The new year brings...

The new year always brings a sense of...well... beginnings. I refuse to make new year resolutions as I have touched on before. I still believe that it's setting yourself up to have a bad year when you fail at keeping your resolutions.

Instead, I decided to plan! That's right, I have a bunch of projects in the works and decided I am going to start planning out the course of actions that will help me complete each one! I already accomplished one! My eldest and I, with the help of a commune member, rearranged furniture and set up the gaming systems in the basement! The eldest has an amazing hangout and I have a wonderful workspace for mixing medicines, drying herbs, and keeping my reference books! As well as meditating and spell casting :) (although, I still prefer to cast outside when possible)

My biggest project is keeping the commune organized and setting everything up for this coming spring. I need to help plan out gardens, who is going to grow what. What everyone needs. I need to get lists of all natural and green pest control together. The list goes on and on. I'm so excited to see how this pans out!

I have a few craft projects that are in the works too. And I've returned to studying herbal medicine again too. I plan to have a decent herb garden this coming spring again too. Ugh... It seems like so much when I list it all out, but it doesn't feel like it.  I have deemed this year The Year of Learning While Doing! I love to expand my knowledge base and this year I plan to, not only further my own studies and share much of it on here, but also help teach my boys and begin passing on my traditions and knowledge to them.

The newest book that I have delved into is The Herbal Medicine-Makers Handbook by James Green. I am only 3 chapters in and I am in love! This book encourages you to jump right in and start making a tincture in the first chapter. I will have a full review of this book once I finish it! It is definitely a mainstay on my shelf! (I'd post a picture but for some reason it's not letting me upload it. So I'll post a link to it instead) http://www.amazon.com/Herbal-Medicine-Makers-Handbook-Home-Manual/dp/0895949903

The biggest spell workings I've done lately was the renewing of the protective wards around my home on New Year's eve. It's not that I believe that there is a boost in protective energy that night. It's more of a marker that reminds me it's time to re-ward the house. For the first time ever, I had an outsider observe the entire process. It was... different to have an audience. Not bad, just different.

Well, I have millions of things to do today! I hope you all had a fantastic holiday season!

Blessed Be and Brightest Blessings!!

          )O(