Nikki Starcat Shields's Blog, page 34

7 Guidelines for a More Joyful Life

As I may have mentioned a time or two, my Word of the Year for 2014 is ENJOY. Recently I’ve been paying more attention to when I feel joyful in my life, and when I feel stressed. I’ve been working on figuring out what makes me happy, and following those clues.

I’m not saying that life won’t have its moments of sorrow, anger, and other emotional upsets. I’m talking about encouraging a general trend of enjoying where you are and what you’re doing.

It seems like a worthwhile venture, to learn your...

Why Fae?

One of my many projects (me? overcommit? nah!) is blogging for a brand new inspiring website that’s going to be launched soon. I’m one of a dozen or so bloggers. We all have superhero-style titles as part of our pen names, like Taran the Magnificent (yeah, I totally made that example up).

The one I chose is Starcat the Fae. Why?

I enjoy living my life as a character in a faery tale. I open myself to the magick that still dwells in the world’s hidden places. It manifests as synchronicities that...

Finding Joy Where You Are

It’s been a hectic and crazy autumn thus far. I wasn’t sure I was coping very well. Between grieving and stress and hormones and lack of down time, I wasn’t in the joyful space where I wanted to be.

Then it was fair and festival time. Two of the past three weekends I’ve spent outdoors, drumming & performing with Dark Follies and camping out. It’s the best thing that could have happened to me. Sure, leading up to the events, they seemed to add to my stress. I had to get cold-weather camping gea...

It’s Good to Be Queen

All night last night I was dreaming about being a queen. I woke up wondering what it means. On one level, perpetuating the hierarchical structure of a monarchy, with arbitrary birth circumstances making people feel they can control all the resources – not really my thing. I don’t tend to like wielding power over others. Consensus is better.

Let’s see. I like the band Queen, and did participate in an impromptu group a capella performance of “Bohemian Rhapsody” in a bardic circle this past May....

Starcat’s Favorites: Surviving To Thriving

Do you ever feellike you’re going through your days just sort of surviving? Going from one thing to another, solving problems, dealing with what’s in front of you…but feeling like you’re not really getting anything done. I mean, the things that matter to you in a deep heartfelt way, like your creative calling. I’ve been in survival mode myself, a bit, this month.

My Aunt has had another surgery – planned, and successful, but still, I worry. A friend is in the hospital with a severe infection,...

An Autumnal Equinox Remembrance

Blessings of Autumn to you! Or perhaps Spring, if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere. Either way, it is a time of seasonal change, with all the transformation it brings. The Fall Equinox is also known as Mabon, a harvest festival at the point where the days and nights are of equal length, now turning towards the dark part of the year. Here in New England, we’re enjoying crisp sunny days with a sky so blue it captures my imagination, accompanied by the brisk cleansing winds of Fall.

We’ve been t...

Happiness Is…

99 Mind-Altering Books to Awaken Your Spirit

Want to expand your awareness? Create a life full of magick and enchantment? Open yourself up to daily experiences full of joy, love, and support? Of course you do!

Start here, with this list of inspiring books, which itself was inspired by a social media meme. It’s not your ordinary list of the best works of world literature, or books that will help you ace your college entrance exams. These books will, if you let them, change your world by expanding your vision of what is possible.

Perhaps yo...

Starcat’s Favorites: Processing

Summer is winding down, and along with a tinge of sadness in the air, there’s the excitement of autumn energies. Harvest in the gardens, fresh homemade salsa and pesto, and time to dive back into the creative projects that have been on hiatus during the more active, warmer months.

Coming out of the intense busy-ness that is my August, I feel drawn to inner work. I’m relishing the stillness, the contemplation, and the re-organizing of my goals and priorities. I’m figuring out how to balance act...

Currently, I Am…

OK, I confess. I’m suffering from a bit of blogger’s block. I have a whole list of blog post ideas, but none of them seem to appeal to me at the moment.

So I did what seemed best – googled it. I looked up blog prompt ideas, and immediately gravitated (Virgo that I am) to lists. Here’s what I came up with.

Currently, I am…

Reading:

Written in My Own Heart’s Blood by Diana Gabaldon
Practical Prosperity Magick by Ellen Dugan
Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain
Rock Your Plot: A Simple System for Pl...