Oh, What a Night!

With the new release of the movie, "Jersey Boys," a movie inspired by the long-running hit Broadway musical of the same name which tells the true story of the legendary group "Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons" fame, there seems to be a sort of revival of their timeless music ~ and I, for one, am delighted!! 

Even though they were a tad before my time, I grew up listening to their magnificent music! Both my mom and dad had great taste in music and played their albums frequently (and quite frankly, they are most probably amongst the few parents whose children can say that considering the generational gap) ~ LOL!

"Working My Way Back to You"

http://youtu.be/Sfpm2I0dev8

 Their music just brings back so many great memories for me. Not only because I held such an appreciation for the earlier music, but their 70's hit songs as well ~  from "Sherry," and "Big Girls Don't Cry," to "December 1963 (Oh What a Night)," and "Who Loves You." As a solo artist, Valli scored number-one hits with the songs "My Eyes Adored You" in 1974 and "Grease" in 1978. 

Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito, Nick Massi and Bob Gaudio, who were the original members of The Four Seasons,  were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.

"December 1963 (Oh What a Night)"

http://youtu.be/OL_vYpRUwYU

My brother and I are planning on going to see the movie, "Jersey Boys" in the theater this weekend and I can't wait! 

 Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons Medley (live)
"Sherry" "Walk Like a Man" "Big Girls Don't Cry" "Dawn" & "Ragdoll"

http://youtu.be/3pWBnodrR1M

"Jersey Boys" trailer clip
http://youtu.be/k-_mpWf3nqs

Food for Thought Friday ...

Handfastings: Info, Ideas & Resources

"You know, religions are like cars. Some are old, some are new. They come in different makes, models and colors. But if you choose to go, they all take you down the same road to God ~ whatever name you call him (or her) when you get there. They're just vehicles to Divinity."

***************************************************

With the recent marriage law change here in Pennsylvania which now recognizes the nuptials for same-sex marriage, the subject has very much been on my mind as of late.

Aside from the fact that my husband and I had a legal handfasting, I have had the fortunate privilege to have performed a few legal handfastings in this state ~ thanks to the ULC, and of course, my very dear friend Lady Sabrina Rhiannon who officiated at our wedding. But an ordination by any recognized church does not give anyone the license to simply perform legal wedding/handfasting ceremonies without having to follow state marriage laws. In that regard, our Pagan clergy are held up to the very same standards as any other clergy person.

With that being said, I really wanted to write a helpful post about handfastings to include various resources for those couples who are interested in having their own, or perhaps just wish to learn more about it.

Lady Sabrina Rhiannon's beautiful Interfaith (Wiccan/Christian) Handfasting ceremony ~ 2003

 My friends, Kim & Eric's legal Samhain Handfasting ceremony ~ 2012

Me casting the sacred circle and calling the corners

Hubby & I during our Renaissance Handfasting ritual ...

The following is a list of really great books with wonderful ideas for different types of rituals/ceremonies, awesome party favors, decorations, etc.:

Handfasted and Heartjoined: Rituals for Uniting a Couple's Hearts and Lives by Lady Rhea Maeve

Handfasting: A Practical Guide by Mary Neasham

Magickal Weddings: Pagan Handfasting Traditions for Your Sacred Union by Joy Ferguson

Passages: Handfasting, a Pagan Guide to Commitment Rituals by The Rev. Dr. Kendra Vaughan Hovey

Handfasting and Wedding Ritual: Inviting Hera's Blessing by Raven Kaldera

 Many Blessings!

Still Another Reminder ...

(image source)

She is known by many names by many different religious beliefs. Some may refer to her as "Mother Nature" or "Earth Mother," and others call her the Goddess, but one thing is for certain (and make no mistake about it) ... SHE is definitely in charge!

At the end of May, we endured an extremely rare but nasty hailstorm here in Berks County, PA and have been experiencing intermittent thunderstorms and such ever since. 

Last night we had a bad, albeit fairly short, thunderstorm with very damaging winds knocking down trees and power lines in various parts of our area. Here are a couple of pics of our front and back yard which I had taken early this morning before heading off to work ...

Yup, I would say the storm left somewhat of a mess, but still I know that it could have been much, much worse. All I kept thinking on my way to work was, "Thank Goddess we had the really tall branches from the trees in our yard trimmed last September!" 

The rainbow after the storm ... 

(image source)

I had decided to take a half day vacation today, so I guess I'd better start cleaning things up a bit!

Brightest Blessings all,

Kim  

Finally ... "Freya's Ride"

Last May, I had written a post about my latest wreath project depicting the Norse Goddess, Freya and her cats called, "Freya's Ride."

This particular project took a bit more time to finish than most of the others I have created because of all the detail involved. In order to portray Freya correctly, I had to find a figurine of a warrior goddess somewhere. I looked in every craft and children's store I could think of and then it hit me ... a hobby store! You know, the really "serious" hobby stores where folks who like to play D&D (Dungeons & Dragons) buy their game accessories. The statue that I found was one which I needed to put together myself. Hubby helped me with that part ...

  Freya in Her chariot

Then, along with a medium-sized wreath, I needed to gather together a few other items such as something to use for a chariot, ribbons, long-haired cat figures (Norwegian Forest Cats), a couple of silk red roses, and some other things which are associated with the Goddess Freya ...

I used a silver gel pen to color the cats gray/blue

After the glue dried and I had colored Freya's letters for Her name, I tied two thin light-green ribbons around the cats for reins/harnesses and glued my Freya figurine to the chariot which I had added last ...

Other decorations added to Freya's wreath include: Roses (a goddess of love), sacred animals (lynx and falcon), Her associated rune (Fehu which is inscribed on the yellow jasper), the Sun, and the ribbon colors of red, yellow/gold, and black.

Freya, as well as being known as a Triple Goddess, is also a warrior goddess. She is shown here wearing a suit of armour and holding a sword in one hand and a shield in the other while her enchanting Norwegian Forest Cats pull her chariot across the sky on her rounds and in battle.

I have decided that I am going to hang it up in (go figure, right?) the cat's room along side of my Bastet wreath.

"Egyptian Goddess Bastet: The History of the Cat"

To read more about Freya and her enchanting cats, please refer to my posts from my other blog, "Witch Cats" at 

http://witchcatsblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-goddess-freya.html

http://witchcatsblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-sweetest-cat-in-world.html

Thanks, Ehstemai!

Late last week, I received an e-mail from a very nice Wiccan Priestess named  Ehstemai. She happened to come across one of my old poems which I had posted on Witchvox called, "Earth Sisters."

She told me that she believes her readers would really love it and asked my permission to post it on on her site, "What is Wicca?" The poem is scheduled to be featured on her blog on July 5th:

http://www.whatiswicca.org/poem-earth-sisters/

To learn more about Ehstemai and her site, please click on the above link.  :)

*****************************************************

 Earth Sisters

In fate they so did meet

In friendship they so stayed

Neither realized the kind of bond

That yet was to be made

Judy so shy and quiet
And Kim with Pisces eyes
Both are kind and caring,
Free spirited and wise

As years went by so quickly
Their lives seemed such a mess
Always striving to move forward
But growing so restless

Until one day they finally found
A love they both could share
In the precious Lord and Lady
Who are always everywhere

They chose their craft name wisely
One Rhiannon and one Caer
And thus respect Natures powers
Of Fire, Water, Earth and Air

They worship now in perfect trust
As they give back to the Earth
And where they once felt unalive,
They now can feel rebirth

So with each passing day
Their sisterhood grows strong
As does their love of music
Which they share in dance and song

They know someday the time will come
The question is not where but when
As Merry Meet, merry part
And Merry they'll meet again

~ Lady Caer Morganna 

 Posing for a pic with my "Earth Sister" Rhiannon on Lughnasadh ~ circa 1998

***************************************************

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

 

Happy Fourth, everyone! With tomorrow being a holiday and a long weekend to follow, hubby and I have decided to just stay at home and chill out with our "kits" on our day off. 

May you all enjoy a relaxing day as well!