The Contemporary New England Witch

The Contemporary New England Witch
Author Ms.Faith

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Working with the Goddess




 Good Afternoon,


I often meet people who want to stat working with witchcraft but aren't sure how to get started or what to do. I often recommend they get a good starter book, start reading and then start practicing. You can work on casting a circle, and having a ritual with many steps and components. But one of my favorite ways of working magick is simply working with the Goddess and one lone candle.

I light a candle and ask the Goddess for help in a particular situation. She always comes through for me. I don't worry about whether I said it right, did the right thing in the right order, etc. I just leave it up to her. I do spend some time speaking with her and visualizing the end result I am looking for. Your visualization is still a key part of the work to be done.

Don't get too complicated either. Have a clear end result that you can visualize and focus on. Not on all the steps it will take to get there, leave that up to her. Once you've spent the time, a few minutes, focusing on your end result and speaking with the Goddess you can leave the candle burning and go about your day.

When speaking with the Goddess, speak as if you are having a conversation with someone. You don't need to use arcane language or get to fussy with your words. Speak clearly and put into words what your problem is and what you would like as an end result. Then as your day or week carries on, do the things that present themselves to you to get the job done. You might find the work already completed and nothing further required on your part, or you might have to do a few things to ensure the work gets done. Time will tell you what you need to do.

Working with the Goddess can be a very intimate experience. You don't need to pick a specific Goddess, general Goddess energy is fine to work with. So get your candle, sit comfortably and start your conversation. 

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.

Friday, July 25, 2014

Our Pagan Thanksgiving is coming up soon, Happy Lughnasadh!






 Good Afternoon,

Yes, Thanksgiving! You see, the American Thanksgiving, is held late in November due to some political fanageling, when a past President wanted to help boost Christmas retail sales in the stores, so they placed Thanksgiving where it is now, the last Thursday in November. And then, some people feel that Thanksgiving is an American holiday due to the story of the Pilgrim's first year, the help of the native people bringing them food and such.

In truth, many cultures have a time of Thanksgiving. It usually falls around the first harvest. This is August 1st for modern day Pagans. This is the time the first fruits, vegetables and grains are harvested from the fields. Next Saturday, August 2nd, at Enchantments, we will be celebrating our Pagan Thanksgiving, or Lughnasadh as it is called in the ancient Celtic language. This stands for Assembly of Lugh. Lugh being an ancient Celtic God of the harvest.

We will hold a Lughnasadh ritual first, giving thanks to the Goddess and God for all the blessings we are harvesting from our lives at the present time and then celebrating and socializing with each other. Traditional Thanksgiving foods are what you would expect. A roast turkey or chicken, pork or beef is often cooked. Vegetables from the garden, bread from the grains of the fields, fruit from the trees. So salads, vegetable side dishes, corn dishes, loaves of bread and pies are common and delicious Thanksgiving foods to be found on our feast tables.

Traditionally we eat our Thanksgiving feast out doors surrounded by nature on long tables.  This year we will be inviting a very special guest speaker to our Thanksgiving celebration. Grand Master Joel Waldron will attend and speak of some of the concepts to be found in the 'Conversations with God' series of books by Neale Donald Walsh. The celebration starts at 10 am, and there is no charge. If you wish to attend, please bring a dish to share with others for the feast.

We are also holding a non perishable food drive for the less fortunate in the Greater Manchester area. Please come to the Lughnasadh celebration and bring with you a non perishable food item. These items will be brought to the food pantry in Manchester to be distributed to those in need.

There is also one additional thing I want to talk about today. There is a little boy, six years old, who lives in Foxboro Mass, and he has inoperable brain cancer. He has had to drop out of kindergarten because of his illness and gets lonely sometimes. Today, July 25th, 2014 is his birthday and he has said all he wants for his birthday is a birthday card. He has received over 15,000 cards already and I'm sending mine out to him today. This was reported on Channel 3 news last night, July 24th, 2014. If you'd like to send one his information is: Danny Nickerson, P.O. Box 212, Foxboro, Mass 02035.

Remember to thank God, Goddess or the Universe for all of your blessings, love and the happiness you find in your life. Not everyone has it as good.  


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.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Raven Grimassi's workshop is coming up!




Good Afternoon,

Raven and Stephanie Grimassi are going to be coming to Enchantments at the end of August. They will be conducting a wonderful workshop and there are a few tickets left for the event! Here is a descripton of the workshop:

THE CORD OF GREENWOOD MAGIC & WORKING WITH PLANT SPIRITS

The lore about witches has long included tales of secret knowledge related to the plants of witchcraft.  Join authors Raven Grimassi and Stephanie Taylor for a workshop on Plant Spirits as you journey to the Cavern of Old Magic.  Learn what Plant Spirits are, how to connect with them, and how they aid in ritual and magical work.  Included in this workshop is the construction and use of ‘The Cord of Greenwood Magic’ – a shamanic tool for tapping into the Greenwood Realm and the Organic Memory of the Earth.   Each person will work with the art of knotting cords, a magical process for connecting to the Realm of Plant Spirits.    Attendees of the workshop will be given a cord to work with and take home.  Come and learn about the ways of witchcraft that are ever ancient and ever new!

This workshop will be held Friday August 29th from 5 to 7 pm. The cost is $35.00 per person.  There is limited space available, if you want a seat, stop by Enchantments and pay for your ticket. That's the only way you can reserve a seat.

I look forward to seeing you there! Ms. Faith


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.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

The Real Work of the Witch






Good Afternoon,

I come across people all of the time that want to 'pick up the broomstick' and become a witch.  That's just fine, anyone, in my opinion, can be a witch. That is, if they do the work of the witch.  Now, I don't mean making herbal blends, carving candles or making potions. I don't even mean having rituals and casting spells by the moon.

What I mean when I say, the work of the witch, is the internal work that must be done. Many feel that if they read the books and dress with witchy jewelry they are doing the work. Again, no. It is the work of changing who you are. Why do you need to change? Well, you don't necessarily need to, but then why would you be looking to become a witch. People find they want to change the fundamental basis of their lives, and that's what becoming a witch is, changing in a major way, because they are not happy with what they have at the time.  I mean, if you were really happy with everything in your life, why change?

So, you've decided you want to change. Great! Now look at the character traits you embody and see which ones benefit you, and which ones are a detriment. Are you a happy person? That's a benefit. Are you a negative person? Detriment. See where I'm going? Make a list of the qualities syou wish to change for the better and sit with it for a while.

I will tell you a Universal Mystery.  It's not others that need to change. It's you. It's NEVER others that need to change. It's ALWAYS you. If you can take that concept and work with it, you are on your way to becoming a witch. If not, then I wish you well on your path and I hope you find what you're looking for.

There are many ways to start changing the negative qualities you wish to change. Meditation can help. Also being aware of the words that come from your mouth. Most negativity is reflected in the words we use and the way we verbally look at the world. Hear your words and start to change them. Start by saying positive things, even if they feel foreign to you.

Try interacting with others in a positive way and not allowing others to drag you into their drama and negative outlook on things. It takes one day at a time and one step at a time. But during this work, be sure to play with the fun witchy stuff. Make sure you use Goddess help to help you change, by doing your rituals and casting your circles. Hang out with other positive witchy people. Work with your herbs, candles, potions and spells. It's all a process, a wonderful one, but it will take time. Good luck on your path!


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.

Friday, July 4, 2014

Enjoying Mother Nature's Weather





Good Afternoon,


We find ourselves, at the time of this discussion, in the midst of a hot and steamy July in Southern New England. I've been listening to people complaining of the heat just as I hear people complain of the cold in the winter time.

From this witch's perspective, I try too enjoy all Mother Nature gives us. In the heat of Summer, I try to dress lightly and do most of my vigorous work in the early mornings or in the evenings. During the day I work at the store but find the time to just sit and read and relax in the heat of the day.

Other cultures have incorporated a 'siesta' time in the middle of their day, with good reason. Sometimes it can be too hot to do much except relax. But I find that complaining about the heat adds an extra element that makes the heat even more difficult. Our attitude about things really does make things easier or more difficult for us.

Yes, it's hot. That's what Summer is all about. This time of the year I do a couple of things to help me enjoy myself in the heat. I already mentioned I try to dress lightly. I also make sure I have fans around. Over head fans and table fans that move the air around. Air conditioning is nice but I find it makes me cold, where I am more comfortable enjoying the heat with a nice breeze blowing on me. The one thing I DO NOT do is complain about the heat. That puts me in a negative mood, makes me cranky and that just makes the whole situation worse.

I really do believe that your attitude can make a huge difference. It's Summer, Summer is hot, try to find the enjoyment in it. At best, when you're really hot and miserable remember my three word mantra "January, February, March" !! This also has a way of putting me in a better frame of mind.

Magick is within you, you have the ability to make things better or worse, simply by the way you perceive them. Make this a better day!


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.