Rev. Crystal's Full Moon Blessings

Well, first off I will say...........Thank the goddess for the coming of the light! This has been a very interesting dark half of the year with a lot of transition and change. Some ups and downs, some more extreme than others.

Life is still super busy and stressful but I am hanging in there and doing a darn good job of it so far. I am still working and unsure if layoffs are going to happen in July. I have worked real hard at a plan and I feel confident in the plans I have now. Financially we will be good so I can atleast exhale.

Beltane was great. We had it at our friend Willow's house and everyone's family and friends were able to come and participate. Jon and the older boys came. We all had lots of fun doing the Maypole, ritual and a bonfire. The kids especially liked the maypole and the bonfire. It was nice having them there to be a part of the festivities and not be excluded from the celebrations.

All the women were great and supportive with everyone's friends and families. Keith called in the God with me and I was very proud of him. We called in the green man because he liked him the best.

Marian is still pregnant and ready to pop. She is 34 weeks and counting. It is getting really hard on her and I hope she has a speedy delivery. She's hanging in there like a trooper but it is taking it's toll on her.

I finished my first degree again!!! I was pleased about that and felt a real sense of accomplishment. So I am moving on in my studies to the second degree and almost finished with my requirements to get clergy through this tradition as well. I am glad to be moving on to the next phase. Although I went through the first degree with the last "group" I was in, I now know it was not an honest process. At first I was a little resentful to do it all again but I am glad I did, I learned what was missed by doing it the second time. If I hadn't I would have never known the wholes that had been left out. Interesting how life happens like that.

I finished reflexology class and that was fun. Lots of stuff to remember and work on. My next class in Intermediate Acupressure which is in May.

I got my second degree Reiki attunement about 2 weeks ago. In about a week or so I will be moving onto masters level Reiki. I am excited about that as well.

Well, until next time.
Blessings times 3!
Crystal

Well, the past month has been busy, busy, busy. Let's see.............hmmmm.......................Lots of things happening.

Marian is good. The babies are moving and getting so big. We now know for sure that one is a boy and one is a girl. And it looks like the names are gonna be Joesph and Gracie. It is so cute because Robbie knows that there is 2 cousins in TiTi's belly and thier names are Joesph and Gracie. He is so cute.

School is going good. I am currently reviewing my fundamentals of acupressure class and doing Reflexology class. I don't know how I am gonna ever remember all of this, thank goodness the school has a lifetime review policy so I can review classes as much as I want, forever.

I am in the process of doing a brand new website that is bigger to accomodate all of the info for the ceremonies/clergy stuff, jewelry and acupressure/massage/reiki. Oh! That is something new too. I joined a reiki group and got my first degree in reiki. I am now working on my second! I am very excited about that!!!!

So I will post the link to the new website when it is up and running......... Business is good. I got the opportunity to be included in a venture that provides psychic parties. This lady is very cool and does channeling (she is very, very good!), so she has these parties and I have been asked to have my jewelry at the parties. I am very excited about that and my first party is at the end of this month.

Oh and I have less than 3 weeks left to get my first degree again and I am really excited. After that I will do the package (which I have already started) to be clergy with them as well! And on to second degree I will go...................... So much has happened and been accomplished since leaving that bad situation last year. It has been 9 months or so and look at the progress when I stepped out of that box. I am really proud of that.

The family is doing good. The kids are doing well and getting ready for the coming summer. They are all growing so fast and it is amazing to watch them sometimes. Keith is going into Highschool this fall and Kevin will be in Jr. High. WOW!!!! It scares the crap out of me. It is so crazy to love someone so much and not have absolute control of thier actions and choices. I mediate on that a lot.

Well, spring is here, the equinox has past. We await the joining of the lord and lady on upcoming Beltane. Many seeds have been planted for this upcoming season and hope, change and transformation is in the air! I know this year holds many things for me and I am looking forward to it!

Many blessings and Ostara/Spring Equinox wishes.
Crystal

Well, thought it was about that time to check in and update everyone on my life. It's busy, busy, busy!!! And I am exhausted but things are settling down a little.

I have been spending the last couple of weeks rehersing and preparing for the graduation at work. It's this friday so that will be over this week. I am working with my boss and friend to prepare the choir and then several of us women staff are performing 2 songs ourselves. So that is lots of fun!

School is good. Tonight is my last fundamentals class so i am excited about that. It is good to see things being completed, feels like I am accomplishing something.

Helping with baby showers and watching the belly grow is fun. Marian is getting bigger and has the perfect round belly. She is doing good and hanging in there with good spirits. She is 6 months and counting. Can't wait!

Spent the night with Christine and Linda in a haunted house on Presidents day. It was a lot of fun and Christine is still insisting that it is not haunted but Linda and I know better, LOL! It was a nice house looking at the delta in Antioch. Of course Christine spoiled us with homemade Chilli in bread bowls, homemade guacamole, cake and lots of snacks! We sat, ate, talked and watched Charmed. Then Christine and I stayed up until 3:00 in the morning reading. Friends are great! Thanks girls!!!

Oh and I went to my dad's wedding. He is happy and it was nice to spend time with family. I got the chance to see my brothers, which is always a treat. The church thing was uncomfortable but I got through it, thank the goddess.

Well, I will check in with everyone soon! Ostara is coming and spring in the air. I will definatly write around Ostara with blessings,
Crystal

Greetings all. I have some good news to pass on. I started my classes with the Acupressure Institute. I was able to pay for the course in full and buy my massage table. I took the first class, Basic Acupressure, this past weekend and I start another one, fundamentals of acupressure, on Thursday. It was great and I am learning a lot. There is so much to remember!!! I went home after class on Sunday and gave my mom and Jon a 40 minute treatment.

Needless to say I am just trying to remember all the acupressure points and stuff now.

Everything else is good. I am currently sick with the flu so I have been trying to take care of myself. It sucks but oh well. I know so many people who are sick right now. That's what happens when the government messes with the flu shots. Another topic............................

I have been really enjoying the new group of witches that I hang with. They are lots of fun and I am learning lots of new things. I am honored to be with such a wonderful group of spiritual people, it is hard to find. I think I really am understanding that everything happens for a reason. I am glad that I went through the drama with the old group in order to meet all the wonderful people. It was worth it in the end.

Well, my dad came to my job and told me that he is getting married. He is also moving to Mississippi. I am not to happy about the moving part at all but I am glad he found someone who makes him happy. (Extremely nervous about going to a church wedding but oh well....)

Well, I feel myself picking up more momentum with the growing sun. I am looking forward to the changing season and the coming of spring. I feel good about the coming year, energy is good and opportunities are knocking.

By the way, Marian had the ultrasound and it looks like a girl and a boy. It is a boy for sure (they saw the tools) and looks like a girl. We will know for sure on the next ultrasound. Marian is growing real big and she is doing great. I can't wait. AND looks like there is another addition to the family because James proposed! So Marian is sporting a beautiful ring and a beautiful belly. WELCOME TO THE FAMILY JAMES!!!!!

Blessings of light and love,
Crystal

picture of the boys on Christmas with Jon dressed as Santa. 

me sitting at my computer at work and testing my new camera phone 

Well, the new year is off to a great start. I have definatley felt the effects of the dark half of the year but I am on the up swing and feeling much better. December was a real dark month for me but I did a ritual on new years and it is doing it's job. So let's see..................................

Family is doing good, survived Christmas and the new year. (thank goodness!) Marian is well and the babies are good. They are growing so big and her belly is showing. She has felt a couple of kicks and we get to find out about them at the ultra sound in a week.

All my sister's in the group are good and we are all growing closer everyday. It feels right and I am greatful for that. We all did an awesome new moon and the energy was amazing. I haven't felt anything like that in a long time, or ever. Incredible......

I have decided to pursue my massage therapy education, so I will be starting classes in February at the Accupressure Institute. I am very excited about that...........

I am continuing my first degree lessons (again) and I am nearing the end. I have been talking with my mentor and getting all my info for becoming clergy with the Correllian tradition and becoming a first degree mentor. That is exciting to me and I am glad to do my first degree again. I am learning lots of stuff I didn't learn the first time and getting to review other things. So it has been a good experience for me.

Oh, and I got a new Tarot deck for X-mas!!! And I have been doing awesome reading for others and myself.

So...... to sum it all up, I am feeling much better, making positive decisions, continuing to build positive relationships and ............................... doing ok.

Crystal

Greetings to everyone. I have been caught up in lots of things over the past month and haven't had a chance to write. So I will try to include everything I can in this post.

Thanksgiving was nice, lots of food with family and friends. We did the festivities at my house and that was great. Plus it was nice to have a couple of days off from work too!

I made a decision in December regarding my writing career (or lack of, LOL). I was looking through some Barnes and Nobles catalog and saw that there was a page dedicated to Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza but nothing about Yule or the Solstice. So I decided that I would write a series of books around the 8 Sabbats for children. I figure that my kids deserve to read about their holidays as well. After some research I saw that there is not really anything out there.

So I am on the first re-draft of the Yule book. I hope it will be out for Yule next year. That is my goal atleast. I am excited about it and they are really fun to write.

Speaking of Yule............................ mine this year was good. I got together with all the sisters and our families and had a great day enjoying eachother and the season. We had it at a sister's house in Antioch and it was great. She just moved and has a real nice, big house. (She just got married too :) It was awesome.

X-mas is several days away and the kids are excited. I am tired and ready for the holidays to be over. Considering we are in the dark half of the year, lots of tragedy and concerns have arrived these past couple of months. But things are moving along and the light is around the corner.

I have been dealing with some problems around my health but things seem to be ok for the past couple of days. I will keep everyone posted.

Family is good, sisters are good, friends are good, babies in the belly are good.

Well, it has been hard to write lately because my thoughts have been so scattered. Mainly because of the election that just past, but I won't get into that too much.

I found it is interesting that after such a disaster at the polls on November 2nd, a week later I found out some news that is so much better. My friend is not just having a baby but she is having twins! Not only am I going to be an aunt, I am going to be an aunt times 2! I definitely have enough love to give and I am really excited. (I have already been shopping!)

I guess life always balances out, right. Amazing.........................

So I put a pick of the babies inside the womb to see (just scroll down) and I also posted a pic of my friend (the mama) with my son. And of course I had to throw one of Robbie by himself in there. He is so darn cute sometimes, (especially when you can't see his horns, LOL)

I promise to still post pic of the kids in costume as soon as I get them.
Blessings times three,
Crystal

Robbie coming out of the bathtub 

A pic of robert and Marian at Chevy's.

Not one but two times and Auntie!

Greetings all, thought I would write about my weekend. Not only was it my mom's birthday, it was also halloween and Samhain. Saturday I was able to spend quality time with my sisters in our group and celebrate Samhain. We were at one sisters house in El Sobrante and I hadn't been there in over a year. It was lots of cool yet spooky fun. We had an awesome circle and dinner with the spirits. (thanks girls)

On Sunday the family had breakfast (cooked by my hubbie) for my mom's birthday and to celebrate Samhain as a family. Jon and I decided to exchange gifts for Samhain with the family so we did that after breakfast.

Sunday night was halloween time. My mom, Marian (ti-ti), Jon, the big boys, Robbie and I went trick or treating. Robert had a blast and couldn't wait to say "trick or treat". So much that a couple of times someone would answer the door and he rushed inside of their houses! And one time he actually walked up and opened someone's door. (They were sitting on the couch shocked that this little Harry Potter opened the door) LOL!!! It was great.

I have been doing a lot of thinking and processing this past weekend and I think it is finally time to move on from some things in my recent past that have held me back. I am coming to the understanding that I can't just let some of it go and hold onto the rest without it continuing to eat me up inside. So, with that I have asked the goddess to help me in shedding the old this Samhain. I think I am ready to let go of the betrayal I have felt over the past several months. In addition I know I am a survivor and I have learned from giving my power to people blindly. I have become stronger. Blessed Be!

P.S. Thanks to Christine and Linda, with whom I got to enjoy the eclipse with last Wednesday. It was beautiful and full of magic. Almost as beautiful as you two.

P.S.S. I promise to post pics of Robbie and the boys in their costumes as soon as they are developed.

Crystal

The dark half of the year is coming and it is coming fast. I have definatly been feeling the effects of the passing sun but things are still good. I am grateful and blessed to be alive, feel the energy of the universe and have good friends and family.

Samhain is coming, one week to go. I originally planned to host a Samhain/birthday breakfast on Sunday for my mother and the family but I am not sure.

I have some very good things that have happened in my life and I would like to share. My best friend since highschool just found out she is with child. I had a feeling and she confirmed it last week, who said I wasn't psychic, LOL. She is about a month or so along and I am going to be an auntie!

I am also working hard on developing my new line of jewelry for my business. And I sold my first bracelet and it was very exciting!!! I have several more orders and it is awesome to see your pieces on someone else.

As the seasons change and the god dies I find that I am really working on balance in my life. I know that the coming of the dark is not just about death but is about the coming of the light and rebirth. Many things have been reborn since I left my old spiritual group and reunited with old friends and sisters to create new. My spirituality has been reborn, my business is being reborn, friendships have been reborn........... life is good.

And the book is still coming along.

Until later,
Crystal

Well, I got to meet the wonderful and beautiful Laurell K. Hamilton yesterday at the Barnes and Nobles in Jack London Square. It is amazing the level of excitement I had. It was like those fans that finally get to meet Michael Jackson and then they faint. I was close! LOL

My hubby went with me and we sat in line for 2 1/2 hours. My awesome friends Linda and Christine met me there around 6:30. It was more than I could have hoped for. I was very close in to the front of the line and got great seats up front in the second row. She did a Questions and Answers session and it was awesome to see her speak. I have heard this woman in my head for more than 17 books of reading pleasure but never got to hear her voice until then.

She was witty and eloquent on stage. I saw so much of Anita Blake in her personality. Her husband was awesome as well.

Somehow the tour shirts were forgotten and they were unable to give them away or show them to the audience. They asked if anyone had one on and I was the only person in the audience with a tour shirt on. So.............I was invited to stand next to Laurell so they could show the audience the shirt. I made a joke out of it and everyone laughed. She gave me a great hug and I sat back down.

She personalized all my items and took pictures with me again. It was awesome!!!!! Afterwards my friends, jon and I went out to dinner.

As soon as I develop the pictures I will post some!

Blessings times three.
Crystal

P.S. I had the wierdest experience at the book store. Jon was talking to someone who had a pentacle on and figured out that she had read my article on witchvox. She came over to me and was very nice and said how much she enjoyed my article.

I got another email from someone who read the article and made reference to not feeling scared anymore and being empowered. RIGHT ON!!!

Greetings all, I have much to share that has happened in the last 2 weeks since I posted. Things are well and moving right along.

The new Anita Blake #12, Incubus Dreams, came out and of course I was late to work because I waited outside of Barnes and Nobles in order to buy it the morning it was released!!! I have been waiting for sooo long and the anxiety was overwhelming. Laurell K. Hamilton is coming to town on October 11th and I am very excited to go there and have her sign the book. Hopefully I will meet up with some friends and have a blast meeting my favorite author.

I have signed up for some classes and I am now back on track with my spiritual education (so to speak). I am taking some classes on herbs, gems and stones and of course still working towards my degrees. I am very excited about being back in the full swing of things. Actually I feel more comfortable with learning in this manner because it feels concrete and structured. I am finding that I learn better in that type of setting.

Several of my group sisters are also taking classes so we will have the opportunity to study together before tests and stuff, which is really cool.

I wrote an article for witchvox several weeks ago. They post the topic of the month for others to write articles or essays on and this time it was on solitary practice. I was inspired by that and decided this was something I wanted to do.

I submitted the article and it was approved!!! It is now on the website, www.witchvox.com, for a week until the next update on Sunday, October 10th. After that it will still be accessible in the section for topics of the month. You can look up topic essays for the past several years.

I am really grateful to be able to write something from the heart and share it with people. and I have received several emails from people (some I know and others I don't) that said they really liked it and felt inspired. That is worth all the struggle right there.

Also, I went to a group sisters wedding this past Sunday. It was beautiful and she looked like an angel. It was nice to be with all of my friends and sisters and enjoy something as special as Monica's wedding. I am very blessed!!!

Blessed Be!
Crystal

Blessings to all on this wonderful Mabon day. All things in balance as the wheel turns another time and leads toward the dark half of the year.

There are many things that I am grateful for on this Mabon day......and thought I would mention a few. I am grateful for family, seeing my mother alive, knowing my husband loves me, seeing my children smile, hugging my best friend, developing new friendships, my sisters (you know who you are), wonderful co-workers who are my family, my job and loving what I do.

I am grateful for hope, honesty, integrity, an open mind, a free heart, strength, growth, creativity, dreams, self worth, spirituality, stability.................... The ability to love and be loved.

(I feel like I just gave a "shout out" on the radio!)

I am enjoying many things in life right now. One thing that I find cool is experimenting with some online classes for spiritual growth. So far, so good. And how awesome that I am finding these opportunities all around me.

I am realizing that with every death something is born anew. And although I have gone through some devastating times recently, the light is much brighter. And I am grateful to have gone through the dark and been able to learn from it. Growth is scary but rewarding, and I am ready for something new and I feel I am exactly where I should be.

Until next time..................................(remember that game show!!!) How about this one, "We'll be back in 2 and 2..............." LOL

Blessings

My Son and his cousin India from England! 

My son Keith 

My son looking cool