Update on refreshing the house

A while back I mentioned how we were in the midst of a plan to change our house around to accommodate both my parents and giving Mike a "man cave" to enjoy.
Well, my parents have arrived, I've moved my main sewing room out, re-homed a TON of stuff like old clothes and outdated fabric, reorganized what I've kept, and tried to be logical about what I've put where. Marina is in my old sewing room and walk-in closet, Mike has her old room getting set up as the man cave/ nap room for the parents, and I'm somewhat settled in my new areas, just some fine tuning to do and a few more orphan boxes of the harder to let go craft stuff like leather and fur, etc, that I have to find a spot to store.
I have to admit it's been very up and down... I have had times during this process where I've literally frozen and started crying because it has been so overwhelming! And it's hard to see my "precious" crap being boxed up by others.
Conversely, the benefits have been tremendous and I knew all along that if I wanted to struggle out of the pretty deep depression I was in this last winter I HAD to make a change in the house....because it was choking me to have a home so crowded and NOT user friendly. My home business has taken over and I know I've got to get a studio of some sort eventually, but for now it's not in the cards.

We had a really nice paella dinner with my sister and parents Saturday. Before that I got to go to the parade with Mike and Marina and my little nephew who amazed me with his knowledge about everything. See the pic above of Miss Lynden Rodeo! She was great.

It's been a pretty busy and not always easy holiday weekend, but together we made some great progress here on the home front, and reforged some family connections.

The Dancing Maidens in a flower labyrinth at Greenlake

Many of you know I'm a labyrinth nut... Today was world labyrinth day, and many set up "walk one at one" events.
I thought this one especially lovely and their site shows many other pics you might enjoy! It was a special May Day flower temporary Labyrinth.

Royal Handfasting!

I loved this moment when the Archbishop of Canterbury wrapped the blessed cloth around their hands and did his little benediction over their union! I was yelling to Mike "it's a handfasting!" and started bawling my eyes out. It was evident to me that we as modern pagans are working with symbolism, ritual forms, and liturgy that has a definite lineage from the British Royal and religious traditions. Actually it's probably more a shared lineage, they went one direction, i.e., the church still uses forms that are resonant with pagan/folk traditions, and we as modern Wiccans are trying to get to the original practices in order to feel the roots of these practices and connect with the land and each other.

This makes me very happy! I have a family tree going back to English aristocracy and I have always felt these things in a core and primal way when I perform certain ceremonies... it is like coming home. The love and energy I channel is a thrill for me that goes beyond the moment; it's like my ancestors are there looking over my shoulder and sending gladness and feelings of connection.

I also really got excited hearing all the exhortations around ethics, positivity and how to live a good life. It was a great tie in to the classes that we have been teaching locally since we just had a class on ethics and morality. I was glad to see that our beliefs and subscription to certain ethics and morality seemed drawn directly from the things in this ceremony; it all seems so relevant and clear. My hope is that people were listening and actually revisit those issues in their own lives, and thereby draw connecting lines from where they stand to what they want our country and the world to embrace right now.

Beltaine kisses to you!!!

Do song lyrics influence thinking?

Hello, how are you?

I've been serenaded lately by my daughter's Android phone playing Katie Perry's hit ET. I have felt yucky hearing it because the lyrics (excerpted below) have been standing out to me as the type, when taken in snippets or when absorbed by those without alert filters, that sneak negative messages into the brains of our girls and young folks who are being shaped by the pop culture that they love so much.
I know, I sound like "the establishment" from the 1950's or '60's where a new, cutting edge or risque craze freaked out the Old people!
But I remember when I wasn't as sure of who I was, and in my explorations into relationships I definitely dabbled in the dark areas of victimhood and self destructive behavior. I listened to music that reflected and encouraged my explorations. And I know how important music is to younger people; it's how they express themselves (as all ages do) and it's the way they shape their identities. That info doesn't surprise you, I am sure.

There is something about these and some of the current rap lyrics that has been bothering me for awhile now, and I believe it reflects a trend in the current culture here that rubs me wrong. I see misogyny in this stuff and I see the glamorization of becoming a powerless victim. I know these sorts of observations make me sound like rabid feminist, which I'm not, as many of you who know me realize...but I did work at a domestic violence shelter (womencare) and at the crisis line where I have had contact with victims. Those experiences have of course led me to wonder why the heck women get themselves into these situations, and I casually observe pop culture for clues as to how it influences people. I must say Katy is pretty fabulous here...I'd love to be that cute and burlesque-ish!

I hope my daughter has a clearer sense of self than I did, and that she can filter this stuff enough to know it's a scenario, a drama, and not one to take on the role of in real relationships.

What do you think?

Blessings to you! ...Betsy

Excerpt from ET by Katy Perry:

You're so hypnotizing
Could you be the devil
Could you be an angel
Your touch, magnetizing
Feels like I am floating
Leaves my body glowing
They say
Be afraid
You're not like the others
Futuristic lover
Different DNA
They don't understand you
You're from a whole 'nother world
A different dimension
You open my eyes
And I'm ready to go
Lead me into the light
Kiss me, ki-ki-kiss me
Infect me with your love and
Fill me with your poison
Take me, ta-ta-take me
Wanna be your victim
Ready for abduction

Reef Triggerfish Are So Busy!

Otherwise known as Hunuhununukunukuali'aa, the Hawaiian state fish is a Reef Triggerfish, above.
It's really fun to see these guys and their pals the Black Triggerfish in the reef.

They're always running around as if on errands, and the black ones come to see what you are up to.

Another cool fish I've seen several times is the Cornet Fish, who is pretty odd as it is a long thin and translucent type.

I saw one change from translucent to mild stripes while we were staring at each other. Very interesting! And they have a fantastic, needle like protrusion coming from their tail, all in all a very sinuous fish.

We've seen four green sea turtles, a white mouth moray eel, a small octopus, and various other delightful sea creatures. Sigh.... I love it.

I have gotten better at flowing with the ocean, too...if you do that you can get where you want to go much easier! Just kick towards shore when the waves are flowing inward, and zoom you go in very quickly! Then rest and hold your own while they flow out, and go again when the next wave comes.

If any of you come here, I recommend Kihei and this condo as a reasonable and very comfortable spot!

See you soon, Love Betsy

In Memoriam

I just found out that my sweet friend Paul Bingman died today of pancreatic cancer after finding out 5 weeks ago that he had it. 
I had just called him this week on impulse to see if I could come visit him later in the year.  I had no idea he was sick... I didn't get a call back and wondered what was going on.  I am bereft because Paul was a presence in my life for over 20 years and I loved sharing time with him at festivals, his crazy puns and witty repartee being some of the things I loved about him. 

Live in our hearts, dear friend, we miss you already.

Mellowness and Love

I had a busy weekend but on the urging of two priestess pals we took the time for a new moon “cleanse” where we shed the baggage we needed/wanted to leave us.   Then we opened the doors for the directions we need/want to put our energy, and have the life changes we wish to see coming in loud and clear…and it was a really lovely time together!  (And here’s hoping we can do it again soon!) Our ritual was very mellow and we took our time to shape our words and wishes, and looked at this sort of like a “spring cleaning” of things we’ve let creep up on us and steer us into emotional places we really don’t want to be.  So BEGONE, complacency!  And WELCOME spring and renewal! 

What visitors see when they come to my gate...

We spent a couple hours outside and even though my yard can be noisy with dogs barking and airplanes taking off nearby, we were very blessed to be visited by hummingbirds and robins and assorted other nature sounds around us.  I’ve seen the crows with sticks in their mouths and my resident roof-birds seem pretty busy setting up their nurseries (purple house finches live year round in a spot they’ve made where two parts of the roof join to create a little cave).  The wetlands behind my house have plenty of bird activity to pique my interest.  I LOVE hearing their sounds!  Better than music any day.

Mickey looking longingly in to a

part of the yard he wants to check out,

and the primrose Jill gave me brightening the view!

On all my trips in and out of the neighborhood lately I have seen the local mallards doing their usual spring mating chases, often 2 drakes to one hen… they stop by the side of the road, in the road, in the ditch and even in my pool while negotiating “who gets the girl” in their own duckish way.  I also saw some of the local crows picking around in the ditch grass and stream, I think getting worms after this recent hard rainy time.  I feel good about my neighborhood… we are peppered with wetlands and I think it’s conducive to the wildlife that hangs out around here, giving me a little elbow in the ribs every day… Betsy… you share this with us… remember!  And I enjoy that very much!