*sigh* I am out for the Summer as of this weekend.  I really am not sure exactly what to do with myself apart from using this time off to improve my spirituality and knowledge.  As I am still at the beginning stages of my learning (which I'm doing pretty much on my own), I have a lot to learn!  I went Sunday to our local library branch and got a card.  However, I was somewhat disappointed by the lack of pagan materials there.  With entire bookcases dedicated to mainstream religions, they only had a half of a shelf for "new age", most of which was about Feng Shui.  Although I am a great believer in Feng Shui, that's not what I was looking for, and in the end had to wander to the mythology section. I found later while perusing the library's website that many of the other branches have a much better selection of pagan books that can be transported to my branch if I put a hold on them.  I must have held about ten books, and I hope they come quickly.  It's not as if I don't have my own books to read, but the library is so much less expensive than going out and buying more, especially in the present economical situation.

I did check out The Power of Myth (Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers), and have found it interesting.  As a result of that, I tracked down the actual PBS broadcast at google video and have been watching it.  Fascinating!  It has forced me to look at modern society a bit differently, and at my own personal form of Myth-making.  It is a concept I had never even considered before and it really does make you think a bit.

This week, I have noticed that Willow, my kitty, has been "batting" at things that are not there.  I wonder if there is something that she sees that I do not, and what is it?  I thought maybe Fae, or something of that nature.  If anyone has any ideas on what cats are in tune with, let me know.

I have learned that in Houston, there are a lot of lovely things that I'm allergic to out in nature.  I hate to have to take drugs all the time, and have been discovering the healing and preventative side of herbs.  (That's not to say that I don't go to the Dr. when I need to!)  I found a lovely recipe at another website for an allergy tea, (actually a tisane, but I will call it "tea") which I like very much.  However, I was out of one of the ingredients and found a suitable substitute for it, which I like much better.  Therefore, I will share it with you.  Beware, it has a kick to it!

Allergy Tea

3 tsp. whole cloves

1 tsp cinnamon stick (broken up)

2-3 star anise pods

1 pinch ground cayenne

Grind in mortar and pestle for a few minutes until the pieces of clove and star anise have been split up a bit.  It doesn't have to be a powdered substance.  Use 1 teaspoon for 1 cup of boiling water (I would suggest using a tea-strainer), and sweeten with honey or the sweetener of your choice (or not).  It has a lovely, spicy flavor and really loosens up the yuck in the sinuses!

It hasn't always been an easy road. I think some people, myself included, have an ingrained penchant for pessimism and thrive on sadness. I have battled with this for a few years now. That's not to say that I'm always melancholy, I have many happy moments, but I have a really bad habit of being not only pessimistic, but also, and in a strangely macabre way, a bit of a doomsayer. I have been trying to overcome this of late. It seems, though, that the harder I try, the worse I am at being happy. When I'm not really "working on it", my optimism appears higher and I can cope with life a lot easier. I'm learning to take it one day at a time.

One of the things that has helped a little has been the conscious effort to TRY not to be involved in malicious gossip around my workplace. Yes, I do join in on the "what this place really needs" discussion, but I am making a real attempt at not saying anything that might hurt another if it got back to them, and I have also tried to steer conversations into a "let's try looking at the other side of this person" subject. This not only helps my mind stay somewhat positively focused, but it also keeps me from suffering the effects of bad Karma. It doesn't hurt my Muslim co-workers, either! (I was remarking only today to Magicklady that I consider myself somewhat of a Muslim witch, so I am not trying to be rude about my fellow teachers...in case you were wondering.)

I feel that Goddess is trying to teach me that bad words about others is no different than uttering a curse or a spell against them, and as this is not what I would want to do to another, not necessarily because I will suffer the karma, but rather, it's simply not nice, I would like to curb the habit altogether. It's not easy to kick the gossip habit, but little by little, I will do it, and I think that my life will change because of it.  In fact, it has already changed a little.  I feel much happier about myself, which in turn makes me simply happy.

Wow!  I've spent all day in my classroom, reorganizing and putting things away, getting it ready for next year's class.  The students have gone for the Summer, many of them going overseas to the lands of their parents, and the teachers remain for the week in the school to "close it down".  I really learned a lot about how to handle the organization of my classroom this year, as this was my first year as a second grade teacher.  I still have a long way to go, but, at least there's the rest of the week not counting the teachers' lunch tomorrow and the graduation Friday morning.  I'm exhausted, but I feel good.  Organization always makes me feel better.

However, I think I need to turn off the news as the world situation is pulling me down.  *blah*