I Love Your Spark

2014 was...interesting.  There were some stellar moments, and some uncomfortable lessons. There was adventure, and wildness and love, and some rather spectacular crashing.  I feel as though I have walked the Major Arcana from Fool to the Tower to Judgement, and today the World card turned over, and the cycle is both complete, and beginning again at midnight.

Today the sun shone brightly on the snow-covered hills, the cattle in the meadows of the next valley were breathing out dancing mist-creatures into the air as I drove by, and the moon has shown herself handsomely and so very near in the cold sky.  Today was rather stunning.  It was a good way to end this year - with the heart-aching beauty of the Valley I love so much.

It is also a good time to say Thank you.

I didn't speak much about the icky bits this year.  I was on my own alchemical journey, churning things up and out, and refining, refining (hello Temperance).  I suppose I didn't share because I thought it was meant to be a lone journey (and there's the Hermit), but these things never are. Because each time you visited Rue and Hyssop, and commented on a post, or read something here via a social media link, or chatted with me on Facebook or Twitter, or bumped into me somewhere out there in the 'verse, you left a little spark for me.

And the sparks - they added up.  And on my darkest days this year, there were sparks like fireflies that lit up my small world. I showed up here six years ago hoping for a little connection, but what I received was so much more.

Thank you, to those who have been stopping by for years, and to those who I've just met. Thank you to the ones who inspire, and the ones who encourage. Thank you to those who do the work, and remind me that the work is where I find the best parts of myself.  Thank you to the ones that bring the magic, and those that share the love, and all of you who leave your little sparks.  You have made my 2014 brighter.

I'm wishing you fireworks, and every beautiful thing that makes your soul sing. For every momentary thought, every good wish, every spark you've gifted me, may it come back to you one hundred times more.

Aside from you, these are a few things that made my heart sing in 2014:

So Many Thanks, So Little Time

Just taking a moment to breathe, in between trying to find pumpkins for carving, readying a hundred or so candy bags, working on month-end bookkeeping and preparing for the Ancestors Dinner I'm attending tomorrow night.

And in that breath, I must remember to be thankful.  Thankful for the busy-ness that is my life, because it means that I have a job, friends, a home to clean and fun gatherings to go to.  And thankfulness because in the few moments I have to sit and rest each day, I get to read such lovely, insightful blogs written by the most wonderful people! 

I haven't had much time to comment and post myself lately, but I've been here, and find it a joyful respite for days with too much 'stuff' crammed into them to sit and read, even for a few minutes. 

I'm also thankful for those who pass on awards to me - even though most of them know how painfully short I fall at re-posting them.  (Right now I'm thinking of Mar Zel and Debra who I'm sure gave me awards earlier this Summer that I never got to posting....)

And before another month goes by, I'd also like to thank:

Mother Moon for this Prolific Blogger award (which was created by Advanced Booking.)  Most of you know Janie, but if you haven't 'met' her - please stop by her blog.  She has the biggest heart and a beautiful blog, and I just adore her.

Last month Cellar Door at I Hope They Have Pudding gave me this Versatile Blogger award, and then Lady Cattra from Cattra's Magickal World and Jennifer from Confessions of a Kitchen Witch (who I've been following since she was "Barefoot In the Sand") passed this, plus the following two awards on to me, as a triple award.

So many thanks to you ladies - I enjoy your blogs so much and am thrilled that you wander into my little corner of the blog-verse too!

Please stop by and say hello to the bloggers listed in this post.  They are all so unique and talented, and are really great reads!

I'd Like To Thank The Academy...

I noticed recently, while reading Patti Wigington's fabulous blog over at About.com's Paganism & Wicca page, that my blog is listed under her "Related Blogs" list on her sidebar.  You can't see me here - but I'm blushing.  I've been a big Patti fan for quite a while, so this is rather huge compliment for little ol' me!  Thank you Patti!

If you haven't been reading Patti's blog - please RUN over to About.com and start immediately.  You can follow her on Facebook too.

Speaking of Facebook - I caved.  Yes, I know.  I said I was done with it.  Yes, I'm a hypocrite.  I can make all kinds of excuses like "I'm not really addicted to anything else...except Diet Coke...and chocolate...and Halloween merchandise...and bookstores..." 

I will mention that I am listed under my two names (mundane and moniker) "Jen Rue" and there is a wee button on the sidebar here if you want to friend me.  I'm listed like this so that the previous issue I was having with exes and old school chums (who conveniently forget that they called me "fatty" or were generally horrible to me) tracking me down, won't be an issue this time around.  I'm also not playing any games over there.  There just isn't enough time to be virtual farming when my real life garden is in a state of upheaval.

I would also like to thank Wine for getting me through the Summer.  Specifically chilled Gewertz and Reisling - but any sweet white will do.  Or anything from Therapy Vineyards in Naramata, BC, because anything I drink from them makes me feel like I've gotten the thumbs-up from Mr. Freud himself.

I would also like to thank my cat Daisy for making me work so damn hard for her affection.  You make boyfriend drama seem like easy living.  Yes, I will get off this computer shortly and walk you in the backyard.  And stand there for eons while you sit in the shade eating grass and contemplating the world.  And then I will give you a treat, and run the tap for you so you can have the running water you like.  And yes, I know that after all of this, you still won't let me pet you for more than 2 seconds. 

I would also like thank these guys.  Because after an afternoon of arguing on the phone with a rep from Revenue Canada (think IRS in the USA) about whether or not the payment I sent in last month for payroll deductions should have been credited to June of 2009 (what?) or June of 2010 - I need a little laughter release.  And even though The Hangover came out about a year ago now - watching three men and a baby cruise Vegas in a police cruiser never really gets old.

At this time of year, while still trying to embrace Summer and appreciate it for what it is...whatever it is...I do appreciate those who look ahead to Autumn.  I mention Jaz so much you'd think she was my twin sister, but I do have to say that if you haven't seen the collection of Autumn/Halloween items quickly growing at her place, you have to run over and check it out.  I don't know that anyone has not heard of Octoberfarm - but if you are new to blogging, run over there and say "hi."

I'm also giddy after stashing away a super-cool book and deck set of the Halloween Tarot for Mrs. B's 31 days of Halloween.  She's already started collecting names of people/shops who want to donate prizes for this year's month of madness - check it out here.

Finally, I just want to say thank you to YOU.  It's the friends you make while blogging that make it worthwhile.  Every comment is so appreciated.  I wish I could send you all a nice bottle of wine - but I'll lift a glass to you instead - cheers!  And thanks from the bottom of my witchy little heart!

PS - don't forget to enter the Lazy, Hazy Days giveaway.  It's not wine, but the prizes will distract you from that Summer heat!