Wed. Dec. 31, 2025: Sliding Out of the Old Year Literally
image courtesy of pixabay.com Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Waxing Moon
Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
New Year’s Eve
Cloudy and cold
Happy New Year’s Eve to you! May you have the night for which you wish, be it social or quiet.
We hope for quiet, here in this house!
The past few days, I’ve read the most recent memoir by a well-known author who set herself up to be adored, and then pretends to be humble and fails miserably. Her writing is beautiful, but I’ve encountered her several times in person, and don’t like her. I keep my distance. This is not someone I want in my life, much as I respect the career she’s built and admire her writing. This memoir is beautifully written, made me dislike her even more, and, oh, she’s “found God.” After spending decades riding the goddess wave and profiting from it, she figured to cash in on the evangelical front and “find God.” Blech.
I am not a fan of the way organized religion is often weaponized, especially in this country at the moment. I do, however, have several friends with deep faith in their chosen organized religion who actually walk their talk, and I have enormous respect for them and their beliefs. I do not have respect for someone who cashes in on whatever religious or spiritual trend is popular at the time.
Another author who set herself up for decades as oriented in women’s spirituality when it was profitable also “found God” in her latest book (which otherwise re-treads everything her first book and all subsequent books have, under their various titles). I don’t live in either of these individual’s skins. Maybe they genuinely changed belief systems. But since they’re making money from that switch, I am skeptical.
Both of these individuals, for decades, perform as being kind and generous with great knowledge and wisdom, and Teachers (rather than teachers). Yet each time I’ve encountered them in person, I’ve witnessed them treating people like absolute crap, which, in my eyes, makes them hypocrites. Once is a bad day, and we all have those. But I’ve watched this be consistent patterns with both of them.
They have not treated me badly, because I haven’t orbited close enough to allow it. I’ve trusted my instincts and kept my distance. Although when I was able to intervene and cut them off at the metaphorical knees in one of their inappropriate rants at someone, I have. And, like all bullies, they back down.
On a happier note, I managed to get the sticky thrift store label off the pot I bought for less than $3 a few days ago, and got to the maker’s mark. Researching it, I was quite stunned. I was right, it is pewter (and I have to look up how to best care for it). This piece in particular was made by a highly regarded firm in Albany in the mid-1800’s. Researching some listings, similar pieces are selling for anywhere from $95-$220. I have no plans to sell it; I will simply honor it and care for it. I am, however, going to learn more about the story behind the company that made it, because it sounds interesting.
I received three decks for the holidays: the NO BAD DAYS affirmations deck, which is very 1960’s mod and fun; THE MYSTIC STORYTELLER TAROT (which includes pencils and notebooks and typewriters in the artwork); and the GREEN WITCH’S ORACLE DECK, by the same author who did the GREEN WITCH’S TAROT, which I love and use often. I’m looking forward to getting to know the decks better in the coming months.
Yesterday morning was stormy. I did my work as best I could, crossing my fingers that the power wouldn’t go out, although I can still use my laptop offline until the battery runs out. Or write in longhand. We have the skills, people, and we adjust as needed.
I wrote the opening of BETTING MAN, massaged it a few times, popped it into the back of the VICIOUS full, and got that off to my editor. Only a day early, but early! I set up the tracking sheets, so I don’t drop any of the details as I go.
By then, it was well after lunch time. I got some work done on the ghostwriting, but I’m not where I want to be with it, so I may do some more work on it today or Friday.
I walked up to yoga. While we were in class, the snow started (it wasn’t supposed to start until after 7, after I got home). I was glad I hadn’t driven; maneuvering out of that tiny parking lot with everyone slip sliding would have been tough.
Unfortunately, I fell walking home, on sidewalk ice that hadn’t been cleared away that I couldn’t see under the snow. Feet right out from under me, landed on my back, glasses flew off, hit my head.
For a minute, I worried I broke something and only wasn’t in pain because of shock. But I found my glasses, tried all the bits and pieces, and nothing was broken. I was especially worried about my neck, but I was so wrapped up between a turtleneck and the hood of a sweatshirt rolled up under my coat, the hood of my coat, and a scarf that I was okay. In fact, I have more mobility and less pain in my neck than I’ve had in weeks, as though I had a chiropractic adjustment. Go figure.
I didn’t say anything to my mom when I got home. Either she would worry and ask the same questions over and over again, or she’d forget and ask a different set of questions over and over again, and I wasn’t up to dealing with either of those scenarios. I cooked dinner, read in the evening, monitored how I felt. I was a little sore, but fine, and no headache or double vision or lump on the back of my head or anything like that. I was lucky. That it wasn’t much worse, and that I’d basically bubble wrapped myself in puffy fabrics for the trek. I was more shaken up than actually hurt.
So on brand for 2025. Glad to kick this year out the door, in many ways, although there was also a lot of good.
Slept reasonably well, don’t remember the dreams, so hopefully that means June will be quiet. I woke up a couple of times feeling sore, but fell back asleep pretty fast, and woke up after 6:30. Tessa Was Not Amused, and even Bea was outside my room squeaking.
Fed everyone, usual morning routine. I’m a little sore, but really, fine. The morning yoga wasn’t a problem, and it’s good to keep moving. I had to go out on the back balcony – because of the high winds, part of the tarp came unfastened over the bench, and I had to resecure it.
This morning, I have to do a quick trip to the grocery store to pick up a few things like the salmon for tonight’s dinner, an orange for tomorrow’s sauce, and a few things for a Thai chicken peanut butter soup I want to do in the crockpot over the weekend.
I hope to get some writing done, on both BETTING and on the ghostwriting. I will make some devilled eggs, and bake a cranberry coffee cake. We stay up until midnight, and watch the ball drop over Times Square.
I have a greeting post scheduled for tomorrow, but I’m not posting a regular blog. We will catch up on Friday, though, when it is 2026!
#fall #perceptions #tarot #writing #Yoga