Nikki Starcat Shields's Blog, page 27

Starcat’s Corner: Back to It

Don’t you justlove September? After the crazy social whirlwind that is August for my family, I really relish that “back to school” vibe, the motivation to get organized and focused on what’s most important. Although I haven’t attended school for many years, and my unschoolers have never been at all, I always love the fresh start, the inspiring creative energies of this time of year.

This year, though, my son is actually going to school for the first time (not back to it). He started at the lo...

Caskets and Comfort Zones

“A comfort zone is just another word for a casket.” – Quester

Quester came up with that quote about seven years ago, when we were going through a lot of big changes in our lives. The biggest change was that I was quitting my full-time job to stay home with the kids and jump-start my writing career, while he entered the workforce again after being a full-time Dad for more than a decade. These were things that we both agreed we wanted, and yet at the same time, creating big change can be uncomf...

Starcat’s Favorites: Creative Abundance

Have I mentioned how much I love this time of year? The gardens, yards, and farms are all abundant with fruits, veggies, and flowers. My creativity, too, is in abundance mode.

While being busy with presentations and performances at various summer events, I’m also in the midst of working on my third book, preparing to offer next month’s The Alchemy of Core Beliefs online course, and much more. How about you? Is your creativity going wild as we move into late summer?

Here are some good reads an...

Why Have a Daily Spiritual Practice?

This past weekend I offered a workshop at a local Pagan festival, which included readings from two of my books. My workshop topic was “Living on Purpose,” and I included a reading from the book I’m currently writing. I don’t have a title for this book yet, but it’s about creating and maintaining a daily spiritual practice, which is something I’m devoted to and passionate about.

The workshop attendees seemed to enjoy the excerpt, and it sparked great questions and discussion, so I thought I’d...

Blue Moon Intentions

Last week was the Full Blue Moon. The Blue Moon is the second full moon of a calendar month, and the phenomenon only happens about every 3 years, or 33 moons. Since the calendar we use is a human-made system, you could say that the significance of this is kind of a made up thing. But isn’t that true for much of our magickal lore? Things take on the significance we give them.

Since the Full Blue Moon only comes around every three years or so, some of us like to use its energies to help focus o...

Being Yourself in Community: 5 Handy Tips

It’s the summer party and festival season, and that can bring on some nerves or even anxiety. Do you have trouble being yourself when you’re spending time with other people? Do you find yourself censoring your words, being quiet, and staying in the background even when youwish you couldbe in the center of the action? Even with people who you generally feel comfortable with? Or maybe especially with them, because their opinions really mean something to you…

You’re not alone.

Most of us were br...

Starcat’s Favorites: In the Moment

Summer gets busy around here. It’s especially so when you live in a northern clime and want to savor every moment of the warmth, sunshine, and blooming. During the summer months, we always try to fit in extra time outdoors for swimming, hiking, and exploring – alongside the usual work, family time, household chores, and spiritual practice.

Part of my practice this summer is enjoying each and every moment, even during these very full days and weeks. I stay as organized as I can so the busy day...

Thoughts on the End of the World

I think the whole “end of the world” mythos that our culture is focused on right now is kind of pointless and boring. Whether it’s a collapse due to peak oil, the ever-popular zombie apocalypse, or natural disasters caused by climate change, the doom-and-gloom about the survival of humanity and/or the planet serves to upset more people than it motivates.

I’m not denying that there are serious problems, I’m saying that there must be a better way to create positive change.

In my four decades he...

Following the Spark: A Way of Life

One of the major life lessons I’ve been integrating this year is to follow the trail of my joy as I live my life. This has evolved into something I call “following the spark.” Lest this all sound a bit too fluffy-bunny even coming from me, allow me to elaborate.

While my practice arises in part from the famous, or perhaps infamous, Law of Attraction (LOA), it doesn’t have anything to do with pasting on a fake smile and pretending things are fine when they’re not. The LOA has been misunderstoo...

The Dogs’ Most Excellent Adventure

Much of the month of June, and most of the first weekof July, I spent on a fun set of various road trips. The first one was a 3-daytrip, with Quester and our two teens, to his extended family’s camp on the ocean in Hancock County, Maine. We love to go there every summer, though for the past few summers, my son Dryst hasn’t been able to go due to his intense pre-seasonsoccer schedule. He has graduated now, and so he headed north with us. Dog-lover that he is, Dryst insisted that we bring along...