|
|
Tuesday, January 29th, 2013
| |
6:30 pm - ..and then I helped make a movie.
|
LiveJournal. Oh yeah, I do still have an LJ account. :-) Sometimes I even remember to check it. I spend most of my social media time on Facebook these days, 'cause it's easier, and most of the folks I know are there. I figured I'd go ahead and cross post this over here just in case there is anyone on my LJ Flist who isn't on FB. In 2010 I ended up helping produce (and acted in) a micro-budget movie called "Ember Days." The trailer was released today and pre-sales are open on the website. The movie itself will be released March 5th. Here's a link to the website if you're interested: www.emberdaysmovie.com
|
|
(4 comments | comment on this)
|
| Thursday, December 29th, 2011
| |
12:21 am - Sidhehaven: 2011
|
|
| Sunday, November 6th, 2011
| |
7:38 pm - Art show & Sale at Sidhehaven Friday November 25th.
|
Art show & Sale at Sidhehaven Friday November 25th.
Family friendly (under 18 welcome) art show and sale the day after Thanksgiving!
Noon - 7pm
Why not look for your holiday gifting needs among the handcrafted work of local artists? I will have my pottery and maybe some of my journals available and I have also invited other community artists to vend their work too! (If you are a local crafter or artist and I haven't already talked to you.. please let me know if you'd like to join us!)
We will also have space in the house for a clothing exchange as well as a "this is a white elephant to me but would make a good gift for someone else" area.
Feel free to bring potluck munchies to share and spend some time hanging out with friends instead of battling the crowds at the mall.
RSVPs appreciated so we know how many people to expect (I'll signal boost this occasionally between now and Thanksgiving).
Let me know if you need more information or directions. (Actually, I've put directions on our website. They are available here: http://www.sidhehaven.com/directions)
I'm going to be posting about our art sale pretty regularly from now until it happens.. (and would love signal boosting from all my local folks!)
I think there will be at least 6-7 artists set up here vending their amazing LOCAL and HANDMADE beautiful art and craft work. Why not keep your money in the community this gifting season and pick up something one of a kind while you're at it?
I'm going to be clearing out all the rest of my pottery from 2011 (as well as the new stuff I'm working on now) at fairly ridiculously low prices.
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Tuesday, November 1st, 2011
| |
10:06 am - Support your local artists
|
|
| Friday, October 28th, 2011
| |
7:51 am - All art.. all day long
|
I am a dork. I woke up early all excited because I get to spend almost all day today out in my art studio! Well, first I need to chop wood for the fire out there 'cause brrrrr... it's cold! But then! All art, all day long!
Oh my precious.. I have such nifty new design ideas.. black & white swirled plates with jewel tone glazes; more historical reproduction pieces; smudging cauldrons... Plus I have a bunch of commission work to get done.
Speaking of which.. this week and next is pretty much the last time to request custom design work in time for the gifting season. Post here or PM me if you have something special you want made.
Here's what I currently have on my sales page: http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/SidhefireArts
|
|
(3 comments | comment on this)
|
| Tuesday, October 4th, 2011
| |
1:16 pm - Manifesting a dream
|
I'm in the midst of a major sorting/cleaning/purging o' stuff cycle and I was going through a box last night that had all of my old papers from when I was in school. I came across an essay that I had written back in 2006 about what we were starting to create at Sidhehaven. We had only had the property for about a year at that time, and we were just really getting started on building up the infrastructure. It was so interesting for me to go back and read through what we had intended, and then to compare that to what we have created. There are a few minor little bits and pieces we are still working on but for the most part we have managed to accomplish everything that we were initially working towards.
We're currently in the process of crafting new goals to work on. mostly with the intent of helping Sidhehaven to become more self sufficient, as well as adding things that would facilitate or make more comfortable those who come here for retreats or visits. I thought it might be interesting to take what I had written before and bring it up to date. About the first 3/4's of this is copied straight from my original document and the last bit has been updated to change the language from "we will" to "we have" as well as adding in the bits that were not part of our original vision statement.
"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." This quote, from Margaret Mead, has been a guiding influence in my life for as long as I can remember. About fifteen (almost 21 years ago now) years ago, I started to think very seriously about what it was that I wanted to do with my life after I retired from the army. I had been forced to live so many years, not being able to truly “be in” the spiritual lifestyle that I wanted, and I really felt the need to create a space where my spirituality and my love for my Gods could be completely integrated into every facet of my life. I also wanted to find a way to “model change” by living my life as an example, and sharing with others simple things that they would be able to incorporate into their own lives to make a difference. About the same time, I also started to come to the realization that the traditional American family model (nuclear family) just was not ever going to work for me. After a great deal of thinking and talking with my peers and mentors, I decided that my vision was to establish a spiritual healing center and retreat space. Helping others to heal, takes more then just giving them a pill. People need a place they can go to, to let their spirit gently recover from the chaos and stress that modern life produces.
I started doing a lot of researching and gathering of information, identifying and refining the types of things that I wanted to include in this dream vision of my “life to be.” I read every book I could put my hands on about Organic Gardening, Permaculture, Sustainability, Creating Community, Intentional Community, Energy Healing, Healthy Living, and many others. Some of the core values that I established at that time were: Spirituality underlying everything; open-mindedness, and living with an open heart; a permanent sacred space for the Gods; intentional family; intentional community; providing a space for those who needed to heal; permaculture and sustainability; living lightly on the land; creating a space that was not just functional, but artistic as well; and expense sharing among the members of the household. With all of this in mind, I began looking across the United States for the best place to establish my household. In about 1999 I picked the Pacific Northwest. There are just so many things about this region that come together to support what I want to surround myself with. There is a sense of environmental responsibility here, a support of spirituality; however you choose to express it, a true feel of community, and many other reasons. I initially looked at Northern California, but the cost of living in California was far above what I projected as our financial capability. Then I looked at Oregon, specifically in the Portland and Eugene areas, but there was not an army post close enough for me to be able to get transferred out to the area prior to retirement, to start setting up our community. Finally, I selected the Olympia/Tacoma area of Washington State as being most convenient, and conducive to my achieving all of my goals. It took my “playing office politics” for about 3 years, but I managed to get moved out here in the summer of 2003.
In 2002, I had already started trying to put together an intentional family. Chris (bless his heart), agreed to move from Seattle to North Carolina, where we lived for a bit over a year along with my daughter Ashley. Chris has said that while moving across the country was a big step for him, starting to work with me towards building this dream, was what helped to make it worthwhile for him. With a lot of good luck and planning we managed to get moved out to Washington State after our time in North Carolina was over. In the spring of 2003, Chris & I cleared out of our house in North Carolina, and started the trek to the west coast. We found a house, located outside of Yelm, WA (I know, I know, where the heck is Yelm???), moved our friend Angel up from Vancouver, and started trying to learn how to live together as an intentional family. Raven joined us in November of 2004, moving up from southern California. For Raven, the sense of family and community that we’ve begun to create has been a totally new experience, and one that he never anticipated he would come to value so much. We’ve gone through a lot of rocky points. Lots of growth and learning for all of us. I had a really hard time, “sharing power” at first. (Okay, honestly, I still have difficulties with that, but I acknowledge it, and I keep trying to work through it.) We’ve gotten better at identifying the things that are “must haves” for our family, things that we each have to have in our lives as well as things that really are not that important.
In the fall of 2004, our friend Angel decided that community living was not for her, and she returned to Oregon to live with her best friend; and Chris, Raven & I began doing focused work at growing closer and stronger as an intentional family unit. Specifically, we started scheduling weekly meetings to talk over and define our goals and objectives, as well as establishing a firm policy of open communication.
In March of 2005 we bought a house on 2.6 acres of land located mid-way between Yelm and Rainier, WA. We came up with a 5 year building plan, and started turning Sidhehaven into a wonderful space to be. In 2005, our first building project was to add a front porch onto the house to be used as a gathering space. Chris and Raven collaborated on the design, and we had several friends who assisted with the building at various different times through the summer. We also put in the first, of several planned gardens. Currently we have garden spaces scattered around the property, many of which are designed and maintained using permaculture principles. Our goal is that 90% of what we plant is either edible or medicinal and we are working towards creating an "edible landscape". Most of the items being used in the gardens are reclaimed or recycled.
We have worked very hard to co-create Sidhehaven as spiritual healing space. We try to listen carefully to the spirit of this place and work with the land, not just impose our will over the top of it. We have a Yome which can be reserved and used for personal retreat space (we operate primarily on a gift economy and usually ask for folks to make a modest donation to the household maintenance fund or do work/trade in exchange for staying here). We also have a pop-up camper that we use in the summer as a space for our garden intern(s) to stay (we've used the WWOOFing program and also gotten volunteers through the local community). We have a hot tub, two fire pits, numerous shrines, a walking labyrinth and a working art studio including a full set up for pottery. We host at least one open spiritual event a month as well as several bigger events throughout the year. In all of this, we strive to follow as closely as possible the principles of permaculture and sustainability, we use recycled materials as much as possible, and where we can, lower our impact on the land.
As I read back through this something came to mind that has to be highlighted. There is NO way we could have accomplished so much without the support of our families, our friends and our community. I look around Sidhehaven and I see the porch and the fence that Raven's parents helped us pay for; the Yome that my parents donated; the big fire pit that Daniel spent so many hours digging the gravel out of and putting down soft sand in; The shrine for Grandmother Spider that Chris built; The gardens that Emily and Elise and Jamie and Chris and Kimmy and Janette and so many others spend time pulling the rocks out of and using pickaxes and shovels to dig deeply to establish the garden beds as well as the hours and hours of never ending weeding; The art studio filled with equipment which was donated or sold to me for much less than its real value; The bronze statue "Breaking Free" that Lisa sort of long-term loaned to us, "because it needed to live here"; The wooden statues carved by Mark; The brick pathway laid by Rob; The bamboo being loving nurtured by Randy; The hours of time that Joe has spent building and fixing and maintaining the buildings on the property; The labyrinth that Kat spends so many hours weeding so that people can walk it barefoot; The mushroom ring around the faerie shrine that Colleen created; the list just keeps going. So many hands and hearts that contributed and keep giving, time and money and energy and love. Thank you. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.
This has been my dream and vision and watching it grow into reality and being able to share it with others has brought so much joy and love to my life. I can't wait to see what the next year, 5 years, 10 years.... the future... brings. www.sidhehaven.com
|
|
(3 comments | comment on this)
|
| Tuesday, September 6th, 2011
| |
10:09 am - Circle at Sidhehaven: Sun. Sep. 11th
|
We will host Circle at Sidhehaven this coming Sunday, September 11th.
Potluck 11:30am - 1:15pm Circle starts promptly at 1:15pm and goes to about 5:00pm.
Our monthly circles are a combination of humanistic co-counseling; spiritual healing; talks on permaculture, rightful livelihood, sustainability, energy work, alternative lifestyle or any other topic which might come up. We include elements of ritual and practice and come together as a group of friends supporting each other in our individual growth process.
Circle at Sidhehaven is an adult only event.
Suggested donation is $5/person or donation in kind of goods that can be used to support all the folks that gather here (email me for a list).
For more information or directions email: SherrySidhehaven@gmail.com
RSVP's appreciated so we know how many people to plan for.
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Sunday, August 14th, 2011
| |
6:40 pm - Monday night potluck at our place
|
|
Open potluck at Sidhehaven tomorrow (Monday) night. Adult (18+) only. Pagan friendly, poly friendly, alternative friendly. 6pm-9pm. Please label dishes with ingredients (no pork in the house). Bring a towel if you'd like to hot tub. We are in the south sound, mid-way between Yelm & Rainier. PM for more info or directions.
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Wednesday, August 10th, 2011
| |
9:11 pm - Circle at Sidhehaven; Sun. Aug. 14th
|
We will host Circle at Sidhehaven this coming Sunday, August 14th.
Potluck 11:30am - 1:15pm Circle starts promptly at 1:15pm and goes to about 5:00pm.
Our monthly circles are a combination of humanistic co-counseling; spiritual healing; talks on permaculture, rightful livelihood, sustainability, energy work, alternative lifestyle or any other topic which might come up. We include elements of ritual and practice and come together as a group of friends supporting each other in our individual growth process.
This months "theme" is: Strength
Circle at Sidhehaven is an adult only event.
Suggested donation is $5/person or donation in kind of goods that can be used to support all the folks that gather here (email me for a list).
For more information or directions email: SherrySidhehaven@gmail.com
RSVP's appreciated so we know how many people to plan for.
|
|
(1 comment | comment on this)
|
| Sunday, August 7th, 2011
| |
11:59 am - Open Mike at Sidhehaven, Sat. 3 Sept ~ Adults (over 18) only
|
Open Mike event at Sidhehaven, Sat. 3 Sept. Adults (over 18) only. We had so much fun at our Decompression open mike event that we decided to do it again! Saturday, September 3rd. Adults only (over 18) this time. Doors open at noon(ish) with the usual caveat of "you can get here early but we will put you to work helping with set up/pre-cleaning". Music, poetry, monologues, performance art? What have you got? Bring it! We'll have space set up for potluck food in the house. (Just a reminder that we are a ~no pork~ household. Please label dishes with ingredients!) Let me know if anyone wants to camp over Friday or Saturday night. The hot tub will be open, please don't forget your towel! Let me know if anyone has any questions. RSVP's GREATLY appreciated!
|
|
(1 comment | comment on this)
|
| Monday, August 1st, 2011
| |
9:27 pm - New pottery up on my ArtFire sales page
|
|
| Tuesday, July 19th, 2011
| |
12:31 am - Sometimes:
|
I want to run away and go on an adventure. Like I used to do. I want to find myself in Phnom Phen, Cambodia on the back of a moped, speeding down the streets at 1am in the morning after spending the night drinking in a backroom bar with Special Operations soldiers from all over the world while we tried the bar owners "special man soup" that had a chicken foot floating in it... I want to be on a private plane speeding across the Soviet Union, heading for a small outpost south of Chernobyl where I'll pretend to be a bubble-headed blonde so I can climb up into the drivers seat of the equipment while we watch them cut apart nuclear missile launchers... I want to be in Germany with trash cans full of ice and beer waiting for us to finish a day of work sending hot air balloons across the border and wandering if the First Sergeant will run us out past the nude beach for PT again the next morning.. I want to sit in my rented house in Laos looking out at the chickens running around in the yard knowing that they will be tomorrow nights dinner and trying to remember where I put the t-shirts that I'm taking to the children's school tomorrow when I teach them about how they do 1st Aid in case of exploding land mines... I want to be back in Korea, working on the war "pre-pack" of leaflets and trying to remember which bar I left my darts in last night up in Itaewon... I want to be in downtown Bangkok, Thailand in a tuk-tuk.. bitching about the rush hour traffic (Seriously... you haven't seen rush hour until you've seen downtown Bangkok at quiting time)... I want to be back in Cambodia.. in a small plane landing at Angkor Wat.. trying to find a taxi driver to take us out to the old ruins, knowing that we're racing the sun to get back to the plane and back to Phnom Phen... In Italy.. after dark and in the rain, wandering along the banks of a river and looking at the Roman ruins with lights gently gleaming in the rain across the way while I listen to the church bells ringing the hour... Sometimes.
|
|
(6 comments | comment on this)
|
| Friday, June 10th, 2011
| |
4:32 pm - Decompression 2011 at Sidhehaven
|
Sunday July 3rd 2011
Come join us for our 4th annual celebration of Tribe and Community! Music, costuming, potluck, vending, barter, poi, hooping, dancing, singing, sharing and anything else we can think up.
This year we are changing our format to all-open-mike-all-the-time! Our challenge to the community? BRING IT! Poetry? Filk? Cover songs? Karaoke? Monologues? You've got talent and we want to see it! Sound system provided by David Burch and our amazing MC for the day is "Mark O".
Current Schedule= 11am: Doors open Noon: Sign up / coordinations for open mike start; Potluck set up in the house. 1pm - ?: Open mike with intermittent waves of dance music.
Any donations will go towards property improvement projects at Sidhehaven (currently on the list are: Outdoor shower, wood flooring for Yome and an outdoor kitchen)
We will have tables set up for the sharing of potluck food, please label dishes with ingredients ESPECIALLY if they contain nuts or gluten as there are several severe allergies in the community. Sidhehaven is a No-Pork zone so take care of your bacon cravings before arriving please *smiles*.
If you would like to bring goods and set up a table to vend handmade items or to barter or to just give stuff away, feel free!
Doors open at 11am, if you arrive before then you WILL be put to work helping with set up. If you want to volunteer to be part of the set up team and camp out the night before then please send an email to sherrysidhehaven@gmail.com to coordinate. (and if you want to volunteer to help with cleanup you get a gold star and Sherry's undying gratitude!)
This event is family friendly, and minors (under 18 years old) are welcome. If you bring smalls then you are responsible for them as our home is in no way child proof.
If I've forgotten to include any information please email and ask me. Also if you need directions to Sidhehaven. Feel free to pass event information along to those who would be interested.
Contact is: SherrySidhehaven@gmail.com
Blessings!
|
|
(1 comment | comment on this)
|
| Thursday, June 2nd, 2011
| |
12:07 am - all pottery all the time
|
I've been spending most of my available time in my pottery studio, really trying to push myself to improve the quality of my work. I took the latest batch of stuff out of my kiln this afternoon and have managed to get most of it listed up on my ArtFire sales page.
Man.. this "working" artist stuff is... um... Work!
http://www.artfire.com/users/SidhefireArts
|
|
(1 comment | comment on this)
|
| Monday, May 30th, 2011
| |
8:01 am - Memorial Day and I remember
|
I will never forget.
From 2004 - 2005 I had the honor of serving as the Rear Detachment Command Sergeant Major for the 1/25th Stryker Brigade while they deployed to Iraq. The hardest part of my job during that time period was getting the calls when we lost a soldier, and dealing with arranging all of the memorial services and other things related to taking care of our soldiers families. My heart broke over and over again for each soldier and their families; and for the names on this list who were my friends... my heart broke in ways I didn't know it could. MAJ Horst "Gary" Moore: 9 November 2004 MSG Steven Auchman: 9 November 2004 SPC Thomas K. Doerflinger: 11 November 2004 SPC George D. Harrison: 2 December 2004 SSG Salamo J. Tuialuuluu: 4 December 2004 SGT David A. Mitts: 4 December 2004 1LT Andrew C. Shields: 9 December 2004 CW4 Patrick D. Leach: 9 December 2004 CPT William W. Jacobsen, Jr.: 21 December 2004 SPC David A. Ruhren: 21 December 2004 SPC Nicholas C. Mason: 21 December 2004 MSG Paul D. Karpowich: 21 December 2004 SSG Robert S. Johnson: 21 December 2004 SPC Jonathan Castro: 21 December 2004 PFC Lionel Ayro: 21 December 2004 SSG Julian S. Melo: 21 December 2004 SSG Darren D. VanKomen: 21 December 2004 PFC Oscar Sanchez: 29 December 2004 PVT Cory R. Depew: 4 January 2005 MSG Brian A. Mack: 13 January 2005 PFC Gunnar D. Becker: 13 January 2005 SGT Nathan P. Swindell: 15 January 2005 1LT Nainoa K. Hoe: 22 January 2005 PFC Stephen A. Castellano: 28 January 2005 SGT Stephen R. Sherman: 3 February 2005 SSG Zachary R. Wobler: 6 February 2005 SGT Adam J. Plumondore: 16 February 2005 SPC Christopher M. Pusateri: 16 February 2005 SGT Frank B. Hernandez: 17 February 2005 SPC Clinton R. Gertson: 19 February 2005 SSG Juan M. Solorio: 4 March 2005 SSG Donald D. Griffith, Jr.: 11 March 2005 SGT Kenneth L. Ridgley: 30 March 2005 SSG Ioasa F. Tavae, Jr.: 2 April 2005 SGT Anthony J. Davis, Jr: 23 April 2005 1LT William A. Edens: 28 April 2005 SGT Eric W. Morris: 28 April 2005 1SG Michael J. Bordelon: 10 May 2005 SGT Benjamin C. Morton: 22 May 2005 SPC Tyler L. Cremean: 22 May 2005 1LT Aaron N. Seesan: 22 May 2005 SPC Philip "Nick" Sayles: 28 May 2005 SPC Nils G. Thompson: 4 August 2005 SPC Jose L. Ruiz: 15 August 2005
|
|
(3 comments | comment on this)
|
| Sunday, May 29th, 2011
| |
8:51 am - What Memorial Day means to me
|
TRIGGER WARNING: This is pretty soul baring and if you have family currently serving in Iraq or Afghanistan you might not want to read this.
Memorial Day is tomorrow. I can't even type that without starting to tear up. In 2006 I retired from the army after 21 and a half years of service. The last job I did before retiring was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. I had the honor of serving as the Rear Detachment Command Sergeant Major for the 1st Stryker Brigade while they were deployed to Iraq. I took care of the families waiting back here, overseeing support for our soldiers in Iraq, and I was responsible for notification of families when we lost a soldier and for taking care of the memorial services and all the other things related to killed and injured soldeirs.
Christmas week of 2004 was horrible. These are excerpts from my Live Journal from back then:
Wed, Dec. 22nd 6:21a - *work filter* *sigh* So.. this is all over CNN.. so I guess I can say this much about it... the phone rang at 04am yesterday morning... my boss was on the other end of the line; almost incoherent he was speaking so fast... the gist of it was; he needed me to get every senior person we had to the headquarters as fast as possible.. with their dress uniforms with them... That could only mean one thing... mass casualties... (we have to be in our full dress uniform to go and notify someone that their loved one has died)... I guess it started really hitting the news here locally around 7 am or so... So yes, that was one of my dining facilities that got attacked in Iraq; we're still trying to notify the families of all the soldiers injuried or killed.... we will probably still be doing that through the weekend... I'll cry after we get through this; when I have time to feel again.... Please pray for them... in whatever tradition you honor...
Tues, Dec 28th 6:13p - Chaos! Real update coming soon.. I promise. Meanwhile; I'm running around like a cat with my fur on fire trying to make sure the Memorial Service tomorrow, for my soldiers I lost last week; goes well. It has now become: THE MEDIA EVENT OF THE END OF THE YEAR.. It will be broadcast live (the whole thing); on one of the local channels.. With the other local channels; and National Media cutting in and out... AND Miracles do happen... Somehow, I had a pair of bagpipe players fall out of the sky and offer to come and play Amazing Grace. How sweet the sound. Wish me luck; calm; and grace.. (and if you want to throw some valium my way too.. I'd be grateful) (and no; you won't see me on TV.. I've managed to write myself out of the script.. I'll be running around in the background with a clipboard trying to keep everyone on cue) Peace. Out. current mood: stressed
Wed, Dec 29th, 6:02pm Sometimes, really sharing, helps the healing begin... My job is killing me. Literally. Bit by bit.. day by day.. it's breaking down my mind, body & spirit to the point where I am barely functioning as recognizably myself. Today; while I was doing the last run-through for the Memorial Service; one of my senior people came up and whispered in my ear, "(my boss, name omitted) is dealing with CAC (Casualty Assistance Command); we lost another one." I bowed my head.. couldn't let on to anyone else.. the media was already setting up.. and we can't let them know about stuff like this until the PNOK (Primary next of kin) of the soldier we lost is notified... they deserve to hear it from us first. They deserve to have some scared, emotionally unprepared senior military person standing at their door, telling them; from the US government, that they have lost their loved one... they deserve to have us there; sharing their pain.. now-adays, we are constantly in a race with the media. I breathed in deeply ( looked back up and went on... the ceremony today was hard... I cried a few times; ducking behind the curtains to wipe away the tears.. when the bagpipes started to wail... I almost lost it completely... had to hold on.. had to be the strong one; standing to one side in the front... setting the example for those who came to see how we honor our dead. I let them see some of the tears.. we all let them see us cry.. let them watch our hearts being ripped apart as we remembered these good men; taken from us so suddenly. At the conclusion of the ceremony.. my peers.. those who know what I'm going through; drifted across to shake my hand.. there were few words.. what can you say at a time like this?.. They told me I did a good job.. that the ceremony appropriately honored these wonderful human beings... it wasn't enough. It's never enough. I waited, while the media got the last of their pictures; some of them wandering around looking for anyone willing to talk to them.. few of us were capable of that... how do you put raw pain into a sound bite.. or headline quote? We finished & I turned over the clean-up of the gymnasium where we held the ceremony to a soldier I trusted & headed back over to my office to deal with the next family; with the next loss; with the next piece of pain nailed through my heart. Coughing and hacking my way across the parking lot.. I'm sick again.. the 3rd time since the unit deployed the middle of October.. that's the most I've been sick in years.. Yes, I know the stress is breaking down my immune system... Yes, I know I'm not helping by eating garbage every day.. too tired to cook in the evenings; too tired to make good food to take to work. Yes, honestly, I know I've been drinking too much.. and yes, I know it's not a good way to numb the pain... Sitting down at my desk, I started to open the stack of mail from today.. the first one I picked up was from Clearwater Casino.. a casino?.. Why were they writing to me?.. I opened the letter and started to read it; glancing down at the check that fell out when I opened the envelope... I stopped reading and looked at the check again... $3,600+ in a donation to my non-profit memorial fund; in honor of the soldiers we lost last week.. to help their families through this difficult time. People are so very good to us.. every day I receive numerous phone calls, and emails and letters from wonderful americans; across all lines of political party, sex, religion, beliefs, customs.. all of them just wanting to reach out and help.. It makes a difference.. it makes such a huge difference. I read the letters; thousands of them in the last 2+ months; written by children of all ages; the pictures they've colored; the misspelled words and shiny stickers that they've included; wanting to tell "Any soldier" how proud they are of them; how brave they must be; and how they hope they all make it home safe.. they sign the letters with love; one and all. Some of them ask that god watch over us; watch over us all. It doesn't bother me.. they are reaching out with faith to a higher power that they believe in... I package the letters up and send them to Iraq where my soldiers tape them over their bunks; paper the messhall with them.. thumbtack them up beside their work station.. knowing they are not forgotten. I stopped by the grocery store before heading home... looked at the ramen.. shook my head.. and reached for a bunch of watercress; cilantro.. a red pepper.. vine-ripened tomatos.. some mushrooms... somehow I need to get myself out of this funk.. somehow I need to start eating healthy again.. somehow I need to find the time to meditate each day... to focus on my Goddess.. and on the difference I'm making in the lives of those who are in a situation beyond their control.. and those who are left behind here to worry and hope and pray and sometimes; to feel their hearts breaking at the loss of all hope. What I do is worth something. It's making a difference.. I have to believe that.. I have to find the strength to go on.. and to not lose my true self in the process... I've said for years, that my Dream, was to create a space to "heal the healer".. maybe.. just maybe.. I'll start with my hardest task.. and try to heal myself first. and yes, I'm crying again.. but these tears feel different somehow.. the Goddess sends blessings in many forms.. and sometimes; just maybe you only need to open your eyes and look at the possibilities of them shining in front of you. Peace. Out.
Sunday, May 29th, 2011 Years have gone by. The time has helped to buffer the pain of all that loss I dealt with for that year and a half. Tomorrow, like I do on most Memorial days, I'll post their names, I read each one out loud to myself, I'll whisper into the wind, "Hey Mac, I miss you. Asshole." For now? I'm going to take my coffee out to the hot tub and cry a little bit. I'll look around at this place of sanctuary that I've helped to build and I'll be grateful for my life and the amazing people that I get to share it with. I honor their memory best by living a good life, staying true to my principles and doing my best to provide the safe and sacred space for others that I needed and couldn't find. Peace. Out.
|
|
(7 comments | comment on this)
|
| Friday, May 27th, 2011
| |
9:34 am - Sharon Knight in concert at Sidhehaven, June 10th
|
Friday June 10th, 2011
Celtic songstress Sharon Knight and her longtime collaborator Winter bring their feisty brand of mythic story and song to Sidhehaven. Sharon is a nationally touring artist well loved for her distinctive voice and rich poetic imagery. Together Winter and Sharon offer a collection of original and traditional songs steeped in myth, magick and legend, accompanied with guitar, octave mandolin, and bodhran. Sharon's rich poetry, tribal rhythms, and haunting ballads combine a feirce passion with an ethereal beauty that has recently earned her the title "Musically Lyrical Viking Wench". Soulful and passionate, the music of Sharon and Winter reminds us that we can all see the world through the eyes of enchantment.
Doors open at 6pm, music from 7-9ish.
Suggested donation to the band is $10-$20.
Adults only (no one under 18 years of age)
Yes, the hot tub will be open for soaking after the concert.
RSVP's appreciated so we know how many folks to plan for.
Sharon and Winter are also the founding members of Gothic Tribal Folk Metal band Pandemonaeon.
For more info: www.sharonknight.net, www.pandemonaeon.net
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011
| |
9:51 am - Circle at Sidhehaven; Sun. May 8th
|
We will host Circle at Sidhehaven this coming Sunday, May 8th.
Potluck 11:30am - 1:15pm Circle starts promptly at 1:15pm and goes to about 5:00pm.
Our monthly circles are a combination of humanistic co-counseling; spiritual healing; talks on permaculture, rightful livelihood, sustainability, energy work, alternative lifestyle or any other topic which might come up. We include elements of ritual and practice and come together as a group of friends supporting each other in our individual growth process.
Circle at Sidhehaven is an adult only event.
Sorry folks, still no hot tub. We have the part we need on order, but it probably won't be in until after the weekend.
Suggested donation is $5/person or donation in kind of goods that can be used to support all the folks that gather here (email me for a list).
For more information or directions email: SherrySidhehaven@gmail.com
RSVP's appreciated so we know how many people to plan for.
|
|
(3 comments | comment on this)
|
| Tuesday, April 26th, 2011
| |
9:42 pm - Super quick post
|
I've got so so much that I want to write about. This last month has been filled with working on my pottery and then attending the Spring Mysteries Festival. So many swirling thoughts, but I don't have the time right now to write them all down so I'll just post a link to my ArtFire sales page that has my latest pottery up for sale. :-)
http://www.artfire.com/users/SidhefireArts
|
|
(7 comments | comment on this)
|
| Wednesday, April 6th, 2011
| |
12:58 pm - Circle at Sidhehaven: Sun. Aprl 10th
|
Circle for April will be Sunday the 10th.
Potluck Noon - 1:15pm Circle starts promptly at 1:15pm and goes to about 5:30pm.
Our monthly circles are a combination of humanistic co-counseling; spiritual healing; talks on permaculture, rightful livelihood, sustainability, energy work, alternative lifestyle or any other topic which might come up. We include elements of ritual and practice and come together as a group of friends supporting each other in our individual growth process.
Circle at Sidhehaven is an adult only event.
Suggested donation is $5/person or donation in kind of goods that can be used to support all the folks that gather here (email me for a list).
The hot tub will be available for soaking after Circle. Please remember to bring your towel.
For more information or directions email: SherrySidhehaven@gmail.com
RSVP's GREATLY appreciated so we know how many people to plan for.
|
|
(comment on this)
|
|
|
|
|