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.  ...

This morning I got up to see a subscriber email from Druid and author John Beckett. In his newsletter he talked about Seo Helrune’s post about Tweens And The Unseen Not Your Typical Tween Drama —about spirits and your kids. It definitely resonated. Psychic abilities run in both sides of my family, but are stronger on my mom’s side. I’ve always been able to see and hear entities. When I was little, my “imaginary friends” were spirits who often took animal forms, as well as Ancestors. My first goddess was Sister Moon, but my first encounter with a goddess appearing to me was the Greek Hestia when I was really little, somewhere between 8-10. I used to read children’s art books (I think Disney had a series in the 80’s and early 90’s, maybe older, but I remember Mickey Mouse) and read children’s mythology books—reading about Pagans and their Gods and wishing that they were real or still around. Hestia came to me and said that they were. Eventually, I’d get my first Wiccan book when I was ar...

Boo!  I've been sick this Vestalia and haven't been able to do my usual stuff, minus a deep spiritual cleanse of my home and a re-warding.  First I cleansed my home by asking the Norse Solar Goddess Sunna to cleanse my property and vehicle with sunlight.  Then I went inside and opened the windows and curtains for that spring breeze and sunshine.  The weather has actually been pretty nice this Vestalia, with temps in the 60's-75F.  I've been spending a lot of time outside resting, reading, and crocheting. Inside, I lit the sage bundle by saying, " In the names of Hestia-Vesta and the Vestals, I light this sage to cleanse my home of all unwanted energies and entities.  You are not wanted here and must leave! "  I walked my home counterclockwise to banish those unwanted energies.  Then I declared what energies and entities are welcome. I cleansed the home again with energy, to get those pesky nooks and crannies, like under my trailer. Next, I re-ward...