Serpent Mound

I was born and raised a country girl on a farm in rural southern Ohio. Growing up so close to the land instilled in me a deep appreciation for Nature and all her forms. It seems only natural (to me) that I found myself on the spiritual path of Paganism.

I believe on of the biggest (perhaps subconscious) influences on me was growing up so close to The Great Serpent Mound. The mound is an ancient Native American site built in the shape of a serpent. It is regarded as a place of great energy and many pagan and Native Americans hold rituals and ceremonies on the site.

Its a beautiful area surrounded by woods and is open to the public. Growing up in the region, I went on many family picnics and school field trips on the grounds. Following the paths around the mound and through the woods always seemed so magical to me.

Now that I'm an adult, I live far away from the mound, yet I feel it has been calling me lately. I've had dreams about it and I keep coming across references to it in random places. Maybe its time to take a little trip?

                                                       Aerial view of the mound.

A Perfect Day

I'm three days in on a week's staycation. I've deliberately made no plans, just going with the flow and doing whatever I feel. Today, I slept until about 11:00, not getting up until my 20lb cat's (aka Fat Bastard) demands for food could no longer be ignored. After giving him his kibble, I leisurely showered and got dressed.

I was in the mood for good fish & chips, so I took myself to Old Bag of Nails for lunch. OBN is an English-style pub with an awesome patio that overlooks a beautiful creek.

                                               The view was amazing.

Directly next to the pub is an awesome little magic shop that specializes in incense and crystals. I picked up a couple sage smudge sticks and some new cone incense.

 


A little further down the brick sidewalk is a locally owned coffee shop that I'd never tried before, so I picked up a cup of one of the best brews I've ever had! (I hope I can remember what it was the next time I go there.) Since it was no longer raining and still reasonably cool, I decided to walk off my big lunch by strolling along the creekside paths. I'd never walked the paths before and had no idea what to expect. the paths went deeper into the woods than I realized.  The area around the paths were unmanicured and allowed to just be. It was absolutely beautiful and undisturbed. I never expected to find this little area of tranquility in the middle of my city! Its a great place for a city witch to go for a quick reconnect and recharge!


                                                              

The Dating Game

For the first time in over ten years I find myself reentering the dating scene...
and I have no idea what I'm doing.
I went from one committed relationship directly into another with an old friend from highschool, with no real "courtship" period. I just left one bad situation and fell into what seemed like a safe, comfortable spot. He turned out to be, well, not who I thought he was. So, after bouncing Bachelor #2 out the door, I find myself completely on my own for the first time in years. While I'm enjoying my new independence, (only buying what I want at the grocery, not sitting through another gawd-awful episode of American Idol, no mandatory visits to his mother's, etc) it gets a little boring (lonely).
How does a single gal, over forty, go about meeting men nowadays? I can't see myself meeting guys at a bar (scary) or at work (most of the men I work with are gay). I posted my profile on one of those popular matchmaking sites, but their recommendations were a little, *ahem* off. I said I wanted someone local and they showed me people on the other side of the country. I said I value intelligence, and I get recommendations  of guys who could barely fill out their profile. Not to mention several conservative, right-wing christians! (I'm pretty sure I said I was a liberal pagan.) I've tried letting friends fix me up on blind dates in the past, which usually leaves me wondering what my friends must really think of me. (Were they mad at me??) Don't even get me started on Facebook. That's how I found myself with Loser Bachelor #2.
My biggest problem is, and always has been, I just can't talk to guys. I talk to perfect strangers all day long as part of my job, but when it comes to men that I'm attracted to, forget it. Everything that comes out is a jumbled, rambling mess, if I can say anything at all. There has got to be an easier way!

Well, it's a start...

I guess I should start by explaining why I named this blog Crone?. I'm of course, referring to the Maiden, Mother and Crone stages in a woman's life. At what point is a woman considered a Crone?  Everything I've read or heard refer to this time as age fifty + or after menopause. The children are grown, and she's looking forward to passing along the wisdom she's accumulated over the years to her children and grandchildren.
But, what about women like me?  I'm forty. No kids. Never married. Possibly in perimenopause . What stage of life is this?  I'm long past Maiden, was never a Mother (or stepmother, godmother, mother-figure etc.) yet, I don't feel like the Crone. I think I still have too much I need to learn before I can teach. I'm a looong way from being a wise-woman!
I've started this blog as a way to explore this aspect of my life. Hopefully, I'll learn a few things about myself, my spirituality, and life!