Imbolc, as promised

Merry Imbolc!
I really got behind on posting and I know that I said that I would post rituals and traditions to make your Imbolc meaningful and fun, but since it is now Imbolc...I don't really want to hang out on the Internet all day so I am going to be brief. Here are some things you can do today that will add meaning to your Imbolc festivities!

Prepare your altar as you usually would and ask the Goddess and God to bless your seeds for the upcoming planting season

Light candles in honor of the growing Sun God and the return to warmer days

Bundle up and take a walk in nature meditating on the first inklings of new life and spring!

Clean your home both spiritually and physically- throwing away old junk, as well as stale and negative energies leaving room for positivity and new growth!

Praise the Goddess and God in all the beauty of today, as you do everyday.

I know this was really brief, and not as detailed as usual, but I'm a witch on a mission and I have Imbolc things to do!

Brightest Blessings!

~S

Magic of Music

Good morning!

I'm currently sitting in my mother's first grade classroom working on my own assignments for college, drowning out the enthusiastic learning of her students with Greg Laswell's How the Day Sounds. Which lead me to think about music and how wonderfully it enriches our lives. How it helps us through the morning grind and gives a little magic to our day.

Music is the earliest known method of communication and remains an integral part of society today. From dropping beats, to beautiful ballads, our deepest emotions and passions are sparked with the magic of music. Music gives us a form of catharsis, a way to release the energies that we build up in our lives granting release and calm. It  builds up soldiers to do battle, gives strength to sports teams, grants wings to dancers, and provides freedom to the human songbirds among us. Music heals, it enlightens, it strengthens, and encourages. It is the oldest voice, our true voice, and a looking glass into our souls.

Music is often used in rituals because it helps those who are casting spells and communicating on the spiritual level to ground themselves and find themselves in that calm place between the physical world and the world beyond.

But it is so much more than that. Music has its own power, its own energy which lends itself so wonderfully to increase our own strength and our own will when doing ritual work or casting spells. It blocks out the negative and the distracting, and pulses with the power that surrounds us.

What kind of music lends itself best to ritual work and spell casting? Well, generally you don't really want to try to connect with the universe on a spiritual level while grooving to Shakira's latest single...I really really vibe her music, but we're more likely to focus on the lyrics than our work, our inner space and our outer space.  Generally soothing meditative music such as chants or even wordless music works best. It soothes and builds at just the right times.

If you don't already incorporate music into your own ritual work, I encourage you to give it a try! If you do, what music do you find makes your rituals into a sense sensation?

Brightest Blessings!
~S

Sleeeeeep

So, it is currently 1327 and I CANNOT sleep. I've tried it all. I have tried meditating, breathing deeply, and some herbal remedies. Nothing. No results and the ever elusive sleep. Of course, this only happens when I actually really need to sleep. I'm tired. No doubt about that. But I'm super nervous about tomorrow. Tomorrow I am attending a concealed carry class with my mother. I know, it sounds awful. Witches believe in the "harm none" rule. Perhaps that is why I am so nervous. I know my way around a gun. I've been target shooting with my dad for years...so why can't I sleep? Does believing in doing only good to people mean that I have to be passive when someone is doing harm to me? Just let it happen? I prefer to say no. With the amount of violence erupting sporadically through my country...once the land of the free and the home of the brave...currently the land of the impoverished and the home of the freaking out, I almost feel a duty to be able to protect those around me. So many tragedies just over the last few months and they seem to be increasing in number. Do we become a statistic for the love we have for life? Do we allow life around us to be threatened by a violent few? I suppose the stance of the majority would be whatever is best for the majority is what is morally correct. Thoughts?

~S

Magic Tools!

I promised in one of my posts on the home page that I would make a post about magical tools! Well here it is:

One of the things that I am quite sure that my fiancé thought when I let him in on the fact that I am, indeed, a witch was “damn…witches sure come with a lot of accoutrements!” With two cats, a Book of Shadows (which is starting to get rather hefty), wands, crystals, herbs, my four leaf clover collection, my scrying bowl (not all scrying is done with crystals, I prefer water and ink), various in sundry pendants, altar cloths, altars, pentacles, a besom, a wand (which he made me…I’ve not gotten around to consecrating it yet) I’m rather inclined to agree. While you don’t need all of the accoutrements that many witches use in their craft or even any at all to be a witch…they do make ritual and life rather easier.  Witches try not to encourage materialism but it is rather difficult to pass up magical articles that we find. You can certainly be a witch without any of these things because magic is in strength of will, but they definitely make life easier. Here, I will make a list of the tools that I think most witches should consider…if you don’t already have them.

Since I mentioned besom above, and not everyone is familiar with that word I will start there! A besom is one of the more famous symbols associated with witchcraft- the broom! The witch’s besom is not used for flying as we often see, but rather, it is used for purifying. The besom has also been used by some for protection by laying it under the bed or across a windowsill. Witches don’t just use any old broom. A besom is handcrafted, often by the witch, and much thought is put into what kind of wood is used because different woods have different properties.

The second symbol, often associated with witchcraft is the wand. Wands are used for invocation, to draw symbols, and quite often, to direct the flow of energy for spells. The same consideration for the properties of the materials that brooms are made of is also given to the creation of wands…and most other magical tools.

Cauldrons have so many practical uses; they can be used to mix different magical ingredients, for scrying, and to contain magical transformations.

An athame is a knife used by witches to cut things in the astral plane. This knife is not for physical cutting. It can also be used to direct energy as you would use a wand, and is a symbol of the God and masculine power (as is the wand) and goes in the God corner of the altar.

Not all witches have a boline, but it is a crescent shaped knife that is basically a witch’s pocket knife. It is used to gather herbs, and cut things in the physical plane…if we get down to it any old knife will really do though.

Many pagans include a pentacle on their altar; this symbol is used for protection as well as invocation.

Incense is often used for purifying the place that magical work is to be done in, but it can also be used to instill a magical state of mind, peace, and as an offering to the Goddess and God.

A bell is used to invoke the goddess, good energies, and to banish evil spirits and spells. This is often placed in the Goddess corner of the altar.

A chalice is the symbol of the Goddess and is used for drink offerings. This tool goes in the Goddess corner of the altar.

Candles are an integral part of ritual (and even have their own category of magic) and are often used to represent the Goddess, the God, and the different elements on the altar. White or silver is often used for the Goddess candle while gold or yellow is often used for the God candle.  

As I’ve mentioned it is very important that you consider the magic properties of the materials with which all of these tools are made. When you make magical purchases, if you are not crafty enough to make your own tools, make sure that you purchase from a reliable vendor, especially when shopping online. When shopping for your magical tools, do so with intent. What are you drawn to? Which item urges you to take it home right now? These items were probably meant for you and will serve you well. It reminds me of the line from Harry Potter, “The wand chooses the wizard, Harry!” I believe there is definitely truth to that!  

As always brightest blessings!

~S

Your Power

Good afternoon my twitchy witches!

I’m sure that many of you have seen movies where witches had special powers and abilities. This is really not all that farfetched. Everyone has talents that are specific to him or herself. The same is true of those who follow a magical path. Some of us are empaths, some are psychic, some are healers, some are seers, some are kitchen witches, some are herb witches, and quite a few of us are more than one thing!  Many of us are drawn to specific elements, specific methods of practice (knot magic, animal magic, and crystal magic, etc), and specific incarnations of the Goddess and God. All of these things make us unique witches with different skills and insights. 

I will begin with empaths.  The word empath is derived from the word empathy. And this is exactly what an empath does. Empaths feel exactly what you feel, to a fault. He or she can’t stand watching romantic comedies in which the heroine or hero makes a complete fool out of him or herself because the embarrassment is just too much. Empaths will blush, close their eyes, or even fast forward through that part.  An empath walks through the store and sees a couple of strangers laughing; he gets caught grinning and laughing even though he doesn’t know the joke! This person knows exactly how you are feeling before you voice it. She feels the way you do…she may not even know why. Empaths experience so many emotions throughout a typical day that they often struggle to determine which emotions were originally theirs.  This can be a huge problem and is often something that they need to put up barriers against, and learn how to control, otherwise it is far too draining.  Empaths find themselves acting on emotions that were never even theirs. I am an empath.  Many have wondered whether empathy is a power, and just being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes may not be; however, being able to feel the emotions or the energies in a room means that you have the power to influence them.  

Many of us know what psychics can do, so I’m just going to touch on it ever so briefly. Psychic is a very broad category which can contain many different types of psychics.  We are all psychic to some extent. Some of us are able to see with our third eye better than others. If this is something that interests you, the more you work at it, the better that you can become. Not all psychics read minds; some of them see auras or are very good at astral travel, or even predicting the future. A psychic’s power is based in the third eye and the astral plane (the spiritual plane).  While the astral plane heavily influences our physical plane, you’ll not get very far if you try to see it with your physical eyes.

Seers would probably fall under psychics, but their talent lies in divination. Each seer prefers their own method of divination. Some scry using crystals or mirrors. Other seers prefer tarot cards, reading tea leaves or palmistry. Not many seers focus solely on palmistry because palms only tell about people. And while people are great, it’s a rather limited field. Palms don’t tell the future of the person, they tell the character and the past of the person.  So, if I were a business executive, I might ask for a scan of potential employees’ palms along with their résumé.  More on that in future posts if I remember!

Kitchen witches are magical people who feed me! (I’m just kidding) Kitchen witches prefer to work their magic in the food, teas, and herbal remedies that they cook up in the kitchen. This is, indeed, the tastiest kind of magic.  You can do a lot with food because food has so many healing and nourishing properties in and of itself. Combine this potential with magic and you have some pretty powerful chow! Healing potions, beauty products, good luck bon bons, teas to improve the third eye, and many other things can easily be cooked up in the kitchen with the right spell and ingredients. Kitchen witches know how endless the possibilities are, plus…who doesn’t like food!?  While being a kitchen witch is more of a preference of crafting than anything else, I consider it to be a power. How many people do you know who go in the kitchen and end up producing sludge that was supposed to be tiramisu? That is why I include kitchen witchery in the power post! 

Moving right along to herb witches! That old lady down the street with the hollyhocks up to her ears? Herb witch! Herb witches or garden witches work amazing magic with herbs and other plants. Their gardens are absolutely breath taking. When you ask how their roses managed to avoid the aphid plague that killed yours they usually smile and just give you some sort of farfetched cure.  These earthy people revel in greenery and are very in tune with plant life and the spirits that guard them. They often have bird feeders in every direction and live in nearly absolute harmony with the animals that come in and out of their gardens. These women have a special knack for knowing exactly what their beloved plants need, and exactly how to cure what ails them. As a result the plants return in kind and offer a bounty of blossoms, herbs, and vegetables. Herb witches know that respecting their plants and nurturing them, keeping them happy and healthy is the best way to also preserve the sprites, brownies, elves, and fairies that have likely made this garden their safe haven. You won’t find any pesticides here- just magic.

Witches are not only in tune with plants, but many witches also have a special relationships with the animals that they come in contact with. From the den of foxes in their backyards, to the stray cats that they leave milk for, many witches find animals to be more than mere companions, but partners in magic and friends.  These witches are very sensitive to the importance of all life and often find themselves taking in any “lost cause” that crosses their path. These witches are eager to provide love and sanctuary to all walks of life, but they often find that they get along better with animals than people.  You know who they are. They’re the couple down the street with the elaborate chicken coop for the hens they rescued, the woman with three cats, a blind dog, a fledgling robin that she found fallen from its nest.  These men and women find animal magic and working with their familiars quite natural. They wear their animal totem around their neck, and have their house completely covered in pet fur. They often exhibit the traits of their animal totem, and sometimes it is easy to see what it is without even asking.

This is only a very small sampling of the powers, and casting preferences and witch “categories” (for lack of a better word because most of us fall in many categories if not all of them!). I encourage you to learn more about different powers. Meditate on your strengths and what makes you who you are. Meditate on what element you gravitate toward, what you have a knack for, and particular crafting methods that you prefer to work with. The more you learn about yourself, the more you learn about your power and who you are, as well as what you should work more on and what you can become (Geeze! Could that sentence have rambled any longer!?).  What types of embodiments does your patron Goddess and God take on? Are they known animal lovers or plant gurus? The answers to these questions can help direct your path to learning more about yourself and your craft! Never stop learning

Till next time!

~S

Uhm...Everything that popped into my head at once

My Sabbats are going to be a tiny bit scattered as I hadn’t started this blog til after Yule and I plan on covering each Sabbat as it makes an appearance throughout the year. In order to avoid confusion, I would like to post a link to this blog which lists each of the Sabbats in order and gives a description of each. Those of you that are familiar with the Wheel of the Year need not bother with it; however, many new witches will find this helpful! Many of you are probably part of covens or are working toward your initiation. You will have many celebrations of the Sabbats to look forward to as well as people to guide you in proper practice. The rest of you are probably solitaries, like me * impish grin*.

I would like to point out that there is nothing wrong with being a solitary BUT it definitely makes the learning curve slightly more daunting without anyone to guide your steps. I had an absolutely fabulous mentor named Neil (not his Pagan name of course). With that in mind, I hope that the pages of this blog help guide your steps much as Neil guided mine.

I would like to start with some advice on what to avoid. Not all Pagan websites are created equal. In fact, a good portion of them are complete rubbish. Many new witches are eager to look for spells to try, and do so online. While there are some good resources for this, there are many that sell hoaxes. On top of this, even the sites that advertise free spells contain half spells. This can be very dangerous. Most witches include a catch-all in spells that they craft to ensure that the energy put forth does not produce effects that are undesirable. Such a catch all can be as simple as “an it harm none, so mote it be” which is what I, myself, use. It really depends on the witch.  Furthermore, these spells do not take into account moon phases, seasons, and many other things besides. Often these websites include spells to “transform into a vampire” or “flying spells” even spells to destroy one’s enemies. First, magic cannot go against nature. It is, after all nature. You cannot simply spell yourself into being a vampire with the simple and rather absurd spells found on the internet. Either you are, or you aren’t. As a witch, I can’t see why you would want to inflict such a curse upon yourself anyway. Spells for physical flight are also highly unlikely to work. I won’t say that they are impossible, but the simple spells produced here will not achieve that affect. Lastly I want to focus on spells that inflict harm, such as “spells against your enemies” or “revenge” spells as they are often labeled online. Even if these spells were complete spells, a true witch would never use them.  Why? Because three times what you send out returns to you. Most of these spells are pretty nasty and mean. Would you want three times whatever that would be? I certainly wouldn’t.

As a witch it is in your best interest to learn how to craft spells of your very own. And this may take some practice before you get used to it. Spells are a lot like cooking (which isn’t to imply that everything happens over a boiling cauldron…though I don’t want to rule that out), there are ingredients and intent and sometimes, if you aren’t paying attention, you may not get the results you had desired. That is why it is often best to start crafting small. The ingredients to which I am referring include: moon phase, time of day or night, season, herbs, the correct tools, candles, crystals, and a number of other things. That isn’t to say that you will need EVERYTHING known to witch, but knowing what tools to use and how to use them is the biggest part of crafting your own spells. The other part is figuring out how to put it all together in an order that makes sense, and articulating your will or intent (aka the chant). In the Book of Shadows section I will include a post on various magical tools, basic herbs and their uses, moon phases, basic crystals and their uses as well as crystal care, candles and color.  All of these things have their own energy which can lend themselves to your purpose.  Check the Book of Shadows section tomorrow for these descriptions, as well as for the promised Imbolc ritual ideas!

Always

~S

Imbolc

 

The sun is pouring through my window, Ralph and Henry lay in a heap on the floor soaking up the beams. This is their first winter and I can see their happy faces in the sun looking forward to spring. With Imbolc approaching heralding the coming of the spring planting season, I’m beginning to see the first stirrings of life. The trees are slowly putting forth tiny buds, wrapped up tight against the cold.  

As a solitary practitioner I have devised my own traditions for celebrating the recovery of the Goddess after the birth of her Son and the beckoning of spring. I won’t share all of them with you, but I will share something that I am really excited about! I’m going to be starting my first vegetable and herb garden. This is something that I’ve never done before and I am so excited. The instructions say to start the seeds inside in a sunny window. I’m going to keep them in a room shut away from the cats because many of the things that we eat and enjoy are poisonous to household furry friends.  I’m going to dedicate my organic garden to the Goddess and ask her to bless its fruits for this year’s harvest.  (Side note for those of you who are not aware, the Pagan New Year is Samhain which is what most people today call Halloween. The Pagan New Year does not begin on January 1^st.)

There are many other rituals that can be done during Imbolc.  Spring cleaning for a witch not only means organizing, throwing away trash, and cleaning (or repainting etc) the physical house. A witch’s spring cleaning also means airing out negative energies, bringing in positive optimism for Spring, and updating protection charms and other household spells. In the Book of Shadows section I will include some good household charms and cleaning ideas for your Spring cleaning. As a witch I try to keep even my physical cleaning spiritual. This means using natural cleaning products and not harsh chemicals. I will include some recipes and more in the BOS section of the blog.  I hope you all look forward to Imbolc as much as I do! Merry part for now my lovely lambs! (Lambs are a symbol of Imbolc, can anyone tell me why? Comment below if you know the answer or have a favorite Imbolc ritual of your own!)

~S