches. The Man and The Flowers - The man can represent you or someone in your life.  The Flowers are a gift of happiness to come.  Being gifted to the man. Shining Ones Sunna. Jumper - The Book  - Contains a Secret. I see you . Jumper - The ...

 If yall observe.  If not, I hope you have a good weekend. It's been busy here.  A week ago I went swimming with the family and all week long I've been feeling that mermaid energy.  Must be them flippers or just me loving to swim.  I've never really been into merfolk--in high school I used to make a bunch of mini mermaids and fae out of sculpey, but that's about it.  I also have a mer-form in the astral, but I rarely use it.  I usually just shift into whatever fish or whale, ya know?  I've been indulging that energy by looking at artwork, swimming tails, playing with my merfolk families in Sims 4 , watching real merfolk actors, and shapeshifting trance work.   I've also been playing around with Procreate and making little artworks for interesting animals I come across, like the two foxes that came across my path, a lightning bug that explored my entire hand, and a chubby wobbly raccoon who ran towards the woods yesterday evening.  I...

 We finally got out to the lake on Saturday.  The pop up tent that I bought just for this activity held up great against the strong winds.  I swam with my long finned flippers for about 1.5 hours.  My legs are sore, but it was great resistance exercise.  Normally it's hard to get me out of the water--I can be in from dawn to dusk, and on into the night.  My summer nickname was Orca for a reason.  But after swimming with the flippers, I was out after 2 hours.  Honestly, the only reason why I took the flippers off was because I could feel blisters forming on the tops of my feet, and I didn't want to risk an infection from the lake water.  I was the only adult and the one who had to drive home (6 minute drive, but still).  Hoping to go back at least once this week. My 13-yr-old and I had an interesting conversation.  He said something that I already expected, as he's always been more scientifically minded.  He's an Atheist.  ...

  Happy Vestalia (June 7-15th)!  Hail Vesta and the Vestals! On the 9th, a red fox crossed my path, which was very cool.  Then later that night, I had ritual with my online grove.  Although Tuesday was a bit of a struggle, by then I still hadn't reworked my ritual and I was battling a headache.  We've been having a lot of storms lately, and it's normal for me to have one until the storm arrives. However, my joints haven't been hurting!  For about a month and a half, give or take, I've significantly cut down on my sugar--minus the good sugars found in fruits.  I haven't gone cold turkey because that rarely works for me, I just cut more than half down on what I was eating and drinking.  Boy, have I been losing weight!  I haven't even started swimming regularly yet!  Less weight = less joint pain.  I haven't needed my cane in a couple of weeks.  I've also been eating more fresh raw veggies, too.  Gotta replace that processed ...

Around noon, a thunderstorm rolled in.  Hard and heavy.  I gave an apple to Thor for protection and galdred runes over our leaky-too-small-for-frame-screen-door that maintenance installed not too long ago.  In return, Thor instructed me to collect some storm water.  My eldest quickly put a bowl outside for a few minutes, and then collected it.   I brought the bowl into the kitchen and asked for Thor's blessings over the storm water.  He did. I dipped a Mjolnir pendant into it 9 times, and set it on my ADF altar to dry.   I traced a Mjolnir with this blessed Storm Water on myself, my cat, and my kids. I poured most of it into a bottle, with a label, and Thor showed me one of my plants to pour the remainder. Now I have some Thor Blessed Storm Water to be used....soon, I imagine.  It won't keep forever.  Storm Water is very potent, and good for protection and cursing.  It can be mixed with other waters for a boost. Guess we'll see...

Today I sat outside in the sun.  For about a month, I've been working on turning my pastey white skin tan...or trying to.  Once the lake water is warm enough to swim, I'm going to be spending a lot of time there, and I'd rather not turn into a lobster.  Anywho, when I do go outside, I greet Sunna, set an intention, set a timer on my phone, and either meditate/trance or read.  Today I chose to read: Edda by Snorri Sturluson.  Not my favorite author, but an important one to read (I'd rather be reading Dr Jackson Crawford's translations of Snorri).  I'm familiar with the stories and mythology, as it would seem that every author who writes about Norse Paganism and Magik has to talk about the mythology.  Can't have one without the other, which is kind of annoying to be honest.  But, hey, makes a book go faster when you're skipping parts that you've read multiple times. As I sat there, soaking up Sunna's rays with the intention of healing and protecti...

  First, a belated Blessed World Bee Day and...oh shoot, I can't remember...Mother's Day was one...I think there was another.  Hm.  Well, belated happy days. Wednesday was my kid's last day of school, but it was also very wet.  Last night we had our First Fire and Last Day of the School Year Celebration. I had planned on etching symbols into the metal of the fire pit, but I couldn't find my etching tool.  I think I packed it away with my Valkyrie Shrine.  Instead I went to my magikal cabinet for dried flowers and herbs.  I selected based on energies: Peace Joy Love Healing Protection Psychic Strength Good Abundance Good Health All into my orange coconut bowl.  With my fingers, I stirred and mixed the flowers and herbs together, repeating my intention for the mixture... Offering to the Hearth Kindreds and Spirits To dedicate the Fire Pit To anoint our Family, Home, Vehicle, and lot Tracing with my finger into the mixture, I galdred the runes as the...

 Here's a Community Reading for yall, through the Moonology deck: Sister Moon, what's your message for the community on this Dark Moon? "Eat fruit" "Eat well" The card I've pulled is: New Moon in Gemini - Communication is key. Funny enough as I locked in and shuffled, I kept seeing Facebook--just a general page.  No one in particular.  I guess this could also represent social media in general. "Ground yourself before communicating.  Also write a letter or a journal entry before messaging that person.  Don't just listen to respond, actually listen to learn.  Don't just spit out words like an angry parrot; think about your words, your tone, whether or not you make sense.   Socialize, but do so politely.  Remember your manners.  If the other person is rude...simple walk or scroll away."  Sister Moon, do you have anything else?   "No."   Thank you, Sister Moon. --------- Now for my personal message from the Kindred. "Don'...