Most of us have a public persona, conscious or not, and a private one. We act, look, and sound a bit or a lot different when we leave the home. We are one way at work, another way at home, another way out with friends, and another way when we are around people we don't like. We like to come off certain ways in front of certain people. Perfectly normal behavior.
For me, I like the have my outside match my insides and how I feel most regularly. Some people like to put on a mask so people perceive them a certain way. I feel this can be very constricting on one's self expression and holding them back from full potential because not only are you holding back what you may see as a negative, but most likely many strengths you have as well.
This weekend I decided to make my outside more attuned to how I have been feeling lately which has been more energetic and fun. So I dyed my hair with blue and pinkish-red in the front. Some say that because I am a grown woman and a mother and a wife that I should have grown out of that. I say hogwash. "Do you boo." That is a motto I have been living by this year. I feel more myself looking like this then I do when I have natural hair or professionally styled hair. I feel right.
Now this isn't to say everyone needs to go out and do something as dramatic with their looks but more of a sense that say, when you choose your clothes and you shake your head at an outfit you initially want to wear but then talk yourself out of, is something that most experience and can understand. Wear that outfit! Be authentically you!
Want to look funky one day? Do it! Want to look like a librarian the next? Do it! I understand some workplaces have limitations but there are always ways of getting your energy attuned even there. With jewelry especially. Even if it is hidden under a shirt, you know it is there, and that energy is still real.
So your task for this week is to wear or do something to your looks that you have been wanting to do but you keep talking yourself out of. It doesn't have to be permanent since we are ever changing beings. Enjoy!
Monday, November 21, 2016
Friday, November 11, 2016
Changing the Future
So this will not be really about spirituality but something that has been on my mind for a while. So I am a parent of a special needs child and I am pretty aware of how schools are run these days, which is very different from when I was in school. I also have many educators in my family like my mother and sister. But so many people know the way they are running schools now are focused on rushing them through school with few things to bring to the real world. Common core.... not even going to address that mess.
So I was thinking of sharing what my ideal school curriculum would be for majority of students because they really do need beneficial things and not just rushing them to graduation and leaving them high and dry.
The things that should be kept in schools that already are in are English/reading, math, P.E. music, and art. Everyone needs to experience art of all kinds because it is scientifically proven to help their intellect be it music or painting. Everyone needs to know how to read and write and do basic math. A lot of algebra is useless unless you are in the science or architectural careers. I have almost never needed to use advanced math that was taught in high school and I think depending on what someone wants to do with careers shouldn't have to be enforced except what could be used in daily life. Physical education is a must, end of story.
Now for things that should be required in school in some form.
Updated home economics. Not like our grandparents or parents home-ec, but what applies now. Cooking is something everyone needs to learn how to do in some form. Doesn't need to be fancy but knowing how to make regular meals that aren't instant because we are of a time that if it isn't microwaved or boiled for 30 seconds, it isn't eaten anymore. Cooking isn't the only thing though. Cleaning like laundry, fixing basic thing around the house like changing a light bulb, and of course learning what each chemical in the house is used for. Even now I have no idea what some stuff is for. All of these should be taught even if the kids are lucky to have a parent or both parents home to teach them because in this day and age, parents aren't available for things like that now.
Managing money is a whole class on it's own. I had a class similar to home-ec that did focus for 2 months on finances like how to write checks (which at this point is basically obsolete), taking us on field trips to figure how to manage a sh oping list with a certain amounts of funds, first hand and that was something that always stuck with me. Also including how to understand what taxes are about since so many don't do their own, but they should learn what it means and how it affects you. Money is a thing everyone needs to know how to use properly and so many don't.
Computer science. Some schools have this thankfully but most just have basic typing classes which isn't enough. Knowing what computers can do and not just use it for internet is something useful to know especially for when you have a job. I was taught in community college how to use other Microsoft Office programs other then Word, and even then I learned different things about it I would have never known. This is so incredibly important because computers are no longer the future, they are what we use now everyday in every way.
Real sex ed and parenting classes. Most schools in the US have sub par and abstinence only education and it has been proven to do nothing. Comprehensive sex positive education where things are very bluntly discussed with real medical terms, and not just how babies are made but STD's, what is normal physical maturity, learning about consent. So much more. And there is a high rate of pregnancy in teens particularly in the south. I remember having a day in class that we had to care for an egg in middle school and in high school a mechanical crying baby. The egg was useless, but the crying baby, never gave me sleep and was way more accurate to real life and everyone should have that experience for a full week. It does give you a different perspective.
Comprehensive history and politics. This is covered in part at most schools but it does tend to use outdated books and focusing on the white males perspective. We should know our history across the world but of both genders and all ethnicity's. I had a college professor who was Bulgarian and gave the most amazing stories about his experiences and his topic of history. He made it interesting and applied it to real life. The political stuff knowing what every aspect of it is is incredibly important too which was never covered in school for me except hey, there are two groups, a house, senate, congress, etc. The end. Experiencing what just happened here with politics, our kids get to feel the screwball future because of so many not really understanding politics.
One thing most schools can't do and an experience I was lucky to experience was having small classes so teachers can give individual attention to those who need it. I went to a Blind School in WA and at most we would have 9 kids in a class and many times 4-5 kids. I was able to finally get the individual help I needed with topics I struggled with. Things are personalized to the youth which it should be. Everyone does not learn the same.
Comprehensive science. So much we learn in science class is completely useless and never used again unless you chose a Field in it. Forcing kids to cut frogs open is out dated especially with technology being what it is now. It is unnecessary. Yes we should learn what makes up our bodies, what makes up the world with things like geology and oceanography, botany, so on so forth. Science is important but the way it is taught now isn't comprehensive and taught in a way it doesn't stay in the brain.
A spin off history, learning about different cultures, by really experiencing them. A lot of hands on projects, visiting places that have those cultures if possible, and not just those that are in your region. Where I live, Native American heritage is abundant and strong but even here where it is in everything, it is barely touched on. Also, we have a history of Hispanics and Japanese heritages that are incredibly unique to the region that is never touched on. I learned last year that there was basically during world war II that there was a concentration camp (I am unsure if that is the right word where they held them against their will), in the town I grew up in. Which is crazy. Hands on experiences make things sink in much deeper and longer then just reading a book about it.
Field trips every month for some class should be required too if not more. As explained above, experience sinks into memory much better then reading words.
I can go on but I want to hear what you have to add or say on this topic! We can change things, so see what you can do in your area!
You activity for this week, whether you are a parent or not, make a list of 8 different classes you think should be in schools now.
So I was thinking of sharing what my ideal school curriculum would be for majority of students because they really do need beneficial things and not just rushing them to graduation and leaving them high and dry.
The things that should be kept in schools that already are in are English/reading, math, P.E. music, and art. Everyone needs to experience art of all kinds because it is scientifically proven to help their intellect be it music or painting. Everyone needs to know how to read and write and do basic math. A lot of algebra is useless unless you are in the science or architectural careers. I have almost never needed to use advanced math that was taught in high school and I think depending on what someone wants to do with careers shouldn't have to be enforced except what could be used in daily life. Physical education is a must, end of story.
Now for things that should be required in school in some form.
Updated home economics. Not like our grandparents or parents home-ec, but what applies now. Cooking is something everyone needs to learn how to do in some form. Doesn't need to be fancy but knowing how to make regular meals that aren't instant because we are of a time that if it isn't microwaved or boiled for 30 seconds, it isn't eaten anymore. Cooking isn't the only thing though. Cleaning like laundry, fixing basic thing around the house like changing a light bulb, and of course learning what each chemical in the house is used for. Even now I have no idea what some stuff is for. All of these should be taught even if the kids are lucky to have a parent or both parents home to teach them because in this day and age, parents aren't available for things like that now.
Managing money is a whole class on it's own. I had a class similar to home-ec that did focus for 2 months on finances like how to write checks (which at this point is basically obsolete), taking us on field trips to figure how to manage a sh oping list with a certain amounts of funds, first hand and that was something that always stuck with me. Also including how to understand what taxes are about since so many don't do their own, but they should learn what it means and how it affects you. Money is a thing everyone needs to know how to use properly and so many don't.
Computer science. Some schools have this thankfully but most just have basic typing classes which isn't enough. Knowing what computers can do and not just use it for internet is something useful to know especially for when you have a job. I was taught in community college how to use other Microsoft Office programs other then Word, and even then I learned different things about it I would have never known. This is so incredibly important because computers are no longer the future, they are what we use now everyday in every way.
Real sex ed and parenting classes. Most schools in the US have sub par and abstinence only education and it has been proven to do nothing. Comprehensive sex positive education where things are very bluntly discussed with real medical terms, and not just how babies are made but STD's, what is normal physical maturity, learning about consent. So much more. And there is a high rate of pregnancy in teens particularly in the south. I remember having a day in class that we had to care for an egg in middle school and in high school a mechanical crying baby. The egg was useless, but the crying baby, never gave me sleep and was way more accurate to real life and everyone should have that experience for a full week. It does give you a different perspective.
Comprehensive history and politics. This is covered in part at most schools but it does tend to use outdated books and focusing on the white males perspective. We should know our history across the world but of both genders and all ethnicity's. I had a college professor who was Bulgarian and gave the most amazing stories about his experiences and his topic of history. He made it interesting and applied it to real life. The political stuff knowing what every aspect of it is is incredibly important too which was never covered in school for me except hey, there are two groups, a house, senate, congress, etc. The end. Experiencing what just happened here with politics, our kids get to feel the screwball future because of so many not really understanding politics.
One thing most schools can't do and an experience I was lucky to experience was having small classes so teachers can give individual attention to those who need it. I went to a Blind School in WA and at most we would have 9 kids in a class and many times 4-5 kids. I was able to finally get the individual help I needed with topics I struggled with. Things are personalized to the youth which it should be. Everyone does not learn the same.
Comprehensive science. So much we learn in science class is completely useless and never used again unless you chose a Field in it. Forcing kids to cut frogs open is out dated especially with technology being what it is now. It is unnecessary. Yes we should learn what makes up our bodies, what makes up the world with things like geology and oceanography, botany, so on so forth. Science is important but the way it is taught now isn't comprehensive and taught in a way it doesn't stay in the brain.
A spin off history, learning about different cultures, by really experiencing them. A lot of hands on projects, visiting places that have those cultures if possible, and not just those that are in your region. Where I live, Native American heritage is abundant and strong but even here where it is in everything, it is barely touched on. Also, we have a history of Hispanics and Japanese heritages that are incredibly unique to the region that is never touched on. I learned last year that there was basically during world war II that there was a concentration camp (I am unsure if that is the right word where they held them against their will), in the town I grew up in. Which is crazy. Hands on experiences make things sink in much deeper and longer then just reading a book about it.
Field trips every month for some class should be required too if not more. As explained above, experience sinks into memory much better then reading words.
I can go on but I want to hear what you have to add or say on this topic! We can change things, so see what you can do in your area!
You activity for this week, whether you are a parent or not, make a list of 8 different classes you think should be in schools now.
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Black Friday!
Hey everyone! I am putting everything on sale on my shop in honor of Black Friday! You can use the code: BLACKF2016 to get 25% off any purchase. Offer ends Nov. 30th! Hope to see you there!
In addition, the 10th purchase will get a free reading along with their purchased one as a thanks for supporting my shop.
Monday, November 7, 2016
Voting for Spirituality
This is not a blog telling you who to vote for. That is up to you to decide. This blog is about being mindful on who you vote for can impact your spirituality and practice.
There are/have in the past been candidates who have shunned religions or specific religious groups, such as Muslims and their practice. The idea that anyone who is in a leadership role that could be prejudice against one spiritual group, it isn't a far reach to think they could impact other groups such as pagans since they are not part of the mainstream religions.
Those who are pagan, Hindi, Buddhist, or of a non-specific denomination of a non-abrahamic religion could and have been affected by prejudice and fear in the past. We only have to go back a few hundred years in America to see how witches or perceived witches were treated because of bigotry and fear. Being mindful of who you are voting for and their beliefs and how that could affect you is something people don't always put a big focus on. I mean, we live in America (most of us), and the constitution says freedom of religion. We have seen this repeatedly been ignored in history and there have been more then a few politicians in our history who tried to abolish it as well.
This is a topic that is incredibly sensitive and should be digested for a bit to really let these concepts sink in. But for many of us voting is and will be happening Tomorrow. It is easy to vote based on superficial reasons, but when you stop and think about how it can personally affect you, you may be surprised on your perspective possibly changing.
Take time this week to really think about how politics and religion/spirituality has affected you and how it could change in the future.
There are/have in the past been candidates who have shunned religions or specific religious groups, such as Muslims and their practice. The idea that anyone who is in a leadership role that could be prejudice against one spiritual group, it isn't a far reach to think they could impact other groups such as pagans since they are not part of the mainstream religions.
Those who are pagan, Hindi, Buddhist, or of a non-specific denomination of a non-abrahamic religion could and have been affected by prejudice and fear in the past. We only have to go back a few hundred years in America to see how witches or perceived witches were treated because of bigotry and fear. Being mindful of who you are voting for and their beliefs and how that could affect you is something people don't always put a big focus on. I mean, we live in America (most of us), and the constitution says freedom of religion. We have seen this repeatedly been ignored in history and there have been more then a few politicians in our history who tried to abolish it as well.
This is a topic that is incredibly sensitive and should be digested for a bit to really let these concepts sink in. But for many of us voting is and will be happening Tomorrow. It is easy to vote based on superficial reasons, but when you stop and think about how it can personally affect you, you may be surprised on your perspective possibly changing.
Take time this week to really think about how politics and religion/spirituality has affected you and how it could change in the future.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
music Moves Me
Most of us, spiritual or not, enjoy listening to music. Music pulls a variety of emotions from us depending on the style. From soothing relaxing energies to getting hyped up and pumped. Each person reacts differently to different styles.
For me, I may get pumped by pop-rock/rock fast paced music and am relaxed listening to dark moody alternative music. Whereas someone else may get pumped listening to techno and relax to classical. Same things apply to negative reactions to music. I generally can't listen to traditional country music because it agitates my ears. Where as for some listening to rap or rock does the same.
Music is great motivator and inspiration. As I stated about being pumped listening to some music, it can have the affect of getting one up and going as well. This is why people listen to music while cleaning, exercising, and even doing something in the arts like writing. I can't write without listening to music.
It also inspires me by what is sung, the tone of the music, and the energy it exudes. For example, I may be writing a really tense argument in my novel so I will probably choose to listen to something subtly aggressive and rock to get that energy in my veins and onto the paper.
When it comes to spirituality, many think you have to listen to specifically spiritual music to get a spiritual affect. This is incorrect. I personally don't like spiritually based music and it is distracting if I use it during spiritual times I need music. I tend to use traditional Asian music and singing or very avaunt-guard alternative music when I am practicing my spirituality. Others definitely find music that is meant to be spiritual, their bag to do with what they will.
Every one's tastes are different and everyone uses music in different ways in their life. Some may have it as a background noise to their life where others have it as a major part to theirs.
Your task this week is to take a half hour of time to yourself and listen to different styles of music. Determine what emotions or energies they pulls from you and see how that can correspond into activities for the rest of the week. You may be surprised on how much it can affect your activity level, moods, and productivity!
Note: This week, my motivating music is the artist Banks: album The alter.
My relaxing music choice is by Jose Gonzalez: album In our Nature.
And my spiritual music is by Fever Ray: album Fever Ray.
For me, I may get pumped by pop-rock/rock fast paced music and am relaxed listening to dark moody alternative music. Whereas someone else may get pumped listening to techno and relax to classical. Same things apply to negative reactions to music. I generally can't listen to traditional country music because it agitates my ears. Where as for some listening to rap or rock does the same.
Music is great motivator and inspiration. As I stated about being pumped listening to some music, it can have the affect of getting one up and going as well. This is why people listen to music while cleaning, exercising, and even doing something in the arts like writing. I can't write without listening to music.
It also inspires me by what is sung, the tone of the music, and the energy it exudes. For example, I may be writing a really tense argument in my novel so I will probably choose to listen to something subtly aggressive and rock to get that energy in my veins and onto the paper.
When it comes to spirituality, many think you have to listen to specifically spiritual music to get a spiritual affect. This is incorrect. I personally don't like spiritually based music and it is distracting if I use it during spiritual times I need music. I tend to use traditional Asian music and singing or very avaunt-guard alternative music when I am practicing my spirituality. Others definitely find music that is meant to be spiritual, their bag to do with what they will.
Every one's tastes are different and everyone uses music in different ways in their life. Some may have it as a background noise to their life where others have it as a major part to theirs.
Your task this week is to take a half hour of time to yourself and listen to different styles of music. Determine what emotions or energies they pulls from you and see how that can correspond into activities for the rest of the week. You may be surprised on how much it can affect your activity level, moods, and productivity!
Note: This week, my motivating music is the artist Banks: album The alter.
And my spiritual music is by Fever Ray: album Fever Ray.
Monday, October 24, 2016
Protect Yourself by Protecting Others
Ever have a time in your life where you feel you are the protector of those around you? I am not talking about if you have a child or a younger sibling. By nature, most feel the need to protect their kin and those younger, or those who are fragile like grandparents. But when it comes to friends, peers, parents that are not elderly, coworkers, associates, when does that protector feeling ebb?
For me, when I was young, I felt often times that I did not have a protector outside my home. My parents and even my sister (though we have a strained relationship), would always be there to stand up for me but when say, I went to school, those protections disappear and I was left to fend for myself. For years, I spent much of my childhood through my young adult life being a door mat. I generally did not stand up for others because I was either too busy trying to protect myself by being invisible and what not, or I had an ill state of mind that if I wasn't being protected why should I protect others. It was very rare and in extreme cases that I got out of my box to protect others. Generally when physical violence was going or did occur did I step in. That was always what crossed the line for me.
As a grown woman with a child of my own and a family, I have grown much stronger and also in time, learned to stand up for myself. Somehow in that time I had learned to stand up for others I felt couldn't stand up for themselves. Or even if they could, I supported them actively so they knew they could fall back on me if need be.
I am not very much what people call a mother bear towards people I care about and for those who I feel can't do it for themselves. They have the right to experience what I wasn't able to when I grew up. Sometimes having that one person at your back can make a difference in one's self esteem and confidence.
Too many people today do what I saw and did when I was younger, and ignored those who need help and go along with their day. Hell, there have even been news stories where they had people pretending to be physically or sexually assaulted and majority of people would just walk away. It really is a sad state of affairs in our country.
So why am I rambling on about this and protecting others and yourself? This can or may not be a spiritual aspect of your life but can certainly pertain to it. We in the community discuss ways of protecting ourselves magically with crystals, wards, and energy workings but when it comes down to the mundane area, that conversation tends to fall short. I am certainly a person who pushes for mudane resolutions first and then fall back on magic, but do what you have to do. Again, it also seems it is self preservation rather then protecting others that are the focus.
So, I lay a task out for you this week people who read this. Make it a point to get outside your spiritual and individualized box and stand up for a stranger or someone you have not stood up for before that you know needs it. You may feel the person you know you may have issues with but put that aside if you feel they are being done wrong. You would be surprised at how good it feels to put yourself out there and how something as simple as that can change a relationship dynamic as well.
For me, when I was young, I felt often times that I did not have a protector outside my home. My parents and even my sister (though we have a strained relationship), would always be there to stand up for me but when say, I went to school, those protections disappear and I was left to fend for myself. For years, I spent much of my childhood through my young adult life being a door mat. I generally did not stand up for others because I was either too busy trying to protect myself by being invisible and what not, or I had an ill state of mind that if I wasn't being protected why should I protect others. It was very rare and in extreme cases that I got out of my box to protect others. Generally when physical violence was going or did occur did I step in. That was always what crossed the line for me.
As a grown woman with a child of my own and a family, I have grown much stronger and also in time, learned to stand up for myself. Somehow in that time I had learned to stand up for others I felt couldn't stand up for themselves. Or even if they could, I supported them actively so they knew they could fall back on me if need be.
I am not very much what people call a mother bear towards people I care about and for those who I feel can't do it for themselves. They have the right to experience what I wasn't able to when I grew up. Sometimes having that one person at your back can make a difference in one's self esteem and confidence.
Too many people today do what I saw and did when I was younger, and ignored those who need help and go along with their day. Hell, there have even been news stories where they had people pretending to be physically or sexually assaulted and majority of people would just walk away. It really is a sad state of affairs in our country.
So why am I rambling on about this and protecting others and yourself? This can or may not be a spiritual aspect of your life but can certainly pertain to it. We in the community discuss ways of protecting ourselves magically with crystals, wards, and energy workings but when it comes down to the mundane area, that conversation tends to fall short. I am certainly a person who pushes for mudane resolutions first and then fall back on magic, but do what you have to do. Again, it also seems it is self preservation rather then protecting others that are the focus.
So, I lay a task out for you this week people who read this. Make it a point to get outside your spiritual and individualized box and stand up for a stranger or someone you have not stood up for before that you know needs it. You may feel the person you know you may have issues with but put that aside if you feel they are being done wrong. You would be surprised at how good it feels to put yourself out there and how something as simple as that can change a relationship dynamic as well.
Monday, October 17, 2016
Gifting or Buying Your First Deck
This is a debate for tarot readers that when someone wants to start using tarot that they should be gifted their first. Like it is a tradition. However, many see no problem in purchasing their first deck. The following is my experiences and the pros and cons of doing either.
I purchased my own because I had no one in my life that would have gifted me one. I bought a deck I thought I would enjoy learning it from. The Egyptian Tarot, that was actually kind of complicated with little complex imagery to learn intuitive reading easily, which I now know I am an intuitive reader. I bought it and played for it for a while then years went by where I didn't touch it. I then saw a tarot review of the Steampunk Tarot and purchased that based off my attraction to the imagery. It was the perfect starter deck for me. I was able to learn how to use it on my own terms and it really helped expand my understanding of intuitive readings.
I had no clue there was a tradition of gifting for your first deck by the way.
Buying your own deck...
Pros:
You can purchase what YOU are attracted to
You can feel the energies from the deck prior to purchasing it.
It can be special to buy your first as well.
Cons:
You miss out on the tradition associated with starting your tarot experience.
You, like myself, find a deck you are initially attracted to but find out you don't resonate with it in action.
Being gifted your first deck...
Pros:
You are honoring the tradition.
Getting gifts are awesome!
The person gifting it to you clearly wants to support your new adventure in the divination realm and is hoping their purchase or their own used deck has some power that can be transferred to one receiving.
Cons:
You may get a deck you don't resonate with or like at all.
The giver may have expectations they put on you for the deck like how to use it because they used it in that way, when you do not resonate with it or want to constraints.
You may feel guilty if they purchased a super expensive deck, that you are taking a clearly loved deck from theirs, or receiving an unfinished deck because unknowingly there are cards missing.
There are more pros and cons to both but those are the main ones that come to mind. My final opinion is it depends on what you are wanting. Do you want tradition over individual experience? Or do you want to make sure a deck resonates with you rather then a grateful but unwanted deck?
Ask these questions to yourself if you are beginning your journey or thinking of gifting a deck to someone.
I purchased my own because I had no one in my life that would have gifted me one. I bought a deck I thought I would enjoy learning it from. The Egyptian Tarot, that was actually kind of complicated with little complex imagery to learn intuitive reading easily, which I now know I am an intuitive reader. I bought it and played for it for a while then years went by where I didn't touch it. I then saw a tarot review of the Steampunk Tarot and purchased that based off my attraction to the imagery. It was the perfect starter deck for me. I was able to learn how to use it on my own terms and it really helped expand my understanding of intuitive readings.
I had no clue there was a tradition of gifting for your first deck by the way.
Buying your own deck...
Pros:
You can purchase what YOU are attracted to
You can feel the energies from the deck prior to purchasing it.
It can be special to buy your first as well.
Cons:
You miss out on the tradition associated with starting your tarot experience.
You, like myself, find a deck you are initially attracted to but find out you don't resonate with it in action.
Being gifted your first deck...
Pros:
You are honoring the tradition.
Getting gifts are awesome!
The person gifting it to you clearly wants to support your new adventure in the divination realm and is hoping their purchase or their own used deck has some power that can be transferred to one receiving.
Cons:
You may get a deck you don't resonate with or like at all.
The giver may have expectations they put on you for the deck like how to use it because they used it in that way, when you do not resonate with it or want to constraints.
You may feel guilty if they purchased a super expensive deck, that you are taking a clearly loved deck from theirs, or receiving an unfinished deck because unknowingly there are cards missing.
There are more pros and cons to both but those are the main ones that come to mind. My final opinion is it depends on what you are wanting. Do you want tradition over individual experience? Or do you want to make sure a deck resonates with you rather then a grateful but unwanted deck?
Ask these questions to yourself if you are beginning your journey or thinking of gifting a deck to someone.
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