Dairy Free Andy!

Something that has increased for me in recent weeks is my sense of connection with all things. I've said many times before that I know I am part of The All, but this is something that has become more of a reality for me. I do feel part of it - part of the Dance of Life. It's like I've broken into the circle of dancers, joined hands with them and am dancing along! We're all dancing together, but each according to our own steps, our own paths, separate, yet together.

About three weeks ago I moved from being vegetarian to also becoming dairy free. I'm not about to get on a soap box about it, that's not something that I do, although I feel passionately about my reasons for wanting to live a cruelty free lifestyle. Many pagans have criticised me for this, some even suggesting that my lifestyle is incompatible with walking a pagan path. They are welcome to their view, I just don't share it! What I didn't expect, in taking this step, was the deepening sense of connection it bought to me with all things. I don't mean this in a silly Dr Doolittle kind of way, I just feel that I moved into a new space. I felt joined by the many sentient beings that walk this earth and make their own journey alongside me. It was something that I didn't expect, but it was a most welcome experience. It reminded me of this quote:

Animals... are not brethren, they are not underlings: they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth. Henry Beston

I really want to mark Imbolc this year and because I've been somewhat out of action for a little while I intend to make it a kind of rededication to both the Lord and Lady. I'm feeling the 'shove' of Spirit! It's time for me to move on, to get active, to stop dabbling and to really get in there! Often in the past I've allowed this impulse to lead to a kind of frustration, as time and other pressures often get in the way, I'll explore this in my Imbolc ritual which I will carry out in my Temple Room sometime on Sunday. I feel really excited now I've actually written this down - it's a real and genuine intention and now I've spoken it, not only will it come to pass, but it will be eventful!

Angiogram Appointment

The Bike Ride was a great success with between 75 and 80 people taking part, so that's brilliant.

I am taking my father to hospital tomorrow for his angiogram, so your thoughts, pagan prayers, rituals and intentions will be very gratefully received. It's going to be a very early start, as I have to pick him up at 06.30 tomorrow, so an early night for me!

I've lots to share, but it will need to wait until later in the week!

Time for bed!

Let's Get Serious

It's the last few days of my annual leave and come Friday I'll be moving back into the old familiar routine of work. At least I have just the one day and then the weekend, so it will be something of a gentle reintroduction, but the thought of returning causes me to feel discontent. As I've been thinking about the need to balance light and dark, earth and sky - those aspects of me that are different, yet necessary to make the whole, somehow returning to a job that increasingly is causing me to question so much on so many levels just doesn't sit comfortably. I've some deep searching to do on this one and also, I think, I need to be scaringly honest with myself and those around me. I need to be making some firm decisions, setting my intention and setting my course as opposed to being blown hither and thither. It's me who needs to be setting the direction, the course as opposed to be allowing the course to be set for me. It's a call, I think, for me get serious about my magickal work and putting the things I've been learning over the years into practice.