Kat Sanders's Blog, page 3
December 14, 2018
Beauty In The Why
Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels
“Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.” – Plato
While this saying is very true, I believe that there is beauty everywhere, we only need to look for it. Everyone has their own standard for beauty and everyone’s standard is different than anyone else. Each person walks through life only seeing beauty to their standards. However, if you take the time to look at the world around you and notice it, you can find beauty everywhere. No, it might not be the traditional beauty you would find on TV or in magazines, but there is beauty in everything.
I’m not a traditional beauty by any stretch of the imagination. I’m 5′ 3″ tall, several inches short of what a tradition femme fatale should be. I’m grossly overweight by a large margin, though I’m losing weight, so props to me. (12 pounds in the last 6 months – go me!!) I have short, salt and pepper hair that I really want to dye purple. I’m only waiting for the day I’m no longer working for someone else. I curse, a lot. I prefer it when my hand have paint on them. There is nothing traditional beautiful about me, but my soul is gorgeous.
I love life. I love making art. I put my heart and soul into it. If I’m not creating, I’m the most depressed person you have ever seen. When I am actively creating, I go into a state of pure bliss. It fills up my heart and soul. My artwork becomes the center of my universe. It’s a spiritual awakening each and every time. My whole world is centered around creativity and positivity. I love it and it shows. Ever since I have dedicated my life to those two guiding principles, I have been happier and the people around me have been happier too. I shine with it and that is beautiful.
I used to know a young lady. She was more of a classic beauty. She was 5’7″ tall, 135 lbs. In her youth, she was a model for a time. She fell in love, got pregnant and then got married. She ended up in a decent apartment, with an okay job and a husband with an okay job. It wasn’t a terrible life, but it wasn’t the life she dreamed about as a kid. Her mom and dad bought her what she wanted when she would wine about her husband not being about to afford this or that. She would flirt with younger men, because she thought she could still draw them in, but she never actually tested that theory by cheating on her husband. She thought that she was all that and a box of chocolate donuts, but she was miserable. She continued to be miserable until she died a few years ago, long before her young daughter could finish high school, go to college, fall in love, get married or give her grandkids. She missed out on an amazing life because even though she was a classic beauty in looks, she didn’t take care of that body, plus she missed out on the life she did live, because she didn’t take care of her soul.
I’m look around me at the people who are happy and at people who are miserable. I’ve been trying to figure out what makes them different from each other. I’ve been at this for a while now and I’ve come to some conclusions. The conclusion that I’ve come to about beauty is that the ones who are happy take the time to see the beauty in the world. They take the time to find the beauty in nature, in others, in their life. They don’t depend on the media or others to define beauty for them. They make their own definitions. They do that in a lot of areas of their lives. They learn, grow, adapt. If they find that their definition of beauty changes over time, it’s not a problem. If opposing versions of beauty speak to them, that is fine too. They can and will seek beauty in all things, not only in those things that society says should be beautiful. I think if my friend had stopped trying to make herself fit society’s definition of beauty, and had really figured out what made her happy, she would have been a much happier and more beautiful person.
As for you, my friend, there are many ways that you can find the beauty in yourself and in the world. Take the time to get to know who you are as a person. Figure out what makes you happy, passionate, sad, lonely… But don’t figure those things out and then do or don’t do those things. Figure them out and then figure out the why’s. Why does one activity make you soul sing while another makes you feel like the lowest low? Once you know those things, then you can make informed decisions about your life. Motivation comes from not only wanting to move towards something but also from wanting to move away from something. It’s a push and a pull. Figure out your why. There is beauty in the why!
January 19, 2016
Free Desktop Wallpaper Calendars 2016: January & February
I started making monthly desktop wallpaper calendars for my art site, The Painted Kat, late last year and decided that I was going to make one for each month this year to be given out for free. A couple of days ago, I decided that I wanted to make calendars for this site as well. So here are January and February’s calendars. March’s calendar will be out on March 1st.
Right click on the image and Save Link As… Once the images has finished downloaded, navagate to the image, right click it and click Save As Desktop Background.
JANUARY
January 2016 1680×1050
January 2016 1024×768
January 2016 1920×1080
FEBRUARY
February 2016 1680×1050
February 2016 1024×768
February 2016 1920×1080
Notes:
January
The pentagrams were made by me years ago. The elements of the pentagrams were free images that I downloaded years ago and I no longer know where I got them.
The fonts are Kingthings Willowless Regular & Kingthings Willow Regular. Kingthings makes awesome fonts!
February
The background and flame were found on freeimages.com.
The candle was created by Zememz on Deviant Art. Zememz’s art is absolutely fabulous!
The fonts are Medio Regular & Kingthings Willow Regular. Kingthings makes awesome fonts!
The pentagram is mine!
January 17, 2016
2016 Full Moons
Here is the list of full moons for 2016:
Jan 23
Wolf Moon
Feb 22
Snow Moon
Mar 23
Worm Moon
Apr 22
Pink Moon
May 21
Flower Moon
Jun 20
Strawberry Moon
Jul 19
Buck Moon
Aug 18
Sturgeon Moon
Sep 16
Corn or Harvest Moon
Oct 16
Hunter, Blood or Sanguine Moon
Nov 14
Beaver Moon
Dec 13
Cold or Long Nights Moon
These names are based on .
Also, there will be four eclipses this year:
Mar 9
Total Solar Eclipse
Mar 23
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
Sep 1
Annular Solar Eclips
Sep 16
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
October 10, 2015
The Tarot: An Overview
Tarot Cards are a divination tool consisting of 78 cards. There are 22 Major Arcana cards and 56 Minor Arcana card. The Minor Arcana are split into four suites.
History
Tarot Cards have been used as a divination tool for centuries. It is believed that a version of the tarot, a series of cards with archetypes and meanings, were used as early as part of the Ancient Egyptian Mysteries. While a number of scholars believe that there were tarot decks throughout history, it wasn’t until the 15th century that any were reference as Tarot Card. Then it was referenced in a sermon preaching against games of chance.
Antoine Court de Gébelin believed that they were based in the Ancient Egyptian Mysteries and were inspired by Thoth. He also thought that the meanings of the cards were lost. The first known use of tarot cards as a divination tool was in the late 1700’s by Jean-Baptiste Alliette, though there were only 32 cards in the deck.
There is no proof that the cards were used in Ancient Egyptian. Some scholars think that they were brought to Europe by the Romany people. Others think that there is correlation between the Tarot and the Kabbalah, making them originated from Israel. Actually, no one knows where they really came from, but it is interesting how the Tarot Cards cross languages, cultural, geography and time.
The Major Arcana
The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards. They are:
The Fool
The Magician
The High Priestess
The Empress
The Emperor
The Hierophant
The Lovers
The Chariot
Strength
The Hermit
The Wheel of Fortune
Justice
The Hanged Man
Death
Temperance
The Devil
The Tower
The Star
The Moon
The Sun
Judgment
The World
The Minor Arcana
The Minor Arcana are split into four suites. Those four suites are titled depending on the type of Tarot Cards you are using. For the Animal Wise Tarot by Ted Andrews, they are The Winged Ones, The Four-Legged, The Ancients and The Shapeshifters. For the Steampunk Tarot by Barbara Moore, they are The Swords, The Wands, The Pentacles and The Cups, which are the more traditional titles.There are 14 cards in each suite. They are:
Ace: Swords, Wands, Pentacles, Cups
Two: Swords, Wands, Pentacles, Cups
Three: Swords, Wands, Pentacles, Cups
Four: Swords, Wands, Pentacles, Cups
Five: Swords, Wands, Pentacles, Cups
Six: Swords, Wands, Pentacles, Cups
Seven: Swords, Wands, Pentacles, Cups
Eight: Swords, Wands, Pentacles, Cups
Nine: Swords, Wands, Pentacles, Cups
Ten: Swords, Wands, Pentacles, Cups
Page: Swords, Wands, Pentacles, Cups
Knight: Swords, Wands, Pentacles, Cups
Queen: Swords, Wands, Pentacles, Cups
King: Swords, Wands, Pentacles, Cups
Notes:
Most of my information on The Tarot comes from either Ted Andrews’ Animal Wise Tarot (Amazon Associate Link) or Barbara Moore’s Steampunk Tarot (Amazon Associate Link) as those are the two decks that I use. Sometimes I incorporate information that I find on the internet. My favorite sites are listed towards the bottom of the page.
August 4, 2015
A Prayer For Creativity
Blessed Aphrodite,
Goddess of Love,
Goddess of Passion,
Your beauty outshines a thousand suns,
Your passion lights a thousand fires,
Your love encompasses all.
Please bring creativity and passion into my life.
Please let me show how much I care without censor.
Please make my creations into works of art,
that showcase my life and passion to the world.
My Goddess, My Love,
Let your light shine through me
and bring to life all that I create.
July 29, 2015
The Three-Fold Rule
The Three-Fold Rule is karma at its simplest. It means that whatever you send out will come back to you three fold. If you send out good, you will get back that good times three. If you send out bad, you get back bad three fold. What exactly does that mean for you?
When planning a ritual, you have to decide why you are performing the ritual. Once you are aware of both what you are doing and why you are doing it, you can calculate the consequences of your ritual. The consequences for others is what you will reap three-fold.
Example:
You need a job. You have been out of work for three months and your family is suffering. You decide to design a ritual to help you find a job.
You design a ritual asking for the goddess and god (of your choice) for help finding a job. You humble yourself by being willing to take whatever job necessary to support your family.
Three weeks later, after another bunch of interviews, you get a job offer. It isn’t your dream job, but it is one where you can be happy. Plus, you get a salary, with benefits, making enough to not only support your family, but also be able to take them on vacation in a year or two.
What you sent out was a lot of good vibes, hopeful wishes and humble requests. What you received was not only what you requested, but also more. You received a job that was better than what you thought you would get, more money, benefits and in the near future the ability to treat your family.
The Three-Fold Rule is a helpful thing when used properly. Don’t forget, if you send out negative or bad energy, which is what you will get back as well. Always think of the consequences of what you do.
July 28, 2015
A Prayer for Family
Blessed Maiden,
Blessed Mother,
Blessed Crone,
I ask not for me,
But for my friends and family.
Bring peace, joy and prosperity
Bring love, health and happiness
Please, protect those most important to me.
May they never know hurt, harm or helplessness.
July 27, 2015
Blue Moon
July 19, 2015
FYI
June 16, 2013
The Wheel of the Year: Summer Solstice
