Good Evening,
Every now and again I have a client or customer who asks me to cast a spell for them. Now, I first must say that these are typically people who have little or no magickal training and because of literature, television and movies believe that that's what witches do. We cast spells for people. They don't mean to insult, but are looking for special help.
. It is quite likely that witches of antiquity cast spells for people, as that is what they are rumored to have done, and would have had the knowledge and experience with which to do so. Since the creation in the early 1950's of Wicca, 'the religion of the witches' founded by Gerald Brousseau Gardner (1884 - 1964), which started the modern movement of witchcraft, a popular concept has been that we do not cast spells for others. Why this was set forth by some of the pioneers of the witchcraft movement I don't know for sure, but I personally feel that it is important for one to cast ones own spells.
I can only speak from my own experience rather than what others have said we should or shouldn't do. In the beginning, yes, there are rules and recommendations as to what one should do, how to do things such as rituals, and what isn't recommended to do. Starting any new path, or interest, requires one to learn the 'ropes', the foundational principles of the thing. But eventually, you need to determine for yourself what works for you, what serves you and what does not serve you. Then you can pick and choose, always learning who and what you are in the process.
By casting spells for others, and it is usually expected for one to receive payment for said spell casting services, the person who is casting the spell assumes the dominant position in the 'relationship' and its the person who needs the spell cast that should be dominant in this scenario. The 'dominant' person is the person who does the visualization and should be featured prominently in the visualization, the one who should have the need, is the one who the spell will ultimately manifest for.
And . . . to be brutally honest with you, the scenario of a spellcaster, charging money and then performing spells for others often becomes what it is, a rube being taken by a charlatan. In today's lingo, a victim and a fraud. Because by casting a spell for another, you will more times than not fail to achieve the desired manifestation and then what happens? I've never heard of a person getting their money back if the spell doesn't work. Oh, and they don't . . . work, that is. I've spoken with many victims over the years, who have come to my store and have told me of their experiences with spell casters who had charged, in some cases, hundreds of dollars. One poor man had spent $300 on a bar of love soap, over the Internet. When the soap failed to stop his wife from divorcing him, he tried to get his money back and found the site to have been taken down leaving him no recourse.
Now, mind you, we sell love soap at Enchantments Witch Shoppe, at a mere $4.00 a bar, and it is intended to bring loving energies into your life, making you more aware of your loving nature and that of those around you. We would never tell someone that it could be used to manipulate someone against their will. His wife wanted to leave him, period. A bar of soap wasn't going to change that, anymore than it did. It's just too bad someone using the title witch was the charlatan who defrauded him, a criminal act. I think that perhaps the original founders of modern witchcraft wanted us to stay away from charging money and doing magick for others simply to keep the law and the abiding of the law clear and un-muddied.
Today I unfortunately find that there are two groups of people wanting to do spells for others. The first we already discussed, a charlatan or fraud seeking to make a business out of cheating people. The other is more innocent. New students on the path that want to help others. I strongly caution against casting spells for others to my students, simply because I have seen over the years those who have gone in this direction and then in a night and a day they are 'experts' who are charging money and really have no experience or true knowledge of what we do.
By charging money and doing the magick for others it endangers one to fall into a mighty power-trip. Once there, these people do our world no favors, and help perpetrate the negative stereotypical image of the witch. But new students need to know that it is better to help someone do a spell for themselves rather than to do it for them. If it is to work there must be a need, and the need should be present in the actions of the person the spell is intended for. We don't cast spells on others and we do our own spells, period. That's just good witchcraft.
I have created and sell in Enchantments store simple spell kits. These kits, retail at $9.00 each and contain a completely written spell I designed, and a candle, a stone, some herbs and other tools or ingredients specific to the spell. We have spell kits for love, money, health, animal magick, tranquility, medium kit to help communicate with the dead, develop your psychic powers etc. These kits allow first time spell casters to do their own spells and create their own magick. If you want to start casting spells the only thing is to do it! get a spell kit and start. Happy Spell Casting!
Peace and Happiness
© 2010-2011 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
Welcome to "THE F FILES" Starting in June, 2020 An Exploration into, Faith McCann's, A Real Witch's Paranormal and Occult Diaries. The F Files are my diaries of personal experiences throughout my 50 plus years of being a witch and my encounters with the spirit world, angelic world, magickal phenomenon, and the unknown even I cannot explain. I also share stories from history of the spooky and mysterious that often get shoved into the distant past, all of which I hope you will enjoy.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Hand Magick
Good Evening,
Tonight's discussion is short, but I think important to your magickal learning. Hand magick, utilizing hand movements. Now, hand movements are not necessarily magickal in and of themselves, but they can add an element of magickal energy to the magickal work you do.
For instance when casting the circle, you may use your hands to hold tools and light candles, sprinkle incense and splash blessed water around. Add to these hand movements further by using your hands to make circles in the air over the altar going in a deosil motion. Energy is movement. Energy can't not move. To increase, intensify and enhance your magickal workings I have found over the years that incorporating hand movements makes my magick work faster and it is more direct. Yes, much of the magickal occurs in the 'unseen' world, but that's just because our eyes are limited in many ways in seeing things around us. We cannot see the air currents for instance but a breeze against our faces convince us they exist.
Hand magickal movements can be flowing, slow and gentle, constant movement and gentle motion. They can also be sharp, quick and decisive. I spoke with a lovely lady today who works as a massage therapist and has been pulling pain and fatigue into her body from working with clients. Empathic individuals will do this, especially if you're actually working hands on with another person. Working with a number of people everyday and not protecting yourself against absorbing all of that energy can affect your physical, emotional, spiritual and astral bodies. Now, she had said she had sought out doctors and all the tests came back normal indicating she wasn't dealing with a physical illness or disease. Always have any physical maladies checked out by a doctor first and foremost. But its important to realize that being sensitive to energies around you can and will affect you especially the more you learn and practice in the world of magick. I found it interesting that she was especially feeling pain in her hands, as they are in constant contact with others.
I demonstrated to her how to wipe down the physical body by running the hands from top to bottom over her person, without touching!! No need to touch, its the astral energy you are cleansing. Run a hand from your shoulder down your arm to your hand and beyond. Do this a few times and at the end of two or three swipes flick both hands out sharply away from you. Do this flick fast and by bringing the fingers of the hand to touch the thumb making your hands into round balls and then flick away from you. You are throwing away 'sticky' unwanted energy that you picked up throughout your day, week even months. Wipe the front of you down, over your hair and face. Don't worry so much about your back and the places you can't get to. A good wipe down of your energy field can be accomplished by focusing on your arms legs and front and face. Also the head, all around.
Hand magick is what I call it, and I have not seen this magickal concept addressed in print before, but many magickal practitioners do use it. Its the 'witchy' movements a conjurer would use over a cauldron to invoke a good image for what I'm discussing with you. Even the hands sin prayer position has magickal origins. It is felt that by bringing the palms and fingers together in the classic prayer pose, that you are completing an energy circuit and the energy intensifies. You find this payer pose not only in religious practice but also in spiritual practices such as yoga, martial arts and meditation.
Like any other magickal practice, hand magick needs to be practiced so that it becomes familiar, less weird feeling and natural. So practice moving your hands in gentle, flowing motions. Work them in a gentle circle deosil, then again widdershins. Allow your arms to have smooth easy movement from your shoulders, elbows and wrists. Flutter your fingers and while practicing, feel the energy as if flows down your arms and into your hands. I often in classes or during ritual have students sharply clap their hands together or rub them briskly to bring up the blood and energy. You'll feel them tingle and get warm, this is what you're going for. Really feel the energy with your hands.
As you become more comfortable feeling the energy then you'll move onto directing the energy, sending out your magick so that it can return back to you, when you are ready to receive it.
Peace and Happiness
© 2010-2011 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
Tonight's discussion is short, but I think important to your magickal learning. Hand magick, utilizing hand movements. Now, hand movements are not necessarily magickal in and of themselves, but they can add an element of magickal energy to the magickal work you do.
For instance when casting the circle, you may use your hands to hold tools and light candles, sprinkle incense and splash blessed water around. Add to these hand movements further by using your hands to make circles in the air over the altar going in a deosil motion. Energy is movement. Energy can't not move. To increase, intensify and enhance your magickal workings I have found over the years that incorporating hand movements makes my magick work faster and it is more direct. Yes, much of the magickal occurs in the 'unseen' world, but that's just because our eyes are limited in many ways in seeing things around us. We cannot see the air currents for instance but a breeze against our faces convince us they exist.
Hand magickal movements can be flowing, slow and gentle, constant movement and gentle motion. They can also be sharp, quick and decisive. I spoke with a lovely lady today who works as a massage therapist and has been pulling pain and fatigue into her body from working with clients. Empathic individuals will do this, especially if you're actually working hands on with another person. Working with a number of people everyday and not protecting yourself against absorbing all of that energy can affect your physical, emotional, spiritual and astral bodies. Now, she had said she had sought out doctors and all the tests came back normal indicating she wasn't dealing with a physical illness or disease. Always have any physical maladies checked out by a doctor first and foremost. But its important to realize that being sensitive to energies around you can and will affect you especially the more you learn and practice in the world of magick. I found it interesting that she was especially feeling pain in her hands, as they are in constant contact with others.
I demonstrated to her how to wipe down the physical body by running the hands from top to bottom over her person, without touching!! No need to touch, its the astral energy you are cleansing. Run a hand from your shoulder down your arm to your hand and beyond. Do this a few times and at the end of two or three swipes flick both hands out sharply away from you. Do this flick fast and by bringing the fingers of the hand to touch the thumb making your hands into round balls and then flick away from you. You are throwing away 'sticky' unwanted energy that you picked up throughout your day, week even months. Wipe the front of you down, over your hair and face. Don't worry so much about your back and the places you can't get to. A good wipe down of your energy field can be accomplished by focusing on your arms legs and front and face. Also the head, all around.
Hand magick is what I call it, and I have not seen this magickal concept addressed in print before, but many magickal practitioners do use it. Its the 'witchy' movements a conjurer would use over a cauldron to invoke a good image for what I'm discussing with you. Even the hands sin prayer position has magickal origins. It is felt that by bringing the palms and fingers together in the classic prayer pose, that you are completing an energy circuit and the energy intensifies. You find this payer pose not only in religious practice but also in spiritual practices such as yoga, martial arts and meditation.
Like any other magickal practice, hand magick needs to be practiced so that it becomes familiar, less weird feeling and natural. So practice moving your hands in gentle, flowing motions. Work them in a gentle circle deosil, then again widdershins. Allow your arms to have smooth easy movement from your shoulders, elbows and wrists. Flutter your fingers and while practicing, feel the energy as if flows down your arms and into your hands. I often in classes or during ritual have students sharply clap their hands together or rub them briskly to bring up the blood and energy. You'll feel them tingle and get warm, this is what you're going for. Really feel the energy with your hands.
As you become more comfortable feeling the energy then you'll move onto directing the energy, sending out your magick so that it can return back to you, when you are ready to receive it.
Peace and Happiness
© 2010-2011 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Magickal concepts to usher in the New Year!
Good Evening,
I hope you are having a blessed day, this 25th day of December. What I find magickal about this date is all cultures seem to celebrate at this time of year. Not everyone celebrates the same way, nor does everyone see the holiday in the same light, nor does everyone believe as everyone else does, but that is part of the magick. Everyone seems to take this date and hold it in a special way, a way that means something to each person.
Just yesterday, Saturday upstairs at Enchantments School, a couple of students and I spent the morning cleaning, cleansing and airing out the school. Walls were wiped down, floors vacuumed, windows washed. Dozens of little witches that grace the classroom were all dusted and cleaned and put back on their shelves. Mortars & pestles were cleaned and shelves dusted. New window blinds were installed and the ritual room's magick circle was re-chalked. We finished off with a blessing consecration ritual where I smudged the rooms, doors and windows and each other.
We had a celebratory pizza lunch to reward ourselves for a job well done and the energy of the school is wonderfully charged, balanced and light. After the students left, I spent the next several hours picking up, putting away and cleaning and organizing my office and finishing up the last little things needing to be done.
I sat, at the end of the day, for a few minutes and held a large crystal chunk and just allowed myself to feel the energy of the school, the students, the memories and the future promise of the place. It felt good. Very good. The future looks auspicious, if one looks at the omens presented. I follow some of the practices and beliefs of the Druid, and a Druid looks at omens and interprets them as to how the future will unfold. I believe the ease, flow and friendly companionship amongst us three witches, the two students and myself, we three women spoke to the future in my eyes. Our work went easy and we had fun working together.
There is an old saying that there is no force in the universe more powerful than three witches working together. I've heard this said also as three women working together. I've found it to be so on many occasions in my life, that when three women get together and work or share in a project, that the energy flows easily and strong. Things go well, and there's little difficulty in accomplishing tasks. A simple coven of three would be my number of choice should I decide to work with a coven again.
I could feel the force that had swept through the school of magick, Enchantments, yesterday. I found myself wanting to stay and just sit and absorb the good feelings and I look forward to working in this space over the next several weeks as I will be handling financial and tax aspects of the business, and the atmosphere is now very conducive to quick, efficient and accurate accountings of the past year of business. Simply because the energy is balanced and accounting is all about balance now, isn't it?
Just cleaning, organizing and ridding an area of clutter and unnecessary, unused or unwanted things can make a tremendous difference in how you feel in the space and how efficiently you function in it. An area with frenetic or stagnant, negative energy can be adjusted with smudging. Natural based cleansers are also good for eliminating sticky and low level energy. Ever feel blah in one room or area of a house or building? That's you sensing or 'feeling' the energy shift in an area, but many times we feel the results without thinking about the cause. The cause can be corrected and thusly your energy and how you feel can also be heightened to a pleasant level.
When cleaning, using cleaners with bleach, or ammonia, or borax, or lemon, or vinegar are all good choices. Please be careful when combining any of these substances. I prefer to use them separately, or in already made formulas. For instance NEVER mix bleach and ammonia together as this creates a toxic, deadly gas that can kill you. Use cleaners that have lemon or vinegar added and all of the above ingredients are natural, and all provide excellent banishing and energy cleansing properties.
As I walked around the area with the smudge stick I incanted an incantation for blessings of the elements. You may say this if you wish, although its not necessary. I personally feel it gives a boost to the elemental re-charging of the area that without, one would need to cast a full circle to re-charge properly. Of course you can always cast a full circle, but at times its not necessary. many times in fact. You see, being a witch isn't so much ritualistic as its just living with the magick every day, in small yet significant ways.
Invocation of the Elements - Author Unknown
"Air, Fire, Water, Earth
Elements of Astral Birth
I call you now attend to me
In this circle rightly cast,
safe from psychic curse or blast
I call you now attend to me
By cave and desert, sea and hill,
by wand, blade, cup and pentacle,
I call you now attend to me
This is my will, so mote it be "
Beautiful roses for you, my witchy reader, with my thanks for your continued support of my work!
The nice thing about this type of cleansing and blessing rituals at this time of the year, is you don't have to do it on a specific day, at a specific time. Anytime over the next two weeks or so you can utilize the energy of the new year. Even though for pagans our new year started on November 1st, there is a huge energy, a thought-form if you will, surrounding this time of the year, simply because so many, millions if not more, all see this time of the year as an ending of the old and a beginning of the new. This carries its own energy that witches often tap into and use for their benefit. Anyone can.
Peace and Happiness
© 2010-2011 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Happy Yule!! Let me tell you a bit about this holiday . . .
Good Season's Greetings to you!
Tomorrow we celebrate the pre-Christian holiday of Yule or Jul as it was once spelled. Oh my, I could drown you in the historic lore but I'll keep it simple for now. For those who want a bit more history about this upcoming holiday, specifically December 25, please click on the bolded title of this discussion above. It's a hidden link that will take you to a Youtube video that gives a very accurate history of December 25th and what most people are celebrating this time of year in relation to Christmas. It's a very illuminating and educational video. I have done extensive research and have found it also to be very historically accurate. If your link doesn't work for some reason, copy and paste this link and you can watch it that way. http://youtu.be/xajCUE6oHkI
Jul or Yule is an ancient holiday celebrated by the Scandinavians, also the folks from Eastern Europe, the Germanic tribes and other areas the Celts took over as they migrated Westwards in their quest for peaceful lands to farm and live. The Celtic people enculturated the territories they overtook, which means they brought knowledge and advancements to the peoples of the lands they invaded.
They also adopted customs and traditions from the people they overtook. The Celtic societies became more advanced and civilized with their 'modern' advancements,inventions and innovations of the time. Yule, or a celebration of the Winter Solstice, seems to have been celebrated by many peoples from many cultures throughout time. Simply because people lived with a Wheel of the Year agricultural calendar that marked the important turning points of the calendar year. These points indicated when to plant, when to fertilize, harvest and when to leave the ground fallow.
The Winter Solstice is a time marking the longest night of the year, the shortest day. A special time to celebrate to be sure, because after tomorrow, the days become a bit longer every day, imperceptibly so in the beginning perhaps, but the days start to lengthen until we reach the Summer Solstice in June!! How wonderful and what a cause for celebration!! Bringing back the light in the darkest of winter! I'm ready!
We get our Yule tree, Yule log and Beltaine May Pole from this ancient tradition of Yule. It is said that the Germanic and Scandinavian tribes would cut down and bring into the village center a huge evergreen tree that would be symbolic of the birth, life, death and rebirth spiral dance we know today as reincarnation. That during the winter (death) we are still alive, only to be reborn in the springtime. Greens cut from the Yule tree would be brought indoors to represent symbolically this ever-life, ever-green, life after death concept.
The enormous tree, stripped of its greenery would be used in the spring to be the Maypole of the Beltaine festivities being garlanded with ribbons and flowers. After it had been seasoned for a year, perhaps a year and a day?, it would be used as the Yule log the next winter Solstice and burned in the center of the village. These enormous bon-fires were told of in legend as having a Yule log several feel tall and many yards long. A Yule fire that would burn for several days.
It is traditional that a piece of last years Yule log be saved and used to kindle the next years log, thus keeping a continuity and cycle that keeps on, year after year. It is as if the first Yule fire you've burned is continued with each successive year's Yule log you use and burn.
The Winter Solstice is also the only winter holiday we celebrate. We also have only one Summer holiday, the Summer Solstice. The other holidays are either spring or autumnal celebrations. Oh my! There is so much more we could discuss about this holiday,, but from a witches perspective, while its important to know your history, but one then needs to get out and live, celebrate and love!!
Especially this holiday season. Whatever you may call this holiday, and its correct whatever you call it as long as its meaningful to you, by all means be sure to celebrate in your way. A way that brings you pleasure, happiness and contentment. The magick of the season is yours if you want it. So . . . what do you want for this holiday season? I hope you get it.
May Peace and Happiness be yours this Winter Solstice!!!
© 2010-2011 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Fun questions people ask me as a witch . . .
Why do we wear black?
Good Evening,
I meet fun, interesting people all the time in my line of work, and many have some interesting questions. Here's a sampling, with my responses.
"What do you eat?" I find this question curious as I'm not sure where it comes from. People may be asking to see if being Wiccan or being a witch has any special dietary restrictions as required by religion. Others might feel as being closer to nature that perhaps we're all vegetarians or vegans. Still, some might be just checking that we don't really eat children like in the fairy tales!! The answer is simple. There are no rules regarding diet or foods. One eats what one wishes to. Having said that, I will say that most, if not all, pagans love food!! At least in my experience. Feasting is a big part of our celebrations and social life. Myself personally, I eat meat, lots of vegetables and fruit, and most of the fun food everyone eats. Chocolate also seems to be a favorite food of magickal people in general, and I don't mean a simple liking. I mean a deep, abiding love and appreciation for a confectionery gift from the Gods! I strictly limit my intake of caffeine and consume no alcohol. I find both take a toll on my spirit and body that isn't worth it to me. I have a pretty normal diet by most standards and a personal favorite if chocolate cake, good chocolate cake. Also a gift from heaven in my opinion!
"Why do witches wear black?" I often quip right on the tail of this question "Because its slimming!" but I am making fun. Many magickal people find themselves, many times without conscious knowledge, being attracted to black as it pertains to clothing. Some add make-up and jewelry to 'goth' out the look, as Goth is a very witchy look and attractive to many who follow this path. I myself had a period or two through out my twenties and thirties where my entire wardrobe was black. The reason we are attracted to black is because of its ability to block energy and vibrations. At least it can lessen the effect of these vibrational energies upon your body and spirit. As we study and practice magick our vibrational energy heightens and we become more sensitive to energies of others around us. Being sensitive to all of these energies can be draining and many times blocking or lessening your sensitivity to them is helpful. Wearing black can help with this, as well as wearing or carrying black stones such as hematite, jet, obsidian, and tourmaline.
"Are witches Satanists?" I don't take offense to this question, because every time I can answer a misconception about what we do or about who we are, it helps dispel fear and ignorance. I truly prefer that people ask and not just go on assuming. By the way, No, we are not Satanists, . . witches and Satanists are by definition polar opposites. One needs to believe in a Deity called Satan to worship him. So actually, you must be a Christian first to become a Satanist, and witches typically never put any energy or power into that concept.
"You can legally marry people?" To this I answer yes! I am an ordained minister and I conduct handfastings (weddings) legally or symbolically, that depends on what the couple wants. I also conduct Requiem Rites and have gone to the hospital when someones loved one was passing, as well as Wiccannings (namings and blessings of babies or small children). Some people want a ceremony without the Christian overtones and with more than a formality in a town clerk's office. They want the spiritual without the religious. There are many Wiccan ministers who provide this, and you don't need to be Wiccan yourself to have a ceremony conducted for your needs.
These are just some of the questions I'm asked, and maybe you have some yourself. Please ask any questions you'd like in the comments below and I'll answer them for you in an upcoming discussion.
Peace and Happiness
© 2010-2011 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
Good Evening,
I meet fun, interesting people all the time in my line of work, and many have some interesting questions. Here's a sampling, with my responses.
"What do you eat?" I find this question curious as I'm not sure where it comes from. People may be asking to see if being Wiccan or being a witch has any special dietary restrictions as required by religion. Others might feel as being closer to nature that perhaps we're all vegetarians or vegans. Still, some might be just checking that we don't really eat children like in the fairy tales!! The answer is simple. There are no rules regarding diet or foods. One eats what one wishes to. Having said that, I will say that most, if not all, pagans love food!! At least in my experience. Feasting is a big part of our celebrations and social life. Myself personally, I eat meat, lots of vegetables and fruit, and most of the fun food everyone eats. Chocolate also seems to be a favorite food of magickal people in general, and I don't mean a simple liking. I mean a deep, abiding love and appreciation for a confectionery gift from the Gods! I strictly limit my intake of caffeine and consume no alcohol. I find both take a toll on my spirit and body that isn't worth it to me. I have a pretty normal diet by most standards and a personal favorite if chocolate cake, good chocolate cake. Also a gift from heaven in my opinion!
"Why do witches wear black?" I often quip right on the tail of this question "Because its slimming!" but I am making fun. Many magickal people find themselves, many times without conscious knowledge, being attracted to black as it pertains to clothing. Some add make-up and jewelry to 'goth' out the look, as Goth is a very witchy look and attractive to many who follow this path. I myself had a period or two through out my twenties and thirties where my entire wardrobe was black. The reason we are attracted to black is because of its ability to block energy and vibrations. At least it can lessen the effect of these vibrational energies upon your body and spirit. As we study and practice magick our vibrational energy heightens and we become more sensitive to energies of others around us. Being sensitive to all of these energies can be draining and many times blocking or lessening your sensitivity to them is helpful. Wearing black can help with this, as well as wearing or carrying black stones such as hematite, jet, obsidian, and tourmaline.
"Are witches Satanists?" I don't take offense to this question, because every time I can answer a misconception about what we do or about who we are, it helps dispel fear and ignorance. I truly prefer that people ask and not just go on assuming. By the way, No, we are not Satanists, . . witches and Satanists are by definition polar opposites. One needs to believe in a Deity called Satan to worship him. So actually, you must be a Christian first to become a Satanist, and witches typically never put any energy or power into that concept.
"You can legally marry people?" To this I answer yes! I am an ordained minister and I conduct handfastings (weddings) legally or symbolically, that depends on what the couple wants. I also conduct Requiem Rites and have gone to the hospital when someones loved one was passing, as well as Wiccannings (namings and blessings of babies or small children). Some people want a ceremony without the Christian overtones and with more than a formality in a town clerk's office. They want the spiritual without the religious. There are many Wiccan ministers who provide this, and you don't need to be Wiccan yourself to have a ceremony conducted for your needs.
These are just some of the questions I'm asked, and maybe you have some yourself. Please ask any questions you'd like in the comments below and I'll answer them for you in an upcoming discussion.
Peace and Happiness
© 2010-2011 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Two popular opinions in the witch world -An' it harm none vs. I don't care who I harm
Good Evening,
Well, tonight I plan on discussing a concept that has been growing on social network forums and in the world of witches and magick for a while. The concept of 'An it harm none vs. I plan on harming another by design and I don't care if its right or wrong.
Firstly, let me state that all opinions in my discussions are my own. Where do I come by my opinions? From over 30 years of practice and observation of the magickal world around me. There are many wonderful authors and teachers out there in our world who have a lot to offer new and advanced practitioners alike, but I have put aside the majority of learning from books and others experiences long ago. NOT that I still don't learn from others, and when I have time I do read and enjoy others work. Actually I find my students to be the greatest teachers I have ever had on this path. To put it simply I learn everyday from my magick and the manifestation it takes AND by being aware and observing what happens without judgment as to why things happen.
You see, my magickal reader, and this is perhaps the most important lesson I can ever teach you. Magick does not pass judgment. Magick is neither right or wrong, black or white but merely shades of gray. Magick does not choose for whom it will work, it works for all. How it works depends entirely on the practitioner.
Let me give you an example I've used many times in the past, but it's a good one, so here it is again. Take a pencil. Is the pencil evil or good? Well, if it writes a love letter, that's good. If it is used to stab a person and harm them, that could be seen as bad. Again I ask you. Is the pencil evil or good? It is neither, but the wielder of said pencil . . . ah . . . that's where evil and good come into the picture. Magick is a tool and the practitioner decides how to use that tool. And now we come to the crux of this discussion.
I have seen several times, magickal practitioners write on social networks like facebook and other sites comments like these:
These just touch on a few sentiments often found in this magickal world. I find it quite interesting actually, because each statement leaves one with the impression that they, the magickal practitioner, by not being Wiccan or following the Wiccan Rede, that they somehow escape Karma. That, by their deliberate magickal actions in sending back to another harmful intent, that somehow they are exempt from magickal harsh karmic feedback.
Let me be quite clear here. They are not exempt! Again, magick passes no judgment, but it will work as it has always worked. What you send out, in a magickal manner, will and does return to the sender three-fold. At times I've seen this magnified even greater than that. Oh . . . but you won't hear these people admitting that. Or do they? I watch some of these individuals posts on a weekly basis and it seems crap keeps happening to them!! People lie, steal, back stab and treat them harshly. They get 'screwed over' by this one and that one, this institution and that group. Something always bad and always another to blame. And, soon afterwards they are again espousing "delivering retribution and magickal payback'. Yep. That'll teach em. Or does it?
The problem with this concept of sending harm back to another, is it does not follow any of the magickal scientific principles that all magick follows. Magick does not care if a person has wronged you. I've been a spell caster for over 30 years. I've seen some of my spells work in amazing ways and some, not so amazingly. But, each and every time, I take careful note and revise my workings and come out the other side with more knowledge on how magick works. Trust me, no matter how right you are and how wrong the other person is, ( in your opinion) , what you send out returns only to you! If this works with all the 'good' spells, why would it then work differently with the spells you use to harm someone. It simply shows a lack of understanding and acceptance of the magickal principles and how they work.
This attitude of payback and retribution, in my personal magickal opinion also speaks loudly to the . . . dare I say it? Yes I will!! It speaks to the immaturity of the practitioner. I say immature in the sense that when we are hurt as a child we wish to lash out and strike back. The mature, experienced person or witch in this case, may not like what has happened, we may not seek to forgive but we accept what has occurred and we strive to not allow that to happen again in our lives. It's an accepting, that life and people do not always do and behave as we wish, but instead of lashing out as a child would, we learn from the experience and make the needed changes to ourselves, within ourselves, that allow us to grow and become better, more wise individuals because of it.
Also . . . how many times have you run into someone who has done harm to you, or another in someway, and they honestly believe what they are doing is wrong? Even thieves or murderers, at the time of the crime, seem to feel some justification for what they do. So, by taking over the role and responsibility of the Goddess of Karma, and that's what we do when we choose to seek magickal retribution, it quite frankly pisses her off, and you do not want to piss off that Goddess! Let me tell you a personal story or two.
I had a person working at Enchantments once a long time ago. This person was caught red-handed stealing from the store. Candles, prayer flags and such. She said she was doing her Yule shopping and was going to pay the store back at some other time. When she was confronted with video taped evidence, well . . . let me tell you, she was pretty upset. At me! 'How dare I accuse her of stealing??' 'She had every intention of paying me back!!' Interestingly though, over a week had passed since the incident where she was seen stealing on tape before I confronted her and still she had not 'paid me back'.
I fired her on the spot. She was a teenager and her mother immediately contacted me and wanted to make good and pay me back for what her daughter had stolen. I said no. By allowing that, I felt that I would be stepping in front of the Goddess of Karma and I didn't want to mess with that energy!! I simply said I don't want her in my store ever again, have a nice life. Goodbye. I also chose not to have her arrested, as she was young and simply stupid, and had just turned 18 where it would have been on her record for ever. I have hopes she will learn from her mistakes as she grows older.
Approximately two months later, her house burned down. As soon as I heard of this, I knew Karma had balanced the scales. Now, I shudder to think of what would have happened to me if I had stepped in and decided I could do Karma's job better than she. Fortunately, no one was injured, but I found it curious that the major theft concerned candles and fire was visited upon this girl's home. I absolutely believe this was Karma's doing. The girl sent out energy, stealing candles, and received it back in kind. I have always said when you steal something, something else more important and precious will be taken from you. I truly believe this to be how Karma works.
Another example is about a girl who came into the shop years ago, claiming she was not a 'white-lighter' and she needed supplies to take care of someone who had 'done her wrong'. Over the next two years she stopped by the shop several times, always to 'get back at another'. When I first met her, she had a good job, a nice apartment and seemingly a pretty good life. This is what discussions with her as she shopped led me to believe. Well over the next two years, as she continued to stop in and purchase supplies for her 'revenge agenda', she lost her job time and again, each time getting a more difficult and less lucrative job, she lost her house and at least one time suffered a fire that displaced her. She lost significant others and close friends who wanted nothing to do with her and towards the end was living on the edge of being homeless, jobless and friendless. I saw a direct correlation to her malicious agenda, and her life's circumstances. But, never could she see how she had created the mess that was now her life. She would never accept responsibility for all that had happened to her, it was always someone else that was to blame.
My dear witchling, I could go on and on about people I've met, the black magick people have told me they practiced and oh yes . . . let me be quite clear . . . if you practice magick that is designed to harm another, even to bring their karma back to them you are practicing black magick. Then I would ask you to look around your life. How is it working for you? Are you surrounded by loving people, is your life filled with rewarding experiences and happiness, joy and contentment? Now, that may not be the case for everyone even practicing positive magick, but those of us who do follow the light, at least from their own words on social forums, they seem happier, more fulfilled and more spiritually at peace.
Simply said, you can practice ANY magick you choose to, it really matters not to me. But know, you and your world will be the only victim from your negative energy . . . and to wish another harm is negative dearie, no matter how much cotton candy and righteous entitlement you wrap it in.
An end note, for all the people I have run into who profess an ability to harm others, sending their 'stuff' back at them, delivering payback etc. etc., I have never met any intended victim whose had that happen to them to any degree worth noting. Yes, bad stuff does happen to everyone, but its our karma we are dealing with, not another's magick. But, be aware when people tell you they have done this, just why are they telling you this? Even if you asked for proof they won't be able to give it to you. So you are left to wonder why they told you about it in the first place . . . and the next discussion we could have would be about " 'Power Tripping' in the Magickal World'!! Why I just ran into someone who took credit for turning on the power in her neighborhood after a recent power outage . . . really? . . . and she wasn't a utility worker! Now that my magickal friend is 'power tripping' and bragging about magickal ability which is just bad magickal etiquette and simply should not be done!
So the lesson I hope to impart is simple. Accept what has happened to you in your life . . . learn from it . . . do something different if a different outcome is desired next time. . . and send out no harm unless you truly wish it to visit you.
Peace and Happiness
© 2010-2011 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
Well, tonight I plan on discussing a concept that has been growing on social network forums and in the world of witches and magick for a while. The concept of 'An it harm none vs. I plan on harming another by design and I don't care if its right or wrong.
Firstly, let me state that all opinions in my discussions are my own. Where do I come by my opinions? From over 30 years of practice and observation of the magickal world around me. There are many wonderful authors and teachers out there in our world who have a lot to offer new and advanced practitioners alike, but I have put aside the majority of learning from books and others experiences long ago. NOT that I still don't learn from others, and when I have time I do read and enjoy others work. Actually I find my students to be the greatest teachers I have ever had on this path. To put it simply I learn everyday from my magick and the manifestation it takes AND by being aware and observing what happens without judgment as to why things happen.
You see, my magickal reader, and this is perhaps the most important lesson I can ever teach you. Magick does not pass judgment. Magick is neither right or wrong, black or white but merely shades of gray. Magick does not choose for whom it will work, it works for all. How it works depends entirely on the practitioner.
Let me give you an example I've used many times in the past, but it's a good one, so here it is again. Take a pencil. Is the pencil evil or good? Well, if it writes a love letter, that's good. If it is used to stab a person and harm them, that could be seen as bad. Again I ask you. Is the pencil evil or good? It is neither, but the wielder of said pencil . . . ah . . . that's where evil and good come into the picture. Magick is a tool and the practitioner decides how to use that tool. And now we come to the crux of this discussion.
I have seen several times, magickal practitioners write on social networks like facebook and other sites comments like these:
- "I'm not a Wiccan, so I can send harm back to another. They deserve it after all"
- "I'm not a White-Lighter, so I can do as I please.
- "I am not bound by the Wiccan Rede which states "An' it harm none, do what ye will"
- "I'm a witch not a Wiccan damn it, so others better watch out, because I'm gonna send their crap back to them."
- "When people piss off this witch, you'd better believe I'm sending it back to them"
These just touch on a few sentiments often found in this magickal world. I find it quite interesting actually, because each statement leaves one with the impression that they, the magickal practitioner, by not being Wiccan or following the Wiccan Rede, that they somehow escape Karma. That, by their deliberate magickal actions in sending back to another harmful intent, that somehow they are exempt from magickal harsh karmic feedback.
Let me be quite clear here. They are not exempt! Again, magick passes no judgment, but it will work as it has always worked. What you send out, in a magickal manner, will and does return to the sender three-fold. At times I've seen this magnified even greater than that. Oh . . . but you won't hear these people admitting that. Or do they? I watch some of these individuals posts on a weekly basis and it seems crap keeps happening to them!! People lie, steal, back stab and treat them harshly. They get 'screwed over' by this one and that one, this institution and that group. Something always bad and always another to blame. And, soon afterwards they are again espousing "delivering retribution and magickal payback'. Yep. That'll teach em. Or does it?
The problem with this concept of sending harm back to another, is it does not follow any of the magickal scientific principles that all magick follows. Magick does not care if a person has wronged you. I've been a spell caster for over 30 years. I've seen some of my spells work in amazing ways and some, not so amazingly. But, each and every time, I take careful note and revise my workings and come out the other side with more knowledge on how magick works. Trust me, no matter how right you are and how wrong the other person is, ( in your opinion) , what you send out returns only to you! If this works with all the 'good' spells, why would it then work differently with the spells you use to harm someone. It simply shows a lack of understanding and acceptance of the magickal principles and how they work.
This attitude of payback and retribution, in my personal magickal opinion also speaks loudly to the . . . dare I say it? Yes I will!! It speaks to the immaturity of the practitioner. I say immature in the sense that when we are hurt as a child we wish to lash out and strike back. The mature, experienced person or witch in this case, may not like what has happened, we may not seek to forgive but we accept what has occurred and we strive to not allow that to happen again in our lives. It's an accepting, that life and people do not always do and behave as we wish, but instead of lashing out as a child would, we learn from the experience and make the needed changes to ourselves, within ourselves, that allow us to grow and become better, more wise individuals because of it.
Also . . . how many times have you run into someone who has done harm to you, or another in someway, and they honestly believe what they are doing is wrong? Even thieves or murderers, at the time of the crime, seem to feel some justification for what they do. So, by taking over the role and responsibility of the Goddess of Karma, and that's what we do when we choose to seek magickal retribution, it quite frankly pisses her off, and you do not want to piss off that Goddess! Let me tell you a personal story or two.
I had a person working at Enchantments once a long time ago. This person was caught red-handed stealing from the store. Candles, prayer flags and such. She said she was doing her Yule shopping and was going to pay the store back at some other time. When she was confronted with video taped evidence, well . . . let me tell you, she was pretty upset. At me! 'How dare I accuse her of stealing??' 'She had every intention of paying me back!!' Interestingly though, over a week had passed since the incident where she was seen stealing on tape before I confronted her and still she had not 'paid me back'.
I fired her on the spot. She was a teenager and her mother immediately contacted me and wanted to make good and pay me back for what her daughter had stolen. I said no. By allowing that, I felt that I would be stepping in front of the Goddess of Karma and I didn't want to mess with that energy!! I simply said I don't want her in my store ever again, have a nice life. Goodbye. I also chose not to have her arrested, as she was young and simply stupid, and had just turned 18 where it would have been on her record for ever. I have hopes she will learn from her mistakes as she grows older.
Approximately two months later, her house burned down. As soon as I heard of this, I knew Karma had balanced the scales. Now, I shudder to think of what would have happened to me if I had stepped in and decided I could do Karma's job better than she. Fortunately, no one was injured, but I found it curious that the major theft concerned candles and fire was visited upon this girl's home. I absolutely believe this was Karma's doing. The girl sent out energy, stealing candles, and received it back in kind. I have always said when you steal something, something else more important and precious will be taken from you. I truly believe this to be how Karma works.
Another example is about a girl who came into the shop years ago, claiming she was not a 'white-lighter' and she needed supplies to take care of someone who had 'done her wrong'. Over the next two years she stopped by the shop several times, always to 'get back at another'. When I first met her, she had a good job, a nice apartment and seemingly a pretty good life. This is what discussions with her as she shopped led me to believe. Well over the next two years, as she continued to stop in and purchase supplies for her 'revenge agenda', she lost her job time and again, each time getting a more difficult and less lucrative job, she lost her house and at least one time suffered a fire that displaced her. She lost significant others and close friends who wanted nothing to do with her and towards the end was living on the edge of being homeless, jobless and friendless. I saw a direct correlation to her malicious agenda, and her life's circumstances. But, never could she see how she had created the mess that was now her life. She would never accept responsibility for all that had happened to her, it was always someone else that was to blame.
My dear witchling, I could go on and on about people I've met, the black magick people have told me they practiced and oh yes . . . let me be quite clear . . . if you practice magick that is designed to harm another, even to bring their karma back to them you are practicing black magick. Then I would ask you to look around your life. How is it working for you? Are you surrounded by loving people, is your life filled with rewarding experiences and happiness, joy and contentment? Now, that may not be the case for everyone even practicing positive magick, but those of us who do follow the light, at least from their own words on social forums, they seem happier, more fulfilled and more spiritually at peace.
Simply said, you can practice ANY magick you choose to, it really matters not to me. But know, you and your world will be the only victim from your negative energy . . . and to wish another harm is negative dearie, no matter how much cotton candy and righteous entitlement you wrap it in.
An end note, for all the people I have run into who profess an ability to harm others, sending their 'stuff' back at them, delivering payback etc. etc., I have never met any intended victim whose had that happen to them to any degree worth noting. Yes, bad stuff does happen to everyone, but its our karma we are dealing with, not another's magick. But, be aware when people tell you they have done this, just why are they telling you this? Even if you asked for proof they won't be able to give it to you. So you are left to wonder why they told you about it in the first place . . . and the next discussion we could have would be about " 'Power Tripping' in the Magickal World'!! Why I just ran into someone who took credit for turning on the power in her neighborhood after a recent power outage . . . really? . . . and she wasn't a utility worker! Now that my magickal friend is 'power tripping' and bragging about magickal ability which is just bad magickal etiquette and simply should not be done!
So the lesson I hope to impart is simple. Accept what has happened to you in your life . . . learn from it . . . do something different if a different outcome is desired next time. . . and send out no harm unless you truly wish it to visit you.
Peace and Happiness
© 2010-2011 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Happy Holidays vs Merry Christmas
Good Evening,
Tonight I wish to discuss a concept that has been growing bigger and more concerning on facebook and other social networks recently. The concept of people wishing others Happy Holidays rather than saying Merry Christmas and some Christian taking a vehement dislike to it. I just wrote this and posted it on facebook and would like to share it with you here. It is written specifically to those who have said that they will boycott businesses saying 'Happy Holidays' rather than 'Merry Christmas'. Here is a witch's take on the situation.
I would like to address the "Merry Christmas or else" attitude that has become prevalent on facebook and elsewhere lately. May I make a few observations? Why do you feel it is a personal affront or threat to your faith as a Christian when people say Happy Holidays? Do you not practice religious tolerance? Perhaps stores and people do not wish to offend or make assumptions on people's religious preference. Perhaps there are others in this world that are not Christian? Perhaps they are Jewish. Would you also boycott stores that wished everyone 'Happy Hanukkah" Perhaps they are of African descent and celebrate Kwanzaa? How about Muslim, Buddhist, Atheist, Wiccan etc?
Why do you feel that it somehow is an insult to you when someone wishes you a Happy Holiday? Would you prefer they be rude, insulting and obnoxious? Why have we come to a place where someone wishing another person well, and happy has become an insult. This is demonstrated to the point where people are screaming on facebook at the insult and threatening to boycott businesses. May I gently remind you that this is America, NOT the Vatican. This is a country where we can be diverse, different and unique and it is celebrated, not denigrated.
It makes me think, by your actions, threats and words that the philosophy we hear about 'good Christians' is merely a pretty concept, with no substance. Now, . . . I know and respect many people who follow a Christian faith, and these people are loving, tolerant, understanding and forgiving. They, themselves, are comfortable in their faith, so much so, they can and will wish another Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Yule etc and it doesn't threaten their faith, because they are strong in their faith, and are accepting of all faiths. Hmmmmm, what a concept.
As a shop owner, I wish people Happy Holidays because I mean exactly that! Whatever holiday you choose to celebrate, I wish, sincerely, that you have a happy one. I wish you all a Happy Holiday, may love enter your heart and may you come to understand the phrase 'Good Will Towards Men' because that means everybody!
Peace and Happiness
© 2010-2011 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
Tonight I wish to discuss a concept that has been growing bigger and more concerning on facebook and other social networks recently. The concept of people wishing others Happy Holidays rather than saying Merry Christmas and some Christian taking a vehement dislike to it. I just wrote this and posted it on facebook and would like to share it with you here. It is written specifically to those who have said that they will boycott businesses saying 'Happy Holidays' rather than 'Merry Christmas'. Here is a witch's take on the situation.
I would like to address the "Merry Christmas or else" attitude that has become prevalent on facebook and elsewhere lately. May I make a few observations? Why do you feel it is a personal affront or threat to your faith as a Christian when people say Happy Holidays? Do you not practice religious tolerance? Perhaps stores and people do not wish to offend or make assumptions on people's religious preference. Perhaps there are others in this world that are not Christian? Perhaps they are Jewish. Would you also boycott stores that wished everyone 'Happy Hanukkah" Perhaps they are of African descent and celebrate Kwanzaa? How about Muslim, Buddhist, Atheist, Wiccan etc?
Why do you feel that it somehow is an insult to you when someone wishes you a Happy Holiday? Would you prefer they be rude, insulting and obnoxious? Why have we come to a place where someone wishing another person well, and happy has become an insult. This is demonstrated to the point where people are screaming on facebook at the insult and threatening to boycott businesses. May I gently remind you that this is America, NOT the Vatican. This is a country where we can be diverse, different and unique and it is celebrated, not denigrated.
It makes me think, by your actions, threats and words that the philosophy we hear about 'good Christians' is merely a pretty concept, with no substance. Now, . . . I know and respect many people who follow a Christian faith, and these people are loving, tolerant, understanding and forgiving. They, themselves, are comfortable in their faith, so much so, they can and will wish another Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Yule etc and it doesn't threaten their faith, because they are strong in their faith, and are accepting of all faiths. Hmmmmm, what a concept.
As a shop owner, I wish people Happy Holidays because I mean exactly that! Whatever holiday you choose to celebrate, I wish, sincerely, that you have a happy one. I wish you all a Happy Holiday, may love enter your heart and may you come to understand the phrase 'Good Will Towards Men' because that means everybody!
Peace and Happiness
© 2010-2011 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Come to a 'Unique Christmas Fair' this weekend, come meet me and say hi!
Good Evening,
This upcoming Saturday and Sunday I will be in East Hartford, CT at a 'Unique Christmas Fair" and I would love to meet you. We will have a smaller version of Enchantments set up with some of our unique Witch Crafted Witch Approved items for sale just in time for holiday gift giving.
We will have Llywellyn's Witches Calendars, Witches Date planners and my book "Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies" and I will be on hand to autograph your copy for you. We will have spell kits, spell sprays, and magickal stones also available in addition to other fun, different and unique gifts.
Come visit the Enchantments booth at the 'Unique Christmas Fair' at the South End Senior Center this Saturday from 9 am until 4 pm and Sunday from 10 am until 3 pm. Located at 70 Canterbury Street, East Hartford, CT. I, personally, will be at the fair Saturday from 1 - 4pm and all day Sunday.
I will be offering $20 tarot readings for 10 minutes, as well as witches rune readings, and stone divination. Gift Certificates from Enchantments for tarot readings are also available.
This event features historic cemetery and Victorian mourning themed artwork, jewelry and crafts. In addition to the tarot card readings by Enchantments, with other vendors you can receive a hand writing analysis or sit down with a professional genealogist and get help in exploring your own genealogy. Other venders scheduled to be at this event are as follows:
Sabrina's Grave Art from New Haven, CT
Mourning Jewelry by Mary Carroll
Stained Glass by BillieJo from Naugatuck, CT
The Gravestone Girls, from MA
The CT Society of Genealogists
The Descendants & Founders of Ancient Windsor, CT
Connecticut Gravestone Network
Learn more about genealogy, gravestone rubbings, rugs, old coins, costume jewelry, and much more.
This show is sponsored by the East Hartford's Friends of Center Cemetery, Inc. and Connecticut Gravestone Network. I hope to see you there!
* The nature of this event allows us to only accept cash for all purchases and services at Enchantments booth.
Peace and Happiness
© 2010-2011 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
This upcoming Saturday and Sunday I will be in East Hartford, CT at a 'Unique Christmas Fair" and I would love to meet you. We will have a smaller version of Enchantments set up with some of our unique Witch Crafted Witch Approved items for sale just in time for holiday gift giving.
We will have Llywellyn's Witches Calendars, Witches Date planners and my book "Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies" and I will be on hand to autograph your copy for you. We will have spell kits, spell sprays, and magickal stones also available in addition to other fun, different and unique gifts.
Come visit the Enchantments booth at the 'Unique Christmas Fair' at the South End Senior Center this Saturday from 9 am until 4 pm and Sunday from 10 am until 3 pm. Located at 70 Canterbury Street, East Hartford, CT. I, personally, will be at the fair Saturday from 1 - 4pm and all day Sunday.
I will be offering $20 tarot readings for 10 minutes, as well as witches rune readings, and stone divination. Gift Certificates from Enchantments for tarot readings are also available.
This event features historic cemetery and Victorian mourning themed artwork, jewelry and crafts. In addition to the tarot card readings by Enchantments, with other vendors you can receive a hand writing analysis or sit down with a professional genealogist and get help in exploring your own genealogy. Other venders scheduled to be at this event are as follows:
Sabrina's Grave Art from New Haven, CT
Mourning Jewelry by Mary Carroll
Stained Glass by BillieJo from Naugatuck, CT
The Gravestone Girls, from MA
The CT Society of Genealogists
The Descendants & Founders of Ancient Windsor, CT
Connecticut Gravestone Network
Learn more about genealogy, gravestone rubbings, rugs, old coins, costume jewelry, and much more.
This show is sponsored by the East Hartford's Friends of Center Cemetery, Inc. and Connecticut Gravestone Network. I hope to see you there!
* The nature of this event allows us to only accept cash for all purchases and services at Enchantments booth.
Peace and Happiness
© 2010-2011 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
More Witch crafted Witch approved crafts for the holiday season. Magickal Bath Salts
Good Evening,
Today we'll be discussing some additional craft items you might wish to make for gift giving this holiday season. An earlier discussion last week discussed making amulets for protection for the home. Here is the finished product, that I made along with my students in class. Each got to make their own and bring them home and I thought to share what mine looks like with you.
Today's discussion is about making Magical Bath Salts. A hand made craft that you can personalize with your own energy and the essential oils of your choosing. For a basic bath salt base you'll need the following:
2 cups Epsom salts
2 cups baking soda
2 cups sea salt
This alone makes a hydrating, skin softening bath salts when added by the tablespoon to the bath water. You may use this if you don't desire any fragrance or color in your product. But for those who like a bit of excitement in your life, as I do, you may add essential oils, in this case by the teaspoon, and food coloring to give the finished product a pleasant appearance.
For the following magickal purposes you may add the following oils to your bath salts base mixture:
For loving energies:
1 teaspoon rose oil
1/2 teaspoon lavender oil
1/2 teaspoon basil oil
For money and financial prosperity add:
1 teaspoon patchouli oil
1/2 teaspoon vetivert oil
1/2 teaspoon clove oil
Perhaps some tranquility is needed this hectic time of year? Try this combinaton that is sure to have you caalm and peaceful before too long:
1 teaspoon lavender oil
1/2 teaspoon chamomile oil
1/2 teaspoon jasmine oil
1 teaspoon tea tree oil
Of course the colors are magickal goal specific, for instance loving bath salts would be pink and require perhaps a half teaspoon of coloring, whereas use the same amount of green and purple (pre-mix the red and blue separately before adding to bath salts base) respectively for money and tranquility.
The magick is applied while putting this mixture together. And using a wooden spoon and stirring deosil (clockwise) throughout the entire mixing process while incanting an incantation to help empower the bath salts is key!! Not sure what to say? No worries, here let me help. If you wish to create your own rhyming incantation, please do so. After all this is your magickal recipe!
Love Bath salts incantation:
"Loving energies come to me,
bring my lover/love to me
As I will it one times three
an' it harm none so mote it be!"
For Money Bath Salts you may like this:
"Money, wealth, prosperity
I call you now, come unto me
as I will it, So Mote it be!"
For that much needed tranquility this works well:
"Peace and calm I call for quiet
to still the hectic, to soothe the riot
May peace and serenity come to me
an' it harm none so mote it be!"
After stirring, mixing, chanting and strong visualization of the magickal goal, you may place in pretty jars, bags or whatever you choose and gift this to someone on your holiday shopping list.
The amount of bath salts to use is generally a tablespoon or two placed under warm or hot running water for a moderate bad, and a bit more for a full sized bath.
* A note regarding visualization when making products intended to be given away. Of course you can't visualize yourself as the gift is intended for another, and NO, you can't envision them in your visual as that could be considered manipulation. Instead I like to see the colors of the magickal goal I'm creating the product for as if they were glitter. I see red, pink and silver glitter sprinkling down from the heavens and falling into the bath salts as I mix them. (I wouldn't put real glitter in simply because it could get into all sorts of places when taking a bath and that might not be a good thing.) But visualize glitter sprinkling down as you mix and chant. Whatever color you use for the mixture can be your visualization 'glitter'. For a white mixture envision gold and silver glitter colors.
For those who take showers and not baths this mixture can be added into foot baths or in a bowl of water that you sit on your nightstand to help bring in the desired magickal goal. If placing next to your bed, be sure to put your fingers into the water a couple of times a day and swirl the water deosil again while saying the incantation and this will work as if you had taken a bath.
Peace and Happiness
© 2010-2011 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
Today we'll be discussing some additional craft items you might wish to make for gift giving this holiday season. An earlier discussion last week discussed making amulets for protection for the home. Here is the finished product, that I made along with my students in class. Each got to make their own and bring them home and I thought to share what mine looks like with you.
Today's discussion is about making Magical Bath Salts. A hand made craft that you can personalize with your own energy and the essential oils of your choosing. For a basic bath salt base you'll need the following:
2 cups Epsom salts
2 cups baking soda
2 cups sea salt
This alone makes a hydrating, skin softening bath salts when added by the tablespoon to the bath water. You may use this if you don't desire any fragrance or color in your product. But for those who like a bit of excitement in your life, as I do, you may add essential oils, in this case by the teaspoon, and food coloring to give the finished product a pleasant appearance.
For the following magickal purposes you may add the following oils to your bath salts base mixture:
For loving energies:
1 teaspoon rose oil
1/2 teaspoon lavender oil
1/2 teaspoon basil oil
For money and financial prosperity add:
1 teaspoon patchouli oil
1/2 teaspoon vetivert oil
1/2 teaspoon clove oil
Perhaps some tranquility is needed this hectic time of year? Try this combinaton that is sure to have you caalm and peaceful before too long:
1 teaspoon lavender oil
1/2 teaspoon chamomile oil
1/2 teaspoon jasmine oil
1 teaspoon tea tree oil
Of course the colors are magickal goal specific, for instance loving bath salts would be pink and require perhaps a half teaspoon of coloring, whereas use the same amount of green and purple (pre-mix the red and blue separately before adding to bath salts base) respectively for money and tranquility.
The magick is applied while putting this mixture together. And using a wooden spoon and stirring deosil (clockwise) throughout the entire mixing process while incanting an incantation to help empower the bath salts is key!! Not sure what to say? No worries, here let me help. If you wish to create your own rhyming incantation, please do so. After all this is your magickal recipe!
Love Bath salts incantation:
"Loving energies come to me,
bring my lover/love to me
As I will it one times three
an' it harm none so mote it be!"
For Money Bath Salts you may like this:
"Money, wealth, prosperity
I call you now, come unto me
as I will it, So Mote it be!"
For that much needed tranquility this works well:
"Peace and calm I call for quiet
to still the hectic, to soothe the riot
May peace and serenity come to me
an' it harm none so mote it be!"
After stirring, mixing, chanting and strong visualization of the magickal goal, you may place in pretty jars, bags or whatever you choose and gift this to someone on your holiday shopping list.
The amount of bath salts to use is generally a tablespoon or two placed under warm or hot running water for a moderate bad, and a bit more for a full sized bath.
* A note regarding visualization when making products intended to be given away. Of course you can't visualize yourself as the gift is intended for another, and NO, you can't envision them in your visual as that could be considered manipulation. Instead I like to see the colors of the magickal goal I'm creating the product for as if they were glitter. I see red, pink and silver glitter sprinkling down from the heavens and falling into the bath salts as I mix them. (I wouldn't put real glitter in simply because it could get into all sorts of places when taking a bath and that might not be a good thing.) But visualize glitter sprinkling down as you mix and chant. Whatever color you use for the mixture can be your visualization 'glitter'. For a white mixture envision gold and silver glitter colors.
For those who take showers and not baths this mixture can be added into foot baths or in a bowl of water that you sit on your nightstand to help bring in the desired magickal goal. If placing next to your bed, be sure to put your fingers into the water a couple of times a day and swirl the water deosil again while saying the incantation and this will work as if you had taken a bath.
Peace and Happiness
© 2010-2011 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Tomorrow is small business Saturday!! Help us help you!!
Good Evening,
I hope you had a pleasant and fulfilling Thanksgiving Holiday with family and friends. That is if you celebrate, if not, I still hope you had a great Thursday!!
Tonight's discussion is short but I think important. Tomorrow is Saturday, November 26th, 2011 and it's "Small Business Saturday" here in the States. Tomorrow is a day, if you don't already do it, to support your local, family owned, small businesses like Enchantments.
I've said it before, but it bears repeating. Yes, you can buy items cheaper at discount, large chain outlets like some Christmas Shoppes and of course its more convenient to sit in your jammies and order off of the Internet. But . . . every time you do, shops like Enchantments get one day closer to closing their doors forever.
We sell items at a reasonable mark up to pay our bills and feed our families. We are not able to give you a 90% discount on Black Friday, because we don't mark up our items that high to begin with. At Enchantments, like at other family owned businesses, we are experts in the products we sell. I've mentioned just recently to a customer, that yes the big book stores can afford to stock every book on a topic such as Wicca or witchcraft, but try to find someone truly knowledgeable and honest to discuss which books will benefit you and which will not. Will someone there take a book from your hands and say "this is too expensive and really doesn't have what you say you're looking for" and then show you a book at a fraction of the cost that will?
After the sale, will the seller (at either a large chain or Internet site) be available to discuss the subsequent information of what you just purchased? Will someone at an Internet witchcraft site discuss with you how and why your spell did not work the way you wanted it to?
There are lots of 1-900 Psychic phone lines where you can get an easy and cheap tarot card reading. I, quite frankly, want to see the eyes of the person reading for me and know that they are really using cards for their information and not sitting on their couch waiting for the time to run down on the reading so they can charge more on your credit card. Then, afterwards can you call them just to get a little extra insight on what the reading said, without additional charge?
Many of the items for sale at Enchantments are made by me, or one of my staff, all witches with considerable training and expertise in the field of magickal practice, spell casting and divination. We sell many items that aren't normally available elsewhere, such as Witch bottles designed to place in your home to keep harm and evil away. We make our own love and money soaps, potions, spell kits and my exclusive to Enchantments Spell Sprays. A spell spray is a spell in a bottle you spray on like a body spray and take its energies with you all day! No need to cast a circle!!
We can explain to you exactly how to cast an effective spell that manifests for you because you are the one doing it. We never cast spells for other people, as many Internet sites will do, because we know that to do so, the spell won't work for the person intended and we refuse to charge money for charlatan practices.
Please keep us in mind for your holiday shopping this season and may your holiday season bring you . . .
Peace and Happiness!
© 2010-2011 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
I hope you had a pleasant and fulfilling Thanksgiving Holiday with family and friends. That is if you celebrate, if not, I still hope you had a great Thursday!!
Tonight's discussion is short but I think important. Tomorrow is Saturday, November 26th, 2011 and it's "Small Business Saturday" here in the States. Tomorrow is a day, if you don't already do it, to support your local, family owned, small businesses like Enchantments.
I've said it before, but it bears repeating. Yes, you can buy items cheaper at discount, large chain outlets like some Christmas Shoppes and of course its more convenient to sit in your jammies and order off of the Internet. But . . . every time you do, shops like Enchantments get one day closer to closing their doors forever.
We sell items at a reasonable mark up to pay our bills and feed our families. We are not able to give you a 90% discount on Black Friday, because we don't mark up our items that high to begin with. At Enchantments, like at other family owned businesses, we are experts in the products we sell. I've mentioned just recently to a customer, that yes the big book stores can afford to stock every book on a topic such as Wicca or witchcraft, but try to find someone truly knowledgeable and honest to discuss which books will benefit you and which will not. Will someone there take a book from your hands and say "this is too expensive and really doesn't have what you say you're looking for" and then show you a book at a fraction of the cost that will?
After the sale, will the seller (at either a large chain or Internet site) be available to discuss the subsequent information of what you just purchased? Will someone at an Internet witchcraft site discuss with you how and why your spell did not work the way you wanted it to?
There are lots of 1-900 Psychic phone lines where you can get an easy and cheap tarot card reading. I, quite frankly, want to see the eyes of the person reading for me and know that they are really using cards for their information and not sitting on their couch waiting for the time to run down on the reading so they can charge more on your credit card. Then, afterwards can you call them just to get a little extra insight on what the reading said, without additional charge?
Many of the items for sale at Enchantments are made by me, or one of my staff, all witches with considerable training and expertise in the field of magickal practice, spell casting and divination. We sell many items that aren't normally available elsewhere, such as Witch bottles designed to place in your home to keep harm and evil away. We make our own love and money soaps, potions, spell kits and my exclusive to Enchantments Spell Sprays. A spell spray is a spell in a bottle you spray on like a body spray and take its energies with you all day! No need to cast a circle!!
We can explain to you exactly how to cast an effective spell that manifests for you because you are the one doing it. We never cast spells for other people, as many Internet sites will do, because we know that to do so, the spell won't work for the person intended and we refuse to charge money for charlatan practices.
Please keep us in mind for your holiday shopping this season and may your holiday season bring you . . .
Peace and Happiness!
© 2010-2011 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
What can I do, can't I do in the world of magick? and what I am thankful for . . . this holday season
Good Evening,
It's that time of year again. A time of holiday celebrations, feasts, family and friends. People have asked me if I celebrate Christmas and I know many Wiccans who have stopped celebrating because its not their holiday. I respect that everyone has the right to celebrate or not, as they choose. For me? I celebrate Yule. Sometimes I can pull it off on December 21st and other times I celebrate on the 25th because that's when the world pretty much takes a bit of a break.
Besides, the 21st this year falls on a Wednesday, so as I'm open at Enchantments and working, Yule celebrations must be tabled for the 25th. And guess what? That's perfectly fine. Lately I have been asked lots of questions by new students concerning the magickal world and information they have been told by others. Many of these questions have to do with what is acceptable and what is not acceptable in this world of magickal practice and living. I am frankly appalled by the rigid and restrictive concepts that are being taught and told to new witchlings stepping onto the path.
Foolish things. Like just the other day a student told me that she was told by a teacher of Wicca and witchcraft that a cloak must be handmade by the student and could only be made out of wool! Because its natural. In my opinion, this is foolish, silly and not right!! You can purchase a cloak already made, for if everyone made their own what would the talented artisans who make lovely cloaks do? If its made only of wool, well that's a sweaty challenge if you wish to wear your cloak to a summer Pagan gathering. And isn't silk natural? What of cotton, hemp, or burlap? Haha!! I'm just kidding about burlap, can you imagine a more scratchy, itchy cloak?
Any material from natural materials to satin, lace and other inexpensive, pretty fabrics are acceptable. because wearing clothing that feel good to the skin, look pleasing to the eye and make the wearer feel good is the only reason to wear a cloak or any garment. A garment does not impart magickal ability or power to the wearer, its simply clothing and designed to cover you up and keep you warm or cool as the case may be.
I find these restrictive concepts more and more prevalent amongst the magickal community. Where does it come from? Frankly it comes from teachers who have been taught restriction and seek to perpetrate that concept amongst their students. Hmmmmm. Wonder were we've learned this concept from. That there is one way that is considered the right way, and other ways are wrong? You can guess I'm sure. Well . . . if one leaves a religion, a belief system or way of life because its too restrictive for one, why is it that so many adopt another practice only to impose different but similar restrictions onto those in the new group? Simply because they have walked away from one way of being, only to continue living its principles and policies, only changing the names and titles of such practice and thereby believing they are practicing something quite different.
I am a witch. I practice witchcraft. I don't follow an organized religion. My Wiccan practice is mine. I do what pleases me and not necessarily what others have dictated. Am I Wiccan? Of course! Gerald Gardner, was the one who named Wicca and dictated what Wicca is, the religion of the witches, and as I said earlier, I am a witch! You can do this also. Of course it helps to learn some basic structure, but living and practicing as a witch has always been and I believe always should be up to that particular witch.
There are some Universal laws that we need to live by. Everyone needs to live by. Like gravity. Not changing that!! Karma has a way of doing her own thing also. I have observed through practice and experimentation some principles of spell casting that seem to work the same way for everyone, no matter who we are. These are described in more detail in my "Spell Manifestation . . . why and when spells don't seem to manifest as we wish them to" ©2010. To read more about this, this series started on November 11, 2010 in this blog and continues for a few discussions. But as far as magickal practice, especially in the religion of Wicca, YOU,as long as ye harm none, can do what ye will. Actually even if you choose to foolishly attempt to harm someone, Karma (remember her?) will balance the scales quite nicely. This is a practice of doing what feels right to you. And using the natural world to enhance your life and magickal practice.
That's right I said it. YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WISH. And still be considered a witch, a magickal practitioner whatever you call yourself. Never let anyone tell you you can or can't do something in this world, especially if its simply a matter of taste, fashion, likes/dislikes, for instance:
You Can if you wish to:
What I am Thankful for this Holiday Season . . .
I am thankful for Life, Love and Happiness.
I am thankful for my truest friends who love me no matter what. I am thankful for those wonderful people in my life that accept who I am and celebrate because of it, not deal with me in spite of it. (The latter I have conveniently moved to the outskirts of my life, where they fare well and away from affecting my energy, and I am thankful that I have the strength and personal boundaries to decide who I will allow to be in my life)
I am thankful that we have small, fuzzy, furry creatures in this world who look up to us and love us regardless of what is happening in our world. They care not a whit about petty, human issues and just want to be loved and cuddled in return. I'm thankful for the lessons they teach me everyday.
I'm thankful for the wonderful people I meet everyday in my life who want to discuss concepts of magick, that have questions and seriously seek to learn how to make the magickal world work for them. The magick in my life is a gift I will always cherish and it is yet another gift that I am in a position to teach others from my experiences.
For all of these things I am grateful for and I thank the Goddess daily . . . for Life, Love and Happiness!
I hope you have a Blessed Thanksgiving Day! Be Safe, Be Happy and Stay Healthy, this is my wish for you!!
Peace and Happiness
© 2010-2011 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
It's that time of year again. A time of holiday celebrations, feasts, family and friends. People have asked me if I celebrate Christmas and I know many Wiccans who have stopped celebrating because its not their holiday. I respect that everyone has the right to celebrate or not, as they choose. For me? I celebrate Yule. Sometimes I can pull it off on December 21st and other times I celebrate on the 25th because that's when the world pretty much takes a bit of a break.
Besides, the 21st this year falls on a Wednesday, so as I'm open at Enchantments and working, Yule celebrations must be tabled for the 25th. And guess what? That's perfectly fine. Lately I have been asked lots of questions by new students concerning the magickal world and information they have been told by others. Many of these questions have to do with what is acceptable and what is not acceptable in this world of magickal practice and living. I am frankly appalled by the rigid and restrictive concepts that are being taught and told to new witchlings stepping onto the path.
Foolish things. Like just the other day a student told me that she was told by a teacher of Wicca and witchcraft that a cloak must be handmade by the student and could only be made out of wool! Because its natural. In my opinion, this is foolish, silly and not right!! You can purchase a cloak already made, for if everyone made their own what would the talented artisans who make lovely cloaks do? If its made only of wool, well that's a sweaty challenge if you wish to wear your cloak to a summer Pagan gathering. And isn't silk natural? What of cotton, hemp, or burlap? Haha!! I'm just kidding about burlap, can you imagine a more scratchy, itchy cloak?
Any material from natural materials to satin, lace and other inexpensive, pretty fabrics are acceptable. because wearing clothing that feel good to the skin, look pleasing to the eye and make the wearer feel good is the only reason to wear a cloak or any garment. A garment does not impart magickal ability or power to the wearer, its simply clothing and designed to cover you up and keep you warm or cool as the case may be.
I find these restrictive concepts more and more prevalent amongst the magickal community. Where does it come from? Frankly it comes from teachers who have been taught restriction and seek to perpetrate that concept amongst their students. Hmmmmm. Wonder were we've learned this concept from. That there is one way that is considered the right way, and other ways are wrong? You can guess I'm sure. Well . . . if one leaves a religion, a belief system or way of life because its too restrictive for one, why is it that so many adopt another practice only to impose different but similar restrictions onto those in the new group? Simply because they have walked away from one way of being, only to continue living its principles and policies, only changing the names and titles of such practice and thereby believing they are practicing something quite different.
I am a witch. I practice witchcraft. I don't follow an organized religion. My Wiccan practice is mine. I do what pleases me and not necessarily what others have dictated. Am I Wiccan? Of course! Gerald Gardner, was the one who named Wicca and dictated what Wicca is, the religion of the witches, and as I said earlier, I am a witch! You can do this also. Of course it helps to learn some basic structure, but living and practicing as a witch has always been and I believe always should be up to that particular witch.
There are some Universal laws that we need to live by. Everyone needs to live by. Like gravity. Not changing that!! Karma has a way of doing her own thing also. I have observed through practice and experimentation some principles of spell casting that seem to work the same way for everyone, no matter who we are. These are described in more detail in my "Spell Manifestation . . . why and when spells don't seem to manifest as we wish them to" ©2010. To read more about this, this series started on November 11, 2010 in this blog and continues for a few discussions. But as far as magickal practice, especially in the religion of Wicca, YOU,as long as ye harm none, can do what ye will. Actually even if you choose to foolishly attempt to harm someone, Karma (remember her?) will balance the scales quite nicely. This is a practice of doing what feels right to you. And using the natural world to enhance your life and magickal practice.
That's right I said it. YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WISH. And still be considered a witch, a magickal practitioner whatever you call yourself. Never let anyone tell you you can or can't do something in this world, especially if its simply a matter of taste, fashion, likes/dislikes, for instance:
You Can if you wish to:
- wear any type of clothing you wish to. Or no clothing if you wish, of course we must abide by laws of public decency or risk arrest or ticketing.
- eat any food you wish to. Some magickal people are vegans, vegetarians, meat eaters (but primarily all Pagans I've encountered love food and the feasts that often accompany our celebrations)
- practice, observe and celebrate ANYTIME you wish to. On full moons, new moons, not even taking the moon into account. On any day of the week, any day of the year.
- work with any God or Goddess, more than one or none if you choose. Yes, I said that also, you don't have to invoke God/dess during ritual or practice. perhaps to you, your higher power is the Sun or the Moon and you wish to focus simply on these astronomical symbols. Its perfectly alright. (I personally feel you can choose to work with them or not, they will always work with us. So if you've been hit over the head with the GOD stuff so much over the years you choose to leave that aside, it's perfectly o.k. The Gods don't take silly human like offense to our desires. That's just our thing!)
What I am Thankful for this Holiday Season . . .
I am thankful for Life, Love and Happiness.
I am thankful for my truest friends who love me no matter what. I am thankful for those wonderful people in my life that accept who I am and celebrate because of it, not deal with me in spite of it. (The latter I have conveniently moved to the outskirts of my life, where they fare well and away from affecting my energy, and I am thankful that I have the strength and personal boundaries to decide who I will allow to be in my life)
I am thankful that we have small, fuzzy, furry creatures in this world who look up to us and love us regardless of what is happening in our world. They care not a whit about petty, human issues and just want to be loved and cuddled in return. I'm thankful for the lessons they teach me everyday.
I'm thankful for the wonderful people I meet everyday in my life who want to discuss concepts of magick, that have questions and seriously seek to learn how to make the magickal world work for them. The magick in my life is a gift I will always cherish and it is yet another gift that I am in a position to teach others from my experiences.
For all of these things I am grateful for and I thank the Goddess daily . . . for Life, Love and Happiness!
I hope you have a Blessed Thanksgiving Day! Be Safe, Be Happy and Stay Healthy, this is my wish for you!!
Peace and Happiness
© 2010-2011 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Witch Crafted Witch Approved . . . Protective Amulets for the House
Good Evening,
Tonight's discussion touches again on some fun, hand made or Witch Crafted items you can make for yourself or a loved one for the upcoming holidays. Protective household amulets. If you've ever been a bit confused between the difference between an amulet and a talisman, its pretty simple. Amulets are items crafted to bring protection to a person or place. Simply that, its a protective object. Talismans on the other hand are crafted to bring in or send out whatever the crafts-person desires. Such as love, abundance, healing, tranquility etc. Talismans are much more versatile.
Tonight we're making amulets that will bring protection to a household and these are made of air dry clay and are simple to make and use. You make them yourself so the energy is yours and the visualization is also yours. I am witch crafting mine so that my house stays safe this winter. Mind you, it won't keep a major power outage, like we've suffered recently here in the Northeast from occurring!!!! But the idea behind a protective household amulet is that it will keep your house safe from trees that wish to fall through your roof or fire or other destroying disaster. At least it will with the correct visualization and preparedness. And if something does happen to your house, the occupants within should remain safe in the case of a disaster.
The ingredients you'll need are simple:
air dry clay found at craft supply stores
a paper or Styrofoam plate
a wooden toothpick
colored acrylic paints
Take a small appx 1/4 cup of the clay and make a square flat 'pancake' out of it with your fingers. Make sure it is the same thickness throughout to ensure even drying. Then with a toothpick pierce a hole, not too big mind you in the middle along one edge. Make sure its big enough of a a hole to put a piece of ribbon through. Throughout the crafting process be sure to have a clear, strong visualization in mind of your home being protected and safe. I imagine my home floating gently within a large blue, white, silver tinged soap bubble. Think of the bubble that Glinda, the Good Witch of the North in the Wizard of Oz first made her appearance in. Now replace Glinda and put your home or apartment building inside the bubble. If you live in a building with other people, apartment or condominium for instance, imagine the entire building, not just your space.
Then using a pattern to go by, see below, trace gently on the surface of the clay your design. If it doesn't work as you'd wish you can smooth out the clay and try again. A word of caution, try crafting this on a paper or Styrofoam plate as making it on a table will require tricky spatula work to get your amulet back off of the table!!
The symbol I'm using for this amulet involves a pattern of six stars, surrounded by six stars surrounded by a circle and another circle within. Here is the amulet as it dries before paint is applied.
The entire amulet measures appx 4 inches by 4 inches give or take a bit. No need to get picky about it, just make it as it suits you. The square shape also adds to the protective nature of this amulet so don't make the shape of the amulet circular, not for this one. The design which is sometimes called the Great and Lesser Hex Seals is a symbol that has many variations to it. But it starts with an outer circle, six diamond shapes within with a smaller circle with a six pointed star within that. My symbol is simple compared to some. This first picture below is the symbol I worked my amulet from. Those that follow are variations on the same theme. Some even have more than six points, but I'm sticking with the original six. You can use them as you choose to. Keep in mind the six points within the six points are the protective part of the symbol. The outer circle (Sun) with a smaller circle (Sun) within add good fortune which enhances the protective abilities of this particular amulet.
My amulet as pictured above is not painted yet. That will be done this Saturday as part of class. The colors are usually reds, blues and blacks for protection. Greens, yellows or golds for good fortune and luck. You may choose to paint it as it suits you, and if you use the protective colors you are adding yet another layer of spell work to your protective amulet. Paint it the colors you wish to and then seal it with a clear lacquer or acrylic spray paint to seal and protect it. After it has hardened, has been painted and dried, you may put a piece of gold or black ribbon through the hole you made at one end to hang it from.
Then cast a circle, ideally, or if not able to, simply light some incense, light a candle and have a small bowl of spring water in which you added three pinches of salt to the water, thereby making blessed or holy water.
Hold the amulet in your hands, between your two palms in prayer pose. Close your eyes and see your visualization yet again. Your home being protected, floating free and safe above the ground, away from any harm or danger. Then imagine bright white energy flowing from the heaven plane, into the top of your head (the crown chakra) and into your body, through your arms and into your palms, and then into your amulet. Imagine this white light energy flowing in a continuous circle through your arms through your hands again and again. After a few moments you may open your eyes and you have 'charged' your amulet with your personal power along with Divine energy.
Then take the amulet and gently swing it through incense smoke, then touch it briefly to the candle flame and lastly sprinkle with a tiny bit of the water.
Then you only need the perfect place in your home to hang this Witch Crafted Witch Approved protective household amulet to send protective energies through and around your household.
All Witch Crafted Witch Approved craft projects are created and designed by me for my students at Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts and for you, my witchy reader! I hope you try them and that you enjoy the witch crafting process!!
Peace and Happiness
© 2010-2011 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
Tonight's discussion touches again on some fun, hand made or Witch Crafted items you can make for yourself or a loved one for the upcoming holidays. Protective household amulets. If you've ever been a bit confused between the difference between an amulet and a talisman, its pretty simple. Amulets are items crafted to bring protection to a person or place. Simply that, its a protective object. Talismans on the other hand are crafted to bring in or send out whatever the crafts-person desires. Such as love, abundance, healing, tranquility etc. Talismans are much more versatile.
Tonight we're making amulets that will bring protection to a household and these are made of air dry clay and are simple to make and use. You make them yourself so the energy is yours and the visualization is also yours. I am witch crafting mine so that my house stays safe this winter. Mind you, it won't keep a major power outage, like we've suffered recently here in the Northeast from occurring!!!! But the idea behind a protective household amulet is that it will keep your house safe from trees that wish to fall through your roof or fire or other destroying disaster. At least it will with the correct visualization and preparedness. And if something does happen to your house, the occupants within should remain safe in the case of a disaster.
The ingredients you'll need are simple:
air dry clay found at craft supply stores
a paper or Styrofoam plate
a wooden toothpick
colored acrylic paints
Take a small appx 1/4 cup of the clay and make a square flat 'pancake' out of it with your fingers. Make sure it is the same thickness throughout to ensure even drying. Then with a toothpick pierce a hole, not too big mind you in the middle along one edge. Make sure its big enough of a a hole to put a piece of ribbon through. Throughout the crafting process be sure to have a clear, strong visualization in mind of your home being protected and safe. I imagine my home floating gently within a large blue, white, silver tinged soap bubble. Think of the bubble that Glinda, the Good Witch of the North in the Wizard of Oz first made her appearance in. Now replace Glinda and put your home or apartment building inside the bubble. If you live in a building with other people, apartment or condominium for instance, imagine the entire building, not just your space.
Then using a pattern to go by, see below, trace gently on the surface of the clay your design. If it doesn't work as you'd wish you can smooth out the clay and try again. A word of caution, try crafting this on a paper or Styrofoam plate as making it on a table will require tricky spatula work to get your amulet back off of the table!!
The symbol I'm using for this amulet involves a pattern of six stars, surrounded by six stars surrounded by a circle and another circle within. Here is the amulet as it dries before paint is applied.
The entire amulet measures appx 4 inches by 4 inches give or take a bit. No need to get picky about it, just make it as it suits you. The square shape also adds to the protective nature of this amulet so don't make the shape of the amulet circular, not for this one. The design which is sometimes called the Great and Lesser Hex Seals is a symbol that has many variations to it. But it starts with an outer circle, six diamond shapes within with a smaller circle with a six pointed star within that. My symbol is simple compared to some. This first picture below is the symbol I worked my amulet from. Those that follow are variations on the same theme. Some even have more than six points, but I'm sticking with the original six. You can use them as you choose to. Keep in mind the six points within the six points are the protective part of the symbol. The outer circle (Sun) with a smaller circle (Sun) within add good fortune which enhances the protective abilities of this particular amulet.
My amulet as pictured above is not painted yet. That will be done this Saturday as part of class. The colors are usually reds, blues and blacks for protection. Greens, yellows or golds for good fortune and luck. You may choose to paint it as it suits you, and if you use the protective colors you are adding yet another layer of spell work to your protective amulet. Paint it the colors you wish to and then seal it with a clear lacquer or acrylic spray paint to seal and protect it. After it has hardened, has been painted and dried, you may put a piece of gold or black ribbon through the hole you made at one end to hang it from.
Then cast a circle, ideally, or if not able to, simply light some incense, light a candle and have a small bowl of spring water in which you added three pinches of salt to the water, thereby making blessed or holy water.
Hold the amulet in your hands, between your two palms in prayer pose. Close your eyes and see your visualization yet again. Your home being protected, floating free and safe above the ground, away from any harm or danger. Then imagine bright white energy flowing from the heaven plane, into the top of your head (the crown chakra) and into your body, through your arms and into your palms, and then into your amulet. Imagine this white light energy flowing in a continuous circle through your arms through your hands again and again. After a few moments you may open your eyes and you have 'charged' your amulet with your personal power along with Divine energy.
Then take the amulet and gently swing it through incense smoke, then touch it briefly to the candle flame and lastly sprinkle with a tiny bit of the water.
Then you only need the perfect place in your home to hang this Witch Crafted Witch Approved protective household amulet to send protective energies through and around your household.
All Witch Crafted Witch Approved craft projects are created and designed by me for my students at Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts and for you, my witchy reader! I hope you try them and that you enjoy the witch crafting process!!
Peace and Happiness
© 2010-2011 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Divination . . . Do you know the 'mancies' to divine by?
Good Evening,
Tonight I am discussing divination. Over the centuries, in all ancient cultures, one can find various methods of divination tat were used. By this I mean, a means by which one can foretell the future and foresee future events. Today we often find fortune tellers using tarot cards (Cartomancy) as well as other methods. Many of the oldest forms of divination utilized the natural world which surrounded everything and everyone.
Some of these oldest forms of predicting the future included:
Ornithomancy - whereby one observed the movement and actions of birds to foretell the future. Many times the divination consisted of simply telling whether the future boded ill or favorably, rather than specifics.
Pyromancy is the divination by fire, and Capnomancy is divination by observing smoke from a fire. Earliest forms of divination were simple and became more complex as mankind evolved and learned deeper of the Mysteries.
Astragalomancy is a more evolved method of divination by the reading of bones. Knuckle bones were inscribed with symbols and thrown, much as runes or dice is thrown today. The manner in which the bones lay on the ground, in relation to the other bones as well as which symbols faced up all helped the Shaman or Mage read the future and predict events that would affect the tribe.
My research leads me to believe that originally divination was done to determine the future of the tribe, clan or village in general rather than individual futures. In ancient times we lived very communally in matriarchal governed societies and the future of one often was the future of all. Over time as we became a more complicated race we started to see omens or divinatory aspects in more technical methods. Some of these are commonly in use today, such as:
Cartomancy - This method uses either regular playing cards, tarot cards and nowadays also oracle cards. Divination by card is referred to as 'reading' the cards and is a wide spread practice in North America and Europe today.
Crystallomancy - is the practice called 'scrying' using a crystal ball. I employ this method when reading a client's tarot cards and have used it for several years. It's difficult, even for a practitioner, to describe using the crystal ball. The best I can sum up is you shift your gaze, slip into a slight trance-like state and you start to see things within the depths of the crystal. It feels more like you are seeing events deep within your mind, but this is just my personal experience with it.
Critomancy - Divination using food. For those of you who have been reading "The Life and Times of a Contemporary New England Witch" for a while, you may remember a discussion we had last December when I made an old fashioned Christmas Pudding. See "Christmas Pudding and Divination for the Upcoming Year" November 29, 2010, where I discussed this very divination. The practice of putting 'charms' or trinkets into food, a cake like dessert called a Christmas Pudding was discussed in this case. Other foods that are traditionally used are mashed potatoes, breads, pies, cakes, oatmeal, and oat cakes or buns. The person that receives a charm in their portion is considered to have an auspicious future, whether just for the upcoming year, during an specific event or even their future life, depending on the cultural tradition in which this method is found. The Christmas Pudding from Victorian Era England included several items, coins, rings, thimbles and such. Some were considered lucky and at least one charm would foretell a difficult upcoming year for the poor recipient.
Hippomancy - is divining the future by using horses. By herding horses through a doorway, depending on which hoof touches the other side first will foretell if the future bodes well or ill.
Lithomancy - is using polished stones to divine. I myself have developed a divination system using polished tumbled stones. I have a client pick a stone from a large assortment of many different stones. They choose for no particular reason other than it calls to them, a certain stone. They hand it to me and the stone tells me about their specific focus at the time. What they are looking for in life and what they wish to bring in or eliminate from their lives at that time. I developed this system while reading the tarot for clients and it has become very accurate method, at least according to my clients.
Cleidomancy - is the closest I could come to describing the divination using a pendulum. Originally using a key hung on a string and suspended inside an empty glass, the question would be asked and the number of times the key clinked on the side of the glass was the answer. Today we use a pendulum which is a weight hung on a string or chain and a question is asked. The manner in which the chain swings tells the questioner a yes or no answer.
Some of the more unusual methods of divination from ancient times include:
Extispicy - not using the suffix 'mancy' , but it is the practice of divination using the entrails of a ritually slaughtered animal. This was more commonly found in ancient cultures and is only practiced today rarely in practices of Santeria, Voudon and other Afro-Caribbean religious practices.
Ovomancy is the practice of divination by egg. One method is to suspend a pierced egg over a glass of water and allow the white to leak into the water. Using psychic sight the practitioner interprets the shapes made by the egg white.
There is an ancient divination method employed by ancient Romans using colored scraps of cloth. They are put in a box and a question asked. The questioner reaches in and takes one piece of cloth. The color of the cloth determines the answer. There seems to be no specific name for this type of divination except divination by cloth.
Duckerin' Bars - two smooth flat stones. One white, one black. The questioner asks a yes or no question and drops the stones aiming at their own feet. The stone closest to the feet is the answer stone. The lack means no and the white means yes. This comes from the Romany Gypsy culture.
These are just a few of the many methods of divining the future we can find in ancient cultures and some that are still in use today. It matters less the method than the ability of the practitioner. I do find however that certain people are attracted to certain methods and the method that calls to you will be the most effective for you.
Peace and Happiness
© 2010-2011 Enchantments,LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
Tonight I am discussing divination. Over the centuries, in all ancient cultures, one can find various methods of divination tat were used. By this I mean, a means by which one can foretell the future and foresee future events. Today we often find fortune tellers using tarot cards (Cartomancy) as well as other methods. Many of the oldest forms of divination utilized the natural world which surrounded everything and everyone.
Some of these oldest forms of predicting the future included:
Ornithomancy - whereby one observed the movement and actions of birds to foretell the future. Many times the divination consisted of simply telling whether the future boded ill or favorably, rather than specifics.
Pyromancy is the divination by fire, and Capnomancy is divination by observing smoke from a fire. Earliest forms of divination were simple and became more complex as mankind evolved and learned deeper of the Mysteries.
Astragalomancy is a more evolved method of divination by the reading of bones. Knuckle bones were inscribed with symbols and thrown, much as runes or dice is thrown today. The manner in which the bones lay on the ground, in relation to the other bones as well as which symbols faced up all helped the Shaman or Mage read the future and predict events that would affect the tribe.
My research leads me to believe that originally divination was done to determine the future of the tribe, clan or village in general rather than individual futures. In ancient times we lived very communally in matriarchal governed societies and the future of one often was the future of all. Over time as we became a more complicated race we started to see omens or divinatory aspects in more technical methods. Some of these are commonly in use today, such as:
Cartomancy - This method uses either regular playing cards, tarot cards and nowadays also oracle cards. Divination by card is referred to as 'reading' the cards and is a wide spread practice in North America and Europe today.
Crystallomancy - is the practice called 'scrying' using a crystal ball. I employ this method when reading a client's tarot cards and have used it for several years. It's difficult, even for a practitioner, to describe using the crystal ball. The best I can sum up is you shift your gaze, slip into a slight trance-like state and you start to see things within the depths of the crystal. It feels more like you are seeing events deep within your mind, but this is just my personal experience with it.
Critomancy - Divination using food. For those of you who have been reading "The Life and Times of a Contemporary New England Witch" for a while, you may remember a discussion we had last December when I made an old fashioned Christmas Pudding. See "Christmas Pudding and Divination for the Upcoming Year" November 29, 2010, where I discussed this very divination. The practice of putting 'charms' or trinkets into food, a cake like dessert called a Christmas Pudding was discussed in this case. Other foods that are traditionally used are mashed potatoes, breads, pies, cakes, oatmeal, and oat cakes or buns. The person that receives a charm in their portion is considered to have an auspicious future, whether just for the upcoming year, during an specific event or even their future life, depending on the cultural tradition in which this method is found. The Christmas Pudding from Victorian Era England included several items, coins, rings, thimbles and such. Some were considered lucky and at least one charm would foretell a difficult upcoming year for the poor recipient.
Hippomancy - is divining the future by using horses. By herding horses through a doorway, depending on which hoof touches the other side first will foretell if the future bodes well or ill.
Lithomancy - is using polished stones to divine. I myself have developed a divination system using polished tumbled stones. I have a client pick a stone from a large assortment of many different stones. They choose for no particular reason other than it calls to them, a certain stone. They hand it to me and the stone tells me about their specific focus at the time. What they are looking for in life and what they wish to bring in or eliminate from their lives at that time. I developed this system while reading the tarot for clients and it has become very accurate method, at least according to my clients.
Cleidomancy - is the closest I could come to describing the divination using a pendulum. Originally using a key hung on a string and suspended inside an empty glass, the question would be asked and the number of times the key clinked on the side of the glass was the answer. Today we use a pendulum which is a weight hung on a string or chain and a question is asked. The manner in which the chain swings tells the questioner a yes or no answer.
Some of the more unusual methods of divination from ancient times include:
Extispicy - not using the suffix 'mancy' , but it is the practice of divination using the entrails of a ritually slaughtered animal. This was more commonly found in ancient cultures and is only practiced today rarely in practices of Santeria, Voudon and other Afro-Caribbean religious practices.
Ovomancy is the practice of divination by egg. One method is to suspend a pierced egg over a glass of water and allow the white to leak into the water. Using psychic sight the practitioner interprets the shapes made by the egg white.
There is an ancient divination method employed by ancient Romans using colored scraps of cloth. They are put in a box and a question asked. The questioner reaches in and takes one piece of cloth. The color of the cloth determines the answer. There seems to be no specific name for this type of divination except divination by cloth.
Duckerin' Bars - two smooth flat stones. One white, one black. The questioner asks a yes or no question and drops the stones aiming at their own feet. The stone closest to the feet is the answer stone. The lack means no and the white means yes. This comes from the Romany Gypsy culture.
These are just a few of the many methods of divining the future we can find in ancient cultures and some that are still in use today. It matters less the method than the ability of the practitioner. I do find however that certain people are attracted to certain methods and the method that calls to you will be the most effective for you.
Peace and Happiness
© 2010-2011 Enchantments,LLC Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website.
If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.
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