Hey Y'all!
It's finally Spring! Alright, I'm a week late. Sorry, I've been busy nonstop. Between the wonderful start to the new season and all the great ideas of things to do to welcome in spring, I haven't had time to write anything about Ostara, the Spring Equinox, or Spring, or any of the wonderful things going on!
First off!
Ostara!
The easiest way I can describe Ostara is to say, it's our version of Easter, but a lot BETTER! This is where Easter came from. Welcoming in the new season and everything coming to life again after the long winter season. I'm sure you may have noticed plants growing depending on where you are, and the snow is melting here in the Northwestern part of the US. Though, Looks like we had a nice storm out here yesterday that gave them a few inches of snow to contend with.
Seems like 2014 is a year winter just doesn't want to quit. Which is okay by me, Gaia can do anything she'd like with the weather. I'll just have to adjust myself to her schedule.
To celebrate the holiday, I got myself a new bicycle. I'm really excited about it. I have a bike that makes me feel like Vata Sultenfuss (from "My Girl" if you didn't know) I even bought a nice wicker basket to hang on the handle bars. I have so much fun riding it, which is part of the reason I chose this bike over my normal ten speed mountain bike. Since that first day of riding, when the temperature outside was in the mid 50s, it's been cold. I think we were lucky to hit 30° since then. Today though? We're supposed to get up to 42° if I'm lucky! This means I'll get to pull my bike back out, attach my kiddy wagon, and ride around town again.
I love Spring! Not only because the world is coming back to life, and waking up, but because it's the perfect temperature to do things outside. My favorite thing to do come springtime? I think that's obvious, bike riding. After that, I think it's walking. Give me music, and something fun to do outside, and I'm on it!
Spring Vacation here is the week of April 12-20th from school, I think I'll be packing the kids and bikes into my truck and heading out most of that week if possible. I can only hope! Also, I'll be bringing the dog a few times as well. He likes to run next to the bikes, I taught him a few years ago, and he goes. If you want to slow down, you just have to say "Slower pup!" He'll run a little slower. If you want to move faster? Same thing, "Come on!" or "Faster" or "Lets go!" He really enjoys it I think. Also, if we don't bring him for a run a few times a week, he likes to roam our town on his own. That isn't just unsafe, and dangerous, it will cost us big time if he gets picked up by the dog warden or hit by a car. (my poor puppy!) He's a Norwegian Elkhound, and 6 years old. I think he loves Springtime just as much as the rest of us, when everyone starts moving around and playing more.
Also, Sports! One of my favorite sports is Baseball. My kids are playing Baseball and Softball this year. I'm getting impatient waiting for warmer weather when I can teach my littlest how to play T-ball. I think he'll love it too. He can already throw a ball, and catch sometimes. I'm going to get him a t-ball set that pops up, I saw it at Walmart the last time I was there.
What did I do for Ostara other than buy a new bike, and go for a ride? We did some major spring cleaning, aired out the house, bought some grass seed we can't plant yet, and found some fun activities to do with the kids. Since the world around us is more focused on Easter, we tend to do our major celebrating then. We'll color eggs, and do all the Easter like activities with a Wiccan twist. Loads of fun! <3
For a different topic, I wanted to ask... When you have children, do you automatically raise them in your spiritual beliefs, or do you let them decide what they believe on their own?
Personally, I don't practice my beliefs publicly. Not for the fear of being judged by others, but because it is something I like to keep private. I don't like PDAs. (public displays of affection), and I also don't like when people push their religion of others. Since I don't like when others flaunt their personal choices, I choose not to flaunt my own. No matter if its Religion, or sexual preference, I think some things shouldn't be shown in public. I'd prefer to keep the world around us to a "G-Rated" level and keep our kids safe. I can't control other people, but I can control what I do, and what I let my children be subjected or exposed to. I have books in my library about all kinds of religions, including the Holy Bible. I have read it, I also spent 4 years going to a Morman church with my parents and my children. They're nice people, but I don't believe the same things they do. I "lack the faith," as they called it. That was one of the last times I was there. Since I don't share the same beliefs, there really is no reason for me to continue going.
My brother asked me if he could bring my son to church with him on Sundays. I'm not sure my son wants to do such a thing, but I supposed if he is interested in it, he can go. I won't stop him. Like I said before, I don't mind exposing my children to different religions, and if they choose something different than me, I'm fine with it.
It's like if I wanted to force my children to be straight or gay for any reason. Or to like or not like a person because of their skin color. I don't mind if a white woman is with a black man, or if two men are together, or two women... same races, ages, gender or different. I am more bothered by them making out in public. To be fair, when a couple who are old, married, and in love do more than hold hands and share the love they feel for each other by their actions, I get uncomfortable. When I see teenagers making out in public, I want to throw up. Even if I think "they belong together." This is why my guy and I, when we're in public, it's hand holding, and pecks. the major kissing and hugging is in privacy. That doesn't mean we love each other less, it just means we respect others, and ourselves, enough to be capable of keeping our bodies away from each other until an appropriate time.
That's how I feel about Religions. You may have it, you can show off your love for it, you can do whatever makes you feel good. But try to have respect for people who aren't comfortable with how you feel. For instance, you can be totally proud of your body, you can look like a model, but is it appropriate to go around a department store, or grocery shopping in a bikini top? Maybe you should wear your bathing suit when you're at the beach or near a pool? My 10 year old son doesn't need to see your "hot body" when we're buying diapers or food. I really don't care if you look good or not, I don't care if we share the same beliefs, if you make me uncomfortable, I will try to avoid you. I simply don't like "advertising."
I understand there are many religions in the world, and many different types of people, that doesn't mean I have to like it. You can have a great body and cover it up. You can cover yourself in garb of your choice, and not "recruit" new members. You can be totally in love with your partner, and not have foreplay in public. You can own a business and not advertise every minute you're awake. When is it okay to do any and all of that stuff? Well, showing off your hot body is great for modeling, and pool-like activities. Summer doesn't mean "wear next to nothing," it means to wear lightweight, light colored clothing. Dressing in your FULL garb and showing your interests or beliefs? When you go to church, or other gatherings when that is the topic. I've seen people in medieval garb walking around different places, that I deem inappropriate. They're also on their way to or from that event, this means it's alright for them to be dressed however they'd like. So, clothes doesn't mean anything unless you're half naked or showing your private parts where I expect my kids not to see such things. (Shorts should infact COVER YOUR ASS!) Those people aren't carrying their books, or pamphlets spreading the word of their saviour. (Nothing against those people who do, just please, no more tiny orange books given to kids outside of their school)
I don't mind Elders coming to my house to try telling me about their religion, but when I show no interest or tell them about my beliefs and my experience, I would like it to stop. I don't mind talking about different topics, religion and politics, but I can't have someone tell me I am wrong in what I believe just because it doesn't agree with that they believe.
Advertising is alright in magazines, on the television, newspapers, flyers you get in the mail, or other places you "Expect" to find it, but when I go to a school activity, I don't want to talk about what you need to fix in my bathroom right then. I'd prefer to keep my mind on the activity that affects my children. When this happened I politely said, "I'm sorry, I don't think this is a good time or place to talk about it. I'll talk to you later, don't worry, nothing is wrong." and that was it... I think I may have offended him a little at the time, but I couldn't really talk to the carpenter who remodeled my bathroom, at a meeting about planning a pasta dinner for a fundraiser for our daughters, to tell him that something is leaking through the ceiling above my computer... like I said, there is a time and place for everything. If he waited probably 15 more minutes, and the other parents weren't around, we could have talked and it would have been fine.
I get really upset with the kids I drive to school when summer gets closer. The girls start wearing less and less clothing, their stomachs, butts, and breasts all show. I have to wonder, where are their parents? and don't these girls have any self respect? They're showing off their beach bodies at school, how are any of them going to learn anything? When a girl goes to school with her private parts hanging out, the boys are going to take notice. When the boys take notice, how are the girls going to keep from responding? And there goes the chain of events that makes everything turn out bad come the high school years.
My job as a parent is to teach the kids right and wrong, expose them to different things that they can choose for themselves, and support them the best I can. If that means they decide they want to be Pagan/Wiccan, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, a doctor, lawyer, homeless... It is all up to them. I try to give them options and prepare them for the possible outcomes that may follow. For instance, if they choose not to do their homework, they then must accept the fact that they're not going to have a good grade in whatever class that is. If they don't want to keep their room clean, they're going to have to miss out on activities they like to do. If they talk back, they don't get to have electronics, and they'll have to go to their room and probably read or find something else to do that I will approve of.
Recently I have found myself on a wall trying to decide what choice
I should make for one of my children. I debate on the choices, then I decide this is something I should probably talk to them about. If the child wants to do something, I now have to figure out what is the safest way they can do it? It's like them learning about religions, if they want to learn, and the books I have doesn't answer all of their questions, I will find someone they can talk to, and we'll go from there.
Since I have now written much more than I had planned to, and much more topic than I had planned, I'm going to end my entry. I hope I can write again before Mabon. (sexy sabat!)
Thats the one where we celebrate fertilization and women, the beginning of the circle of life, and all that wonderful stuff.
I hope everyone gets a chance to work in their gardens, or start one, possibly compost, if you don't already, and help make the world a better place for our future. I also hope I haven't offended any of you with my strong opinions. Love and Light
Happy Spring Everyone!
Merry we meet, merry we part, merry we meet again.
Blessed Be
☽✪☾
You can find more information about Ostara by searching with Google or Bing, or by going to http://www.witchology.com/contents/march/ostara.php or any of many more sites that has more information.
**An update from my last post? I have lost 30 pounds so far this year, and I've been living my life a whole lot healthier. Thank you all for your positive thoughts.