Merry Yule all! Merry Christmas too...in fact Merry Winter Holidays.
My husband and I are staying at my parents house right now. We're staying until the day before New Years. And this is the year, this is the year I'm going to come out of the Broom Closet to them. I'm still not 100% sure how, I'm debating a letter vs talking to them. I'm really leaning letter. But we'll see. I'm just going to let it go for the next few days though and enjoy the holidays with my family. I only see them once a year and (not meaning to be dramatic) I'm a little afraid of what's going to happen after I tell them. It's unlikely they'll disown me, but at the same time I can't rule it out entirely. :-/
But for now, I'm going to enjoy my holiday and break and I hope everyone has safe and wonderful holidays!
Friday, December 24, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Positives of the Past Year
Episode #7.5 came out this week! It's so much fun to do our show. :-) This has been a really crazy year. I was just thinking today of all the things that have changed for me over the past few years, let me share:
On Dec. 12, 2008 I weighed 180 lbs. Over the next year I joined a Curves Women's Fitness Center and changed how I ate, by December 2009 I weighed 140 lbs (what was my original weight loss goal); but I was doing so well, I ended up losing ten more lbs and now I'm under 130. It was really challenging for me, but has really showed me that I have control over myself, my body, and my universe. I know it's sort of a vain thing to be so concerned about, but it's really made me much more satisfied with myself. I think I used to "hide" my emotions with food too...instead of thinking why I felt bad, I would eat pop-tarts (a box). Now, I think about my feelings, why they're there, judge their validity, and find solutions.
On a related note, over the past...well forever, I've struggled with depression. I don't ever remember (not even in childhood) being really happy. It's been my norm to be sad. But over the past year or so I'm finally starting to find a balance and I'm happier now than I've ever been. Sometimes the depression wave will sweep over me, but I don't wallow in it and it doesn't bring my whole world to a crashing halt as it used to. I feel like I can finally cope in a way that makes me happy.
In February of this year I was laid off from my job; it was devastating emotionally and financially. Over the past few months I've gotten work relevant to the field I want to work in (not ideal work, but it's steady) and I've had the opportunity to participate in job training that is preparing me for my ideal work. I'm in an even better place than I was before I was laid off.
In this past year, my husband and I joined a coven; it all came together so easily. We contacted the groups that were closest to us via Witchvox and emailed with a few of them and then met with the one we felt the best about and then joined. Being in a coven has opened us up to each other and to the Pagan community. I can't imagine life without it.
These are the things that I think have been the most dramatic and important changes in my life in recent years; I'm very thankful to have had all these experiences. My life is good. I love it.
In two weeks (when we go to my family's home for the holidays) I am coming out of the broom closet. I'm nervous, but I believe it's for the best. I can't say I'm looking forward to it though. :-)
On Dec. 12, 2008 I weighed 180 lbs. Over the next year I joined a Curves Women's Fitness Center and changed how I ate, by December 2009 I weighed 140 lbs (what was my original weight loss goal); but I was doing so well, I ended up losing ten more lbs and now I'm under 130. It was really challenging for me, but has really showed me that I have control over myself, my body, and my universe. I know it's sort of a vain thing to be so concerned about, but it's really made me much more satisfied with myself. I think I used to "hide" my emotions with food too...instead of thinking why I felt bad, I would eat pop-tarts (a box). Now, I think about my feelings, why they're there, judge their validity, and find solutions.
On a related note, over the past...well forever, I've struggled with depression. I don't ever remember (not even in childhood) being really happy. It's been my norm to be sad. But over the past year or so I'm finally starting to find a balance and I'm happier now than I've ever been. Sometimes the depression wave will sweep over me, but I don't wallow in it and it doesn't bring my whole world to a crashing halt as it used to. I feel like I can finally cope in a way that makes me happy.
In February of this year I was laid off from my job; it was devastating emotionally and financially. Over the past few months I've gotten work relevant to the field I want to work in (not ideal work, but it's steady) and I've had the opportunity to participate in job training that is preparing me for my ideal work. I'm in an even better place than I was before I was laid off.
In this past year, my husband and I joined a coven; it all came together so easily. We contacted the groups that were closest to us via Witchvox and emailed with a few of them and then met with the one we felt the best about and then joined. Being in a coven has opened us up to each other and to the Pagan community. I can't imagine life without it.
These are the things that I think have been the most dramatic and important changes in my life in recent years; I'm very thankful to have had all these experiences. My life is good. I love it.
In two weeks (when we go to my family's home for the holidays) I am coming out of the broom closet. I'm nervous, but I believe it's for the best. I can't say I'm looking forward to it though. :-)
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Black Friday Hate?
Hello!
First of all: Happy Belated Thanksgiving to all! I hope you had a great day. Second of all: Happy Black Friday to all! I hope you had a great day, whatever that means to you.
It's funny, watching FaceBook over the past 24 hours; there's so much Black Friday Hate. Either people are excited or they hate it. I usually go Black Friday shopping. This year I saved about 65% off the regular prices on my purchases and I'm done with all my shopping for Christmas. I've just got some hand-made things to finish up. My Black Friday Experiences have always been good. I've never seen a mob, I've never been pushed or shoved, but I do have a cardinal Black Friday Rule; "Have a I don't care attitude at all times." For example: what you wanted to buy is sold out, instead of finding someone holding that item wrestling them down and ripping it from their hands say, "I don't care, I'll find something better or the same at another store." Another example: People in line infront of you are fighting and start getting really close to you, instead of saying Black Friday is terrible, I'm never doing this again, say "Wow, they're crazy, but I don't care." And then walk to the next line over to get away from the crazies (although this has never happened to me). Unless you are the kind of person who can go with the flow, then you shouldn't go a Black Fridaying, but don't hate on it just because it's not your style.
Additionally, I've found a lot of people saying Black Friday=Commercial=Bad. Ok, yes, the holidays should not be only about the commercial. But, spending some time picking something special for the people in your life that you care about is not commercial--it's kind and in some cases the least you can do. I just go Black Fridaying because the prices are really good that day, I can get it all out of the way in one day, and the extra money in my budget from getting things cheaper allows me to spend almost a third of my Christmas budget on a Salvation Army Angel Tree child.
Every day is what you make of it; if you decide a day is terrible and you let it make you feel icky all day, that's on you, not the day. Also, judging a whole group of people who go Black Fridaying as crazy and commercial-minded isn't cool. I think it's been well established (or should be at this point) you can't/shouldn't judge a large group of people. There is no way you can understand or know everyone's mindset or thoughts, don't pretend to.
And in closing: Thank you to everyone in my town for being awesome Black Fridayers. I had nice conversations with people in lines, the stores I went to were very well managed for the day, there was no pushing or shoving or cutting or cheating. Everyone was fair and cool. Thanks.
First of all: Happy Belated Thanksgiving to all! I hope you had a great day. Second of all: Happy Black Friday to all! I hope you had a great day, whatever that means to you.
It's funny, watching FaceBook over the past 24 hours; there's so much Black Friday Hate. Either people are excited or they hate it. I usually go Black Friday shopping. This year I saved about 65% off the regular prices on my purchases and I'm done with all my shopping for Christmas. I've just got some hand-made things to finish up. My Black Friday Experiences have always been good. I've never seen a mob, I've never been pushed or shoved, but I do have a cardinal Black Friday Rule; "Have a I don't care attitude at all times." For example: what you wanted to buy is sold out, instead of finding someone holding that item wrestling them down and ripping it from their hands say, "I don't care, I'll find something better or the same at another store." Another example: People in line infront of you are fighting and start getting really close to you, instead of saying Black Friday is terrible, I'm never doing this again, say "Wow, they're crazy, but I don't care." And then walk to the next line over to get away from the crazies (although this has never happened to me). Unless you are the kind of person who can go with the flow, then you shouldn't go a Black Fridaying, but don't hate on it just because it's not your style.
Additionally, I've found a lot of people saying Black Friday=Commercial=Bad. Ok, yes, the holidays should not be only about the commercial. But, spending some time picking something special for the people in your life that you care about is not commercial--it's kind and in some cases the least you can do. I just go Black Fridaying because the prices are really good that day, I can get it all out of the way in one day, and the extra money in my budget from getting things cheaper allows me to spend almost a third of my Christmas budget on a Salvation Army Angel Tree child.
Every day is what you make of it; if you decide a day is terrible and you let it make you feel icky all day, that's on you, not the day. Also, judging a whole group of people who go Black Fridaying as crazy and commercial-minded isn't cool. I think it's been well established (or should be at this point) you can't/shouldn't judge a large group of people. There is no way you can understand or know everyone's mindset or thoughts, don't pretend to.
And in closing: Thank you to everyone in my town for being awesome Black Fridayers. I had nice conversations with people in lines, the stores I went to were very well managed for the day, there was no pushing or shoving or cutting or cheating. Everyone was fair and cool. Thanks.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Psychic Fair
Hello!
So my dear friend Rose and I went to the Sense-ations Psychic fair in Dallas yesterday. We really enjoyed it and will be doing an event review on the podcast (which we plan to record this week and put out on the 30th or 1st). I had two readings done and really enjoyed them both; we also did mini-sessions of Voice Mapping, which was really interesting.
More details to come out in the show.
Choa!
-Ren
So my dear friend Rose and I went to the Sense-ations Psychic fair in Dallas yesterday. We really enjoyed it and will be doing an event review on the podcast (which we plan to record this week and put out on the 30th or 1st). I had two readings done and really enjoyed them both; we also did mini-sessions of Voice Mapping, which was really interesting.
More details to come out in the show.
Choa!
-Ren
Monday, November 15, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
New Episode
Hello All!
New episode of Shhh! There Are Pagans in Texas will be coming out soonish...tonight or tomorrow. It is editted, it's just a matter of services catching up with me.
In this episode we ended up talking about proselytizing and I had written a prepared statement, which I'd like to also share here:
It is my belief (MY belief) that it is not right to attempt to change people. I believe that change can only originate from the individual. If they don't want to change, they won't, so it's rude to try to impose change on someone who doesn't want/ask for it. If someone has questions about a faith or a religion, then it makes perfect sense for them to seek out people of that religion/faith to learn about it, be it Christian, Wicca, Hindu, Muslim, etc. In my humble opinion that is the appropriate time to share or educate about your faith or religion--when it is asked of you. When people come to you, that is when they are open, or most likely to be open, to hearing what you say and then it is not a confrontation, just a conversation. When someone is attacking or defending, they're in fight or flight mode, survival more. When you're surviving you can't make logical statements or learn anything new.
So, in answer to the question: No, in my humble opinion, we as Pagans, Wiccans, in fact Human Beings of any faith should not proselytize. We should not be confrontational about something as deeply personal as faith. We should have civil interfaith conversations amongst those who want to participate; we should not force these conversations.
When I am approached by a proselytizer, I calmly and politely thank them for the information, end the conversation and move on with my life. They are just doing their job by sharing their faith. It's what they were called to do. And by being polite I am doing what I see as my job: not interfering with others faith, treating others politely, and since they didn't ask (they usually don't) about my faith not sharing. I'm not saying my way of handling it is the best or most appropriate for everyone, just for me. As long as they don't become confrontational or harass or abuse me; then I can handle it gracefully. Only if they were to cross the boundary into rude, mean, or illegal actions would it truly become a problem to me.
I just want to live and let live. Not everyone will agree with me, but by my own statement, that has to be OK.
Enjoy the Episode and have a great week!
Chao!
-Renny
New episode of Shhh! There Are Pagans in Texas will be coming out soonish...tonight or tomorrow. It is editted, it's just a matter of services catching up with me.
In this episode we ended up talking about proselytizing and I had written a prepared statement, which I'd like to also share here:
It is my belief (MY belief) that it is not right to attempt to change people. I believe that change can only originate from the individual. If they don't want to change, they won't, so it's rude to try to impose change on someone who doesn't want/ask for it. If someone has questions about a faith or a religion, then it makes perfect sense for them to seek out people of that religion/faith to learn about it, be it Christian, Wicca, Hindu, Muslim, etc. In my humble opinion that is the appropriate time to share or educate about your faith or religion--when it is asked of you. When people come to you, that is when they are open, or most likely to be open, to hearing what you say and then it is not a confrontation, just a conversation. When someone is attacking or defending, they're in fight or flight mode, survival more. When you're surviving you can't make logical statements or learn anything new.
So, in answer to the question: No, in my humble opinion, we as Pagans, Wiccans, in fact Human Beings of any faith should not proselytize. We should not be confrontational about something as deeply personal as faith. We should have civil interfaith conversations amongst those who want to participate; we should not force these conversations.
When I am approached by a proselytizer, I calmly and politely thank them for the information, end the conversation and move on with my life. They are just doing their job by sharing their faith. It's what they were called to do. And by being polite I am doing what I see as my job: not interfering with others faith, treating others politely, and since they didn't ask (they usually don't) about my faith not sharing. I'm not saying my way of handling it is the best or most appropriate for everyone, just for me. As long as they don't become confrontational or harass or abuse me; then I can handle it gracefully. Only if they were to cross the boundary into rude, mean, or illegal actions would it truly become a problem to me.
I just want to live and let live. Not everyone will agree with me, but by my own statement, that has to be OK.
Enjoy the Episode and have a great week!
Chao!
-Renny
Monday, November 8, 2010
Post Samhain
Hello All!
My husband and I had a fantastic Samhain! In this post are pictures of our Samhain Pumpkins. I carved the Goddess Pumpkin and he carved the God. We also roasted the seeds (which we're still eating on).
My husband and I had a fantastic Samhain! In this post are pictures of our Samhain Pumpkins. I carved the Goddess Pumpkin and he carved the God. We also roasted the seeds (which we're still eating on).
In other news, our whole apartment complex is having a wasp problem. My husband has had to kill at least 1 a day (sometimes up to 3) that has gotten into our house. He has to kill them because I'm allergic to them and if they sting me, I die. It's been almost a week and the complex hasn't done anything. The arguement is because it's been windy and they can't spray when the winds over 10 mph. That makes sense, but we also have a 1 inch gap in our front door (which they're coming in through) and they have yet to send anyone out to even look at that. I'm a bit frustrated. I don't really want to end up in the hospital for something preventable and I certainly don't want to die.
:-/
Chao!
-Renny
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