Back in the Saddle Again ~ sort of

 

For those who don' know, I've been pretty much out of commission since the week of the Winter Solstice (Dec 21st) with very badly pulled back muscles, excruciating, I could hardly get up and down off the sofa by myself.  I really did it up good with a combination of activities I should not have been doing in the first place, like wrestling a 50lb bag of cat litter across the front yard and up our camper steps.  I shall not do that again, but I was childishly proud that I accomplished this feat at the time.  Little did I know.

During most of this period, I virtually stopped posting on social media, stopped creating videos, or doing tarot readings, or doing much of anything really.  I was trying to cope with the pain without having to go to the doctor and experience all the hub-bub and inconvenience that it would cause.  Anyway, as I told my significant other, "What's a doctor going to do, tell me my back muscles are strained and provide a prescription for medication that I probably won't take?"  So far, I've managed on my own with ice packs and a rotating combination of aspirin and Ibuprofen.

It's getting better.  I just have to remember that when I hit a good day it does not mean that I can jump up and resume physical activities as usual.  I've set myself back a couple times doing this.

Thank you to those who were aware of this situation and sent me lots of positive energies and good wishes, and thank you to those who didn't know but who kept visiting my blogs and websites and watching my videos.  I can't wait to begin creating new material again, and I'm so anxious to do some new tarot readings.  It's been a while.

Peace out, and to my northern peeps, stay warm and stay safe during some of this nasty winter weather.

Q&A ~ Because You Asked

 

I receive a considerable number of questions from people, and I’ve answered a handful of them here. I’ll be re-posting on this particular blog from time to time, when I get the opportunity. This just seemed like an easier solution rather than trying to answer individual emails, as more than one person often asks the same question. It just seemed logical to gather the answers all in one place. Remember that these are my opinions, this is about my path– and you asked.

• Is there a difference between a Witch, a Wiccan, and a Pagan? What do you feel are some of the major differences?

Yes, there is a difference, and still, most people tend to lump these categories together indiscriminately.

“Pagan” is a broad term that covers a variety of beliefs and practices. It’s an umbrella term that includes witches; Wiccans- every tradition, clan, or solitary path you can think of; Druids; and a garden variety of spiritual practices that stray from the mainstream religions, primarily Christianity.

“Witch” implies someone who is knowledgeable in the ‘Olde Ways’, someone who casts spells, practices divination, herbology, etc. A witch is steeped in earth-based shamanic methods in free-form, not tying her/himself to any particular creed, to any particular set of rules or regulations, group or clan. The witch tends to be a free spirit and often treads where others fear to go when it comes to practicing the occult.

“Wicca” is a religion which encompasses organized and ordered membership, regulations, and practices. It is also an earth-based and nature religion which has grown to include a wide variety of paths, traditions, clans, and covens. Most Wiccans abide by the Wiccan Reed, and seek membership that comes with required study and initiation.

• When did you first realize you were a Witch?

I always knew that I was different and that I often perplexed people, though as a child I wasn’t sure how or why. The earliest memory I have of a ‘realization’ probably came when I was about five years old, crouched alone on a terraced hillside. It was a hot summer day, though I was in a dark cool place, as the hillside was full of trees. I looked to my right, past the wire fence that separated the yard from pasture, and watched a herd of cattle grazing in the hot sun, only a few feet away from my cool dark world. I reached to the low branch of a young locust tree, wrapped my fingers around a small green stem and gently slid the leaves off, into my palm. I stayed there for quite some time, crouched beneath the tree, closing my eyes to listen to the wind in the trees, believing that they were speaking to me.

I don’t remember what I did with the leaves, though I do remember that I wanted them for a reason.

• Is it important for a Witch to have a code of Honor?

It depends upon how you look at it. If by a ‘code of honor’, you mean that she must abide by someone else’s rules, someone else’s measurement of what is right or wrong, then I would have to say no.

Each individual, witch or not, who is an intelligent human being knows when they are doing right and when they are doing something questionable. And ‘questionable’ in this instance doesn’t necessarily mean something you shouldn’t do, it can mean something that isn’t always done but needs doing, it can mean something gritty and serious that must be done.

The Witch, a real witch, moves in a landscape that is neither white nor black, it’s filled with shadows that are shades of gray; and to the witch these shadows are not off limits. Balance is required in all things, including the practice of Witchcraft; and once in a while boundaries have to be broken to maintain this balance.

• How would you define “Mojo”?

I would describe ‘mojo’ as ‘magick’…magick that incorporates natural elements to produce physical manifestation: herbs, stones, bones, personal items, bodily secretions, potions, powders, images, symbols, etc. Mojo also relies on intention and will, but not at the same level or intensity as Wiccan magick. With mojo, the magick resides in the molecules of the items used. The traditional voodoo priestess does not consecrate or empower her mojo bags; she believes that the power is already there.

• How do spells work?

Spells work by using the energy of our will and intentions, along with strong visualization, coupled with natural objects such as candles, fire, water, herbs, stones, photos, images, etc.; to produce physical manifestation into the real world. You must be able to see the objective of your spell as though it already exists. If you cannot visualize what you desire as though it already exists, you will not be able to manifest into the physical realm.

• Why do you practice so many different forms of witchcraft on your path?

I am an eclectic Witch.

There’s incredible knowledge and magick to be found on a number of occult paths. It’s like a magickal buffet of rich and varied practices that all work in different ways and on different levels. To me, it’s there for the taking, there for my use. We just have to be open-minded enough not to be afraid to explore other religions, other forms of spirituality. Human beings have a terrible habit of pigeon-holing everything, thinking that everything must fit into specific boxes and that you can’t mix and match or you’ll mess things up.

I don’t eat the same thing for breakfast every morning, I don’t wear the same kind of clothes everyday. And as much as I love chocolate, if that were the only thing I was allowed to eat, it would get monotonous.

Source:

This essay was originally posted at my blog,
Magickal Connections, September 6th, 2010.

The Great Migration

Some of you may have noticed that this spring, and this year in fact, has seen me very quiet on my websites and blog.  I even temporarily took down services and merchandise during this time at The Witch's Corner and The Tarot Parlour with very good reason.  My beloved life partner Bob and I sold our houses in Nebraska and moved to Arizona.  This undertaking involved weeks of working with realtors; cleaning out two houses of belongings; finding resolutions to an issue standing in the way; coordinating the sale and closing dates for two houses in two different cities/counties, as well as the purchase of a new house at the other end of the country; and dealing with all of life's normal daily activities and issues along the way.

This was the biggest most exciting adventure of my life.  It was physically and emotionally exhausting, sometimes frustrating, often scary and overwhelming.  It involved two flights to Arizona, house hunting, and decisions that had to be made quickly and logically for everything to fall into place and magickal timing to manifest realities.

It worked.

In the end we had three houses in three different cities and two states that wound up with the closing dates for all three On The Same Day.  We literally packed a U-Haul, left Nebraska, and drove directly to our new house!  It was incredible, and the coincidence (or synchronicity) was not lost on the realtors involved (fantastic ladies!)

LA Weekend (photos & videos)

Private Space ~ The Headboard of My Bed

I keep saying (over and over) that I eventually WILL post something personal on here, something not related to tarot, or my website, or any of That Stuff.  And I'm delivering right now.  Today I've been dusting and redoing the headboard of my bed.  Some of these photos have been posted to Facebook already...See what you think.  (This is such "Personal Space"!)

What about you'alls??  What's on the headboard of your bed? 

 

Bonus...a Super-Mini Home Video

 

 

 

 

How Not to Pick Up Chicks

Hello, World!  In-between being married five times, I've been single.  Whenever the new Single Phase descends upon me, I am thrown into the arena of singledom and all that this implies. This last time finds me at a unique and pivotal point in life at the ripe old age of 59 (Sept 24th).  You would think, you'd think, that as we grow older, we also grow wiser in a number of ways, and this would include our interaction with the opposite sex ~ How we approach another individual; how we interact with them on a human, compassionate, intelligent level.  How we pick up on their vibes, their natural energy, and their unspoken feelings.

You would think that, naturally, just like everything else in life, we'd get more tuned in, more mature, and better at this; what with getting older, and life experience, and everything. 

Well, you'd be wrong.

To be honest, I don't think anything has changed in this arena of life since Junior High.  Sad, but true.  The only difference I see so far is there are no curfews; and we're more concerned with taxes, insurance, and retirement plans rather than hall passes and homework.

With all this in mind, new as I am yet to this Single Phase, I've decided to write this essay directed at men, on how NOT to pick up chicks.  I don't have a choice really.  It was either write this blog post, or scream "Are you F***'in kidding me?!!!" from my roof top, which would probably have disturbed my neighbors and alarmed my children.

So, with that said, here's how NOT to pick up chicks ~

1.  Be totally self-absorbed.

Naturally, when you're trying to pick up a woman, she's going to want to know every minute detail about YOU; and you can automatically assume, right off the bat, that she's going to share all of your interests with great enthusiasm and devotion.  Don't bother asking her about HER interests, or hobbies, dreams or goals, favorite pastimes, etc.  She's going to find you so magnetic, so mesmerizing, that she will automatically keel over in rapt joy at the prospect of car shows, car races, baseball, football, poker, etc. etc.  She will wait with feverish anticipation, putting her entire life and activities on hold, to be asked to join you in your sacred world.  Your charm has won her over, she will revolve around your existence, your needs and wants, totally captivated by you, abandoning all other responsibilities, personal activities, or relationships that might interfere with your world.

If you do happen to slip in a question about what she likes to do, or what she's accomplished, or interested in, don't bother following up on it.  Just asking the question is enough to show her that you really care about her as a person.

2.  Give her intimate details about your past partners.

There's nothing that a woman loves more than to hear about your sexual escapades with former partners...everything from what kind of sex they like, what positions worked for them, as well as some personal one-on-one memorable moments.  Also, be sure to share naked photos former partners have shared with you, which can also lead to a discussion of breasts, breast size, areola shapes, the differences in shades of pubic hair, etc.   As you're relating all of these fascinating details, make sure that you whine a great deal about what a bitch your former wife (or girl friend) is.  Make sure you expand on how disgusting you find her, how stupid, illiterate, conniving, slutty, or how she started off really cool, but of course, transformed into any of the previously listed attributes.

3.  "No" doesn't really mean "no".

If a woman turns you down flat, don't give up.  You're so charming and attractive and such a good catch that she's just playing hard to get, or she just doesn't know what she really wants.  When she says, "No, I do not want to go out with you."...she's just kidding, or she really wants to, she just hasn't figured out her own mind yet, she's confused.  So you have to show her.  This means that you need to tell her even more about yourself.  Don't bother trying to get to know her on any sort of deeper level; you're so interesting that she'll be absorbed by it, and besides, her interests/hobbies/accomplishments won't be that interesting, and they're probably miniscule in comparison to you and your life.

If she's really stubborn and just can't make up her mind, and she keeps refusing your invitations, make sure that she see's you with other women, so she gets an idea of just how attractive and desirable you are.

4.  A Few Last Pointers ~

A.  It's okay if you're not financially stable, or able to pay your own bills.  Once you get this gal on board, she can help you with these issues.

B.  If you don't own a home, or you don't maintain your own space (as in renting an apartment), don't worry.  Once you get this gal on board, you can move into her place.

C.  If you don't own a vehicle, it's really not a problem.  Once you get this gal on board, she can either be your personal chauffeur, or you can borrow her car.

It's all good.

2015-2016 It's Transition Time!!! & IN-HOUSE Readings @ Next Millennium (Today!!)

I know that it's been a while since I've written a post specifically for this blog (I believe mother-in-law #4 is suppose to be coming up); but December and January have proven to be very (extremely) busy times for me, as well as transitional in major ways, both professionally and personally, and some of what's been going on in my life (private) has been over-whelming, to say the least.

But I can't get into all that right here, right now-- I'm going to be preparing to head out to Omaha this afternoon, where I'll be doing In-House Tarot Readings at Next Millennium in Omaha, Nebraska...3141 N 93rd St.  I'll be there from 3 to 7 pm TODAY!

Who wants a reading?!

Want to Keep Up With Me? ~ Better Subscribe

Good morning, World! It's a beautiful dark morning here in Nebraska, no rain yet, but it's in the clouds right above me. As some of you know, I have joined the ranks of the "employed", and I now have a regular job with regular hours. This means that I won't have all the time I use to for so much daily posting. It also means that I probably will not spend as much time posting links to new blog posts, new youtube videos, tumblr updates, etc. If you want to follow me, I would advise that you subscribe to my blog, youtube channel, tumblr, twitter, etc. to receive an automatic notice when I post...Morning Blessings, Amythyst

ladyamythyst.com


 

My Super Secret Revealed

[I've opted to blog this post exclusively at my Other Blog,
 "Magickal Connections"]

Oh my god, I’ve been hanging onto a Super Duper Secret for so long. It hasn’t been easy, and admittedly there are a very small handful of people (family and close friends) who may have been privy to bits and pieces. I was, however, quite proud of our ability to sit on our tongues for the most part, to not give out any details– even to them, to be able to draw ourselves up short. It wasn’t easy, believe me. It was enormous, this Secret, you’ve no idea!...continue reading

The Witch's Diary: Feet (video)

I added a new video to my Youtube Channel today ~ the topic is "Feet"

 

 

@ Tumblr ~ My Week in Review

(An original short essay will always be included with these posts.)

 

Click  Here

Enjoy the Updates!...You'll find a couple surprises.

 

What do you do in Fremont, Nebraska?

This is what we did today, some of my girls and I. 

First, we piled into one very small car:

The Backseat Girls
(Kind of sounds like The Backstreet Boys)

The Designated Driver
(and the owner of the small car we were smooshed into)

My Gaga Girl & My Preppy Girl

My Goth Girl
 

We live in kind of a semi-rural housing development where we still have gravel streets.  Two blocks from our house are open fields and shelter belts.  So on our way "Into Town", as we call our journey, we stopped to take some very pretty "Country Winter Photos". Stopping the car along the way, Laura (with her phone camera) and me (with my $75 35millimeter Wal-Mart treasure), would hop out and slog along the ditches shooting snow and trees, and more snow, and more trees (watching all the time for oncoming vehicles).

This is a house at the very-- very-- end of our street.
They have Lots-of-Trees.

Lots of Evergreen Trees...and snow

A Drive-Way-Through-the-Trees

This is an entrance to our Dr.s House.  He's somewhere in there, amongst 40 acres and lots and lots of trees.  We have no idea what his house looks like; but he's a very nice man who told us to wander the shelterbelts and take pictures to our hearts content.  So he's okay in my book.

A Regular Tree & Evergreen Trees
(It must feel kind of naked & embarrassed amongst all those hoary evergreen trees.)

More Trees...and snow

Yep, another tree...and more snow

A Bunch of Trees
(I think they call this a grove.)

On our journey 'Into Town", we took the back way, past the golf course, and we had to stop for a train.  The two ladies in the two cars ahead of us looked at me like I'd lost my mind when I got out of the car to snap a picture.  They do the "I'm going to look straight ahead and pretend I don't see you thing", as they purse their lips.  I don't know why people "purse their lips" when they disapprove of something, but I'll bet other orifices and sphincter muscles are just as tightly puckered.  (she says with a malicious smile).

The Train
(I actually got a kick out of jogging up the road to
photograph the train, I felt all "Photo Journalist".)

Once we crossed the invisible line between "out-of-town" and "in-town", our route took us down 23rd Street.  Pretty much anything that you will ever need while living in Fremont, Nebraska, will be found on 23rd. Street.  There is a very small "old-market" kind of area on South Maine St., but that's not where we were headed today.  So 23rd Street it is (which is really Highway 30 in drag).



23rd Street-- West End
(Almost right around the corner from the train.)

McDonalds Just Ahead!
(We've spent many blissful hours here clogging our arteries.)

Stoplight at the Corner of 23rd. & Clarkson
(There is a Scooters at this corner-- yummy yogurt bar!)

First Stop!...the infamous "Kwik Shop".  These places are the hub of activity in small communities (seriously). 

Okay, everyone out!

My Cappuccino Girls

My Iced-Slurpy Girls

Okay, everybody, back in the car!



My Gaga Girl & Mum
(I'm clutching a: White Chocolate Caramel Cappuccino)

The man who owns the white pickup paused while we snapped this picture before stepping off the curb to get in his vehicle.  He was giving us sort of an odd, "I wonder what they're doing" look, so I said to him, "We're hard-pressed for entertainment here in Fremont, Nebraska...he laughed. (It's nice to hear someone laugh, a genuine "this-is-really-funny" chuckle.)

Where to next?

Well-- if you've got coffee, you need pastries. (I'm sure this must be a written rule somewhere.)

Yep...23rd. Street
(Right down the road from the Kwik Shop on Bell Street.)

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

The Flower Shop @ Hy-vee's Entrance
(The End)

And this answers the original question: 
What do you do in Fremont, Nebraska?


You can click on the pictures to make them BIG!

 

10 Confessions of a Pagan Mom~ Confession #2

The year:  1986

I was making a "first meal" for my future husband, and I was nervous.  I was in my late 20s, and quite frankly cooking was not my forte.  I had decided on chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy, and stuffing. I think I also had a dessert, but I don't remember what it was.

Anyway, the chicken was in the oven, the potatoes were boiling, and I was going to make the stuffing with a boxed stuffing mix.  I opened the box and removed the package containing the bread crumbs, taking the bag in both hands on either side of the seam and pulling...it didn't pull apart.  So I pulled harder...it still didn't come apart.  So I pulled as hard as I could.  The bag popped open violently and bread crumbs flew out of the bag like a geyser, showering me, and landing on the floor all around my feet.

Panic...panic...panic.

What should I do?

I quickly swept the bread crumbs up off the floor, threw them in the pot of boiling water, mixing up a fine and dandy batch of stuffing.  It looked great.

I served this to my unsuspecting guest.

New Video Blog

 

Wow! So much is covered. Topics include: Radio-- I'm thinking of starting my own BlogTalk Radio Show (thoughts); Radio-- Attention!...Radio Hosts, I want to schedule some interviews about my next book; Writing-- the process & what went into my latest project; Tarot Deck-- Attention!...Artists, I want to create a tarot deck & I'm looking for an artist whose interested in working with me. Google Hangouts-- Yep, I'm thinking of starting a couple, who's doing it, how easy is it (thoughts). You'll also find lots of personal chit chat on this video-- Lots!

I Am Not a Lot of Things

I am not an intellectual. I don't know why it's automatically assumed if someone likes to write that they are going to be incredibly intellectual and knowledgeable on all the hot topics of the politically correct present day.

I hate politics, of any kind. I'm the most non-political person that you're ever going to come across. I know, I know. I can already here the sighs and the wagging pointy fingers declaring that this is something I should be up on, something I should pay attention to, something I should be at least minimally involved in. (But I'm not.) It is the driest, most boring topic in the world, and I believe that the whole political system is akin to the public school system and parents: they want you to think that you have a say and some influence on a subject, but really-- you don't.

I love my spirituality and my magickal path, but I am not an expert on all the ancient and infinitely numerous pantheons, practices, or theologies. I'm not into the enthusiasm of people who want to historically dissect some tradition and then try to reconstruct it letter by letter, moment by moment, archaic rule by archaic rule, outdated practice by outdated practice. This is just too much detail for my weary little brain; and besides, this is not ancient times, and there will be better, more modern, more practical ways to practice an ancient path in the present day, a way that will build and expand spirituality and enhance our lives in the modern world.

I am not detail oriented. I hate reading long boring historical tomes on witchcraft, or the tarot, or anything actually. It makes me cringe when I turn to a page in any tarot book (including my 1^st one) and read “...the tarot was used in Egypt 5000 years ago.” First, I'm not so sure that this is true, probably because I don't take the time to read all the numerous dry history books on the subject, the ones that probably contain a few facts and a multitude of theories. And honestly, this sounds awful, but I just don’t care. (I can hear a barely audible gasp.) Is this so awful? No, not really. Using one of my husband's favorite quotes: “It need not pertain.”...and it doesn't pertain, to me at least.

I've had a few rare occasions on a radio program where I was asked some incredibly detailed intellectual type question on a topic. I know that I have given them more than a few seconds of dead air time as I pause, thinking in blind panic-- Do they expect me to know this off the top of my head? Do they really expect me to carry on a long dialogue on this very complicated detailed intellectual academic topic? Are they kidding? Head's up peoples-- this is what Research Books are for.

(Apparently, I'm a Big Picture kinda' girl.)

I am not necessarily a good housekeeper. I was at one time. I use to think that housekeeping was an “Art”...and then I had 7 kids. Housework quickly became something I was too tired to do, something that had to be put on the back burner, behind laundry, and baby bathing, and story book reading, and grocery shopping, and breast feeding, and home schooling. And then later in life, after the kids were grown up, I discovered that there was a whole bunch of Important Things that I needed to be doing, like writing books, and other cool stuff, so then housework got pushed even further down the line. Do not get me wrong. I repeat, don't misunderstand me. I'm a Libra. I love my surroundings to be clean and beautiful and totally Zen. It's just that now-a-days, sometimes they are and sometimes they aren't. And when they aren't, I know that they will be eventually.

I am not a seamstress.

I'm not necessarily a good cook, though my kids would tell you I am because they don't know any better.

I am not business oriented. Finances confuse me, and reading a tax document is like reading a foreign language.

I am not mechanical...hooking up the DVD machine is enough of a challenge for me, and there's only three options, all color coded-- red to red, white to white, yellow to yellow.

I am not always a good judge of character, and I'm empathic, you'd think I would be. I tend to be naive and trusting. I wouldn't lie and steal, or exaggerate; so I automatically assume no one else will either.

I'm not a good wife, at least I don't think I am. I'm like some crusty old bachelor who's set in his ways and gets all scowly if someone rearranges the pantry. I like my space, and I don't want someone else's fingerprints all over it.

I am not good at remembering things-- Lots of things! Some people might think I'm rude when I forget to answer their messages, but I have a good reason...I just forgot that you sent me one! I make lists all the time: notes to myself about things to do for the day, notes about writing projects, notes about phone calls, notes about Very-Important-Business-Emails that can't be ignored; notes about what to do the next day...ad infinitum.

I am not a party girl. (Libra likes peace and quiet.)

I am not a team player. (Think tarot card: The Hermit)

I am not a good gardener...I grow fond of all growing things, and some of the growing things in my garden I grow fond of turn out to be weeds, and I haven't got the heart to pull them out, or cut them down. Houseplants-- forget it. I have a black thumb with houseplants, and the smart ones commit suicide before I ever get them home to re-pot.

As you can see, I'm not a lot of things.

Utility Bills...a modern-day cancer

I hate the utility bill.  It's like some cancer that you almost cure one month, only to find out that it has resurfaced the next.  I use to love these huge old houses; and I actually wanted another (older) bigger old house.  I'm having second thoughts on this.

We have (had) such a clean record with our utility bill that we were eligible for the monthly plan-- whatever they call it-- that means a constant consistent amount due each month.  Every year this would be re-evaluated and any extra money that was paid (like during the quiet spring and autumn months, when you're not using heat or air conditioning)  would be applied to your budget.  I've had a couple people talk about this with glowing recommendations, claiming that they even came out ahead with a "free" month.

Then came our re-evaluation this April.

WTF

Our monthly payment plan was raised by $40.

I think the cancer is back, and this time it looks like radiation might be required-- she says with more than a trace of sarcasm.

But wait, maybe there are more unique and creative options...the acquisition of a much smaller energy-efficient house; or a move to the Alaska Outback, where we can live in a log cabin "off-the-grid"; or a Little-Grass-Hut in Hawaii-- I haven't met "Aunty Patsy" yet (Joe's family, on the Hawaiian side).

I'm kind of swinging toward the last one. :)



Yes!  Exactly!...this is My Dream House.  No, really, it is.

A Hell-Of-A-Week...or...There Are Fish in Our Ditch

It's been a Hell-Of-A-Week...

Joe just got his stitches removed yesterday, and was given a little rubber ball and a wad of silly putty to be used for 'therapy', to get his gripping strength back in shape before he goes back to work and hits 10 hour days with a  welding gun in his hand (ow).  The purple writing is all courtesy of the Doctor, who very carefully marked all three fingers to be done, then drew arrows on the palm at what appears to be the area for incision, and then adds-- with a flair-- his initials at the bottom of it all.  Ta-da!!!




This is Joe's-Hand, the day of the surgery, stitches & all. 

Night before last I was hit, unexpectedly and very rudely I might add, with a terrific bout of "Internal Issues".  Suffice it to say that I was rolling on the floor at one point, while Joe-- my loving and ever thoughtful and caring husband-- kept asking me, "Are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital, honey?"  At that point, honestly, I could not have gotten up to get to a hospital on my own steam-- I actually needed help just getting to the bathroom and back.

It progressed through the night to a point that was actually alarming, so much so, that I wound up making an impromptu ER visit the next morning.

"What do you think could've brought this on?", I was asked by the Medical People. (Actually, for the several hundred to a thousand dollars that this ER visit will probably cost, I was sort of hoping that they could tell me.)

Let's see...the possibilities could be:

1)  that narley ice-cream cone that I ate at McDonald's the day before-- it Didn't-Look-Right; I almost handed it back.  I even mentioned this fact to my daughter, who was with me.  I jokingly said, "I might regret eating this." (I'm psychic, remember, she says with a wink-- so why don't I listen to myself?)

2)  St. John's Wort-- which I just started re-taking 2 days before the onslaught of "Internal Issues".  We actually googled this and there is a syndrome, called Serotonin Syndrome, which is linked to taking this herb in combination with other medications, or taking too much at one time (she says guiltily, the extra 3 pills glaring at her from the dark recesses of her memory).  And I have to say, though I'm not a Doctor, that my symptoms and this syndrome were right on cue.  I have thrown the bottle away, and from now on, I will now be an advocate for tightening up access to "Herbal Remedies"-- Hey, peoples, these 'herbs' are drugs, they may be 'natural', but they're still chemicals that need to be handled with caution!!

3)  For months I've been bothered with severe pain in my lower left abdomen, even had a Cat Scan done, which revealed "nothing".  My body, and the sharp shooting pain, has kept telling me There's-Something-Wrong-Here, but the highly modern and technological cat scan says that everything is "OK".  Everything is not okay, believe me, technology or not, you know when something is wrong with your body.  This is where the severe pain stemmed from, and it shot straight across my lower tummy, laughing at me all the way.

Okay, so the Medical People get this all down.  Doctor comes back in and wants to do another Cat Scan, at $4000.00 a pop, no less.  I had already explained that this was recently done, and I had my own copy, and he could look it up and view it since it was done at this facility.  (Yes, I declined.)

Then I said, "This hospital is already suing us for a back bill."

Holy crap.  They had me up and out of there faster than you can say "witch-on-a-broom".

"Okay, we'll just treat the symptoms." Doctor says, slightly red-faced and rushed.

Yes, I felt better when I left-- they had rehydrated me, given me a pain killer, and some anti-inflammatory medication.  But remember, oh--I didn't tell you, colon cancer runs in my family, but, oh well.  What the hell-- get her outa' here. (This is the energy I felt.)

I won't name this facility, but you know where we live, so you can google it.  And from now on, I think we'll listen to the advice we've been given by oodles & oodles of people-- Bypass this facility and go into Omaha for medical treatment.

There is a humorous turn about this story-- You know the little paper armbands with your name & DOB on it, the one they use to identify you, and the one they use to scan every single item they use or bring you in order to charge you for it?  Mine didn't work.

Nurse Gena, who was a sweetheart by the way, tries to scan the meds she's giving me.  "Hmmm, this is odd.", she says. She calls over the phone, "Bring me another scanner, this one isn't working." 

In minutes, a new scanner is delivered to the room.  It doesn't work.  "Hmmm, this is really odd.", Nurse Gena says again.  Over the phone once more, "Can you print me off another wrist band, this one isn't working."

Within minutes, I have another wrist band on my other arm.

The scanners don't work on this one either.  "Now this is really, really *Weird*!", Nurse Gena says with emphasis.  She laughs, and looking down at me she says, "You must be a ghost!"

I look up at her, laughing, and say, "It must be Witchcraft!"

She hasn't got a clue.

My Witchy Room

Spells & Stuff...I love receiving emails and messages from people who are interested in Witchcraft and the whole Pagan scene.  But I have to tell you, I cringe when I start an email that says, "I need your help..."  And it goes on for several paragraphs, in-depth, about their personal issues.  They want me to come up with some sort of magickal spell, on the spur of the moment, and apparently with no compensation for time spent working on the project. 

I tell you peoples, if money were no issue, and I had all the time in the world to sit around and write up spells for people, I would be in seventh heaven.  But that is not the case.  Money is tight here, just as it is for many families, and if I'm going to spend time researching your particular situation, hovering over spell books, typing out all the info, and keeping in touch if you have Any-Other-Questions, I'm going to have to be paid for my effort.

Please note-- there are oodles of Free-Spells at my blog, just follow the links; and also, you can search my blog, Magickal Connections, for blog posts on a variety of magickal subjects.  You could also buy my books-- Ahem!

If  none of the above suit you, and you still want me to help you put together a spell tailored just for you and your specific issues, I offer Spell Consultations at my website.  (No, they're not free.)

I know this is my Personal-Blog-Spot-For-Personal-Stuff, but I've just been inundated with requests; and I may wind up posting this section of this blog at my Other Blog and elsewhere.  (In the couple days I've been sick, my email has been deluged with 600 pieces of correspondence coming through for all kinds of things, including requests like this-- this is why I usually manage my email Every Day to keep up with it.)





Our Backyard Garden
 

I'm going to wind up this blog post with a weather report, because we can all relate to the weather.

It's rainy here, we've gotten so much rain that I looked out the bedroom window this morning to see that the ditch was flooded to the point it was ready to run over into the road.  I love rain.  Love it, love it, love it.  But once in a while, it's true, you can have too much of a good thing.  It can stop now, preferably before we get water in the basement.

The photo above is Our Backyard Garden, as the caption says, complete with a cool spider web and sun rays-- you can almost hear the Angel's Choir.  You'll find fairies in this garden, though, and maybe a gnome or two.  :)