Gideon and the Coyote

Gideon


Good Afternoon, I have a sweet, yet sad  story I would like to share with you. Above, pictured is Gideon a sweet, wonderful soul whom I am grateful to have met and known for a short while.  Gideon is the rescued pup of a student of Enchantments. She had Gideon for 7 years and he was 9 years old this past week when he passed over. 

Gideon's  'mom' told us a story about him and a coyote he had made friends with. One night, in the middle of the night she awoke to hear Gideon barking outside in the woods which surrounds her house. She lives with many, many acres of undeveloped land surrounding her home. She took a flashlight and went in search of Gideon. She went through woods and fields, along trails and finally came to him and was surprised to see him pinning a coyote down on the ground. The coyote was in a submissive position and Gideon's mom was able to get Gideon off of the coyote and get him to come back home with her.

Since that time, the coyote would come around the house and stand and look at the house. Gideon, being inside would bark at the window, acknowledging the coyote's presence. Gideon was a strong,beautiful, fearless creature with a sweet soul and a gentle heart.

The time came when just recently when Gideon was not acting himself. After several  visits to the vet and several tests they determined that Gideon had a brain tumor and not long to live.  His mom brought him home and cared for him in his last days. One of the last days of Gideon's life, had her holding him and preparing for him to pass.  She then heard a long, mournful howling outside the house. The coyote had come and seemed to know that Gideon was soon to be gone.

After Gideon passed, his mom went outside and saw coyote tracts that went completely around the house and came to a stop outside the window where Gideon would often bark at the coyote. Then the tracts went off into the woods. 

Do animals sense moments like these? I believe they do. I believe animals sense much, much more than we give them credit for. In this instance I believe Gideon and the coyote had a friendship of sorts and that when Gideon's time came, the coyote came to say goodbye to its friend. 

I only knew Gideon for a short while, but I was fortunate to have met such a sweet, gentle soul and I wish him bright blessings on his travels. I also thank his owner and 'mom' for letting me tell his tale.

 Peace and Happiness




© 2010-2014 Faith M. McCann. 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. Please note that the copying and/or further distribution of this work without express written permission is prohibited. 


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Wow! Our 300th post!! Animal Magick

Good Afternoon,

Well, thanks to you, my magickal reader, The Life and Times of a Contemporary New England Witch is posting our 300th discussion today! Thanks for reading, for all of your wonderful, positive comments and for coming back time and again to see what's brewing in my cauldron. I will keep writing as long as you keep reading.

Today I want to discuss animal magick. Yes, we can do animal magick for an ill pet or perhaps one that is lost.  A simple method for doing this is to burn a brown candle. First take the candle and with a toothpick, inscribe the animal's name on the candle. Rub it with a bit of essential oil, patchouli is a good choice, but if you don't have any on hand a simple olive oil will work.

Burn the candle at sunset (most animals get an extra burst of energy at sunset) and allow the candle to burn all the way down. Of course, you must seek out competent veterinary care for your pet first and foremost. This animal magick is only to aid your fur baby onto healing quicker and with less difficulty.

In the case of a lost pet, burn the candle, but in this case place candle in holder over a map of your location. Even if you don't have a real map, a simple line drawing of your home, street and landmarks of your area will work. Allow candle to burn all the way down. 

Please Note! It is important to be aware when working animal magick that if seriously ill, your pet may cross over shortly after your spell is done.  As I speak of in 'Spell Manifestation' we cannot cause the death of any one or thing with magick, but we can help them cross over with less pain and difficulty.

This may be difficult for us to accept, the passing of a loved fur baby. But we are their guardians and caretakers and as such we have a responsibility to do what s best for them. This DOESN'T mean, putting an animal down just because it has become elderly and difficult to deal with. But with serious illness or injury, we must do what is ultimately best for the animal. Only you with your God/ Goddess can make that decision. By burning a candle you work with God/ Goddess to do what is right for your pet.

Spell casting or magick, call it what you will, both are apt, are contracts you make with God/Goddess to make needed change in your life. Remember, Life does not happen to you. You make life happen and as such, you choose your reality. So if you have a pet that is sickly, you can help it get better or to cross over by burning a candle, saying a prayer and allowing the divine to happen. Blessed Be.



Peace and Happiness




© 2010-2014 Faith M. McCann. 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. Please note that the copying and/or further distribution of this work without express written permission is prohibited.

 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.

More early Spring time magick from nature

Good Evening,


Last week's discussion talked about bringing in spring blooming flowers indoors. Today's discussion talks about the magick of nature once again, this time with early spring flowers in your garden this time of year. Yes, I said spring!

You see for a Pagan that follows the Wheel of the Year, February 1st, right around the corner, is our first spring ritual.  We see things like the ice starting to break up in the ponds and on the lakes, winter birds flying North again and green life starting to grow again in the garden.

Two such early spring blooming plants are Cyclamen and Prim Rose.  Cyclamen will actually blossom in the January garden especially if it's protected and not covered with feet of snow.

This is the beautiful Cyclamen

 You can grow this plant out of doors yourself in your garden if you wish. But don't plant it NOW! It needs time to acclimate, so plan on planting one in your garden during the summer months. Then by next spring it will be ready to bloom.

Another hardy, early spring bloomer is Prim Rose. Prim rose has many beautiful colors and different varieties, but I prefer the low growing variety that is multi colored. Like this one

These also need to be uncovered of snow and they will be blooming in your garden as early as March. Such a pleasant surprise to be walking in your spring garden, just looking for a rare green sprout or leaf and coming across these beauties. 

As for a bit more of Nature's magick, I looked up in the morning skies today and saw my first flock of Canada geese flying back North!  I look for them every year and the earliest I've seen them is February 1st. I am making a prediction (before our furry friend the ground hog) that it will be an early spring. Now, now that doesn't mean, no more snow or any further snow storms. It just means we'll be out in our spring gardens earlier this year than usual.  Now, we'll wait and see how accurate I am!

Peace and Happiness

© 2010-2014 Faith M. McCann. 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. Please note that the copying and/or further distribution of this work without express written permission is prohibited.

 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.

Bringing in Life during the Dead of Winter

Good Afternoon,

We find ourselves sitting here, braving the worst of winter with temperatures below zero for many.   This time of year, there is little alive outside, as the plants and trees sleep in deep dormancy. I like to bring in life indoors, during this time of year. 

You may still be able to buy fall bulbs in your local nursery or home improvement store, if not then now is the time to plan for next year. While we were out and about during the holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas we ran across boxes of bulbs meant for growing inside during the winter. The two types sold specifically for this type of indoor growing are Amaryllis and Paper White Narcissus. 

I grabbed a few boxes of each and brought them home and put them on a shelf until around Thanksgiving time. Then I opened the boxes and potted up the bulbs. These flowers come in a kit that has potting soil and a special pot for which to grow them in. It's all in there, you just need to place the bulbs, cover in soil and water. Then place in a sunny window and watch them grow. It's so nice to see something living and thriving during such a cold, harsh winter.

Here are some pictures of Amaryllis. They come in many different colors and when open usually have four big blossoms that are back to back. Simply lovely.

I also like to grow Paper White Narcissus which is a tiny white daffodil. They are fragrant, though some people don't like the strong scent, but they are beautiful and fresh during a cold, harsh time. Here are some paper whites:

Simply beautiful!

You can grow them indoors yourself. It's still early in winter, call your local nursery and see if they have any boxed narcissus or Amaryllis still available. I also like to purchase Amaryllis and keep until May or June. Then I pot them up and grow them outdoors to be placed on tables in the garden. Amaryllis like to have walls close about their bulbs, so planting them in the pot works better than planting them straight into the garden. But regardless of the time of year you grow them, they are sure to bring you happiness and smiles.

Happy Winter Gardening!

Peace and Happiness

© 2010-2014 Faith M. McCann. 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. Please note that the copying and/or further distribution of this work without express written permission is prohibited.

 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.

A New Moon, New Year Spell

 Happy New Year!

Well, today is an auspicious day indeed. Today is the first day of 2014 and it is a New Moon!  This is the best time to bring in the new and discard the old.

It is common at New Year's to have some 'resolutions' for the upcoming year. A witch does a similar thing, but we do it a bit differently. 

Firstly, cast a magick circle. Then get some paper and sit down, light a candle and calm and center yourself. Think of the wonderful things you wish to bring into your life in the upcoming year. This can be done without the magick circle, but it's most effective in the circle.

If you can't cast a magick circle, or do not know how, then sit down and close your eyes and envision blue light surrounding your body. Move this blue light out to completely surround you and make a big sphere around you. Think of the bubble that Glinda, the Good Witch of the North was floating in, in the movie "The Wizard of Oz. That's the image of you floating within a blue bubble that I want you to envision.

After you have that image in your mind's eye, then open your eyes, take your paper (we use flash paper, so it burns up without leaving ash behind, but simple writing paper is acceptable), then write your wishes for the upcoming year.

After it is written, and you can write one thing or several, it's up to you, then fold the paper three times and hold it between your palms for a few moments. 'See' your life with these wonderful things within it, then speaking to the Goddess say aloud "So Mote it Be".  Blow on the paper between your palms three times and then hold the corner of the paper to the candle flame.  Allow the paper to burn up, without unfolding it, be careful here and practice good fire safety!

Place burning paper, if you don't use flash paper it will take a few moments to completely burn up, in a fire proof container. Flash paper, as it sounds, flashes up in a brief, bright flash of fire and instantaneously goes out, leaving no trace behind.

Then thank the Goddess and sit for a moment and imagine yourself drawing the blue light back into your body. As you sit there breath in and out, and inhale a bit more strongly, breathing in the blue light, the magickal, the wonderful.

Then go about your regular day, knowing inside that a very special thing has taken place. A New Year, a New Moon spell cast by you especially for you for this upcoming year.

Happy New Year's and Peace and Happiness to you and yours!







© 2010-2014 Faith M. McCann. 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. Please note that the copying and/or further distribution of this work without express written permission is prohibited.



 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.