Blessed Mabon and Happy Fall, Y'all!

The second harvest is upon us...Oh, how I longed for this day!  Autumn! With the cool crisp days where the wind plays my newly reddened locks and the smell of apples and pumpkins lightly frosts the air!
At least, that is what I envision but here in the Lone Star state, it's anything but that as the sticky heat plasters my clothing to my body and melts my poor brain, lol. Ugh.
Thankfully, Fall really does seem to be around the corner.  We have cooler weather ahead, thank the goddess!  I really don't think I could live somewhere with no autumn!

My Sabbat celebrations are very quiet personal events, mostly because I am the only Pagan in my household (though my youngest son has sparked some interest).  For me, it is always a time for reflection as I sit out in nature somewhere, where I can silently thank the Divine for all that is around me and reveal in the blessings of the Earth's energy and beauty.
I'll light some candles and incense within my home and say a few blessings as the smoke rises.  And generally today I would, of course, tend to my garden, canning and preserving anything that I would be able to but having left my garden behind in our recent move, I will have to settle on filling my home with baked goods of apples and pumpkin...yum!

I wish you all a Blessed and Happy Mabon and would like to share with you a beautiful Autumn Blessing that I came across online:

"I welcome all the energy of Autumn into my life.
Autumn is a time of transformation and reflection.
Like the leaves falling away from their branches,
my life flows and changes peacefully, and all at
the perfect time.
I take time in Autumn to reflect on my life and
where I am going in it.  I have a clear vision of the
changes that I need to make so that I may continue
to grow in my highest good.
I enjoy the cooler weather and all the changing
colors that are unfolding throughout Nature.
This is the season of warmth and gentleness; a
reflection of my inner self.
With grace I let go of anything that is not serving
me positively and I make way for many new
blessings."

And a simple candle spell of thanks (think Fall colors for your candle; brown, yellow, gold, orange, red and violet.  Of course, white can always be used as well):

"I light this candle to honor the season
and to give thanks for the abundance in
my life.  I strive to remember these
blessings and give thanks for them
throughout the entire year.  I strive to
remember to share these blessings with
others not as fortunate as I am, even
when I have little to share.  I give thanks
to the Lord and Lady for all my
blessings this Mabon season, and give
thanks for all those blessings that will
come to me this glorious fall season.
So Mote It Be!"

Much Love to you all, my witchy friends.


*Autumn Blessing pin by Rhaevyn Hart
*Candle Spell credit given to Mrs. B's Guide to Household Witchery

Wow, I can't believe it's been a year since I last posted.  I guess I didn't do very well in my quest to try to stay on task with this blog.  With Samhain approaching, perhaps this could be one of my goals for this next year.
Like the seasons of the year, there has been many changes in my life; a relocation, a change in a career path, and a new found commitment.

The Relocation:
 We VERY recently moved from my cute little hometown to a corner in hell.  Ha! Not really, but it definitely has been hot in this new town we are now calling home.  It's funny, I never, ever wanted to move to Texas, but here we are...in Texas.  It goes to show that you must always watch your words.  Texas seamed to consistently come up in possibilities for my husband's career.  I would ALWAYS reply, "You couldn't pay me to live in Texas!"  Guess what. <Insert sarcastic emoji face>

The Career Path:
This last year, I have embraced my new life chapter of turning 40.  My positivity was in full swing the first 6 months of the year as my June birthday approached.  I started training for my first half marathon, took a writing workshop and started teaching hoop dance in my hometown.
Sounds great, right?  For the most part it was...until an injury halted my running goal, even throwing me out of the gym for a good 3 months.  The hoop dance classes were going well but then the relocation ironically became a reality right after I bought official marketing supplies.  As for the writing workshop?  Well, that leads me into...

The Commitment:

“Creativity takes courage. ” 
― Henri Matisse

Let me start off to say that even if you don't think you are capable of accomplishing something or becoming successful at something...dammit...TRY ANYWAY.  For as long as I can remember, my Mom told me that I should be a writer.  Knowing that my Mom is biased, I continuously brushed it off.  Me?  A writer?  I would love to but there's no way that I can be a writer.  There's so many amazing writers out there full of talent, and many full of  talent that never get recognized.  How could I possibly amount to that? (Gotta love that teenage uncertainty).  
Years past and I set that idea/dream aside, always submerging myself in other's stories (I'm a book worm).  Enter my 40th life year and seeing a flyer posted in my town square for a free workshop.  What the hell, right?  I signed up.  Let's see if I can write something, even if it's just for myself.  I went to the workshop with many people who were already self-proclaimed writers, already writing or have written work, but I didn't care.  I was there for me.  I soaked everything up like a sponge, excited to see where this would or could go.  I felt comfortable to be in this room of strangers yet kindred creative spirits.  
I can honestly say this was one of the best things I ever did for myself; opening a door of possibilities and giving myself a chance at something I did not see possible due to fear of failure. 
In committing to a creative lifestyle; in many areas of my life, not just the written word, I have given myself the permission to be happy and pursue dreams. Dreams that I would brush off, either due to lack of courage, a shortness of self-esteem or the fear of failure.  I'm not sure how successful I will be but I will be happy as I reach for the stars and to me, that is success enough.

"We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we're curious...and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” 
― Walt Disney Company 

BTW, I am currently working on my first fictional piece.  

New direction

When I started this blog, I had the full intention of being current with it and having it focused on my spirituality.  An outlet per say as I was discovering and embracing that side of me that I had newly reconnected with after years of suppression.  But staying on task isn't an easy thing for me, as a million things always seem to be racing in my head.  No, I'm not ADD or ADHD.  I'm a Gemini.
Communication is vital to me and something I feel I get so little these days.  Yes, there are all these social media sites now where people can just come and say whatever they want and with that comes repercussions in the form of unfiltered drama.  That is not for me.  I don't do well with unnecessary drama.  It actually dims my light inside.
I can't help but feel like I have so much to say but no one seems to want to listen.  I don't know.  Maybe I'm not a very interesting person.  Maybe what I've got to say is nothing new or maybe my insights and feelings really are like everyone else's even though I feel so different.  An odd number amongst the evens.

Having said that, I am devoting this blog to me.  Not in a narcissistic way but in a way for me to grow on my journey.  And maybe even helping me stay focused on making dreams, no matter how small they may seem to others, become realities.

I will have ups.
And I will definitely have downs.
I may even sometimes show the worst side of me but I truly hope not.
Either way, I'll just be me.

Hello Mantis

Today, after dropping my boys off at school, I was greeted by a Praying Mantis on my porch.  I had never seen one in real life unless it was in captivity somewhere.  After much thought, I decided to look up the symbolism of this creature and let me tell you.....it is fitting for the way things have been in my life. 

Praying Mantis Meanings in the Realms of Animal Symbolism

The mantis comes to us when we need peace, quiet and calm in our lives. Usually the mantis makes an appearance when we've flooded our lives with so much business, activity, or chaos that we can no longer hear the still small voice within us because of the external din we've created.

After observing this creature for any length of time you can see why the symbolism of the praying mantis deals with stillness and patience. The mantis takes her time, and lives her life at her own silent pace.

A Quick-List of Praying Mantis Symbolism

• Stillness
• Awareness
• Creativity
• Patience
• Mindful
• Calm
• Balance
• Intuition

These traits have lead the mantis to be a symbol of meditation and contemplation. In fact, in China, the mantis has long been honored for her mindful movements.

The mantis never makes a move unless she is 100% positive it is the right thing for her to do. This is a message to us to contemplate and be sure our minds and souls all agree together about the choices we are making in our lives.

Overwhelmingly in most cultures the mantis is a symbol of stillness. As such, she is an ambassador from the animal kingdom giving testimony to the benefits of meditation, and calming our minds.

An appearance from the mantis is a message to be still, go within, meditate, get quite and reach a place of calm. It may also a sign for you to be more mindful of the choices you are making and confirm that these choices are congruent.

credit due: http://www.whats-your-sign.com/index.html

Awakening

By the Goddess, I have been on such a tumultuous personal journey the past few months!  I really feel at this moment that I am finally going towards reaching a phenominal life change and it is both terrifying and liberating at the same time.  It is so scary to leave the comfort zone of the life you have created with the society views you have been taught from infancy and to venture into a new journey, doing and having the kind of life you always felt you were destined to have. 
I feel my husband is also on a journey, similiar to mine in the way of searching for happiness but I am not sure if his journey is as deep as mine on a spiritual level.  Regardless, there is change on the horizon in our household.  The future seems more uncertain now than it ever has but it is also full of more and more possibilites that I am anxious to explore.  I look forward to sharing this journey of mine with you, in hopes that perhaps it will enlighten and inspire you on your own personal journey.
I wish upon you and your life many blessings of love, creativity, happiness and light.
~Pixie

The Witch's Sabbat - Yule - The Winter Solstice

She did it again!

Silver Ravenwolf has again started a month of cleansing rituals.  I was not a part of the month cleansing last year but from what I have heard and read, it was wonderful.  Today in my inbox I received a morning ritual which I just fell in love with!  I am always looking for simple ways to bring and keep my spirituality in my life, especially as I live amongst those that do not share my path.  This fit that bill!  So what better way then to share it with all of you! 
Love & Light~ Pixie
http://silverravenwolf.wordpress.com/2012/11/26/braucherei-morning-ritual-excellent-for-use-in-the-great-release-program-2012/