Colored pencil piece for this week's Illustration Friday - Trick or Treat. I was having a pumpkin/black cat feeling going on, after spending all week with virtually no impetus to do anything whatsoever. It's not gorgeous but I am happy with the colors...I have been in a bold, heavy color mood lately.
I talked to the man earlier and he was hiding in his bedroom from the crazy kiddies...I am sad because I don't have any crazy kiddies to come knocking on my door! That is the depressing thing about living in a college apartment complex - the only people who knock on my door are maintenance workers or drunks. He just had a family move in downstairs, and lives in a fairly residential neighborhood, but he's not the candy hander-outer type.
No costume parties for me this year...I did my Halloween thang on Sunday at our 10th Annual Samhain Labyrinth. This was my third year attending; Tribe Dogpile produced it this year and it was amazing, as always. I do not get a chance to participate much in the local pagan or Buddhist communities anymore because of work, school, and health problems...but I look forward to this event all year. It is the highlight of fall/winter for me.
This was my first successful attempt to capture the beauty of the labyrinth.
Another lovely labyrinth picture.
This was my somewhat unsuccessful attempt to capture the labyrinth with flash...you can see people this time instead of just dark shapes, and it did cause some interesting things to appear in the sky...but I think I like the earlier pictures better.
The setup next to the ancestors altar...you could take a slip of paper and write the names of your ancestors and beloved dead, and then light a candle in their memory.
A view of the entire ancestors altar...it was set up on top of an old tree stump.
This photo was taken by Eva; me adding my contribution to the altar.
The goodies table! Taken by me.
A group shot of the now semi-defunct Pagan Student Association and friends. This was taken by another member of the PSA.
It was truly an amazing and transforming experience, as always...there is something new to learn every year. This was my first year visiting the oracle in the center of the labyrinth, and her wisdom was invaluable...a concrete reminder that the Goddess changes everything She touches, and that She is near.
This is my first time participating in Illustration Friday, so I have to admit to being a bit nervous. I chose to use this picture because I was doing it for a friend (through a secret exchange) and it seemed to fit the theme...it's been awhile since I've worked with pastels and it was a lot of fun. I am so happy to have finally got to participate in IF! Maybe it will become a weekly thing...that would be really good for me.
Lately medical stuff has been bogging me down. I had a reality check with my doctor last week and am starting some new treatment options, as well as trying to cut back on my commitments. I dropped one of my shifts at work and also one of my classes, and I decided to drop my second major as well...this way I can take the minimum number of hours (which is what she's advising) and still graduate in four years, and have more time to focus on religion. The bad thing is that all this stuff is just meaning that I'm going to the doctor/counselor more...but maybe it will be for the best.
I have to get ready to go to work soon, so I am going to cut this short...it's the FSU vs. Miami game and I have to work 8 and a half hours. Don't be surprised if I've torn all my hair out by the time I get home.
A friend of mine recently got into tarot. I have been so blessed to be a gateway for her and for others in my life. I recently got a deck for my prison penpal as well - I have to get it to him still because it has to be hand-delivered (he can't receive packages in the mail).
Things have been kind of difficult lately...I have not been able to find the time for myself or the time to exercise, and I still have not managed to adjust to my new schedule. I've also been really down lately...I was doing amazingly well over the last year or so with depression, but it seems to have come back full force in the last two weeks, and I cannot figure out why. I've also become this awful, bitchy, mean person I don't like very much, but I'm learning how to deal better with that.
I'm having roommate problems, like, real roommate problems, for the first time in my three years of getting random roommates. I guess it IS my turn, but why did I have to end up with such unreasonable-ness at THIS point in my life? It's a good exercise in patience...and also because a lot of it has to do with cleaning issues, I am being more conscientious of doing more around the house anyway (even though I may be doing more than I should be). It's a learning experience but also very hard to deal with for me right now, especially because I am having difficulty communicating with the same roommate.
I started a CaringBridge site to document the current treatment and health issues I am dealing with and to leave updates for my family and friends, so if anyone would like the link, please email me.
Right now I just need some downtime. I need to be able to sleep and not have to worry about when to wake up. I need a week away from here, a week where I don't have to constantly worry about jobs and classes and when I am going to sleep and how I am going to deal with spending half my time (and all of my money) at the damn doctor's office. I need someone to be there for me, and that seems to be the most difficult thing of all right now. I have felt intensely lonely before in my life, but I don't think it has ever been this acute. Most of all, I need to learn how to balance the problems I'm having with what I have to do, and how to communicate to others and talk about these problems without feeling like I never shut up about them and I am always whining. Because I am beginning to get on my OWN nerves.
And I would like to make some picture posts, but my digital camera seems to have misplaced itself. :\
Posts
All Comments
