Amy’s blog

So the time has come to move along.  I have too many irons in the fire.  Time to cut back and focus my energies.
So I am saying goodbye here so I have time to continue to  create and design my Life Transformations board in Yahoo.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/life_transformations
It will become an extention of my Life Coaching practice here in Missouri.
Everyone is welcome to join, and post often.
It is a support tool to keep you on track with your own goals, consider it "free" self-help of sorts :-)

I've enjoyed making friends here at VOX.  I wish you all the very best this life has to offer.  Always know, YOU, have a CHOICE in all of life.

Namaste,
~Amy~

....no real direction, not much being accomplished.
Sometimes i wonder if I need help, like drugs or something, then think, hell no, this is just life.
I am coming to KNOW that there is TOO much in my life to do by myself.
I'm dealing with a thyroid issue and I'm mostly exhausted from the time I get up to the time I go to bed.
We're in the process of "adjusting" it, but some days I just want to stay in bed.

It is true I have lost both parents in the short time of three years.  That's a fact.
My husband has gone back on the road after telling me, promising me he was going to find something else so he could stay home.  That's a fact and one that I think wears heavy on me.  I've said all my life that I married him to be with him not without him.

I go in and out of the idea of separation.  I am horribly lonely when he is gone, partly the reason I'm doing my Cafe...I'll see people each day when we open.  New people each day...some "regulars"...but new people...I'm a person who changes her furniture in her house several times a year because that's what I like...I don't buy all new I rearrange it all ;-) I get bored easily, must keep up the pace :-)

So same ol' same ol'...

A WITCHES MANIFESTO

Adapted from The Wiccan Bardo by Paul Beyerl)

 

I DEMAND THESE THINGS OF MYSELF AS A WITCH:

 

I must pursue my highest ideals

I must aspire to the highest of ethics

I must demand integrity of myself

I must always keep my word

 

I must cultivate self-discipline

I must LIVE the Hermetic Principle

  I must seriously contemplate the ramifications of Reincarnation & Karma

 

I must respect the astral realms

I must approach ritual with reverence and care

I must respect ritual work as an act of love and beauty.

 

I must take sole responsibility for all the events and circumstances in my life, in the knowledge that I have created them all for my own development.

I must strive to cultivate a sense of humour and of humility.

I must avoid all negativity, firstly in my thinking and as a consequence, in my life.

  

I must live in harmony with the Earth Goddess - Gaia.

I must cultivate a global perspective.

I must serve my community, both locally and globally, being of help to all people.

         

I must be willing to defend my religion.

  I must provide for the safe future of my ritual tools, should I be taken by death

I can't seem to get to sleep anytime before midnight this summer...maybe it's because it is summer and somewhere in my mind I think I deserve to just take it easy and have some fun?? just maybe? :-)

I got my horoscope done for the next three months...interesting stuff, and so much of it fits me like a glove...it goes basically day by day through the rest of this month, August and September.

My husband got a phone call from one of his older sisters in Dallas.  Wanted him to call back to talk to their mom...he did, like a good son...and i think he's about done with the whole mess.  Two of his older sisters have chosen to live with their mother all these years.  Failure to Launch!  They are 47 and 49 now and their mother has suffered a stroke and needs a heart operation but she's not well enough to get one and she can't communicate with anyone..lost her ability to speak.  I have a sneaking suspicion that she has lost some of her mental capabilities as well but his sisters are in denial.  All in all...my husband doesn't care about his mother. She abandoned him when he was very young. Never sent birthday cards..never even called.  And now at this late hour everyone wants to act as if everything is wonderful. What a freakin' mess. 

I feel sorry for my husband, and I'm allowing him to find his own way through this.  I'm not stepping in to "fix" it all this time.  I don't need to.  He's a big boy and by stepping out it allows him to find his own way and feel good about doing it his way..and not my way.  The dance he and I have danced since I was 15 and he was 17 has been one of me being his mother in a lot of ways, the mother he never had..but for now..we have stopped the dance. Both of us conscious of what we're doing.  We've done so much personal work..you have to wonder if we ever get to just say "we're done" this feels really great lol.

He is going to call his sisters tomorrow or maybe wait until he is home this weekend, he and the boys are on another trip. I encouraged him to do what is best for him.  Don't take on guilt that isn't his to take on, and left it at that.  I trust he can actually call his sisters and for once put down the "play the game" face and tell them how he really feels.

Life is not easy..but it can be a wonderful learning experience. 

Sometimes it is a huge growth spurt that takes place in times just like this.  I see him having enough courage to tell it like it is for him...to voice his truth and his pain and his disappointment and his sadness.  It's hard to see someone I love so much once again pitched into yet another family drama, not of his creating.

Well I am off to bed...trust you all are well.

Life is a wonderful opportunity to color the canvas just as we need to.

~Amy~

A day of celebration...we didn't do much today.  I am proud of myself for not buying any fireworks this year.  I am just not all that keen on those things that make so much noise.  My boys hurt themselves each year..and this year Roger ( hubby) and the three older boys had to leave town this afternoon for yet another job ( we own a trucking company, do corporate household moves, all lower 48 states)...so I'm happy...that I didn't get bugged too much to get fireworks.

This is my mom's birthday.  She passed away suddenly just over 3 years ago.  I miss her.

How independent are we really?  this is "INDEPENDENCE" day...how dependent are we on all the other countries in the world? on each other? on ourselves?  independence is an interesting word...

Time to get to bed...
Just wanted to write something ;-)
Night all...
~Amy~

Live Free or Die Hard was excellent!

1408 on the other hand was not very entertaining at all...I was very disappointed :-(
I am one of those people that wants to be scared. Nothing much scares me anymore.
Where have all the really scary movies gone?

Anyway...I'm a movie goer, gets my creative juices flowing for my writing.  Many times I've said if they can make a movie like that, then they can make one of my novels a movie :-) and it would really be entertaining and fun! ;-)

What movies have you seen recently??

~Amy~

I believe there is Change afoot.  I believe it will get worse before it does actually get better.  You know why?  Because more people have to wake up first for it to get better.  Not just wake up to the world and their environment but wake up inside themselves and realize THEY are the creators of their lives.  Not their parents, or society, or their boss, etc.

I believe there is a shift that is already occurring. A shift that is going to eventually lead us right where we need to be.  A shift in consciousness, which then leads to a shift in awareness and then finally a shift in creating our lives moment to moment.

Who decides? who gets to decide the direction of the world? of the Universe? of the planet? of the United States? of my community? of my life?

What does the future hold for you? personally?  Do you at all think you know?

I have heard one theory about 2012, and that is the planet is going to shift into two distinct fragments ( not physically) but consciously...and we will each actually choose to be on this path or that path.  One path is to stay as it is, no enlightenment, very little change.  The other however will challenge you each step of the way, a struggle for some, a wonderful breath of fresh air for others, lots of changes, LOTS of ENLIGHTENMENT.  Just what I've heard.

I've also talked to some really "earthy" people who are burying freezers on their property with "supplies" for when the "world falls apart"...they have guns and food and generators.  I'd want to be with these people if we lost electrical power to the United States.  Do you realize what that would mean?  Parts of the US have already discovered what it is like without electric for a short extended amount of time.  It's not fun, and people get really mean when they don't have food or Air Conditioning or Heat in their homes.  What DOES the future hold?

Are you ready?
Can you get ready?
Is there any "getting ready" to really do?

I think there is, especially if we're talking about an attack on our electrical supply, water supply or food supply.
Do you realize if anyone had the mind, in this country, the way in which we are set up, our food chain is a sitting duck?  Well our water supply is as well.  One tainted strain of a virus but in a feed lot in Texas and we'd all be dead in a matter of weeks.  Ok that was an exaggeration, of sorts ;-)  But it is true..there really is no way to protect our food supply or our water supply.

So what's to be done?

LOTS.....

What do you think?

This is not about doom and gloom..this is about preparing, both on a physical level and on a conscious level.
Are YOU ready for whatever the world has in store for the future?  oh wait who gets to decide the future of YOUR life?

Just a quandary this morning.  My husband it at MIZZOU with my two older boys for Summer Orientation so you get to hear what rattles around in my brain on this Monday morning.

Be well...
~Amy~

( Text by members SCW Community, SCW 1997)

Turn off your TV.
Leave your house.
Know your neighbor.
Greet people.
Look up when you're walking.
Sit on your stoop.
Plant flowers.
Use your library.
Play together.
But from local merchants.
Share what you have.
Help a lost dog.
Take children tot he park.
Honor elders.
Support neighborhood schools.
Fix it even if you didin't break it.
Have pot lucks.
Garden together.
Pick up litter.
Read stories aloud.
Dance in the street.
Talk to the mail carrier.
Listen to the birds.
Put up a swing.
Help carry something heavy.
Barter for your goods.
Start a tradtion.
Ask a questions.
Hire young people for odd jobs.
Organize a block party.
Bake extra and share.
Ask for help when you need it.
Open your shades.
Sing together.
Share your skills.
Take back the night.
Turn up the music.
Turn down the music.
Listen before you react to anger.
Mediate a conflict.
Seek to understand.
Learn from new and uncomfortable angles.
Know that no one is silent though many are not heard, work to change this.

Anything you'd like to add?  what are you doing to support your community?
What will you do this week to support your community?

Have fun~
~Amy~

Something I wrote for a local paper.

Kindness: The first in a series called, "Exercises In Life", to help you live the life you were meant to live.
As I, myself, struggle with facing difference in this life, both in myself and in others, I see how alike we really are in many ways as human beings.  I invite you this month to focus on the likenesses you see this month in the people around you, not the differences.  It is a tall order, especially when society provides us with all the ammunition for seeing and feeling and acting on the differences.  I encourage you to look into the eyes of the people you work with, the people you do business with, the people you shop with, the people you live with, and SEE what is in them, is in you as well.

Wayne Dyer has a wonderful quote: "When given the choice to be right or be kind, be kind."  I challenge you to do this for the entire month.  Write it on a piece of paper and stick it on the frig or your rear view mirror or the front door ( both sides, so you see it leaving your house and you see it entering your house).  See what changes occur in your world, especially INSIDE you.  See the changes in your children, your family and friends, your co-workers and people in your community.

Choose not only to be kind to others but take it to the "ultimate"  step, be kind to yourself.  Journal about what that means to you.  Most of us have not been taught specifically how to be kind to ourselves.  We know pretty well how to be kind to others, but some think that means to self-sacrifice.  I DO NOT want you to self-sacrifice.

Find in your heart what true kindness means to you.  If you look you'll find the answer.  Then practice that.  It may mean taking a long bubble bath before bed.  It may mean buying a new book at the book store.  It may mean just sitting for 10 minutes each morning, practicing just "being" ( try that one, it is HARD).  It may mean not taking the blame for everything.  It may mean walking away from an argument someone is trying to have with you, don't engage them, just walk away, be kind to yourself.  You will find the answer that best suits you.  Have fun with this!

The dictionary defines being kind as: 1. Of a generous or warm-hearted nature.  2. Showing sympathy or understanding. 3. Humane  ( The American Heritage Dictionary, fourth edition, 2001.)

I think as we grow and change as individuals the community grows and changes with us.  We become more supportive, more tolerant and more kind in those moments that require us to step away from the chaos and in the "the balance".  As a community we have a job to create a safe, pleasant, creative environment where people can feel free to express themselves and who they are.  As we become strong in who we are as individuals the community becomes just as strong.  I want to see Washington, Marthasville, Augusta, Hermann, new Haven and ALL the surrounding areas thrive as a place that is known to be open and KIND to all people.  I think we have made great strides in this area, it is now time to step up even further.

What can you do personally, as a business owner, as a teacher, as a family, and as an individual to make where you live a KINDER place?

See you next month with more "Exercises In Life", we will be discussing "Conversations".

Please do not copy without permission :-)

"We cannot live the afternoon of life according to the program of life's morning; for what in the morning was true, will in evening become a lie."  Carl G. Jung

We are forever changing and evolving and shedding what doesn't work for something we think will work better.
I encourage you to take that LEAP of change now in your life and wait no more!

Share what you're going to change with someone close that will SUPPORT you in your changes.  If you have no one in your immediate family and friends ( and sometimes we don't trust those closest to us to support us fully), then find someone on-line or in a new class or some where outside your comfort circle, a Life Coach perhaps or a counselor.

Let's move toward what's really important in our lives.

Cheers...
here's to CHANGE in a very very good way!

~Amy~