It blows my mind that the last post was a month ago.  It seems like it was the other day!

In the meantime we are adopting my two year old nephew, the process is in full swing now and it looks like they are keen to have us visit him and maybe transition him into our home early in the new year.  

I finished my online courses.

I'm learning about astrology at the moment.  Seems overwhelming, so much info!

My baby is walking and is cutting his first tooth finally.

I have so much on the go lately. I am taking a course in Flash and another in graphic design basics. I'm still on maternity leave with my son. I'm trying to get info about my two year old nephew who is currently with a foster family, hoping to adopt him.

Recently I brought home the new edition of Z Budapest's The Holy Book of Women's Mysteries. I love Budapest's sheer delight and passion along with sacred feminism. I'm also reading a book called Firstlight by Sue Monk Kidd - largely it is a collection of her inspirational articles and stories when she wrote for a Christian magazine called Guidepost. Yet this is not Christian oriented, and largely focused on compassion, immanent divinity, patience, and faith.

Otherwise I have several books on the go for web and graphic design. Relearning what I did know, learning all that I didn't, realizing this is a massive undertaking. First I started learning the nuances of modern CSS, and re-learning (X)HTML. I also need to learn Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, and integrate some basic graphic design principles and elements, as well as learning about accessibility, usability, user experience, etc. Typography is a particular interest though I need to get a broad understanding of all elements of design. I have a diploma in computer programming but that knowledge has gone unused for years - I want to marry beautiful aesthetics with clean, proper coding techniques.

I have recently realized I have some general anxiety problems, and particular social anxiety issues. Just realizing this, admitting it, and finding ways to cope when anxiety rises, has been a significant help.

Meanwhile as you can imagine, my son is about to turn 9 months old, and is crawling, cruising, and standing on his own for short periods. However, he isn't eating as well as he could and we have a Dr's appointment to investigate that further. He is nonetheless developing at a surprising rate, up with all his milestones, and a delightful ball of energy most of the time.

I think that about covers it!

X-posted to my mysticwicks blog.

To be honest, I'm a little frustrated with the themes here at Covenspace.  Regardless of which I choose, my blog looks like it has 3 columns that are misshapen at least on my monitors.  Not sure if that's the case for others viewing it, given that I've got my monitors at 1600x1200, but I dislike it.

Life is pretty quiet around here, just trying to keep myself in step with my son's cycles of food/change/play/sleep.  We are planning to move in the next couple months, and I already spoke to my SO about finding a daycare or babysitter to send the baby to once in awhile so I can get a break.  I am thinking about going back to work part-time at least, or taking some courses to keep my mind busy.  Baby is at the point where he spends a couple hours a day sleeping, goes to bed an hour or two before me, and can contentedly play by himself a couple hours a day.

Although I have so many Pagan books to learn from I'm finding it hard to stick to following just one.  I'm doing a devotional, and meditating each day, as well as programming a trigger for myself, and plan to work with affirmations too.  When I started a meditation last night from Chris Penczak's Ascension Magick, I was stopped by a bear,who explained the bear is my totem and shadow animal right now.  I've never had things spontaneously appear in a meditation before, but then I haven't really done much intentional meditation with a purpose.

I really enjoy the book mentioned above, Ascension Magick.  I also brought home The Secret book today, having watched the movie awhile ago.  I guess lately I feel more in line with the ideas of ascension magick and New Age concepts than those of Wicca and Witchcraft.  I feel the former define the goal, and the latter is one pathway to it, with it's own structures and requirements.  Then again, I keep meaning to do some more ceremonial Wiccan rituals, rather than just winging it as I always have done.

Recently I was delighted to find two of Sue Monk Kidd's books in paperback at the local store.  I had borrowed Dance of the Dissident Daughter from the library some time ago, and enjoyed it immensely.  When the Heart Waits is new to me, and describes Kidd's spiritual crisis and transformation while still Christian.  So far the book has not focused on that particular religion at all and once again I enjoy Kidd's writing style and ability to share her spirituality and the Mysteries she has experienced.

I have several books on the go, as always.   At times I yearn for mythology and poetry, such as Ovid's Metamorphoses, Homer's writings, The Golden Bough, and Feri poetry by Victor Anderson and Faerywolf.  I have finished The Love Spell by Phyllis Curott and Don't Know Much About Mythology; the first books I have actually finished in quite some time.  I always enjoy women's tales of spirituality, such as those by Curott and Kidd.  On one hand I look to the past for ancient tales, on the other I yearn for more modern descriptions of personal journeys.  I realize lately all the informative books by Jung and Campbell among others sit on my shelf unread, as I indulge myself with others that are not as academic yet deeply meaningful and profound.  

Kidd describes in When the Heart Waits how we have become so used to the express lane when it comes to everything from our food to our diets to even our religions.  She explains that we need to engage in "active waiting", trusting that, like the caterpillar who creates a chrysalis, we must trust in the turning of time to become complete.  So far the book has already opened me to some realizations about my own "waiting" and need to experience and be receptive.