There are lots of happenings in my personal circles at present. Some are rather exciting (and stressful), others are a challenge, and the rest is simply the daily cycle of family life and humans being.
Since I haven’t shared a #365DaysofTarot reading in a while, here it is for you. This one has a strong hint of Ostara and Spring blessings, and is a useful reminder that we are all in the process of rebirth, however it chooses to present itself to the individual.
Prince of Swords – He is young and impulsive, flinging his weight into the arena with ferocious intent. This guy means business, and you may get swept along in the excitement.
Rebirth – New beginnings. How appropriate! You have heard the call, and now you emerge from the gloomy exile, having immersed yourself in darkness and quiet contemplation. Embrace your new life, and new adventures.
Ace of Pentacles – Your ancestors wish to bestow gifts upon you. Welcome their assistance with a humble heart and loving grace. Your time is now.
Druid Craft Tarot Reading by professional Tarot reader Catherine Green
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It is almost time for the April #AtoZChallenge, and this is the first time in about 4 years that I won’t be actively participating. I decided to scale back some of my online activity and try to work smarter, because I was burning myself out with the desperate need to be writing and interacting. It’s too much!
I do love these blog hops and challenges, but in moderation. Besides, I have a whole collection of old posts on both of my blog websites, and I would like to see people reading and responding to them.
April A-Z Blogging Challenge Survivor
My Spiritual Journey and the #AtoZChallenge
I used the #AtoZChallenge to talk about my personal journey last year. Becoming a mother has changed me in so many ways that I cannot begin to describe. One of the main changes has been my increased self-confidence and determination. While I was pregnant and having babies (only 2, so far!), I was on a spiritual journey. I met people that practice shamanism, witchcraft, reiki energy healing and a whole lot more. I found my tribe, my kindred spirits, and people that helped me to make sense of the emotions I felt.
Last weekend I met some new people at our local Scribe festival, and I found myself cheerfully telling them that I am a witch. They were fascinated. I think they were also a little spooked, but nowadays I don’t really care. I am what I am, and it’s about time I embraced myself in all the awkward, quirky, spooky glory that I feel. My children deserve a mother who is confident and self-assured. I am their role model, after all. Enjoy the #AtoZChallenge, my friends!
Paranormal Author Catherine Green at FAB Festival
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I recently received a copy of Maternity Leavers from the author with a request to read and review it.
This book would have been very useful to me about six years ago, when I was pregnant with my first child and still trying to establish a career. Back then I had floated from one entry level administration job to another following my graduation from university. My glamorous career in broadcast journalism never came to fruition, although I eventually realised that it was not my forte.
#BookReview Maternity Leavers by Soozi Baggs
#Book Review: Maternity Leavers by Soozi Baggs
Anyway, Maternity Leavers – What to do about work now you’re a Mum, is a quick, informative guide for parents who are trying to juggle their lives around young children. You don’t necessarily have to be pregnant or planning a family to gain value from this book. I still found it very useful at my current stage, where I am slowly building a freelancing career as a writer on my own terms. I also feel a sort of kinship with the author, Soozi Baggs, although I had never spoken to her before receiving this book.
Maternity Leavers offers up suggestions for all prospects when you have a baby or small children to consider. It covers advice about the practicalities of returning to your previous job, or starting a new one, with guidance about flexible work and shared parental leave. It talks about how to set yourself up as self-employed, and the various business models that you could try. And finally, it suggests other ways to occupy your time that are not necessarily geared towards earning money. Soozi is very keen to reassure us that the parental journey is unique for everyone. She reminds us that our self-worth is not measured in cold, hard cash. We can choose to stay at home and nurture our children, or we can take on additional academic or practical studies. Or we could do voluntary work, if it fulfils us and makes us happy.
My overall review of the book
My overall review about Maternity Leavers – What to do about work now you’re a Mum, is a good one. I enjoyed reading the book. The language is casual and friendly, and the chapters are short so you can read it around your baby/toddler/puppy etc. There are additional resources in the back for further investigation, and you can visit the Maternity Leavers website for more details. The book is available in paperback and Kindle formats on Amazon.
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
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Last weekend I attended Manchester Royal Eye Hospital for a minor operation on my eyes. Well, I thought it would be both eyes, but the condition decided otherwise.
Now I am to be allocated a return appointment to have my left eye zapped when the eyelashes have grown sufficiently in the right (or wrong) direction. Confused? You will be!
NHS Hospitals Manchester Royal Eye Hospital
My Spiritual Journey: Reiki and Eye Surgery
I have a congenital disorder called Lymphedema Distichiasis. It means that I have a double row of eyelashes, and the second row turn inwards, scratching my eyes and causing a lot of pain and discomfort. It was diagnosed when I was a small child, and since then I have had many treatments to try and alleviate the condition. It cannot be cured at present. I also developed acute Dry Eye Syndrome as I got older, because of the nature of my inherited disorder.
The minor operation was electrolysis to remove ingrowing eyelashes. It involved the injection of local anaesthetic into my upper and lower eyelids, and then a precision laser tool burned away the offending eyelashes at the root. They will grow back again, but hopefully it will take a while. My last session of electrolysis was in 2013, so it seems to be settling a little.
Focus on being calm and relaxed
As I lay down on the hospital bed in the operating theatre, I focused on remaining calm and relaxed. I have had this procedure what feels like a million times, I am familiar with the surgical staff, it is routine medical process in this hospital. But I still felt nervous, because I knew that the anaesthetic injection would be painful. As the nurse practitioner inserted the needle into my eyelid, I felt a rush of energy near my head, and I sensed my spirit guide placing her hands on my skull. She whispered soothing words, assured me that she would ease my discomfort, and suddenly everything faded into peace. I was safe. My reiki healing energy would assist. Now, only days after the procedure, I feel like nothing has happened. There is a slight bruise on my eyelid, but I have had none of the usual post-operative pain, swelling, dizziness etc. Thank you, Reiki healing!
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
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I am beginning to feel very anxious and more than a little stressed about the fact that my younger daughter refuses to potty train. I have been trying to persuade her for around eighteen months now, to no avail.
She will be four in August and starts primary school in September, so I really need to get this sorted. Help!
#MummyMonday Potty Training Challenge
Why Won’t My Child Potty Train?
There might be a psychological block with her. When she was a baby, she struggled to empty her bowels. I even had her sitting on a potty at less than a year old, simply to try and ease the pressure because she became so distraught and it was so painful for her. We visited the doctor, did some tests, but they put it down to growing pains. There is no official diagnosis for her problem, but now it is impacting on her development.
She knows what to do. She watches her friends use the toilet and the potty quite happily. She wears knickers, training pants and pull-ups (which I really detest because of the waste factor), but nothing works. I try leaving her half naked in the house, but if I try and put her anywhere near a toilet or potty, she screams and contorts her body. She has done her business on the potty before now, and she has sat willingly on the toilet, but it is sporadic and I cannot seem to take that step forward.
What am I doing wrong? Does anyone have advice or a story to share about potty training their older child?
My Little Lammas Child SpookyMrsGreen
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Love is in the air, and I know there are many people who are reassessing their emotional and romantic situations in life.
Some of us have been working hard to heal and strengthen existing relationships, while others have taken the painful but necessary steps to break away and seek a new life with someone else. Perhaps some are still searching for that perfect other half. The journey is different for all of us.
Today I share with you a competition brought by our friends at Psychic Light. Enter now and you could win a free 1 hour psychic reading which will help to answer some of those questions and queries that are spinning around in your mind. You also receive a unique £5 discount code just for entering the competition, so go for it. You never know where it may lead… Happy Valentine’s Day!
#WitchyWednesday
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Today is the beginning of February, and we celebrate the pagan festival Imbolc.
Imbolc is a time to honour the cycle of Mother Nature, when she is waking up from the long, cold winter, and preparing to burst forth her luscious, green shoots of life in our trees and plants.
I went for a walk beside our local canal this morning and found some snowdrops hidden in the woodland. They always make me smile, and I shared their photograph on Instagram.
Imbolc Tarot Reading
#365DaysofTarot Tarot card reading for Imbolc
I also did a Tarot reading for Imbolc. I chose to do a Horseshoe spread, asking for guidance around current life challenges, how past influences may be causing concern or disruption, and how we can move forward. Imbolc is all about stepping into the light, embracing the warmth of the Spring sunshine, and shaking off the shadows of Winter as we dance into a new Earth cycle. Imbolc Blessings, my friends!
Druid Craft Tarot Reading by professional Tarot reader Catherine Green
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I have talked before about my challenge of feeding the children properly. My daughters are very reluctant to eat fruit and vegetables, and even when they do try, the quantities are very small. So, I have taken to experimenting, finding ways of sneaking good food into their diets.
I tried chopping up vegetables and hiding them in pasta sauces, mashed potato, and soups. It didn’t work. I tried giving the children raw vegetables to snack on. It didn’t work. I tried all of the suggestions that I picked up on social media and from friends and family.
#ProductReview Naturelly Jelly Juice reviewed by Catherine Green
Finding the Best Child Snack
One thing that my girls did respond to was juice drinks. And when I received a sample of Naturelly Jelly Juice for them to try, it was an instant hit. My elder daughter especially loves these drinks, because she is a jelly fiend. Today I am pleased to offer a special discount code for you so that your children can try Naturelly Jelly Juice. They recently won Gold in 2016 in the Loved By Parent Awards voted on by parents, and have now won Gold for best Child Snack in this years Loved by Children Awards voted on by children.
To receive your 40% discount on a box of 12 or more, simply enter the promo code SPOOKY10 on checkout.
Note: I received a sample of the product in return for an honest review. This article may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you shop using the links I share, I receive a small income at no extra cost to yourself. Thank you for supporting SpookyMrsGreen!
There is lots of talk about change at the moment. Yes, we are still in the first month of the year, and it is a fresh, new year. 2016 was very traumatic, and I think there is probably a general sense that people tried to make things happen gently and peacefully, but in the end, they just didn’t quite get the results they were hoping for.
Now, I do not advocate violence. Indeed, I am a very gentle person, but if something upsets me, or I see injustice done to another, especially innocent animals, then my inner warrior will rage. She is wild!
English Heritage Sword
Embrace Your Inner Warrior
I think we all have an inner warrior. Over the years, we have been taught to suppress that violent, primitive nature. We learned that we didn’t need to fight for everything, because there was generally enough to go around. Some people do feel the need to fight, and they probably channel that in military organisations, or combat sports. My inner warrior does not physically fight, but she will speak up when the need arises, and of course, I am a child of the 80s. I grew up watching action movies and superheroes fight to beat the bad guys, and I wanted to be those superheroes, flashing my sword and saving the day. Don’t we all?
Sometimes it is nice to embrace your inner warrior in a more ceremonial sense. You will find many pagans use weapons during sacred rituals. They don’t use the weapons to inflict harm on others. They simply form sigils or symbols in the air, or on a piece of wood or stone, or hold the weapon while they speak sacred words. I felt that connection when I saw a few of the reproduction swords that you can purchase from English Heritage. The Excalibur Sword invoked memories of medieval castles and a fight for honour and strength. This would be a good sacred tool for pagans who feel connected to the myths of Avalon and King Arthur. I would have to find a stone circle somewhere, and wear my floaty medieval dress, so that I could re-enact the scene that plays in my imagination… “I have the power!”
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
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The New Year can bring in a fresh start for your home. If you are looking to upgrade your home- check out these improvement suggestions for 2017:
Plumbtile Kitchen Tile Splashback
The Top 10 Improvements To Make To Your Home In 2017
Aquabrass Faucets: Available in almost any style, these are a beautiful way to upgrade your kitchen and bathroom.
Kitchen Tile Backsplash: Adding a kitchen tile backsplash is a great way to give your cooking space some style. While traditional kitchen tile backsplash is subtle, modern designers are going for a floor to wall backsplash to really highlight the kitchen space.
Wooden Cabinets: To further warm up your kitchen, consider adding wooden cabinets.
Lighting Fixtures: Changing your lighting fixtures is an easy way to update your home. If you cannot change the fixture, consider making minor changes. For instance, you can change the lightbulbs to give the entire fixture a new look.
Bar Stools: Add comfort and are a great way to turn your kitchen counter a social space.
Beige: Pastel backgrounds are in- especially beige. Beige makes for a warm backdrop without being too bright, and will work with almost any other colors.
Color: An understated background needs bright colors. Add stained glass, colorful furniture pieces, or plenty of greenery.
Romantic Bedrooms: Consider adding plenty of pink and red to your bedroom for a sensual and romantic feel.
Unique Vanities: Instead of going with a traditional store-bought vanity, consider looking for something vintage or taking on a DIY project to make your vanity truly unique.
Wall Mounted Bath Faucets: These can add flare and style to your bathroom instantly. Consider looking for a faucet that is eco-friendly as well as stylish.
Make your home a place to cherish and enjoy with some, or all of these improvement suggestions.
Plumbtile Mixer Tap Faucet
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SpookyMrsGreen 