A Sanctuary for Old Souls

It's Christmas!  I can't believe it! Everything seems to have moved so quickly!  Like when you walk a long way and are so focused on the path ahead of you that you don't pay any mind to time or distance. But suddenly you look back only to realize that you have traveled a much greater distance than you thought. This year has been a tough one. Actually, the past few years have been tough (this one being the toughest of all), but I can feel things shifting.  Christmas is said to be a time of giving, happiness and warmth, and for many, it is.  I also know that for those suffering from mental illness, Christmas can seem like the complete opposite, and can make things worse, as opposed to better. But to me, Christmas marks the end of a year cycle, getting rid of the things that do not serve you and opening up to everything that is to come. December, in my eyes, is the month of clearing away the bullshit and preparing for new dreams, wishes and motivation...

Hey there, enaid! I've been tired but restless lately... (Strange combination, I know) I want to do things and take those first steps to a 'normal' life again (whatever normal is), but I still worry about it. A lot. Bored, restless and capable, but also tired and scared of taking those steps. But, despite that, I finally did something! Courtesy of a few amazing friends of mine, a new, local theatre group had been created for young people, targeting some of the most trying issues for young people today, and I was honoured to be invited into this new family after attending their workshop audition, and I'm so excited to get started on the project! Energy is a bit on the low side today, as expected, but I'm bouncing back a lot quicker! And soon, I don't think there will be any energetic or emotional setbacks to counter each new step I take. It may not seem like much to the outside eye, but consider this: The past year and a half has been an extremely d...

Things haven't been particularly good of late. The past few weeks have been hard, I think mainly due to my birthday being so great, as strange as that sounds... everything's been on a bit of a downward slope since then, but It's expected. It's almost as if, during the low days, all previously happy experiences become melancholic memories for the time being. But that's just it. For the time being. Before, this would have greatly bothered me. It would have seemed permanent, the 'true way' of looking at things so-to-speak, as if that momentary experience was fleeting and inconsequential, but although it can be extremely distressing, I know that it will pass. I know that I am strong, and I am capable, and things will get better, because I can make it so . I've tasted happiness and confidence and independence. I know that I have it in me already, even if I'm not ready to fully use those muscles yet. They've been atrophied for some time, o...

Believe it or not, yesterday was my birthday. Officially 18! Don't really feel any different, but I don't suppose you ever do, do you? Anyway, not much for large celebrations, we just hosted a little get together at my house, for family and friends.  It wasn't much, nothing elaborate, but It turned out to be the best birthday I've ever had. This year was important for me. Not because I was turning 18, but because this is my first birthday coming out of depression and anxiety, and it just so happened to be my claim to adulthood as well.  It symbolized new beginnings. Things are getting better, I am getting better, and I was glad to have something important to celebrate. It may not seem like much from the outside, but this is the first time I've felt truly hopeful. The first time I'm truly looking forward to the future, and feeling like I can cope with everything to come. So, already an emotional time, my feelings were still a little mixed. With g...

Samhain has been celebrated for centuries and has its origin in Pagan Celtic traditions. It is the time of year when the veils between this world and the Otherworld are believed to be at their thinnest: when the spirits of the dead could most readily mingle with the living once again. Samhain is not only a time for reflecting on mortality and honoring those that have passed, but also for reflecting on the passing of relationships, jobs and other significant changes in life. A time for taking stock of the past and coming to terms with it, in order to move on and look forward to the future. Acknowledge, embrace, and let go of that which has passed, and invite willingly everything that is to come. Blessed be, Prydferth Enaid. IvyMoon xxx

Not feeling good? Tired? Grouchy? Tense? Try this: https://www.youtube.com /20 minute yoga for beginners It might not be for everyone, but I have found this helpful for relaxing my body and renewing my spirits in the morning, ready for the day ahead. Give it a try, and let me know what you think. IvyMoon xxx

'I'm tired, boss... Mostly I'm tired of people being ugly to each other.  I'm tired of all the pain I feel and hear in the world everyday.  There's too much of it.  It's like pieces of glass in my head all the time.' - John Coffey,  The Green Mile

“The real warriors in this world are the ones that see the details of another’s soul. They see the transparency behind walls people put up. They stand on the battlefield of life and expose their heart’s transparency, so other’s can finish the day with hope. They are the sensitive souls that understand that before they could be a light they first had to feel the burn.” ~ Shannon L. Alder My prydferth enaid,  I know I'm not the only one to feel this way. To feel drained and overwhelmed by... everything. Sometimes, you will feel able to cope and rise to the challenge, and on other days, you won't.  That's OK. Sometimes you feel helpless and overwhelmed and miserable, and unable to do anything about it. Today might be one of those days, or it might not. Just know that whatever your feeling, however uncomfortable or painful, is meant to be there. Don't try and question it, or change it. Embrace it. It will pass. This is extremely hard, I know, and it doesn't ...

Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding it's way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge’                                       - Isaac Asimov

The relief when someone understands.

Quote of the day.

Talking is a great tool for healing and understanding. Sometimes, we just need to talk, not for advice or opinion, but to process what's going on internally. To work through and understand what's going on in our heads. In these times, it can be frustrating when someone jumps in with suggestions or opinions, even though their intentions are good. Sometimes we just need someone to listen. And I think that the quote above explains this perfectly. Processing is good! Don't be afraid to talk about your thoughts and feelings. Don't be afraid to show emotion, or express yourself. It is one of the bravest things you can ever do. IvyMoon xxx