Yay!  I'm glad that the First Day of Fall is gloomy, wet, and in the 60s.  AC is off, windows are open, and its Black and Orange Cat season.  As well as Apple and Pumpkin Picking Season.  As a month with an R and a Ber, it's hot chocolate season (because of Sheldon from Big Bang Theory, I only drink hot chocolate in months with an R--I know super nerdy).   Today or tomorrow I plan on making a spice cake.  I was going to make a stew, but our fridge is stuffed with left overs. This year--I believe when it started--Rev Vic started a High Day Pen Pal project and I've been enjoying it.  I just got two letters yesterday.  This High Day the prompt was a favorite equinox dish, so I knew I was sending a recipe--I've never been to one of those recipe sharing gatherings, but I have memories of older relatives getting together and swapping recipes.  Might as well share my favorite recipes!  I messaged my sendee to check for allergies and ...

 Wednesday, Sept 23rd, I'll be leading a ritual for Persephone's Descent, as I've done for many years outside of ADF and a couple of years for Virtual Fire.  I'm still working on writing a script for this year.  Persephone's being fairly quiet right now, but I do feel like Molly Remer's Return may be of significance.  At least for me.  A Return to Home Within Ourselves.   Twice a year, Persephone returns home.  Home above ground with life in each step.  Home underground with decay in each step. This concept is something that my Spiritual Mothers seem to be stressing at the moment.  Other than the art focus, but then art is also home for me.  I love art--photography, drawing, painting, sculpture, writing, fiber arts, baking, party planning.  Even when I was a little kid, my mom had given me these old falling apart Disney art history books.  I loved them!  I remember drawing the tiny worlds of mice living in our walls ...

 Awww, a friend got Molly Remer's book Return .  <3 I also saw that  September's Animal Ally is the Fox , asking important questions: Where do I feel safe enough to be more of myself? Where might I give myself permission not to perform? Where might I need to shift or change? Where might I need some energetic camouflage? Going to break out the tools for these four questions, and ask them for the general HFO community. Since I don't have a fox deck yet, Fox is going to speak through the Urban Crow Oracle by MJ Cullinane. "In the shadows" "Among true friends"  "Keyboard"  "Art"  I've drawn Sacred Space . "Sleep"  "Alone"  I've drawn Growth .  Growth through harsh community/family lessons...at first.  Once you get the hang of it, then there are more opportunities for you.  I'm seeing a both/and here.  You already give yourself permission alone, but also have the bravery to be yourself in action and in r...

 I've begun working on my Fall Equinox Healing Blanket again. I've had an excellent summer, and I am ready for the coolness of fall.  I love living in an area where the seasonal changes are dramatic.  Although that also means the wind storms will more than likely return.  They've definitely become more of a thing over the last few years, in the spring and fall.   We had a glimpse of the winds yesterday evening.  Bout time to make sure outdoor stuff is secure, such as siding, bikes, mower, and that the bungees for the trash bin and deck furniture need to be replaced. Not to mention check medicine stores and everyone's cold weather and winter gear.  Winters are getting worse, too.  Well, here and there, but those 1-3 weeks of artic blasts?  Oooffff.  Don't get me wrong, I prefer having proper winters--our region needs it for pest control and other natural reasons.  We also live in a trailer--thin walls.  But I've been collec...

 On Thursday, I attended a guided meditation with my friend Hawth Reiter .  I've attended many of his dark/new moon with Hekate sessions over the years (Hawth is also who taught me about Anchoring and body scanning.  Great teacher, fantastic conduit--check him out, book a session.  Highly recommended). Onto the meditation. After anchoring, Hawth takes us to a stairwell that lead down into the earth, where you'll find yourself in a cave or a room, then we leave through a door that leads out to a bonfire.  Months ago, my cave collapsed, because Hekate was all about me following the Sun and the Moon to do my shadow and light work above ground, so She opened the earth to let Sunna and Sister Moon's light in.  I go to a huge hole in the ground, which I usually just jump or climb down into. That night, I had two options--a pinkish silver grand staircase or old, wet, mossy boulders.  I chose the boulders.  As I climbed down, I automatically shapeshifted ...

 Over the weekend, I went camping with my kids.  A ton of fun, but very tiring.  It was a chilly sleep on a cot on an incline.  I've been resting my sore muscles and getting my sleep.   On Monday or Tuesday, I came across post from Brigid's Grove/Molly Remer about a September Class she's teaching called Replenish at the Hearth , featuring Hestia.  Of course I'm interested, but with Halloween coming up, I can't afford to take it (and it's not expensive, but it ain't in the budget).   However, Hestia tapped my shoulder wanting me to do a Hearth Replenishing ritual with Her.  Sure, yall know I could use some rest and energy.  Then yesterday, Virtual Fire was looking for someone to host the weekly ritual.  I volunteered, and wrote a ritual with Hestia's guidance, inspired by Molly Remer's class title and some of the poem/prayers she has on her FB page.  I didn't know much beyond the title and the prayers.   I knew...

 Oh my Gods, yall, yesterday.  Technically the stress started the night before. My cat is an indoor/outdoor cat.  We've tried many times to make her be an indoor cat, but she always always gets out, so we just gave up on that.  Every night at 830-9pm she comes in for the night.  Well, not Monday night.  1-2 times an hour I'd go outside and hollar for her.  There was a time when I heard a meow coming from the van, but there was also a grey and white stray under there (alll night long this cat was in her spot).  I couldn't tell if the meow was her voice or his--I didn't know what that tom sounded like. Around midnight, I really started getting worried.  It's not like her at all.  Since we brought her inside, she's never spent a night outside. So I asked my pendulum if she was okay, if she was hurt--pendulum said she was dead! However, when it comes to death, my pendulums are notoriously wrong about it for some reason.  Plus I usually...