Columbia Willamette Pagan Pride Day

Well I must say I was thrilled with how the event went. All things seemed to run smoothly and we received a lot of very positive feedback. Columbia Willamette Pagan Pride day was definitely the largest event I have helped plan to date.

Due to a cancellation on our workshop list I also ended up hosting a workshop. I called it: " Tarot reading for novices."  It was my first time ever actually teaching a workshop and I enjoyed it tremendously.  I was excited to see that so many people seemed to enjoy it as well. It was a very different experience for me to be the one hosting a workshop as opposed to actively listening. I tend to think of this as part of my further growth into my community involvement. I tried to focus on teaching people to really look at the cards and read with intuition as opposed to trying to memorize the definitions in the book  I may also be teaching the workshop again at a nearby store in the next 6 months. People loved the workshops so much we will likely add 2 more shifts next year. We had some incredible people come out to teach workshops and the participants seemed to really enjoy them..

The vendors who came out were tremendous, we had so much variety and so much positive energy the spirit of the event was incredible. It was so exciting for me to meet so many people and small business owners who enjoy being such an active part of the community. Events like this really help to bring people together and remind us all how important it is to be remember how blessed we are as a community.  

In addition to amazing vendors we also had an incredible band who came out and played for us. There music was wonderful, soulful and just a pleasure to listen to. These ladies can really sing. I definitely plan on seeing more of their shows in the future. 

The band: Butterfly Breakdown.

I would also like to sincerely thank our onsite photographer Philip who took some incredible pictures of the event for us. His contribution really helped us to showcase all the fun that was had and all the positive energy in the air.

All in all the event was a smash and I am still reeling from excitement. Now on the planning schedule is a new  Portland's Annual Winter Solstice Ball Dec 22nd. Starting October my planning skills get switched into high speed to help put together a night of fun, dancing, community and ritual. It should be incredible and I am so looking forward to it. Helping to bring these events to our community has filled me with so much happiness I have a hard time putting it into words. I feel incredibly fortunate, blessed and thankful. )O(

Columbia Willamette Pagan Pride Day 2012

This past year I have been honored to be a planner/ coordinator for this years Columbia Willamette Pagan Pride Day.  It has been a lot of fun and has really forced me to step out of my solitary place and start mingling more with fellow pagans in my area. I realize I am very lucky in the fact that I live in a part of the country where there are a lot of us, and we don't have to be fearful about being out in the public eye. Some people I know are not quite so lucky.

In my new journey of being more a part of the Pagan community I do feel a sense of realizing what I was missing and wanting to never again be quite so distant from my fellow pagans again. It is a wonderful and beautiful community of people. I have had a lot of fun helping to plan workshops, find vendors and this year my Novices of the Old Ways West group will be in charge of hosting a children's area. As my group is one of almost all Mommies I knew they were a perfect fit for such an endeavor. I am so excited for this years event it should be wonderful.

It's been too long...

Here I am dusting off the computer and back again. So much has happened since my last post over a year ago. Let's start with the most recent. My now husband and I were married at the end of June in a beautiful wedding/ hand fasting ceremony in front of all of our family and friends. It was an amazing moment in my life.

As many of you can probably relate to non of our families are pagan, and although I have been out of the broom closet for quite some time I didn't want a ceremony that was going to completely freak people out. The ceremony was so beautiful and with a few tweaked words in the ceremony I don't think any of them actually realized that they were witnessing a hand fasting at all. All they saw was a beautiful union of two people in love, and that my friends is exactly what it was. )O(

I should have seen it coming, after all the rain and I have had a love affair since I was very young. I love to dance in the rain, walk in the rain and watch the rain fall while sipping coffee on my patio. So who here is surprised to hear that it rained the day of my wedding? At the last minute we had to move the ceremony inside because it was POURING rain outside. Right before the ceremony it stopped allowing us to walk in to the building without umbrellas. During the ceremony the sun came out and the clouds were beginning to disappear.

My present for my patience and that of my guests was this: A beautiful rainbow high in the sky.

Brightest Blessings Everyone
~Kanani

Belly Cast

It's here... it's here!!

One of the things I always wanted to do  if I ever got pregnant was to have my belly casted as a keepsake. So when I found out I was pregnant, you can bet the belly casting plans were well on their way.

A friend of mine who did one recommended that I use pharmacy casting supplies instead of the cheap kits you get from Babies 'R' Us. Let me tell you she was right. That stuff worked great. The only thing I would have done differently is made it a little thicker. Maybe next time... ;)

I developed preeclampsia in my last trimester and weeks 35-37 were extremely hard on me both emotionally and physically. Mentally the meditation and warm baths helped me to win the battles but physically my body was winning the war. My condition was worsening and I knew she was going to be arriving much sooner then later. My best friend was in town for Christmas/ Yule and we planned on having her come over to cast my belly ASAP. It was typical best friend stuff: have them rub petroluem jelly all over your giant belly, watch a Hoarders marathon and start casting away.

My daughter was born less then 5 days after the cast was taken. When I see it I don't think of the preeclampsia, I don't think of the soreness, exhaustion or waiting. I think of living all those days waiting for my daughter to be born. I had a C section because of the preeclampsia and because she was breech. The scar at the bottom of my belly I call my smiley face, because it looks just like an up turned smile.

Being a Mommy has been the most wonderful experience of my life, nothing compares. Having this keepsake painted only adds to the specialness it represents.

A HUGE thank you to Gabrieele Fibbs Creations. She had never done a belly casting before but she was happy to experiment and the finished piece was better then I could have ever imagined!

The small yellow circles you see if you look very closely have fairies inside of them. What a wonderful way to capture one of the happiest times in my life. Thank you Gabi.

)O(
Kanani

April is Autism Awareness Month... Did you know that?

Perhaps you are curious why I will be participating in Walk Now for Autism Speaks. Well let me tell you…

Their names are Liz & Allen.

Allen for as long as I have known him has been diagnosed with Autism. A diagnosis like that for any family is life changing and can be to put it mildly, terrifying. Liz has looked at Allen’s diagnosis as another adventure in their life together. When you see Liz with her son you can not help but to feel inspired. Her dedication to him and his life is nothing short of extraordinary. Where other mothers may feel defeated or without hope Liz carved her own path. She has had Allen in classes and therapies since he was very young. She has never missed an opportunity for her son to succeed. Allen not only speaks in sign language but now can also speak using his words. The first time I heard him speak he was 4 years old and I almost cried. I by no means want to take away from Allen what he himself has accomplished but someday he will look back and realize that his mother was not only his biggest fan but also his saving grace.

Not only has Liz embraced her sons diagnosis and created an incredible world for him she has now also created an autism support network where this incredible woman helps and spends time with other mothers and their children with autism. If someone knows how to nominate someone for a noble peace prize, please let me know. Her compassion, passion and drive for her son to succeed has not only helped her son but is beginning to help the community around her.

I can only pray that in my own way I can be a tenth the mother that Liz has been to her son. She faces prejudice, misunderstanding and difficulty everyday. She does it with a smile on her face and the ability to keep fighting for what is important. My appreciation and love for them and everything they go through is why I will be participating in Walk Now for Autism Speaks.

What you may or may not know is that Autism is the second most common developmental disorder in the United States affecting one in every 110 children born today. Despite some promising discoveries, the cause of autism is unknown and a cure does not exist. Research is crucial. Every 15 minutes another child is diagnosed with autism. Not only must we find ways to improve the quality of life for children and adults with autism, but we also must find a cure, and soon.

Walk Now for Autism Speaks is our chance to make a difference in the fight against autism by raising money for autism research and heightening public awareness. Please join me in my fight as I raise money to help fund essential research. You can donate to Walk Now for Autism Speaks and/or join my team online using the links at the bottom of this page. Donations can also be mailed to Autism Speaks using the donation form located on my page or send me a check made out to Autism Speaks.

Please join me in my fight to make a difference in the lives of the more than 1 million Americans living with autism today.

http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorreg/donorpledge.asp?ievent=469772&supId=325168503&msource=bfgetwordout

Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Autism Speaks 501 (C)(3) Tax Id #: 20-2329938

 

Maternity Photos

My last trimester was so chaotic that there are so many things I never had the time to share. One of those things was my maternity photos. I had a photographer who owns a company called Intrigue Images. She did a phenomenal job. I was very happy with her work and had her back to take Soleil's 1 month pictures. I will be using her services again I have no doubt. She does a lovely job.

I was 34 weeks pregnant when the pictures were taken, only 3 weeks before she was delivered. It was the begining of December and bless their hearts the photographer and George were freezing in the 30 degree weather while I pranced around the woods for photos. They were great sports though and I think the photos were worth it.  I will treasure them always, it was such an incredible memory. Here are two of my favorites:

It's so hard to believe the photos were taken over 4 months ago when it seems like only yesterday. She has fit into our lives so seamlessly it is as if she was always there.

A fairy poem...

I have this poem framed in my daughter's room and I just love it.  I wanted to share it with all of you. I am not the author it is something I found online and fell in love with. So here it is:

A Fairy Poem
If you are wise and knowing
You will be the fairies’ friend,
Your crops will grow, the seeds you sow
The fairy folk will tend.

Your stream will flow with water
So sweet and cool and clear,
And to your door will come no more
The troubles you may fear.

If you are cruel and heedless
You will be the fairies foe,
Your plans will fail, the baby will wail
And life be filled with woe.

Misfortune will come knocking
Mis-chance will let her in,
No use to cry the rose will die
Your cattle will grow thin.

So be a friend to fairies
And they’ll be friends to you,
Leave out a treat, some food to eat
Each night the moon is new.

Blessed Be
)O(