Phoenix Rising

The last of her ego had gone out in a dancing fire of spectacular flames
Grey smoke emitted from a large smoldering pile of blacken ash

In the silence she did not mind her nonexistence
In fact it was comforting to be sill
Like mist rising off a quiet morning lake
Her exhalation sent another swirling of smoke into
Into the bright blue sky

She watched fascinated as the smoke took form
The ashen pile rustled and shifted
She became aware of herself
It was a strange comforting feeling
to be in a body no longer weighed down by pain or fear

Wings quivered on her back
Nodding and shifting her head from side to side
She blinked with child-like amazement
At the crystal sun washed day
Was the sky always this blue?
She pushed against the ashen waste
Rising above the ground

In that instant she saw others bound to the earth
Unwilling to release their own pain or fears
Sadden she froze

A bird sang out
Sunlight shone clear
A rainbow from a drop of dew
On a spider’s web
The rain is over
“It is not your fate to be small
Nor do you serve or honor others by doing so.”
Whispered the voice of Spirit.

She closed her eyes
Her heart spoke the truth
Pumping her powerful wings
She pushed skyward
Like a bird she flew

The Phoenix Reborn
Honoring my joy honors me
Honoring my truth honors Spirit
Honoring my joy honors me
Honoring my truth honors Spirit

Excerpt from The Enchanted Diary: A Teen's Guide to Magick and Life by Jamie Wood

Life's Twisty Turns

Recently I accepted my first j-o-b outside of the home and hearth in twelve years. It was not an easy decision. Part of me (the hard-driving Capricorn part) felt like a failure: my writing had failed to sustain me as I had hoped it would from the moment I believed I could actually make it as an author. Afterall, The Wicca Cookbook sold out of it's first printing in three months and soon afterwards Hollywood called and I was off starring in a cooking pilot called The Cauldron for the SCI-Fi station. Then came a string of books - seven in all, with contributions in three others.

What with my debut novel, Rogelia's House of Magic, being released very soon, I wanted to hold on a bit longer. But I have chosen the road of private school for my boys - a place that has a nasty knack for raising tuition every year - and it was time for this faery put her feet on the ground - if only for a moment.

I was scared that the flourescent walls would suck away my life force. That the people at work would be so mundane to turn my brain to mush. I have come to discover that the resistance was actually more draining than the actual job. I not only found a job where I can write about interesting things, I have found a boss whom I knew the last time I walked into an office. She has crystals in her jewelry and on her shelves. She has bought many of my books and is proud of my accomplishments rather than jealous.

Interestingly, the very institution for which I now work, Chapman University, has a guiding spirit who also embraces the very things upon which I find most dear. As put forth by President Jim Doti: '“Truth” also refers to values such as honesty, integrity and courage that form the core of one’s moral development, and to what our university’s guiding spirit, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, called “reverence for life.”'

A reverence for life is the foundation of my work no matter whether four walls or four directions surround and sustain me. I am grateful for trusting and taking this latest leap of faith. Hopefully I will remember this latest fall into grace when I question the Universe and it's twisty turns.

California Comadrazo

We had a most amazing time at the California Comadrazo!

I met up with Nora Comstock, Josefina Lopez, Ligiah Villalobos, Mary Castiilo, Nancy Marmolejo, Helena Pasquarelli, so many amazing women. We had such a great time.

In addition to premiering my book trailer for Rogelia's House of Magic. My good buddy, Melinda Rodriquez and I performed our Goddess Drumming & Inspirational Spoken Word Presentation

Let me tell you about it! Our presentation began with a four directions invocation in Cherokee, Spanish, and English languages. I performed my poem Phoenix Rising from The Enchanted Diary to the accompaniment of Melinda's passionate drumming. The powerful wrap up included a motivational audience-interactive drum and chant that left everyone feeling their immense inner strength and joy. It was awesome!!!

Hope to see you all at the next gig

What is Magic? A Return to Oneness

People ask me about magic - a lot. What is magic? They expect it to be about something spooky, creepy, or dark. They expect it to be about manipulation. For me, magic is only about being connected to yourself, your environment, and people. This includes 1) a meaningful relationship with nature, 2) trusting serendipity, coincidence, and your intuition, 3) believing and empowering your ability to attract a joyful life, and 4) connecting with the spirit world, particularly those loved ones who have died.

By now, you may have come to realize, I write mainly autobiographical work. It is how I stay open, loving, and whole. So here is my example of the best kind of magic there is. This January, I was looking forward to doing family constellation work, a healing practice, around my issues with my absentee father. While I waited for my schedule to match the practitioner's schedule, I journaled about my feelings and talked it over with friends who had fathers who were not around much during their childhood. I did a Broken Agreement workshop with my friend, Victoria. I wrote a story about looking for a missing father for a Valentine's Day Chica Lit Blog Tour called A Box of Valentines (see below) I tried to find my father through whatever means I had available to me. I hadn't seen him in 14 years and had no information as to where he could be.

I didn't know it at the time, but as I worked through my decision to make peace with him, my father had begun his transition and return to Oneness. In his last days, I believe he was reaching out to me. I believe I heard him calling, and accepted his love and began this relationship of forgiveness and acceptance with him, even though I didn't know what or why I was doing what I was doing.

My father made his transition on Good Friday, March 21. I found out on April 1 - All Fool's Day. I spoke with long lost aunts and uncles - 30 years had passed since I saw or spoke with them. It has been a mixed pleasure, being reunited with my father through his brothers and sisters. They have provided answers as to why he was gone for so long and showed me things about my dad I never knew. He made a really cool pukashell, hematite and crystal necklace I got to keep. He loved nature, especially the ocean, and had practiced Buddhism and yoga. However the most important thing I discovered was that he had always loved me. He regretted leaving when I was young and had never forgiven himself enough to ask my forgiveness. But he loved me.

The day I found about him is not just a mere coincidence, unrelated to anything. All Fool's Day is Pan's Day. My father was an ultimate Peter Pan - The Fool who makes you learn to trust life because he teaches you how to land on your feet. His playthings are the elements. For him, the world is pure joy. This is my father’s message to me.

But honestly, at the same time, not being able to make that connection on the physical plane has been difficult. For as much as we say we can still have that relationship with our loved ones when they’ve crossed over, you miss the hug – particularly the one you rarely got. And since being away from the intensity of hearing that my father loved me and the joyful tears of my relatives, I’ve moved a bit into uncertainty. I began to doubt if my father had cared at all. Perhaps this relationship with him isn’t real? Am I just making it up because it feels good?

So today, in an interview about Rogelia’s House of Magic, the interviewer, asked me lots of wonderful “off the record” questions about people in her life, especially her abuelita, whom she loved dearly and had passed two years ago. She sometimes feels abuelita nearby or dreams about her, but wasn’t sure if it was really her beloved abuelita or not. She could ask for a sign I suggested, however as she told me about all the ways her grandmother made her presence known (the feeling of a hand on her shoulder, a word of comfort during a difficult moment) it became very obvious to me that of course her abuelita was nearby. I was convinced of this truth. You must trust in the unseen, like you trust in love, I said adamantly. You must believe in this joy that you have from her spirit. Then I heard the echo of my words and they seemed as much for me as for her.

You know how it is, that we end up giving the advice we need most?

Paying attention to the signs, feeling that connection, following your instinct, living a serendipitous life in great joy and expectation of the next wonderful “coincidence” is all magic will ever be to me. And you know what? I can't even twitch my nose if I wanted to. I don't need to. The magic swirls around me everyday.

Contest for Teens Winner

I posted a writing contest with the question, Why is Magic So Popular?

The winner is Olivia. Here is her essay.

I think there are a couple of different things that are happening in the modern world today that all contribute to magic. First off, there is the media. Such television shows like Charmed, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer involve magic (even though it's not really like modern-day magic, it still has some facts right), as well as movies, like The Good Witch, and many books for young adults, including The Teen Spell Book by Jamie Wood or Teen Witch, by Silver Ravenwolf.Secondly, I think it's the age we live in, the Age of Aquarius. Many people, young and old, are discovering themselves more and more often, finding out who they truly are, and for many, that includes finding magic, and using it as a self-empowering tool that can help them on their path. Magic is used by people all over the globe, and it's making a positive change in the world! Blessed be!

* * *

Additional information about what teens think about magic and Wicca can be found on the MTV website. Check it out http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1584096/20080325/id_0.jhtml

Four Crows: A Spiritual Center

Today, my friends, Nila and Daryl, allowed us to film for several hours at their store, Four Crows: A Spiritual Center. We took over the store with lights, kids, food, clothes, etc. They were such amazing good sports about it. I'm so grateful to have such good friends.

Please go visit their store or website. You abolsutely need to check out their amazing Spirit Jewelry. Daryl, a Sundancer and Pipe Carrier for the Lakota, creates the jewelry with the spirit of animals that coincide with birth months - like astrological jewlery, but this is really cool because he makes each unique piece on site and the jewelry is more like a totem of the animal that is already protecting and guiding you. So far, he has created a badger, wolf, bear necklaces. Or receive a one of kind, knock you between the eyballs kind of spiritual readings from Nila. A few years ago, Nila and I took ten women on a Goddess Retreat to Kadavu, Fiji. She's a very powerful woman who will help you find the power to create a life of great happiness. http://www.fourcrowscenter.com/

The woman you see in the pink, behind the girls, is Lori Stoll. My new best friend : ) - at least she's the person I talk most to everyday. She's directing this book trailer for me. We're working on her forthcoming book, The Jew and The Inuit Girl. It's her memoir, detailing the story of a celebrity photographer who adopts an Inuit teenager. It will blow your socks off. Really.

We are taking off Sunday, but will shoot again Monday. More pics to come. Rogelia's House of Magic is definitely coming to life.

Day Two of Filming

I can now add a few more titles to my resume while in the making of the book trailer for Rogelia's House of Magic: casting, co-director, craft services, animal corraler, still photographer taker (there's a more professional name for this, but I forgot), and hair and makeup artist. Also, not sure if this counts. but I was also Set Mama. How much fun is this???? Let me tell you, I'm loving every minute of it.

Now this may sound absolutely silly to some of you and totally respectiful to others, and of course, somewhere in between for most of you. (I'm finally getting the hang of the idea that life does not have to be either black or white.) I believe strongly in supporting IMAGINATION: the ability to visualize an image in your head. I also believe that visual media can sometimes, oftentimes, provides images, lasting, permanent images, while literary works encourage imagination, images that are fleeting, changeable, more vapor and yet strong in feeling. So even though I am totally intrigued by the idea of seeing the 3D image of my story come to life, I want to preserve the right of the reader to imagine their own version of Fern, Marina, Xochitl, and Rogelia. That said, I think we did a pretty good job of casting. Our cast is beautiful, professional, and hard-working.