Amanda's Musings

(Originally published 31 October 2020)  Funny, I’ve been thinking about Halloween—celebrated in Latin America as part of Días de los Muertos, or Days of the Dead. In pagan tradition too, it is a time for honoring those who have passed. I was thinking to acknowledge my father’s passing in a different way, but was startled to realize it’s been more than a year, which I discovered when I reread my blog Balancing Gifts and Demons which I wrote on 9/10/19: https://blessedbeingsblogpage.blogspot.com/2021/08/balancing-gifts-and-demons.html I misremembered that he passed away in early November last year, because that’s when my sister and I flew down to our ex-stepmom’s to spend a weekend with brother and SIL who came in from Turkey, and to see a number of old family friends who gathered for a party—people I hadn’t seen in decades. It was a lovely visit & I’m glad he brought us together. In journaling this week, I discovered an old belief I picked up from him is still having a nega...

(Originally published 20 March 2011) Here it is, the sacred sabbat, the Spring Equinox, the cross-quarter festival of Ostara, among other names, and a full moon besides. I feel I should be spiritual and profound, and all I can think of is Spring Cleaning. In this season of new beginnings and new growth, of budding and flowering, perhaps the clearing out of the old, and creating space where fresh air and gentle breezes can blow, and energy can flow unimpeded, is in fact an appropriate metaphor to guide me. As part of my ongoing Campaign to Conquer Clutter, to create and maintain various Oases of Order, I'm thinking of adding the following practice. In addition to the other challenge tasks I've set myself (as team goals of the Babysteps Brigade), on a daily basis I will attempt to do one thing in each room to improve the appearance, organization, cleanliness or functionality of that space. I'll see how that works for me, and intend to report on how the practice has g...