New Blog Site For Me!

Hey everyone, just realized its been almost a year since I've posted on this blog....and its because I have a different blog now and forgot to tell you! I now use www.wordpress.com for my blogs....here is the link to mine http://amistisreudan.wordpress.com/ . So if you still wants some blogs from me just pop over there! That's where I shall be hanging out! I try to update as much as I can around working all the time (I am full time now!) so bear with me! See you soon!

Amistis <3 br="br">

Up In The Wee Hours....

Good morning everyone!

I have been having a weird habit of getting up before the sun this week. Not quite sure why, its not like my sleep schedule has been that messy lately....

I do think it may have something to do with the full moon. The full moon is this morning at 9:36am and we also have a lunar eclipse at 9:32am. It is also known as the "Long Nights Moon."

Tonight is my work's little christmas get together called to Po' Folks Ball [for us poor folk lol].

I went shopping yesterday for the rest of my Yule gifts but i think i overspent my funds, so today i have to take some stuff back [which i will just have to repurchase with my next check, i wont need them til after christmas anyways].

My poor tree has seen better days. Unfortunately my little black kitty, Salem, aka Chubby Wubby has taken it upon himself to undecorate the bottom half of the tree, so slowly night after night the ornaments are making their way to the top half of the tree, making for a very unbalance tree.

I got some great deals yesterday at a consignment shop [one i used to go to for my school dances to get my dresses] and got a very cute satiny purple dress for the dance tonight, some clothes for handsome, and lily--she really needed new pants and for 4 bucks a pair you cant go wrong! Then i found the clearance rack----found a few good workout shirts for a dollar a piece! I just couldnt pass it up!

I also found a nice suit for 9 bucks [the last suit i bought cost about 70!] but unfortunately when i got home i realized it wasnt in my trunk with the rest of my stuff. I do not know how i missed it in the bagging process [and i get sooooo peeved when i buy things then leave them at the store---such a waste!].

This will be a busy week for me. Besides the usual school and work, i also need to finish some paperwork for our church's council meeting/ update member forms [which are done i am just double checking everything and updating other records], i need to write and plan what to bring and do for our Yule ritual which is also the same day we are doing our Yule dinner with the inlaws.

I love this time of the year but i soooo cant wait for it to be over and get my life back to normal. I love winter---not for the cold or the snow or the holidays [tho those things are still ok--minus the cold i hate being cold!] but it is the time of the year when i can wall myself up in my toasty little house and have some inner journeying/ me time and work on projects i have been putting off.

I really want to get into making more candles, i have a lot of things for it which i purchased long ago this past year but i have yet to take the time to really delve in and experiment with styles and colors and consistency etc.

How cool it will be to finally be able to make all of my candles myself---so much added energy!

I really would like a mini-taper mold but have yet to find one. I do have pillar candle mold and votive so that will be good.

Anywho i will get off here now and try to wake up handsome....he wanted to go hunting this am!

P.S.

Just had my first week of kettlebell--today will be day 3, and i can really feel it in all my muscles. Its a lot of work but i know it will be worth it!

Love, J.

Productive Day

I had a very productive day today. I woke up, got my bill organizer updated since i had a new computer and my old computer died, and took with it all my organizer things. Then I went to handsome's work to give him a different pair of shoes and his meds, then i went to the bank to turn in donations, to vgs to turn in community share points, walmart to get a new water bottle and frame for my third year certificate, and new headphones for the gym, then went to the gym for about an hour and ran into my handsome's brother's girlfriend lol. Then i got a full tank of gas, food, then i am back home. Now im trying to get organized before my love comes home then he is cooking venison and fried mashed potatoes!

Sight, Seeing, and Such!

Went to get an eye exam today, and to get new eye wear. Good news is the doc said my eyes are very healthy, that the prescription is the same in both eye (they weren't 5 years ago when i had my last exam---well overdue!), and that my prescription has been staying relatively the same, which is great!

The part I hate most is the glaucoma test, you know, the one where it blasts each eye with air! Yeah I really hate that, I ALWAYS jump, then feel foolish lol.

Then after that, I got a "contacts 101" class to practice putting those little bugger in and taking them out. Not as easy as I thought because you really cannot see what you are doing, and if you blink, you have to start all over again!

But once they are in, they aren't so bad. First time getting them in made my eyes all watery and red/bloodshot, but that quickly went away, and the second time I did it was like I was a pro. Now my hard part is removing them, but I think I have the maneuver down. I'll have to take them out at about 2p today (its 1:20p with now) because I am only supposed to keep them in for 4 hrs today, then increase by 2 hrs each day for a week until I go back for my follow up appointment. They showed me how to clean and store them, and what to do if I drop them etc.

I guess the kind I got are "soft lenses", the really floppy bendy kinds, that are good for 2 weeks, remove at night, I believe the max time to wear them at one time is 14 hours, after my 1 week of adjusting to them. I have to kind of build up to the 14 hrs.

Then I got to pick out my new frames. Some may say I'm a stickler, but I went for the closest ones I could pick to resemble my old pair. I like them being small and thin frame, not those big chunky dark frames.

I also got to pick out a nice pair of frames for sunglasses. I haven't been able to wear sunglasses in over a decade lol. (Since about 5th grade.) So this is a big deal for me. It will be so nice to be able to wear them when I'm fishing!

So I got to take the contacts with me to adjust for the week, and I have to wear my old glasses for 7-10 business days until my glasses and sunglasses are done and ready for pickup. I am so excited, and LOVE not having to wear glasses to see!

I can't even begin to describe how nice it is not not be stuck with metal on my face, and can actually look like I'm SUPPOSED to look as nature intended! And to still be able to read and see!

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!

That's it for now.

Time to try takin these suckers out before work --- my 4 hours are almost up!

TTFN
BB
Jenn!

Spring Vs. Winter

Just when it begins to feel like spring, winter comes back. Apparently it doesn't give two squats about the Spring Equinox lol.




We had a great Ostara celebration Saturday.


I made:

Pink Stuff



Salad



and Deviled Eggs



So I have had a few days off from work and it's been very nice being able to do what I want at my own leisure and not feeling rushed. I had my candles lit and soundscapes going while cleaning yesterday, and it was very peaceful.


I'm trying to remember what I did all week..... I know I had class the day of the ice storm, which really I only had class for 25 minutes (Astronomy) because they said they were closing at 11a, instead of just closing for the whole day like everyone else, so i still had to drive out there..grr.



After I got out I went to Walmart to cut my hair! Then went to Dort Federal to order checks for SBS, then to the gym for about 2 hrs. Then came home, diddied around a bit, then went to Genesys to meet Kade Owen Ellingson. One of my best friends just had her baby boy! So I went and met my little feller---I am his godmother, or as her man called me, his fairy WITCH mother lol.

Oh now I remember, monday was handsome's birthday, so I took him and his parents to Fuddruckers, and Lily was able to come too. It was very nice. I think they all enjoyed it, and it was nice that we got to go a bit early so it wasnt busy and we didn't have to wait a long time for our food. I should have taken a picture of my burger...it was super good!



So anywho, I am just going to keep working on my 3rd yr studies until handsome gets out of work and lily gets here. Tomorrow I am helping my sister move out to Howell. Then I go back to work Sunday.


Hope everything is going well!

BB

Ami

Spring is in the Air!

Tomorrow is our Ostara ritual....and really looking forward to it. It is sure to be a lot different than what we usually do! And it's nice to have a break since I led the last 2 for my 3rd year requirements. I still have one more (Beltane) and I have to do a mock life-event ritual.

I am been in a super cleaning mode. My home is not very messy to begin with being that I am the neat-freak-Virgo that I am, but it doesn't keep little piles of stuff from accumulating in hidden places.

It all started with Kevin cleaning his side of the closet out, so I cleaned out my side and put stuff in storage, then I cleaned the rest of the room, cleaned up my witchie books and altars, and started a new one for moon time, not sure yet what I'm going to do with it though, right now it's set up, but I have yet to figure out a routine that I would like to get in to honor the Red Tent time.

Then I tackled my desk and all the papers that needed to be filed, plus cleaned out my file cabinet because it was so full I had no room for anything else to be added. Cleaned my pantry, got dishes and laundry caught up (which of course will never be completely done, it's a daily thing in my home), my counter tops are organized, cat boxes clean, trash and recycling have been to the road and picked up, organized my cork board, took care of my animals things (plus got them up to date on shots, neutered my only one who still had parts lol, got new id tags, plus the one who got neutered also got microchipped), organized my herbs and made their labels better, and cleaned up other odds and ends.

I still have to tackle the mess under my kitchen sink that is super unorganized and my storage closet in the bathroom.

Then I think I will be all set until the weather gets good enough to organize my storage unit and outdoor shed, and then I can begin readying my gardens and flower pots. My daffodils and tulips have been above ground for a few weeks now, they aren't really large, but they are big enough to tell which is which. Really looking forward to the blooms---its my first year with daffodils, and i planted more tulips because last year someone chopped off all the heads of the few i had, and if you are a tulip planter you know that it takes from fall til spring for them to finally sprout, and tulips only make one flower per bulb a year, so once the head dies, its gone, at least until the next year, so you can imagine how angry i was!

Oh yeah, I forgot, I also just spent a good hour in Lily's room organizing her dresser and bedroom going through her clothes and taking out what no longer fits to put in storage, and make room for newer clothes. I got her a few really cute spring dresses that I can't wait to dress her up in.

I bought some really nice things for my garden from hobby lobby last week that I can't wait to put up. I found some really heavy cast iron hooks, one moon and one sun, to hang on the back of the shed above my garden, and i got a nice hanging cast iron plate looking thing that hangs from three chains i was thinking of using for offerings since the squirrel wont be able to get into it.

So this is the major stuff happening this week

Saturday - Ostara Ritual/ Super Full Moon
Monday- Kevin's 27th B-day (Taking him and his parent's out to Fudrucker's for dinner)
Tuesday- HESI test for school (entrance exam needed to get into the program)
Wednesday- one of my best friends is scheduled for a c-section at 3:30p for her baby boy Kade
(They said I am his godmother/ fairy "witch" mother lol)

So it's gonna be a fun busy week!

Hope you all are having a great time and are getting ready for spring as well!

~Amistis

2011 Virgo Predictions

Year 2011 Overview

2011 is all about showing Virgo the money. Being the bona fide workaholic of the zodiac, you have certainly earned your right to demand the six figures through long hours and heaps of your own blood, sweat and tears over the past several years. And you've certainly suffered enough losses and endured enough tests of faith in the financial department to prove your substance. As much as you get off on the occasional masochistic work jag, you can't help but wonder when things are going to get easier. Well hang tight Virgin, because the bonus you so desperately need and deserve should arrive between March and June of 2011. A major conglomeration of fiery planets activates your sector of other people's money, including the luckiest planet of them all -- Jupiter. If that doesn't bring some kind of windfall, loan or access to a serious line of credit you're going about your business all kinds of wrong.

You're also getting ready to shed some serious skin starting this March. With Uranus, the change god joining forces with Jupiter in your sector of psychological change: you're preparing to face some serious skeletons in your psychic closet. Rather than applying your brilliant yet critical mind in assessing other people's shortcomings, you're ready to confront your own strengths and weaknesses on a new level. This year favors the clean slate approach to all matters of self-help, renewal and transformation of your personality. You're leaving many aspects of your old self behind in order to become a better and more authentic version of who you really are.

Year 2011 Career

Now that Chiron is finally coming out of your work sector this February after an extended seven-year saga of pushing every social insecurity button known to man, your work environment should be considerably less painful. If you've had trouble with co-workers or employees, you'll finally feel like you're getting some thicker skin compliments of Neptune moving out of your work sector between April and August. Use this planetary reprieve to take a more detached attitude towards all of the drama.

The absence of Chiron and Neptune in your work sector facilitates renewed confidence in your talents. You can stop second-guessing your skills and put more energy into furthering your assets. With a major eclipse pattern hitting your career sector in June, you can expect monumental changes to occur in your professional life between June and next January. This is the year for your hard work to pay off. Plus the lessons of compassion and heightened sensitivity you've learned over the past several years will only work to serve you in reading people's subliminal motives and assess who is a true ally and who to avoid at all costs when doing business.

Between the end of January and June, Jupiter comes back to bless your sector of legacy and other people's money. You'll likely be gifted with a considerable karmic jackpot in the form of a donation, gift, inheritance or loan. Do you still have issues receiving? Now is not the time to look any gift horses in the mouth Virgo. You've more than paid your dues with the amount of free help, guidance and other such service and now it's your time to receive and replenish the well.

Year 2011 Romantic

Your love life is beyond rich and transformational again this year. After enduring a prolonged deprivation spell, where true love seemed like something that only happened to other people, your turn for real love has arrived. Chances are you're already in the midst of a very soulful tryst that began last year. But if you happen to be one of the remaining diehard hermits, get ready to experience one of the most intense romantic encounters of your lifetime. Your birthday season tops the charts in garnishing romance and pleasure, so be sure to take some time off to properly enjoy the amorous gifts of Venus.

You've got two powerful planetary energies working to make your love life the stuff movies and dreams are made of (and for the long haul.) Neptune, the planet of dreams and soulful experience will take up residence in your relationship sector this April to bring you a preview of what's to come for the next fourteen years in radically spiritualizing your relationships. And then Pluto, the god of the underworld continues the excavation begun in 2008 in your romance sector. Over the next 14 years you can count on Pluto to bring unparalleled intensity and reveal hidden aspects of your self through the vehicle of romance. Nothing light or frivolous anymore when it comes to love, Virgo. If it's not a soul connection that will transform every fiber of your being, you'll quickly lose interest.

New Moon Tarot Spread

I thought I'd try out a new spread this new moon (when I usually do divination).

Here's the spread: Use this spread to illuminate issues, situations, or energies present in the upcoming lunar cycle. Perform this spread on the New Moon. Each card represents a week in the lunar cycle, from one aspect of the moon to the next.

1: New Moon- Beginnings
2: Second Quarter- Progress
3: Full Moon - Manifestations
4: Fourth Quarter- Reflection
5: New Moon- Completion; New Beginnings

_____5_____

_____1_____

4__________2

_____3_____

For my reading, the cards I drew were:

1: 3 of Chalices


Cherish you friends...and be careful of neglecting them, especially when life gets busy or difficult. Take time out to celebrate life's small wonders and support each other through trying times.

2: Novice of Wands


This Novice can be someone of great focus and enthusiasm. He is ready to take on any endeavor and give one hundred percent. He runs the risk of recklessness if he doesn't temper his excitement with a balanced approach.

3: The Moon


Facing the monsters within is a difficult experience, but it is one you must do. Keep in mind that moonlight has a way of exaggerating or altering things. The monsters you see may not reflect reality. Look closely and don't be afraid. The Goddess and God live in you along with those monsters you think are there. Draw on the Divine power to deal with the shadows. Once you face them, they will no longer have power over you.

4: Elder of Wands


This Elder can be someone of great will, determination and drive. He has an amazing talent for knowing the right thing to do in many situations and can lead with great charm and charisma. If he is not careful, he can be bossy or intolerant of others' ideas/

5: Novice of Swords


This Novice can be someone with a goal in sight and who pursues it single-mindedly. He can accomplish much very quickly and extremely well. However, he can be so focused that he misses changing developments, thereby going full steam ahead without considering a change of plans.

Changes

Things are all shook up right now with work. Management is changing everything and I'm not very thrilled about it. Its interfering with my personal life, my weekends off, and my school work. I didn't think they were allowed to but apparently there's what I call a "Fuck You Clause" in our contract that basically says management can change their minds as they see fit.

So for now I'll just have to grin and bear it and hope that some good comes out of it.

Until next time...

BB
Ami

Preparing for Fall Outdoors

I have been busy this morning with getting my yard looking fall-ish. In about a week or so I will start setting up my Halloween decorations! But for now, with Mabon being tomorrow (And it is tomorrow when Libra is 1 degree, not the 24th as another witch tried telling me), I thought it would be a sensational time to plant some mums and some tulips and daffodils for next spring.

I used some of my compost dirt as well. It was very cool to see all the fat red worms crawling around in there. That's how I know it is healthy soil. I use it near samhain to bury my garden, so when spring comes back next year, the soil will be very healthy to grow my next crop.

I have the corn stalks that I grew myself on my porch by the steps, and my fall wreath on my door, with three ears of corn from Terry. It isn't feeling very fall-like out today, but it is very hot! So I thought it was a good day to head outside and get things done.

My other porch plants are doing very well: my marigolds, garlic, onions, and dianthus.

I got a call from a co-worker saying staffing put my name on the sheet, but I know I am not due back til friday, so I called them, told them I wasn't on today according to the final schedule in the schedule book and that I did not pick up any days for anyone because lately I've only been picking up thirds, and they said that I was right, their mistake, so I'm not getting in trouble for a no-call-no-show.

Also, another thing that irked me today was that I found an animal trap next door in my neighbors yard. It wasn't a live trap like we have used in the past (where the animal goes inside, steps on the trigger that closes the door, and just cages the animal, not hurting them in any way.) Oh no! Not this one. This one was upright, spring loaded, I used a stick to hit the trigger, and it flys down with a horrific SNAP! So if there was food on the trigger and an animal trying to eat it accidently puts any pressure on the trigger from trying to eat the food off it, its head would be smashed between two steel plates propelled by a big spring. How horrible is that! Or if they put their paw on it, and it gets squashed in there?

With the cats I take care of outside, I couldn't imagine one of them with that kind of fate. So after I set off the trap, I pulled it out of the ground, and now it's in my shed, which hopefully, handsome will take to the metal place where they take scrap metal so I never have to see that dreadful thing again!

On a better note, I don't work and have no school today so I think I will work on more of my 3rd year studies.

I will have leftovers from yesterday (Steak, mashed tater, yams, rolls, deep fried mushrooms, and baked beans!)

Blessed Be!

Amistis

Late Night

I am sitting here online just going through my usual stuff. I am trying to blog more. It's frustrating when you cannot find time to do the things you want to do. It truly feels like there isn't enough time in the day, then again, I don't know how I would survive if the day was any longer! I get tired enough in just the 24 hrs we have here!

I didn't go to bed til 3 am yesterday (funny its almost that time again now!). I felt so drained, and I think I have come to the conclusion that I need to get a new pillow, cuz my old ones here are killing my neck. I wake up daily with a crick in my neck. Anyways...my love woke me up about 10 am and asked me if I wanted breakfast, and of course I couldn't turn that down!

What a great guy! Maybe that's his way of saying "thanks for getting me the goods to make me feel better!" He was running a fever and having chills and was lethargic. So I got him a bunch of feel good stuff and meds and a new thermometer and scoobie doo fruit snacks, gatorade, soup, etc.

I also found it adorable that he kept saying "come here, look at this", and naturally I said "what is it?" and being so mysterious as he is, he says "just come look", and sure enough, on the porch is a HUGE ORANGE PUMPKIN!

At first I was super thrilled! YAY he's on board with the seasonal change thing...maybe I can start putting up my Samhain decorations! Then it hit me....WHERE THE HELL IS MMMYYYY PUMPKIN! lol

But I thought it was really sweet, him cooking dinner and getting a fat pumpkin. Then after eating, we just sat on the couch, him letting me lay my head on his lap. We took a short nap before I had to work. I have felt so tired all day and my boobs hurt....they always do before my cycle. I'm getting a little impatient with that too....I know I'm due any day now, and I'm ready, but it just won't go! It'll probably wait til I have to work again, when I have to be on my feet all day...lol.

Well, I think I'm going to take a long hot shower, pick up my midnight meal, then go to bed. I normally would wait til my love got out of work 5-6amish but I do have school tomorrow at 4p, and I don't want to feel like I did today. I do love my sleep....its when i get the best movies! From my head!

Ahhh can't wait til they can start recording them for playbacks!

BB
Amistis Reudan

p.s. sry no photos!

Mabon!

Today we had our Mabon Circle. I think it turned out very awesome! We didn't even mess up anything too bad, and the only thing that did was fixed before we were too messed up! (Just candles in the wrong quarters after moving the altar!) But even though it was a small gathering this time, I feel it was great! Would of been better with a fire going (I'm always cold has it is!) The food was awesome!



We had roasted chicken, coleslaw, bread, salad, green bean casserole, yammers!, wine and apple cider!!! Like a mini-thanksgiving!!!



It even felt like a fall-ish day. It was rainy and cloudy, a little cooler but not too shabby. OH! And I got to wear my new cloak. Its so heavy, but I really like it. I want to get more ritual garb, and try to get others on board with doing so. I don't know why, it makes me feel more official? I don't think that's the right word I'm looking for....um....maybe like.....more in ritual mode???? If that makes any sense.



And I like the idea of a Degree System Bracelet or something like that. It would be nice to have something to show "hey I put all the work into obtaining this knowledge." I feel like everything is getting on track right now. We got a decent amount of donations coming in, we got an awesome place for ritual for at least another year, and we will do our best to get it for 2012 and every year after that.



Its amazing how much the feeling of ritual changes as members change. I really hope these two new members who just joined decided to attend next Sabbat. I posted in the Events on WitchVox.com about our public circles. Terry helped me edit it so they have to join the yahoo group to get more info, like location. And just by having it posted for a few days, I got three new requests. It had almost 100 views last I checked!



Also, I paid for 4 days of ConVocation this year. I am really excited to go. We were going to get a hotel room, but Terry said we can drive each day. So we'll see how it goes when the time gets closer. I wonder what kinds of classes they will have. I wish I could go to all of them and video tape them. I don't want to forget anything!

Anywho, this is getting long, and I need to take care of some paperwork. So talk to you later!

BB,
Amistis

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

Don't these just look tasty!!!! Not bad for my first try!!!

Take some green peppers, cut off the tops and gut them (seeds and such). Rinse them off, take a pan (I chose this one because it has a lid, but any will do with some foil on top if needed), I sprayed it with cooking spray as well as drizzled olive oil on the pan so it doesn't burn/stick to the pan. Place peppers in pan bottoms down, so they look like little bowls.

Next is the filling. I just got back from vacation, so I had a lot of farmers market veggies hanging out, so this was my way of using them up. I only didn't put any meat in it because we didn't have any left from camping other than hotdogs...and thats just weird.

Anyways enough rambling....I chopped up one large yellow sweet onion, some chunks of tomato left over from the salad below, chopped the tops we cut off the peppers (minus the stem) into bite size chunks, boiled some plain white rice (I used the 5 min pre-cooked rice), boiled a ear of corn and cut it off the cob, picked some oregano leaves from my garden, put it all in a bowl, dumped a can of tomato sauce in, added a little sprinkle of salt, pepper and garlic powder, then stirred it well.


Then stuffed the peppers with the mixture til it was full, but not overflowing (tried to keep extra filling from falling out onto the pan so it wouldn't burn or make it hard to wash after it cooked.)


Then I sprinkled the tops with shredded mozzarella, a dash of salt and pepper, and garlic powder. Then placed them in the oven at 425 degrees until they look like...


THIS!!! The pepper is mushy, and the cheese is toasted brown. You can hear it sizzle when it cooks!


I think this was a great turn out for my first attempt! And its healthy!


Doesn't it just make you want to salivate! Time to dig in!!!


So JUICY!.....and HOT!


For sides, I picked purple green beans and green beans from both gardens (Purple Green Beans [ or what I like to call Amish Green Beans because the first time I bought them was at a Farmer's Market in Boyne City where some Amish people were selling them at their stand] turn green when they are cooked, so its kind of idiot proof to cook them!) I also added some of the corn that I cut for the peppers.


I put them in a bowl with some butter and garlic powder, yum!


I was going to make a salad as well but the lettuce didn't survive the trip. So I made a no-lettuce salad, with just a big red ripe tomato and a fresh cucumber, sliced up into bite sizes.


Then covered them in ranch--my favorite---tho any dressing will do---experiment to your liking!


Then I heated up some leftover campfire potatoes from camping. They are like a baked potato without the skin. They are peeled, mashed up, smothered in butter, salt, pepper, with a chopped onion, and maybe some garlic powder as well. They taste just like the camp fire they were cooked over!

What a Day!

I am so exhausted. I worked 16 hours yesterday (3pm saturday to 7am sunday) and from 11p-7a I was the ONLY person to work the floor for almost 40 patients. How safe is that? And I couldn't do all my perfectionistic charting and the like. All i did were vitals from most of them (nurses did some) charted those, then went from one end to the other back and forth for 8 hrs stopping where I was needed to take care of the patients who needed me most. Luckily some slept all night without needing me for anything. But others...well.....lets just say they kept me busy. I had 3 sitters to relieve too, so luckily 2 were covered by their nurses then I just had one to worry about. Then I went home, showered, slept for about 4 hrs, then turned around to come back in at 3p sunday.

I signed the book to work OT again, but they didn't call me today. Kinda happy but I need the money too, once I get back from camping next week bills will be waiting to be paid, and it kind of helps to have money for that heehee.

I did sign up to work second and third shift the rest of the week so hopefully I will be called one or two more times before I go on vacation. I am soooo happy I got approved, especially after beinng denied the first time around. Takes a big weight off my shoulders having to worry about how many days I'll get off, what I need to cover, and if I have to call in any days I can't get covered, because I'm not about to miss my first vacation as a complete family (Lily is coming this times, as well as kevins mom dad and grandma!)

I have to work tomorrow then I'm not scheduled til sometime after I come back from up north, so hopefully they have the schedule out tomorrow before I leave so I know when I'm due back. Otherwise I'll have a co-worker text it to me or something. But its nice to know in advance.

I am sooo tired, and feeling a little down because I haven't seen my boyfriend very much since Thursday other than a quick hi and bye. He woke me up from my 4 hr power nap between working when he gave me a kiss---just thought it was kinda sweet that he kisses me when I'm asleep. I usually wait up for him to get off work when he does 3rd shifts, but I am soooo drained, and being that I have to be back tomorrow and possibly get to work another double, I feel I should get the sleep while I can. I'm no good when my tank is on E!

Lamms ritual is coming up, got a new skirt to wear, only problem is its light colored so its kind of see through, so I have to find something I can put under it to keep from showing my goods lol.

Off to take a shower now, then going to sleep. I know that all this non-sleep and non-boyfriend stuff will be worth it. As he says....5 more days!

p.s. gotta go up to mott before me go to get a hold on my loan if it isnt processed before we go.

p.s.s I had to stop up at kevins work to drop off some bleach i got from meijer after work for him, and he let me sit there even though there was a car behind me cuz they were waiting on his food, and he said after I left to head some, the other car pulled up and said "never been behind a witch before" lol. Silly!


)

Finally Done!

I have officially transferred all blogs to my new email, so now its in sync with my youtube google info! I am so tired right now, I am staying up again to wait for handsome to get off work. Watching bait car, some ppl are so dumb. I can't believe how these ppl think they can just take off with a car and not get caught. I'm glad they are doing this though. Catch those mother-effers! Went with my sister to see Despicable Me, which we have had to attempt 3 times before actually getting to successfully watch it. First time power was out from a bad storm so they couldnt play movies, the second try was yesterday (monday) and my sis ended up having to stay over at work and didnt call and tell me, so i showed up to an empty house. So she made up for it by buying my ticket today (tues) and i just had to buy my pop and popcorn.

My brain is starting to hurt a little from sleepiness and staring at the computer so long. So I think I should take some excedrine real fast.

Then I'm going to start my 3rd year assignments. I created another blog to track my progress as I do my assignments. YAWN.

So TTYL!

BB
AMI!

Spring is in the Air!

I am totally ready for spring. Its officially here, and I hear rain is on the way :: giggles ::

I have bought a few seed packets, though I still plan on going to Meijer as I always do to scope out their selections...

For those who I haven't told yet, I got my letter from the college, and unfortunately, I wasn't able to be accepted into fall clinicals because of lack of room. So I must reapply for the winter semester.

I can't even begin to explain how disappointing this is to me. I feel like a failure and like I will never be able to get on with my life. All that I'm waiting on is getting done with college so I can afford a nice house, a car that isn't so questionable, get married, have babies, you know, normal life milestones. I feel like I have been stuck in school forever, most of the time having to take things that aren't even pertinent to what field I'm in. I mean really guys...Art and Philosophy and shit like that?
I know they mostly only care about the money, and want me to crawl til my hands and knees are bleeding before they'll let me in. I'm not giving up, but it doesn't stop the depression and anger that has set into my soul. I just want to be DONE!

On a better note, we have been doing more things as a family. We have went to see Alice in Wonderland in 3D as a family with my sister, her boyfriend, kevin, and lily and myself. The only bad part of that day was taking lily to the bathroom and realizing that the girl before us didn't bother to flush her nasty bloody tampon, so I have to deal with a worried, scared, confused five year old and lie to her and say its just juice or something.

(I really wanted to just tell her she'll learn later because she knew it was blood, and I didn't want to be the one to tell her then have her mom go crazy on my ass because I told her the truth ya know? If it were my own child I surely would have told her the truth right then and there. The joys of having to deal with the ex!)

We also went with Lily to her class field trip to the children's museum. It was pretty cool, she loved the wall climbing the best, and I loved the HUGE play house! I always wanted one as a kid but we could never afford such things.

She also had her 5th birthday the weekend we had her before her actual birthday. I got her lots of crafty stuff from Hobby Lobby because I knew she'd love it, plus she asked specifically for some rabbit furs so I had to go there anyway to get those.

So every day she is here, we do at least one project. So far we have done bird houses, and a picture frame. She still has a mosaic yard stone thing, tooth fairy boxes, and garden stones that you paint.

I'm not sure if I work tomorrow, I think I have it off, so I plan on cleaning my house and maybe catching up on some school stuff so its out of the way. I'd like to get some witchie assignments done too, because I haven't made it to my goal, to be done by Ostara. I did however perform my first public ritual.

We went to Terry's house because she was nice enough to let me use her place where I was familiar and knew it had the space and light I was looking for.

Out of the 11ish people who RSVP'd that they would be there, only these people actually came:

Myself
Terry
Cat
Alyvia (Cat's 3 yr old daughter)
Don 2
Chrissy
Spirit
Maddy
Deanna (Terry's friend-non-pagan)

I was wracking my brain trying to think of something to use to cast my circle, and as the Goddess would have it, I used Jelly Beans that Cat was gracious enough to let me use.

I think it turned out very well, the only part I messed up was I read a line in the wrong order, but it turned out ok, just threw everyone off for a second heehee.

I had never been more nervous. And I think I need to practice the Cakes and Ale portion a little more. That was my most uncomfortable moment and think it could have been a lot smoother.

Also, I want to look into learning more about Reiki. Not sure how to go about that, but I'll see what I can find...

Thats it for now, time to get my beauty sleep!

Blessed Be!

Amistis Reudan

Spring Fever

The sun is finally shining and it makes me so happy. Though I know its too early for spring I can 't help but yern for it. I want to get my bare feet back into the dirt and sit outside to read books and go for walks on my break at work. I hope my little friend Igor survived.

Monday I am supposed to take my car in to get fixed up, so maybe it wont sound like an airplane anymore. After I find out how much all those repairs are then maybe I will have enough for the other things I need to get taken care of. At least ill know what i have left to work with.

My neck is sore today. Been working a lot and going to school.

Really not a lot going on.

I do have Ostara coming up next month for my first public ritual to lead. Kinda nervous, still workin on details. Yay
TTYL

Amistis Reudan

Still working on it....

Well,
I am still working on my assignments for my classes for clergy.
I'm in my second year as most of you know.
I have most of the assignments done, but the one I am finding to be the toughest, besides having to write a ton of rituals, is making a timeline of my events. I have been doing my thing for about ten years now, and i cant remember which rituals i have been able to attend or not, or which sabbats and esbats i celebrated when or all the spells i have done. I should have kept better records, but its too late for that now. I dont know how im going to do this. I dont want to make it up or guess because it will feel false to me. Ho hum....

Ritual Preparation Guidelines

Ritual Preparation Guidelines
*Overview*
A. Define purpose
B. Write ritual
C. Gather necessary tools
D. Prepare area
E. Prepare body

A. Purpose

What is the significance of this ritual? Is it a Sabbat or Esbat? What are you looking to accomplish?

 Sabbat – what is the major focus of this Sabbat?
 Esbat- what sign is the sun/moon in?

B. Write Ritual

Using the ritual outline, create a ritual, making sure to double check for errors and possible changes that may be needed.

 Is it easy to follow?
 Is everything included that should be?
 Does everyone have their roles defined?
 Is this a solitary or group ritual?
 Does it clearly demonstrate the goal?

C. Gather Necessary Tools

Make sure you have everything you need ahead of time to avoid confusion and disorganization
This may include:

 Herbs
 Incense (making loose incense)
 Censer
 Offering Plate
 Broom
 Cauldron
 Robe
 Bell
 BoS
 Bowl for Water
 Bowl for Salt
 Spritzer
 Altar Cloth
 Bolline
 Athame
 Wand
 Cup/Chalice
 Altar Pentacle
 Altar Candles
 Goddess/ God Candle
 Oils (blending oils)
 Candles (anointing candles)
 Stones
 Checking Correspondences
 Determining Directions
 Who Is Calling Directions
 Cakes And Ale Set Up
 Astrological Positions
 Cleansing Tools Prior To Use (see below)


*Cleansing, Blessing, Charging and Protecting Tools*
Needed Items: sea salt, incense, water, candle
Mix sea salt and water. Stir (clockwise) to dissolve the salt in the water. Light candle and incense. Dip your fingertips into the salt water, sprinkle it onto the tool you wish to cleanse and bless and say:

I bless this (tool name) by the power of earth and water.
Now run the tool through the flame of the candle and the smoke of the incense and say:
I charge this (tool name) by the power of fire and air.
Next, with the index finger of your projective hand, trace a pentagram over the tool. Visualize electric-blue or purple flames streaming from your fingers to form the monogram and say:
With this pentagram and (tool name) I wish to protect
Cleansed of all negativity, harm will deflect

My magickal hand charges with success
And asks the Goddess and God to bless

I now invoke the law of three:
This is my will, so mote it be!
(Do this with all your tools and any other object you wish to cleanse bless charge and protect.)


D. Prepare Area

It is important to plan out and prepare the area where the ritual will take place. Here are a few things to consider:

 Make sure to avoid and prevent interruptions- take the phone off the hook, lock the doors, post a “do not disturb” sign, maybe have to find somewhere else for children and animals to be if the occasions call for it (incorporate children if desired which is totally based on the individual and the group).
 Remember, an interruption won’t ruin your ritual unless you let it.
 Accommodate space needed based on how many people are expected.
 Set up a working altar where the circle is to be cast. This physically prepares the area to become sacred while simultaneously psychologically preparing the participants to enter that space. (Also may have visual aids on the altar.)
 Determine the timing of the ritual so everyone knows when to be prepared.
 Cleanse the space prior to ritual by:
o Smudging
o Sweeping with besom
o Using a feather to sweep clean
o Carrying a white and/or black candle
o Spritzer of salt water
o Visualization
o Carrying each element around the circle area

E. Prepare Body

 Ritual Bath (or Shower)
o Whenever possible, take a ritual bath prior to ritual. It is beneficial to wash away everyday tensions before entering sacred space. In addition to being a spiritually as well as physically cleansing event, immersion in water links us with our most primal memories. If you cannot take a bath, a shower will also work. (Visualize the nasties flowing out of you and down the drain, leaving you pure and fresh.)
o If you do not have access to water, you can use incense, or a bell, or a few minutes of light drumming or meditation for the same cleansing effect.
o The goal is to enter the circle with a clear mind and an untroubled heart. You are trying to meet your friends, including Deity, on a higher/deeper level than in day-to-day life.

 Ritual Dress

Ritual Dress is another way to mentally prepare oneself for ritual.

o Nudity (optional, solitaries though some groups do practice ritual nudity as well)
o Robes (may be in specific colors or styles depending on ritual purpose)
o Jewelry (pentagrams, earrings, bracelets, etc)
o Any Other Ritually Significant Accessories (hats, shoes, bags, etc)

Witchie Book Wish List

Check www.bigwords.com for lowest prices

Sabbat Books and Prices from Amazon.com

Samhain-Halloween: Customs, Recipes & Spells by Silver RavenWolf
Buy new: $13.45
Used & new from $1.24


Yule- Yule: A Celebration of Light and Warmth by Dorothy Morrison
Buy new: $11.21
Used & new from $0.70


Imbolc- Candlemas: Feast of Flames by Amber K and Azrael Arynn K
Buy new: $11.53
Used & new from $4.30

Ostara- Ostara: Customs, Spells & Rituals for the Rites of Spring by Edain McCoy
Buy new: $13.45
Used & new from $6.54


Beltane- Beltane: Springtime Rituals, Lore and Celebration by Raven Grimassi
Buy new: $11.21
Used & new from $6.33


Midsummer- Midsummer: Magical Celebrations of the Summer Solstice by Anna Franklin
Used & new from $56.61


Lughnasadh- Lammas: Celebrating the Fruits of the First Harvest by Anna Franklin and Paul Mason
Used & new from $49.60

Mabon- Autumn Equinox: The Enchantment of Mabon by Ellen Dugan
Buy new: $10.17
Used & new from $4.28