New Roommates, New Semester, New Beginnings

Truly, a family of 4 has moved into one of the kids' rooms. They seem to make it work. So far it has been mostly an enjoyable experience, though Taven is clearly acting out more so than Lylie. I have been exhausted. However, they are also a lot of help.

I am taking Biology with Lab this semester and Soil Science next semester. I am working on getting my minor switched to journalism so that I can work for a paper or magazine after I get my bachelor's. Maybe even a kids' magazine. Children are the future after all! ;) I bet I could make energy conservation fun! ^.^

Biology is AMAZING. The labs are so great. I already got a head start on week 2's lab. I wish I could stay part time but it is going to take me forever. Having a single class at a time makes life interesting and less stressful.

An update on the spiritual front:

I've been on several message boards here and there. One of them pissed me off because it seemed like the people running the show were a bit angsty for my taste so I haven't been on much, there. I did just join wiccan wisdom and have been browsing there.

I've actually e-mailed a few women in surrounding cities and even here in Martinsburg in regards to starting a family-friendly community/coven. I've met with two ladies and have to give another a call this week.

I've joined a pagan homeschool forum on yahoo which has been really helpful with my aspirations to keep the kids at home for school. Lots of great ideas and product suggestions. I think I am going to go with Waldorf for curriculum suggestions.

Lastly I've finally started having dreams again, seemingly symbolic ones. I meditate before bed again to be safe. I've even done a formal ritual recently. A 7-day deal. First one since before we moved here (January).

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Really, I am just going back to regimens that I dropped while working and going to school full time. Now with the addition of a room mate I will be doing both part time and I can take care of myself and the people I love a little better.

#1. Home Pre-School. I have always given the children instruction and guidance and seized any opportunity to teach them about the world, but there was a time where they had structure in their schedule and a large portion of it was very fun learning.

Thanks to youtube's KidsTV123 I have a plethora of visual aides that the kids LOVE. Taking after mom, their favorites are what they call the "planet movie"s, one is just a ditty to help remind them of the order of the planets, the other is a song about the solar system.
Luckily, I also have a ton of books from freecycle, as well as the ones my little sister no longer uses. I still have a few packs of flash cards, crayons, colored-pencils, coloring books and other craft supplies for all kinds of fun learning adventures with my babies.

#2. Weekly work out regimen. A very good friend whom I went to high school with will be moving to the area this Monday. She is going to be my new gym buddy- 5 days a week.
In addition to that, the hubby has agreed to rise and shine early 4 days a week for a couples work out. My workouts at the gym will probably be longer since Chris can use the equipment at work, but I think it is a good healthy way for us to bond.

#3.Food Lover's Diet Plan

I bought this a few years ago and I LOVE it. The exercise portion is no longer necessary once my regimens begin, which, is, hopefully, this week. However, the recipes and snack suggestions will be fueling my shopping lists from here on out.

#4 Mass organization- I have a desk and a bedroom that needs organizing after throwing out some junk and freecycling some unnecessary items.

#5 Regular productive relaxation- meditation, yoga, isochronic tones, chanting and ritual will be more regular. Especially now that I have a killer headset that will block out all the noise of the house.

I figure it will be more of a motivator to share my plan publicly. Good motivation to write as well, which I know will suffer when classes start, tomorrow.

What I Have Learned about Myself this year.

It is inspiring and empowering for me to believe that unseen forces are at work everywhere that greatness and beauty prevail. To imagine the many faces of these forces. To have a relationship with the Unknown. I prefer to have faith in myself and my part in that unseen force to craft my path in the light and bright of existence rather than fear anything or worry. I choose consciousness. And it serves me well.

I believe everything happens for a reason. I believe there are no coincidences. I believe we are all divine and entitled to happiness. I believe that divine in each of us makes things happen and I choose to harness it and use it for good.

I love to learn, I love to teach, to explore, to create, I love life.

Science & Philosophy are my favorite subjects, any and every aspect of each.

I am not bothered by ther "dark" themes in life, though I do detest over-indulgence, self-pity, greed, selfishness, ignorance & blind hate.

I love people and I love talking and debate, but I do get very passionate and have difficulty tolerating the above list of distaste. I am a mother in every sense of the word. I love to help people, nurture their curiosities, open their eyes to new concepts, experiences or ideas.

I am a Naturalistic Pagan, which means I utilize ritual and rite but my core beliefs are rooted in science. I had no idea there was a name for it until yesterday. Disappointing that I am not original in my thoughts, but empowering that there are others like me that value critical thinking as well as spiritual health.

I am a very powerful being, emotionally, physically and mentally.

I can overcome anything.

I am in love with an amazing man(I remembered this, rather than learned. ;) ).

I am incredibly lucky in so many aspects. Guardian angels must follow me, four leaf clovers must grow where I dwell. I am insanely, unbelievably lucky.

Merry Autumn

Autumn has arrived and with it that feeling of connected-ness that seems to arrive every year with a place beyond the veil of the mundane.
There is this playful, electric energy that feels suspiciously like magic, everywhere.

To step outside is to be engulfed in the smell of decaying natural matter, which is somehow comforting and exciting, to me.
To step into civilization is to be enveloped by a myriad of delicious autumnal smells which is pleasing in so many ways.
No matter where you go there is the option of sampling something flavored with pumpkin or cranberry or apple. TV is a little spookier. Children are a little restless and that veil I mentioned earlier is thinning, thinning. ;)
If this Samhain is an anyway an improvement from last year, I simply CAN NOT wait.

Blessed Fall to ALL. (=

Awake. Arise. Apathy.

I'm letting go of all that hurts because I can not justify my own stupidity when I know better. I'm not struggling anymore, I will accept whatever I must with a perfect vision in mind and undeniable faith that it will quickly find fruition through circumstance, work and determination. Through all the drama and bullshit, the people that really love me will still love me despite the absence of either party, despite what may have transpired in anger, frustration and depression. The people who want to die are going to find a means whether I continue to waste my time and energy convincing them otherwise or turn a blind-eye once many attempts have failed. People who want to live are going to struggle and conquer and prevail no matter who or what stands in their way. And I am done being part of the problem. It is time for some severe self-discipline and impulse control. It is time to listen to my gut and KNOW when my internal alarms are screaming instead of instinctually trusting the cute, cuddly-looking, sadist. Here's to contributing to the solution, simply by being conscious and trusting yoursellf over others. Cheers.

Moonlight Sonata

Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata

This haunting splendor by Ludwig van Beethoven was originally called "Quasi una fantasia," meaning, in Italian, "almost a fantasy (Green, 2011)." It has been a classical favorite for centuries and may be one of the most recognized sonatas of Beethoven’s collection of classical masterpieces and with good reason. It is truly enchanting if not a touch eerie. In 1859, German music critic, Ludwig Rellstab wrote that the introduction reminded him of reflected moonlight in the face of Lake Lucerne (Green, 2011). He described the undulating notes as a boat travelling on Lake Lucerne beneath the full moon in the night sky ("Music- Classical..." 2008).

When I listen to the melodious, wandering scales of the piano, I can see the glittering black lake in my mind’s eye, stunning reflections of albino moon light shimmering amidst the darkness. Over the ebony lake, the celestial orb that is the full moon illuminates the night with a silvery glow. The picture is clear as day to me as the melody plays.

Perhaps that is why Rellstab’s appropriate nickname became infamous and the average person would not know which composer you were referring to if you mentioned "Quasi una fantasia." There is something elegant and bewitching about a luminous night sky, so much so that it inspires every kind of artist and art admirer.

References:

Green, A. (2011) Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. About.com. web. http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/onestopbeethoven/a/moonlightsonata.htm.

"Music - Classical & Opera - Lutchmayer on Ludwig;
How to truly appreciate Beethoven's 'Moonlight' Sonata" (2008) Time Out Group. Web. LexisNexis.

Beethovenslady via Youtube.com. (2006). Moonlight Sonata. Web. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQVeaIHWWck