This is a picture of our cat Snoopy when she sat on my keyboard last week. Today I had to let her go... She was old (16) and lately her health was failing. There wasn't much the vet or we could do, conditions of old age. To treat one problem would only worsen another. She didn't have any pain, ate and drank enough; she just got very thin.
The last days she started to wobble a bit. I knew her end was coming... I did all I could to make it easier on her. I let her sleep on my chest at night, carried her around in my arms, I stroke her as often as she wanted, gave her reiki, etc.
Today she was deteriorating rapidly. I hoped she would pass away on her own at home, but her little heart was too strong. When the vet gave her an anaesthetic, she didn't react and the final injection wasn't even necessary...
Her tiny body will be cremated, her soul will join those of our other pets at the rainbow bridge...
Snoopy
May 25, 1989 - † July 26, 2005
I'll never forget you, sweetie. You're in my heart forever...
A new candle is burning in front of my biggest Bast statue. I know she'll take care of my little darling.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Tour de Lance, number 7!!!
It's official, HE DID IT! Lance Armstrong took his 7th Tour de France victory in a row. Man, did he deserve it...!!! He is the very best, but also a nice person interested in every cyclist in the tour. His preparations are called fanatic; maybe they are, but it sure pays off! Only he can do this... I've been his fan ever since I first saw him on Dutch television, long before his illness and the Tour victories. I was devastated when I heard about the cancer, but always believed in his comeback. And what a comeback it has been... I know this is his last performance as a professional. He'll be greatly missed, even if he will show up as a part of the Discovery Team staff or something. I'm sure this won't be the last we'll see and hear from him.
I know he probably won't read this, but still I say:
I know he probably won't read this, but still I say:
Thank You, Lance, for everything!!!
He shared the podium with his twin daughters and son Luke while Sheryl Crow, friends and family were watching. I'm so glad they were all there for him. He looks great and happy with his kids. Tonight he'll throw a big party and tomorrow he'll take his family and friends to the south of France to enjoy a well-deserved holiday. Enjoy your time off, Lance. I wish you all the best and more.
He shared the podium with his twin daughters and son Luke while Sheryl Crow, friends and family were watching. I'm so glad they were all there for him. He looks great and happy with his kids. Tonight he'll throw a big party and tomorrow he'll take his family and friends to the south of France to enjoy a well-deserved holiday. Enjoy your time off, Lance. I wish you all the best and more.
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Secrets
In the PostcardFairies community I read about this website, where you can find postcards with confessions and secrets. I couldn't stop and read them all. Amazing....
Monday, July 11, 2005
The Goddess Research Survey
I participated in a research study on goddess honoring spirituality.
Here's the invitation:
Available: July 8th – August 5th online
Location: On the Web
Criteria:
1. women 18 or older
2. read and write English
3. honor Goddess(es) or feminine deities in your spiritual path
New Data: Personal benefits gained by honoring goddess(es) /feminine divine
Time Needed: 10-20 minutes (don’t over-think the questions and it moves very quickly)
Confidential: All data collected and your email address are kept confidential
Results: Are available whether you complete the survey or not, go to Survey for info.
Researching: Potential positive personal benefits of honoring goddess(es)/feminine divine
Contribute: Your input to be gathered for academic researchers to add to their knowledge
I plan to do a study on men and other research at a later date. For more details go to the Survey and look for the detail description.
Please notify your members, email lists, mailing list, stores, circle / coven / grove or others who you feel may be interested. I need your help getting the word out to the Pagan community world wide.
I very much appreciate your help.
Rebecca Busby
Doctoral student in Clinical Psychology
California Institute of Integral Studies
San Francisco, California
Here's the invitation:
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If you are interested in participating in a research study on goddess honoring spirituality too, please complete the Survey.
Available: July 8th – August 5th online
Location: On the Web
Criteria:
1. women 18 or older
2. read and write English
3. honor Goddess(es) or feminine deities in your spiritual path
New Data: Personal benefits gained by honoring goddess(es) /feminine divine
Time Needed: 10-20 minutes (don’t over-think the questions and it moves very quickly)
Confidential: All data collected and your email address are kept confidential
Results: Are available whether you complete the survey or not, go to Survey for info.
Researching: Potential positive personal benefits of honoring goddess(es)/feminine divine
Contribute: Your input to be gathered for academic researchers to add to their knowledge
I plan to do a study on men and other research at a later date. For more details go to the Survey and look for the detail description.
Please notify your members, email lists, mailing list, stores, circle / coven / grove or others who you feel may be interested. I need your help getting the word out to the Pagan community world wide.
I very much appreciate your help.
Rebecca Busby
Doctoral student in Clinical Psychology
California Institute of Integral Studies
San Francisco, California
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Witchy Girls Night
About once per three months I go to a meeting called Witchy Girls Night, hosted by a friend in Amsterdam. In April I went to the first meeting and yesterday was the second. As the name already shows, it's for girls/women only. This time the theme was "Goddesses", so we all brought statues and other stuff to decorate the room. I had taken one of my Bast statues and a goddess oracle. The weather was great so we first sat outside in the garden and talked while enjoying drinks and delicacies.
After nine we started with the ritual. The altar looked beautiful! We casted the circle from hand to hand like in the Phyllis Curott workshop. We all told something about our personal goddesses and how we connected with them. First we passed an obsidian (widdershins) in which we put something we want to get rid off. After that we passed a rock-crystal (deosil). By giving it to the woman next to us we wished them something good to take from it. The bread was a special one in the shape of the sun. I just nipped from the wine (I don't drink alcohol). Before we closed the circle we drew cards from another Goddess Oracle. My card was Nu Kua. She brings order in your life in an attainable way (not too much, not too little).
After the ritual we grounded and talked, until we had to go home. Our host has buried the obsidian in her garden after offering the remains of the cake & wine. Mother Earth can absorb the negativity and make something positive out of it again. It was an inspiring evening with friends.
After nine we started with the ritual. The altar looked beautiful! We casted the circle from hand to hand like in the Phyllis Curott workshop. We all told something about our personal goddesses and how we connected with them. First we passed an obsidian (widdershins) in which we put something we want to get rid off. After that we passed a rock-crystal (deosil). By giving it to the woman next to us we wished them something good to take from it. The bread was a special one in the shape of the sun. I just nipped from the wine (I don't drink alcohol). Before we closed the circle we drew cards from another Goddess Oracle. My card was Nu Kua. She brings order in your life in an attainable way (not too much, not too little).
After the ritual we grounded and talked, until we had to go home. Our host has buried the obsidian in her garden after offering the remains of the cake & wine. Mother Earth can absorb the negativity and make something positive out of it again. It was an inspiring evening with friends.
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Twelve Wild Swans
Some time ago a friend told me she wanted to form a group to read and study "The Twelve Wild Swans" by Starhawk and Hilary Valentine. I already tried to do this with the Witches of the Rose, but somehow that didn't work out. I regret that, so this was my chance to start once more.
Last night we had our first get-together to talk about how we'll do it and plan ahead. We decided to work through the book by path: first the elemental Path, than the Inner Path and last the Outer Path. We'll start after the summer holidays. We'll have our first "official" meeting at September 9. I'm looking forward to read the book again!
About the book...
A fairy tale about twelve wild swans is transformed into a set of instructions for an initiatory journey into the world of magic and Witchcraft. The lessons set out in The Spiral Dance are taken to a more profound level in this book, the first ever written to provide advanced magical training.
A sourcebook for circles, covens, and groups, this volume instructs on three levels: the craft of magical training, inner-spiritual development, and outer work in the greater world. Each chapter of the book is constructed to accommodate three levels of experience, and three areas of focus. The Element Path teaches the basic tools of our tradition, the Inner Path directs those tools toward our own personal and individual healing, while the Outer Path helps us to take these tools out into the community to inspire change, build community, and confront the unhealthy power structures in our society.
Last night we had our first get-together to talk about how we'll do it and plan ahead. We decided to work through the book by path: first the elemental Path, than the Inner Path and last the Outer Path. We'll start after the summer holidays. We'll have our first "official" meeting at September 9. I'm looking forward to read the book again!
About the book...
A fairy tale about twelve wild swans is transformed into a set of instructions for an initiatory journey into the world of magic and Witchcraft. The lessons set out in The Spiral Dance are taken to a more profound level in this book, the first ever written to provide advanced magical training.
A sourcebook for circles, covens, and groups, this volume instructs on three levels: the craft of magical training, inner-spiritual development, and outer work in the greater world. Each chapter of the book is constructed to accommodate three levels of experience, and three areas of focus. The Element Path teaches the basic tools of our tradition, the Inner Path directs those tools toward our own personal and individual healing, while the Outer Path helps us to take these tools out into the community to inspire change, build community, and confront the unhealthy power structures in our society.
Friday, July 08, 2005
London
Unbelievable, shocking, disgusting.... all words have been said. Just like on 9-11 I was glued to the television. My heart goes out to the families and friends of the victims, the wounded, all Londoners and everyone else hurting. It's terrible, I don't have enough words to describe it. I admire the people there, who remain calm and go on with daily life, although it can't be the same. We stand united, once again... We can't and won't give in to terrorism!
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Lions to the rescue!
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) --
A 12-year-old girl who was abducted and beaten by men trying to force her into a marriage was found being guarded by three lions who apparently had chased off her captors, a policeman said Tuesday.
Read more...
Surprising huh? As Sage says in her Goddessing weblog (where I found out about this): no wonder big cats were so often associated with goddesses!
A 12-year-old girl who was abducted and beaten by men trying to force her into a marriage was found being guarded by three lions who apparently had chased off her captors, a policeman said Tuesday.
Read more...
Surprising huh? As Sage says in her Goddessing weblog (where I found out about this): no wonder big cats were so often associated with goddesses!
A Knock at the Duir
Life isn't easy at the moment and I was quite stressed. I started to read my favorite weblogs to get my mind off of those things. I stumbled across a beautiful presentation called "A Knock at the Duir". I have got it in my files for a long time, but forgot about it. Watching it again helped me to calm down a bit. It's very inspirational.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Workshop Phyllis Curott
In June I did an amazing workshop weekend given by Phyllis Curott. She is my favorite pagan author, so this was a great opportunity to meet her and learn from her. She was in The Netherlands to promote the Dutch translation of her third book The Love Spell. I bought it in Dutch during the weekend; she signed it, along with her first two books I brought with me. She wrote something in all three books. In the meantime I've read the book and it's great!! I'd like to read it in English too. The translation isn't bad at all, but I like to read the original.
The location of the workshop was perfect: a hostel very close to the woods. I've been there before (workshop weekend with Janet Farrar & Gavin Bone), but this time we spent much more time outside. The weather was a bit unstable, but I didn't mind.
The group was very diverse: young and old, coven witches and solitaries, beginners and advanced. Phyllis adapted to that and it became a close group working together like a charm. I have written lots and lots of pages in my paper journal, but I'll share some of it here.
A very interesting proces was something called "unnaming". It's a way of learning from nature by paying attention and use your senses. You have to describe something without using its name. In that way a tree becomes: green, tall, has branches and leaves, has roots deep into the earth, etc. In the beginning it was quite difficult, but in the end the most beautiful descriptions came out of it. This is something I'll do more often when in nature!
Saturday afternoon we spent by making journeys to find a power animal. I already did it once for myself, but this time we worked with couples. We had to find a power animal for our partner. Both journeys were wonderful. My partner found me a big and proud red deer. I found her a hawk with the help of both my familiar power animal (black panther) and the new one.
Saturday evening we did an impressive ritual. I brought my livewood staff, a Bast statue, my pendulum and some little things with me. Everyone had changed their clothes and looked special. I wore Monique's dress and felt good in it. Here's a picture of Phyllis and me. We have been chanting and dancing. The energy felt so good! And afterwards: partytime!!
All in all I learned a lot, had fun, met wonderful people... In short: a terrific weekend to look back on and enjoy for a long time!!!
The location of the workshop was perfect: a hostel very close to the woods. I've been there before (workshop weekend with Janet Farrar & Gavin Bone), but this time we spent much more time outside. The weather was a bit unstable, but I didn't mind.
The group was very diverse: young and old, coven witches and solitaries, beginners and advanced. Phyllis adapted to that and it became a close group working together like a charm. I have written lots and lots of pages in my paper journal, but I'll share some of it here.
A very interesting proces was something called "unnaming". It's a way of learning from nature by paying attention and use your senses. You have to describe something without using its name. In that way a tree becomes: green, tall, has branches and leaves, has roots deep into the earth, etc. In the beginning it was quite difficult, but in the end the most beautiful descriptions came out of it. This is something I'll do more often when in nature!
Saturday afternoon we spent by making journeys to find a power animal. I already did it once for myself, but this time we worked with couples. We had to find a power animal for our partner. Both journeys were wonderful. My partner found me a big and proud red deer. I found her a hawk with the help of both my familiar power animal (black panther) and the new one.
Saturday evening we did an impressive ritual. I brought my livewood staff, a Bast statue, my pendulum and some little things with me. Everyone had changed their clothes and looked special. I wore Monique's dress and felt good in it. Here's a picture of Phyllis and me. We have been chanting and dancing. The energy felt so good! And afterwards: partytime!!
All in all I learned a lot, had fun, met wonderful people... In short: a terrific weekend to look back on and enjoy for a long time!!!
Introduction
This is my first post on Blogspot, so I'll start with a little introduction:
I'm a Dutch eclectic solitary witch who likes exploring the www, meeting other pagans, learning about other paths and religions, etc. I have a LiveJournal, but I hardly use it to write about my spiritual path and every-day-life as a witch. About a year ago I started a MuseLog, a pagan journal. Unfortunately that service will stop soon, so I decided to move over to Blogspot. I'll import the Muselog-posts to this log some time today.
Tinkerbell has been my online nickname for as long as I have internet access, because I just like the little fantasy-pixie! I use that nick everywhere on the web, whether it's on a Robbie Williams forum or on any e-maillist. I like to keep things simple! ;-)
If you have questions or comments, feel free to leave a message!
14.07u: I had to do it manually and the comments are lost (I did save them on my harddisk though), but all the Muselog posts are imported!
I'm a Dutch eclectic solitary witch who likes exploring the www, meeting other pagans, learning about other paths and religions, etc. I have a LiveJournal, but I hardly use it to write about my spiritual path and every-day-life as a witch. About a year ago I started a MuseLog, a pagan journal. Unfortunately that service will stop soon, so I decided to move over to Blogspot. I'll import the Muselog-posts to this log some time today.
Tinkerbell has been my online nickname for as long as I have internet access, because I just like the little fantasy-pixie! I use that nick everywhere on the web, whether it's on a Robbie Williams forum or on any e-maillist. I like to keep things simple! ;-)
If you have questions or comments, feel free to leave a message!
14.07u: I had to do it manually and the comments are lost (I did save them on my harddisk though), but all the Muselog posts are imported!
Monday, July 04, 2005
Robbie Williams rocks Hyde Park!
Live 8 was awesome, but Rob's performance was absolutely the very best. The crowd was his, he IS a born entertainer. I know I'm biased, but not only RW-fans think so. All the newspapers and other critics agree. I couldn't watch his performance live, because we had to go to a party, but I taped 5 hours of Live 8. At least that's what I thought... Sunday morning I found out that BBC had switched from 2 to BBC 1, so I had a lot of Wimbledon and not a second of Live 8. I was soooo angry and disappointed!! But of course fans are there to help each other out and I received the performance as a file. It was GREAT. Live Aid had Freddie Mercury, Live 8 had Robbie Williams... (just one of the headlines).
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