Beyond the Circle

Can I Have a Side of Asbestos With That, Please?

Posted by Ivy at 8/13/2009 10:12:00 AM |

It’s Thursday? Already?! Where did the week go? Why do I feel so behind?

Well, I guess I’m not that behind- did some required shopping and stuff last night. Although I still haven’t had enough time to send out an evite for next weeks event. I don’t know that anyone will really show up, save for our prospective aspirant. It will be fun, no matter what, though. J I don’t know that I’ve blogged about this, but last week, the kitchen flooded. Something broke in the fridge, and water was everywhere. Since then, they’ve had giant blowers and humidifiers, and all kinds of emergency water damage stuff going on. Well, yesterday they finally picked up the blowers. They sent the floor out be tested, and it turns out that not the floor, but the stuff under the floor has asbestos in it. Hooray! This means that the kitchen will be off limits while they tear it all up. Nothing says fun like trying to keep seven animals out of a plastic wrapped room. And I don’t really know how off-limits, “off-limits” is. Does that mean we can’t go in there to get food? How will we eat? How long will it take? Lots of questions- but I’m rarely home this week as it is, so it won’t affect me as much as it will my dear hubby and his folks.

Tonight I head off to my BFFs house to rehearse and talk about this weekend’s circle. As we haven’t done it in like, two or three years, we’ll need a bit of a refresher, I assume. I’m so excited to officially welcome these two new sisters into our circle. And then, next week’s event will be fun, as well. One of those most fun things about next weeks event is that its so community, that we all get to participate equally- even our guests. I just have to choose which Goddess I will choose to represent. Last time, I did Inanna- that was really fun. I’m thinking possibly Bast this time. I’m very Brighid and Hestia focused on a regular basis, so part of me wants to go outside what I’m used to and research another Goddess. SO fun. I wish we did this every month. And of course I will share pictures. :)

NOATG 2009

Posted by Ivy at 8/10/2009 01:09:00 PM | Labels: God/dess

I'm really looking forward to our Night of a Thousand Goddesses event this year. Its a small, low-key fun women's event that we've done. I'll post more later. Including another cat video.

This week and the next, I'm going to be super busy, so I might not have time to blog. We have initiation coming up, the aforementioned open event, people joining our Outer Court, and I'm helping get Mystic Wicks Circle of Teaching up and running- and this means I need to get my ass in gear, finish posting my Spellcrafting online course, and Finish WRITING my Wicca 101 online course. And I have a CoT update to write for the MW magazine. Oh. And get ready to start in-person Wicca 101 classes again.

So, if I just post little blogs or photos, or silly cat videos, please bear with me. *hugs*

More details on NOATG on the Coven Blog.

PITA Kitty!

Posted by Ivy at 8/06/2009 08:24:00 PM |

So, I have nothing to say, since I'm crampy and icky feeling, so I'm posting a photo of a pain in the ass kitty! :)

That is all.

Oh, great Goddess, why have you cursed me?!

Posted by Ivy at 8/06/2009 09:33:00 AM | Labels: Life

Ok, not really. And I know that being a woman, being able to nurture the spark of life inside of us is magickal. And that every month we get an awesome reminder of how magickal we are. Why does it sometimes feel like the worst flu in the entire world before and during “that time of the month?” The older I get, the more symptoms I get: bloating, nausea, sore/tenderness, cramping, exhaustion, irritability, and just overall hellish feeling.

And then we get smacked in the face with “Have a Happy Period” commercials from Always?

Epic fail, Always.

I will NEVER buy another Always product. Because a PAD-of all things- will not give me a happy period. Vicodin might give me a happy period. Possibly a Percocet could give me a happy period. But NOT a flying pad. Why do pads have wings, anyway? To protect your underwear? Oh, that’s right- because pads like Always have “lock in leak protection” or some other BS. Which means, its not very absorbent at all, hence spillage. I don’t care if it “pulls wetness away from your body.” Can you just absorb? Then there will be no need for flying pads. Pads are not usually my product of choice, but I feel very strongly about how they are supposed to work.

And twitter is down?
WTF, Twitter! Why have you forsaken me?! Something is not right in the world when I cannot update my status and/or know if my friends are eating lunch, having tea in the UK, or even going the bathroom! How am I supposed to keep up with everyone?

I think I’m feeling a little bit dramatic today. Well, better this blog then ANOTHER blog post about the cat. Again. I'm turning into the cat story lady.

Current Personal Altar (Summer 2009)

Posted by Ivy at 8/04/2009 07:15:00 PM | Labels: Altars

My altar isn't especially decked out for the season this sabbat. Partially because we're still adapting to our new surroundings, and partially because I've just been exhausted, lately. I moved it in front of the window, where it should have been all along. This evening, I put an offering dish of water up on it, and kitty went directly to the bowl and drank. When I replace it with alcohol tomorrow, I hope she won't repeat that. Originally, I took a right side shot and a left side shot and planned on explaining everything, but you can see everything from a full frontal shot. ;) It sits on top of white cubes that hold some craft (not Craft) supplies. :)

Here it is:

And we must have a candlelit shot.

And a close-up of my maiden goddess statue.

And one of the corn dolly I made at Lammas. I know, its a Brighid's cross, but that's about the only wheatweaving I can do.

If you have any questions about what the objects are, or what they symbolize, leave a comment, or hit me up on twitter- @ivyartemisia.

From Her Fingers to God's ears?

Posted by Ivy at 8/04/2009 12:43:00 PM | Labels: Life

Today, on my way to work, while stopped at a traffic light, I saw a woman walking along the sidewalk to the intersection. She was mentally ill. I don’t know how I knew that, as nothing about her appearance really gave it away. She was dressed in jeans and a tank top and carried an innocuous square tote bag. Her hair was blonde, not styled, but not completely unkempt. As she got to the intersection, she started eagerly yelling to someone across the street. I looked to see who she was yelling to, as she was obviously trying to talk to someone- and I was pretty surprised, as I had pegged her as mentally ill. I look to see who she’s talking to, and no one is there. Then she starts talking to me through my windshield, though at a decent distance, as she was still up on the sidewalk, on the corner. I watched her out of the corner of my eye as she was gesturing wildly- it looked like sign language almost. All of a sudden, she looks up toward the sky and starts fingerspelling (ASL alphabet) words toward the sky as she smiles. I’m catching some of it, as all I know of ASL is the alphabet, girl scout promise, and a bit of this land is your land. She fingerspelled something very intensely, almost as she was yelling to God with her fingers. Then she threw her head back, laughed and walked across the street with the light.

I kind of really liked her. I wanted to know what she was saying. Or if she was deaf. Something about her made me want to know more about her. What an interesting start to a day.

New creations in my eCrater shop!

Posted by Ivy at 8/03/2009 11:16:00 AM | Labels: Crafts

I got the chance to upload some new creations to my eCrater shop yesterday!

Firstly, my favorite. :)

Lunar Goddess Prayer Beads
http://apartmentfourteen.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=5025542
http://apartmentfourteen.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=5025510

Also, here's a green glass pendulum- I love this one, as it reminds me of fantasy and sci-fi movies.
http://apartmentfourteen.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=5025451

Then a large carnelian slab necklace- its on a long chain. I just saw something similar on TV.That made me happy! :)
http://apartmentfourteen.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=5025640