October 28th, 2011

I'm so excited! Today is going to be amazing. At 7:00 tonight, I'm having a Halloween/Samhain party with a bunch of friends, and my amazing Aunt C is coming to visit after lunch. My mom and I started getting food for the party ready yesterday (along with Wednesday's Meringue Bones), and so far we have two types of cupcakes, a brain-shaped jello, and the aforementioned bones, not to mention the rest of the stuff we're going to make today. I shall be posting the recipes for these things later, along with pictures of the finished products. :)

Tarot Cards: The Major Arcana, 18 - 21

Today's tarot post will encompass yesterday's as well, as I was unable to access the computer.

18 - The Moon: fear, anxiety, believing illusion, chasing fantasy, dreams, visions, destination, the doorway to hidden unknowns


19 - The Sun: enlightenment, understanding, glory, achieving prominence, joy, energy, invigoration, good health


20 - Judgement: release, renewal, a new start, the necessity of hard choices, reawakening, birth and death, knowing what must be done


21 - The World: satisfaction, peace of mind, successful conclusion, balance, realized goals, prosperity, hard work achieves desired end, culmination of effort

October 27th, 2011

First, a bit about yesterday, as I did not have a chance to go on the computer. If you are an avid reader of this blog, then perhaps you remember my post a few weeks ago about using pendulums. I used mine again last night to great effect when Ben tragically lost his bouncy ball. As he searched the living room and convinced himself he'd never see his ball again, I quietly pulled out my pendulum and found the missing toy under the coffee table in under a minute. No matter how many times I use these things, their powers never cease to amaze me. I also made Meringue Bones last night, a delicious Samhain treat that can be made out of nothing but 5 ingredients. The recipe I used is available here: http://recipes.kaboose.com/meringue-bones.html . Today, I had a choir concert, and it was truly glorious. There's something magical about music. It is literally as powerful a force as that by which the Lord and Lady brought the universe into existence; the creation of something out of nothing, of rippling sound waves where before there was only still air. Indeed, the very act of speaking, humming, whistling, or singing is an act of divine creation. Just a little something to think about...

Tarot Cards: The Major Arcana, 16 and 17

16 - The Tower: catastrophe, sudden change, crisis, releasing all emotion, blow to the ego, revelation, seeing through illusions, necessary disruption to the status quo


17 - The Star: regaining hope, faith in the future, inspiration, serenity, tranquility amid trouble, harmony, offering without reservations, sharing, generosity, peace, releasing doubt and fear

October 25th, 2011

Today, I had a history test I wasn't feeling all that prepared for. I had studied, but the information wasn't really sticking, so after eating a good breakfast and going through my notes again, I took a rosemary sprig and empowered it for retaining information, as one of rosemary's traditional uses is in tandem with memory, education, etc.. I took it to school with me, and set it on my desk during the test. I feel I did pretty well, actually. I'm leaving it in my pencil case, to help empower my school supplies. Such things can be done with any herb. For example, if one wanted to sleep better, one could take a sprig of lavender and empower it for deep, healthy rest and keep it near the bed, or even under one's pillow. You could also drink a tea of that plant (assuming it's not poisonous), or take several sprigs and infuse your bathwater with their oils. Essential oils infused with herbs are also great if you have them. A drop or two rubbed on the pulse point of the wrists and rubbed can be very powerful. If you have a particular way you use an herb, comment and let me know! I'd love to hear it!

Tarot Cards: The Major Arcana, 14 and 15

14 - Temperance: Harmony, equilibrium, balancing of opposites, healing, moderation of extremes, self-restraint, harnessing opposing forces, synthesis


15 - The Devil*: losing independence, addiction, enslavement, materialism, overindulgence, hopelessness


*This card has little to do with the Christian Devil, and more to do with negative energy, regardless of one's religious preference.

Tarot Cards: The Major Arcana, 12 and 13

12 - The Hanged Man: letting go, surrendering to experience, emotional release, accepting what is, giving up control, suspending action, sacrifice


13 - Death: Opening a new door, shutting out the past, transition, changing status, shedding the old

October 23rd, 2011

I spent some time with Hazelnut again today. It felt like it had been forever, even though it had really only been, what, a week? Together, we painted watercolor pictures. I did one of the Goddess (it wasn't perfect, but hey, it's hard to paint with watercolors), and she did a lovely one of autumn trees. We also used some clay to sculpt skull candle holders for our Samhain altars. They're only big enough to hold birthday candles, but I think we're out of taper candles anyway, other than the ones I'm already using. Mine just got out of the oven, in fact, and the cooking process gave the white clay something of a marbled effect. I actually really like it, so I plan to leave it as-is, as opposed to painting it. I also took Hazelnut to the field outside a near-by middle school with my brothers and flew kites. The wind wasn't too strong, but there was a pretty steady breeze, so we had a good bit of fun playing with one of the less tangible elements.

Tarot Cards: The Major Arcana, 10 and 11

10 - The Wheel of Fortune: destiny, fate, turning point, movement, change, patterns and cycles, interconnection, step back to see the bigger picture

11 - Justice: balance, harmony, equilibrium, assuming responsibility, weighing all sides of an issue before deciding, logic, choosing with awareness, morality, duty, truth

October 22th, 2011

As I mentioned yesterday, Mom got a CD of Halloween music, one song of which was about Samhain. It talked of Soul Cakes, an old Pagan snack made and offered on Samhain Eve. Curious, I did a bit of research and found a website (URL at the bottom of the post) that tells both the history of and a recipe for Soul Cakes.

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By the 8th century, Soul Cakes were sunny yellow cakes rather like a cross between donuts and cookies. Some were simply plain, others marked with symbols (pentagrams, runes, crosses, and the like). On the night of Samhain, they were given to beggars and mummers, the first trick-or-treaters. Others were offered to the ghosts of the dead, who wandered the earth this one night of the year. The site's recipe is as follows:

Makes 12 to 15 2-inch soul cakes

For the Cookies:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, ground fresh if possible

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, ground fresh if possible

1/2 teaspoon salt

Generous pinch of saffron*

1/2 cup milk

1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 egg yolks

1/2 cup currants (optional)**

For the Glaze:

1 egg yolk, beaten

To Bake:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Combine the flour, the nutmeg, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl. Mix well with a fork.

Crumble the saffron threads into a small saucepan and heat over low heat just until they become aromatic, taking care not to burn them. Add the milk and heat just until hot to the touch. The milk will have turned a bright yellow. Remove from heat.

Cream the butter and sugar together in a medium bowl with a wooden spoon (or use an electric mixer with the paddle attachment). Add the egg yolks and blend in thoroughly with the back of the spoon. Add the spiced flour and combine as thoroughly as possible; the mixture will be dry and crumbly.

One tablespoon at a time, begin adding in the warm saffron milk, blending vigorously with the spoon. When you have a soft dough, stop adding milk; you probably won't need the entire half-cup.

Turn the dough out onto a floured counter and knead gently, with floured hands, until the dough is uniform. Roll out gently to a thickness of 1/2 inch. Using a floured 2-inch round cookie or biscuit cutter, cut out as many rounds as you can and set on an ungreased baking sheet. You can gather and re-roll the scraps, gently.

Decorate the soul cakes with currants and then brush liberally with the beaten egg yolk. Bake for 15 minutes, until just golden and shiny. Serve warm, with cold pumpkin juice.

If desired, one could etch designs into the dough before brushing with the egg.

*Saffron is an amazing spice, and is great to use if you have it. However, it can be really pricey, so if you don't want to spend a ton of money on your Soul Cakes, the saffron could be replaced with yellow food coloring.
**One could also use dried cranberries, blueberries, raisins, etc.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15536354

Tarot Cards: The Major Arcana, 8 and 9

8 - Strength: courage, calm, composure, patience, persuasion, soft control, measured force, faith in success, unshakable resolve is necessary


9 - The Hermit: Being introspective, withdrawing, giving or receiving guidance, inspirational friend or teacher, making the mysterious clear, peace, tranquility

October 21th, 2011

Samhain approaches, and as it does so, Samhain and Halloween music seems most appropriate. And yet, it is somehow difficult to get a wide variety of music focused on this spooky time of year. My mom actually found a website belonging to Kristen Lawrence, a woman with a gorgeous voice, who writes "Halloween Carols", and so she bought two of her CDs, one of which is A Broom With a View. Her music combines modern Halloween ideas with Pagan traditions, and writes beautiful songs in four-part harmony. Songs on A Broom With a View include: Mostly Ghostly, A Broom With a View, Souling Song (All Hallows Version), Souling Song (Samhain Version), Dark Glass, Cats in the Catacombs, Sleeping Dust, Flappy Bat, and Vampire Empire. The CD also includes instrumental versions of some of the songs.

Tarot Cards: The Major Arcana, 6 and 7

6 - The Lovers: union, balance, energy, flow, love, desire, passion, melding of heart and mind, marriage; union may or may not be romantic in nature.


7 - The Chariot: triumph over obstacles, achieving victory, focused intent and will, self-confidence, discipline, power, authority, control

A Samhain Pumpkin

This pumpkin painting was inspired by my dear friend Hazelnut. As you may recall, a while back we bought some gourds and pumpkins together, and I just got around to painting my little orange friend. Last night, Hazelnut gave me a most wonderful idea for a painting, and so here it is.

The front...:























...and the back:


*A note: This says "friend" in Japanese.

October 20th, 2011

Turquoise. One of the better-known gemstones, and one that I have been utilizing a lot these days. It is found (in the USA, anyway) primarily in the South-west. It also occurs in Mexico and Iran. Turquoise comes in a variety of colors, the most common of which is a bright sky-blue. It can, however, have a greenish hue. Some rarer varieties can be found in an apple green. While there are numerous uses for turquoise, the complexities of which I don't know enough about to get into, I generally use it to enhance the 5th, or throat, chakra. Turquoise, when worn or held to this energy vortex, allows one to speak more clearly, and be self-expressive. As I have daily choir and play practice, I have found it extremely helpful. I have a turquoise ring and necklace, both of which get frequent use. If you need a bit of a vocal pick-me-up, if you have any throat or voice-related disease, or if you have difficulty expressing yourself to others, wearing turquoise can be helpful. For some added oomph, cleanse it in ritual, and empower it for your purpose.

Tarot Cards: The Major Arcana, 4 and 5

4 - The Emperor: creating order out of chaos, authority, leadership, strength, law and order, structure


5 - The Hierophant: secrets, tradition, ritual, ceremony, pursuing knowledge, manifestation of spiritual, solving mysteries

October 19th, 2011

Remember that lovely weather that we've had here-abouts recently? Well, today was a bit different. It was drippy all morning, and then this evening it has been pouring. However, rain is simply another aspect of the earth, and as such is just as sacred as the sun, snow, and wind. While it hasn't been storming, a particularly strong blast of wind reminded me of a part of Silver Ravenwolf's interpretation of a Pagan creation myth.

"When thunder roars in the heavens and lightening cracks from the ground, the Lord and Lady dance the divine myth of creation so that we may remember Them and know that we are never alone, and that we all are one."

There are, of course, many beliefs within Paganism itself, not to mention other religions, as to earth's creation, but I've always been a fan of Ravenwolf's description, as it closely mirrors how I have instinctively felt from a young age.

Tarot Cards: The Major Arcana, 2 and 3

Here are today's tarot cards and their meanings. Remember, if you use regular playing cards as your tarot deck, both of these will be in the extra 22 cards set aside and marked for the Major Arcana.

2 - The High Priestess: Wisdom, knowledge, learning, virtue, purity, a full cycle


3 - The Empress: Creativity, generosity, patience, love, abundance, experiencing the senses, embracing the natural, creation, life

October 18th, 2011

I always make it a point to check outside the window in the morning for any little furry friends that may be hanging out, and lo and behold, this morning a fluffy little skunk was eating out of the ground feeder. Then later, as I walked to my bus stop, I startled a wee little bunny rabbit. Now, rabbits have always been a favorite animal of mine, but I've found that, in the mornings anyway, they tend to herald difficulty or upcoming strife. When I got home, I checked that against internet sources on Power Animals and the like, and my theory seems to be correct. Traditionally, one of the rabbit's power associations is that of fear or upset. Curious, I then looked up meanings behind the skunk and found that skunks mean creativity and self-confidence. Combined, the two ideas give one a surprisingly accurate summary of my day: it was all right, but I had some moments lacking in confidence, where I didn't want to say anything, because I couldn't figure out the "right" thing to say. How about you, readers? Have you noticed any animals that have a special meaning for you?

October 17th, 2011

I have covered divining with pendulums before, but that has been the only tool I have yet to venture into a post about, so I thought I would begin having a daily post about different tarot cards, in addition to my regular posts. The tarot is an interesting topic, because it allows one to ask far more in-depth questions, and examine the various levels and factors in a situation. If you already have a tarot deck, that's brilliant! My deck, a gift from my lovely Aunt C, was illustrated by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, and is absolutely gorgeous. If you don't, do not despair. In the event that you are unable to purchase one, you could draw your own deck (you don't have to be a master artist), or use regular playing cards. The tarot is divided into a Major and Minor arcana. The Major indicates major events, while the Minor indicates smaller or more subtle events. The Minor arcana is further divided into four suites: wands, cups, swords, and pentacles. I will begin with the Major arcana. These are 22 cards, each symbolizing a unique event or characteristic. I will list the meanings commonly associated with each card, but that may vary depending upon the reader. If your gut instinct goes against what I have written, trust it.

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0 - The Fool: new beginnings, pleasure, passion, thoughtlessness, rashness, doing before thinking, adventure, unlimited possibilities.


1 - The Magician: Originality, creativity, skill, willpower, self-confidence, manifestation, the elements.

My crummy pictures hardly do the cards justice, but these are sample cards one could reference. If you are using a deck of playing cards, one would need a regular deck of 52 cards, as well as another 22 cards that could be marked for the Major Arcana. If you choose to do this, simply write the Major arcana titles on the bottom of those selected cards. The rest you could choose to mark, or have the correspondences (which I will cover later) recorded elsewhere.

Gaia

Thank heavens for Google, which provides me with a plethora of wonderful images. Hope you find this picture as peaceful and thought-provoking as I did.

October 16th, 2011

I have a Pagan friend who needs help. She's smart, absolutely hilarious, and one of the most amazing, beautiful people I know. But her home life sucks, and she's got clinical depression. If you are reading this, I don't care who you are or what you believe, take a moment to send her some positive energy. We've been trying to get her into counselling, but it's so hard to find good therapists who will work for free. In light of this, I want to take today to put down two simple spells to banish depression and negativity, as well as a ritual for increasing self-esteem. This goes out to my soul sister, and to any other Pagans out there also suffering depression.

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To Banish Depression: Go to a place with running water, like a stream, river, etc.. Light a candle for the Lord, and a candle for the Lady (tea lights would work well for this), and take a black stone in the right hand. Focus all the reasons for your depression into the stone. Let your negative feelings drain out of you and fill the stone. Then throw it into the water, and say "I cast you out, let the bad wash away. Let me be filled with peace and harmony.". Sit for a few moments and enjoy a feeling of positive energy flooding you.
To Banish Negativity: When you are feeling particularly stressed, take a deep breath and say or think to yourself "Sun by day, moon by night. Let all dark thoughts be put to flight." Take another deep breath, and release the tension in your body.
To Boost Self Esteem: Take a ritual bath, and really relax. Break out the bubbles, bath salts, special shampoos or lotions - whatever you have. If all you really have is your everyday shampoo and soap, run a bath anyway and add some dish soap and table salt. Afterwards, put on a ritual robe or other special outfit. For anyone on a budget (like me, for example) or who just can't have robes, tie a bed sheet around yourself toga-style. Create Sacred Space, and cast a circle. If you like, play calming music, or natural sounds. On your altar, have a red cloth, on which are pink, white, and silver candles (all-white are acceptable, as are those birthday candles in the bottom of the kitchen drawer). Have also a pen, a mirror, and hearts cut out of construction paper. Light the altar candles, and take a good look at yourself in the mirror. Open your mind to the Goddess, and let her tell you all the amazing things about you. Write these on the hearts. If a negative response comes, write it down, scribble it out, and burn it in the silver candle. Then look in the mirror and say "I am not {insert negative comment here}, I am beautiful/handsome.". Take as long for this exercise as you need. Then say (with feeling) "I am Goddess/God. I am connected to all things great and small. I am Goddess/God. I am the giver of strength and love to life. I honor the Divine in me! Blessed be.". Then eat something tasty, and get out in nature, even if that means sitting on the back porch and enjoying the weather.

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Remember, no matter who you are, you were made specially by the Lord and Lady, and have something unique to bring to the planet, and to learn. Never let anyone or anything cause you to forget that.

Samhain Costume, Cont.

Today I finished off (for now) my Samhain costume, by making a fairy wand.



They're really simple, and can be used for costumes, rituals, and representations of the element air. Simply find a stick that you like in your yard, the park, etc. Mine is about two feet long, but go with a length that you will like. I recommend you use a fallen stick, as wood that has dried out seems to work better, but if you're set on cutting a branch, make sure to ask the tree's permission, and leave a gift of some kind afterwards, be it a bit of hair, water, etc. Then, use a pocket knife or other carving tool to scrape off the outer layer of bark, leaving a few natural inches at the bottom for a handle. If there are any rough spots, go over them with some sandpaper, before painting on any designs that you want. I did stripes at the top and just above the handle in the elemental colors, but you could also use runes, spirals, or anything else that speaks to you. Lacking a real crystal, I also added a plastic rhinestone to the handle, and some white ribbons to the top. Other adornments could include bells, beads, feathers, etc.

October 15th, 2011

Today was another one of those days with simply Goddess-blessed, stellar weather. There's not been a cloud in the sky, the sun is shining, and the autumn air is crisp and cool. I had been worried that it would rain today, after a wet Thursday and Friday, but it didn't. I went apple picking with my family this afternoon, at Royal Oaks Orchard, which is about an hour from where I live. The apples were delicious, and plentiful! We picked half a bushel, and got some white mini pumpkins to add to the house's decor. Mom also got some apple cider, and apple cider donuts. Mmmmm..... If you have an apple orchard anywhere near your house, I highly recommend going. We're going to make pies and apple-sauce with ours, but they could also be baked into breads, used to top off yoghurt, or just enjoyed as-is. If you cut an apple in half cross-wise, as in the picture, you can see nature's little pentagram in the center. It's a great thing to share with kids. I mean, hey I'm a teenager, and I find that really cool. One could also go apple-picking before Mabon, but I think more varieties are available in October. That would be something to look into, though, as apples are the fruit of the Mabon season. I hope to post some pictures from our trip soon, but I forgot my camera, so I have to wait until mom puts her pictures on Facebook.

Samhain Costume

Here's my costume so far. I'm really pleased with it!

October 14th, 2011

What a crazy week! I've had practice for the play, tryouts for the musical, practice for the Speech Team, a huge English project, and Community Choir. I apoligize for my lack of posting, but given the circumstances, I'd say it was justified. ;) Anyway, Wednesday was the Esbat, but again due to the aforementioned pile of stuff I had to do, I waited until last night (the night of the 14th) to do my ritual. I didn't perform a spell or anything, but I did some chanting, and enjoyed juice and yoghurt, as we were out of bread. I also got together my Samhain costume. I'm going as a fairy, and have a turquoise dress, green wings, and a mask I painted.

Elemental Tea Set

Okay, I adore this wee little elemental tea set. They're all food safe, and hand painted. They can be purchased on-line, but as Blogger has decided to be mean, I will have to add the link at the bottom of the post, under the picture.













http://www.thepointyhat.com/Elemental-Tea-Set_p_658.html

October 11th, 2011

What a busy, busy day! School was insane, and I've been crazy with practices for three or four different things: plays, speech team, Japanese, etc.. In light of that, I thought I'd share a little chant and visualizaton I came up with a few years ago to relax. It can be done in a ritual setting, with candles, incense, etc., or it could be done during a stressful test or other like situation, simply by closing one's eyes and thinking the words in one's head.

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First, plant your feet firmly on the floor. Take slow deep breaths, in on the count of four, and out on the count of four. Then say (or think) "Peace" and visualize a lush forest. Then say "Calm", and see a large, moss-covered boulder, and finally "tranquillity", and see a bubbling brook running through the trees. Repeat the exercise until a feeling of relaxation ensues.

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This has worked for me in the past, and I encourage you to give it a go as well.

ABC Book (not done)

Ta da! My not-even-close-to-done coloring book. :)

October 10th, 2011

In celebration of Columbus' taking credit for the discovery of the New World, I had a day off of school today, so my younger brother, Nick, and I took a 10-mile bike ride around the forest preserves in the area. We saw four Woolly Bear caterpillars, a garter snake, a flock of grasshoppers, turkey vultures, and a praying mantis. Here are some of our buddies:



Nowhere is the Lord and Lady more present than in the great outdoors. There's just something indescribably spiritual about speeding down a hill on a bike, the wind whistling through your hair, and leaves falling around you. Once we got home, I printed a Pagan Faerie ABC book and colored the first few pages. I know, I know: I'm a bit old for ABC books, and probably even coloring books in general. But you know what? I like coloring, and I really like Pagan coloring pages. If you, your kids, your grandmother, or whoever is interested in said coloring book, it can be downloaded and printed at: http://www.proudtobepagan.com/kidshome.htm . Indeed, they have a number of kid-friendly activities.

Pendulums

After that last post detailing their use, I thought you might like to see my pendulum. It was given to me by my Aunt C as a Yule gift. :) I hold the pentacle, and divine with the teardrop-shaped metal weight.

October 9th, 2011

Of all the divination tools out there, pendulums are one of the simplest to master. Nevertheless, their power should not be underestimated: they are very accurate and effective, not to mention quick and straight-forward.

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Pendulums, unlike tarot or rune stones, are generally used only for yes or no questions. They can also be used to locate lost objects, but I'm getting a bit ahead of myself there. To begin, hold one end of your pendulum firmly in one hand, so the chain and weight hang loosely. Many pendulums have a weight at both ends; divine with whichever end you prefer. Then ask the pendulum to show you its key for "yes". It will begin to swing. Take note of the direction, as this will vary from pendulum to pendulum. Mine swings closer and further for yes, but another may swing in a clockwise circle. Then ask for "no", "maybe", and "cannot be determined". Again, all of these will vary depending on the pendulum used. If you buy a pendulum, it may come with a card that says how it will swing, for "yes", "no", etc. I would double check the meanings anyway, just in case. Once you have established the directions it will swing, state your question. Try and be clear and precise, but not too wordy. The pendulum will then swing in one of the four directions you recorded earlier, giving you your answer. If you get "cannot be determined", it may be that you need to reword your question. It could also be that there is another action that needs to be taken, before you can get the answer to your question.

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And now, the big question I'm sure everyone is thinking: have I ever used a pendulum, and to what degree of success? Of course I've used one! What's this? You want examples? Well, all right, I'll oblige you with a couple... Saturday morning, I asked it if my dad would let me stay overnight at Hazelnut's house. It kind of stalled for a moment, but then gave me a yes. When I asked my dad initially, he said no, but if you've read any of my previous posts, you know he changed his mind. Not even half an hour ago, I used it to locate a penny that my little brother, Ben, most tragically lost under my reading chair. Oh, now you want to know how to use it to find stuff? Well, I suppose I did promise you...

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To locate a missing object (this also applies to a person, pet, etc.), first determine the general area the thing is likely to be. For example, when looking for Ben's penny, I asked if it was under my desk, and got a negative response. I then tried "under my chair", and got a positive one. Then, I went to my chair and held my pendulum over various areas until I again got a positive response. I looked down in that area, and lo and behold, the one cent piece my brother had tossed my room upside down for. Ah, little brothers... Anyway, I hope this brief introduction to the pendulum proved useful in some way, shape, or form. It's simple, and as my brother could tell you, very useful. ;)

Hanging With Hazelnut...

We got some gourds and pumpkins for our altars, and were going to sleep outside watching the meteor shower, but the moon was extremely bright, so we couldn't see much. Sunday morning, we cooked an awesome breakfast, and sat outside in the sun. We also went to a local park, and played there for a while:

Now I'm home, and will come up with a topic for discussion today, although I have no idea what that will be yet.

October 8th, 2011

Yesterday evening, around 4:30, my friend Hazelnut came over for the night. We had a mini Samhain celebration, and blessed pumpkin pie pop tarts as cakes. Then today, we walked over to the park and enjoyed more beautiful weather. Here are some photos of Hazelnut and the lake:

I love the reflection of the trees in the water. Don't they look pretty? :)Hazelnut actually just set up her own blog, which you can find at hazelnutsmagickblog.blogspot.com . You should check it out, 'cause she's really awesome. There's going to be a meteor shower tonight, so we're going to her house to watch it!

October 7th, 2011

Today's weather is absolutely gorgeous. I'm sitting at my desk writing this with all my windows open, enjoying the gentle breeze and fresh air. One of my two Pagan friends, Hazelnut, is coming over around 4:30 this afternoon, and I'm super excited. More on that later. :) It occurred to me today that some people, particularly those new to the Craft, might be left confused after my post on Wednesday, where grounding and centering is concerned. So, I thought I would do a (hopefully) brief post on how this is usually done. Note that I say "usually": I am here presenting the method that I use, and that I have seen used in books and rituals most often. That does not mean it is the only way to ground or center. Without further adieu:

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To ground, begin by sitting or standing with the back comfortably upright. Utilizing a straight-backed chair can be particularly helpful if you're inclined to slouch. Plant both feet firmly on the ground, and imagine that you are a tree: roots travel down from your feet far into the earth, gathering nutrients and energy from the soil. Try and hold on to this image for at least a minute, and really soak in the feeling of stability the earth energy gives you. Centering is usually done after grounding, though I suppose one could center first. Imagine your body's energy gathering into a super-concentrated ball of gold energy at your solar plexus, an area just above your belly button. One is literally centering one's energy in their body. Again, hold this image for about a minute. Then continue on with your meditations.

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Grounding and centering is also important in magick. It is wise to do this both before and after a spell, ritual, etc.

Devotional

Here's another very pretty devotional, provided for me by the ubiquitous Google. If my previous example didn't work for you, perhaps this one will.

October 5th, 2011

Most people have a specific routine they go through in the morning and evening. For instance, in the morning, I take a shower, eat breakfast, and go on Facebook. But every day before I leave the house, and every night before I go to bed, I have a mini ritual I perform, known as a daily devotion. Now, such devotions can be easily incorporated into any religious structure, and I'm sure an atheist could write one they would be comfortable with as well. However, as a Pagan, my example shall naturally be Pagan in nature. While performing a devotion, you can certainly stand if you prefer that, but I like to sit in a comfortable, upright position, facing my window. If you can be outside that's even better, but I wake up at 5:00, so sitting outside is not particularly practical.
In the morning, ground and center, and then say in a calm, clear voice "I am one with universal perfection. I invoke the positive energy of the Lord and Lady to bless and cleanse my body and spirit that I may perform this day in perfect love and perfect trust, as is befit a member of the Craft of the Wise."
Evening devotions follow much the same procedure, though with a few phrases changed. After grounding and centering, say "I am one with universal perfection. I invoke the positive energy of the Lord and Lady to bless and cleanse my body and spirit that I may sleep this night in peace and wisdom, as is befit a member of the Craft of the Wise."
If there is wording in these examples that you dislike, or something that just doesn't speak to what you believe, feel free to change it. Remember, worship is a personal experience, and I'm only sharing what works for me. If you would like to embellish this procedure and add some burning incense or tea light, that is also perfectly acceptable. Personally, I always wanted to light some incense, but I'm not allowed to burn it, as it's a safety hazard.

October 3rd, 2011

Today, I've been purely in the mood for creativity, and fall is a time of year when crafts and decorating ideas run rampant. Here are a few little projects to do with the family or friends, either to decorate one's altar, or just the house at large.

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Samhain is a lovely time of year, and, in my opinion, is one of the most fun Sabbats to decorate for. In the picture at the left, you can see a lovely idea from About.com, showing how to make a Day of the Dead-inspired garland for around the house, or the altar. Now, the person here sewed colored felt in the shape of skulls together on a piece of ribbon, but you could just as easily glue construction paper shapes to the ribbon. And there's no reason to limit yourself to skulls, or use them even if they aren't your thing. Other seasonal symbols like bats and pumpkins are just as appropriate. Another fun craft is to make pumpkin candles. One could use any size pumpkin, but I recommend the mini pumpkins, as they're smaller and easier to work with. However, larger candles could be made with baking pumpkins, or even acorn squash. Simply cut out the top and scoop the insides out, just like one would for carving. Then, melt paraffin wax or wax chips (the chips tend to burn cleaner). Place a wick in the bottom of the pumpkin/squash, and carefully pour the wax around it. Once the wax has set, there may be an indentation around the wick. Simply fill this with leftover wax, and the candle can be placed on the altar, the doorstep, or the center of the dining table. A final idea popular this time of year is making a Witch's Bottle. It is an easy-to-make protective device, and uses only items already likely common around the house. Fill a jar about half full of pointy objects: pins, old razors, nails, keys without a use, etc., and then completely cover with salt. A "personal marker" is then used to top off the salt. Traditionally, this was urine, but for safety and hygienic purposes, I recommend using a bit of hair, nail clippings, or spit in its place. It'll smell quite a bit better, too. The jar needs to be then hidden away in a place it will not be disturbed. There are, however, two opposing theories on how this should be done. Some say the bottle should remain on the property to draw protection. Others say it should be placed as far from the house as feasible, to draw negativity away from the residence. Choose whichever method makes the most sense to you. Hopefully, these few ideas are getting you in the mood for fall, I know I sure am!

Chinese Wisdom

"Look, it cannot be seen - it is beyond form.
Listen, it cannot be heard - it is beyond sound.
Grasp, it cannot be touched - it is intangible.
These three are indefinable;
Therefore, they are joined in one"
-Lao Tsu

My Gourds

See? Gourds! :)

October 2nd, 2011

Today, ladies and gentlemen, and I going to write about gourds. Yes, you heard me: gourds. Gourds have been used for thousands of years as food, decorations, bird houses, and musical instruments. What is a gourd, exactly? A gourd is either a fruit or vegetable, the reproductive organ of the plant that produces it. Squash also fall into this category. Like with squares and rectangles in Geometry, all squash are gourds, but not all gourds are squash. Looking at non-squash species of gourd, only a few are edible. However, that does not limit the uses to which they can be put, particularly when dried. For instance, I went to a local fall festival yesterday, and my mom purchased for me two small gourds, each just slightly larger than my hand. I have set them on my altar, as my closet area is cool and dark, and over the next few months, they will dry and turn into lovely hand shakers. I did the same thing last year, and already have two lovely ones. These are great for instruments, and also for decoration when not in use. I love the sounds of gourd rattles during chanting, particularly during rituals. Now, I like to leave my gourds plain, as it gives them a more natural look, but if you like, one could also add beads, bells, twine, etc.. Indeed, if one was feeling particularly crafty, you could even paint on designs or traditional symbols. Dried gourds can also be carved into birdhouses by creating a bird-sized hole near the base and removing the seeds. A cord can then be strung through the top, and from what I hear, they're pretty weather resistant. However, if you're concerned about rot, you could coat the outside (and inside too, if you can) with a bit of resin or other finishing product. A final project I saw in a craft book once called for covering a dried gourd in wax crayon, and then using a knife, pencil, or other scraping tool to etch off the crayon to create designs. In the book, theirs looked like a bird, but you could easily make other symbols or pictures. If you were to have a feminine-shaped gourd, one could even make a goddess! So go on, get a few little gourds, and get crafting!

October 1st, 2011

I'm sorry about the lack of posting yesterday, readers! I was gone all evening at various things. However, I have returned today, and intend to conclude my segment of Feng Shui.

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If you observe the picture at the left, you will see a sample bagua of a house (my house, in fact). This same set-up applies to any building, single room, or even flat area, such as a desk or table. If you notice, my garage, in the lower left-hand corner, sticks out a bit from the rest of the house. This is called a projection. If it were the opposite, and that area of the building were sunk into the house, that area of the bagua would be missing. However, such a thing can be remedied by applying the properties of that section to the outside "negative space" created by the indentation. A few obvious problems to bear in mind: if you have a bathroom in your "wind" (fortunate blessings) area of the house, you should attempt to move that if practical. This is because a toilet may flush away these blessings before they can be materialized. If you cannot move the bathroom due to the set-up of the house, financial reasons, etc., you should consider adding some grounding elements to the bathroom to help keep these blessings in place. You might add stone counter-tops or flooring, for example. A wind chime could also be included to change the movement of energies. However, it should also be kept in mind that you don't have to make your house look like a Chinese temple to Feng Shui it. Only add elements that you like, and that you feel fit the style of your house. Traditional fixes, such as bamboo, can be traded for other natural grasses or plants if you dislike bamboo. Also keep cultural preferences and taboos in mind. If a certain plant is lucky where you live, feel free to use it, even if it isn't "traditional" in Feng Shui. Only you can tell what areas of your life and home need improvement. If you are having an argument with your parents, check out the area of your home or room that corresponds to the Elders. If there is a large, grounding object, an object that brings in negativity or bad memories, or anything else energy may be getting stuck on, consider moving it, or trading it in for a more helpful item. If, on the other hand, you have a child who has trouble concentrating at home, try helping him or her pick out a piece of furniture, statue, or even a stone at the beach that they like to add to their room, helping them feel more grounded and less lost in the clouds. A final thing to look for is what is known as "cutting chi". This energy emanates at a 45 degree angle from any furniture with sharp 90 degree corners, be it a table, desk, etc.. This cutting chi can make people in its path feel uncomfortable, so if having a dresser with 90 degree corners is unavoidable, try positioning chairs, beds, and other sitting areas out of its path.