Even my parents call me Mulder...

Recently, Ninette and I have been Netflix-ing episodes of The X-Files, and indulging our inner Conspiracy Theorists. We love stuff like that, as I am sure many of you do, too.

So, the thing about watching the X-Files is that it sort of seeps into your system. We call one another "Scully" and "Mulder" and such. (You guess who is who!) Last week, Ninette's boss called her, and she accidentally thought it was me. Ninette answered, "Hi Spooky!" and then there was much explaining to do...

Today we're standing at the counter like two pigeons on a wire, chatting about the day's events thus far. Ninette ate half a cantaloupe for breakfast this morning and she is in a good mood. I am wearing a comfortable outfit, except my pants are having Mercury Retrograde and untied themselves and almost fell down this morning. You know, we discuss important stuff. Ninette mentioned that the other night she had a dream where someone was driving her around in a green Fiat. I was kind of blown away, because today when I drove up to the store, there was a green Fiat parked outside. Our Conspiracy Theorist antennae went up. Hmmm...then we began to allow ourselves to imaginate.

Ninette, "You know, that blue tow truck is always parked over across the street on Tuesdays, blocking my view of the Lake."

Me: "It might be a surveillance vehicle. but then again, it's so open, with windows and everything. If it were truly for surveillance it would be a white van."

N: "They don't use vans for surveillance. It would be too obvious."

Me: "Mulder was in a van for surveillance."

N: "No he wasn't."

Me: "Yes he was. Remember when they closed down the X-Files and he was in that van eating sunflower seeds?"

N: "Oh yeah, you're right!... That makes you a real geek."

Me: "Yep."

(Silence for a minute. We shift our gaze back to the blue truck blocking the Lake. A white van suddenly pulls away from a parking spot in front of the store.)

Me: "Our cover has been blown. I repeat, our cover has been blown. Abort Mission. ABORT MISSION!"

Endless fun at TSW. You should come down and have some laughs with us today.

It's a new day, America!

This morning, with tears streaming down our cheeks, sipping tea, Ninette and I watched the inauguration of Barack Obama. So happy about this.

Someone once told me that for a Buddhist, a perfect day is the balance of 10,000 joys and 10,000 sorrows. I thought about how Pres. Obama must have felt this morning, knowing that he is currently at the height of his dream, and simultaneously has never before been in more dangerous territory. Above and beyond his personal service to this nation, he is also asking us to take responsibility for this nation's service to the world. He wants us to start at home, and broaden our compassion out farther than many of us have ever stretched it before. He wants us to think big and act big, even in the smallest towns. Listening to his speech this morning was like a metta practice: start with self, expand to those you love, expand to those you don't love or know, expand to the entire world, then step back inwards.

And his beautiful family- totally and completely behind him in, even to step foot onto the stages and place themselves at risk for the sake of the mission. Brave women, all of them.

Today, at TSW, we are starting a spell for the Obama family's safety, for positive change with this term, and for Pres. Obama to stay true to his ideals in the face of pressure and adversity and challenge. If you'd like to add your own voice to the mix, come on down and add your written intention, blessing, or seal to place on our altar to a better future for all.

Happy new year!

OK, it's a little late. I should probably be saying "Happy Inauguration!" (and we ARE SO happy about it!)

But, here is a question: did you make new year's resolutions this year? What were they?

Mine were manifold. I build a lot of bulk into my resolutions. I usually align them along themes. Two years ago, it was the Charge of the Star Goddess- I aligned my resolutions under the categories of beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and pride, mirth and reverence. Last year, I aligned them along the 5 elements: Air was inspiration, Fire was combustion, Water was compassion, and Earth was integration. Then, I basically "file" all my practical, physical resolutions under those categories.

This year, I am working with a 7-branched World Tree theme - in accordance with Siberian mythology of the Goddess Ayyyhyt-Khotun, who sits in the 7-branched world tree and writes in a great golden book all the fates of every creature born on Earth. Big job. In my resolutions, each branch of the tree represents a different arena of my life, and then the actual practical resolutions fall under those. So, for example, under the branch of "Spiritual Growth" I have resolved to become a better spiritual practitioner and HPS of my coven by studying Buddhist communities and learning to adapt some of their metholodologies to a pagan conext that will help us be a strong community in CAYA. I also have my ongoing study of shamanism there, as well as deepening my meditation practice. Under the branch of "Prosperity" I have resolved to work toward the greater prosperity of The Sacred Well, and my own practice, and also to help CAYA achieve some financial goals. And so forth.

So, what are your resolutions?