Memento Mori

photo by Vivienne Moss
 

There is something about old grave yards that I just love. To read the names on the stones and the dates in which they lived and died makes me want to sit down and listen to the stories they have to tell. The death current is all around us. It's what makes us enjoy the moments we have on this plane of existence. We never know when it will be time for us to leave this world and join the Lands of the Dead. That is why I feel that we should on good terms with Mama and Papa Death and the spirits who aid them. Honoring our ancestors and living for the moment are just a couple of ways to gain favor from the Realm of the Dead.

While looking through Amazon for some new books to read, I stumbled upon what I think is a winner. Memento Mori edited by Kim Huggens. I have only read the introduction and I am in love with the book already. The book is an anthology on death and the Spirits connected with it
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From the introduction: "Although the title of these anthologies is Memento Mori (Remember, you shall die), more rightly it should be subtitled 'Carpe Diem' (Seize the Day) for this is the effect that the awareness and engagement with the process of death and dying elicits in our modern pagan and occult thinkers."

"Whilst we cannot cheat death, in some way we can live so that we can laugh in its face."


I will give a full review of this delightful little e-book when I am done reading it. Until then, have a Blessed day and remember to enjoy the blissful moments in life.


New on Life Enchanted :  Lorelei 

I'm Back

After a long hiatus I am now back on blogger. Major computer problems and life's up and down moments have kept me away. I now have a new computer and life is looking up! I hope I can reconnect with all my blogger friends out there. I will be checking in on your blogs for the next few days to do some catching up.

I have added a new blog that will showcase my poetry. Life Enchanted can be located under the headed on this blog. The first poem, Aphrodite's Gift, is dedicated to my very own "Lumberjack". Please feel free to critique my poems. I am wanting to publish a book and would love input and comments on them.

Bright Blessings to all. I have missed you!!!!

My Growing Obsession With Tarot

It is the artwork that draws me in. Though I do like the whimsical decks it is the darker ones that call to me the most. The more macabre the better.

My growing obsession begins with just one look at a new deck and the next thing you know you find several more. I would like to share five Gothic style decks ( well, one of them is not so much Gothic but it still fits into the macabre) that are to be released soon. I'm not sure yet which one I like best. I'm leaning toward the Royo deck. For more information and to pre-order any of these decks you can visit Amazon.com.

Royo Dark Tarot Deck
by Lo Scarabeo
May 8, 2012



Alchemy 1977 England Tarot Deck
by Lo Scarabeo
May 8, 2012





Anne Stokes Gothic Tarot Deck
by Lo Scarabeo
May 8, 2012



The Steampunk Tarot
by Barbara Moore and Aly Fell
May 8, 2012



The Zombie Tarot: An Oracle of the Undead
by Stacey Graham
June 5, 2012



Insomnia

First off, I want to thank Stacy from Magic Love Crow for helping me fix my blog so I could actually post something. Big Hugs to you Stacy.



I really wish I could sleep like the girl in the painting above. I suffer from insomnia from time to time but lately it has gotten out of hand. I have tried several things to help me sleep and none seem to be working.

Meditating, wine, beer, Melatonin, Chamomile and regular sleeping pills have all failed. After a few days of no sleep I will finally be exhausted enough to pass out. I know the culprit is my mind. I can't seen to shut it off at night. Too many thoughts running about in there.

Do any of you suffer from insomnia? If so, how do you cope? Any suggestions on what to do to get the rest I need? Your help and comments will be much appreciated on this.

Blessings, V.



image found here

Forgive

I am so sorry that I have been away for so long. Please forgive me if I have worried you. I appreciate all the well wishes and messages of concern. The only excuse I have for not blogging is feeling disconnected from Nature lately. I get my inspiration from the changing of the seasons. This Winter has not felt like Winter at all. I live in Indiana and we are supposed to have lots of snow. We have barely had any and it is very depressing to me. I know a lot of people have enjoyed this warm weather but not me. I miss the cold blast of air on my cheeks, making them rosy and tingly. The glistening of tiny little diamonds on the sleeping Earth. I miss making snowmen and snow-faeries, throwing snowballs with my girls and even shoveling all that heavy snow. I am still hoping for a big snow storm before Spring officially arrives. Maybe I should do a Snow Dance. Anyone care to join me?

For the next few days I am going to visit all the blogs I have neglected to visit in the past few weeks. I know I have missed a lot and I hope to catch up with all of you soon. Thank you all for sticking with me.

Blessings, V.

Day

Day

~George William Russell~

In day from some titanic past it seems

As if a thread divine of memory runs;

Born ere the Mighty One began his dreams,

Or yet were stars and suns.

But here an iron will has fixed the bars;

Forgetfulness falls on earth's myriad races:

No image of the proud morning morning stars

Looks at us from their faces.

Yet yearning still to reach to those dim heights,

Each dream remembered is a burning-glass,

Where through to darkness from the Light of Lights

Its rays in splendour pass.

photo by Vivienne Moss

My Early Morning Walks

My favorite thing to do before work is to go on my morning walk. As long as it is not raining I don't miss it. There are several places I like to walk. This trail is one of them. It used to be a railroad track. The community has turned it into a bike/walk trail.

I was surprised to see this yesterday when I was walking. Must have been some kids having some fun. I like that they have kept a few memento's from the old railway.

The beautiful sunrise yesterday morning. The warmed the day up to sixty degrees if you can believe it. It's January and people are wearing shorts here in Indiana. I'm sure we are going to pay for this.

I love this old barn. There are usually Turkey Buzzards flying in and out of the barn. It must have been too early for those big, beautiful birds.

A few pics of the stream that runs along the trail. The song of a running stream is one of my favorite sounds of Nature. If i listen hard enough I can understand Her Song.



When i quit smoking two years ago I gained a lot of weight. I went from a size 4 to a size 14. With these morning walks and cutting out cream and sugar in my coffee and giving up soda pops, I am now down to a size 6. It took me year to get there but I have done. if I don't lose that last size I'm okay with that. I am still not smoking and will never smoke again. I do not have the desire to do it. Cream and sugar and Cokes are another story. I swear those were harder to give up than the cigs. LOL

Thank you for joining me on my morning walk. Hope you all have a wonderfully blessed day!!