Cowry Shell Divination
/Flowers for Ostara
/I first gathered my traveling basket. My brand new Athame (as I cracked the other one) It isn't ready for use yet, but I wanted to cleanse and consecrate it in the flowing waters of the river. I then picked flowers from the garden, a small rose, prim rose, violets pansy, and columbine. These were for the Goddess of spring. I then brought milk and honey in a bottle I use for ritual, This was for the water spirits. I also packed some incense and tarot cards. I was able to set the flowers afloat with the milk and honey. Whispering my prayers as they floated down the river. The Goddess and Spirits seamed pleased. As the incense floated through the air we read the tarot and their messages were quite clear.
Later in the week my conveners joined me for a simple, and laid back ritual. We crafted a beautiful mandala from flowers. It is currently still together and will be taken down and burned with more prayers, and words of thanks to the Goddess of spring for the life she has brought forth, and the bounty of the year. The ashes will be saved and used for other rites.
Stones of the Ancients ( How the Tarot belongs in older practictes)
/A Celtic Reconstructionist is (straight from Wikipedia) "Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism (also Celtic Reconstructionism or CR) is a polytheistic, animistic, religious and cultural movement. It is an effort to reconstruct and revive, in a modern Celtic cultural context, pre-Christian Celtic religions." There is so little on the "pre-Christian" era that I have had to extend my research and practice to allow up to the 14c. There was more documentation then, and many of the practices were still being used by the farm folk, or were adapted to fit into Christianity. As my mentor Mrs. Freeman has said, " it can come as a surprise to find how few pagan practices and customs have survived unadulterated by Christianity in the British Isles and Ireland. The truth is that these countries have been Christianized for over 2000 years, and, as we all know, history was written by the winners! Added to which, the Celtic Druids had an oral culture – they considered their sacred knowledge too important to write down – and so when the Romans destroyed the Druid colleges and massacred the priests, very little pre-Christian wisdom remained to be handed down. Yet the truth is that pagan and Christian threads have been interwoven into magical traditions throughout the centuries – yes, even traditional witchcraft practices are full of Christian references."
For me its not the Christian influence that bothers me much, but more the fact that things like Tarot and Crystals were not used. I have been struggling to figure out their place in my practice. It was last night that I was reading and saw a reference to a crystal being used in Celtic times. So I do what I always do and pull out a stack of books, and arm myself with a pen and paper for notes. First lets address the Tarot question. If you are a true Celtic reconstrucionist, you aren't going to find the Tarot cards any where, but if you are a bit looser like me and allow the Medieval period in there as well then you will find a perfect place for the Tarot. Many dont know that we have evidence of the Tarot being used in a 16 card system in the early to mid 1400s.
Crystals are a different matter. The Egyptians and Greeks used beautiful stones to adorn their jewelry and art. They used stones like Agate, Carnelian, Lapis Lazuil and Quartz. It is quite possible that many of these stones were brought over in trade to the Celtic lands. There are many other examples from antiquity, but we know that specifically the Celts and ancient Britons were using Quartz mostly clear quartz, but considering the sacredness of "Smokey Quartz" at the time it is quite possible they used it as well. I have personally found crystals on the banks of Llyn y Fan Fach (above) and have seen them use a mixture of Quartz and Mica in their burial Cairns. Other historical and archeological accounts have found Quartz and Marble pebbles and marbles as well as chunks of Amber. It is no coincidence that the Ancients treasured these gems for their beauty and healing properties. I am quite sure they were picking up on the energies of the stones, and using them as offerings, surrounding their dead and as the foundation for many of their sacred sites, and wells.
So we have evidence of some stones being used in ancient practices, but not all. Some newer stones like Larimar which have recently been discovered in a region not even close to the Uk would not be appropriate to work with in Celtic/Medieval Reconstruction. Below is a list of Ancient stones with modern properites that you can use in your practices
Diamond- Energy amplifier, provides a link between the intellect and the higher mind.
Opal - Used by the Greeks and Romans the Opal enhances psychic and mystical visions
Amber - Connects to our Ancestors, absorbs pain, and negative energy
Lapis Lazuli - Used by the Sumerians, Egyptians and Greeks, sacred to the Goddess Nuit, Lapis alleviates pain, and migraines, it amplifies thought, and stimulates the 3rd eye
Quartz- Most powerful healing and amplifier, it absorbs, and release energy, holds information, and heals
Smokey Quartz- Used by all the ancient civilizations it is used for grounding,and to raise vibrations in meditation, lifts fear, and brings emotional calmness
Marble - Strength, Self-control, master of thought
Carnelian- Used by the Egyptians and Romans and believe it assist in the transition to the afterlife it also stimulates the metabolism, used in fertility, and heals depression
Agate- Used bye the Byzantine and Persian magicians it transforms negative energy, used to treat the emotional levels, and digestion
Onyx - Sacred to Aphrodite (formed from her fingernails) provides strength, and centers your energy, promotes vigor, and stamina
Citrine- Used by the Romans the Citrine is associated with the sun and is used for cleansing and regeneration. Enhances creativity.
Amethyst - Used since antiquity to guard against drunkenness, many goblets were made of this, and some even say the holy grail is made of "Amethyst" It protects, and guards against psychic attacks, healing and cleansing
What is a Priestess?
/It was when I had started to teach my students in the craft that the reality of what a Priestess really was came to me. It wasn't a light bulb moment, but a series of light bulbs, that got me thinking. The first thought was "not everyone is a Priestess" No, not everyone has the time, or will to become a Priestess. Many do want to learn, but not serve in the way a Priestess does. This led me to make a change in my own curriculum. Traditionally it is a 1 year and 1 day program for a student to become a Witch and Preistess in many Tradidtional Wicca covens/traditions. I have seen students who genuinely want to learn, drop out because the work was too much, too hard. This creates discouragement for the student and teacher. So I decided to make it easier. Get my students the information they need, without setting them up for failure.
This brought me to the next thought, this work is too easy for a Priestess in training. The work of a Priestess is filled with constant self examination, constant checking, and constant training. As soon as you have figured it out, there is something new, for you to learn, understand, or face. It is almost like walking a balance beam. Always on the verge of falling too far in one direction. It is about finding balance in the self, and then turning around and helping others do the same.
As you have seen in previous blogs, you have read that I know and fully understand my purpose. I am here to be a Priestess. At first you might think that this is a glamorous thing. No, it is not. There is nothing glamorous about it, other than the title. A Priestess in training must first find self balance. This can be a hard and daunting task. Added to that are rigorous academics so that the Priestess understands the laws of human nature, magic, the natural world, and the spirit world.
A Priestess's job is to help others, to preside over sacred ceremonies, rituals and rites. Her job is to be a steward of the land, a right hand to her Goddess. A shining upstanding example of a Woman, a leader, and servant to her Goddess. To achieve this she must be in balance. Balance is hard, to far to the right and you become righteous, too far to the left and you loose your mind. It requires daily self work. There is no time for low self-esteem (though YES we are human and do suffer from this, but there is simply no time for it) No time to wallow in self pity, no our work requires that we walk with confidence. To become a good Priestess you must be physically well, in shape and healthy. This doesn't mean that there is no room for weakness, sickness, or injury. It means that, in order for our work to continue we must maintain a healthy body, mind and spirit.
Beyond making sure our mundane lives are in order, we must be able to flow with the cycles of the moon, the wheel of the year, the seasons of Goddesses. We must learn flexibility without sacrifice. Now is the time of Goddesses, Now is the time for the Priestess to come and lead us home to the mother. Those that have been called, dont just hear the call, there is something that vibrates through their very being, pulls them towards the path, something that says THIS is more important that "I". I am the vessel that does the work of my Goddesses. There is no time for self pity, drama, and bickering. No, the Priestess must rise above it. How can the Priestess serve the Goddess, the community, and her students/family if she is wraped up in petty worries, drama, and other things that do not serve our spirit?
Beautiful is the woman who hears the call and chooses to follow, Brave is the woman who kneels before her Goddess ready to accept the mantle of the Priestess. Strong is the woman who chooses the Path of the Priestess despite the weight the position brings. Smart is the woman who understands that this is not a path of status, but of servitude. Now is the time of the Priestess.
There is not much information on Priestess of old, as much had been destroyed, and demonised by the church. With the rise of Neo-Paganism, Roman and Greek resurgence and Celtic reconstructionism, as well as influence from other cultures, we can look back at their work, what they did, how they dressed, how they served. We can begin to make educated guesses, as to how they conducted themselfs. We can see that these women were of GREAT strength, great power, and great love, but that they did not abuse these things.
Today a good Priestess is one who loves with all her heart, takes no crap, is educated in the ways of the world, knowledge herbs, and esoteric subjects. She is a healer, a spirtual leader, keeper of the flame. She has the ability to lead and serve at the same time. She flows with her cycle, the cycle of the moon, and seasons. She understands the elements and has a deep relationship with them. She can cradle a baby, but yet move a mountian. She is self aware, and aware of what is going on around her. Many are psychic or diviners. They can access the "otherside" with ease, and walks with one foot in each world. She is the maker of magic, and life, but yet she understand death, rebirth, and the deep dark crevices of the shadow. She understands how to work with the darker energies, but walks in the light. She can bind, but wont curse (unless there is no other choice). She is the creatrix and the destroyer. She holds "her" world in the palm of her hand and can nurture it, but knows one wrong move and it can be destroyed. She learned to think for herself, but not put herself first. She can manuipulate energy, and chooses to use it for good. She can heal herself, and others. She trusts in herself, her decisions, and actions because she has surrendered to her Goddess and understands her actions are a reflection of her Goddess. She is trustworthy, and truthful, she has integrity, balance and dedication to the path. Ultimately she must be wise, years of self work, and consulting her Goddess is the only key to finding deep wisdom. She must find time to spend in prayer, ritual, and meditation with her Goddess, but also create opportunities for others. She is the Holy Grail. The vessel of her Goddess, the key to life.
Many women take the title, but are not living this way. Many live this way but do not take the title. Not every one is cut out of the Priestess cloth, think hard and long before you accept this path. It is not an easy road, but the work we do is so wonderful, and so powerfully trans-formative that the hard work, blood, sweat, and tears are worth every hard moment. Especially when you see someone you have helped, go forth into the world, with balance and beauty. We make a difference, we make an impact, but you wont find us picketing, you wont find us screaming about a cause, no because the work we do is one person at a time. A small ripple in the pond, that may, one day change the world.
I dont have what she has
/I then find myself thinking how can I do that? What do I need to learn to be like that, to do this and to do that. This circle of thoughts is usually followed by lots of research, and then disappointment, as I find that there are many people that do this, or that and they do it really well. I feel like I am unoriginal. Not good enough, Not smart enough, Not pretty enough, This is usually followed by depression.
I understand my purpose, I know why I am here, I know what I am supposed to be doing. I look around and see so many wonderful people serving their community, healing clients, selling quality products. I sit back and think where is my place? How can I make an impact. I face rejection, after rejection, but then something curious happened.........
2013 rolled around, I for the first time didn't make any New Years resolutions. (Well I made one silly small one, not to buy books. Well I can tell you, I have already broken it.) I didn't promise myself I would loose weight, I didn't say I wouldn't do this, or that. What I did do was take a good hard look at my life. There was so much filling it. Most would think that I lead a charmed life. Well maybe I do. The charmed face reality as well. I've felt cluttered. I felt weighed down. If you have followed my blogs you have read the blog on Courage. You know that I have been facing my fears, and having the courage to do what I never thought I would do. To become the "Fool" and walk the path by myself. With strength, knowledge, and happiness.
So what is this curious thing that happened? Well unlike most years my personal growth seams to have been let out of the cage. It was like 2013 said "Annwyn go forth and grow". It wasn't until this weekend that I really felt the full impact. Saturday was a completely mundane day. I absolutely loved it. It was full of soccer games, baseball practice etc. Sunday I went to the local Pagan shop "Northern Winds" run by a wonderful group of Norse (Asatru) Men and Metaphysical women. I have been reading Tarot and Bones here on and off when ever they have a fundraiser for PPD. I was thrilled to be asked back. Its as if I am finally catching my stride here in the community. It takes me a while, I am very shy until I feel (and yes I mean feel) the area, feel the people, and feel comfortable. I believe that it is the same for them. I have been here a year and a half now. Unlike my friend Idalia that can walk into a brand new place, make a dozen friends, tell them exactly who she is and what she does, I stay in the corner like a mouse. Well there I go again, I don't have what she has. No, No I don't, and for the first time in my life I am ok with that! Despite the fact that I don't have what she does, there are things about me that others don't have.
Ok, So I got sidetrack there. Back to 2013. So there I was at Northern Winds reading, when I am in spirit I am different. There are no inhibitions, there are no fears, there are no worries. Just complete and utter trust. So when I am half in this world and half in the other my fears drop away. Interesting I thought, so maybe I should be in spirit all the time? Well this is not really a good idea, but it got me thinking. My work is spiritual, so I need to think more from a spiritual perspective than mundane when it comes to my work (Art, Dance, Writing, Teaching etc) So these thoughts came at the perfect time.
They came when I was ready to go back to dance, I don't have to think mundane, I don't have to think I'm better, or need to be better. I don't have to have lofty goals of grandeur, win competitions, and awards. I don't have to be the best artist, dancer, etc. I just have to be me. Then Monday rolls around. I wake up to find that my Avalon article, twice rejected already had been published by a Magazine in the UK. Only to receive a rejection letter from Llewellyn on two other articles moments later. This could have been a big hit to my ego, to my soft nature. A strange thing happened. I laughed, shrugged, and said oh well. Ill try again later. I didn't once think I am not good enough, what do the other writers have that I don't? Nope, I thought well it is not the right.time. I love this new way of thinking. Yes I don't have what she has, but I don't need to. I just need to be me, and if that is good enough for others to notice, then that is the direction spirit is leading me...,....
Glastonbury Blue Bowl
/Recently in my practice I have been feeling like there was something missing. Something sacred that during ritual I just needed to have on my altar, dip my fingers into etc. Well after several times of feeling this way, I meditated and found that I needed to work with a sacred bowl. Not a cauldron, which is very important to me as well, but a bowl. Something to told sacred waters. I started to look around. I wanted it to be blue and hand made. About the time I found the bowl (Below) I found out (via internet research) about something called the Glastonbury Blue Bowl. There wasn't much information on this so while I was talking to my mentor Mara Freeman, I asked her to tell me about it. I had never heard about the blue bowl before, but it is no surprise that my soul was craving it. After being at the Chalice well, and standing right next to the building that housed the bowl, (but not being able to enter) I must have picked up on the energy. Perhaps it is more simple than that, the more I align myself with the energies of Avalon, the more the little things come into my life.
In 1908 a French man named Wellesley Tudor Pole became convinced that he needed to move to Glastonbury. Along the way he became convinced that he would find a sacred object there, and would need three maidens to help him. In 1906 an object was uncovered at Bride's mound. It was in fact a blue bowl. Unfortunately it was not the artifact that they had expected. After carbonating and other research they found that the bowl was placed there in 1898 by an English Doctor named Goodchild. He had spent much time in Italy treating tuberculosis years before. He purchased the bowl there and brought it back to the UK with him. After a profound dream where he was told that Jesus had actually carried the bowl, he became convinced that he was in possession of the Holy Grail. He brought the bowl into an antiquities dealer who could neither confirm or deny where it had come from, but suggested that it was very ancient. Since the shop owner who Goodchild had originally bought it from told him that it came from inside of a wall on an old site. He became even more convinced that it was the Holy Grail, and placed the bowl in Bride's mound where he thought it belonged. Though we now know it was not the Holy Grail and that most of the information was incorrect. It now carries the energy of Bride's mound, and Chalice Well (where it now resides inside locked away).
I personally think that the grail if it does exists is NOT a blue bowl, but I do think we can work with the grail and other healing and water energies through working with a sacred vessel. I personally love my chalice but it holds wine, a very important part of ritual. I needed and wanted something more. The energy of the "concept" of a sacred bowl has now been spreading through my own practice, and with out telling my students it is creeping into theirs. I now have one that has come to me with similar information, urging her to start to work with water, by holding it in a bowl. Amazing isn't it? How egregore can be passed from teacher to student and vice versa with out intention. That is why those of us that are called to the Priestess path (or Priest) have to consider everything we do before we do it. (More of that later in another blog) I am happy that this bowl has come to me, and that my students want to work with water more. Maybe it is the sacredness of the water, or the vessel itself. I am not sure, but time will unravel this little mystery.
Water Witches- The Craft of the Canal
/This blog has been almost exactly 9 months in the making. I chuckle at this, 9 months is the time of gestation, from conception to birth. It is also a very magical number! If you have been following my blog you know that I was in the UK last May. I wrote several blogs about my experiences, but time got away from me and finishing these blogs were last priority. Then last night as I was mindlessly clicking away at the internet I came across something that literally made me throw my hands in the air and scream "YES!!!!!!"
So lets back up to May 14th 2012. After a little drive through Cheddar gorge (UK) we made our way to Alvechurch. This is where we are supposed to pick up 2 boats. 3 Families on 2 boats, yes this will be an interesting few days. Are you lost? ok let me back up a little bit more. Durring the industrial revolution horse and donkey pulled canal boats and then later steam powered boats were used on a pretty intricate canal system in the UK to transport goods, much like our trucking system or train system. They weaved in and out of the cities through the country side making goods more accessible to people. The people that worked the Canals were a mix of Dutch immigrants, and Gypsies. Soon these people began to live on the canal. Their homes were "narrow boats" much like our single wide trailers, but on the water, and in the 1800s! Now they have become either the way of the modern water gypsy or little vacation homes for crazy tourist much like yours truly. You can pick your boat out, rent it for how ever long you like, and cruise a variety of canal systems. There are pubs and shops along the sides of the canal in many cases. In other cases you have to either park and walk, or let some continue driving, go get groceries and come back. The boats only go about 4 mps, so there is plenty of time. I personally like the little farm shops, that offer fresh sausage, bacon, pies, and fruits.
It was on one of the beautiful quiet days the sun was out, and I was looking at the muddy waters, thinking how beautiful and mysterious the waters were.This is when I had that moment. I knew there was something, something magical, something pulling me. At the time I felt more at home there on the canal than I was in Glastonbury a week before. I didn't understand why, I just kept telling D. that there is just something, something I cant place my finger on. These waters hold magic, I thought it was a muddy watery siren that perhaps was calling me. I could feel the magic. I remember saying to D. that these people are Gypsies, they are water Gypsies, they HAVE to practice magic! They just have to. So then I began to take photos of other boats, proof that there was something magical in these boats. It wasn't until last night that I had that proof!
Do you see the sun and moon on these boats?
So here is some evidence that the sun and moon are important. There were also symbols like castles, roses, Celtic knot work, and things that resemble the Pennsylvania Dutch hex signs. I even saw a cauldron on the top of one boat. So While we were on the canal I gathered up as much as I could find from the little canal side shops. I looked for books and trinkets. I found a few books that I haven't dug into yet, but they look promising. Also a guide on how to paint the beautiful Castles and Roses. Many people make their lives on the Canal's. There was a very fun Welsh water Gypsy that had been carving mushrooms out of wood and were for sale. (see photo at the bottom) So I had taken my experiences with me, and that was that.........
Now we arrive back to yesterday. I was perusing the internet, nothing special, I was longing for water, its time for me to take a dip in mother nature’s waters. (The bath can only hold me for so long. Looks like next week is a trip to Cali or possibly another watery spot.) I found an article on the web Called Water Witches. I was happy to find it, thought it would be about Water Witchery, but it wasn't quite what I expected! It was so much more, it was all about the ways of the Canal, and how these people were called Water Witches. Because of copy write laws, I can’t post the article but you can visit it
***t has recently been brought to my attention since I have posted this link. The website has been updated to include questionable and discriminatory information. When the link was originally posted in 2013 it was a bare-bones website that contained mostly text. The information on that single page may have been plagiarized as well. I have removed the link as to not share or promote it. It has been almost a decade since I visited that page. While my love for Canal boats continues I have focused my research on other areas of Celtic and Brythonic Folklore.***
One thing about the article that it mentions is the "Wheel" If you look at the photo below you can see it here. I am thinking that it is much like your 6 pointed star, (As above so below) but if anyone else has information on what this means PLEASE share it with me. So here I am 9 months later, I have finally confirmed that my intuition was right. For my Empath friends and students, sometimes it takes this long or longer to confirm your feelings, so stay strong because most likely you are right! I Belong to these waters, and one day when I have won the lottery I will be buying one of these boats and living on them. Yes these waters are dirty, and not fit to even touch, but there is something magical about them, they hold mystery, magic and NOW I know they hold the secrets of the Occult...........
Want to go on your own adventure? Visit this link http://www.alvechurch.com/
Blessed Imbolc
/I hope that the turn of the wheel, and the first month in 2013 has treated you well. While the rest of the world is experiencing the first glimpse of spring with snow drops and crocus peeking out of the ground. Here in Arizona we are experiencing a mix of death and birth. The leaves are still golden and falling to the ground from our first frost. The bunnies are out as if it were already Eostara. I am having a joyous time watching the little seeds I planted in the fall begin to sprout. I have henbane sprouts, and a brand new little Mandrake that has emerged just this morning. I am so happy to see this! My poke and belladonna are doing well, so are the primrose, and ferns. It is really lovely to see all the new growth.
Today I crafted Brigid's crosses, and held ritual. I am looking forward to tending to my home and another ritual tomorrow. I have never really resonated with Imbolc or Brigid. I am not really a fiery person (despite the red hair). It wasn't until this morning that I really had that AH HA! moment. Brigid is associated with Fire, and I am a Water Witch. How do these co-mingle? It is hard, but after deep thought i realized that, a cup of tea is fire (heat) and water, so is a hot bath. My favorite flower the Rose is also associated with fire. I find it interesting that Brigid is a fire Goddess, Goddess of the rising sun and morning, but yet she has numerous holy places through out the UK. The most famous being the Holy Well at Kildare. "This" is the water association I needed! Not only was this association pleasing to my soul, but I realized that she is a Goddess of healing, and water is the element that is associated with healing. I chuckled at myself, because I have been reading a book on healing with Brigid.
I was very happy and pleased to start to resonate so strongly with this beautiful Goddess. So I pulled out my new blue bowl. A brand new sacred tool that is associated with Glastonbury, the Holy Grail, and Avalon (more on the Glastonbury blue bowl later) I took fresh filtered water, quartz and red rose petals from the one mini rose that was blooming on the porch. I made sacred water to cleanse before ritual. I also prepared an offering of Honey, for her work with bees, Milk for her work with cattle and diary, and Apples, for her association with the Sacred Apple Orchard. We held ritual in her honor, it was wonderful, we made what the Scotts call Clootie (strips of fabric with our prayers and intentions on them) to tie in the tree, asking for healing and other magical intentions. We crafted Brigid's crosses and breathed life into our Clootie. After ritual we presented her offering to the Fairy garden, and tied our Clootie in the tree. I look forward to continuing my Imbolc/Candalmass rituals, hearth tending, and more crafting tomorrow.............
Have a Blessed Imbolc
Courage
/Lets start several weeks ago. The full moon in December 2012, I was asked to go with a friend to a Full Moon labyrinth. I went, there was nothing very profound about it. I had a great time, but like I said there was nothing profound...... or was there? Before we nestled down by the fire for some basic instructions, we were told to write some things on flash paper. I don't remember what I wrote exactly, but I do know that I wrote "to remove those things that no longer served me". If I had known what the outcome would be, I most likely wouldn't have written that. I am selfish, I love big, and don't like change. So why ask for this? Well because things have become muddled. I have found it hard to distinguish where the line is between what I want, what I think is best, and what really is. I am great at helping others with a very high accuracy rate, but when it comes to myself, I do struggle. So clutching the flash paper, I wind my way through the labyrinth. At the center I said my prayers, and let my requests float on the waves of magic out into the universe. There before me was a basket, I didn't look at the basket, I merely slid my hand in, smooth rocks moved around and tumbled through the basket. I whispered, give me the stone with the message that I need, the one that is right for me. I held the rock until I was out of the labyrinth and back into the mundane world. I read the message and it said Courage, I scoffed a bit, I am fearless! I charge forward tackling problems and situations as they come, I never back down. My good friend got a special rock with 2 words, peace and love. The others seamed to have gotten all wonderful rocks with words like happiness, grounding etc. I felt a bit jipped, but I also trust my Gods and my Guides. I placed my stone on my desk and that was that!
Now we arrive at 2013 the year has just begun and the amazing things that are happening are wonderful! I am so blessed and January isn't even over! I had made lists of things that no longer served me, started to sell off old Bellydance costumes, give away old magical items I no longer used and knew others would cherish. I cleaned out my closet. I was removing the clutter! I was very happy. Then like always things turn, one min you KNOW your path and your destiny and the next you are left feeling betrayed, lied to, angry, and all the while helping others through the same feelings. I love my friends (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE ;) ) I am always here for them, it is my work to help, I do know that! That hasn't changed at all! During the height of my feelings, and confusion while wadeing through a mix of feelings. The boys tumble into the house, chaos ensues, cats scatter, the silence is broke. They come in with bags, of groceries, and other goodies from Nanna's house. I'm in my own world when I hear "here your mom wanted you to have this" I take a look its a flier from my mothers church. I cringe a bit, but then, as I look the message is clear! In big bold letters is the word COURAGE. I gape, and then my heart sinks. I read on, It says 1. The ability to do something that frightens one. 2. Strength in the face of pain or grief.
I am fearless I have always been, but Courage is not the same as being fearless........
Now I want to stop here for a moment so that many of you don't get the wrong idea. I am not changing my path, DON'T WORRY! I have however, over the years healed from the hurt the church has caused me, and am able to understand that our Guides, and Gods work in strange ways, I don't think that they have clearly drawn lines on religion, they transcend religion and I honestly don't think that they care. So if they want me to get a message and the message comes from my mothers church well then so be it.
Ok! So back to Courage not being the same as fearlessness. It just isn't, fearlessness (at least for me) comes from adrenaline. Courage is something I have to muster up from the depths of my soul and force forward. I think that my timid nature, combine with my fearlessness has helped to catapult this Courage forth when it is needed. I know what must be done, I don't like it. It is NOT what I expected, and I have a MILLION and one arguments as to why not! The anguish doesn't subside, and I do feel alone. I re-read the paper, it says "Facing the Unknown" it has a picture of a mountain climber. As I look at the picture the image of "The Fool" from the tarot deck card 0 comes to mind. In fact the more I look at it the more I KNOW it is "The Fool"! I say to my Gods and Guides OK! message received. I make some hard phone calls, talk to my spirit guides, and human guides. I think of a neutral party, some one who helped me start on this path and have a chat with him. I feel better, and I do what needs to be done. This is one of the hardest things EVER, but it just has to be done. I let go of everything and pick up my tiny pack, and head down the path, I am "The Fool" There is so much meaning to this, I feel as if I have been fooled, been foolish, but yet I feel ok like what awaits me on the other side of the ridge, the "unknown" is good, and where I should be.
Sometimes when you are stuck all you have to do is go back to the beginning. So here I am, I am at 0, but like "The Fool" I will have Courage to walk the path, though alone, I will walk it. One step in front of the other. I am glad that the next step in the Tarot path is The Magician, and then The High Priestess, how I will reach the High Priestess with my decisions I do not know, but I place those things in the hands of the Gods and with COURAGE I move forward.................
Winter Crafting and Crystals
/First! There was a little gem show here at the Community college. The prices were pretty reasonable, and there was a great selection. I did a little shopping for a friend, as well as picked up some of my own things.
Here are the Spoils of Annwyn ( Preiddeu Annwn) (Sorry for the little joke there I couldn't help it!)
I gathered some tumbled stones. I found that I actually have given most of mine away and used them in mojo bags, poppets etc. So I stocked up on some basics, Sodalite, Amethyst, Rose Quartz, Orange Calcite, and Snowflake Obsidian. They had LOVELY Amethyst clusters untreated and ALL natural! I found a nice piece of Chalcedony a bunch of Loadstone (which I had also used most of). Blue and Orange Calcite, Ruby in Fuchsite, Merlinite (Dendritic Agate) Amber and a new little stone that comes from a lake in California called Hanksite.
I picked up a nice little Fluorite Necklace as well
Now I saved the 2 best for last! I couldnt believe the prices on these little gems. Before you look at the photos I want to say a few things. I see so many listings, and people selling "Lemurian Quartz" Usually they look like your regular quartz points. This is very frustrating for me because that is just Quartz with a fancy name. "Real" and what I call vintage Lemurian Quartz is not a pretty clear stone. They often times are covered in sand, or have a tan translucent or opaqueness to parts to them. The other things that makes them remarkable is that if you find GOOD "Vintage Lemurian Quartz" you will find that it has a phantom. These stones are record keepers! They are very hard to find, and usually quite expensive. Well I found 2 that were $5 each. They are both pretty special but one is VERY special! The first photo you can see the little phantom up at the top! This particular one doesnt have much sandiness to it, but you can see the tint at the point.
The stone below is the special one! Can you see the Double phantom? I have never seen one like this before so you can imagine how excited I was! Something that you can not see is that there is a little red fleck inside towards the bottom. It looks like a drop of blood. The 2nd phantom is hard to see but its about 1/3-1/2 the way up the crystal, and was in the very beginning stages. If you look at the moon decal and trace your finger over to the right and move it down just slightly (1/4 of an inch) you can see where the crystal is even darker and that is the top of the 2nd phantom.
So after the gem show, I felt recharged after being around the high vibrations! I made 2 little talisman with hazel nuts. The first is 5 little mini apples and hazel nuts. This in an ancestor talisman. The apples are sacred to Avalon and are associated with love, death and the underworld. the Hazel is also associated with death and the underworld in some cultures. (for more info on the Hazel read - Witchcraft Medicine: Healing Arts, Shamanic Practices, and Forbidden Plants)
The 2nd one is also associated with death, and the underworld. It consists of a black cat vertebrate (always, always cruelty free, I was given this animal several days after it had passed) The hematite is associated with grounding and will help bring you down into the earth. It is good for underworld work, shape-shifting, and the like. ( If you are interested in it let me know!) The Apple/Hazel is not for sale sorry.......
Lastly! The Rain Walker came over yesterday and we crafted ointments! My box of newly ordered bottles had JUST arrived! We crafted Mandrake/Chamomile/Lavender ointment for joint pain! So far the Rain Walker has reported that it works! This ointment was crafted with Mandrake and Chamomile infused (in almond) oil, and Lavender essential oil, Duck fat and Bees wax. The 2nd batch was an Anti-anxiety, Stress relief ointment. Which was crafted with Duck Fat, Bees wax, and infused Oil (in almond) Peppermint, Lavender, Camomile, Eucalyptus and Yarrow.......
Look at those empty jars! Im not telling what those are for!.... Yet ;)
Changing a Magical Name
/This is my actual Tattoo that I took a photo of then photo shopped onto this background for by logo. |
Magical thinking vs Mundane
/Each person is different and can feel or see different things, so many times it clashes, even with other Psychics who aren't wrong either. (Defies logic doesn't it?). We oftentimes find ourselves removing our heart from a friendship, or removing ourselves from a situation, because we know how it will end, we can feel the doom. We would rather be the "bad guy" than the "hurt guy" Its because we already have so many scars from past experiences. I am OK with this, and I find that women with similar abilities come to me looking for guidance. This is part of my "wounded healer" path. (Chiron) I have mostly healed, I say mostly because it still smarts when people we love discredit us based purely on locic. So this blog is partly for my empathic students, and partly for what I am about to write below.
What makes us, as Magical Beings, Witches, Witches in training, Priestess, and Priestess in training different that our mundane brothers and sisters? It is out ability to think, feel, and know outside the box. The ability to know with confidence that we are correct, based on clear knowing, or clear feeling. Without this we would just be mundane people waving our hands around to Gods and Goddesses we don't really believe in. This natural ability to, (and for the non-natural magical beings) the willingness to think, feel, and know outside of logic, and outside of the box. If you have faith in your Gods, and Goddess, in the Ancestor spirits, and Faery beings, why do we give our psychics, and empaths so little credit? These gifts DO come from our Deity, Ancestors, and Faery. They were awakened at some point, so that we could serve the community, and so that we have the ability to know how things will end, so that we may shift the out come, and help others as well. We work with the sprit world, we believe in the unseen, but not in the ability to believe in our Psychics and Empaths and their messages. Now let me take a moment here and say, that I am not saying to have blind faith that is silly. There was something, that MOMENT that made us believe in our deity and guides, it is always good to question, but give your Psychic Spiritual guides some credit, they wouldnt claim they had these gifts if they didnt have an accuracy rate that made them believe in themselves. For the new Empaths, and Psychics BELIEVE in yourself. Dont get caught up in the mundane, dare to believe in yourself with confidence.
So I leave you with this last message. As a Magical practitioner, you believe in the unseen forces of magic, as A Wiccan you believe in the unseen forces of your Gods and as a Spirit worker you believe in the unseen forces of your Ancestors and the Faery realm. You already believe in the unseen forces, why discredit the psychics, empaths, and even your own abilities, based purely on logic? Logic really has no place in the spirit and magical world. It has a wonderful place in the mundane world and there it should stay. It has its time and its place, but it is NOT the rule. In magic, and in psychic events there is no rule, there is no logic. Logic is for the unbeliever, those that only believe in what they can see, what they know and what they can prove. Dare to be different, dare to be magical.........
GOOD BYE 2012!
/That being said I wanted this New Year to be different. I am not making resolutions to loose 60 lbs, or achieve x amount of goals. Instead I spent the last two days of 2012 cleaning out, and finishing projects. I cancelled one of my websites, and started to sell off a bunch of different high priced items that I no longer use. Took some things to Good Will. split some wonderful items that I just have too many of, or no longer use between friends. I focused on all the things I did NOT want to bring with me to 2013.
I really like this new concept. It really focuses on the death and rebirth of the Gregorian year. I finished up projects, and removed the things that no longer served me. (DEATH) There is still some work to do, but I feel better working this way. Its so much better than wracking my brain for Stepford Wife goals ill never really achieve. So I enter 2013 with less baggage, a sense of pride for completing things, and a sense of freedom for cleaning out the things that were causing undue clutter in my life. I can not wait to see what will be Birthed from this freed up energy (BIRTH)
So GOOD BYE 2012! And HELLO 2013!
Avalon Working
/Tween places and Portals
/Something particular occured last night. As I was sitting there on the floor, zoned out, I was staring off to my right, there is a large arch way that seperates the bathroom from the bedroom and off set from that about 4 inches in is a bookshelf. This is no particular bookshelf, nothing Witchy or Pagan about it, it holds mostly novels, and computer books. So as I was sitting there, I began to think of tween places. Im a huge fan of tween places. I love to walk the banks of lakes, rivers and streams these are all tween places, corners in a yard, the edge of a forest etc. Before I go on, many of you might be wondering what is a tween place? and why does it even matter?
Well tween places are places, in between. They are in between here and there, this world and the next, the mundane, and the magical, but most importantly they mark, and are the places that allow one easy entrance to the other side. Witches of old, were often called Hedgeriders, or Hedge Witches. They are not the Witches of today who call themselves hedgewitches because they are gardeners or work with herbs, this meanings is quite a new meaning in fact. What a hedge witch really is is one that crosses the hedge. The hedge used to be the boundary between the town and the outside world. This was rarely crossed as many times it was dangerous to venture out of the boundary. So they earned this name by crossing the "hedge" Now you may be asking how does one become a Witch by walking out of town, well that isnt quite what I mean. What I mean is that the hedge was a representation of the end of the town, the end of the unknown and safe places. When a Witch would cross the hedge it meant that he/she was parting the veil and crossing from the mundane into the the unknown and spiritual world. This was achieved through deep meditation and oftentimes the use of tween places and portals.
I want to take just a moment to say that what I was speaking about above is achieved through deep meditation, trance and journey work. Not basic light meditation, though basic meditation is a wonderful practice it serves as more of a restorative practice rather than a deep, mind and spirit altering practice. Once deep trance, meditation or "hedge crossing" has been achieved you find that it will become easier and easier to enter that state, and "cross the hedge"
So what does all this have to do with portals and tween places? Well not only are boarders of towns, tween places (the place that marks between here and there) but doorways, arches, the end of land, the edge of a lake etc are all "tween places". They mark the exact spot that is between here and there. "There" being the other world, Avalon, Annwn, Summerlands etc. I oftentimes use Alice in Wonderland an example and it is a perfect one at that! When Alice peered into the rabit hole she was in a tween place. So now you understand what a tween place is, and deep meditation, you can begin to understand their significance. You see once you are in meditation you can enter the other side through this tween place, you can even enhance these journeys by sitting in or at the edge of these tween places. It is said that in these places you can see with the naked eye what is on the other side, meditation is not needed! (but practice, and alignment with the spirit beings is) In these tween places, I can feel the energy stronger than anywhere. There are many times gifts that are left for me, bones, feathers or messages! In return you can leave gifts for the Ancestors, or the Faery race. A windowsill is a perfect example of a tween place, and therefore a wonderful place to make an Ancestor shrine, or Faery shrine.
So back to what I was talking about above. There is a Portal in my room, there is an arch way, a tween place, with a bookshelf against it, so it is a tween place in a tween place, and THAT is a portal. I had zoned out, and was in a light meditative state, I began to breath rythmically, and enter a deep trance state, I could see the energy move, and the portal crack open, and then I KNEW it was a portal! I will admit that I was so excited that I didn't explore it more, it wasn't the excitement of a portal. I have experienced those before in my walks through nature, and in deep Shamanic Journeys, it was the excitement of the realization of where it was. It was so mundane that I had not thought that there could be so much magick! Needless to say this will be explored more through meditation and journey work!
Let me know what your favorite tween places are, or if you have discovered any portals! And if you want to know more you can check this book out!
http://www.amazon.com/Hedge-Rider-Underworld-Eric-De-Vries/dp/0979616875
The Ritual of the Bones
/How I got here
/Witchy Blog Award
/The Rules:
♦ Post the award logo on your blog post.
♦ Thank the blogger who passed the award on to you.
♦ Answer the seven questions below.
♦ Nominate five Wiccan/Pagan bloggers. (If you don’t know five other Wiccan bloggers, nominate as many as you can.)
♦ Give a short description of the blog/blogger, and why you nominated them.
♦ Stop by Ayslyn’s Corner and the Book of Shadows to add your name on the list of bloggers awarded.
♦ You may change the questions, as long as they are still Wiccan- and Pagan-related.
Seven Questions:
I. How did you “discover” Wicca/Witchcraft? I was living in Japan at the time, and ordered a book on how to make incense, it ended up being Scott Cunningham, I read through the book and wanted more. So I looked for a pagan circle in the area and found an American Military organization called Circle of the Rising Moon. It was a huge step for me, and helped shape the path I am on now. Beside that I really got into crystals in Japan, they are very open to healing energies like Reiki and Crystal therapy. I received my first Reiki treatment in Japan, and was hooked!
III. Are you “in the broom closet”? If not, share your “going out” experience. I am in and out. I am 90% out, but when it comes to family we "just" don't talk about it.
IV. What tradition do you follow? I follow the Tradition of Eternal Harvest Wicca and have been initiated as a Priestess within their tradition, I am a student of the Avalon Mystery School, and a Reiki Master, some how these all fit together perfectly and I enjoy each of them.
V. Do you consider yourself a Witch, a Wiccan or a Pagan (or maybe something else)? I consider myself a Witch, Priestess, and Folk Magician
VI. How much of Witchcraft/Wicca are you able to incorporate into your everyday life?
I am not perfect by any means, but I do try to "work" everyday, from meditation, ritual, Reiki or even something as simple as gardening.
VII. Do you have a Familiar? If you do, tell us how did you meet your Familiar?
I do! His name is Magick a Black cat I rescued from Japan.