The Magickal Pen

These past months have brought the deaths of or grave illness to many of my friends’ loved ones. As I have watched each handle the challenges and grief that have come into their families, I am humbled by the courage, strength and grace with which they have met this inevitable part of the cycle of life. 

I am also reminded that at some point in time, we all will face these same challenges and that the best we can do and hope for is to treasure the time we have with our friends and loved ones.  Remember to find meaningful ways to express gratitude for those in your life. To keep them aware and always in the knowledge that they are loved. To regularly hold your friends and loved ones close to you and feel their life’s blood beating in a heart that is akin to your own. Remember to look into eyes that are filled with the love you radiate out and never forget the precious gift of loving and being loved in return.

May You Love and Live Well…

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As soon as you step through the archway and the luminous white  glow of the Glyph of Cancer the smells of the ocean and its waters permeate your senses. The fullness of moonlight reflects back from water’s edge and there is a sense of stillness and anticipation as the waves gently crest and fall. You feel alive and connected to everything. Your senses are alive with sounds and sights that come in flashes of liquid and heart filled memory. Emotion wells up deep inside of you and the beauty and serenity of this place seems almost more than you can bear.  You pause for a moment regaining your composure and take a deep full breath to calm the rising emotions…….

Read More About the Astrological Sign of Cancer

and this Pathworking at: 

Travel Through the Stars: A Monthly Walk Through the Zodiac

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We are continually reminded to look towards and to take note of those blessings in our lives that would otherwise go unnoticed.  The gentle smile of a stranger or precious time spent offering a kind word or act of encouragement and support.

We are told of the treasures that are to be found in stilling the mind and sitting simply and quietly in devotion to Deity. We are praised for selfless acts and move at times with the skill and precision of a surgeon in removing obstacles for those less fortunate than ourselves.

We offer up words of praise, comfort and inspiration and never skip a beat when speaking up for justice and equality. And, although these endeavors span far and wide they are still, nonetheless, only a fraction of measure of the joys we receive in kind from the Divine.

And, if you fill the space of your being with each of these “small” joys we eagerly offer to others in the name of God or Goddess, community or individual  you will have built the bridge of foundation that connects to the very heart of the Divine. This bridge holds the expanse of heavenly gaze, the breadth of earth-filled beauty and the return to the joy of Spirit within that blazes brightly when fed by the gifts of service.

For it is within this flame of desire to serve and give that is contained the illumination of our greater gnosis quickened by the waters of transformation, bolstered with the strength of perseverance and in the cumulative outpourings of a Spirit that has been nurtured by the lesser sum of its parts we return full circle to the small joys of Spirit.

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To the men who have reached

out with a strong hand and an open

heart to help another on their way.

To the men who look out at the world in joy

and hope and share that vision of potential

with those around them. To those who

nurture that vision with a kind word and

a gentle hug.

To the men who have stood

in support of someone whose

voice had gone unheard.

To the men who have brought into

creation new ways of solving a

community’s problem, life-changing ideas

and been the inspiration for young men

and women just beginning the

journey of their life’s work.

To all those men who have

served as role model, mentor

and made a difference in the

life of their children or another’s-

Happy Father’s Day!

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This Wednesday will mark a Full Moon in Sagittarius. It is also the second of a triad of eclipses. The first, a solar eclipse,  occurred at the New Moon on June 1st and the last, another solar eclipse and New Moon, will complete this potent cycle on July 1st. This upcoming Full Moon will occur with a lunar eclipse. My prefacing this “Reflection” with the technical information surrounding the Full Moon is meant to pique the curiosity of those who are interested in knowing more about the interpretations of  lunar energies. My intent here, is to offer up the space of opening to the moon in Her fullness and simplest, yet most primal form.

A beautiful piece of music can move and stir the tides within our emotional being. You do not need to know the mechanics and technicalities of the music to intuitively respond; nor do you even have to be a fan of the particular style of music. If it is skillfully crafted and imbued with the correct energetic intent you will be moved, inspired and transported.  The cycle that is the moon in all her phases evokes similar response, and at its peak of power, a beautiful full moon stirs not only our instinctual and creative nature, but draws us into her lunarscape of dreams and potential.  More importantly, the connection is one that is made at our deepest roots of emotion, desire and basic needs. The desire to run wild and free beneath the primal light of the moon surfaces in everyone’s fantasies or yearnings at least once in a lifetime. Some take up the call and find a primal nature within that lay long buried or was hidden by the conventionality of society’s expectation. It also stirs the passions within. Staring back at your lover with star-filled eyes and other-worldly light reflected on smooth skin ignite the desire to move and merge as one flowing being. Flowing in rhythm with each other just as the tides respond to mother moon’s pull. With all this divers energy and mystery surrounding the Moon is it any wonder that its greater mysteries are used to enhance sacred work. Dancing around a fire on a moon lit night, moving to the beat of drums is the nearest one can come to being totally absorbed into the Natural world. Mother Moon shines down to light the way that all may fall under her seductive spell. And, as energies rise in response to Her call time stops, the veils are parted and transformation begins.

An exercise to connect with the energies of the Full Moon:

On the eve of the Full Moon (or in the time 3 days prior up to 3 days after the after) set aside some time where you will not be disturbed and sit outside under moon light’s gaze. Quiet yourself and simply sit. Just as you would drink in the warming rays of the sun on a beautiful summer’s day, drink in the energies of luna’s downpour. As you sit, let her tell you her stories and lore. Listen with the rapt attention of a child sitting and listening to a story wrapped in the embrace of a mother’s love. And, with just as much love, gaze upward into the face of the radiant moon.

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There is a way between voice and presence

where information flows.

In disciplined silence it opens.

With wandering talk it closes.

~ Jelaluddin Rumi ~

We are a society of talkers. With the increased dynamics of technology, that talking state continues at multiple levels simultaneously. Texting while emailing, chatting while twittering and listening to a lecture while plugged into the latest music are the normal (and expected) ways of interacting.  Despite the appearance of making this even more connected, we have lost the art of listening. Deep conversations held one to one, with the space and time for pause and reflection are now the rarity. Listening and observing the flow of the conversation, the facial expressions and the subtle nuances that an i-cam misses are honed skills that we seem to have lost touch with.

The greatest loss of all is that which is held in the space between conversing and listening; between word and silence. This is the space where creation takes place. Where what has been heard is mulled over, digested and stimulates creative response. It is this space of pregnant pause that holds the potential for birthing the deeper level of connection that we all so crave.

As we move through the week. take some time to connect with a fellow human being. Sit quietly and deeply listen to what is being said. Breathe, pause and wait to give a response that has been informed by the silence between. Give birth to a new way of interacting and see where this river of silence takes you.

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Happy Mother’s Day to those who have given birth to children, ideas, dreams, art, music and writing.

Happy Mother’s Day to those who have nurtured and prodded, encouraged and loved enough to bring out the best in another.

Happy Mother’s Day to those who have fought, cried out and stood in support of a cause or idea that would have fallen into the deep tombs apathy.

Happy Mother’s Day to those who have sacrificed and given their all when nothing was left to give to ensure the success of what they had given birth to.

Happy Mother’s Day to those who have boldly declared that no woman is barren and the fruits of her womb and the merit of her worth need not only be measured in physical life, but also in those seeds of inspiration and hope that enliven the aspirations of others.

Happy Mother’s Day top ALL women everywhere, for within each of you is the seed potential for creation!

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"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within is. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

From Marianne Williamson’s book A Return to Love and was quoted by Nobel Prize–winner Nelson Mandela in his inaugural address.

I love this statement. The thought and action called for is so simple, yet most of us continually stand just at the brink of stepping into our own power. We wait to have our actions affirmed. We clamor for the degree or certificate or job that will announce our “arrival to success”. We eat less, exercise more and seek out the latest interventions to eradicate age, weight and appearance that in the eyes of others we think will diminish our beauty and strength.  In reality, all have to do is look in the mirror of our souls to see the power that is ours; listen to the words of those who love us unconditionally or see how another’s face lights up when we offer a smile or extend a hand.  When we embrace these things, as the quote above says … “as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”

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The Earth is blooming!

Fields swell with

green, periwinkle and

buttercream buds.

All life has

awakened and

joins in Spring tide’s dance.

The growing sun’s heat

pours down like liquid gold

and streams of light extend

and bend to kiss dewy bed

of moss and herb.

The animals move

in anticipation of

summer’s coming

tides and grassy

meadow offers

up her slender blades

as hungry mouths

enjoy Flora’s feast.

All of Earth is blooming!

And this day I paused

just long enough

to join in

Spring Tide’s Dance

Inspired by a trip with my husband to Lancaster, PA. April 24.2011

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