Leo Daily Horoscope: Accepting Uncertainty

Today's horoscope makes a lot of sense for me today, will write more in another post, but right now I am reeling with the uncertainty of life. I'm having some issues with family members, feel pulled from all directions, am in the middle of people who "aren't comfortable" with each other and of course the unspoken message is this: Fix it, Rapunzel. Well, I can't, not without making myself and others completely miserable. I can't fix that people don't always like each other, can't fix that the Brady Bunch didn't f-ing exist in real life, that this blended family shit is so much harder than even I, who lived through it in my own life, could have imagined. I can't help that teenagers are naturally selfish and self-centered and that sometimes adults are, too. I can't restore trust in men that was broken by insensitive fathers, can't erase years of hurt and anger. I can only do my best day by day, love the people who are in my life, both biological family and the one I've chosen, and hope that it all unfolds as the Universe intends. Right now the future seems bleak, though, and perhaps I need a fresh perspective...or a one-way ticket to Paris. Seriously, I'm considering packing my bags and my passport, draining my investment funds and hopping on a plane. Let the chips fall where they may, the other players in this drama can continue the show without me. I'm tired of playing, especially when no matter how hard I try it's simply not good enough.

November 18, 2007
Accepting Uncertainty
Leo Daily Horoscope

The important life decisions you are facing today could make you feel like being more cautious. Having uncertainty about the future could generate concern over the ways in which the choices you make today can affect your life. While being careful is wise, understanding that nothing in life is definite and that the only control you have is over your mind and the ways in which it perceives the world might make it easier for you to temper your sense of prudence with receptivity to ambiguity today. By seeing this, you may notice that even though nothing in life is guaranteed, every decision you make has a positive outcome for you will always have an opportunity to learn new things, even if something doesn’t work out the way you wish it.

Since we can’t control the ways in which our future unfolds, it is important for us to learn to find the balance between discretion and acceptance of uncertainty. When we recognize that our decisions aren’t always set in stone, we begin to see that life presents us with opportunities that we never thought would occur. Our choices do factor into this but not to the lasting extent we may think they do. Even the most well-thought-out plans can change and morph into something other than what we anticipated. By realizing that you can’t control the outcome of your decisions today, you will develop a greater peace of mind about what the future holds for you.

Today's Inspiration: Embracing Womanhood

Daily Om: Embracing Womanhood

There are many ways and myriad reasons for women to honor and embrace all that they are. And when any individual woman chooses to do so, all women collectively move closer to becoming what they are truly capable of being. By honoring her experience and being willing to share it with others—both male and female—she teaches as she learns. When she can trust herself and her inner voice, she teaches those around her to trust her as well. Clasping hands with family members and friends, coworkers and strangers in a shared walk through the journey of life, she allows all to see the self-respect she possesses and accepts their respect, too, that is offered through look, word, and deed.

When a woman can look back into her past, doing so without regret and instead seeing only lessons that brought her to her current strength and wisdom, she embraces the fullness of her experience. She helps those around her to build upon the past as she does. And when she chooses to create her desires, she places her power in the present and moves forward with life into the future.

Seeing her own divinity, a woman learns to recognize the divinity in all women. She then can see her body as a temple, appreciating its feminine form and function, regardless of what age or stage of life she finds herself. She can enjoy all that it brings to her experience and appreciate other women and their experiences as well. Rather than seeing other women as competition, she can look around her to see the cycle of life reflected in the beauty of her sisters, reminding her of her own radiance should she ever forget. She can then celebrate all the many aspects that make her a being worthy of praise, dancing to express the physical, speaking proudly to express her intellect, sharing her emotions, and leading the way with her spiritual guidance. Embracing her womanhood, she reveals the facets that allow her to shine with the beauty and strength of a diamond to illuminate her world.

Today's Inspiration: The Power of Disengagement

I had a situation last night which reminds me of this post, and I'm pleased to say that after the initial frustration/anger/disappointment I was able to step back, calm down and look at the whole thing with a fresh perspective. Though I was hurt and lashed out, it was only for a moment and I didn't allow it to escalate into something worse. You've gotta know how hard it was for me to walk away instead of pushing & probing like I normally do, but maybe I'm finally starting to learn that that pattern simply doesn't work! Instead, what might have been a nasty fight turned into a request for a hug, with me happily obliging. Feathers were smoothed, emotions were quelled and the evening took a positive turn. Good Stuff.

Daily Om November 13, 2007
The Power Of Disengagement
Playing Mind Games

For better or worse, many people have been raised to believe that communicating in an honest and open way will not get them what they want. They have learned, instead, to play mind games or go on power trips in the service of their ego’s agenda. People stuck in this outmoded and inefficient style of communication can be trying at best and downright destructive at worst. We may get caught up in thinking we have to play the same games in order to defend ourselves, but that will only lead us deeper into confusion and conflict. The best way to handle people like this is to be clear and honest with them

As with all relationships and situations in our lives, we must look within for both the source of our difficulties and the solution. Reacting to the situation by getting upset will only entrench us more deeply in the undesirable relationship. Only by disengaging, becoming still, and going within can we begin to see what has hooked us into the mess in the first place. We will most likely find unprocessed emotions that we can finally fully feel and release into the stillness we find in meditation. The more we are able to do this, the less we will be bothered by the other person’s dramas and the more we will be free to respond in a new way. In the light of our new awareness, the situation will untangle itself and we will slowly break free.

Whenever people come into our lives, they have come for a reason, to show us something about ourselves that we have not been able to see. When unhealthy people try to hook us into their patterns with mind games and power trips, we can remind ourselves that we have something to learn here and that a part of us is calling out for healing. This takes the focus off the troubling individual and puts it back on us, giving us the opportunity to change the situation from the inside out.

Cooking Therapy

So, here's the thing: when I get anxious, I head to the kitchen. No, not necessarily to eat which I do sometimes as well, but to cook. Something about mixing and measuring takes the edge off my mood, relaxes and redirects me. So, when you see me posting bunches of recipes and doing bulk cooking, you know why.

With that in mind, I present the latest "therapy," a cornbread recipe from the book Consuming Passions by Michael Lee West, one of my favorite authors. This is not the most healthy cooking but, damn it's delicious! A perfect accompaniment to the stew below.

Now, Ms. West advises you to grease your cast iron skillet with about 2 teas. bacon grease, put it in the oven at 400 degrees for 3-4 minutes, so I did just that. (I told you it wasn't healthy!)

Cornbread

3/4 cup cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons to 1/4 cup sugar (optional)
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk or buttermilk
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder

Mix it all up and pour into the pan. Bake 25 minutes at 400 degrees. Cool. Cut into squares, slice open, and butter.

On My Hearth: Southern Brunswick Stew

We are on the letter "O" for our little veggie adventure, had to skip "N" because I simply couldn't find any suitable vegetable beginning with that letter! So I have decided to make a dish with Okra. Now, I happen to love okra, my Dad and I have that in common, but it wasn't always the case. When I was a little girl he used to fry it up for dinner and my Mom and I would sit and watch in disgust as he devoured the slimy-looking things, we laughingly called them "daisies." As an adult I tried them again and found them to be quite appealing if cooked properly, and they are certainly a nice addition to soups & stews which is exactly what I'm going to do with them tonight. (I know, I just had Okra the other day in a similar recipe but Beren's girls weren't here to..uh..enjoy it. *wink*)

I had this bag of McKenzie's Soup Mix with Tomatoes in my freezer, am going to use the recipe on the back of the package with a few alterations. First, I'm using my crockpot instead of stovetop; this way, when Beren's girls arrive this evening dinner will be ready to go. I am using boneless chicken breast because that's what I have on hand, also added some Penzey's Chicken Soup Base and Seasoning to give it a richer flavor.

Southern Brunswick Stew

7 cups water
3-lb whole broiler-fryer chicken, cut up, skim removed
3 celery tops with leaves
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 pkg. (16 oz) McKenzie's Vegetable Soup Mix with Tomatoes
1/3 cup ketchup
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

In a 4-qt saucepan, combine water, chicken, celery tops, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cover. Reduce heat to low. Simmer 1 hour or until chicken is tender. Discard celery tops and bay leaf. Remove chicken from pan. Cut meat from bones into chunks. Cover and set aside. Meanwhile, add vegetables to pan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cover. Reduce heat to low. Simmer 25-30 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add chicken, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce. Cook 5 - 10 minutes or until hot.

Happiness Is...

*saving over $40.00 in coupons & sales at the grocery stores today! I'm committed to buying only what's on sale whenever possible, continuing to stock my pantry & freezer. The only exceptions are "must-haves" and fresh produce, meat, etc.

*watching Lily and friends prepare for the Homecoming football game tonight. They're painted green and look absolutely silly but what fun!

*nursing an injured kitty - though Salem did have to make an emergency visit to the vet requiring stitches in his leg, it could have been so much worse. An added blessing is the fact that we have pet insurance, whew!

*a night out on the town with my parents and kids! We had a wonderful time dancing and listening to a great country band. As my Dad said, Who'd have thunk that I'd be out "honky tonkin'" with my family?!

*being led out on the dancefloor by a "local legend," one of the area's original cowboys. At 77 this man can move better and faster than men half his age! He's an inspiration, hope I have half his energy when I get there. (not too pleased that my shirt kept creeping up and my big ol' tummy is out there for the whole bar to see but..what the hell, I was having a fabulous time!)

*a drop in temperature which allowed me to open the windows for most of today. The breeze was wonderful and I am hoping that turning the a/c off will help lower my electric bill just a bit.

*a whole day to myself...ahh...I love Fridays!

On My Hearth: Crockpot Vegetable Gumbo

I have some leftover corn-on-the-cob from earlier in the week and a frozen bag of Vegetable Gumbo so I'm going to make a quick & easy version of the below recipe. I'll serve it over brown rice for a healthy vegetarian meal!

Crockpot Vegetable Gumbo

INGREDIENTS:

* 1 cup vegetable broth
* 1/2 cup chopped onion
* 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
* 2 ribs celery, chopped
* 1 garlic clove, minced
* 1 pound okra, sliced, fresh or frozen
* 1 pound tomatoes, chopped, fresh or canned
* 2 cups corn kernels, fresh, frozen, canned
* 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
* 1/4 teaspoon paprika
* 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
* 1 tablespoon fresh basil, minced
* salt and pepper, to taste
* non-stick vegetable coating spray

PREPARATION:
In crockpot, combine vegetable broth, onion, green pepper, celery, and garlic. Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours. Add okra, tomatoes, and corn, along with Tabasco, paprika, parsley, basil, and salt and pepper. Cover and cook 2 to 3 hours longer.

Serves 4 to 6.

The Witches' New Year

A year of beauty. A year of plenty.
A year of planting. A year of harvest.
A year of forests. A year of healing.
A year of vision. A year of passion.
A year of rebirth.

This year may we renew the earth.
This year may we renew the earth.

Let it begin with each step we take.
And let it begin with each change we make.
And let it begin with each chain we break.
And let it begin every time we awake.

--Chant from the
Reclaiming Samhain Celebration

Samhain--pronounced sow-(rhymes with now)-in--more popularly known as Halloween, is the Witches' New Year, Wicca's most solemn and festive holiday. In my book "The Spiral Dance," I describe it as "the night when the veil is thin that divides the worlds...when the harvest is gathered and the fields lie fallow. The gates of life and death are opened and to the living is revealed the Mystery: that every ending is but a new beginning."

For Pagans, death and birth are intertwined. Our goddesses and gods all represent aspects of the cycle of birth, growth, death, and regeneration. Every good gardener knows that fertility is born out of decay. Every fallen leaf becomes part of the soil that feeds the roots of growing trees."

Pagans have no dogma that must be accepted. Our spirituality centers on experience, not faith. Yet if we were to hold one common belief, it might be that our individuality lives on after death. We remain part of our communities, alive and present in a different realm.

At Samhain, we take time to remember and commune with those who have gone before, to express gratitude for what they've given us. In our frantic pace, we tend to forget our past. Few of us know much about our families beyond a generation or two back. Remembering the dead can help us keep a sense of connection to our roots.
by Starhawk

In my home, we honor those who have passed by putting up an altar on the living room table. We put up pictures and memorabilia, light a candle and say a prayer of remembrance. We often set an extra place at the table for the deceased ones during Samhain dinner, welcoming their spirits on the night when the veils between the world is thinnest.

Samhain is also a time of inner reflection and renewal for us, an opportunity to wash put away the old year and start anew. This means looking at the things that aren't working in my life, deciding what to keep and what to cast aside, and making some new affirmations.

The coming year is less about emotional/relationship changes and will be more focused on physical ones, personal things affecting my health. I am 43 years old and have so many wonderful things in my life, so many fabulous transitions have finally taken place, yet I feel like I'm being held back by my body, by not being as healthy as I should be. Oh, it's nothing big, just little aches and pains that weren't there before, as well as the obvious 20 pounds I'm still carrying around. I need to turn inward, figure out what's causing me to feel unwell, and to gently bring myself back to a healthier place. I can do this.

Blessed Samhain, Happy New Year.

Today's Inspiration: Offering Comfort

This Daily Om really resonates with me today; three of the people closest to me in life are struggling with some difficult situations. They are angry, hurt and heartbroken, for different reasons but with the same results. I want to do my "Leo thing" which is jump in and help (and put my claws into the person(s) who caused their distress) but know that there's truly nothing I can do except sit back, hold their hands and heart, and listen when they want to talk. I can also do this: send healing thoughts & energy, and ask you all to do the same.

Daily Om: October 29, 2007
Simple Gestures Of Solace
Offering Comfort

Sometimes it is difficult to see someone we love struggling, in pain, or hurting. When this happens, we might feel like we need to be proactive and do something to ease their troubles. While others may want our help, it is important to keep in mind that we need to be sensitive to what they truly want in the moment, since it can be all too easy to get carried away and say or do more than is really needed. Allowing ourselves to let go and simply exist in the present with another person may actually provide a greater amount of comfort and support than we could ever imagine.

Perhaps we can think back to a time when we were upset and needed a kind word, hug, or listening ear from someone else. As we remember these times, we might think of the gestures of kindness that were the most healing. It may have been gentle words such as “I care about you,” or the soothing presence of someone holding us and not expecting anything that were the most consoling. When we are able to go back to these times it becomes easier for us to keep in mind that giving advice or saying more than is really necessary is not always reassuring. What is truly comforting for another is not having someone try to fix them or their problems, but to just be there for them. Should we begin to feel the urge arise to offer advice or repair a situation, we can take a few deep breaths, let the impulse pass, and bring our attention back to the present. Even though we may want to do more, we do not have to do anything other than this to be a good friend.

The more we are attuned to what our loved ones are feeling, the more capable we are of truly giving what is best for them in their hour of need. Keeping things simple helps us give the part of ourselves that is capable of the greatest amount of compassion—open ears and an understanding heart

And for Dessert..

I'm going to ask the girls to help me make these this afternoon!

Candy Corn Popcorn Balls


If kids are helping shape these treats, make sure the marshmallow mixture is cool enough for them to handle. Store the confections in an airtight container for up to three days.


8 cups popped light butter microwave popcorn (about 1 [3-ounce] bag)
1 cup candy corn
1/4 cup butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 (10-ounce) bag marshmallows
Cooking spray

Combine popcorn and candy corn in a large bowl.
Melt 1/4 cup butter in a large saucepan over medium heat; stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt and (10-ounce) bag marshmallows. Reduce heat to low; cook for 7 minutes or until the marshmallows melt and the mixture is smooth, stirring frequently.

Pour marshmallow mixture over popcorn mixture, stirring to coat well. Lightly coat hands with cooking spray; shape popcorn mixture into 20 (2-inch) balls.

Yield: 20 servings (serving size: 1 popcorn ball)

CALORIES 212 (12% from fat); FAT 2.9g (sat 1.6g,mono 0.1g,poly 0.1g); PROTEIN 0.5g; CHOLESTEROL 6mg; CALCIUM 1mg; SODIUM 73mg; FIBER 0.4g; IRON 0.1mg; CARBOHYDRATE 47.6g

Cooking Light, OCTOBER 2004