Raidho

    Southwestern Broccoli Cheese Soup

    Thursday, January 24, 2008, 05:18 AM EST [General]

    Ingredients:
    4 cups water, 4 cups broccoli, 3 cups hash browns, 2 cups skim milk,
    1 cup chopped carrots, 1 cup chopped celery, ½ teaspoon pepper,
    3 tablespoons all purpose flour, 6 ounces Velveeta cubed, 1 cup salsa

    Directions
    1. In a large sauce pan combine water, all vegetables and pepper, boil and simmer for 8-10 minutes
    2. Combine milk and flour separately and gradually stir mixture into main soup. Bring to a boil and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened
    3. Add Velveeta cheese and stir, until melted
    4. Add salsa, warm through and serve

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    Another survey Stolen from Stephanie

    Tuesday, January 22, 2008, 06:00 AM EST [General]

    1. What's your favorite Sabbat?
    Not sure yet, Probably Yule, it is the only thing of sanity near that insane Christian Holiday!

    2. Why?
    It is the only thing of sanity near that insane steroids Christian holiday

    3. New Moon or Full Moon?
    Full Moon. It has such a romantic and spiritual feel to it. New moons are evil for my clients and many other people I know.

    4. Wealth or Abundance?
    Abundance. For most people there is no such thing as too much wealth, it is always spent.

    5. Mind, Body and SOUL or Mind, Body and SPIRIT?
    All of the above. It is a beautiful mix.

    6. Favorite god?
    Right now? The Great Hunter, it is my own pantheon, hard to describe.

    7. Favorite goddess?
    The Great Nurturer. Again see above!

    8. Favorite way to cast a circle?
    Clockwise 5 times with 4 tools and self, only when doing rituals, not for daily meditations

    9. Deosil or Widdershins?
    Both as needed

    10. Two favorite crystals or stones?
    Amethyst and cat's eye

    11. Your sun sign?
    Leo and Cancer. I'm a cusper!!!!

    12. Positive trait of your sun sign?
    Feisty and emotional

    13. Negative trait of your sun sign?
    Over ambitious and over sensitive

    14. Past life you remember?
    I don't remember any

    15. Coven or solitary?
    Solitary

    16. Book-taught or Apprenticeship-trained?
    Book and intuition taught.

    17. Hedge-Witch or City-Wiccan?
    City Witch.

    18. WitchCraft or Wicca?
    Witchcraft.

    19. Favorite divination tool? (OK, so choose two.)
    Numerology!!! Rarely tarot.

    20. Pantheon?
    My own unique consisting of 8 dieites and the center

    21. Pantheon you don't know much about but would like to learn?
    Celtic/Druid - but tooo much on my plate to do so!

    22. Salt or smudge?
    I prefer salt if I'm outside, and smudging inside.

    23. Incense sticks or cones?
    Niether bothers my sinus's

    24. Robes or skyclad?
    Just plain clothes for now, if I would not have neighbors then definitely sky clad!!!!

    25. Last moon ritual?
    Today!

    26. Last Sabbat celebrated?
    Yule.

    27. Student or Teacher?
    Student?

    28. Fragrance oils or essential oils?
    Neither.

    29. Storebought potions or home-made?
    Home made, though have yet to actually make a potion yet

    30. Totem animal?
    Hawk - big surprise and cats of any kind

    31. Pendulum or Dowsing rods?
    Niether

    32. Tarot cards or Animal Medicine cards?
    Tarot - Robin Wood

    33. Journal or Book of Shadows?
    Book of Shadows

    34. Your familiar?
    Dog... if I get the meaning of familiar

    35. Guardian Angel or Spirit Guide?
    My spirit guides, don't believe/use angel

    36. Public ritual or closed circle?
    Have never been to a closed ritual, only to public and my own solitary

    37. Workshops or books?
    Face to face teaching preferrable

    38. Best spell?
    It was more sorcery, than spell. It was an arrow sleep spell. Put my wife to sleep in about 15 minutes, near instantly. I've also done some other more personal spells

    39. Candle magick or Herbal magick?
    Defintely candle magick

    40. Person you most hope will respond to this?

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    Hunters vs. Protectors/Soldiers

    Tuesday, January 22, 2008, 05:27 AM EST [General]

    A recent spiritual event happened to me. One of my closest deities prompted me to write this blog. Many times we lump God/masculine energy under one umbrella. I believe no matter what energy or Deity, everything has at least 2 faces, 2 sides to it. There is an active yang and a passive yin energy. The two sides in my pantheon for God energy are Hunter and Protector. I feel all of us carry parts of these energies within us.

    Hunter energy is active, seeking, unconventional, often solitary or in small groups. It's focus tends to be narrow and intense. A Hunter tends to be more focused in it's emotional, carrying only what it needs at the moment, no excessive baggage. Emotions are like a sword - a liability to self and others if the wielder does know how to use it. Focus is everything to a Hunter. A Hunter NEVER wastes energy. A craving or a desire is what spurs any of us to become a Hunter of anything. Whether it is a midnight snack, finding a mate or going to the mall/grocery store to buy something. A Hunter is much more likely to run and fight another day, cutting losses vs. chasing after something improbable. The Hunter does not take things personally. The Hunter enjoys a good exertion, a good chase, even if the outcome is not to it's liking. All that matters is right effort and right mind. If not properly balanced this energy becomes cold and heartless.

    Protector/Soldier energy is more reactive, more passive, organized, sticking to convention, organization and rules. Strength in numbers is a key. Endless vigilance and boundaries are part of this energy. It is always looking for a possible threat. This is not necessarily bad, but can lead to paranoia in it's extreme. The purpose is nurturing and protection of beyond itself - a clan/tribe/society. The focus is much more emotionally motivated. You become this way, when you have something of value to defend or something to lose. This can be your ego, self esteem, an object, oil, a job, family, an ideal, whatever you hold dear to you. Fear is a motivator for the establishment of this energy. This energy also tends to be very stubborn, dig in your heals for the long run. If not properly balanced this energy becomes paranoid, over indulgent and over smothering.

    Neither energy is better than the other. Both require training and are not perfected overnight. Few people now a days have the patience for either. Most of us want a quick fix. Most of us want bad things to just go away and not learn to defend ourselves.

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    69 Truths" Questionnaire borrowed from Pathwalker

    Tuesday, January 22, 2008, 05:25 AM EST [General]

    1.Single or Taken - Taken in more than a few ways.
    2. Zodiac sign -- Leo
    3. Birthday - July 22
    4. Male or Female -- male
    5. Preschool - Some Catholic school
    6. Elementary - Arlington Elementary
    7. Middle - Greenbriar
    8. High School -- Strongsville High Shcool
    9. Eye color -- Brown
    10. Hair is Natural or dyed? - balding ;)
    11 .Aim Name -- Nope
    12. Are you a health freak?- Hell no, I love my junk food!
    13. Are you slim? Dieting? Overweight? - A bit on the slim side, but otherwise perfect
    14. Is your teeth: All there? All there!
    15. If you had only one choice of entertainment would it be: Sex, Friends, Books, Music or TV? - Tough one, only if sex meant hours of cuddling, foreplay and talking in addition to sex itself.
    16. Middle name -- Raidho
    17. Do you love someone - many people, but romantically you bet ;)
    18. Is that someone on your top friends -- Yes
    19. How many Piercings do you have? -- None
    20. Piercings below the shoulders? - Still no
    21. Righty or lefty -- Righty

    FIRSTS :
    22. First kiss, where did it happen and what age? -- At an amusement park
    23. First piercing - I said no already!!!!
    24. First city you lived in -- Parma
    25. First Crush -- Kristie
    26. First sport -- Wrestling
    27. First pet -- Fish
    28. First vacation -- Hungary

    CURRENTLY :
    29. Smoke free? -- Yes
    30. Alcohol Free? - No, not completely
    31. Eating - Kettle chips
    32. Drinking - Dr. Pepper
    33. Listening to - the wind outside

    YOUR FUTURE:
    34. Planning on: Getting a new job/position? Going back to school? Getting on Government Assistance? -- Getting a new job eventually
    35. Plenty of Money by: -- Getting rich quick scheme, marrying into it, lottery, working for it? - Perhaps writing a book
    36. Want kids? -- Already have one, probably no more
    37. Want to get married? - Already am

    WHICH IS BETTER WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX?
    38. Driving a: sports car, luxury car, hummer, pimped up truck? - Sports car
    39. Lips or eyes? -- both!
    40. Looks or personality? - Definitely personality, though the person must at least care about themselves and how they look, even if they do not have the attributes.
    41. Slut or man whore? -- Neither!!
    42. Intelligence or attraction? -- Both are a must!!!
    43. Romantic or spontaneous? - If I have to choose, romantic
    44. Being a Model, Actor/ress, Singer, Musician, Politician, Joe-shmoe? - Musician
    45. Color of hair and eyes you like the best? - Honestly it does not matter, but definitely longer hair.
    46. Do you like em: Body-builder type, On the beach type or The model type? - Curvy, non anorexic, some muscle tone and definition, but definitely no skinny mini
    47. Body or mind? - More mind than body, but both, for both need to be exercised and trained to remain pleasing to the person's mate

    HAVE YOU EVER :
    48. Had sex in a vehicle? -- Yes
    49. Kissed a stranger -- No
    50. Lost glasses/contacts - No never
    51. Ran away from home ? - No, but I should have!
    52. Broken a bone? - Yes 1 arm broken, and 1 leg facture, 1 nose, several fingers
    53. Been caught skinny dipping? - No, have never actually skinny dipped
    54. Broken someone's heart? - Yes, sort of
    55. Been arrested? -- No, But I've danced dangerously close numerous times
    56. Got caught with someone else's spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend? -- No
    57. Cried when someone died? - No one I ever have known closely has died
    58. Had a long relationship before -- Yes

    DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
    59. Yourself -- Yes
    60. Miracles - No - "luck/miracles is when preparation meets opportunity"
    61. Love - Yes
    62. Lying to a loved one to save your ass about something? - Yes
    63. Sex on the first date - Generally no, but there are always exceptions
    64. Kissing on the first date - Yes!!! unless I feel there is no 2nd date in the works.
    65. Angels -- No

    ANSWER TRUTHFULLY :
    66. Is there one person you want to be with right now? - YES!!!
    67. Have you ever really liked someone that you shouldn't have? - yes and no
    68. Have you've ever seen a ghost? -- Yes
    69. Do you believe in God? and the Goddess? Yes but not in a conventional way.

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    Relationships are your vehicle Part II

    Tuesday, January 15, 2008, 05:27 AM EST [General]

    This is a lighter but just as important version of my last blog. Here is some more advice on it, less philosophical and more practical. You know the phrase "He/she drives me crazy" It is not too far off the mark.

    You may ask yourself how many times will you leave you alone, broken down in the middle of nowhere before you've had your fill.
    If find yourself threatening to leave and never drive again the car again, but out of being desperate you go back to it again and again. You may consider slowing down or walking and leaving it on the side of the road. Relationships that are in constant need of fixing, need either be placed in the scrap heap or unloaded onto some other poor soul that is in need of it more than your or has more time and patience than you.

    An example I use with my clients all of the time is relationships are like used cars. You are constantly trading up for the next better model. If this one swears at you, but the other one did drugs then you are moving in the right direction, as long as your next model will be bit smoother and less loud. It is always important to judiciously date, but definitely date - find out what you really truly want in a car or in a relationship - shop around. This does not mean you should not keep a classic car even if it does not have all the new features of younger vixens/studs or takes a bit longer to speed up than the newer models.

    In a good relationship MUST have good communication. The most important are turn signals and brakes. It is a form of communication. Your partner will crash into you innumerable times if you do not signal where you are going and when you need to slow down. Turn signals are important - many people use these as dash board ornaments, just like in life. Anticipation of where you are going is critical. Just like the driver in the other car, your partner is no psychic and has no clue what is going on in your head. Another disaster waiting to happen is sudden decisions/brakes with no gradual slowing. Things that typically happen gradually work out best. Keep your eyes focused on what is in front of you and what is happening now while in motion. All too often we get lost in our own inner world/car.

    Speed - going a bit slower is always a good rule of thumb, though few of us ever obey this. Fast cars and fast relationships are a lot of fun, but they run a much greater risk of crashing. A lot of us do this when we first get into relationships we go too fast and ultimately crash something that could have been a good thing. Getting complacent and speeding through to our destination, on auto pilot and not enjoying the ride itself. This one works on me on soooo many levels and so often including sex, dinner time, raising your child or anything else you've done a thousand times over. The issue of speed is especially important to moderate the pace if kids are in the car. Remember your kids are watching how you drive, that is how they too will drive.... how your relationship is, is what your children will copy in their own relationships. Going too slow is also an issue. The ride of the relationship can be boring if you do not go with the flow. It can also set you up for multiple accidents If the general pace is too fast for you, please get off the highway, this path may not be your style.

    Care and maintenance is so important in a car, just like in a relationship. Keep it clean - limited arguing and swearing. If you do splash mud, gunk, spill coffee or just plain beat on your car, then you are just plain stupid. Unless if you are millionaire, chances are you can't afford to keep getting a new model. Take care of your car/relationship - then it will take care of you. If there is swearing or muck throwing, please say you are sorry and clean in it up ASAP. If you do not, then the stain will set in and your partner will remember it the rest of his/her life as a momento of your obnoxiousness. Oh and no single person should be cleaning up the mess and saying I'm sorry all the time. Chances are both were responsible in some way for the mess.

    This article is dedicated to the time I spent in a car insurance discount class, bored out of my mind, but found something creative to do after all!

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