Hello again!
Weren't we just discussing Indian Summer? Well, it's arrived, yeah! What a gorgeous, warm almost balmy day and today again saw me out in the garden, trimming, cutting back and enjoying this beautiful, although short reminder of summer. I know it's only around for a day or so, but I'm enjoying it. I just finished cutting back the zebra grass and I've included a photo of it before it came down.
I love the way the sun highlights this particular grass, seemingly illuminating the blades of grass from within. I have planted this variety of tall, ornamental grass on the eastern and western edges of my garden. This is to take advantage of the morning sun and evening sun, the lighting effect is really spectacular. This plant is also magickal to me. It starts growing a new plant from the crown left from the year before in the early spring. The plant puts out completely green blades of grass with no striping at all. Regardless of how big the plant gets, it doesn't start getting yellow zebra striping until the weather turns hot enough. How hot is that? Well, you'll just have to get some zebra grass, plant it and see!!
Zebra grass is a nice planting to bring in the air element, which was the last element we discussed. Tonight's discussion surrounds an exciting element, the element of fire. The South is the realm of fire. Fire's color is red, its energy is masculine, exciting, projective and ever changing. One of the strongest magickal qualities of fire is change. It also encompasses passion, intense love, sex and lust. Oh, wait . . . I can hear some of you thinking,
"hey now, it's about time we got to the good stuff!!" I've been asked about love spells, probably more than all the other spell categories combined over the years. They do work. But before we get into love spells, let's discuss a little more about the south and the element of fire.
Courage, strength(both physical and mental), determination, all fall into this realm's sphere.
The salamander has for centuries been a creature of fire. I know, salamanders are small, cool and moist. But Aristotle and Pliny, both famous philosophers and great scholars of their day, claimed the salamander to be a creature that lived in fire. There seems to be no agreed upon thought as to why they attributed a small wet creature that lives in logs such a hot reputation. I do know that if you pick up a salamander often they are marked with bright red or orange markings. The serpent or snake is also associated with the South and fire.
Transform your garden by thinking of the red found in nature. Red flowers, like bright red salvia, geraniums, roses, and plants that turn bright red in the fall such as the burning bush, eunonymous, that we have so much of in the Northeast all call for the fire element. There are some lovely ornamental dogwoods called red-twig dogwood, that seem to grow much differently from a typical dogwood. I have a photo to your right in the side bar. They grow with many trunks from the ground and don't seem to get more than 3 - 4' tall, perhaps with trimming. The winter is when this beauty really shows off. The red twigs or red colored bark of the trunk stand out dramatically from freshly fallen snow and provide a spark of fire energy, even in the midst of winter.
A fire pit, chiminea, or other fire element is always a nice choice. Just be sure to find out your local zoning restrictions on open flame fires in your neighborhood, to be sure you can legally have one.
The element of fire, is also the realm of the dragon and fire drakes, mythological creatures that live in the flames of the fire.
Ms. Faith's Candle spell for Love
Candles are a perfect spell method for love, using the element of fire, bringing in change.
First a Magickal Disclaimer: It's important when doing a love spell, that if it's to bring in a new lover, do not visualize or specify a person you know. To do so would be negative manipulation and we do not have the right to do that. Instead visualize perhaps tall, dark, handsome or pretty, person. Other non specific traits are o.k. to visualize i.e. doesn't live with parents, has a good paying job, likes the same movies etc. This is the type of person who will cross your path in the coming weeks with a love spell properly visualized.
I know, I know, I've heard it before "But Ms. Faith, seriously, we are meant to be together, we are SOUL MATES!!! He doesn't know me yet, but just one spell, I know he would stop dating every other girl in town and focus only on me!" Um, I hate to disappoint, but . . . no he won't. Now might be a good time to mention we take a firm stand against aiding and abetting stalkers. We just won't do it!
So, stop thinking about a specific someone and just see yourself happy, coming home at night and just seeing yourself aglow with happiness and love. The person who will bring that to your life will cross your path and if your spell is done correctly, you will have more than one eligible one, and then you can choose of your own free will.
If you are in a committed relationship, and you wish to visualize your lover, just make sure they know you are doing a spell (yes, they must be informed, even if you know what's best for them!!) and you must have their permission. Once obtained, some serious spell casting can be had! This is a simple yet effective love candle spell.
Take a red candle. Carve hearts in the side. The rune X called gifu is the sex/lust rune and pretty effective if historical myth is anything to go by. If you are doing a spell with the permission of your lover, you may carve both your names in the side of the candle. Dress (rub in) a love oil, or an essential oil of rose, then place in a fireproof holder. Place candle in holder on a plate with silver, reds or pinks. Use colors to enhance your spell. I am a serious proponent of glitter. I'll come right out and say it. Glitter is fabulous and should be used more.
Sprinkle red, pinks, purple glitters on plate, or even on the red or pink cloth of a love altar. A statue of a love Goddess is always a nice touch on an altar dedicated to love magick. Stones of pinks and reds and quartz crystals also add to the love drawing magick.
Place candle in your line of sight, on top of a television or on a near by table, so you can look at it occasionally as it burns and visualize your end result. Light the candle. Let it burn until it goes out, or snuff it out and re-light at another time and allow to burn completely out. Keep seeing your visualization, while the candle burns. You don't have to stare at the candle, just every now and again as your gaze falls on the candle as it burns see your visualization.
What should you visualize? Just yourself. Yes, just you. Coming home to someone, coming home after a date, perhaps even sitting at a nice table in a restaurant you like. Just visualize it as if your date is in the rest room. You very happy, waiting for their return, excited to be with them. See what makes sense for you. But the focus of the visual is you.
See yourself happy, excited, in love, being loved. At night when you close your eyes see the love life you desire.In the morning start your day by seeing the visual for a few moments before you open your eyes and get up for the day. The visualization is key.
This spell can be layered further by performing it on a Friday, a day known since antiquity as a day of love.
It's important to remember, as with any spell, once the magick has been cast then one is responsible for doing the physical work. A spell cast for getting a good job, does no good if the spell caster never leaves the couch. The physical action of sending out resumes, going on job interviews, is all still required. You only make the winds of good fortune and luck flow in your direction by working a bit of magick.
The same is true with love magick. You want a special someone in your life, and you've decided to cast a love spell. After all you deserve it! A secret about magick? I'll tell you. . . the magick works within you. It causes change. Perhaps your magick causes you to become more aware of who you are, how you interact with people, how others view you. The magick works from within, it emanates out (many times people will say "you're glowing!" ) and it attracts others to you. Can you see how the energy goes out, returns and completes a circuit?
After the spell is cast, you need to put yourself out there. Perhaps take some risks, deal with some false starts, but you have to go out, meet people and you will find that someone. Fire magick causes change, and if you want your love life to change in any way, fire magick is the way to do it.
© 2010 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
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.
The Contemporary New England Witch
Author Ms.Faith
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Elements of the East, Guardians of the Air, I call and invoke you . . .
Greetings everyone,
What a lovely day I had today harvesting and cutting plants in my garden. Today I worked in my elemental garden and was giving much thought to this discussion. We last talked about the elements of the Northern realms, guardians of the earth. While harvesting garden sage this afternoon, I thought about how best to dry and preserve it, for use throughout my winter.
I found a simple wreath wire circle in the garage and with some gold cording and some clippers I fashioned the wreath in just about 15 minutes. I posted a picture of it in the left bar next to this article. This is the time of year I like harvesting the most, I like to think its the spirit of the squirrel in me, wanting to put all good things away for use this winter. I try to harvest and dry my magickal herbs, and I always leave some to winter over. Many a Thanksgiving day has found me running outside, usually barefooted! that last Thursday in November to grab a bit of oregano, lovage or mint that I know I left in my early winter garden to add a bit of nature to our feast. .
Now let's discuss a bit of the next element on the wheel, turning towards the east. The color commonly used to denote east is yellow and it is an element of air. Whereas earth was an element that syncs up with the feminine, receptive, cool and comforting, Air is an element that is masculine in its character. Projective, exciting, and invigorating, the element of air governs truth, intellect, justice, communication and critical thinking. Clarity of mind and insight are qualities of this element.
My elemental garden,, this is a small garden appx 12 feet by 20 feet surrounded on all sides by a garden wooden walkway and a stone block retaining wall. The garden is in a Southern exposure but I have all sides planted with plants that work with each element. For instance in the north I have lambs ears and vinca vine, whereas in the east I have sundrops and tansy. The sundrops have early spring to summer yellow blossoms and the tansy blooms bright yellow caps in the late summer. What's nice about the sundrops is their foliage turns bright red in the fall, honoring the spirit of the South, element of Fire. We'll talk about that element in our next discussion.
Let me share some other concepts you can use to bring the element of Air to your garden and your life,
Bells: the ringing tones float on the air bringing wishes to you and I always feel that when I ring a bell, that somewhere, happy nature spirits pause and send their blessings.
Incense, a personal favorite of mine. I burn incense indoors and out. Just a hint of incense smoke floating on the air, creates a special atmosphere nothing else quite achieves.
I prefer real, hand rolled Indian crafted incense, as most hand dipped incense is considered toxic, up to 90 % petroleum based solvents and have been proven to cause and irritate asthma, allergies and sensitivities. Spend a bit more and avoid hand dipped 'punks' and purchase instead hand rolled incense. This method ustilizes real aromatic herbs, woods, essential oils and resins, hand rolled in an ancient manner that burns longer and more steady, and is far less harmful. Many people I have spoken with that cannot tolerate incense, find they can use and enjoy with no reactions hand rolled incense products.
Images and figures like dragon flies, and birds. Any winged and flying creature, including spiders, as spiders hang from their webs using air as a tool for their survival.
Astrological signs, glyphs also can be used in design or other imagery. Gemini, Libra both air signs, but many people get a bit confused when discussing the third air associated astrological sign of Aquarius. Aquarius is the sign of the water-bearer, its glyph is double-waves, but its an air sign! I couldn't possibly explain why! But you can use the imagery in working with the element of air.
Feathers, and branches from trees, wands (which are made from branches) and fairies and unicorns (yes, unicorns are creatures of air). I place fairies under both elements of earth and air, the winged images attest to the air aspect, but the ancient race of little people from Ireland and Scotland known as the Tuatha de Danaan, the legendary fairy race of magickal people who are said to be the Goddess Danu's children. Tuatha means people, earth, and North in ancient Gaelic from Northern Scotland.They are said to live in fairy mounds deep inside the earth.
The specific Scottish Gaelic words for North or earth is tuath, East or air, aiet, South or fire, deas and West or water iar.
This is a recipe for a spell mix to burn. It's a nice way to honor the spirit of air. First thing is to dry various herbs and plants, or purchase them already dried, then mix them together and grind into a powder, and burn for an incense type of smoke that many use to cleanse and bless a room or building. I like this recipe I put together recently:
Ms. Faith's Air Incense for Truth and Intellect, Clarity and Insight
This will aide you in your day to day life, to help you focus, study and retain information. Helpful for those who need to study and prepare for tests or other mental, intellectual challenges.
4 parts benzoin, 2 parts gum mastic or gum arabic, 1 part sage, 1 part peppermint, a drop or two of lavender oil and lemongrass oil. Crush all dry ingredients in a functional mortar and pestle. (When I say functional, make sure the inside of bowl or mortar is rough or unglazed. The end of the hand held part, the pestle needs to be unglazed and have a tooth, or rougher surface. These are used to grind down the dried ingredients. Unfortunately many mortar & pestle sets are sold for decorative purposes and are smooth and made of materials not conducive to the work required.)
After the dried ingredients are ground down to a soft, fine powder, add drop by drop the oils. Then make sure the oil is mixed well, by rubbing the powder with a wooden spoon to work the oil completely through the dried powder. When properly incorporated you won't be able to tell oil was added, so don't put too much! The purpose is to bless, not fumigate your home!!
While mixing together think of your purpose, your magickal goal. To bless your home and bring peace and blow away unwanted energies, remember we're working with qualities of air. Physical aspects like blowing and movement are also imagery you can use.
When you have ground, mixed and visualized then take a charcoal briquette, one designed to be burned safety indoors, place on sand in a fire proof container, and light. These little charcoal tablets are available at all fine witch shoppes, are pure charcoal treated with a safe amount of sparking agent so that with just a touch of a lighter, it starts to burn. After a few minutes, it will start to ash over. Then take a small pinch of the incense and sprinkle on top of the burning coal. The spell mix will start to smoke, soft, fragrant clouds of smoke censing your home and helping to invoke the clean, pure energies of the air element.
These are just a few things to help you get to know the element of Air, and perhaps invite some of these energies into your life.
© 2010 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
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.
What a lovely day I had today harvesting and cutting plants in my garden. Today I worked in my elemental garden and was giving much thought to this discussion. We last talked about the elements of the Northern realms, guardians of the earth. While harvesting garden sage this afternoon, I thought about how best to dry and preserve it, for use throughout my winter.
I found a simple wreath wire circle in the garage and with some gold cording and some clippers I fashioned the wreath in just about 15 minutes. I posted a picture of it in the left bar next to this article. This is the time of year I like harvesting the most, I like to think its the spirit of the squirrel in me, wanting to put all good things away for use this winter. I try to harvest and dry my magickal herbs, and I always leave some to winter over. Many a Thanksgiving day has found me running outside, usually barefooted! that last Thursday in November to grab a bit of oregano, lovage or mint that I know I left in my early winter garden to add a bit of nature to our feast. .
Now let's discuss a bit of the next element on the wheel, turning towards the east. The color commonly used to denote east is yellow and it is an element of air. Whereas earth was an element that syncs up with the feminine, receptive, cool and comforting, Air is an element that is masculine in its character. Projective, exciting, and invigorating, the element of air governs truth, intellect, justice, communication and critical thinking. Clarity of mind and insight are qualities of this element.
My elemental garden,, this is a small garden appx 12 feet by 20 feet surrounded on all sides by a garden wooden walkway and a stone block retaining wall. The garden is in a Southern exposure but I have all sides planted with plants that work with each element. For instance in the north I have lambs ears and vinca vine, whereas in the east I have sundrops and tansy. The sundrops have early spring to summer yellow blossoms and the tansy blooms bright yellow caps in the late summer. What's nice about the sundrops is their foliage turns bright red in the fall, honoring the spirit of the South, element of Fire. We'll talk about that element in our next discussion.
Let me share some other concepts you can use to bring the element of Air to your garden and your life,
Bells: the ringing tones float on the air bringing wishes to you and I always feel that when I ring a bell, that somewhere, happy nature spirits pause and send their blessings.
Incense, a personal favorite of mine. I burn incense indoors and out. Just a hint of incense smoke floating on the air, creates a special atmosphere nothing else quite achieves.
I prefer real, hand rolled Indian crafted incense, as most hand dipped incense is considered toxic, up to 90 % petroleum based solvents and have been proven to cause and irritate asthma, allergies and sensitivities. Spend a bit more and avoid hand dipped 'punks' and purchase instead hand rolled incense. This method ustilizes real aromatic herbs, woods, essential oils and resins, hand rolled in an ancient manner that burns longer and more steady, and is far less harmful. Many people I have spoken with that cannot tolerate incense, find they can use and enjoy with no reactions hand rolled incense products.
Images and figures like dragon flies, and birds. Any winged and flying creature, including spiders, as spiders hang from their webs using air as a tool for their survival.
Astrological signs, glyphs also can be used in design or other imagery. Gemini, Libra both air signs, but many people get a bit confused when discussing the third air associated astrological sign of Aquarius. Aquarius is the sign of the water-bearer, its glyph is double-waves, but its an air sign! I couldn't possibly explain why! But you can use the imagery in working with the element of air.
Feathers, and branches from trees, wands (which are made from branches) and fairies and unicorns (yes, unicorns are creatures of air). I place fairies under both elements of earth and air, the winged images attest to the air aspect, but the ancient race of little people from Ireland and Scotland known as the Tuatha de Danaan, the legendary fairy race of magickal people who are said to be the Goddess Danu's children. Tuatha means people, earth, and North in ancient Gaelic from Northern Scotland.They are said to live in fairy mounds deep inside the earth.
The specific Scottish Gaelic words for North or earth is tuath, East or air, aiet, South or fire, deas and West or water iar.
This is a recipe for a spell mix to burn. It's a nice way to honor the spirit of air. First thing is to dry various herbs and plants, or purchase them already dried, then mix them together and grind into a powder, and burn for an incense type of smoke that many use to cleanse and bless a room or building. I like this recipe I put together recently:
Ms. Faith's Air Incense for Truth and Intellect, Clarity and Insight
This will aide you in your day to day life, to help you focus, study and retain information. Helpful for those who need to study and prepare for tests or other mental, intellectual challenges.
4 parts benzoin, 2 parts gum mastic or gum arabic, 1 part sage, 1 part peppermint, a drop or two of lavender oil and lemongrass oil. Crush all dry ingredients in a functional mortar and pestle. (When I say functional, make sure the inside of bowl or mortar is rough or unglazed. The end of the hand held part, the pestle needs to be unglazed and have a tooth, or rougher surface. These are used to grind down the dried ingredients. Unfortunately many mortar & pestle sets are sold for decorative purposes and are smooth and made of materials not conducive to the work required.)
After the dried ingredients are ground down to a soft, fine powder, add drop by drop the oils. Then make sure the oil is mixed well, by rubbing the powder with a wooden spoon to work the oil completely through the dried powder. When properly incorporated you won't be able to tell oil was added, so don't put too much! The purpose is to bless, not fumigate your home!!
While mixing together think of your purpose, your magickal goal. To bless your home and bring peace and blow away unwanted energies, remember we're working with qualities of air. Physical aspects like blowing and movement are also imagery you can use.
When you have ground, mixed and visualized then take a charcoal briquette, one designed to be burned safety indoors, place on sand in a fire proof container, and light. These little charcoal tablets are available at all fine witch shoppes, are pure charcoal treated with a safe amount of sparking agent so that with just a touch of a lighter, it starts to burn. After a few minutes, it will start to ash over. Then take a small pinch of the incense and sprinkle on top of the burning coal. The spell mix will start to smoke, soft, fragrant clouds of smoke censing your home and helping to invoke the clean, pure energies of the air element.
These are just a few things to help you get to know the element of Air, and perhaps invite some of these energies into your life.
© 2010 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
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, October 24, 2010
The Elements - North - Earth and a simple spell using the element of earth to bring in money
Greetings all,
I have been receiving some great comments and also some questions I'd like to address. I've been asked, just yesterday, specifically in regards to the discussion on the pentagram, to describe in more detail the elements I referenced when describing the points of the pentagram. The elements and working with them is a very big part of the witchcraft I practice.
Please refer to the pentagram diagram on the side bar of this blog. The top point represents spirit. The lower four points correlate with the compass points. North, East, South & West. These elements also represent the physical world to us. My training and study is strongest in the Celtic pantheon and I call it Celtic/Druidic referencing the Priesthood of the ancient Celts. Were all Celts magickal? In comparison to people today, I would say yes. They lived amongst and with nature, a part of nature. They saw magick in all things, or the potential of the magickal in all things. Things like steam, fog and mist, not water but not only air, was in between and therefore very magickal. Twilight and dawn, not day yet not night, as in between. Midnight, not yesterday, yet not quite today, again, in between. These are common images when one thinks of the Druids and their magickal workings, as well as much of the imagery associated with the witch and the spooky world people envision around us. The natural world, which was all around them, was completely magickal to them and 5,000 years later also to us.
The Druid's who I believe acted as the scientists, the most learned of the Celts, were highly educated, and knew of the universal mysteries and the mystical. Yes, they were the 'Priesthood', the group of men and women who led the Celts in their religious practice as well as the physicians, pharmacists and judges when needed. They also sought to learn of the elements and to use the elemental energies to affect needed change in their lives and the lives of their people. This discussion will start with the element of North. Those who follow witchcraft with a Celtic background often start casting our magick circles in the North and go around the circle in a deosil or clockwise motion to then the east, then South and then the West, and continuing to finish again in the North. 'Deosil' means in Scottish folklore, to move Sun-wise, and was considered the “right, prosperous direction”, turning from east to west in the direction of the sun. To move in the opposite direction, against the sun or counterclockwise was known as widdershins. Going against the sun, or going in the 'wrong' direction.
I start in the North when casting a circle to work magick. The Northern Elements, also known as the northern watchtowers, the Guardians of the North, the elements of Earth, as well as many others, are the natural elemental energies that flow around us constantly and aide our workings if we choose to invoke them and utilize their powers.
The North elementals, by being properties of earth, have the following associations attributed to them. The color green, the qualities of abundance, fertility, growth, security, strength, foundational work, prosperity, wealth, money. To bring these qualities into our lives we use natural 'correspondences' color, herbs, essential oils, crystals, minerals and stones, wood, grains, seeds etc. Things created by nature, we feel, have inherent magickal qualities that either attract or repel certain energies. The element of earth, the north, in addition to the qualities it governs above, also claims the mammals, the trees, salt, rocks, mountains, dirt, soil and that found within, certain metals, such as gold and silver, copper and lead. Human qualities are also governed by the elements, and its believed from a Celtic/Druidic view point that beauty, the left foot, wisdom, endurance, patience, tolerance, judgment, respect all were qualities of the northern earth realms.
I will tell you how to do a simple spell that demonstrates a number of these energies being used in this discussion. It is one that is designed to bring in money. It is a simple candle spell where I will introduce you to a concept I call 'Layering a Spell'.
'Layering a Spell' is a term I came up with when I started teaching witchcraft at my school Enchantments, I'd never before heard of this term and I believe I came up with it. I applied this to spell casting, and I find that this descriptive term is really quite accurate. I found when teaching students I needed to present what we do in a fashion that can be learned and correctly utilized by them. I tend to compare much of what I do in spell casting to cooking. I was a professional chef in an early part of this life and I see many correlations with spell casting and cooking, so much of what we do looks like recipes, because they are.
I have created terms like 'Layering a Spell', 'Flipping a Spell', and 'Spell Manifestation', that are discussed in greater detail in my book. I will spend some time in the next few weeks talking about these areas a little more.
Use a small green candle, carve some simple symbols in the side of the candle. The money sign used in our culture is a good one. The F rune fehu is also a good one. A small drawing of the sun, a circle with rays around its edge is also good for bringing in money and good luck. After you've craved the candle, not too deeply, just so you can see the symbols, rub a small bit of oil into the candle. An oil with earth properties is a good choice, such as the essential oils of patchouly, pine, or basil, or a good one you just might have in your household today, olive oil. Olive oil has long been used in spell work, especially by those from Greece and Italy.
After preparing your candle, and be sure to rub the oil in very well, so the candle is not slick with it. We don't want to create and burn a torch, my young witchlings!! Oil and wax are cousins and when worked in well become one with the other, making their separate powers stronger when combined. During this process you are adding your energies to this combination making as I call it, magick or alchemy.
'Layering a Spell' consists of using more than one and sometimes many different spell components to construct a more elaborate spell for your needs. Working with the northern elements of earth, wanting to bring in money, we have a cute little candle, all dolled up with a pretty oil and nice markings ready to go to work for you! But wait! Not . . . so . . . fast. Let us continue layering our spell a bit further.
First layer : a small green candle. You want it to burn out within an hour.
Second layer: carving runes and symbols indicating money. You can even carve a specific amount like $20,000, for example, if you needed the money for a project remodeling a room in your house. Be realistic though. To carve a billion dollars on the candle, just because you can get that many zeros to fit, is silly. Keep within your realm of relativity and ability to truly see that money manifest.
3rd layer: Anointing the candle with essential, natural oils. Don't use aromatherapy oils if possible, only because they contain chemicals that are not safe to burn and inhale.
4th layer: you may choose to roll candle in one of the following depending on desire:
sugar - to sweeten your chances
ground cinnamon - to draw money and protection
ground geranium petals - to make the money come faster
The 5th layer is to place the candle in a fire proof holder and place on a green, silver or gold plate. (these are very plentiful in all the stores this time of year, the holidays are just around the corner. I also pick up red and heart adorned plates around Valentines Day for love spells all year long!)
A note on fire safety!! Burning a candle anointed with oils indoors is safe as long as precautions are taken to ensure burning in a fire proof container and always under supervision. That is why the candle needs to burn out within an hour. Never allow children or pets unsupervised around lit flames. Seriously, its just not a good idea. If you need to leave the room for any reason, be sure to snuff the flame out. Its not recommended to blow the flame out, snuffing is better. Then re-light the candle when you return, allowing it to burn all the way down, as your spell is cast.
At this time, and any time along this list of layers you may choose to stop, hold the candle, visualize the end result and burn the candle, thereby casting your spell. You do this by holding the candle, visualizing the money already in your life and how cool that room is going to look when its finished, or the party you'll throw to celebrate the new room.
You can do this by holding just a green candle, no further work put into it, but you will get a smaller manifestation. For a large amount, like $20-25,000 you may want to put in a bit more effort, and several layers into your spell. It is true in my world, you get out of your magick what you put into it. Lazy witches get little in the way of real manifestation.
If you'd like to add additional layers, you may now decorate the plate already holding the adorned candle in its holder, with a handful of coins ( layer 6 ) Silver dollars, half dollars, quarters are good, even coins representing money, though not real currency i.e. foil wrapped chocolate coins, found around Halloween, pirate money available at Renaissance fairs and the like, even coins that you won't redeem from a supermarket, or play coins from games. All represent abundance and wealth. So scatter some coins around the plate.
Next layer, where are we?
Oh yes, the 7th layer, Add a few dashes of gold and silver glitter.
These colors, gold, silver and green are used because these colors represent the color of our money, our green currency is based on gold, and our coins are silver. Color magick is an important feature to the magick I use. Green is also a color of nature, represents the earth element and gold and silver are metals that come from within the earth. Even our modern currency could be said to follow exactly the elemental magickal properties attributed to the Northern Realms from the ancient Celts.
Layers 8 and 9: you can also place on the plate stones that have money attracting properties such as gold pyrite, green agate, jade, copper etc. You can also put a picture, of what the money will purchase as an end result, under the plate. Maybe a decorator's model of that 'perfect' room with features you want to incorporate, like a big screen t.v., leather couches , etc. Place this under the plate. Make sure it is kept away from the flame.
You may add a 10th layer by burning your candle on a Thursday. Thursday is a day for financial, business and money spell work.
Now, light the candle. This is not a layer, but the final action of casting the spell. Let the candle burn down. After is has completely extinguished, any leftover bits of wax and the coins can be carried in a pouch, or placed in a small bowl. You may choose to put the picture on your refrigerator or bulletin board so that every day you see the picture, you can touch the coins and stones in the bowl thus keeping the magickal workings active until the manifest in your reality. Keep visualizing the same image of your spell manifesting, in this case the room you renovated, every time you see the picture and touch the bowl or pouch of spell bits.
Oh, . . . did you think magick was easy? hmmm
Our next discussion will be East - Elements of Air - Truth and Intellect
© 2010 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
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 have been receiving some great comments and also some questions I'd like to address. I've been asked, just yesterday, specifically in regards to the discussion on the pentagram, to describe in more detail the elements I referenced when describing the points of the pentagram. The elements and working with them is a very big part of the witchcraft I practice.
Please refer to the pentagram diagram on the side bar of this blog. The top point represents spirit. The lower four points correlate with the compass points. North, East, South & West. These elements also represent the physical world to us. My training and study is strongest in the Celtic pantheon and I call it Celtic/Druidic referencing the Priesthood of the ancient Celts. Were all Celts magickal? In comparison to people today, I would say yes. They lived amongst and with nature, a part of nature. They saw magick in all things, or the potential of the magickal in all things. Things like steam, fog and mist, not water but not only air, was in between and therefore very magickal. Twilight and dawn, not day yet not night, as in between. Midnight, not yesterday, yet not quite today, again, in between. These are common images when one thinks of the Druids and their magickal workings, as well as much of the imagery associated with the witch and the spooky world people envision around us. The natural world, which was all around them, was completely magickal to them and 5,000 years later also to us.
The Druid's who I believe acted as the scientists, the most learned of the Celts, were highly educated, and knew of the universal mysteries and the mystical. Yes, they were the 'Priesthood', the group of men and women who led the Celts in their religious practice as well as the physicians, pharmacists and judges when needed. They also sought to learn of the elements and to use the elemental energies to affect needed change in their lives and the lives of their people. This discussion will start with the element of North. Those who follow witchcraft with a Celtic background often start casting our magick circles in the North and go around the circle in a deosil or clockwise motion to then the east, then South and then the West, and continuing to finish again in the North. 'Deosil' means in Scottish folklore, to move Sun-wise, and was considered the “right, prosperous direction”, turning from east to west in the direction of the sun. To move in the opposite direction, against the sun or counterclockwise was known as widdershins. Going against the sun, or going in the 'wrong' direction.
I start in the North when casting a circle to work magick. The Northern Elements, also known as the northern watchtowers, the Guardians of the North, the elements of Earth, as well as many others, are the natural elemental energies that flow around us constantly and aide our workings if we choose to invoke them and utilize their powers.
The North elementals, by being properties of earth, have the following associations attributed to them. The color green, the qualities of abundance, fertility, growth, security, strength, foundational work, prosperity, wealth, money. To bring these qualities into our lives we use natural 'correspondences' color, herbs, essential oils, crystals, minerals and stones, wood, grains, seeds etc. Things created by nature, we feel, have inherent magickal qualities that either attract or repel certain energies. The element of earth, the north, in addition to the qualities it governs above, also claims the mammals, the trees, salt, rocks, mountains, dirt, soil and that found within, certain metals, such as gold and silver, copper and lead. Human qualities are also governed by the elements, and its believed from a Celtic/Druidic view point that beauty, the left foot, wisdom, endurance, patience, tolerance, judgment, respect all were qualities of the northern earth realms.
I will tell you how to do a simple spell that demonstrates a number of these energies being used in this discussion. It is one that is designed to bring in money. It is a simple candle spell where I will introduce you to a concept I call 'Layering a Spell'.
'Layering a Spell' is a term I came up with when I started teaching witchcraft at my school Enchantments, I'd never before heard of this term and I believe I came up with it. I applied this to spell casting, and I find that this descriptive term is really quite accurate. I found when teaching students I needed to present what we do in a fashion that can be learned and correctly utilized by them. I tend to compare much of what I do in spell casting to cooking. I was a professional chef in an early part of this life and I see many correlations with spell casting and cooking, so much of what we do looks like recipes, because they are.
I have created terms like 'Layering a Spell', 'Flipping a Spell', and 'Spell Manifestation', that are discussed in greater detail in my book. I will spend some time in the next few weeks talking about these areas a little more.
Use a small green candle, carve some simple symbols in the side of the candle. The money sign used in our culture is a good one. The F rune fehu is also a good one. A small drawing of the sun, a circle with rays around its edge is also good for bringing in money and good luck. After you've craved the candle, not too deeply, just so you can see the symbols, rub a small bit of oil into the candle. An oil with earth properties is a good choice, such as the essential oils of patchouly, pine, or basil, or a good one you just might have in your household today, olive oil. Olive oil has long been used in spell work, especially by those from Greece and Italy.
After preparing your candle, and be sure to rub the oil in very well, so the candle is not slick with it. We don't want to create and burn a torch, my young witchlings!! Oil and wax are cousins and when worked in well become one with the other, making their separate powers stronger when combined. During this process you are adding your energies to this combination making as I call it, magick or alchemy.
'Layering a Spell' consists of using more than one and sometimes many different spell components to construct a more elaborate spell for your needs. Working with the northern elements of earth, wanting to bring in money, we have a cute little candle, all dolled up with a pretty oil and nice markings ready to go to work for you! But wait! Not . . . so . . . fast. Let us continue layering our spell a bit further.
First layer : a small green candle. You want it to burn out within an hour.
Second layer: carving runes and symbols indicating money. You can even carve a specific amount like $20,000, for example, if you needed the money for a project remodeling a room in your house. Be realistic though. To carve a billion dollars on the candle, just because you can get that many zeros to fit, is silly. Keep within your realm of relativity and ability to truly see that money manifest.
3rd layer: Anointing the candle with essential, natural oils. Don't use aromatherapy oils if possible, only because they contain chemicals that are not safe to burn and inhale.
4th layer: you may choose to roll candle in one of the following depending on desire:
sugar - to sweeten your chances
ground cinnamon - to draw money and protection
ground geranium petals - to make the money come faster
The 5th layer is to place the candle in a fire proof holder and place on a green, silver or gold plate. (these are very plentiful in all the stores this time of year, the holidays are just around the corner. I also pick up red and heart adorned plates around Valentines Day for love spells all year long!)
A note on fire safety!! Burning a candle anointed with oils indoors is safe as long as precautions are taken to ensure burning in a fire proof container and always under supervision. That is why the candle needs to burn out within an hour. Never allow children or pets unsupervised around lit flames. Seriously, its just not a good idea. If you need to leave the room for any reason, be sure to snuff the flame out. Its not recommended to blow the flame out, snuffing is better. Then re-light the candle when you return, allowing it to burn all the way down, as your spell is cast.
At this time, and any time along this list of layers you may choose to stop, hold the candle, visualize the end result and burn the candle, thereby casting your spell. You do this by holding the candle, visualizing the money already in your life and how cool that room is going to look when its finished, or the party you'll throw to celebrate the new room.
You can do this by holding just a green candle, no further work put into it, but you will get a smaller manifestation. For a large amount, like $20-25,000 you may want to put in a bit more effort, and several layers into your spell. It is true in my world, you get out of your magick what you put into it. Lazy witches get little in the way of real manifestation.
If you'd like to add additional layers, you may now decorate the plate already holding the adorned candle in its holder, with a handful of coins ( layer 6 ) Silver dollars, half dollars, quarters are good, even coins representing money, though not real currency i.e. foil wrapped chocolate coins, found around Halloween, pirate money available at Renaissance fairs and the like, even coins that you won't redeem from a supermarket, or play coins from games. All represent abundance and wealth. So scatter some coins around the plate.
Next layer, where are we?
Oh yes, the 7th layer, Add a few dashes of gold and silver glitter.
These colors, gold, silver and green are used because these colors represent the color of our money, our green currency is based on gold, and our coins are silver. Color magick is an important feature to the magick I use. Green is also a color of nature, represents the earth element and gold and silver are metals that come from within the earth. Even our modern currency could be said to follow exactly the elemental magickal properties attributed to the Northern Realms from the ancient Celts.
Layers 8 and 9: you can also place on the plate stones that have money attracting properties such as gold pyrite, green agate, jade, copper etc. You can also put a picture, of what the money will purchase as an end result, under the plate. Maybe a decorator's model of that 'perfect' room with features you want to incorporate, like a big screen t.v., leather couches , etc. Place this under the plate. Make sure it is kept away from the flame.
You may add a 10th layer by burning your candle on a Thursday. Thursday is a day for financial, business and money spell work.
Now, light the candle. This is not a layer, but the final action of casting the spell. Let the candle burn down. After is has completely extinguished, any leftover bits of wax and the coins can be carried in a pouch, or placed in a small bowl. You may choose to put the picture on your refrigerator or bulletin board so that every day you see the picture, you can touch the coins and stones in the bowl thus keeping the magickal workings active until the manifest in your reality. Keep visualizing the same image of your spell manifesting, in this case the room you renovated, every time you see the picture and touch the bowl or pouch of spell bits.
Oh, . . . did you think magick was easy? hmmm
Our next discussion will be East - Elements of Air - Truth and Intellect
© 2010 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
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, October 22, 2010
Reading the Tarot
Autumnal Greetings everyone!
My goodness, October is certainly acting typical. That's O.K., because I've lived long enough to believe in 'Indian Summer', a short warm period that should come around anytime now, just to remind us of what will be our reward once we make it through the long, cold winter. 'Indian Summer', the folk name for this warm spell, lasting a day to a week on average, typically occurs after the first few frosts. As the changing of the leaves attests to, we've had a frost or two. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and blowing a wish or two in the air that this warm spell arrives for Halloween. I love a nice, warm Halloween evening so everyone can have fun and frolic without worry of cold and rain.
Tonight I want to discuss the tarot. I've read the cards for almost 30 years, and have been a professional reader the last six years. I have had the most interesting education reading cards for people. I teach students how to read the tarot in my classes at Enchantments and I wanted to dispel some common misconceptions regarding the tarot I've encountered over the years.
There seems to be a lot of confusion surrounding how one should acquire their first tarot deck. I've learned that people believe you cannot purchase your own deck, there are supporting rumors that say you must be gifted a deck or Yikes! even steal a deck. Truly, people will repeat the silliest rumors, especially when it involves our magickal world. Please let me state for the official record, YES you can not only purchase your own deck, and I highly recommend legally acquiring your tarot deck, but you should choose your own.
It's akin to purchasing any other intimate, close, personal item. Seldom will someone else know you enough, to pick the right deck for you. But no worries, if this happens know you can have and work with more than one deck. Many people choose to collect decks.
Most modern readers refrain from interpreting reverse readings or cards that get put down upside-down. This was popular in the past, but let us consider the beginnings of the tarot for a moment. It is difficult to say definitively when the first deck was created. It has a murky history deep in the past of Central Europe, most likely Italy. No, the Gypsies did not invent the tarot. They were known to do divination using a deck of typical playing cards, and after the tarot had become popular throughout Italy, Gypsy clans adopted its use.
First and foremost the tarot was first used, according to written history, by the early Italian Christians as a playing card game known as 'Italian Tarocchini' in the 14th century. When I make this statement it is important to remember, that in the 14th century, deep in medieval times, the Catholic church controlled all. Without exception. Any games of chance or entertainment were approved by the church or forbade. Black or White. It was not until a much later time when mystics, philosophers and then occultists adopted the tarot as a way to divine the future.
Divination is spoken of in the bible with the Old Testament referencing of a number of individuals who used divination. One ironic story is how King Saul had driven all mystics and fortune tellers from Israel. Then to his chagrin needed to seek out the Witch of Endor, in the dark of night and in disguise, so that she could tell him how his army fared against the mighty Philistines. This story is recounted in the First Book of Samuel Book (28:3-25). The witch is absent from the deuterocanonical version Book of Sirach (46: 19-20).
I have often told people they should get their cards read for fun, but know that there is truth in the readings. We don't look for bad things that may happen, and I strongly advise anyone who trains with me from looking for the bad, the dark energy or to ever tell someone there is some bad energy or curse around them, as this is the market of the con, the charlatan and the crook.
Many people feel they need to have a question before consulting the tarot. I have never found this necessary. The cards will tell you what you need to know. So, if you have no question (personally I advise against a question, as it can limit the scope of your reading), ask for a general reading. When someone has a specific question I have them throw the witches runes for a clear yes or no answer.
The reading is information on your life and how the next few months will pan out, if you continue to do what you do. It is neither good nor bad, but totally up to you to make that determination. Tarot can help people interpret seemingly unrelated things going on in your life, and can give perspective. It's important that you find a reader who has no issue with allowing you to take notes, have a friend sit in, it should always be up to the client. I've told clients if they wish to bring their attorney with them, I'm fine with that. I mean it!! I might upset some people, but I'll say it, A reader who controls this aspect of a reading has something to hide. Or else, is not comfortable enough as a reader to be charging someone and acting the professional.
There are too many charlatans around, and everywhere on the internet that prey on the fears, misconceptions and superstitions of good people. Any reader that leaves you with a feeling of fear, trepidation or worry after a reading should be suspect. Also anyone that tells you they can 'remove' the bad, or 'evil' by having you come back, by purchasing more readings, usually at escalating fees, is a FRAUD. Please beware and have your cards read for fun and if you can afford the fee. Readers charge from $20 to a hundred or more, depending on the reader and their claim to fame.
With this information in mind, I will also advise against trying to read your own cards. It's difficult, akin to doing your own psychotherapy. Few are able to see their world without bias and in perspective, enough to interpret a spread of cards accurately. Tarot cards can also be used as a daily oracle and in spell work by the individual, but I'll speak more about these topics another time.
In addition to reading the tarot, my clients get the added benefits of a crystal ball reading, stone divination and a witches runes, reading for my fee. A reading takes about 30 - 40 minutes. Take notes regarding your reading, as I personally don't need to keep 'your stuff' in my head. It's yours with my blessings. I seldom remember specifics of a clients readings even a few hours or days after wards. The last thing I wish to say about a tarot reading for tonight, is even if you don't like something you heard, know you can always change your future. Nothing is carved in stone.
What I am up to this Weekend!
I'm looking forward to this weekend. I'm reading tarot cards at a Psychic Weekend being held at the Daniel Rust Inn in Coventry CT. I can't tell you enough how much I love this place and the wonderful women, Cathy and Germaine, who own and run it. Located in quaint little Coventry, CT , 2011 Main Street, it is a historic inn set in a beautiful country setting. I'll be reading tarot for $65 per person and there will be an after party with wonderful party foods and a fire in the fire place. After I read everyone's cards we sit and chat in the great room and talk about all sorts of spooky, fun and witchy things. I'm happy to answer questions and discuss what it is that I do. The party is $30 a person to support the Daniel Rust Inn and there are spaces still available. Please call if you wish to attend, the number is 860-742-0032.
© 2010 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
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.
My goodness, October is certainly acting typical. That's O.K., because I've lived long enough to believe in 'Indian Summer', a short warm period that should come around anytime now, just to remind us of what will be our reward once we make it through the long, cold winter. 'Indian Summer', the folk name for this warm spell, lasting a day to a week on average, typically occurs after the first few frosts. As the changing of the leaves attests to, we've had a frost or two. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and blowing a wish or two in the air that this warm spell arrives for Halloween. I love a nice, warm Halloween evening so everyone can have fun and frolic without worry of cold and rain.
Tonight I want to discuss the tarot. I've read the cards for almost 30 years, and have been a professional reader the last six years. I have had the most interesting education reading cards for people. I teach students how to read the tarot in my classes at Enchantments and I wanted to dispel some common misconceptions regarding the tarot I've encountered over the years.
There seems to be a lot of confusion surrounding how one should acquire their first tarot deck. I've learned that people believe you cannot purchase your own deck, there are supporting rumors that say you must be gifted a deck or Yikes! even steal a deck. Truly, people will repeat the silliest rumors, especially when it involves our magickal world. Please let me state for the official record, YES you can not only purchase your own deck, and I highly recommend legally acquiring your tarot deck, but you should choose your own.
It's akin to purchasing any other intimate, close, personal item. Seldom will someone else know you enough, to pick the right deck for you. But no worries, if this happens know you can have and work with more than one deck. Many people choose to collect decks.
Most modern readers refrain from interpreting reverse readings or cards that get put down upside-down. This was popular in the past, but let us consider the beginnings of the tarot for a moment. It is difficult to say definitively when the first deck was created. It has a murky history deep in the past of Central Europe, most likely Italy. No, the Gypsies did not invent the tarot. They were known to do divination using a deck of typical playing cards, and after the tarot had become popular throughout Italy, Gypsy clans adopted its use.
First and foremost the tarot was first used, according to written history, by the early Italian Christians as a playing card game known as 'Italian Tarocchini' in the 14th century. When I make this statement it is important to remember, that in the 14th century, deep in medieval times, the Catholic church controlled all. Without exception. Any games of chance or entertainment were approved by the church or forbade. Black or White. It was not until a much later time when mystics, philosophers and then occultists adopted the tarot as a way to divine the future.
Divination is spoken of in the bible with the Old Testament referencing of a number of individuals who used divination. One ironic story is how King Saul had driven all mystics and fortune tellers from Israel. Then to his chagrin needed to seek out the Witch of Endor, in the dark of night and in disguise, so that she could tell him how his army fared against the mighty Philistines. This story is recounted in the First Book of Samuel Book (28:3-25). The witch is absent from the deuterocanonical version Book of Sirach (46: 19-20).
I have often told people they should get their cards read for fun, but know that there is truth in the readings. We don't look for bad things that may happen, and I strongly advise anyone who trains with me from looking for the bad, the dark energy or to ever tell someone there is some bad energy or curse around them, as this is the market of the con, the charlatan and the crook.
Many people feel they need to have a question before consulting the tarot. I have never found this necessary. The cards will tell you what you need to know. So, if you have no question (personally I advise against a question, as it can limit the scope of your reading), ask for a general reading. When someone has a specific question I have them throw the witches runes for a clear yes or no answer.
The reading is information on your life and how the next few months will pan out, if you continue to do what you do. It is neither good nor bad, but totally up to you to make that determination. Tarot can help people interpret seemingly unrelated things going on in your life, and can give perspective. It's important that you find a reader who has no issue with allowing you to take notes, have a friend sit in, it should always be up to the client. I've told clients if they wish to bring their attorney with them, I'm fine with that. I mean it!! I might upset some people, but I'll say it, A reader who controls this aspect of a reading has something to hide. Or else, is not comfortable enough as a reader to be charging someone and acting the professional.
There are too many charlatans around, and everywhere on the internet that prey on the fears, misconceptions and superstitions of good people. Any reader that leaves you with a feeling of fear, trepidation or worry after a reading should be suspect. Also anyone that tells you they can 'remove' the bad, or 'evil' by having you come back, by purchasing more readings, usually at escalating fees, is a FRAUD. Please beware and have your cards read for fun and if you can afford the fee. Readers charge from $20 to a hundred or more, depending on the reader and their claim to fame.
With this information in mind, I will also advise against trying to read your own cards. It's difficult, akin to doing your own psychotherapy. Few are able to see their world without bias and in perspective, enough to interpret a spread of cards accurately. Tarot cards can also be used as a daily oracle and in spell work by the individual, but I'll speak more about these topics another time.
In addition to reading the tarot, my clients get the added benefits of a crystal ball reading, stone divination and a witches runes, reading for my fee. A reading takes about 30 - 40 minutes. Take notes regarding your reading, as I personally don't need to keep 'your stuff' in my head. It's yours with my blessings. I seldom remember specifics of a clients readings even a few hours or days after wards. The last thing I wish to say about a tarot reading for tonight, is even if you don't like something you heard, know you can always change your future. Nothing is carved in stone.
What I am up to this Weekend!
I'm looking forward to this weekend. I'm reading tarot cards at a Psychic Weekend being held at the Daniel Rust Inn in Coventry CT. I can't tell you enough how much I love this place and the wonderful women, Cathy and Germaine, who own and run it. Located in quaint little Coventry, CT , 2011 Main Street, it is a historic inn set in a beautiful country setting. I'll be reading tarot for $65 per person and there will be an after party with wonderful party foods and a fire in the fire place. After I read everyone's cards we sit and chat in the great room and talk about all sorts of spooky, fun and witchy things. I'm happy to answer questions and discuss what it is that I do. The party is $30 a person to support the Daniel Rust Inn and there are spaces still available. Please call if you wish to attend, the number is 860-742-0032.
© 2010 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
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, October 21, 2010
Predicting Winter, Halloween and the Celtic Wheel of the Year
Greetings all,
What a gloomy, absolutely perfectly dismal New England day we started with, only to have it end with bright blue skies and fluffy white clouds! We only needed some wood smoke drifting in the air, to practically transport us back in time a century or two. I have been looking for signs of the upcoming winter season and trying to divine whether it will be mild or severe. Unfortunately, signs I'm seeing all point towards a more intense winter than we've had in a while. Two unfortunate raccoons we're lying dead in the road on my way to work this morning. It's never fun seeing that, and it makes me a little sad, but what caught my attention as I drove by, was the size of both. They were huge, bigger than any I've seen lately. Wild animals that live in the natural world around us, eat more as winter approaches and the their size has historically and in folklore been used to predict the weather.
I have noticed something this year regarding our weather. It's been almost perfect for New England. We've had hot when its supposed to be hot, rainy when it's supposed to be rainy, now turning cool and colder right on schedule. No crazy heat waves off season, or months of rain throughout summer, just perfectly behaved weather. Having lived in New England my entire life, I assure you, when New England weather starts to behave itself, I get a little worried!
Now, I'm not saying things have been good so let's see what bad befalls. I don't believe that line of nonsense. But I do have a sense that we will be having a good old fashioned winter, with plenty of snow, often, and a solid winter season right through until spring. I'm not passing judgment, some of you will love this prediction, some will not. I myself prefer mild winters with little snow, combined with a late start and early finish. So I heartily hope I'm wrong.
I've been looking up lately, waiting for the first sign of the Canada geese flying south as if one needs the reminder the summer has passed and winter is on its way. Yet, somehow its a sign, a symbol of where we are on the wheel of the year. In the column on this discussion's right, I've put a wheel of the year, a yearly calendar followed by ancient the Celts, thousands of years ago.
Samhain pronounced (sow-wen) is what the ancient Celts called our Halloween. Samhain is traditionally November 1st. The night before Samhain eve, known in much of the modern world, as Halloween. It is our New Year's Day, the first day of the pagan year. The ancient Celt's priesthood, the Druid's, were astronomers, scientists as well as men and women of religion. The druid's were likely the most educated group of the Celtic peoples. They divided the year into eight Sabbats. Holy days surrounding the planting, growing and harvesting aspect of the calendar.
This was an ancient pagan holiday that evidence exists it has been recognized for almost 5,000 years. In the early15th century the church outlawed Samhain and in its stead placed All Hallow's eve on October 31st, a day of fasting, prayer and penance, for revering the hallowed, the sanctified, the holiest. The next day November first became All Saint's Day, to honor, as it suggests, all of the Saints and the next day November 2nd, became All Soul's day, to remember everyone else. Three days to remember those who had passed on but by design and permission of the church.
Today Samhain (Halloween) November 1st, is our day of the dead. A day to honor the ancestors who without we wouldn't be here. Samhain is a old Celtic word for November. A day of remembrance of our loved ones, friends and family members who are no longer with us to be remembered. It is customary to place a plate, filled with good food, at a place at the table, with an empty chair for the spirits of those departed to partake of the loving energies and festivities.
In Italian culture there is a fava bean soup that is made and placed on the table of the ancestors, perhaps with photos and mementos of past loved ones. The soup, delicious, hot, steaming only to be enjoyed by those in spirit form.
So many cultures have a day reserved for the loved ones who have passed on. Halloween is a day that many Wiccans, witches and magickal people use to honor our loved ones, the ancestors. It is believed the 'veil between the worlds' is thinnest and communication by oracle or divination is more easily achievable on this day, October 31st/November 1st. Yes, both days are good for divination, oracle boards, runes and the like.
The other holy days of the wheel of the year in order after Samhain are:
Yule ( Winter Solstice) December 20-24
Imbolc February 1
Ostara (Vernal/spring equinox) March 20-24
Beltane May 1
Litha (Summer Solstice) June 20-24
Lughnasa August 1
Mabon (Fall/Autumnal Equinox) September 20-24
Samhain Novwmber 1
We can talk about the other Sabbats as they come to pass. I'll touch on more fun, interesting and curious facts about Halloween over the next couple of weeks. For instance it was on Halloween October 31st in 1517 when a priest, Martin Luther, posted a document onto the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. This document contained 95 heretical concepts that would start the Protestant Reformation.
Tomorrow we'll discuss crystals, gems and minerals: The magick of stones
There is debate whether they celebrated all of the eight holy days, but the past will always foster debate amongst experts. What I describe to you is a general understanding and accepted beliefs from the archaeological record of a culture, hidden and mysterious that dates back almost 5,000 years.
© 2010 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
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.
What a gloomy, absolutely perfectly dismal New England day we started with, only to have it end with bright blue skies and fluffy white clouds! We only needed some wood smoke drifting in the air, to practically transport us back in time a century or two. I have been looking for signs of the upcoming winter season and trying to divine whether it will be mild or severe. Unfortunately, signs I'm seeing all point towards a more intense winter than we've had in a while. Two unfortunate raccoons we're lying dead in the road on my way to work this morning. It's never fun seeing that, and it makes me a little sad, but what caught my attention as I drove by, was the size of both. They were huge, bigger than any I've seen lately. Wild animals that live in the natural world around us, eat more as winter approaches and the their size has historically and in folklore been used to predict the weather.
I have noticed something this year regarding our weather. It's been almost perfect for New England. We've had hot when its supposed to be hot, rainy when it's supposed to be rainy, now turning cool and colder right on schedule. No crazy heat waves off season, or months of rain throughout summer, just perfectly behaved weather. Having lived in New England my entire life, I assure you, when New England weather starts to behave itself, I get a little worried!
Now, I'm not saying things have been good so let's see what bad befalls. I don't believe that line of nonsense. But I do have a sense that we will be having a good old fashioned winter, with plenty of snow, often, and a solid winter season right through until spring. I'm not passing judgment, some of you will love this prediction, some will not. I myself prefer mild winters with little snow, combined with a late start and early finish. So I heartily hope I'm wrong.
I've been looking up lately, waiting for the first sign of the Canada geese flying south as if one needs the reminder the summer has passed and winter is on its way. Yet, somehow its a sign, a symbol of where we are on the wheel of the year. In the column on this discussion's right, I've put a wheel of the year, a yearly calendar followed by ancient the Celts, thousands of years ago.
Samhain pronounced (sow-wen) is what the ancient Celts called our Halloween. Samhain is traditionally November 1st. The night before Samhain eve, known in much of the modern world, as Halloween. It is our New Year's Day, the first day of the pagan year. The ancient Celt's priesthood, the Druid's, were astronomers, scientists as well as men and women of religion. The druid's were likely the most educated group of the Celtic peoples. They divided the year into eight Sabbats. Holy days surrounding the planting, growing and harvesting aspect of the calendar.
This was an ancient pagan holiday that evidence exists it has been recognized for almost 5,000 years. In the early15th century the church outlawed Samhain and in its stead placed All Hallow's eve on October 31st, a day of fasting, prayer and penance, for revering the hallowed, the sanctified, the holiest. The next day November first became All Saint's Day, to honor, as it suggests, all of the Saints and the next day November 2nd, became All Soul's day, to remember everyone else. Three days to remember those who had passed on but by design and permission of the church.
Today Samhain (Halloween) November 1st, is our day of the dead. A day to honor the ancestors who without we wouldn't be here. Samhain is a old Celtic word for November. A day of remembrance of our loved ones, friends and family members who are no longer with us to be remembered. It is customary to place a plate, filled with good food, at a place at the table, with an empty chair for the spirits of those departed to partake of the loving energies and festivities.
In Italian culture there is a fava bean soup that is made and placed on the table of the ancestors, perhaps with photos and mementos of past loved ones. The soup, delicious, hot, steaming only to be enjoyed by those in spirit form.
So many cultures have a day reserved for the loved ones who have passed on. Halloween is a day that many Wiccans, witches and magickal people use to honor our loved ones, the ancestors. It is believed the 'veil between the worlds' is thinnest and communication by oracle or divination is more easily achievable on this day, October 31st/November 1st. Yes, both days are good for divination, oracle boards, runes and the like.
The other holy days of the wheel of the year in order after Samhain are:
Yule ( Winter Solstice) December 20-24
Imbolc February 1
Ostara (Vernal/spring equinox) March 20-24
Beltane May 1
Litha (Summer Solstice) June 20-24
Lughnasa August 1
Mabon (Fall/Autumnal Equinox) September 20-24
Samhain Novwmber 1
We can talk about the other Sabbats as they come to pass. I'll touch on more fun, interesting and curious facts about Halloween over the next couple of weeks. For instance it was on Halloween October 31st in 1517 when a priest, Martin Luther, posted a document onto the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. This document contained 95 heretical concepts that would start the Protestant Reformation.
Tomorrow we'll discuss crystals, gems and minerals: The magick of stones
There is debate whether they celebrated all of the eight holy days, but the past will always foster debate amongst experts. What I describe to you is a general understanding and accepted beliefs from the archaeological record of a culture, hidden and mysterious that dates back almost 5,000 years.
© 2010 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
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, October 20, 2010
Do you . . . believe in ghosts?
Ghosts and spirits can be a pretty vast topic, so I will try to keep this discussion focused on the real life ghost experiences I've had, well just a few of them, as there have been many. I've been able to sense ghosts for many years, and also see them on occasion.
I have no spirits inhabiting my home, but the building my store is in, has a number of spirits from past owners and people associated with the house. The building was built in 1899 and there is a female ghost that will call out "hello" from time to time. I've heard her, as well as a friend of mine who helps me in the store, Laurel, has heard her also.
I was once asked to help a friend who had spirit activity going on in their home. I went and sat down in the children's room where it seemed some of the activity had been going on. The family complained of pots and pans rattling in the middle of the night, small items being thrown across the room, physical manifestation with no human assistance. When I tried to communicate with the energy present, a small girl, approximately the age of 4 or 5 appeared. She told me a story of how she had fallen out of a big automobile out on the road. She showed me how she was sitting in the back seat of a large, old car from the 1940's, playing with the door handle and not wearing any seat belts, fell out of the car. That's how she got there, she informed me. I asked her if she wanted to go on and see her family, people who loved her. She became obstinate and angry. She felt her parents left her behind. Of course they didn't, but her spirit felt left behind.
I asked her why she was so noisy in the night. She said she didn't sleep anymore and everyone went to sleep and she was lonely. The family had two young children in the house, she was attracted to them because they were close to her in age. I explained to her the family was scared when she made noise at night and threw things around. (after all, this is more child like behavior than ghostly evil-spirit behavior once you look at it a bit differently.) I explained to her what the family needed and then I explained to the family what they were dealing with. Nothing evil or terrible, just a little girl spirit that chose to remain for a time in a place where she could play with other kids. The family was relieved after I explained and seemed much more comfortable when things went 'child-like' in the night. They would speak to the spirit and she would quiet down. I believe after time the spirit of the little girl moved on.
In my experience most ghosts are misunderstood by those of us on this side of the veil. Spirits don't need to be scary or upsetting, indeed spirits can give us comfort. Often over the past 30 years when one of our cats passes away, we would feel the weight and motion of the animal walk over our feet in bed, in the evening or early morning. Just as when the cat inhabited its physical body, except nothing was visible.
We had a cat, Sneakers, a black and white tuxedo cat that was allowed outdoors. She would often sit in the window of the television room and pluck with her claws at the screen. Sometimes she wanted to come in, sometimes she just wanted to say hello. Ofttimes she would pluck and sit and watch us, happy to be near but far enough away to be a cat. She was the only cat of ours, and we've had quite a number over the years, but the only one who had this particular habit.
She passed away one year and we were upset at our loss. A few nights after her passing, we were sitting in the television room and we heard the window screen 'pluck . . . pluck . . . " we both looked at the screen and we could see it move, being gently pulled and released, we just could not see the cat. We knew she was telling us she was o.k. The plucking sounds continued off and on for a few months, then they faded.
I don't believe in being afraid of something until it gives me a reason. Most spirits that we sense are loved ones who have passed on and wish to be near us for a while. If they were loving and wanted while they were alive, why would they be anything else after death?
Do you believe in ghosts? You should, they believe in you.
(c) 2010 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog post may contain material from my book 'Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies' For more information see www.enchantmentsschool.com
I have no spirits inhabiting my home, but the building my store is in, has a number of spirits from past owners and people associated with the house. The building was built in 1899 and there is a female ghost that will call out "hello" from time to time. I've heard her, as well as a friend of mine who helps me in the store, Laurel, has heard her also.
I was once asked to help a friend who had spirit activity going on in their home. I went and sat down in the children's room where it seemed some of the activity had been going on. The family complained of pots and pans rattling in the middle of the night, small items being thrown across the room, physical manifestation with no human assistance. When I tried to communicate with the energy present, a small girl, approximately the age of 4 or 5 appeared. She told me a story of how she had fallen out of a big automobile out on the road. She showed me how she was sitting in the back seat of a large, old car from the 1940's, playing with the door handle and not wearing any seat belts, fell out of the car. That's how she got there, she informed me. I asked her if she wanted to go on and see her family, people who loved her. She became obstinate and angry. She felt her parents left her behind. Of course they didn't, but her spirit felt left behind.
I asked her why she was so noisy in the night. She said she didn't sleep anymore and everyone went to sleep and she was lonely. The family had two young children in the house, she was attracted to them because they were close to her in age. I explained to her the family was scared when she made noise at night and threw things around. (after all, this is more child like behavior than ghostly evil-spirit behavior once you look at it a bit differently.) I explained to her what the family needed and then I explained to the family what they were dealing with. Nothing evil or terrible, just a little girl spirit that chose to remain for a time in a place where she could play with other kids. The family was relieved after I explained and seemed much more comfortable when things went 'child-like' in the night. They would speak to the spirit and she would quiet down. I believe after time the spirit of the little girl moved on.
In my experience most ghosts are misunderstood by those of us on this side of the veil. Spirits don't need to be scary or upsetting, indeed spirits can give us comfort. Often over the past 30 years when one of our cats passes away, we would feel the weight and motion of the animal walk over our feet in bed, in the evening or early morning. Just as when the cat inhabited its physical body, except nothing was visible.
We had a cat, Sneakers, a black and white tuxedo cat that was allowed outdoors. She would often sit in the window of the television room and pluck with her claws at the screen. Sometimes she wanted to come in, sometimes she just wanted to say hello. Ofttimes she would pluck and sit and watch us, happy to be near but far enough away to be a cat. She was the only cat of ours, and we've had quite a number over the years, but the only one who had this particular habit.
She passed away one year and we were upset at our loss. A few nights after her passing, we were sitting in the television room and we heard the window screen 'pluck . . . pluck . . . " we both looked at the screen and we could see it move, being gently pulled and released, we just could not see the cat. We knew she was telling us she was o.k. The plucking sounds continued off and on for a few months, then they faded.
I don't believe in being afraid of something until it gives me a reason. Most spirits that we sense are loved ones who have passed on and wish to be near us for a while. If they were loving and wanted while they were alive, why would they be anything else after death?
Do you believe in ghosts? You should, they believe in you.
(c) 2010 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog post may contain material from my book 'Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies' For more information see www.enchantmentsschool.com
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The Pentagram
Greeting all,
Let's discuss a sensitive subject. The Pentagram. Wait for a moment if you wish to insert creepy, horror movie music right here.
There is still a common fear associated with the symbol of the five pointed star, also known more commonly by its geometric shape, the pentagram. Few symbols associated with the witch have been so completely maligned.
We react to symbols on a deep, primitive level. Symbols or images move us deeply, causing feelings that are not necessarily following conscious thought. for instance, many people may feel trepidation when they see the skull and cross bones or bright red lightening bolts indicating danger, or relief when they spy a police car in an emergency situation. How many times have the male/female images indicating a public restroom on the wall of a building brought a sense of relief to you?
Symbolic images are meant to convey a common thought to those who see it. It is because of many years of misinformation and deliberate fear enhancing rumors that have many people skeptical as to the innocence and positive nature of the pentagram.
The five pointed star shape is thought to have ancient associations. People centuries ago lived with nature, whereas today we live in spite of it. Ancient man was more attuned to the cycles of nature, the night skies and the heavenly bodies that inhabit those skies. The planet Venus could be seen with the naked eye and people thought the planet to be a representation of the Goddess. Over several years the planets' path takes on a pentagram design in the night skies. The movement of the planet is imperceptible to the naked eye, attesting to the fact 'ancient' mankind had a keen understanding of observing the astronomical world.
The five pointed star or pentagram became a symbol of the Goddess. Interestingly the early Christian used the pentagram to symbolize the five wounds suffered by Jesus. Before that ancient advanced cultures, such as Babylonia and Greece also used the pentagram in their spiritual work. The word comes from the Greek Pentagrammon.
In the 1970's a religion started by Anton LeVey in California, which he called Satanism, decided to adopt the inverted, upside down, pentagram as a symbol for their beliefs. Wiccans and witches are not Satanists. Period. Satanism is a religion we can touch upon in another discussion. We always use the pentagram, also known as a pentacle, with the apex pointed up. We never invert the symbol as Satanists do.
It is very much because of the Church of Satan and its followers, who funny enough, seem to draw some negative and fearful reactions from the general public, that seemed to fuel the negative imagery associated with the Pentagram. Mix the notoriety attracted by adult Americans proudly claiming association with such negative imagery, as Satan, the Goat's head and the like. Then add rebellious teens and musical rock bands whose entire world exists in defiance of conformity and authority and you have a nifty symbol designed to spear fear through the hearts of the toughest parents. Effectively.
I understand how and why people fear the symbol, but to me its beautiful and empowering. To me it is a symbol of the microcosm and the macrocosm.
There are those who see many things within. Today the simple pentagram is often surrounded by a circle, and we call this a pentacle. The symbol with the circle around shows the five sense of man, with the heart in the center and the universe surrounding all. That's one way of viewing this enigmatic star.
It has always been a symbol of protection, with its association to Venus, most especially protection of women. The top point for us today, signifies spirit. The great creative energy that many call God, Goddess or a name meaning the same. The four lower points symbolize the four elements. Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Depending on whom you read, there are any number of combinations of where those elements are situated around the star, but it matters not. The symbol simple states that we try to put the spiritual above the physical.
That's a nice way to look at my beliefs, I try to put the spiritual above the physical. While always honoring and revering the physical world, the natural world.
I hope we can now put the scary rumors to rest. Besides its not the symbol that makes a difference in the world, but the person wearing it.
Tomorrow let's discuss Ghosts, Spirits and Hauntings! Do you . . . believe in Ghosts?
(There seems many debates ongoing in the world of the human sciences, anthropology, sociology, theology and such, as well as magickal experts, as to the origins and first usage of the pentagram and its meaning to the cultures who used it. I have presented the history as I've researched and as such all opinions are mine, even the ones that disagree with the experts.)
(c) 2010 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog post may contain material from my book 'Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies' For more information see www.enchantmentsschool.com
Let's discuss a sensitive subject. The Pentagram. Wait for a moment if you wish to insert creepy, horror movie music right here.
There is still a common fear associated with the symbol of the five pointed star, also known more commonly by its geometric shape, the pentagram. Few symbols associated with the witch have been so completely maligned.
We react to symbols on a deep, primitive level. Symbols or images move us deeply, causing feelings that are not necessarily following conscious thought. for instance, many people may feel trepidation when they see the skull and cross bones or bright red lightening bolts indicating danger, or relief when they spy a police car in an emergency situation. How many times have the male/female images indicating a public restroom on the wall of a building brought a sense of relief to you?
Symbolic images are meant to convey a common thought to those who see it. It is because of many years of misinformation and deliberate fear enhancing rumors that have many people skeptical as to the innocence and positive nature of the pentagram.
The five pointed star shape is thought to have ancient associations. People centuries ago lived with nature, whereas today we live in spite of it. Ancient man was more attuned to the cycles of nature, the night skies and the heavenly bodies that inhabit those skies. The planet Venus could be seen with the naked eye and people thought the planet to be a representation of the Goddess. Over several years the planets' path takes on a pentagram design in the night skies. The movement of the planet is imperceptible to the naked eye, attesting to the fact 'ancient' mankind had a keen understanding of observing the astronomical world.
The five pointed star or pentagram became a symbol of the Goddess. Interestingly the early Christian used the pentagram to symbolize the five wounds suffered by Jesus. Before that ancient advanced cultures, such as Babylonia and Greece also used the pentagram in their spiritual work. The word comes from the Greek Pentagrammon.
In the 1970's a religion started by Anton LeVey in California, which he called Satanism, decided to adopt the inverted, upside down, pentagram as a symbol for their beliefs. Wiccans and witches are not Satanists. Period. Satanism is a religion we can touch upon in another discussion. We always use the pentagram, also known as a pentacle, with the apex pointed up. We never invert the symbol as Satanists do.
It is very much because of the Church of Satan and its followers, who funny enough, seem to draw some negative and fearful reactions from the general public, that seemed to fuel the negative imagery associated with the Pentagram. Mix the notoriety attracted by adult Americans proudly claiming association with such negative imagery, as Satan, the Goat's head and the like. Then add rebellious teens and musical rock bands whose entire world exists in defiance of conformity and authority and you have a nifty symbol designed to spear fear through the hearts of the toughest parents. Effectively.
I understand how and why people fear the symbol, but to me its beautiful and empowering. To me it is a symbol of the microcosm and the macrocosm.
There are those who see many things within. Today the simple pentagram is often surrounded by a circle, and we call this a pentacle. The symbol with the circle around shows the five sense of man, with the heart in the center and the universe surrounding all. That's one way of viewing this enigmatic star.
It has always been a symbol of protection, with its association to Venus, most especially protection of women. The top point for us today, signifies spirit. The great creative energy that many call God, Goddess or a name meaning the same. The four lower points symbolize the four elements. Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Depending on whom you read, there are any number of combinations of where those elements are situated around the star, but it matters not. The symbol simple states that we try to put the spiritual above the physical.
That's a nice way to look at my beliefs, I try to put the spiritual above the physical. While always honoring and revering the physical world, the natural world.
I hope we can now put the scary rumors to rest. Besides its not the symbol that makes a difference in the world, but the person wearing it.
Tomorrow let's discuss Ghosts, Spirits and Hauntings! Do you . . . believe in Ghosts?
(There seems many debates ongoing in the world of the human sciences, anthropology, sociology, theology and such, as well as magickal experts, as to the origins and first usage of the pentagram and its meaning to the cultures who used it. I have presented the history as I've researched and as such all opinions are mine, even the ones that disagree with the experts.)
(c) 2010 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog post may contain material from my book 'Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies' For more information see www.enchantmentsschool.com
Monday, October 18, 2010
Halloween Decorating and Party Planning Part 2
Greeting all,
Firstly, let me say a deep heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been reading my blog, sending their comments and showing their support by becoming a follower of this blog. It's been a lot of fun for me and I'm glad you're enjoying it along with me. I've re-set the settings so anyone can post a comment, regardless of what type of email account you have.
I wanted to continue the decorating and party planning discussion we started earlier this week. I love atmosphere! I place glass enclosed lanterns in the gardens with candles than can be safely burned within. I also designed a unique outdoor candle holder. Its an old hanging brass chandelier meant to hang inside a house. I got it from a neighbors tag sale one year. Hanging from a central point, it splays out to six arms with light sockets at the end. the I cut the electrical cord, and set it on a long steel post in the ground and I put wax candles in the sockets designed for light bulbs. Set deep in the middle of a garden,with the grasses and plants turning brown and dying at the end of the season, it makes for an eerie yet elegant tableau that catches the eye, right at twilight when the garden is the most beautiful.
This time of the year is a great time for accenting the garden with fairy lights, candles in glass votives, lantern or other illumination. With the leaves falling from the trees, soon the full moon will be bright and visible everywhere and then the gardens take on a new drama as they settle into winter.
This is the time I go outside and with a ladder, climb to the top of the May pole, decorated with bright, colorful, happy ribbons last Beltane, this is a spring holiday we celebrate on May 1st. Now, I cut down the ribbons, as is customary, and burn them in the outdoor fire pit. It's time to either allow your May pole to rest unadorned for the winter months, the dark half of the year that starts on November 1st and goes until May 1st the following year. Or if you'd like, you may re-dress your May pole with ribbons the colors of the season: purple, black and silver. These ribbons will stay on the pole, hanging loosely, not bound around, until May 1st.
Summer tiki torches take on a slightly more sinister look as we approach this dark time of the year. Instead of setting them around an eating area or sitting area, as this time of year becomes too cool for those activities, I set them inside the gardens, or alongside the walk way, but far enough back for safety. For some reason, with the air getting colder, the leaves falling, perhaps some wood smoke lingering in the air, the presence of live flames gives an area a lovely medieval feel that makes you shiver in delight. Its perfect for setting a eerie mood for Halloween.
If real flames are a bit daring, daunting or just not possible, decorating in light is also dramatic and adds a special look for the season. I have an entry way room where I cover all the surfaces with red table covers, the fabric doesn't matter, but satin, silk or similar shiny fabrics reflects the light and makes it even more spectacular an effect. I put red light bulbs in the overhead triple bulb light fixture and place ruby glass around the room. There are some table lamps also fitted with red bulbs. I collect ruby and cobalt glass objects,but if you don't have any around, there are places like the Christmas Tree Shoppes where you can find tons of great inexpensive pieces.
A room can also be made all blue in a similar fashion, depending on the look you like. The red room is warm, energizing and exciting and a blue room, complete with blue light bulbs and accessories brings a cooling, tranquil calmness to a person who steps inside.
If you are planning a party for Halloween, start planning it now. Rather than rushing and being under lots of stress, pre-party planning is key to a fun, spooky and relaxing holiday party. Have a notebook where you keep your notes, and carry it with you throughout your day. Have it available to make sudden changes, record great ideas that occur and keep track of where you are and what still needs to be done.
I start with a few simple lists.
Party menu, inside decorating, outdoor decorating. In addition, it's not necessary, but I always have a theme.
It makes it easier to keep the planning simple. A Harry Potter party won't have you trying to decide if the luau party plates would be appropriate. I find the themes usually by emphasizing a common image of Halloween. bats, witches hats, brooms, one year it was everything spiders. Yes!! I know!!! I'm not fond of the little nasties, but my aversion was one of the reasons I decided to immerse myself in everything arachnid that year. I dressed the buffet table with fake spiders of all sorts, textures and sizes.
I wore a spider covered Victorian Gothic red and black lace dress, placed fake beasties in my hair and even went through the night with a tiny fake spider placed on the my cheek. I could just see it in my side vision, and yes it did creep me out a it, but by the end of the night I was way better with spiders. It takes a macho spider, with serious attitude, or if its black and furry, to really get my attention these days!!
What? Oh . . . you thought . . . just because I'm a witch, I'd be good with spiders, hmmmmm? well, I'm working on it. I've pretty much mastered mice, bats, black cats and toads. I'm also pretty good with salamanders, but spiders, weeeell. . . I'm getting better.
A fun Halloween image and indoor decorating concept is to set a small table with a dark covering. Set a candle in a stand and place a tarot card spread on the cloth. A crystal ball and a few tumbled stones scattered around the cards also adds to the mysterious scene.
Tarot cards are easy to buy, as well as tumbled stones. For a crystal ball, and unless you're really serious about reading it, and a nice sized real one is several hundreds of dollars, a suitable faux crystal ball will suffice.
Go to a pet store that carries fish bowls and supplies for fish. Find a small fish bowl, or round glass vase, spherical with an opening at one end. Next get a small bowl, a silver or silver colored one is ideal, just a bit larger than the size of the fish bowl. Then get some silver and blue glitter at a craft store. Fill the bowl with a mixture of silver and blue glitter and turn fish bowl upside down. Gently 'screw' it into the glitter until the hole disappears and now place it on a dark covered table with a small candle near by. Suddenly your simple little fishbowl takes on a mysterious aura. The glitter sparkles and reflects the low candle light making a lovely inexpensive crystal ball display with your tarot cads and stones. Place a witches hat on the chair next to the table and it will look as if the witch just left, for but a moment.
There are so many wonderful decorating ideas out there this time of year, and entire publications dedicated to such. If you need ideas, do as I do and go to the magazine rack, and look at the covers and choose the ones that seem more like you and your ideas. The ideas presented here are my own ideas that I've developed over the years and I hope you find some of them work for you.
Happy decorating!!
(c) 2010 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog post may contain material from my book 'Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies' For more information see www.enchantmentsschool.com
Firstly, let me say a deep heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been reading my blog, sending their comments and showing their support by becoming a follower of this blog. It's been a lot of fun for me and I'm glad you're enjoying it along with me. I've re-set the settings so anyone can post a comment, regardless of what type of email account you have.
I wanted to continue the decorating and party planning discussion we started earlier this week. I love atmosphere! I place glass enclosed lanterns in the gardens with candles than can be safely burned within. I also designed a unique outdoor candle holder. Its an old hanging brass chandelier meant to hang inside a house. I got it from a neighbors tag sale one year. Hanging from a central point, it splays out to six arms with light sockets at the end. the I cut the electrical cord, and set it on a long steel post in the ground and I put wax candles in the sockets designed for light bulbs. Set deep in the middle of a garden,with the grasses and plants turning brown and dying at the end of the season, it makes for an eerie yet elegant tableau that catches the eye, right at twilight when the garden is the most beautiful.
This time of the year is a great time for accenting the garden with fairy lights, candles in glass votives, lantern or other illumination. With the leaves falling from the trees, soon the full moon will be bright and visible everywhere and then the gardens take on a new drama as they settle into winter.
This is the time I go outside and with a ladder, climb to the top of the May pole, decorated with bright, colorful, happy ribbons last Beltane, this is a spring holiday we celebrate on May 1st. Now, I cut down the ribbons, as is customary, and burn them in the outdoor fire pit. It's time to either allow your May pole to rest unadorned for the winter months, the dark half of the year that starts on November 1st and goes until May 1st the following year. Or if you'd like, you may re-dress your May pole with ribbons the colors of the season: purple, black and silver. These ribbons will stay on the pole, hanging loosely, not bound around, until May 1st.
Summer tiki torches take on a slightly more sinister look as we approach this dark time of the year. Instead of setting them around an eating area or sitting area, as this time of year becomes too cool for those activities, I set them inside the gardens, or alongside the walk way, but far enough back for safety. For some reason, with the air getting colder, the leaves falling, perhaps some wood smoke lingering in the air, the presence of live flames gives an area a lovely medieval feel that makes you shiver in delight. Its perfect for setting a eerie mood for Halloween.
If real flames are a bit daring, daunting or just not possible, decorating in light is also dramatic and adds a special look for the season. I have an entry way room where I cover all the surfaces with red table covers, the fabric doesn't matter, but satin, silk or similar shiny fabrics reflects the light and makes it even more spectacular an effect. I put red light bulbs in the overhead triple bulb light fixture and place ruby glass around the room. There are some table lamps also fitted with red bulbs. I collect ruby and cobalt glass objects,but if you don't have any around, there are places like the Christmas Tree Shoppes where you can find tons of great inexpensive pieces.
A room can also be made all blue in a similar fashion, depending on the look you like. The red room is warm, energizing and exciting and a blue room, complete with blue light bulbs and accessories brings a cooling, tranquil calmness to a person who steps inside.
If you are planning a party for Halloween, start planning it now. Rather than rushing and being under lots of stress, pre-party planning is key to a fun, spooky and relaxing holiday party. Have a notebook where you keep your notes, and carry it with you throughout your day. Have it available to make sudden changes, record great ideas that occur and keep track of where you are and what still needs to be done.
I start with a few simple lists.
Party menu, inside decorating, outdoor decorating. In addition, it's not necessary, but I always have a theme.
It makes it easier to keep the planning simple. A Harry Potter party won't have you trying to decide if the luau party plates would be appropriate. I find the themes usually by emphasizing a common image of Halloween. bats, witches hats, brooms, one year it was everything spiders. Yes!! I know!!! I'm not fond of the little nasties, but my aversion was one of the reasons I decided to immerse myself in everything arachnid that year. I dressed the buffet table with fake spiders of all sorts, textures and sizes.
I wore a spider covered Victorian Gothic red and black lace dress, placed fake beasties in my hair and even went through the night with a tiny fake spider placed on the my cheek. I could just see it in my side vision, and yes it did creep me out a it, but by the end of the night I was way better with spiders. It takes a macho spider, with serious attitude, or if its black and furry, to really get my attention these days!!
What? Oh . . . you thought . . . just because I'm a witch, I'd be good with spiders, hmmmmm? well, I'm working on it. I've pretty much mastered mice, bats, black cats and toads. I'm also pretty good with salamanders, but spiders, weeeell. . . I'm getting better.
A fun Halloween image and indoor decorating concept is to set a small table with a dark covering. Set a candle in a stand and place a tarot card spread on the cloth. A crystal ball and a few tumbled stones scattered around the cards also adds to the mysterious scene.
Tarot cards are easy to buy, as well as tumbled stones. For a crystal ball, and unless you're really serious about reading it, and a nice sized real one is several hundreds of dollars, a suitable faux crystal ball will suffice.
Go to a pet store that carries fish bowls and supplies for fish. Find a small fish bowl, or round glass vase, spherical with an opening at one end. Next get a small bowl, a silver or silver colored one is ideal, just a bit larger than the size of the fish bowl. Then get some silver and blue glitter at a craft store. Fill the bowl with a mixture of silver and blue glitter and turn fish bowl upside down. Gently 'screw' it into the glitter until the hole disappears and now place it on a dark covered table with a small candle near by. Suddenly your simple little fishbowl takes on a mysterious aura. The glitter sparkles and reflects the low candle light making a lovely inexpensive crystal ball display with your tarot cads and stones. Place a witches hat on the chair next to the table and it will look as if the witch just left, for but a moment.
There are so many wonderful decorating ideas out there this time of year, and entire publications dedicated to such. If you need ideas, do as I do and go to the magazine rack, and look at the covers and choose the ones that seem more like you and your ideas. The ideas presented here are my own ideas that I've developed over the years and I hope you find some of them work for you.
Happy decorating!!
(c) 2010 Enchantments, LLC Portions of this blog post may contain material from my book 'Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies' For more information see www.enchantmentsschool.com
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Black Cats, Bats, Cauldrons & Pointy Hats
What a perfect Sunday! I spent the day decorating with mums and more pumpkins, and the weather was mild and warm. While working in my front garden I noticed my pastel salmon colored azalea had grown over the summer, almost doubling in size. It's taken a long time to get its feet, as the plant is almost 10 years old. It was just a tiny plant when I planted it, and today I received a special gift from my tiny orange azalea. In the middle of October in southern New England, my spring blooming azalea had sprouted two beautiful blossoms. Its rare to get a spring blooming, perennial shrub to double bloom in one season, but every now and again we have the right combination of weather to encourage it. I've included a photo at the right of this post. The blossoms look almost white the orange is so pale, but beautiful nonetheless. I'm always happy when surprised by Mother Nature!
Halloween is in the air, as we creep ever closer to the big night. I wanted to share a bit of the history as to the origins of today's typical Halloween imagery.
Black Cats
Since the earliest societies women and cats have had a special relationship. Many of the ancient Goddesses were associated with cats, the Egyptians had Bast and Sekhmet the gentle and more fierce Goddesses who appear in the guise of a cat, The Norse Goddess Freya was known as a cat Goddess, and the Greeks had Goddesses to whom cats are sacred, Hera, Aphrodite and Athena. When the Goddess, or feminine divine, was targeted by the early church, they made her image on earth, the woman, evil, unclean and even declared woman to not possess souls. In the attempt to eradicate the 'witch' or any woman who showed defiance by being independent, outspoken and intelligent, many cats were also tortured and killed alongside the woman.
During the middle ages, The Burning Times, it was unlikely that the typical magistrate or sheriff was associating the village midwife who had been accused of witchcraft to any of the ancient cat goddesses, and thus targeted the cats because of this association. No, it was more likely the partnership women had with cats during this time. Women were often in the kitchens, barns and gardens of their homes as the bulk of their work was conducted in these areas of the home. These are also areas where mice and rats congregate. The cat was a valuable partner in the Colonial home, aiding the house wife by keeping the home and barns free from vermin in return for food, a warm bed next to the kitchen fireplace and a stroke or two. The smart woman recognized the importance of cats.
During the burning times, cats and witches were closely associated, as rumor and fears were spread that accused women, suspected of witchcraft of turning into cats and running to safety. Along with women and children, cats were tied to stakes or secured in bags and burned to death. Experts on the Bubonic Plague that swept through Europe at the turn of the 14th - 15th centuries, killing between 75 and 100 million people agree that the mass extermination of cats during the witch craze, contributed to the plague growing so rapidly and unchecked, having no natural predator to keep the rats, which carried the plague infested fleas, in check.
Bats
Meanwhile the bat was always considered a bit sinister as it's natural habit of coming out at dusk, a time in between, not day yet not quite night. Times in-between were considered sacred by the Priesthood of the ancient Celts, the Druids. They would take notice of any creature that appeared at an in between time, and even though bats continue to fly and eat insect throughout the evening, small dark little shapes are seldom easily seen in the dark. The time they were noticed the most, besides dusk, would be around the bon-fire catching the moths that would be attracted to the flames.
There is some evidence suggesting that when women who were accused of witchcraft and were burned at the stake, a process that would take hours, in some cases days, before the flames went out the moths that would be attracted to the flames attracted bats. Some of the fearful and ignorant would believe that the spirit of the witch would escape in the form of moths or bats, thus always being about to cause harm and distress, allowing the superstition and fear to grow and continue.
Cauldrons
The cauldron has an extensive magickal history, but its primarily associated with the witch because of her association with the herbal arts. The cauldron by myth, tradition and physics is a vessel that cooks down and thereby transforms substances from one form into another. It was a critical tool in alchemy and just thinking about a big pot filled with a steaming, bubbling mixture that could conceivably contain anything, healing or harmful, delicious or vile, provides a provocative and mysterious image that attracts and intrigues.
Pointy Hats
Early Ancient Etruscan coins show a female head on one side, wearing a brimless pointed hat, thought to be the Goddess Diana, and shows that this was the fashion at one time. The word Pagan comes from the Latin Paganus which means 'country dweller' a term similar to derogatory names today such as Hick. Pagans referenced those who lived in the country, follow the old ways and picked up current fashions and manners long after they are popular in more populated cities. Fashions, as is true today, came and went quickly and those in the country would often be wearing clothing that was long out of fashion. Some experts on ancient dress feel that this is the most reasonable scenario when associating the pointed witches hat with the witch. Both the witch, or pagan, who followed the old gods, and failed to convert to the new, hip, every body's doing it! religious flavor of the day, Christianity and so again, stood out as different and stubborn. Soon dress as well as mannerisms and gender were all easy ways to be accused and put to death as being a witch.
So many of history's images, fears, superstitions survive today as a cartoon, a funny caricature or a horrible time in the history of the earth's people.
I hope you find this interesting and when you're browsing in the costume and party stores, and see some of these familiar images, you'll know a bit more about them and where they come from.
(c) 2010 Enchantments, LLC
Portions of this blog post may contain material from my book "Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies" For more information see www.enchantmentsschool.com
Halloween is in the air, as we creep ever closer to the big night. I wanted to share a bit of the history as to the origins of today's typical Halloween imagery.
Black Cats
Since the earliest societies women and cats have had a special relationship. Many of the ancient Goddesses were associated with cats, the Egyptians had Bast and Sekhmet the gentle and more fierce Goddesses who appear in the guise of a cat, The Norse Goddess Freya was known as a cat Goddess, and the Greeks had Goddesses to whom cats are sacred, Hera, Aphrodite and Athena. When the Goddess, or feminine divine, was targeted by the early church, they made her image on earth, the woman, evil, unclean and even declared woman to not possess souls. In the attempt to eradicate the 'witch' or any woman who showed defiance by being independent, outspoken and intelligent, many cats were also tortured and killed alongside the woman.
During the middle ages, The Burning Times, it was unlikely that the typical magistrate or sheriff was associating the village midwife who had been accused of witchcraft to any of the ancient cat goddesses, and thus targeted the cats because of this association. No, it was more likely the partnership women had with cats during this time. Women were often in the kitchens, barns and gardens of their homes as the bulk of their work was conducted in these areas of the home. These are also areas where mice and rats congregate. The cat was a valuable partner in the Colonial home, aiding the house wife by keeping the home and barns free from vermin in return for food, a warm bed next to the kitchen fireplace and a stroke or two. The smart woman recognized the importance of cats.
During the burning times, cats and witches were closely associated, as rumor and fears were spread that accused women, suspected of witchcraft of turning into cats and running to safety. Along with women and children, cats were tied to stakes or secured in bags and burned to death. Experts on the Bubonic Plague that swept through Europe at the turn of the 14th - 15th centuries, killing between 75 and 100 million people agree that the mass extermination of cats during the witch craze, contributed to the plague growing so rapidly and unchecked, having no natural predator to keep the rats, which carried the plague infested fleas, in check.
Bats
Meanwhile the bat was always considered a bit sinister as it's natural habit of coming out at dusk, a time in between, not day yet not quite night. Times in-between were considered sacred by the Priesthood of the ancient Celts, the Druids. They would take notice of any creature that appeared at an in between time, and even though bats continue to fly and eat insect throughout the evening, small dark little shapes are seldom easily seen in the dark. The time they were noticed the most, besides dusk, would be around the bon-fire catching the moths that would be attracted to the flames.
There is some evidence suggesting that when women who were accused of witchcraft and were burned at the stake, a process that would take hours, in some cases days, before the flames went out the moths that would be attracted to the flames attracted bats. Some of the fearful and ignorant would believe that the spirit of the witch would escape in the form of moths or bats, thus always being about to cause harm and distress, allowing the superstition and fear to grow and continue.
Cauldrons
The cauldron has an extensive magickal history, but its primarily associated with the witch because of her association with the herbal arts. The cauldron by myth, tradition and physics is a vessel that cooks down and thereby transforms substances from one form into another. It was a critical tool in alchemy and just thinking about a big pot filled with a steaming, bubbling mixture that could conceivably contain anything, healing or harmful, delicious or vile, provides a provocative and mysterious image that attracts and intrigues.
Pointy Hats
Early Ancient Etruscan coins show a female head on one side, wearing a brimless pointed hat, thought to be the Goddess Diana, and shows that this was the fashion at one time. The word Pagan comes from the Latin Paganus which means 'country dweller' a term similar to derogatory names today such as Hick. Pagans referenced those who lived in the country, follow the old ways and picked up current fashions and manners long after they are popular in more populated cities. Fashions, as is true today, came and went quickly and those in the country would often be wearing clothing that was long out of fashion. Some experts on ancient dress feel that this is the most reasonable scenario when associating the pointed witches hat with the witch. Both the witch, or pagan, who followed the old gods, and failed to convert to the new, hip, every body's doing it! religious flavor of the day, Christianity and so again, stood out as different and stubborn. Soon dress as well as mannerisms and gender were all easy ways to be accused and put to death as being a witch.
So many of history's images, fears, superstitions survive today as a cartoon, a funny caricature or a horrible time in the history of the earth's people.
I hope you find this interesting and when you're browsing in the costume and party stores, and see some of these familiar images, you'll know a bit more about them and where they come from.
(c) 2010 Enchantments, LLC
Portions of this blog post may contain material from my book "Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies" For more information see www.enchantmentsschool.com
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Halloween Decorating and Party Planning Part 1
Harvest Greetings all!!
I like to get a bit of an earlier start on Halloween decorating than this, but where has the month gone? Really, if you know, please share! O.K. I'll admit it, just between you and I. I've always considered myself the Wiccan Martha Stewart!! Do I love to celebrate the seasons with holiday decorating and party planning!! But really, what witch doesn't? Am I right?
So, I am determined this weekend to dedicate myself to decorating and bringing a sense of the eerie to my front yard. My euonymus bushes are obligingly turning red for me, these small leaved bushes are also called burning bush, and the indigenous peoples called them the Wahoo bush,. I like that name. You just want to say Wahoo! Go ahead say it, nobody’s listening. The perennials are starting to die down in the gardens, which sent me on my mum hunting mission yesterday searching for color in the bright orange pumpkins and splashes of showy purple, yellows and russet mums.
I like to use plastic cauldrons I find at the party store, black plastic, the heavier the better, to decorate my yard. I keep them outside year round, but of course . . . I would, I think a few black cauldrons decorates a witches cottage just nicely. Don’t you?
Weight them down with some play sand from a building supply store and set them around your gardens. They make a great place to set a pot of pretty fall flowers. They also add an inexpensive witchy touch to your décor.
I like to put tiny fairy lights in purples and reds strung amongst my bushes outside, and I have a big cauldron, (you can get very large plastic ones also at the party store, but only around this time of year?) that I put out by the walk where the little tricksters will come begging for candy and treats the last night in October. I place outdoor light sockets with a stake to secure to the ground, equipped with red, yellow and orange light bulbs underneath the cauldron.
Then cover the lights up with twigs and small branches and arrange until you end up with a lovely safe ‘fire’ under the cauldron. Plan to get a few pounds of dry ice, Halloween night, to throw bits into the cauldron, throughout the evening to create steam and excitement and before you know it, you’re a witch stirring her cauldron.
Of course for this to work properly, you need to suspend the cauldron, either on a tripod or some sort of stand over the twigs/light set up, This small tableau with a few mums around looks very witchy during the day, and absolutely spooky after dark.
The night of Halloween I ‘prepare the stew’ shortly before the tricksters come around by putting rubber rats, spiders, eye balls, snakes and all sorts of goodies into the water. I get a long set of tongs that serves to stir my witches brew and to pull out the rubber ‘stew pieces’.
When children come up, I’m stirring, cackling and muttering to myself. Reciting some of William Shakespeare’s more fun parts of his plays, Macbeth’s one of my favorites. I love “ Double, double, toil and trouble, Fire burn and cauldron bubble . . . . .
They shout trick or treat and think that’s all it takes to rid a witch of her candy. Humph!! Silly children. After ignoring their queries for trick or treat, I pull out a rubber rat or maybe a tasty rubber eye ball from the inside of the cauldron and then seeing the children, jump a bit and look surprised to see them.
I ignore the plaintive trick or treat pleas and ask instead if they would enjoy some eyeball stew or monkey brain soup. Perhaps some rat tartar? Said as I pull out a fat, black rubber rat by its long whip tail. The ewwwwwws and resounding noooooo’s from the little girls is always in perfect harmony to the delighted grins and excited yessss’s from the little boys. Little boys will always puff out their chests and say “Yes, I’ll try some of whatever gross thing you’re offering”. Bravely calling my bluff! Tricky monkeys!
When this happens I inevitably find that the rat is not quite cooked enough and instead I am forced to give them some candy pouches that the fairies left behind. Nothing a witch would want, nor do I need to have in the house, and the children are always happy to help take it off my hands.
I do try to spy the age and tender sensibilities of the kids as they approach the house, and with some little ones I lose the wavering voice and cackle and just smile and hand out the candy, because I don’t enjoy scaring children. I want them to leave the little tableau I’ve created out front, that of a witches garden and cottage, with a happy feeling, maybe curious and intrigued and wanting to come back again the next year.
I don’t decorate with Frankenstein's or Draculas, my décor is less campy B movie set and more of walking onto the property of an old witches cottage some where in Colonial America. The witches’ cottage of the fairy tales. I always felt that in the fairy tales we grew up with the witch wasn’t necessarily evil, but more misunderstood. An independent, hard working woman, falsely accused and not allowed proper legal representation. A terrible case of rumor and slander at best! Of course, the opinions stated here are . . . mine.
I like the ‘traditional’ image of the witch this time of the year, as an older woman with wisdom, knowledge, the knower of mysteries and with the experiences of her life proudly displayed on her face. I don’t think ugliness, black teeth and warts are necessary, they just seek to scare and prejudice. But the witch’s maladies as an elderly woman, often depicted with a hook nose and hump back is thought by some anthropologists to represent the results of a diet which was lacking in necessary nutrition. It speaks to a time in our history as women. So my depicting ‘the hag’ is not meant as an insult or nor do I consider it disrespectful, but by taking on the visage of an ancient archetype it helps me appreciate and embrace temporarily a time which will come soon enough in this life.
After the little ones are done tricking me out of treats that night, I record the count of tricksters and note it on a little chart I started almost 30 years ago. Then we have a fun evening with Halloween party food. Sometimes its just the two of us, other times we invite a few people and we always have snacks and treats for dinner that night.
I’ve celebrated Halloween for years just as I described it to you above. Then in 2004 I stopped. I had started my business Enchantments and we started having events at the store during this night and we couldn’t figure out a way for me to be in two places at once. That’s a bit of advanced magick I’m still working on!
The Witches Balls we’ve held every Halloween night the past 6 years have attracted less people than my front door does children on that same night. I’ve also heard from neighbors and some of the children from the past Halloween nights that they miss the ‘real witch’ setting up shop on the street that night. I have dearly missed it also.
So I used those statistics this year to give me an excuse and a reason to go back to what makes me happy. It’s really a night to celebrate the young and the excitement of the evening. It’s not a night I want to think about business or profits and loss. As a businessperson I tried that, thinking it was necessary, that it would hurt my business if I didn’t do something marketing-wise on that night. Well, I live and learn anew everyday.
This year I’m going back to what makes me really happy, the looks of happiness, joy, curiosity and glee on the faces of little monsters, princesses and super heroes that bravely leave their parents at the curb and approach the ‘real witch’ who is stirring the cauldron, all for the unspoken promise of a candy reward for their courage.
We only can go trick or treating for a scant few years as a child before we’re too old and it’s just embarrassing and a little weird. So a strong energy this night is the energy of the young. The other energy is the energy of the ancestors, which we’ll discuss at another time this month. Having both the young and old energies abounding on this night makes it a special night indeed.
Its my hope the trick or treating children this year, will remember Halloween fondly as they grow up and have their own children. That they will remember Halloween can be and should be fun and exciting, mysterious and just a little spooky! Also, regardless of religious belief or affiliation, as these are only of concern to adults, remember that Halloween is a holiday for children everywhere. Or should be.
Thanks for spending this time with me, I had fun!
Tomorrow we’ll discuss some of the better known symbols of Halloween and their origins. “Black cats, bats, cauldrons and pointy hats”
(c) 2010 Enchantments, LLC
Portions of this blog may contain material from my book "Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies" For more information see www.enchantmentsschool.com
(c) 2010 Enchantments, LLC
Portions of this blog may contain material from my book "Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies" For more information see www.enchantmentsschool.com
Friday, October 15, 2010
Witches! What . . . Who are we really? Our history from Goddess to Sorceress
Hello again,
Oh my! What a beautiful autumn day in New England today was. I was up early picking pumpkins and mums to decorate for the harvest season. The colorful kale is lovely this year also. It was cold and breezy enough to warrant my choice of a cloak this morning. I needed it as the first licks of winter nipped at my ankles. I love New England but the winters can be trying for me. But I determinedly pushed that thought of winter away and just lost myself in the fun, the color and excitement of the season.
I'm planning for Halloween also, no surprise its one of my favorite holidays, but again, I love celebrations. All holidays are special for me. As we get closer to the big night, I'll let you peek into my way of celebrating this special season. Maybe I'll share a spooky recipe or two, mayhaps a spell or incantation. hmmmm.
I also decided to spend the next couple of weeks discussing Halloween and all the fun, spooky and interesting facts about it. So many people love Halloween, its not just a pagan holiday. So the next few talks we have together, you and I, will cover all the popular Halloween images and their history and why the witch and cauldron are associated with Halloween. For a friend recently asked me just that the other day. I mentioned what a good topic for the new 'witch blog' and so I started to think about how I would tell this tale. After a few moments of picking and discarding story outlines it occurred to me that I can't tell that story until I tell this one first.
. Witches. What is our history, who are we today?
I'd like to say it's brief, but I'd be lying. I try not to lie, if at all possible. O.K. I'll skim a few pounds off my weight, but hey! so do you . . . seriously, I saw you, just the other day . . .
So, please make yourself comfortable, and read with me back in time to a few thousand years ago. Farther than that . . . farther still. We will start by visiting the Paleolithic Age, the early stone age and take a peek into what was the beginnings of the witch.
Oh my! What a beautiful autumn day in New England today was. I was up early picking pumpkins and mums to decorate for the harvest season. The colorful kale is lovely this year also. It was cold and breezy enough to warrant my choice of a cloak this morning. I needed it as the first licks of winter nipped at my ankles. I love New England but the winters can be trying for me. But I determinedly pushed that thought of winter away and just lost myself in the fun, the color and excitement of the season.
I'm planning for Halloween also, no surprise its one of my favorite holidays, but again, I love celebrations. All holidays are special for me. As we get closer to the big night, I'll let you peek into my way of celebrating this special season. Maybe I'll share a spooky recipe or two, mayhaps a spell or incantation. hmmmm.
I also decided to spend the next couple of weeks discussing Halloween and all the fun, spooky and interesting facts about it. So many people love Halloween, its not just a pagan holiday. So the next few talks we have together, you and I, will cover all the popular Halloween images and their history and why the witch and cauldron are associated with Halloween. For a friend recently asked me just that the other day. I mentioned what a good topic for the new 'witch blog' and so I started to think about how I would tell this tale. After a few moments of picking and discarding story outlines it occurred to me that I can't tell that story until I tell this one first.
. Witches. What is our history, who are we today?
I'd like to say it's brief, but I'd be lying. I try not to lie, if at all possible. O.K. I'll skim a few pounds off my weight, but hey! so do you . . . seriously, I saw you, just the other day . . .
So, please make yourself comfortable, and read with me back in time to a few thousand years ago. Farther than that . . . farther still. We will start by visiting the Paleolithic Age, the early stone age and take a peek into what was the beginnings of the witch.
The Human race has been on the Earth for approximately 6.5 million years, clay figurines have been found (considered to be the first works of art created by humans) depicting a Mother Goddess which have been carbon dated from between 800,000 - 1 million years B.C.E. (Before the Common Era, what archaeologists now refer to the period formally called B.C. The era formerly called A.D. is now referred to as C.E. the common era)
These Paleolithic pieces of art are believed to be examples of early man trying to fashion what they felt the Creator would look like. Since it is the female of all species, which give birth, it was a natural understanding for early man to see the Creator of all that existed, as being female. Every early culture on Earth had a female deity in its origins.
The earliest part of human history saw human culture as societies or clans where women served in the highest offices. The world was made up of tribes and villages organized and governed by women. Primarily women did not only rule matriarchal societies, the principal deity of such tribal groups was also female, often depicted as a Great Mother Goddess. The women's primary role was to organize and determine the structure of the tribe, teach the young, prepare food & medicine to provide nourishment and healing, to assist in births and comfort the dying, and prepare the dead. The women acted as the counselors, teachers, priestesses, judges, healers, oracles, and magi (magickal ones).
The knowledge, that was needed to keep a tribe flourishing, was the realm of the woman, whereas the men were focused on the protection of tribal lands and were often at war far from home. This knowledge of herbs, of knowing when to gather the food, the understanding of seasons & cycles, knowing natural signs, the ability to understand deep mysteries of birth and death all contributed to the woman's reputation of being wise, mysterious, magickal and powerful. The female governed societies for over 65,000 years until between approximately 5000 - 7000 years ago when the first patriarchal societies originating in Mesopotamia invaded Egypt and other countries in the Mediterranean, slowly migrating West.
The earliest part of human history saw human culture as societies or clans where women served in the highest offices. The world was made up of tribes and villages organized and governed by women. Primarily women did not only rule matriarchal societies, the principal deity of such tribal groups was also female, often depicted as a Great Mother Goddess. The women's primary role was to organize and determine the structure of the tribe, teach the young, prepare food & medicine to provide nourishment and healing, to assist in births and comfort the dying, and prepare the dead. The women acted as the counselors, teachers, priestesses, judges, healers, oracles, and magi (magickal ones).
The knowledge, that was needed to keep a tribe flourishing, was the realm of the woman, whereas the men were focused on the protection of tribal lands and were often at war far from home. This knowledge of herbs, of knowing when to gather the food, the understanding of seasons & cycles, knowing natural signs, the ability to understand deep mysteries of birth and death all contributed to the woman's reputation of being wise, mysterious, magickal and powerful. The female governed societies for over 65,000 years until between approximately 5000 - 7000 years ago when the first patriarchal societies originating in Mesopotamia invaded Egypt and other countries in the Mediterranean, slowly migrating West.
The concept of kingship started to spread, and male dominated tribes started to overtake countries once dedicated to the Great Mother Goddess, and over time male dominant cultures had overtaken all and exists to this modern day.
Very quickly, at this time in the Earth's people’s history, the wheels of change turned and the woman was denigrated from the highest to the lowest level of society. With the introduction of Christianity, Patriarchal rule, the Goddess and all her representatives, women, and her powers and mysteries was taught to all to be evil and responsible for sin and the potential downfall of man.
She was considered by the early church to be unclean, sinful, evil, to cavort with the Christian devil, to have been responsible for luring Adam into sin in the Book of Genesis' Garden of Eden, and to be lustful and wholly responsible for sexual deviation. Soon fear and distrust was directed at any female, regardless of age. Females who were not under the control of a man, i.e. relative, father, husband, etc. Independent women who made their own way in the world were especially suspect. Many independent women supported themselves by providing midwifery services, women helping other women in a most vulnerable time. These women were targeted from almost the first days of the Inquisition.
Laws were passed forbidding midwifery, using herbal knowledge for healing, and divining the future using natural means also became an offense punishable by death. The wise woman became known as the witch, a direct enemy of the church. The Burning Times were historically known as the Roman Catholic Inquisition, a 300-year period in which the Catholic Church was responsible for the Woman's Holocaust. A time where hundreds of thousands, if not millions of women, children and men were arrested, tortured, and put to death in the most horrendous ways to eliminate the woman's power, and to eradicate the Goddess in the people's belief.
The total numbers of people put to death for any number of witchcraft related charges ranges from 7-900,000 people to 7-9 million. These are educated guesses, which honestly is all we can make about a time hundreds of years in the past. We can never know how many were accused, tortured, convicted, sentenced and executed as many villages, towns and hamlets throughout Europe ofttimes wrought their medieval form of justice with no written record of the events, which people no doubt felt would last in local memory for all time.
The witch burnings, which consisted of tying a woman, often along with her children, naked onto a stake in the center of the village square, with huge piles of dried kindling, and setting it afire was common and considered entertainment for villagers oppressed by the dark ages. It was an extremely painful and horrific way to die as it could take an hour or more for the victims to perish. The death penalty was enacted after severe, horrendous torture was inflicted. The 3rd degree of torture was a level that no person could survive, and all would confess by this point or die in the third degree. It is in reference to this that we have the 3rd degree classification of burns today, which are the most severe of burns.
The total numbers of people put to death for any number of witchcraft related charges ranges from 7-900,000 people to 7-9 million. These are educated guesses, which honestly is all we can make about a time hundreds of years in the past. We can never know how many were accused, tortured, convicted, sentenced and executed as many villages, towns and hamlets throughout Europe ofttimes wrought their medieval form of justice with no written record of the events, which people no doubt felt would last in local memory for all time.
The witch burnings, which consisted of tying a woman, often along with her children, naked onto a stake in the center of the village square, with huge piles of dried kindling, and setting it afire was common and considered entertainment for villagers oppressed by the dark ages. It was an extremely painful and horrific way to die as it could take an hour or more for the victims to perish. The death penalty was enacted after severe, horrendous torture was inflicted. The 3rd degree of torture was a level that no person could survive, and all would confess by this point or die in the third degree. It is in reference to this that we have the 3rd degree classification of burns today, which are the most severe of burns.
Here in Colonial America, there were no witch burnings, as the early Puritans preferred to hang those accused, those who survived the torture. The first person put to death for the charge of witchcraft on Colonial soil, was Alse Young from Windsor, CT., who was accused of sickening her neighbors cow. She was hung at the green in Hartford, CT (The site of the Old State House today), on May 26, 1647. There were 46 individuals accused, and 11 put to death in Connecticut for the charge of witchcraft. The witch craze gripped Europe and Colonial America and spread fear throughout the populace. Perhaps initially there was a fear, due to superstition and ignorance, of the so called witch, but by researching history it becomes apparent that the fear would have soon become one of self preservation in keeping oneself from being accused. For anyone could be, and often everyone was accused. During the Middle Ages, there were villages in Germany, that when the witch hunters left, everyone - men, women, children and domesticated animals had been put to death. Everyone.
Most of the organized witch hunts had been abolished by the end of the 17th century, although the last woman put to death under the color of authority was in Eastern Europe in 1958, still women and men are stoned to death every week in small African villages today where fear, superstition and ignorance continue to prevail.
As an aside, warlock is not a name used in reference to magickal people. It is an ancient Scottish word that stands for betrayer, someone who brings harm and death to their family and community. Both male and female practitioners today are called witch. Some men prefer wizard or mage. Call yourself what you will. Many choose to have a magickal name, self chosen, to give their magickal selves an identity.
Today many people are stepping onto the path of the witch, or picking up the broomstick as we say. Anyone can be a witch if they choose. You do not have to be "born" a witch, or to be part of a witch family. Today witches follow a belief system that is very individual, with no religious dogma. We work with herbs, crystals, minerals, and potions, all to bring needed change into our lives. We celebrate the new and full moons. The spells we cast, are cast only on ourselves, never on another. Our spells are cast to bring loving energies, financial energies, or healing energies into our lives. Never harm.
Most of the organized witch hunts had been abolished by the end of the 17th century, although the last woman put to death under the color of authority was in Eastern Europe in 1958, still women and men are stoned to death every week in small African villages today where fear, superstition and ignorance continue to prevail.
As an aside, warlock is not a name used in reference to magickal people. It is an ancient Scottish word that stands for betrayer, someone who brings harm and death to their family and community. Both male and female practitioners today are called witch. Some men prefer wizard or mage. Call yourself what you will. Many choose to have a magickal name, self chosen, to give their magickal selves an identity.
Today many people are stepping onto the path of the witch, or picking up the broomstick as we say. Anyone can be a witch if they choose. You do not have to be "born" a witch, or to be part of a witch family. Today witches follow a belief system that is very individual, with no religious dogma. We work with herbs, crystals, minerals, and potions, all to bring needed change into our lives. We celebrate the new and full moons. The spells we cast, are cast only on ourselves, never on another. Our spells are cast to bring loving energies, financial energies, or healing energies into our lives. Never harm.
We do not have a devil or Satan in our belief system. our beliefs and ways predate the introduction of a devil or adversary in sacred texts by several thousands of years. We also never proselytize, that is try to convert others to our ways. Many would agree we don't want everyone to follow our path, for we understand that one path is not meant for everyone. Everyone must find peace and comfort in the path they choose.
This Halloween, for just a moment please consider the long, eventful and tragic history of the women, whether witches or not, who were put to death for being different, for standing out, for being strong because they wouldn't have survived otherwise. Those labeled Witch. That is always the underlying energy for me this time of year.
Well, congratulations!!!Thank You for reading such a lengthy discussion. I hope you enjoyed our little field trip into the past. Tomorrow we'll discuss a favorite topic of mine, Halloween Decorating and Party Planning!
(c) 2010 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
(c) 2010 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
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Athames-Witches Ritual Knives and their History
This week I was very busy in the shop unpacking orders and getting ready for the harvest season, specifically for our biggest holiday of the year and many people's favorite, Halloween. As I unpacked the athames, which are double edged ritual knives, I started to go over their history, their legend and lore in my mind.
I often have lectures I wish to give and articles I plan to write forming in my head, because teaching is my first love and primary responsibility. I placed the knives carefully in the showcase, as they are very sharp and the irony struck me as traditionally , these ritual athames never cut anything physical. The history of the athame, which is the history of ritual daggers and blades, is found in many religious and cultural rituals and traditions from ancient Egyptian rituals to Native American ceremonies to writings from the Key of Solomon written in the Middle Ages.
In ancient cultures the athame was used as the knife the new bride and groom held together to make the first cut in the wedding cake. The athame is a magickal tool, and this was the only allowable physical cut it would ever make. In my understanding of the nature of magick, it makes sense. Why that is, today, we never cut anything physical with this ritual tool. Because it was used to cut the wedding cake, the ritual cake, similar to the wafer served in a church mass, or the ceremony we modern pagans call cakes and ale, and having been used to make such a sacred, blessed action, the first cut, the energy, the love, the magick of that moment would be suspended in the blade of that knife, making it a relic of sorts, for the couple. A magickal talisman or charm if you will. The knife used in wedding ceremonies today, while not as sharp, is still a double edged blade (the cutting edge surrounds the blade, not just one side) so newly married couples are still practicing an ancient custom, although many are not aware of it as such.
I can see a natural progression from this old folk magick custom to the practice followed today by modern practitioners, of never cutting anything physical with their athames. Instead it is customary to use a knife called a boline to cut herbs, cords, inscribe candles and other cutting actions . Many also refer to this witch's tool, the boline, as the white handled knife.
From the research and study I have done, my use of the athame in ritual is as Gerald Gardener introduced its usage in the works he published in the 1950's which brought Wicca into being. Yes, as an aside, Wicca was first created and introduced into being in the 1950's, but I'll discuss that in another story.
Back to the athame. In this country often pronounced (ath) as in path and (ame) as in Chardonnay. In Great Britain, it is pronounced Ahh- (tham) as in bomb -Aye . The Athame is also referred to as the black handled knife. The athame and boline, today are not required to be any specific color, you just need to be able to tell them apart.
We use the athame in ritual much as legend and lore has shown the use of the magick wand. We use it to direct energy, to extend beyond ourselves in ritual, and as a tool.
As humans, we love our tools. Come on, admit it. There's at least one tool you love! Even if its often a gel pen for me, pens and my cool, new pair of silver chop sticks I got in Salem a few weeks ago. Many in the magickal world will acknowledge that what we do in ritual, in performing magick, can be done without the tools, supplies and accoutrement we crave, but would it be as satisfying? Not for me. I like the atmosphere of a candle lit circle, incense wafting, low music playing. It all aides in a satisfying, ritual experience. The same goes when I'm casting magickal spells, I prefer to do those in the evenings, under the moon or on the darkest of nights.
When wielding the athame in ritual, holding it aloft as I draw in the energy, I feel the power of the earth and the universe flow through my body, making the ritual tool as significant to the ritual as everything else on the altar. My magickal practice uses a blade to cast the circle because of the belief that metal seals a circle from unwanted energies.
If you are unable to use a blade, one may use a wand for the very same purpose, and it may be warranted if you have small children or those who should be kept away from sharp objects. And, well . . let's be honest. We all know people who should be kept away from sharp, hot and flammable substances, now don't we?
The athame has an interesting history and plays an important part in contemporary magick and ritual. In the years I've lived a magickal life I've had several, all special and significant. I'm the same with my wands, but really . . . can a witch have too many wands??!! Not this one!!
(c) 2010 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
I often have lectures I wish to give and articles I plan to write forming in my head, because teaching is my first love and primary responsibility. I placed the knives carefully in the showcase, as they are very sharp and the irony struck me as traditionally , these ritual athames never cut anything physical. The history of the athame, which is the history of ritual daggers and blades, is found in many religious and cultural rituals and traditions from ancient Egyptian rituals to Native American ceremonies to writings from the Key of Solomon written in the Middle Ages.
In ancient cultures the athame was used as the knife the new bride and groom held together to make the first cut in the wedding cake. The athame is a magickal tool, and this was the only allowable physical cut it would ever make. In my understanding of the nature of magick, it makes sense. Why that is, today, we never cut anything physical with this ritual tool. Because it was used to cut the wedding cake, the ritual cake, similar to the wafer served in a church mass, or the ceremony we modern pagans call cakes and ale, and having been used to make such a sacred, blessed action, the first cut, the energy, the love, the magick of that moment would be suspended in the blade of that knife, making it a relic of sorts, for the couple. A magickal talisman or charm if you will. The knife used in wedding ceremonies today, while not as sharp, is still a double edged blade (the cutting edge surrounds the blade, not just one side) so newly married couples are still practicing an ancient custom, although many are not aware of it as such.
I can see a natural progression from this old folk magick custom to the practice followed today by modern practitioners, of never cutting anything physical with their athames. Instead it is customary to use a knife called a boline to cut herbs, cords, inscribe candles and other cutting actions . Many also refer to this witch's tool, the boline, as the white handled knife.
From the research and study I have done, my use of the athame in ritual is as Gerald Gardener introduced its usage in the works he published in the 1950's which brought Wicca into being. Yes, as an aside, Wicca was first created and introduced into being in the 1950's, but I'll discuss that in another story.
Back to the athame. In this country often pronounced (ath) as in path and (ame) as in Chardonnay. In Great Britain, it is pronounced Ahh- (tham) as in bomb -Aye . The Athame is also referred to as the black handled knife. The athame and boline, today are not required to be any specific color, you just need to be able to tell them apart.
We use the athame in ritual much as legend and lore has shown the use of the magick wand. We use it to direct energy, to extend beyond ourselves in ritual, and as a tool.
As humans, we love our tools. Come on, admit it. There's at least one tool you love! Even if its often a gel pen for me, pens and my cool, new pair of silver chop sticks I got in Salem a few weeks ago. Many in the magickal world will acknowledge that what we do in ritual, in performing magick, can be done without the tools, supplies and accoutrement we crave, but would it be as satisfying? Not for me. I like the atmosphere of a candle lit circle, incense wafting, low music playing. It all aides in a satisfying, ritual experience. The same goes when I'm casting magickal spells, I prefer to do those in the evenings, under the moon or on the darkest of nights.
When wielding the athame in ritual, holding it aloft as I draw in the energy, I feel the power of the earth and the universe flow through my body, making the ritual tool as significant to the ritual as everything else on the altar. My magickal practice uses a blade to cast the circle because of the belief that metal seals a circle from unwanted energies.
If you are unable to use a blade, one may use a wand for the very same purpose, and it may be warranted if you have small children or those who should be kept away from sharp objects. And, well . . let's be honest. We all know people who should be kept away from sharp, hot and flammable substances, now don't we?
The athame has an interesting history and plays an important part in contemporary magick and ritual. In the years I've lived a magickal life I've had several, all special and significant. I'm the same with my wands, but really . . . can a witch have too many wands??!! Not this one!!
(c) 2010 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
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