December Student of the Month? Are we crazy talking about it in November? No, there is a reason behind the madness this time.

Each year in December we let the students vote for who they think should be the student or students the most deserving.

One month out of the year we give you the pressure to decide!

When you are sending in your nominee please let us know why they should be the student of the month.

Please get these in by the last day of November.

Do not nominate yourself either. haha

        

One of the many other questions that we receive are not about Orovo detox but about having a familiar. Asking do you have to have a cat or a familiar at all.

Actually the answer is no to both. There are many that have no familiars at all for one reason or the other. Not having a familiar is something that is a personal choice. And that choice may change at any time.

You do not have to have a cat either. That is just the stereo typical of all familiars that has been associated with the path for hundreds of years. Frogs is another familiar that has been made to be thought of as well. ")

Out of our cats I would say that only one is magically inclined. Choosing only to come up to where I do any workings when I am in the middle of one. Sitting and watching. Then after finished she leaves as quietly as she arrived. All other of the cats share no inclination at joining a magical circle at all.

Years ago I had a dog that was perfect. But after she passed I have not ever had a replacement of that caliber. My dog, Star has no magical qualities other than to beg or walk all over the tarot cards that I have out. She just does not care to join. As a familiar she is not one at all.

If it is your time to have a familiar you will know it. The familiar will come to you out of no where. Whether it is a cat, a rat or even a rabbit.

A familiar is a familiar

        

We are sad to announce that one of our Student Advisers will be leaving us. He is graduating his third year (degree) in February. Under our terms of service you must be a second year student to be an adviser.

Jason has been wonderful with the first year students. Using his wit along with his vast amount of knowledge to help students with their questions. Unlike using a diet pill it is not a temporary position. haha

We have a list of those that fit the bill right now and will sending them applications if they want to apply. In order to keep it open and honest we would like any of the second degree students to send in any questions or ask for an application if they are interested as well.

Applications will be available Tuesday through out the end of December. A formal training period of one month is needed before taking over the position

Although Jason can not be replaced we hope to add our next adviser to enhance this important position.

        

Often times people worry about the what if they change their path, what should they think? It is not as simple as changing to HDMI cable it goes further than that.

During our travels our path may change until the right one is chosen. We should in fact explore the various paths with open hearts and ears as each path has something wonderful to offer us. Bringing us closer to the destination that we need to be at.

You might find that you are straying but are you really? Or are you only traveling another branch of that large oak tree that is in our view?

I know that I have traveled down many, many paths only to find my way back to the original path I started on. But I came back more centered, knowledgeable and content. I came away with more appreciation of those that were on that path I ventured on.

We may not really be changing paths. We might be making our way to the correct path while we are venturing out. The paths are all exciting to walk upon. Be adventurous. Enjoy that time exploring.

Your path will be there in front of you when you are there.

        

After a group meeting it was decided that during this years Yule break the web site will in fact be re-designed. We will all be working with speed and running around trying to utilize the time off to do all this. Hopefully with all the running around no one will get Plantar Fasciitis!

With shopping and family events that are coming up the vote was in that this was the only time that all sites could in fact be taken down.

In the past it has been in our experience that during Yule there are a slower amount of submissions of work by students. Knowing this sites that are taken down may not be noticed as much. Or so we hope.

Each individual student site will take an hour to two hours to complete. Maybe more. The plan is to figure three hours flat for each student site. This will take into account errors and other things that may come up.

We will notify students the week all this will happen!

        

We offer our students different ways in which to gain knowledge. They do have to go to the Outer Banks in order to find what they are looking for.

One thing that we are noticing with the new students that have enrolled and that is they are doing the majority of the material and yet ignoring two very important aspects of their first unit of study.

The terms and definitions section is very important to you. You will learn the common terms that you will hear and see the remainder of the time you are on your path. Being able to know what they are will help you more than you know.

The reading material is also of importance. Reading lets you explore further the path you are on. We have chosen these materials with care and find these readings actually enhance your learning experiences.

Please note that you will not be able to progress to the second section of Unit 1 if the terms are not completed. If you are one of those students, start those terms and definitions.

        

Over the weekend there seemed to be a major glitch with our email account server. It seemed that it was down for a vast part of the weekend since Friday morning until late Saturday night. We have had this email server for so long that we were not worried about it not coming back up. Since it did we did not have to look into a new company like we were forced to with the auto insurance research we did.

All your accounts remain live and nothing was lost. Once the down time started we made sure that nothing was sent to anyone. This way we did not loose anything of importance.

We do apologize for the down time but we have no control over the server that hosts all email accounts

        

Since Tuesday was a holiday the office was closed early. Most of the students were either home enjoying time off or they were working

We have had numerous emails about hours and correspondences. Let's go over this again. This is mainly for those that are new and need to jot this down somewhere.

Our hours: Monday - Friday   9 - 4
Closed:      Saturday - Sunday

In answering emails and corrections

Over the weekend if a student sends in a test or quiz this goes in a queue. These are all graded, scored, updated on student sites manually. Corrections may not be finished until mid week or even the end of the week depending upon the amount that is submitted. There are times when there are 200 submissions for a weekend.

Emails that are sent are handled the same way. Please be sure to send to the appropriate department. If sent to another department this may delay an answer. If sending billing questions to student adviser there will be a delay. Emails are answered as they came in. Taking Friday afternoon first and ending on Sunday night. Answers may take 24-36 hours.

Please do not send in repeated emails about the same question as this does create a delay and also a back log for us to go through.

Remember we are human and can do only so much at any given time

        

Over the next few weeks I will be changing hosting company's. I am looking into two actually to house all my sites that I have. Researching to find a good, reliable company is such a chore. I think that is one reason that I have put it off for so long. Many of you may remember two months ago when I was complaining about this hosting company that I have now. If not, I have been complaining but to lazy to really transfer over to a new website hosting company.

When you are looking for a web host you have a couple of options. Run a search and read the hundreds of hundreds sites that pop up. Tedious and boring. Plus how do you know what they are saying is truthful? You do not at all.
Secondly, you can ask your friends, associates or anyone that has a web presence. Last year at this time I would have told anyone to sign up where I am now. Pssh, not now though for many reasons.

Taking into account that you have researched and asked everyone and anyone, you still have the decision to make on your own.

What to do? You might do what I have been doing and visiting the site Web Hosting Geeks which has reviews, statistics and all kinds of information regarding the different web hosting services.
You will find an easy to follow list of the sites that have been rated by a star system along with real people that have written their own opinion of what the hosting company is all about and the way in which the services are.

I read this review on a web hosting company. Visit there to see for yourself what a review looks like.

Changing web hosting should not be a nightmare. With this service that is offered it no longer has to be. All information that I look for is right there at my finger tips.

How lucky is that to find this site when I needed it?

        

One of the main questions that I have been asked is how do we know that the Gods and Goddesses are listening. A very potent and tricky question to answer. One that has been attempted over the ages of time.

It is something the individual must feel alone. Not something that is told to them by others. A true feeling of warmth, comfort and trust is felt. During times that are turbulent and calm. The feeling is there. Sometimes it is harder to discern it is there but none the less it is.

During sessions of counseling I have attempted to comfort those with the feeling of what I call it" loss of the Gods". It is the feeling brought on by circumstances that are beyond our control and seem to be over whelming us. Those times when we are at our lowest and darkest moments. Not seeing the eternal light that is flowing around us. The light is there, it is us that is blinded to its glow. We are so wrapped in our dismay that we do not see nor feel the warmth. It is cold and dank . The feeling of being alone in our situation causes us to bemoan to our Gods and Goddesses as to where they are. Why are they letting this happen to their children? Is there no help to be given by them?

Help us to help ourselves

Time and time again you have either read or heard me tell of our having to help ourselves in all situations. Gathering strength from within to begin the process of re-entering the living. Solving the problems on our own. Our Gods and Goddesses lend a whisper in our ears for guidance, yet it is not heard by those in need. They are ignoring the whisper. Worse they are caught up in the yelling and ranting that it is not just to be going through this or that. Yet it is. It is set forth that we go though trying times. We are given tests to strengthen our personal will. Gaining from what they our deities has brought to us.
The help they are giving is nothing at times. It may sadden them to see us in despair, but they know that when the end is there we will have gained three more steps on pur given path.

Seek and Ye Shall Find

Signs abound. One must look, feel and see. Ignoring them hinders your personal progress to enlightenment. We must grasp each new trial with head strong tenacity. Focus on what the problem is and solve it as best we can. Requesting signs and help from our Gods should be done. Not to lay it all on them though. That is the reason we are here. To learn. To experience life. To fix what is needed.
Every where you are there are signs if you are aware. Being in despair does not mean you should totally sink your head in the sand. Keep an eye and ear open. You might be surprised of what you will see or hear. They send us guiding inspiration when asked. It is our fault when it is not received. Our fault? Yes, for we have chosen during these times to be ignorant of what we have learned by past experiences. As each new trial and tribulations is different, there is generally a common ground shared by the problems which occur in your life.

Forgive and Forget

If this is the common theme to your personal dilemma, forgiving and forgetting then work on it. Are you truly forgiving both parties? One person I asked this of answered that they did forgive the party. I in turn asked them did they forgive their selves for forgiving them? They after thought smiled and said "No". Forgiving and forgetting is not only for a person, but things also. Forgiving that something bad has happened in your life and forgetting it happened. Holding onto it for future reference though. You may need to go back and re-think again if you find that you are in the same boat again. Learn to forgive and forget inward also. Sometimes a guilt is there for forgiving because you really didn’t want to in the first place. It’s ok to do this. You will be surprised at how healing this can be.

Holding Tight

Are you holding onto the past? Let it go as you would a wild bird that has been caged. Look at the bird (your problematic past) grieve that it will soon be gone. Let the cage door hang wide open. See the bird leaving you? This is your way of letting go of what you are holding onto.
Grasping tightly to something or someone is a terrible emotional pain that we often do. We feel the need to hold tight to whatever it is. We claim it, own it and have to have it. Do we really? We are brought people and things into our lives every day. Each may have a lesson for us. Long term friends and associates are the hardest to say good bye to. Especially if an intimate relationship is in the process of leaving. You will find that you may grasp on, holding ever so tightly for fear of the unknown. Our deities has helped us with bringing these into our lives and now will help us to let them go.
Let them go. Grieve freely. Begin to heal yourself. Knowing that your Gods/Goddesses are there with a hand on your shoulder sharing your pain. You learned something and they know it wont be long before you truly see it. I am sure they smile at that thought.

Life Goes On. So must we

For those that have chosen the Path Each knows that deep down they are never alone. The guidance. The warmth. The Love. Its all there for us. We just need to seek inner solace sometimes that our free will is important not only to us but them. Entrust upon them your love and they will do the same. It is up to you to do the hard parts. That is to look with eyes that see. Hear with ears that listen. Love with hearts already filled with love.

Whether it be good or bad times it matters little. Our deities love us with each day that passes. They are there when we need or in some cases think we do not need them.

When you have reached times of despair always trust and remember.

They remain with us when others have left us alone.