#28

i love a good optical illusion. focus on the red dot and see the ring disappear

from reddit

#27

an image of Mabon - reresenting the autumn equinox time

The last 2 nights have been crystal clear, and perfect for viewing the full moon. I really don't sleep well at full moon - tossing and turning and dreaming vividly and repetitively all night. Mid way through last night I decided to get up, wake myself properly in order to change my headspace. And the stars were amazing! I saw shooting stars, or was it just my bleery-eyedness? It went minus 1 over night, and so this morning there was frost. Reminding me that winter is coming and not far off. I can't say I'm looking forward to it at all. Cold hurts. My bones and body ache. And I pull muscles doing the most ordinary of things. I am so happy I can escape the winter for a few months. That feels like pure decadence.

#24

WISHCASTING WEDNESDAY

over at jamie ridler studios each wednesday, jamie prompts us to

create a wish for ourselves. by publicly stating your wish and doing

so within a loving group circle like the one she has created, the wish

will hopefully become manifest.

yesterday's prompt is HOW DO YOU WISH TO BE LOVED

( sorry i'm a little late)

this question immediately created lots of ripples within my mind.

initially i think i want to be loved just for who i am, warts and all

by those dearest and closest.

i want it be to big and bold and shiny love as well as deep and

unconditional.

but then i stopped and thought about how i love. how i love the people

around me, how i show it, and then also about self love and i came to see

that my self love is lacking and really where i need to put the focus of my

wish towards.

my wish is to truly love myself. to see beyond all my flaws and to appreciate

all of me. i wish to love my self through engaging in a daily ritual where i

honour my physical, emotional, mental and spiritual parts.

#23

the moon is full today
i love the energy of the full moon - its so well, full of life.
last night as it approaches full i always hear a humming in the air.
the air feels so pregnant with everything.
i usually wake a lot through the night around full moon as well.

this month it's an aries full moon which means there is that energy
of fire and getting things done infusing it. i am no astrologer but i love reading
what the Moon Woman has to say.
she says
"this moon speaks to us of the power now in our own hands, to change the world
by changing ourselves...
..she points us towards pursuing our soul’s desires whilst freeing up those around us to do the same. She reminds us that we are all imbued with the potential of our own destiny from the moment we’re born, even before that, and now is the time to recognise that fact and truly accept that if our heart speaks it to us, then it speaks it for a purpose, and we are being called to play our small part in the greater whole....
...for when we live according to our soul path, we are stepping into the great flow of life, into the great tapestry of existence within which we can all weave our own unique threads. The more of us that can do this, the greater the impact upon the world around us."

so, let's greet this full moon with an open heart.lLet's open to being shown our true purpose and our own pathway and make the commitment to following that path, wherever it takes us.

#26

LE LIEU PERDU
near Bordeux

I have had the dream for the longest time now, to holiday in the country in France or Italy for a whole summer. Three months would be the absolute minimum time. I can picture it: it's old, renovated, large simple, has a huge garden, a swimming pool, and I don't want it for just me the whole time, I also want to be able to share it at different times with my loved ones - family and friends. I want to get to know the town and start to feel like a local. To travel slowly through the surrounding areas as well. Shop at the local markets and eat and drink things I've never had before. And even learn the language. Maybe I could write a book? Or a film script? Or paint? Or complete a photographic project? Or learn to cook like a chef? Or just relax, be still, do yoga, swim, meditate, breathe, enjoy and love every second spent there....this is the kind of place I have in mind............

More pics here and seen first at Trend Tablet.

#25

Christmas Consume Craziness has begun. Decorations are in the shops. People are sending out invites for parties and planning their November and Decembers, making sure every weekend is maximised, fitting in all necessary family friends & acquaintenances. I am guilty a little myself because I booked my flight home last week so I can have a Sydney family Christmas - but that shouldn't really count because c'mon I haven't been home for 15 months now and it really is easier to get a cheaper ticket if you buy earlier.

I have to admit that I think the Germans do the whole wintery Christmas thing a lot less cheesy than we do, and somehow the darkness and candles and introspection have actually more to do with the real reasons for Christmas and the Winter Solstice etc but even these guys get carried away with all THE STUFF that comes with this period.

The disgustingly huge variety of biscuits, chocolates and small sweet things these guys are meant to eat from now until after New Years is mind-boggling. And then they have the whole Advents Month and Niklaus....it just doesn't stop. It's gross and kind of sickening. There is just so much stuff produced just for Christmas.

Yesterday I found something interesting. Buy Nothing Day & Buy Nothing Christmas.  International Buy Nothing Day is November 27th, and well I know you know when it's Christmas. I will do it next month and I am going to discuss things about Christmas with my family . I've already broken it slightly by having a couple of teeny things collected during the year, and that might just be it.

I really love to spoil my nieces and this is the only hard part about it, but maybe there is a bigger more significant gift to give by not buying into the whole commercial side of things and instead celebrating and giving each other the gift of presence and authentic relationship and the experience of a shared spiritual ritual. Maybe our family can start a new family tradition - taking different aspects from Celtic, Christian, Wiccan, Buddhist, Advaita, Indigenous etc etc rituals and making it something beautiful and meaningful and personal - I am sure my nieces with their beautiful imagination and fresh way of thinking will also add something cool to the mix.

Looking forward to how it all pans out.......