You Are Part of It All

Are you feeling lonely? Fearful? Disconnected? Yearning for something but you know not what?

Step back for a moment, retreating from your feelings, just for the time being. Take a longer view, seeing the bigger landscape laid out in front of you.

You are made of the same stuff as the stars. You are a beloved child of the multiverse. Whether you can feel it or not, you are in deep connection with all that is: lakes and rivers, mountains, valleys, trees and rocks, soaring birds, crawling beetles, the sun, the moon, music, art, and yes, your fellow human beings, who also yearn for love and connection. You are worthy of love, just as you are.

Let a glimmer of hope arise within you. Nurture it. Fan its flames.

As you move slowly back into your present situation, let that little flame of hope grow. Allow it to move freely within you, lighting up your joys and passions, igniting inspired action. Feel its vibrations resonating throughout your being, and then follow where it leads.

Adventure awaits. Go forth and meet it.

Starcat's Favorites: In the Heart of Summer

Here we are in the heart of summer! We've been having a heat wave here in Maine, which I always enjoy. I suspect I might be the only one, though. Most folks were huddled up miserably with air conditioners and fans. I'm strange, I know, but I love being very warm! Some of my other lives must be nearer to the equator.

Our family's summer is going pretty well. We've been having lots of fun swimming in the ponds and river. Dryst went to a day-long concert with his friends, and ElvenTiger is getting ready for summer camp. The super hot weather has passed for now, but it's still sunny and pleasant. I hope you're enjoying yourself this lovely July!

Here are some links for your weekend amusement.

If you're looking for a fantastic novel to read this summer, I very highly recommend this one. I couldn't put it down until I was done.

We're getting ready to host a big party next weekend, so I started thinking about some deep cleaning and organizing. This post brought a new level of thoughtfulness to the process.

BlackLion has been doing some transformation, and is seeking out some additional joyful community to enrich his experience.

While we're on the topic of community, here's a great article on why women (and men too, I suspect) thrive more in tribes.

It's summer, traditionally a time to relax, yet often we still push ourselves to be productive. How do you find a balance?

Here's one for my fellow introverts, and those who love them.

Have a super fabulous fun week!

Starcat's Favorites: Summer is Here!

Happy summer to you! This week has been one of sun and performances and work and trying to fit in regular life stuff, like housework and healthy meals. Saturday brings two more Dark Follies shows, and then, most likely, a bit of a crash as I reset back to normal mode. No worries, though, it's just part of the cycle of a creative life. Here are a few links to brighten your weekend.

One of my favorite Pagan authors (and my namesake), Starhawk, posted about the arrival of the Summer Solstice this week.

I just discovered this online magazine, Pagan Living, and am loving their summer issue. A lot of the photos are from the charming hostess of the delightful fae blog A Fanciful Twist. Enjoy!

Last weekend I did some barefoot hiking. I was reminded in part by running across this very cool (and free!) barefoot manifesto recently.

In the summer you might be feeling the urge to go a bit wild. Here's your very own permission slip!

Love that wild self of yours! Embrace who you really are.

Last but not least, here are a couple of different takes on how to be yourself with grace, yet without apology.

Have an enchanting day!

Centered Amidst Chaos

It's summer! Our Summer Solstice here is Maine was accompanied by a lovely heat wave, so it immediately began feeling like the height of the season. I'm loving it.

I've been really busy with the Dark Follies show this week, with rehearsals, tech nights, dress rehearsal, and now, shows. Last night I sat on the floor in the big shared "green room" (dressing room) and did a bit of meditation before the opening night show began. All around me, I could hear the sounds of people getting ready for the show: the accordion player's snippets of tunes as she warmed up, dancers chatting about their acts, some of the other performers joking around as they nibbled on snacks. I let it all swirl around me as I reached inside and found my center. Connecting to my inner source, I drew upon that deep wellspring of energy and let it emerge into my body and my consciousness. I found it surprisingly easy to center myself, even in such a chaotic setting.

It seems like a good tool for daily life. No matter what is going on around you, just take those three to five minutes to just close your eyes (no, not if you're driving) and let whatever is happening, happen. Just let it be for a few moments and tune in to what's going on inside.

Interestingly, I found this harder to do this morning in a quiet house. My fears and worries seemed to grow a bit larger, and louder. I had a good cry, which is cleansing, and then was more able to drop in and be present. We are all constantly changing, so it will be harder sometimes than others to connect with your inner self. It's still important to show up and try. Be soft with it. Let go of judgement. Just be yourself. Just be.

Book Work and Hiking

Today, thanks to a conversation with a friend who asked just the right question, I reserved the domain name for a new website. I was telling him about my book contract, and he wanted to know if I had a website for it yet. Aha! I didn't, but I soon will. I reserved www.starcatscorner.com (don't visit just yet, it's still a blank canvas) as soon as I got home. One of BlackLion's favorite tools for living your dreams is that if you have an inspired idea, act on it right away, even if it's just a small step. So I did! As well as a place to promote and sell the book, I'm thinking I'll also use that site to host this blog - once I get it built, that is. It's starting to take shape in my head already. I'm no graphic designer, but I do have a feel for what sort of "look" I want. It'll be fun to dream about it for a while.

Book work this week has consisted of asking for endorsements. You know, the blurbs on the back cover that entice you to open the tome? Or at any rate, entice bookstore owners to put the book on their shelves. I have three authors who have said yes, and a couple more very promising contacts. I'll tell you more once things are firmed up. It's been so exciting to do stuff towards the book! It's like, now that my childhood dream of being published is underway, the opportunities to succeed as an author are multiplying! I think I blasted past an old belief, into a whole new realm of possibilities.

So, next is some time in nature, with one of my favorite people. Quester and I are heading up north to celebrate our anniversary, starting tomorrow. Last weekend I had a chance to sit in a lovely park full of oaks and do my journal writing for the day (while waiting for our outdoor drum practice to get underway). It was so refreshing and delightful, and it reminded me that perhaps I've been indoors too much this spring. This week we're going to do some hiking, probably sit around a campfire, and just enjoy nature and each other's company. I'm very thankful!

Contemplation and Preparation

Mother Nature has delivered us a lovely snowy day, after a few weeks of winter without any of the white stuff. ElvenTiger is happy and excited - her 13th birthday is Saturday, and she wanted to have snow on the ground by then. I'm glad that our out-and-about plans for today were canceled, and I can settle in for some more contemplation and preparation.

Winter is a time for slowing down, for hibernating a bit and letting my dreams and goals for the year begin to percolate underneath the surface. I've been slowly working through my plan for the new cycle. I'm still on the first couple of steps - I soon realized that when you write three pages each day, that's a lot more material to read through! But I'm finding lots of gems - wisdom and insights I've gleaned over the past year, and sparkly ideas that I want to pursue during this one. I'll share once I have them in a more organized form.

We've also been preparing for ElvenTiger's birthday weekend. We're in the process of deep-cleaning and reorganizing her room. She put aside a bunch of clothes that she's outgrown, to give away and/or re-make into something new. We untangled and organized a bunch of yarn. Her best friend is coming over to spend the weekend with us, and we're going to do a girls' day out on Saturday.

We'd made the decision to have her friend over, and go out to lunch and then get their nails done and explore the mall. I asked her if there was another friend she'd like to include, and she touched my heart by saying, "well, I'd really like *you* to hang out with us." So, for the first time ever, I'm getting a manicure. These two girls are a joy to hang out with, and I'm looking forward to our girl time. We'll have a family party with dessert (chocolate cream pie, at her request) and gifts in the evening, and ElvenTiger will also celebrate with other friends next week at homeschool group.

In the meantime, I'm finishing up with my perusal of old journals, working on some research and writing for Feline Dreamers, and doing our taxes. BlackLion and the kids are out snow-blowing and shoveling, while the cats and I keep our paws dry inside. Merlin is doing well and lately he's been enjoying sitting on my lap while I give him Reiki. Sweet feline!

Keep Letting in the Light

This is the darkest time of year for those of us in the northern hemisphere, with the longest nights and shortest days. The sun is at its lowest point. This month, it's also the dark of the moon. The solar and lunar energies are at an ebb. Your energy level may mirror this, reflecting what's going on in nature. That's the paradox of this time of year - just when you feel most like hibernating and getting introspective, parties and gifts and holiday preparations demand your attention and time.

I woke early in the morning yesterday, while it was still dark. Worries and to-do lists whirled through my mind. I tossed and turned, wanting to return to sleep, but overcome by anxious thoughts. Reverting to my most basic practice, I steadied my breathing, focusing on the exhales, the inhales. My intuition spoke to me: "Just keep letting in the light," it said.

When a cat is in the dark, its pupils dilate wide enough to make use of whatever tiny speck of light is present. We can do that with the energy around us. When you wonder how you'll ever afford the holidays, let in the light. When you feel frenzied, trying to get everything done on time, let in the light. When you're missing loved ones who have passed beyond the veil, let in the light. When you're sore and tired, let in the light. When the bills pile up, let in the light.

Soon the sun will return, and the moon will begin to wax and glow again. The days will lengthen, and our energy levels will begin to rise once more. In the meantime, consider adopting this mantra, to help you remember to open up and enjoy where and who you are: just let in the light.

Brown Thumb Guilt

Confession time: I don't really like gardening. I love the idea of gardening. I enjoy being outside. I don't mind bugs and worms that much. I compost. I love how the plants look and smell. I adore vegetables - I'm very happy being a vegetarian, and I love trying new veggies. I love to cook them. But growing them...not so much.

I thought I'd like it. Well, though, there is my theory about being either an animal person or a plant person. And I've always been an animal lover, so... I do feel bad about my gardening lack of joy. And I'm not even sure what I don't like about it. Perhaps it's mostly just not knowing what I should be doing, or how to listen to the plants, or whatever. Maybe if I take a class, or learn from a friend, or just keep trying... And I will.

In the meantime, I do what I can to support those who love gardening. Such as: shop at local farm stands, ooh and ahh over beautiful gardens, offer space here on the land for them to use. Perhaps some of those among my family and friends who enjoy gardening will just grow my fruits and veggies for me. I promise to cook you many lovely and delicious meals!

Sunny Autumn Sunday

I spent most of the day sitting at a soccer tournament, watching ElvenTiger's team play (or waiting for them to start playing). Unlike the usual things we find ourselves doing during the October tournament, like snuggling in sweatshirts and blankets, and consuming large quantities of hot chocolate, today we were all in shorts and t-shirts. It's been a wonderfully warm and sunny weekend. A great weekend to spend time outdoors, and I'm glad.

Even so, though, I can feel the seasons shifting. The days are much shorter, and the breezes cooler. Before this mini-heat wave, the nights were getting downright cold, and we experienced our first frost. We also turned the heat on last week for the first time. The waxing moon was brilliant last night, and gave an air of mystery to the October skies.

Even though winter isn't my favorite thing ever (I don't like the cold), I really enjoy this time of year. I like seeing the Earth getting ready to go to bed, and the trees dropping their leaves as they ready to dream the winter months away. I like the foods of autumn: harvest veggie soup, hearty chili, homemade breads, and cider. I love apples and pumpkins and seeing the wild turkeys in the field. I notice the turn of the Wheel of the Year, and I'm thankful. Blessed Be!

Visited by Deer

I've been gifted with a visit from deer lately. On my birthday, returning home from a celebration at my parents' house, I saw a gorgeous big buck, traveling across the road in front of us, from left to right. He was in no real hurry, and we got to see him quite well. In the past I have usually seen does, or bucks when they don't have their antlers, but he had a nice big rack of antlers that I could see clearly. I felt it was a message from the masculine Divine, the God of the Woodlands. The visit brought tears to my eyes, at the time and when describing it later. I really wanted to give him a great big hug.

Tonight, nearly two weeks later, this time on the way to my parents' house, I had the feeling I would see some sort of critter, and sure enough, there was a deer. This time she was a beautiful doe, again moving left to right (which is auspicious), and taking her time, like she'd been expecting to see me, too.

I'm grateful for these signs, and look to some of the traditional meanings these beautiful creatures bring. Deer means gentleness, innocence, sensitivity, grace, alertness, and peace. It means touching others with healing and tenderness, which makes sense given my recent focus on my own health and also my Reiki energy healing service. Deer lead us into the wilderness, and into new adventures.

Ted Andrews writes, in his book Animal Speak, "Antlers are symbols of antennae, connections to higher forms of attunement. Deer with antlers thus can be a signal to pay attention to your inner thoughts and perceptions, as they are probably more accurate than you think." Antlers are also used as protection, and thus can show us that we need to gracefully care for and protect our gentle and loving inner selves.

Deer, and particularly does, remind us of our path of spiritual growth, and ask us to be patient with ourselves along the path. In Celtic animal lore, deer are often associated with the arts, particularly poetry and music. As a writer and drummer, and with my recent focus on my arts, this makes sense. Another bit of Celtic wisdom tells how the stag would lead troops of the fae folk on a pilgrimage through the forest. What an amazing and vivid image that creates in my mind's eye! Perhaps I can draw or describe it...

The deer's list of qualities also includes abundance, which is an energy I've been working with lately. In China, the word for deer and for abundance and fortune are the same. This is something BlackLion noticed right away on my birthday, when he quipped a money pun about "the buck flowing into your life" (rather than "the buck stops here").

There are many levels of meaning, and much to explore. I have worked with deer energy a bit in the past, having met them while on a shamanic journey, and certainly plan to spend more time with them now. Thank you, Deer, for blessing me with your presence!

Mermaid Goes Wandering

I've found myself wandering, as Rob Brezsny tells me, in exile this past few weeks. Not a permanent exile, but definitely a place outside the comfort zone. When I'm feeling positive about it, I think of it as the wilds of the imagination. Wandering in exile tends to conjure a mental picture of an emaciated fellow trudging through the desert. However, my personal form of exile is more like being a mermaid swimming in the far reaches of the deepest emotional seas.

As I wrote in my journal, "swimming and floating, never touching the bottom. Sometimes it's stormy, sometimes quite calm. Can it be called wandering if you're swimming? Well, why not?"

It's not quite time to come back to the mainland, for there are still lessons to be learned. Yet I have found some new allies, and alerted some longtime friends, and they have sent me messages in bottles and texts on my shell-phone, so I know I'm not entirely alone. I expect that I'll return with new thoughts, ideas, and ponderings to share. Stay tuned, dear readers, and perhaps I'll swim back with some pearls for you.

Summer Arrives With a Fanfare of Clouds and Sunshine

Every Winter Solstice, for many years now, I stay up all night and greet the Sun at dawn. This has become a tradition for us on the longest night of the year. This year, BlackLion and I decided to stay awake all day on the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. I'm a confirmed night owl, so sunrise isn't something I see very often. And when I do, I'm usually hustling off to do something else, like getting to the radio station in time to fund-raise during Morning Edition. So this was a special treat.

Merlin cat obliged me by waking me up at 4:30am. Apparently he and his brother also had plans to greet the emerging day. Out they went. Star-dog and I sat in the living room and enjoyed the birds' songs and watched pink clouds through the windows. When BlackLion joined us, we went outside to the circle of oaks and soaked up the experience of dawn.

The clouds paraded by, their tops lit by the rising sun. The cats followed us, curious what we were up to. We could see the moon, high in the sky. The birds continued their serenade to the waking earth. A squirrel passed by, way up in the trees. We greeted the Summer in our own quiet way, and it was lovely.

Ideas for today, once the kids are up: strawberry picking, swimming, a picnic, and perhaps even a fire, later, when we begin to wind down with the longest day. Happy Summer Solstice!

Home Sweet Home

My Dad has a saying, "When you can't pee in your front yard anymore, it's time to move." He and Mom have lived in the woods on a dirt road for years. Well, this morning I came up with the female equivalent of his saying - because I (and the women I know) have no desire to pee outside.

However, when I got dressed this morning, I realized that the pants I wanted to wear were still out on the clothesline. So I put on my underwear and bra and t-shirt, and walked out the back door to retrieve the rest of my wardrobe.

When I came back in, I told Quester that I loved living where a woman can go out to the clothesline in her underwear. After he pointed out that I *could* do that anywhere, I added the caveat, "safely and unobserved." So, thus the addition to Dad's axiom: "When you can't go to the clothesline in your underwear, it's time to move."

I love it here in the country.

Happy Sunny Friday

It's a lovely sunny day here in Maine. Not that warm, but breezy and sunny enough to get the clothes on the clothesline dry and smelling fresh. Today Dryst went to work with his Dad doing landscaping; they were both eager to spend the day outdoors. ElvenTiger, BlackLion and I, along with Star dog, went on a wonderful nature walk this afternoon, down along a nearby stream on a path that we hadn't know about before. We found other paths and areas to explore in future walks, and had fun watching the stream burble along, merry in its Spring fullness. We talked about geology and fish and faeries and how dogs navigate by scent.

On the way back I found an old glass Pepsi bottle on some tree roots right by the stream, completely unharmed. That used to be my drink of choice when I was younger - up until I was 25, when I had a "Quarter Century Party" for my birthday and gave up my caffeine addiction. So it seemed like some kind of message. By the shape of it, it looks like a really old bottle. Not sure what the message is yet, but it was a cool treasure to discover.

Then we came home and visited next door at Aunt Peg's, where they have an informal Friday afternoon knitting circle. Mom was there, and some friends of theirs, and there was much laughter and fun. At times like these, I'm so thankful for the relaxed schedule that unschooling allows us. ElvenTiger is still over there, knitting with and informally learning from her elders, who she absolutely loves to hang out with. Dryst is enjoying some Dad time as well as getting physical activity, learning useful skills, and making some spending money. No one has given them a test today, or made them write a paper, or stay indoors. But I have no doubt whatsoever that they're learning, growing and expanding. Just a simple Friday, nothing unusual, but blessed, nonetheless.

The Elements, Part 3: Fire

The element of Fire lights the darkness of our outer and inner landscapes. It is in the faraway light of the stars, the life-giving warmth of our Sun, the Moon’s mystical reflection, the sudden flash of lightning, the friction of flint on steel, and the spark of passion in the belly. Fire’s direction is South and its time is summer at high noon. The colors of Fire are bright and vibrant: red, orange, yellow, gold.

We wouldn’t be here without Fire. The Sun brings us the warmth our bodies need, and feeds the plants that provide us with air to breathe and food to eat. The inner Fires of our amazing bodies allow us to digest and metabolize our food so we can fuel our physical existence. Since ancient times, Fire has been acknowledged in our myths as a sacred gift.

Fire is spiritual energy. Its heat brings us the things that fill our lives with joy. We feel desire for a beloved, expressing our love with passionate acts and sexual ardor. We are driven by our yearning to create, to bring to life something new and unique. We take pride in our contributions. We reach our for connection with All That Is, thrilling to our part in the divine dance of life. We smile and laugh, taking pleasure in the pure fiery energy of living.

When mishandled, Fire reminds us to respect its gifts. As individuals, we may fall into rage or obsession, burning with energies out of control. Those among us with fiery tempers are both admired and feared, sought out and avoided. Walking the hot coals of our inner Fire can require delicate balance. Around the globe, we feel the effects of our quest to harness Fire in the form of electricity and transportation without regard for the messes we leave behind. At the same time, we reap the benefits of technology, sharing new ideas and delivering humanitarian aid. Humanity is still in the early stages of learning to balance our use of Fire.

The tools of Fire are the fire-starters, that which we use to light a physical flame. This might be matches or a lighter, flint and steel, a magnifying glass to capture the Sun’s rays, or simpler tools like sticks and string. We use our skill and will to spark the blaze that will keep us warm, light our way, and remind us of the potent powers of Fire.

Cake of the Month: March

Well, then, here it is: the Cake of the Month for March. It's called Spring Fever Cake with Dark Chocolate Butter Frosting. I designed it like an egg decorated for Spring, though my cake decorating skills are still a bit primitive. I think it gets the idea across, though. We celebrate Spring Equinox, also known as Ostara or Eostar, but of course this cake would also be good for an Easter dessert.

I did some research and based the cake on a basic pound cake, although I adjusted it some. It came out great - moist and delicious. The frosting tasted very chocolatey and yummy, but its melting temperature was too low, as you can see in the picture. I think I'll either add more sugar, or maybe use half butter and half vegetable shortening.

If you'd like the recipe, leave a comment or get in touch another way. Happy Spring!

Our Imbolc

Blessings of Imbolc to you! It's time for the initial stirrings of the Spring to come, although for us they're hidden under a deep layer of snow. The picture is from two years ago, though we have that much if not more snow on the ground right now, with more to come (note to self - take some pictures tomorrow!).

So, aside from some snow removal, we're spending our Imbolc in our cozy house. This is normally the day for our homeschool group gathering. It's snowed the past several Wednesdays, and we've made our way there anyway, in the trusty Subaru. This time, though, we opted to stay in. We'll celebrate Imbolc as a family. I've got a pot of white bean and rosemary soup on the stove, and I'll be making some biscuits to go with it. We're going to play a game we got for Yule that we haven't tried yet, "Grateful Dead-opoly," and light a bunch of candles. We won't have a formal ceremony, but just relax and chat about our hopes and dreams and gratitude.

This holiday is also known as Brigid's Day. I've been doing some writing today, and we also recorded our weekly PawedCats Podcast, with a segment about the faerie realm in winter. I had some really creative dreams last night, too, and I'm feeling the energy of the new moon being born. Dark of the moon is hard for me sometimes, but the confusion and frustration I was feeling yesterday has shifted to inspiration and a peaceful joy. I'm looking forward to Red Temple tomorrow evening - we'll be learning more about the Muses.

Many blessings to you on this lovely wintry Imbolc day!

Winter Photo Essay

I thought it was time to share some images of what we've been up to so far this winter. Here goes!

We've been partying with our friends.

The boys won the New Year's Eve competition, hands-down, with their hilarious skit.

We've been playing lots and lots of games: board games, video games, card games, dice games, and role-playing games.

The cats have had a bit of cabin fever.

We've been reading (individually and together), crafting, cooking, baking, and writing.

We went sledding.

We celebrated some birthdays, including ElvenTiger's.

Sure, it's been cold, so we've been on the computer a lot.

But we've also been out taking walks.

Along with, of course, the usual dinner discussions, watching movies together, chatting with friends, sleepovers, and well, life. Hope your winter is full of fun and friends and learning, too!

Goals for 2011

I've been musing on my goals for 2011, and a few weeks ago I came up with my Word of the Year, which is CREATE. This word will be my touchstone for the year - all of my other goals are steeped in it. Today I sat down with my notes for various things I want to create, but I wasn't sure how to put it all together. Based on BlackLion's creative suggestion, I'm going to organize them into categories based on the five elements, which I find very appropriate given the focus I had in 2010. I've been doing a lot of in-depth study of the elements and the points of the pentacle, and this way of grouping my goals feels right. Some of them could probably fit in more than one element, but these are the associations that worked best given my intentions. So, here they are:

Air: I write and publish books and articles. I explore paper arts and crafts, such as collage, origami, and scrapbooking. My Cake of the Month project involves creating or finding a recipe, baking and decorating a fancy cake, and posting the results on my blog (with pictures) each month.

Fire: I am increasing my self-confidence and power-from-within, thus creating myself anew. I agree to participate in events and projects only if they feel like a passionate "yes!" to me. I discover and take the next steps of self-exploration and activism based on my work with the Iron Pentacle.

Water: I cultivate positive relationships with my favorite people and make new friends who I enjoy spending time with. I remember and record my dreams and use the imagery for my creative and spiritual projects. I use the Voyager Tarot to deepen my intuition.

Earth: I make a living by sharing my creativity with the world. I drum in sacred space and see where it takes me. I take regular walks and hikes, exploring the world around me as the seasons change. I help create a vibrant vegetable garden and share the harvest with my family and friends.

Spirit: I gather with others in circle to explore spirituality in community. I attune my body, mind, and spirit through the regular practice of yoga. I explore the non-physical planes through out-of-body travel and I have full recall of my adventures. I bring back wisdom to help me on my spiritual path.

Haiku for A Winter Afternoon

White snow blows green pines.
Oak leaves hang on, shivering -
Wind after blizzard.