Inward, to the Deep

Samhain marks the beginning of the Witch’s year. "Other" folks may look at Samhain (or Halloween) as being all about death & dying but to a Witch this a time of rejoicing. It is the beginning of a new life or a new existence And it starts with the journey inward...back to the Source of all things. Outwardly this is a time when nature dies or sleeps and opens the door to another realm...one of possibility and insight. Inwardly this is a time for reflection, for some stark self-examination, and for the mystical journey to the Source. This turning inward, the self-examination, the breaking of attachments, habits and compulsions, the burning away of the shadows of ignorance and the return to Truth and Wisdom-THIS is the message for me in the New Year. Like many animals, I, too, will be hibernating as I turn inward and take stock of my spiritual journey during the previous twelve months. Then I can emerge in the Spring filled with the knowledge of where I have been and where I intend to travel in the months ahead.

Blessed Be

I am teaching... in Feb 2010

Chaotic's Creative Mixed Media Workshop

Two pleasure-filled days of fun!

"Hands On" workshops and an evening to create art while socializing with some great women!

If you ever wanted to try something but did not know how to start, this workshop is for you.

If you ever looked at something and thought "How did she DO that?" this is for you, too.

If you ever saw something and then said to yourself "I bet I could do THAT!", come do it!

If you want to try but don't wanna buy until you know if you'll enjoy it, come play!

Saturday's workshop will give you a chance to explore creativity in many medias. You'll be able to work WITH fabric, tissue, earthen & polymer clays, assorted embellishments and papers...all while working ON candles, keepsake boxes, altered books, decos and booklets, lightswitch covers, candy tins, CDs, tags/tag booklets... the list goes on!

For Sunday's workshop I will be demonstrating making your own greeting cards. My cards will be for Valentine's Day but yours can be for any occasion. Workshop includes a "Make & Take" kit with supplies enough to make 6 greetings cards and a box to put them in (great for gift giving!).

NOTE: If you have a project already in mind, gather what you need and bring it with you. If you are not sure what you might need to do a project you are thinking of, call me! Or if you just want a break from your regular routine, come as you are and jump right into whatever catches your eye.

February 6th & 7th, 2010

at the beautiful Pine Crone Labyrinth Retreat and Workshop Center

$80 for BOTH days ($30 savings!)*

or you can do one day only

Saturday 10am-5pm $60* Mixed Media Art

or

Sunday 10am-3pm $50* Handmade Greetings for Valentine's Day

(or occasion of your choosing)

Call 512-413-6970 or send $25 deposit to reserve your spot (space is limited) to

Kristi Johnson 113 Rylea Court Uhland, TX 78640 chaotickristi@gmail.com

(*Price includes overnight dormitory-style lodging and facility fee.

Bedding is provided. Kitchen on site. Bring your own meals, drinks, etc.)

This is a comfortable & fun workshop. You are not obligated to PURCHASE or BRING anything.

Remember: DO NOT wear 'good' clothes!

We are going to be spraying, painting, gluing, stamping and having a good (and messy) time!

You are not required to bring any supplies. If you want to bring your "Basic Kit" (markers, colored pencils, glue or double-sided tape, ruler, eraser, scissors, bone folder) then please feel free to do so.

happy tuesday... bath night...cereal night...

I know, I know... 19 days later... sorry! Did I mention I have been up to my ears in work? And by work, I mean work work (that 8-5 kind) as well as home work. Actually, work work is where I go to rest, nap for lunch, get stuff done. The home work is HARD. Get up, walk the dogs, feed the dogs... shower... scoop cat litter, feed & water cats... back to the kitchen to cook breakfast... oh, lizards want breakfast too? And the dogs? No, wait.. they ate already...right? Then check the snakes' water bowls, grab the dogs & put them in the pen (watch those steps in the rain... gonna relabel the top one ASS and the one under that BUSTER. At least the landing was soft.. in the MUD. Sigh. Then take out the trash, load the car... oops...back inside for my (forgotten) lunchbox & coffee. .. then the 45 minute commute. 5pm comes, I drive home, do it all over again! Oh, and I also spent 2 nights making sure the guest dogs (3) were unable to leave our warm & hospitable yard. Sigh.

Oh, and in that 19 day span, we managed to successfully see our way through the 17th Annual "Festival of the Goddess" in the Texas Hill Country October 8-9-10-11. In the rain, no less! Actually, sounds worse that it was. I did not hear one single woman complain about the weekend of rain. Which is good, since those SAME women are the ones I've been in ritual workings with to bring the rain. Then, October 17th was Art Day all day @ Spirit Stone Sanctuary. The 18th saw us at Manor 290 Cafe for brunch with friends, followed by a kickass new moon ritual in E. Austin. Planned the upcoming Sabbat the 19th, the 20th was Bath night (D'uh, Tuesday!) and a board meeting on the 21st. YYYYYYYYYAAAWWWWWWNNNNN Let me tell you, I am
TIRED!

So, after all that...what was left to do, you might wonder? Treat myself to a massAHge !! Laureli did wonders for all the sore spots (see the stairs above...sigh). Was so great, I had to peel myself up off the table some 2 & 1/2 hours later :-) And... I am at home EVERY night this week! No, this is NOT a typo! Monday I worked on art project for November's lunar. Tonight I watched a movie. (nat'l treasures:book of secrets) And I sat down the whole time... well, except for when I got up to get a(nother) warm from the oven brownie. Actually, was fairly easy to sit and watch Nicholas Cage... I am rather fond of his movies.

Tomorrow... I want to work on the PDF flier for the mixed media workshop I will be teaching at PineCrone Feb 6th & 7th, 2010. Stay tuned for details! Just as soon as that flier gets done...

and so it begins!!

Yes indeed!!! The weekend starts SOON. 2nd Thursday attendees will be making witch's hats. Festival planners will be loading up the moving van with all the infrastructure that has been stored since last year....and eagerly awaiting our return. Tomorrow kicks off the 17th Annual

Hurrah!!!!!

now if i just was not so exhausted still....

Dog's 10 Commandments

A PET'S TEN COMMANDMENTS
1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.
5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.
9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.
10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.
~Take a moment today and be thankful for your pets. Enjoy and take good care of them.
Life would be a much duller, less joyful experience without these critters.
~Now please pass this on to other pet owners. We do not have to wait for Heaven, to be surrounded by hope, love, and joyfulness. It is here on earth and has four legs!

one week later...

Well, Spirit has been home for an entire week... no real misadventures, in spite of the (apparently irresistable?) urge to vacuum. insurance companies are still dragging feet on starting disability. SIGH. But, physically, things are getting brighter. Walking... not as upright as wanted by docs (and me) but improving. Pain is pain as there is not much to do about nerve pain. Would lessen if Spirit would sit/stand/walk as suggested ... that is a struggle. Walks & sits & stands AWAY from the pain instead of in alignment. While I UNDERSTAND standing properly is painful, NOT standing properly will cause more pain in the long run & also probable surgery. Not my choice. All I can do is poke & prod and push. As a matter of fact, so can you! Don't feel badly...tell Spirit to stand up straight, to sit right, to use the walker poperly. I wont mind in the least if you correct any errors when you next see the Rockin' Red walker headed across the way to you. PLEASE!!

On another positive note, our Bastrop Buddy has moved in... that house sold & new house contract has not yet completed. So the 2 of them will be home... and you think I am hard... HA! :-)

I miss paper...

Well, not newspaper paper but the FUN kind of paper, like the stuff that is on my art table, calling to me..."Come play with me". I got a few cards done last night in preparation to vend @ this year's 17th Annual GoddessFest. Am probably not going to get time to make any sabat card sets other than the one prototype I did before Spirit's back injury. That set I will donate to the raffle. Most of what little time I did get to sit at my table was spent excavating it in order to see what project was left in what state and tally the damage done due to Abigale's taking up residence on top of it all in my absence.

Now, it is almost time to go home so I can bathe dogs, feed cats & dogs & guinea, gather up lizard plates, scoop guinea & cat litters, clean fish tank, eat dinner, feed snakes and go to bed.... and somewhere in there find time to get caught up on all the art swaps I committed to prior to 9/4/9 AND watch Whale Rider with some friends that are coming over tonight.

Saturday, I get to get up, do all of the zoo chores all over again (except chop & serve lizards rather than pick up their plates) & then head to Bastrop. A dear-to-me soul is packing for the mover's Tuesday arrival to put most of the worldly possessions into storage while waiting on contract to complete on home purchase. This is what happens in an oddball market. You look for new home, someone buys your old home while you are still living in it. ARGH.

Blessings abound

Well, Spirit's 1st full day at home... and take it easy? Never! Spent 2 hours vacumming, then spent night in pain .. .. .. .. D'UH! Today I left a list of chores to get done, all from a SEATED position. Got home last night to find a friend had brought over a pushmower (yes, lawn was pretty overgrown, seems someone noticed). I guess not to be outdone, Don came over from next door on his riding mower & they made quick work of front yard. While they were doing that, Don's son (Jeff) and I weilded weedwhackers for front beds & culvert areas. Passed out some plates of lasagna to all, all glasses of water. Then away everyone went, as suddenly as they appeared. I looked around, counted days back to last GOOD rain and decided I had better water. Silly me. If I would watch the weather channel once in a while, I would see we were slated for rain... which did actually show up around 3am. How do I know the time? See 3rd sentence...sigh. But was very restful, listening to the rain on the roof :-)

Today is the Fall Equinox, when night and day are balanced. The wheel is turning to the Second Harvest. Day and night come into balance. We find ourselves looking back at the seeds we planted at Ostara and looking forward at the dark time to come. We will use the balance of the Equinox to prepare for the dark. Take some time to think about those things that you have manifested from the planting time. How would you express those manifestations? Join me as I observe this time with the Austin Re-Formed Congregation of the Goddess!! We meet @ 7pm; ritual starts @ 7:30pm.
Click on the link above for info/directions.

Elvis has left the building!

And Spirit has left the hospital! Some rehab to get scheduled and will be in a walker (and out of work) for the next 30 days. Sigh. But scripts are filled and will be here soon (Thanks to Energy. blessings to you) and dinner is ready bc BNR dropped off stew & cornbread (love you!). So, dont call hospital room any longer! I'll make sure cell is charged & within reach as well as the home phone. Thanks to all of you during these last days... Starting with L5 on Thursday, Dr Ruth on Friday, the incredibly nice people @ CTMC ER Saturday/Sunday and the the staff on the 3rd floor @ St David's north. We are home. And exhausted.

unattached!

Spent last night at hospital with Spirit and ate dinner... TRIED to watch TV...what a waste. So we chatted for a bit & then slept. Left this morning to go feed the zoo only to find that Tara was expressing her loneliness by shredding Bud's chair cushion. Smart girl... chewed his instead of hers. Sigh. And how do I know it was Spirit's dog and not mine that misbehaved? Because, before the arrival of Tara, furniture was SAFE. So, cleaned up the mess, bed by 6:30am, alarm @ 10:30am told me it was time to feed/scoop/water/walk/etc all of the zoo inhabitants & head back.

Arrived this afternoon (after pit stop @ HEB for dark chocolate and Q-Tips) to find an unencumbered person in Spirit's bed. No, wait..that IS Spirit!! Almost didn't recognize as there are no machines beeping, no fluids dripping and nothing else otherwise attached. That's right... FREE! I heard a rumor that Spirit even got in a lap around the Nurse's Station but have not yet confirmed such. If so... would have been worth the picture... alligator Tshirt and canary socks and a silver walker with red accents.

Spent QUITE some time soaking in the hot shower, this time without soaking the floor. So, with better spiritis, teeth brushed, nerves soothed and body clean she awaited the arrival of the morning PT guru. Physical therapist came by with list of simple exercises to work on. Shortly after that, Dr Stansberry came by. He is the one to thank for being free of tubes & wires :-).

Speaking of thankful... Spirit sends out heartfelt THANKS! to all those that have stopped by, called and/or sent cards, flowers, etc. The cards are brightening up the otherwise useless television. The Jammies are the talk of the floor. Flowers are the envy of Nurse Val (remember her from earlier? SIGH) and they go with the wall colour. She is still gnawing on the (IMHO nasty) black licorice. And has enough mint patties & organic dark chocolate to make Cupid think it is February 14th. And when not working puzzles, is working on getting the leftover tape reside removed from skin. Ouch.

Still not clear of when home will be within reach. And this vacation, while lengthy, is some cause for concern about the upcoming mortgage payment. So, feeling MUCH better and wanting to come home but still stuck in Room 347. Stay tuned....