Tag: Alternative

Need An App for Meditating (Boy, they have everything these days, lol!)

Free Guided Meditation Tool

Have you been wanting to get into  meditation but didn’t know where to start? There’s an app for  that!

Former monk-turned-meditation-guru Andy Puddicombe wants everyone to learn  the power of meditation, and his Headspace project is all about helping people  learn how to meditate. His Headspace app for iPhone or Android is a powerful tool for  anyone looking to learn the basics of meditation and start a regular  practice.

If you’re not familiar with Puddicombe, check out his inspiring TED Talk  above about the power of taking 10 minutes to meditate each day. Or, as he calls  it “doing nothing.”

I just started using the app recently, and I’m already loving it! The basic  program is a series of ten ten-minute meditation practices, which you go through  in order. Each day builds on the previous day’s practice. After that, there are  a couple hundred other meditations that you can try in any order that you like,  though the additional programs are not free.

Before you do your first meditation, he also walks you through a short series  of videos to help you get in the right headspace for your practice. He  emphasizes that meditation is a skill, and that you shouldn’t force it. One of  the things I’m digging most about this program is that he frequently reminds you  that it’s OK if your mind wanders and it’s OK to have conscious thoughts while  you’re meditating. The key is noticing when that happens and observing those  things without letting them effect you.

I also love the tone of the program. There is no new-agey music, creepy  whispering narrator, or strange sound- or voice-effects. He just calmly walks  you through each day’s exercise. If you prefer more of a new-age spin on  meditation, this app might not be for you.

Take Ten, Day One  Video

This is the introductory video from the Headspace Take Ten series. The rest  of the series is available via the Headspace app for iPhone or Android.

Exploring Your Crystals

Exploring Your Crystals

For this visualisation exercise, choose one of your favourite crystals, one you already know quite well. A good place to hold the crystal for this exercise is at the solar plexus.

1. Sit in a relaxed comfortable position, holding the stone in both hands. Take a few moments just to relax and focus on the crystal in your hands.

2. Slowly let your awareness float down into the crystal until you reach a point where you seem to come to rest.

3. In your minds eye, identify how the crystal feels to you. is it warm or damp, cool or dry, smooth or rough? Take a minute or two to explore the energy of the crystal through your inner touch.

4. Now relax again and turn your attention to any quality of sound within the crystal, whether it appears to be a tone, a pulse or a tune. Is it high or low? Simple or complex? Listen to the sound of the crystal for a few moments, then relax again.

5. Take a few deep breaths, then imagine you are breathing in the crystal’s energy through your nostrils. What smell, what taste does the crystal have? Can you identify it?

6. Relax once more, then open your inner eyes. Imagine what the structure and the energy of your crystal looks like: the quality of light, the images, the landscapes, scenes and figures that may be related to you. Don’t attempt to analyze what you see. Just let the imagery play before your eyes.

7. Now become aware once more of the crystals taste, its smell, its sounds and its touch. Very gradually bring your awareness out of the crystal and become more aware of your body and the world around you. Record notes in your journal so that you may remember your experiences.

Crystal Purification Incense

Crystal Purification Incense

2 parts Frankincense

2 parts Copal

1 part Sandalwood

1 part Rosemary

1 pinch finely powdered Salt

1 sm. purified Quartz Crystal point

To use, pour a bit of the incense (leaving the crystal in the jar) onto charcoal. Smolder, and pass the crystals to be purified through the smoke, visualizing the smoke wafting away the stone’s impurities. This incense can be used in conjunction with other recommended purifying rituals, or in place of them.

Crystals

Crystals

A crystal is a body that is formed by the solidification of a chemical element, a compound, or a mixture of them, and has a regularly repeating internal arrangement of its atoms and often external plane faces. But it’s more than that. A crystal is one of the many bounties of the Earth’s crust. They are a powerful tool and correspond directly to the element of Earth, but also the Air, Fire and Water. Each crystal has it’s own vibration and thus each vibration corresponds to a correspondences such as healing, protection, relaxation etc. Because each crystal does have a vibration, a larger crystal is not any more powerful than a smaller one. A larger one might look better, but not everyone has the means for such a thing.

Several crystals have the same correspondences, but, to chose which one you want you must first have a look at all those crystals without touching them. See which one has an effect on you. Now, when the crystal has been chosen, or when the crystal has chosen you, you must individually have a look at the crystals, Separate the ones which you like from the ones you don’t like just by having a look at them. Then, pick up each crystal in you receptive hand, opposite to the power hand, so if you are right handed it’s your left hand, and close your hand into a gentle fist. Feel the crystals pulse, it should be like a gentle drum rhythm, it could be very fast, or slow. You will feel whether the crystal is right for you, or not. The crystals vibration will complement yours and act like a ‘lock and key’ to your aura in the sense that they will blend. The crystal will let you know if it is not for you.

A newly bought crystal should be cleansed. This could be as long as a whole moon phase, with elemental cleansings, or just a simple mental cleansing. Before buying that particular crystal, it would have been touched my many people, and been next to many people who might have been upset, angry, sad etc. So this may effect you. To cleanse, it could simply be a dip in salty water, being buried over night in the ground, gone through crystal cleansing incense (or frankincense, sandalwood or just about anything for that matter, maybe even a herbal blend for the crystals purpose), being placed on a bed of quartz crystal, being passed through a flame, fairly quickly, being brushed with a feather, being placed overnight in moon light, or sunlight. Be careful because some crystals fade or lose color from being held in the sun, some even disolve in water, or may react with the candle flame, so be careful.

The Witches Spell for August 6th – CURSED OR BLESSED

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CURSED OR BLESSED

You need:

Piece of burlap

piece of wool

piece of silk

Some polished stones (polished) from a river or stream

A live leaf

A bowl of fruit and/or bread

A dead branch

 

Lay the silk, wool and burlap at the foot of your bed in that order. About 5 feet from the foot of your bed, toward the left, lay the branch. About 5 feet from the foot of your bead, toward the right, place the bowl.  The branch is the barren curse and the bowl is the bountiful life that withers the curse.  Lay one stone on each cloth then lay a path from the wool, straight down the center, between the bowl and the branch.  The stones must touch. At the end lay the leaf.  By laying the stones, you show respect for the fates and the balance of life.  Light three candles and incense and meditate over the rite.  Sleep without touching the items.  When you wake, watch how much the stones have moved.  If they bias the branch, you are cursed.  If they bias the bowl, you are blessed.  If it doesn’t move, no outside force is affecting you.  If you are cursed, how far it has moved will determine the strength of the curse. Reset the path, and that night, light the three candles and the incense and meditate again over the rite.  Sleep again without touching anything. The path should have moved less than the first time.  Repeat this every night until the path stays in the middle.  Next, move the path toward the bowl following the same meditation and sleep process as before.  Continue this every night until the path stays at the bowl.  When it has done so, you may complete the rite.  Touch nothing, but for the three following nights, meditate over the rite, to seal your new fate.  The stones must be returned to the river or stream where you got them from .  The branch must be returned to the forest floor where you found it, and the leaf cast to the wind.  The bowl of fruit must be eaten,  and the cloth must be saved in a dark place, undisturbed.

Insect Bite Oil

I don’t know if you have the same problem that we do. You can’t sit out at night without the bugs trying to carry you off.  Then while you are swaying at this one, there is another one biting the crap out of you. Then you scratch yourself to death the rest of the night. This oil recipe below is simple but it good. It takes the itch right out of those bites.

INSECT BITE OIL

1 tsp Lavender Essential Oil
1 Tbsp Vegetable Oil

Combine essential oil and vegetable oil and dab mixture directly on bite as
needed. Store in a bottle with a tight lid.

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – February 17

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – February 17

“Silence and self-control permeate the entirety of our lives.”

–Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA

The Creator gave us all the Red Road and on this Red Road we are required to think and act in a spiritual way. To make sure I conduct myself according to the Red Road, I must make sure I develop my self discipline. Self control works best when we pray for the courage and power t do the will of the Great Spirit. We are here on the earth to do the will of the Great Spirit. Sometimes, we must battle ourselves to do this.

Great Spirit, help me to have my self-control guided by spiritual ways.

Poppet Magick for a Malicious Person

Poppet Magick for a Malicious Person

 

Items You Will Need:

Grave dirt or earth
Rosemary
Sage
Piece of smoky quartz
Piece of amethyst
Some item from the person

A poppet can be sewn to represent the malicious person.  Fill it with earth (grave dirt if you can find it), rosemary, sage, a piece of smoky quartz and  a piece of amethyst. Also enclose a piece of the person’s fingernails, a lock of hair, or  another personal item. Handwriting can be enclosed if you have nothing else.  Photos can be used also.

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – February 7

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – February 7

 

“I can tell you that understanding begins with love and respect. It begins with respect for the Great Spirit. All things – and I mean ALL things – have their own will and their own way and their own purpose; this is what is to be respected.”

Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE

 

Everything on earth has a purpose and is designed special. No two things are created identical. Sometimes in our minds we have a picture of how things should be, and often what we see is different from what they really are. When this happens we often want to control how things are, making them act or behave according to our picture. We need to leave things alone. God is running all things. How do we do this? In out minds we tell ourselves to love all things and respect all things just as they are. Accept what we cannot change.

 

Great Spirit, teach me the value of respect and help me to accept people, places and things just as they are.

Early Spring Cleaning

Early Spring Cleaning

For an extra dose of spiritual cleansing at this time of year, during early February when the weather
first begins to get warm take some fresh lavender buds, and spread them from left to right on the
windowsills and door thresholds of your home as you chant:
 
Spring is near,    
The light returns.    
Bring blessings upon
all that enter here.
 
By: Therese Francis, Llewellyn and GrannyMoon’s Morning  Feast

~ Cleansing in the Shower ~

~ Cleansing in the Shower ~

When we awaken for the day, our energies are ethereal and our minds saturated with the energy of the dreaming. Begin your day  by hopping into the shower or bath, yet don’t let it be a physical or bodily cleansing alone. We are blessed to have access to clean and purifying water and  should pay attention to this, honor this, and utilize it for the most spiritual purposes possible. As the bathwater is draining, or as the water from the  showerhead cleanses you for the day, meditate on water and what it represents as an element. Water is attuned to emotions, the psychic body, and the astral  plane. Allow the morning routine to be a profoundly cleansing, spiritual process to prepare you for the day. While cleansing, say something like:  

  I connect to the undines and the element of water. May this cleansing purify my body and mind, preparing me to dance with the spirals of reality throughout  the day. I honor water, and this cleansing ritual between the dreaming and waking life. So mote it be.

  
  by….. Raven Digitalis

The Witches Magick for Wednesday, February 6th – A Protective Floor Wash

Protective Floor Wash

 

This protective blend is good to build up an aura of protective energy in your home and keep away anyone who would seek to do you harm. Mop the floors of your house with this after you’ve cleansed your house from a harmful spell someone has laid against you to keep up protections and avoid repeat magickal attacks.

Brew up a large cup of strong tea using Protection Herb Bath. Strain the herbs out and add this cup of herbal infusion to your mop water (along with whatever cleaner you regularly use – preferably a pine scented one). As you mop the floors in your house pray in the name of your Divinity to raise up a fiery sword of righteous divine light against your enemies to wrap your house in protective energy and keep all of your enemies, seen and unseen, away from your home.

Some Substitutions for Essential Oils

Some Substitutions for Essential Oils

Bergamot Substitute — Grapefruit
Cajuput Substitute — Camphor (White)
Chamomile Substitute — Lavender
Clary Sage Substitute Equal Parts — Sage, Nutmeg
Cypress Substitute — Cedarwood
Grapefruit Substitute — Lemon
Jasmine Substitute — Ylang Ylang
Lime Substitute — Lemon
Lemon Substitute — Lime
Lemongrass Substitute — Lemon
Mandarin Substitute — Tangerine
Mandarin Substitute — Orange
Melissa Substitute Equal Parts — Lemon, Petitgrain
Melissa Substitute — Lemon
Neroli Substitute — Petitgrain
Orange Substitute — Tangerine
Patchouli Substitute — Vetiver
Rose Substitute — Rosewood
Rose Substitute — Geranium
Rosewood Substitute Equal Parts — Geranium, Cedarwood
Sandalwood Substitute Equal Parts — Benzoin, Cedarwood
Spearmint Substitute — Peppermint
Tangerine Substitute — Orange
Tea Tree Substitute Equal Parts — Lavender, Camphor (White)

The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood.

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – February 4

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – February 4

 

“We say there is a right time and place for everything. It’s easy to say, but hard to understand. You have to live it to understand it.”

Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE

 

The Elders tell us there is a right time and a right place. Don’t plant seeds in the fall-wrong time. One way we find out about the right time and right place is our experience. If we are lucky, we have a few friends who will share their experience; this will help us too. The best way is to let God guide us. Only He knows the right time and the right place. So we need to pray and ask Him for guidance.

 

Great Spirit, show me patience so I can live in the right time and right place.

I is for Infusion

I

 

 

Infusions

 

Infusions, brews and washes are just tea. Herbs steeped in hot water to release their volatile oils and essences into the water so the resulting liquid may be used to transfer their energies to an object, place or person. Infusions may be used in a number of ways; to sprinkle around a space or onto an object or person, to bathe an object or person, or to drink as tea. They are generally brewed when they will be used as they do not keep well. The herbs may be mixed in advance and placed in small cheesecloth bundles, ready to use like a tea bag. If you use a particular infusion often you may want to make up these tea bags and have them on hand. Mixing the herbs should be done with ritual, visualization and the appropriate time correspondences as with any magical herb preparation. The prepared tea bags should be stored in an airtight jar, in a dry, cool place.

I is for Incense

I

 

 

Incense

Ruler: Spirits of Air and the East

Type: Smoke

Magickal Form: Stick, cone, loose

The burning of incense to purify a temple or devotee is one of the oldest forms of spiritual practice. In essence, the smoke is offered as a pleasing supplication to the Gods. Assigned to the Element of Air because of the smoke, incense also contains the Element of Fire and Earth. As Air, it influences the mind and thought. Through Fire, it affects the will and actions. Through Earth, it can bring about physical change. Although incense is most commonly used for purification, it can be burned to complement and advance the results of any magickal request

The Witches Spell for Tuesday, January 29th: Spell to Remember Your Past Life

Spell to Remember Your Past Life

 

What You’ll Need:

a white candle

a glass filled with water and flower petals

a mirror

Place the mirror inside the bowl. Light the candle and place it and the bowl beside your bed. When you are in your meditative state, surrounded by light, Imagine a television. The television should give you the sense of being in front of your physical body, and NOT in your head. If you see the television in your mind’s  eye then you are not doing this technique correctly.

See your life going back, yesterday, last year, your childhood, your birth, the safety of your Mother’s womb, go back further. Don’t think – “Oh what’s before that?” It should come to you naturally, you may be transported to a memory anytime throughout you past life, it may be a mundane moment, it may be something exciting, it may be you sleeping!

If you find yourself implanting details or trying to FILL in the blank (there probably will be some missing details the first time around) STOP and try again. You may want to listen to a past life regression hypnosis or meditation if you find it too  difficult to do on your own.

The Witches Spell for Monday, January 28th: A Spell To See The Great Spirits/Deities

Witchy Comments & Graphics
A Spell To See The Great Spirits/Deities

To see spirits, old European grimoires recommend mixing together aloe, pepper, musk, vervain and saffron, and burning this in a cemetery. We can adapt this for other locations (like those in which the spirit lived) by adding a bit of sweetgrass or tobacco to a specially prepared incense. Create the incense on the anniversary of the death of the individual you wish to contact. This is the burned at 11 am, in the safety of a magick circle that also holds symbolic items to connect you to the entity.

An incantation to encourage the spirit’s presence is:

“Guardians of the Spirit realm,

hear and guide my plea.

When the witching hour rings true,

bring my relationship, name of person to me.

Other souls who hear my call,

are not welcome in this place.

Only the one known as name of person may enter sacred space.”

Repeat the request three times, twenty minutes apart, then wait quietly for indications of a presence. Signs include the scent of flowers, or favored cologne, a cool wind, movement of curtains, and candles going out or twitching erratically. Once you feel sure the spirit is with you, do not make it tarry overly long. Take care of your business, say farewell, and thank the guardians for their assistance before closing the circle.

A Word of Caution:

Spiritual entities should not be banished or called for amusement. It is best

to contact a knowledgeable, experienced psychic for advice or assistance

before undertaking any spells of this type. It is used for communication,

and understanding the purpose of spirits. The best times are in-between

times, such as noon, midnight, dusk and dawn. Halloween. Seasons of late fall

and winter. When the Moon is in Libra. Eclipses. Wednesday.

Life As The Witch – Morning Tune-In Activities

Witchy Cat Graphics & Comments

Morning Tune-In Activities

The morning is when the magickal momentum of our day is set into motion. So it’s an especially powerful time for shaping the flavor or our day and the harmonics of your mood (i.e., the way we preceive and process our day). There are several tune-in exercises. Try them out, and once you find what works for you, do your best to make them as habitual as brushing your teeth.

First Thing

As soon as you open your eyes and get ready to get out of bed, remind yourself that the day belongs to you. Also remind yourself that everything you do in this day wil be a decision and a choice–that there is nothing that you do that you did not choose to do. (Even if it’s something you don’t want to do, recognize that you are still choosing to do it so that you can and occurrences you’d like to experience during the upcoming day as well as the feelings that go along with them (very important step).

During Breakfast of Coffee

Write down your intentions for the day in the present tense, as if they are already true. These feelings or actual occurrences. For example, you might write things like, “I love myself,” “My cats are safe and happy,” “I receive the such and such job offer or something better,” “I’m wonderfully comfortable in my own skin,” “The trip to the vet goes as smoothly as possible,” “I am having a great hair day,” “I am wealthy and receive generous sums of money from expected and unexpected sources,” “I am awake to the magick of life,” and/or “I embody the God/dess.” You might write an entire page worth, and then write “Thank you, thank you, thank you. Blessed be. And so it is.” And then sign and date.

Before You Leave The House

I know you’re busy, but this doesn’t need to take longer than five minutes. Sit comfortably, relax, and call on your divine helper(s) of choice to clear, fine-tune, and shield your energy field. Visualize/imagine/feel this happening. Then consciously connect with the core of the Earth and the cosmic light of the Universe. You might do this by sending roots of light down into the Earth and branches of light up into the sky. Draw golden Earth light up from the Earth and into your body/energy field, then draw sparkly rainbow light down from the Cosmos and into your body/energy field. Think or say something like “I am one with the Earth and Sky. I am one wih te God/dess, and I am in the divine flow. All information is available to me. All power is available to me. I am always in the perfect place at the perfect time doing the perfect thing. I always know just what to do. Magickal authority is mine.”

Excerpt from:

“Magical Authority:
The Only Ingredient You Need”
by Tess Whitehurst
Llewellyn’s 2013 Magical Almanac

The Witches Magickal Spell for Jan. 21st – Dancing Broom Spell

Witchy Comments
Dancing Broom Spell

 

Items You Will Need:

Blue or White Candle

Citrus Scented Incense

Up Tempo Music

Broom

The Spell:

If you are feeling down or could use a little pick me up this spell should work for you. Light some citrusy smelling incense along with a blue or white candle. Put something on the radio that makes you want to dance. Something happy and upbeat. In a counterclockwise direction (this is done to remove any negativity that is lingering in the room) start sweeping from room to room in your house or apartment. After you have finished, reverse this and start sweeping in a clockwise direction to instill harmony into your household. Go from room to room again until you get back to where you started from. If you feel the need arise, start singing and dancing as you sweep, feel the music and mood just carry you away. Get into the ritual and enjoy yourself.