Author Archives: Terrie Brookins

May you never hunger – Pray ~ Train

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When I was young, foolish and freshly married the first time, I experienced something I thought I would never know.  I went hungry.

Granted, it was only about a week. However, those seven days of nothing have stuck with me forever. No one should ever have to go hungry.

I remember being a kid at about ten years old where I started the growth spurts. I ate everything that wasn’t nailed down. I remember my father saying that as long as I ate something he didn’t care.   My mom was silently furious. I’m pretty sure I ate some things she was saving for herself. Sorry Mom!

Yet with the background from my parents: my mother: the first of eight siblings, my father: growing up with Rickett’s and having a sibling die of malnutrition, I am extremely spoiled when it came to food. My parents were on the stricter side and fair. I ate was what provided or I didn’t eat at all. And they always provided for me.  The feeling stuck.

That gnawing in my belly. That burning anger that I couldn’t assign a reason to besides privilege. The frustration as I saw many people tossing out food that was still good if prepared properly.  Never again.

I found myself at my church. They had a food bank. I had no idea how to even ask for something to eat. Eyes down and shaking, I remember just standing next to Ms. Norma, the food bank worker. Ashamed, I couldn’t even ask her. She took pity on me. She filled out the forms for me, made me sign at the bottom and handed me a box of food.

donationbox

That was the best damn tuna sandwich I’ve ever had in my life.

I spent the next few months working at that food bank and with my church. No one knew it then, but I was determined to earn every morsel of food I put in my mouth. I smiled warmly to everyone who came in to get a box. I helped them with the forms. I knew what it was like.

Now I am older, still foolish and married for the second time.  I struggle with my weight. Why? Because I know that there are people out there hungry – more than I was all that time ago. Some days I don’t eat. Some days I can’t eat. Most days I force myself to eat. I have to honor my body and the gift that Ms. Norma gave me all that time ago.  I can do more.

Here are some facts about hunger in Canada:

“Each month, close to 850,000 Canadians are assisted by food banks, and 36.4% of those helped are children and youth. … Who is turning to food banks?  There is no single, typical profile.  The people helped include families with children, employed people whose wages are not sufficient to cover basic living essentials, individuals on social assistance, and Canadians living on a fixed income, including people with disabilities and seniors.”

http://www.foodbankscanada.ca/Learn-About-Hunger/About-Hunger-in-Canada.aspx

That not clear enough for you? How about a picture? HungerCount Infographic 2014:

http://www.foodbankscanada.ca/hungercount

http://www.foodbankscanada.ca/hungercount

That’s right.  Your next-door neighbours could have enough to pay the bills – but not eat. More than likely, you’ll never know about it.  Here’s how you can help:

Support your local food bank.

Here are some of the items that are always needed:

  1. Pasta (canned or dry) and pasta sauces.
  2. Canned and frozen meats and fish
  3. Meat alternatives (peanut butter, soy, assorted nuts)
  4. Canned goods (beans, soups, and stews)
  5. Dairy (fresh, canned, and powdered milk)
  6. Canned vegetables and fruit
  7. Whole grain cereals
  8. Infant foods and baby formula
  9. Bathroom tissue and diapers
  10. Personal hygiene products

Moreover, if you are one of the invisible many who are struggling to put food on the table AND a roof overhead, USE THE FOOD BANK.

Here are the food banks that I know of:

* Brock Community Food Bank – 1-877-406-8723
* Beaverton – 1-877-406-8723
* Cannington/Sunderland – 1-877-406-8723

Clarington East:

* Newcastle – 905-987-1418
* Loaves and Fishes–Uxbridge – 905-852-6262
* Operation Scugog – 905-985-7271

* Salvation Army:
Ajax – 905-427-7123
Bowmanville – 905-623-2185
Oshawa – 905-723-7422
Whitby – 905-430-3454

* Seventh Day Adventists–Oshawa – 905-433-8800
* Simcoe Hall Settlement House–Oshawa – 905-728-7525
* St Paul’s on the Hill–Pickering – 905-839-9537

I know the shame.  I know the frustration.  I know the fear of stigmatization. My friends, you can fight all of that better of a full stomach. If you can’t seem to get to the bank. PLEASE reach out to your friends. We’ll help as best we can!

Blessings

Rev. Terrie

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It’s a SMALL world ~ Pray

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I often joke about having a class or series of posts about things the books don’t teach you about being pagan. Here’s one of those gems.

Your pagan community is actually small. Really really small.

Small World

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forget the distance on a map or the number of members in a group. It’s all the active members, you know, the 15 people who do everything, that make up your community. Guess what? They know everything and possess extremely long memories.  Know what else? They know key members in other pagan communities across the globe. See where I’m going with this?

The caveat is here: When working on any project or within any group, you really should be on your best behaviour. The people you work with in mundane tasks and magic ones will remember every transgression, lie, and episode of rude behaviour you’ve ever done. More than likely they’ll never say a word to you directly. However, you’ll find that you don’t get invited to parties or events any more and possibly shunned at public events.

Oh, and saying “Blessings” or “Namaste” after every message doesn’t get you points either.

Just do good work, say good words and make good magic!

Rev. Terrie

The First Full Moon ~ Pray

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Seven days ago, something wonderful happened. After five long years of study and several months of angst ridden testing, I became a Corellian Priestess, First Degree.

Terrie ~ Corellian Tradition - Mother Temple - Dancers of Shakti Temple - First Degree

 

 

 

 

 

 

Excitement and relief rolled through me. I got to announce to my fellow pagan peers that I finally reached one of many goals. I quipped “Now the real work starts.” And has it ever.

Two days ago, I did a single card Tarot reading for myself. Let it be known that I don’t have the best of experiences do this. However, that day was interesting. The card I drew? The Star.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My first thought was: “Seriously?”  My reasoning was simple. See that Star?  I have that tattooed on my right shoulder to represent my highest goals and dreams. I got that tattoo in 2000 as I graduated from college and had no idea what a pagan was.  Now, a lifetime later, there she was, the Star card shining back at me as a promise of a better future where the Universes is on *my* side for a change.

Oh it gets better.

Now we here. My first full moon as a bona fide priestess. I’m racked with migraines. I can’t keep my food down. I’ve lost one of my favourite bracelets and not even the Fey have decided to retrieve it for me.  Just when I thought that maybe – just maybe – I’m not cut out for this work, a few more signs came my way. Make that three signs:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s right. I saw with these four eyes, every one of my animal totems – in the same day. Hawk flew along side me as I drove to work. Raven and all his buddies played outside my window at work. Coyote gave a whisper of a reminder that he was still around as he crossed the road in front of my car on the drive home – to disappear in the brush and snow in seconds.

Yeah, I think I’m gonna be ok.  So begins a new journey with a new look and focus.
☮ T