Day: April 15, 2014

‘THINK on THESE THINGS’ for April 15th

‘THINK on THESE THINGS’
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler

Cooperation is said to be the essence of success. Without it confusion and chaos are the ruling factors and in harmony the main thought. Cooperation is a result of excellent leadership, the ability to build a team of loyal players who can follow instructions or think for themselves, whichever is for the best of all concerned.

A team is a group with specific parts to play. In all wisdom they know a little about every part, but they play their own positions with precision and efficiency.

Every player cannot be captain, and every person cannot play quarterback. The part may be small, but if it is played with fairness and dignity and to the utmost of ability, then it will be as important to the successful outcomes or results as the biggest job in the team.

The practical view of cooperation is vivid in John Dickinson’s words, “By uniting we stand; by dividing we fall.” We are only as strong as the weakest, only as cooperative as the spirit in which we work.

 

 

______________________________________

Available online! ‘Cherokee Feast of Days’
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler.

Visit her web site to purchase the wonderful books by Joyce as gifts for yourself or for loved ones……and also for those who don’t have access to the Internet: http://www.hifler.com
Click Here to Buy her books at Amazon.com

Elder’s Meditation of the Day
By White Bison, Inc., an American Indian-owned nonprofit organization. Order their many products from their web site: http://www.whitebison.org

Elder’s Meditation of the Day April 15

Elder’s Meditation of the Day April 15

“When people live far from the scenes of the Great Spirit’s making, it’s easy for them to forget his laws.”

–Walking Buffalo, STONEY

Society today is way off track. Unfortunately, many Indian people are caught up in these modern times. The Elders are telling us we must wake up! We must come back to the culture because this is where His laws are. If we don’t follow these laws, we will be unhappy. We cannot do things just because everybody is doing them. This does not make it right. We must follow what the Great Spirit says we must do. We need to pray hard for the courage to come back and live according to the culture. It will be difficult at first but worth it in the end. We must teach our children the culture.

Great Spirit, today, let me listen to the warnings of the Elders.

April 15 – Daily Feast

April 15 – Daily Feast

Think and talk pleasant things. When pressures are too much, turn around and think and talk on another subject. Most of us are victims of our own emotions. We allow them to take over our peace of mind and there is nothing left to do but cry. And what we worry about becomes so real, so intense, that we believe it in all sincerity. The Cherokees say this is, v yo-ho wa yi gi, something that is not true. When we are provoked to be negative there is no point in berating ourselves. Rather, say, “This is not acceptable. This is not my way and I refuse guilt, refuse being overwrought, and that is the end of the conflict.”

~ You have spoken words of comfort….as though the Great Spirit was speaking through you. ~

LITTLE BEAVER

‘A Cherokee Feast of Days’, by Joyce Sequichie Hifler

The Daily Motivator for April 15th – Make the changes work

Make the changes work

In order for things to be better, they must be different. If you wish to make improvements, you must make changes.

You cannot get improved results by continuing to do exactly what you’ve been doing. To upgrade your life, upgrade your attitude, your expectations and your actions.

Moving positively forward means moving into unfamiliar territory. Remind yourself that although it can be uncomfortable, the potential rewards are truly great.

It’s easy to get stuck where you are because all you have to do is do nothing. But that’s not what you really want for your life.

Don’t waste your days hiding from or fighting against the necessity of change. Put your energy into finding and manifesting the valuable opportunities in an ever-changing world.

By very definition, life is always changing. Make the changes work for you, and change your world into an even better place.

— Ralph Marston

 

Source:
The Daily Motivator

The Daily OM for April 15th – Women’s Support

Women’s Support
Becoming Our Own Role Models

by Madisyn Taylor

There was a time where women stood together in a bond of sisterhood, women supporting women.

As women embrace the fullness of who they are as individuals, they may find themselves supporting other women, helping others to reach the level of inner comfort and outer freedom that they themselves have found. Among those who are less sure of themselves and their place in the world, it may be more common to criticize other women than to seek their help. But there are things that a woman can only learn from another woman, as there are things about being a man that can only be learned from other men. We all recognize that we have much to learn from each other regardless of gender, but sometimes we could use a supportive role model that gives us a more precise example of what and who we can become.

There was a time where women stood together in a bond of sisterhood, women supporting women. It is only natural that the pendulum swings out of balance for a while so that we may have the experience of what we do not want. It is up to women to bring the pendulum back into balance and bring back the sacred sisterhood we yearn for at our core.

If we envision a world where women support each other and help each other find their place in an ever-changing world, then we can become the change we want to see. Jealousy, envy, criticism, and judgment are refuges for the insecure. As we help others to become self-assured, we create a world in which all people help each other, regardless of gender. Only women can make the change in how women are seen and understood, not just by other women but by the world at large. The way we speak about each other to other women and to the men in our lives informs everyone to treat us with the respect that all women, and all people, deserve.

 

Source

The Daily OM

Dragon Empowerment Spell

Dragon Empowerment Spell

 

Items You Will Need:

  • Image of a dragon (I prefer a small, intricate dragon statuette)
  • Flame
  • will to acquire more power

The Spell:

Sit with your image of a dragon close enough to you at eye level that it is all you can easily focus on. place the flame between yourself and it. Focus your power upon it, and envision all the attributes of the dragon that you would like to acquire (i.e wisdom, strength, magical power). Now envision the flames jetting out, fueled by your magical power, and sapping these attributes from the dragon’s image and carrying them to you. This spell requires intense concentration and is not for beginners. When you feel the flames carry the powers of the dragon back to you, you will feel a sudden surge throughout your body, much like all your muscles tightening at once. Keep up your concentration as long as possible, and then release. you will notice after this that you have increased energy, more physical strength, and your magic is more powerful. This ritual can be repeated as many times as needed for increased results. As a side effect i have noticed the spell brings an increased control over the fire element.

 

Source:

Article was contributed by nostradamus1

SpellsofMagic.com

 

 

Call your Dragon Guardian

Call your Dragon Guardian

This is to call upon a guardian dragon to protect anything.

There are 3 stages to it.

First, The Sudden Need Incantation:

This method is short and to the point. Usually used to protect the caster or another in a sudden crisis.

“By Dragon wing and dragon claw,
my defense is without flaw.
Shrouded by dragon might,
remove me from enemy sight.
Fly before me, Dragon bright,
and blind my foe with thy light.
Full of rage and terrible ire,
burn my assailants with Dragon Fire.”
Dark and terrible be thy wrath,
Dragon, protect me on my path.”

Second, The Short Term Protection.

This summoning is used for short term goals and needs such as protecting an object for a brief period, such as a car ride or elevator trip. Mark the object to be protected with the sign of the guardian and repeat the incantation below:

“Gentle Guardian wise and strong
keep it as it belongs.
Safe within thy charge and care,
the current venture to fare.
No harm to come or ill to befall,
guarded and safe through it all.”

Third, The Long Term Need:

This form of summoning is closer to permanent as we would perceive it. Yet in this you must still work with a time frame in mind, however distant it may be.

Guardian Dragons may be summoned in this fashion for protection of people places and things needing or deserving long term care (such as children, houses, spouses, etc). Multiple objects can be protected with but a change in grammar, but they should be together for a single dragon to protect (the objects become like a mini-horde).

“Dragon brave and Dragon wise,
let nothing escape your watchful eyes.
I call to you from your hidden lair,
(name object here) is entrusted to your care.
Permit no harm to come to ( named object),
in your presence may all evils take flight.
No baneful creature born of flesh nor spirit
may touch (name object) nor even come near it.
May those that would bring harm
be filled with fright and alarm.”

Source:

Article was contributed by trav131

SpellsofMagic.com

 

Chaos Dragons

Chaos Dragons
These dragons don’t have a ruler, their color is pure black, and their homes are in Elemental Chaos. These dragons are always dark colors that blend into blackness, often it will look like they have stars caught in their scales. Their bodies are heavy and huge; in fact they tend to be the largest of all dragons. They have wide, wedge-shaped heads and their long tails often are barbed or spiked. Chaos dragons have huge wings that often blend into the night sky and may be hard to make out; they are masters of camouflage in spite of their large bulk and are rarely seen if they don’t wish it.

These dragons are not evil or malicious, they work with us and their magick is often incomprehensible to us and they go beyond our limited view of happenings. Because of this their acts may seem cruel, but they are working for our greater good. These dragons are pure representations of chaos and we are to call on them when we realize that not every problem or situation can be resolved with order and reasoning. When working with these dragons they will go straight to the source of your problem or question and force you to confront it. This can be rather uncomfortable for us as we will need to deal with hidden aspects of ourselves that we may not be ready to face, so be sure that you are prepared to accept the consequences of invoking a chaos dragon. Chaos Dragons do not act as Guardians nor Guides.

Chaos dragon magic is mainly concerned with the re-creation of lives, relationships, and careers. You can employ them to help break through barriers, with changing luck, and in bringing about vast changes.
You can work with them to explore past lives and their magick is particularly powerful aids in divination.

Their magick is also used to confine anything that will hinder you in forward growth and movement, if you invoke this aspect of them be prepared to have everything that is holding you back leave you life whether you want it gone or not. This is the type of dragon that we work with when we talk about ‘riding the dragon’; eventually during this ritual we will have to confront our worst enemy ~ ourselves…
Chaos Dragons can also be heralds warning of catastrophe, to ignore what they have to say may bring about destruction in our lives.

Source:
Wicca Dreamers

Fire Dragons

Fire Dragons
The Ruler of these dragons is Fafnir (pronounced faf-near), their Elemental color is pure red, amber, red-orange and all shades of flames.
They tend to live in warm and dry areas. These dragons have a fiery disposition but can be very gentle and understanding, it is also true that they can be unpredictable and difficult to work with until they get to know you. Once you gain a fire dragon’s loyalty they are unwavering and powerful friends. Their bodies are often thick and heavy with a long snake-like necks and tails. They often have wicked looking horns on their head and their mere presence can make a room warmer. Fire dragons are fierce protectors and are often heralded by their loud roar. They govern the Southern Quarter of the circle and Southern correspondences can be applied to fire dragons.
Positive association for fire dragons are summer, the sun, blood, any kind of helpful fire, enthusiasm, activity, change, passion, courage, daring, will power, and leadership.
Negative associations for these dragons are hate, jealousy, fear, anger, war, ego, conflicts, and irritability.

The magick of fire dragons is often used for personal purification on any level, for energy or courage, and for the stamina needed to pursue your dreams and finish important projects. You can also use their potent magick to help remove barriers, but once they are set on a course they are very difficult to halt and will go through or over anything or anyone to achieve their goal. If you don’t have a good working relationship with these dragons and you employ them they can turn your spell into something destructive that will ‘burn’ through all obstacles and leave ruin in their place.
Other forms of Fire Dragons are Steam Dragons, Heat Dragons, Lava Dragons, and Desert Dragons.

Source:

Wicca Dreamers

Air Dragons

Air Dragons
These great dragons are ruled by the Sairys (pronounced Sair-iss), their Elemental color is pure yellow, light blue, silver, white and gray…
Where they inhabit is often warm and moist. Air dragons often have a very peaceful nature and they like to share what they know, in fact they feel that all knowledge is worth having. As their name suggests, they control the winds and can manipulate air with amazing dexterity. They can even remove all air from an area creating a vacuum that is next to impossible to fill. These dragons are often long and slender, some have gauzy wings and their scales often have a feather-like quality and may have actual feathers around their heads, necks, and paws. They govern the Eastern quarter of the Circle and you can apply Eastern associations to these dragons.
Positive associations of these dragons are new beginnings, the Spring, breath, optimism, joy, intelligence, mental quickness and renewal.
Negative associations of air dragons are frivolity, gossip, fickleness, inattention, stagnation, bragging, and forgetfulness.

The magick that these dragons control is often used to control weather, as one would expect. They are also useful in spells that blow away the old and are excellent in protection rituals as well as magick that works for mental flexibility and openness to new ideas. Teachers and students both will find a wealth of information with these dragons as they can teach us how to better impart our wisdom as well as sharpening our minds so that we can learn better.
Other forms of dragons that fall under this category are Lightening Dragons, Storm Dragons, Wind Dragons, and Weather Dragons.

Source:
Wicca Dreamers

Earth Dragons

Earth Dragons
These dragons are ruled by Grael (pronounced grail), their elemental color is pure green, every shade of Brown and Black.
Their homes are in cold and dry places. Earth dragons are very quiet beings, they will observe from a distance until they are ready to approach you. Once you have befriended an earth dragon they are very straight forward and will be blunt and honest with you but are very loving and nurturing. They tend to have a ridge of sharp scales down their necks and back, their body scales are often very reminiscent of armor. Of all the dragons, these are the ones that like treasure and in order to build a strong relationship you should keep a jar or dish full of coins. The earth dragon’s bodies tend to be very heavy and most of them have four legs, when they have wings their wingspan is enormous. Earth dragons govern the Northern Quarter of the Circle and Northern associations may be applied to them.
Positive associations for earth dragons are respect, endurance, strength, responsibility, stability, prosperity, thoroughness, and having a purpose in life.
Negative associations are rigidity, unwillingness to change, stubbornness, and lack of consciousness, vacillation, and weakness.

Earth dragon magick is good form building long lasting foundations, for helping to complete long-range goals, and for invoking stability into your life. You can also call on them for physical and mental endurance as well as the strength to accept responsibility. If you are planning to do a spell for enduring prosperity and success, earth dragons are excellent for this but they expect you to work towards your goals and not demand that they deliver it to you.
Other kinds of Earth Dragons are Stone Dragons, Nature Dragons, Mountain Dragons, and Forest Dragons.

Source:
Wicca Dreamers

Water Dragons

Water Dragons
Water dragons are ruled by Naelyon (pronounced nail-yawn), their Elemental color is pure blue, dark blue, blue green, and turquoise.
They live in cold and moist areas. Water dragons have a very soothing influence and are drawn by strong emotions but will not contact anyone who lets their emotions constantly run away with them. A room may feel a few degrees cooler when water dragons visit or you may notice an increase in the humidity. These dragons are long and serpentine and rarely have legs or wings. Their scales will have a silvery or shimmery hue to them and they tend to have a feathery fringe around their mouths. Many times they appear looking like Oriental dragons and their eyes may have a glowing quality to them. Water dragons govern the Western quarter of the Circle and Western associations may be applied to these dragons.
Positive associations are calm water, compassion, peacefulness, forgiveness, love, intuition, calmness, peace of mind, and fluidity.
Negative associations for these dragons are floods, storms, laziness, indifference, instability, lack of emotional control, insecurity, and overwhelming grief.

Source:
Wicca Dreamers

Find Your Guardian Dragon or Guide, First find Your Element

To find your Guardian Dragon or Dragon Guide, you must first find you Element…


As a general rule, you can go by your astrological sign;
Capricorn – Earth
Aquarius – Air
Pisces – Water
Aries – Fire
Taurus – Earth
Gemini – Air
Cancer – Water
Leo – Fire
Virgo – Earth
Libra – Air
Scorpio – Water
Sagittarius – Fire

The second means of determining which Elementals you have the best connection with is through your first name. Your birth-name is, like your astrological chart, an energy center, reflecting the play of certain energies within your life. The vowels of your first name are the keys to determining with which elemental you are most harmonious.
The primary vowel in your first name indicates which group of Elementals you can align with most easily. The primary vowel is the one most strongly pronounced.

Element      Vowel          Elemental Being
Fire                                    I                                      Salamanders

Earth                                U                                        Gnomes

Air                                      E                                         Sylphs
Water                                O                                         Undines

Ether/Chaos                     A                                  Intensifies good or bad qualities of the Element
 

<If the astrological element and the name element are the same, it can indicate that you have come to double your work with that group of Elemental Beings and the Energies that they work with. If they are opposite, they do Not cancel each other out, it means that it is up to you to find a Balance between them when you are working with them.

Once you know which Element you are aligned with, simply match it with that type of Dragon. For instance; I am a Capricorn;  So, according to my astrological chart, I resonate most strongly with the Earth Elemental… and my first name is Mary; So, that’s an A; Which makes it Ether/Choas… Which means that I align with the Earth Elemental and all contact will be accentuated and intensified.
Okay, so now, knowing my Element, I would look down at the Elemental Dragons and know that my Guardian Dragon/Dragon Guide would be the Earth Dragon… 
Some people will resonate with more than one Element, and therefor more than one Elemental Dragon as well… Also, if the chart says one thing, and your soul is telling you another, always go with your soul… It knows best, Always.

{Just a note: This formula for determining which Element you align with came from Ted Andrews’s book ‘Enchantment of the Faerie Realm’ … Also, I have changed it somewhat to include the Element Choas, as he explains Ether, they are the same thing.}

 

Source:
Wicca Dreamers

Dragon Guardians and Guides

Dragon Guardians and Guides


Dragons are famous for their fierce protective nature. Though most myths portray Dragons as protectors of great treasures, they have been known to be protectors of people too.
The Dragon serves as a Powerful Guardian and Guide. Once you discover your Guardian Dragon/Dragon Guide you should encourage communication, and acknowledge your Dragon’s presence as often as possible, the same as you would with an Animal Spirit Guide or even a Guardian Angel. You will need to let you Guardian Dragon/Dragon Guide know that you are now open and willing to listen to any guidance, advice or teaching they wish to impart to you.
One way to do this is to meditate and concentrate upon your Guardian/Guide. Light candles and incense for them, and leave offerings for them upon your altar. Designing a special altar just for your Guardian/Guide is a good idea, a place where you can concentrate your energies towards the Guardian.
Many magick practitioners will surround themselves with imagery of their Guardian/Guide, immersing themselves externally in the energies of the Guardian/Guide. This will help you to draw the Guardian/Guide to you, and will assist you in achieving your connection.

As with any Guardian/Guide, finding your Guardian Dragon/Dragon Guide is not the problem. Most likely they are already around you, and in fact may have attempted contact with you in the past. This happens with many different types of Guardians and Guides, we fail to recognize the messages that they are sending us. If this is the case, contact should be easy to obtain once you have let the Dragon know you are ready & willing to connect with them.
 One thing you must remember though, is when you do feel a Dragon in your house it does not mean that it’s “your “Dragon. Sometimes it can take years for a Dragon to decide to be someone’s Guardian/Guide, so just because there is one in your house or one that’s been following you for years, unless he/she tells you otherwise, don’t jump to conclusions and think that you have a Guardian Dragon or a Dragon Guide, it could be there for reason’s of it’s own… Sometimes though, a person can live their entire lives with a Guardian Dragon/Dragon Guide and never know it… 


Source:

Wicca Dreamers

Draconian Wicca…

Draconian Wicca…
Draconian lore and practice are rarely found in any of the published books on magick. (There are a few very notable exceptions, like D. J. Conway’s ‘Dancing with Dragons’)

Draconian magick is, by definition, magick that is fueled by the symbolism and energies of Dragons.

While not actually defined as a Tradition of Wicca, Draconian Magick shares many of its defining elements. It has a code of honor just like a more Traditional Wicca Path, that is perhaps a little more strict than the Wiccan Rede however.  Draconian Magick has always been passed down from teacher to student, perhaps that is one reason there is so little  information available.


Dragon Magick is not for everyone. Those that choose to practice it must be self-disciplined individuals who are serious about changing things in their lives and the world around them. They must be willing to have beings be brutally honest with them and be willing to turn that same honesty upon yourself. Working with dragons is a hard path, but ultimately rewarding. The journey of rediscovering the true essence of Dragon Magick can be an uncomfortable experience for some people, being forced to examine aspects of their inner-selves that they would rather not acknowledge. But self knowledge and self integration are the true keys to magickal wisdom and power… Opening yourself to acceptance of your true self is a task that few of us have the courage to face, and yet it is an important step to undertake if true power is to be achieved in any magickal Tradition.


For most practitioners of magick, Dragons represent Wisdom and Balance.  But for those who are practitioners of Draconian Magick, Dragons are seen as Deities and held in the highest regards. No other Deities are held higher. While Dragons are revered in most Traditions of Paganism or Wicca, they are not thought of in the form of Deities.
When holding a Ritual which includes Dragons, or is a Dragon Ritual, it is important to understand that in Draconian beliefs, the Dragon is held in the All-High, or exalted position. Placing another Deity in a position higher than that of the Dragon is an insult to the Dragon…
Draconian Magick is unequivocally a school of the Left-Hand Path.

That is to say it is a school which teaches the immortalisation and deification of the individual psyche, as opposed to the Right-Hand Path which seeks to submerge that psyche within a sense of universal oneness…I believe that many Wiccans and Pagans today tend to shy away from anything Dark, there are allot of Wiccans out there who claim to practice only ‘white’ magick, And, while most Wiccans/Pagans do not use the statement “I walk a Right-Hand Path” They do. But, to me at least, this creates an imbalance. There cannot be Light without Dark. There is a certain degree of Darkness within us all. You cannot be in Balance if you deny one side of your nature. Many Wiccans/Pagans automatically assume a Dark Witch performs magick that is wrong, negative, or even evil. This is simply not true.

The left-hand path is about the elevation and centrality of the self as well as the rejection of religious authority and societal taboos. The left-hand path focuses on the strength and will of the practitioner, downplaying the need for intercession by any high power (although they may believe a higher power exists).

<VS>

The right-hand path concentrates on the symbols of goodness, of the Light of the Divine, the connection of self with the Divine, and the purification of self in order to reconnect with the Divine. Many right-hand followers believe that there is a Divine power that holds sway over the universe and through prayer and worship that Divinity will help to better their lives. The vast majority of religions are considered part of the right-hand path, from Christianity to Wicca.

So, When I hear people say “I’m a White Witch” or the ever popular “I’m a Green Witch” I just smile and keep moving…
I have said it before, and I’ll say it again… IF I had to pick a color, I’d have to say I’m a                                                                                  Grey Witch. 
I believe in Balance. In all things there should be a Balance. In my Spiritual Path I strive for Balance. There is a Darkness in us all. I do not deny the Darkness, I embrace it. Does this make me evil? I don’t believe so, because I Balance it with Light… There is a Light within us all as well…
I know I’m probably going to get a few people who point to the Wiccan Rede… and espouse they’re religion doesn’t harm anyone… Well, let me just state that neither does mine. I follow the Rede, always have. The main thing is, I don’t rely on ANY religion to dictate my Morals, my sense of Right or Wrong, I Rely on Myself. In this sense, I follow (Some) of the Christians 10 commandments as well… NOT because I worry about some eternal damnation, but simply because it fits within my own moral concept. I do not need any religion to ‘guide’ my moral compass, or direct my Spiritual path.
I do not Pray to the Goddess to alter or enhance my life. I do not repent my sins before any Goddess or God. I know that I have done things in my life that were wrong. I recognize this fact and strive always to change these behaviors.
I don’t think any Natural inclination (such as SEX) is wrong.
I eat Meat. Because I Like it. and really humans are Omnivores…
I do not believe in the usual concepts of good or evil…
AND… I do not judge myself based on someone else’s judgement of me. I am who I am.

Self-responsibility is also seen as of utmost importance when working with Dragons. You must be able to view your actions objectively…and accept the consequences of those actions, whether the outcome is positive or negative.

Dragons are warriors for light (lightworkers). They are a collective of souls who service the light. They can infuse their souls into bodies that are not dragon (human for example). In this way they can work for light and efficiently bring about changes. This is one thing that makes them invaluable in Healing Ceremonies. Some call any magickal practice with Dragons is to “Dance with Dragons”, but they can be more then just a dance partner. As teachers of ancient knowledge their grasp of it is deep and profound. Their ability to help in divination is astonishing and quite accurate. As protectors during rituals and everyday life there are no equals. And if a Dragon chooses to take you under their wings you will have the opportunity of learning knowledge and evolving your magickal ability to a degree which few have known.

During meditative channeling, Dragons usually appear to people as themselves. There are those times when they appear as winged humans, or something else, but for the most part you see them as they appear as they would be in their own realm. 
Dragons are a part of the Fae Realm. When the Fae drew back from humankind and sealed themselves from our sight, the Dragons became the Gatekeepers to that realm. Guarding forever the passage from our realm to theirs. Which is one reason it is so hard to gain access to the Faerie Realm. Most people who are aware of the Fae Realm already know that the Fae are able to enter our realm at will, humans, however must first gain access past these mighty Guardians. A Dragon can look into the soul of a human and gauge the enlightenment that the human has gained. This is one reason that the practitioner of Dragon Magick must strive for enlightenment…

Source:
Wicca Dreamers