God, Praying, Angels, and Signs

I think it's pretty neat all the words for "God". Really, it is! There are so many names out there used by so many different people. I just wish everyone could realize that it's ok to have those different names instead of saying "No!, you can't call my God that! You have to worship God my way, and call him ~fill in the blank~". Personally I praise a "greater power" that has both male and female aspects, but I still pray, and I am able to manifest what is "right" for me in my life and for my family. 

I also want to mention that I have had "angels" sent to me. They come in the form of people or animals, sometimes as signs or miracles, and have helped me along the way. 

I was walking alone, in the middle of nowhere, I had just a jacket and a backpack, and I was absolutely freezing. My body was shivering and shutting down. I had just gone through a very distressing life change where I felt everything I had worked for had been ripped from my hands. I felt hopeless and lost. I broke down and prayed for "God" to send me a sign, and let me know I could handle anything. The road was VERY long and we had just had an ice storm (in Maine) and I had been walking all day and it was starting to get dark. I walked a couple more feet, and I was crying, and I looked down and there was folding knife with all kinds of tools, and there was a working flashlight on it. I was in shock. I was getting scared of being alone in the dark, and I was sent a flashlight. I know this is a random story, but it's one I still think about. Just finding a light when I truly needed it changed my outlook and gave me the hope that I needed to carry on.

This is just the tip of the ice burg on this topic for me, especially about angels and signs, but I had to start somewhere. I have been brought so many angels and signs in my life and I hope to write about them more. I think it would be a good thing to ponder and write about.

Does anyone else have any stories like this that have changed your way of thinking, and reassured you that you are being watched over?

Taking Care of Children

I want to give a HUGE high five to my fellow at-home moms + dads, child care providers, and teachers right now. You know who you are! Our attitude directly affects the little person (or people) that we're teaching, and shapes them for their own future and it can be a tough job! Working through the ups and downs, and trying to keep ourselves together and teach them to deal with their emotions is a full time battle! I think also trying to teach children to be responsible for their environment on top of all that is especially tough, like trying to teach them what is healthy and what's not.

 Today has been a huge test of patience, and trying to do what is right when all I want to do is let out my own emotions. I am holding back, and instead talking to her as clearly as I can. I'm trying to get her to explain to me why she is upset, and what we can do to make her feel better AND what is the right thing to do. I have been able to get some things accomplished, and I'm hoping to get some more things done...in the house...but not for me!

Hatred Is Real, but We Persevere

I have always known I was a nature child, and truthfully I knew I was a witch. My mother considers herself a Christian, because she was raised that way, but she always knew I didn't fit into that religious category. I was always open about my beliefs, and about any opinion really. I've had people try to convince me to "change my ways". I just asked them "You don't really think I'm going to convert to YOUR way, just because you think I should, do you?" I've had people call me evil, and try to convince me that I was going to burn in Hell, but again...they can't convince me to believe in their "Hell". So I was always very strong-headed, and sometimes misunderstood. I was also looked up to by some friends and family members, so it hasn't all been negative attention. I have always wished to have more friends that are pagan, or to find a coven, or just have a group of people to celebrate with, but mostly I have been solitary with scattered pagan friends.

So pretty much I have been open, but then I went trough some major life changes, and I went through a really abusive relationship. I lost everything in my life, and moved into a women's shelter. The women found out I was pagan and treated me really badly. I had to build myself back up after all of that. Also, about five years ago I was gathering herbs on a back road. My father was with me. He took me for a drive in the countryside to just get some relaxation. We had been there dozens of times throughout the years. I was walking through a pasture, and a bunch of guys about my age were hanging out. They had turned it into a hillbilly shooting range. (no offense to hillbillies...country boys sure can be adorable) I walked past them and smiled, I was wearing my silver pentacle, and a couple of them said hello, but some of them just stood there. I carried on and finished gathering my herbs and natural treasures. When I walked back through they had a stuffed witch on the target (where the hell did they even find that thing in 20 minutes time?) and some of them were staring at me, some of them (the friendly ones) were gone, and the others were taking turns shooting the witch on the target.

Religious hate is still very real.

I have since then lost the pentacle that I used to have, but that's ok because it was just a material possession. I have a pentacle that was given to me a couple years, quite randomly actually. I was at our local farmer's market, and I was visiting the stand of a local silversmith. I have always been interested in being a silversmith, so I was gabbing with the man. He had a lot of Native American stuff, but I happened to glance down and saw a big silver pentacle. I commented on it, and he asked me if  wanted to see it. I mentioned I didn't have the money to spend on jewelry right now, but I thought it was very pretty. I continued to talk with him, and he reached for the pentacle and handed it to me. I almost cried, and my face turned bright red.

He gave me that beautiful pentacle.

I walked away from that encounter recharged and beaming.

I have to admit that I have only worn it outside of the house a couple times. I'm home most of the time, but I do go out sometimes. I actually put it in a little box and lost it for about a year, but I found it a little while ago. I would like to wear it out more often, and I'm trying to build myself up for that, but the last time I wore it out I noticed so many people looking at it instead of my face. It was like I had an HUGE boob job or something. Even people I talked to all the time were busy staring at it.

After saying all of this, I don't want to be afraid, and I am openly pagan and posting about it all the time for my 600+ friends, family members, and game friends on facebook. I want to wear my pentacle outside of the house more often and just hold my head high and beam with energy more starting this spring.

I have to thank the writer of Musings of a Magical Mom for giving me the little extra push to write about this. It's something that has been swimming around in my head since it happened (the incident with the cruel hillbilly boys), and I had been thinking about writing an entry about it, but now I have. I'm glad I did.