Yule/Christmas is fast approaching, and I have decided on what I call a “surf & turf” menu. Atlantic salmon, cornish game hen, mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans with slmond slivers and garnish, & cranberry sauce. I found some easy bake recipes for the meat, potatoes, and green beans that look absolutely delicious. I look…

There has been a simultaneous increase in my physical energy (think, a hummingbird on crack), and a desire to slow down enough to pursue an academic education (which would require much more mental, than physical, energy). I am a perpetual student. I love the smell of books. And i love making lists, spreadsheets, pros &…

I know in a recent post (since deleted) I said mainstream college wasn’t for me. But after wrestling with some hard truths about myself, i decided that my goal was teo-fold: find part-time work where my talents and gifts could be fully realized, and return to college, albeit part-time, as long as I was in…

I have been neglectful of my writing for the last several months. In fact, I think it’s safe to say I’ve written more in the last few weeks than in the last year. Between familial obligations and an office job that filled me with a sort of mental and emotional exhaustion that I couldn’t seem…

It’s very difficult to explain my beliefs. While my spiritual beliefs & practices follow sort of all-purpose version of Gnosticism, I also celebrate the solstices and equinoxes much in the same manner as my Pagan ancestors did. I also cast circle much in the same way modern Wiccans do. Wicca was my first religion, and…

Goals: These are the most basic goals that I am hoping to achieve in 7 years. I have already started on the first three, the remaining goals will take a little longer. You may be wondering about the title of this post: “Urban Monastic.” Its a term coined by the members of The Holy Order…