Tag: Goddess

Imbolc Ritual

Imbolc Ritual
(Candlemas, February 2nd)

Tools:
In addition to your m’jyk-l tools, you will need:

  • A White Altar Cloth
  • Light Green Taper Goddess Candle
  • Light Yellow Taper God Candle
  • 13 White 4″ Stick Candles
  • Brideo’ga*
  • Small Woven Basket with White Flowers
  • Pentacle Candle Wheel
  • Handful of Acorns
  • Cauldron
  • Snow/Crushed Ice
  • Small White Pillar Candle
  • Potpourri Holder
  • Tea Lite
  • Basil, Bay, Heather Flowers, Cinnamon and Vanilla Potpourri Blend
  • Long Wooden Stick Matches

Preparation:
Sweep area, moving in deosil direction. Outline your circle with white cord Angelica leaves. Place Pentacle Candle Wheel in the center of altar. Place the lt. green taper Goddess candle to the top left of altar and the lt. yellow taper God candle to the top right of altar. Put the white flowers in the basket as bedding for the Bride’s Bed, then place the Brideo’ga atop the flowers. Place the basket in front of the Goddess candle, to the left of the Pentacle Candle Wheel. Place the acorns in front of the God candle, to the right of the Pentacle Wheel. Place the tea lite in the bottom of potpourri holder, and put holder at front center of the alter. Place white pillar candle in the middle of the cauldron, fill cauldron about 1″-2″ with snow or crushed ice, and position on floor in front of altar. Put the container with potpourri where it can be reached easily. Place the rest of your tools and props according to personal preference. Bathe or shower for purification. Ground and center. When ready, put on some soothing music associated with this Sabbat and your ritual.

Cast circle by holding out your right hand and tracing over the cord or leaves in a clockwise direction. As you trace over the outline envision flames of pure white rising up along the perimeter. When the beginning and the end join the circle is complete. Step up to the cauldron and light the white pillar candle, saying:

“Amidst the darkness the Lady is stirring,
Gently awakening from frozen dreams,
All the world has awaited this moment The return of the Maiden,
And Her promise of oncoming Spring.”

Call Quarters. As this is a time to honor Mother Earth as she wakes from her winter’s recovery of giving rebirth to the Sun King at Yule, start with North, the element Earth. Pick up the container of potpourri, step up to the altar and pour some into the holder, saying:

“Powers of Earth, the Maiden awakens!
Come join the circle and share in the light.”

Put the container back where it was. Light the white candle at the North point of the Pentacle Candle Wheel. Continue, by waving your hand over the potpourri as if to create a breeze on which to carry the scent, saying:

“Powers of Air, the Maiden awakens!
Come join the circle and share in the light.”

Light the white candle at the East point of the Pentacle Candle Wheel. Light the tea candle in the bottom of the potpourri holder, saying:

“Powers of Fire, the Maiden awakens!
Come join the circle and share in the light.”

Light the white candle at the South point of the Pentacle Candle Wheel. Pour some water into the holder with the potpourri, saying:

“Powers of Water, the Maiden awakens!
Come join the circle and share in the light.”

Light the white candle at the West point of the Pentacle Candle Wheel. Remove the white candle from the top point of the Pentacle. Since Akasha is the omnipresent, it need not be invoked. Light the candle and invoke the Goddess and the God by lighting the lt. green Goddess candle and the lt. yellow God candle with the white candle. Place the white candle back in the top point of the Pentacle Candle Wheel, saying:

“Be with me now, oh Ancients, eternal,
Hear now my prayers, hopes and dreams.
The Goddess has wakened, once more as the Maiden
By loving caresses from the strengthened Sun King.”

Light the inner cross points of the Pentacle Candle Wheel, starting with the cross point to the right of the North point. Light all 5 cross points in succession, saying:

“The Earth now grows warmer, as the Wheel again turns
And as each passing day adds strength, To the Sun King’s rays
The Maiden, of his gift of life, now silently does yearn.”

Take a couple of the acorns from in front of the God candle and place them in the Bride’s Bed with the Brideo’ga. Light the three aspects of the Goddess candles. All aspects are white because She is the Triple Goddess appearing as the Maiden, pure, and renewed. Step back from the altar and contemplate the light that is brought about by the re-union of the God and the Goddess saying:

“Behold the God and Goddess,
Lord of the Forest and his Bride,
Once again the Earth is blessed
With life anew inside.
Seeds shall soon begin to sprout
And creatures shall young bear
For this is the Promise, the Cycle of Life
That is born of the love They share.”

Now is the time for meditation and any spellworkings. Spellworkings associated with Imbolc include those for fertility, defining and focusing on goals for the future, organization, health, and protection. Next, celebrate with Cakes and Ale (Poppyseed Cakes* and Spiced Tea*) Ceremony, saving some for the wee Folkes, outside. Thank the God and Goddess for Their presence snuff their candles. Thank and release the Quarters, saying:

“Though you leave this circle, tonight,
Water, Fire, Air, and Earth
Your symbols shall linger on a while
Blessing my home and hearth.
The herbs that scent this room tonight,
Were chosen with loving care,
To bless me, my family and my friends,
And my sisters and brothers everywhere.”

Snuff each of the white candles at the directional points of the Pentacle Candle Wheel, starting with the candle at the top point first, then the West point and working in a widdershins direction. Snuff the inner cross point candles also in a widdershins direction. Finally snuff the three aspects of the Goddess candles. Step back from the altar and face the cauldron with the white pillar candle still burning brightly saying:

“I honor Thee, Maiden, most blessed Bride
As your candle burns through this night
And thank you for the renewed life you offer us all
As you emerge from the dark to the light.”

Release the circle. Clean up, place the cauldron from the floor onto the middle of the alter. Let the candle burn out by itself. Place the potpourri in a spot where its scent and blessings fill the house. You are done.

The Path of an American Traditionalist

The Path of an American Traditionalist

Author: Heather Douglas

I write a blog on blogspot.com called “Path of an American Traditionalist”. I decided to call my blog this for one reason. It all starts with Scott Cunningham and “Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner”, which was the first Wicca book I was ever introduced to at the age of fourteen. As common as this sounds my mother saw an A and E special on “witches and Wicca” and became instantly enamored with the idea. She went out and purchased none other than a Scott Cunningham book. As I have previously written in another article this would ultimately lead me down the magical path I am still on today. I consider myself very much a follower of Scott Cunningham.

Scott Cunningham has been a very important, influential and inspirational part of not only my craft, but my spiritual self, as well. A man gone too soon, he never had time to fully develop the exact recipe to create a true American Wicca tradition of witchcraft, but he was well down the path before his passing. What most of us witches heavily rely on today all stems from belief systems of other cultures that are not uniquely American. Most tradition of magic that are popularly practiced today have roots in Europe, Asia, as well as various other countries, but only the branch of paganism that could claim some ownership are the Native Americans.

What most witches don’t understand or appreciate (in my opinion) about Scott Cunningham was the message that took the forefront in all of his books. Wicca does not require a system of clergy, standards, rules or authority. The authority comes only from the Goddess and God. Even most of the Native American traditions had an informal hierarchy. Scott’s message has always been a break from, well, tradition!

Having said that, his books are richly steeped in a “tradition” created solely on his own experience with spell work. That is not to say that he does not solely rely on the work of people like Gardner, Crowley and Leek, but what he does is take his personal interpretations of their work and applies the knowledge to further his own. Furthermore the knowledge he applies to his “encyclopedia” type books are well researched, well-written and informative for any witch! In 2009 “Scott Cunningham’s Book of Shadows”, was published by Llewellyn. For obvious reasons, because of his passing in 1993, a new Scott Cunningham book had not been in circulation for a very long time.

It is mentioned in the forward of the book that Scott’s intentions were to create a system of witchcraft/magic that was uniquely American and without constraint. Scott was taking the knowledge, experience and wisdom he had gained from the many years he spent practicing magic and applying the craft to create a non-uniform system of magical practice that’s roots would be American. The author of the forward states that he is uncomfortable with the world “traditionalist”, applied to the work and legacy of Scott Cunningham. He says this because he believes Scott Cunningham was anything but a Traditionalist. I believe the author misunderstands the word and its usage.

While the word “tradition” does normally conjure up thoughts of rules and guide lines within a community, I believe what Scott was trying to convey was a sense of “Tradition” that would be become the basis for a new way of practicing Wicca without the constraints of the “old ways”. His Tradition would be that of religious freedom inside of paganism and Wicca. By using this word he was not trying to start a new religion, but rather build upon and create something that was uniquely American and create something that was American in taste and flair. He was pulling together a system of practicing a sort of “free-base” magical system that relied on coming up with your own spells, chants, recipes, etc…by applying knowledge taken from other authors, witches and most importantly your own spell work. His “Tradition” would be one heavily influenced by the idea of religious freedom in Wicca, which is the basis for America itself. Which could be interpreted as a play on Aleister Crowley’s infamous quote “Do what thou Wilt shall be the whole of the Law”.

I’m not sure what Scott would have continued, finished or accomplished if he was still here today, but I know it would have been amazing! From all of the research, reading and studying I have done on him, I am confident in saying that he was NOT comfortable with a lot of the “traditions” of witchcraft that preach uniformity in the sense that you have to have this particular book, this candle or this oil, in order to properly perform magic. Even though he revered and respected his pagan friends that choose to go the coven route, Scott himself never felt comfortable in any formal setting of ritual work. In a book by David Harrington entitled “Whispers of the Moon: The Life and Work of Scott Cunningham”, it is often stated that Scott joined several covens and formal magical paths, but always ended up going back to being a solitary practitioner. Scott said to his friends that he always felt more at home being a solitary witch. He was a rebel of sorts in that he took Wicca out of the living room and back to where it belongs, in nature.

My blog is a tiny corner of the world where I can express myself, my craft and my ideas that have all been heavily influenced by Scott Cunningham’s life and work. If Scott Cunningham did create a tradition, even by accident, I am following it by being a living product of his message. You don’t have to have fancy ritual items, or a high-priestess degree to worship the Goddess and perform magic. You don’t have to know and memorize every tiny aspect of the Wiccan religion to be a follower of the Goddess. As Scott believed and always wrote, all you need to contact the divine is an open heart, an open mind and the will that lies within.

Sorry The Holiday Is Over & It’s Back To Work Day! Happy Monday to you, dear friends!

Days Of The Week Comments  Today Is: Moon Day– Energy: Female Ruler: The Moon – Rules emotions, protection, healing, and women’s mysteries – Use for magick involving the subconscious, healing, emotions, love, spirituality, healing wounds, children, small animals, women’s mysteries, the female side of men, mothers, sisters, female partners, wives, instincts

  • Today’s Magickal Influences: Agriculture, Domestic, Long Life, Medicine, Travels, Visions, Theft
  • Today’s Goddesses: Luna, Selene, Diana, Re, Gaelach, Ida, Artemis [Whom The Greeks Associated With Bast], The Witches, Yemaya, Erzulie, Bast
  • Incense: Myrtle
  • Perfumes: White Poppy, White Rose, Wallflower
  • Color of The Day: Silver, Grey, White
  • Colors for Tomorrow: Red
  • Lucky Sign: Monday Is The Lucky Day For The Sign of Cancer
  • Candle: White

Magickal Graphics

Dark Moon Affirmation Magick (Snow Moon)

Dark Moon Affirmation Magick

(Snow Moon)
 
 
The dark Moon can be a time of fear and doubt. This spell will help you to affirm your magick and move forward in your patterns.
 
You will need a white candle. Draw a circle of light and call in the elements. Light the white candle, and invite the Goddess into your circle:
 
Divine Mother so bright
Please bless my circle with your light.
 
Stand before your altar, and call out three times:
 
Today and everyday I am on a quest to make my life more the way I want it to be. My magick is strong. I will prevail in my quest.
So be it!
 
Thank the Goddess for her blessings, bid farewell to the elements and pull up the circle. For best results write the affirmation on an index card, and put it on your bathroom mirror. Read it aloud to yourself at least three times each day and three times each night.

Snow Moon Ritual Oil

Snow Moon Ritual Oil

 
Draw the power and passion of the Goddess to you with this ritual oil.
 
You will need nine tablespoons of grape seed oil, six drops of sandalwood-scented oil, two drops of lavender essential oil and twelve drops of vanilla extract.

Pour the oils and extract into a bottle with a sealed top. Shake the oil while saying:
 
Goddess of love bless this sensuous oil
Please fill it with your divine power and passion.
 
Warm the oil up slightly before using it to massage your beloved. Enjoy the aroma as you kneed the oil into your lover’s skin. After you rub your beloved, then have him or her massage you with your snow moon ritual oil.

Today’s Goddess:Yellow Woman

Today’s Goddess:Yellow Woman

Tesuque Feast (Southeastern US)
 
Themes: Nature, Providence, Animals
Symbols: Yellow Items, Green Items, Embroidered Items
 
About Yellow Woman: This Pueblo Goddess if magic, agriculture and the hunt is also the heroine of many local
stories having taught humans important sacred ceremonies. Today she helps us remember these rituals and reintegrate
them into our live.
 
Art depicts Yellow Woman wearing an embroidered blanket dress, a green mask (revealing her connection to nature)
and a white mantle. Sometimes she appears as a corn Goddess and other times as a witch, bear or ogress.
 
To Do Today: This is the time of the Buffalo Dance, which honors nature and mimes, an ancient hunting ritual thought
to ensure a successful hunt. This dance is a type of sympathetic magic that also appeases the souls of the animals
about to be captured. For our purposes, this equates to a kind of ritual mime in which we enact our hopes as realized,
asking Yellow Woman to guide our movements so they will manifest in magic. For example, to improve self love give
yourself a hug so you receive that energy. For relationships, open your arms wide so they await the right person
(figuratively receiving a “good catch”, which is in Yellow Woman’s dominion too!)
 
To improve your awareness of the significance of ritual, eat corn today and wear yellow, white and/or green clothing.
Embroidered items also please this Goddess.
..
By Patricia Telesco

The Goddess Is Alive

Goddess Comments & Graphics
THE GODDESS IS ALIVE
              
Moon shines down upon a sea of Light,
Shifting sands lay singing in the Heart of the Night.
I looked upon a scene that gripped me to the core,
White-clad maidens below were dancing on the shore.
  
Sweet sounds slipped from moon-lit throats,
Wind whipped hair abound,
Lit by the light within and without,
The Women circled ’round.
  
As I stood, water engulfed my feet,
My body swayed to your Heavenly Heart beat.
Wind and wave and fire light,
Paled in my mind Earthly delight.
  
Time slipped by me as you held your embrace,
And windblown spray covered my face.
Protected deep within your Womb,
I could feel the tender pain of Life’s bloom.
 
Candles flared high as the Dance progressed,
Deep inside with a healing touch you blessed.
All around, wind, wave and fire shouted of your life,
Your light speared deep within, soothing my strife.
 
Divine Mother, Goddess of Light,
To you I come seeking protection from the night.
Come home to shelter within your arm,
Surrounded by Love, hidden from harm.

Holy Mother, Queen of Heaven and Earth,
From you we all trace our Birth.
Heavenly Goddess, light from above,
Shine down upon us, we pray for your Love.   ~Magickal Graphics~

Herb Use in Urban Witchcraft

Herb Use in Urban Witchcraft

Author: Elevander

Herbs play an integral role in Witchcraft and Wicca, whether it is in incense, natural healing, spellcraft or in ritual food, and they can literally be found all around us. But what about in the city? Practitioners living in the city may be forgiven for feeling out of touch with the harvesting and use of herbs, particularly if they do not have a garden or green space of their own. This is understandable, but as I myself have discovered; where there is a will there is a way! So I have developed my own methods of gathering and using herbs, some are traditional and some are adapted to suit modern life. Hopefully, this article will help others wherever they live to bring the power of herbs into their home.

First of all, there are some basic ground rules to follow when harvesting herbs:

1. Never take more than you need
2. Take care not to damage or disturb other plants and wildlife in the area
3. Do not take more than one third of an individual plant’s growth, or anything from very young plants that may not recover.
4. Be safe. If it is a secluded or out of the way place you are going to, then be sure to let someone know where you are going.
5. Always use areas that are public, or that you have permission to be in. Do not trespass on private property.

The first thing to consider is where you can find herbs. The truth is that you can find them everywhere. Many of the roadside trees have their uses (for example, the Hawthorn, crat gus oxyacantha, is a sacred tree closely associated with the Goddess, and is used in rituals as well as for protection and fertility magick) . Garden ‘weeds’ are often incredibly useful (Dandelion, taraxacum officinale, can be used for psychic and divinatory purposes. Dock, rumen obtusifolius, for protection, or Avens, geum urbanum, has a wide range of protective uses and can repel or guard against negativity) .

A wide variety of herbs can be found in natural areas of city parks, on commons, waste-ground, and of course areas of countryside. Once you have an idea of where to look, you need to have an idea of what to look for. In terms of magickal and remedial use, there are a good many books that have been written on the subject, a few of which I have included in the bibliography. These will give you an idea of what herbs can be used, what parts of the plant are needed and what they can be used for.

In practical terms it is important to be able to correctly identify the trees, plants and herbs you are looking for. I suggest first having a look through one or several of the listed books to get an idea of what you can, or think you may like to use. Once you have a rough idea in your head, purchase a good, detailed identification guide on native plants and trees. Some plants look very similar to others, and while we all may recognize a dandelion or a buttercup, eyebright or skullcap may feel more obscure. Armed with your guide and a notebook, go to your chosen area (s) and look closely at what is there. What seems like a patch of grass with a few weeds may actually turn out to be a valuable resource. Make a note of all the plants and trees that you find, perhaps making a note of where to find it if the name rings a bell from your earlier research.

If the area is large, or there are several, then it may take a few visits to get a good idea of what you can find there. Also, remember that the natural world is constantly changing, and so there may be different plants at different times of year, and whether you can harvest seeds, fruit or leaves will also be dependant on the season, so renew your research regularly. When you have done this you will be able to review your list of what you need against what is available to you. Then you are ready to harvest.

Being properly prepared before you set off will ultimately save you time in the long run. You will need some sort of container to carry the harvested herbs in. Ideally it should be made of a natural material, but don’t worry if you have to resort to a carrier bag. You will also need your notebook, identification guide, working knife or boline, and offerings to leave in payment of what you have taken (Common offerings are gemstones, a few grains of salt, a pinch of tobacco, or a hair from your head) . A key part of harvesting herbs is in the method by which you do so. The herb has within it the innate abilities for which we use it, but these can be strengthened and amplified by our own intent as we work with them, and the plant should always be harvested in a way that is respectful to the plant and the earth for the sacrifice it has given us. A generalized harvesting method is described here:

• Locate the desired plant or tree.
• Cup your hands around the herb and take a moment to clear your mind, and connect with the energy field of the plant.
• Say these or similar words aloud or in your head; it is intent not volume that matters: “Hail tree/plant/flower of [name of herb] I ask that I may harvest some of your growth/flowers/fruit/seeds in the service of the Lady and Lord, and for the benefit of others”.
• If the plant’s energy feels willing, then harvest what you need using a sharp knife, and preferably using a single stroke. If the plant does not feel willing then do not take anything from it, either try again another day or move on to a different plant.
• Place your offering within the plant/tree or buried at the foot of it in the earth and say these or similar words: “I thank you and recognize your sacrifice, and leave this offering in payment for what has been taken and in honor of the earth”.
• The harvesting ritual is done.

The easiest and one of the most practical ways of storing your herbs is by drying them. Tie each herb individually in a bundle, or spread out on sheets of greaseproof paper, making sure you label them with the name, date, and location they were harvested from. Then either hang or place them in a warm (but dry) , dark place to dry out. On average this will take around two weeks, but keep checking on them. When they feel dry and crumbly to the touch then they are ready. At this point you can either store the parts whole or grind them to a powder using a pestle and mortar; it depends entirely on your preference and in what manner you will be using the herb. For instance, ground herbs are very useful when making non-combustible incenses, and so doing this beforehand will save time later. Store the herbs in glass jars (preferably opaque) away from sunlight, labeled with its information.

Each time you work with the herb (s) you should be concentrating on the properties you wish to empower and amplify within them. There are specific empowering rituals that can be used, but these are relatively easy to find or devise yourselves, so I will not devote time to them here. Herbs gradually lose their potency after harvesting; a general rule is that flowers can be kept for one year, while leaves, bark, fruits and seeds can be kept for two years. After this time any surplus should be returned to the earth and the stock replaced.

Another way to store your herbs is by infusing them within oil which can then be used for anointing etc. This is especially effective for flowers, but can be used for any herb. To do this, fill a jar with your chosen herb and add equal parts of olive and grapeseed oil making sure the herb is covered. Press out the air bubbles and store in a cool, dark place. For two weeks open the jar every few days to press out the air bubbles. Once this period has passed, seal and leave for a further four weeks before decanting into an opaque glass bottle and labeling.

The final area I wish to address is that of adaptation. Witchcraft has at its heart an ability to change and use whatever is available to the individual. Yes it’s nice to ‘do things properly’ but in an emergency you need to be able to utilize whatever is to hand, it’s no less effective, it’s simply more urgent. And so, on a smaller scale, can we be resourceful when it comes to ingredients. When looking over any spell or recipe etc. that contains items you do not have, ask yourself whether there is something you have that will do the same job. Consider what role or properties the ingredient is embodying and then review the properties of the herbs available to you; there may be a simple substitution you can make.

Grow your own herbs and plants to widen your options, use a plot in the garden or grow them in pots on windowsills if this is more suited to your lifestyle or circumstances. Find your local pagan/new age store or market stall and see what items they have to offer, they may even be able to order things for you if you request them. If there isn’t a stockist near you then try looking online, often stores in other cities will have a mail order service that you can utilize. Finally, at a pinch, you can buy dried herbs from the local supermarket or store. There are those in the Craft that say you must never do this because they won’t be effective, and to be fair there is some truth in this as you don’t know how long they have been there, and they won’t have been harvested in a ritual way, so I stress that this should probably be kept as a last resort. If you do choose to do this then make sure you empower the herbs properly and effectively, and use them relatively quickly as you do not know the time of harvest.

I hope that this article has been useful to people, and I welcome any feedback readers may have. So go out, experiment and explore the world you live in. Above all, have fun.

In love and light, blessed be

Elevander


Footnotes:
Bibliography:

Beyerl, P. (1998) A Compendium of Herbal Magick, Phoenix Publishing, USA

Beyerl, P. (1984) The Master Book of Herbalism, Phoenix Publishing, USA

Cunningham, S. (1982) Magical Herbalism; the Secret Craft of the Wise, Llewellyn, USA

Gregg, S. (2008) The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Magical Plants, Fair Winds Press, Singapore

Dear Wicca, Thank You.

Dear Wicca, Thank You.

Author: Selena Rose

I began to research Wicca when I was eleven or twelve years old. I – obviously – was not extremely serious about it at that point, and the interest came and went for a year or two. I always loved the idea of the religion, but I didn’t seriously start studying until I was about thirteen. And I studied for almost a solid two years before I started to practice. I know that it was still very young and, looking back, maybe it was too young. But I don’t regret starting early because it just gave me more time to develop into the kind of spiritual person that I wanted to become.

When I was sixteen I developed Anorexia Nervosa. During the year and a half battle, I dropped over twenty pounds, yo-yoed between weights, dealt with depression, anxiety, and a number of other “issues”. Twenty pounds is not nearly as serious as it could have become, I know. I got lucky that it didn’t get worse. Physically, I was not that ill. The illness was completely and entirely mental. I was dealing with self-hatred, feeling worthless, like I was created wrong.

Over the December holidays, I was shopping for gifts with my family. We celebrate a very secular Christmas and I celebrate Yule in my own ways on my own. I was seventeen at this point, a senior in high school. I decided to buy myself a Yule gift while I was at Borders and headed back to the religion section of the store.

There were a few titles I was familiar with but never purchased, a few I owned. I ran my hands over the spines, trying to get some kind of idea of what to purchase. My body and mind stopped on a thin, black binding. I bought the book and took it home. Literally, that night, my life changed.

The book was The Circle Within by Dianne Sylvan. If you’ve ever read it, you should realize how beautiful it was to me. It opened my eyes to parts of Wicca and Witchcraft that I never knew existed and somehow, I wanted them in my life. I can’t point out a specific passage that changed everything. It was everything at once. I finished the book in less than twenty-four hours. And I started my own journey toward recovery of my eating disorder.

Yes, one book did all that. I brought that book to school. I underlined and starred passages that I needed to remember. I kept it in my mind all the time as I tried to work my way up to a semi-normal number of calories a day. And it worked. I ended up purchasing Sylvan’s other book, The Body Sacred. That was probably one of the greatest purchases of my life, as well. I kind of owe everything to her. After that, I began to read more about the spirituality of Wicca, and created my own bond with the God and Goddess that was one of the most beautiful feelings I have ever felt in my life. I felt genuine and I felt new.

For several months, I was deep into my spirituality and practice. For that summer I worked at a very Zen coffee house where incense was always burning and Bob Marley was constantly on the sound system. Everything was organic and healthy and I felt extremely at peace for a whole summer as I prepared to go away to college. I had a wonderful therapist helping me with my “launching phase” who helped me heal my relationship with my mother (that was always a troubling spot for me) . I was in the good place in my life. And I went away to college and my life did a tailspin again.

In college, I gained a good eight or ten pounds. I didn’t really mind too much at first. I was okay. I just started to go to the gym a little more often and I paid more attention to what I was eating. It’s difficult in the dining hall because you don’t exactly know what you’re getting on your plate. Around October, I noticed one of my roommates acting strange. I noticed classic symptoms of Anorexia in her. I saw myself. She was dropping weight like crazy, sleeping way too often, spending hours at the gym and becoming very secluded. It took me two times of addressing the situation to her to get her to fess up.

Meanwhile, I retreated back into my old bad habits, turning to Anorexia as a crutch when I was stressed out about school, friends, or relationships. In just about a month I dropped over ten pounds. I lost all the weight I gained when I arrived, and then some. I was becoming happier with my body, but worse about my soul. I knew that what I was doing was wrong, but I couldn’t stop it. I was afraid to lose it. I had just started talking to a guy that I seriously liked and he liked me and I wanted to be lovely.

During this year I also stopped practicing Wicca. I still considered it my religion, but I was not as active as I could have been. I would pray once in a while to try and figure out my life, but it was difficult to keep focused on it. A few days ago, things changed again.

I opened up to one of my friends about my eating disorder. She then told me that she had similar problems, only on the Bulimia side. She had been in and out of treatment and offered to help me any way she could. I told her that I didn’t want help right now. And I lost two more pounds the next day. Losing weight made me feel secure, but it also scared me. I felt a bit out of control when the number kept dropping lower, lower. I was starting to get very worried and unhappy. I would go on drinking binges because I knew that it would make me weight less in the morning. (FYI – NOT a reason to have a drink, especially if you’re underage. I do NOT condone drinking to excess.) I had become reckless. I was scared. I had a breakdown in the shower after going to the gym one day and asked myself – when will I be happy? When will I become complete again? I thought it was about the number, but there was another voice in my head telling me that there was something more out there for me. I had to learn that I was more than my eating disorder.

Somewhere along the way, I tried to eat a little more. Mostly it was to appease everyone else who was worried: my friends, my sister, and somewhere deep in me, myself. Then my second roommate found a great website with a ton of yoga and some meditation. I had completely stopped doing yoga and meditating and I needed that. So I decided to try again and be serious about it. I also pulled out my good ‘ol Dianne Sylvan book again. I wanted to get back to the girl I used to be. I was happiest when I was greeting Divinity each morning and saying goodnight before bed. I was happiest when I could sit outside for hours just staring at the trees and feeling the Earth breathe beneath me. I was happiest when I could fully be myself, in my own skin. Every time a Sabbat comes around, I remember how this religion is Me. Because I always miss celebrating one to the fullest extent that I can because of the completeness that celebration always brings to me.

The beauty of Wicca is seeing the beauty in everything and feeling the magic pulse within yourself and all around you. If I’m not living, I can’t feel that. If I’m not being alive to the greatest extent that I can, there is no point. We are all a part of the Divine. The Divine is not ugly, or fat, or useless. And through learning this, I have to learn to respect myself.

If you’re struggling in any of the same ways that I did – I am feeling your pain. It is a meal-to-meal struggle. And that’s sad because food is one of the most magical pieces of art in the entire world. But it is possible to survive, and spirituality can help. It is not the only tool; you have to want to get better. I was not sure that I wanted to get better, and then I realized that not only did I want to – I needed to. In order to feel the beauty of the world around us, we have to be alive. I’m used to being completely dead inside because of this disease and for the last few days I’ve felt alive. Not completely – but much more than I have in a while.

Recovery is one of the scariest things I’ve ever done. And now I’m doing it for the second time. It is damn scary and I’m afraid for every day. Yet I continue to try. Some days are worse than others, but I still keep on, and I hope to continue to keep on until I have a healthy relationship with food again.

Do something scary and live. Because I firmly believe that it is worth it. Especially as Pagans, we have the ability to see the world in a way that not everyone can. We have different ways of appreciating the unbelievable qualities all around us. So appreciate it, and live. It’s what I’m trying to do.

Good Monday Morning/Afternoon To You!

Thanksgiving Comments & Graphics

COUNT DOWN TO TURKEY DAY IS ON……

3 Days to go!

So who is going to send me a Thanksgiving Day invitation, lol! Should I give you a list of fixins’ I like now or wait? Just kidding, I wouldn’t want to give anyone a heart attack by showing up at their door for Thanksgiving Dinner. That would be scary to have unexpected guests just show up without you knowing about it. I ought to know, it happens to me every year. This yea I have relatives in from Florida. They invite themself so you hate to say, “No, you can’t come!” Besides they are family and they say they love my cooking???? 

I had some more questions come into about the blog. So I thought I would take a minute to answer one in particular. But first, I had several brief comments on what server I used for this blog because it loads so fast. I have WordPress to thank for that. They give you all the tools you need to make your blog then they host it. So WordPress is the one to thank for the fast loading. They do an outstanding job, with the tools they offer to build a blog, assistance they offer and then the fantastic job they do hosting it. So if you re thinking about building a blog, seriously consider WordPress. Now…… 

Miquel Peevy Wrote:

Hello! I know this is kind of off-topic but I needed to ask. Does running a well-established blog such as yours require a lot of work? I’m brand new to blogging however I do write in my journal daily. I’d like to start a blog so I can easily share my experience and feelings online. Please let me know if you have any ideas or tips for brand new aspiring blog owners. Appreciate it!

Thank you, Miquel for writing and also your flattering words. First off, running a blog such as this is hard work. It generally takes at least two to three hours a day to do it. So you have to love doing what you do and write about. Pick a topic that you are passionate about, that way you won’t get bored with it and you will always want to write on your blog. Select a theme for it that you love and also graphics. Make it a place that you want to sit down at your computer every day and visit. If you love to go there, so will others. After you decide on all of this you are ready to begin your blog. Don’t hop out and start submitting your blog to search engines just yet. Get some information on it first. Get quite a bit, that way the visitor has an idea of what you are going to offer. When you have enough information on your blog, submit it to every search engine you can find. Don’t just submit it once, do it every month.  When the visitors start coming to your blog, you have to stay consistent with your postings. Be devoted to your blog. Don’t post a lot of information one day and then the next nothing. Give the visitor something they know they can depend on to have fresh information everyday. This will keep them coming back. That is about all the suggestions, I can think of right now, Miquel. Running a blog is hard work but if you enjoy it, it is not work at all. Instead it is a pleasure and for me, it is a relaxing and soothing. It helps to get my mind off of what is going on in my reality. Just be sure to pick a topic you like and you are interested in.

I hope I have been some help to you. I wish you all the luck in the world on your blog. If you need any help at all, don’t hesitate to ask.

Blessings to you and yours,

Lady A

Monday Is Ruled By The Moon

The day of the Moon. Any rituals focused on creativity, insight and hidden wisdom are recommended. This is also a good day to attune with the Goddess and her energies. Other correspondences for Monday are:

Planet: Moon

Rituals: Conceptual, self-inspiration, psychic ability, inspiration, change.

Element: Water

Colour: White

Number: 9

I hope you are having a very enjoyable & relaxing weekend!

Days of the Week Comments Sorry for running late, another late night for me, lol!  And just as I started this here comes my baby wildcat, Razzy for loving. Considering what she is I do take a minute or two to love her. Her few minutes turn into about 30 or 45 minutes. When we are through loving, she stretching out on the bed behind me and goes right off to sleep. Domesticating a wildcat is not for the faint of heart, lol! She is getting use to us or I should say me. She still looks at the hubby like “who the heck are you?” He is starting to stick his hand out and let her smell him, so she is slowly but surely getting use to him.  But Razzy is getting use to living in the house. It has been a long process and she still has a little way to go but she is and will get there with a lot of love. I wouldn’t advise anyone to try to domesticate a wild animal.  There are times I think I must have been totally nuts when I just up and grabbed her and brought her in the house. But at the time I wasn’t thinking with my head, I was thinking with my heart. I loved her and I knew deep down she loved me. If I had to do it all over again, I would. She is my baby and I know it is going to be a long process but she will eventually become a true member of the family. If you could see my arms, hands and legs, you would probably shake your heads at me. When she was younger, I had her fixed and I know some think it is cruel but I had her front claws removed (because of the kind of cat she was). The vet also agreed to fix her a little younger than most cats. The hope was that fixing her it would tame her a little bit and it did. But she has adapted rather quickly and can use her back claws like razors. We play under the covers of the bed and my hand comes out a bloody mess. When I am in the kitchen washing dishes, if I don’t pay attention to her, she will jump up on the calf of my leg, sink her claws into me and bite me on the butt. She hates for me to put on socks and she especially hates long johns. She pulls the socks off of me and climbs my long johns till I take them off. So you see taming a wild animal is not a piece of cake. It takes a deep love for the animal and a lot of patience.  

Now on to other matters…….I have had a few comments from my dear readers wanting to know if it would be ok to share this blog on Facebook with their friends. It would perfectly find to share this blog with anyone you would like. I am very honored that anyone would want to share the blog and the information on it. I consider these requests the best compliments I could ever receive. You are telling me I am doing a good job getting the truth out about Witchcraft and doing the Goddess’ work. So yes, dear readers, share the blog with anyone you would like. The more the blog is shared, the more the truth about our Religion spreads. And the truth and beauty about our Religion needs to spread like wildfire. Witchcraft has been casted in a negative light for way to long and now is the time for the truth to come to light. It is time that Witchcraft takes it rightful place in history and today’s Religions. With your help, we can accomplish this. So please share and spread this blog with anyone you would like. And thank you for your help and your kind words.

I love all my readers and friends. I appreciate your support and love. Because without you and the Goddess none of this would be possible. 

Much love to all,

 Lady A

~Magickal Graphics~

Shielding Method 1: Pagan Grid of Protection

Shielding Method 1: Pagan Grid of Protection

Author: Nita

I want to share a protection method for those who practice a religion that is not oriented towards angels. I hope this will be a big help for people who are learning how to shield themselves from harmful energies and vibrations.

I have felt that many people who begin in magic pick up what others think, and do not understand their abilities and talents. The most difficult talent is being an empath where others feelings are sent to you. Many people have problems because they do not know the difference between their emotions and others.

I hope this shielding method helps everyone to keep balanced, centered and grounded. Blessed Be.

Arianhod, Goddess of Heaven, I ask that you send a grid of energy that nothing harmful may pass. May I be defended from the East, in the realm of air by your beauty and might. May this day go well with no slander, communication problems, misunderstandings, quarrels or arguments. May your mighty shield deflect all energies of air meant to harm me or cause discord and may I be sealed and contained from all harm through the element of air. Let me be protected in my body, mind, and soul. May all the positive spirits, Gods, Goddesses of air and the east bring the positive effects of wisdom, thought, and communications to be glorified this day in service to the light and goodness of life.

Lugh, God of the light, may your innovations, defense, and fiery nature defend me from all harm through the element of fire and the direction of the South. I ask that a grid of energy be sent to me so I will be protected from all accidents, war, terrorism, acts of violence or cruelty, May all energies of fire meant to harm me or cause discord, hatred and jealousy be deflected by your mighty shield of energy and may you add this grid around the grid of air so I may be protected from all combinations of fire, and air this day. May I also be protected from all harm through the direction of east and south or any combination of those directions and elements. Let me be protected in my body, mind and higher self. May all the positive spirits, Gods, and Goddesses of the south and east bring the positive effects of fire and air to be glorified this day in service to the light and goodness of life.

Morrigan, Lady of the Lake, may you send an invincible grid of the element of water to surround the elemental shields and grids of air and earth. May nothing use the emotions, thoughts, fears, and upset that can be sent through the element of water and west against me. May no combinations of air, fire, and water harm me or influence me negatively in any way.

May no harm come through the directions of East, South, and West or any combinations of these directions and elements. May I be protected in my body, mind and soul. May all of the positive sprits, Gods, Goddesses of Air, fire and water bring the positive effects of these elements to be glorified this day in service to the light and goodness of life.

Danu, Mother Goddess of all, may I be shielded from all harm from the North and through the element of earth by your might and loving protection being sent to me in an invincible grid of protection that goes around the grids of air, fire and water. May it protect me from all harm through the elements of air, fire, water and earth. May no single element or combination of elements be able to harm me in any fashion.

May I be freed of poverty, problems through metal and wood, inertia, and any other harm that links to the negative powers of the earth and the north. May all of the positive spirits, Gods, Goddesses, bring the positive effects of the elements of air, fire, water, and earth to be glorified this day in service to the light and Goodness of Life.

I ask that this grid be sealed by all the Gods and Goddess with an impenetrable energy shield so that no harm may come to me in any way. Be it simple energies of life or others emotions, harmful magic, or evil spirits, ghosts, hexes, curses or harm. Nothing shall past these shields. Nothing may use the energies of spirit, life, or elements against me. The Gods and Goddesses protect me and keep me safe this day and every day.

Face each direction and say:

Arianhod seal the grids completely from the East and the element of Air.
Lugh seal the grids completely from the direction of South and the element of fire.
Morrigan seal the grids completely from the direction of West and the element of water.
Danu seal the grids completely from the direction of North and the element of Earth.

Say this shielding spell every day. It will keep you safe and help you to build your energies and have a permanently strong shield of safety and protection.

You may substitute any Gods or Goddesses from any practice with these Gods and Goddesses. This method will seal the elements and directions that should keep you safe and well.

I know the basics for any grid of protection using the elements and the directions is to pick God’s and Goddesses that correspond to those directions and abilities. Ones of Earth for earth, water for water, air for air, and fire for fire. You then can assign them to the directions or find if they are present or known to defend a certain element or direction.

It means that any pantheon of Gods or Goddesses can be used for these methods. The sealing of the directions and elements is useful in most forms of magic. It will contain and seal off the direction the person who is sending the negative magic is living in or doing their magic in a certain area.

The elements are important because all of them cover every method that can be used to harm others. Earth is the elements of spell casting equipment. Air is the element of the spoken word and spirit connections. Fire is the light of the fire or candle. Water is any liquids or oils. So all of the elements combined to seal the person and protect them are very powerful. It can also be used on vehicles, houses, and places of business to protect everything that needs to be protected from harm.

I always encourage people to improvise and add in sentences or variations that fit their needs. Inspiration is important but always write down what you said and what you do. It is the only way to be sure that your method worked and to verify the results.

Lady A’s Ritual of the Day for Nov. 17th: RITUAL TO BECOME A WITCH

RITUAL TO BECOME A WITCH


*Do it once you know what you have learned the basics and are most sure*
 
1. Set up your temporary altar and quarter points. The quarters can be stones or candles but stones have the advantage of not blowing out if there’s a breeze.
2.Cast a circle of protection
3. Undress-remove all jewelry. watches, etc., and put into a bag with your purse and other items that are easily lost.
4.Consecrate the circle.
5.Summon the guardians with these words, and don’t forget to pause to visualize the element for yourself dedication:
 
“Guardians of the North, sacred spirit of the Earth. Into the stillness of your cold dar womb shall you except my death, the death of my former self. I shall bid you hail and welcome.
Guardians of the East, sacred spirits of the air. As the sun rises in the east so shall you guide my rebirth into my new life as a witch. I bid you hail and welcome.
 
Guardians of the South, sacred spirits of Fire. you shall be my protector as I go forth from here along my new path. I bid you hail and welcome.
 
Guardians of the West, sacred spirits of Water. Cleanse my spirit and keep it ever pure from now and into the future.”
 
6. Now for your symbolic death:
Lie on the floor on your back. you can lie with your head to the altar(North) if you wish to be close to the God and Goddess or to the East if the principle of rebirth is more important to you.
 
Recite the words again:
 
“I am entering the stillness before creation
I am entering the ground of the God and Goddess
May my body be still
May my mind be peaceful
May by heart be ready”
 
7. Now be at peace; feel the peace of the Goddess flow into you. Feel yourself merge with the cold earth beneath you. Chant this slowly and quietly:
 
“Hecate, Cernunnos,
Dark Mother and Father take me in
Hecate, Cernunnos
Let me be reborn.”
Keep chanting until you feel yourself melting into the Goddess.
 
8. When you feel the time is right get up and begin to walk around the circle chanting the God and Goddess chant:
 
“We all come from the God and Goddess,
And to them we shall return,
Like a drop of rain,
Flowing to the ocean.”
 
Walk gradually faster and chant faster round and round the circle. Faster and faster until you get dizzy. Don’t stop even then. After a while you’ll get tired, but don’t stop. Go on the same time again until you drop exhausted to the floor. Why? Because chanting and dancing raise power.
9. Lay again on your back as you regain your breath. As soon as you have your breath back stand in front of the altar and anoint yourself thus:
 
Dip a finger in the oil and mark a cross on the left breast (male or female) then on the right breast then just above the pubic hair. This is the sigil of the first degree, the downward pointing triangle. Say:
 
“I anoint myself priest/ess of the old religion, and I take the name (speak your magical name quietly)”
 
Then say:
 
“I (real name) in the presence of the forces of the Universe and the Divine, do of my own free will and mind most solemnly swear that I will ever abide by the religion and science of the Craft of the Wise.
I shall neither harm my fellow humans with the secrets that I learn nor shall I flaunt my beliefs or powers before them.
From this day on I shall be reborn as (magical name) and shall honor, respect and cherish the oath I have taken.”
 
10. Kneel up in front of the altar. Pour a little wine into the goblet and place it at the front of the altar. Now take your athame and holding it with both hands, pointing down and arms outstretched plunge the blade into the wine.
Say:
 
“As the cup is to the female so the blade is to the male.”
“And so conjoined bring blessedness.”
 
11. Now say to yourself:
 
” I am reborn. I am a Witch. I am a priest/ess”
 
Rise to your feet and say as loud as is safe bearing in mind that sound travels “I AM A WITCH!”
 
12. Now consecrate the wine and cakes as you have already learned. Take some wine and eat a cake. Close the circle and dismiss the quarters, remembering to thank them. Get dressed and eat and drink some more and remember to keep some back for the libation which you make on the very site of your self initiation before you leave.

A Witch’s Cauldron

A Witch’s Cauldron

Primary element: Water

The three-legged iron cauldron really comes into its own as an outdoor natural magickal tool. If you have a small one, it can also fit in your altar room to the northwest of the altar as it is a tool of earth and water (and also of fire, if a candle is set in it).

The cauldron is a symbol of Cerridwen, the Celtic mother Goddess, whose cauldron brought rebirth and transformation. It was originally a household cooking pot hung over black ranges and open fires in many lands and so is a reassuring and stable tool.

Dark Goddesses, Not So Dark: Understanding Hecate

Dark Goddesses, Not So Dark: Understanding Hecate

Author: Hecates Moon0013

There are many Goddesses who are considered “Dark Gods/Goddesses and who tend to be misunderstood or seen as “evil.” A few examples are Hecate, the Morrigan, Anubis, Poseidon and quite a few more, I’d wager as well. In my case, the “Dark Goddess” is my Patroness, Hecate. She has indeed a long history, and has been known in Her many different aspects, such as the three-faced crone, Goddess of Magic, Queen of the Night, Goddess of the Crossroads, and more. One culture supposedly offered dogs as a sacrifice to her out of honor and respect. (Although I personally don’t find that necessary to ever do myself!) In others, they offered feasts and left offerings at the crossroads.

The goddess Hecate is indeed widely known as a Dark Goddess and is associated with the darkness… But what exactly makes many people consider darkness as ‘evil’? Honestly, I see Her more as a mother figure. She looks after those who work with her.

Is She associated with the dark? Answer: Yes! However, She is not the darkness, but rather the light that guides people through the darkness. She watches over us all, and, in fact, helps nurture us. She is also not afraid to act. She, Hecate, Protects those that follow her like any other Goddess. Furthermore if you ask for her help, she will help and then ask simply “What’s next?” She finds ways to help Her adherents to grow both inside and out.

At this point, I would like to clear up a few misconceptions. First of all She, Hecate, is often portrayed as a Goddess Who is not fond of males, but favors female. This however is not true. As I know from personal experience, She will work with both.

Also it is thought that She is against love and marriage. However there is documentation that is not the case. She actually is all right with marriage, though She is strict on how it happens. She will not condone any form of sexual contact unless it is mutually acceptable between the two partners. She considers marriage and dating as normal things; marriage and childbirth, she considers “sacred things.”

One of the symbols that represent Her, in my opinion, is the Torch. Hecate, as I have said before, leads us through the hard times… through our anguish, through our grief, and She is there to comfort us, to warm us, and to guide us with Her light. Hecate herself is ‘The Torch’. She is the light within the eternal Darkness. One thing for sure, Hecate has seen me through many dark times, and has also helped me to learn more about myself… by helping me through those rough times she has shown me that, though sometimes life in itself can be scary, if we acknowledge it and learn to embrace ourselves for what might come, and learn to look through it, we will find ourselves at last in peace. We are able to walk through the fires, so to speak, of life and still be standing tall as we overcome the negative situations that we face.

When my first struggle with faith happened, Hecate was there. When I grieved over the loss of good friends and family, Hecate was there… When I felt lost, alone, and questioned Wicca, and religion itself, She was there. Hecate, at all of my crossroads, has brought people to help me in my time of need, and I have been brought in turn to help others in their times of need. If anything, Hecate has taught me that everyone is afraid, but we have to move on. Hecate also has taught me time and time again, that when you act with compassion, things in general are better for everyone.

I once struggled with Wicca. I had gotten myself to the point where I felt abandoned, and that I would never be able to feel energy or work with the Craft again. It was so bad, I questioned my sanity, wondering, is this even real?” Am I not supposed to be a part of this religion? Have the Gods and Goddesses abandoned me in my time of need? Why else could this possibly be happening? I prayed to Hecate to please watch over me and to help me overcome.

I eventually came across a group of people who helped me with my problem. I was looking for a group to work with and learn from in hopes I could find some clarity. I ended up finding a group, and though things did not work out for me with the group, I made some amazing friends. The people in it taught me a lot about myself, and other things as well. To this day, my ability to feel energy is not the same as it used to be, nor is my level of energy, but it is better. Not only that, but I have gained more confidence in myself.

I owe Hecate a lot. As odd as it might sound to some of you, I feel, to an extent, that I owe Hecate my life. She also taught me a valuable lesson: just because people are helpful does not mean that mistakes are not made. I learned to expect both good and bad from people and that we are all capable of both. No matter how good we are, or how bad we are, we are still capable of both. Because of this insight, I tend to look for the good in a negative situation. For there is always something, good and/or positive that can come out of any situation. The real trick is to find it in things and in people.

Now, most people are wondering, “Aren’t Dark Goddesses vengeful?” I feel the best answer for this is: What God or Goddess can’t be vengeful? In truth, they all can be. Hecate is literally a Mother Goddess. She is the ‘Okay. Done. What’s next?’ sort of Goddess. She is only vengeful to those who would harm Her charges, or rather those that She works with if someone would Harm them.

Hecate is able to give us so much knowledge, and teach us so much, that condemning Her without even getting to truly know Her I feel is a sad thing indeed. Furthermore, she teaches us that if we learn to accept the bad things in life, we become better… for Hecate carries the key to unlock that which we keep hidden. and once we discover ourselves, and accept things as they really are, we feel relieved. She helps us not only to see, but helps us to understand things in the ‘rawness of it all’.

I write this near the time of Samhain. For me, this holiday represents Hecate very well as she is also associated with the dead. One of my favorite characteristics of Hecate is that She teaches us to respect those who have come before us. As a Goddess of the crossroads, She makes the holiday even more meaningful. Samhain is the time when we are supposed to remember those who have helped pave our way. As the Goddess of the crossroads, Hecate compels us to reflect not only over what we have done or should have done, but also to remember that while we have gone through so much, it could have been worse. We are more blessed than we realize.

Hecate is more than just a simple Goddess. Hecate is my Mother, who protects me and nurtures me as I go through life. Hecate is my Patroness whom I am grateful to. I know that She is always there willing to help me, if ever I ask. Hecate is so misunderstood that, honestly, it saddens me a bit. If anything working with Hecate has truly been a blessing. I don’t think I would have been able to do, let alone get through, a lot of the things I have if not for her help, and for that I will always be eternally grateful.

Knowing that, as the sun sets, She is all around me at night is a comfort in so many ways. At night time, She is all around me, protecting me, and watching over me…and I know that when I am at the next crossroad, at some future turning point in my life, She will be there waiting for me, always more than willing to help me through the next hurdle. And so, I will continue to worship and work with Her, for She is not ‘the darkness that is evil’, but is, in fact, a guiding Light and a help for those who feel lost. And if you call to Her, Hecate will be there to help guide you through the rough times as well.

May Hecate bless you, and watch over you always!
Blessed Be!


Footnotes:
Understanding the Warrior Goddess by the author: Stephanie Woodfield

Daily Devotional Practises

Daily Devotional Practises

Author: Mr Araújo

For as long as I have been chatting online with other Pagans, I have been told stories of how life was somewhat sad without the presence of a religion with which a person can identify itself. I believe that this must be the case of nearly everybody here at The Witches’ Voice and it happens to be my case, of course. This is going to be an essay that explains my point of view on my own practices and how they came to be.

When one first decides to take the first step and enter the Craft, it is hard to avoid the temptation of jumping headfirst to the Initiation Ceremony. Although I have not discussed this with anyone else, I imagine that it might be quite true. After I decided that Wicca was a good Path for me, I immediately began searching online for its history and I was shocked – nearly all of the “founders” and their “heirs” belonged to covens and from what I could tell, their knowledge seemed so vast.

“How will I ever be as good as them?” I thought, worried that Gerald Gardner’s, Doreen Valiente’s, Raymond Buckland’s, Dayonis’ (amongst many others) legacy would be doomed in my hands. Whatever could I do not to venture off, far away from Wicca? And, most importantly, from the God and the Goddess?

First of all, I did a small Dedication ceremony – which was my very first ritual, in fact. I then began to focus very hard on my study of the Craft and I chose my sources very carefully. After I had read some of writings of the Founding Fathers and Mothers of Wicca, I decided to study earlier Pagan rituals.

Eventually my studies, beliefs and emotions led me to instituting my own set of devotional practices that filled in the blank left by the joy of the previous Sabbath and the yearning for the next one (I have never had the chance of safely celebrating an Esbat) . And so I began to wonder, yet again, if others did the same. But since I didn’t know of any other Pagan, let alone a Wiccan, I kept going. Today I know quite a few Pagans and most like to frequently keep in touch with the Gods, one way or another.

Yet, there are those – I have never met them, but I have been told that they are out there – who only celebrate the Sabbaths and Esbats and probably exclude any other contact with the divine. Forgive me for sounding too full of myself, but I don’t know how they do it. Perhaps it’s because they celebrate 20 or 21 rituals per year and that satisfies them – whilst I only have an average of 6 or 7, since I’ve never managed to celebrate Yule and I sometimes can’t celebrate Ostara or Mabon.

Personally, I feel a need, a thirst and a hunger to be in almost constant contact with the Gods! I’m not a religious fanatic, but ever since I discovered Wicca, I can’t have enough of the joy that is Their presence wherever I am.

So what are my daily rituals? To me, they aren’t very orthodox, since I am quite fond of my European background and heritage, but my research led me to the Ancient Egyptian practices. In case you’re familiar with them, yes, you’re right – I’ve adapted some of their rituals to my little “tradition”. Basically, I try to recognize the God and the Goddess in Their different aspects as the day goes by, and so I’ve adapted and made up small rituals for each aspect – devoid of almost all previous Egyptian symbolism.

When I wake up, I thank the Goddess for having protected me during my slumber. When I’m done with my morning routine, I go outside and greet the Sun Child and ask for His energy throughout the morning. If I happen to pass by my town’s river, I greet the Maiden; if I don’t, I do it in the bathroom (yes, that’s right) .

Once it’s time for lunch, I pray to the Sun Father for his strength, outside. If I have a patch of earth close to where I am, I drop by and give thanks to the Earth Mother for the meal I will enjoy in a few moments from then.

Finally, at dusk, I say my goodbye to the Elder God and give thanks for His gifts. At night, I greet the Goddess in whichever aspect She has taken, according to the Moon’s phase, of course – this can be considered a mini-Esbat, in fact. When I have the time, I actually gift the God and Goddess with offerings and I might use a Sacred Circle.

I know there are still other aspects of the Gods, but I doubt I could ever make up a ritual for each and every one of them and insert them into my daily routine. I also take some time to take care of my plants and to go to one of my town’s parks, where I enjoy the silent company of the trees.

I’ve never encountered anyone else who has such a need for daily devotions, or any website that details how they can be performed. That might be because they’re personal and intimate things that you simply don’t do if you’re not into them. Perhaps they can only be found after some research and introspection, but I bet most can find a personal little niche – be it praying, making offerings, meditating…

However I consider this to be an interesting subject, since Wicca has been evolving for many decades and its current diversity is overwhelming, even if we don’t take the unknown Traditions that have sprouted all over the world into consideration. Wicca began with just four Sabbaths and the Esbats; then, another four Sabbaths were added. Wiccaning, funeral, marriage and divorce rites followed.

Are daily devotions the next addition? Only time, the Wiccans, and the Gods will tell.

Merry meet and merry part, until we happily meet again!

My Meeting with the Goddess

My Meeting with the Goddess

Author: Raphael Eventide

I’m sitting here at this computer and I suddenly feel inspired by the Goddess to compose something: To tell you the way I first met her. I don’t know why, but here goes…

I was scared. Afraid. I’d just found out that there was going to be some major changes in my life. Normally, I didn’t handle change well. To be honest, it terrified me. I stood in front of the bathroom mirror. Trying to come to grips with what I knew was inevitable. I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry, “I don’t want to change!” But it wouldn’t have done any good. As I stood there, feeling the inner war consume my mind, suddenly, I heard a gently voice say, ‘Meditate.’ I had just recently become a dedicant a few days ago, and I was learning about the Goddess and wondering about her. The voice in my head sounded feminine, so I wondered… Could the Goddess be speaking to me? Well, even if it wasn’t the Goddess, it was some good sound advice, which was what I needed. So I went and sat down and closed my eyes and began to meditate.

I was in a forest. It was close to the evening hours, with the lazy sunlight gently touching the leaves and branches above my head. I was on a path through the woods and followed it. Then I saw her. She was the most beautiful mother I’d ever seen. She stood there before me cloaked in periwinkle robes, with long red hair, and skin as white as milk. Her eyes where a soft purple, and as soon as she saw me, she cried out with joy, “Oh my son! Welcome home!”

She ran to me, and I realized I was crying. As she embraced me, I realized how small I really was, and leapt into her arms and cried as if I had lost her. But now I was home, safe, in her arms. The love I felt all around me was overwhelming. But yet soft and gentle. I started blurting out how scared I was and how I wanted it all to go away! She held me in her arms and gently soothed me and waited until I was finished.

“My dear son, you are so spiritual and intelligent, but when it comes to change you rarely move. It’s not a bad thing, but you must remember, how can a flower grow if it does not move? How can you hope to go to college if you are afraid to even apply? You cannot wait for everything to come to you. Sometimes you must go to it.” She said it gently, and brushed my tears off my cheeks.

I sat on her lap now, looking up at her in awe. It was very wise. I always knew she was, but looking up into her face, I was sure she must be wiser then anyone knew. “Mother you are so wise!” I exclaimed. “You must know everything! And I know so little…”

She smiled warmly, and laughed. “My son, you are wise too. To know that you know little is the first step to true wisdom.” I smiled a little, and felt much better. Then my mother told me about how I came to be, and even now, it still causes my heart to flutter. As she spoke it, I saw it all happen before my eyes.

“When you were just a thought, you were like a seed that was carried on the wind. On it, you soared high in the sky with your father, God. He showed you the whole world. And carried you until you were ready and then into your mother’s womb. There, you grew. And your father and I worked hard. He was the great planner, deciding what you would look like, what you might do, what gifts we would give you.

“While he made the plans, I crafted you from the clay of the earth. I worked and worked and worked! I wanted to make you special and unique. Finally we were done. And you were born to your mother on the earth. You see my son, you are the physical manifestation of the love the God and I share. You are the product of our love sent out to the entire world. You are my precious jewel. My diamond. You catch the light of our Universal Divine Love and radiate it and shine it out to the whole world to see.

“We love you so much! And every day you take the step to hear us, and become the best you can be, you shine! You have many things to learn my son, but you can do all things. For you are from my flesh and your father’s breath. You are the place between, the magickal place where things are born that can change the world.”

She gently touched my heart and as she spoke these last words, I felt I was shining.

“Momma, when will I meet God?” I asked solemnly.

She smiled and spoke quietly, “Very soon my son, but for now, you are with me.” I don’t know how much longer we sat there, but eventually, she stood up, set me down and told me what I should do. I came back, and since then have begun to try and change for the best. I know it will be hard, but knowing that my mother and father are behind me and helping me always… where can I go wrong?

I am still on the path of becoming a witch/wiccan, as I started my Dedicant training in December of 2009. I’m so excited and have learned so much and still have so much to learn in my year and a day. I have also met my father God and he is just as beautiful and loving as the Goddess. I’m still not sure why she insisted I write this, but I have a feeling you know.

Even today my mother, the Goddess’ words come to me, and I try every day to make her and my father God proud. I hope my little story brought a smile to your face and maybe an answer to your searching heart. I pray that the God and Goddess speak to you through these words. My they lead and guide you to your own everlasting shine.

Until we meet again my friend, the circle is broken but unbroken. May the Truth, Love and Wisdom from the God and Goddess stay in our hearts always.

Blessed be.
You’re brother in the Craft

Charge of the Dark Goddess

Goddess Comments & Graphics

The Dark Goddess speaks to us, through the mouths of Lilith, Kali, Tiamat, Hecate, the Black Maddonna, Nemesis, and Morgaine.

I am the Darkness behind and beneath the shadows. I am the absence of air that awaits at the bottom of every breath. I am the ending before life begins again, the decay that fertilizes the living. I am the Bottomless Pit, the never-ending struggle to reclaim that which is denied. I am the Key that unlocks every door. I am the Glory of Discovery, for I am that which is hidden, secluded, and forbidden.

Come to me at the Dark Moon and see that which can not be seen, face terror that is yours alone. Swim in the blackest ocean to the center of your greatest fears–the Dark God and I will keep you safe. Scream to us in terror and yours will be the Power of Forebear. Think of me when you feel pleasure, and I will intensify it, until the time I can have the greatest pleasure of meeting you at the crossroads between the roads.

~Magickal Graphics~

My Black Kitty

My Black Kitty

Author: Zodiac

I remember the first time I got a black cat. I was three or four years old and my uncle worked at a dairy farm. One day he found a black cat trying to steal some of the cream. He brought me out to his place to work and I took the cat home.

Although the cat was a she, I named it “Tio” which means “Uncle” in Spanish. I loved my black kitty with all my heart. My mother recalls times when I was clumsily carrying Tio around and the cat would scratch me because I was being too rough. Despite my crying, I told her not to yell at Tio.

Unfortunately it turned out that my father was allergic to the cat. Although he liked Tio too, we had to give the cat away. I cried and cried. My tender four-year-old heart broken.

It would be 21 years before I would get another cat. This time a yellow beast for Christmas from my wife. I loved the new animal, but still longed for pet of my youth: a black cat.

Imagine my surprise when I went to the pound. The first thing I discovered was that black cats were hard to get adopted. The second thing that surprised me was that most shelters don’t adopt black cats during the month of October.

I had considered the superstition surrounded the black cat. How a black cat crossing your path is unlucky is a common theme in children’s cartoons. And as a joke, I even named my black cat “Dreizehn” meaning “Thirteen” in German. But I never imagined how seriously it was taken. There is something strange that in the modern day when people are taught not to judge by things like skin pigmentation that the black cat would be stigmatized. After all, any biologist could tell you that a cat’s colorations are caused by the same biochemicals. Why the hate?

Believe it or not, originally black cats were considered lucky. The Pagan Egyptians worshipped Bast a Goddess who would appear as a (you guessed it) black cat. When the animal “crossed your path”, it meant the Goddess was watching you and protecting you. One could tell the Goddess apart from other black cats because she would always appear as a completely solid black cat. (Dreizehn is not the Goddess. He has white hairs in his otherwise glossy coat, but I digress.)

The Pagan Egyptians decided not to take any chances. Killing a cat was illegal in those times. The crime was taken so seriously that the punishment was death. Moreover they built an entire city to the cats. Worshippers would travel from miles away to bring offerings of milk and food.

Okay so where did all this unlucky stuff come from? Well a new religion called “Christianity” began to move in to the region. To the Christians all Pagan deities were the Devil or his Demons. They began to convert the population and the old Gods began to be rejected. Now suddenly a black cat following you around was a Demon trying to drag you body back to the cult and your soul to Hell. Like the Egyptians, the Christians weren’t going to risk it – only this time they were out to get rid of black cats.

The poor animals were condemned all because of their fur.

It’s strange because a later cult called “Islam” would once again revere the cat, black ones included. When Mohammed wandered the lonely deserts it was the wild cats that kept him company. There are stories of Mohammed cutting the sleeves off of his robes rather than disturb his sleeping feline pets. And from what I understand, it is against Islamic law to chase a cat from a Mosque.

But these are the customs of the Middle East where most people consider themselves Muslims. Not the West where most people consider themselves Christians.

So the black cat has to live with its reputation as a partner in Satan’s conspiracy to pull us all down. Which is strange because I guess “Satanists” sacrifice black cats on Halloween. I put Satanists in quotes, because I’m pretty sure these people are mostly stupid, mean teenagers trying to look cool for their friends. And it makes me want to VOMIT.

It somehow seems unjust that I had to give up my black kitty when I was four and live the rest of my life with a broken heart meanwhile some turd out there is killing their cat for fun. (My good Christian neighbors would probably fall out of their chairs if they read that I a witch of all people was advising not to sacrifice animals. But I digress again.)

Today I own several cats. Dreizehn is not too different from any of them. Maybe more set in his ways. He really likes being a house cat. He has a set routine that he likes. Dreizehn wants his canned kitty food at the same time.

We used to take him to a vet that specializes in cats. They told us that he has some of the softest fur they’ve ever seen. He also has these gold eyes. Just like the in the kids cartoons, when he’s in the dark all you can see is the two quarter sized discs staring out at you.

And like the Halloween decoration, I’ve seen him arch his back and put out his claws – but that was usually because he was leaning in to one of my pats. And I’ve seen him snarl and hiss, but that’s because I was trying to move him from the softest, warmest place on the bed and he didn’t want to move. And I’ve seen him skulk in the shadows, but that’s because he was hiding from the dog. And just like every other cat I own, there are times when he coughs up hairballs and misses the litterbox. But none of these things has ever made me want to hurt him.

My Dreizehn kitty is a loyal friend and a great companion. He seems to sense when I’m sad and comes running to my lap when I’m down. Dreizehn came running in to greet my son when we first came home from the hospital. Dreizehn jumped in the crib, took that “I approve” cat look and just purred and purred. Even today when my son cries out in pain or sadness, the black cat is usually the first one on the scene.

He’s one of the best pets and best friends I’ve ever had. If more people could just look past the silly superstitions, they’d learn that too.

GLAMOUR AND BEAUTY

GLAMOUR AND BEAUTY

Ingredients

Mix a tea of roses, Damiana, Ginger, Dong quai, Coriander, & Primrose flowers
Place the dry herbs in a green glass jar and place on your altar.
On a night of Venus (Friday), take a bath in Lovage roots and Rose petals, dry yourself and rub
Musk oil into your skin. Go to your altar nude and light a pink candle anointed with Venus Oil or
Rose oil or perfume and burn some Aura of Enchantment Incense. Place a small mirror on thealtar,
gaze into it deeply and say,
“Soft, my skin as Diana’s
Smoldering eyes as Aradia,
Sensuous as a Goddess.
Figures of fire that shift and change,
Change me, now,
To a creature of beauty,
Blessed b the Goddess of Love.
Repeat each night for 7 nights, leaving the tea on the altar until the spell is finished,
then drink a cup daily and wash your face with rose water upon waking.