tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18490500507423168142024-03-13T09:57:48.595-07:00Raven's Greenone crow girl's view of lifeMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-90878657359638071832021-04-11T16:02:00.000-07:002021-04-11T16:02:01.267-07:00Too much and not enough<p> Time..... </p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-5168639924170296052021-04-10T18:29:00.000-07:002021-04-10T18:29:03.460-07:00<p> When I look back on life, my life, I think of all the people I’ve known and who’s names I don’t remember. All those people, friends, acquaintances like a Venn diagram we touched and overlapped for a while and then spun away. </p><p><br /></p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-64185583502624177592021-04-09T09:32:00.001-07:002021-04-09T09:32:07.622-07:00Complicated Feelings<p> Prince Phillip died today at 99 years old. He and Queen Elizabeth have been married for almost 74 years. I am not his biggest fan - he was arrogant, had public affairs because he was frustrated with the role he was required to play, and seems to have tortured Prince Charles to toughen him up. But, all that being said, I don’t agree with mocking people in death. I’ve seen some really tasteless memes and the man died 6 hours ago. </p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p><p>I’m trying to write every day, even if it’s just a few sentences. Hopefully I’ll be able to be interesting often enough that I won’t bore myself.....</p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-78006724590923705572021-04-08T08:07:00.002-07:002021-04-08T08:07:37.667-07:00Moving Forward.... <p> We’re back in lockdown - this is the 4th time since March 2020. I’m tired, tired, tired. </p><p>CBC had an article on the effects of isolation on all of. It said that self regulation requires effort and at this point in the pandemic we’re all very tired of regulating our emotions and so people are giving up. So, so, so tired,</p><div><br /></div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-81860242235035386302021-04-07T08:06:00.001-07:002021-04-09T09:36:32.283-07:00Moving Forward <p>Struggling with the idea of doing my photography program mostly online. I really, really, really wanted an opportunity to get outside and meet new people and develop some new skills.</p><p><br /></p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-88397556465034524272021-04-06T18:21:00.005-07:002021-04-07T15:24:23.381-07:00Happy birthday to me<p> I’m 59 today. I’m now older than my brother Darcy when he died. </p><p>I had cake and presents and cards and, a ton of love on Facebook. When I sat down to write this post I felt okay but..... grief is a sneaky bastard. So many people who are out of birthdays and I’ve seen more birthdays than I have left to celebrate. </p><p>COVID-19 sucks so much joy from the world. Ontario has fucked around with closures and lockdowns, and stay at home orders, so we’re worse off than other provinces who put rules in place and stuck to them.</p><p>I’m hopefulcranky and wishingtired. </p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-76774799864270782502021-04-05T17:50:00.003-07:002021-04-05T17:50:48.736-07:00Things I think about<p> Watching Sunday Morning yesterday and one of the segments was titled, ‘Agree to Disagree’. It was about the power of conversation, getting people together to thoughtfully discuss difference and I was frustrated with the Kumbiya vibe. Sometimes it’s not just a difference of opinion, it’s standing up for human rights and challenging hate and bigotry. Denying someone’s humanity isn’t an opinion, it’s hate speech; thinking that people who are different colours, ethnicities, sexualities, genders, are less than you isn’t so et we can agree to disagree on. Bigots need to be challenged and sanctioned when they spew their shit, full stop.</p><p>Denying people access to services and jobs because you think they’re less valid than you must stop. Those views must be challenged and smashed. The world can’t move forward until we are all equal. </p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-16885945076763540982021-04-04T16:58:00.004-07:002021-04-04T16:58:36.444-07:00Sunday Funday<p> It’s Easter Sunday and I’m good tired from all the food prep and cooking. I made ham with apricot hoisin sauce and lighter scalloped potatoes with stock instead of milk or cream. Very, very yummy.</p><p>I’m grateful that Bonnie does all our shopping and brought home all the ingredients - I just cut and cook.👩🏻🍳</p><p>I had hoped to be more interesting in these posts but...... I’m tired and it’s a pandemic 😷.</p><p> I’ll keep trying to write every day and I’ll try to have more to say.</p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-48280747183629703652021-04-03T18:35:00.002-07:002021-04-03T18:35:27.244-07:00<p>I’ve been thinking about how we see and how we’re seen; shadows and light.</p><p>Experience influences the lens we use to weigh and measure events and emotions.</p><p>There’s more to say here but I’m tired and I’ll have to come back here </p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p><p>Tarot card of the day - Ace of Athames from the Green Witch Tarot </p><p><br /></p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-53117672274231139452021-04-02T13:17:00.001-07:002021-04-03T08:25:08.521-07:00Ma Rainey’s Blackbottom<p> I have thoughts about the Netflix movie Ma Rainey’s Blackbottom. I hadn’t read the synopsis for the movie, really and expected it to be about blues legend Ma Rainey but it was about her very troubled trumpet player. The story was wrapped in a recording session and we saw Ma fighting for her right to be respected but in the end it was a story about a man written by a man. </p><p>Viola Davis’ performance was so huge and juicy I really wanted more of her. Chadwick Boseman owned his role as Levy and he was amazing in his intensity but...... it really felt like she was used to serve the story of the men in the movie. </p><p>The script implied Ma was bisexual and it referenced Bessie Smith to enforce that, I think, but didn’t tell much of her struggles to forge her own path in music and in life. She made a lot of money and had a huge influence in music but all we get in the movie is how difficult she was for men to work with. </p><p>I don’t know, maybe I’m being unduly critical. It was a well-made, well written movie and all the performances were stellar but..... I’m still annoyed by yet another erasure of a woman’s story by men.</p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p><p>Tarot card of the day is The World Tree (21) from The Green Witch Tarot - Transition; hope in the face of inevitable change. Ontario is back in a lockdown, not a stay at home order, so things are closed except when they aren’t and people aren’t supposed to gather except when they can/do. I’m so tired of all this.....</p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-52984632474749940132021-04-01T08:21:00.007-07:002021-04-01T08:29:20.564-07:00Ghosts of Aprils PastI am winterspring born<div>Crocus springing through icy snow</div><div>Tiny drops of hope bloom</div><div>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div><br /></div><div>Ambivalent mothering has left me with some deep scars. I am conflict avoidant and get stuck sometimes because I can never be good enough or worthy of good things.</div><div>I am a grown ass human and I still get stuck when my 12 year old self gets triggered.</div><div><br /></div><div>I’m thinking of all these things because my birthday is next week and I think of my parents and their love/hate relationship. I have forgiven them for letting me down (mostly, most of the time) and I love them but..... I still have a pebble in my shoe about some things.</div><div><br /></div><div>So...... April 6th is my New Year. No strict resolutions just the intent to move forward with things including daily tarot draws, reading astrology books so I understand my astrological planner, and building a daily SoA practice.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tarot draw for April 1st - Queen of Chalices from The Green Witch Tarot</div><div>Though I am an Aries, my Moon is in Taurus, and Virgo rising so I am a passionate, compassionate healer and helper.</div><div>I drew that card after writing about my parents and my birthday so I’m reading that as being gentle around the emotions I feel about my childhood. </div><div><br /></div><div>See you tomorrow. 😊</div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-82685047167539933122021-03-31T16:10:00.001-07:002021-03-31T16:10:14.655-07:00Challenge accepted<p> Hello, Universe.</p><p>Effy Wild is hosting a 30 day blog challenge and here I am. </p><p>It’s 2021, the beginning of the second year of lockdown. The past year has contained Zoom calls and Broadway/West End shows on YouTube, Black Lives Matter and Me, Too, tarot study and applying to Algonquin College again. </p><p>“There is no time but now, there is no place but here, in the sacred we do stand, in a circle hand in hand.” These are the words I’m going to say to myself this month and we’ll see where I go </p><p><br /></p>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-45030446930894080752019-01-04T17:41:00.002-08:002019-01-05T12:01:59.536-08:00ThoughtsIn December there was a heated debate online and IRL about the 1940s song “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”. 2018 was a year when the Me, Too movement took down many, many abusers and opinions were riled on both sides.<br />
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I posted something pointed in early December about a meme that stated “what the fuck did I just say?” about all the pressure to stay.<br />
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Here’s my post - <i> I’m not advocating censorship, I’m perfectly able to change channels. I’m tired of people explaining the historical context (which I understand; I’m not stupid) and being unable to hear why as a survivor of that situation, I might not want hear the 50 versions that have been recorded, played multiple times a day for 6 weeks. In 2018, those Wolf and Mouse lyrics sound coercive no matter the context in 1944.</i><br />
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<i>Adding one my comments here, so I’m as clear as I can be about my thoughts on this song. </i><br />
<i>“I do understand the original intent of the song; she’s empowering herself by accepting an excuse to stay. That doesn’t mean that now, to people like me who’ve been assaulted after saying no, this song doesn’t sound as rapey as fuck. I’m not going to argue about this, I’m not going to explain myself again, but I’m not going to let anyone else make me feel bad for not wanting to hear this fucking song upwards of 10 times a day for the 6 weeks between American Thanksgiving and New Years</i>.”<br />
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I was soundly smacked multiple times about “what the song is actually about”, and “it was written in 1944 dontcha know”, and the ubiquitous, “it’s not about rape, for God’s sake, it’s about her trying to stay”.<br />
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I know that. I understand that a woman and her husband sang the song at parties. I understand that in the time it was written the woman being coy was cute and provocative. As I said earlier, I’m not stupid; I understand context. But what I’m saying is this - as a sexual assault survivor things sound different to me than they do to you. Someone kept me from leaving their car/apartment/presence and forced me to have sex I DID NOT WANT. You smacking me with your facts feels abusive. I never disputed the facts, I SAID WHAT I HEARD WAS PAINFUL AND I DIDN’T WANT TO HEAR IT ANYMORE. <br />
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A radio station played the song on a loop for days as a big fuck you to everyone who dared to say that hearing the damn song was painful and triggering. I never challenged your facts but you stomped all over my feelings. When you challenge my feelings with your “facts” you make me angry. I want to explain to you that YOUR WORDS HURT BECAUSE YOU DON’T HEAR WHAT I AM SAYING. Someone (several people) already made me feel vulnerable and afraid, BUT you don’t deserve to hear my story just so I can try and make you NOT ABUSE ME EMOTIONALLY FOR HAVING BEEN ABUSED PHYSICALLY.<br />
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It’s hard to explain without telling you why that whole “what’s in this drink?” line makes me want to throw up. I wasn’t allowed to leave. I was physically assaulted and then sexually assaulted. I was told that it was what I wanted. I was told it what I deserved. I was outed and then left to defend myself against skinheads. I was almost thrown onto subway tracks. AFTER I TRIED TO LEAVE.<br />
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You don’t deserve to hear my story. You’ve proven that. I want to tell you all the horrible, violent, terrifying and graphic details so you’ll take my argument seriously but you’ve proven that my feelings don’t matter to you; only facts matter. I don’t matter to you.<br />
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I’m still playing all this over in my head a month later. I’m still thinking about who I can trust and who can’t hear what I’m saying. Listen to the song if you want but hear me when I say your jokes and memes and posts are painful and that that song reminds me of experiences I’d rather never texperienced. <br />
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<br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-23771893224100585322017-09-27T09:11:00.000-07:002018-08-31T06:31:16.105-07:00Guess what?!Hello, blog. It's been a while.....<br />
2013 kicked my ass. My brother and my father-in-law died within a month of each other, my daughter sort of imploded and I..... got lost.<br />
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2014 was okay. I liked working as an employment counselor and I got a bit creative.<br />
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2015 started out okay, but the City can't leave anyone alone and I ended up back on a caseload, aggravated my carpal tunnel, had surgery and then just quit....<br />
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2016 needed me to be free to do many things, including supporting my partner while she transitioned out of her job and we moved her Mom into a seniors residence, as well as care for my Mom when she got diagnosed with throat cancer and died 2 months later. Bonnie and I taught ourselves to make books and spent some time learning how to make glass beads.<br />
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2017 brought my daughter's high school graduation and the realisation that we don't want to stay where we are so we decided to move to another city and start all over again.<br />
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I have goals for 2018. Learn to play the clarinet and the bodhran; finally study all the Druidry stuff on my bookshelves; do more yoga and just plain LIVE.<br />
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I'll take you along this journey because I need some accountability. Even if you're not out there hanging on my every word. I'll keep writing.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-44094313568191777742013-04-10T09:56:00.003-07:002013-04-10T09:56:42.188-07:00verde grisI'm 51...... <br />
I didn't think I'd get this far so.....<br />
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What comes next? Archery and pottery lessons. More intense relationship with my tarot cards.<br />
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The idea that I'm in the third act of my life is scary. Motivation to get moving on some things.<br />
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My brain is not cooperating with this process at the moment.....Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-14111849045552299142013-03-20T09:42:00.001-07:002013-03-20T09:42:51.882-07:00Just to prove a pointSome of my daughter's biological family have gotten in contact with her recently. I'm glad for her and worried for her all at the same time. <br />
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Bio mom and dad made bad choices, no question, but I don't feel like that should make it impossible for T to know her biological family. What's worrying me is bio mom's manipulation of one of T's half siblings and her bio dad's sort of desperate sadness to know anything about her. They're both pushing her so hard for contact. <br />
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T's half siblings are still in contact with her bio parents so having contact with the kids means some sort of information gets back to bio parents. From a legal point of view, no one should have contacted her until she was 19, but Facebook screws things up sometime. <br />
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She's a trooper and has asked for contact with her siblings but not her bio parents. So far, bio mom has not contacted her but the half brother who lives with her and initiated all this has dropped out of contact, too.<br />
Bio dad is pushing for information before he respects her request because he's obviously looking for positive things in his life so he can move forward.<br />
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I'm tired and stressed out by all of it. T is her strong, Amazon self and trying to be fair while drawing lines around herself.<br />
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I knew this day would come. I'd just hoped it would come when she was an adult.......Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-11050290094836007892013-01-17T10:38:00.000-08:002019-01-03T05:23:22.349-08:00stuckednessI see something at work, and I suspect I'm guilty of it myself, that I call "stuckedness".<br />
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I'm an employment counsellor and I see clients everyday who are sure that they know what path they want to follow and are sure that no other options are going to get them where they want to go. <br />
Being flexible, realistic, taking a look at the options - good positive things to do but..... sometimes "stuckedness" happens. <br />
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Where we are can be so safe. It's what we know; we understand how to manage our expectations and our reality if we stay where we are. Change is scary - good, but scary.<br />
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I try as best I can to hear why people get stuck - narrative therapy outlines how the stories we tell about ourselves and about our lives become our reality. If I can get someone to move just a little, in any direction, I feel like we can tackle the rest of the issues. I'll start calling that headspace "unstuckedness". :)<br />
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For myself, I know that I've entrenched parts of my story, good and bad. Being present in the moment and really looking at what's happening are skills I need to practice. The past is foreign country but it's a country I know. The future is an unknown country and that's scary.... and good. Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-88443271058942586862013-01-16T14:35:00.001-08:002019-01-03T05:22:29.445-08:00are you KIDDING ME!!!!So, to follow up my last post......<br />
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I work for social services in a large, Canadian city. I know a lot of you know that....<br />
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The office I work in provides welfare to city residents and there are some fairly strict rules around how to apply. If you live with another adult, regardless of gender, you have to state for the record that you're not in a spousal relationship with them. Gay, straight, doesn't matter, as long as you live with another adult you have to declare your relationship, because couples have to apply together as a couple.<br />
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I just heard one of my co-workers say that she never asks men who live with other men to fill out a co-resident questionnaire because she doesn't want anyone to think that she thinks they might be gay... because you know, there's no greater insult to a man than IMPLYING HE'S GAY.<br />
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Just when I think the world is moving forward, I have my shoelaces stepped on.....<br />
<br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-40366512666311348342013-01-16T09:22:00.001-08:002013-01-16T10:16:01.495-08:00InclusionI didn't watch the Golden Globes - I'm not much into award shows, but I did see some of Jodie Foster's life time achievement award speech. <br />
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Did she "officially" come out? I'm not sure.... Did she<em> need</em> to "officially" come out? I'm pretty sure she didn't. I know that at different points in time, I needed to know that other queers were out there in the world; what's different now, is that knowing seems to have become an obligation for famous (or infamous) gays and lesbians. <br />
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I'm out, pretty much everywhere, but I've stopped coming out. I mention my partner by her name and tell people who ask once they realise I'm referring to a woman as my spouse, but I don't "COME OUT" anymore. I'm living my life, not participating in a 'lifestyle'.<br />
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Every time I think that people should be out and open I read something in the news that makes me wonder if we're as far ahead as I think. <br />
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Brett Easton Ellis slammed Matt Bomer's inclusion on the list of actors to play the aggressively heterosexual and abusive Christian Gray from the soft core porn hit books saying, "it's ludicrous... Matt Bomer isn't right for Christian Grey because he is openly gay. He's great for other roles but this is too big a game.’<br />
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I don't think much of BEE but he has brought something out into the open that I know people think about. No matter how far we've come, being gay, lesbian, bisexual is still an issue. People say things like, "Should homosexuals be <em>allowed</em> to teach, <em>allowed </em>to have children, be police officers, get married, play heterosexuals on TV...." blah, blah, blah....<br />
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There are people in the world who choose not to come out, to change pronouns and be secretive because they're legitimately afraid of the consequences of being open. A teacher in my daughter's school came out to my partner and I because we're safe. He's on the anti-homophobia committee for our school board but not out at school because he's worried about being able to teach in a junior public school if he's out.<br />
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In the end, I ask myself more questions than I answer at times like this. This isn't a scholarly opinion, it's just my experience. <br />
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I wonder what BEE would say if Chas Bono wanted to read for the part of Christian Gray? <br />
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<br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-15282155778441360082013-01-09T14:46:00.002-08:002013-01-09T14:51:38.128-08:00LifeAmanda Palmer wrote an amazing blog entry about a young Canadian woman, Amanda Todd, who committed suicide because she was bullied so badly. The bullying was in person and on the internet - Amanda was literally all alone, surrounded by bullies her entire waking life.<br />
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Amanda's fans are as amazing as she is and the internet and Twitter blew up with stories and support and tears and hugs. I was in awe of the tidal wave of community spirit. <br />
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I wrote a tweet, telling Amanda that she and her fans were an amazing force for good in the universe and she graciously retweeted my words. Her fans filled my Twitter with comments and retweets and it was lovely.<br />
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And then..... someone told me I needed to lose some weight....... <br />
and I stopped for second, and I worried about that one hateful tweet in the midst of a sea of love and support. I wanted to write something hateful back, I wanted to be able to ignore it and just laugh.....<br />
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Now, I'm sitting here, writing this and thinking about staying in the moment, staying positive, looking forward, all those things that are so much better to do than let a crappy comment stick. <br />
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The backstory to this - I debated using a photo on Twitter and almost used an emoticon because I don't always like the way I look. The commenter wasn't wrong, he was just mean. <br />
The other part of the backstory - I worry about publishing anything I write because people can be so mean. I worry about making art and letting others see because people can be cruel and judgemental. <br />
The internet allows to people to be mean to each other and never really see the results of their comments.<br />
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I think I've spent enough time thinking about one rude, clueless person....Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-17047437121928439252013-01-03T07:46:00.000-08:002013-01-03T07:46:03.891-08:00transformationsLook, a new entry! I may actually be moving forward with a resolution to write more..... <br />
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I pulled a "what do I need to learn/focus on today" tarot card and got the 8 of Wands.<br />
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From Biddy Tarot, "The Eight of Wands shows eight blossoming wands hurtling through the air at a great pace. The flight of the wands suggests change, movement and travel. The background is clear, indicating that there is now little that stands in your way, and there is a beautiful river flowing freely and giving life to the landscape around it."<br />
<a href="http://www.biddytarot.com/tarot-card-meanings/minor-arcana/suit-of-wands/eight-of-wands/">http://www.biddytarot.com/tarot-card-meanings/minor-arcana/suit-of-wands/eight-of-wands/</a><br />
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I've been contemplating engaging with my creativity and spirituality more, and this card certainly indicates that I should get (and keep) moving. I am definitely more of a planner and contemplater so this card is telling me to get going.<br />
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Next up for me is to choose my word for 2013. <br />
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<!--End card description--><br /><br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-43004054726604729232012-12-31T13:14:00.000-08:002012-12-31T13:14:39.567-08:002013It's been a good year, 2012, and I'm happy with most of what happened (or didn't).<br />
I don't want to stress about resolutions - I want to state intentions, areas of focus, places where I want to grow.<br />
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I'm digging deeper into my spirituality - I'm going to brew and grow and study more.<br />
I'm going to treat my body better and move it more.<br />
I'm going to respect my creativity and let it out more often.<br />
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I'm always learning and growing. I want to open all the doors and windows and embrace all the opportunities of 2013.<br />
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<br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-345070942370584962012-08-24T09:21:00.002-07:002012-08-24T09:21:15.908-07:00remindersI've been struggling a bit the last couple of months. Time for some changes but change is hard.<br />
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I read a quote by Martin Luther King Jr. that I want to share.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Darkness cannot drive out darkness;<br />only light can do that.<br />Hate cannot drive out hate;<br />only love can do that.<br />Hate multiplies hate,<br />violence multiplies violence,<br />and toughness multiplies toughness<br />in a descending spiral of destruction....<br />The chain reaction of evil --<br />hate begetting hate,<br />wars producing more wars --<br />must be broken,<br />or we shall be plunged<br />into the dark abyss of annihilation.<br /><br /><strong>Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.</strong></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Strength To Love, 1963<br /></span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-28091560291639597952012-08-15T09:34:00.004-07:002012-08-15T09:34:41.141-07:00<div class="inner">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span class="bbc_color" style="color: purple;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;">The meditation as we enter the Perseis Moon cycle is:</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span class="bbc_color" style="color: purple;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;">We believe that the fundamental purpose in life is to allow ourselves to experience emotional and spiritual growth.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We're in the midst of the new moon right now. I wrote this in response to a question from my Goddess group. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"We believe that the fundamental purpose in life is to allow ourselves to experience emotional and spiritual growth."<br /><br />I'm a social worker, working for the City of Toronto's social services division - or in other words, a welfare worker for one of Canada's biggest cities.<br /><br />My job is very, very left brained - paperwork, rules and policies. The clients have many, many needs, some I can help with and some I can't. There are days that I feel compassion fatigue and just want to cry. There are days that good things happen for clients and I hold onto those moments.<br /><br />In terms of my own emotional and spiritual growth, this job has challenged me to tap into my spiritual core to always approach people with hope and compassion without spilling all my energy out. I've learned to tap into the infinite to energize myself and my clients. <br /><br />My partner and I have a 13 year old daughter, who came to us when she was 3. I love being a mom, with all the opportunities for growth and change that it involves. Tiana sees the world with such a fresh perspective that she makes me see things I've missed or dismissed.<br /><br />When I sit in meditation during the dark and new moon I'm always looking for the areas of my life where I need to let go and where I need to be open to new energies and experience. <br />I try, as best I can, to see the lessons and challenges that the Goddess offers in all my interactions with people. </span></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1849050050742316814.post-54691798593104125712012-06-03T08:40:00.000-07:002012-06-03T08:40:26.433-07:00to everything there is a seasonI spent part of the weekend cleaning out the den. I have stuff spread out all over the house that I really want in the den but it's been so full of stuff that I haven't been able to move. So....... I dug through all my books on paganism, wicca, poetry, social work, LGBTQI issues, etc and all the bits and pieces I've collected over the years and GOT RID OF STUFF! That definitely needs to be in capital letters since it's really hard for me to declutter and move things on. I know I should but..... I was an army brat and things just disappeared when we moved. I blamed the movers but I think it was my Mom's way of getting rid of things without my pack rat drama. :) Though, it feels good to look at the past (in the form of books) and realise that I have grown and learned and moved on. <br />
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Social work school was hard - all those papers, all that reading, all that (@#$*&#) group work. I read some of my papers and was really impressed with how well I integrated information and got it back out in readable form. I kept most of my textbooks because you never know when I'll have to reference narrative therapy theory..... :)<br />
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I haven't publicised this blog yet. I'm not sure how/what/where I want to publish my posts. There are so many blogs but ...... maybe I should add my blog tag to my comments on other blogs.<br />
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<br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02123524722594385878noreply@blogger.com0