Springtime!!!

Well, the snow is melting and the air is starting to get warmer and next weekend the time moves forward an hour. That must mean spring must be around the corner. Now, as much as I love winter with all the snow, I think I'm finally ready to put away the snowboots & heavy coats and bring out the rainboots & lighter coats. When out shopping this weeeknd past, the stores were all full of new spring merchandise, from lawnmowers, to backyard furniture and gardening supplies. I came home and weeded my old planters that were out during the winter and pulling out the old dead plant roots, to get them ready for when I get new plants this spring. I also did the same for my poor neglected indoor planters that used to house my herbs. I am very guilty of letting them go this winter as I was pre-occupied with other things.

So, in honour of the coming season, I changed up my gloomy old blog with a fresh new background. I'm not used to 3 column layouts and I had to adjust some of my widgets to accommodate this change. I searched the land of Google for something that was bright, colorful and pretty. Et Voila!! This is what I found. I like it, I can see little Pagan things in the little window (a hare, eggs, etc)

Big, Huge Apology

Ok, I just want to start off this with a huge apology for not blogging an the last few weeks. I'M SORRY!! I found a new job that has been keeping me busy & I've been exhausted when I get home. Also, if you already know, I'm a HUGE Robert Pattinson fan (Edward Cullen in the Twilight Saga) and I've been working on that blog, as well. I also started a local group here in my city.

I started a Halifax Black Hat Society and was ironing out the kinks to get started. I know a lot off Pagans who were getting annoyed with one of the other Pagan groups in town. Our group is a purely social thing. We meet for coffee, do craft swaps, Mystic movie nights and so on & so forth. There's nothing formal about it, no specific topics to discuss, we don't hold rituals, as there are a few groups who already do. We are just a bunch of like-minded witches who gather for some good times, wearing our Black Hats as we go along. We have a Facebook group if you would like to join, just email me at silverstar.row@gmail.com for an invite if you are in the HRM. Sorry, if you do not live in the city or within a few 100 kms, we can't accept you. Participation is encouraged, but not necessary for all of our activities.

So, yeah, as I mentioned above, I have a new job in a way cool salon. Back on New Year's I did a working on myself to find the right job for me. I wrote down what I was looking for in a job, my expectations of my employer, etc. One night, my mom called to let me know of a tip she had heard about a job at a beauty supply store (they sell only to hairstylists) so the next day I went with my resumes and dropped one off. The lady who was working gave me a tip about a busy salon downtown that was looking. So, I went there, too and dropped off a resume. I had an impromptu interview with the owner/manager and the job was perfect for me, exactly what I had written in my working. I started the job the next week. So, after working with the girls there for just a few weeks, I feel like I was always working there. I fit right in, there is no drama, no stress, just a cool relaxed feeling. I even converted my boss to the Twilight Saga...hee hee!!

I had a quiet Ostara this year, nothing really was done, except I planted some herbs in my new window box and I can see little shoots coming through. I was invited to go to a friend's place for a ritual, but I had my son with me that wknd and didn't know how he would be in a new place with new faces (he has autism) I also started to put out some springy things out onto my patio, whirly-gigs, a garden fairy. I just have to find where I put my patio lights when I brought them in.

Brightest of Blessings to you all
Rowan
)O(

Welcome Spring!!

Well, it's almost here. That time of year when the Earth wakes up from it's winter slumber to bring forth new life. It's also my 1 year anniversary blogging...Yay!! Time does fly by when you're having fun.

I've been busy lately, now that my cold is history, I've been out hitting the streets looking for work and I may have found the perfect job for me. It's in a cute little salon dwntwn, I can set my own hours (perfect for a single working mom as myself), the boss seems really cool and it's mucho busy. ☺

My little salt dough crafts that I made in my last posting are just waiting to be painted now. It took a bit to get them completely dry, and I haven't had the time to paint them yet. I know, I'm procrastinating, a nasty habit I picked up while unemployed. Can I use the Olympics as my excuse?? I was hooked on them as my Team Canada outdid themselves.

So, I haven't forgot all about my little blog, winter brought out the blahs in me and there really wasn't a whole lot to write about, but as I see the sun hanging around a bit longer each night, robins flying in the trees, hints of green in the grass, snow melted away,I will feel more inspired to blog more often.

Love & Light,
Rowan
)O(

Treasures from Michael's

I went out today with my friend, Lisa, to Michael's. I was like a kid in a candy store, looking at all the colored beads, what a way to lure you in a craft store, by putting all the pretty, sparkly things at the front. Looking at the beads I was reminded of when I used to make bracelets using my bead loom & seed beads. I haven't done that in a long time and I gave all my beads away to a friend of mine who makes & sells jewelry here in Halifax during the tourist season.

We continued on, looking down the aisles. They had some acrylic paints on sale so we picked up a few bottles each. I found a beautiful hinged box that would be perfect to hold Tarot cards or spell candles. It is unfinished, so I can paint whatever colors that inspire me. Lisa also bought some paint brushes, she's getting motivated to do some crafting now that she is participating in a Pagan craft swap on Facebook. We looked down all the aisles, sniffing the scented candles. I wanted to see of there was any candle making supplies, but I didn't see anything.

One aisle we went down held some very pleasant surprises for us. They have meditation CD's for sale for $3 each. I bought 3, Rains of Renewal, Relaxing Waters & Meditate in Nature. They're very peaceful, with soft music accompanying the nature sounds. They also carried body lotions, eye masks, pedicure sets, slippers, basically things you would need for a spa night with the girls. Who knew?? I also bought a mint body lotion that was $3. I can't wait to try it on my footsies after my bath tonight. ☺

Travelling down more aisles, I came across an herb garden to grow at home. It had Lavender, Thyme, & Oregano, the soil and a cute tin planter. I followed the directions when I came home and they are sitting on my window sill. I just hope I don't kill these, there may be still some hope for these thumbs of mine yet. Since I don't have a proper watering can, I may have to use the one that my son uses when he plays in his sandbox.

They had a lot of Valentine's things out, as well as for St Pat's and a couple of aisles for Easter (Ostara) Lisa bought a cute little Easter tree and a pkg of mini eggs to hang off it. I didn't get any Easter things, as I got a lot last year, but she got a few things for her altar. Time flew by as we shopped and soon it was time to eat & pick up my son from school.

I can't wait to go back to Michael's, there were some feathers there that I liked. I'm sure I can find some good uses for them...hee hee!!

Ostara

Ostara was this past weekend. To celebrate the Sabbat, I went out on Friday after work with my friend, Catt, where we had a lovely Chinese dinner at our favorite buffet. Over dinner, we "broke bread" together, shared a few laughs and made a cherry Coke float. I did like my fortune that was in my Fortune Cookie. It read, "You will receive praise for a job well done." I had just finished up my 1st week at my new job, so this sounded hopeful.

The next day, we went for a road trip to a beautiful place about an hour's drive from the city. The sun was shining, the air was cool (freezing when we were at her cottage). We walked around the little town, perusing shops. We went into a Pagan store, cleverly disguised as a souvnir shop where I purchased more crystals...as if I need anymore, but there was a deal, fill up a pouch for $5.99. I did with 7 beautiful new stones. I also bought a pretty shell that's big enought to hold some of my crystals or my smudge stick, I haven't yet decided. I saw a Faerie that I would like to someday get. Catt said it reminded her of me, as she was sitting on a pile of books reading. I also saw a small clear gazing ball (I won't use the term 'crystal' as it was probably made of glass). There was a Bluestone in the shop that came from Stonehenge. It was about 2', floating above a misty fog. Catt wanted me to touch it, but I chickened out. Bluestone freaks me out for some reason, whenever I touch it, a burning hot shoots up my arm and it's not a good feeling.

I took a lot of pictures that day of our drive back to the city, mostly of a beach where we were tempting the Gods to get our feet wet. Everytime a wave would come in, if it didn't reach our feet, we would heckle (ok, I heckled). A few times, we did have to run back a few feet as the waves came barreling onto the shore. It was great fun!! It was a great day to usher in the 1st full day of Spring.

I did set up my altar (see above) for the Sabbat. I had planned to do a solitary ritual, but the day's activities pooped me out. I had it all set up, ready to go, but I crashed and fell asleep. The next day, I planned to do it after my son went to bed, but I was thrown for a loop by my father. I have that story in another blog posting (see "I'm Back!!).

So, I guess that even though I didn't do a "proper" ritual, I did indeed celebrate Ostara. I spent it with my good friend, we had dinner, enjoyed the sunshine and welcomed Spring in our own unique way. That's all that matters, isn't it??