A Sea Witches Prayer

 Like Aphrodite of the waters I was born of the sea foam

Part human, Part Siren and Part creature of the deep

Stretching my webbed and bony fingers across the lapping waves

Salt stuck to my skin, shells and bone hang from my hip

Mighty are your waves oh powerful and great ocean

Holding worlds in your vast womb

My soul belongs to the sea

Ebbing and flowing with cycles of the moon

Circling through tides of creation and destruction

Like the Mermaids of the Tide

Come to me, no longer hide

Delicate waves caressing

Grant me this watery blessing…

Powers of the Ocean be mine

Powers of the Wave be mine

Powers of the Tides be mine

All of this 9x9

Birthed of wave and fertility

Fertile foam of the sea

Grow and deliver my will to me

With wind and tide and crash of wave

So Mote it be!

Thank you water for your powerful waves…

Water Blessing

By still mind and sacred heart

I conjure up the sacred arte

With healing hands and sacred speech

I bless the waters, ocean, rivers and beach

Heal our sacred waters flow

My will be done IT IS SO

Sisters of 9

Beautiful sisters of 9 how your light shines so divine, muse of my heart, I feel we are never apart. Mordron, Nimue, Vivian, you were there in the most ancient of land, ancient ladies of light block out the dark dark night. Rise up from Avalon, with sword of power, and healing of herbs, whispering sweet sweet little words. Morgan mother of great guard strong the deathly gate. Let those only pure of heart, enter The Isle of Apples. Calling upon you now, rise from the waters of the ancient lands, walking swiftly hand in hand. Surround me in this realm and yours, fill my heart with your love so light, block out those that stalk in the dark dark night.

Persephone Dark Moon Bath

Visiting natural sources of water during the colder months is not nearly as fun or warm as visiting during the summer. However you can enjoy your own sacred bath anytime. Over the next few months our sacred water section will feature a wider variety of Sacred Waters, including sacred sites and anything to do with water in its sacred nature. I hope you enjoy the new direction of this column.

Over the past month I have begun a new practice. This practice is in honor of Persephone, the dark moon and deep shadow healing. The Pomegranate is sacred to Persephone as is the rose and I have incorporated them into my practice of honoring her. This Sacred Bath Ritual can be done during the dark moon or anytime you need deep healing, a time to reflect on the shadow, or just a watery journey to the underworld. My baths all incorporate meditation and I encourage you to add this practice to your sacred bath. 

I dressed my bath with black candles, and began to fill the tub with water. As the tub filled with water, I sprinkled the black lava salt into the bath. Followed by the apple slices, rose petals and pomegranate juice. When the bath was filled, I plunged my hands in, speaking words of blessing and healing, charging my bath with the intent. I invoked Persephone and climbed in, I relaxed and grounded followed by a Pomegranate cleansing ritual. I sat in the bath, grieving, sad, and in a spiral dance with my shadow. I was ready to be cleansed by the dark and to accept my shadow. I took the pomegranates and squeezed them over my body, hearing the pops of the seeds, and watching the blood red juice flow over my face and body into the water. The walls streaked with the juice, as if blood was running down the walls, and I was transported into meditation....

You will need...

•  ½ cup pomegranate juice
• 1 apple sliced so the pentagram shows
• 1 pomegranate cut into quarters
• 1 cup Epsom or 1/2 cup black lava salt
• Red Rose petals

*** This is a messy bath! You will need to scoop up all the seeds, apples, roses and bury them in the earth, you will also most likely need to clean your bath as well.

Fire and Water spell for detaching and releasing

You will need:

•  A Sacred Vessel
•  Water
•   A floating candle
•  Paper and Pen

1) Start your spell by clearing your space, ground and center.
2) Pour your water into your sacred vessel.
3) Place your candle in the water and light it.
4) Focus on the things you want to release, write symbols or words on paper that represent these things. Be sure to focus on this part.
5) When you are ready burn the paper and let the ashes fall into the water.
6) Let the candle burn all the way down (This might take a few hours)
7) When the candle is burned down, dispose of the wax, and take the vessel containing the ash and water to crossroads or somewhere away from your own property. Dump the water and ash here. 

Autumn Blessing Water

You will need:

•  A Sacred Vessel
• Water
•  Fall Leaves
•  Orange and Red colored stones. (Calcite, Carnelian, Jasper etc)

1) Start your water by cleansing your sacred vessel, ground and center.
2) Gather fall colored leaves and fall colored gemstones. Place them in your vessel.
3) Pour water over the leaf stone mixture.
4) Focus on Autumn's energies, what you are blessing and be clear about your intent. Focus this into the water, perhaps hold your hands over the water and whisper a few words.
5) When you are ready cover the bowl with a cloth and place in a safe location for 24 hours.
6) When you are ready, strain the water into a jar and add a little vodka to preserve it.
7) Use the water to bless your sacred space, altars, or any other work during the Autumn season.

Dandelion Wishing Spell

You are probably familiar with Dandelions and even wishing with their seeds, no doubt as a child you have done this! This month we are going to take the Dandelion wish even further and create a spell that uses the water of the river to carry your wishes and dreams down stream to be planted and prosper in the warmer months. This is particularly effective if the wish or desire has to do with purging or getting rid of things.

You will need:

•  A Dandelion
•  Running Water Source
• A wish or special intent

Go to a river or a running water source
Go to a river or a running water source
Gather a Dandelion that has gone to seed
Focus your intent, wish, etc into the seeded flower of the plant
As you focus your intent into the Dandelion, blow it into the river and let the water carry your seeds to be planted down stream

Bathing with Flower Spirits

Bathing with Flowers can be very powerful. Plants are intimately connected with water, healing and spirit medicine among other things. For this ritual you can do it any time you like, but during the full moon is ideal. Gather your fresh flowers either from your garden or the store. If you choose to use store bought flowers, be very mindful that they are not dyed, or treated with chemicals. Places like Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and your local farmers market would be a good place to start. Once your flowers are selected talk to them, spend time in meditation and tell them what you need. Healing is a great place to start as plants naturally help and nourish our bodies (With the exception of a few) Once your Flower Spirits know their intent, fill your bath with water, quartz crystal and bath salts. Before you get in hold your hands over the water and clearly speak you intent out loud, three times, then get in the warm water. While in the bath focus on healing and those things that you need to be cleansed and healed. Relax and enjoy the bath. This is a great time to call on the power of the moon, your guides and Deity to aid you in healing. When you are finished stand up, and let the water drain out of the tub and with it all that you want to remove to make room for your healing. When the water has drained all the way out, collect your flowers and return them to the earth. Repeat as necessary!

Return of the Sun Yule Blessing Water

During the Yule tide many cultures celebrate the return of the sun or the child of promise. The winter solstice marks the time when the days begin to grow longer and Sun returns to warm the earth. This month we will make a Sacred Water that will be used for Blessing and honoring the return of the Sun on the Winter Solstice. 

 You will need:

• Distilled Water
• Citrine or Yellow Calcite
• 1-2 drops Frankincense Oil
• Glass Jar

1) The day before the Winter Solstice combine your Orange and Yellow colored stones with a few drops on Frankincense Oil, and water into a jar.
2) Set it out side in the morning with the sunrise.
3) Remove it and cover it with an orange or yellow cloth till your blessing.
4) At noon on the Winter Solstice, speak your blessings to the water as you pour it out onto the ground. Celebrating and honoring the return of the Sun and the days getting longer once again.

How to create Sacred Water with Silver

You will need:

• A Sacred Vessel
• Distilled water, or water from a sacred source
•  A silver coin or ring

1) Start your spell by clearing your space, ground and center.
2) Consecrate your sacred vessel by holding it and saying... With my breath, with my heart and with my will I consecrate this vessel.
3) Place your silver into the bowl, and begin to pour water over the silver filling the bowl up.
4) Carry your sacred vessel outside and place under the light of the full moon for 1-2 nights.
5) Retrieve your water, label it, and store it in a mason jar with a tight lid. Now it is ready to use any time you need it!

Folk Magic Water and Horse Brass Spell for Luck and Protection

This spell uses traditional elements such as horseshoe, horse brass and silvered water. First, a little background on each of the items we will be using in this spell.

Horse Brass

Horse Brass are brass amulets traditionally used in the UK to decorate and help identify draft horses. They were used during the 17^th century and now are collectors’ items used to decorate homes, pubs and other spaces. As a child, I remember growing up and having many of these around the house. Recently I found that they were used as charms and protection amulets. “Horse brass were first used as amulets and not primarily as decorations”(Pearson:198) While this spell uses an actual horse brass, other brass charms or even shells could be used in a similar manner employing them for specific purpose for the sea or water witch.  “The brasses used to decorate the horse trappings originate thousands of years ago in amulets designed to ward off evil influences and protect the bearer from all forms of negativity. Designs such as the Sun, Moon, Stars, Equal-arm Cross and Circle have been found on amulets dating from the Iron Age period in Britain and still appear on brasses today…” (Pearson:154) The brass I selected has a Rose, Thistle and Shamrock on it. The thistle and rose are sacred to me and the shamrock mirrors the Triskele with its three heart shaped leaves.

Horseshoe

When you first think about a Horseshoe you might instantly think of luck! It is popular folklore to associate both the horseshoe and shamrock with luck, in fact there are probably hundreds of thousands of tattoos with both! However, horseshoes have been used as protective amulets as well. “Old horseshoes are of course seen a-plenty hanging on house and stable doors throughout the region, many having been placed there as protective devices many years ago.” (Pearson:199) When visiting the UK in 2012 I stayed on a Barge, which is a narrow house like boat full of its own watery traditions, ghost stories and folklore. The Canal ways have their own style of art as well, which is full of stylized roses and often castles with sun, moon and other motifs. While I was on the canal, at one of the locks, there was a little village store. I stopped in and grabbed some local art; a painted pail, small boat and a painted blue horseshoe featuring roses in the canal folk art style. This has become a wonderful magical tool and furthers my connection with the water.

Silvered Water

In Scotland “silvered water” was often used by a Faery doctor to cure the curse of the evil eye. However, there are many accounts of silvered water being used to heal, cure, and used in other forms of magic “Silvered water was water into which silver coins had dropped; and it was prepared in a special way.” (McArthur: 119) The water was taken from a liminal place and the silver dropped in the water. For my silver water I chose to use my sacred vessel and a very special silver pendant I have had since I was 16. I acquired it in Scotland around Edinburgh and it features 3 thistle arranged in a similar way as the Triskele. I have it attached to a short silver chain which is perfect for charming and silvering water. We will start by creating silver water and move into our protection and luck charm. 

How to create Sacred Water with Silver
You will need:

•   A Sacred Vessel
•   Distilled water, or water from a sacred source 
•   A silver coin, ring, or pendant

1) Start your spell by clearing your space, ground and center.
2) Consecrate your sacred vessel by holding it and saying... With my breath, with my heart and with my will I consecrate this vessel.
3) Place your silver into the bowl, and begin to pour water over the silver filling the bowl up.
4) Carry your sacred vessel outside and place under the light of the full moon for 1-2 nights or just let it sit for 24 hours.

5) Bless the water with a prayer or incantation, Nine times is recommended. Something similar to this will work.

Nine maiden of the sacred well

Bless this water

bless the well

in your sacred spiral swell

Bless this water

Bless the well

6) Retrieve your water, label it, and store it in a mason jar with a tight lid. Now it is ready to use any time you need it!

Once your water is finished, dip your horseshoe into the water 3 times with the specific intent of making it a magical tool for either luck, protection or both. Empower and consecrate it in the same way you empower ad consecrate your other magical tools.

When this is finished lay out your working board, cloth or altar space and place the sacred water on the surface and then lay the horse brass inside of the Horse shoe. Spend a moment getting your intent clear, cast your circle or lay your compass and call upon your deity’s or spirits. Then hold your hands over the horse brass and tell the charms with words what you are employing them to do. Now sprinkle the silvered water on to the charm, as you do this speak aloud to your spirits and ask them to aid you in your work and to lend their power to the charm and its intent. Be sure to give them plenty of offerings, you know what they like so be sure to give them their favorites! 

Drowning Ceremony

Burning Ceremonies around the dark moon are really great, powerful and popular! They help us to shed the old, work through blocks, shadow work and releasing things that hinder our progress. As a Watery person you may not feel very connected with fire and its energy. However there is another way for us watery people!

In Folklore and Mythology Mermaids are not usually full of love and light, they represent the darker aspects of ourselves and are often known for drowning men. So for us watery people sometimes channeling our own inner Mermaid and just drowning the paper in water till it becomes mush and returning it to the earth is just as effective. If you work with Mermaid spirits you can also call on their aid to help banish and drown your sorrows.

How to do this...

• You will need a sacred vessel dedicated to dark moon work, pen and paper, dark moon water
• Take your vessel that is dedicated to nocturnal and banishment work and set it in your work space. You will want to have a different vessel for this type of work to keep the energies different that your full moon. healing, manifesting type work. 
• Pour your dark moon water in the bowl. Dark moon water can be made the same way as full moon water, just during the dark moon cycle
• Charge your water with intent by speaking to it and telling it what you need
• Write what you want to banish on the paper and charge it as well
• Now focus your intent and drown the paper in the water, crumple it up, tear it apart and let it turn into mush
• Take your vessel outside and pour it onto the ground and bury the paper mush, if it is personal work, emotions and healing work with your local land spirits and let them recycle the energy. If you are taking this a step further and working banishing or cursing magic, be very sure to take the water away, dispose of it at a crossroads or in a location away from your home in the west (endings) or north (underworld and death). 
• Walk away and let the magic work

Spells and Chants

Bathing with Flower Spirits

Bathing with Flowers can be very powerful. Plants are intimately connected with water, healing and spirit medicine among other things. For this ritual you can do it any time you like, but during the full moon is ideal. Gather your fresh flowers either from your garden or the store. If you choose to use store bought flowers, be very mindful that they are not dyed, or treated with chemicals. Places like Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and your local farmers market would be a good place to start. Once your flowers are selected talk to them, spend time in meditation and tell them what you need. Healing is a great place to start as plants naturally help and nourish our bodies (With the exception of a few) Once your Flower Spirits know their intent, fill your bath with water, quartz crystal and bath salts. Before you get in hold your hands over the water and clearly speak you intent out loud, three times, then get in the warm water. While in the bath focus on healing and those things that you need to be cleansed and healed. Relax and enjoy the bath. This is a great time to call on the power of the moon, your guides and Deity to aid you in healing. When you are finished stand up, and let the water drain out of the tub and with it all that you want to remove to make room for your healing. When the water has drained all the way out, collect your flowers and return them to the earth. Repeat as necessary!

Return of the Sun Yule Blessing Water

During the Yule tide many cultures celebrate the return of the sun or the child of promise. The winter solstice marks the time when the days begin to grow longer and Sun returns to warm the earth. This month we will make a Sacred Water that will be used for Blessing and honoring the return of the Sun on the Winter Solstice. 

 You will need:

·        Distilled Water

·        Citrine or Yellow Calcite

·        1-2 drops Frankincense Oil

·        Glass Jar

1) The day before the Winter Solstice combine your Orange and Yellow colored stones with a few drops on Frankincense Oil, and water into a jar.
2) Set it out side in the morning with the sunrise.
3) Remove it and cover it with an orange or yellow cloth till your blessing.
4) At noon on the Winter Solstice, speak your blessings to the water as you pour it out onto the ground. Celebrating and honoring the return of the Sun and the days getting longer once again. 

Persephone Dark Moon Bath
Visiting natural sources of water during the colder months is not nearly as fun or warm as visiting during the summer. However you can enjoy your own sacred bath anytime. Over the next few months our sacred water section will feature a wider variety of Sacred Waters, including sacred sites and anything to do with water in its sacred nature. I hope you enjoy the new direction of this column.

Over the past month I have begun a new practice. This practice is in honor of Persephone, the dark moon and deep shadow healing. The Pomegranate is sacred to Persephone as is the rose and I have incorporated them into my practice of honoring her. This Sacred Bath Ritual can be done during the dark moon or anytime you need deep healing, a time to reflect on the shadow, or just a watery journey to the underworld. My baths all incorporate meditation and I encourage you to add this practice to your sacred bath. 

I dressed my bath with black candles, and began to fill the tub with water. As the tub filled with water, I sprinkled the black lava salt into the bath. Followed by the apple slices, rose petals and pomegranate juice. When the bath was filled, I plunged my hands in, speaking words of blessing and healing, charging my bath with the intent. I invoked Persephone and climbed in, I relaxed and grounded followed by a Pomegranate cleansing ritual. I sat in the bath, grieving, sad, and in a spiral dance with my shadow. I was ready to be cleansed by the dark and to accept my shadow. I took the pomegranates and squeezed them over my body, hearing the pops of the seeds, and watching the blood red juice flow over my face and body into the water. The walls streaked with the juice, as if blood was running down the walls, and I was transported into meditation....

You will need...

·        ½ cup pomegranate juice

·        1 apple sliced so the pentagram shows

·        1 pomegranate cut into quarters

·        1 cup Epsom or 1/2 cup black lava salt

·        Red Rose petals

*** This is a messy bath! You will need to scoop up all the seeds, apples, roses and bury them in the earth, you will also most likely need to clean your bath as well.

 Dandelion Wishing Spell

You are probably familiar with Dandelions and even wishing with their seeds, no doubt as a child you have done this! This month we are going to take the Dandelion wish even further and create a spell that uses the water of the river to carry your wishes and dreams down stream to be planted and prosper in the warmer months. This is particularly effective if the wish or desire has to do with purging or getting rid of things.

You will need:

·        A Dandelion

·        Running Water Source

·        A wish or special intent

1) Go to a river or a running water source
2) Gather a Dandelion that has gone to seed
3) Focus your intent, wish, etc into the seeded flower of the plant
4) As you focus your intent into the Dandelion, blow it into the river and let the water carry your seeds to be planted down stream

Autumn Blessing Water

You will need:

·        A Sacred Vessel

·        Water

·        Fall Leaves

·        Orange and Red colored stones. (Calcite, Carnelian, Jasper etc)

1) Start your water by cleansing your sacred vessel, ground and center.
2) Gather fall colored leaves and fall colored gemstones. Place them in your vessel.
3) Pour water over the leaf stone mixture.
4) Focus on Autumn's energies, what you are blessing and be clear about your intent. Focus this into the water, perhaps hold your hands over the water and whisper a few words.
5) When you are ready cover the bowl with a cloth and place in a safe location for 24 hours.
6) When you are ready, strain the water into a jar and add a little vodka to preserve it.
7) Use the water to bless your sacred space, altars, or any other work during the Autumn season.

Fire and Water spell for detaching and releasing

You will need:

·        A Sacred Vessel

·        Water

·        A floating candle

·        Paper and Pen

1) Start your spell by clearing your space, ground and center.
2) Pour your water into your sacred vessel.
3) Place your candle in the water and light it.
4) Focus on the things you want to release, write symbols or words on paper that represent these things. Be sure to focus on this part.
5) When you are ready burn the paper and let the ashes fall into the water.
6) Let the candle burn all the way down (This might take a few hours)
7) When the candle is burned down, dispose of the wax, and take the vessel containing the ash and water to crossroads or somewhere away from your own property. Dump the water and ash here. 

How to create Sacred Water with Silver

You will need:

·        A Sacred Vessel

·        Distilled water, or water from a sacred source

·        A silver coin or ring

1) Start your spell by clearing your space, ground and center.
2) Consecrate your sacred vessel by holding it and saying... With my breath, with my heart and with my will I consecrate this vessel.
3) Place your silver into the bowl, and begin to pour water over the silver filling the bowl up.
4) Carry your sacred vessel outside and place under the light of the full moon for 1-2 nights.
5) Retrieve your water, label it, and store it in a mason jar with a tight lid. Now it is ready to use any time you need it!
 

Horseshoe Crab spell for Luck and Longevity
You will need:

·        Horseshoe crab shell or photo

·        Sacred space cleansed and clean

·        A green candle

·        Sea weed or a Luck/Longevity herb (Sea Lavender is a good choice here since it is an everlasting)

1) Start your spell by clearing your space, ground and center. Then cast a circle if you use one.
2) Place your Horseshoe crab in the center of your working space
3) Place your candle directly in front of the Crab
4) Carve your intent or sigils into the green candle and place it on the altar
5) Sprinkle your sea weed or herb in a circle around both the candle and crab
6) Light your candle and chant the words below till you are satisfied (7 times is a good amount and aligns with the seven seas)
7)When you are finished, focus your intent and blow over the crab with your breath giving the spell life
8) If you need added luck or for a longer period of time, use a larger green candle that can be burned over several days and make sure to repeat this process every morning/evening till the candle is completely burned down.
9) When the spell work is complete dispose of your old wax and gather up the sea weed and/or herb and bring it to the ocean and scatter it in the water. It is really important that ONLY the plant be scattered into the ocean. Putting the wax in the ocean is not helpful and very bad for our environment.

Horseshoe crab so old and wise

Turn my life away from demise

Bless me with Luck, Love, and Life

and protect me from demise and strife.

With the Blessings of the Seven Seas

This is my will So mote it be! 

Water Blessing

By still mind and sacred heart

I conjure up the sacred arte

With healing hands and sacred speech

I bless the waters, ocean, rivers and beach

Heal our sacred waters flow

My will be done IT IS SO

Goddess Prayer

Goddess_____

Give me wisdom to see,

Those things that are baneful and harmful to me.

Grant me the strength to graciously accept,

The things that benefit my soul and make me adept.

Grand me knowledge, wisdom and sight,

So I will know the difference between the dark and light.

I ask that each day I be beautiful, patient and smart,

So that I can weave well my spells in this art.

Each day grant me compassion, kindness, and an open heart,

So with the rise of each sun I put forth a good start.

This is my devotion this is my plee,

and in return, I honor thee.

Sisters of 9

Beautiful sisters of 9 how your light shines so divine, muse of my heart, I feel we are never apart. Mordron, Nimue, Vivian, you were there in the most ancient of land, ancient ladies of light block out the dark dark night. Rise up from Avalon, with sword of power, and healing of herbs, whispering sweet sweet little words. Morgan mother of great guard strong the deathly gate. Let those only pure of heart, enter The Isle of Apples. Calling upon you now, rise from the waters of the ancient lands, walking swiftly hand in hand. Surround me in this realm and yours, fill my heart with your love so light, block out those that stalk in the dark dark night.

Ceridwen Chant

Ceridwen, Ceridwen

Cer-id-wen

Ceridwen, Ceridwen

Cer-id-wen

Dark mother, dark mother

Cer-id-wen

Dark mother, dark mother

Cer-id-wen

Cauldron keeper, Cauldron keeper

Cer-id-wen

Cauldron keeper, Cauldron keeper

Cer-id-wen

Faery Chant

Faeries of Day
Faeries of Night
Bless me with your sheer delight
Though here, you always be
Open my eyes so I may see!

Traditional Witchcraft Chant 

Horse and Hattock

Horse and go

Horse and Pellitus

Ho Ho (Ho)

Manannan Chant (Traditional Chant)  

God of the Sea, to you we say

Manannan Mac Lir

Please part the veil, so that we may

Bring the wise ones here

Open up the watery gate

To the spirits domain

In your coracle, we may sail

To our hearts again. 

Heat up the summer with Aphrodisia Oil!

Base Jojoba Oil

1 Drop - Cinnamon

3 drops - clove

1 drop - ginger

2 drops - Musk

1 drop -patchouli

3 drops - vanilla

3 drops - Damiena

Because essential oils can be expensive to purchase, if you find that you are missing any of these oils or do not have them, simply put the dried herbs in a jar with a tight lid, add jojoba or  olive oil, seal and let sit for  2-4 weeks in a sunny spot. Strain through cheese cloth or a fine strainer bottle and then add the correct amount of drops to your Aphrodisia oil.

Offerings to the Sea and Water

Excerpt from the Water Magic Course... 

Naturally witches that work with water will want to give back to the ocean or body of water that they work with which gives them so much year around. I often come home from the beach feeling so full, happy and with so many treasures, that I want to give back. However, we need to be very careful what we decide to give the ocean or other bodies of water. Often time’s good intentions can have negative effects. For example a beautiful trinket that you want to give to the ocean may be made of plastic and harmful to the waters creatures. We want to avoid giving the water anything that does not belong there. I have divided offerings into three categories.

The first category is Positive Impact Offerings. This type of offering can be given anytime you like. They include things such as beach cleanup, rescue relief, ocean conservation, and ocean and animal advocacy. Charging waters, making gem elixirs and healing teas for the ocean. There is also nothing wrong with collecting shells from the beach, charging them for a moon cycle and bringing them back to the water!

The second category is what I call No Impact Offerings. They do have an energetic impact, but there is nothing taken away and no strange, out of the ordinary offerings used. These include things such as driftwood that you collected previously and perhaps carved and have now returned to its original location. Tumbled stones such as agate or quartz that you either found and tumbled or were given/purchased etc. These types of stones are often found on the beach so bringing something similar to the location that is charged with magic will be a no impact type offering. Be sure not to use heat treated, dyed and over mine stones. Do not use paints, stains or other chemical based things. However if you wanted to make an offering out of drift wood and you do want color, consider using a natural dye that you extract yourself. For example, my henna paste is 100% organic and natural. There is not one thing in there bad for a human, animal or the environment. So if I wanted to carve a piece of wood and add some red, I could use henna; same with red ocher and traditionally prepared woad.

The last category is what I call Low Impact Offerings. These are offerings that do not in any way harm the ocean or the environment, but that do add a foreign object to the water. These include things such as flowers, stones such as amethyst and garnet that you would not usually find, hair or other taglocks and papers that are not bleached, have no chemicals etc. It is really important to use flowers that are grown yourself pesticide free, or if you know a florist that buys natural, no chemicals, no pesticide, no dye flowers then you can use them. You want natural not heat treated stones, and even papers can have bleach, or other chemicals. It is your responsibility to check what you are adding back to the water, ignorance is not an excuse! You must educate yourself on your offerings and never ever use something toxic! I use this last category for the most important things, such as my work with Aphrodite, major rites, and important rituals marking transitions in my life. 

Henna Magic for New Beginnings

As many of you know I have been keeping different aspects of myself separate for a while. I am now working on moving many of my websites to blogs and now run a professional portfolio of my work at www.AnnwynAvalon.com. When I originally named my business Magic Mehndi I always had the intent of focusing on henna as a magical tool. I have always been fascinated with symbology and line art and how that translates into magic.

Lets start with a little background on me. I had my first encounter with henna at a cultural fair when I was 12. The ladies that were slinging henna that day places a squiggle blob on my hand and I was hooked! It wasn't until my late teens that I was introduced to the art of Mehndi. (Mehndi is the name for the art work produced by henna paste) I tinkered with pre-made kits that I found at the local import shop but was never satisfied with the results. Several years later I found myself living in Japan. I was really focused on dance then but managed to find a teacher close to my dance studio! I took several classes from her learning how to mix paste, sift, and create basic lines and motifs. I moved back to the states and lived in North Carolina for 3 years. During this time I got my feet wet as a professional henna artist, offering henna out of a local Yoga studio and with several private clients. When I arrived in Arizona 4 years ago I began to henna at festivals right away. It wasn't too long I was working yearly gigs at the library, SCA events and regular corporate events. Now living in Oregon I find myself very conscious of my art, what I am hennaing and on who and I look forward to making magic with Mehndi!

The beautiful back piece above is a memorial piece for this client. Her mother has just passed away and she wanted to remember her at this event. She requested water and fuchsia which reminded her of her mother. To the left is a really common design that will end up having its own blog. The Triquetra, pentagram, triskele, and goddess symbols are often requested to be incorporated into a design. Many times because it has significant meaning to the person. Finally below is a design that is influences by Moroccan henna designs. Adding a few personal elements such as the crescent moons. Henna and tattoo art is used widely in Morocco especially by the Berber women, they henna or tattoo protection symbols around their eyes, nose, mouth and ears to keep evil spirits from possessing them. They also use henna to protect from the curse of the evil eye.

For the start of 2016 I have decided to create a sigil for new beginnings. I used the Theban alphabet with some creative flow to create a power sigil. After I had charged and activated it, I decided that I really wanted to put it into a henna design. 2015 was a rough year, full of transitions and death like energy. I wanted to counteract the death of last year with a bright flaming design! I wanted there to be warmth and sunshine, new beginnings and growth expressed in a design and to start the year of right! So I thought that a Sun would perfectly represent that. I created the sun motif around the new beginnings sigil surrounding it with the power of the sun and flame. I chose to add spirals to symbolize the ever turning spiral nature, of always going back to the beginning and deepening our practice. Being a child of the Water I also wanted to represent my watery nature and the spiral shape of the nautilus. When the design was finished I knew there was one element missing, the flickering flames of the sun. So I chose to shade in a rough manner behind the sun like petals of the blooming sigil to represent the flames flickering off the sun and to ignite the sigil! This is also a perfect motif to celebrate the coming of spring and the Feast of Brigid in February.

Modern Fusion Temple Dance

Modern Fusion Temple Dance- A Workshop with Monique Trinity Rose

A few weeks ago I took a new kind of Sacred Dance workshop. I was first attracted to it because of the name, but when I looked at the instructors name I knew I had to attend. If you don’t know, Roses are kind of “my thing”. My dance troupe was Raqin Roses, the ladies I worked with in Japan for dance were Moon Roses, I went by Triskele Rose as my first craft name and now that is the name of our system of Witchcraft. I also teach various classes on magic via www.OuroboRose.com . So Roses are important to me. The trinity has a very similar in meaning to the Triquetra or the Triskele, both which are important to me for reasons I stated above. So I was really eager to take this class just based on the corresponding symbology. 

Now I’m not very familiar with the instructor’s background as she is from a section of Belly Dance I have not be involved with very much. I am an Oriental dancer with fusion leanings so my experience with the varied genre’s of Tribal style has been extremely limited. Her style and technique is very reminiscent of Rachel Brice and that vein of Tribal Style. Even though this is well outside my typical genre of classes,  I decided to step out of my box and take this class. You can visit her website here

Oh boy! I was way out of my comfort zone! When I first arrived I was greeted by another student, and we waited for the doors to open. When they opened we were met with Monique and she brought us to the studio. It was a small studio and I was glad. Besides attending waking Persephone, I haven’t danced in many months. I was nervous because I was out of shape and I was also nervous because I am the one that always screws the choreography up. Another girl in class mentioned she did too and we laughed about it. However despite the nerves, Monique was so sweet, and welcoming. I had seen her dance the night before at the From the Hip Belly Dance Show Case which you can learn about here. It was spectacular; she is one of those dancers whose performances are flawless. She is beautiful beyond belief, and amazingly strong but her beauty shines from within, like a warm glow in her center covering her entire aura. She was sweet and so kind and I want to take more classes with her because she was just so nice to be around. 

The workshop was fantastic! It was hard, and she really showed me how out of shape I had gotten this past year on my dance break. While I have enjoyed the entire year off, I have really let my body get lazy and she kicked my ass. There was very little Oriental dance, a few shimmies, chest isolations and figure 8 but that was it. The rest was Indian dance, which I literally have zero experience with, this was actually my first class on anything Indian related that wasn’t from a Zumba class. I really wish I had known more about Indian dance, though I was able to keep up just fine. There was also yoga, I was so thankful for that. While I have a subscription to Giam t.v. I may have let that lag in the past few weeks as well. I have not been doing as much as I should. So I was very thankful.

I did want to have some sort of spiritual connection, and that did not happen, however that was not part of the curriculum she had planned and that is ok. When she comes back to Portland I will give this class another go, while I don’t have experience in this form of dance and don’t think I will be perusing it, it would be nice to take it again and see if I change my mind, perhaps it will feel more comfortable and familiar. I highly recommend this class to anyone interested in Indian dance with a strong interest in the spiritual side of things.

Scrying with Black Water

Scrying is gazing at an object, a black mirror, a crystal ball or a bowl of water with the intent of telling the future. Usually the practitioner will sit in a comfortable position gazing at a shiny surface until images appear in your mind’s eye or on the surface of the material you are gazing at. There are many types of divination practices out there, and scrying is probably one of the hardest. It is hard because it requires one to really let go of the mind chatter and allow the spirit world to speak to you. Many witches have a favorite scrying tool, and they can vary from a black mirror, to the surface of a lake, favorite scrying bowl, or even an obsidian ball. Truth be told any reflective surface will work! However for the sake of this blog post I will be talking about scrying with water, specifically Blk Water.

Blk water is water that is black, it is a brand name, and it is sold by the bottle most liquor stores and amazon.com sell bottles. You can also visit their website here http://getblk.com/. Blk Water is spring water that has been infused with Fulvic Acid, this creates a very alkaline black colored water. It is very fun to experience this black water for the first time! When you first purchase it you will notice that when the water is in the bottle the water is very black in color, but under certain lights it can look very brown. For a water witch who wants to learn how to scry this is the best water to start with! 

Scrying on black surfaces is very common in the witchcraft communities. Witches and fortune tellers have used everything from blackened mirrors, to obsidian balls to access messages from the otherworld. Perhaps you have tried to scry before with a bowl of water and it has left you wanting more, perhaps you already scry with a black mirror and just want to bring water in to your practice. Either way picking up a bottle of Blk water and using it with your sacred vessel is a great start. Blk water is mysterious and the darkness of it connects us to the nocturnal, the darker aspects of ourselves and shadow work. 

To start, find a comfortable position and prep your work space, you may choose to cleanse your space with incense, burning sage or saining with your favorite herb. Be sure you use a sacred vessel and not just any old bowl from the cupboard. Scrying with Blk water can be done in a fully lit room, but diming the lights and lighting a candle, placing it close to the bowl and letting the light dance on the surface is a wonderful way to start scrying. Start by clearing your mind and relaxing, don’t try to rush this, and don’t get too disappointed if you don’t get any images at first. It took me a good 2 years of practicing before I got good at scrying and to be honest it is still not my strongest fortune telling medium. When you are relaxed, call upon any spirits or ancestors you may work with when doing oracular work. Ask them for clear messages and the wisdom to understand the meaning of the images you see. Then allow yourself to slip into trance and let your mind wander, as you see images jot them down in your notebook, and keep a log so you can begin to sort through ego and true messages from the other side. When you are finished thank your spirits and ancestors for their messages and connect firmly with the earth and bring your mind back to the present moment.

If you have tried scrying and it has just been too frustrating for you perhaps try scrying with inks!  Inks can be a really fun way to begin to flex your scrying muscles and learn how to become great at scrying. I actually started playing with inks in water because I wanted to become better at scrying and I’m an artist,  I just happen to have some lying around and thought “Hey! If I can’t scry with the surface of the water I will try playing with the shape the ink makes.” The good news was, it worked! Years later I am much better at scrying than I was and I love playing with the different colored inks. My personal favorites are a light blue ink in clear water and Blk water with silver ink. You may need to give the water a spin if the ink is not moving, I use a chopstick for this and I just give the water a push and then sit back and watch the ink take shape.

Honoring many Gods

I consider myself to be a Polytheistic Witch. I honor many Gods, well many Goddesses and a few Gods. I’ve always been a believer in Female Deity. When I was small I would argue about it not being fair that the Christian god was a man, I felt left out. I knew that there were Gods that were female, but never could understand why they were forgotten. Later in my early 20s when I found the Occult and began studying the Esoteric, I was drawn to the Goddess path, though that never really fit either, I wanted to work with specific Goddesses, not one.

When I refer to “The Goddess” I don’t mean one singular deity, rather I refer to a collection of Deity that are female. While I don’t consider myself a Goddess worshiper in the traditional sense, I do worship many Goddesses.  I believe that I formed this collection of individual Goddesses into a whole, because as a child this singular point was missing in my life and I considered the lack of female deity a singular thing and thus it translated over into my vocabulary as one thing missing, Goddesses. So in my writings if you see me refer to “The Goddess” I mean, many or all Goddesses. While I make a point to be very clear, in my past writings as well as conversations with others I find myself using this phrase, and want to be very clear about what my beliefs are. It is taking a while, but I am reprograming my language to reflect my beliefs. 

In addition, I don’t really follow the belief that deity is just archetypes, though I do teach archetypes as part of the self and even as individual goddesses who perhaps fit into a particular archetype and what we can learn from them in the manner. It is my belief that while they can fit into archetypes, they are all individual Deity with their own personality. While I do believe that there are some deity such as Aphrodite and Venus who are indeed the same deity with different cultural names, I don’t believe that Aphrodite is the same as Oshun, just because they might be similar, they are clearly different goddesses. Same with Sulis and Minerva. While the Romans may have renamed Sulis, Sulis Minerva, Minerva is clearly a Roman Matron Goddess, and Sulis is clearly a deity of place, and can be considered both Genius Loci (spirit of place) and Deity all in one. While the melding of two cultures may have combine these goddesses I stand firm that they remain different and separate deities. 

I firmly believe that archetypes can be worked with, especially when helping to identify a new deity/spirit, and when we look at them in reference to our own soul and how one might be able to see parallels and learn lessons, but I FIRMLY believe that our Gods are so much more powerful and do exist outside the constructs of an archetypal framework. Our Deity, much like spirits are individuals, they have autonomy, and act in accordance with their own will. 

So how does one worship many Gods? Well, with much practice, many shrines, a working altar, and much devotion. While I do tend to work with more female deity, due to being completely deprived of their existence as a child, I also honor the Masculine. I work with Deities such as Apollo and Belenos who represent the sun, the masculine, and in the case of Apollo, Oracular work.  Belenos is honored in my Tradition’s working as well as my workings with the energies of Avalon and Glastonbury. Gwyn ap Nudd is worked with as a contrast to the solar deity, he is a Psychopomp and lives in the fae realms of the earth with the entrance at the Glastonbury tor, so he is honored with my tradition in the darker half of the year, with spirit work, and all manners of issues concerning the Fae.

Yes, as you can see I am honoring many Gods, over several cultures. I happen to be a mix of European cultures, and have Roman, Welsh, Irish, British and Scot in my blood. I am ½ British and was raised as a Brit in America. I am drawn to the UK, the culture, customs and ancient history of my people. However, I am not limited to just the British Isles, I am connected to all of Europe through ancestry and find that I am dawn to their magical and esoteric practices. So this brings me to ancestral and sprit work. While I do honor many Gods, I also honor many ancestral and local spirits. Part of the training that I went through to learn how to be a witch and pass initiation was working with Ancestors of Place, Blood and Spirit. When I first began to learn about working with the ancestors I didn’t appreciate it nearly as much as I do now. It wasn’t until I began to teach my students, that they showed me the vast diversity of working with the ancestors. Many were not so interested or willing to learn about them, but many were very eager and wanted to find ways to work with them in their own practice. Through this we began to work with specific people of the past, groups or hives of ancestors such as “Ancestor Priestesses” or “The Bone Ancestors” which are groups of ancestors that have contacted us during the time we honor them. As a Priestess, and not having hundreds of generations to look back on, working with the spirits of women who have come before and taken a priestess or priestess like mantle has been really incredible, and very rewarding. However this might have to be a different blog post as what I have to say is long and vast and I want to cover some more about the Goddesses I work with!

Working with Goddesses was what really filled my heart when I first found the pagan path. It was everything that was missing, and today working with them continues to be one of the most filling practices that I practice within the esoteric umbrella. It all began when I was 15, Aphrodite was heavily present in my life. I was confused, raised in a Baptist home, and so my obsession with her turned into my passion, I honored her in my writings, and school projects and even dressed up as her for Halloween. She was ever present, like a silent friend following me around, steering me right and left and igniting my sex drive like a match to a stack of dry newspapers. She then became vocal and I began to listen. Later in my early 20’s as a very young mother, angry at my own, Gaia came to my life, she also followed me around silently, then she whispered, followed by more a little bit louder, then so loud I had no choice but to listen, hear and follow. She was the one that really solidified my path, all the Occult and Esoteric practices along with my Polytheistic worship. 

Later in my mid 20’s I began to study with an Initiatory Witchcraft Tradition. The Tradition of Eternal Harvest Witchcraft. Eternal Harvest has been around for 25+ years. Practicing mostly on the east coast and in the south. Though we are spread out now across the entire US. Collectively we honor many deity including Herne, abundance goddesses and more. It was during my time with them I began to work with the Welsh Mysteries and learned of Avalon. I began to work with Sulis and Morgan La Fae in my personal work and continue to work with them in the Triskele Rose Tradition today. There are faery women such as the Gwragedd Annwn, and Melusine that I work with as well, and lastly if you have been reading my other blogs Persephone…

Now this might seem like quite a few Deities to worship and honor, and yes it is. So how can I pull it all off? Well here is how… Aphrodite and Persephone have their own shrines in my magic room (or during temporary living times, in my room) they are honored daily, in my workings, and through devotions. Gaia presides over the entire house and her shrine is on the mantle, it is tended and honored each week. I keep a Triskele Rose working Altar up always for my magical workings, and while it isn’t a shrine I do work with and honor my and the Traditions Gods and ancestors at this sacred space. They are honored during each circle, and ritual we host for Triskele and Rambling Rose circles. During the Dark half of the year, we honor and work with Morgan la Fae and Gwyn ap Nudd, in their faery, and nocturnal aspects. During the light half of the year we work with Sulis and Belenos, both having solar aspects. In my work with water, I honor well maiden, witches, and priestess that have come before, but occasionally I will work with water spirits of all manner and other Gods or Goddesses such as Brigid or Manannan mac Lir.  Though I personally work with many deities, it isn’t for everyone. Sometimes a deity or spirit presents themselves to you during a time of need, but don’t be foolish, the Gods are not here to be your best friend and skip down the side walk holding your hand. No they, like humans, can be benevolent or harmful. Which is why historical research is key to working with ancient deity. It gives us clues, and keys into how, why, and when to work with them and most importantly how not to offend them. Some deity may come when you call or honor them, and others may not. Some may be present in your life for a reason, others for certain seasons and others are there for the long haul, or a life time. Deity often goes silent only to come back louder than ever, and sometimes never at all… If you have heard the call, or poke from deity, answer it, answer it by building a shrine, honoring them and researching them, create rituals devoted to them. Don’t ignore the call, answer it and listen…

Persephone Dark Moon Bath

"To she who glides the silver crescent moon boat through the dark still waters of our becoming"
~Demetrius George"

 

I recently attended the Waking Persephone Dance Festival in Seattle. It was a wonderful weekend full of dance, spirituality and change. You can read all about my experience here. I am thrilled to have Persephone’s presence back in my life. I have worked with her before, but she had been silent for several years. She first began to whisper to me again when my friend first told me about the Waking Persephone festival during lunch about a year ago. I had looked at the website, but realized that there was little chance that I would make it all the way to the Pacific North West. I thought,  “perhaps I will apply to teach next year too and then I will end up there.” I dismissed this first call back into her embrace. Weeks later I began reading Village Witch by Cassandra Latham. I absolutely love Cassandra Latham! I love how she is grumpy, real and strong. I love how she has been through so much, yet has so much to offer! I loved every page of her book; it really helped me see that all the trials, abuses and traumas of my life were for a reason. In her book she speaks of Persephone’s Children, which she referenced came from the book “Mysteries of the Dark Moon” This was the second call and I ignored it again. Well the Spirits do have mysterious ways about them and when they want you to go in a direction they open doors! Time went on and in a strange turn of events we suddenly moved from Arizona to Portland Oregon, just 3 hours away from the Waking Persephone festival. I waited and procrastinated until I couldn’t anymore! I broke down, I registered for 4 witchy based dance classes. Then in an even stranger turn of events I was revisiting the Village Witch book and I decided to finally break down and get Mysteries of the Dark Moon. No coincidence it arrived right around the time of Waking Persephone! 

I opened the book and, like I always do, I flipped around devouring the information I craved before starting at the beginning and reading the whole book. I got to the section on Persephone and I began to read, it spoke of her sexual trauma which I know all too well and as I read through the book. I began to see patterns and key words appear on the page. I then slipped into trance through bibliomancy. I saw myself naked, being cleansed with water, rose and the blood red juice of the pomegranate. The scene changed as if I was now getting instructions. I saw myself in my sacred bath, filled with black salts, roses and juicy pomegranate seeds and red blood like juice covering my body. I understood that this was the healing I had been asking for. She was back in my life and that this was the dedication to her and to heal through her ways. I did not hesitate, I grabbed the pomegranate in my fridge and went to the bathroom, I cleansed myself in warm waters and rose and then without care for my hair or where the seeds popped and sprayed I covered myself in blood red juice covering the walls of the shower with red and the floor with pulp…

This is just the beginning. During the Dark Moons she has asked that I worship her in this way; with her sacred fruit and a journey to the underworld. So just in time for Samhain and of course on each dark moon I look forward to spending time in her death like embrace… 

Here is my recipe, feel free to tweak it how you feel fit. Working with Persephone can be incredibly rewarding and powerful for those that have suffered through traumatic events in their lives. Will you join me in by honoring this powerful Goddess with a healing bath in honor of the dark goddess Persephone?

You will need...

·         ½ cup pomegranate juice

·         1 apple sliced so the pentagram shows

·         1 pomegranate cut into quarters

·         1 cup Epsom or black lava salt

·         Red Rose petals