It's Not God's Will

It is my opinion that the statement, "It's not God's Will" is a cop out. When things don't go the way you want them to, or you want an excuse to give up on something, or just a plain excuse to get out of something then out pops "Well it's not God's Will." Let me explain...

I've heard this statement for much of my life. One of the most memorable times it was used on me was during college when I was dating this fellow that I really liked a lot. He seemed to like me too. But, one day after winter vacation he handed me this line - It's not God's Will for us to be together. I don't know when God decided to have a conversation with him about our relationship, but one week all was well, the next week I "wasn't God's will". Honestly, I will never see this any differently, but I believe this was simply an easy way out of the relationship. I mean, when you use "it's not God's will" how can the other person say ANYTHING in response? At the time I was far less outgoing than I am now, if someone ever said that to me today I'd instantly say "bullshit" but back then I was simply left in shock, and even a little bit of anger that God had decided I wasn't worth dating. Yes, that is how it seemed to me by this fellow using that line. He was a coward, he should have just said "I don't want to date you anymore." But no, Christians have that very useful cop out from having to truly explain anything - "It's not God's Will".

I also think that the church / Christianity has ingrained into people this concept of being in God's Will / out of God's Will so much that a lot of times people give up way too easy. This could be because of several things, one being that they really didn't want to do the thing anyway so it's a very easy excuse to say it's not God's Will at this time / ever. Another could be that they have been taught this concept of praying for things / getting answers from God that as soon as things start going badly they just think it's not God's will and stop trying. How many people's dreams have been crushed by some pastor or person telling them when the going gets rough, that it must not be the will of God, and they have stopped trying? It makes me sick to think of this.

In my past I've also seen this concept used to control the members in a church so they do what the leadership wants. For example, I remember my parents putting a for sale sign up in our yard when I was younger and then it wasn't long after that, it was taken down and our plans changed. Apparently, the leadership of our church did not think it was God's will for us to move. They wanted us to stay, and yes I am cynical and have great hatred for this church but I honestly believe that they were trying to control my family because the church was small, and my dad tithed exactly what he was told to tithe even if it meant we ate poorly or did without some things. I just cannot fathom the idea that these church leaderships were able to communicate with God so easily that they had the ability to tell MY FAMILY what they could or could not do by using the concept of "not God's Will". 

People give up too quickly, all under the concept of it not being God's will. I don't know how many people I've heard say things like this, where they've attempted something once or twice, and because it did not open up completely for them, they were told or they decided themselves that it wasn't God's will for them. They often times mourn this, and ask for prayer to accept this.... sounds like hogwash to me. You have to work hard to get anything in this world. Don't fall into the habit of using this concept to not follow your desires and dreams. As an example, do you think that famous authors or actors get a big job or recognition as soon as they decide they want to follow that path? Or even thinking of King Tut since I lead tours for that exhibit...Howard Carter searched YEARS for Tut's tomb, using up tons of money and all he found was a mummified cat for many, many years. It would have been a shame for him to decide after those years that it simply wasn't the will of God to find Tut's tomb and give up. No, he did not though, he kept on striving, kept on working and persevering and eventually did find Tut's tomb. I'm not saying that some things simply aren't in the stars for some people, I'm just cautioning against giving up too soon all under the guise of "not God's Will".

So think about this.... "It's not God's Will" as the answer to these dilemmas...I don't agree with:

An easy way out of a relationship. Friend or romantic.
A way for church leadership to control their members.
A way to stifle creativity or growth.
A means to control your children's future.
Pure laziness and/or not wishing to make changes.
An excuse to never move out of your comfort zone.

I've been burned numerous times by this phrase, "It's not God's will" so this is my viewpoint only. I'm not trying to force my way of thinking on you, I simply wished to share. I just want you to think, next time before you say something isn't in the will of God, just think through whether you are using it as an excuse or if you really and truly think that all doors on whatever endeavor you are talking about is really not something for you.

Pagan Meme Questions

I recently participated in this swap for a group I'm in on Swap-bot.com and thought I'd share my answers here.

B A S I C S
* Do you have a magical/Pagan name? * How did you find Paganism? * How long have you been practicing? * Are you out of the broom closet? * Solitary or group practitioner? * What is your path?

I do not have a magical name - yet. I found out through books, study, and a few friends but mostly through my own interests and doing the research via books, library, internet. I've had my way of thinking about religious interests changed for about a decade now, I would say I am halfway out of the broom closet. My family knows I have varying beliefs from them, my parents are supportive, but folks from my past are not aware. I am solitary, and I study the path of the druid. I feel I am still very very new, and still figuring out what I believe and what I don't believe because I was filled with so many lies through my life.


D E I T Y
 * What’s your brand of deism? * Who is your patron God? * Who is your patron Goddess? * What Gods do you worship? * Do you fear darkly aspected Gods/Goddesses, or rather respect them? * Do you worship the Christian God? * Do you worship animals? Or plants?

At one time I was a monotheistic druid, and I still feel like I follow that path except I do not believe in the christian god as christians do. I believe there is a force, a powerful force that we call "god" that did put things into motion, but the god isn't like what people think where every single thing you do is being watched and weighed. It was put into motion, but not a personal relationship available with the "god". As for other deities, I believe that gods and goddesses worship extended from us trying to understand how the world and nature worked. I believe that our gods and goddesses and spirits are aspects of the greater power, that assist us in understanding and finding peace with the world. I love all the various religion's main female "mother goddess" deity. Especially those that are represented as fertility goddesses with the large hips and breasts. I do not have a patron god or goddess at this time but it is something I am working on, and progressing wtih. I respect both dark and light aspected deities. I do not worship animals or plants, but I do see them as vessels of spirit.


N A T U R E
* Do you regularly commune with nature? * Taken a camping trip just to talk to nature? * Describe the moment you felt closest to Mother Earth? * Do you have a familiar? * Have you ever called upon the powers of an animal in ritual? * Or a plant? * Do you hug trees? * Give them gifts? * What are your favourite plants to work with? * What are your favourite trees to work with?

Yes I regularly commune with nature. I have not camped due to my disability but I regularly go on walks in the forest, travel to waterfalls or lakes or the ocean, or the salt marsh, or botanical gardens and this is where I feel closest to the spirit of "god". One moment I felt very close to Mother Earth was at a waterfall. I was able to go to the edge, and I could hear the power of the water, and I was very high up and it not only frightened me but exalted me, and brought me great joy. Nature is powerful, even in the babbling of a brook, or the crack of thunder, or a simple rainshower, or the crinkling of autumn leaves in the wind. I do not have a familiar but I have a wonderful cat called Ember that I feel very protected by.  I have called on various animals during rituals, depending on the ritual. I have hugged trees, I have only given them the gift of my respect and prayers. My favorite plants are flowers. My favorite trees are oaks. The best tree I ever visited is the Angel Oak on the coast of SC. It is an amazing, elderly oak tree that touched me when I went to see her.

W H E E L  O F   T H E  Y E A R 
* What is your favourite holiday? . * What is your least favourite holiday? * Have you ever held a ritual on a holiday? * Ever taken a day off work to celebrate a Pagan holiday? * Do you celebrate Yule on the 21st rather than the 25th? * Have you ever felt the veil thin? * Ever danced the Maypole? * How do you usually celebrate the Pagan holidays?

Samhain, or Winter Solstice are my favorite holidays. Least favorite... I guess I would not say I don't like it but anything around the Easter season isn't really something that speaks to me as super important. I have held rituals on holidays, mostly Winter Solstice. I have never taken a day off work but haven't worked in a while. I celebrate Yule on the 21st, but also celebrate with my family on the 25th who still do christmas trees and the like. I have definitely felt the veil thin, on many occasions. I am sensitive to that and sometimes it frightens me and that is one reason my cat Ember gives me peace about some things. I have danced the maypole a few times, once when I was a child.  Well my celebrations are different for various holidays as I'm sure everyone's are, but as far as Winter Solstice goes, it always involves feeding the birds. We pull our bird feeders before that, so that the birds who will fly south will not feel there is food for them here, and then on Winter solstice we put out food again for those that did not go south. I normally write a poem every year about the longest night of the year, and what solstice means to me and I read it out loud either by myself or with my mother as she while she isn't pagan by any means, does find interest in the things I do. In fact she's asked me to cleanse a plot of land they just bought for her, so she is open.


D I V I N A T I O N
 * Do you use Tarot? * Do you use runes? * Do you use a pendulum? * Do you use dowsing rods? * Do you use astrology? * Any other forms of divination?

I love tarot, and some have said I have a knack for it, but my husband is Christian and that is one thing he refuses to let me have a full deck in the house, it's just something he's been told is "evil" and he feels uncomfortable with it so we compromise and I collect a few cards here and there (mostly of the card Temperance) but not a whole set and I do not read tarot cards anymore. I love how runes look but do not know how to read them, but I have practiced and studied making bind runes. No, I've never used a pendulum or dowsing rods and I'm not huge into astrology. As for divination for myself I have very strange dreams and have dreamed of the future many times and so that is kind of a type of divination I suppose. I have dreamed of entire scenarios even as a child that have taken place in later years. I also have a knack (as does my mother) of reading body language extremely well.


S P E L L S
* What was the first spell you did? * What was the latest? * Ever done a love spell? * A job spell? * A healing spell? * What was the most powerful spell you’ve ever performed? * What deities do you usually call on?

First spell was a cleansing spell for my house as I felt unsafe. The latest was a spell to help my health. I've never done a love spell, I've done bind runes for jobs. Spells aren't really a huge focus on my druidism. It's more on the lines of finding peace and purpose and listening to what nature has to teach me, more than actual wiccan type spells. But I have done some healing spells, and written bindrunes and made "witch bottles" for healing and protection. The most powerful spell was the protection spell. I usually call upon the spirits of nature, not any one particular deity at this time.


C R Y P T O Z O O L O G Y
* Do you believe in vampires? * Werewolves? * Shapeshifters? * Elves? * Fairies? * Dragons? * Nymphs? * Sprites? * Mermaids? * Satyrs? *Ever “seen” any of the above? * Ever used any of the above in magic? * Do you have one of them as a personal guardian?

No, no vampires. No werewolves. Shapeshifting only in the form of mysticism where one actually has a "dream" of shifting and an animal or animals guide you. But not actual physical shifting. Elves, no, but I adore fantasy elves. Fairies... perhaps. Dragons, yes, I believe dragons once existed. perhaps not as fantasy would have us think of them but something akin to dragons. Nymphs... maybe. Sprites... same as fairies, maybe. Mermaids? No. Satyrs? No. No I've never seen any of those, and no, no personal guardian of them.


R A N D O M
* Do you see a rabbit, a man or a woman in the moon? * Own a cat? * When you meditate, what does your happy place look like? * Do you work with chakras? * Do you believe in past lives? * If so, describe a few briefly: * Do you believe in soul mates? * Do you have a spirit guide? * Is it always love and light?

I see a rabbit in the moon. Yes I own a beautiful sleek black cat named Ember. My meditation happy place is in a forest, beside a large creek, the water babbling over the rocks and the sound of nature around me and the warmth of the sun on my face. I've begun to study chakras, and have done some with gemstones on chakra points to assist with healing. I do believe in past lives, and I have dreams and visions of things that had to be in past lives but I have yet to determine exactly what any past lives I may have lived were. Perhaps Egyptian as I have a very extreme draw to that culture. I believe in soul mates but not like most do. I believe that when you find someone you mesh with, friend or lover, that they are your soul mate for that period of time but it can fade and you can find another at a different time that is perfect for that time of your life. No, it is not always love and light, not at all. I have so much darkness and I fight it every day... and some days I do not fight it and let it thrive. I do not have a spirit guide.

30 Blog Challenge: Blog #1

Me on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad on Oct 12, 2013

Here's ten facts you may or may not know about me: 

1. I've been inside the middle pyramid on the Giza Plateau. It was very claustrophobic and there was really nothing to see but a big room once I got in the middle but it was still an awesome experience.

2. I once climbed under a fence in Cyprus just to have my picture taken with a rock. Well in other terms, the rock was a pillar that St. Paul supposedly was tied to and whipped while on his visit to Cyprus as is written about in the New Testament.

3. I was once detained as a terrorist by the Israeli's. I was trying to get on a cruise ship in Cyprus and had a borrowed suitcase as well as was traveling alone. They said I looked like a terrorist. They questioned me for a long time, searched me, tore my suitcase apart and the beeper still kept beeping. It turned out it was the gold page of my wordless book in my suitcase that kept setting it off. by the time I got into the ship, I was disheveled and in tears. They took a photo of me as I entered and I wish to this day I'd bought it to go with the story, but at the time I was too upset to get it.

4. While in Bethlehem, a man followed me onto the tour bus begging me to marry him. The bus driver had to make him get off. That was a weird experience, they wanted a ticket to America I suppose.

5. I parasailed in the Mediterranean Sea.

6. I have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, though I have gone through counseling and especially DBT (dialectical behaviour training) which has helped me a lot. One of the main things about BPD is feeling empty, worthless. I still struggle with this.

7. I have gotten 3 of my photos chosen to appear on Jones Soda bottle labels. They were "Boxy Boys" which is a picture of my boys in a box. A picture of a dulcimer being played. And a picture of the castle in Germany that we explored.

8. I once ate a pickled walnut whole, shell and all. I was visiting a family in Cyprus that only spoke Greek and they handed me this black thing on a fork with a glass of water and I just ate it to not be rude. It was only later when I got back to my home that I was told I'd eaten a whole walnut.

9. I have been in the Cairo Museum in Egypt where all of King Tut's belongings are kept. I have pictures of tons of his stuff, all covered in gold. I had to pay a couple dollars to take pictures, and I was searched twice while in the museum. It was not air conditioned. It was an amazing place.

10. I hate smoking. Absolutely abhor it. It makes me sick, migraines and such and I can't even go see bands most of the time because of the smoke in the clubs. I support no smoking in public places! It's the best thing ever! I have had my grandmother die of lung cancer from smoking. I saw her on oxygen and it broke my heart. I just don't understand it's thrill. It stinks, makes YOU stink, makes your teeth yellow and gives you wrinkles. So what if you're skinny? You look 10+ years older than you are.

It's Saturday, Do You Know Where Your Locusts Are?

"I don't love you like I did yesterday." - My Chemical Romance

Tonight was baked chicken, sliced up and put on salad with feta cheese. I personally had caesar dressing on it, yum. Earlier for snack I made cinnamon drop biscuits. I was going to make chicken and waffles but I had no idea I had no eggs (locusts!) and I'd already put the oil in the flour so I went ahead and made the biscuits.

Tonight I'm running a quest for OH. I was going to play some Champions but it's already 9pm and my quest'll start in an hour so there's really no time to even get going. So instead i'm listening to youtube. A while back someone showed me how to make channels on youtube so I have a "Favorites" and a "Wizard Rock" channel. Depends on what I feel like. The Favorites channel has a bunch of odd stuff, just as I find it I add it, I'll probably need to go through and delete at some point cause there are some that after I listened I didn't really like... like the Kontrust song. Too weird. I like weird but that's just really weird. I think it's called Hey DJ.

Nirvana - Pennyroyal Tea is playing.

I am taking my big Tut book tomorrow when I go do my Tut Ambassador stuff. I get too many questions I can't answer and I know I could if I had my book. By the time I take my docent class I'll already know a ton! I hope to be a docent and lead tours of the King Tut exhibit. I wouldn't mind some of the other areas either, the history stuff mostly. Not really interested in dinosaurs, or the science area (I mean science is cool but I don't wanna talk about it to kids - I'm a history buff!).

My demon cat is rubbing against my legs. Wonder what she wants. Probably food. My kids aren't the only locusts in this house.

Thirty Seconds to Mars - Kings and Queens is playing.

Andy will be off work soon enough, and I'll get to talk to him. Always look forward to that. Randy has a gig tonight, he left several hours ago to go play with Brent I think. The boys are in their room. Jet is probably curled on Hudson's bed. Demon cat just curled on back of the couch. All is well for now.

Game of Thrones theme by Lindsey Stirling and Peter Hollens is playing.

Nice way to end this entry, and think about my little quest in OH! And right on time...phone call!

Steaks, Sneezes and Barbarians

Tonight I made top round steaks in the oven. I put pepper, adobo and cilantro on them. I sauteed green bell peppers and onions with garlic and olive oil and pepper to put on the steaks when they came out. I had these fresh baked hot dog buns so I split them, cut them in half and put butter and garlic on them and baked them. Both boys enjoyed it! So did I. I want to make a homemade chicken pot pie this weekend.

My allergies are killing me today. I woke up having trouble breathing, so I'm pretty tired right now and I'm sneezing like crazy and I got that horrible itchy nose and itchy eyes feeling. Ugh! Took a claritin several hours ago so it's eased a little but not enough for my liking.

I've been playing Champions: Return to Arms on PS2 here and there lately with my barbarian woman named Astrid. Astrid is the name of a Zorcan in the online writing game I run called Obsidian Heart Adventuring Company. Fun game. My parents play it. So funny to be calling my mother to ask for game tips. That reminds me, I should call her now and see how to deal with this Plane of Valor quest I'm on. My mom is the best.

30 Blog Challenge

I never got far with the 30 Day Challenge, so to make it more do-able I'm making it a 30 BLOG challenge! And starting over!

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with ten facts

Day 02 - Talk about the person you have been closest with the longest

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show

Day 04 - Talk about your night

Day 05 - Tell about a favorite memory

Day 06 - Someone you respect, and why

Day 07 - What's your most treasured item

Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh

Day 09 - Tell about someone that has gotten you through the most

Day 10 - Tell three things that you doubt people would believe about you

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate

Day 12 - A picture of something you love

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist

Day 14 - Tell about someone you could never imagine your life without

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you

Day 17 - Something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity or fear

Day 19: - Take a picture of a letter you have written or someone has written to you.

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel

Day 21 - Talk about something you wish you could forget

Day 22 - Talk about something you wish you were better at

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book

Day 24 - Talk about something you wish you could change

Day 25 - What did you eat today?

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile

Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss

Beginning Again

I've always been the stop and start kind of person, and sometimes it really gets on my nerves. Like this blog, I was doing so good for a while then STOP. Now I've pressed START again, and I guess that's ok but there are other stop and start things that bother me more. Like the books I've tried to write, or my second poetry book I've tried to finish. I went hard and heavy with this latest book and got lots of chapters done, got it all worked out as far as outlines, worked out character information then STOP. And I haven't really been able to pick it up again.

Well let's see if I can do a quick recap of my life since I haven't been on in a while:

1. I took way too many vacations this year. By the last one I was worn plumb out. I went to Savannah, Georgia. Then Omaha, NE. Then North Carolina. Then Washington DC. Then Myrtle Beach. This was from April - June alone! Yikes! By Washington I was sick as a dog and ended up barely making it back to the hotel room after the first day and wasn't able to go out again, threw up all the way home, and boy it was not fun being sick. Myrtle Beach wasn't bad though cause I slept the whole damn time pretty much!

2. Couple years ago I met a wonderful friend named Andy, and he has become a very dear best friend. I have visited him in Omaha twice now, and he's come to see me once and will be here again in end of September. We are going to see Kamelot. We went to see Nightwish last time he was here.

3. I've done some pretty fun photo shoots over the past few years, including one which almost ended me up in jail! Apparently the cops don't like it when you trespass (I didn't see the sign) and take photos of a naked lady. Ha!

Well, that's all I can think of right off. My boys are bigger than me now, Josiah is over 6 feet tall, good grief! They did well in school, Joe was in marching band last year. They are starting school soon, Hudson in 8th grade and quite the honor student, and Josiah in 10th grade, taking two different band classes. He's a great musician.

Now if I can stop them from turning into locusts and eating me out of house and home...

30 Day Project - Day 1

Ten Facts About Me

1. My middle name is Ann.

2. I haven't worn regular deodorant in over 5 years. I've probably talked about this before. I don't stink either!! I use a crystal deodorant. I would never, ever go back to regular deodorant.

3. I like an eclectic assortment of music from Tool, Counting Crows, Nightwish, Death Cab for Cutie, The Cruxshadows, Rage Against the Machine, Yes, U2, Sting, and tons more as well as classical (esp. orchestra / stringed - not so much piano) and bluegrass. I do not like modern country.

4. I collect postcards from all over the world, all written on, stamped and mailed to me.

5. I love to cook. My favorite things to cook always include chicken.

6. I love to roleplay, it's a great escape. I am involved in d&d 3.5 campaign and it is AWESOME as is my DM.

7. I have been married for 15 years this year, though not all spent together. We were separated twice, the first time 18 months, the second time a little over a year. I had a legal separation the second time, but we ended up back together before the divorce.

8. I am allergic to most perfumes and colognes, soaps, shampoos, etc. Which makes my newly turned teenage son upset, but it gives me a horrible headache and sometimes a migraine.

9. I love to travel. I've been overseas several times. Been on the castle ramparts on the Rhine River in Germany, watched a jazz concert in an ancient ampitheatre in Cyprus overlooking the Mediterranean, walked the supposed steps of Jesus through the streets of Jerusalem, went inside to the very center of the middle pyramid on the Giza Plateau in Egypt as well as been to the Cairo museum to see all of King Tut's stuff amongst other things. Been to Bethlehem in Israel. Parasailed over the Mediteranean. Got my picture with the post in Paphos that St. Paul was tied to and whipped. Got mistaken for a terrorist going to Israel and was detained. Also been to the Niagara Falls when it was all snowy and icy, went to Biltmore House a few times, once during Christmas where the tree was so big full sized tricycles hung from it. Been to the Angel Oak Tree in SC, oldest living thing this side of the Mississippi.

10. I have two tattoos. One on my back, one on my right forearm. Back is a triskele with dragonflies and celtic knots, forearm is a lotus with a knotwork on the stem. I am getting another tattoo in a few months.

30 Day Project - Intro

I saw this on a friend's facebook and decided to tug it over into my blog. If anyone wants to do this with me, go for it.

Here's what I'll be doing...

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with ten facts

Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show
...
Day 04 - A picture of your night

Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory

Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day

Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item

Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh

Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most

Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most fucked up things with

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate

Day 12 - A picture of something you love

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist

Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity

Day 19:Take a picture of a letter you have written or someone has written to you.

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel

Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget

Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book

Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change

Day 25 - A picture of your day

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile

Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss

My 40th Year

It has been quite nearly a year since I've blogged, and I'm not really sure why I've been so ..gone.. this past year. I stopped using deviantart much, I haven't done much with facebook, I haven't done many shoots with my photography, and I stopped doing as many crafts and using swap-bot for the time being. The best word to describe the past year is probably "blah". I've just been blah. I have been sick it seems for most of the year. I feel much worse than normal for the past 3 or 4 days. My mom had me check my sugar and it's been high I guess. 160 and 169 2 hours after eating, and 90 fasting. I dunno, time to see the doctor again.

I thought about this idea though, to blog during my 40th year about not only things happening to me, but what has happened to me in the past to bring me to this 40th year. I am hoping this allows me to not be so depressed about getting OLD.