I am a spiritual magpie

I am not a Christian, yet I feel so peaceful listening to choir practice on a Saturday afternoon in the Bath Abbey; I’m not a Buddhist, yet there are mala beads and a Buddha statue sitting on my coffee table. They’re pretty and decorative, but more than that, they’re borrowed symbols that represent the reflective space I wish to cultivate in my life. I don’t want anyone to tell me the answers, but like a spiritual magpie I gather the gems that catch my eye and assemble a way to exist in the world that feels meaningful to me.

Susannah Conway…this i know: notes on unravelling the heart

I read this excerpt from Susannah’s book and felt like she had described my journey. Sometimes I wonder, if asked what my beliefs are, what I would say. I am not in a box. I have a cross, a buddha, a crystal and a moon, a pentagram and a goddess on a charm necklace.

“…like a spiritual magpie I gather the gems that catch my eye and assemble a way to exist in the world that feels meaningful to me.”

Finding what feels right for me has been a long journey. Years of reading and reflecting. Years of letting the guilt, the fear of saying goodbye to one religion, drain away. I had to face it. Look it in the eye to let myself go.

Since then I’ve changed a lot and though I’d like to say I am my own person, I know that not to be true. I am a shadow. I am a composite of all those voices in my head from previous lifetimes gone by, thousands of years of lifetimes, telling me that I am not just one person, one existence.

I am still finding myself but along this journey I have also come to know my Selves better, being simply aware of them. It’s odd and comforting at the same time.

This October I am reading Journey to the Dark Goddess, of which I will do a review when finished. It will take me down into the dark of my soul, the place of repression, regression. Where fear lives because we do not look it in the eye.

October is such a fitting time to delve into the darkness. This isn’t about darkness in the sense of evil. No no. This is about calling out to the Dark Goddess and facing fears, doubts, worries, the unknown. Really finding out who I am.

I am a big lover of Instagram particularly because I am a very visual person and I love the connections made to those with similar beliefs, tastes and lifestyles. I must admit, I am more on IG than anywhere else in the cyberworld.

I have decided to partake in two challenges on IG and am very excited about them, yet a little fearful (there’s that fear!) that I may not be able to keep up. Hey, I couldn’t even draw a face a day for the September challenge and that doesn’t even involve any deep reflecting on my part!

mnomquah has created this Shadow Work October challenge. This seems to couple up nicely with the book I am reading right now (mentioned above). Also being a tarot lover and having huge respect for the cards (I am still learning but don’t think I give myself enough credit)I am excited to incorporate these into the month. I already do a card reading a day, which I usually post on IG.blackandthemoon has created an tarot challenge! Yay! I absolutely love the Antique Anatomy Tarot and after joining I noticed that there is a chance to win the deck – eep! Tarot cards, I have found, are like tattoos: once you have one you cannot stop (if I had more free money I’d have more tattoos!). They are also like chips: you can’t have just one. But, tarot cards don’t give you a bellyache from eating too many!It is going to be a busy month! And all of this has to happen outside of the usual daily regime of homeschooling (the best), yoga-meditating (my lifeline), bullet journaling (love!), art making (I almost forget what that is!), cooking (because I love to cook *said with a huge gush of sarcasm*) and breathing (ummm…). I can do this, right?

October is going to be wicked! *wink wink*  If you feel like entering the darkness of your soul you can join by visiting the links for mnomquah and blackandthemoon above. See you there!

I’m off to make my mandala (first one ever!) and the Theme for October (not telling, you have to check it out for yourself!). Here is a wonderful explanation for the significance of the mandala originally posted by mnomquah on IG: mandala.

Happy October!! See you on the dark side.

Moongirl xx

Oh goodness, and did you see that superbloodmooneclipse? Wow. So in love. So, so in love with her. Blessings.