Thanksgiving Misgivings

First, let me start by apologizing to my readers for such a long absence from the blog.  Life has been quite busy lately.  I have been immersed in my writing as I continue my journey into the world of published works.  As some of you may know, my hard work has paid off.  I recently had an article published in an anthology about Samhain (Halloween).  The book is entitled “Pagan Writers Presents Samhain” (Pagan Writers Press 2011).  Pagan Writers recently informed me that they accepted two more article submissions for their upcoming anthology about Yule (Winter Solstice).  I have also sent them a book pitch, which they really liked.  I am now in the midst of writing that book.  This is all happening so fast but I am loving every second of it!  Amid all the writing, daily life has become more hectic with the onset of the holiday season.  So, once again, I am sorry.  Now that the apology is out of the way….onward.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.  We are all in the thick of things tonight--preparing our favorite family dishes, baking all sorts of desserts, thawing turkeys, planning the table seating, trying to figure out how to handle difficult dinner conversations, doing the last minute cleaning of the bathroom, or figuring out where our out-of-town relatives will sleep.  All of this planning, calculating, measuring, cleaning, and cooking can be very stressful, leading to a not-so-enjoyable holiday.  But yet we do it every year.  Why?  It’s actually a very simple answer, if you just step outside of yourself for a minute or two and really look at past Thanksgivings.  We do it because we love this holiday!  It’s about coming together with our families and friends, feasting for hours, toasting to our accomplishments, and giving thanks.  Okay, so maybe you have a family member who drinks a little too much and gets a little rowdy, or maybe your dad lights his pant leg on fire when he bangs out his pipe (a true story), or maybe the turkey is dry and like cardboard.  Things happen, stuff goes wrong, and a relative passes out from too much wine.  Think of these mishaps and slip-ups as a memory in the making, something that will be talked about for every Thanksgiving to come, a story to be passed down in the family.  As bad as it seems at the time, it will be hysterical next year when you all gather around the table again.  Think about it.  We all have a few funny holiday stories to tell!

Tonight things are moving at a steady pace.  I am writing this blog as pies are baking, laundry is washing and drying, and the turkey is thawing.  In a little while, I will make egg nog, prep celery, onions and herbs for stuffing and for the bird, pull sheets out for my sister who will be crashing on my sofa tomorrow night, put the leaf in the table, and prep the linens for the table setting.  I am definitely in multi-tasking mode.  Through it all, I am considering my blessings this year, giving thanks that I can celebrate with my family and friends, and instilling these feelings of gratitude into each task.  Maybe it will help others gathered around the table to feel more grateful or maybe it will fill them with a feeling of love and acceptance.  I am also thinking about all those funny holiday disasters and filling my tasks with a sense of humor, something which will come in handy tomorrow.  Keep these things in mind while doing all that you have to do tonight and through tomorrow.  You’ll see a definite change in the air.  That difficult relative won’t seem so difficult anymore, the wine spilled on your best tablecloth won’t really bother you, the burnt pie will still taste good, or things will just seem more peaceful, easier to do, or more balanced.

So, with that, I am off to further Thanksgiving preparations and wish all my readers a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Fill 'Er Up

The Full Harvest Moon of October is upon us.  This is the time of the last days of the harvest heading into Halloween, the third and last harvest.  Generally speaking, the full moon is a time for bringing things into your life that you may be lacking or which you need.  Whether it is a quality like patience (which I lack a lot of the time) or a need like a little extra cash to make it through, this is a great time to ask the Universe for help in filling your life with those things. 

Many years ago, I worked with a woman who told me that, if I held my wallet up to the full moon and said “Fill ‘er up!” three times, I would find money later in the month.  This woman was not Pagan in any way.  In fact, she was a faithful Irish Catholic woman.  She told me that her mother and grandmother had always done this as well.  I was just setting my feet upon the Pagan path and decided to give it a try on the next full moon.  A few days later, I found several quarters while walking to work, not together but in a trail along two separate streets.  I was skeptical at first but continued to do this at every full moon.  More luck!  Sometimes it was just a few dollars found in an old handbag and sometimes it was larger, like a 20 dollar bill in a pair of jeans I hadn’t worn in a while.  One time, I had made a mistake on my federal income taxes and received a check for over $200 from the IRS!  Several months ago, I played the Cash 5 lottery, having the computer pick the numbers, and won $267!  I have shared this wondrous little “spell” with my family and friends, pagan and non-pagan alike, over the years and they too have had success with it, finding things like an uncashed birthday check from a grandparent or finding $20 floating on an ocean wave while at the beach on vacation.

But what if it is a quality, and not money, that you are lacking?  I think I’ve come up with the perfect “Fill ‘Er Up” spell for that!  We’ll use patience as the example quality here since it is something I am in need of this week.  Instead of a wallet, hold a glass of water or wine up to the full moon while thinking about what quality you would like to bring into yourself.  Make sure that you can see the moonlight through the glass or the image of the moon reflected in the liquid, essentially letting the moonlight infuse the drink.  Say “Fill ‘er up with patience” three times and then drink the cup of water or wine.  Maybe you need more self-confidence or better understanding.  Give it a try!  I have used this method before with great results. 

The full moon is also a good time to meditate on what you want to bring into your life.  I like to do this in a hot bath with a bubble bath made from some herbs, plants or flowers that correspond to the moon like aloe, sandalwood or jasmine.  My bathroom has a skylight so, on a clear night, the moonlight floods the bathroom.  On cloudy full moon nights, I light a white candle.  As I soak in the fragrant bath, I close my eyes and meditate on the events of the past 30 days and what my role was in what occurred.  If I find something lacking, I know it is time to work for that.  This is a good way of getting in touch with your deeper self, of knowing who you are and who you are working to become.  For women, this is also a good time to think about our roles in life, those of mother, daughter, wife, sister, etc., and contemplate ways to make the bonds with those we love stronger or better.  The things you discover in meditation, those lightbulb moments, are the ones that could become the goal of your very own “Fill ‘Er Up” spell.

So tonight, whether you lift up your wallet, lift up that glass, or lift up your spirit and mind to that full moon or just stand under Her radiant silver beams, just keep thinking “Fill ‘Er Up”.