Ok, so I haven't been great at posting blogs. Who would have thought it would be difficult to keep writing out these small snapshots of ideas or experiences?
I would like to reorganize my time and this includes my blog. I have a plan to look at some literature on improving blogs and ways to make my commitment to blogging more manageable. Something that has been playing on my mind the last couple of months is how much i have moved away from setting up my life according to my values. I performed a spell at Ostara to help me get closer to where i want to be. I think further spell work is needed, and also some practical exercises to find out what it is I really want and how I want to do that. Brain storming and mind mapping are required!! And both of these shall be done in ritual.
I have the ability to create and mold a life that matches my internal vision. I have everything I need, and yet I spend so much of my time on escapist activities instead of looking at what I can do or change in my life. I will make this work, and hopefully this time I will include blogging as a regular activity.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Imbolc
The sun shines down upon us, the air is light with a promise of warmth but it still holds the chill of winter. The wind is energetic and playful, holding the potential of a fertile spring that promises to burst forth just around the corner. I sit outside with my family; the children playing on cushions, the adults doing various activities on their own computers. Music plays, it seems to fill me with optimistic happiness.
I have had 32 hours of hectic chaos that has left me feeling adrift in the middle of a tumultuous sea. Imbolc seems to have brought with it challenges and hurdles both very literal and metaphorical. So it is wonderful to sit and enjoy the day. I have a ritual with my witch sisters tonight to look forward to and the beginning of a new semester at uni get my head around. I have a new business idea that is in the throws of production that i hope to watch grow and flourish over the coming months. The energy of the season seems to be evident in most areas of my life.
I wish you all my warmest blessings and I hope whatever seeds you sew over the coming months grow with abundance in your lives. happy Imbolc!
I have had 32 hours of hectic chaos that has left me feeling adrift in the middle of a tumultuous sea. Imbolc seems to have brought with it challenges and hurdles both very literal and metaphorical. So it is wonderful to sit and enjoy the day. I have a ritual with my witch sisters tonight to look forward to and the beginning of a new semester at uni get my head around. I have a new business idea that is in the throws of production that i hope to watch grow and flourish over the coming months. The energy of the season seems to be evident in most areas of my life.
I wish you all my warmest blessings and I hope whatever seeds you sew over the coming months grow with abundance in your lives. happy Imbolc!
Monday, July 25, 2011
A Coven
I would love to be a part of a coven. I would love to have a circle of other witches that I know and trust to create magic with on a regular basis. I want to belong to something bigger than myself, and I know that I belong to the universe and we can all tap into that and many other kinds of energies outside of ourselves, but i would like that tangible sense of connectedness that I believe would come from being a part of a coven.
This, however, is not the only reason I wish to belong to a coven. I love the way a regularly meeting group keeps me dedicated and focused. In the past, groups that I have attended weekly have kept my spiritual practices in the forefront of my mind and enabled me to be more dedicated to the path I choose to walk. For some reason, without that incentive I find those things pushed to the back of my mind and all the other day to day things take prominence. This is something I find intensely frustrating and I am not really sure how to combat it other than to belong to a group.
The other, more embarrassing, reason is that I have this picture in my mind, a very child-like idea of who a witch is. She isn't old and ugly, there are no warts or pointed hats, but she is wise and comfortable in herself. She might be followed by a cat and she is definitely carrying a book. She isn't necessarily wearing black but it is night time and so her clothes are dark. She has a secret smile and is on her way to meet her coven in a small clearing in the woods.
Although I know this is some kind of fantasy that my mind has made up in response to different kinds of input, I would still love for it to be a reality.
All the witches in her coven spend time making magic, honoring the Goddess and the God. They dance and sing, they share songs and laughter, food and wine. They gather under moonlight, heavy clouds, roaring wind or brightest stars. They feel the rhythms of the earth and learn the different energies of each passing season. They celebrate events in each others lives and bring about changes that they recognize are needed.They provide support for each other, not because any of them are necessarily lacking in support in their day to day lives, but more because in this circle everyone is open and honest, present with perfect love and perfect trust. In this circle it is natural and simple to be everything she wants to be.
I would love to be part of a coven. I realise that the picture I have described is narrow and simplistic. There would be hard work involved and not everyone would get along all the time. Not every circle would be full of laughter. It remains within myself as a kind of longing, a desire as yet unfulfilled. I am not sure it ever will exist and perhaps that is why it doesn't for me.
Writing this blog was supposed to be a bit like a one person coven, writing it regularly, and with dedication, coming back to my spiritual values and keeping present with them. It hasn't really worked. I guess now I need to figure out why....
This, however, is not the only reason I wish to belong to a coven. I love the way a regularly meeting group keeps me dedicated and focused. In the past, groups that I have attended weekly have kept my spiritual practices in the forefront of my mind and enabled me to be more dedicated to the path I choose to walk. For some reason, without that incentive I find those things pushed to the back of my mind and all the other day to day things take prominence. This is something I find intensely frustrating and I am not really sure how to combat it other than to belong to a group.
The other, more embarrassing, reason is that I have this picture in my mind, a very child-like idea of who a witch is. She isn't old and ugly, there are no warts or pointed hats, but she is wise and comfortable in herself. She might be followed by a cat and she is definitely carrying a book. She isn't necessarily wearing black but it is night time and so her clothes are dark. She has a secret smile and is on her way to meet her coven in a small clearing in the woods.
Although I know this is some kind of fantasy that my mind has made up in response to different kinds of input, I would still love for it to be a reality.
All the witches in her coven spend time making magic, honoring the Goddess and the God. They dance and sing, they share songs and laughter, food and wine. They gather under moonlight, heavy clouds, roaring wind or brightest stars. They feel the rhythms of the earth and learn the different energies of each passing season. They celebrate events in each others lives and bring about changes that they recognize are needed.They provide support for each other, not because any of them are necessarily lacking in support in their day to day lives, but more because in this circle everyone is open and honest, present with perfect love and perfect trust. In this circle it is natural and simple to be everything she wants to be.
I would love to be part of a coven. I realise that the picture I have described is narrow and simplistic. There would be hard work involved and not everyone would get along all the time. Not every circle would be full of laughter. It remains within myself as a kind of longing, a desire as yet unfulfilled. I am not sure it ever will exist and perhaps that is why it doesn't for me.
Writing this blog was supposed to be a bit like a one person coven, writing it regularly, and with dedication, coming back to my spiritual values and keeping present with them. It hasn't really worked. I guess now I need to figure out why....
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Observe
Something I have heard many times from different people is the importance of observation. As a person who is pagan it is a core belief that I am part of the earth and nature and that I need to live in respect of the world around me, but how can I do this if I don't have a true connection or understanding of the way the rhythms of our planet work or interact?
Observation is a great start in forming a connection with nature. Taking time to notice the way the wind moves or how excited the wild life seems is amazing and relaxing and beautiful; observing the world around me is a wonderful form of meditation. The changing of the seasons and the passing of time can be explored with intensity just through watching.
Starhawk talks about 'earth walking' in her book Earth Path. It is a form of meditation where you get to know a certain area near you through observation and meditation with all your senses engaged. It is extremely effective and when practiced regularly it deepens the connection you have with all the energy that flows around you. It begins with the visualisation of growing rots from your feet deep down into the earth and then walking around witht his visualisation and experiencing what is around you in a concsious and open manner. I love this kind of observation, I am always amazed at how much more clearer everything seems in this state.
There are so many wonderful things to be witness to when we just open our senses to what is around us. It seems a shame to miss out on the beauty that is right in front of my nose when all I have to do is notice it.
Observation is a great start in forming a connection with nature. Taking time to notice the way the wind moves or how excited the wild life seems is amazing and relaxing and beautiful; observing the world around me is a wonderful form of meditation. The changing of the seasons and the passing of time can be explored with intensity just through watching.
Starhawk talks about 'earth walking' in her book Earth Path. It is a form of meditation where you get to know a certain area near you through observation and meditation with all your senses engaged. It is extremely effective and when practiced regularly it deepens the connection you have with all the energy that flows around you. It begins with the visualisation of growing rots from your feet deep down into the earth and then walking around witht his visualisation and experiencing what is around you in a concsious and open manner. I love this kind of observation, I am always amazed at how much more clearer everything seems in this state.
There are so many wonderful things to be witness to when we just open our senses to what is around us. It seems a shame to miss out on the beauty that is right in front of my nose when all I have to do is notice it.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
The Magic Pumpkin
Once upon a time there was a garden. In the growing warmth of spring a woman and her friends turned the soil, fertilized it and added love to the rich earth, then the woman planted vegetables and watched them grow as the days became brighter and warmer. She delighted in witnessing the small shoots of green mature and come to life as they bore fruit.
The garden was used and visited daily, the woman began to learn about the processes of life and gained knowledge about her connection with the universe just from the relationship she developed with this garden. But too soon the days grew colder, the rain came in and along with it the slugs and snails. These little creatures were part of the earth and so the woman did not want to kill them, especially not with poisons or toxins, as she wanted the products of the garden to provide sustenance for herself and her family.
So when she started to plant winter vegetables they were quickly eaten and disappeared completely. The woman tried not to begrudge the gardens insects there meal and as it became harder for the woman to venture out into the cold and the events of her life caused her to visit the garden less and less the vegetables in that garden stopped growing and the plants that bore fruit in the warmer months died or became wild or barren.
On an unexpectedly warm day in the middle of Autumn the woman visited her neglected friend and found a vine had started growing, she was not certain of the nature of this vine but noted its resemblance to the cucumber and zucchini, and wondered if perhaps it was a plant that would grow vegetables, and as she was not actively growing vegetables at the time, the woman decided to see what would become of this plant that had spontaneously sprouted in her absence.
It was not long before it became apparent that a pumpkin vine had appeared without any effort or intention. The woman watched as a single pumpkin started to grow from the vine that had crawled up a lattice. The pumpkin that grew was raised off the ground and nestled in a patch of wild parsley. It grew bigger and bigger and the woman watched with hope as time passed. The woman left to visit a friend, she was away for two weeks, and had decided that since the pumpkin had grown without her help she should let it continue to do so for the time she was away.
Upon her return the pumpkin was a wonderful size and completely ripe. It was the only pumpkin in the patch and the rest of the vine had died back, unable to compete with the chill in the air. The woman recognized that this was a special pumpkin, a gift and a lesson, to remind her that the earth will give her sustenance and that she should trust this wisdom. She picked the pumpkin, but it was picked with reverence and respect, the earth was thanked and the pumpkin was cherished. The woman knew that she could not simply use the pumpkin in the usual manner and so she lovingly cut up the pumpkin, delighting in the contrast of its green skin and vibrant orange flesh. She added a little cumin to the chunks and roasted it, with the skin on and took it as an offering to her tribe, so that they might share in this wonderful gift and take into themselves the wisdom the earth had provided for her.
It was her Magic Pumpkin and the tribe ate together, and delighted in their ritual. They shared their love as they shared the pumpkin and the woman was happy, the garden was happy and the seeds were deposited in the compost, in the hopes that the woman would experience the pleasures of such a wonderful gift in the next year.
The garden was used and visited daily, the woman began to learn about the processes of life and gained knowledge about her connection with the universe just from the relationship she developed with this garden. But too soon the days grew colder, the rain came in and along with it the slugs and snails. These little creatures were part of the earth and so the woman did not want to kill them, especially not with poisons or toxins, as she wanted the products of the garden to provide sustenance for herself and her family.
On an unexpectedly warm day in the middle of Autumn the woman visited her neglected friend and found a vine had started growing, she was not certain of the nature of this vine but noted its resemblance to the cucumber and zucchini, and wondered if perhaps it was a plant that would grow vegetables, and as she was not actively growing vegetables at the time, the woman decided to see what would become of this plant that had spontaneously sprouted in her absence.
It was not long before it became apparent that a pumpkin vine had appeared without any effort or intention. The woman watched as a single pumpkin started to grow from the vine that had crawled up a lattice. The pumpkin that grew was raised off the ground and nestled in a patch of wild parsley. It grew bigger and bigger and the woman watched with hope as time passed. The woman left to visit a friend, she was away for two weeks, and had decided that since the pumpkin had grown without her help she should let it continue to do so for the time she was away.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Anger and Acceptance
Tonight as I write this blog I am angry, filled with a seething indignation that I believe to be completely justified. As a result I cannot think of the wonderful uplifting subjects I might have written a blog about and have therefor decided to write about the relevance of such a stirring emotion.When I first recognised my own emotional climate my response was shame. I immediately tried to rid myself of the anger I felt, but I decided that in doing this I was not honouring myself and as a part of the development of self love, I decided, instead to explore this topic.
As a witch I believe that everything in nature is neither god nor bad, it is all part of an universal balance and as such anger has its place and when used in a healthy way it can be a constructive emotion. Anger can ignite a need for action, it can be a catalyst for change, it can even be as simple as helping someone become aware of there own core values and their expectations in life. Anger is a gift from the realms of fire , and in direct association with this element it is an emotion connected to passion and creation. I recognise that it can be an immensely effective tool.
Of course I agree that anger can be unhealthy, like all emotions stagnant or obsessive anger can be completely destructive, but if I follow the all important rule of 'harm none' and if I acknowledge my anger instead of ignoring it in response to the automatic shame I felt, I don't think it will have the power to become unhealthy. As a practitioner of magic I recognise that it is not healthy to enter a spiritual space while holding onto anger and this is another reason why I believe I should address my feelings in order to move forward and return to my more natural state of compassion and love.
My anger will pass, I will rant to loved ones and decide whether to address the cause or accept the experience as something that has given me a new insight into myself. Even just writing this blog has made me feel lighter and I am glad I have done so - I am sure I will be back to my happier self in my next blog.
As a witch I believe that everything in nature is neither god nor bad, it is all part of an universal balance and as such anger has its place and when used in a healthy way it can be a constructive emotion. Anger can ignite a need for action, it can be a catalyst for change, it can even be as simple as helping someone become aware of there own core values and their expectations in life. Anger is a gift from the realms of fire , and in direct association with this element it is an emotion connected to passion and creation. I recognise that it can be an immensely effective tool.
Of course I agree that anger can be unhealthy, like all emotions stagnant or obsessive anger can be completely destructive, but if I follow the all important rule of 'harm none' and if I acknowledge my anger instead of ignoring it in response to the automatic shame I felt, I don't think it will have the power to become unhealthy. As a practitioner of magic I recognise that it is not healthy to enter a spiritual space while holding onto anger and this is another reason why I believe I should address my feelings in order to move forward and return to my more natural state of compassion and love.
My anger will pass, I will rant to loved ones and decide whether to address the cause or accept the experience as something that has given me a new insight into myself. Even just writing this blog has made me feel lighter and I am glad I have done so - I am sure I will be back to my happier self in my next blog.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Wisdom on the Wind
Today has been one of those wonderfully windy days, the days when you are constantly reminded of the wind, regardless of whether you are inside or outside, even while I type I can hear it beating on the windows and moving through the trees.This morning, as I was walking with Violet, we were swept up in a particularly large gust of wind; big, dry, brown leaves swirled around us and up, high into the sky.
That is, by far, my favourite thing about Autumn and it is sad that it has taken me until this far into the season to experience it. Those wonderful gusts of wind make me feel weightless, as though I too could be carried away to some unknown place. I have experienced gusts of wind like this every Autumn since I can remember and they always fill me with such joy and optimism. I believe they are full of energy and remind me that change is coming and inevitable. It's exciting.
So what changes are coming my way? What secrets are whispered, or howled upon the wind? Tonight I shall take time to sit and listen to the knowledge brought to me on the wind. I will ask the questions that arise in my mind and I will attempt to gain clarity and calm in regards to the changes taking place around me. I am feeling a little lost at this exact point in time - I am adrift without much to anchor me, and so tuning into the magic of the universe and, more specifically, the knowledgeable element of air is exactly what I need.
That is, by far, my favourite thing about Autumn and it is sad that it has taken me until this far into the season to experience it. Those wonderful gusts of wind make me feel weightless, as though I too could be carried away to some unknown place. I have experienced gusts of wind like this every Autumn since I can remember and they always fill me with such joy and optimism. I believe they are full of energy and remind me that change is coming and inevitable. It's exciting.
So what changes are coming my way? What secrets are whispered, or howled upon the wind? Tonight I shall take time to sit and listen to the knowledge brought to me on the wind. I will ask the questions that arise in my mind and I will attempt to gain clarity and calm in regards to the changes taking place around me. I am feeling a little lost at this exact point in time - I am adrift without much to anchor me, and so tuning into the magic of the universe and, more specifically, the knowledgeable element of air is exactly what I need.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Motivation, Affirmations and Flowers
I have always struggled with motivation and discipline when it comes to my study. I find it really hard to focus on the end result and the bigger picture and I am amazingly proficient when it comes to procrastination. I have improved since becoming a mother and also as a result of becoming more mature. I am so determined to become a naturopath and also to just have some kind of qualification but I still struggle to sit down and study.
This semester I am studying Flower Essences as one of my units and I am amazed by this modality. It is such a wonderful and magical form of healing and I believe that magic comes through in more than just taking these remedies. Last week I studied several lectures before taking the quiz that was part of the assessment for this unit. Those lectures were amazingly relevant for the issues that I am going through and referred mainly to motivation and self love. I was completely amazed at this subject matter and it spurred me on to learn about this subject and provided me with startlingly relevant affirmations that I needed to be taking this course and that I am on the right track in terms of a profession. Then today, when studying the next lecture, my sister walked in the room to overhear the information on just one flower and she gasped and exclaimed "that's me!". Not only are these flower essences amazing and effective when taking the remedies but I believe that their power translates into something much greater.
It is completely encouraging for me, as a person who has chosen to incorporate my spiritual practices with what I want to do professionally, to see how these things can work on a much higher level than the physical. Before I started this unit I knew very little about flower essences, except for the copious amounts of rescue remedy I borrowed from other students before exams, and now I can't believe I haven't looked into it before now.
It is a beautiful thing for me to be able to incorporate what I know to be true in a spiritual sense into what I am learning intellectually. What a gift this is to be reminded of why I am studying this course at a time when my determination was flagging.
This semester I am studying Flower Essences as one of my units and I am amazed by this modality. It is such a wonderful and magical form of healing and I believe that magic comes through in more than just taking these remedies. Last week I studied several lectures before taking the quiz that was part of the assessment for this unit. Those lectures were amazingly relevant for the issues that I am going through and referred mainly to motivation and self love. I was completely amazed at this subject matter and it spurred me on to learn about this subject and provided me with startlingly relevant affirmations that I needed to be taking this course and that I am on the right track in terms of a profession. Then today, when studying the next lecture, my sister walked in the room to overhear the information on just one flower and she gasped and exclaimed "that's me!". Not only are these flower essences amazing and effective when taking the remedies but I believe that their power translates into something much greater.
It is completely encouraging for me, as a person who has chosen to incorporate my spiritual practices with what I want to do professionally, to see how these things can work on a much higher level than the physical. Before I started this unit I knew very little about flower essences, except for the copious amounts of rescue remedy I borrowed from other students before exams, and now I can't believe I haven't looked into it before now.
It is a beautiful thing for me to be able to incorporate what I know to be true in a spiritual sense into what I am learning intellectually. What a gift this is to be reminded of why I am studying this course at a time when my determination was flagging.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Cycles and Traditions
Something that has been on my mind lately is the lack of seasonal events in the course of my year. I recently watched a television show called Victorian Farm, where three historians chose to live on and run a farm using Victorian technologies for one year. It was so beautiful to see how their lives were completely ruled by the seasonal changes, as were their celebrations. In that setting you can really see the wheel of the year come to life and understand why it was such an important thing.
We, however, are no longer Victorian farmers. How many of us begin six weeks of gruelling work to harvest our wheat crop after Laghnasadh, and end in a celebration feast at Mabon? In a modern society most fruit and vegetables are available to us all year round, we easily adjust the climate in our houses to suit our needs and we can easily become disconnected from natural cycles. The changing of the seasons can become a nonevent due to the way we live our lives and so I have been thinking about how to incorporate teaching my daughter the importance of cycles into family traditions and yearly events.
In spring I began planting vegetables in my back yard. Growing my own food has been a great way for me to get back in touch with natural rhythms and I think it is something I will encourage Violet to participate in. I have also been thinking about rituals and habits that were key parts of the a farmers year and how they can still be relevant to our house hold. Spring cleaning is a great one, I have decided to bring in the practice of intentionally and consciously cleansing the house room by room each spring, if I dedicate a week to do this and involve everyone in the family we could end in a big celebration and invite friends and family to welcome in the warmer months. I also love the idea of picking fruits to make into jam at the end of summer, and even use some of these jams in a feast at Yule. This was a wonderful suggestion from a beautiful witch friend of mine.
I think these will be great ways to teach Violet and will pass on the greater understanding of cycles and our connections to the natural world. It is no longer satisfying to simply celebrate a sabbat because it's a sabbat and so these are the plans I have for my family, and if you know of any other seasonal activities I could incorporate into our yearly calendar I would greatly appreciate the suggestions.
We, however, are no longer Victorian farmers. How many of us begin six weeks of gruelling work to harvest our wheat crop after Laghnasadh, and end in a celebration feast at Mabon? In a modern society most fruit and vegetables are available to us all year round, we easily adjust the climate in our houses to suit our needs and we can easily become disconnected from natural cycles. The changing of the seasons can become a nonevent due to the way we live our lives and so I have been thinking about how to incorporate teaching my daughter the importance of cycles into family traditions and yearly events.
In spring I began planting vegetables in my back yard. Growing my own food has been a great way for me to get back in touch with natural rhythms and I think it is something I will encourage Violet to participate in. I have also been thinking about rituals and habits that were key parts of the a farmers year and how they can still be relevant to our house hold. Spring cleaning is a great one, I have decided to bring in the practice of intentionally and consciously cleansing the house room by room each spring, if I dedicate a week to do this and involve everyone in the family we could end in a big celebration and invite friends and family to welcome in the warmer months. I also love the idea of picking fruits to make into jam at the end of summer, and even use some of these jams in a feast at Yule. This was a wonderful suggestion from a beautiful witch friend of mine.
I think these will be great ways to teach Violet and will pass on the greater understanding of cycles and our connections to the natural world. It is no longer satisfying to simply celebrate a sabbat because it's a sabbat and so these are the plans I have for my family, and if you know of any other seasonal activities I could incorporate into our yearly calendar I would greatly appreciate the suggestions.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Self Love
On Saturday night my sisiter and I performed a beautiful full moon ritual. It was dedicated to self love, something I have always struggled with and my lack of which has been brought to my attention in a number of situations over the past month. It is not an easy thing to confront, mainly because a lack of self love means that you don't feel like you deserve to love yourself more. But I was recently reminded that as pagans we believe that divinity is in everything of the earth and we are all of the earth, therefore I have divinty in myself, so to not love myself is to not love the Goddess in some aspect. Having said that, if part of my spiritual practice is to love the earth and all beings within it, it makes sense that I begin with myself.
As we created our ritual the sky was brilliantly clear so we could look upon the Moon with awe, it began behind the trees and while we weaved our magic She rose up into the sky to shine, uniteruptedly, down on us. We did a guided meditation to meet the Goddess in all her radiance, and she embraced us and gave us the messages that we all both needed to hear. After the meditation we washed our hands in a bowl of water infused with white and pink rose petals while we described what we experienced in our meditations. We then wrote affirmations on a piece of green paper (to represent the heart charkra) and raised energy to put into a piece of jewelry that we wear all the time, to remind us to love ourselves. We then did or usual ritual elements of reading our cards and talking about our desires for the next month. It was an amazingly powerful ritual that left me feeling peaceful and relaxed, if a little depleated of energy.
I learnt that I am a daughter of the Goddess and that I, like all of us, am worthy of great love- most importantly from myself. I have had difficulty in writting a blog since it was pointed out to me that my writing skills are less than perfect. I think I was disheartened, because in writing this blog I am showing people a part of myself that is flawed. When I was younger I used to write stories; I have wanted to be a writer, a journoulist, a poet. I read alot, it is one of my dearest hobbies and yet I am a terrible speller and don't know an adjective from a noun, but I love myself and I think I have something that is worth saying. I will continue to write and someday i will improve my English skills, although right now it is not on the top of my list of priorities and that is fine. I am perfect just as I am.
As we created our ritual the sky was brilliantly clear so we could look upon the Moon with awe, it began behind the trees and while we weaved our magic She rose up into the sky to shine, uniteruptedly, down on us. We did a guided meditation to meet the Goddess in all her radiance, and she embraced us and gave us the messages that we all both needed to hear. After the meditation we washed our hands in a bowl of water infused with white and pink rose petals while we described what we experienced in our meditations. We then wrote affirmations on a piece of green paper (to represent the heart charkra) and raised energy to put into a piece of jewelry that we wear all the time, to remind us to love ourselves. We then did or usual ritual elements of reading our cards and talking about our desires for the next month. It was an amazingly powerful ritual that left me feeling peaceful and relaxed, if a little depleated of energy.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Giving Thanks
Spell work and manifestation are constantly spoken about and expected when practicing magic. We are always reading or learning about ways to call in our desires, how to direct energies to work in a beneficial way in our lives. There are countless books dedicated to teaching us how best to change our perceptions and utilize our personal power in order to achieve our own purposes, but what about when those goals have been realized?
Mabon is fast approaching, it will soon be the autumn equinox in the southern hemisphere, when we have truly left summer behind and the days are more dark than they are light. The lack of sunlight and the lack of warmth creates a mood of self reflection in me. I have always found it to be a time of taking stock of the things in my life, but I like to look at all the positive things - it makes complete sense to me, in terms of this seasonal change, to use this time for giving thanks, for realizing just what I have to uplift my soul and bring light back to the darkening days.
Six months ago, not long before the spring equinox, I participated in a ritual to sow the seeds of what I wanted to grow in the coming months. We spoke of what we wanted to call in and raised energy in order to manifest these things with the added hope of the returning summer, that joyous anticipatory energy when you know good things are soon to come. Now, looking back, I feel lighter and joyous again with the echo of that hope because I can see how that seed has grown and taken root in my life.
This is why, in my practice, giving thanks is as much a part of spell work as calling in or letting go. In giving thanks I show my gratitude and make myself humble, but I am also filled with awe and wonder at how amazing the universe and my life really is. Giving thanks is an empowering act that I recommend everyone do especially when it feels like a difficult task.
Mabon is fast approaching, it will soon be the autumn equinox in the southern hemisphere, when we have truly left summer behind and the days are more dark than they are light. The lack of sunlight and the lack of warmth creates a mood of self reflection in me. I have always found it to be a time of taking stock of the things in my life, but I like to look at all the positive things - it makes complete sense to me, in terms of this seasonal change, to use this time for giving thanks, for realizing just what I have to uplift my soul and bring light back to the darkening days.
This is why, in my practice, giving thanks is as much a part of spell work as calling in or letting go. In giving thanks I show my gratitude and make myself humble, but I am also filled with awe and wonder at how amazing the universe and my life really is. Giving thanks is an empowering act that I recommend everyone do especially when it feels like a difficult task.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Elemental Magict Part 4 - EARTH
What an awesome element; solid, grounding, nurturing, the Great Mother. Earth is the hard work, earth is the harvest, earth is nature. I have been spending alot of time over the past 6 months getting in touch with the power of this element; I have begun gardening and in doing so I've started growing my own fruits and veggies. We were lucky enough, when we moved in, to have a vegetable garden set up at the back of our property but there was nothing growing in it at the time. It was a well designed plot and ready to be planted out.
With the help of a few friends and family I soon established a spring garden. I also started a potted herb garden as well, I am a witch after all. We have eaten lettuce, tomatoes, silverbeet, cucumber, spring onions, carrots, zucchini and strawberries as a result of our hard work and I hope to soon enjoy the watermelon and the corn that we planted as well.
Already, in this first season, I have learnt many valuable lessons from the earth and the act of providing myself and my family with sustenance. When I had first planted my tomato seedlings I dilligently tended to my babies everyday, sometimes twice a day. I was always in the vegie patch inspecting and meddling. When the first flowers appeared I was so excited, only to watch helplessly as the blossoms dropped off the plant before having any chance to create fruit. After talking to an expert at Bunnings I discovered I was overwatering them. A few days later I dreamt of an amazing patch of tomatoes that had grown without my knowledge and every bush was laden with beautiful ripe fruit, I had my answer. When preparing the soil and sowing the seeds hard work and attenton is required, however, when the plants are established and growing, a step back is needed to let them do their own thing. Nature, it seems, has a way of sorting things out for itself. It was a great lesson for me to learn, one that is very clearly also a methaphore for life.
Traditionally earth is the element of the south. It's tarot symbol is the pentacle and it's dedicated colour is green. Earth is a strong, grounding, nourishing and practical element. It is our physical presence and the hard work we put into everything we do. My earth magic is about abundance, security and nurture.
With the help of a few friends and family I soon established a spring garden. I also started a potted herb garden as well, I am a witch after all. We have eaten lettuce, tomatoes, silverbeet, cucumber, spring onions, carrots, zucchini and strawberries as a result of our hard work and I hope to soon enjoy the watermelon and the corn that we planted as well.
Already, in this first season, I have learnt many valuable lessons from the earth and the act of providing myself and my family with sustenance. When I had first planted my tomato seedlings I dilligently tended to my babies everyday, sometimes twice a day. I was always in the vegie patch inspecting and meddling. When the first flowers appeared I was so excited, only to watch helplessly as the blossoms dropped off the plant before having any chance to create fruit. After talking to an expert at Bunnings I discovered I was overwatering them. A few days later I dreamt of an amazing patch of tomatoes that had grown without my knowledge and every bush was laden with beautiful ripe fruit, I had my answer. When preparing the soil and sowing the seeds hard work and attenton is required, however, when the plants are established and growing, a step back is needed to let them do their own thing. Nature, it seems, has a way of sorting things out for itself. It was a great lesson for me to learn, one that is very clearly also a methaphore for life.
Traditionally earth is the element of the south. It's tarot symbol is the pentacle and it's dedicated colour is green. Earth is a strong, grounding, nourishing and practical element. It is our physical presence and the hard work we put into everything we do. My earth magic is about abundance, security and nurture.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Elemental Magic Part 3 - WATER
I moved to Yarra Glen in May of last year, and since then I have watched the water rise up around us to the point of almost completely blocking us off from the rest of the world (even if it was just a few hours). This is nothing however compared to those caught in the Queensland floods or the Tsunami's, but it is impressive to watch the brown and dusty earth around us turn into a sodden and soggy swamp land. Last year we were in the middle of a drought that restricted every aspect of our water usage, now our water tank is overflowing and plants are dying from too much water.
Magically water is the realm of emotion and intuition and dreaming. In a vast ocean of water we can olny see the surface and everything it holds remains hidden until we delve into the great depths. Even then most of it's contents can elude us. Water is mysterious; the ebb and flow of tides which is controlled by the moon, the myths of mermaids and monsters and creatures that are constantly being questioned. The same can be said of the psychic realms and intuition, and perhaps even our emotions. These are things that are always searched for and studied but remain intangible.
My favourite form of water magic is the simple act of cleansing. There is a part of the Yarra River that I go to, it is not that well known and often if I time it right there are not many other people there. This section of the river opens up wide and is surrounded by densely forested mountains on either side. It feels a million miles from anywhere, though in reality it is only a few minutes drive from where I used to live. I love to swim in that rive,r to float with the current and just be present. I always feel cleansed and rejuvinated after trips like these.
Traditionally water is the element of the west. It's tarot symbol is the cup and it's dedicated colour is blue. Water is cleansing, calming, intuitive, dreamlike. So much of our physical bodies are made up of water, therefore using this element in magic is a great way to bring forward parts of yourself that are being unheard and that have so much to teach us.
Magically water is the realm of emotion and intuition and dreaming. In a vast ocean of water we can olny see the surface and everything it holds remains hidden until we delve into the great depths. Even then most of it's contents can elude us. Water is mysterious; the ebb and flow of tides which is controlled by the moon, the myths of mermaids and monsters and creatures that are constantly being questioned. The same can be said of the psychic realms and intuition, and perhaps even our emotions. These are things that are always searched for and studied but remain intangible.
My favourite form of water magic is the simple act of cleansing. There is a part of the Yarra River that I go to, it is not that well known and often if I time it right there are not many other people there. This section of the river opens up wide and is surrounded by densely forested mountains on either side. It feels a million miles from anywhere, though in reality it is only a few minutes drive from where I used to live. I love to swim in that rive,r to float with the current and just be present. I always feel cleansed and rejuvinated after trips like these.
Traditionally water is the element of the west. It's tarot symbol is the cup and it's dedicated colour is blue. Water is cleansing, calming, intuitive, dreamlike. So much of our physical bodies are made up of water, therefore using this element in magic is a great way to bring forward parts of yourself that are being unheard and that have so much to teach us.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Elemental Magic Part 2 - FIRE
I am an aries child. For the majority of the time I am a big ball of firey energy - my mother says that everything is 'all or nothing' with me. I don't know how true that is but I have always had a great connection to that fire energy. I love to watch it dance and change and eat through a log or completely destroy a piece of paper. My fascination isn't with starting fires or trying to make them burn off my eyebrows. I love to watch a fire do its own thing. Fire is alive.
It is the spark of creation, the passion and drive to achieve and a destructive force that leaves nothing in its wake - not just a terrible thing to be feared. All ellements have their destructive qualities and where would we be without the hearth or light or the sun? Where would we be without passion? I love the amazing duality in this element. Fire is love and hate; war and creation; life and death, but always, it is the interplay of energy. Energy constantly changes form, our world is a closed curcuit where energy is never removed only reused.
For me the best way to call in fire magic is by focusing on the interplay of energies. Fire magic is dancing, eating and making love. It is potent and powerful and instantaneous.
Traditionally fire is the element of the east. It's tarot symbol is the wand and red is it's dedicated color.
I have learnt that fires excess energy needs an outlet otherwise it has the potential to seep out in negative ways, and it is this energy that keeps me moving, changing and creating.
It is the spark of creation, the passion and drive to achieve and a destructive force that leaves nothing in its wake - not just a terrible thing to be feared. All ellements have their destructive qualities and where would we be without the hearth or light or the sun? Where would we be without passion? I love the amazing duality in this element. Fire is love and hate; war and creation; life and death, but always, it is the interplay of energy. Energy constantly changes form, our world is a closed curcuit where energy is never removed only reused.
For me the best way to call in fire magic is by focusing on the interplay of energies. Fire magic is dancing, eating and making love. It is potent and powerful and instantaneous.
Traditionally fire is the element of the east. It's tarot symbol is the wand and red is it's dedicated color.
I have learnt that fires excess energy needs an outlet otherwise it has the potential to seep out in negative ways, and it is this energy that keeps me moving, changing and creating.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Elemental Magic Part 1 - AIR
"One of the simplest and most enjoyable ways of making air magic is to breathe" -Phyllis Currot
This month I have decided to begin treating my body as a temple. Among other things I have been excercising I run every other morning and I have joined a yoga class once a week. Both of these activities are teaching me about the act of breathing. They are uniquely different styles of physical activity and therefor my interaction with air is completely different, however being concious of the way you are breathing is a crucial part of each activity.
I think that's the point; for the majority of the time breathing, for most people, is unconcious and taken for granted. In begining these two activities I am learning that breathing is an amazing way to achieve a meditative state.
Air is the element of the mind; of intellect and inspiration; of thought. It makes sense that by bringing focus to the way we interact with the air around us we may then enter a world in our minds. This is fantastic new for me because I have really struggled with trying to meditate at home. Even when my daughter, Violet, is sleeping my mind stays with her and I can't let go. Through focusing on my breath I have rediscovered meditation.
Traditionally air is the element of the east. It's tarot symbol is the sword and yellow is it's dedicated color. When performing a ritual, air is the element I call upon when I need freedom, clarity and space and when I do breath work I gain this and more. I am learning that the most simplest of rituals can sometimes be the most effective.
This month I have decided to begin treating my body as a temple. Among other things I have been excercising I run every other morning and I have joined a yoga class once a week. Both of these activities are teaching me about the act of breathing. They are uniquely different styles of physical activity and therefor my interaction with air is completely different, however being concious of the way you are breathing is a crucial part of each activity.
I think that's the point; for the majority of the time breathing, for most people, is unconcious and taken for granted. In begining these two activities I am learning that breathing is an amazing way to achieve a meditative state.
Air is the element of the mind; of intellect and inspiration; of thought. It makes sense that by bringing focus to the way we interact with the air around us we may then enter a world in our minds. This is fantastic new for me because I have really struggled with trying to meditate at home. Even when my daughter, Violet, is sleeping my mind stays with her and I can't let go. Through focusing on my breath I have rediscovered meditation.
Traditionally air is the element of the east. It's tarot symbol is the sword and yellow is it's dedicated color. When performing a ritual, air is the element I call upon when I need freedom, clarity and space and when I do breath work I gain this and more. I am learning that the most simplest of rituals can sometimes be the most effective.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Everyday Witch
'...When the moon rides at her peak, then your hearts desire speak...' -Wiccan Rede
Every month my sister and I hold space to honour the full moon. We cast circle in the back yard and speak about what we want for the coming month. We also reflect on what we wrote for the previous month. We then pull an oracle card as well as a three card spread of tarot.
Each time we perform this ritual I find we are becoming clearer and more intune with the requirements we have for the coming weeks. A friend of mine says it is like group therapy; that we sit around discussing things we want to change or issues tht are going on in our lives and it is a space to share with other people. These rituals mean so much to me because they are simple and direct and therefore something we are able to continue with each full moon.
Before my beautiful daughter came along my witchcraft was a huge part of what I did. However, after her birth everything was, understandably, pushed to the bottom of my list of priorities. What I have been learning is that I am now a new person so the spiritual practices that suited my old self need to evolve and change with me or be left behind.
This past year has taught me the importance of seeing the divine in everday life. I can't meditate for an hour everday or attend ellaborate rituals every week, but my spirituality has always come from within myself so I have no need to attend someone else's gathering to commune with the Gods or Godddess'. My daughter is a sorce of connecting with the divine, my mother energy and the Mother energy. She reminds me how important and liberating it is to see the world with childs eyes. She shows me everyday how amazing the world is and how much we take for granted.
I am slowly learning to incorporate my witchcraft into every moment of my life. There will be a point in the future where that changes again and I look forward to that potential. For now, my path is in learning the skill of being an everyday witch.
Every month my sister and I hold space to honour the full moon. We cast circle in the back yard and speak about what we want for the coming month. We also reflect on what we wrote for the previous month. We then pull an oracle card as well as a three card spread of tarot.
Each time we perform this ritual I find we are becoming clearer and more intune with the requirements we have for the coming weeks. A friend of mine says it is like group therapy; that we sit around discussing things we want to change or issues tht are going on in our lives and it is a space to share with other people. These rituals mean so much to me because they are simple and direct and therefore something we are able to continue with each full moon.
Before my beautiful daughter came along my witchcraft was a huge part of what I did. However, after her birth everything was, understandably, pushed to the bottom of my list of priorities. What I have been learning is that I am now a new person so the spiritual practices that suited my old self need to evolve and change with me or be left behind.
This past year has taught me the importance of seeing the divine in everday life. I can't meditate for an hour everday or attend ellaborate rituals every week, but my spirituality has always come from within myself so I have no need to attend someone else's gathering to commune with the Gods or Godddess'. My daughter is a sorce of connecting with the divine, my mother energy and the Mother energy. She reminds me how important and liberating it is to see the world with childs eyes. She shows me everyday how amazing the world is and how much we take for granted.
I am slowly learning to incorporate my witchcraft into every moment of my life. There will be a point in the future where that changes again and I look forward to that potential. For now, my path is in learning the skill of being an everyday witch.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
The Beginning.
It is two days before the Moon is full. Outside the rain pelts down despite the shoulder to shoulder blue sky we had today. It is the middle of Febuary and the seasons are coming all at once. I am forever amazed at the natural world, the interactions and the sights and smells. Our planet is a living breathing organism and She holds amazing power and endless potential.
That is the basis of my spirituality, the core of where I am coming from. I look at the world, my perception of how it should be, and I see magic everywhere. There are, of course, other aspects to my spiritual journey; I don't believe anything so complex can be expressed in such a succinct paragraph. I remember the first pagan gathering I went to - it's not important what or where or when - but I remember looking around and feeling the energy in the room and I was overwhelmed with a complete sense of homecoming. I felt comfortable and I couldn't believe there were gatherings like this or that I had never known about them.
The next few years were amazing in my personal developent. Perhaps it was due to my age, but I think this new awareness of my spiritual self had a definite influence on the person I became. I find paganism empowering like nothing else I have experienced. I have had a lot of ups and downs since venturing out to find other people who share a common thread in there journeys. Something I have learnt, that I think is very important when following a spirituality that is so fluid, is to always come back to yourself. The need to check in with where you sit with your own core beliefs and values from time to time is neccessary because other people can teach, but only you choose what you take on board and what you cast aside. This life is about your journey, your lessons and your experiences. Guidance is important, but what it comes down to is you.
I am a woman. I am a mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend, a lover. I am a witch. I celebrate the cycles of my world and the realms of spirituality that resonate in my soul. This is the path I am on.
That is the basis of my spirituality, the core of where I am coming from. I look at the world, my perception of how it should be, and I see magic everywhere. There are, of course, other aspects to my spiritual journey; I don't believe anything so complex can be expressed in such a succinct paragraph. I remember the first pagan gathering I went to - it's not important what or where or when - but I remember looking around and feeling the energy in the room and I was overwhelmed with a complete sense of homecoming. I felt comfortable and I couldn't believe there were gatherings like this or that I had never known about them.
The next few years were amazing in my personal developent. Perhaps it was due to my age, but I think this new awareness of my spiritual self had a definite influence on the person I became. I find paganism empowering like nothing else I have experienced. I have had a lot of ups and downs since venturing out to find other people who share a common thread in there journeys. Something I have learnt, that I think is very important when following a spirituality that is so fluid, is to always come back to yourself. The need to check in with where you sit with your own core beliefs and values from time to time is neccessary because other people can teach, but only you choose what you take on board and what you cast aside. This life is about your journey, your lessons and your experiences. Guidance is important, but what it comes down to is you.
I am a woman. I am a mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend, a lover. I am a witch. I celebrate the cycles of my world and the realms of spirituality that resonate in my soul. This is the path I am on.
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