Yemaya

I don't remember when or where I discovered Yemaya, but I know it wasn't long before she became my "Mamacita".  It's funny, I always thought of the Venus of Willendorf as my Mamacita, and I still do, but Yemaya is now, too.  And it's ok that they both are; that's what feels right for me.  Another funny thing is how a little white girl from the sticks came together with 3 strong, powerful, awesome goddesses from the Afro-Carribean/Yoruban/Santerian culture, but I'm so glad that we did.

 This is my Yemaya doll from Kelli at Dancing Goddess Dolls.  Isn't she beautiful?  Here is what the card that came with her says:

"I am Yemaya, the Mother of Waters, the Star of the Sea.  I am the mother of many gods, the protectress of women and children.  I hold a special place in my heart for all mothers, and look on as the women of the Earth conceive, hold life, give birth and sustain new life with thier own nourishing waters.  I am the fountain of life, the deep ocean, all running waters.  surrender to me for comfort in your times of need, and your troubles will dissolve in the waters of my healing embrace."

Originally a river goddess of the Yoruban people of Eastern Africa, Yemaya traveled across the ocean with her people when they were captured to become slaves in the new world, thus becoming goddess of the ocean. 
Correspondances (according to "The Encylopedia of Spirits by Judika Illes"---this is a partial list)
Colors: blue and white
Creatures: fish and all sea creatures
Element: Water
Minerals: quartz crystal, pearls, coral
Day: Saturday
Times:  Feb. 2;  Summer Solstice; New Years Eve/Day
Manifestations:  Woman or a mermaid; always very beautiful, no matter which form she chooses to take

Also of note to me, particularly since I don't live near the ocean:  Oshun, another of my triad of Yoruban deities, who is a river goddess, will take your offerings to the sea and Yemaya for you if you aren't able to get to the sea yourself.  But please ask Oshun first, and bring her a little gift for her troubles.

and the winner is...

... Melissa from " A Gracious Calm"

will be posting pics of her goodies later.  I want to get them to her first.  Congratulations Melissa!

dip recipe

This dip has been a family favorite since I was little.  I have no idea where my mom got it; I think it was something someone brought in for a work pot luck or something.  Anyways, it's dead simple and pretty darn good, although I have never heard or seen anyone else make it.  We all know I'm not necessarily blessed in the kitchen, so it's a "so easy, even Amy can't mess it up" recipes.

Just take a container of sour cream and a packet of italian salad dressing mix (good seasons, you know, the kind you add vinegar and oil to).  Mix together, that's it! 

Samhain Giveaway!

Ok, so in the spirit of giving, I have decided to do a giveaway, too. I want a chance to spread the love!
 I am extremely low-fi; I don't have a camera that I can hook up to the computer to show you pics of the giveaway, so please forgive that.  The image here is from http://www.amazon.com/

This oracle deck is really neat.  I have several things from Monte Farber and Amy Zerner and I really like them. 
Also, for this giveaway, I will include:
~ a little bag of crystal chips
~ a blank greeting card and a "pocket affirmation" that I have made with my own 2 hands
~ a detailed Goddess oracle reading, which I will email to you.

All you have to do to enter is:
~ become a blog follower
~ leave your name/email addy so I can email you if you win
I'm pretty easy to please. 

You're not the only one depressed

You're not the only one depressed.  I understand how hard it must be to see your ex, the mother of your child, getting married.  I understand what it feels like to know that something is over.  But you are not the only one who is depressed.  You have someone who loves you unconditionally, who takes care of you, who shares so much with you... I don't have that, do I?  So I want you to know, you are not the only one who's crying.

Things I Believe

THINGS I BELIEVE 

• Every woman deserves at least 2 bathing suits
•  
• That butter is better for you than margarine, trans fat or not
•  
• That those webby things on tree branches are where the spider babies live
•  
• That when bats and spiders breed, the offspring is called “spider babies”
•  
• That every single human being that was, is, or ever will be, is special and has something beautiful about them, even if they aren’t blessed with attractiveness
•  
• In still matching my socks to my outfit
•  
• In trying to use proper grammar and punctuation. Capitalization… not so much. I find it a bit pretentious.
•  
• That Current/Zeus and I are a couple in some sense of the word. I have to believe that or I don’t think I’ll make it
•  

Scent-sational!!!

OMG, I just got my latest order from Auntie Di's candle shops.  I think I'm in love!  I got the choose 4 scents tart deal from her tart shop http://thetemptingtart.etsy.com/ and a candle from http://auntiedis.etsy.com/ .  For tarts, I chose Sour Watermelon (shown here), Lemon Poppyseed, Marshmellow, and Apple Brown Betty.  They are freakin' awesome!  I have the Watermelon one on right now, and it has made my whole apartment smell great!

The candle I got was Chocolate Coconut Maccaroon.  And let me tell ya, this stuff is fabulous!  I had gotten a sample tart of this scent with a previous order, and I just had to get the real deal.  I put it in the bathroom this morning while I took a shower, and it just put me in a good mood.  I've been jonesing for candles; I think I have melted just about every last speck of my other candles from Di (Strawberry and Sweet Pea) by putting the jars on a warmer and taking advantage of that left over bit on the bottom when the wick is gone.  Eventually I WILL own one of everything this woman makes lol.  But the budget's been pretty tight.  Living on a fixed, once monthly, income pretty much sucks, but I'm getting used to it. 

If you all get a chance, check out http://www.etsy.com/  It will change your life! I'm thinking of Christmas already...

winner

i can't figure out how to post a comment on my own blog, (grumble grumble), but my friend Sandy won! She guessed Dante Gabriel Rossetti, one of my favorite poets. I don't want to post what she won yet so it will be a surprise. And she didn't post on the blog, she did on facebook. gotta figure this comment thing out! : )

giveaway!

Ok, this is going to be my 1st giveaway on my blog. (all 5 followers lol). The 1st person who can tell me who this is will win a little sumthin' sumthin'! Good luck!

Today you will find me...

* wishing the tension and hurt regarding my family away

* picking up and restoring order to my apartment after a visit home from the Ex

* making breakfast in bed for the one I love

* hopefully spending time with my nephew who turned 8 yesterday

* trying to make the most of the day and to stay as cool as possible while doing it lol

Have a good day everyone!

Praying for the Ocean

What is happening in our country is horrendous. As I read the Sea Witch's blog, tears rolled dowm my face. http://musingsofaseawitch.blogspot.com/2010/06/we-have-failed-miserably-as-stewards-of.html A bunch of Pagan blogs are passing around the message that today, during the New Moon, that we all pray, send light, do spells, call upon our deities for the healing of the ocean and all of her innocent animal babies. Please do join all of us. I heard about it via Mrs. B's blog. http://www.confessionsofapagansoccermom.com/2010/06/healing-mother-earth-june-12.html We all came from the sea, She is another face of the Goddess and She is screaming with pain and agony and hurt that we have directly or indirectly caused. Here is a prayer from my prayer book, "The Wiccan Prayer Book" by Mark Ventimiglia O my Lady, you are the Earth, the Seas, the Air, and the Life of this Planet we live on. Through the negligence of humankind, coupled with unreserved greed, we have done severe damage to the seas, oceans, rivers and streams. Wather is your precious gift. It is life giving and very nourishing. we need wather to live and remain healthy. The very existence of all life on Earth needs this very special gift. Please allow humanity to wake up before it's too late and see the damage that has already been done by pollution and ignorance. Help us to put plans into effect that will end the pollution of our waterways, thereby saving this very important gift for future generations. Blessed Be

What I've been up to...

I really need to get back to blogging; I have so much to say! LOL things are up and down with Zeus, as usual. He's actually been living with me for the last month. He just couldn't stand staying where he was staying, so he just spent the night one night and hasn't left lol. He got the apartment right across the driveway from me. Everyone thinks that this is going to be bad, bad, bad for me; if I see him bringing other women home, I might not be able to handle it. And, yes, he's said he has women "north, south, east and west and one in Bowerbank" (a neighboring town) One of them actually called him here the other night. I flipped out... we had had a wonderful weekend the week before. It was one of those times that you can just feel in your soul that is a changing moment in your relationship. So to think that he really had other women in the wings really hurt. He went thru the whole "we aren't a couple...I love you but not like that...I just want to have fun and screw as many different women as I can...it's just sex... they don't expect anything from me... I don't want a girlfriend..." speech. I said something about that weekend being a disaster, and he got upset and said that he didn't feel that way at all. Eventually, I calmed down. A voice in my head said that I have his heart and his soul. These other women may have his body for an hour or so, but I have his heart. He told me over and over again that if he didn't want to be here with me, he wouldn't be. So... I don't know. This whole "going with the flow" thing is harder than it sounds.

mmmm...strawberries

I got my 1st Etsy order the other day. It was a Strawberry Preserves scented candle from Auntie Di's candle shop. Let me just say, OMG! It smells so freaking delicious I want to eat it with a spoon! Her candles are all soy based, so they are better for the environment. I loved how she sent a little hand written thank you note for the order, and even stuck in a free sample of her wax tarts (country apple, so nice...gave it to my mom who loves anything apple) It really does have a great "throw" of scent; I put it in the bedroom, and the smell floated through my whole apartment. It is just the right amount of scent; it won't bother allergies but makes my place smell like Smuckers lol! Thank you so much Auntie Di! I can't wait to place another order! I want to make my mom a gift basket for her birthday/Mother's Day and I'm going to include a candle or two. Now, just what scent.... I could be here all day! (photo courtesy of Auntie Di: http://auntiedis.etsy.com)

10 things I love about you

One of my favorite Shakespeare plays is "Taming of the Shrew". One of my favorite teen movies is "10 things I hate about you", which is a modern take on Shakespeare. I have begun to lose my patience with Zeus. Half of me is ready to just leave, the other half is scared shitless of that moment. So, in honor of Zeus, Shakespeare, Heath Ledger, and the power of positive thinking, here is a list to remind me why I'm still here. 10 Things I Love about You 1) the way you eat lobster 2) your chest (dead sexy!) and how in the summer when you work all the time, your arms get muscly and sexy :o) 3) that in your own, highly dysfunctional way, you really do care about the peope close to you 4) the way your tummy is always warm when I put my arm around you 5) that you really are very talented at your work 6) how you feed me when you cook 7) the way you get when you're sleepy 8) the sounds you make 9) that you love your daughter 10) the way you make my house feel like a home when you're here I don't know about tomorrow, I can't even promise you today, but for now, I'm still here, and I really do love you...

Incense

A while back, Mrs B wrote an examiner article on 5 easy ways to bring deity into your every day life. Number 1 on that list is to choose a family incenseto light daily. I know I'm single, but I want to start my own traditions. So after much deliberation, I chose 2 scents from Azure Green- Venus and Rose. This is what the site says about them: "Imbued with many of the qualities of the astrological sign of the same name, our Venus incense fills any room in which it burns with a powerful presence of happiness and friendship. In ritual you`ll find that it is a potent aid in spells seeking to inspire love joy and friendship, and upon the altar it makes a fantastic aid in meditation, tending to lend a positive bent towards whatever path your mind takes." "Filling the room in which it`s burned with the sweet fragrance of roses, our Rose incense is a welcome addition to any home. Alternatively, you can burn it upon your altar in ritual, aiding in spells that focus on love and fertility, as well as utilize to empower your favorite house-blessing spell. " - www.azuregreen.com The house blessing sounded really good to me, and so didn't the happiness and friendship part. I couldn't choose between the 2, so I got them both. I'm hoping that they really empart blessings on everyone who enters my home!

Fairy Names

Your fairy is called Gossamer Cornfly

She is a creator of bounty and harvest.

She lives in spiderwebbed wonderlands and insect grottos.

She is only seen at midday under a quiet, cloudless sky.

She wears tiny black spiders on her dresses. She has butterfly wings the colour of yellow corn.

Here I am, stuck in the middle with you...

I say we are; he says we're not. Somewhere in the middle is where I reside for the time being. He says we're just friends yet he treats me like a wife. I say we're a couple, partners, but he just doesn't see it that way. It would be one thing if our relationship morphed back into just buddies, but it didn't; he still expects so much of me. And I don't mind- until another woman comes into the picture. Then I turn into a jealous Hera chasing around after Zeus, blasting his paramours left and right. But just like Zeus, he always comes back to me. So I'm trying to just sit here in the middle and ride this wave into shore.

Etsy

If you know me, then you know I am a confirmed shopaholic. If I were to win the lottery, I would have to buy a mansion to put all my stuff in lol! Since being introduced to some really cool blogs by my friend Misty, I have discovered a virtual treasure trove of shopping delights. Etsy. If you haven't been there, I highly recommend you do. There are some really talented people out there! Here are a few to check out: Auntie Di- she has 3 stores, a candle and jewelry one Auntie Di's De-lites http://www.etsy.com/shop/auntiedis a stationary one http://auntiescardshop.etsy.com and a soy tart one http://TheTemptingTart.etsy.com Wicked Soaps has some wonderfully scented bath and body products http://www.etsy.com/shop/WickedSoaps There are loads more stores; this is just a sampling from the blogs that I follow. Please do check them all out!

I get "Tarot of the Day" sent to my email account every day by astrology.com (powered by ivillage) This is my card for the day. "The Ace of Chalices card suggests that my power today lies in capturing the essence. My emotions are valid. I am beautiful and I deserve to pursue, share, and express unconditional love, pleasure, and happiness. I bring new love into the world. I am empowered by love and my gift is beauty in truth." I just loved that. It seems to fit where I am and where I need to be right now. I definately feel a connection with the Cups in Tarot. In Tarot, the suit of Cups symbolizes the emotions and relationships. It's element is Water. Aces reflect new beginnings or opprotunities. According to Sylvia Abraham's book "How to: Use Tarot Spreads", the Ace's theme is "I WILL".

Mrs. B' Retro Cooking Month!

In honor of Mrs. B, every one's favorite kitchen witch, here is my contribution to "weird jello recipes". I have no idea what the name of this cake is, but since Mom's made it for almost every birthday ever, I just call it My Birthday Cake. It's wicked easy to make, but not quite "Amy Proof"... just let it cool before you frost it, and don't make wagers with anyone that you can make a whole cake in 15 minutes. :P - one box of white cake mix. just make it. when it's done, take a fork and poke a bunch of holes in it, all over the top. Let cool. - one box of jello, any color you like. just make that, too, but don't refrigerate. take a straw and dip it into the jello liquid and put your finger over the top hole. This holds the liquid that was drawn up into the straw in it. drizzle it in the holes you made w/ the fork. Repeat until all the holes are filled up. - one box of pudding, I just use vanilla, but any kind that will go well with the jello flavor would be good. just make it. pour the pudding over the cake and spread like frosting to cover the top. - one tub of cool whip spread that over the pudding. This cake is freakin awesome, and so pretty once cut, as the jello makes stripes in the white cake.