Time for New Year's Resolutions!

I have been contemplating all day about what kind of resolutions I'd like to make for this new year. I don't want to make the typical ones like "lose weight" or something like that. I didn't make any resolutions for 2012 because I didn't feel I needed to. The reality was...I really did. Going into 2012 I was facing a lot of challenges that I had no idea how to handle, and it made me lose sight of who I am. Coming out of 2012 I feel that I have learned a lot more about myself as a person, and the strength that I possess, than I have any other year. With that being said I also have realized that I need to work on a lot of things, and that's where the idea of this post comes to play. Here are my 2013 resolutions...but I'm going to state them in a different way ;) 

1. "Be the change you want to see in the world" - Gandhi. That is one of the very first things I think of whenever I listen to Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror". I have often talked about what I think is wrong with the world, wrong with society, or even wrong with myself, but I've never taken the time to stand up and fix it. That's my first new year's resolution; be the change. 

Man in the Mirror - Michael Jackson

2. Most of the people who know me outside of my blog know that I'm pretty...tightly-wound. Not in the über-serious kind of way. I just have a hard time relaxing. This next song is pretty cliché, but Cyndi Lauper says it perfectly. My second resolution is let loose and have a good time because girls just wanna have fun ;) 

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper

3. So...I know that I have annoyed a lot of people this past year with how down and pessimistic I've been. My third new year's resolution is to be more positive, and I can't think of a better song that makes me feel positive than Katrina and the Waves' "Walking on Sunshine" ☼

Walking on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves

4. I don't know about all of you, but I am always in need of working on my confidence. I'm not saying that I'm not confident; I just think everyone needs a little re-adjusting confidence-wise every now and then. I need to have confidence in myself, and I don't know what better way to feel confident about myself then with a little sex....okay maybe just a song about sex that makes me feel pretty confident. ;) 

The Sex is Good - Saving Abel

5. My last resolution is to focus on my music more. It's a pretty simple resolution, but I think it's one of the most important ones. The song I chose has a very special meaning for me, and if you listen really closely you might be able to figure out why. 

Bleed - Cold feat. Aaron Lewis

I hope you all enjoyed my new year's resolutions! If you'd like I'd love to hear what yours are. Write them in the comments below :) 

~ Always Yours,

Megan 

Shaken & Stirred; the Aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting

I woke up this morning, and the first thing I saw when I opened MSN was an article about a shooting...at an elementary school. I clicked on the article and began reading. The gunman went on a rampage, firing at students and faculty, all of them defenseless against him. That gunman took lives today. There were children shot and killed. They weren't just killed...they were murdered. Then he took his own life. The sick, twisted individual responsible for the massacre took his own life. Personally, I would have rather he lived. Then he would be sentenced to life in prison...or worse. 

I was slightly numb to the whole ordeal for a while. I logged onto Facebook this afternoon only to log right back out after seeing 95% of my Facebook news feed filled with posts about the shooting. I didn't want to see it. I went to work like this. Like I said; I was numb to it. 

Then it hit me. I'm not in school anymore, but I have family and friends that still are. My sister is in high school, and I know how the security is there. It's not the greatest. It could have been her. It could have been my cousins. Luckily it wasn't. 

When I got home from work my mom stood up, looked at me, and I burst out crying. The terror I feel now is like something I've only felt once, and that was the day of the 9/11 attacks. It's times like these that really make us value the people in our lives. I don't know what I'd do if that were to have happened to any of my family members. My heart goes out to all those who survived their children, grandchildren, family, friends, etc. They have to live with the heartache. 

To all of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting may you rest in peace. - 12/14/12

Always Yours,
Megan

My Wiccan Path; Questions.

For those of you who don't know...I'm a practicing Wiccan. I am also a "witch". Reading this may come as a shock, but it's something that I'm very passionate about, and have been for quite some time. There are so many things that I want to write about it, but I know that in order to do so I need to clarify some things first and foremost. Many people have questions and I've never been the type of person to shun another because they are curious about it. I'm also not the type to judge a person merely because they have chosen to judge me, so if you don't like that I'm a Wiccan and Witch I won't think any less of you. It's your choice, and following the Wiccan path is mine. Now for some of the more common questions I've been asked...

~ Q: Are Wiccans Satanists? A: This is actually the most common question I get. Not that it surprises me. Most people are either misinformed or have absolutely no idea what Wicca is. No, Wiccans are not Satanists. Satan is a Christian figure; not a Wiccan one.

~ Q: What is Wicca? A: Wicca is a nature-based religion. Wicca is actually a fairly new religion, but the practice that it stems from pre-dates most religions today. 

~ Q: How long have you been practicing Wicca? A: I have been practicing since I was in the 5th grade. I got my first book, "Teen Witch" by Silver Ravenwolf, and have been fascinated ever since. I became more focused in my practice when I entered high school, though, and that led to me having my dedication to the Craft last summer. 

~ Q: Why Wicca? A: Wicca is the only place I feel like I spiritually belong. There are so many people out there who don't have something they can look to for guidance in their lives, and I can gladly say that I'm not one of them. I just ask the Goddess for help, and I know that she will help steer me in the right direction.

~ Q: What are rituals/spells like? A: I can't really discuss what goes on within rituals and/or spells. I can tell you that as Wiccans we live by the Wiccan Rede which is "An it harm none, do what ye will". We will not do something to harm another, and we will not choose to use spellcraft as a form of manipulation or against someone's free will; i.e. love spells.

~ Q: How do I become a Wiccan? A: I would suggest reading. Lots and lots of reading. The first thing you have to do is decide whether or not it's the right path for you, and that can take years. There are so many prejudices these days that some people can chicken out of their dedication because they don't want to risk what society might or might not think of them afterwards. Its a difficult decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. :) 

There are a lot of other questions, but these are the most common I receive. I hope you all enjoyed what you read. If you have any further questions don't be afraid to leave them in comments. Have a blessed day, friends! 

Always Yours,
Megan