Pneumatised!

MM,

It’s been a bit of a crazy week for me. I had my reiki 3 course on Saturday (January 21) and have been working on my manual and generally engaged in research.

I did manage to get to the do jang this week, even if it was just one day. Wednesday, I actually got there just in time to change and get ready for poomse class and ended up teaching the orange and green belts. I had two children to teach too. It’s strange how these two kids pick up things faster than the adults. Then I took the next class which was of course lots of kicking. But a good workout as always.

Now, I’m contemplating if I can get a run in today. Still lots of work to do, but I guess it will still be here when I get back. Today is going to be rough for a run since I haven’t ran for awhile. Wish me luck.

BB,
Cassandrah
Your local webmistress
Brigid’s Flame

MM,

I don’t make it a habit of promoting events, but this is on behalf of a good friend of mine who’s running the event.

If you’re in Toronto, Canada or the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), you may be interested in checking out this event. It will, I’m told, be a blast!

Here’s the event details:

A PANsexual Celebration
of Sensual Creativity!

Friday, February 10
The Vatikan, 1032 Queen West

Doors open at 8:00 p.m.
Show at 11:00 p.m.

More info at www.erosparty.ca

Advance tickets $12
($15 at the door)

Best costume prizes
Dress code
Dungeon

Tickets can be purchases at:
Birds & Bees, 6A Kensington Avenue
www.birdsandbees.ca
Clandestiny, 768 Queen Street East
www.puffmama.ca
Northbound Leather, 586 Yonge Street
www.northbound.com
The Occult Shop, 109 Vaughan Road

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!!!

Event poster links:

EROS-2006_Lighting_Promo_poster

Eros2006_email-flyer

Peace and love,
Cassandrah
Your local webmistress
Brigid’s Flame

MM,

I will be receiving my Reiki 3 (the so-called Master level, but I will be calling it a teacher level – please note that there is a difference between a Master and a teacher of something, even taekwondo makes a distinction) by the end of this month. In the meantime, I have finally gotten around to writing up my reiki manuals and my lesson plan as there is much information to cover. As soon as that is done, I will be offering reiki courses about once a month or every other month to start. Keep checking my website and my blog for more information and updates.

Healing blessings to all,
Cassandrah
Your local webmistress
Brigid’s Flame

This week so far has been busy. Since I’m working on my reiki manuals, I haven’t had much time to go running or to the gym – I’ve only had time for the do jang.

Tuesday, I went to gumdo and taekwondo class. Gumdo was a good class and since I hadn’t done a good gumdo class in awhile, my arms were suitably worked out. I think I remembered my kyo gum and ssang soo correctly. I will have to check sometime to make sure I didn’t miss any moves that’s supposed to be in the patterns. Taekwondo was “crazy kicking class”. Lots of kicking and some non-contact sparring. My knee was a little buggy because of the rain, but overall I wasn’t too tired and had some energy for sparring. Then we did lots of kicking drills. By the time I got home, my legs and arms were suitably worked out – not overly tired or sore which is good as it means I’m getting used to taking two classes in a row again.

Thursday, I went to the do jang for gumdo and taekwondo again. Same as last time, lots of kicking though not as much sparring and my knee wasn’t bothering me. 🙂

Been busy the past week writing my reiki manual, so still haven’t had a chance to go for a run. 🙁 I’m hoping tomorrow I can get a run in.

Cassandrah
Your local webmistress
Brigid’s Flame

Saturday, January 7

Had a black belt meeting, but we didn’t have any training. I decided to go to the gym afterwards. I did a half mile on treadmill (dreadmill!) and then stopped. My time was 4 minutes 20 seconds. I’m realizing it’s very hard to do a mile on the treadmill because it’s just sooo boring! Nothing interesting to see or look at when you run outside. Then I just did my normal weight routine.

Leg press
Hamstring flexor
Hip adductors
Hip abductors
Pull-ups (again military and parallel)
Dips
Chest press
Bar pulls (works the muscles next to the scapulae on the back)
Pectoral press
Shoulder fly
Shoulder lift
Tricep extensor
Leg lifts
Back extensor
Bicep curl

I also did some free weights – two shoulder exercises and wrist strengthening which I hadn’t done for awhile. I did some side cruncehs and my pushups. Then of course I did some stretching before I headed home.

Sunday, January 8

I went to the do jang. I warmed up with some slow kicking and then took class. It was a nice small class. Had time to work on all the kicks. I should really try to get up earlier on the weekends so I can train those days. Less busy and chaotic than on the weekdays and it would be nice to be able to stay home and get work done weekday nights.

Tuesday, January 10

I went running in the afternoon. I ran 1 mile to Yonge/Bloor via church. My time was 9 minutes 8 seconds. Then I did a half mile back from Park Road and Bloor. My time was a decent 4 minutes 57 seconds.

That evening I finally went to my gumdo class. I was taking a break for awhile and figured it was time I went back. Then I took taekwondo class after.

Wednesday, January 11

I went to the do jang again for taekwondo. It was patterns class and I ended up teaching. The next class we did patterns too, so I ended up teaching again.

Thursday, January 12

I did a half mile run to Park Road and Bloor. My time was a little slow – 4 minutes 40 seconds. Then I did a mile run back via Yonge/Church. This time was a little faster – 8 minutes 47 seconds.

Sunday, January 15

Too cold! I decided to try a run anyway. I forgot my scarf to cover my mouth with and with the cold hitting me hard, I only did a half mile run (my time was 4 minutes 46 seconds) and headed over to the gym – alternating between walking and running.

Leg press
Hamstring flexor
Hip adductors
Hip abductors
Pull-ups (again military and parallel)
Dips
Chest press
Bar pulls (works the muscles next to the scapulae on the back)
Pectoral press
Shoulder fly
Shoulder lift
Tricep extensor
Leg lifts
Back extensor
Bicep curl
Free weights – two shoulder exercises and wrist strengthening

Then I headed home. I made a few stops then ran home from Isabella and Yonge. Brr! It was cold. Definitely a winter day.

Cassandrah
Your local webmistress
Brigid’s Flame

MM,

I went for a mile run on Tuesday (January 3). It felt good to get out and run. I was a bit worried about it since I hadn’t gone for a run since mid-December, but I did fine. My time was 9 minutes 25 seconds. It was good warm-up for me as I was heading to the gym after for my usual weight training.

Leg press
Hamstring flexor
Hip adductors
Hip abductors
Pull-ups (again military and parallel)
Dips
Chest press
Bar pulls (works the muscles next to the scapulae on the back)
Pectoral press
Shoulder fly
Shoulder lift
Bicep curl
Tricep extensor
Leg lifts
Back extensor

I was also a little worried about the weight training since I hadn’t done much of that either (just some pushups and some free weights at home), but I continued pretty much where I left off.

I hadn’t been in the do jang yet. I’ve been a bit busy with other things to do. This month is going to be busy and I guess I’m trying to ensure some time for myself before that happens.

We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

BB,
Cassandrah
Your local webmistress
Brigid’s Flame

MM,

Finally, I present some of my best training drills for the basics of taekwondo under the taekwondo section of my website. Please see http://www.brigidsflame.com/goodtaekwondoist.html.

Please note that the article is written for those already training in taekwondo. It is not recommended that you try any of the exercises suggested in the article without any prior taekwondo training or without any guidance.

Hope you enjoy the article!

BB,
Cassandrah
Your local webmistress
Brigid’s Flame

MM,

Time to welcome in the new year with my first blog entry of 2006. Wow! Time really does fly. I still remember the big new year’s for 2000. It’s now more than half a decade later. To start off the second half of this decade, I think I’ll do a quick run-down of major changes in my life since 2000.

1. I’m in a wonderful relationship despite being bitterly cynical from previous failed relationships. 😀 Of course, I found someone who was equally bitterly cynical. Somehow we managed to find together the cloud in the silver lining… er… wait… is it the silver lining in the cloud? 😉

2. My overall wellbeing is probably at its best so far in my life. I’ve always felt emotional/mentally and spiritually strong, but over the past 5 years I’ve also become physically strong. It has been my goal to be as physically strong as I am inside. (Though I have to say this path has been one of the hardest for me. I had my emotional ups and downs, even becoming for awhile a little numb with life. I also had to deal with physical injury, having surgery, and recovering.)

3. In relation to spiritual wellbeing, I found a wonderful spiritual community of friends who somehow without knowing were there for me while I grew more spiritually. They were also there for me when I had familial problems and gave me the support to deal with those issues.

4. In relation to physical wellbeing, I received a black belt in taekwondo (summer 2004) and am now working towards my 2nd dan black belt. Through this I found an excellent way to keep fit as well as challenge my mind and my spirit. I have also started learning a sword art as well as learned a bit of other martial arts. As well through martial arts, I have met some of the most interesting and wonderful people.

5. Career-wise, I have changed careers and moved out of the corporate realm to working for myself. This is a challenge and there is still so much more for me to do. The most important step was breaking out of feeling that I had to follow what everyone expected of me and to just do my “thing”. Since then, I have created this website with a clear purpose and managed to maintain it.

6. Last and most important, I have found my path in life. Each year it seems I’ve moved closer and closer to… my destiny. While I do believe in free choice, I also believe in something called “true will”. This is different from free will which is what I call free choice. True will refers to the path your soul needs to take in life. Denying your true will will lead to unhappiness and discontent while following your true will will lead to fulfullment and peace. Everyone has free choice – do you choose your true path or do you deny your soul its peace?

Now for some minor changes since 2000…

1. I now have three wonderful cats instead of just one adorable feline. To get to this though, my pretty princess had a few litters. Sadly, I had to give away all but one of those kittens and just have my three little felines. My male feline is all love and I think strangely he kept reminding me of how loved I was whenever I was in doubt. For that, I just have to worship his amazing felineness. The two females I have are just cute as pies when they want to be and have kept a smile on my face.

2. I moved a few times. Actually, I moved back to my mom’s and then fate stepped in, I met my sweetheart and moved in with him. 🙂

I think that’s all on my list so far. Probably more major changes than minor ones.

Now for some prophesying. Hm… I’m going to base my next year predictions based on how my new year is spent.

1. I spent some time connecting with my goddess and the spirit.
2. I spent time with my sweetheart.
3. I made a wonderful breakfast for my sweetheart and me.
4. I spent some time with my cats.
5. I wrote on my blog.
6. I did some exercise.
7. I did some reading.
8. I’m going to go to my mom’s and pick up the rest of my stuff.
9. I plan on working on some projects of mine.

Based on this, I guess during the next year I will be spending lots of time with my sweetheart and my cats again. I will connect with my goddess and spirit more often. I will be writing on my blog and working on my website. I will be reading things that interest me. I will be reading Robert Jordan (hooked on that series now, started book 3 today after a busy two weeks of working on some other projects) and other fantasy novels. I will continue my exercise regimen. I will be trying to finish some projects. I will be creating an atmosphere of true love for my relationship to grow more. Finally, I will be letting go of much of the past. (I’m clearing out some of the stuff I have at mom’s.)

Sounds like a busy year ahead. I should probably get some rest before the year really gets to a start. Hm… good rest in the upcoming year sounds like a good prophesy to me.

BB,
Cassandrah
Your local webmistress
Brigid’s Flame