Things I Wish I Knew Then

I came across a few videos on youtube recently, as well as a new site called Real Wiccan Info that really got me thinking about things I wish I knew when I first started practicing.  So I compiled a list!

I wish I knew back then that...

• Wicca is not an ancient religion that predates Christianity.  I was very influential in the beginning, and came across several books claiming this, only to feel quite shocked and scandalized when I realized that there was no proof!  I really wish I knew from the beginning that Wicca is a modern religion that is based on some practices that come from ancient/older traditions/religions/mystery schools, etc.  
• Witchcraft is not a requirement of Wicca.  I was quite under the impression that to be Wiccan, you had to practice some form of magic.  The books never stated as much, but that's what I got from it.  To be honest, the magical aspect was one of the things that intrigued me about Wicca, but I really wish it had been stated quite clearly in the beginners books that I read and on the sites that I referenced online that practicing witchcraft does not mean you're a Wiccan, and vice versa.  
• Tools are unnecessary.  All the information I had at my fingertips had huge, detailed sections about tools - I thought I needed them to practice, and had I had enough money, I probably would have blown it on one of those overpriced altar kits for myself.  As it is, I have come to experience that you don't need tools - and there have been many times when I've practiced with nothing more than a single candle, and sometimes with just myself outside.  Tools offer a focus, which is nice, but definitely not a requirement.  Also, I realized that I didn't need to spend tons of money on tools - while those reserved strictly for ritual use are always a nice addition, using everyday items on hand works just as well.  
• Spells are not the answer to everything.  I didn't have too much trouble with this, but it seemed that all my reference material had a spell for every little thing, which implied (or so I thought) that in order to be successful, I had to do a spell for every little mundane thing to ensure that things went the way I wanted.  This is, of course, absolutely ridiculous.  My approach nowadays are to use spells for an extra boost for major nerve-wracking situations, and to help me change a situation that all feasible mundane options have failed to bring about.  
• "Wiccan" or "pagan" is not affiliated with a dress style.  I didn't follow this trend, but those I came across with an interest in Wicca or paganism all seemed to dress similarly: goth, alt-rock, emo, heavy eyeliners, huge ankh or pentacle chains, and they all seemed to glare a lot.  It made me feel as though I wasn't doing something right, that to truly be Wiccan/pagan, I had to dress this way.  It made me feel unnecessarily isolated at a time in my life where I already felt isolated to begin with.  
• There is a difference between Traditional Wicca and Neo-Wicca.  I was under the impression in the beginning that there was no real difference between the two, and it wasn't until much later that I realized - and can now identify - the vast differences between them.  Now I know that not to be true. 
• Never incorporate an act into your practice unless/until you know it's purpose and agree with it.  This was a huge lesson I learned the hard way.  I did everything the books told me, because I thought that I was supposed to.  It never really occurred to me to question why in the beginning - not until I began noticing opposing acts and vastly different styles of doing the same thing.  Now, I don't include anything unless I know where it came from, why it's used, and even then only if the action resonates with me.  
• There is no rush to find a matron/patron deity.  I have put so much pressure on myself in the past to find my matron and patron, that it created a sort of... block... within me.  That block prevented me from really establishing any sort of relationship with a specific deity at all, though I did start a very basic relationship with a general macro view of the Goddess.  Now, I'm just taking my time, looking through pantheons, learning about the culture, and only when I feel absolutely ready do I approach a deity.  
• Your personal space represents your state of mind.  This was something I learned from experimenting with what I learned from a feng shui book, but it's something that absolutely rings true for me.  Opening sacred space, meditating, spellwork, celebrating the sabbats, all of that - and just my general state of being - is highly affected by what is around me.  If it's dusty, dirty, and cluttered, then I find my personal work suffers, and my mood is more unstable or otherwise not as great as it could be.  I don't really like the act of cleaning so much but I do try to keep on top of general room and house upkeep.  Not only does it lift my spirits to be in a nice, neat, and clean room, but it's a source of personal pride.  
• What's right for someone else is not necessarily right for you.  I think every newbie goes through this discovery.  We all read books that say their way is the right way, that such-and-such must be done in a specific order - but what I didn't realize as a beginner on this path was that there are numerous methods of getting things done.  I don't have to follow the advice of the first person I come across, and it takes trial and error to figure out what works best for me and what doesn't.  Two practitioners can try out the same spell with the same tools and ingredients, at the same time, and come up with two completely different outcomes.  The same goes toward meditation methods, casting circles, charging items, purification of self, cleansing tools, consecration, etc.  
• Journaling is extremely important.  Oh, how I wish I was a more avid journalist in the beginning!  Right now, I have a little book that I found on clearance at Michael's several years ago, and I write descriptions of tarot readings I've done, thoughts on my path, descriptions of meditations, journeying, spellwork, sabbat celebrations, rituals in general, and anything else that happens to be spiritual related.  This book is something I've written in on and off for several years; being able to see how far I've come is amazing to me, and it's inspirational.  How I wish I had a journal from the very beginning... 
• Have a journal for at least a year before starting a Book of Shadows.  I don't think I would have listened to this advice, but I wish I knew how frustrating it would be, starting a BoS without having a journal to reference.  I started mine with very little written out before hand, and what I did have, was on looseleaf paper, spread about all my stuff.  It's been a year since I started compiling an official BoS, and I have found that I should have started off with a journal form first - the sort where I include information I've looked up, along with personal thoughts, and never adding anything before vast research has been made and personal experience to add.  I find that now I have to go back and frequently edit what I already have down, or scrap entire pages completely, and it's rather exhausting.  Also, I believe a small journal-size book would be beneficial for circle work, since my binder is heavy, massive, and there's no place to really put it for reference that doesn't create problems.  
• There is no rush.  The biggest thing for me, is that I always compared my own spiritual growth with others, and always expected to grow faster.  Maybe it's because of that competitive part of me, or maybe I felt I needed to prove to myself - and others - that I belonged on this path, and therefore, would excel quickly.  Either way, I rushed through a lot of things that I had to later pause and revisit.  I wish I knew then that everyone moves at their own pace, and there was nothing wrong with sticking with one lesson longer than others, or whatever the situation might have been.  

Though I wish I knew these things from the beginning - it certainly would have made things a lot less confusing - I can't help but appreciate the trials and learning experience.  I doubt I would have had the same lessons learned had I known all of these things - whether that's good or bad, I can't say, but I can state that I value the learning experience regardless.  

What are some things that you wish you knew when you first started your path?  

Coming Out of the Broom Closet

I hadn't intended on "coming out of the broom closet" as they say.  At least, not the way I had.

The night before Thanksgiving here in the U.S., I went over to my boyfriend's mother's house to help her make pies.  She makes two types; a pale type and a darker one.  Justin, my boyfriend, favors the light type and I thought I'd help her out (she makes three for her own thanksgiving, and promised five to her church) and learn the recipe all in one fell swoop.

Everything went remarkably well.  She's a very well-read individual, very family-oriented, calm, sweet.  I've never heard her say anything harsh or even imply she wished nothing but the best for anyone.  So I'm not so sure why I was so hesitant about telling her that I wasn't a Christian, other than a presumption on my part.  Every devout person I have talked to about it before - and I'll be honest, it's not like I've told hundreds of people, just a handful - they all seemed to react the same way: they insist I need to be saved, that I'm going to hell, and if only I let Jesus into my heart....

Well, you know the drill.

So I assumed that she would act the same.  And when the subject of religion came up, I started opening up to her instinctively.  I told her that I wasn't Christian; and she turned to me with genuine interest.  "Then what are you?"

I smiled nervously, realizing at that moment that I opened the door too far to slink back into the shadows.  "I'm Wiccan."

And just like that, I said it.

Sure, it doesn't seem like much.  Just two little words.  All my previous experiences were there, cautioning me in the background.  Inside, I cringed and held my breath.

But she just smiled, shook her head, and continued with her conversation.  Just like that.  No condescension, no proselytizing.  I wasn't treated differently in any way.  There was just gentle acceptance.  It was quite refreshing.

Ultimately, I learned something very important from that experience.  I can't allow my experiences with those who are not as open-minded or well-read cloud my judgment; what they did does not necessarily mean that others will do the same.  I allowed an inner shadow to control that part of my life, to generate unfounded fear and to act on said fear.  Now that I have recognized the fear and conquered it - even if it wasn't intentionally done - I feel as though a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.  I can't believe how freeing it is to make such a simple statement.  Does it mean I'll tell everyone I meet?  Certainly not.  But it does mean that I am more willing to reveal that part of myself when the subject comes up, rather than carefully avoiding it.  It means that I no longer expect anyone I tell to react in the worst way possible.

I also realized that if I wish to gain something, I have to be willing to risk something.  I can't expect to reach a new level of trust or closeness within a friendship if I'm not willing to reveal something personal.  I believe it was Birch from the Sacred Grove who said that equal exchange is necessary for those things that aren't necessary, and that that seems to be something that more and more neopagans seem to ignore or refuse to believe.  But I think he has a valid point.  Everyone has the right to expect the bare necessities of survival, I think, and should feel free to ask their deities for help on that.  But when it comes to non-necessities... something must be given to be gained.  Equal exchange, even if simply in the form of energy rather than money, should be expected.  You can't expect everything for nothing.

I certainly hadn't expected that epiphany for Thanksgiving this year.

Being More Active in the Pagan Community

Being a solitary practitioner is a rather lonely endeavor, and one that not everyone would actively choose.  While I like to think that I don't choose this solitary path, I can't help but doubt it; just because I don't know another pagan personally (online in other states and countries don't count) does NOT mean I HAVE to be solitary.  It's within my power to change that.

I truly believe that we are all where we are in our lives due to our own choice, conscious or no.  If we're happy, content, and positive, it's because we choose to be; we put in the effort to go after the things that make us happy, have the wisdom to enjoy it while it lasts, and make a conscious effort to look on the bright side of things, thus attracting more good things (like attracts like).  But if we're bitter, depressed, and negative, it's because we want to be; we choose to dwell on bad situations, seek vengeance, allow ourselves to expect the worst from people and situations, fulfilling a self-proclaimed negative prophecy.  If we don't want to be or experience those things, then it is in our power to change our lives and mold it into what we want.  No, it's our responsibility to do those things.  No one else can do this but us.  

So to go on about how lonely it is being a solitary practitioner is one thing, if you have no choice.  But after I wrote out a long post to this blog and began proofreading, I realized something: not only was I whining about something that could be changed, I was doing it for compassion and consolation, not for brainstorming ideas on how to resolve the problem.  

Acknowledging you have a problem is always the first step in resolving it.  I do have a problem.  Defining and figuring out what the problem is is next.  So what is the problem?  Well, being a solitary practitioner isn't the problem.  There's nothing wrong with being a solitary; coven life isn't for everyone, and it allows me to tailor my path to what I feel is necessary.  It does lack the structure that I crave, though.  But being solitary isn't the problem; feeling disconnected from others of like mind is.  The feeling of loneliness and isolation is.  

And this is completely within my control to change.  If I want to have pagan friends, it's ultimately up to me to put myself out there.  I can complain about how not having transportation puts a damper on things, true.  I can even say that money is tight enough that public transportation would be somewhat difficult.  Difficult.  Not impossible.  

So, if I take a step back and look at the problem objectively, then there's bound to be a solution.  Let's see... 

Problem:  feeling of disconnect, loneliness and isolation from the pagan community.  

Opposite Extreme:  extremely busy social life and emotionally drained from said social life.  

Happy Medium:  a few pagan friends that I can hang out with frequently (i.e. weekly or every other week) basis (ideally), or more interaction between pagan groups/individuals online.  

Ways to achieve this:  

• Apartment Gatherings.  Our apartment has a small monthly party for anyone who lives in the apartment complex to attend.  There's a theme, and you're expected to bring something to share with everyone else, but I suppose a bag of chips and salsa wouldn't be too complicated.  The chances of meeting another pagan there are pretty slim, but you never know unless you put yourself out there.  
• Local Occult Shops.  There aren't any in the immediate area, but there are some within a 15 mile radius.  I think I saw a listing on Witchvox, but I'm not too sure on how accurate and up-to-date the list happens to be.  Maybe ask the employees here if there are any flyers or known groups within the area... if they offer classes, maybe check out how much they are and see if I can't join one.  
• Meet Up.  I know some pagan groups use this site.  Maybe I should check it out and see if there are any groups in the area that use this site.  
• Make Youtube Video Replies.  Probably the easiest thing to do, requiring the least effort.  I don't mind making videos - I've made plenty that I never actually uploaded to youtube for various reasons - so I think making video responses and replies to videos would be a good starting off point.  Even if it's just to say "loved your video!  Can't wait for the next one!"  
• Reply to Blogs.  Including this one.  I've always preferred the writing medium, so I should probably use it more, lol.  There are several insanely good pagan blogs out there - like the above comment with youtube, I should probably make more of an effort to engage people in conversation.  

Possible Obstacles:  

• Transportation.  The biggest issue.  I don't drive, and my boyfriend works second shift - not to mention the car has been overheating lately, and we don't have the spare money to replace the radiator just yet.  I've never been a fan of public transit, but I've used it before... I suppose I could use it again.  
• Money.  Not too much of an issue.  I can scrape up $20 if I need to, but not more than that at a time, unfortunately.  
• Shyness.  The biggest issue and underlying problem.  When I don't know you all that well, I prefer to observe quietly; I don't trust wholeheartedly or easily.  Trust is earned slowly, through gradual exchange in a safe environment.  I guess it's something that was ingrained into me being raised in the inner city of Cleveland... there are a lot of weird, sick, perverted people out in the world.  I was always taught to be on my guard.   
• Self-Esteem.  My self-esteem is just not where it used to be.  Maybe some positive affirmations and small goals that can be relatively easy to accomplish will make this situation better.  Meditation with my rose quartz, focusing on self-love and acceptance may be something that would help, as well.  Rose quartz water may improve the situation temporarily, too.  
• Procrastination.  I do have a habit of procrastinating whenever I possibly can.  It's not a good thing, and it is something that I do try to combat, but it gets the best of me sometimes.  Maybe I can set up one day a week where I force myself out of the house (weather permitting).  

Already, I feel better about the situation.  Now all I have to do is stick to it, and follow through!  

Colors

Colors have a significant effect on all of our lives; we are constantly surrounded by color, no matter where we go, and we are frequently affected by colors. Science has proven that colors can alter not only one’s mood, but can also the way one thinks, positive and negative responses (according to personal associations with a particular color), and can even make a person eat more or less.
In magick, colors hold a significant symbolic meaning, which usually changes upon personal preference and experience. Each color has a vibration that we all unconsciously pick up; the goal of creating color correspondences is to match up aspects of life that vibrate on the same level as that color. Because individuals have different experiences throughout their lives, one may come to associate a specific color with a specific situation; a person who fears bees, for example, may not be fond of the color combination of yellow and black; a person who was hit by a red car may have negative attachments to red. This is why it is greatly encouraged for each individual practitioner to develop their own correspondences for aspects of life.
When creating a custom color correspondence, one should take into consideration both negative and positive aspects of that color. For example, red may mean lust, but it can also symbolize anger. Changing a color correspondence over time is perfectly fine, and happens as one grows spiritually.
Colors are used for a wide variety of things in magick – candle magick, string/cord magick, altar set-ups, for jewelry, offering stones, rituals, to represent/honor deities and spirits, and to put one in the proper mood for a specific magickal or ritual working. Another aspect of using color can be for color therapy – when you lack an energy or vibration in your life, selecting the appropriate color to surround yourself (be it clothing, makeup, jewelry, a blanket, paint, artwork, etc) can help make a more balanced individual. Since our color needs vary from day to day, color therapy is used primarily for clothing and accessories, which can be changed easiest daily.

Color Correspondences

Black
The Universe, Saturn
Mystery, secrecy, privacy, the unknown, hidden things, energy absorption, habits, fears, grief, sorrow, negativity, grudges, resentment, binding, banishment.

Blue
Element of Water
Peace, calm, relaxation, meditation, emotions, feelings, depression, sadness, lack of energy, the tide, the ocean, devotion, balance, hope, patience, stagnant, tranquility, ebb and flow.

Brown
Earth
The hearth, home, families, pets, animals, business, justice, the law, fairness,
strength, stubborn, travel, stability.

Gold
Sun
Solar energies, the God, warmth, excess, life, masculinity, fatherhood, luxuruy, worldly, finances, investments, achievements, long life, the Sabbats, yang. Orange may be used in substitution of Gold.

Green
The Element of Earth
Growth, plants, healing, nature, abundance, faeries, food, herbs, cooking, brewing, fertility, wealth, renewal, luck, jealousy, greed, envy, material possessions.

Orange
Sun
Solar energy, courage, authority, adaptability, encouragement, career, ambition, success, individuality, independence, self-confidence, success, individuality, independence, self-confidence, self-value, peace of mind, quick action, nagging, parties, celebrations, fun, the Sabbats.
Yellow may be used in quick substitution of orange.

Pink
Venus
Love, crush, emotional attachment, tenderness, affection, romance, companionship, friendship, bonding, clingy, youth, soulmate, the One, engagement, marriage, long-term commitment, compassion, gentleness, harmony, submissiveness, co-dependency.

Purple
Element of Akasha, Jupiter
Spirit, the Divine, cosmic forces, karma, fate, spirituality, magick, divination, astral work, psychic abilities, mystical, transformation.

Red
Element of Fire, Mars
Fire, blood, anger, rivalry, aggression, energy, passion, lust, sex, focus, physical activity, the Will, control, dominance, stamina, masculine energy, survival, determination, drive, war, impulse, spontaneity, obsession.

Silver
Moon
Lunar energies, the Goddess, femininity, cycles, motherhood, rebirth, reincarnation, purity, hormone balance, astral work, stars, psychic ability, dreams, the Third Eye, yin, Esbats.
White or purple may be used to substitute silver.

White
Moon
Spirit, purity, cleansing, consecration, protection, positivity, the light, truth, sincerity, forgiveness, the higher self, birth, marriage.
White can substitute for any other color, but must be charged with intention.

Yellow
Element of Air
Communication, travel, joy, happiness, friendship, social situations, groups, the mind, guidance, wisdom, imagination, creativity, ideas, change, counseling, thoughts, inspiration, plans, meeting new people, understanding, knowledge, studying, scheming, gossip, lies, rumors, prejudice, assumptions.

TS2, Resolutions & Tarot

I meant to actually post yesterday covering most of yesterday's events, but failed, primarily due in part to me having a new Sims 3 game.  That game series is truly my weakness.  Justin just bought the remaining expansion packs, and I couldn't wait to install them; once I did, I spent hours playing - until I felt like dozing at my computer - only to tray and save and meet with an Error 12.  Which basically means it was a memory error, that I couldn't save, and that I lost the game.  I did some research, and apparently, it's an issue that started in 2010 that was never resolved.  Instead of EA fixing that issue, they decided to put their energies into making new expansion and stuff packs, and creating a patch for Seasons that exacerbated that error.  I am highly irritated, frustrated, and aggravated over this issue.  Why spend money on a game if the creators are unwilling to actually fix necessary gaming problems?  I can't even play the game... saving is mandatory!

Ahem.  Rant over.

Today, I started my day off right.  I got up, drank some water (yay for me choosing hydrating H20 instead of caffeine!) and hopped onto the treadmill.  Our treadmill is really old, a monster in size, loud, and jerky; but it works.  The down side is that the lowest setting is, for me, a half-run, which makes starting a new workout routine on that thing a little off-putting.  I had intended to go 10 minutes.  I didn't make it past 3.  I guess I'm way more out of shape than I thought.

I don't want to change my goal plan on working out, but I may have to.  I'll wait out the 2 weeks, walk on the treadmill everyday, and see where I am then.  I'll make the necessary changes as needed.

Oh - just so you know, I've went on walks with the dog around here for 20 or 30 minutes, and came back a little out of breath, but not sweaty.  That's why I thought I could do the treadmill for nearly 10 minutes and build up to the full 10 over the span of 2 weeks.

I also did my affirmations while I was still lying in bed after waking this morning, around 6am.  Yes, I woke up at 6am... but I went to bed around 9pm.  I felt really good after sleeping that long, though now I'm starting to feel a bit sluggish.  I haven't eaten breakfast yet, so I guess I should handle that.  It's 8:30 now.

I did a tarot reading for my sister a week ago using a new method and routine of tarot reading.  She wasn't with me, so I wasn't sure if it would be accurate or not.  The whole point is to do a reading a week so that I can practice using my intuition with tarot reading.  This new method, and my using intuitive reading rather than memorized book readings, really worked out for me - she said I never gave her a more accurate reading before.  How on-cue I was actually gave me goosebumps, but also gave me a little more confidence.  I did a reading for myself, using a new spread, but it didn't make as much sense to me as the one I did for my sister.  I'll wait out the week and review the cards and my original interpretation before I jump to any conclusions.  I generally don't read a book or do any in-depth research on the days that I do tarot (which I try to reserve Monday for).

I received my copy of the Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft by Christopher Penczak yesterday.  I honestly wasn't expecting it so soon - my account at Half Price Books online said that the books I ordered could take up until the 20th for delivery.  They were all ordered from different places, so I didn't think they would come together, and I was right.  I wanted to start reading it yesterday, but got distracted by the Sims 3.  I started it today - for one hour, which doesn't seem like enough.  The way Penczak writes always leaves me wanting to know more, and never feeling bored; he has done thorough research (you can tell by the way he presents his opinions and facts, and always offers suggestions on further reading material or reference material that he used).  My only regret is that I couldn't have gotten all of his books in one go - his books were written in a specific order to guide new and old practitioners through techniques and lessons in a year and a day format in order to get to know themselves, their path, and spirituality better, and the Shamanic book was meant to be the third in the series.  For some reason, I felt really called to it... and though he did say it was a stand-alone book, he also warns that it builds on some techniques and lessons used in the first two books (The Inner Temple of Witchcaft, and the Outer Temple of Witchcraft).  I'll try to make do, but I really wish I had those previous two books.  I wish I could have studied them in the order they were meant to be studied.

I do plan on making videos for each lesson, which I plan to start at each new moon - I've already got the channel set up under A Year and a Day playlist.  You can watch my videos on youtube.  I plan on writing a separate blog post for those lessons as well, since I never seem to be able to get all of what I want to say in a single youtube video.

2013 Calendar

I had planned to implement my winter resolution starting on Monday (yesterday), but because I felt so horrible, I gave myself a pass.  I have been having some health issues of late, and it left me feeling completely drained of energy, exhausted, uncomfortable, and just not feeling good.

I know, I know, it sounds like an excuse.  Maybe it is.  Either way, I gave myself a pass yesterday, and have decided to start today, since I felt SO much better after a lot of sleep and rest and relaxation.  

So what did I do - other than sleep - yesterday if I felt so bad?  Well... I did a craft project.  It's very simple, and I plan on adding onto it at some point, but I made my own calendar.  :)  

Why did I choose to do a calendar, of all things?  Well, I never did get around to purchasing one for 2013, and it was driving me nuts, lol.  The one that I wanted (Llewellyn's calendar) had a lot of extra info and was more money than I wanted to pay; and standard calendars didn't have all the stuff I wanted built in.  So I figured making my own the way I wanted would be the best way to go.  Plus, I already had everything necessary to make it: 

\

3 hole punch 

White printer paper 

Colored markers 

Colored pens 

Computer for quick reference 

First thing I did was make a list of everything I wanted to include in my calendar.  

Moon phases 

Astrological phases the moon goes through 

Void of course dates 

Esbats 

Sabbats 

Religious holidays (other than the sabbats)

Federal holidays 

Birthdays

Seasonal associations 

Weekday color associations 

Next, I came up with a template in pencil and went over it in black ink so that I could see the lines when I place a fresh piece of paper over it.  And that's exactly what I did - traced over it, using a ruler (because it looked sloppy when I didn't; the first 3 months are traced by hand, but the last 9 months look much better).  

Using my computer, I filled in the dates for each month.  I used the hole at the end of my ruler (which I'm pretty sure is there so that you can hang it up or hook it through a binder) on each date for the moon phase, and colored in the moon phase by hand.  Void of course was added, along with the astrological sign that the moon moves into (I found a resource that offered both in my time zone).  All the sabbats, esbats, holidays, birthdays and any other personally significant or important days were also added to the calendar.  

Last, but not least, everything was colored in.  I added the elemental sign before and after the name of the month and colored in the month names and symbol with an appropriate color, color coded the days of the week, outlined sabbat and esbat days, etc.  

I'm pretty satisfied with my results, but it was VERY time consuming.  I intend on making at least one picture to accompany the homemade calendar, but haven't quite gotten around to making it yet.  

After I did that, I took a nap - which was pretty great, I felt super refreshed afterwards, though it didn't last long.  Once I got back up, I worked on creating a custom formal circle casting ritual.  I'm not 100% satisfied with it yet, so I won't post it until I am.  

Now that we're all caught up with what I did yesterday and didn't post, I'm going to end this one and update a post on what I did today.  :) 

Winter Resolutions

TipToeChick made a fantastic video on youtube about how she deals with new year's resolutions - rather than setting a goal for the year, she sets them for quarters.  This appealed to me greatly, so I thought I'd take a few of her suggestions and give a try.  :)

In order to make the winter resolutions work, it requires  blogging updates on progress, connecting with other people doing the same thing, and joining TipToeChick on Stickam for a little update session. I can commit to all of these things, as long as the stickam thing happens at a time that I can realistically join in.

Without further ado, my winter resolutions!

3 Positive Affirmations: I already have a few affirmations that I do daily, but I'm determined to add 3 more to the list.  These are typically done while meditating, or upon rising/going to bed each day.

• I am an intelligent person capable of in-depth and interesting conversation. 
• I am a creative human being full of ideas and artistic achievements.  
• i am an independent person that only needs to make herself happy.  

Diet:  There's lots of stuff I want to do with my diet; I've really slacked on eating healthy as of late.  The biggest thing - especially budget-wise - is my current intake of caffeine.  I have gone cold turkey before, and it's not fun, so I plan to reduce the amount of soda intake gradually over a 6 week period.  

• Week 1: Cut down soda intake; no more than 3 cans/glasses per day.  
• Week 2: Cut down soda intake: no more than 2 cans/glasses per day. 
• Week 3: Cut down soda intake: no more than 1 can/glass per day.  
• Week 4: Cut down soda intake: no more than 1 can/glass every other day.  
• Week 5: Cut down soda intake; no more than 1 can/glass for the entire week.  
• Week 6: No more soda!  

Exercise:  I recently bought a yoga video for weight loss, as it's my absolute favorite form of exercise, but after watching it through and trying it out, I discovered that I can only do a quarter of the video!  Rather than making me feel accomplished like yoga normally does, it made me feel pretty bad about myself, so I thought I'd start building up leg strength (which is my #1 weakness) by using the treadmill.  Why the treadmill and not just walks around the neighborhood?  Well, it's cold and there's a solid sheet of ice outside the door, on the driveway, and along the roads (there's also no sidewalks), so I figure the safest bet would be the treadmill for now.  Plus - it's freakin' cold!  Anyway, my goal is to reach 20 minutes on the treadmill without getting out of breath.  I plan on building up to the 20 minutes, adding in a week if I need to, etc.  I don't want to become sore, but I do want to do this on a daily basis, which is why I'm starting small.  

• Week 1 & 2: 10 minutes on the treadmill per day.  
• Week 3 & 4: 15 minutes on the treadmill per day.  
• Week 5 & 6: 20 minutes on the treadmill per day.  

Writing:  I love writing, but I want to get into a habit of doing it daily rather than just when the inspiration hits.  

• Journal daily in my private journal.  
• Blog daily on this blog.  
• Record all Aha! moments.  This can be in the blog or in my journal.  
• Read a spirituality book for 1 hour per day, and write a short summary/opinions on it in my journal.  When the book is complete, do a video on the book.  
• No more than 1 hour per day for admin duties at the HAUTE Ton.  I tend to get lost for hours doing admin stuff, and I really REALLY want to have more time to RP and have fun.  
• 1 hour per day of posting at the HAUTE Ton.  This will have me posting even when I don't have inspiration on any one topic.  If there's nothing to reply to, try to come up with an open thread, with no more than 3 open threads open at one time.  

Other Stuff:  Following are some miscellaneous stuff that I want to work on during the winter quarter.  

• Divination once a week for myself.  I tried doing one for my sister, but she never got back to me.  It's time for me to practice on myself.  I use tarot cards more than anything, but pendulum work can be substituted as well.  
• Clean something I don't like each day.  Can be localized (1 thing for 1 room per day).  These things must be stuff I usually procrastinate on - scrubbing sinks/tubs, mopping, vacuuming, dusting, etc.  
• Drink more water.  I tend to guzzle soda, tea, and anything but water,  This really needs to be fixed!  

Alright!  That's my plan for winter quarter.  I hope it's not too big... we'll see how it turns out.  Wish me luck!