Pagan Blog Prompt: Coven vs. Solitary Practice

Ivy over at Pagan Blog Prompts posted this last week. And since most of the answers were solitary...at least now, I figured I'd offer an opposite view of things.

Please forgive me if this prompt has been done, but coven vs. solitary practice is something I have always been interested in. I practice in a coven myself, but spent a many good years doing my own thing as a solitary, so I have felt first have the benefits and drawbacks of both situations.
How do you all feel? Do you practice in a group or solitary? Which do you prefer? If you chose one over the other, why do you feel that way? If you are a coven member, would you ever go back to being solitary? If you practice alone, would you ever join a group? Just something to think over. :)
I look forward to reading your thoughts!! 

1. Do you practice in a group or solitary? Currently, I'm an initiated member into a coven (Wiccan).


2. Which do you prefer? It depends. Right now I enjoy having the group around me for ritual and occasional courses. I needed a little more structure than I usually do on my own. Since I'm a wife, and mom of two little ones, plus I work full time I don't have the forethought or diligence to put my own religious/spiritual path in the forefront. Especially since the Hubs is Christian, I don't have another pagan around to remind me..."hey the wheel is turning. We need to do a ritual." Or "Hey, isn't it a full moon?" (Though the Goddess has kindly helped me with the later issue.)

3. If you chose one over the other, why do you feel that way? See above answer. Plus the nice thing about my group is that I can learn about various topics....or not. I'm not pigeon-holed into one specific viewpoint. Sure we have the typical Neophyte year where we learn the ways of the coven, but after that, we can branch out into whatever area we would like to go. We just need to take back what we learn to the group.


4. If you are a coven member, would you ever go back to being solitary? It would depend on a lot of factors. Since my group doesn't require constant attendance at things once you're initiated, I'm much less likely to leave. That said, it would take a lot (of issues, personality clashes, drama, etc.) for me to leave the group.

I tried many other things before, a social pagan group (which was and is fun, but too far away to attend a lot of things) other online forums, even a local group, but nothing really clicked before this current group I'm in. In fact, I probably wouldn't have considered (or even found) them if it wasn't that two new friends were third degrees in the coven. I think knowing someone inside the group helps with drawing people into the fold, if you will. 

I Hope We're Still BFF's?!?!?!

You’d think we would be old friends by now. At the very least, we’d understand one another. 

Nope. 

Not a chance. 

I’ve been trying to get to know you and your idiosyncrasies for years. It started way back in 8^th grade when I perm’ed you. (It was the early 90’s.) 

And the perm fell out. 

No really. Beautiful bouncing curls. No washing of chemicals for a day and a half. And they fell out. 

I should have learned at that moment. 

Nope. 

My mom took me back to the salon three days later and they perm’ed you again. This time the perm sort of took. Alas, we weren’t going for the dreadlock look. 

No seriously, you did resemble dreadlocks unless I was actively brushing you. 

Then we got along a little better in high school. I left you long and highlighted. No muss, no fuss. I embraced the straightness of you. 

College came. I let you grow until you gave me migraines with your weight. I cut you from my waist to my chin. Getting shorter and shorter until you were an inch and a half long….and platinum blonde. 

Then I decided to make you pink. First, bubble gum, pink streaks. Which you didn’t care for and promptly let wash out. 

Again. Did I learn?

No. 

I decided to cover all of you in hot, hot pink. I fused retinas on the backs of eyeballs of people that had to look at me. Well for a little while. Then you let most of that pink wash out. 

Not all of it, mind you. You got your revenge with the small pink yarmulke back there. 

I relented and let you grow out. We got along for a while. You even seemed to like the Mary Jane red I dyed you. 

You didn’t want to let go of that. I tried to take you back to your beautiful, natural, caramel blonde color.

Nope. You didn’t want to let go. So I made the hair dresser bleach you three times in one sitting. And you were still slightly pink. 

But you retaliated for that lapse of judgment on my part. I was lucky you didn’t fall out. You just decided that you had had enough. 

I waited a few months again. And tried to make all of you the same color, instead of platinum ends and caramel blond roots. 

Nope. 

I ended up with dark ashy roots and platinum ends. You refused to soak up any more color. You were tired and fried. 

I waited a few more weeks until I could cut off all the platinum ends. And dyed you a dark ashy blonde/brown color. You looked really pretty. Finally!!!!

We seemed to have come to some sort of an agreement. 

Then I tried to go the natural shampoo route. I tried Apple Cider Vinegar. You stank and hung crisply for everyone to see. 

I gave that one up fast. 

Then I let you grow out and decided, when you were covering me like a winter blanket in one of the hottest summers and while I was pregnant, to donate you to some child who would be better served by you. 

We were free and floating in the breeze. That was another nice time together. 

I tried the natural-ish shampoo route again. This time using an actual store bought shampoo but sulfate free. We did okay with that. I even gave up conditioner. Well mostly. Every now and then you still demand it. 

Finally we are where we are today. I wash you every other day. You don’t get crazy greasy and you actually let me style you somewhat. 

I feel our relationship is better than ever. 

Except today.

When I left the house, you looked great. 

Now I have a weird kink in you and I look like a goddamn cockatoo. 

What the fuck hair?!?!?! 

Please tell me this is just a passing fancy and that we really are BFF’s. 

Please?!?!?!

The Picture of Dorian Grey

So, I just discovered that my library has audio books. Not just the cd kind either. I can now download them directly to my phone. Of course, that made me remember my 2010 Book Challenge. Yes, I'm still on it. I was bad and only read one book on my list that year. Ugh. I did read, just nothing on that list.

Here goes. I decided to start with The Picture of Dorian Grey.

I've tried to read this so many times, but like Dracula I just couldn't get into it. All the descriptions and old timey language just stopped me cold. But having someone read it to me. I just have to open my ears and pay attention. Or space out on the boring parts.

I have to say that I sorta enjoyed this book. I liked it more than Dracula. Ugh. That book dragged on and on and on and on.

This one was really only a little dull during the middle. When Dorian was talking about what he did after he discovered that he wouldn't age. There was this section of all these gemstones and tapestries and clothing and such. It was his materialistic phase I guess. Just kept thinking....come on get back to the good stuff. Some dialogue even.

The whole Faustian idea of the book really made me think. What if someone could really stay young forever and their picture aged. I don't know that the soul would really get ugly from doing something horrible. How many serial killers do we see that are handsome and charming? Granted this came out long ago. I guess though that their souls are probably as hideous as Dorian's picture. It would be an interesting situation. Since no one really knows what a soul looks like.

Hmmm.....philosophical discussions may take place in my household now.

And I have to see the movie that came out a few years ago with Colin Firth as Lord Henry (I think). 

LetterMo 2013

LetterMo is once more upon us. I am, of course participating again. Who wouldn't want to get mailbox sunshine?!?!

I also adopted another soldier from Soldier's Angels. And I branched out even more with that by signing up for the Ladies of Liberty team through SA. We send extra love to all the lady soldiers out there. Birthday cards, care packages or even just a simple letter letting them know that there are people back home that care about them. And Angel Baby is getting into the swing of things and including a Valentine in each of the cards, lets or packages I mail out. We hope everyone enjoys them. 

If you would like to get a letter from me, please add your address to my postable account. No one else will see it, but me. So no worries about security.

I hope you have a safe Friday, the snow/ice is flying this morning. Luckily the Hubs and I are both off today. And we have the Niece and Nephew to watch too since their school was closed because of the weather. So stay warm and dry.  Snuggle up with a favorite book, or follow me in getting a warm drink, a pen, envelope and paper and write a note to someone you haven't talked to in a while.

Cheers!

Angry Birds and Your Sex Life...

I totally ganked this from Leeanna over at Can We Have a New Witch Ours Melted. She's awesome, if you don't read her blog. Go now. I'll wait.








Back?!?!?!







Ok, I thought it was hilarious and had to share it!

Ideas to Make the Season More Festive

Here are some tried and true methods for making the season more festive and less stressful. (At least they work for me.)

1. Make Peppermint Whipped Cream. It adds a little oomph to your coffee in the morning. For extra punch add some cocoa to your coffee and make a mocha.

2. Make Cookies/Marshmallows. I have to make my Soft Gingerbread cookies every year. Well I have for the last 5 or 6 years. So I'm making it a tradition.

3. Sing Christmas Songs at the top of your lungs. Nothing chases the Grinch away like a silly reindition of the 12 Days of Christmas

4. Avoid the lines for Santa by going first thing in the morning on a week day. This is the only reason my kids have seen Santa or the Easter Bunny. I REFUSE to wait in line for hours for this.

5. Add glitter, sequins or lights to everything. Some pine garland/tree/wreaths don't hurt either.

6. Watch the cheesy Christmas Movies on Lifetime, Oxygen, or the numerous re-tellings of The Christmas Carol. Just keep in mind that some of those movies would seem really creepy if it wasn't for the Christmas sheen on everything. Ghost comes back to visit and help you see things differently? Horror story. Woman gets a kids Santa letter asking for a new mommy by mistake. She takes it as a sign to inject herself into the family. Another horror story. Fiance dumps you just before the holidays, so you hire an actor to pose as your soul mate, you fall in love with said actor after a weekend and end up spending your life together? A bit over the top. But all of these make sense during Christmas.

7. Enjoy the parties. Especially those with the White Elephant gift  exchange. Nothing like a silly random gift to make things more hilarious. Plus you can get rid of the shit you didn't want in the first place. Or the Christmas Chamber Pot you got at last years White Elephant party. (No, I didn't get it, but it's been re-gifted around the office for years. It's kind of a tradition now.)

8. Reduce your gift buying list by having a dinner out with whomever, siblings, family, friends, after the new year. It'll make the season less stressful because you'll be spending less. And then you have something fun to look forward to in the next coming months. Plus, you don't have to clean your house this way. ;) More time for cheesy movies and cookie making.

9. Enjoy all the "BIG" warm, snuggly sweaters. This is the time to cover up all those love handles, bumps, and extra you that you've suddenly ended up with (from the cookies and marshmallows) and no one can tease you for it. Cause they're usually in them too.

10. Just breathe. Remember it'll all be over in a few weeks.

Stuff - Good and Bad

Let's start with the bad.

So I’ve had a rough couple of weeks since I last posted. Squeaker gave himself a black eye and  fell down the stairs. (He’s okay!) Angel Baby has been more of “Demon Baby” with her whining and new potty issues. Why she has to constantly pee on her panties is beyond frustrating. I bruised a toe pretty badly and just last Sunday, I fell on the stairs. Well slipped down a few stairs and landed on my butt. So yesterday, I had a very sore coccyx. (Hubs was so hilarious when I mentioned it. “You said cock. Hee hee. Apparently, I’m married to a 12 year old. And we all had a really horrible stomach flu thing that stuck around for a full week. I’m happy to say that I lost a few pounds, but come on. There has to be an easier way.

Good news: my office’s holiday party is tomorrow. I can’t wait to go and have fun. I get to run the White Elephant and it’s always such a blast to see what present everyone fights over. 

Other great things? I’m almost done Christmas shopping. I only have my Mom and Step-Dad and Dad and Step-Mom left for buy Christmas gifts. However, I still have to get Hubs something for his birthday. Other than that it’s just wrapping and finishing up the gifts that I’m making. 

Yet more great things? I participated in the Holiday Mix Tape Swap that Meagan, Sara and Meghan were hosting.

I was matched up with Christine at A day in the life... We sent a few emails back and forth about what music we both liked/were looking for. She did a great job on my tape. It was great! Lots of oldies, newbies, and some that I've never heard before. 

1.       Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Mariah Carey

2.       Baby, It’s Cold Outside - Dean Martin & Martina McBride

3.       I’ll Be Home for Christmas - Elvis & Carrie Underwood

4.       Silent Night - Sarah McLachlan

5.       My Grown Up Christmas List - Kelly Clarkson

6.       It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Harry Connick Jr.

7.       The Christmas Song - Peggy Lee

8.       Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Michael Bublé

9.       White Christmas - Bing Crobsy & Frank Sinatra

10.   Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Christina Aguilera

11.   Jingle All the Way - Lena Horne

12.   Shake Up Christmas - Train

13.   It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Norah Jones

14.   Cool Yule - Louis Armstrong & the Commanders

15.   It’s Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas - Harry Connick Jr.

16.   Blue Christmas - Elvis & Martina McBride

17.   Jingle Bells - Michael Bublé & The Puppini Sisters

18.   Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt

19.   Winter Wonderland - Dean Martin

20.   Joy to the World - David Archuleta

21.   Satariffic - Harry Connick Jr.

22.   All I want for Christmas is You - Michael Bublé

23.   It Ain’t Christmas - Joe

24.   Holly Jolly Christmas - Faith Hill

      I highlighted my top faves from the playlist in Green. Also, I have to say that in perusing all the other mix tape playlists I found out about a great group. Pentatonix. They are AMAZING!!! I had to go and buy their Christmas album on iTunes. If you haven't heard of them. Check them out here.