As I sit at my desk on this rainy May night, I said to myself that I really need to just take a few minutes to write for myself. It's been a while since I last updated this blog for which I apologize. My life has been very hectic and most of my reading and writing time was allocated for my college classes.
The end of the semester is upon me and I'll be on break for the summer as of later this week to which I am VERY happy. I think college semesters are way too long. Eight weeks sounds good to me for a full term semester. If you cannot learn the material in 8 weeks then there is a problem. Can you tell I'm ready for a break from academics?
The paranormal group, APRS has been and is still quite busy. Our caseload has us booking into the fall now for investigations. Add in all the back end administrative duties, public events with our meetup group, presentation appearances and such, it equates to a full time job. Mind you I hold a job I go to everyday already besides going to school so add in the paranormal = busy life.
Though there is time for work there should always be time made for play and recreation. Later this month I'm planning to go camping for the first time ever with my boyfriend Cary. I know you may be thinking however will I function for a few days without my Keurig but alas sometimes we need to step outside of our comfort zones to explore and discover. I'm excited about the trip and am open to learning more about the great outdoors while also hopefully learning more about myself.
Back to APRS, the group is going through a period of transition as one of the other group directors left recently. I wish her the best and know what it is like to walk away from something at one time you may have thought would last forever. I did so with my public pagan group a few months ago. I have no regrets as that is a chapter of my life that is in the past. One cannot move forward if they never make a change or take a step so I would do it all over again if I had to as it opened up new doors and opportunities to explore.
I was a part of the public pagan scene for many years, both as a casual attendee and as a leadership member. The old place I used to go which closed in early 2009 (wow has it been 3 years already) had both its good and bad memories. The good I feel outweigh the bad as I met some great people via them and became a much stronger and better person from all of it. I used to be a self esteem challenged quiet little doormat that could be influenced and let her so called "friends" try and run her life. From telling me how to act, talk, live and dress to even what I should major in while taking classes part time. Those people did not care about me nor were actually what someone would call a real friend. They were in reality control freaks with huge inflated egos professing to know everything, who liked telling everyone how great they were. I chalk it up to they felt the need to try and tell others around them what to do so they wouldn't have to actually admit and deal with their own problems and such. Upon becoming empowered along my path, they learned that I was no longer a meek person who never spoke her mind and was a doormat, their pathetic asses were out of my life for good. I am who I am, will speak my mind and live my life as I see fit. If people can't deal with it that's their problem and not mine. I have better things to do with my time and energy these days.
On the personal front, Cary and I have been dating almost three months now and things are going great. He is a wonderful man who brings so much to my life. I'm very happy and look forward to each step on our path together.
Well I should get back to some APRS work and studying for a final exam this evening. It feels good to take a few minutes out to write something for myself. I think people need to make more time for themselves, even if it is only a few minutes in their day. Life is too short not to I believe.
I plan to update this blog more often and thank you for taking the time to read.
MJ
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Spring Update
Hi everyone,
I'm sorry I have not updated this in awhile, life got busy but I hope to be better about it in the future.
Another semester of school began in late January and is progressing well. Mid terms are next week. I'm also looking forward to a whole week of spring break beginning on March 19th. School is going well and in fact I was recently invited to join the International Honor Society. I've accepted and will be inducted in a public ceremony in May.
The paranormal has been very busy, thanks there TAPS ;) APRS has many cases on their calendar and the group is currently scheduling into May and June for investigations. Along with investigations we also have our public meetup group which is a place where individuals with an interest in the paranormal come together and may attend events to share in their interests. We partnered with the Batcheller Mansion Inn of Saratoga and have done monthly programs there since January and upcoming on March 14th APRS presents "Ghostly Encounters of the Batcheller Mansion Inn". Currently the event is sold out and we look forward to giving those attending insight into the history and ghostly activity of the wonderful location.
On a personal note for me, I recently became involved in a relationship with a great guy. He and I were friends for some time so I feel comfortable with him. He is sweet, funny, smart and a true gentleman though I'm sure he will challenge me at times. Cary and I have a lot in common and have fun doing things together but also respect each other as individuals. He is okay with my busy life of work, school and the paranormal which I'm grateful for. I look forward to this adventure and shall see where the journey takes us.
Recently I've heard rumblings that my pagan group was forced to shut down or was put out of business. Really? My answer to that is those who think that have disillusioned thinking. It was my choice to close the Order of the Phoenix Rising and the decision was months in the making. I felt the time was right to move on and concentrate my efforts onto other aspects and endeavors in my life. I gave of myself to the public pagan community for almost six years. Many hours of writing and executing rituals and other events, performing clerical duties and being dragged into the occasional witch war. That is a chapter in my life I closed of my own accord and I have no regrets. I feel I deserve the opportunity to move onto other things and am ready for where that path takes me.
I have a confession...I really don't like creepy little dolls. Okay there I said it. I will take on ghosts, poltergeists and demons but creepy little dolls, no way. Maybe it goes back to my childhood somewhere as I did not like dolls even then and yes I was a girl who would rather play with really cool transformers than those damn barbies.
I'm sorry I have not updated this in awhile, life got busy but I hope to be better about it in the future.
Another semester of school began in late January and is progressing well. Mid terms are next week. I'm also looking forward to a whole week of spring break beginning on March 19th. School is going well and in fact I was recently invited to join the International Honor Society. I've accepted and will be inducted in a public ceremony in May.
The paranormal has been very busy, thanks there TAPS ;) APRS has many cases on their calendar and the group is currently scheduling into May and June for investigations. Along with investigations we also have our public meetup group which is a place where individuals with an interest in the paranormal come together and may attend events to share in their interests. We partnered with the Batcheller Mansion Inn of Saratoga and have done monthly programs there since January and upcoming on March 14th APRS presents "Ghostly Encounters of the Batcheller Mansion Inn". Currently the event is sold out and we look forward to giving those attending insight into the history and ghostly activity of the wonderful location.
On a personal note for me, I recently became involved in a relationship with a great guy. He and I were friends for some time so I feel comfortable with him. He is sweet, funny, smart and a true gentleman though I'm sure he will challenge me at times. Cary and I have a lot in common and have fun doing things together but also respect each other as individuals. He is okay with my busy life of work, school and the paranormal which I'm grateful for. I look forward to this adventure and shall see where the journey takes us.
Recently I've heard rumblings that my pagan group was forced to shut down or was put out of business. Really? My answer to that is those who think that have disillusioned thinking. It was my choice to close the Order of the Phoenix Rising and the decision was months in the making. I felt the time was right to move on and concentrate my efforts onto other aspects and endeavors in my life. I gave of myself to the public pagan community for almost six years. Many hours of writing and executing rituals and other events, performing clerical duties and being dragged into the occasional witch war. That is a chapter in my life I closed of my own accord and I have no regrets. I feel I deserve the opportunity to move onto other things and am ready for where that path takes me.
I have a confession...I really don't like creepy little dolls. Okay there I said it. I will take on ghosts, poltergeists and demons but creepy little dolls, no way. Maybe it goes back to my childhood somewhere as I did not like dolls even then and yes I was a girl who would rather play with really cool transformers than those damn barbies.
Speaking of the paranormal, here is an interesting tidbit on EMF I found while doing some research for a case we recently did. I rediscovered my love of science and I try to bring science into paranormal research.
Some advice I would give is never just take one source as "gold" so make sure you use multiple sources for your research and always compare information and findings.
As many know exposure to EMF can be an unhealthy thing and often are the origin of experiences a person has that they think are paranormal. Did you know that there have been recent studies conducted seemingly linking Alzheimer’s and EMF levels? In studies conducted scientists found that EMF would negatively affect both the nervous system and the brain. Exposure to high EMF levels in older adults was shown in the study to effect areas of the brain associated with learning, memory and movement. While scientists cannot clearly determine at this time if Alzheimer’s symptoms are actually caused by EMF exposure, they do theorize that exposure to EMF may make the symptoms worse.
In closing spring is soon upon us. I look forward to warmer weather, getting out, trying new things and also doing more things science and nature based. In fact I'm taking a weather class at the end of April with my friend that is sponsored by one of the local news stations and the National Weather Service. It seems interesting.
As spring arrives in a couple of weeks I hope you live each day to the fullest and enjoy the new adventures and experiences that a season of new beginnings and rebirth can bring.
MJ
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Make it Count - New Year's Eve into 2012
As the final minutes of 2011 tick away and another New Year will soon be upon us I must take a moment and reflect on the year that was.
2011 saw me …
Investigate more paranormal occurrences with the Albany Paranormal Research Society. Every year seems to be bigger and better for APRS. We work very hard on cases, public events and such but the greatest reward is helping clients by bringing them peace of mind. It’s a passion and I’ve met some wonderful people along the way on this paranormal journey that I am glad to call friends.
Make a huge change in my life by leaving the cubicle world behind and going back to college to complete my education. The decision did not come without fear, second thoughts and anxiety but as I look back now if I had to do it all over again I would do everything the same. My first semester back was met with hard work and challenges though I overcame them and even rediscovered my love of science. I love knowing how things work and trying to put pieces of a puzzle together. I also landed a part time job I like which allows me to balance work, school and everything else in my life without unhappiness or stress. My advice is that life is short so take the steps necessary to bring about positive change and go for what you want.
Visit the hallowed grounds of Gettysburg, PA on two occasions. A Civil War battlefield that combines my love of the historical and paranormal, what more could a girl ask for?
Continue teaching my tarot and metaphysical classes. I love teaching; it is great to watch people empower themselves with knowledge, believe in themselves, try new things and perhaps accomplish things they never thought they could. I plan to continue teaching in 2012 and hopefully expanding some of my class offerings into the online world to outreach to other people.
Watch a great group of people come together on a spiritual path, you know who you are. A promise I made a few years ago has been kept and is fulfilled so alas the time has come to move on. I have given of myself as a leader in the public pagan community for several years now – a huge amount of time, effort and energy. So I announce with no regret that I plan to let go of my public pagan group in the New Year so I may concentrate my energies into other things in my life. Remember that the phoenix never truly dies, just changes form.
Rediscover a love of writing that I had not felt in years. As a wise headmaster put in one of my favorite movies of this past summer “Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.”
A couple of my articles were published in 2011 and while school has not allowed me to write as much as I would like to I will continue writing when I can. I’ve even started writing a book on Wicca/Witchcraft and hopefully a book on the paranormal will be down the road for me as well.
My vision for the New Year of 2012 is “make it count”. No matter what you do, make it count. Don’t do things half ass, don’t use excuses or say “I can’t”. When one uses negative words they are just opening themselves up to allow negative energies toward them. At least try for if you at least make an attempt than you will have no regrets of what ifs down the road.
I wish everyone the best for 2012. Let’s learn from history, take care of our environment and each other, hunt some ghosts, search for that elusive chupacabra and rock the New Year!
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