Some days are easier than others

Like when I work from home and get hugs and kisses from my boyfriend when he gets home, and my roommate does most of the cooking for dinner.

And some days there's a giant frikkin staircase in my way.

From A Beautiful Revolution:
http://www.abeautifulrevolution.com/blog/2011/08/postcards-i-may-send-dont-give-up.html

Have you ever tried to walk up a giant frikkin staircase with bad arthritis in your knees? It hurts like hell. And sometimes you have to stop and rest a few times along the way, and then find the strength to keep on climbing those damn stairs.

Metaphor - I made one ;)

I feel the earth move under my feet

So, yes, you may have heard that the east coast experienced a moderate earthquake this afternoon. For those who didn't feel it, or don't follow the news (believe me, I don't blame you. It's just so damn depressing when it isn't making something out of nothing*), or didn't see news about it blow up Facebook - it was 5.8 on the Richter Scale. The epicenter was in central-ish Virginia. Apparently it was felt as far north as Canada and as far south as the Carolinas.

Apparently there was also a 5.3 earthquake in Colorado. I guess that makes today "Earthquake Day?"

I was in the basement talking to my boyfriend when I heard and felt a deep rumble throughout the house. At first I thought it was a very large truck passing by and wondered aloud something to the effect of "What the hell??" Then my boyfriend pulled me into the nearest doorway and said very calmly, "It's an earthquake, dear." I don't know how he was so calm. The whole house was shaking rather violently, even the foundation!

I'm very glad I was home sick, rather than at work - which is on the 8th floor of my office building. I hear that it was way scarier for them.

Anyway, all is well with me and my household, dear readers. No injuries, and a quick inventory of the house revealed no damage to anything in the house (not even a fallen frame off the walls). Just shaken nerves.

*"Breaking news - water could kill you!!!!! The full story at 11."

In which I raid Borders

I was at Borders the other day, checking out their going-out-of-business sales (*sigh* Pardon me while I lament the loss of my favorite hangout.) I was looking for T. Thorn Coyle's Evolutionary Witchcraft or Kissing the Limitless, but neither were to be found. It was quite sad, really, how the sections with pagan-y books were so empty, and what little remained was terribly disorganized.

What I did find was a nice fabric-lined basket in which to put my CDs in the car. No more CDs flying every which way when I hit the brakes and getting lost under the seats!

 

I also found a book called Natural Relief for Anxiety: Complementary Strategies for Easing Fear, Panic, & Worry.* At 40% off! I've been looking for a book like this, but had so far come up empty-handed. (Maybe I was looking in the wrong parts of the bookstore?) A quick browse through the book showed some techniques like meditation that I've already explored with varying degrees of success (and varying degrees of commitment), and some I had not tried at all or even considered.

I'm looking forward to reading it! I'll be sure to share my review here, as well as discuss my experiences with any techniques I try.

* Yes, I totally added an Oxford comma into the title. Because nothing drives me crazy like a list of 3 or more things without an Oxford comma. Don't hate on me, Oxford comma haters.

Would you light my candle?

It's been a very rainy weekend here in Maryland. It's been downpouring on and off all morning. We certainly need it, though, because it's been a pretty dry summer. I'm sure the earth and its flora are rejoicing at the much-needed moisture. I don't mind the rain much, though. Something about the sound of rain falling lends itself to a quiet, reflective morning spent with a cuppa tea. Or two.

 

Last night was a full moon. I wasn't able to return to Philly for my coven's full moon ritual, so I used elements from the ritual to do something for myself for the full moon. I lit the candle dedicated to light goddess I work with, and read the Charge of the Goddess aloud to myself. I chose Starhawk's version because I tend to jibe with her way of wording things, and also for its use of vernacular English (no thee's and thou's). Then I pulled a card from the Goddess Tarot, which was a gift from one of my coven-mates. The card I pulled was the 7 of cups. I reflected on the image and got the impression that whatever progress I make in my personal work right now, there will also be darkness or sacrifices of some kind.

I left the candle burning until I went to sleep, and I decided to light it again this morning.

Candles have become really important to me in dealing with depression. Candles represent a light in the dark, the spark of the god's love and light that resides within us all. Even in my darkest times I've felt that spark within me, and held onto it with all my might, even when I was unable to breathe any more life into that spark. I burn candles to remind me of that spark. I also burn candles as a form of magick, to create more light within me. I usually like to light my Yule candle or my light goddess candle for this purpose, especially when I'm feeling particularly down.

 

Image by David NiBlack / Creative Commons Attribution License

Ah look - it seems the storm has passed, and the sunlight is returning to my little patch of the world. But first, maybe I'll have one more cuppa...