On her wonderful blog, Chenoah asked me some questions. I never knew my answers would be so in-depth but her questions really got me thinking! And for that, I thank her. Here ya go!

1. I see you are interested in Wicca. Do you think it is possible that humankind will ever return to its Goddess-worshiping roots? If so, how do you think it will happen, and within what timeframe?

To be perfectly honest, at this time in my life, I am focused more inward in my Goddess worshipping; going through some major internal, spiritual metamorphosis and self-discovery amongst the Divine. Therefore, I haven't given much thought to the possibility of humankind the world over returning to Goddess-worship. But you've planted the seed in my mind now, given me something to think about.
I can say now that I am a true believer in diversity. I think spirituality and a connection to that which is considered Divine is extremely personal. Everybody's beliefs are unique and should be respected as such. So, the diversity of religious beliefs that exist in the world today makes for a very colorful existence among us all. I doubt that all of humankind will ever fully return to its feminine-Divine or even polytheistic roots, but, little by little, us heathens and Pagans and Wiccans alike will grow stronger. It is my hope that someday, in my lifetime, the earth-centered traditions (religions, if you will) will be as prominent in this world as, say, Judaism, Christianity, and Islamic religions.

2. You’ve been reading Tarot for 15 years. Tell us about that, please.

Long story...so grab a cup o' coffee or take a bathroom break before proceeding...!

When I was 13 years old, I had a dream one night that consisted of various important spiritual images. I'll tell you the dream here with some of my Jungian interpretations in parentheses where appropriate:
In the dream, I walked down a staircase into a sort of basement of a house (going down stairs = getting deeper into ones subconscious). The basement was finished. At the bottom of the stairs I was in a sort of common area/foyer/hallway with four doors all around me. There was a red light bulb in the socket in the middle of the ceiling. (red = strength) So that room/hallway area was filled with a warm, red glow on the white walls and ceiling. I chose a door to enter. I think I chose the first door to my right but I can't really remember for sure.
Upon entering the room, I noticed that it resembled a bedroom in my grandma's house (she has since passed away but was alive at the time of the dream). The room was simply furnished with a full size bed, basic linens, and a bureau just inside the doorway facing the bed. I walked to the bureau and opened the top drawer which was at about chest-height. In the drawer I found some rocks (crystals) and a deck of cards with pictures on them (tarot). I picked up each rock and fondled it, feeling a pulsing sensation through my hand with each stone I handled. Next, I started shuffling through the deck of cards, laying them out in front of me on the surface of the bureau. After I had laid out four or five cards, I stopped placing cards down and began reading into the images of the cards. I knew they were telling me my future but I did not know exactly what they were telling me.

That's all I remember of the dream. I mentioned this dream to my mother the next day and she then (surprisingly) took me to a store called the Twelfth House, where I was shown several decks of Tarot cards. I ended up buying a deck and teaching myself how to read Tarot.

I have very strong beliefs regarding Tarot. First of all, I don't believe that Tarot can necessarily show you the future. I believe that the Tarot is like many other tools of divination that can reflect back to you what is hidden in your subconscious - aspects of yourself that you are not always aware of. Some of these aspects of our subconscious selves can often aide us at various times in our lives. Secondly, the Death card does not mean you are going to die! Once again with the Jungian symbology, the Death card simply indicates a transitional period, or change in ones life or self. And finally, I believe that paying someone to read your cards tends to reduce to effectiveness and accuracy of the reading. I'll admit that I have had my cards read for payment on more than one occasion. I love to read other people's cards (although I have not done so in several years!) especially people I know well. My husband won't let me read his. He says "there are just some things about myself that I just don't need to know...and I don't want you to know either!" I can understand and respect that.

3. Why did you choose to take up guitar?

I used to play the piano when I was young. Six years of lessons and I got to be pretty good. That hobby was abandoned for a variety of reasons beyond my control. But then in my teens, as I began to discover and appreciate music on my own, I eventually wanted to learn how to play the bass guitar (thanks to bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane's Addiction, Live and, the infamously "suckable" Primus!). My dad told me I needed to learn the acoustic guitar before he would invest in an electric bass for me. He bought me an inexpensive beginner’s guitar from Sam's Club and I quickly abandoned interest in learning how to play it: I was a teenager, my attention span was about as long as a flashy commercial on MTV!
When Honey and I "got together," he had several guitars and would play them for me from time to time. I admired his ear for music and how he could just pick up a guitar and slowly strum out whatever catchy tune he heard. I wanted to learn how to play but I had these artificial gel nails on my fingers for several years. He kept telling me I wouldn't be able to play guitar until I got rid of the nails. *GASP* NEVER! TO THINK OF SUCH A TRAGEDY!!
In December I had my fake nails removed. I just suddenly lost interest in their beauty and cost of upkeep. And working with children, I knew I couldn't be stabbing them left and right with those expensive claws!
In January, Honey took up the banjo my dad had given him two Christmases ago and started teaching himself how to play it. I was intrigued. I was also going through some major changes in my life that actually gave me room and energy to explore new things. So I borrowed a guitar from a friend and begged Honey to teach me some chords. Really, I wasn't actively thinking, "Okay, now this is what I want to do. I want to learn to play guitar. " I just picked it up and started plucking and I loved it! Our lives are so enriched now that Honey and I share this musical education. We speak in a language that was once foreign to me (finger placement, re-stringing, tuning gears, melody, chords, half steps, etc) but it brings us so close together in ways I never imagined possible. I love it!!! And I love my guitar!!!


4. Are you an artist, as well? In what medium?

Well, I'm creative but I don't necessarily think that makes me an "artist." I used to write tons of poetry and had a couple poems published in small notebooks and journals. I've done some private and personal drawings in the past but nothing significant or particularly interesting. I am always doing something creative, whether it's writing, crafting, painting, doodling, playing music, cooking, or working with art materials with the preschoolers. I love art and can appreciate it in its various forms. But I don’t think I’m actually an artist.

5. Your pets are lucky to have their very own blogs. How did you teach them to do that?

TONS of treats as incentive. Needless to say, they are now all extremely overweight and lazy! Just kidding. Mostly, they just tolerate my click-click-clicking pictures of them almost daily and then demand that I feed them (again, almost daily!). My pets are my children right now so I enjoy talking about them and creating blogs for them to show them off! Just you wait till I start having babies! HA!