Rite of passage

 This past week, I allowed myself the privilege of getting a tattoo that I have been thinking about for a long time.

All of my tattoos are of significant, spiritual meaning to me, and this one is no exception.

Having finally closed the chapter of the condo, having been given good news about the cancer actually resolving in two spots (when I had assumed this drug I am on would just slow it down, not eliminate it), and having come to the last lesson in the course I have been taking for the past year.... I felt that it was time.

With my nurse's permission (she looked at my blood work, and said that the critical factors for me to be safe going through a tattooing process were looking great...normal for a normal person, not just for a person on immune-suppressing drugs), I got an appointment, and had the tattoo done on the full moon.

Here is a picture of it....

The story behind this design goes back approximately 2,500 years.  

In 1993, the extremely well-preserved 5th century BCE grave of a young woman was found in Siberia.

She was covered with tattoos that appeared to have a mystical, Shamanic pattern.  Between the tattoos, her clothing, and her grave goods, and the remains of SIX sacrificed horses, it has been determined that she was a  woman of high social status.  The presence of the tattoos, and some of the symbolic items in the burial chamber, indicates that she was probably a Shamaness, Seer, and/or Priestess of her people. 

She was dubbed the Siberian Ice Princess, the Princess of Ukok, or the Altai Princess.

A detailed reconstruction of her face has been done, and she appears to have been European (without the Mongolian features of native peoples of Siberia), and DNA testing has also shown that she was of European heritage.  The Scythian tribes of the steppes are thought to have been a mixture of Caucasian and Mongolian peoples. 

Further research found that the probable cause of her death was stage 4 breast cancer, combined with injuries from a fall.  She was buried with her medicines: cannabis and opium, which would have been used to ease the pain she was surely suffering.  Coriander seeds, which were thought to be used as incense, were also found. 

This design is on her left shoulder, just where I have it now, as well.

I will not be "ordained" until October, but this summer marks the completion of my formal studies and training to become a priestess of a Goddess regarded as the most ancient deity archetype.  Evidence of the reverence of this Goddess has been found all around the northern hemisphere, and even in some ancient sites in the southern hemisphere.

After 29 years as a practicing Pagan, I have finally found a path that really resonates with what I have always felt to be true for myself.

FORTUNATELY, I understand that a person's spiritual evolution (should they take the choice to pursue spirituality) is just that... an evolution... It is a process, not an event.... 

The adventure that started for me as a child, collecting natural treasures- feathers and stones, pinecones and bones....and arranging them on a rock under the protective branches of the spruce in our front yard, has led me down many interesting and transformative trackways... 

I am confident that this evolution will continue.

At last....

 My threat to withdraw the contract worked!  The condo sale finally closed on Friday, June 18th.

I am just so glad it's over with.  I really felt nothing but that. 

The disappointing amount of money will be rolled into the mortgage on this house. 

It's been dangerously hot this past week.  Today will be no exception.  Summer Solstice in Oklahoma City will see a minimum high temperature of 97 degrees, and will probably be hotter than that, in reality.

We've been getting up early and taking our first walk at sunrise, and our second one at my morning break time.  However, it's been almost too hot to be outside at 9:30 am.

There's some relief on the way, though, and they're saying that it will actually be in the 50s on Tuesday morning.

Crazy.

Unfortunately, the cooler temperatures will be temporary.

Had my scans last Tuesday, and all is well.

In fact, two of the lesions that WERE in my liver (at the beginning of this treatment protocol) are GONE.

I think it's pretty unusual, at this stage of the game, for things to IMPROVE, so I am very happy, and very relieved.

With all of the terrible news around me (two friends being diagnosed with breast cancer last month, and both needing double mastectomies, one of whom had to put her beloved cat down due to his having cancer, then my sister's injury, finding out that my brother needs surgery [while his cat is slowly dying, as well], and all of the condo bullshit), I was convinced that my scans would bring bad news.

What a TREMENDOUS lifting I am feeling right now, despite my worries for others.

So, I will be celebrating the solstice by lighting a fire in the chiminea, and burning all of the paperwork I have related to the condo.   

AFTER the heat of the day, of course.

This morning, we are going to Costco, and then treating ourselves to brunch.

Happy solstice to any who celebrate! 

Happy Father's Day to any who celebrate!  This is our first one without Pop, not that we could see him last year anyway, and Eric has cut us out of his life, so I forgot to add this when I originally posted this. 

Delayed again

 ...for the last time.  

If we don't close this coming week, I am going to terminate the contract, on my brother's advice, using the words "with cause."

If she can't supply a fucking bank statement to her lender to get a mortgage, they are not going to grant her a mortgage!

In our agreement to accept this last extension, we are asking her to reimburse me for the May and June mortgage payments, so that will add a little money to my settlement.  If they refuse to pay, BUT agree to close before next Friday, I will accept that. 

Anyway, we have a crew coming this morning to do the yard work in the back that Dave never did for the past year, and it's completely out of hand now.

Fortunately, we got our auto accident settlement checks, so I could pay my mortgage and association fees again, and so we can pay for this work to be done.

That being said, I need to go jump in the shower.

Next week is my scans on Tuesday.  I don't see the doctor until the following week, though.

Have a good one!  and GO CUBS!

Slow news week

 There's not much to report for the past week.

Still no closing date for the condo, but the last I heard, the mortgage company FINALLY had everything they needed from the buyer, and closing IS POSSIBLE now, and might happen this coming week.

I hope so, because I will be in default on my mortgage again on the 15th, which is Tuesday. 

Fortunately, they don't report it to the credit agencies until the last business day of the month.  I will call tomorrow, though, and let them know that the property sale is still pending.  At least they can note my account. 

I will email my team tomorrow, and say "hey, everyone...are we closing this week? I go into default-again- tomorrow."

Ugh.

My container garden is doing really well this year.  Unfortunately, my farm bag subscription keeps bringing me lettuces, so my own home grown lettuces have been left un-cut, and un-eaten.

A friend brought me some natural yogurt yesterday, and I traded her some of my lettuce and nasturtium, so that helped me feel better about it, HAHA!

I think I will have to cut the rest of it, though.  It's soon going to be past its prime.

Dave is off to Costco this morning, and I am doing laundry, and just enjoying a day off from work.

Might try to do some yoga later...I've gotten lax about doing it daily, and I can feel the stiffness in my body.