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.