ego boost :)

the gym i joined has bellydance classes twice a week - thursdays at the polaris location and sundays at graceland. after class today i went up to ask the instructor about a hafla she had mentioned (december 4th, im excited^_^ ) and one of the other women there was asking her for help, since this was her first bellydance class. she couldnt get the hang of undulations and horizontal hip figure eights. then she saw me walk up and told me that she had been watching me during class - the instructor had been wearing a skirt so she couldnt see what she was doing with her elgs, so she watched me instead. then she was asking both the instructor and myself to show her how to do the moves. it made me feel REALLY good, since i am still very much a beginner. the fact that she thought i was good enough for her to ask me for help made me feel really good about myself ^_^

its the autumnal equinox!

"In this overly sun focused culture, how do you honor the dark exactly? Record your dreams and do personal meditations. Face your negative emotions to find their core cause. Don’t sugar coat things. Not everything in life is lovely. That doesn’t mean we should ignore a situation if it’s hard. Honor the waning of things. Elderly are often “dealt with” rather than honored, listened to, and cared for. Listen to someone going through other endings such as an ending of a relationship or a personal loss. Don’t force people to quell expressing their pain. Often when intensive emotions come up for someone in ritual, they need a safe space to be able to work through those emotions, which are normally suppressed. Rather than forcing tissues or hugs on that person, witness their experience with support and patience. The ability and space to open up is one of the beauties of magickal space and pagan ritual. Past the pain of opening up is the peace of fulfillment, connection, and healing. Give that gift both to yourself and the people with whom you share circle."

~from witchvox.com

blessed mabon!!

♥

autumn is here!!

well not officially, but for me it is!! i went with my family to lynd's fruit farm this weekend to pick apples. weve been going since i was like 2 years old and it is one of our favorite traditions. we always pick cortland apples because they make the best applesauce :) we also got fresh apple cider, then made our way into their tent where mom bought some pumpkins to make pies and bread with, and i picked up some pure maple syrup, strawberry jam for the hubbs, and something called frog jam for myself (it is amazingly delicious; its fig, raspberry, orange and ginger. hence, "frog"). then mom taught me how to make applesauce! weve all been helping her to make it for years, but this was the first time she actually walked me through the whole process. and let me tell you, applesauce is one of the easiest things int he world to make lol. mom usually makes a HUGE batch and freezes it so we have enough for the whole year. in fact i think she still has some in the freezer from last year lol. like i said this is one of our favorite traditions; for our family autumn starts when the applesauce is made, and shortly after that, the chili ^_^ which i am SUPER excited for!!

apple picking!

david and nathan - and davids pretty girlfriend :) - peeling and coring the apples

mom and i slicing and cooking the apples

i wish you could smell this!

look at all that delicious applesauce!! mmmmm ^_^

never forget

the wind is full of a thousand voices

i cannot wait for autumn.  i am sick and tired of the constant heat and humidity.  i want to be able to step outside and feel the crispness in the air, not feel like my makeup will sweat off in two seconds.  i want it to be just chilly enough to require a light cardigan.  i want to see the leaves change colors (and step on the crunchy ones).  i want to watch OSU football and eat moms homemade chili.  i want to go pick apples at lynds fruit farm (where my family has been going since i was little) and help mom make applesauce.  i want to curl up under my favorite snuggly white blanket, with a cup of tea and a good book, and look out the window to see the geese flying south.  thank god its almost september...

the so-called "ground zero mosque"

so my friends and i have been discussing this and frankly, i am sick and tired of all the people who oppose the project but dont bother to check their facts.

first of all, the mosque isnt even going to be AT gorund zero - its a full two blocks away!  what is there is not ground zero, but an old abandoned burlington coat factory that was damaged from debris in the attacks.  so theres a huge hole in the controversy right there.

secondly, its not even going to technically a mosque.  the cordoba house (because thats what its ACTUALLY called) is designed to be an islamic community center, including a mosque but also an auditorium and a swimming pool.  kind of like a YMCA.

can you imagine what an enormous gesture of peace it would be though, if a mosque were actually being built at ground zero?  i think that would be the most beautiful gesture, especially in a country founded on the idea of religious freedom.  but no, people are so preoccupied with the misconception that islam in general is bad and evil.  listen up people, NOT ALL MUSLIMS ARE TERRORISTS!!  just like not all christians back in the 12th century were supporters of the crusades.  those who hijacked the planes on 9/11 were extremists, they were terrorists, and yes they were muslim.  but that does not automatically make all muslims extremists.  to think otherwise is ignorant and intolerant.

from Wikipedia: The specific location of the planned facility, so close to the World Trade Center “where a piece of the wreckage fell,” was a primary selling point for the Muslims who bought the building^. Abdul Rauf said it “sends the opposite statement to what happened on 9/11.” and “We want to push back against the extremists”.  

 for more information click here