Feline Friday: The Contest Winners Version

Thanks SO much to everyone who took part in my "By the Number" contest. We didn't actually reach any of my goals, but I hope y'all had fun anyway, so I decided to pick THREE winners. Just because I can :-)

The first winner is Toni Linenberger, the second is Michele Merritt Dochat, and the third is Ravena Rose. All the winners should have received emails telling them how to contact me. Congrats to them, and thanks to everyone -- to me, you are all winners!

And here is your Feline Friday cute cat fix for the week. I hope your weekend is grand.

 Here's Minerva--it's hard to tell from this, but she is actually watching the first snowflakes of the year come down. I think she finds them fascinating...easy for her, since she is an inside cat, and never has to go out in them,

 Now that it is cold, I've fired up the pellet stove again. Little Samhain loves to sit up there; I think because she is tiny and sick, she feels the cold more than your average cat. (The bricks on the front are not particularly attractive, I know, but that spot gets *hot* and it is the only way to keep her from sitting there anyway.)

 Minerva likes the spot too, apparently. This is her "I was here first and I'm not moving" face.

There was some disagreement on that score.

Magic refused to get involved.
Just for the record...the tiny cat finally won.

Here's hoping you find a nice warm spot to sit! Happy Friday!

And So It Begins

I'm enjoying my Hibernation Vacation, and actually resting and reading a lot. I just started my friend Nancy Holzner's latest, HELLHOUND which is impressing the crap out of me. (If you haven't read this urban fantasy series yet, you're missing out.) I just whizzed through a contemporary romance by one of my favorite Brit authors, Trisha Ashley, called Chocolate Shoes and Wedding Blues, and a mystery by the wonderfully humorous Donna Andrews called Duck the Halls which nicely put me in the mood for what I saw when I woke up this morning:

 

Not much snow, thankfully, but enough to make it feel like winter instead of late fall. I guess it is time to put the rest of the little pumpkins on the compost heap. Sigh. But I have to admit, it is beautiful, in its own way.

Don't forget there are only two days left to enter the ongoing contest. There is at least one option you can do every day, if you have already entered. It doesn't look like we are going to meet any of the goals, alas, but don't worry--I'll still give away at least one prize anyway. I appreciate my loyal followers, every one!

Spread the word, if you are so inclined, and I'll be back to chatting about something later in the week.

GIVEAWAY BY THE NUMBERS! And Feline Friday

Since I am going to be disappearing until next Thursday (mostly, anyway), I am going to leave you with a Big Ol' Giveaway to keep you busy.

Here's how it is going to work: I'm calling it "Giveaway by the Numbers" because I decided that I'd like to raise some of my "numbers" (blog followers and page views, Twitter and Facebook followers) before the next book comes out. You can help--AND maybe win a really cool prize.

Here's where we are right now:
On the blog, I have (gulp) 95,550 page views. Which I find stunning, really, but let's see if we can get it to 100,000! I also have 259 followers, and I'd like to get that to 300. For each of those goals we reach, I'll give away a prize. If we get to 12,000 page views, I'll give away an extra prize. If we get to 350 followers, I'll give away ANOTHER extra prize. You see how this is going, right?

On Twitter, I have 1,640 followers--I'd love to hit 2,000...what do you think? Can we do it?
On Facebook, I have 2,332 follower--can we get to 2,500?

The more goals we reach, the more prizes, but you are entered to win just by taking part.

Here's some of what I will be giving away, depending on how well we do:
The signed book of your choice (or multiple signed books), like one of these...

A $25 Amazon gift card
A lovely hand-crafted Deborah Blake original necklace (for you or to give as a holiday gift)

These are from the "Spirit & Potential" line

A really cool poster of Magic the Cat (it isn't really her--it just looks like her, but way cool) that says "If you can spell, thank a witch"

And if we meet all our goals, I'll come up with something really spectacular...

So, help an author out and spread the word? *SMOOCHES*
a Rafflecopter giveaway


And here is your Feline Friday cuteness

What you lookin' at?

The Hibernation Vacation--Really This Time

Some of you may recall that back in February (gah!) I talked about taking something I called a Hibernation Vacation. Yes, I made up the term, but still, it was a great idea. Instead of taking a vacation by going away someplace--which is my case always means some kind of conference where I run around like crazy, or else a visit with family, which is lovely, but usually not restful--I planned to take a few days off and stay home.

The idea was that instead of racing around Doing All the Things, I would actually take a block of days to rest and relax; hit the "reset" button, if you will. Reestablish some healthy patterns like meditation and exercise, which would hopefully then stick around after the vacation was over. Go to bed early, get up late, read, lazy around...maybe do a bit of "work" stuff, but at a leisurely pace.

Of course, as with most plans, that one got side-swiped by Life, in the form of a horrid cold which hit at precisely the time I'd planned to take off. I got to stay home, all right...but it wasn't exactly relaxing.

And I never did get around to taking any time off, and I've been running at a mad pace ever since.

I finally realized recently that if I didn't take a break of some sort or another, I wasn't going to make it through the busy next couple of months without falling over with an ungraceful thud. So I conspired with my pal Ellie who started The Artisans' Guild with me, and I'm actually taking off next Monday and Tuesday for no reason whatsoever. I'm caught up on paperwork, and the busy season hasn't started yet, so there's no real reason for me not to.

This will give me a block of FIVE DAYS (Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues, and Wed--which is my regular day off) to finally take my Hibernation Vacation. Let's see if I can manage to actually allow myself to rest :-)

So I might be a bit scarce around here for a few days...but I think I'll come up with some kind of fun contest to leave you with tomorrow, just for the heck of it. And, of course, I believe I'm due for a Feline Friday. [Yes, Magic, you can take your claws out of my leg now. Thank you.]

If you could take a hibernation vacation, what would you do?

A New Broom Sweeps Clean

There’s an old saying: A new broom sweeps clean. This refers not only to the fact that brooms wear out (especially the old style besoms made of twigs), but also that it is a good idea to replace your brooms every once in a while, since they get worn out energetically as well. Folk lore tells us that you should never move an old broom to a new house, lest you carry old troubles from one place to another. So it makes a certain amount of sense that even if you don’t get a new place, you might want to consider periodically getting a new broom.

Recently, I got three. 

No, I don’t have a huge house (it is actually pretty small). The three brooms all have different purposes, and two I hadn’t had to begin with. And one was a gift from a witchy friend.

The first broom I got was a strictly ornamental magickal broom that hangs on the living room wall and adds beautiful and great energy to the room. When I finished writing my latest book, The Witch's Broom , I decided to reward myself by getting my first “just for pretty” broom. Luckily, I found a fabulous woman on Etsy who made special order witchy brooms at a shop called Way of the Cauldron, and she created a special one just for me, complete with a dangling quartz crystal, a Bast charm, and some other goodies. It is really magickal feeling, and I love knowing it was made especially for me. (Thanks, Julie!)

In the way the universe works sometimes, right after I ordered my new ornamental broom, my friend Bobbie gave me a fabulous hand-crafted broom for ceremonial use. (I actually came home on the day I picked up my new car, and found it leaning against my door—two new vehicles in one day!). It was a little ironic that I wrote an entire book on using broomsticks in magickal work, and didn’t actually own one that I used for that purpose. (We’d always used someone else’s when we needed a broom for ritual.) I’d told her I wanted to get one, so this lovely broom showed up as a belated birthday gift!

On a more practical level, the lovely handmade broom I used for everyday housecleaning was wearing out, with more broken bristles than whole ones. And since I’ve been doing a major fall clearing and cleansing to prepare for the winter, I figured that made it a good time to get a new household broom as well. I couldn’t find an affordable nice broom, although I’ll keep looking, so for now I just got a regular one from the grocery store. I plan to bless and consecrate it before its first use, however, and apply a little protection oil just to give it an added boost when it cleans.

So that’s the story of my three new brooms—each one different, but each one special. Do you have a new broom, or an old one that means something special to you? If not, maybe you’d better go get one!

Oh, and HAPPY SAMHAIN! *runs off cackling*

Guest Post Renee Avard THE GODDESS IS IN THE DETAILS

As you all know, I just announced that I would be doing an 8th book for Llewellyn, a follow-up to The Goddess is in the Details

By a funny coincidence, blogger Renee Avard had just offered to do a guest post for me, talking about how reading The Goddess in the Details had affected her life, and her witchcraft practice. So I said, "Hey--here's a cool idea! Let's do the announcement of the new book, then you can come on and get people all excited." (Hey, why should I do all the work around here?)

So here is Renee's lovely guest blog (THANKS, RENEE!), which might just have made me a bit snivelly when I first read it. Do you have a story to share about The Goddess is in the Details? Email me at magicmysticminerva at yahoo and maybe I'll share yours too.

Home Is In the Details

I always knew I was something different. I was the one in school who stayed up late writing by candlelight. I felt the energies and the powers of the moon. I was incredibly touched by all things nature. And I flocked to all things spiritual.

I knew there had to be a definitive title for who I was, and it was not that I needed it, but because I wanted to go home. All of Life until that point, I was never home. I knew when I found the right 'clique', I would be able to finally be there.

After years of flitting around, I found it – my Path and I was immediately welcomed in and comfortable. .The Goddess sang out a song that played right to my heart and my heart answered. It came easy to me, it made sense to me and it just felt this was right for me.

After a few years along the Path, I was thinking that I really wanted more. I know that was like looking a gift horse in the mouth, but I felt an evolution of sorts about to take place. We are all a work-in-progress as truth growth does not stop.

It was like the Pessoa quote: “I feel like I am always on the verge of waking up.”

My world changed one day as I discovered an author, Deborah Blake, at the Barnes and Noble. An infusion of daily life and spiritual life makes for this incredible book – The Goddess Is In the Details. When I first read this years ago, I was in a place spiritually where I needed a total kick in the pants to become involved (and healthier) and this book was the Universe answering me.

Deborah breaks the book down each direction your journey is taking you on and then she has suggestions and prompts at the end of each chapter. She is very knowledgeable as she quotes many sources, which gives the reader a more well-rounded opinion.

It was not just the lessons and the words she used, it was her complete understanding of so many thoughts and concepts and her ability to break it down in terms that made sense. And I know when things make sense to me, then I am truly home.

The Goddess is in the Details moved me then, making it a book I reference often and it moves me now as.her spells and rituals remain quite powerful. I know that for me, when I saw how easy I could state things in my own terms, I reached a whole new plateau and my practice on the Path moved to another level altogether.

She reminds the reader that the daily 'mundane' chores can even be spiritual and I love to hear and read that because that is something I have done for a long time. From walking with my Dad when I was younger and finding rocks and such with Obsidian being the first 'crystal' I was into.

Whenever I write, I feel I am doing something spiritual. If I clean or do laundry or anything such as that, I remind myself of the good behind having the abilities to do those things. Then I read Deborah saying that daily things can be magical and actually be a method of honor all on their own.

Mind blown. Seriously.

Overall emotions that come up when I am reading range from absolute smirky-ness to smiling because some one out there just 'gets it!' I also am proud to be a part of this world, this space and live as who I am and always have been and who I always will be.

Part of the joy of Witchy-ness was the spells, the words sent out. As a writer by trade, I began, with inspiration, as lt moved me to pen my own thoughts. Even though I was an established author and writing poetry and other things for over 20 years, spell writing was something different and magical.

I loved being able to put the poetic style I had and do it in such a personal way. Deborah's gentle reminders about harming none and the fact that our words are very powerful remained with me. But not in a chastising way, but in a loving way as a well-loved Elder.

Reading this book again, I am still loving the 7 beliefs at the heart of being a Witch.They are so well-written and verstatile. (Especially loving words have power, if you could not tell) And a favorite section would be the one on dealing with a crisis.

As she shared the various attribute Witches have in their arsenal, I knew I could overcome most anything. The best part about this is that I was able to see that most of what we are put through can be prevented from the smallest of details.

Right then and there, I knew I would have to read and re-read all of Blake's stuff.

I have always been a Solitary so the chapter on that was one of my favorites. I find comfort and security in Blake's words throughout and I am harnessing that strength and beginning a group of my own (finally).

I have come to the realization that no one does anything truly alone. All of us are connected. And we are all meant to compliment one another.

In order for me to receive true acceptance in a place I felt lost in, I had to come to the realization that I am a part of something larger. In Blake's words, I find hope, validation and true compassion.

It was a beautiful feeling and I accepted myself and I realized that indeed, after a lifetime of not knowing what the word meant, I was finally ---

home.

© Renee Avard

October 27 2013

Edited to add: And I just received the newsletter – a sequel to this book is officially in the works? I cannot believe it – I have been praying for this forever ;) Deborah, I am honored to know you, read you and have you as a part of my world. Many blessings and love sent out to you and thank you for this opportunity and to all for reading!

A bit about the author:

I am an Eclecitc Spiritualist and a Witch at heart. I write all I can and I love even more. I am an Ordained Minister and a High Priestess. A Crystal Therapist and an Angel Card Reader. I also work with Chakras and I offer intuitive counseling. I began Catch A Falling Star as a place to present my writings and write and over this year it has evolved into a full-blown business as a Spiritual and Holistic place I am proud of. Find out more about me and see my shananigans at http://www.worthcatching.blogspot.com.

You can also find Renee on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authorreneeavard Be sure to tell her I sent you to say hi!

And the winner is...

ROSE KINNEY!

Congrats to Rose, who said: Hi Deborah, I have been waiting on a new release from you! I have the 4 books and I look forward to reading a new addition to my collection. I love the way you write with a down home feel that makes everyone feel they can relate. Keep up the great work (hugs)

Rose, contact me at magicmysticminerva at yahoo and tell me if you already have The Goddess is in the Details, and if so, which other book you'd like, and where to send it!

Thanks to everyone for all their lovely comments. You guys make an author very happy.

Love, love, love you all!

And if you didn't win, don't worry, because I plan to have all sorts of fun contests coming up.

XXX
Deborah

PS--My friend Nancy Holzner has a book out today! HELLHOUND is the fifth book in her fabulous "Deadtown" series, and I love these books with a white-hot passion. Be sure and say congrats to her, and if you're in the mood, I'd love it if you would run out and buy a copy. Happy book release day, Nancy!