It has certainly been a while since I updated, I guess I never think I have anything interesting to say on blogs. Or that I forget what I want to say as soon as the blank space opens up. Writers block? I certainly hope not!

I've moved once again, this time I've moved in with my fiancé! It will be my first time living with a significant other, but so far so good. We are both believers in communicating, so we talk alot about stuff, and work through any issues as they arise! Yes, all the magazine columns written about couples communication actually helped! Hehe :) 

January has been a month of inner turmoil for me. I'd been dealing with a fit of malaise, and I don't like feeling that way. So I thought, and I thought, and I blew the house down. Well, maybe not a house, but a fear. I have decided to quit (or more uncharmingly: drop out) of University. The course I'm doing is lovely, I like it a lot. However, it's not what I want, and I don't think it is helping me on my way to want I really want. So I am going to work, take some classes here and then, and hopefully do what I want: write. I can hear all the arguments in my head, all the frowned foreheads and worried looks. But I'm still young, and I want to see if I can be as extraordinary as I hope. So shake your heads, but wish me luck? :)

This morning I had a great experience. I had been at a friends, and the first bus from her place into town left at 5.27 in the morning. And yes, we were still up by then, so I hopped on the bus and 5 minutes later I was in town. Unfortunately the bus I needed to get from the inner city to my place hadn't started running yet. So I walked, as it wasn't really that far. The only "downside" was the wind and rain, and the cold. But after 5-10 minutes, I didn't feel the cold the same way, the wind wasn't as harsh and the rain was beautiful. If you've never been to Edinburgh, Scotland, you cannot imagine how beautiful it is. And it is best at night, when the streets are quieter. I felt wonderfully alert and present, and I was listening to the heavy power riffs of Rammstein, so I felt amazing. That 20 minute walk in the cold morning hours was one of the best I've had in my life so far :)

To detract from the more spiritual experience of my morning walk, I'm having a more physical experience. At 21, my biological clock is ringing louder than ever. Ciaran doesn't think we are ready, and I see his point of view, he wants us to have lived together for a bit longer, and I understand completely. I like to plan things, but I wonder if one can plan too much, and miss out on stuff in the process. Any child I have would be a wanted child. I like to think that I can make things happen, that even though I haven't saved up the kid's college funds, I could make it work. I guess it's all about finding a balance between prudent planning and making things happen :)

With my tendency to not write regular blogs, who knows what will have happened next time I write!
I think I've just given up to the fact that my life will never be calm, so I just have to ride the beautiful wild storm that is life and smile :)

I hope everyone is doing well and I wish you a Merry Imbolc in advance :)

Blessed Be

Last blog I was soon going to move in to my new flat. Now I've lived here for 2 months, and I JUST got the internet! :)

I moved in, went to IKEA and had a mad spree, it was great. And I tell you, just having my own place is amazing! I have a bit of a moth problem, they are eating my carpet, so that is not too fun :P Anyone have an idea how to get rid of moths without being all poison-and-evil moth-hunter??

As soon as I had put things in order (which took longer than expected!) I lit up some incense, fot the first time in 9 months! I had forgotten how lovely incense is :)

So now we've had the whole Live Earth thing. I think the idea is.. alright. But I just wonder how green the bands and performers really are? And I remember the new Live 8, where everyone bought those white Make Poverty History wristbands, and that was it. By buying that wristband, all of us in the richer countries have done our bit to help? I think not!
The concerts and wristbands are a wonderful message, yes! But it's just a start, we have to continue helping a month, a year, a decade afterwards! Volunteer, donate, whatever floats your boat :)

On a different and happier note: I'm getting handfasted in 2009! I know it says in the "About me" that I'm engaged, but I like revelling in the fact everyday, hehe.

I don't really have anything insigtful to say today, I'm just ranting :)

Have a great day!

All righty then!

I have paid a reserve deposit on a flat/apartment, and hopefully next week Thursday I'll get the keys! This will be my first real place. Sure I've been living in Uni halls the last 9 months, but my parents have been paying the rent, and the internet. I've only paid the electricity bill!

I am so happy I found the place. It's a cute 1 bedroom flat on the ground floor. Okay, increased risk of theft, but it's a side street, so it's not that busy. The living room is gorgeous! The rest of the place isn't as magnificent, but I could make my home there for a while! I found the place on Sunday, called the letting agency on Monday, saw it on Tuesday and handed in a reservation deposit today! So this means that unless the landlord decides to not accept me, the place will be miiiine :D

Suddenly there are all these grown up things to take care of. Rent, electricity and food, sure. But also insurance, TV, internet, tuition fees at Uni. And Furniture! Yay for IKEA! With my budget I think the IKEA level is appropriate :) Excited!

A part of me also wonders though. This whole financial responsibility thing makes me feel like I'm stepping into some adult world. But it seems somehow degrading that my step into more mature adulthood is because of all the things I have to pay for :P Perhaps it's just me thinking too  much. Really it's all about being able to provide for yourself, to take care of yourself in whichever circumstances you are in *nods*

AH! Other news. I feel I've been neglecting my spiritual self while living in halls. For the record: I do have my own room, I don't share with anyone. However, I do have flatmates, and the opening and closing of squeaky doors, plus my obnoxious downstairs neighbour with his music kinda detracts from the sereness that I like when doing ritual and magical workings.
So this new apartment will give me the privacy I love to sit down and attune myself again.

Also I have recently discovered that there is a much more active pagan community in Edinburgh than I had expected! A quick search online showed lots of meet ups and such that I had no idea was going on right under my very nose! For shame Anne-Sophie!

So although there are some kinda big changes a-brewing, I'm finally starting to really get settled and starting my life here. I am going to be more active in my community, pagan and "mundane", instead of loafing around on my butt all day! Yay! Life is so exciting!

Being an internet addict, a true child of the IT age and all, I have lots of various profiles and accounts on the WWW.

One of these is Facebook, which has an interesting format, as you can see what your friends have updated on their profile.
Quite recently a good friend of mine found God and Jesus in her life and is now regularly attending church. Don't get me wrong, I am very happy for her, because she has become a much more balanced and happier person because of it :)
Now, the point of my blog today:

She added "worship music" to her favourite music on her Facebook profile. This got me thinking.
I would love for there to be more music for pagans that is classified specifically as Pagan/Wiccan/Heathen/Asatru "worship" music. A part of me feels it is unfair that there is specific worship music that the "bigger" religions can use to aid them in prayer, ceremony, etc, and they have easy access to it! With Paganism, Wicca, Heathenism, Witchcraft and so on, there are so many paths to walk, would it be possible to make music to cover all of it?

I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't find it particularly easy to find or get a hold of Pagan oriented music. One could argue that I can chant and drum and so on myself, and I guess I could and it would be all the more powerful, but sometimes I want to be lazy and just pop a CD in instead. And living in a dorm, music from a CD is less conspicuous than drumming and loud chanting, hehe :) Not that I am ashamed or still in the closet, I just feel that my magical work is personal, and there's not need for others to come round prying while I am trying to concentrate.

I'm not saying that pagan music does not exist, because it does, and I have *some* songs, but not enough! :)
And some other artists can be used, Enigma is always good, Loreena McKennit, Inkubus Sukkubus, meditation music. I just always wish for more :)

If anyone would care to share their favourite Pagan music and bands, I'd be really really happy! And I would try to hunt them down in shops and online :)
Hehe, perhaps Covenspace should make like Myspace and have music profiles, so Pagan bands can make themselves known and distribute some songs here :)

Well Hello everyone!

Greetings and Blessed Be :)

I've just completed my little profile wizard to-do list, so I thought I should briefly introduce myself :)
I can't stay for long, I have an essay that needs writing, hehe.

Anyways, I'm Anne-Sophie and I'm from Edinburgh, nice to be here, and I can't wait to snoop around some more with the groups and find some lovely people to befriend!

This is all I really have time for at the moment, I shall return! :D