How to meditate when you have kids, dogs, families, and other distractions.
Do you meditate? I have been meditating and practising mindfulness for about fifteen years. It hasnāt always been easy. In the early days I had far too many expectations and would often set myself up for a fall when I didnāt receive the amazing, insightful experiences that I read about in self help books.
What was wrong with me, I used to think? Why couldnāt I experience a connection with a higher world, or meet my spirit guides, or have an epiphany?
Goldstone Reiki Live Reiki Distance Healing
Meditation in the Real World
Eventually I learned that meditation is mostly about calming the mind. The idea is for us to stop whatever we are doing that keeps us busy, slow down our body, and our brain will gradually relax. We spend most of our lives rushing from one task to the next, whether that be parenting, the school run, work commute, grocery shopping, caring for loved ones, and a whole range of other activities. We are bombarded with messages on TV and social media telling us to be kind to ourselves, take a break, have a rest, but when can we fit that in? When exactly do we take five minutes for ourselves, except to eat a quick lunch so we donāt collapse from exhaustion?
Last week I tried to meditate the day before my children returned to school. They were still in bed, so I took the opportunity to sit comfortably in my meditation chair. Less than five minutes into my session, the door burst open and my younger daughter bounced into the room. Our dog got excited, my other daughter appeared, and they both demanded breakfast. That was the end of my meditation session! Fortunately, I returned to the reiki room with my reiki teacher later that week, and I did manage to meditate in a calm, peaceful environment with no distractions. I had to book that time for myself, because I knew it was a rare opportunity to practise self-care.
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
Did you enjoy this article? Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story Itās Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England. Click here.
Letās support the indie authors of the world who share stories of people and places that we would never ordinarily be able to visit.
I write LGBT fantasy books, vampire stories and contemporary English Gothic novels. My colleagues at #WATWB write all sorts of weird and wonderful genres, from gritty real-life dram to wild sci-fi world building, historical to futuristic.
Support your local independent authors today, and then support as many as you can from around the world. You never know where you might travel next!
#WATWB We are the World Blogfest
Ready for a new Historical Fiction book to read?
Check out these great titles! Happy reading.
Download your FREE copy of my historical vampire novel, The Darkness of Love, today. Click here for details.
The Darkness of Love
A Victorian vampire lord seeks an heir for his estate in this English Gothic novel with passion and flair.
Lord Gregory Stockton is a powerful and respected businessman embracing the modern era of the Victorian industrial revolution. His young wife is infatuated with the stable boy, much to Gregory’s amusement. He hatches a plan to bring the would-be lovers together, and then cruelly tear them apart as he continues to build his empire and secure his power base in the south of England. The humans are pawns in the vampireās game of lust, love and control.
“The Darkness of Love” Victorian Vampire Novel by Catherine Green
We are the World BlogFest (#WATWB)
We are the World BlogFest (#WATWB) focuses on positive stories no matter where theyāre found. It is all about spreading peace and humanity on social media. All participants post on the last Friday of the month, sharing a positive news story that contributes to making our world a happier, safer, and better place to live.
Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story Itās Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England.Ā Ā Click here.Ā
Todayās Tarot reading comes from the Dragonfae Oracle. These ancient mythical creatures have been consigned to the story books, but they are still around, if you choose to see them. They remind us to honour our heritage and to be joyful, playful, and ignore lifeās challenges once in a while to simply have fun.
Tarot Reading – The Seeker’s Journey by Catherine Green
Tarot Reading: The Seekerās Journey
1, Where You Stand Now
The Green Lady of Y Ddraig Goch ā Chosen One ā Embrace your connection with Earth and take strength and nourishment from the trees. Ancient wisdom is yours to absorb. Lead by example in environmental matters.
2, Moving Forward
The Listener ā Sacred Silence ā You crave some time alone to connect with your spirit guides. Try listening to relaxing music or meditate when you have five minutes to spare. It would benefit if you could attend a spiritual retreat or visit a spa.
3, Obstacles and Struggles
Lady Titania ā Be Joyful ā You are struggling with the lack of true connection to friends and family. Your natural state is to play and be happy in a social environment. There are ways around the restrictions that can still keep you and your loved ones safe from the risk of infection.
4, Letting Go
Brigid ā We are One ā You cannot change the past, but you can make peace with it and move on. There was once a connection with the people that you feel distant from. Treasure those memories and make way for a new phase in your life with new people. Light a candle for Brigid and she will help you to achieve a just and proper outcome. Honour her at a water source, perhaps a local river or lake.
5, Your Wisdom
The Lady Grian ā Open Your Heart ā Now is the time to nurture what you love. Your dreams can be realised, and people compliment your physical beauty as it radiates. People will smile in your presence. Wear bright colours to create sunshine energy, even on stormy days.
6, Your Loved Ones
The Pendragon ā Pure Male Energy ā Ah, yes, the root of all your recent problems. You feel lost and lonely, disappointed that the men in your life fall short of your expectations. Be strong in your conviction and you will attract the men that you seek. Remember the ancient balance of male and female. Sometimes you do need to accept help from a man, and it does not make you weak or needy. You are strong and you deserve a strong partner.
7, Your Abundance
Queen Mab ā Your ancient wisdom is awakening ā Remember how much you ache for the Old Ways. Remember your magickal heritage. You may receive a strange message from a family member that puts you in touch with your wisdom. Now is the time to work magick in order to heal your pain. Be mindful of your intentions and remember to work from love ā first for yourself and then for other people.
8, Mother Earth wants you toā¦
Tatsuya ā Have Courage! ā Change is upon us and for you it has been coming for a long time. Throw open the doors to opportunity. Face your fears. Face up to your addictions and break free. You can do this!
9, To Keep Going
Grandmother Magicks ā I comfort you ā Honour the wisdom that comes with age and be proud of your ability to mentor those younger than you, both physically and emotionally. You are an Old Soul, which means you hold a deep understanding of the ways of people. Your body is aging gracefully. Respect it and love yourself. This is the perfect time to start a new venture using what you have learned over the years.
10, The Arrival
Pellinor and the Lady ā Bittersweet farewell ā It is finally time to part ways. This karmic lesson has been repeating over many lifetimes and will continue long into the future. Yes, you are soulmates. Yes, your love was passionate and wonderful. But now there are forces tearing you apart, and you cannot resist them any longer. Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again.
11, The Card of Destinyā¦ the Why and How of the Situation
Wu-Wang ā Wild, pure heart ā Let go of control and rediscover the pure, innocent child that you once were. Life will happen and you can only respond in turn. In the meantime, just have fun! Stop being so serious. Go forward with an excited, curious attitude, and find wonder in each unique experience. Those magickal creatures are waiting for you to remember them. Reunite with your spirit friends. Have fun.
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
Did you enjoy this article? Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story Itās Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England.Ā Ā Click here.Ā
My children love to play with toys that help them create new worlds and stories. We were excited to receive a box full of goodies from #PlaymobilUK containing some sets from their Playmobil Dinos range.
Playmobil Toy Review
#ToyReview: Playmobil Dinos #PlaymobilUK
Motocross Bike with Raptor
My daughters liked the attention to detail on the Motocross Bike with Raptor set, even down to the kickstand on the bike. They liked the sword that the Playmobil figure carried. This play set included one boy figurine. The set was easy to assemble.
Enemy Quad with Triceratops
This was a fun little set, including a cage to trap the dinosaur (or any unsuspecting toys that might be passing). You shoot a net from a gun on top of the quad, which my elder daughter had lots of fun playing with. The adult dinosaur, Triceratops, has moveable limbs and mouth, while the baby dinosaur just has moveable legs. There was one boy doll included. This set was also easy to assemble, and my daughters especially liked the unique tool that was provided to help with small, fiddly pieces. I liked this tool as well; it made my job a whole lot easier!
Hidden Temple with T-Rex
This was the biggest of the three playsets, and the most exciting. It was quite easy to assemble and is equipped with lots of little accessories for those special features. It included toy-sized video cameras, laptop, scientific equipment, and weapons. Some of the accessories light-up. My daughterās favourite part of this playset is the torch with a blue light that shows a hidden message inside the temple. The T-Rex has moveable legs, head, and mouth. This came with three figurines: two boys and one girl.
My children liked the dinosaur play-sets because they can use them for other imagination play as well as for dinosaurs. They can use the Hidden Temple, the bike, and the cage in other games if they want to, since they love to play adventure games and have their toys go exploring.
At Waterstones this month they have announced the winners of the Waterstones Childrenās Book Prize 2020 which showcases new talent and the best books for kids.
Pre-School and Primary Education Books at Waterstones
More prize news too as the Booker Prize 2020 Longlist was announced last week with many of the titles available at discount prices from Waterstones. Check out the Booker Prize Longlist here.
Note: This article contains 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!
Navigating life beyond lockdown, mental illness and building a career while coping with a chronic pain disorder.
I joined the social network for A Chronic Voice because I needed to find people who understand what life is like with chronic illness, people like me. Today I have written a post using the August link-up prompts, to show my experience of living with a chronic pain disorder.
Click here to find other blog posts from fellow chronic pain sufferers, or #spoonies as we call ourselves online.
How to Unlock Your Potential and Stop Unhealthy Behaviours
How to Unlock Your Potential and Stop Unhealthy Behaviours
Unlocking
I feel like I am finding myself again after a very long lockdown. For me it goes way beyond the pandemic. For the past ten years I have put the needs of my extended family before my own needs and have devoted very little time to myself. My career is stuttering along, but now I am taking steps towards unlocking my potential and realizing my dreams. They are small steps, but I feel better and I know that my life is improving. It also helps that I visited the beach with my children, that we can go to our local play park, and that we have the opportunity to socialize with friends.
Limiting
My big challenge right now is childcare. I am the sole carer for my children, since my husband refuses to work flexible hours or even take annual leave. I have full care of my children 24/7, and during lockdown we were together for three solid months with no respite. Last week they spent an afternoon with their grandparents alone for the first time since March, and I felt such relief to have a few precious hours of alone time. I got so much work done! Childcare has certainly limited my job prospects and will continue to do so until the children are old enough to be left alone.
Studying
My children and I took on the challenge of training our rescue dog during lockdown, with the help of a local dog training school. He came to us with no discipline and a big attitude, and at three years old, we needed to sort it out. We have made great improvements with his recall and manners, but now he needs to understand that people are allowed to visit our house without being jumped on. That is a work in progress. In other areas, I have continued to study and practice my reiki 3rd Degree Masters course, and I have tried to do some homeschooling with my children, although that wasnāt a success. I was not destined to be a schoolteacher!
Watching
I am watching my behaviour as I navigate the challenges of having a spouse with mental illness and suspected autism. I have been reading articles online and in magazines, watching short information videos, and trying to understand why he behaves the way that he does. Ultimately, I have learned that I cannot fix him, and he doesnāt want to be fixed. Therefore, I must watch my responses and think about myself and my children first. In other news, I have been watching Supernatural on Amazon Prime for the past couple of years, and now I am told it will leave Prime on 20th August. I am currently watching season 8, and there is no way I can afford to download the remaining five series. There will be some serious binge watching in the next few days!
Healing
Right now, I am focused on healing myself. For many years I have tried to heal my husband and other family members, only to realise that they donāt want to be healed. It just left me feeling drained and broken. My reiki therapy practice has taught me that we can only truly heal ourselves. We can use our connection to Source Energy to ease the pain and discomfort that other people might feel, but they will never truly recover unless they do the work for themselves. I am healing myself internally, and then I will be strong enough to support those around me that are ready to heal themselves.
Chronic Voice blog link-up for August
Did you enjoy this article? Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story Itās Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England.Ā Ā Click here.Ā
How to plan the perfect summer birthday party for your friends and family.
I recently had the pleasure of joining Moonpig in an online masterclass event where I learned about flower arranging and cocktail making. My fellow bloggers and I received some fabulous goodies to work with, including a luxurious Summer Bouquet and birthday balloons from Moonpig, a lovely birthday gift, and the ingredients and equipment to make some delicious summer cocktails.
A couple of days after the event we celebrated my younger daughterās seventh birthday, and her friends were delighted when I made āmocktailsā for their tea party!
#MoonpigMoments birthday flowers for Catherine and Marley
#MoonpigMoments: Flower Arranging and Cocktail Making Masterclass
Jasper from Moonpig walked us through the Moonpig app and the features for personalising our birthday cards. Some features are sadly only available on iOS now but will hopefully be available on Android soon. I am an Android user so I was quite upset that I couldnāt use the awesome feature where you can visualise a card on your table using your phone. There is also a feature where you can write your own personalised message using an iOS tablet, again something I donāt have access to but would love to play around with.
Showing someone you care doesnāt have to be complicated. Moonpig makes being thoughtful super easy and convenient because you can craft the perfect birthday card wherever, whenever, with just a couple of clicks. I have friends in Australia and found Moonpig the perfect place to send cards from, as they always arrive on time and are very easy to order.
Over 10,000 cards to choose from
The Moonpig range of 10,000+ cards and intricate filters means you can easily find the perfect one to create that wow-factor. And when you add a heartfelt message inside that will blow them away, youāre giving them something nonpareil, something extraordinary.
If you use the Moonpig app you can get a limited time special offer. The code to use at check out (only possible via the app) is APP30ORDER and it gives you 30% off a card and a gift when buying together. The promotion ends on 26th August.
Summer Garden ā 45ml Vodka, 25ml lime, 25ml sugar syrup, mint leaves, cucumber, 25ml elderflower soda ā this was my favourite cocktail from the collection!
Passionfruit Martini ā 45ml Vodka, 20ml lemon, 25ml passionfruit syrup, 60ml pineapple juice ā I loved the fancy Martini glass we used for this one!
Flower Masterclass
Roxanne from Moonpig held the flower arranging class. Most of what she mentioned was be in the care booklet that came with my flowers. I really enjoyed the flower arranging class as I got to be creative but also learned some useful tips on how to preserve my flowers and keep them looking fabulous. You can see the range of Moonpig flowers and plants here.
Flowers are strongly tied to birthdays. Given our current situation, Moonpig want to remind people that something as simple as sending a birthday bouquet can be enough to totally change someoneās day. No matter the occasion, a bouquetās job is to cheer people up, make people feel calm and add positivity. I completely agree with this, as I have made a point of displaying fresh flowers in my living room during lockdown to cheer me up on dark days. They make me smile, they brighten the room, and they smell wonderful!
We Are the World BlogFest (#WATWB) celebrates special people and small stories of inspiration and hope in the world. Letās face it, we need some inspiration and hope during this time of pandemic and social distancing.
#WATWB We are the World Blogfest
Birthday Celebrations During Lockdown
This week we celebrate some very special birthdays. My elder daughterās friends Sam and Mackenzie celebrate their ninth birthdays this week, and my younger daughter, Georgina, is seven on Saturday. She is very excited about her birthday, and while we couldnāt arrange a big party like we normally would, we have managed to plan a small tea party at home and a day trip to one of her favourite places, the Blue Planet Aquarium. Despite it being a rather low-key birthday this year, I have still been running around like crazy as I prepare her celebrations. I have bought birthday cards and gifts, wrapped the gifts, organised gifts from family members, baked birthday cake and cookies, stocked up on her favourite party snacks, and sourced balloons in her favourite colour. She has asked me to wear a dress on her birthday, instead of my usual jeans, which I think is rather cute. We are planning a special Mummy-Daughter-Daughter day out. Precious memories just waiting to be made! Happy Birthday, children. You are all amazing.
#WATWB July “Happy Birthday” Children!
We are the World BlogFest (#WATWB) focuses on positive stories no matter where theyāre found. It is all about spreading peace and humanity on social media. All participants post on the last Friday of the month, sharing a positive news story that contributes to making our world a happier, safer, and better place to live.
Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story Itās Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England.Ā Ā Click here.Ā
Here is a Tarot reading to help you leave the past behind. Maybe you seek guidance around a challenging series of events. Perhaps you have decided to move on from a situation, but you need confirmation and a guiding hand. Here it is!
Tarot Reading – Leaving the Past Behind by Catherine Green
Tarot Reading: Leaving the Past Behind
1, What I Need to Leave Behind Me
Eight of Cups ā āLeave those who would live in the dark and look towards the light.ā You have been used and abused by people who claim to love you. Now you emerge emotionally exhausted, and yet you feel free. Cast off those chains and leave the dark-dwellers behind. You are a being of light.
2, What I Need to Take with Me
Death ā Everything is temporary. You have learned a lot, grown and gained wisdom through your life experiences. Take the memories, good and bad, and prepare for new beginnings. Now it is time for your next adventure.
3, Negatives to Discard
The Empress ā Sometimes you try to seek deep and meaningful answers to your problems. Remember that not all people are old souls. Some people are deeply embedded in someone elseās story. Some people do not dare seek a life beyond the physical. They will not share your journey. Leave them behind as you continue to grow.
4, Positives to Look Forward To
Ten of Cups ā Your peaceful, happy place does exist, and you will find it. While you feel drained and exhausted now, you will soon settle down into a new routine, and it will feel safe and calm. Make peace with yourself and you will forget about those who hurt you. Spend time with those who really care about you.
5, Why a Fresh Start will be Good for Me
The Magician ā You are a being with many gifts, and the magic is right there at your fingertips. Are you ready to unleash the beast? Letās have some fun!
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
Did you enjoy this article? Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story Itās Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England.Ā Ā Click here.Ā
I joined the social network for A Chronic Voice because I needed to find people who understand what life is like with chronic illness, people like me. Today I have written a post using the July link-up prompts, to show my experience of living with a chronic pain disorder.
Click here to find other blog posts from fellow chronic pain sufferers, or #spoonies as we call ourselves online.
Chronic Voice blog link-up for July
Why Self Care is Important when your Spouse is Depressed
Bothering
For the past few months, my Chronic Voice blog posts have been decidedly depressing. Following a minor health scare in June, I was prompted to sit back and look at myself. I realized that I had not bothered about my self-care for an awfully long time, even for years before the pandemic. I had purposely kept myself busy with work and social activities, so that I could ignore the problems with my marriage. Now I have decided I need to bother more about myself.
Demanding
Life is demanding. I have two children under the age of 10, and while my daughters are incredibly resourceful and mature for their age, they still need physical and emotional care and attention. We adopted a rescue dog late last year, who it turns out is also high maintenance. During lockdown I was prompted to enroll on a dog training course, but we had to do the work at home with guidance from the instructor via social media. And then are the demands of my eye care. My chronic disease flares up routinely as the eyelashes insist on growing back in the wrong places, and I have to epilate myself (remove the ingrowing eyelashes with tweezers). It is a painful and frustrating task, and I do it at least once a week.
Nourishing
Once I realized what had dominated my time recently (an absent husband), I decided to change my attitudes. He will not go away. He will not change his behaviour. But I can change my mood. I returned to my reiki meditation practice. I got my children back into school for the last 4 weeks of summer term, and I enrolled in an online super conference where I could meet new practitioners and learn new attitudes towards mental and emotional self-care. As we approach school summer holidays and the prospect of being mostly alone, my daughters and I will do what nourishes us. We will play together, relax together, meet up with family and friends on limited occasions, and find our happy place.
Telecommunicating
I admit I am getting a little tired of conducting my social life via Zoom! Back in April my friends and I tried to do some family activities, and we tried to keep in touch, but gradually we all lost interest in telecommunications. Our lives are still busy as we struggle to work from home, cope with emergencies and crises, and find a new ānormalā in the wake of the pandemic. We all agreed that we will keep in touch via our group messaging app, but we much prefer meeting in person when conditions allow. That said, I am incredibly grateful for the power of telecommunications, because they stopped me from losing the plot during my 3-month isolation. They kept my children in touch with their friends, and I was able to continue working and socializing under limited conditions. I will continue to rely on Zoom during the summer holidays, but I truly hope that our social venues can start to reopen in September.
Tolerating
What am I tolerating? Pain, and lots of it. I tolerate physical pain every day with my sore eyes and ingrowing eyelashes. I tolerate emotional pain resulting from my marriage breakdown. My husband refuses to separate despite working 100+ hours per week through choice. And I have nowhere else to go. I have explored all my options and decided that I am still happy at home with my children, and we can all tolerate this situation for a while longer. We are resilient, and we choose to be happy.
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
Did you enjoy this article? Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story Itās Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England.Ā Ā Click here.Ā
SpookyMrsGreen 