Friday, October 31, 2008

Celtic Holiday Samhain Hallowe'en

Samhain (pronounced saun or sawin)

This old Celtic, Irish and Scottish holiday denotes the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the Celtic New Year. It also denotes the “dark half” of the year. Samhain was the principal holiday with great celebrations and great bonfires set at the hill of Tara, the home of the royal court in medieval Ireland. The bonfires signaled to others to ritually light their festival bonfires all across Ireland.

This celebration honored the harvest and the dead that populated the earth before us. Samhain is thought to hold the thinnest veil between the living and the dead, a night when the spirits may come to visit. Often a place is set at the table out of respect for our loved ones now deceased and our ancestors to come join us for this night. A candle is also lit to invite them into the household including pets that have gone from us.

The Goddess becomes the Crone (wise woman) on this day, still ruling over Samhain. Light a candle to honor her, your ancestors and yourself, too. Cut away the unwanted old (negatives) and begin with the new. It’s a joyous, promising event lasting three days starting at sundown the 31st of October.

The Annual Ghost Walk

Patti De Santis put together the Annual Ghost Walk for the Downtown Bordentown Association again this year. She did a fine job of gathering talented storytellers and planning the event. Over 300 people came to listen and learn about the ghosts, some dating back to the Civil War period, some as recent as last week.

It was fun, leading a group of thirty folks who came to hear the paranormal stories in town. The stories from my book, Haunted Bordentown (New Jersey) came alive at each of nine stops as a storyteller related what happened to them or to the residents living there.

I led the last group at 8 pm. I think this is the last frontier to be explored. We’ve gone to the moon. Now it’s time to understand about time and the afterlife and how it relates to us today.
It was fun, leading a group of thirty folks who came to hear the paranormal stories in town. The stories from my book, Haunted Bordentown (New Jersey) came alive at each of nine stops as a storyteller related what happened to them or to the residents living there.

I led the last group at 8 pm. Over 300 people came to listen and learn about the ghosts, some dating back to the Civil War period, some as recent as last week. I think this is the last frontier to be explored. We’ve gone to the moon. Now it’s time to understand about time and the afterlife and how it relates to us today.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Back from Jersey

Back from Jersey after five days of interviews hearing new stories of ghostly hauntings, a book-signing at the Old Bookshop of Bordentown, followed by guiding a group in the Annual Ghost Walk, dinner parties and lunches with the best of friends. Wonderful but exhausting.

On my last morning when I came downstairs my friend Patti and hostess had a roaring fire going and fresh coffee brewing. Wow! As we sat, coffee mugs in hand, chatting, snow became mixed in the rain. Old memories began dotting my thoughts.

That afternoon I drove north to Lambertville and the sister city across the Delaware River of New Hope, Pennsylvania to say “hello” to my ancient ancestors. I stayed in my car to keep dry of the rain turning-to-snow (loved it!) Cars driving from the north were covered in snow.

Thankfully this little window of October northern weather stopped, drying the roads for my drive home later that night. It’s good to be home.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Guest Jyoti Wind

Today's Blog is by IWWG writing friend Jyoti Wind. Enjoy.

Standing Shoulder To Shoulder

Can you stand shoulder to shoulder
with those whose voices are needed now.
Can you allow the words that whirl
around in your head to have a way out.

Can you open your mouth, pick up your pen,
screw up your courage and walk to the line
upon which rests no less than humanity’s survival.
Can you let your own voice be heard now.

Can you form the words so long held in,
in that place of despair or self-doubt,
and let your vocal chords and your pen fly
or your keys tap out the nature of your piece,

the very piece you hold in the place of now,
now at this time as we face an unknown future,
a time that holds grays and maybes and fear.
Can you lend us your thoughts and stand up.

Can you speak and write and tell us what thoughts
have been keeping you up all night
and reach into your dreams and scare you awake.
Can you let us know what’s next.

Can you stand shoulder to shoulder
with those whose voices are needed now.
Can you allow the words that whirl
around in your head to have a way out.

by Jyoti Wind

From Into the Heart of the Flower: Poetry, Prose and Meditations
Also from Jyoti Wind: By Grace’s Edge: Poetry, Prose and Prayers;
Dreaming It Was Real: A Childhood Memoir.
Edited by Jyoti Wind…A Week’s Worth of Women: Poetry, Prose and Memoir.
(Available after Nov.5th)
blog: www.writes-of-passage.blogspot.com

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Right to Choose

A timely subject at the moment is our Right to Choose. It’s a Right that took me a long time to be comfortable with. An early major Right was the decision to leave my husband of 15 years who was detrimental to my health. Choosing the Right to live in a town with a school system beneficial to my kids followed.

I’m fully aware of the choosing I’ve done since those early days. Some choices have been hard to live with, learning later that what seemed like the right option at the time, wasn’t. This bruise on my heart comes from knowing that I’ve hurt someone from my Right to Choose.

Lately my choices aren’t so earth-shattering. i.e. which table to choose in a restaurant, which volunteer group to join, whether to go or stay. Choices have been small ones until this historic election facing us this year. I hope the one we choose is elected. I pray our Right to Choose results in a benefit to our country. A country that desperately needs the right choice now.

Monday, October 20, 2008

El Greco to Velazquez

Judy and I went to the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University last week to see the featured art during the reign of Phillip III in Spain. Most of the paintings are huge, many are life-size. A few, like the “Equestrian Portrait of the Duke of Lerma” by Peter Paul Rubens looked as fresh as if it were painted yesterday and still drying. Rubens was Flemish but painted the Duke while on a visit to Spain.

The Duke was an affluent collector of the locally created arts setting the pace for others to follow. Certainly the Duke’s choices led to the success of many talents and the further education of others during this Spanish painting of the Golden Age.

El Greco came to Spain from Greece (hence, the name El Greco) while Phillip II was in reign and settled in Toledo. Religious paintings aren’t my favorite but the talent and skill of these artists are awesome to see. They make it look as if it were easy to do. It isn’t.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

NCWN Writers’ Annual Fall Conference

The International Women’s Writing Guild is the most important cause in leading me to be a published author. Now I know how important it is for writers to gather together whenever possible. This seems to create a special aura for the path to writing better.

Because of this and because of my quest to make North Carolina my home (home is more than just living in a house) I was thrilled to find the NCWN is holding a weekend Fall Conference from 14 thru 16 Nov. at the RDU Hilton in Research Triangle Park. Key note speaker is poet and novelist Ron Rash.

The Conference offers top writers, agents and editors to educate and guide you. If you’re interested and want more information go to the website www.ncwriters.org to sign up today.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

North Carolina Writers’ Network

Peggy Richardson of the Warren County Arts Council sent a notice to me about an upcoming North Carolina Writers’ Network conducting a Fall Weekend Conference. I checked into the NCWN website and joined immediately.

It’s important for writers to gather together with other writers, so I’m very excited about being a part of this nonprofit group founded in 1985. The Network provides information and support services for all venues of writers at all levels. More information will follow, especially about the November Conference.

Another step in becoming a Carolinian.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Bordentown Ghost Walk and Book Signing

Hooray! It’s October and Patti DeSantis is hosting another Ghost Walk in Bordentown City for the Downtown Business Association. And, I’m to be part of it. First I’ll be signing “Haunted Bordentown” books at the Old Bookshop of Bordentown, 200 Farnsworth Avenue. Bring your own or buy one there at $14.95. I plan to be there by 5 pm. Then I’ll be leading the last group of ghost seekers for the night. This is a fun walking tour full of drama and surprises. The Downtown Bordentown Association is the sponsor of the Ghost Walk every year. I hope it’s a dark, spooky, cool, dry night.

Mark your calendars for Sunday, 26 October. This is always a sold-out event! Tours begin at 6. For further info call: Doug Palmieri 609-324-9909

Monday, October 06, 2008

Fences & Gates

I’ve long wondered about fences. Are they installed to keep the world out or to keep one’s small world in? Either way it doesn’t always work. I remember my two-year-old climbing the 5-foot cyclone fence circling our yard. It was meant to protect the kids from the busy street in front of our house until they were of an age. Didn’t work. He could care less about crossing the street. He just wanted to run after his two older brothers so he could be part of the clan.

It wasn’t always good at keeping out the undesirables either. Rabbits managed to sneak in to feast on my small garden. Boys in the neighborhood leaped the fence when they saw we had a swimming pool. It was only 3 ft. deep but they didn’t care. It was water to sit and play in.

Gates in paintings also intrigue me. It’s usually difficult to tell if they are open to welcome me home or are they inviting me to take the path that leads into the world, excitement, wonder and learning. H-m-m-m.

Friday, October 03, 2008

Book Reading Social

Exciting October again this year! Citizens for Animal Protection in Warren County, North Carolina is hosting a BOOK READING-SIGNING-SOCIAL Event of my latest book "Haunted Bordentown" on Sunday, October 19 from 4 to 6 pm at the Pavilion in Lake Gaston Estates, Recreation Drive.

Refreshments will be served. It’s always fun when folks eat and drink together. The Event benefits CAP spay/neuter non-profit 501(c)(3). Tickets are $10.00 each; at the door a $12.00 amount will be collected. Tickets may be purchased from Pride n Groom, Hardware CafĂ© in Warrenton or contact me at 434 S. Holiday Drive, Macon NC 27551 or at : asbice@aol.com
Endorse checks to CAP spay/neuter.

This is part of our CAP CHALLENGE! If we can raise $10,000 to help eliminate unwanted litters by November, an anonymous donor will match it!

I’m looking forward to the day for fun and meeting folks. It’s the perfect time of year for reading ghost stories of any kind. And the social part afterwards will buzz with other ghost stories. Maybe I’ll hear of some local ones to write about for next year!

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Daydreaming

Are there really people who don’t know how to daydream anymore? What do kids do in a boring afternoon class if they don’t daydream? How about those long pauses between solid thoughts while writing at the computer? Or on lined paper.

I was reading my weekly Barbara McNichol newsletter about using the correct word at: editor@barbaramcnichol.com where she mentions an article by Quinn McDonald about Tips for Keeping a Blog Interesting. One thing leads to another, especially with me and words, when I came upon Quinn’s item on Daydreaming.

She guides you on how to settle down, clear your mind, smile so you’re in the right frame of mind, etc. Go ahead. Try it. If you need guidance: http://quinncreative.com/id34.html Perhaps it’s been too long since you’ve had a good daydream.

Not recommended when driving.