I went out side last night 'cause Alan said he thought he saw lightning.  I stood in the back yard and sure enough, there was lightning, thunder and wind.  Yea!  It was beautiful.  The girls came racing out because they were afraid but all I could do was smile and look into the coming storm.  Alan came out to see what we were all doing in the back yard and there we all stood.  Unfortunately, not much rain fell last night but it was lovely to be outside with the wind blowing, and thuder and lightning all around.  More storms are forcast for the next few days so I'm still hopeful.  To all of you that sent me water, bless you!  You made my night.  I hope rain comes in the next few days to help with the fires and make my wonderful state less of a tinderbox.  Have a great Fourth, everyone.

Bright Blessings

There's smoke in the air of Phoenix tonight.  There are a few fires burning in Maricopa County that have been going for several days.  I know we're not alone.  California has many going.  As I type,  one is  burning near where I used to live.  Both states are enduring drought conditions and the thunder/lightning storms are doing nothing to help.  We get storms that blow through but they are mostly wind and lightning.  The smoke will lay down at night due to the humidity and the fire seems to be resting.  For that, I am greatful.  I ask anyone who reads this to do me a favor:  please meditate or chant over a bowl of water.  Do a spell if that's your inclination.  It doesn't matter if it's natural or artificially contained.  Ask the element of Water to come to the aid of humans so that Fire will not go unchecked.  Fire is a part of the natural cycle and there are some tree fungi that can only be healed by fire but many homes and lives (of those fighting the fires) are at risk.  My hope is to balance the two so one (Fire) is not able to cancel out the other (Water). 

I know this sounds somber and a little mello-dramatic, but just a few years ago, two fires in the White Mountains merged and burned over a half million acres.  The forest will take many years to recover. 

There is an article in the AZ Republic this morning titled, Iranian Youth Embrace Self-Help.  Looks like the youth of Iran are turning away from religion and learning how to be pro-active in their own lives.  The article tells of one young man:

 When Hassan Bakhitiar couldn't find a job last year, his mother told him to pray and read the Quran.  Instead, the 25-year-old aerospace engineer dropped in on a packed appearance by Alireza Azmandian, Iran's most famous motivational speaker and self-help guru.  Now, he meditates by staring at a flickering candle and chants Azmandian's inspirational chtch phrases.  "Religion doesn't offer me answers any more"

The article goes on to say that 70% of the coun'try's 65 million people are under 30 and they are "disenchanted" by with Iran's strict theocratic regime.  It says that other countries in the Middle East with similar demographics like Egypt and Turkey, they youth are turning to their Muslim faith for comfort but in Iran, the mostly well-educated youth are more likely to seek other options like yoga, self-help books and meditation.

"The regime presumed it could mold the society into whatever shape and form it wanted, but we are seeing the opposite take place.  The younger generation is turning away from conventional religion and tradition."

I'm glad that the next generation in Iran is looking to move their country forward.  I had read somewhere that a body can't move if half of it is paralyzed.  That's exactly what's happened in some of these Middle Eastern countries.  They've "paralyzed" the women under the guise of protection.  A century ago, this may have worked and been admirable but no longer.  The youth are realizing that and are doing something about it.  What I find really heartning is that they are seeking to do it with in their own country!  They aren't moving away and protesting from afar.  That's what I like about what's happening.  The government will usually crack down on behavoir that it deems un-Islamic but so far, the government is letting this play out with little or no interference from them.  Another good sign.  I'll finish this with a final quote from Azmandian from one of his seminars:

"I have control over my life, not God and not the regime.  Think of yourself as an eagle and not as a pigeon."

The clouds are rising in the East.  A sure sign of a monsoon.  I was hoping it would come yesterday but at least it's coming.  I adore desert monsoons.  I'm going to do a forgiveness spell.  I was hoping to do it yesterday, but the wind died.  I've been carrying this anger and sadness around for years...time to let go.  I'll do it after I post here, before Jenna wakes up. 

Bright Blessings, All

I woke up early, so I have a few minutes before I have to get ready for church...NOT!    Well, maybe MY church.  I'm going to take over an unused square in the back yard as my garden.  The flower/veggie garden in the backyard belongs to Alan and the girls.  I have a few containers with herbs in the front, but in this desert heat, I hve to water them everyday and they may already be root-bound.  Right now, the spot I'm going to take over is just hard-packed dirt.  Alan is going to run the rototiller thru it and then we'll go to the nursery for supplemental fertilizers and more plants, yea.  While we're there, I'll order some gravel for the side-yard.  We have the oleanders in and the space all cleared away so now, all that needs to be done is to lay a t arp for weed control and smooth gravel over it.  I'm also going to get a short arch--either rounded or squared on top (to represent the rune, Uruz--Strength, health, vitality, regeneration and effort) for the outdoor altar space I'm planning.  I thought I could train a vine over the squared or rounded "arch". 

I attended a rune class last night.  I loved it.  It's a series of classes that teaches the 24 runes of the Elder Futhark.  A little while ago, I bought some moonstone runes.  I LOVE them.  I'm finding that I'm really connected to moonstones.  I have a neclace with a moonstone triple moon pendant and now my rune set.  I adore the moon (hence my name, MoonSong).  I really need to find out all the properties of this stone.  I

I better head outside before it gets too unbearably hot.  Check in with all of you later and make my rounds.

Bright Blessings, All!