Volume II Issue 32 August 24, 2001 Hello once more, Blissful silence, I had forgotten how wonderful it can be. OK technically it isn't completely silent the fan is running and I have received a few meows for attention, which has ended in a cat being draped over my wrist as I type this, but it's silent to what it has been. The girls started school yesterday, for some reason (Wishful thinking?) I had thought they were going Wednesday. I love my kids but too much family togetherness is not always a good thing. My theory on why parents, especially stay at home ones, get smarter after the kids leave home is their intelligence is no longer being drained by making rules like "Don't jump on the exercise trampoline under the tree." I had to make that rule this week. It's not a rule I ever thought I would have to make. I'm getting ready for my oldest daughter's birthday party this weekend. She is going to be 10 in the middle of next weekend. We do birthdays as a family thing usually but this year her cousins can't make it. So it's us and Grandma and Grandpa. She also wants to go to the drumming circle they are having in Des Moines. I would love to go also but we will see how the car feels about it. Until next time Sheila K. Watkins Submissions are always welcomed and can be made to: Zeliziw@n... In submitting materials writers are agreeing that if accepted I may post them in the newsletter and on the web page (whenever I finally get back to work on it.) Works submitted must be the writer's own work and they must still retain the copyright OR it must be verifiably public domain. Works can have been published before but please nothing that has been around over and over again. Copyright remains in the author's possession. The Author also realizes that they will not be paid. (If I had money I would be hosting this on something other then Yahoo.) If a submission is accepted, I will check for punctuation, capitalization and spelling in submitted articles. I will fix minor errors if they are present. I will NOT reword things (except for an occasional "an" for "a" and vice versa.) Poems are published as submitted. ~*~*~*~ How do you say "goodbye?" By Sheila K. Watkins For Scott How do you say "goodbye" to one you love? When you don't want him to be gone When remembering brings you pain When all you can think is "What might have been?" How do you say "goodbye" to one you love? When his eyes have faded from your mind But his laughter is there after all this time And you wished you could have been there When he died. How do you say "goodbye" to one you love? When you feel him still oh so near When his very essence brings forth tears Cause you miss him and fear You always will How do you say "goodbye" to one you love? When he's not really gone but is a part of your soul How do you say "goodbye?" When you don't want to lose that And goodbye is so final How do you say "goodbye" to one you love? When you are afraid to talk to him Even though you could talk for hours When he was alive How do you say "goodbye" to one you love? I haven't a clue. ~*~*~*~ Cool Link(s) of the week: Free divination readings on the web. It's amusing although I am not sure I care for what was coming up for me today. http://www.facade.com/ ~*~*~*~ Earth Meditation By Stephanie Lynch AKA Arwen Nightstar arwennightstar@h... Relax into trance. (Two minutes or so of talking through it) Open your inner eye. You are in a clearing. Turn a quarter turn to your right. Turn once more. You see the path in front of you. It leads up a hill. At the top of a hill you can see a Pyramid. Go there. As you walk, you note that the path is very worn this time and wider than the last. The trees are stripped of leaves and hang heavy against the sky. The temperature is definitely on the cold side and there is snow here as well. You see a woolen cloak hanging from a tree branch. You can hear a raven calling but you can not see the bird. The sky is overcast and the sun hands low and heavy as you walk up the hill. Let any stray thoughts fall away like snow melting away. Occupy your mind with seeing your surroundings. (Two minutes to get there) You have arrived at the pyramid. In front of you is an opening like the opening to a cave. The opening has symbols painted and carved around it. There is a curtain over the entry. Take a moment to look at the symbols (one minute). Now go through the curtain. Once inside you see a figure sitting on the floor. It looks at you and rises to reveal that it is a woman. Notice what she is wearing. What color is her hair? Her eyes? What is her age? (Two minutes maybe less) She is holding her hand out to you. As you take it, she says, "Welcome to my realm. I am Earth. I am the Depth of Fear as well as the Height of Courage. I am the Mountains you must climb and the Valleys you must walk through. I am She Who gives birth to the World. Would you seek Earth?" Suddenly she is gone. All you can see around you is the walls of the cave you entered. You hear her voice: "I am Earth. I am all that is and nothing that is. Here is my Realm of Beauty and Mystery. You are welcome there for now. Pay attention for I may show you something that will help you on your journeys. Go and explore and learn. " You realize that you can see a place like that which you have never seen before. Now take this time to explore this place. Learn what lessons Earth has for you. (Five minutes at least) The time has come for you to return. The realm fades away as you find yourself once again standing in the cave where you met Earth. Earth is not there, but you hear the Elemental's voice. "So my child, you were brave enough to seek Earth. My blessings! I will tell you now that I have many aspects. I am the very Sands of Time. I am the Rock that stands beneath you when you need. I am the soft meadows where you lie down with one another. I am the Fertile Plains from which all things come and I am the Gruesome Plains to which all things return. I am the very Bone of Steadfastness. Now listen as I tell you a secret name. (She whispers in your ear – 1-2 minutes) Hold this in your mind as you write your invocation to me. I know you now as you know me, and when you call me, I will come. I am Earth." There is a movement and you see a symbol in front of you. You know that this is the symbol for Earth. Thank Earth and leave the pyramid through the opening. (Change sound of voice and rhythm if people don't come back well) Come down the hill and down the path. Return to the sound of my voice. Find yourself back in your body relaxed and rested. When you are ready, take up the pen and paper and begin your invocation to Earth. Don't worry about getting it right. Just get the ideas down. Think about what you saw and heard and did. Remember your journey. 4/20/2001 ~*~*~*~ All articles, poems, etc, except where noted are copyrighted by the writers of said items and are used with permission. They are not to be republished without the express permission of the writers. Contact information may be obtained by contacting the editor of Whispers of A Stone Circle at Zeliziw@n...