Twice now, I've heard talking-men talking-in my house.  It happens late at night.  I know I wasn't dreaming nor was I near sleep.  The first time, I heard two male voices carrying on a conversavtion in low tones in the hallway.  This was about a week ago.  The second time, was last night.  Same place in the hall but there were many voices and all sounded male.  The first time, I thought someone was in my house so I got up and walked around to make sure.  I didn't wake up Alan 'cause I was fairly sure no one was going to be there.  When I got out of bed and got to the doorway of my bedroom, the voices stopped.  Last night, again, it was late-about 10:30-I heard the group of men talking.  I had just checked on the girls and both were asleep.  I saw under Lexi's door a faint light so I figured she woke up and turned on the TV.  I went back to reading figuring that I'd just shut it off before I went to sleep myself so I just tuned the voices out.  I was beginning to get tired, so I got up and went into Lexi's room to shut off the TV...she was sacked out and the TV was off the light I saw under the door was a night light.  She hadn't woken up at all.  I wasn't frightened or bothered by this, it just leaves me scratching my head.  What do you think it is?  I haven't had any experiences in my house for a few years.  The last time was a period of about two weeks when the "noisy toys" would just go off on their own when no one had been in that room for hours.  On Easter of that year, I saw a flash of pink low to the ground .  Everyone was in the living room and no one was wearing pink.  I only noticed it 'cause I was heading to the living room from the kitchen and saw the flash.   It confrimed my thoughts that it was probably a girl spirit who was intrigued by the toys and wanted to get in on the fun.  I'd love you opinion.  Please give me your input.  I'm not frightened and they're not posing any harm to me or my family, I'm just wondering what it was.  It may just be that my hall is a hall on the Astral Plain and I may have put up a neon Welcome mat.  All good, just want to make sure no one is here that should have moved on by now.

As some of you know, I'm researching the idea of becomming a Pagan Wedding Planner.  I'm going to bill myself as one who does "environmentally aware weddings" to get the mainstream couples as well.  I bought the Sept/Oct issue of Bridal Guide and there's an article, Saying "I Do"-Our Way.  It's three couples telling what they did that seperated them from the pack.  Well, one was titled A Celtic Ritual.  This got my attention.  It's a bonafide Pagan Handfasting!  Now, the words Pagan and Handfasting were not in the article but it was very clear, at least to me.  They talked about how all but the elderly guests stood in a circle, all turned to the four directions to invite the Elements, a bell was rung, clasped hands were wrapped with a ribbon and the statement about the rings:  A circle to reflect the circle in which you stand and to remind you of the wheel of life.  How cool is that?!  Just a small sign from the Universe and the Gods that I'm on the right track.  My next step is to attend a wedding vendor conference next month.  I think we may be taking a small step into the mainstream.  So many couples are wanting to do something that sets them apart.  Perhaps some non-pagans will read this article, think it's a neat idea and want to rework it to their needs.  We'll see.

Well, this morning, I dropped Lexi off for the first day of 2nd grade!  *happy dance*  I took Jenna with me to the gym and enjoyed breaking a sweat.  I'll swim tomorrow.  Jenna starts school next Monday.  It'll be her very first day, too excitng.  I began my weight loss process today.  I have a long way to go-about 65 lbs- but I have to start somewhere.

There's a car belonging to a person that visits our neighbor regularly and it has a bumper sticker of a circle and an equal armed cross on it and says "This is my peace sign".  For the longest time, I thought it was a Pagan symbol representing the solstices and equinoxes.  I would always smile when I saw it.  Well, this morning, I saw the car and the sticker and it hit me--it wasn't a Pagan symbol, it was a gun site!  OMG, I laughed all the way to school.  It just goes to show how your mind can see something new, and interpret it based on what you know or assume.  I must have seen that sticker over a dozen times over the summer and today, it dawned on me that I had TOTALLY misunderstood the symbol.  I shouldda had a V8, lol.  It was a good reminder that I need to research the symbols I don't recognize, understand or know about.  It's how misunderstandings begin and false information can be spread.  The Runes are a good example.  They, along with other symbols in Asatru, were manipulated by the Nazi party to represent something evil and diametrically opposed to what the symbols actually mean.  Many times, it's easier to learn something new that to try to unlearn what had been taught incorrectly--however well intentioned.

I have a few hours of peace this afternoon.  Jenna went down for her nap a little early and Alan, who isn't feeling well today (some kind of stomach bug)is also asleep.  Wow, a clean, quiet house.  I could get used to this!  I still have my errands to run and my lists to make for the day, so it's not like I have nothing to do but read *sigh*.  Wishful thinking. 

I'm off to make myself a PB&J-absolutely NO FOOD in the house.   It's one of the lists to make. 

Bright Blessings

Today was the first time in a long time that I lit a candle.  It was for several reasons but primarily because so many of us seem to be lost.  I had recently read that one beautiful witch was taking a break from CS and that she had either lost or was losing her faith.  Several of us have just gotten out of the practice of practicing magick on a regular basis, felt out of touch or seemed to have lost our way.  I lit a candle for healing this afternoon and the light reaches all who need it.  If you need a little light sent your way, tune into my candle and know there's enough for you.

Wishing all of you Love and Light

I've been a busy bee the last few days and I still have the weekend to r really do the deep cleaning and some fun decorating.  Last night at about 9pm, we had a humdinger of a storm!  Thunder, lightning, wind and RAIN!  Lots and lots of beautiful rain.  Large drops.  It was a true monsoon.  It lasted quite a while and did much to clear the air--both psychically and spiritually.  From the sound of several blogs I've read, chaos and stress seem to be reigning supreme.  I can only hope that it's short-lived and at least productive.  That positive change will result.  I've learned a difficult lesson in the last few weeks but am ready to move on and forward.  Positive change will continue as I begin (yet again) down the road to a healthier  weight.  I have about 65 lbs to lose.  I know what I need to do and with the girls going back to school I'll be able to be at the gym longer and more often.  My short term goal is to be about 15 lbs lighter for my SIL's wedding at the end of next month.  I've been planning it and it should be a good time. 

Lexi goes back to school on Monday.  I know back-to-school is near because I see parents everywhere doing cartwheels.  We learned who her teacher was, went to meet her and bought new school supplies.  We cleaned up more junk in the girls' rooms and began to deep clean the bathrooms and kitchen.  All in all, a productive day.  Tomorrow, we'll rearrange the furniture in the girls' rooms and add the new bedding we bought.  We're just springing into Fall-as it were-and it feels good.  Having a clean and organized home helps to lower my stress level.  Also, having the girls in school will mean a quieter home--wonderful for this Witch.  I have all my projects lined up and ready to go so I should be in good stead until Yule.  We're taking our vacation to CA next month and that will be a total blast!  We're going to Disneyland and Santa Barbara.  It'll be tight finacially, but so worth it.  Alan's been working so much the last few months, he truly deserves a vacation!

I bought some wedding magazines to do some more research into my wedding coordinator venture and I'm reading the book, Green Witchcraft II, Balancing Light and Shadow.  Love it.  I have the two Our Troth books on hold at Northern Winds, so I have those to look forward to next week, yea.

Bright Blessings, all.