Tag Archives: #pagan

Moon Matters 1.7 May Full Moon Edition

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Sharing what I’ve been doing and learning – from my heart to yours

Welcome to Moon Matters, my Moonbeams…
As I’ve been watching the waxing of the big golden coin in the sky this past fortnight, I’ve been thinking a lot about debt. Debts of all kinds. Fiscal. Temporal. Spiritual. Tangible. We are all, in some way, in debt – even if we don’t owe a dollar to anyone.
How we acquire debt is one thing. How we repay debt is another. Yet they are two sides of the same coin.
I am indebted to you, my Moonbeams, for your support of my journey as an author and in so many areas of my life over the years. I hope to repay you, in some way, with interest.

The Moon Knows

I have completed the Playlist of Song Chapters for Book One: Intention and will be reshuffling the Spotify playlist in the next couple of days to put all the songs in order. Now to entitle the chapters of Book Two: Activation. Hope you have an adventurous musical palate – some songs will be familiar, others new.

I’ve been formatting Book One for ebook/Kindle and finalizing the cover art. I hope to finish formatting over the weekend – because my deadline is June 21 to submit it to Amazon. Earlier if possible. I’m not sure how long their approval/upload process takes, but I will be facing the wrath of a very angry God if I miss my deadline. I will honor the debt that spurred the genesis of this revelation – that I have written and published a novel. Bucket List – check.

Watch my BTVM and personal social feeds (be my friend!) for updates – as soon as Beneath The Visiting Moon is available for sale on Amazon. Here’s this week’s question: What are you willing to pay for an ebook? 5.99? $9.99? Let me know.

Want to read Chapters One and Two? Here you go – Click here!

MoonShine

Read a phenomenal article on Organizational Debt – which can be extrapolated to apply to more than the workplace. It speaks to the perils of the “Just Get It Done” mindset, which usually can navigate its way around the big rocks seen on the road ahead but doesn’t account for the less obvious, subliminal, or unintended problems that are just out of sight around the bend of time.

This concept can also apply to the rules and restrictions we place on ourselves and others – we respond to a one-off aberration by making a personal or family rule, creating a routine to circumvent another recurrence of said aberration, or restricting interaction or behavior. We can also blindly follow our self-imposed rules, guidelines, habits, or behavior, without wondering why things are being done in the way they are done. Here’s a story (not mine) that captures this, and I challenge myself and you to think about your day-to-day with an eye to identifying organizational debt.

A newly married person called their sibling to get some advice on how to cook their first pot roast. Their sibling provided all the instructions based on what “Mom used to do,” – including cutting a few inches off the end of the uncooked roast. The new chef did so and served up a lovely roast dinner. They continued to prepare the roast the same way for years – following all the steps, including cutting the roast into two pieces. That was “the way” to cook a pot roast. Their mother came over for dinner one Sunday and happened to be in the kitchen as the roast was being seasoned and prepared for the roaster. “Why do you cut the roast into two pieces,” she asked. Their child replied, “but Sibling said that’s how you prepared your roasts, so that’s how they, and now I do it – just like you.” The mother replied, “I only cut it into two because my pan was too small, and I needed to make the roast fit. Why are you cutting it when it fits in your pan with room to spare?”

And the lesson was learned.

MoonShadow

Why does my “Today-Self” do things that my “Future-Self” is going to regret? I’m trying to recognize the internal balance sheet of credits and debits that I am continually tallying up when I do something out of expediency rather than investing in doing it in a way that creates a better tomorrow for myself. What is the long-term impact of my action?

The old adage, “There’s no time to do it right, but there’s always time to do it twice. Whether it’s hanging up my clean laundry as soon as it’s done so it doesn’t wrinkle versus leaving it in the basket an extra day or two (so now I may have to iron – who does that anymore, anyway?) Sticking a dirty pot in the sink without rinsing it, then complaining about the time it takes to clean it tomorrow. Procrastination is the devil’s loan shark.

MoonDance

Something a bit more melancholy, as befitting the deep dive I am doing these days. Life circumstances are forcing me to confront fears, hopes, dreams, grief, joy, and spend some time in both the broken and scarred places. So finding a Bulgarian Girls Choir that interprets pop and rock hits was like finding a forgotten gift card in an old birthday card. Their half-speed minor key versions of Radiohead’s Creep, REM’s The One I Love, and my pick for the playlist, U2’s With or Without You speak to that slight dark, slightly sad, quiet place deep inside where the dusty shelves of unbalanced personal ledgers reside, waiting to be audited by the Great Accountant of my Soul. Likely for Book 3, but here it is in advance of its chapter placement.

MoonLight

Judgment- Tarot de Marseille

Here’s some insight into my process for writing Moon Matters. I start by just writing about what I’ve felt, observed, or learned in this lunar cycle and see where it goes. I pick the song for MoonDance mindfully. But for the Moonlight section, I shuffle my trusty TdeM deck and start turning over cards until I get to one of the Higher Arcana cards I have not used yet. Once again, the Oracle speaks to Alignment. Presenting the Judgement Card.

Depicting the Resurrection at the End of All Things, we emerge from our graves whole perfect and complete. Our debts are paid, our sins are forgiven, and our life is restored. We are summoned to wakefulness by the trumpet blast of our Holy Guardian Angel, that energetic intermediary between us and whatever Source or Creator we acknowledge as the foundation of all things – could be “god/goddess/science/random chance/alien science project” – whatever works for us. We are called to begin again, do better, try harder, to live in peace with all beings.

This card marks the end of a phase, a cycle – everything you know has come to an end and everything will now change. Will you change to meet the challenges of a new dawn, a new day, a new life?

What if we started looking at more situations* in our lives through the filter of “debt paid” – no more shame or guilt. Acknowledge we did our best, did what we could, and now, we can begin again. What if we let others off the hook for old emotional debt? What if we gave more people or situations the benefit of a clean slate? It would change us – and them.

“I release the past, and let the healing power of love into my life.”

*(not applicable to all situations, I get that – don’t go getting all absolutist and literal one me, friends. Remember, I’m the one that doesn’t believe in forgiveness as a concept and thinks that selfishness is a virtue, being somewhat of a moderate objectivist)

MoonCraft

Not a spell or a practice this fortnight, but a poem, not quite a litany, written tonight, just for you.

We are, I am, the sum of many parts.
Intangible debts to people, places, opportunities – I thank you all.
You taught me.
Immeasurable debts to family, friends, spiritual brethren – I love you all.
You sustain me.
We are, I am, the sum of many hearts.
Double-helix DNA encoded from my Ancestors – I honor you all.
You made me.
Longship fjords, stone circles, heather highlands – I remember you all.
You ground me.
We are, I am, the sum of many arts.
The Muses, The Graces, Spirits d’Artes Magickal – I honor you all.
You inspire me.
The Craft of the Wise, the crafts of the cottage – I practice you all.
You connect me.
We are, I am, the sum of many starts.
Cradle to grave, milestones of movement and mind – I experience you all.
You measure me.
Ways to work, play, and change the world – I explore you all.
You challenge me.
We are, I am,
The sum
Many parts.
You. Me.
We.

That’s all for this time, my Moonbeams.

That’s all for this time. Expect your next love letter around the time of the next New Moon. And remember to bounce your love of the moon to those you hold dear in your heart – it will reach them! We all sleep under the same sky.

Sending my love out to you…

MoonLove: You’re invited to find and follow me on all the social channels! Hope to see you there – and to hear from you!

And if you are reading this on the web, sign up to get Moon Matters in your inbox every Full and New Moon. Share with someone of like mind who might want to be a Moonbeam too!

Moon Matters 1.6 May New Moon Edition

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Sharing what I’ve been doing and learning – from my heart to yours

Welcome to Moon Matters, my Moonbeams…

It is good to walk with you for a while under the dark night sky.

Nighttime is when it is easiest to tell our secrets, share our stories, and see things just a little bit differently than in the bright glare of daylight. Mystery and magic can be found in the night when things are not always what they seem.

And as always, you reflect the light back to me to light my way…

The Moon Knows

Exciting times. I’m now registered with Amazon as a vendor, complete with US tax paperwork, have almost finished finding all the song snippets for the Chapter titles, and will next be starting the process of formatting Book One: Intention for Amazon’s Kindle formatting, including a few last edits to the cover art. 

Here’s this week’s question – Do I have a launch party (Virtual, of course.) If I do, what would you like to see? Let me know!

Want to read Chapters One and Two? Here you go – Click here!

MoonShine

Green grass. Tulips. Leaves on trees. Smelling the wet earth as it wakes up. Hearing, then seeing the first Motorcycle of Spring (It was a Harley – a good omen.) Planting our seedlings in our garden beds and our greenhouses. Being able to sit outside without having to wear shoes or a sweater.

It’s almost June, it feels like April, but I’ll take it over February any time. I’m very much enjoying seeing the world recover from winter’s grim greyness, and I hope you find inspiration in the natural world. Go to a Park, walk along a river, or find a trail in the trees – even if you need a rain slicker or umbrella. Get outside – on your porch or balcony or deck or back yard.

Let nature restore you. (I’ll be in my screen gazebo in the backyard.) 

MoonShadow

What self-imposed rule or law do I believe in so strongly that I won’t let it go, even though it is causing me harm?

We all have our own personal inviolate second amendment, that emotional third rail of belief that we must not touch, lest everything falls apart. We have them as individuals, we have them as families and collectives, and we have them as nations. 

Best case scenario, we only harm ourselves. Worst case scenario, we sacrifice others for the orthodoxy of our beliefs. We cut ourselves on the sharp edges of our broken belief systems, our toxic traditions. 

Challenge the words “Must” and “Should” and “Always.” The “Moonlight” section below might help.

MoonDance

It has been challenging to find joy, even in music, given the mounting despair of recent events – mass murder, war, famine, and more. We humans are unbelievably cruel to one another, and that cruelty can only be mitigated by being even more kind.

During this cycle, I’ve found myself taking refuge in music that inspires me to be better, do better. Number One on that playlist is Ages and Ages’ incredible live version of “Divisionary (Do the Right Thing).” You need to experience the vibe this communal performance creates as it inspires us to do the right thing – all the time, and at the same time, to not let our spirits be broken or taken advantage of. 

A band and its circle of friends affirm a universal truth. Please Press Play.

MoonLight

Temperance – Tarot de Marseille

Change your perspective, change your understanding. Change your understanding, change your thinking. Change your thinking, change your life.

We all need to shake things up from time to time, step back, step away, and cut ourselves some slack to gain a new perspective on the world and how we move through it. Stephen Covey calls it “Sharpening the Saw.” Everyone’s method of gaining insight and enlightenment is up to them to discover and empower. 

Here’s something that might help you slow the hamster wheel of life. Embrace some slack.

MoonCraft

This ancient prayer from the Jewish Tradition comes from a contemporary translation of a collection of sacred writings, the Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Patriarchs). Some of us use it as a prayer, a mantra, a mediation, a statement of acceptance that action trumps passivity and fuels change. 

We are here to do, and through doing to learn.
And through learning to grow.
And through growing, we experience wonder.
And from wonder, we attain wisdom.
And from wisdom, we find simplicity.
And through simplicity, we give attention.
And through attention, we see what needs to be done.
We are here, to do. 

That’s all for this time, my Moonbeams.

That’s all for this time. Expect your next love letter around the time of the next Full Moon. And remember to bounce your love of the moon to those you hold dear in your heart – it will reach them! We all sleep under the same sky.

Sending my love out to you …

MoonLove: You’re invited to find and follow me on all the social channels! Hope to see you there – and to hear from you!

And if you are reading this on the web, sign up to get Moon Matters in your inbox every Full and New Moon.

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Moon Matters 1.5 May Full Moon Edition

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Sharing what I’ve been doing and learning – from my heart to yours

Welcome to Moon Matters, my Moonbeams…
From where you are, were you able to see the May 15 Lunar Eclipse? 
I often think about how our ancient ancestors experienced a lunar or solar eclipse. The dependable, regularly scheduled light in the sky gets eaten by an invisible dragon. The world goes dark. Then the dragon spits the sun or moon out, and the light returns. Order is restored, fear vanquished. Life goes on.
Who or what steals your light? What can you do to keep the inner and outer dragons at bay? How brightly can you shine, so they spit your fiery power out to light your way? How do you celebrate the return of your light? Let’s explore all this and more…

The Moon Knows

I have cover art to show you. And I’m proud to say that I did it myself, with the help of Canva (unpaid endorsement). To those of you who are with me on the various social media platforms, the look will not be a surprise. Needs a bit of work, still.
Here’s my question: Would it entice you to pick up the book from a bookshelf, or book table or pick it out of a row of books online? 

PS: I’m over 15K words into Book 3. 
Want to read Chapters One and Two? Here you go – Click here!

MoonShine

This moon phase, I’ve been inspired by those who speak their truth. I recently had someone I respect and care for share their truth, unexpectedly and at some cost to themselves. We all are raised to tell the truth and not to lie, but our social contract and social conditioning often reward prevarication and qualified honesty over plain-speaking and forthrightness. 


I appreciate it when I am told, with kindness and love, some hard or challenging truth. Without honest feedback, how can we grow? Properly delivered, honesty doesn’t dim our light. It helps us shine brighter because it makes us better.


Some people use “truth” as a weapon, confusing their personal opinion with universal truth. They often follow up a cutting statement with “Just Kidding,” – but they mean what they say, at some level. They don’t realize that we’re on to their manipulative verbal game. They give themselves away, and we are the better for it – because by revealing who they are, we can then choose to limit our interaction with bullies.


May your light shine undimmed, and may you live in a bully-free zone. As I learned at the Firewalk event that I participated in many years ago, “Speak your truth and speak it kindly.”

MoonShadow

Has time been moving faster for you too? Suddenly, it’s Monday morning, then I take a breath and blink my eyes, and it’s Friday afternoon. Sip some water, maybe eat an apple, and the weekend’s over. How did it get to be mid-May already? Where does the time go? Hours, days, weeks, months, quarters, years… everything seems to be speeding up. The 24-hour news cycle doesn’t help.


So here’s what I’ve been asking myself. Am I investing my time in doing the things that give me joy, feed my soul, and make my light burn more brightly? Will I have time to get everything done that I want to do before… my light no longer shines? (not being morbid, just practical.) When I think about the projects I want to accomplish, the books I have yet to read (and write), and the wool I have yet to knit – how can I focus myself to make better use of my time?

It’s been on my mind more lately, and I’m making some different decisions about where I invest my time. I hope to have a productive, satisfying summer. It will be up to me to make it so. 

MoonDance

At my second ever Folk Festival, this man saved my life. 

Martyn Joseph‘s delicately-crafted folk songs of love, pain, loss, longing, triumph, hope, faith, and affirmation were like balm to my broken spirit. I’m so grateful for him and his music and have had the opportunity to tell him in person how much his music and presence as a man of faith have meant to me.

He does good works quietly with little fanfare and then writes songs like this: Still A Lot of Love Around Here. He is a beacon of hope in a dimly lit world.  

MoonLight

The Hermit – Tarot de Marseille

I believe that the Hermit is misunderstood. He’s not running away from the world, he’s just protecting his Light. He knows when to step away from village life to take time to learn, and if a worthy student or two can find him. He is not hiding or hibernating; he is “reclaiming his time.”

In the wise words of Yung Pueblo:
Saying no is a sign of progress.
Saying no is a sign of commitment.
Saying no is a sign of empowerment.
Saying no can help you fulfill your goals.
Saying no can support your mental health.
Saying no can bring you to the right people.

I’d add, and sometimes that right person is yourself. That’s what I’m learning. 

MoonCraft

I’ve recently rediscovered a powerful magical tool that is helping me keep track of those elusive little moments that either run through my fingers like beach sand, leaving me holding not enough time, or puff themself up like balloons to make me think I have more time than I actually have. 


It’s a timer. Sometimes the one on my phone – sometimes the Pomodoro timer built into my Chrome browser, sometimes it’s my Llamalife program that helps me prioritize and stay on track. I’ve been consciously applying it with increasing frequency, and I find it helps me switch tasks, refocus, and measure my productivity. 

Even when doing fun stuff, like knitting or writing – setting a timer helps me remember that it’s time to stop, switch focus, or take a break – all so important to remain focused and productive. 


For all that it sounds so mundane, it is having a transformative impact on my world, and isn’t that what magic really is all about? 

That’s all for this time, my Moonbeams.

That’s all for this time. Expect your next love letter around the time of the next New Moon. And remember to bounce your love of the moon to those you hold dear in your heart – it will reach them! We all sleep under the same sky.

Sending my love out to you …

MoonLove: You’re invited to find and follow me on all the social channels! Hope to see you there – and to hear from you!

And if you are reading this on the web, sign up to get Moon Matters in your inbox every Full and New Moon.

Moon Matters 1.4 April New Moon Edition

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Sharing what I’ve been doing and learning – from my heart to yours

Welcome to the April New Moon edition of Moon Matters, my Moonbeams…
I’ve been thinking a lot about the concepts of “old” and “new” this cycle. How things change and how they stay the same. How do I react to “the new,” and what are the patterns that repeat – sometimes for my highest good – sometimes to my detriment. 
When sincerely asked, “What’s new with you?” isn’t a casual question, yet the next question is rarely “and what hasn’t changed?” We can be challenged to find the light in both. So as the lunar light returns, meditate on what’s new and what hasn’t changed. Let me know what you discover as you reflect the light back to me to light my way…

The Moon Knows

Here’s what’s new – I’m within a few hundred words of finishing Book Two: Activation and my editor has already started poking at it. Looking for a couple more beta readers willing to read both books, if anyone’s interested, to provide feedback (not editing) to ensure the story has stayed on track.
Here’s what’s the same – Still no confirmed decision on the cover art. Starting to think that my original “temporary” cover design is the one that wants to be chosen. Who I am to disagree with the path of least resistance? 
Next step – ebook formatting of the final edited draft of Book One: Intention. It may not be a Beltane Book Launch Party, but it HAS TO happen before the first anniversary of my Summer Solstice Dream that started this whole adventure in storytelling.

Want to read Chapters One and Two? Here you go – Click here!

I was recently asked if I would be doing a live (online) reading of a chapter or two. Is that something anyone might be interested in? Let me know, and I’ll give it more thought. 

MoonShine

I have always loved poetry, but not all poetry. Sacred poetry, mostly, and on the shorter side – not so much the big epic poetic stories (unless it’s the Eddas or Upanishads, but please, spare me from “the Highwayman came riding… “ballad-type poetry). Nothing longer than a Shakespearean sonnet. Rumi is at the top of the list, followed by Hafez, and the few rare gems I have seen by the illusive Lekshe Tamang have been priceless treasures.  I have found a new voice whose carefully crafted turns of phrase (without rhyme or meter) open my heart – challenge my head – stir my soul.  

Have you read Yung Pueblo? A brilliant and contemporary voice whose personal meditative practice is the wellspring of his inspired and concise poetic offerings. Two books of poems and a non-fiction book coming in Oct. (on my birthday, no less). He is the polar opposite of another current favorite of mine, Rupi Kaur. But I digress. I’ll use one of his poems in the MoonLight section below. 

MoonShadow

I once received some sage advice from a true Sage to “look at the patterns that repeat in your life, and learn from them.” I’ve been paying attention to how I react when presented with a new <fill in the blank> in all areas of my life. My initial reaction to change is – and this is true for all of us – often rooted in a dangerous cocktail of comfort, familiarity, and trauma. We hold on to what we know to stay safe, to protect ourselves from unknown dangers, to be “right” – because this is the way it’s always been. 

I’ve been consciously trying to mitigate how I approach that initial response, pause for a breath and examine what emotion I am feeling, and then challenge myself to open to “the new” in a different way. I’m just at the beginning of this practice, so I have no progress to report or profound insights to share. Except one. Since I’ve started this organic shift, I’ve encountered a half dozen blog posts and articles in my subscribed reading, all speaking to the same topic. I’ve caught a case of the zeitgeist, it seems.

MoonDance

I haven’t had this much fun making a mixtape since high school. Okay. Call it a Playlist. Curating book chapter themes to Song Lyrics – and using the song title as the Chapter Title. A lot of thought goes into the songs that we (cuz i haz helperz) select – the lyrics have to contribute something to the overall theme or dominant emotion of the text it is assigned to. So much good music – so many great songs – so much fun. Like picking music for Retreat. “And Now We Dance” (that’s for you, Charlene).

This edition, check out “Who is She” by Qveen Herby. It’s a rousing little electro-pop ditty that captures the energy of seeing someone new in a familiar place in an unexpected way. It’s an earworm. You’ve been warned. 

MoonLight

Temperance – Tarot de Marseille

The Temperance Card – Wings Up – wanting to move your forward. Looking back  – to the familiar past. Balance may be desired and is the job for TODAY, but it requires the commitment of ongoing hard work and focus. Are you able to manage the flow of your emotions from extreme to extreme? How much do you spill? The cups are never full, never empty as your feelings slosh around. You messy human. Can you get the job done?

From “clarity & connection” by yung pueblo

ask yourself
is this how I actually feel, or
is this my emotional history
trying to recreate the past? 

MoonCraft

Some questions to help you reflect on all things old and new.  

  • What is the oldest thing that you own that you really should throw away? (stolen from the Colbert Questionaire).

  • What’s the newest thing you bought or acquired that no longer “sparks joy” (and don’t get me started on Marie Kondo, but I do like the phrase.) 

  • With whom is your oldest friendship, which is still active and a part of your regular social life (that thing we did before Covid?)

  • Of all the people you met/encountered/learned about in the past year, who is your favorite new person? (you don’t have to tell anyone)

  • What old habitual behavior no longer serves you? Why are you still doing it? 

  • What new habit do you hope to acquire? What’s stopping you? 

That’s all for this time, my Moonbeams.

That’s all for this time. Expect your next love letter around the time of the next Full Moon. And remember to bounce your love of the moon to those you hold dear in your heart – it will reach them! We all sleep under the same sky.

Sending my love out to you …

MoonLove: You’re invited to find and follow me on all the social channels! Hope to see you there – and to hear from you!

And if you are reading this on the web, sign up to get Moon Matters in your inbox every Full and New Moon.

7 Facts About Our Heroine

Who is this woman, that finds herself suddenly at the crossroads of Compassion and Magic, just because she wanted a quiet cup of coffee? Here are a few insights into the heroine of Beneath the Visiting Moon. I’ll do my best to not give away too much of the plot.

Our Heroine – Writer – Witch – Widow – Wonderer
  • She has known great love, and great loss. As have so many of us.
  • She is one of 7 children, in a many faceted, blended family from various parenting combinations – and they dont’ measure love using “steps” or “halves”. Family is Family. and for the record, Love is love is love.
  • Loves animals – so why doesn’t she have a dog? a cat? a goldfish?
  • Raised Pagan, embraced Wicca, trained to be old-school but embraces a more inclusive approach to faith and practice.
  • Has loved who she has loved, without shame or guilt, and regardless of the container that the soul has come in. To quote a wise man, #letloverule.
  • Most importantly, is definitely NOT looking for a serious (or any) form of relationship, as our story begins.
  • Reads voraciously. Writes almost compusively. Loves music. Loves dancing. Loves people – but spends so much time alone. Why?

So there you go. A wee bit of insight into the heart, mind, and spirit of our leading lady. Read the book. Get to know her. She might have a little bit of you in her somewhere.

Moon Matters 1.3 April Full Moon Edition

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Sharing what I’ve been doing and learning – from my heart to yours

Welcome to Moon Matters, my Moonbeams… You reflect the light back to me to light my way…

The chill of winter has been slowly fading, and our thoughts and hearts turn to the hopes and promises of spring. I hope you are warm, dry, and well in this season of melting and mud puddles, diminishing snowbanks, and increasingly long days.

My 2-inch tall seedlings and I are perturbed by the recent arrival of a mid-spring snowstorm that dumped its white beauty on us this week. I was hoping to move them from the pop-up hothouse to the greenhouse to hardy them for planting in their proper places, but transplantation is now delayed. Feels like mine has been too, but I’m resolutely climbing out of my winter doldrums.

Makes me wonder where my growth is held back by forces beyond my control and what I do to keep hope alive when faced with immovable but transitory obstacles. The seasons change, and so do I. As do you. No need to wonder why. It’s the natural order of things. I hope you plant the best seeds for a full harvest in the future.

The Moon Knows

I’ve been writing (a lot) and rewriting (even more) and have been working with my editor to find all the open loops to make sure I close them in Books 2 and 3. I have not been as focused on the cover art for Book 1 as I should because – bandwidth. I can show you what has been proposed, which neither the designer nor I like – but at least it’s the start of a concept. Or maybe I just go with the design I’ve been using on the website and social media and have it polished up by my super-talented design resource. Love to hear your thoughts. 

Want to read Chapters One and Two? Here you go – Click here!

MoonShine

During this moon phase, I’ve been inspired by the magic of dormant potential. We planted tomatoes, peppers, sunflowers, zinnias, bee balm, cosmos, herbs, asters, portulaca, milkweed, poppies, etc. Every seed is differently shaped and will produce exactly what the label says. “As Advertised.” Some will produce edible fruit for humans; some flowers will feed bees and butterflies; some were chosen for their sheer beauty.

Our potential is like these diverse seeds. So many ideas and possibilities – and what we nourish will flourish. Ideas will manifest into realities with the right conditions – warmth, light, soil, fertilizer, and protection from pests and predators. Everything starts with a seed of potential. Not all seeds sprout – and weeds come from seeds too.

So as l look to the harvest that will be my legacy, hopefully, many years from now (but you never know), what seeds have I sown, what seeds am I sowing now – and what am I nurturing to bring to their fruition, to manifest their true potential. What do I need to fertilize? What weeds do I need to pull? What do I want to grow this season, and how much energy am I willing to invest in nurturing these seeds to their full potential? 

So much to consider, this gardening of the soul. 

MoonShadow

A wise man once told me, “A rut is just a grave with the ends kicked out.” After two years of Pandemic Existence, it feels challenging to regroup and embrace “regular” social behavior. I’m still burdened with rampant anxiety going out in public, and I will likely wear a mask in crowds for a very long time. Went to a movie, in a theatre, with people. Starting to see friends. Daring to enjoy a restaurant meal (no cooking, no dishes – remember that?). I struggle with how risky this feels. Maybe you do too. But if I don’t climb out of my rut of near-agoraphobia, I won’t ever leave the house. And here comes Wave 6. Surf’s up – let’s go. Do what you need to do FOR YOURSELF to feel and stay safe – physically and mentally.

Recognize what is False Evidence Appearing Real and try to Face Everything and Rise. 

MoonDance

We’ve been having a BLAST picking songs to be the chapter titles for Beneath the Visiting Moon as we build out the Spotify playlist of the same name. From classics to current, old faves and new finds, selecting the right song that captures the essence of the story chapter by chapter is an adventure. Hope you are checking it out. Still a work in progress.
Because I know how the story ends, I’ve identified the perfect song for the last chapter of Book 3: Manifestation. It’s also in my list of the Top Ten Perfectly Produced Songs of All Time. Presenting “Be My Hero” by October Project. The original lineup only had two albums, both of which are hidden gems in my music collection.  

MoonLight

The Lovers – Surprise: It’s About Choice, not Romance – Tarot de Marseille

The Lovers is NOT about romantic love, even if we want it to be about happy relationships. It’s about choices and consequences. Every Choice leads us down a different path and shapes our destiny. Sigyn & Sam discover this as they explore how every Choice they made in life brought them together and how subsequent choices might tear them apart.
The Lovers Card is the answer to the million-dollar question, “How did I get here?” The answer is, at some level, you chose it. Sometimes a bitter pill to swallow. Sometimes a moment of self-congratulation. Sometimes, “meh.” 
May your choices be wise, even though you won’t ever know the ultimate impact that Choice at the crossroads will have on your life until you are “there” and can look back.
Be Gentle With Yourself.

MoonCraft

Time to plant a seed for positive change! 
Here’s one of my favorite personal development tools that I use to help me set a goal and keep it (like writing a certain number of words per day.) It helps me distill the reasons and benefits behind any new habit I want to adopt or an old habit I want to adapt. The Clearer Thinking Organization has a wealth of evidence-based tools for personal self-improvement (magic by its fancy sciencey-sounding name.) So check this out – and I’d love to know if you try it and it works as well for you as it has for me. My Spring goal is to improve my daily step count. 

Introducing The “Design Your Own Self-Experiment” tool. Give it a try. Plant a seed. 

That’s all for this time, my Moonbeams.

That’s all for this time, my Moonbeams. Expect your next love letter around the time of the next New Moon. And remember to bounce your love of the moon to those you hold dear in your heart – it will reach them! We all sleep under the same sky.

Sending my love out to you …

MoonLove: You’re invited to find and follow me on all the social channels! Hope to see you there – and to hear from you!

And if you are reading this on the web, sign up to get Moon Matters in your inbox every Full and New Moon.

Moon Matters 1.2 March New Moon Edition

Sign up to get Moon Matters “right on time” and in your inbox on the Full and New Moon!

Sharing what I’ve been doing and learning – from my heart to yours

Welcome to Moon Matters, my Moonbeams… You reflect the light back to me to light my way…

Mother Moon has transitioned from Full to New. Winter is doing its level best to transition into Spring. Our wardrobes transition from wooly layers to waterproof light jackets. We change our clocks, spring clean and change our environment, and transition.

We wake up from our winter hibernation. We start thinking about who we want to be as our summer selves – beach-goers, hike-takers, gardeners, festival fans – we feel a bit more optimistic and renewed. Even if a skiff of snow returns – it did here – this moon cycle promises more light, warmth, and life. We plant seeds – literally, metaphorically. 

Wishing you more of what you need to renew and have many joyous transitions this budding Spring.

The Moon Knows

An update on Beneath the Visiting Moon.
Things are moving slowly forward – trying to distill what the best cover design might be. Hope to have some samples for you to vote on in the next edition. A piece of significant jewelry features in the book and versions of it exist IRL, so a variation of that may become the focal point. Or it might be a corkscrew. (also an item of interest in the story.) We’ll know when we get it right, and you’ll get to help me decide.

Still working through the deep edit and a significant rewrite of Book 2, providing the building blocks and milestones for Book 3. The story continues to tell itself, and I just have to pay attention to the details to make sure the characters don’t start whispering lies in my ears and forget what they said or did in previous chapters. 

Once again, here’s the link to Book One: Chapter One in its entirety. Let me know when you’re ready for a sneak peek at Chapter 2. Thanks to everyone who sent some feedback. You might find me asking for permission to use them as quotes on the cover.

MoonShine

Refugees are people in transition. Pets are refugees too. I’ve always been inspired by all those organizations that are “Noun-Without-Borders” – Doctors Without Borders is the most well-known, but there are many – like Naturopaths, Teachers, Engineers, Chemists, Translators Without Borders, to name but a few. And as I have recently learned, learned, Veterinarians Without Borders,  

This last group has been working hard in Ukraine to help people evacuate with their animal companions or provide food and care for pets and livestock that must be abandoned or orphaned/made homeless by the ongoing illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Pets are part of our families, and it’s inspiring to see this and other animal-welfare organizations step up to help the pets and livestock in harm’s way.  

MoonShadow

A night of celebration can transition to disappointment in a matter of minutes. Years ago, I was very much involved with the local chapter of The Season for Non-Violence. I thought of all the good work that this organization does after watching two grown men behave badly at the Oscars this past Sunday night.

Even the most intelligent people can stand up and choose violence – with words or hands. Even famous people need to use their words carefully and not use the flat of their hands. All our heroes have feet of clay. Two wrongs don’t make it right. Apologies all around, I think, some restitution to charities dedicated to non-violence (WS), some community service to people suffering from auto-immune diseases (CR). This moment diminished the awareness of such significant wins by other actors who deserved the attention that this display of verbal cruelty and faux machismo violence stole from them. Shame. Shame. Shame.

Here’s to you, Ariana de Bose and Troy Kotsur – firsts like this should not go uncelebrated. Representation matters.

MoonDance

 It’s been a long cold lonely winter. Little Darlin, it feels like years since it’s been here…

George Harrison’s masterpiece, Here Comes the Sun, has been covered a lot, but I’ll happily take this cover version by Imaginary Future if I can’t have the original. 

We’re continuing to build the Beneath the Visiting Moon Playlist – which may give you clues as to the tone of some of the chapters. It’s great fun picking the songs, and putting them in “Chapter Order” – all things subject to change, of course. 

MoonLight

The Tower / Maison de Dieu – Tarot de Marseille

My favorite card in the deck – The Tower.

Sometimes we ignore the subtle signs the Universe sends us. We get tickled with the Cosmic Feather, then nudged more firmly by the Cosmic 2×4, and if all else fails, the Universal Cosmic Steamroller will knock us off our foundations and lay us out flat on our backs, where we are forced to take a breath and look at the world from a new perspective. 

May your transitions be as Feather-full as possible. 

MoonCraft

I have had the privilege of learning from some amazing teachers, and one of them was Siobhan (Shivon) Robinsong – who founded the Gettin’ Higher Choir. She offered some workshops on choral community singing, and I learned much more than just some great songs and how to sing them.  

One song that she taught us has been at the forefront of my brain for the past few weeks. We taught it at Full Circle Singing Nights and at Sacred Sound Sacred Power Retreats. It is more of a chant than a full song – and is open-ended, so you can add whatever noun you want at the end to complete the thought – the prayer – the blessing that it is. Say it to others. Say it to yourself. Unfortunately, I can’t find a recording of it, so the melody is yours to recreate at will.

In these restless times, I wish you peace. I wish you peace.
In these restless times,  I wish you love. I wish you love.
In these restless times, I wish you joy. I wish you joy.
In these restless times, I wish you…

That’s all for this time, my Moonbeams.

Expect your next love letter around the time of the next Full Moon. And remember to bounce your love of the moon to those you hold dear in your heart – it will reach them! We all sleep under the same sky.

Sending my love out to you… in these restless times.

MoonLove: You’re invited to find and follow me on all the social channels! Hope to see you there – and to hear from you!

And if you are reading this on the web, sign up to get Moon Matters in your inbox every Full and New Moon.

Moon Matters 1.1 March Full Moon Edition

Sign up to get Moon Matters “right on time” and in your inbox on the Full and New Moon!

Sharing what I’ve been doing and learning – from my heart to yours

Welcome to Moon Matters, my Moonbeams. It is a gift to see you and to be seen by you.

Why do I call you Moonbeams? Because you reflect the light back to me and light my way. Near, far, wherever you, when I need some light, I think of you and am very grateful for your support.

Life these days is a delicate balance of light and shadow. Days are getting longer. Some nights are clear; others are cloudy. It depends where we are. If you can, find the moon in the night and think about the things in your world that are clear and those that are cloudy. What will it take to push the clouds away – what strong wind of action, what gust of determination, will allow the Light to shine on you, in you, through you. More about this in our Mooncraft section.

The Moon Knows

What’s happening with Beneath the Visiting Moon?
I’ve applied for and received my ISBN number and am working with a brilliant local designer on a book cover. My plan is to publish Book One: Intention as an Amazon ebook as soon as it is ready. I was hoping to get things done by Spring Equinox, but it now looks like it may be a Beltane Book Launch.

Book Two: Activation is almost done and is undergoing deep editing. Book Three: Manifestation is outlined and underway.

Things are progressing, but I must admit that recent domestic and foreign political events have pulled my attention away from the creative journey, so things are taking a bit longer than anticipated to come together. All things in their appointed time.

MoonShine

I’ve been inspired by the courage I see in everyday people rising to the occasion during this moon phase. There have been so many acts of great kindness, generosity, tenacity, and courage. This quote by Brene Brown says it very well.

“I want to be in the arena. I want to be brave with my life. And when we make the choice to dare greatly, we sign up to get our asses kicked. We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can’t have both. Not at the same time.”

Brene Brown

Stay courageous, my friends. Do what you can.

MoonShadow

Writing is a solitary act. Sharing what we write makes us vulnerable. Since I started writing BtVM, I’ve been working through some unexpected personal shadows. I’ve been a published poet, essayist, reviewer, and journalist. I’ve spoken to hundreds of people at large public events. I’ve taught creative writing and sacred poetry classes.

I was terrified to put this story up for scrutiny, fearful of the backlash of jeers, negativity, and criticism. In the past decade, something had broken inside me, and writing this story – even if only 5 people read it- has been part of healing some very broken places inside me. I know that BtVM won’t be to everyone’s taste – and that’s just fine.

All this to say – if fear is holding you back – from doing anything that your heart desires – to create art, music, dance, poetry, writing, crafting, anything – where you feel you may face reprisal and criticism – trust me when I say this. FACE THE FEAR and DO IT ANYWAYS. Do it for yourself because you can. What other people think of you is none of your business.

MoonDance

How could I pick anything else for this first edition than the classic this segment is named after – Van Morrison’s Moondance. A lovely little jazz tune, perfect for dancing to, either by yourself or with someone special.

MoonLight

The Moon – Tarot de Marseilles

Always present, not always visible. When do you wax and wane?
Does the nighttime make you sleepy or reveal your inner wild child? How do you know?

Your face is hidden from me, Mother.
I cannot see Your light.
My weary heart is seeking rest 
In the perfect love and perfect trust you promise
to the Wyrd and Wyse.
If You are for me, Mother, then
You know what is yet to be.
My pain will pass. My heart will heal.
I'll trust the turning of the Wheel when
all shall be returned times three.
(SH 1994)

MoonCraft

This prayer was shared with me almost 30 years ago, and there is not a week that goes by that I don’t say it. It was written by the great metaphysician Connie Newton, and all she asks is that if you share it with others, her name remains attached to it to honor how it came to be through her own journey.

I am the Light.
The Light is within me.
The Light moves throughout me.
The Light surrounds me.
The Light protects me.
I am the Light.

That’s all for this time, my Moonbeams.

Expect your next love letter around the time of the next New Moon. And remember to bounce your love of the moon to those you hold dear in your heart – it will reach them! We all sleep under the same sky.

Sending my love out to you …

MoonLove: You’re invited to find and follow me on all the social channels! Hope to see you there – and to hear from you!

And if you are reading this on the web, sign up to get Moon Matters in your inbox every Full and New Moon.

The Self-Blessing

This meditation or prayer (or whatever you prefer to call it) can start your day or provide you with a moment of focus, to ground and center your energy in times of stress, grief, or anxiety. It affirms that we are all part of the Universe, connected to one another and that our senses are sacred. Consecrate yourself to live in alignment, see clearly, hear with discernment, etc.

“I am one with universal energy, for I am its creation.” 

Covered your eyes with your hands.

“It blesses my eyes, and I see clearly.”

Covered your ears.

“It blesses my ears and I hear with discernment.” 

Cover your lips.

“It blesses my mouth and I speak truth.” 

Open your arms, hands at hip height, palms outward.

“It blesses my hands and I do sacred work.” 

Cover your heart, left hand over right.

“It blesses my heart and I give… 

Lift your hands from your chest open-palmed, then return them to your chest, right over left] 

and receive love.” 

Lower your hands to place your palms at waist height, parallel to your feet.

“It blesses my feet and I move forward on my journey. 

 And so it is.” 

What Does All This Mean?

The Self-Blessing is firmly based on a Pagan spiritual view that starts with the belief that we are all one, part of a Universal creation, and that there is no separation between us and nature and each other. It doesn’t matter what name you use to call that Power or Presence into your life, or if you call it Science, or simply the shared journey as fellow travelers on this little blue marble in space.

To see clearly is to see all facts as presented, to see without bias or prejudice, to see the present, without living in the past or projecting into the future.

To hear with discernment is to cultivate open and active listening, to separate fact from fiction, and to hear the question behind the question.

Speaking truth acknowledges that there are some absolute truths in the Universe (like gravity) but that communication can be fraught with beliefs, errors, omissions, and implications that keep us from speaking our personal truth. This does not mean to imply that we “lie, ” far from it. We may have been denied the opportunity to give voice to our hopes, dreams, thoughts, fears, and opinions. We may have been silenced by culture or religion. We may have learned “more” about ourselves, or our interaction in the world, and our personal truth may have changed. As I learned in a Firewalk, “speak your truth and speak it kindly.”

All work is sacred. All workers are worthy of their wages. No matter what we do – from healing therapies to ditch-digging, from computer work to teaching, from art, music, writing to driving a bus – from paid work to hobbies done for joy – our hands do sacred work.

We give and receive love. This balance is crucial for our emotional health. Many of us find it easy to love and care for others but are more challenged to receive love and care for ourselves. As the memes keep telling us, “If you don’t love yourself, how can you love someone else.” But this goes beyond self-love, it is about the whole-hearted acceptance of love – body, mind, and spirit. This love and care need to come from more than one person – this is not romantic love but includes family, friendsand , all those with whom we interact. This can include romantic love, but healthy, loving platonic, and respectful relationships are key to achieving this sacred balance.

Finally, we move forward on our journey. We cannot stay in the past, nor can we imagine all the possibilities that the future will bring. We live in the present moment, preparing to step forward into the unknown of tomorrow, to achieve our goals, manifest our dreams, and savor every moment of this very fragile and transitory life.

You’ll Know When You Need To Use It

With or without its accompanying gestures, The Self-Blessing can empower the start of your day, and provide you with a moment of grounding and centering in times of stress. Say it aloud, in a whisper, or silently to calm you when tempers or tensions start to rise. Some couples use it before having “heavy” conversations as a way to align their energy. The Self-Blessing is also a powerful way to end your day, after a few moments of reflection on the energies you created and carried with you – and what you need to take forward into the next day.

The more you use it, the more deeply it will speak to you, and come to mind at times when you need its power to refocus you, restore you and rebalance you when you need it most.