Samhain

The veil is thin, this time of year. Take advantage to connect with your ancesters, your guides and nature. For those of us turning the Wheel of the Year, may your workings be blessed.

Why is your title so weird?

When I was fourteen, my family went to South Carolina to visit my dad's sister, Joanne. Aunt Joanne was a legendary cook, and Uncle Coyou brought home the bacon. Literally. He was an avid fisherman and hunter. So, it's the middle of July and we're standing in her kitchen, where she's preparing ham, turkey, hush puppies and lord knows what all.
And she turns to me and says "Honey, you know, you can't shake and bake squirrel."
And my world stood still.
What did that mean, I wondered. This was the early 70's, when prepared food mixes were at their zenith. Aunt Joanne was passing along a culinary tip. But for me, uninterested in cooking, the phrase took on mystic proportions. For the last 40 years, it's stuck with me, through thick and thin and I've used it more times than I can count. It's like my personal kone. One day it means one thing, the next, it means something different. But, it's a gift I'll always have, thank you Aunt Joanne - you're my inspiration.

National Novel Writing Month

Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month) is November. Are you in? Write a 50k novel in 30 days and meet some fantastic people, plus donations support their Young Writers Literacy program, a free writing program for classrooms. This is my fifth year - Join me.

Energy surges

If you've felt squirrely the last couple weeks, you're not alone. Some of the information I read say that the earth's energy is shifting, that higher vibrations are being felt across the planet.

We've seen more intense weather patterns this year, and to say the American political scene is polarizing, is an understatement.

So, if you're restless, cranky, unable to sleep, it could be you, and it could be you're feeling this shift. If you know how to ground energy, do it. Yoga is an excellent practice for grounding. If you're new to grounding, visualize the energy you feel (for me, this is usually like a caffeine buzz) flowing out your feet, and into the earth. Thank the earth for recycling. Visualize calming and peaceful energy replacing the buzzing. You can dance, sing, move, walk - especially outside in nature - to shift that energy.

Take a minute to sit with yourself. Has the energy moved or do you feel the same? Check in with yourself. Repeat any practice that helps you feel more like 'you' and less like a live wire.

Just a note - there are places where energy accumulates or is higher. Vortexes and ley lines are high energy places, so if you live around an area like that, you're going to notice and feel the surges even more. I noticed this in PA - we're in the Allegheny foothills withing walking distance of the junction of the Oil Creek and Allegheny. All emotions are intensified.