When it rains, it pours. Dammit.

So, let me start by saying that I will be SO glad when today is over so I can just go to bed and try again tomorrow.

From the beginning-
We had a great circle on Saturday morning. Really, it was fantastic. There were 13 people there (which is AMAZING!) and we had a wonderful time with a meditation that was a journey to Avalon. I had everybody work on "getting into the zone" while some pretty music played before the start of the meditation. During that time, I felt the desire to cast a circle, so I went for it. It was funny to tell people, when we were done, not to walk out unless they had me cut a door. Some of them were like, when did you cast a circle and others said something like ah yes, I thought I felt the wave of energy go over, around and through us. Afterwards, we sat and talked while eating cantaloupe and Cinnamon roles (YUMMY) and went over the schedule for the next few weeks. That afternoon, I had a birthday party/going away to tend to. The gal that is getting ready to leave is one of our circle members, and also the person that first started the circle we had in town before the one on base was formed. Needless to say, being around that many people and having to see one of my oldest friends here leave was emotionally, mentally and physically draining. I was more than happy to crawl into bed that night.... until 2am hit and I was awoken by a scream from my daughters room. Congrats mommy, your daughter has caught the stomach virus that has been going around! *sigh* From that point on, a "slept" (riiighhhtttt... more like laid there waiting for the next heave) next to my daughter as she got hit with the need to toss her cookies every hour. Sunday was spent in a sleep deprived, must take care of the kiddo state, Oh, did I mention that Stephen is sick also? Yeah, let's not forget that. So, I went to bed last night, hoping to get some sleep, which of course didn't happen. Jae slept so much during the day that she did a lot of tossing and turning during the night and wouldn't sleep unless I was with her. This morning, mercifully she was feeling better and wanted to go to school. As per the morning, before school routine, I brought the puppies in to feed them and noticed a cut on my boy Poe's leg. I figured that he and his sister got to playing too rough again, so I gave them their food and grabbed a piece of gauze to clean it up. When I went to apply the gauze I saw not a cut as originally thought, but a V shaped piece of skin in the area between his stomach and back leg (much like the web between our thumb and finger) had been completely torn and was just hanging there. For the second time in the past two days I was thankful I have a strong stomach. I was even more thankful that Stephen had just called me to say he was coming home to rest (rest. HA!). By this point however, I was exhausted, crying, and starting to hyperventilate because I just couldn't handle anymore.

SO, the husband got home and took Jae to school with my car as I wrapped my badly shaking and mangled dog in a blanket and took him out to the truck. Mercifully the vet it close and they were able to get him in and out in just over and hour. He was sent home with antibiotics and the cone of shame, which he only has to wear when I can't keep an eye on him or if he starts licking at his stitches.
Here is the inside of his leg, and it is identical on the other side...

You know, I was suppose to have this morning off to catch up on much needed sleep. So much for that idea. Right now, my biggest hope is that I can make it through the rest of the day in one piece and now that three hard things have come to pass, I'll be done with this madness.

Magic and Illness

There's a lot of opinion and a wide variety of sources that talk about magic and ritual workings while sick (Not sick as in a stuffy nose, but the need to stay in bed and do as little as possible). Well, I figured that I might as well add my two cents in since the hubby is sick tonight and I will therefore be going at our Imbolc ritual solo...

I have never been one to say "no you can't", because, in reality, what gives me that right? The beauty of the pagan path is that it is as diverse as those that walk it and unique to every individual. So, someone wants to cast a love spell on another? Well, I don't agree with that, and I will certainly express that opinion and tell them WHY I don't agree, but I will never say no you can't. It's not my life and therefore not ultimately my decision. The same comes into play when it comes to illness and magic. Personally, when I'm sick, there is little chance that I will want to do anything more than drinking tea, lay in bed, sleep, and potentially read a book. Plus, when you feel that crappy, what is your energy like? It's not full of vitality and life, it's sluggish and sickly. Who really wants to send that out into our world? Not me! And for that reason, I chose to not practice magic when I'm sick. Have I had to sit out rituals with my circle before? No, I've actually been lucky enough to not ever be ill for one of those events. However, I've had to reschedule and re-plan my own rituals, just like I have tonight due to the illness of my beloved. While he won't be walking the house with me as I cleanse, he'll still be with me in spirit, and that is what matters to me. The goddess will understand. =)

So, in the end, it's up to you as the practitioner to make the decision of whether or not it's right for you to practice magic or partake in ritual while ill.

The witching hour has arrived, and I must take my leave and mentally, physically, and spiritually prepare myself for the ritual at hand.

Brightest Blessings to you all on this Imbolc Night!