Day: December 14, 2011

Cobwebs

Cobwebs

Author: Brewan Blacksmith

A little while back, while driving around with, a friend I asked a simple question. “Is an artist still an artist if she loses her hands?” After a brief moment of pause she replied, “Yes.” I knew this was to be her answer and it was the same for me when the question first arose in my mind a while ago. It was easy for the both of us to answer being we are both artists. We understand that the underlying beauty in an artist is what resides in her mind and heart. At the same time, we both thought of the hardships that would come should an artist lose their outlet of expression. Painters paint and sculptures sculpt, but what if they no longer did? They would still see and think as they once had, but without physically doing what calls to them, what kind of an artist would they actually be?

For me, the thought later crossed over into another subject matter. “Is a Pagan still a Pagan if he no longer practices?” I asked myself. It was uncomfortable to think about as it pertained specifically to how my life hit me. For ten years I have been a Pagan, but since the recent recession a few years ago, day-to-day living removed the comforts of past practices. I wasn’t celebrating lunar rites, esbats, or sabbats like I used to. What once were coven celebrations amongst friends were now a lit candle and a prayer of thanks at best.

No more smudging, no more spell casting, no more divining and no more creating sacred circles for me. Good jobs became very sparse, living conditions changed, and disposable income disappeared. The time I once had for sharing with my coveners was removed, and all I was able to do was keep in connection with my gods through short prayers and silent conversations. The old ways of practicing the Old Ways were gone. The same held true for my coven friends.

While in this state of staleness I pondered briefly a few scenarios in which I wouldn’t be affected as much by these sudden changes in the way I lived my new life. Perhaps if I were a materialist I could cope by buying new things. Or maybe if I were of a more mainstream religious belief it would be easier as society makes time for it. If I were working a job that actually paid well, that would solve most of my problems. But, I’m no materialist, I’m devout Pagan until the end, and my job was a dead end. I always kept in mind that many people have it worse. I always kept in mind the beauty of my family and the smiles that they bring. But still, there was a void inside me. A great part of me remained dormant without my coven and all the great things we did. Within me there was a shadow, a lack of motion, a death.

Death, however, is often a misunderstood thing. People fear death because it is a physical end to what they know to be true. Death is a removal of what we see and that with which we are familiar. It is change, and it is inevitable and because of these it is something feared. Yet if you truly think upon death, which can be perceived as a lack of growth or motion, you will find that even in this state of stillness there is a spiraling of energy. Like the winter months when the trees shed their leaves and cold blankets the soil, beneath the snow there is life. In shadow there is gestation, evolution, transformation, and change. All of the energy witnessed during the warmer parts of the year trickle down the roots of the trees and plants and gather in the dark earth below.

The caverns of the Underworlds are filled with this energy. The realms of shadows and death are filled to the brim this time of year with the same energy the spurs us along when the sun is bright in the warm sky. So in death there is life, and also change.

When a mythic hero would die and enter into the Underworld, a place where one would never return, he in fact would eventually return. How is this so? The hero would escape death by embracing change. Through transformation he evades the clutches of death, but upon his return he is no longer the same person. He returns to the realm of the living, but at the same time he does not. Had he accepted his new place in dreary shadows in a void of timelessness? Only then would he truly have died.

It was this lesson that I learned during my college years that helped me get through a couple somber periods of my life, including this recent recession. At some point my inner, Sagittarian optimist took hold of it and I was altered by these life changes. Whether it’s making lemonade out of lemons, or always doing the best you can with what you have, death is not an enemy but a teacher about living. It is about transforming who you are to move unhindered with the ebb and flow of each incarnation.

We are given but a few decades with which to learn as much as we possibly can before we must start over again. Yet even within the span of a single life we can experience minor “deaths” which we can either submit to and become lethargic, or emerge from and become something more than we originally were. Within in each life we can mimic the life-death-rebirth cycle much like one year of Sabbats symbolizes the life’s journey of the Goddess and God. These murky times that shall strike our stable existences over and over are cosmic challenges, or tests, that help forge who we become. They bring sadness, depression, struggle, fear, and often hopelessness. But through them we become great, and that is one of the tasks this Earth is designed to do for us. So long as you do not succumb to stagnation and ignorance, even the darkest moments can strengthen you on your journey through each life.

It is through this wisdom that I tread forward. I feel no guilt any longer when I brush the dust off my old texts on Paganism. The cobwebs that have gathered on my robes and oils and tarot cards are wiped away free of sadness. I have missed my old tools that have gone years without use. But here they are now awaiting me once again. Little by little I get back into the habit of practicing as I once did. Yet every act now is different, improved, changed from my changed perspective.

I spent the last few years with my hands cut off. No Arte did I make. Yet within my inactivity my mind still churned, and many lessons were learned. And in many cases, epiphanies pertaining to Paganism came to me only through temporarily leaving behind my familiar Pagan rituals. Various mysteries are solved beyond texts and temples. Many require you to step outside your comfort zone and take with you only what you once knew.

It may seem through this that sometimes the Path of the Wise trails beyond our sights or that we lose our footing. But often it remains right under our feet as we walk upon it the entire time despite feeling otherwise. Rites and spells may be what a Pagan does, but in the mind and heart is where a Pagan resides. In my humble opinion I believe this as true, and with this I eternally move forward through every obstacle without regretting facets of the past. So long as I change for the better from every dark struggle, I can never consider those moments a waste of time. Learning keeps you moving forward no matter which direction life takes you.

My hope is that these words can bring a little comfort and understanding to those who have gone through recent hardship.

Atho: The Horned God of the Witches

Atho: The Horned God of the Witches

Author: WiLL

In the early 1960’s a man named Raymond Howard offered a correspondence course called “The Coven of Atho”. The first lesson begins by telling the reader they are going to be taught about the symbolism and rites of a “clan of White Witches” that is known as “The Coven of Atho”. It was taught, “ATHO is the name of the Horned God of Witchcraft.” But going back just a bit further Raymond Howard became the handyman of a Charles Cardell in 1959 that had started to teach people in 1958 about this same God named Atho. Both of these men had their own version of a story where they learned about Witchcraft and the God Atho. The one thing they had in common was this was an ancient God that had some sort of connection to Atlantis.

One witch named Doreen Valiente wrote about Atho in her book An ABC of Witchcraft. She made a drawing of it and included it next to the well-known image of Baphomet “the god of the knights Templars” drawn by Elphas Levi. She writes a good bit about her personal observations of this wooden head that was carved from single piece of dark oak. The horns were decorated with the signs of the zodiac and in the center of the head were five circles, which stood for the five different types of circles cast by a witch. Some symbols are a bit harder to notice like the nose in the shape of a chalice.

There are only a handful of known photos of this wooden head and one was shown in the book Dancing with Witches by Lois Bourne. She saw the head in 1964 while on vacation in Crantock, Cornwall in the UK. The last known photograph ever taken was published in the “Eastern Daily Press” on March 6th, 1967. Shortly after that article came out the head was stolen. Searching through Doreen’s personal journals she did give a hint about who stole this head and where it currently resides. She pondered why Charles Cardell would steal the head from Raymond Howard if the head were a fake. She later noted that the head was buried in Charlwood in the county of Surrey in the UK.

It was reported to a few people that the son of Mr. Raymond Howard recalls observing his dad work on the head. This has made some to believe the head was a fake. In a brief correspondence in 2009 the son of Raymond Howard told me that while he did recall observing his dad work on the head of Atho he could not be positive he recalls him starting it from the beginning. Mr. and Mrs. Cardell hired Mr. Raymond Howard as their ‘handyman’ in 1959 but they had already were teaching witches in 1958 and corresponding with witches like Gerald Gardner and Doreen Valiente in 1958. Also in 1958 Mr. Cardell published in a magazine called “Light” an article entitled “The Craft of the Wiccens”.

In one of Doreen Valiente’s journals I borrowed and transcribed from, there were some descriptions of various photos and in one was the head of Atho at Stonehenge “with two cloaked figures kneeling on either side of stone altar, on which is Head of Atho” was placed. In the Coven of Atho books I studied were a list of ‘witch words’ it included the word “Atho – The God or visual image”. A similar list of ‘witch words’ was shared with Jack Bracelin by Gerald Gardner that also contained the word ‘Atho’. It is still possible Raymond Howard was commissioned by Charles Cardell to carve this head of Atho. It is also possible the head of Atho was first created by Charles Cardell and was later handed over to Raymond Howard to make further modifications. But I’m quite certain the word ‘Atho’ was in use by Mr. Cardell before Mr. Raymond Howard was ever hired as the handyman in 1959.

It was Doreen Valiente who wrote down in one of her smaller diaries “ATHO=Welsh Addhu or Arddhu. (Look this up in Welsh Dictionary) .” Later she would publish in An ABC of Witchcraft that the name “Atho is evidently a Sassenach version of the Old Welsh Arddhu, ‘The Dark One’. She wrote that ‘dd’ in Welsh is pronounced as ‘th’. So this would give us ‘athu’ and arthu’. These are quite close to the word Atho and yet there is nothing else Welsh about the Atho material I studied and transcribed. It has closer ties to Greco and Roman Paganism with stories of Atlantis, and the Gods Mercury and Diana. So I wondered why would some Welsh God get paired up with the Goddess Diana who is the Goddess worshiped in the Coven of Atho.

I came across one reference in the book The Mothers by Robert Briffault and in Volume III he wrote that “ ’Arthur, ’ that is to say, ‘the Black One’ (ardu = ‘black’) …”. Doreen is possibly correct that these two words ‘addhu’ and ‘arddhu’ might have something to do with the color black. In using an online Welsh dictionary I did get ‘âr = ploughed land” and ‘du = black’ which came out to be “black plough”. If it were ‘yr du’ it would be ‘the black’. Another similar word in Welsh could be ‘aradr’ which is the plough but it does not have the ‘th’ sound in it. In Gaulish ‘art’ means ‘Bear’ and this is close to the Welsh word ‘arth’ for bear and in Irish it is also ‘art’. Some researchers have speculated that this might be the root of the modern name Arthur. There might possibly be some sort of connection between the God Atho with Arthur, or the color black, or the plough or even all of them. While this may not seem relevant Doreen seemed to think there might be a connection because she wrote a good bit about the constellation “The Plough” which consists of Seven Stars which is also called “the Great Bear”. This had even some deeper meanings to even more symbols found in the Coven of Atho.

One of the symbols of Atho was the trident but another symbol used for Atho was an old symbol for Mercury and was called the “Monogram of ATHO”. In a drawing of the eight paths of magick in the Coven of Atho a better known image for the symbol of mercury was used which stood for “Atho, The Horned God of Witchcraft. This is the study of all the Arts and Teachings of our Order and it is only the Initiated Members of the Coven of Atho who can learn all these things.”

Yet another symbol used for this God Atho written about in the Atho material I studied is the Monas Hieroglyphica first drawn by Dr. John Dee in 1564. Again there is nothing Welsh about the symbols associated with the God Atho and it is wrong to just state Atho is a ‘horned god’. In many ways he is a guardian of the mysteries of magick. He is a mystery to be solved through communion and gnosis. While the symbols all used are quite complex they only tough the surface for the deeper Mysteries of Atho.

Since the head of Atho is sort of frightening looking with big horns it made me think more of the Minotaur at the center of the maze. Even in Mr. Raymond Howard’s lesson he wrote that the head is “a rather frightening thing.” Lois Bourne wrote in Dancing with Witches that the head of Atho was “most curious and slightly repellent”. Doreen wrote in An ABC of Witchcraft that the head was “very impressive carving, having a crude strength and power”. When I was first shown a drawing of the Head of Atho by Raymond Howard I must admit my first impression of Atho was repulsive and yet there was this strong strength in him.

This year in reading about the God Mercury I came across a reference by a Dr. Miranda Green who wrote some about an epithet that has the words “Mercvrio Avg Artaio” on it. She believes this ‘Mercury Artaius” to be a “bear-god”. Besides the lore Doreen transcribed between 1958 and 1963 from first Charles Cardell and later from Raymond Howard this is the first actually historic reference I’ve come across that link the Gaulish word ‘artos’ or bear with the God Mercury. There apparently was some sort of Romano-Celtic period of influence.

During one of the first meetings Doreen Valiente had with Charles Cardell in 1958, he had tried to pass off a statue of Thor as a Celtic Horned God. Doreen had to tell him he was very wrong. So I do wonder how could he have known or guessed that Atho was maybe an old Welsh word and yet also have known about this Celtic-Romano period and have included a lot of teachings from the Mediterranean Mystery schools.

Doreen wrote in one of her journals that it was Charles Cardell who stole back the head of Atho from Raymond Howard. She wondered why he would steal back the head if it were a fake. Later in her personal diaries she would write the location of the head of Atho is buried in Charlwood which is a particularly large 1, 000 acre wood in the UK close to where both Raymond Howard and Charles Cardell lived in Surrey.

Doreen made one comment about some of the material in the Coven of Atho to being much more complex than it first appears. Atho is one of those complexities and is not just a simple “horned God of the Witches”, but then is any God really all that simple? Atho is if anything a reflection of the complexities of our own minds and imaginations and yet as a Priest and Witch in BTW and now a follower of Atho I’ve come to see this God as independent of me. He is a harsh teacher of the Mysteries of Magick and a guardian to it as well.

Atho was worshiped by a few who called themselves Witches and if anything Atho is quite similar to the God Baphomet. They are both a mass of symbolism and have many facets of light and dark to them. The first response many get when seeing this Horned God might be repulsion and I suspect many will then turn away. It takes a bit of understanding and wisdom to see the light in the dark. Atho is only half the Mystery.

I would like to end with giving a great deal of credit and thanks to The Centre For Pagan Studies and to Doreen Valiente’s last High Priest John Belham-Payne who graciously lent to me a few of Doreen’s journals and notebooks containing her writings on The Coven of Atho. I also would like to thank Doreen Valiente for sharing her insight into the Craft and the Arts and sharing her research into magick and witchcraft.

Seven words of blessing to remember given by a member of The Coven of Atho are “Blessed Be They Who Worship The Goddess”

Grounding, Centering and Balance

Grounding, Centering and Balance

Author: Nita

Over the years I have told people hundreds of times to ground their energies, center their energies, and balance their elements. It is supposed to be taught everywhere and be common knowledge. Yet most people do not know how to do this properly. I have had an experience recently that has proven how important this is in life. It is important to relax, unwind, and do many things. I will give a few simple methods.

Grounding:

Grounding is essential to clearing out negativity when you have an off day or during the day when you feel spacey or not quite here. It is especially important with all of the exercises everyone does to elevate himself or herself. We live on this earth and when you elevate yourself with out grounding any energy can be picked up because the person is wide open.

Method 1- Grounding and Centering:

Stand with your feet apart and your hands in the air. Place your feet different distances until you feel comfortable and balanced. There is a point in your solar plexus that centers you. It completes the circuit so to speak where you can ground yourself properly.

Raise your arms in the air and see yourself as reaching all the way into heaven. Next put energy spikes through out your feet and visualizes the spikes reaching to the center of the earth. Pull the golden energies down from above and have the energies fill every molecule, cell, and part of your energies. Push all energies that are not colored gold out through your feet into the center of the earth. Pull your spikes back up to the earth around you and circulate the gold energy around you in circles until you feel cleansed and purged of all energies that are not in harmony with your higher self.

Say-“I ask my higher self to help me to center, ground, and purge and cleanse all energies that are not for my higher good. So be it.”

After you are done, picture yourself buckling a gold belt around yourself and say may I be sealed and safe from all energies not for my higher good.

This method will help with illnesses or any sort of energies that push you off center. They will ease up any psychic attacks or problems occurring with energy fluctuations.

Method 2- Grounding and Centering:

Go to a relaxing place such as a park or into your back yard. Pick out a tree that seems friendly to you that you like. I always like oaks and willows but different people respond to different types of trees.

Go to the tree and hug the tree, and try to energetically feel the tree. You can do this a couple of different ways. I like trying to join with the tree until I feel tingly energies in my hand from feeling the life of the tree flowing into me. We have minor chakras in the hands, which can receive energies, and the experience is great for developing your ability to feel energy changes. If you feel rejection or not friendly energies then you should move to a different tree.

If you are a pagan you might do this prayer:

“I ask that the Divine Mother of Creation link me to the spirit of this tree. May I have all my negativity drawn into the tree to fertilize it and to release me to grow strong and powerful. May all the energies of life be drawn into me to help me be happy, healthy and grounded to the earth through the energies of life. May I be centered, and accepting of all challenges that will bring knowledge, change and joy in my life. So Be it.”

Angelic Version:

“I ask that the divine Father Adonai link me to the angels of trees and creation. May I have all my negativity drawn into the tree to fertilize it and to release me to grow strong and powerful. May all of the energies of life be drawn into me to help me to be happy, healthy and grounded to the earth. May I also be grounded to the divine Father Adonai and all his shapes so that I will know his will, accept my challenges and enjoy my life. May I be centered and grounded in the divine energy of creation and the creator.”

I always tell people to modify my prayers in any way that they wish to do so. It will make them work better for each person and their belief system. I have found that if you are severely ungrounded where the normal exercises do not seem to help it is essential that you ground. I have helped many people with problems that did exercises that pushed them into the upper planes too quickly.

If you have life problems that have not healed, have been abused, or other issues it will stick you open and in an unbalanced and ungrounded state. To close the levels down is not easy. I received such a huge burst of grace in one of my cases for the work I did to help a whole country. It unbalanced me because I have been a person who has been abused through out my entire life. I knew nothing they said was right or true and would ignore vicious cruel people. Yet it hit my soul with the way they treated me and made it so I was held back. I had worked on major abuse but not the cruelties that insecure people do to make others feel just as bad as they do.

I tried to explain to the people I was around that I was trying to ground. All the bad habits you hear mentioned are grounding. People who say that humans do not need to eat meat may be incorrect in that there are many times meat is useful and grounding is one of them. Beer with the herb hops in it is grounding also. You pray over the food and ask it to ground you so you can exist on this earth.

The next thing is sex. Sex is grounding and ties you to this earth. I mentioned this to the people and you would think I was suggesting that I run around and pull men’s pants off. They had been studying Indian methods with gurus and all of that was about evolving to where they do not reincarnate. They were taught celibacy was the only way to do that in this life.

It made me realize that most people only know what they read and then they filter it through their own opinions and it comes out warped. Sex is not evil or it would not be created to bring people into existence. Lust might not be good if it is all you do and do not care about the person. Yet healthy love and sex is not wrong. If you were to be put under medications because you could not deal with reality or have sex, which would you chose? I would choose sex without thought on that question. Love is never wrong and just loving someone can keep you going in cruel upsetting circumstances more than anything else in this world.

The question is what works for you. I found that what works for me is charity, kindness, unconditional love for the divine, and prayer. I have never worked to evolve but to do a good job to please the divine. I found out years ago each of us has our own path and cannot judge anyone else’s path.

So recognize your priorities and do whichever ones work for you as long as you do not overdo anything. Excess is more of the enemy to evolving than anything else. You are meant to live on this earth and learn not to cut yourself off and just work for evolving.

Method 3-Balance:

I always ask for help from either specific angels or my higher self.

I ask that Archangel Michael help me to balance myself. May the elements of air, fire, water, earth and spirit be balanced in my body, mind and soul and on all levels of spirit. May the energies of the divine be balanced and place me in complete equilibrium. May I be grounded, centered, balanced and focused to live today and every day in the light of the divine.

You can ask the Divine Mother or any other form of the divine that you worship and have as what makes your spirit sing to do this for you. I hope that these methods will be helpful to you. I know that staying in balance has helped me many times in the stressful situations that I get into doing work for others who are suffering.

Good vs. Evil…Light vs. Dark. What Is The Truth?

Good vs. Evil…Light vs. Dark. What Is The Truth?

Author: Sleeping Moon

I understand that in writing this article, I might (more than likely) get some uproar about it. I’m willing to spout off what I am thinking and am willing to accept the consequences. I’m going to go ahead and start off scientifically (in the very loose definition of the word) instead of magickally. Even in magick, science has its place.

The color black is the absorption of all colors. The color white is the absence of all colors. If you hold a crystal to the sun, the rays of the sun will fracture and bounce off the crystal creating a rainbow prism. If you hold a piece of coal to the rays of the sun, no color will bounce off yet the coal will get very warm.

During the day, when the sun is beating down its warm rays upon the earth, we can sometimes see for miles around us. (Depending on where we are.) Nothing is hidden and all in plain sight. Yet, when the sun sets, a chill dampens the air and the light gets snuffed out. Everything is hidden in shadows and darkness. Everything that was there during the day remains the same at night, but light has been taken away so we cannot see. Our perception has in this case, decreased.

Beneath our skin we find blood, muscles, tissues, organs and bones to make up our bodies. We don’t see these on a daily basis, but we know that they are there. We see that with a cut, a scrape of the knee, with a break with in a bone. But, there are other things that we also don’t see; like atoms and protons, cancerous cells, diseases, sickness and so forth.

More often than naught, what we can’t see, we fear, and what we fear, we tend to hide from. Why hide from the dark when it is a major part of us?

I will admit that until I started on this path when I was 19 years old, I had been afraid of the dark. I didn’t understand why nor did I care until my eyes were open to it. Before I opened my eyes, I thought things where going to come out of that dark and attack me. I had no idea how much that darkness could be an ally. And how much fun it could be. Once I embraced the darkness, I found myself (on so many levels) .

We also, as a culture, have categorized depression as a negative, as the ‘bad’ along with debt, loneliness, aches and pains and even death. We have dubbed bubbly happy energies such as wealth, good health and love as good. Of course this is true for the most part, but we need to acknowledge both in order to prosper. How can we grow if we do not accept our faults, our bad habits, and our bad moods? I don’t care who you are, but no one is happy all the time. And I don’t care who you are, but no one is perfect either. It’s impossible. What would be the point of this life if it where so? We need the Ying to our Yang to balance ourselves out. It’s the laws of nature. It’s within our genetic make up. It’s our trial and error.

There are people who we run into on a daily basis who throw us off, who rub us the wrong way… but are they “evil”? Not necessarily. If at all. I could give countless examples here, but for the sake of the article, I’ll leave this to that single point.

Now magickally:

Since white repels all colors and black absorbs them, how do we know we don’t have every thing backwards? I’m not saying that demons are really the good guys and angels are the bad, but it makes me pause to wonder. What if, for centuries, we have been wrong?

It’s been proven that the Bible has been rewritten numerous times to suit that current authors’ needs. And we, as pagans, know that most of our deities have been demonized throughout history by others who don’t understand them. What my point is, who is to say what’s the truth and what isn’t? History’s authors may have deceived us all. Please note that I said, “may”.

Typically in general culture, we view the good or the light as the angels, as the playful faeries or as the source of all things. We view the bad, dark, evil as demons, devils, trolls, goblins and other nasties that go bump in the night.

Are we right?

I have to question it myself through my own personal experiences. I’ve worked with less than so-called “light” entities before and have had a great many POSITIVE responses from them. Never have any of these beings asked for something absurd from me in return for their services. I’ve never been demanded a living sacrifice (for the Gods honor life) and never been asked to harm myself or someone else. And in company, I’ve never gotten anything “testy”. I’ve opened the door numerous times to the other side and nothing strange ever happened.

I’ve never experienced a nasty entity in the “real” world and often wonder why. Is it my perception on them? Is my psychic shield that powerful to the point where they can’t get within ten feet of me? Do I try to work with something that a lot of people shy away from and therefore they respect me because I give them that chance?

No. I don’t think so.

Don’t get me wrong. I’ve had plenty of bad stuff happen to me throughout my life and expect more to come. But, who is to say if it comes from the good guys, the bad or if it was even predestined before my birth?

And to be honest, completely, brutally honest with yourself… If some kind of harm ever befell your friends or family that you loved, would you really send them love (the perpetrator) in return? Would you really just sit back and say, ‘it was meant for a reason so let it be’? I think not. You would do every thing in your power, physically, mentally, spiritually to prevent that person from harming another soul again. (Physically–within the law, of course.)

For quite a few years, I worked with this specific entity (that shall remain nameless) and the breed of it. It helped me out of some dark holes in my life and I can attest to it even saving my physical life once. (I will swear to this until my dying breath!) So, how can an entity that had been dubbed by the masses as “negative” be so bad?

*I also wanted to note here, I’m not some fanatic, and I know the difference between the waking world and the astral world where these beings reside. I know they can cross over planes from time to time as energy forms, and it isn’t at all like how they portray them in Hollywood. But, I’m not naive enough to say they don’t exist either. *

I have a friend who once told me, and a very valid point it is, that in the Biblical sense, Angels are the ones that are threatened by mankind. And yes, Demons want power, but they aren’t after revenge as the Angels are. They aren’t here to take over the world, as we know it. There is a movie out there that recently been out of the big screen portraying just this idea. Legion
Another friend of mine recently gave her impression of what I’m trying to get across: “There are many different energies in the world. Some are known as “evil” and some are known as “good.” But I don’t think it’s really a question of whether THEY are the evil or good; instead I think that they might reflect the energy we give into them. For example, there may be an entity that is perceived as evil (name any so called evil spirit or demon) , yet if you were to ask their cooperation and/or assistance with good intentions, or at least with fair intentions and respect, I think you are likely to find them cooperative and perhaps even helpful.

Of course, I do not mean to say that this will always be the case. I am sure that there are some entities out there that are better left untouched, because you certainly don’t know what the consequences will be and it might be more than you are expecting or willing to give…but in general, I think so called “demons” are capable of good deeds and cooperation, just as “angels” are capable of negative energy, mischief and general non cooperation – after all, I would think that the “fallen” angels are demonstrative of this.”

As she stated, if we “feed” a certain type of entity a certain form of feeling or thought, then that entity will more than likely take that to heart, because that’s the only type of energy it is getting. In a sense, it’s sort of like a ‘Tulpa’. A Tulpa is a form of energy that takes on a mass of energy from one person or many and acts in accordance to its creator. For example (possibly a bad one) : the Christian/Catholic God. (He just may be a real entity. I for one don’t know either way and I could care less at this point.)

I am not stupid enough to say that this applies to all things that have been dubbed negative. Or even to say that the dubbed masses of good should be questioned here either. There are some things that even I am wary of working with. Both good and bad. What I’m just trying to say here is to use your own intuition on what you work with. Even if this article has opened one person’s mind to the possibilities of working with different types of energies (other than just lovey-dovey good) , that’s good enough for me.

Use your head. Use your intuition. Try working with an entity that you have never considered working with before with no fear in your heart and you just might be pleasantly surprised. Just as you can’t judge a person until you’ve met them, so can’t you judge an entity before you work with them. (Unless the source you hear it from is a good and trusting one!)

How are we really to know what entity is “good” and what entity is “bad”? I for one am not going to judge ‘just because’. Will you?

The Daily Motivator for December 14th – Positive power of happiness

Positive power of happiness

It is simple and easy to be happy. The hard part is convincing yourself, and getting past your own resistance to happiness.

 

You might assume that just because things are one way or another, there is no possibility of happiness. Yet that assumption is entirely mistaken.

 

You know precisely how to be happy, how to create the feeling of happiness within yourself and how to express it within any context. You’ve done it many times in a whole lot of different situations.

 

Your happiness does not come from the moment, or the surroundings, or even from the people around you. It comes from you, and from your decision to feel its positive power.

 

Go ahead and skip right over all those reasons why you can’t be happy. Instead, think of the times when you have been happy and recall the strategy you’ve always used to bring that happiness to life.

 

Activate that very same strategy right now. And bring the positive power of your own happiness to this very moment.

 

— Ralph Marston

The Daily Motivator

Daily OM for December 14th – As Good as Your Word

As Good as Your Word
Promises

 

 

We forget how powerful our words are and when make promises it is up to us to make sure we keep our words sacred. 

Ever since human beings could speak to one another, they have been making promises and keeping them or not keeping them. Those who keep their promises are regarded as people of integrity, while those who don’t keep their promises are regarded as people who at best can’t be taken seriously and at worst can’t be trusted. Sometimes we forget how powerful our words are, and we use them haphazardly or unconsciously, creating expectations that are never fulfilled, leaving disappointment and distrust in our wake.

On an even deeper level, there are promises we may have made to ourselves that we don’t remember because they have slipped into our unconscious. An early heartache may have been followed by a promise never to trust love again. Without realizing it, we may be fulfilling that promise and wondering why our love life looks so grim. At an even deeper level, many people who recall past lives become aware that they made a promise lifetimes ago that they are still keeping. For example, a vow of poverty taken in a lifetime as a monk may be holding someone back from fulfilling his earning potential now. Upon realizing that we have made a promise we no longer wish to be beholden to, we can perform a ritual of requesting release from that bond. In doing so, we clear ourselves of outmoded connections and patterns, returning ourselves to a clean slate. Then we can resolve to remember that our word is sacred and to be very conscious of any promises we make to ourselves or to others.

We may ask to be released from any promises made to ourselves or others in our present, past, or future lives, consciously or unconsciously, that are holding us back from fulfilling our greatest good. We may ask that love, light, and healing be sent to any souls who have suffered from our inability to be true to our word, including ourselves. We can ask for the wisdom to do our best and from this point forward to be true to our word, promising only what we truly intend to deliver. The resulting clear conscience and liberated energy will illustrate this truth: We are only as good as our word.

Feng Shui to Alleviate Anxiety

Feng Shui to Alleviate Anxiety

  • Jana, selected from Natural Solutions magazine

 

Anxiety escalates around the holidays as life’s frantic pace shifts into overdrive. Too much to do in too little time leaves you more susceptible to the telltale signs of anxiety such as headaches, muscle tension, insomnia, irritability, and even panic attacks. Looking for relief? You could follow the typical Western path, or you could try an option with considerably fewer side effects: The metaphor-rich design system called feng shui (pronounced fung shway).

Based on influencing the flow of qi (chi) or energy through your home and other aspects of your environment, feng shui principles align energy patterns with healing forces of nature. The result is a harmonious home that lays the foundation for emotional, spiritual, and physical health, says Brooklyn-based chakracologist (a term she’s coined) and feng shui expert Nancy SantoPietro.

“The feng shui of your home mirrors your life and health back to you in an objective, tangible way,” says SantoPietro, author of Feng Shui and Health: The Anatomy of a Home (Three Rivers Press, 2002). Survey your abode. Do clutter and chaos reign supreme? If so, your home’s feng shui may reflect the emotional, spiritual, and physical issues contributing to anxiety. But according to SantoPietro, by correcting the energy flow in your intimate living space, you can dismantle anxiety supported by unhealthy energy patterns and design layouts.

Use these feng shui tips to make your home an anxiety-free zone.

Repair all electrical systems. “Electricity runs through the wires of your home much like qi runs through the meridians of your body. When your home’s electrical system breaks down, it interferes with your energy flow and ability to stay focused, clear, and calm,” SantoPietro explains. Avoid energy clogs or leaks by repairing or replacing worn wires, blown light bulbs, and faulty outlets.

Clear away clutter. Clutter stagnates energy, both in your environment and in you. Entranceways are particularly important, SantoPietro notes, as they set the tone for the feng shui throughout your home. Keep them clear and unrestricted.

Reduce bedroom energy. “Remove electrical sources such as TVs, computers, and LED clock radios from your bedroom because they leak radiation, depress immunity, and interfere with sleep,” urges SantoPietro. The bedroom is meant for rejuvenation, renewal, and intimacy.

Just add color. “White decor deflects life force and thus neutralizes feelings,” SantoPietro says, “but decorate with color and you’ll invoke it. Any time I evaluate a home with all white decor, I know that someone in that house is not dealing with something.” And avoiding feelings often leads to anxiety.

Feng Shui Tip of the Day for Deceber 14th

I swear that I won’t monkey around with sharing some empowering advice during today’s ‘Monkey Day’ energies. Even though the monkey is one of the twelve animals represented in the Chinese zodiac, it is the combination of the monkey and the elephant that can help you to accomplish the highest ranking that anyone in your profession can aspire to. Placing an image or a statue of a monkey sitting on an elephant’s back on or around your desk represents your ability to find stability and the security of an important position in your company, and this symbol says that you will stay there, too! The monkey signifies the duke or the highest ranked among the five ranking lords in ancient China, while the elephant brings the blessings of strength, sagacity and prudence. The combination of these two potent friends also promises unbreakable power and authority. In this case I guess it really does make sense that monkey see and then monkey do — for you!

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Your Daily Number for December 14th: 2

Dreams and psychic ‘insights’ will not be unusual for you today. You’ll be a master problem solver when it comes to personality issues. Others are drawn to you in a real and lasting way. Your tact and wisdom will have a profound influence on others.

Fast Facts

About the Number 2

Theme: Adaptable, Tactful, Gentle, Cautious
Astro Association: Moon
Tarot Association: High Priestess

Today’s I Ching Hexagram for December 14th is 39: Temporary Obstacles

39: Temporary Obstacles

Hexagram 39

General Meaning: Have temporary obstacles been blocking your way? In the course of trying to reach a goal or to fulfill a personal ambition, obstructions inevitably present themselves. This is not always a bad thing. Obstacles, difficulties and even setbacks that are eventually overcome often turn into assets. Without irritating grains of sand, oysters would never make pearls.

The obstacles pointed to here are not permanent, yet they are in the way. As when a large boulder falls in the road, the best course of action is usually to go around it, rather than to try to move it out of the way. Temporary obstacles must be seen for what they are — temporary — and should not be allowed to take on too much significance.

A positive aspect of even the most difficult obstacle is that it may cause a person to turn inward, and gain greater depth and character. While the ignorant bemoan their fate and seek to blame their problems on others, the wise seek the cause of the problem within themselves. Through this type of introspection, obstacles become a means for personal growth and self-discovery.

Without air resistance, no plane would ever fly.

If you are facing temporary obstacles, try not to be overly concerned. Obstacles are a part of achieving every goal and furthering every undertaking. Setbacks and reverses can affect morale, but keeping up your self-confidence in the face of challenges is part of a successful solution to many of life’s problems. Obstacles of short duration are best handled with a yielding attitude. Go around the rock, don’t put your shoulder to it.

Today’s Runes for December 14th is Laguz

Today’s Runes

Jade Runes are most commonly used for questions about love, friendship, and relationships. Laguz is the most strongly feminine of runes, representing water. Deep sexuality is suggested by this rune. Through Laguz, water is seen as the ocean – vast, uncontrollable, ever-changing, and vital. When interpreted as the returning tide, Laguz can also predict the inevitable return from a long journey.

Today’s Tarot Card for December 14th is The Chariot

The Chariot

This Tarot Deck: Art Nouveau

General Meaning: Traditionally, the card usually entitled the Chariot points to a triumphal feeling of freedom, as if the charioteer is being paraded through the streets as a hero (or heroine). The card reflects congratulations for high achievement, and serves as a sign of empowerment.

Huge wheels and frisky steeds speed the rate at which the driver’s willpower can be realized. This kind of charge makes more of the world accessible to anyone ambitious enough to seize the Chariot’s reins. But there is danger in this feeling of freedom, because of the increased rate of change and its power to magnify mistakes in judgment. As a seasoned warrior, the Charioteer is called upon to be extra attentive to the way ahead.

What Does Your Sun-Sign Seek?

What Does Your Sun-Sign Seek?

  • Annie B. Bond

Our sun-sign horoscope can give us a simple but powerful affirmation of what it is we seek in this life. As we begin the new year we could all benefit from this reminder, to help us stay on the path that is right for us.

Find out what your sun sign tells you about your deepest soul nature, and what it is you seek, here:

Aries, March 21-April 19: I seek my Self. I accept my energy and ability to launch new actions for the betterment and benefit of myself or for others.

Taurus, April 20-May 21: I seek my Self through what I have. I use stability and persistence for the benefit of myself and others.

Gemini, May 22-June 20: I seek my Self through what I think. My keen perceptive intuition is all that is needed for the evolution of myself and others.

Cancer, June 21-July 22: I seek my Self through what I feel. I am the star in a sea of stars, I am Water and the Moon, I provide the haven, the safe haven, in the universe.

Leo, July 23- Aug 22: I seek my Self through what I create. I am the Monarch of the universe, I am the Heart of hearts. I am the heart of Creative energy.

Virgo, Aug 23-Sept 22: I seek my Self through what I learn. I am the Magician of the universe. I accept the healing and magical powers I have or will use. The key for tapping into my deeper resource is the ever-increasing acceptance of who I am now.

Libra, Sept 23-Oct 22: I seek my Self through what I unite. I hold the celestial balance in my hands; I am the Cosmic Judge. I am the artist and the lover, Peacemaker of the Heavens.

Scorpio, Oct 23-Nov 21: I seek my Self through what I desire. I am the Transformer, I am the Keeper of Mysteries, I am the Mystic.

Sagittarius, Nov 22-Dec 21: I seek, therefore I am. I am the Seer of the Zodiac. I am the future now. I remember the future.

Capricorn, Dec 22-Jan 19: I seek my Self through what I use. I am enterprising, the Builder, the Organizer who looks toward higher orders, greater justice, constantly building relationships, families, communities, and countries.

Aquarius, Jan 20-Feb 18: I seek my Self through Humanity. I am the Truth Sayer, the Scientist, the Revolutionary. I am the genius Sign of the Zodiac.

Pisces, Feb 19-March 20: I seek my Self when I don’t seek my Self. I amt he Beloved, I am the Loving, I am the Poet. I am the Divine Dark Warrior, I am the Divine White Healer.

Your Daily Horoscopes for December 14th

Today’s lively Leo Moon provokes us to do whatever we feel is necessary to be seen and heard. We don’t want to sit idly on the sidelines; we prefer to be in the game where the action is. We’re not afraid to start a new project and express our creativity with enthusiasm, since there are planets in each of the three Fire signs. Additionally, sharing our opinions is easier now that talkative Mercury is moving direct in philosophical Sagittarius.

 

Aries Horoscope
Aries Horoscope (Mar 21 – Apr 19)

You aren’t in the mood for anyone to tell you what to do today, but your rebellious attitude can create problems if you just do the opposite of whatever you are told. Doing things your way may seem like the best course of action, but your efforts won’t lead to a positive outcome now unless you also take time to listen to others. Don’t lose track of your long-term goals, but remember to soften your stance so you don’t alienate your allies.

Taurus Horoscope
Taurus Horoscope (Apr 20 – May 20)

At times you are stubborn for no apparent reason, yet you might have a real justification for maintaining the status quo today. Unfortunately, you may find it challenging to explain your motives to others because you’re so confident now that you could become overly defensive. Although you’re not likely to change your mind, demonstrating a bit of flexibility in your thinking can help you to get what you want.

Gemini Horoscope
Gemini Horoscope (May 21 – Jun 20)

Your need to interact with others could run into unexpected problems today because everyone seems to have his or her own agenda. Fortunately, you can positively impact the flow of events anyway by concentrating on long-term goals instead of bothersome short-term frustrations. A simple change of perspective alleviates pressures that might otherwise evoke conflict. Tempering a possible extreme reaction improves your chances for success.

Cancer Horoscope
Cancer Horoscope (June 21 – Jul 22)

Co-workers could come on so strong that you feel like retreating to insulate yourself from them. You don’t want to be goaded into making a choice before you’re ready to decide for yourself, so you’re tempted to withdraw without fully revealing your feelings. However, your fears can exacerbate a tricky situation. Instead of seeking solitude today, it might be wiser to admit your sensitivity and ask your associates to hold off with their judgments until you’ve had enough time to make up your mind.

Leo Horoscope
Leo Horoscope (Jul 23 – Aug 22)

You may respond to someone’s invitation without even thinking now that the reactive Moon is back in your sign. Unfortunately, you might discover that you agreed to more than you intended. If you don’t consider what happens next, you could be unhappily surprised that your optimism steered you toward a wrong conclusion. On the other hand, you don’t have to be overly cautious if you just remember to temper your natural exuberance with a bit of common sense.

Virgo Horoscope
Virgo Horoscope (Aug 23 – Sep 22)

Hiding your feelings isn’t the best approach to managing a strong emotional interaction today. You are more transparent than you think, and others probably won’t trust you if they see that you aren’t being honest with them. Don’t wait until your frustration reaches a critical level before saying what’s on your mind. Avoiding an argument is easy now if you remember to share your reactions calmly before they grow out of control.

Libra Horoscope
Libra Horoscope (Sep 23 – Oct 22)

Your need to please others can lead to fun today as long as you aren’t acting for a selfish reason. But if you’re only considering what’s advantageous for you, your expectations may get in the way of a wonderful experience. Ultimately, you might be struggling with control issues now, so try letting go of your attachment to any desired outcome. If you are simply responsive without promoting your agenda, you may end up with more than you thought possible.

Scorpio Horoscope
Scorpio Horoscope (Oct 23 – Nov 21)

You might believe that you have to stand strong today, but your worries about being judged harshly could prompt you to overstate your perspective. You may even be so rigid in your presentation that others pull away from you because they think there’s not enough room in your position for negotiation. Fortunately, you can soften your message without weakening your conviction. Keep in mind that someone’s alternative point of view doesn’t necessarily threaten yours.

Sagittarius Horoscope
Sagittarius Horoscope (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Your optimism has returned now that Mercury is moving direct in your sign, and you may not have the patience to listen to anyone else’s negativity about your plans. If someone is dissatisfied with your agenda today, you could be tempted to just take off and do your own thing. Nevertheless, it’s not wise to react so quickly if it means that you are excluding others. Take a few deep breaths and give them time to come around because it will be more fun to play in a group.

Capricorn Horoscope
Capricorn Horoscope (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

It might seem as if someone is exerting unnecessary influence over you today and it doesn’t feel right. Instead of avoiding a confrontation by retreating, you’re annoyed enough to face it head-on — especially if you know that you are right. However, you could inadvertently create a situation where being a winner makes someone else a loser. Rather than sinking into unnecessary competition now, change the framework into a cooperative one where everyone comes out ahead.

Aquarius Horoscope
Aquarius Horoscope (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

You like it when someone is clear about his or her needs, but you’re not as supportive if a friend or co-worker is acting selfishly today. You may try to maintain your positive attitude, but you might respond with forceful words if someone pushes you too hard. It’s your decision; you don’t have to encourage conflict. You have the power to deflect aggression by quietly holding on to your position and waiting things out.

Pisces Horoscope
Pisces Horoscope (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

You may feel the need to put on a show at work today because you want to be noticed for your contributions. But instead of drawing attention to yourself, just go about your business because completing your chores and fulfilling your obligations will garner more support than empty shenanigans. In the long run doing your job well brings you more recognition than shining a spotlight on yourself.

Daily Cosmic Calendar for December 14th

The admonition about Mercury – mentioned in yesterday’s calendar entry – is an important one. New students in astrology or those people who only have a smattering of knowledge of how astrology really works seem to believe that signing key documents, dealing with crucial legal papers and making agreements suddenly becomes simple and easy once Mercury is no longer in reverse – as though it was Mercury’s reversal that was the main impediment to success. The reality is that whether Mercury is forward or backward, all major transits and progressions need to be examined – relative to a person’s complete horoscope – if giant decisions are to come out favorably. Mercury does have much to do with signing a piece of paper, but all the celestial bodies are influential, too, and any or several of them can be detrimental to a significant cause, plan or goal in the works. The best alignment going on during this 24-hour time-period is a Sun-Venus parallel (3:27PM PST). Love vibrations increase in wavelength and social activities look promising. A reminder about parallels as well as contra-parallels is that they are calculated by watching cosmic bodies move north and south of the Celestial Equator. The zodiacal aspects usually reported on occur by noting the main aspects of celestial bodies relative to the Ecliptic – the Sun’s apparent path in the sky, based on our view from the Earth. Later today, Mars forms a tense contra-parallel with Saturn (10:27PM PST). The bright and comforting energy-field ushered in seven hours earlier by the Sun and Venus becomes extinguished as Mars and Saturn act as rowdy mischief-makers. Keep your wits about you overnight and avoid major decision-making to the best of your ability.

the daily humorscopes for wednesday, december 14th

the daily humorscope

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

 
Aries (March 21 – April 19)
Someone will attempt to get you to stay in one place today, by telling you that you are surrounded by 100 black poisonous snakes (which are invisible). You will make a daring escape, despite the risk involved.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
Today you will have the eerie sensation that either you are going crazy or you are being watched by something indescribably evil. Luckily for you, you’re in fine shape, mentally.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
Today will be a celebration of life, love, and art. Also, the start of a nagging fear that you’ll find out something terribly unpleasant while doing your taxes.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
You will be plagued by feelings of inadequacy, and will have a feeling of ennui mixed with malaise. But don’t let it get you down!
Leo (July 23 – August 22)
You need to work harder on your friendships. Why, you sometimes don’t even like yourself that much, do you? Be nice to yourself this week – buy yourself some flowers or a nice gift. And stop suspecting yourself of having an ulterior motive!
Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
You will come up with a theory about people – that you can learn a lot about them, simply by removing the first letter of their name. For example, Ron -> On. That’s why I’m on-line. That also explains why Hugh acts so primitive, sometimes. And if I were you, I’d avoid Alice.
Libra (September 23 – October 22)
Bad news: people think you’re becoming paranoid. Isn’t that just typical, though? I mean, they don’t even HAVE invisible malevolent air-squids spying on THEM, do they?
Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)
You just need to start believing in yourself. Try getting other people to clap their hands, if they believe in you.
Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)
Don’t worry — that fortune cookie was wrong.
Capricorn (December 22 – January 20)
A rare form of management disease will strike you today, where you can only speak in metaphors. Still, you’ll open the kimono and hit the ground running.
Aquarius (January 21 – February 18)
Today you will lie to yourself. Amusingly, you will be completely taken in, and will be very annoyed later when the truth comes out.
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
Your manager will be a twit, today. That’s ok, though — it’s what he’s paid for.

Wednesday, December 14th is a great day for……

Moon & Witch Comments & Graphics

December 14th

Dry Fruits and Vegetables, Cut Hair to Retard Growth, Mow to Retard Growth, Dig Post Holes, Pick Apples and Pears, Quit Smoking, Perform Demolition, Wash Wooden Floors, Paint, Start Diet to Lose Weight, Ask for Loan, Entertain Friends, Host a Party  

 

~Magickal Graphics~

Hello World! It’s a Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood, LOL!

Glitter Graphics 
Happy Wednesday to everyone! I’m back! See you couldn’t run me off with a stick, lol! Since I couldn’t be found yesterday, let’s get right to it…….

 

 

Wednesday

Magickal Intentions: Communication, Divination, Writing, Knowledge, Business Transactions, Debt, Fear,Loss, Travel and Money Matters

Incense: Jasmine, Lavender, Sweet Pea

Planet: Mercury and Chiron (though this is a moon of Pluto)

Sign: Virgo

Angel: Raphael

Colors: Orange, Light Blue, Grey, Yellow and Violet

Herbs/Plants: Fern, Lavendar, Hazel, Cherry, Periwinkle

Stones: Aventurine, Bloodstone, Hematite, Moss Agate and Sodalite

Oil: (Mercury) Benzoin, Clary Sage, Eucalytus, Lavender

This day is governed by Mercury. Wednesday’s vibration adds power to rituals involving inspiration, communications, writers, poets, the written and spoken word, and all matters of study, learning, and teaching. This day also provides a good time to begin efforts involving self-improvement or understanding.  

 

Spellcrafting for Today

 

Footwash for Money

 

You will need the following Items:

  • Black Cohosh root
  • Cup of boiling water
  • Small bottle

This is a folklore recipe and would strictly only become a spell if an incantation or invocation were added. Black Cohosh is better known as a herb to be used at the time of the menopause, but here is used as a footwash which will lead you to money.

Instructions for use:

  • Soak the root in the cup of boiling water for -fifteen minutes.
  • Strain the water and throw away the root.
  • Put the liquid in the bottle for seven days and -leave it alone.
  • On the eighth day, rub the liquid all over the -bottom of your shoes.
  • Be alert to your own intuition until money -Comes- your- way.

It is said that you will either find money, win it, or-gain it in some legal manner. This, by its method-,cannot really be used to gain a specific amount, but-you can bear in mind what your needs are

 

Glitter Graphics