POWERFUL

I don’t mean the world domination, powerful (although that could be nice).  I mean a release of my innate power.  Being one that commands respect wherever I go (not to be mistaken with worshipped, although that is also not always bad, if only occasion)  If you could only see my smirk.

What is Power?  True Power, the power that cannot be given or taken but simply is.  Power that is a part of the soul. How is it gained, or earned, or proven?

Magick (mastery of) is Power

Strength is Power

Wisdom is Power

Compassion is Power

Authority is Power

Sexuality is Power

The Healing arts are Power

There is my starting point.  Along with going a little wild and letting myself release my inner dragon.  Seeing what she has in store for me.  She’s in there.  Waiting to come out.  I’m anxious to meet her.

I learned a lot about myself today.  Let me paint a scene.

I open the curtain to the front window, intent on closing it to keep out the day time heat.  Looking out and across the street I see smoke rising from the roof of my neighbor’s house.  At first, I ridiculously look around to see if I’m mistaken and if it is coming from a backyard grill or fireplace.  (The houses here do not have fireplaces).  I then go out my front door in my socks, thankful that I’m wearing Paul’s sweater to hide the fact that I’m not wearing a bra.  A man pulls up on a motorcycle.  I see him check the front door and call 911.  There doesn’t seem to be anyone home.  I go out and help him figure out the house number then remember that I’ve often seen small dogs in the yard.  I go around back and find the back door unlocked.  I open it into a slightly smoky interior, hearing the crackling of the fire in the attic above and water pouring from somewhere.  I spot a small white chihuahua puppy.  It had to be a chihuahua.  The poor thing runs from me in fear and after I corner it to pick it up it starts to scream.  I take it back across the street while coughing (silly me, going into a smoky building with asthma problems) and put the puppy in the safety of my garage while I go back and make sure there are no  more animals inside.  Strange, how I didn’t think to be concerned that people might actually be in there, perhaps my clairsentience had kicked in.  The story continues, but I already knew how I would react those events.

After my nerves calmed from this and the following events I read an article in Witches & Pagans magazine called “Lupa: Fang, Bone & Spirit”  It is an interview with Lupa and speaks a lot about otherkin and Therianthropes.  After reading their definitions I find that I identify with both of these.  My soul isn’t fully human and my strong connection to animals and the natural world now has a name.  Now I have something new and spiritual to research.  I’m curious to see what I find.

I recently read an article in Grit magazine about dragonflies and how to set up a dragonfly habitat.  Ideally I would have a  nice deep and large koi pond for them, but that is out of the budget right now.  Instead I put my ever improving resourcefulness to work.  I found a large, old, plastic under bed storage container, which I never actually use, and placed it into a difficult to reach spot of my free flow garden.  I added shredded newspaper as a substrate for dragonfly babies and prey, a couple pieces of random wood to give the froggies a place to hide and several overflow aquarium plants.  Aside from needing to make certain that it does not dry out, my little “pond” should be low maintenance and prove a delightful to home to dragonflies and frogs alike.  And they  can return my generosity by eating all the annoying pest bugs in both mine and Paul’s gardens.

Yoga is a rich philosophy and lifestyle as well gentle yet powerful exercise.  It teaches how to reconnect with your body and to refocus your actions to the improvement of all of yourself:  body, mind and spirit.  To do this every action is given your complete attention.

In yogic meditation you let go of your surroundings.  Nothing matters except the whatever your focal point is.  This often creates a feeling of being bathed in peace.

The Ayurvedic diet focuses on balancing the energies within the body.  You choose what to eat by thinking about the item’s particular affect on your body and choose foods, spices, etc that will create balance within your body giving you better sense of health and vitality.  You focus on food as nourishment, not necessity.

Hatha yoga (the exercise) forces you to focus on what your body is doing in the moment, not striving more, not thinking about the groceries, but appreciating what your body is capable of right here, right now.

Even the clothing seems to me an encouragement to stop all else and focus.  The jewel tone colors and rich textures call to be admired and touched.

Sometimes we could all use a bit of indulgence.  These are some nice ways to gain that.

Terry created each character in the entire cast with complexity and depth.  Even Eryn’s issues, which are uniquely feminine are written with remarkable perception.  Peregrine and Mr. Quon, while the essential good vs. evil / light and dark are convincing and it is easy to forget that they are the representatives of god and devils.

Although Terry did fall into the trap of repeating his earlier statements with a paragraph when a simple refresher sentence would do, the story is engaging and vivid.  “Is Wanting Enough” follows the basic romance plot of boy meets girl, looses girl, gets girl, however the continuous twists keep you from getting bored and mentally jumping to the ending.  I also found it to be a wonderful insight into Terry’s personal philosphy which makes my first degree classes tremendously easier.

My favorite twist comes in chapter 66.  It is subtle and never explained.  That is the beauty of it.  But of course if you try to jump to it just to see, it won’t make any sense.  You will lose the simple beauty.  Just read and enjoy.

You are alone.

The inky black conceals every tree, animal, friend and foe,

but you feel them all.

You know not their faces or names, but you know their spirits;

the friends and foes.

You know where they all are.

You look up and see your playmates, the stars.

Your mother is in her full tonight.

Her light shines upon you, stirring your inner senses.

The Power of the night seeps into you.

Feel it moving thorugh you,
slowly at first, then rushing until you burst into laughter,
the only release for the overwhelming power, and beauty of the dark.

Smell the damp woods, the tress, moss, decomposing leaves,
clear waters, birthing the frogs, lillys and salamanders,
the tree roots gently taking up the dead.

These can’t be seen during the day
only felt, at night, when the sun rests and the moon awakens you,
caressing your skin, like a lover’s whisper
cool, and intoxicating.