New Year's Resolutions

So it's about that time again to achieve and stick to some new things to do.

Here's mine:

1. Condition myself to run up to six miles. (This was my resolution last year!)

2. Get highly into reconstructing old clothes into new clothes.

I got these books just for this:

Along with all my old clothes, I think I'm going to find it fun and exciting to find stuff at thrift stores to turn into something new and creative.

3. Eat or drink one chlorophyll rich meal at least once a day. (I've already started and it's way easier and yummier than I thought. Can we say 'kale chips'?)

4. Work more on filling up my Book of Shadows.


5. Spend money more wisely to save more.

I may add to the list if I think of anything else.

Our Golden Yule Tree!

I finally have photos to share of our golden Yule tree. The funny thing is that I had to go really cheap with the ornaments (bought today at the last minute) but hopefully next year I'll have some ornaments that I really like and adore.

I took like 87 photos!!! I didn't know I took so many until I plugged my camera into the computer to upload. It's like a vortex you go into where you just lose time I guess taking photos, because 87 photos of a tree just doesn't make any sense at all! I picked out 8. I think the photos really don't do the tree any justice but here they are:

The Vertigo Tarot, Again

I received the new copy/edition of The Vertigo Tarot by Dave McKean. I have an old copy but a few years ago I foolishly believed it was safe in my suitcase on one of my trips to Austin. Airport security managed to make a very prominent bend in one of the cards while they went through the deck. And of course, that bend has always bothered me.

But now I have a new copy and all is well! I'm so glad they decided to publish it again. I thought that would never happen.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving EVERYONE!! I hope your day is filled with lots of love and joy and many reasons to be thankful!!!

Green Soul Challenge - Day 3

I'm starting to type this at 11:11, awesome spiritual numbers. It's amazing when you really focus on eating cleaner to rid the body of unwanted things, outer things follow that show itself in needing to be rid of. There is a true connection with treating your inner life well and your outer life wanting to reflect that and I feel so blessed in experiencing that, it's very freeing.

Why yes, I did have my daily green today. Lots of salad still. We went to the grocery store to pick up some more stuff, so I was able to get the usual mixed greens. I didn't do the green smoothie today but hopefully soon. I just seem to be on this salad kick and I am really enjoying it.

I may just make a spirulina drink before I go to bed though.

Sitar, My Soul

So I finally took my sitar out of the garage and out of it's case and into the living room. I haven't played it since before we moved and that has been way too long for someone that claims she's determined to learn how to play it well. I love the sitar - everything about it - from the way it looks to the way it sounds. If an instrument ever could represent the sound of a soul, it would by far be the sound of a sitar. Holding and playing the sitar I find to be such a spiritual experience, it's hard to describe really... But it's so meditative and soothing. I've never gotten that feeling from other instruments I've played.

Here's my sitar set up in my living room. I just recently got that floor pillow from World Market. It is officially my sitar pillow just for when I play - my official "ass pillow." Hahaha!

I love the upper large Lotus Pegs, they add such beauty.

The removable toomba that's behind. It's hollow with a hole underneath and adds extra resonance when you play.

A shot of the various carved detail and decoration.

Wish List - Gold Tree

I'm amazed by this tree. It's stunning! I would totally do the feather decoration with it as in the photo because that looks SO GOOD! I did always want a white tree and to decorate it with silvery things but this golden tree is like a pure dream and fantasy.

My New Besom

I've been waiting for years to find a besom (or witch's broom) that I really like and I think I have finally stumbled upon it. Meet my new besom!


One of the things a besom is used for is to cleanse and consecrate, a very important step in creating a sacred space. Though this particular artistic broom isn't meant for "housework", it will do just fine for my rituals. Anyone have any ideas of a cool name for it? I tend to name the things I use for rituals and this one seems to fit the bill as well. My Book of Shadows is named Sarah - a name that seems to have a mysterious connection with me concerning magic in a past life. But for the besom, I am looking for something a little more... cool?

I am leaning towards names like Twitch or Twilight.

Cutest Witch in the Neighborhood?

This is my outfit for Halloween (Samhain)! It's one of those Indian wrap skirts that you can wear in an unimaginable number of ways - as skirts and dresses and even as capes. I've gathered up a collection of them, all very beautiful, but this is the one that screams HALLOWEEN! Screams - get it?!

Above is the way I'll wear it for Samhain, including a Witch's hat (but of course!).

I will always and forever love long skirts.



This way looks so Earth Mama. Love it!

As I stated before, there are so many ways to wear this, it really is amazing. These types of skirts usually have two layers of different colored fabric so you can twist and turn and flip and tie in so many styles and combinations that there is just no room for boredom!

I'll be gradually showing off my other pieces! I love them so much! And I love my husband for buying them for me!

Kwan Yin - Goddess of Mercy and Compassion

Her full name translated means: One who hears the cries of the world.

I had this painting done for me of Kwan Yin (Guan Yin), the Goddess of Mercy and Compassion. I am excited about how it turned out. I had paid for it to have something cool to hang above the fireplace but now I see it will look totally disproportionate there (I need something more horizontal). Currently I need to see where this painting will best be. I would really love for it to be shown in one of the more public rooms but our bedroom seems to have the perfect wall for it, having 2 doors that will frame it nicely on each side. The front living room is also perfect because of the wall color that you can see in the photo. I'll have to think on it more to decide.

I also plan to do some white or metallic painting or gold foil on the frame currently in use. I prefer silver but then it would clash with all the hardware and fixtures in the house. I do want to eventually switch out all the house's hardware to silver-tone, but that's not really a priority right now.

Some wonderful information about why I love Kwan Yin can be found here and here.

The Waning Moon

The Full Moon has come and gone once again and now it wanes. This is the time to push negativity out of your life knowing that the Universe is giving you extra strength to succeed in doing so. The Waning Moon is an excellent time to "banish and reject" such things as negative influences, negative emotions and thoughts, bad habits and diseases. Take the time out to figure what needs to be done to take control. Purification and protection for the home and body are best done during this time as well.

During this Waning Moon, I'll be upping my chlorophyll intake by eating more greens (and continuing with my wheatgrass juice). Chlorophyll is extremely purifying and helps rid the body of toxins. I'll also be making sure I get enough purifying Sun! I've been lacking in that department lately, especially with the dreary weather. I should start meditating and doing yoga outside in the sunlight.

I need to finally clean out the car as well (even though I'm not the one who messed it up)! So along with the house and my body, I'll be purifying and protecting the car too.