I trust everyone had a great Thanksgiving, and are ready to move on to a brilliant Yule. It has been a challenging year for me, but one of the things I am thankful for is this blog, and the support I received for just my first post. We are closing in on a thousand views, with a lot of good word of mouth, and I appreciate everyone who has read my ramblings thus far. Please pass it on to your friends and family so Living Reciprocity can continue to grow.

Yule is a great time of year, and the spirit of generosity is not limited to our Christian neighbors. Make sure you look around and see the awesome efforts other Pagans are putting into their friends, family and community. If I get enough nominations I will do a special extra long column after Yule, so make sure you email your names to me!

Everyday Spiritual Warriors

Almost immediately after posting my first edition I received and email from Carrie Smith nominating her friend Anne Elizabeth Odem for her work with EARPS, the Exotic Animal Rescue and Pet Sanctuary. EARPS is a non-profit no kill rescue, shelter and foster program for exotic animals in Indianapolis.

A volunteer for the past year Anne has sheltered or adopted several animals in her home in Northern Indiana. In addition Anne donates 10% of income from selling hand made jewelry to the ASPCA.

How did you learn about EARPS?
I actually found EARPS when I was browsing for adoptable rats in the area, made a phone call to ask about fostering. After an interview & house inspection, I became a volunteer. I'm a stay at home mom, for our little girl and all the fur babies, and have been doing dayacre in our home off & on for some time. I'm working on becoming a licensed child care provider, and run a licensed child care home. I'm excited to be able to teach more kids about animals and their significance.

What sorts of animals have you fostered in the past?
I've had three sanctuary male rats, which have since passed away due to old age & health issues, six male gerbils which we ended up adopting (we lost one & now have five), and the little ferret named Aura that we have now that has insulinoma.

We also have three cats, one dog, a conure, four parakeets, a hamster, and four female rats of our own.

For Anne, the love of nature, animals and her pagan path are inseparable, and volunteering is a great expression of her beliefs. Lets hear it for this Everyday Spiritual Warrior!

Pagans In Business

Imagine a five year old little girl smashing her grandmothers rose petals and mixing them with water to create her own perfume, and you will quickly see how early Lucille Rose’s love of botanical magic began.

Now “LJ”, a retired associate chemist, is the owner of Lotions Potions & Notions, a home based business which emphasizes quality plants grown naturally, without chemicals or pesticides, harvested only at the correct moon phase. LJ’s products include Chakra soaps, smudge sticks, incense, oils and ointments.

How long have you been in business?
Officially ..10 years

How many employees?
Myself unless you want to count a couple people who work on a commission base. There are a couple stores that carry my products, I am fortunate enough to be juried into Convocation and during the last couple years I have had a vendor carry some of my products at a couple Ren Faires.

Tell me a little more about yourself
I am a wife, mother of 1, grandmother of 3, ordained, witch, high priestess, founder of Briar Rose Circle, initiate of Tangled Moon Coven (American Eclectic Wiccan Tradition)

What area of Michigan are you in?
I am located about 45 minutes northwest of Grand Rapids.

Anything else you want people to know about your business?
With such busy lives we lead, isn't it nice to let someone else do the work once in a while? I love making my products and I love sharing them with YOU! Stop in and visit my site anytime.

Make sure you check out Lotions Potions & Notions in time for Yule gifts, and support this fine Michigan pagan business.

Blatant and Shameless

Before I sign off I wanted to showcase a few things in my world.

On December 6th my wife Angela aka SpiderWitch (or Spider for short) will be conducting a grounding workshop as part of our work with the HLC witches. This will also be an ornament making day for the upcoming Yule Celebration.

And speaking of the HLC Yule Celebration, Spider and I will be helping in the circle as we anticipate another great ritual by ShadowDragon and Sapphire on December 13th.

Details for both these events, which are taking place at the old Masonic Temple in downtown Adrian, can be found here and here at MotorCityPagans.net

After you visit Lotions Potions and Notions, take a visit to Spiders ebay store at SpiderCreationsOnline.com.

I also wanted to give a nod to my fiends at the Mid Michigan Pagan Podcast.

I Can't Do It Without You!

Living Reciprocity won't work without your help! Send me people to talk about. Send me businesses information to promote. From selling pies you bake at home, to running a small manufacturing firm, they are all businesses, so we need to promote and support them. Help the universe, help your fellow pagans and help yourself.

Please contact me using the comment link above, visit my MySpace page, or you can email me at twosnakes@witchmoot.com.