2 Witches Blog » Enjoying the cool crisp October breezes, getting healthy, having fun

Oct

2nd

Enjoying the cool crisp October breezes, getting healthy, having fun

Category: Events & Outings, Lady Rose's Musings, Life & Family | Written by Lady Rose

Greetings one and all. I know it has been awhile since I’ve posted here, so let me catch you up on what’s been going on and some of the fun things I’ve been up too lately and other fun things planned for the future.

Since my gastric bypass surgery on Aug. 6th, I’ve been focusing on creating a healthy eating plan that works with the “pouch” (the 2 oz stomach created by the surgery), constructively dealing with emotional and mental obstacles and overall generally putting all my energy into getting healthy, enjoying life and taking one step at time to achieve my goals. It’s been a time where I feel I needed to withdraw a bit and just focus on my top priorites – my health, my family and the day to day challenges as well as the daily surprises and the general ups and downs. I have also been reflecting on what in life brings me joy and contentment, and focusing my energy, not just on physical health, but on spiritual well being as well, which for me includes spending quality time with family and good friends.

The first few weeks after the surgery were a roller coaster at first, with a bit of weight gaining for a few days followed by struggling to lose, then gaining a few pounds again and ending up frustrated because I wasn’t making any progress. Not exactly what I had expected. However, my body seems to have calmed down a bit and healing well, and finally I’ve seen some weight loss (I’ve lost 25 lbs in the past two weeks, and overall since I started with the pre-op process on March 3, 2009, I’ve lost a total now of 79.5 lbs). If any one is interested in more details about gastric bypass and\or my journey to get healthy, feel free to stop over at my blog Diet Pulpit.

Overall life is going along very well. Angelgirl is enjoying the 8th grade. Teacherman’s leg injury, from the fall he had on Aug. 6th, is healing well.

Last weekend Angelgirl and I attended a small Native American Indian Event at a local farm about 15 minutes away. We spent the morning listening to stories and music, browsing booths, looking over artifacts, and admiring beadwork, especially a bead project the woman was working on a bead loom (oooooh I so want one – but will resist the urge for now - I have too many crafts around already that I don’t have time for). The Lenapi Indian reservation is not far and they hold larger events there on a regular basis. I hope to be able to attend more often and learn more about their culture. Native American traditions are very close to a wiccan way of life and it is always spiritually renewing to be around others who also respect and honor the Earth.

We have a lot of fun events to attend coming up this month and through to December and beyond. Hubby and I will be enjoying with friends the comedian Billy Crystal and a Bruce Springsteen concert. I am also planning to go Medieval Times (medieval dinner and show) some time around my birthday which is Oct. 30th. I’ve invited a couple of my girlfriends from work and my mom to come along, but we haven’t set the date yet (most likely early November).

In December we are going with another couple to see the Paul Winter concert held at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine In New York. It is an awesome Winter Solstice performance and this year is their 30th anniversary so it’s just going to be stunning. I have wanted to attend this Annual Pilgrimage from Darkness into Light for over 17 years ever since I first heard Paul Winter in concert. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the solstice than with good friends, awesome music and watching the huge sun disk floating across the ceiling of the cathedral. We are going to make a day of it in New York to see the holidays lights, the big Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, and a nice dinner.

Teacherman is looking forward to it and he thinks it will be a grand idea if we can round out the experience to balance out the year by attending the Summer Solstice Sunrise Drumming Event in Philadelpia in June, it is held on the roof top of the theater and everyone brings a drum (link for the 2009 event).

I am looking forward to enjoying these awesome events with family and close friends. It is a double bonus for me for many of these events because they are closely related to wiccan themes and they are renewing to my spirit as well.

Some long term possible future plans include attending Womon Gathering next June and possibly taking a Qi Gong class or two (if I can find one locally, so far I haven’t been able to find one, but I’m still looking).

Mama Kelly and I had such an awesome time when we attended Womon Gathering in 2008 (one of many posts about our experience: Friday at Womon Gathering 2008), that I definitely want to go again, and hopefully every year or every other year if need be. Plans didn’t work out to attend this year, Womon Gathering 2009, so I’m not taking any chances for next year and planning early. Teacherman and I discussed it and I decided that I am going to go in June 2010. I know it’s a bit early to be thinking about next June, but registration is in December so it doesn’t hurt to plan early.

Having driven there once before, I feel comfortable with the idea of going by myself if I needed to, but I’d be happy to have friends or family come along if they wanted to attend also. I’ve been getting the word out, so folks can start thinking about it and let me know what their plans are in case any one wants to corrdinate registration and cabin accommodations (need to put on the form names of those you want to share a cabin with), and later on driving arrangements (I can only fit one other person in my car, but if more then that end up coming along, could always split the cost of renting a bigger car or just forming a train of cars).

So if any one is planning to attend Womon Gathering 2010, let me know in case you want to corrdinate cabin arrangements or travel plans together or arrange to get meet and get together at the event.

As my 54th birthday approaches, Oct. 30th, and as part of my overall journey to wellness in all aspects of my life, I am making sure that I put time and energy into taking care of me and not letting the bumps in the road of life or the negativity of others drain away my energy or focus. A big treat I gave myself was getting a new car (a 2009 Ford Focus, it is a cute little 2-door silver coupe). My old car was a 14-year-old Prism, that needed repairs, the air conditioner no longer worked and it really needed to be replaced. Teacherman said he would get me Vanity Plates as a birthday gift if I wanted them - I am hoping that LDYROSE is available – if it’s not, I’m not sure what else I would chose. I don’t want something too witchy, since in a few years Angelgirl will mostly likely be also driving this car. I also treated myself to a trip to the hair salon – for a wash and very small trim (only about an inch or two). The ladies at the shop down the street were very nice and amazed that I hadn’t been to a salon since my wedding in 1991 and that I never, ever plan on getting my hair cut. The woman who washed my hair said it was the longest she had ever washed. For me, it was definitely a luxuary indulgence but one I gave myself as a treat to celebrate the weeks of recovering from surgery being over and feeling good. Who knows, maybe I’ll even get my nails done one of these days in the not too distant future. It would be a first, since I’ve never had manicure.

I am also enjoying the sense of empowerment and appreciation for life that comes from the wisdom of the Crone. Fall is my favorite time of year, even though it is a mixture of sadness over some past events, it is also for me a time of year that fills me a renewed sense of spiritual awareness, reflection, and connetion with the Goddess.

At this time of year, the Crone’s energy is all around us, the cool breezes, the blazing colors of the leaves, reminding us that there is light and there is darkness, but we are capable of wisdom, strength, and love; our spirits can endure and thrive if we open ourselves to being in harmony with nature, staying grounded and balanced, and sharing the warmth of love and friendship with others.

May the blessings of the Crone heal your spirit and fill your life with wisdom,

Lady Rose