Mmmmmmm........

I enjoy visiting my dreams, my daydreams and my wildest wishes occasionally. The other night I was able to step outside of my norm (Mom, wife, 40-something...) and enjoy an hour or so recapturing my youth. I rock danced with a soon-to-be, 20-something rockstar - he was beautiful and sweet and HOT!! (Just a dance my friends.) GnR was playing and we both knew the words. He went back to work and I settled back into my real self.

Thank you, FM (you'll never even read this) - our dance is filed away in my daydream memory banks. Sweeeetttttt.....

See ya!

Advice...

Fionn MacCumhall:

"If you have a mind to be a champion, be quiet in a great man's house; be surely in the narrow pass. Do not beat your hound without cause; do not bring a charge against your wife without having knowledge of her guilt; do not hurt a fool in fighting, for he is without his wits. Do not find fault with high-up persons; do not stand up to take part in a quarrel; have no dealings with a bad man or a foolish man. Let two-thirds of your gentleness be shown to women, and to little children that are creeping on the floor, and to men of learning that make the poems, and do not be rough with the common people. Do not give your reverence to all; do not be ready to have one bed with your companions. Do not threaten or speak big words, for it is a shameful thing to speak stiffly unless you can carry it out afterwards. Do not forsake your lord so long as you live; do not give up any man that puts himself under your protection for all the treasures of the world. Do not speak against others to their lord, that is not work for a good man. Do not be a bearer of lying stories, or a tale-bearer that is always chattering. Do not be talking too much; do not find fault hastily; however brave you may be do not rise factions against you. Do not be going into drinking-houses, or finding fault with old men; do not meddle with low people; this is right conduct I am telling you. Do not refuse to share your meat; do not have a niggard [i.e. a fool] for a friend; do not force yourself on a great man or give him occasion to speak against you. Hold fast to your arms till the last fight is well ended. Do not give up your opportunety, but with that follow after gentleness."

Aye milord......Aye

Inner Thoughts and Contemplations

Song of Amergin(as Amergin set foot in Ireland for the first time)

I am the wind on the sea
I am the wave of the sea
I am the bull of seven battles
I am the eagle on the rock
I am a flash from the sun
I am the most beautiful of plants
I am a strong wild boar
I am a salmon in the water
I am a lake in the plain
I am the word of knowledge
I am the head of the spear in battle
I am the God that puts fire in the head
Who spreads light in the gathering on the hills?
Who can tell the ages of the moon?
Who can tell the place where the sun rests?

To the Men....

To all the men in my life - husband, son, friend....



Each and every one of you saves me.... every day. Thank you.

Thanks, I think...

Powered By Love Toys



Okay, so what's gone wrong in my DAILY life? LOL....

Hunger

I awoke so hungry,
an aching melting my bones.

A hunger for your gaze upon me,
To feel your breath’s caress and
The slide of your skin along mine.
I pulse with the Hunger’s heat.

My body dampens at the mere whisper of your voice,
My tongue tingles in grand anticipation of traveling a
Demon’s path along your body;
I hunger for your strength, your flavor, your scent.

Do you hunger for me?

An End and a Beginning

It's cliche - but today is a profound ending and the "official" beginning of an entirely new chapter in my spiritual growth and life.

I have the very appreciated support of a new family and friends - I want to take this opportunity to let them know how very much they have helped me through this transition. I look forward to ever-growing and always learning.....


What I've Done


In the End


Look at Me NOW

To the one...

who dedicated same to me and to everyone who has a similar outlook:

Lips Of An Angel (HINDER)

Honey why are you calling me so late
It's kinda hard to talk right now
Honey why are you crying is everything okay
I gotta whisper cause I can't be too loud
Well, my girl's in the next room
Sometimes I wish she was you
I guess we never really moved on
It's really good to hear your voice saying my name
It sounds so sweet
Coming from the lips of an angel
Hearing those words it makes me weak
And I never wanna say goodbye
But girl you make it hard to be faithful
With the lips of an angel

It's funny that you're calling me tonight
And yes I've dreamt of you too
And does he know you're talking to me
Will it start a fight
No I don't think she has a clue
Well, my girl's in the next room
Sometimes I wish she was you
I guess we never really moved on
It's really good to hear your voice saying my name
It sounds so sweet
Coming from the lips of an angel
Hearing those words it makes me weak
And I never wanna say goodbye
But girl you make it hard to be faithful
With the lips of an angel

It's really good to hear your voice saying my name
It sounds so sweet
Coming from the lips of an angel
Hearing those words it makes me weak
And I never wanna say goodbye
But girl you make it hard to be faithful
With the lips of an angel
(And I never wanna say goodbye)
But girl you make it hard to be faithful
With the lips of an angel
Honey why are you calling me so late

Saw Someone Today....

and it gave me cause, to stop and remember. To revisit and as we stood reacquainting, some of the pain was eased.

But still,

I can feel your body
When I’m lying in bed
There’s too much confusion
Going around through my head

And it makes me so angry
To know that the flame still burns
Why can’t I get over?
When will I ever learn?

Old love, leave me alone
Old love, go on home

I can see your face
But I know that it’s not real
It’s just an illusion
Caused by how I used to feel

And it makes me so angry
To know that the flame will always burn
I’ll never get over
I know now that I’ll never learn

-Old Love by Eric Clapton and Robert Cray

Burning Bridges

Bridges burning gladly,
Merging with the shadows,
Flickering between the lines.
Stolen moments floating softly on the air,
Born on wings of fire and climbing higher.
Ancient bonds are breaking,
Moving on and changing sides.
Dreaming of a new day,
Cast aside the other way.
Magic visions stirring,
Kindled by and burning flames rise in her eyes.
The door stands ajar,
The walls that once were high.
Beyond the gilded cage,
Beyond the reach of ties.
The moment is at hand.
She breaks the golden band.

-Pink Floyd

Dreamscape thoughts

"Watchers create dreamscapes - at their option, through choice and occupation but not as an involuntary reflex. Watchers are able to create a dreamscape to which sleeping men may be brought. A Watcher may enter any man's dreams as a portal to that man's thoughts and conscience. In that endeavor, the Watcher may alter any man's dreamscape temporarily."

This dreamscape travel and conjuring is not to be confused with foretelling the future nor interpreting dreams themselves. Each Watcher has his own talents and strengths outside the Dreamscape. The Watcher may choose to enter his own dreamscape - and sculpt his dreams to his liking in recreation. A Watcher amid the Dreamscape is just that - watcher, soother, mediator, recorder of found information and oft subtle disciplinarian.

Food for thought (and dream) indeed.

Watchers are a mysterious brotherhood with a Code, Creed, Warrants and Charges. What do you know of the Watcher caste?

Evolution

ANGER - Definition: To enrage; to provoke - A strong feeling of displeasure or hostility.

I keep my counsel in most things and am just learning to open and share my true self with truth and real candor with a new "family" of friends.

Anyway, I felt he had been presumptive and judgmental and it angered me - deeply. I tried ending the conversation abruptly and taking time to cool down before speaking out of turn. My temper is quicksilver that way sometimes. (Usually only with those I care the most deeply for - do I get quite so angry.)

He, in response to my abrupt quiet, moved away quickly (to my honest surprise) and began cutting those "technological" ties we have nowadays. (IMs, etc.,) Making a clean break I suppose...

I regret seeing it unfold this way, but just as he reminded me of my adulthood in one of our last conversations - I should remember he too is a grown man.

My anger continues to move in waves, crashing against the walls of myself. Life is what it is and things will happen as they ultimately are meant to - not necessarily as I wish them. A warrior must stand steadfast and true to their honor and their mission. I must move ahead.

Looking over my shoulder in a single glance, I did see his shadow move out of my line of sight, my gaze hungering for some small sign of him remaining - but there was none. With a sigh, I must turn and walk forward, not quite so whole as I was before.

Perhaps, he and I will one day walk again along the same path together....I would treasure it.

Peaceful Dreaming...

Dreaming....

I dreamt last night of a closet full of many, many cloaks. All were long, full, hooded cloaks but they were of every color of the rainbow. By "trying" some of these cloaks on, I found that each held a special power. One for Invisibility, another for wildest, darkest Night and still another for Storm. Hmmmmmm......I awoke as a tried them on.... A choice? Or rifling through my "closet"??

Something About Ravensdowne

Within the ancient kingdom of Northumbria, not too far from Berwick Castle, lies Ravensdowne between the Romans‘ wall on the river Tweed and only two and a half miles south of the Scottish border. This mostly quiet, and usually uninhabited area has always been a hotly contested border between England and Scotland. In 1725, a soldiers’ barracks was completed nearby Berwick Castle to house soldiers away from the townspeople. At one time, these barracks housed 600 men and 36 officers. There now remains of these barracks two three-story block buildings facing each other across a drill square and a third building - a stores building - known as Clock Block. Part of these Ravensdowne Barracks are still in use by the British Military and the unused part houses an historical exhibition representing a soldier’s life. This town, this place and the fabric of its name have fascinated me for many years. It is a beautiful and haunting place to visit….

So, now you’ve all the elements of my name - Aradiana Ceridwen Merrows Adaria Ravensdowne. Huntress, cauldron, sea-being, teacher, soldiers’ sanctuary and home….hmmmmm….

Peaceful Dreaming….

Something About Aradiana...

Diana/Artemis/Aradiana is the goddess that protects the game and the hunters of the earthly hunt; the goddess of the waxing moon and of the virgin forests.

Aradiana is said to aid the Innocents in connection with the Wild Hunt of Samhain as protector when the Wild Hunt roams. The Wild Hunt emerges to ride though the countryside. The Wild Hunt is a horrible array of phantom horsemen and red-eyed, black hounds. The Wild Hunt has been a common description to explain particularly destructive thunderstorms. It is also common to a number of traditions and is found all over Western Europe as a sort of boogeyman held out to those who might misbehave. Being witness to the Wild Hunt is also thought to warn of some great catastrophe such as widespread illness, conflict (war) or the death of the one who is witness to the fearsome sight. And still others believed that to be caught up in the Wild Hunt meant you were taken, body and soul, to the Underworld.

With my affinity for the hunt, the forest and protection, my father and grandfather presented me with this nickname while I was in college.

Peaceful Dreaming...

Dreaming...

I dreamt last night the Elven King visited me in slumber.

He offered me the mighty sword of great beauty and splendor.

I know not why the golden-haired king did visit... perhaps, to warn me of and bolster me in the upcoming battle.


"Hadhafang" - Inscribed on the blade are runes in Sindarin that say "aen estar Hadhafang i chathol hen, thand arod dan i thang an i arwen." ("This blade is called Hadhafang, a noble defense against the enemy throng for a noble lady.")

Update: Yes, it was really my dream and it came before I heard that a dear friend must now battle cancer. Coincidence? Premonition? Who knows, but I intend to stand beside him in this "battle"...

Songs in Your Life

What's your favorite song? The song that can inspire you to tears, to anger, to joy or to laughter?

What was #1 the day and year of your birth? (Mine was "House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals - rather appropo if you know me.)

What was #1 the day and year you turned 18? (Mine was "Abracadabra" by the Steve Miller Band....hmmmmmmm, okay, okay...)

What song do you remember hearing on a significant day in your life? (My grandfather passed - "Witchy Woman" by the Eagles)

I'm sure you catch my "theme", but what about your own??

Peaceful Dreaming.....

Contemplations Today

I'm dying to catch my breath
oh why don't i ever learn
I've lost all my trust that i'm sure we try to
Turn it around

Can you still see the heart of me
all my agony fades away
when you hold me in your embrace

Don't turn me down
for all i need
make my heart a better place
give me something I can believe
Don't turn me down
you're far from the door now
don't let it close

He only had to go
I wish I could let it go
I know that I'm only one step away
From turning around

Can you still see the heart of me
all my agony fades away
when you hold me in your embrace

Don't turn me down
for all i need
make my heart a better place
give me something I can believe
Don't turn it down
what's left of me
make my heart a better place

i've tried many times but nothing was real
make it fade away
don't break me down
I want to believe that this is for real
save me from my fear
don't turn me down

don't turn me down
for all i need
make my heart a better place

don't tear me down
for all i need
make my heart a better place
give me something i can believe
don't tear it down
what's left of me
make my heart a better place


-Within Temptation

Something About Merrows

Merrows is a being rather than an individual. This is part of my name as it reflects some of my familial history. The Irish among my family hail from the counties of Kerry and Cork. In the county of Kerry, we are derived from the O'Sullivans - a family whose history is known to include the intermarriage of at least one merrows.

"The word merrow or moruadh comes from the Irish muir (meaning sea) and oigh (meaning maid) and refers specifically to the female of the species."

To read more about these beings, you can reference these articles:

Irish Fairies: Merrows

WIKIPEDIA Entry: Merrows

So, I have now brought you Aradia, Ceridwen and Merrows - only Aradiana and Ravensdowne remain.

Peaceful Dreaming...

Something About Ceridwen

Ceridwen was bestowed upon me by my paternal grandmother as a young child. She believed my soul was old and shone through my eyes...

"As keeper of the Cauldron, Ceridwen is the goddess of transformation, controlling the shape changing of humans and animals and offering guidance and spiritual renewal at crucial junctures on life's journey. Cauldrons in Celtic mythology are symbols of abundance, inspiration, and divine knowledge, as well as sources of metamorphosis and spiritual rebirth. Ceredwin, whose totem animal is the boar, guards the cauldron of inspiration and is considered the muse of the birds."

Surveys, I know, I know...

Here are some results that nevertheless made me think or brought back a memory or two :

You Are 76% Lady

Overall, you are a refined lady with excellent manners.But you also know when to relax and not get too serious about etiquette.

Are You A Lady?

You Are Wind

Strong and overpowering A force to be reckoned with, no one dares cross you You have the power to change everything around you You are best known for: your wrath Your dominant state: commanding

What Type of Weather Are You?

Your Wrath Quotient: 57%

Ouch! You've got a bit of a temper going on there, don't you? Just make sure to keep your revenge fantasies just that... fantasies only!

How Much Wrath Do You Have?

Your Dosha is Pitta

You have a quick mind, a gift for persuasion, and a sharp sense of humor. You have both the drive and people skills to be a very successful leader. Argumentative and a bit stubborn, you have been known to be a little too set in your ways. But while you may be biased toward your own point of view, you are always honest, fair, and ethical. With friends: You are outgoing and open to anyone who might want to talk to you In love: You are picky but passionate To achieve more balance: Be less judgmental of those around you, and take cool walks in the moonlight.

What's Your Dosha?

Your Power Element is Water

Your power colors: blue and aqua Your energy: deep Your season: winter Like the ocean, you evoke deep feelings and passion. You have an emotional, sensitive, and spiritual soul. A bit mysterious, you tend to be quiet when you are working out a problem. You need your alone time, so that you can think and dream.

What's Your Power Element?

OK - enough of the frivolities for today......have you taken a completely senseless but intriguing survey today? LOL.....

Something About Aradia

I am asked often about my long and rather odd name. So, I would like to begin sharing each of my names' origins and the lore that it bears. First, Aradia:

In the (Aradia di Toscana) Stregherian traditions (an Etruscan/Italian Witchcraft) "Aradia is the name taken (in honor of the ancient goddess - Aradia, daughter of Diana) by the woman who we sometimes refer to as The Holy Strega. Her followers knew her as Aradia di Toscano and also called her La Bella Pellegrina or the Beautiful Pilgrim.

Our traditions teach that Aradia was born in Tuscany (legends states 1313) and was taught the Old Ways, by her aunt. As a young woman, she would walk through the Alban Hills near Lake Nemi and contemplate the fate of the people of Italy who were downtrodden by the nobility and the Church. One day, Aradia had a moment of spiritual enlightenment is which she knew she must challenge the existing order. In this moment, she heard the word MoonShadow and began her spiritual teachings. Aradia gathered streghe (old Etruscan religious), outlaws, and others who dwelt in the forests around Nemi during the 14th century, and taught the Ways. Her disciples formed what is known as the Triad Clans, from which our Tradition have descended."

Peaceful dreaming, until next we meet,

Aradiana

More About Stregheria

More About Aradia - Her Charges and Her Gifts

More on Aradia

Interesting note: One of my birth names is Madelena. "Magdalene" is said to mean, ‘watchtower’ or ‘tower of the flock’, there is said to be a royal bloodline of descendants of 'watchers', etc.. This also basically refers to a concept of 'high places', a place to watch over.

A Beginning

I am Aradiana Ceridwen Merrows Aradia Ravensdowne......

Merry meet and peaceful dreams to you all. Perhaps, you will return to read some of my ramblings as I share my thoughts, dreams and knowledge...