Tag: Religion and Spirituality

Can I Dedicate to More Than One Deity?

Can I Dedicate to More Than One Deity?

By

About.com   Paganism/Wicca

Question: Can I Dedicate to More Than One Deity?
A reader asks, “Several months ago, when I first began exploring Paganism, I found myself drawn to a particular goddess. Since there was such a strong connection, I performed a dedication ritual to her, and have honored her ever since. Now, however, I feel I’m being called by a different goddess. I’d like to honor both, but I’m worried it might be seen as disrespectful to the first one if I re-dedicate to the second. Can I change my affiliation respectfully, or may I dedicate to multiple deities? I know many believe one should only dedicate to the God/dess OR a specific pair of deities.”
Answer: That’s an interesting question, and one that can have a variety of answers, depending on your particular flavor of Paganism. In some Pagan traditions, people dedicate to a single god or goddess of that tradition’s pantheon. In other cases, they may dedicate to a pair of deities. Occasionally, people may feel a connection with deities from different pantheons altogether. It happens.

Human spirituality tends to be somewhat fluid, in that while we can honor one deity we can also be called by another. Does this mean the first no longer has any influence? Not at all – it simply means some other aspect of the Divine finds us interesting.

If you genuinely feel called by this second deity – and from your email, it seems pretty clear that you do – then I would consider exploring things more. Ask the first goddess if she would really be that offended if you honored another one in tandem with her. After all, the deities are distinctly different beings, so honoring a second goddess doesn’t necessarily mean any toes are getting stepped on.

If you’re fortunate enough to have been tapped by the Divine, not just once, but twice, I’d regard it as a gift. My opinion would be that as long as neither deity has any objection to the presence or worship of the other, everything should be fine. Treat both with respect, and show them each the honor they deserve.

A Little Humor for Your Day – ‘Remove The Curse, lol!’

Remove the Curse

A pagan goes to a Wizard to ask him if he can remove a curse he has been living with for the last 40 years.

The Wizard says, “Maybe, but you will have to tell me the exact words that were used to put the curse on you.”

The old man said without hesitation, “I now pronounce you man and wife.”

Daily Feng Shui News for Nov. 29th – ‘You’re Welcome Day’

I’m sure it’s no coincidence that ‘You’re Welcome Day’ comes right on the heels of Thanksgiving. But if you want to welcome health, happiness, prosperity and opportunity into your life, then be sure to have a red flowering plant outside your front door, sitting to the left as you face it. This powerfully effective Feng Shui fortune cure invites abundance and empowerment, two more things that you can be grateful for.

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

The Witches Magick for November 29th – Empowerment Spell

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Empowerment Spell

Use to increase power and use it wisely.

You will need:

Orange candle

High John the Conqueror oil

The best time to cast this spell is at midnight on a Full Moon, but if you don’t want to stay up that late, you can work it at any point on the Full Moon night or on a Sabbat.

Since you are asking to draw in power, be sure you are firmly grounded and centered before casting this spell and that the space you are working in is protected. Unlike some of the spell where it makes little difference whether or not you start by casting a formal cycle, in this case you should do so. This is not a spell to take lightly.

Cast your circle, ask for help from the four quarters, invoke the triple Goddess of your choice, then anoint the candle with the High John Oil. Be sure you are centered before reciting the spell.

As my craft I work to hone
At this deep and sacred hour
I call on Maiden, Mother, Crone
To send me wisdom, strength and power.
 
Lend me power for my spells
Power for work and power for play
Send wisdom so I’ll use it well
Growing in power every day.
So Mote It Be
 

When you finish saying the spell, visualize power and energy spilling down the moonlight and into your body. Stay in the circle for as long as it takes to feel done. Then be sure to say thank you before dismising the circle.

Let’s Talk Witch – Sanctifying the Temple of the Body

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Let’s Talk Witch – Sanctifying the Temple of the Body

Of all the spaces that surround us, of all the blessings we send out into the world, of all the things we honor and consider sacred, it is often our own bodies that are most in need of honor and celebration. Considered by many to be the vehicle through which our soul experiences the physical world, our bodies are indeed worthy of recognition as the spiritual temples they are. Too frequently we focus on our perceived physical imperfections, forget the miracle of the body’s ability to heal itself when we are ailing, or take for grannted the fragile balance our bodies need to sustain us, instead choosing to abuse ourselves with excess, deprive ourselves of adequate sleep or nourishing food, and engage in other physically and psychologically damaging behaviors.

For women especially, how we carry ourselves and think about our body is incredibly emotionally charged. We are constantly being bombarded with messages telling us how we are suppose to look and what we are supposed to wear. Women’s bodies have been objectified by a culture that has also programmed us to believe they are objects of sin and shame. Reclaiming the sacred nature of our physical form is a service both to our selves and to our sisters—it is a rejection of the old paradigm and a reframing of how women think about themselves on their own terms.

There is a Hermetic Axiom that states: “As above, so below. As within, so without.” One treatment and reverence for our body both reflects upon, and is a reflection of, the spirit that dwells within. How can you bring a sense of the sacred to your physical self? Perhaps you can incorporate a daily routine of self-anointing with oils you have blessed for this purpose and chosen to consciously eat wholesome foods to power your body-temple. Indulge in sacred spa days and pamper yourself with a luxurious bath scented with herbs and flowers that stimulate the essence of the Divine within. Wear colors and styles that reflect your personality and make you feel beautiful, rather than feeling like a slave to the trends of fashion. Adorn yourself with stones and symbolic jewelry that serve as reminders of your holy nature. And, perhaps most importantly, support other women in cultivating a sense of the self as sacred: discourage self-deprecating remarks, do not engage in disempowering body behaviors, and praise your sisters and brothers as the beautiful and perfect being they are.

While it’s useful and beneficial to create a physical sacred space, such as a hearth or garden, creating sacred space within yourself may be the best thing you can do for your spirit.

Excerpt from:

Making Space Sacred
Author Jhenah Telyndru
Llewellyn’s 2012 Witches Companion

Calendar of the Sun for November 28th

Calendar of the Sun

28 Blutmonath

Sophia’s Day

Colors: Red and white
Element: Air
Altar: Upon a red cloth lay a white cloth, and upon that set a lit lantern, a glass chalice of clear water, incense of frankincense and lemongrass, and let each place upon the altar a book which they find to be great in wisdom.
Offerings: Promise to grow in wisdom, even when the path is difficult.
Daily Meal: Simple and communal.

Invocation to Sophia

Hail, Great Mother of Wisdom!
Consort of the One Whose Name May Not Be Spoken,
Lady whose still small voice
Echoes through every one of us,
Teach us to listen, Lady,
Teach us to pay attention
And to consider well our actions,
Lest we may come to regret them.
Teach us to walk each of our words
Through the door of truth,
Through the door of necessity,
And teach us to know when
We must walk them through
A door yet narrower than those,
The door of kindness to the hearer.
Let our words be heard
By ears who will listen,
And show us how to speak their language
That no misunderstanding
May mar what flows between us.
Lady of Wisdom, speak to us,
And we will strive to hear your voice.

(Each comes forward and takes the book from the altar, and speaks to what that book taught them, and how they are the wiser for it. Then each speaks to another lesson that taught them wisdom, a lesson that did not come from books but from life. Each person thanks Sophia for these lessons, and bows before her altar. Her lantern is carried from the room in procession, and set to hang, still lit, in the main room of the House, where it will remain lit for seven days.)

[Pagan Book of Hours]

Prayer to Handle Anxiety

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Let calm flow in like waves of water
With each breath in, with each breath out
Let tension ease like ropes unknotted
In magick’s light there is no doubt.
 
The Goddess wraps Her cloak around me
Loving warmth and reassurance
That all will happen as it must
Gifting me with calm endurance.
 
No more worries, no more stress
My burdens lie on stronger shoulders
I release anxiety’s weight
Turn into pebbles what seemed like boulders.
 
Faith is mine and strength is mine
The love of those who stay unseen
Let calm flow in with every breath
I am grounded and serene.
 

So Mote It Be.

Lovers’ Moon Sachet

Lovers’ Moon Sachet

You will need one-half cup of dried lavender flowers, one-quarter cup of dried rose petals, and one-quarter cup of dried jasmine flowers.

At 9:00 p.m., tie the herbs up in a red drawstring bag. Hold the bag of herbs in your hands, merge with the divine, and say:

With these power, fragrant flowers

Love, joy and pleasure fill my every hour

The love of Lady and Lord surrounds me

The love of the Lady and Lord enfolds me

The love of the Lady and Lord empowers me

The love of the Lady and Lord centers me

The love of the Lady and Lord inspires me

May the Lady and Lord watch over and guide me

Wherever I am, Goddess and God are!

In the names of the Lady and Lord, Blessed Be!

Put the sachet in your dresser drawer to infuse your clothes with the scent of love power and draw more pleasure and joy into your love life.

Opening The Door Magick

Open The Door Magick

In the sacred marriage ceremony of the Sumerian Goddess Inanna, she comes forth like a moonbeam to the Shepherd God Dumuzi, through the open door. By meeting him at the door, she completely accepts him as her mate. He looks at her, rejoices and takes her in his arms and kisses her.

For this spell, you will need your lover, a doorway and amber-scented oil. You are going to reenact this ancient ceremony with your beloved. And be sure to dress in something oh so sexy for this sex magick spell. Meet your lover skyclad at the open door to your bedroom. Slowly and sensuously anoint each other with the scented oil. Look at your mate and rejoice. Take him or her into your arms and kiss passionately, then do what comes naturally.

Your Animal Spirit for November 27th is The Raven

Your Animal Spirit for Today
November 27, 2013

Raven

Raven has long been known as the magical bird—the one who carries our messages and our prayers to spirit. Raven has been called a shape-shifter, and his message to you today is one of change—expect the unexpected, but know that Raven is flying close and will help you transform life’s challenges into life’s greatest blessings.

Let’s Talk Witch – Reversing a Spell With Fire

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Let’s Talk Witch – Reversing a Spell With Fire

Yesterday, we covered reversing a spell with Water. Today, I thought we would cover how to banish or reversing a spell with Fire. If you already know this, please have patience with me. I know we have several new ones to the Craft. I am hoping they will find this info helpful. Thank you!

Reversing A Spell With Fire

This method of reversing a spell is particularly effective for magickal work that has been done with Fire. This covers the entire range of candle magick, as well as any magick intended to influence yours thoughts. Some people may want to use this spell on a regular basis at the Full Moon, for it will provide protection against all of the usual negative influences from others which accumulate in the course of a month. You will need a two cups full of dirt and a candle to use this spell and process. People who do not have access to dirt in their backyards may use potting soil. The candle type, use any kind you would like.

Take a small candle and light it. Place it in the dirt (make sure the dirt is in a fireproof container) while it is lit and allow the flame to stabilize. With a sudden motion, take the candle from the dirt and reverse it, extinguishing the lit end into the dirt. Bite the burned end off the candle and light it again, saying:

“As the candle flame is reversed,
so let all that opposes me be reversed.
As the flame has perished in the dirt,
let those who oppose me come to nothing
in their work.”
 

The candle is now left to burn out. When it burns out, take the candle and dirt out of your home. Outside, put the candle and dirt in a small plastic bag. Go to the furthest part  of your property and bury it there. Now forget about. Always remember when you do your spells and rituals, do them and then do not dwell on them. It seems if you keep fretting and worrying about a spell or ritual working, it won’t. So never dwell on any spell work you have done.

This way of reversing with Fire has been used for centuries. And I can testify is does work well. It can also be considered an effective curse breaker. If a curse is actually present, this spell often produces an immediate feeling of relief as soon as the chant has been said. In some cases the relief can be impressive, as the spell may be done by one person for another. However, when the spell is done by a Practitioner for another, it should be followed by a cleansing and a blessing.

Let’s Talk Witch – How About Reversing A Spell With Water

Celtic Comments & Graphics
Let’s Talk Witch

How About Reversing A Spell With Water

The water method of reversing a spell is particularly effective for spells which were originally cast with water, or spells geared to affect the emotions. This method is an excellent way to rid yourself of love spells in any of their many forms. You should perform the spell yourself if you have been the victim. If you want to help others to reverse a spell, remember that the spell should be reversed by the actual victim.

Fill a small bottle with water. You can use a baby food jar, or ajar of similar size. Place at least a dozen straight pins in the bottle. Cap the bottle tightly and place it over a fire. The bottle may be placed on the kitchen stove. The bottle is heated until it explodes, which casts the pins all over the room. The pins and the broken glass should be cleaned up and placed in the garbage. Remove the garbage from the house immediately. The clean-up must be done as soon as possible after the bottle explodes.

The purpose of this spell is to disturb the negative influences of the water element that are present in the home of the victim. This spell reverses any negative work, and attempts to restore balance to the “water element” presence in the victim’s home. This is a very effective spell, and has been taught by practitioners of three different practices.

The bottle used may be of any size, although a baby food jar or a small jam jar is probably best suited for the spell because this type of jar only holds a few ounces of liquid. Ordinary tap water is used in the spell, and the steel pins used by dressmakers are fine. They should be placed loose in the bottle, after the water has been added to the bottle. You can use as many pins as you like, but you should use at least a dozen.

Heat the bottle when no one is in the room. It’s very important that no one should be in the room when the bottle explodes, for one may be hurt by the flying glass or pins. The smaller the bottle, the faster it will heat, another reason for using a small jar. When the bottle is hot enough it will explode, strewing the pins and broken glass, as well as water, all over the room. The purpose of immediately cleaning up the mess is to remove the influence of the spell immediately. Once the influence is out of the house it is very difficult for the person who did the work to re-establish the connection to the home.

This process of reversing a spell might seem extreme. But remember desperate times sometimes require desperate actions

Celebrating Spirituality 365 Days A Year – Gujeswari Jatra

Celtic Comments & Graphics

November 26 and 27

Gujeswari Jatra, Senegal Initiation Rites

On this date the Goddess Gujeswari Jatra is honored by the Hindus and Buddhists of Nepal. Activities fill the day beginning with prayers to the Goddess. These are usually followed by a musical procession through the streets where participants sing sacred songs to praise Gujeswari. The activities come to a close after sunset with more prayers and songs that are usually followed by a fast until the following evening.

It is around this time of the year in the Basari villages of Senegal that the young men are initiated into manhood. The elaborate rituals take months to preparation that test both the minds and bodies of the candidates. The initiates then compete against each other in village games to demonstrate their courage and masculine strength. The festivities are brought to a close with a feast dance.

Hail & Merry Meet My Dear Brothers & Sisters of the Craft!

I must apologize for our absence. We have all had the flu. I still feel like crap but the world goes on, and I must hop back on, lol!

I was going to talk a little about Thanksgiving and should Pagans celebrate it or not. Until I opened our email and found a message in there from I guess a follower or someone who wants to be. Apparently they want to be, excuse me there. But they wanted me produce proof that our Religion is real, not something that I  made up. That comment sent me into wicked witch mode and it shouldn’t have. See proof I am still sick. But the very idea, someone wants proof our Religion is REAL???

We have no bible or written words, well a few not many because of the persecution we have endured.  It was never safe for any of our ancestors to write anything down. If they were caught, they were killed. If not for our ancestors passing our Religion down orally, we probably wouldn’t even have a Religion today. I cannot speak for everyone here but I know my Religion is real because of the Goddess. She is my Mother and I can feel her presence in my body and soul everyday. I see Her beauty around me everywhere I look. I do not need written words for I know the Goddess. My Religion is about as real as it gets. It is the oldest Religion on this planet.

I would imagine you want proof because other Religions have Bibles and the such. I have no Bible, my Bible is written in the wind and also on my heart.. Yours will fade and the papers will crinkle and grow old. Mine never will it will always blow in the wind. I will hear the Goddess speak to me as She has spoken to thousands. And there are thousands still left to be reached. I don’t know what Religion you are and I really don’t care because you have insulted me and my Religion. Asking for written proof. The proof is inside you, all you have to do is believe and the Goddess will come to you. Just because She is not in a bible somewhere does not make Her any less real than any other Gods that are worshipped on Sundays. Let me ask you a question, the bibles published by man, how do you know they are real? If you will notice each chapter in the King James Version of the Bible is authored by an ordinary man. It is an ordinary man giving his account of what happened. Or who said what and who did what. How do you know that his account is correct. How do we know any Religion is correct? All religions are based on faith. I guess you could call it a luck of the draw when it comes to religious beliefs. We all hope we have chosen the right one. In my case, it is not a guessing game.

You see at one time I was a very dark witch. I know who grabbed a hold of me and my soul and pulled me back from the darkness, it was the Goddess. She spoke to me as clear as day. She showed me what Path I should have chosen.  Her Path. Since that day, I know in my heart and mind She is very real. She changed my life, She changed my heart and soul with Her Love. I know why our ancestors died to protect Her beautiful Religion. So others like myself might see the actual light and follow the true Path.

I cannot give you proof that my Religion is real and I feel like I shouldn’t have too. I wonder if you have that much doubt that you need actual proof, then why have you followed that longing in your soul to this Religion? Listen to the voice inside you. That is the Goddess calling you and talking to you. All you have to do is have faith. That is what all religions call for, Faith! You are the one that has the proof and it is inside you. All I can offer you is the teachings of the Old Ways. I am just the messenger. That’s it. I serve my Goddess as She deems fit. Listen to your inner voice. Listen very carefully, then follow the voice. Something has drawn you here. Now it is up to you to take the next step. Take that leap of faith that all religions require. The Goddess will provide you with the proof. And when She does, you will never, ever question my Religion again. She will open your eyes and your heart in ways no mere mortal can. Just listen.

Axinomancy

Axinomancy

Divination by means of a hatchet or woodcutter’s ax. This was the divinatory method by which diviners predicted the ruin of Jerusalem as described in Psalm LXXIV. However as Francois De Tour-Blanche remarked, the psalmist’s description does not tell in what manner the hatchet was used by the diviners. It can only be speculated the tool was used in either one of the two ways which the ancients used it in divining and later used in the northern countries.

 In the first method the tool was used to discover treasure. A round agate had to be procured. The head of the ax, also, had to be made red hot in a fire. The ax was positioned so that the head stood perpendicularly in the air. The agate had to be placed on the edge. If the agate did not roll off there was no treasure to be found. If it did roll off that indicated there was treasure. However, the agate must be replaced three times. If the agate rolled in the same direction each time it indicated the treasure was to be found in that direction. But, if the agate rolled in different direction each time then the treasure must be further looked for.

The second method was to detect robbers. It involved casting an ax to the ground. The head was to be downward with the handle perpendicular in the air. Those present had to dance around in a circle until the handle tottered and fell to the ground. The direction to which the handle fell indicated the direction in which the thief must be sought.
Some said this method would never work unless the ax was thrown into a round pot. De Blanche countered with the question as to how could this be done. How could a round pot be patched and sewed after an ax smashed it to pieces?

Lots of Astrampsychsu

Lots of Astrampsychsu

 

Lots of Astrampsychsu was a divinatory system probably devised in the second or third century CE and attributed to an alleged Astrampsychus the Magician. The system was popular in late Roman and early medieval times. The Lots began with ninety-two questions, the querent chooses one, and then randomly picks a number between one and ten. The chosen number is then added to the number of the question, and the sum is looked up in a table of oracular gods (in the Pagan version of the Lots) or Christian saints (in the Christian version). Each god or saint has a table of ten answers, and the randomly chosen number is used to select the correct answer.

The basic structure of the Lots resembles that of Napoleon’s Book of Fate, although the latter also draws on the divinatory art of geomancy.

Daily Feng Shui News for Nov. 22 – ‘Go for a Ride Day’

On ‘Go For A Ride Day’ I thought that I might share some ‘Car Shui.’ Never leave garbage inside your car. Feng Shui considers this ‘car clutter’ that creates a negative and distracting environment. If you want to lift the car’s energies and keep yourself alert, put a few drops of peppermint essential oil on a cotton ball so that it can release its subtle scent inside the car. And always listen to music that you enjoy. This will keep your journeys enjoyable while also making your rides rock.

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Your Animal Spirit for Nov. 22nd is Raven

Your Animal Spirit for Today
November 22, 2013

Raven

Raven has long been known as the magical bird—the one who carries our messages and our prayers to spirit. Raven has been called a shape-shifter, and his message to you today is one of change—expect the unexpected, but know that Raven is flying close and will help you transform life’s challenges into life’s greatest blessings.

Happy Birthday, Sagittarius!

Happy Birthday, Sagittarius!

Let’s hear it for the zodiac’s adventurous Archer

Maria DeSimone   Maria DeSimone on the topics of sagittarius, birthdays, astrology

It’s your birthday and you’re ready to shout it from the rooftops! It’s not that you’re looking for adoration or a bunch of gifts — nah, that’s not your style. You, Sagittarius, are simply so darned happy and grateful to be on this planet and you want to celebrate the fact that you have another year of adventures to look forward to. For you, life is, has and always will be about the journey. With each birthday comes the opportunity to make that journey even more phenomenal.

A progressive party

Exploring your intellectual, physical and spiritual horizons are what make life worth living in your eyes. As a result, you’re always seeking a new way to grow whether through travel, study or a pie in the sky adventure. In addition, you tend to eagerly pursue insight the way other signs go after fame or riches. On your birthday you will most appreciate words of wisdom from a mentor you respect.

You’re zealous, optimistic and brutally honest.  You may be short on tact however — especially when someone asks your opinion … or gets you a birthday gift you don’t like. You’re not one to sugarcoat the truth, and for some, that pill is hard to swallow! You might also have a self-righteous streak if you believe unflinchingly in one of your ideologies. Remember that everyone is allowed to have an opinion, and if it’s not in line with yours, it doesn’t automatically mean it’s wrong. On the bright side, you’re filled with faith and a happy go lucky attitude. You know things will always work out and that no matter what life throws at you, you’ll always land on your feet.