On the heels of my return to Kentucky, we celebrated Ostara. I'm lucky because my BFF facilitated this circle, so I didn't have to take care of anything, since I hadn't even been back an entire day. Hopefully, the seed of my will will grow, as it is planted deep within a flower bulb. I'm really looking forward to Beltane. As we now have an even number of people, maybe we could pull off a maypole. That would be awesome.
My plan to fix up my altar before I left didn't happen. Once I did come back, I got out much of my springy altar things, and put away my Brighid's cross. But its not together yet. It will be, though, and I'll take a picture and post! I still can't hear out of my ears, as they are both clogged, but I think I feel well enough to put it together today. You'll also see my new chalice. Its pinkish and the perfect size!
I've been meditating more often since my return from Kentucky. It's been easy to focus on a sound... the constant ring in my ears. It's been helpful, and I feel like I'm making the most of being sick. :)
Kentucky!
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Labels:
Life
My trip to Kentucky was wonderful.
I was so surprised. Everything was a surprise. Everyone told me that I should be ready for a culture shock, as being from LA it was going to be completely different. And it was.
In a good way.
1. The people are so NICE.
Seriously. Nice. The woman at the Burger King not only didn't charge me when I asked for Ranch Dressings, she gave me TWO. Of her own volition. That was the first person I interacted after we landed in Louisville. This was at the Burger King in Bardstown, in the Kroger parking lot. I couldn't tell you what street its on because...
2. There are no street signs.
The streets have numbers, not names. And if it does have a name, its on a little bitty street sign in the ground, not up on the traffic light like we have out here. People drive by landmarks out here. You turn at the ham shop with the pig on it, not on 31E or whatever.
3. Kroger had a sushi station.
Seriously! You know how the bakery and deli have people who will make you something fresh? There was a small kiosk with sushi. Those were the only Asian people I saw while in KY, though.
4. Great Mexican food.
Yep, turns out there is a decent amount of Mexican people out there- I guess they tend to be the main harvesters of the Tobacco once its harvesting season? I'm not being racist, or discriminatory- thats what I was told several times, when I mentioned that they neighborhood wasn't very diverse. Then I was told that they all live together in a trailer park. I don't know that I believe that, though. Oh- and we went to a Mexican restaurant... I felt like I was back in California. :) It was awesome.
5. Super. Wal. Mart.
Great prices. Seriously. I'm looking forward to moving back there and saving a grip of cash. Also, SWM was there for me when it snowed on me, and had a jacket I could buy. I don't own a jacket. I own 2 sweaters and like 3 long sleeved shirts. I'm hot blooded. Not hot enough for 29 degree temperatures, though. I learned what cold really is. Turns out, its not 65.
6. Did I mention that the people were so nice?
Going to a club or two, I was reminded again of the nice dispositions of the people in KY. I kept bumping into people, as it was a little crowded, and apologized again and again (in LA, people will mad-dog you, or yell at you, or push you, or try to start a fight or shoot you), and I can't tell you how many times I heard, "Oh, you're fine, hon.". It was weird and took getting used to.
7. My accent.
By day 2, I had an accent. Since we were around my husbands family so much, I picked it up quick. I think it's because my moms people were from this area. I spent the rest of my time there working it back out.
8. Trees and open space.
Most of the homes there are built so all the yards/backyards are kind of together. Like, there are no fences. Which is good if you want to have a neighborhood party, and bad if you are planning a skyclad esbat circle (I'm guessing). But its beautiful. There are so many trees there. More trees than people. Thats what I've always wanted. We went to Bernheim Forest briefly, and I can't wait to see it out of the bareness that Winter brings!
Even though I did get sick when we traveled up to Ashland (I wonder if it was something that the furnace put off), and I'm still sick- it's been about 2 weeks- I enjoyed Ashland as well, though I don't know that I'd move there. We did have an awesome Pizza Sandwich at Giovannis, though. It almost made being sick worth it.
All in all, I'm really looking forward to moving to Kentucky, even though I'll be leaving my best friends, my coven, and all of my family behind. I think that it will be a positive move for us- we can rent a house there for less than we are paying for a 2-BR apartment here. I've even given a little thought to homesteading. Maybe. Someday. I think I pretty much found out that I'm more country mouse than city mouse.
I was so surprised. Everything was a surprise. Everyone told me that I should be ready for a culture shock, as being from LA it was going to be completely different. And it was.
In a good way.
1. The people are so NICE.
Seriously. Nice. The woman at the Burger King not only didn't charge me when I asked for Ranch Dressings, she gave me TWO. Of her own volition. That was the first person I interacted after we landed in Louisville. This was at the Burger King in Bardstown, in the Kroger parking lot. I couldn't tell you what street its on because...
2. There are no street signs.
The streets have numbers, not names. And if it does have a name, its on a little bitty street sign in the ground, not up on the traffic light like we have out here. People drive by landmarks out here. You turn at the ham shop with the pig on it, not on 31E or whatever.
3. Kroger had a sushi station.
Seriously! You know how the bakery and deli have people who will make you something fresh? There was a small kiosk with sushi. Those were the only Asian people I saw while in KY, though.
4. Great Mexican food.
Yep, turns out there is a decent amount of Mexican people out there- I guess they tend to be the main harvesters of the Tobacco once its harvesting season? I'm not being racist, or discriminatory- thats what I was told several times, when I mentioned that they neighborhood wasn't very diverse. Then I was told that they all live together in a trailer park. I don't know that I believe that, though. Oh- and we went to a Mexican restaurant... I felt like I was back in California. :) It was awesome.
5. Super. Wal. Mart.
Great prices. Seriously. I'm looking forward to moving back there and saving a grip of cash. Also, SWM was there for me when it snowed on me, and had a jacket I could buy. I don't own a jacket. I own 2 sweaters and like 3 long sleeved shirts. I'm hot blooded. Not hot enough for 29 degree temperatures, though. I learned what cold really is. Turns out, its not 65.
6. Did I mention that the people were so nice?
Going to a club or two, I was reminded again of the nice dispositions of the people in KY. I kept bumping into people, as it was a little crowded, and apologized again and again (in LA, people will mad-dog you, or yell at you, or push you, or try to start a fight or shoot you), and I can't tell you how many times I heard, "Oh, you're fine, hon.". It was weird and took getting used to.
7. My accent.
By day 2, I had an accent. Since we were around my husbands family so much, I picked it up quick. I think it's because my moms people were from this area. I spent the rest of my time there working it back out.
8. Trees and open space.
Most of the homes there are built so all the yards/backyards are kind of together. Like, there are no fences. Which is good if you want to have a neighborhood party, and bad if you are planning a skyclad esbat circle (I'm guessing). But its beautiful. There are so many trees there. More trees than people. Thats what I've always wanted. We went to Bernheim Forest briefly, and I can't wait to see it out of the bareness that Winter brings!
Even though I did get sick when we traveled up to Ashland (I wonder if it was something that the furnace put off), and I'm still sick- it's been about 2 weeks- I enjoyed Ashland as well, though I don't know that I'd move there. We did have an awesome Pizza Sandwich at Giovannis, though. It almost made being sick worth it.
All in all, I'm really looking forward to moving to Kentucky, even though I'll be leaving my best friends, my coven, and all of my family behind. I think that it will be a positive move for us- we can rent a house there for less than we are paying for a 2-BR apartment here. I've even given a little thought to homesteading. Maybe. Someday. I think I pretty much found out that I'm more country mouse than city mouse.
Spirituality Plans for the Near Future
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It's come to my attention that I haven't been as spiritually minded as I'd like to be, as I once was. I chalked it up to several things. First, my house 'wasn't clean enough.' Then, DHs laundry was clutterring up the space where I meditate, near my altar. So, once my entire house was cleaned (I even cleaned all the knickknacks), and DHs piles and piles of laundry were done, it changed nothing. That kind of hit me today.
So, what to do? I know that I work best within a structured environment. So, I guess I need to come up with a new routine. Meditate each day. Come home, change into comfies and meditate! It's a little hard for me to meditate without incense (DH is allergic- boo!) but I can burn some scented candles or something. I'm just writing as ideas come into my head. I should do maybe 10-15 minutes of yoga and then meditate for 10-15 minutes. In my head, I know that would be so great for me (and my back).
In addition to coming up with a specific routine, I think I might need to be stimulated. I need to start working on studying something new. I'd say tarot, but the faeries have jacked the 2 decks I usually use. I RARELY lose anything, so to have misplaced two decks of tarot cards. I've been working on tarot a lot, everyonce in a while. I might bring that with me to Kentucky, but I want to tone down the witchiness while in certain parts of KY.
I'm thinking of going through my books and seeing if I have anything on strengthening psychic powers, or healing. I know I have one on OBEs, but thats not something I'm really that interested in. That happened once and I didn't get very far before I freaked out and snapped back.
So, my new plan is to:
~focus on my personal spirituality
~meditate daily
~find a new course of study
~put my newest herbs away
~redo my altar so it will be springy when I come back from KY
So, what to do? I know that I work best within a structured environment. So, I guess I need to come up with a new routine. Meditate each day. Come home, change into comfies and meditate! It's a little hard for me to meditate without incense (DH is allergic- boo!) but I can burn some scented candles or something. I'm just writing as ideas come into my head. I should do maybe 10-15 minutes of yoga and then meditate for 10-15 minutes. In my head, I know that would be so great for me (and my back).
In addition to coming up with a specific routine, I think I might need to be stimulated. I need to start working on studying something new. I'd say tarot, but the faeries have jacked the 2 decks I usually use. I RARELY lose anything, so to have misplaced two decks of tarot cards. I've been working on tarot a lot, everyonce in a while. I might bring that with me to Kentucky, but I want to tone down the witchiness while in certain parts of KY.
I'm thinking of going through my books and seeing if I have anything on strengthening psychic powers, or healing. I know I have one on OBEs, but thats not something I'm really that interested in. That happened once and I didn't get very far before I freaked out and snapped back.
So, my new plan is to:
~focus on my personal spirituality
~meditate daily
~find a new course of study
~put my newest herbs away
~redo my altar so it will be springy when I come back from KY
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