Archive for the ‘Food & Cooking’ Category
Justice Prevails
March 3rd, 2010 | 
Author: I went to court today. I was nervous this morning so I asked my tarot deck for some words of encouragement and drew the 3 of pentacles… again! Three times I have laid a spread for this specific issue and all three times, the 3 of pentacles told me that with teamwork and adequate preparation, I was up to the challenge and would prevail.
Well!! The three of pentacles was right! I kept wondering what the teamwork was. I wondered fleetingly if I should make my Husband take the day off and go along. I’d heard that the small claims judge is, himself, a landlord and wondered if it was teamwork from him that would prove useful.
As it turned out, the person who worked most completely to my aid and advantage was the woman whom I was suing! Between the two of us, we got judgment in my favor in the amount of $3000 for abandoned bills and damages. I almost didn’t even have to talk. She dug a great big gaping hole and then jumped right into it. It was amusing to say the least.
So! Justice really does prevail while that gorgeous Moon transits through Libra.
~ Today, Wednesday (3-3-10) @ 3:43pm EST, the Moon will v/c until 9:11pm this evening ~
I managed to have my court time land first thing this morning so I was victorious and finished before noon and while still firmly in Libra’s balance of justice.
The rest of today I’ll be happy to just be home. I’ve got roaster chickens going into the crock pot at 3, and then some basic household chores to do. I’m ALMOST done listening to Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince! It’s wonderful! Listening to audio books could very well be described as something that makes me look forward to housework :)
~ When She rights her course @ 9:11pm EST, She’ll move into Scorpio where She’ll remain, from Wednesday evening until 11:32pm EST on Friday (3-5-10) ~
My almanac says:
In the zodiac, Scorpio has rule over taxes, inheritances and investment banking. This House is also said to govern those things or forces that are invisible for example, the world of magic.
~ Moon Manifestation Tarot Card ~
*Eight of Swords*
I believe this card is telling me to be well aware of my options for they are many. I am not powerless, but to the contrary, I have much power right at my fingertips.
~ My Plan: Wednesday evening through Friday Night ~
Well!! Tonight I print out the paperwork needed to claim an official business name so we may take it with us to the meeting we have in the morning with a business development office before we head to the bank to speak with an investment and loan officer.
How wonderful to have the eight of swords reminding me that we have more options than we may think. I might’ve maybe sort of been the teensiest bit worried about it. Not anymore! Things are just going wonderfully with all clear skies and smooth sailing as far as the eye can see!
Ya know, it also occurs to me that I’m very actively in the market for a new laptop. I feel pretty powerless in this area because I am admittedly technologically challenged. I’m improving and learning as I go, but when it comes to being in the know and understanding the options on computers, I’m sort of… inept.
When I draw a tarot card for the moon transit, I ask, “Please give me a piece of guidance to take me through this next short cycle, from now through (whatever day).” For today, I said Friday.
I was thinking about doing a little bit of laptop shopping after our appointments tomorrow. I suppose that eight of swords covers THAT little adventure too.
I’m really loving this magical life. It seems the more completely I embrace it, the faster it rises up to assist me in everything I wish to do. I don’t feel like I NEED a lucky charm. I feel like I AM a lucky charm. Anyone want to carry me around in their pocket?
Replies to feed email only replies to El :)
*You enjoyed my post and would like to buy me coffee?!
WOW! I really appreciate that!*
*Subscribe to The Smiling Spirit*
in a reader or by Email
∞
Tell a friend!
Creeds, Coins, & Courts
Here is a very cool little poem I found. I like it very much and have printed it out for my book of light.
In this pot, I stir to the sun
an’ follow the rule of harming none.
Banishment of bane when goin’ widdershins;
an’ with water and salt negativity is cleansed.
Household duties are more than chores.
Magic abounds when mopping floors.
With this broom, I do sweep
to clean my house and safely keep.
Marigold, Basil, Thyme, and Yarrow
my spell is cast for a better tomorrow.
Lemons for joy and apples for health
the pow’r within brings great wealth.
And, in this kitchen, I do pray
To truly walk the Witches’ Way.
Copyright 1998, 1999 E. Zeigler
This piece may be freely distributed for non-profit use as long as the copyright information is placed underneath it.
I’m off to do some grocery shopping today. I spent yesterday getting household chores and schedules ready for this new month that’s upon us. I LOVE to organize. I usually organize the lists and schedules far better than I carry out the plans I set. This month will be different. I intend a different result and I will begin with different actions.
My first new plan of action is to only cook 2-3 times per week. I will make at LEAST 2 different meals per shot. One cooked meal, and one thrown together with leftovers. For example, cooking a whole roaster chicken and creating 2 chicken meals in a row using all the meat. The first meal being roasted chicken and the second being something making use of the already cooked chicken that can be thrown together with little to no cooking involved.
Today is the day I’d intended to put this plan into action, so while I’m doing very little during the v/c time, I’m going to hit the store with my list and collect the ingredients I’ll need to being said plan later this evening :)
My almanac says:
Libra favors cooperation, compromise, social activities, beautification of surroundings, balance, and partnership.
*Seven of Swords*
When I was shuffling in preparation of drawing a card for this cycle through Libra, I had in mind specifically what was coming for me on Wednesday morning. When I began typing this post, I realized that I am due in court on Wednesday morning while the beautiful Moon still rests in Libra, the sign of balance and justice! I took it as good sign and decided to ask the cards.
The seven of swords speaks of a shirking of one’s responsibilities. Of deception and theft. Of running away and cowardice.
I found this card a bit disconcerting because I am the plaintiff in this law suit. We are suing our ex-tenants for $3000 for abandoned bills and damages. I found myself wanting clarification, so I decided to draw again.
*Does this first card represent ME or HER?*
*Eight of Swords*
Victimization. Feeling powerless. Confusion. Not understanding what’s going on.
That is DEFINITELY her. She signed a lease and then in the face of thousands done in damage, in only THREE MONTHS TIME, turns to me incredulously and declares, “None of that is MY fault!”
So hoping for a little more clarity, I decided to draw one more card and just turn this into a 3 card spread. I’m getting the impression that this is going to go easily my way, but nothing wrong with triple checking! *wink*
*What will be the outcome for me in court Wednesday?*
*Three of Pentacles*
Yay! This one tells me that so long as I’ve planned and prepared and am ready, it’s in the bag. It can also speak to working together and contributing to a group, and I have to wonder if it’s a peek at who our Judge will be. I know that there’s a judge in the small claims court that is, himself, a landlord. I’ve also heard that he’s not lenient with people who destroy other people’s property.
What a great spread for me. I’m VERY happy with it!
Well, I plan to cook one large meal and throw together one small one. I plan to pick up my pictures (for court) while I’m out shopping today for the previously mentioned meals. While I’m gone, I intend to charge coins with expansion and abundance and leave them around the places I visit to share and spread the wonderful highness I’m experiencing today!!
Tomorrow I’m sure to be found collecting all my paperwork and organizing myself for my Wednesday date with Justice in Libra :)
Replies to feed email only replies to El :)
*You enjoyed my post and would like to buy me coffee?!
WOW! I really appreciate that!*
*Subscribe to The Smiling Spirit*in a reader or by Email
∞
Tell a friend!
You Say Potato, I Say Organic
Good Friday morning to all of you beautiful bloggies!
I feel so great about the next few days. As many of you know, Ash and I have decided to do a group abundance ritual/meditation tonight. You can find the details for it here.
At 5:55 EST this morning, the moon entered into the house of Taurus.
My almanac says:
She’ll be in Taurus until She v/c @ 7:15 am on Sunday 02-21 until 1:47pm when She settles into Gemini.
I intend to attend my group ritual tonight and charge my money clip talisman and spend time meditating on the abundance all around. Thursday I ventured into the snowy wood to leave gifts of coins and beautiful stones for my Earthy Elementals. Saturday I will do it again. Taurus brings out an appreciation for beauty and there’s nothing I find more beautiful than the sanctity of nature.
I foresee a lazy Sunday morning. With the moon v/c, I like to take my cue to just chill! And what better time to chill with my family than on a lazy Sunday morning.
The moon will be headed straight into airy Gemini Sunday afternoon @ 1:47pm, but I’ll see you again before then. *wink*
You Say Potato, I Say Organic
I am sold. I am all about the organic potato. This wasn’t always the case however.
Why I didn’t want to try them.
I can buy a 10 pound bag of Idaho potatoes for $3 or I can buy a 3 pound bag of organic potatoes for $2.50. Unfortunately math was my strong subject.
Why I decided to try them.
I stumbled upon a top 10 list of produce that retains the highest percentages of chemicals and are best bought organic. Potatoes were #1. Coffee was #2, but with the amount of coffee I drink, I’d go broke! One change at a time please.
Why I’m sold.
I bought the 3# of organic potatoes for $2.50. *cringes* I took them home and the first thing I made with them was french fries. I scrubbed them with my produce brush (LG fingernail brush), put them through the french fry cutter and dropped them into a bag with some olive oil and sea salt. I shook them around to coat them and threw them into a 400 degree oven on parchment paper for about 15 minutes.
1* Normally I do up a bunch of potatoes and bake them. We eat. What’s left is left. Usually the dogs get what’s left. ~ How much money was I wasting by OVER cooking so often. As I cut up the expensive organics, I was much more conscious to the amount that I would need and I even put out more vegetables to compensate for the smaller amount of potatoes. Everyone ate everything.
2* These were, by far, the best tasting potatoes I’ve ever eaten. I didn’t even realize that potatoes really HAD a flavor. I always thought of them as bland and absorbing whatever flavor they’re added to, but that’s not true. Potatoes are phenomenally delicious!
So that’s my testimonial for spending the extra money and buying the organic potatoes. Give them a try, you won’t be sorry!
Replies to feed email only replies to El :)
*You enjoyed my post and would like to buy me coffee?!
WOW! I really appreciate that!*
*Subscribe to The Smiling Spirit*
in a reader or by Email
∞
Tell a friend!
Tags: Beauty, conscious living, creating, Erath Elementals, Fairies, food, Gnomes, God, green, green living, group meditation, group ritual, happiness, healthy eating, healthy living, joy, Law of Attraction, Lazy Sunday, LOA, Magic, manifestation, manifestation techniques, manifesting, meditating, meditation, money, Moon in Gemini, moon in Taurus, Moon Manifestation, moon manifesting, organic, organic potatoes, outdoors, Planning, Recipes, self love, spell casting, Spirituality, Sunday, Sunday mornings, tips, vegetables, veggies, visualization | 
1 Comment »
Awesome Gift Idea!
I have just received my first holiday gift and I have to share it with you all!!!! If you’re looking for something to send, especially to someone far away…. this is BRILLIANT!
My fantastically wonderful BFF Ash sent me a gift from Restaurant.com!! I got an email from HER email address, so I wasn’t afraid to open it. It was a beautifully colored and festive notice saying my friend had sent me a gift to “Feed it Forward”. To redeem, click here and be ready with “this” code.
Once at the site, I put in my code in an obvious place and verified. Then I typed in my zip code and was given a list of restaurants in my area. This was super easy to use. I do believe I’ll be “Feeding it Forward” this year too.
What a fantastic idea! Thank you again, Ash :) You’re an angel. XoXo!
*You enjoyed my post and would like to buy me coffee?!
WOW! I really appreciate that!*
*Subscribe to The Smiling Spirit*in a reader or by Email
Which Witch
I recently changed the look of my blog and changed the title tag line to embrace who I’ve become. My blog is an expression of me and as I’ve changed over the past couple years, so has the look and feel of my site. After I chose to embrace the little witch in me and changed my site to reflect her, I lost 14 subscribers :) I didn’t think I’d run off so many people by adding the words “Solitary Witch” to my description, but I did. So, for everyone who stayed behind and didn’t jump to judgment, I’d like to talk about it a little bit in honor of this Spirit Day. Sunday has become the day when I find myself sitting in contemplation of my Spirituality and faith, so here’s what’s on my mind.
How & when I first encountered witchcraft.
When I was 23, I got my first computer (w/ 1 gig! LOL) and my first real opportunity with internet access. I’d always been very interested in psychic phenomena and other things generally labeled metaphysical. It didn’t take me long to start running searches on words like; psychic development, psychic abilities, ESP, lucid dreaming, out of body experience, etc. You can easily see my area of interest.
I found myself on Steve Pavlina’s website, reading about how to develop my psychic abilities. I didn’t really HAVE any abilities at the time. I’d had some eerie experiences with deja’vu and some weird dreams, but nothing off the charts weird, and to be honest…. off the charts weird was what I was looking for. It wasn’t so much that I thought it was cool or just found it interesting, but I always felt like it was there. I’ve always felt like I was on the verge of something big. Nothing I could describe or even understand, but I’d lived my life since probably about 10 or 11 years old feeling like I was half a breath away from an epiphany that would change my life, and if I could turn some corner, somewhere, fast enough, I could catch a glimpse of it.
That might sound sort of weird, but it’s the only way I can describe it.
On Steve’s site, I was introduced to the concepts of subjective reality and law of attraction. As soon as I read it, I knew it. It was like being reunited with one’s long lost sibling when you didn’t even know they were missing…. but recognizing them immediately and completely upon first sight. That’s how it felt to me and as soon as I acknowledged it, I knew, bone deep, that this was the epiphany I’d been waiting for.
I began reevaluating my entire life. The way I felt about my past began to change. The way I felt about my future most certainly changed. All things were suddenly possible. I read everything I could find for a month or more. I acquired books and ebooks on lucid dreaming, obe, life after death, and loa. I even started praying, which is something I’d not done since I was a child. My flame was ignited and i was burning for the depth that I knew I could find if I looked.
A friend dragged me to a women’s event of some sort at the local Day’s Inn one day. I didn’t want to go at ALL, but with a laid off husband, 2 yr old, and newborn…. getting out of the house was the main objective so I agreed to go. While there, I had my first encounter with a psychic. We had our Tarot cards read. As we sat chatting after my reading, the psychic and I discovered that through family, we each knew who the other was. She invited me to her sewing shop and I promised to stop in being that, as it turned out, her shop was a mere 3 blocks from my house.
That night, I dreamed of her. She told me she could help me and in my dream, I knew I’d prayed for guidance in this metaphysical pursuit and that she was the help I’d been sent. I went to her shop a couple days later and told her what my interests were and about my prayers and dreams. She smiled knowingly and told me to get my hands on the book “Practical Solitary Magic by Nancy B. Watson” and read it, and that I could come back anytime I had a question.
I had that book in hand within a week and I still own my original copy. I have made reference to it so many times. It has served me well. But it was through this book that I realized that solitary witchcraft and Christianity and LOA are basically the same thing. I took the metaphysical and psychological ideas I got from that book and the Christian ideas I’d learned growing up and the law of attraction concepts I was readily learning and I found myself transformed into this new person.
Where I went from there.
I dove into LOA after that. Law of attraction and the psychological and metaphysical things I’d learned from my solitary magic book made the way I understood Jesus and the Bible shift. The things I’d been taught were interpretations belonging to the person/people teaching me. I’d come into some knowledge that had given me some experiences that had changed the way I interpreted the Bible. One of my biggest epiphanies during this time was realizing the fact that I actually had the CHOICE to change my interpretation. Wow! What a revelation.
Over the past six years or so, I’ve been growing at what I would consider an amazingly fast rate. That’s not in comparison to the rate of anyone elses growth, because frankly, I’ve only recently (about a year and a half) been conversing with other people about growth and Spirituality. I say it is an amazingly fast rate because it makes my head spin. I have moments of clarity that rock my very soul and it takes me weeks of contemplation and prayer to wrap my head around it. Often it seems that as soon as I do, another moment comes hot on the heels of the first and sends me reeling anew.
One of the things I’ve learned is non judgment. That means that you don’t judge someone based on what you think you know of them, but it goes much deeper than that. When you cease judging everything, based on what you think you know, what you know… changes. It became a living miracle to simply stand in the forest when I stopped THINKING it and just DID it. Before, I would stand in a forest with a running mental commentary in my head, bombarding my experience with judgments and labels.
“What a beautiful day. I love the trees. It’s so sunny out here. It’ been sunny all week… and busy. What a busy week. I hope next week isn’t so busy. If I stay ahead of everything, I won’t be so busy. *sigh* I suppose I should start a to-do list….”
I know that you know exactly what I mean. My thoughts would run right away from me, and it all started with me judging the day as beautiful. It’s not that labeling something as beautiful is a bad thing, but I learned that one judgment sends my mind into a flurry of other judgments and labels. I feel such a sense of presence and awe when I can stand, blank minded and without judgment. It feels like the true magic that IS life is pulsating and speaking to me when I just observe.
With this discovery, I began making every attempt to stop consciously judging. I still do. It’s a daily thing. With this non labeling life I began to build, I also continued to build my faith. My faith was just that, my faith. I would not label my beliefs. As soon as I say Christian, you judge. As soon as I say new age, you judge. If I were to say witch…. oh the judgment. Judgments about who I am or who I must be based on what other people know, don’t know, and are afraid of. No thank you! I even stopped labeling myself as straight, bi, or gay when I filled out profiles because each label brings a judgment.
Why I finally decided to label my faith & how I define my life now according to the faith I’ve chosen.
I was recently struck by another epiphany. Back in August of this year (09) I was explaining to someone that, what I or anyone else does as a practice to consciously manifest makes no difference. It’s a subjective experience. What works perfectly for me might never work for you. How you manifest consciously hinges completely off of what you believe and how you see your world. I went on to explain that Christians have rituals they perform such as communion and mass and confession and prayer. Witches have rituals and spells. New agers use things like vision boards. It’s all what you believe in and what you’re comfortable with.
Then I suddenly realized… I’ve been so busy purposely NOT labeling what I believe, that I now found myself manifesting by default because I wasn’t putting any real consciousness into my manifestations. I kinda make vision boards and I kinda meditate and I kinda make intention lists and I kinda keep a gratitude journal. I kinda do so many different things and don’t put a lot of myself into any of them
I hadn’t been manifesting by default the way I did before I realized the effect my thoughts and beliefs had on my life. I had changed my mind. I had changed my life. I was happy. The things I was manifesting into my life reflected the happiness I was feeling on a pretty constant basis. I had no specific focus for my intention though. I had no specific entity that I was sharing with or talking to. I was generally addressing the universe at large. That was okay for a long time. Now I was realizing I needed something more specific.
The idea of a guardian angel or spirit guide(s) became incredibly appealing. A best friend waiting in the wings to listen to me, empathize with me, understand me, talk to me, guide me…. to help me consciously manifest magic in my life. These ideas brought me to the concepts surrounding archetypes and archetypal energies. These were concepts first reintroduced to me through the book, “The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire by Deepak Chopra”, and became a large part of my new angle on my Spirituality. They were reintroduced because I’d read about them in my solitary magic book, but passed them by at the time because it just didn’t resonate with me then.
I went back to Practical Solitary Magic and started reading again. I felt like I was reading about myself. I knew these things and believed in them and was more comfortable with the concepts than I’d ever been in the past. I realized that I’d “gone green” on Earth Day 2008 and that my connection to Mother Earth had grown clearer since. My connection to my psychic side began growing when I changed my diet. More whole grains and natural and whole foods…. MUCH less processed anything.
The thing that turned on the little idea light bulb above my head was Murry Hope’s definition of magic. Murry says, “Magic is concerned with the conversion of universal energies into practical frequencies that can be utilized according to the needs of the occasion. These energies in themselves are totally neutral, having no affiliation with any belief, system or personality either here on Earth or anywhere in the cosmos, their manifestation at the magical level being colored entirely by the nature and intention of the user.”
I’ve always thought that changing your life by changing the thoughts you think is just like magic. When I read the above definition again, I realized….. it IS magic. It can be nothing else. It’s harnessing the powers of the Universe according to what you desire and turning energy into form. How is that NOT magic. And I immediately liked the idea of being in control of magic. I’ve also realized that I apparently have a brilliant capacity for moving energy and healing myself.
It seems, I realized quite suddenly one morning in August 09, that I didn’t have to choose to define myself as a witch because I turned into it without even realizing. Here I am…. My mother, the Earth, lending form to my body allowing me to manifest the consciousness that my father, the Spirit has given me. I live inside my life as though it is a gift. I live inside my life as though all the energies at work around me are my guardians and here to assist me in my growth. And if I feel lost, I just call out for their help and they’re there.
I actively love my Mother & Father and treat them with honor, respect, and my deepest gratitude. They in turn support me in all of my desires. I’m a mother, a wife, a healer, a (more all the time) psychic, lucid dreamer, a gardener, and among these and many more things, I am a conscious living being with the power to purposely affect the events and happenings in my life. The only real difference between now and one year ago now is that one year ago, I’d refused to label my beliefs and now, I’ve accepted what I am.
I don’t dance around naked under the moon… although I wouldn’t be against it. (LOL) I do small, personal, ritualistic things to focus my energy and intent to set manifestations into motion during the new moon. Speaking of which, I’ve been living lunar for one year on the winter solstice this year.
My life really isn’t any different from anyone elses if they believe in the law of attraction and conscious manifestation. As Edie Brickell said, “What I am is what I am, are you what you are, or what?”
*You enjoyed my post and would like to buy me coffee?!
WOW! I really appreciate that!*
Enjoy These Great Resources!
- Need Help? You Can Heal Your Life
- Smile Across Your Heart: The Process of Building Self Love
- Love Your Body, Love Your Life: 5 Steps to End Negative Body Obsession and Start Living Happily and Confidently
*Subscribe to The Smiling Spirit*in a reader or by Email
Getting it Together
Happy Thursday!
Today I’m off to volunteer at the elementary school. I did my normal, weekly thing with Kyle’s class yesterday, which is always highly enjoyable for me and more rewarding than you can imagine. Today, K and I are running the book fair! This week we’re at the end of our nine week grading period and it’s time for parent teacher conferences and our autumn book fair.
This morning I’ve been reflecting on my current state of being thanks to my friend Shauna. Every life has highs and lows and mine is due for an upswing, so I’m going to make it happen….
Getting it Together…
This is what I need to do…. get it together. Get what together you ask.
My life is the answer.
I’m floundering and I’m in a rut. Here’s my first step to Read the rest of this entry »
Tips and Tricks
Happy Spirit Day ~
Today I’ve got an array of interesting things to tell you. I’ve compiled a short list of tips and tricks that I want to share. I hope you find something useful.
Tip #1 ~
To keep cool in the summer, have a healthy, vitamin packed snack and get rid of fresh fruit before the fruit flies overtake your kitchen, try this quick trick.
Put fresh fruit in the freezer. My kids ADORE frozen banana slices. Use grapes, mango, bananas, melon… virtually any fruit. For an added treat, serve with whipped cream or peanut butter.
Tip #2 ~
Make a short list of things that need to be washed on an irregular basis such as throw rugs, comforters, dog beds, jackets, backpacks, and curtains. Then tape it to the top of your washer. Next time you don’t quite have a full load, check your list and pick something that needs to go through rotation.
Tip #3 ~
To keep bugs away, try a drop or two of catnip oil on your chair, towel or clothes.
Tip #4 ~
Check out http://stoneyfield.com/ AND http://horizonorganic.com/ for printable coupons on organic products!
Tip #5 ~
Need a place to store your broom? Affix a piece of magnet about midway down the handle and stand it up between your fridge and the wall. It will be handy when you need it and the magnet will keep it upright and within reach.
New This Week: (Visit my main page 8/9/09 – 8/16/09)
Video ~ Moon Cycles
Recipe ~ Pasta Pepperoni
