Clearing Up Some Popular Magickal Misconceptions Part 2

Good Evening My Witchy Reader,

As promised we will continue discussing some additional popular magickal misconceptions concerning some magickal areas.  Tonight I want to talk a little bit about magickal misconceptions concerning Mercury Retrograde, spirits and hauntings and the number phenomenon 11:11.

Mercury Retrograde:

It is a well known phenomenon that when Mercury goes into Retrograde it can cause a bit of havoc in one's life.  Knowing exactly what Mercury influences can help you determine what Retrograde will affect.The planet Mercury affects short trips or travel, communication, which in today's world is often done by computers. As well as intellect, awareness, eloquence of speech and jobs using these abilities such as attorney's and the subtle intricacies of the practice of law will be affected, as well as the jobs of teaching and  any jobs requiring one to communicate over the phone such as a receptionist or someone who coordinates appointments.  One can expect misunderstandings, missed appointments, scheduling confusion and travel delays.

In regards to the misconceptions that people come up with, Mercury Retrograde cannot be held responsible for every little thing that goes wrong in your life during this period of time.  If you are dropping things or mechanical things break down in your home, someone passes away, a building catches fire these are not influenced by Mercury Retrograde. Also Mercury Retrograde does not and should not paralyze a person and make them unable to function in their day to day life. It can be annoying and should be considered by taking some extra time and having a heightened awareness that people may misunderstand your words and perhaps emails might not make their destination, or your car may need to be up on it's maintenance before a retrograde phase.

So when a Mercury Retrograde phase comes along, realize it's shadow phase will start to affect things a week or so before and also a week or so afterwards and read up on the areas Mercury might influence and try to do some preparation is advance and deep breath through the rest. Check the Internet to see when the phases for the upcoming year are planned, as each year has at least three or four Mercury Retrograde phases that last a few weeks to a month or more each.

Spirits and Hauntings:

There are probably more misconceptions regarding ghosts, spirits and hauntings than any other area of metaphysics, simply because ghosts have been a part of the human condition as long as humans have been around. That is a few millions years so far.

Primarily the biggest misconceptions regarding spirit activity is human misunderstanding. Many times, if we can't see it, but we know it is there, either by sound or movement, it tends to freak us out. Spirits often try to get our attention, and just think of how many times you or others you might know have wondered how a loved one who has passed is doing on the other side, if they were just able to contact them one more time, or just say I love you? When the spirit tried to make that communication, the connection desired is forgotten and people get weirded out, rather than realize they are just getting the communication they desired.

Noises in the middle of the night can be frightening but many times they have nothing to do with spirits, because spirits do not know of day or night. There is no time in their world. We all have spirits around us, and they are the loved ones who have passed on. Our ancestors, grandparents, parents, friends and people who cared for us. They look out for us and are able to keep harmful spirits from getting close. Many people will refer to them as their angels and that is a good way to look at them.

Hauntings of spirit's that are 'stuck' here for some reason seem to primarily haunt places. Buildings, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, residential homes and places the spirit had happy memories or many times their place of death. Roadways where accidents have happened are also places where spirits are encountered. "Stuck" spirits tend to haunt places, whereas spirits that are here among us tend to stay close to their loved ones.

As far as spirits or ghosts hurting us? That just does not happen. If it did, we would see many, many instances and the few I have come across with people claiming that spirits have scratched them or marked them somehow at night were most likely self inflicted and possibly done for attention and dramatic affect to convince others.

Of course, there are many instances of ghostly legend and lore that go back millenia and who is to really know? But I have personally worked with spirits for many years and have not encountered any evil or malevolent entities. On an interesting side note, I have met a few ghost hunters and one who specifically claimed to have encountered many evil ghostly energies eventually was found to have been a pretty evil guy himself and now sits in prison for many years. So I have to think of the credo "What you send out returns back to you" and I see this manifest time and time again.  I do not think all ghost hunters are bad, most I have met are very nice and normal people. But I think, in this area of study, one needs to be careful what they go "hunting" for, because they may become the hunted.

The best advice I can give in regards to spirit activity, is in the clear, sober light of day, record any spirit activity the very best of your recall. Then cross out any assumptions or personal opinions e.g. if you wrote a sentence "the light switch clicked and the lights came on with on one touching the switch and I felt creeped out" cross out the part "I felt creeped out".  Look at just what you know to be true with no added drama. Then read everything over and it will most likely seem a lot less scary and maybe just some simple phenomenon that is interesting but that is it.

11:11 Phenomenon 

Numbers have always held a special attraction for humans, just look at gambling which is all about numbers, from bingo, to lottery, to card games etc. Our ages are significant at certain stages and celebrating the years as they change from one number to another, either with birthdays or New Year's, we are always celebrating new numbers.

I find numbers, numerology and using numbers magickally a useful and effective tool in many ways. When it comes to the time of the day, which the phenomenon 11:11 is a reference to on a digital clock, historically the magickal times of the day have been the stroke of midnight, long known as the Witching Hour. Also Noon, then 4 o'clock early morning or late afternoon as that is a natural low point in energy and people who are sick and ready to pass on, can do so more easily at 4 a.m. or p.m.

Other times that have been significant throughout history is dawn and twilight/dusk when it is not quite daylight but not yet night.  Though these times of the early morning and early evenings is more due to the quality of the lighting rather than a specific time, as the time would be variable throughout the year.

Many people nowadays have attributed some sort of angelic phenomenon to the digital time 11:11 when it comes up on the clock, but that is up to you. I don't find anything special about that particular time simply because before digital clocks it did not exist as a magickal numeric phenomenon.  If it works for you, causes you to slow down and take a moment to count your blessings then it is magickal for you.

I suppose my entire point for this discussion and the first part posted a few days ago is simply, before you attribute magickal phenomenon to something, think it through and determine if it is indeed magickal and if so enjoy and bask in the glory of the divine energies and if not be aware of it too.  It is lovely to live a magickal life, but when one lives in the extreme it can affect how people perceive you and how seriously they take you. It is a fine line and a balance to be achieved while living the magickal life.


Live, Laugh and Always Love, Ms. Faith

© 2010-2017 Faith M. McCann. Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website. Please note that the copying and/or further distribution of this work without express written permission is prohibited. 

 If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to receive the link to the most current weekly blog post send me an e mail with your email address. You will receive a new blog post weekly. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.

Clearing Up Some Popular 'Magickal' Misconceptions Part 1

Good Evening My Witchy Reader,

Tonight I want to address some common misunderstandings when it comes to the world of the magickal and our lives as we go through our day to day experiences. Many people come into my shop and bring their problems and concerns and come looking for a magickal solution for their issue or perhaps for their friends.

The first thing I need to do is to determine exactly what the issue is, and make a determination if a magickal solution is best, which is not always the case. Yes!, I know, that might surprise some people. I do know there are those out in the magickal world who will sell a person something, anything, regardless if it will really help or not. Sometimes, it is most beneficial to simply explain to a person what they are dealing with, as many times, someone looking at things from a distance has a better, more clear view.

For example: Recently a woman came into the shop wanting help for a friend who she said was having a really tough time with things the past several months. Since that could cover a whole range of things I asked for specifics. I was told that her friend had lost a number of people in her life to death, which can be difficult and also her husband was abusive and violent.

I gently explained that firstly, the people who have passed on, in this woman's life, though sad and distressing to her, had nothing to do with her. There is no magickal potion or stone to prevent someone you love from passing on. I like to explain to people it is like this; consider that the person who is passing away or who has passed on, has work to do on the other side.  As much as you miss them, love them and would do anything to keep them here, you cannot personalize their passing as 'bad luck' for you, or something bad or a curse or anything that has 'happened to you' except that you will miss them. It is not about you. It is their path and they are simply moving along it.

Secondly, her abusive husband. Again, perhaps a stone to help her with courage, may help her pick up the phone and call the police to arrest his sorry butt, and help her leave him, but again it is NOT about her. An abusive partner is all about the damage that person has in dealing with others with anger and violence. Yes, she needs to get away from him before he hurts or kills her, but to think a magickal solution will keep her safe or make him a nice guy over night is not realistic and can be dangerous.  I did not see that she had any issues needing magickal assistance, but she did need to sit down and take stock of her life.

Now, once awareness is in affect and she accepts that a person dying has nothing to do with her, then a crystal or stone can help her balance her grief and depression. A candle can help with memories and love and helping get in touch with spirit, all positive and helpful. But the initial request was to somehow prevent future deaths from occurring, and that is never possible.  Also, should she leave the abusive husband, smudge, crystals, candles, essentials oils, circle casting and many things can help cleanse the space and eliminate the negative, harmful energies that are left behind or that she brought with her.

It is a common theme I often see when there is a natural phenomenon such as a hurricane, or tornado, or wild fire or some such natural event, when afterwards someone tries to get media attention by claiming it happened because God was displeased, or it is some kind of punishment for man's sins or some such nonsense. The fact that anyone believes this foolishness never fails to amaze me. These events happened long before human kind found itself on this planet and will continue long after our species is extinct. It is simply Mother Earth shrugging her shoulders and natural elemental energies frolicking and having fun. Just because it upsets us doesn't matter to the elements, at all.  Talk about being narcissistic!!  To say a hurricane or a tornado is all about us and a result of our behavior? Wow, how arrogant of some humans, but thankfully not most.

Another common misconception is when things happen to us that we do not like, rather than looking at basic karma, that the energies that we sent out a day or two before, that may not have been so nice to another have come to revisit us .  .  .  people want to jump to "someone has put a curse on me!"

I'll tell you a universal magickal mystery. There is only one person who can curse you, and that is you. With your actions and behaviors towards others. What we send out returns to us. If you are having a crappy life, look towards yourself, no one else.

Yes, the more you learn about true magick and the magickal path you will realize you can't blame others and point fingers and push all the uncomfortable stuff off on another. We create our reality on many levels. Spiritually, mentally, emotionally, astrally, physically and so forth.

So, when starting on a magickal path, especially in the beginning, it is so easy to see everything that happens as magickal, and that can be wonderful. But it can be taken to extremes. So it is important to look carefully at things in your life and make common sense determinations if they are magickal or everyday.

My next discussion will be in just a day or so and we will talk about misconceptions with Mercury Retrograde and spirit hauntings.


Live, Laugh and Always Love, Ms. Faith

© 2010-2017 Faith M. McCann. Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website. Please note that the copying and/or further distribution of this work without express written permission is prohibited. 

 If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to receive the link to the most current weekly blog post send me an e mail with your email address. You will receive a new blog post weekly. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.

Visualizing Banishment in Your Life For Full Moon Magick

Good Evening,

Many of my witchy readers who have followed my discussions for the past several years understand how to conduct an esbat, or moon ritual and how to practice banishment of unwanted things in your lives.  You ritual can be complex and full of high ritual aspects and tools and supplies, or it can be simple and consist of a lone candle, some oil and a few words to the Goddess.

However you conduct your ritual, it will be effective, as long as your visualization is clear and precise. For a new moon and invoking or drawing in, "seeing' or visualizing the new, desired thing in your life can be easy. For an example, you are casting abundance spells during new moon phases to make enough money to buy a new car. Firstly it is not there, then you conduct your ritual and visualize your new car being in your life. You imagine seeing it in the drive every day, driving it, having it in your garage, or bringing it through the car wash, or picking up friends to go out to dinner, it is easy to see. Visualizing what you wish to manifest to appear in your life is easier. Easier than visualizing the opposite.

Banishment. When you wish for something to leave your life, to be gone, to vacate, to no longer exist, it is not quite as easy to clearly visualize the absence of something.  This is one of the reasons people seem to have an easier time bringing in that new job, or promotion, or new person, friend or lover, but have a much harder time leaving the unwanted behind.

So if you are spell casting to rid your life of an unwanted 'thing' be sure you sit down and work out the visual carefully. And, to remind long time readers, and for new readers, No! We do NOT banish people! Hahaha, as much as we would like. If you would like someone out of your life, then take matters into your own hands, use your mouth and tell them so. Magick can not be used to do the work you need to do yourself. No, the magickal realm is not the place for the cowardly, so be strong and use magick when necessary and set strong boundaries in other parts of your life. Yet, having said that, we can use the energy of the full moon to help banish the residual feelings and negative energies, anger, resentment, jealousy or whatever remains. Ideally, what will remain will only be the happy memories or you will simply put that part of your past behind you.

Yet, how does the concept of banishment look in your life? I'll tell you. Rather than struggling to visualize the absence of something, remember, nothing in the world or magick ever exists in a vacuum so when you have banished something, it does not leave a hole, but something comes in to take it's place. If you are banishing unhappiness, see yourself being happy! If you are banishing debt and lack of abundance, visualize the material things you desire and being happy and not stressed worrying about money. Or visualize the numbers in your checking account slowly growing. Be careful not to visualize the numbers suddenly being a staggering amount. The magick will seldom ever work that way. It comes in steady and to address a need.

If you are banishing ill health, see yourself happy, healthy, strong and calm. You might have picked up a subtle key word throughout, happiness. If your life is going as you desire, and you have what you need and want, and have eliminated what you no longer want around you, ideally you would be happy.  So, even if you are unsure of what to visualize with your banishment spell, simply see yourself happy and you will come closer to your magickal goal, than not.

Also realize an important truth. Everything that is in your life, is there because on some level you wish it to be there. Whether it is spiritually, emotionally, mentally for whatever reason, and if the time comes when it n longer serves you, then you can set it aside and continue on. But the choice is yours.

The energy of the full moon works for three days before, the day of and three days after the full moon, so every month you have 7 days to do full moon magick, The same holds true for the New Moon. So think about what you wish to invoke for the upcoming New Moon, and prepare accordingly. The Next full moon phase is almost a month from now. Pre-planning makes magickal spell casting much more effective.


Live, Laugh and Always Love, Ms. Faith

© 2010-2017 Faith M. McCann. Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website. Please note that the copying and/or further distribution of this work without express written permission is prohibited. 

 If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to receive the link to the most current weekly blog post send me an e mail with your email address. You will receive a new blog post weekly. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.

Designing Altars To Use At Work

Ms. Faith's Personal Love and Happiness Altar 

Happy New Year's,


Greetings on this snowy, cold day my witchy readers. This is a perfect time to design or re-design and consider the aspects of your personal altars. Yes, I used plural, altars. A witch or magickal person may choose to have one altar, but we seldom, today, find ourselves in only one place throughout our day.  The three places we find ourselves spending the most time, is at home, at work and in our vehicle. Today's discussion will focus on work altars with a brief discussion on bringing altar energy into your vehicle. At home our ritual altars are used for casting circles, creating magickal manifestation and more formal religious/spiritual practice. Our work altars are used a bit differently as we will discuss below.

Altar Energy For Your Vehicle:

I would not recommend creating a dashboard altar as anything that appears special or valuable can be an incentive for someone to try to break into your vehicle and steal your objects. But you can carry the energy of your altar by hanging a crystal from your rear view mirror. Not just any crystal, but one that you have charged by placing it on your home or work altar, and letting it sit for a few days, allowing it to absorb the energies of the altar and the energies of the Divine. Then hang this crystal, and it needn't be a large, ostentatious crystal, not at all. A small, inconspicuous crystal is just as effective, and when you see it or touch it, it will continue to connect you to the energy of your altar.

Work Altars:

Wealth and Abundance: 

Our work environment can be a bit tricky as we often work with others in and around our work space. Of course not all work spaces are conducive to a work altar, but if you have your own office or even your own cubicle or office space that is just yours, you can make a work space altar to keep the energy of the spiritual and the Divine with you.

Of course, a work altar would look and function much differently than a home, ritual altar.  There is no need to have an athame or wand, an altar pentacle or salt and incense. Those are objects and supplies needed for a ritual altar, and many of these items such as the burning incense and sharp double edged knife may raise some eyebrows and cause problems with management. Also, PLEASE, no nonsense regarding religious freedom and such. When you are at work, you are on your boss's time and on his dime, you are there to do your job and you have all the time in the day or night to practice your religion at home. No one works 24/7, so religious practice, for Wicca, is possible during many hours when you are not working.

But what you can use your work altar for and how it functions, is it can help you focus on your work, which brings abundance into your life by the way of a pay check, more business, more clients, or jobs that bring you wealth and material abundance. A work altar may consist of money and wealth aspects, primarily, as you are in your work environment.  Things that are beneficial to have on a work, wealth altar are living plants in the immediate area,  and no, fake ones will not do. If you cannot have living plants, having fresh flowers that are replaced weekly can substitute.  Colors that can be used are of course green, gold, silver and surprisingly purple.

Stones, crystals, tarot cards depicting pentacles, coins, or other items that represent wealth can be helpful. Candles in the colors of green, gold and silver. Bric a Brac made from gold or silver. Is your friends and family worth more than gold in your life? Are they the true wealth and abundance you work for and enjoy? Pictures of special loved ones, or significant items from them, are also appropriate in this area.  A small cauldron or metal container,that you throw loose change in will ensure your wealth and abundance continue to grow. Finally if possible, placing these items, this work altar in your South/ East corner of your office or building, will bring wealth drawing Feng Shui properties to bear.

These are some suggestions, and not all of these things need to be present. Do what you can, and decorate in such a way that it does bring undue attention, as it is just for you to focus on.

Love Altars: 

Perhaps you are comfortable enough with money, your bills are paid and you have enough money where you are not worrying about having enough. Maybe you are desirous of more love and happiness in your life. You can make a love altar at work also.  The Feng Shui direction for romance, love and beneficial relationships is the opposite of wealth, it is in the South /West corner of your office/ or building.

The colors can be pink, red, brown and yellow. We know of the colors for love and romance as pinks and reds, but for beneficial relationships, with work or social relationships, brown and yellow are very helpful. Fresh flowers work well, or dried flowers such as roses. But if you use dried flowers they should be replaced every year. Crystals and stones associated with love, items from significant others and special friends are important. Pictures of loved ones are also very strong with love energies.  Candles of red, pink, yellow and white are useful. Small heart shaped objects also draw loving happy energies to your area.

Your work altars can be as complex or as simple as you desire. It needs to speak to you, and you alone and needs not be explained to any other. Now if you have a boss or other co-workers you may not wish to see your special altar, a nifty way of having one and keeping it from sight is to assemble it within an empty desk drawer.  This way you can have it open when you wish to work with it or look at it, and close it when you wish to hide it.

For those who are not allowed or are too hesitant too have an altar at work, there are other ways. You can craft and wear a witches necklace which also has the aspects of the ritual altar within it.

A witches necklace has a pentacle which has the energy of the altar's pentacle and Divine energy in it. The crystal enhances and combines all the energies of the necklace. The Amber is God energy representing the sun, the dark stone, usually jet, is Goddess energy representing the moon. Making a necklace like this and of course, you may add additional charms and stones if desired, charge it on your altar and  you can wear it around your neck underneath your clothes and always have the energy of the ritual altar with you.

Witches have over a thousand years of being able to hide their magick from others so that they may use it themselves when they need it most.

So think about your work area, and how you might enhance the space with a little bit of magick, just for you, that will aid you throughout your work day.




Live, Laugh and Always Love,  Ms. Faith

© 2010-2017 Faith M. McCann. Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website. Please note that the copying and/or further distribution of this work without express written permission is prohibited. 

 If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to receive the link to the most current weekly blog post send me an e mail with your email address. You will receive a new blog post weekly. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.

What Has Defined 2016 For You and What Will Define 2017 For You?

Edward Woodward as Spirit of Christmas Present in the 1984 movie "A Christmas Carol" adapted from Charles Dickens's novella

Good Morning My Witchy Reader,

Ah well, yet another year is coming to a close for all around the world. Yes, many Pagans see our New Year starting on November 1st, but come January 1st, with billions around the globe seeing it as a "new" beginning, that gives it a magick all it's own. As I have often said, Pagans have the best of both worlds, we can celebrate all the holidays if we choose. Today, I wish to reflect on the year that has almost passed and to think about what it has left with us. On social media, I am seeing so many people lamenting about all that went wrong in 2016. How horrible it was, and how they just want it to be over.

Hmmmm. (Tapping red tipped witchy nails on the table, as I contemplate this) What a pessimistic, morbid, melancholy way of looking back. I long to ask in the manner of Charles Dickens's Spirits of Christmases Past and Present. "Was there nothing that brought you happiness in the past year?", "Was there no joy at all in your year?", "Can you find nothing to be grateful for?", " Was there no love, laughter or enjoyment of Life?"  "Can you not see the abundance in your life, when so many in this world have only 'ignorance' and 'want'?"  

What I plan to do, is not to complain about all that went wrong in 2016, things go wrong every year and always have and always will. It's easy to complain about everything that is not perfect in your life. It is so easy to pick and separate out all that didn't work as you had hoped. The negative is so easy to notice and attract. But I'll tell you a secret. It is just as easy to pick out and attract the good, the positive and the wonderful things that have happened. It is really up to you and what you decide to focus on.

Instead I will look at the last year, 2016, and count all of my blessings. I will pick out and choose all of the wonderful things that have happened. I will be grateful for the wonderful students who have found Enchantments and come to class every Saturday morning excited and eager to learn. I am grateful for good friends that help me out in the shop when I can't be there, just so I don't have to be there all the time. I am grateful for the customers and tarot clients who come and spend time and money in an effort to keep  us in business, during a time when it is so very easy to simply shop on-line with a few short clicks of the keyboard.

I am grateful for modern medicine that allows my 17 year old cat to live with diabetes and to enjoy a full, happy life that she chooses to spend sleeping on a heated blanket all day! I am grateful for my father having successful heart surgery, and my mother having new medication and good doctors to help her with her Parkinson's. I'm grateful for my sister and brother in law for taking care of my parents and taking the spark plugs out of their car when they decide they want to go for a joy ride! Neither should be driving! Hee hee I am also grateful that they live in a town of only 700 people! 

I'm grateful for the love of family, and of reconnecting with my wonderful family, at the aunt's dinner, and long lost family and friends I haven't seen in years, all because of Facebook. I am so grateful a doctor suggested vocal exercises that turned into singing lessons that have me singing for anyone who will sit still for a few minutes! Hahaha and it makes me so very happy and it has affected my health in positive and wonderful ways. 

I am grateful for my Muse and for best friends. For those who have always believed in me, even when I have not. For those who have loved me, even when I don't feel so lovable. I am grateful that I found the Goddess so early in life and that she walks with me, each and every day, not just on Sundays or on special holidays. She is always with me, whispering in my ear, like the angels who whispered in the ear of my grandmother. Giving gentle suggestions, and encouragement and support and I'm grateful that I have learned how to listen to these Divine messages from Deity. 

I am grateful for the magick that I discovered within at an early age and that stays with me and gives me insight, knowledge and visions that allow me to help others and to give guidance when asked. I am very grateful, that at my age, I have learned how to be strong and to put aside people who are harmful, hateful and just wish to bring me down and who do not care or love me. And to not feel guilty or remorseful, as I have done these things for my better self and so I can live a happy and fulfilling life. 

I'm happy for a husband that has been with me for over 33 years and so many, many blessings that I could go on and on. It really is easy, so easy to look for and find the blessings. Truly .  .  .  good and bad are going to happen. The principle of Polarity is one of the principles of the Universe, it is how it works. Up must have down, cold must have hot, and good has bad.  I also know that when something 'bad' happens, it is up to me on how I perceive it, and what I do with it. How will I let it affect my life, what lessons will I learn and will I keep the negative wrapped around me as a shroud or will I set it aside so light can come in and I can move forward. But this is my choice and only mine. 

One of the greatest lessons I have learned so far, is Life does not happen to us, but we create our reality. In all of it's layers, and shadows, it's ebb and flow. If I do not like my reality, I create it anew. 

It is our place to decide what we will focus on and what will define our life. I, and I will only speak for me, I will focus on the good, the happy, the blessings and the love in my life! So Mote it Be!!

May you and your loved ones have a healthy, happy and loving New Years! 

Live, Laugh and Always Love, Ms. Faith 

© 2010-2016 Faith M. McCann. Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website. Please note that the copying and/or further distribution of this work without express written permission is prohibited. 

 If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.

The War Between the Oak King and the Holly King

Merry Christmas, Happy Yuletide, Happy Hanukkah, Season's Greetings to one and all,


There is an ancient Celtic story that has been told throughout the centuries since at least King Arthur's time, if not before. It is the story of the Oak King and the war he has every year with the Holly King.
It is a war, a battle for dominance, if you will, that takes place each year at the Winter and Summer Solstices.

In Celtic mythology, the Holly King is considered a dark king and his image is a wren, whereas the Oak King is a King of light and his image is a robin. They are brothers but also adversaries each fighting for dominance over a half of the year.

The war starts again at Midsummer, Litha, the Summer Solstice and the Holly King and Oak King fight for dominance, with the dark Holly King winning and he reigns from Midsummer until Yule when the war starts again.  He represents the upcoming winter, the dying of the fields, the decomposition of the leaves in the forests as it turns to humus. In addition to the darkness, the Holly King represents the inner mysteries and hidden knowledge.

He reigns until Yule, the Winter Solstice, the Christmas Season. For the ancient Celts the Yuletide, Winter Solstice represents the re-birth of the Sun God, the return of the Sun and the lengthening of the days. Then they battle, the dark Holly King and the light Oak King and the Oak King wins the battle at Yule and reigns until the Summer Solstice. He represents growth, new abundance, fertility and everything new.

So right now, a few days after Yule, the winter solstice which fell this year on the 21st of December the Oak King is reigning supreme. It may not seem like it, with freezing temperatures, snow fall imminent and ice and cold an everyday occurrence, but each day the light remains just a little longer. The nights grow a little shorter, and by the beginning of February we shall see small, tiny glimmers of spring. The Canada geese start flying back, the ice starts to break up in the rivers, warming trends start to appear. Then the Oak King's season of light and warmth becomes more apparent.

This war happens every year, and it most likely started as a story created by the ancients, as so many stories were to help explain to the children and the people the turn of the seasons, the natural world around them. The Celts were known for their storytelling and the story of the battle between the Oak King and the Holly King was told for centuries until it finally found it's way into modern literature. It is found in literature such as the Golden Bough written by Sir James George Frazier originally published in 1890.  Robert Graves also mentioned the legendary battle in his book The White Goddess published in 1948.

Both of these classic publications are part of a formal basis for early Pagan practice in the late 19th and 20th centuries.  If you can get a copy of these books you are fortunate indeed. The battle of the Oak King and Holly King, continue each year and as one gives way and the other takes over and then they switch every six months, it also notes how the ancient Celts saw the Year split into two halves, the light half and the dark half. There are, of course variations, as are typical for a legend that spans centuries. Some during the past have recognized the Kings taking control over their half of the year at Samhain and Beltaine, so each was in his full glory by the time their respective Solstice came along.

For scholars of Celtic mythology, there are many stories which discuss various concepts of history, nature and magick and for those who wish to read even more you can get a copy of the Mabinogion, which is a Welsh book of Celtic stories which were orally passed down and originated in the 12th and 13th centuries. It was then first published in print in 1838.

There is so many stories and history surrounding Yule and Christmas, I wanted this ancient story to be told once again.



Live, Laugh and Always Love, Ms. Faith













© 2010-2016 Faith M. McCann. Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website. Please note that the copying and/or further distribution of this work without express written permission is prohibited. 

 If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.

A Brief Magickal History of Gift Giving

Greetings My Witchy Readers,

The Yuletide season is upon us and for many it is also Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa. For some it is simply a season for gathering with family and friends, going to some holiday parties and perhaps giving and receiving a special gift from a special person.

The history of gift giving is ancient, and magickal and perhaps one of the first social interactions humans have ever engaged in. Archaeologists have found in caves, once inhabited by Paleolithic man, evidence of gifts given. A special rock, a crafted stone tool, a pierced animals tooth or shell to wear as adornment have all been found. It is felt that the male of the species that gave the most desirable gift would more easily attract the mate they were interested in. Many gifts have been found in ancient graves, from the earliest burials. Gifts given, which were intended to follow the spirit of the deceased to the next lifetime.

Even the aforementioned gift items that were tucked into graves and temples, tombs and pyramids of deceased loved ones were not only meant to be used by the spirit of the deceased in the afterlife, but to be a connection, a memory of the loved ones they had left behind.

I did title this discussion, the 'magickal' history of gift giving. Many of the above reasons for gift giving could be considered magickal, and the magickal can also be found in many other ancient gifts once given. When a gift is given, not expressly for a celebratory gift or to mark a special occasion, but one that has a special property, such as love or protection, it is considered magickal.

One of the most famous of magickal gifts recorded in history, is the gifts the Magi brought to the baby Jesus, as he lay in the manger in Bethlehem. Yet the Frankincense, Myrrh, Gold and Silver brought were not birthday gifts, but gifts of protection. The incenses have long been known to bring protective energies to surround a place where they were burnt, and were often burnt in ancient temples, and gold and silver have a long history of protective energies.

In my research, gifts were often given from rulers of one clan or tribe to another for diplomatic reasons, giving elaborate gifts often was a show of ones status in the community, given as dowries when a girl was married off so that she would have a generous start to her new household and the gifts for this type of occasion would have been objects for the household.

I found though, one of the earliest reasons for giving a gift to a loved one, was as a tangible memory. In ancient times, it was a common occurrence for a loved one to move far away, go to war, leave for an extended pilgrimage or trip and sometimes they would not return for months, years or perhaps never return. In these ancient times, there were no devices to record one's picture, and only the very wealthy could afford a portrait to be painted either in a large wall hanging portrait or a tiny picture tucked into a locket.  So the idea of having a gift, a tangible item with which one could touch and remember their loved one became an important sentimental memento. This may have been a special piece of jewelry, flowers which were carefully dried and kept, polished semi precious gemstones, a ribbon, a hair comb, something that could be worn on the body inconspicuously.  Many times these lover's keepsakes were secret, especially if the couple were not married.

Another set of ancient gifts which continue to this day, are the bride's gifts that are given by the bride's mother, or maid of honor, or close loved ones for the bride to wear as she walks down the aisle in the wedding attire. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. These were not just gifts given to the bride but were meant to bestow good luck upon the bride and the wedding festivities and to bring good luck for the upcoming marriage.

There is a deep psychology to gift giving, that many may not consider in this modern day and age, when it seems so many have so much. That holidays cycle around the calendar and .  .  .   sigh .  .  .   another gift giving holiday looms.  The psychology of gift giving is two fold. On one hand the giver gives a gift with the sentiment and emotions they feel in an effort to connect with the gift recipient.

 Secondly, the recipient then receives the gift and the emotions and sentiments are ideally also received and the connection desired is made.  The sentiments and emotions can be happiness in giving your 18 year old a new car, the joy of giving a sweetheart a special piece of jewelry or flowers, or thanks for a co-worker or boss for the pleasant profitable work experience from the past year.

If you love to give gifts, but find a recipient who does not reciprocate, it is up to you whether you choose to continue to give them gifts. I find, the magick and joy it gives me, far out weighs their lack of reciprocating.  But if you allow their lack, to adversely affect you and make you unhappy, then simply do not give them a gift.  Allowing social expectations to cause stress and negative feelings and emotions will cause you more unhappiness and that is not what the magick of gift giving is about.

Gift giving should make each person, the giver and the receiver happy. It should help make a connection and whether it is to give a memory, send love, draw protection, mark a special occasion, or to give thanks, whatever reason you choose to give, give from the heart. For those are the only gifts that matter.

The history of gift giving is ancient and covers so much more than I touched upon here, but delve into your heart.  Think about the loved one (s) in your life, and give as it moves you.  Try not to let the commercialization of the modern holidays make you jaded,and decide not to give a gift, as even a hand written card, expressing true sentiment can mean the world to someone.

Give of your heart and your love this holiday season, and you will receive it back three fold,


Live, Laugh and Always Love, Ms. Faith









© 2010-2016 Faith M. McCann. Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website. Please note that the copying and/or further distribution of this work without express written permission is prohibited. 

 If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.

Things to Know When You Meet a Witch or Pagan at Yule/Christmas

Good Morning My Witchy Reader,

Witches, witches everywhere!  Yes, more and more people are 'picking up the broomstick' as it is called and choosing to follow a more natural, magickal path. Even if they do not identify as a witch, they might be what is called a Pagan. This is simply someone who chooses not to follow a Judeo-Christian Western Religion.

But, this time of the year, with Yule almost upon us, there is a lot of confusion out there as Christians start celebrating the Christmas season, whether secular or religious and I see a lot of misinformation as to not only the actual history of Christmas but where and how the Pagan history and culture comes in. In addition, people seem confused as to how we celebrate, if we celebrate, and if we do, what we celebrate.

Firstly, this blog discussion, like all of my lectures and writings, in no way ever intends to insult or to denigrate any religion or religious belief. I do not write my own personal opinion, but rather I put down the archaeological, and anthropological history of the world's cultures and people. It is important to understand that many religious texts such as the Bible are compilations of stories and myths that are meant to tell a story and to teach lessons and were not written to be considered actual factual records of events as lived by the people at the time of the stories written.

Well, for those of you who are still with me, let us continue.  This time of the year I see a lot of  signs on church lawns and memes on social media which say "The reason for the season - Keep Christ in Christmas", and this is a lovely phrase, but it is inaccurate. The season that has been celebrated at the end of December, on or near the Winter Solstice, which falls between the 20th and the 24th of December each year and is the shortest day and longest night of the year, has been referred to as Yuletide for many centuries before Jesus of Nazareth was born.

Yule is a Sabbat found on the Pagan Wheel of the Year, and historical evidence shows an agricultural wheel of the year has been used by various ancient cultures for thousands of years. When the Catholic Church started to overtake the Pagan cultures throughout Europe and in turned made Catholicism the required and only accepted religion, they did many things to convert the Pagan population. One thing was to adopt the Wheel of the Year and Christianize the ancient Pagan celebrations such as Yule, which became Christmas. The early Catholics weren't all wrong though, as Pagans have always celebrated this Sabbat as the re-birth of the Sun God, the return of the Sun. The Christians simply personified it to (Son) and the ( birth of the Son of God)

We most easily say "Happy Holidays" as we as Pagans understand that not everyone is or should be a Christian. But when I run into someone who is adamant about saying "Merry Christmas" I say it back. Simply because it does not cost me anything and takes nothing from me.  I certainly would not get all huffy and expect people to wish me a "Happy Yule"!!  A nice, warm, considerate holiday greeting is always welcome to me.

Also, ask yourself, whether you are Christian or Pagan or if you fall somewhere in between,  if you get so offended, all upset because someone gives you a pleasant holiday greeting that does not 'fit' your image of how it should be .  .  .  what is it within you, that brings up these intense feelings? Truly, if someone wishes me a Happy Hanukkah  that doesn't threaten my beliefs or faith, nor so if someone wishes me a Happy Kwanzaa or any other holiday greeting. So, if such a greeting pushes your button it is something for you to look into, within yourself. It has nothing to do with another.

As pagans many of us have evergreens or symbols of them inside our homes as they represent everlasting  life and the return of the spring and warm summer months after the snows melts away. Evergreens are an example of sympathetic magick as they are always green, alive, they never seem to die every year as deciduous trees seem to when they lose their leaves. So, the ancients would bring the evergreen boughs indoors, and eventually these became the Christmas tree which is always symbolized as a evergreen tree. And as sympathetic magick goes, it is the imagery, the visualization that is important. So a fake evergreen tree is just as effective as a real one. I personally do not cut down real trees for this holiday as it seems like a waste of a perfectly good tree life, when a artificial one will do just nicely.

But, I do not judge. It is up to you to use what works for you.  As far as holiday foods are concerned, many Pagans started out in this life like so many others, in Christian/Jewish households or households with no religion but the ethnic culture of their ancestors. So I know many witches and Pagans that enjoy the foods of their childhoods, For me, those foods consisted of  kielbasa, pierogies, pickled herrings, babka breads, ham for Christmas dinner and stuffed shrimp for Christmas Eve. Cheese danish and bagels for Christmas breakfast, and always plenty of fancy nuts, olives, cheeses, relish plates and egg nog.

Some mistakenly think that witches and Pagans have dietary restrictions but we typically do not. Such things are specific to the person themselves. Some are vegetarian, some are vegan, some eat meat, just like people found in any demographic. Some religions have dietary restrictions for anyone that follows their religion,  but not Pagans. You get to choose what works for you.

One additional thing I want to mention, is the misconception some people seem to have that if you are not Christian that somehow we are Godless. That is so far from the truth, that I feel compelled to mention it every now and then. Whether a Pagan or witch believes in a Goddess an a God/ just a Goddess, just a God/ Mother Earth as Gaia, being Pagan in many ways brings you loser to your higher power than some Christians. As pagans/witches, we do not need to go to a church or a Cathedral to find our God. He/She is with us always, always attainable, always in touch. Many of us feel closer by being in a natural place, in the woods, out of doors, in a field or inside of a cast ritual circle. Many of us feel the Divine is not outside of us, separate from us, with us trying to re-connect. No, many pagans and witches feel the Divine is within us, each of us. We understand that no matter what we do, we cannot separate from it, it is always within us.

That concept is probably, by my understanding today, the biggest difference between Pagans and Christians. We do not have the rules that Christians are required to follow. We do not have to confess sins to be forgiven, we need no forgiveness from our concept of God. Perhaps if we hurt those in our lives, forgiving and being forgiven can put things behind us and we can move forward with no resentment or bitterness. But our God/Goddess is complete love and acceptance, no matter what we choose to do here on Earth. We are not required to do penance, or expected to act the martyr and fast, or relinquish a luxury or something we enjoy. The Goddess has given us everything on this Earth, to use and enjoy as we choose.

Many pagans make their own rules as far as relationships, sex and intimacy are concerned. But we do not engage in wild, sex crazed orgies as some seem to want to believe, and are so disappointed when they find out it is not true.  Hahahaha, You are on your own for sex crazed orgies!  As far as rituals are concerned we conduct rituals with clothes on. Some choose to wear ritual garb, like cloaks and robes, others pretty, decorative clothes that make them feel special. This is also a personal choice. There are some groups I have heard of that perform their rituals 'sky clad' which means without clothing, but most of these are in Great Britain. I suppose there might be some in the United States but in 30 years all of the groups I have participated in or been a guest at, we have worn clothing.

I am writing this article after a terse short conversation with a customer who came into my shop last week and made some misunderstood assumptions about witches and Pagans. He was not happy to be corrected and seemed to want confirmation that the more outrageous and colorful legends and lore were true.

We may be magickal, but we are human.  but are we typical, ordinary and just like everyone else, absolutely NOT !!! Hahaha As anyone who has ever really known a witch can tell you. We look at the world differently,  we interact with the energy around us and try to send it out so that it returns to make our world better and happier. Some of us are fierce environmentalists,  some strong political watch dogs,  while others of us stay close to home, stirring our cauldrons and try to make the word a better place in our own small, but significant ways. Like I try to with this discussion I have with you every week,  If one person can read my words and come away with a better understanding of others they share this Earth with,  have more acceptance and knowledge about what we do .  .  .  then I have made a difference. That is all I can ask for.

I hope you go out today, and make a difference, even if it is a small one. They all matter.



Live, Laugh and Always Love, Ms. Faith




© 2010-2016 Faith M. McCann. Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website. Please note that the copying and/or further distribution of this work without express written permission is prohibited. 

 If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.

What To Do With The Space Created After Banishing The Unwanted . . .

Good Evening My Witchy Readers,

Yes, my Muse has struck me again, whereas I was wondering what my discussion would be this evening, suddenly it hit me!  With the powerful Super Full Moons we have experienced these past two months, we are pretty well versed by now on eliminating and banishing those unwanted energies from our lives that no longer serve us.

Well, the full super moon has passed, and was two weeks ago.  And like every Yin has a Yang, every full moon which banishes, has a new moon which brings in. Yesterday, November 29th, 2016 was the new moon and it's power is still effective for a few more days and nights.  The witch does not simply throw out the unwanted clutter, no, she in turn then decorates with new flowers and lovely things to behold.

We, never want to create an empty vacuum. Because as vacuum's are apt to do, if left to their own devices, they will fill themselves up with whatever random energy happens to wander by!!  That is why once you have eliminated the unwanted, you must actively work and put effort into placing energies into that place in your life that is left open and empty by the banishment of the full moon work.

So, let's look, theoretically, at what you may have banished and determine what you may choose to replace it with. If you have banished a harmful, bad habit such as smoking a nice converse would be perhaps adding an exercise or meditation session into your daily life. The closer to the counterpart the converse, on the same level, in this case on the physical plane is most beneficial.

Perhaps your banishment took place on the emotional plane, and you have disengaged yourself from an unwanted relationship, be it romantic, professional, social or an acquaintance,  which you can then fill the space by surrounding yourself with loved ones, current close friends, socializing and bringing in new friends and happier relationships. Go out of your way to spend time with others that make you feel good about yourself and give you a positive outlook and insight into your life. Others see it in you, take the time to see you through their eyes and see the real you, the way they see and love you.

Perhaps you left an unhappy job, or even retired from a good job. It is important to fill that "space" with a 'job' of sorts, even if it is walking in the park every day and taking pictures of nature and birds. Continuing to get up every day at the same time, planning to do things every day will make the transition smooth and positive.

If you find yourself with a space in your life and you are not sure how to fill it, burn a candle for any of the above or for any of these on the new moon phase and ask the Goddess to help you find what you desire.  Then, most importantly, try lots of new things. You don't have to commit to any one thing. Or any one person. Go on a few dates and see how it feels. Take a painting class. Take a singing lesson. Sit in on a book club, or a quilting club, or take a swim class.

Visit your local pet shelter and sit with some pups or kitties, but if you do this, realize you may very well be taking one home and be prepared for that. Take a class on indoor gardening and bring home a plant or two or three.

Burning a simply candle will not, on it's own, change your life. But it can be a first step. Then you burn it on a moon, in this case a new moon, which is the second step. Then speak with the Goddess, honestly and ask Her to help bring your heart's desires to light, third step. Then, most importantly, the fourth step .  .  .  go out, and live life!

It is important to give yourself a bit of time to let go of that which you have banished. The two weeks between moons could be that time or take more if needed. Then the new moon arrives, if not this month, then the next month, and then start living your life again. You may be pleasantly surprised what you thought you had lost has been replaced with so much more.

I know, I do, that the time we spend with energies that are not good for us may seem like a long time, but you can bring that time to and end, when you are ready. That time, might be today. A little magick can help you on your way. Start at the new moon. If it doesn't manifest within 28 days, by then it will be the next new moon, then do another spell or burn another candle. Visualize how you'd like your life to look like and before long, it will happen. Magick always happens, I promise!


In honor of this past Super Moon and the changes it has made within me as well as you, I will be changing my sign off for my blog for the future .  .  .  I will always wish you Peace and Happiness but I will send out the energy, to return threefold, to always .  .  .


Live, Laugh, and Always Love!!!


Ms. Faith

© 2010-2016 Faith M. McCann. Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website. Please note that the copying and/or further distribution of this work without express written permission is prohibited. 


 If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.

We are Never Promised Tomorrow, Be Thankful Today and Everyday!

A Happy Thanksgiving Day to you My Witchy Readers,

As I sit here in a drab motel room on the top of a mountain in the very upper reaches of northern Vermont, waiting to go and see my family, looking forward to the familiar familial energies that are unique to each family, I find myself counting my blessings. Yes, today is an annual day of thanksgiving, of feeling gratitude and being comforted by the blessings in our lives.

Ah yes, it is easy to get snarky and irritated with one or another because we are so close, we can and not fear being ejected from their lives forever, but we can also choose to take a breath and center and realize, as much as we might have issues with family members or friends during the heightened energies of the holidays, our lives would be forever changed should they pass away and no longer be in our world.

We are never promised tomorrow. We are never promised love everlasting, or the fairy tale ending. We only have today and our ability to make this one day as special as we can make it. This is true for each and every day, not just Thanksgiving or another holiday or special occasion. So look around you and take notice of the loved ones in your life, the warm home you find yourself in, the food you will consume today, your health and if your health is failing, take note of the advances in modern medicine and pharmaceuticals that can make your life so much better and more comfortable.

I am grateful that I live in a country where my religious freedoms are secure, and regardless of whether your candidate was elected in the last Presidential election or not, we continue to have freedoms, rights and privileges that would be unrecognizable in other parts of the world. In regards to the past election, people have easily found so many things to complain about, and why does it seem easier to complain than to express gratitude? Yes, we have many things in our country and world today that need to be made better, many injustices and atrocities but as a human race we have every moment of every day where we can do things small to large to help make things better. As long as we do not give into despair, never give up and give in to a sense of defeat, we can make a difference in our world, everyday.

The witch uses magick, the lay person uses pragmatic means, the spiritualist uses divine energies, the intellectual uses words, the activist uses protests, the doctors use medicine, the educators use teaching methods but we all do what we can to make our world a better place for us to live in. The witch knows that what we send out returns to us, so sending out energies of gratitude and thankfulness, we know they will return to us and in turn make our lives happier and more fulfilling, A self created circle of positive energy continuously flowing back to you.

I know, for some it sounds fantastical, but for those who practice sending out positive energy it manifests readily. So think about that and those and all you consider blessings in your life, give them thought and consideration and appreciation.  Do this for a few moments everyday and notice how your life starts to change for the better. And know it is your connection to the divine, the magickal that is making this happen. Life does not happen to us, we create the life that happens around us and within us.


Blessings, This day of Thanksgiving and everyday of the year!

Peace and Happiness







© 2010-2016 Faith M. McCann. Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website. Please note that the copying and/or further distribution of this work without express written permission is prohibited. 

 If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.

Another Super Moon and Other Ways To Use it to Enhance Your Life

Magickal Greetings My Witchy Readers,

This last part of 2016 we have been blessed with a number of astronomical phenomenon, such as eclipses and Super Moons. Both last  month and then again this month we have had super moons and this one in November is supposed to be the biggest, best and shiniest (my word!!) since 1948.  Well, I don't know about that, but it was truly an amazing moon and whereas last month I talked about how you can use the moon for relationship issues, starting, finishing and completing projects, let's talk about how this moon can be used for other fun witchy things.

For instance, a full moon, especially one with other fun phenomenon attached, like this super moon, is wonderful for putting out your crystals and magickal stones to charge and cleanse and re-energize. You only need to leave them out for maybe 20-30 minutes. I took mine out under the full moon and it was cloudy but the clouds broke up and moon beams shone through and touched upon my stones. I also took out some very special jewelry of mine and held it up to the clouds and waited for the moon to shine through and the jewelry was charged in only a moment. It needn't take hours.

You can also take outside, candles that might need a boost or recharge if they haven't been used in a long time. You, yourself, can take a moon bath. I would do this during warmer months depending on where you live.  Take a chair and put it somewhere, where you know the moon will shine and you will have some privacy. Then take a bath or a shower and afterwards, wrap yourself in a sheet, nude underneath. Sit in the chair and then open the sheet and allow the moon beams to shine down upon you.  Breath in the moon light and the positive,magickal energies and exhale the unwanted, stressful, everyday energies from the week, or the month. You can inhale and visualize a positive, life affirming experience while exhaling a life experience you wish to be over with and to eliminate from your life.

For Pagans and Witches, the moon personifies our Goddess. When you look at Her, you can speak to Her, ask for Her assistance, light a candle so the moon light shines upon it and know you are in Her presence.  You can speak with Her, as an adviser, a mentor, a Mother,  a Wise Elder.  You do not need someone special, like a Priest or Priestess, to talk with Her, just simply need to talk and She will listen.

Remember the main energy of the full moon is to banish and remove unwanted energies from your life. All that no longer serves you, the circumstances, the situations, the stagnant energies and although we do not banish 'people' you can banish their unhealthy influence over you and it will be easier for you to set them aside, to the peripheral of your life. Then you are ready to prepare for all the good, positive things to come into your life during the new moon which is in two weeks.

This super moon was full  this past Monday so it's intense energy is still able  to be worked with for another day (Tomorrow, Thursday) and it's energy, being such a powerful moon, will still have energy to charge and  make  changes for yet a few more  days. But by Sunday, it will  be time to start preparing for the New Moon.

It is also important to know, even if you are  not able to see the moon during all of Her glory, because of where you live, the configuration of your home, trees which block it, or perhaps you are unable to be outside after dark  or any other reason, you can still use Her energy. Burn a candle and ask for the Power of the Moon to descend upon you and the items you are working with. Yes, it is similar to "Drawing Down the Moon" but you are not bringing the Goddess forth into your body as in that ritual, but drawing the energizing, charging,  empowering,  Goddess energies into your stones, crystals, tools or items you are working with.

This  moon is also excellent for charging crystal balls and other items with which you divine with. The moon has held great awe and power,  magick and mystery for humans on Earth for over hundreds of thousands of years. The energy of millions of humans looking up and feeling the awesome splendor of the moon is also an energy that you can tap into every time you look at Her, and feel Her  magick.

May the Moon shine her goodness over you tonight!



Peace and Happiness,  Ms. Faith








© 2010-2016 Faith M. McCann. Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website. Please note that the copying and/or further distribution of this work without express written permission is prohibited. 

 If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.

How Women Were Tortured and Suffered For Our Right To Vote

Susan B. Anthony 1820 - 1906

Greetings My Witchy Readers,

For those who know and understand the path of the witch, they know that witches, both women and men were the original feminists. It was a world wide movement during the burning times to eliminate the worship of the Great Mother Goddess and with Her, to denigrate her image, the woman.  The woman who had knowledge, power,  wisdom,  strength and magick within her. This, then and now, has always struck fear deep into the hearts of some men who are incapable of appreciating and accepting women as equal partners of the human race upon earth.

With the upcoming election arriving soon, I wanted to touch upon the history of women gaining their right to vote in the United States. Many people do not know the history of the Suffrage movement. Suffrage means "the right to vote in a political election". Many people have heard of the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote, which was passed in 1920, but many do not realize that the movement started almost 100 years earlier.

During the early 1800's when the movement started, the lot of a woman was a frustrating one. There was a common belief by many at the time of the "Cult of Womanhood" where women were only considered acceptable  as long as they were pious, submissive, and womanly attending to home and children and of course her husband. Women were not  allowed to own property, and needed to have a man be her guardian and could not possess any money. Many women worked outside of the house in factories during the Industrial Revolution and made money but it was not really theirs and was handed over to the man of the house.

As ridiculous as some of the below reasons sound, this is a list of possible reasons a woman could be committed to an insane asylum in the late 1800's. This is an actual document from the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in West Virginia.

Some of the more unbelievable reasons in this list e.g. being involved in politics, mental excitement (which could simply be being pissed off at her restrictive life!),  keeping bad company, even desertion of her husband! But the lot of the woman gets much,  much worse as the 19th century continued.

During these 100 years of asking, demanding, protesting and marching on Washington to somehow get the Government to consider passing an amendment allowing women to vote, as the end of the 1800's came about, so many other horrible things happened as well.  During what started as peaceful protests women were arrested, jailed and tortured by being force-fed, which for some, happened hundreds of times. They were starved, they were beaten, humiliated, verbally harassed, restrained and some committed to lunatic asylums.  Those were just the stories that the women involved admitted happened to them.

I believe this above newspaper article  refers to a woman in England, where women were suffering the same abuses and also working very hard to get their right to vote granted in England. This really was a movement that affected women on both sides of the Atlantic.

Many women, like Susan B.  Anthony, who spoke eloquently all around the North East about women gaining the right to vote and to participate in the political process, as well as becoming full citizens in their own right, worked tirelessly for decades. Sudan B. Anthony, herself,  passed away before she could see her hard work come to pass. It was another 14 years after her death before the 19th amendment was passed in Congress.

My research revealed another shocking fact concerning this amendment. Whereas the 19th amendment was passed in 1920, the last state to ratify it, was Mississippi, over 60 years later, on March 22,  1984!!!  Yes, it has only been 32 years since every state in this country has legally recognized the rights of women to vote!

I personally do not care who you choose to vote for. That is and always has been a personal choice which I respect. But please, if you are a woman, or if you are  a man who respects and believes women to be equal,  please cast your vote on Tuesday, November 8,  2016. To simply not bother because you do not think a single vote counts,  .  .  .  oh yes it does.  While, with the electoral college, perhaps a single vote might not make a huge difference in who gets into office, that single vote, every single vote cast by an American citizen makes a patriotic difference that goes back to 1776 when we won our freedom from an oppressive Monarchy and we won our right to vote for our representatives in local, state and federal office.  And every single vote cast by a woman again cements her right and privilege to be considered a full citizen of this country with all the freedoms, all the equality and all the benefits thereof.

Women today do not have the real memory of what our predecessors had to got through. But the Internet brings the documents, the research, the newspaper articles, and the diary accounts back to life for us to read, and learn and understand exactly what casting a single vote means.

One of my students told me in class  this morning, that she had not voted since Ronald Reagan ran for President, but she had in her hand her voter registration certificate and wanted me to know that she would vote in this election because I have been so passionate about our rights as women and as Americans.  That was so rewarding and touched me deeply.

For the same rights that protect Witches, Pagans and Wiccans in this country also  protect the rest of us. We are No LONGER separated in our Constitution, or by our Federal laws by gender, religion, race, culture, and hopefully soon sexual orientation will also no longer be a reason for separation or exclusion. We have come so far as a country and we can make a difference in the world we live in, just by casting a vote.

The same base reason that started the persecution of the witches during the burning times is the same base reason for all  of the other prejudice and bias. FEAR. Prejudice, Hatred, Hate groups, crimes against those who look or seem different are all motivated by fear, many times covered over by anger.
 Right now, our country is being held tightly in a fist of fear and anger.  I do not know how this election will shake out, I have refrained from checking my crystal ball,  haha, but I do know by casting our votes it will break apart this energy and hopefully allow a new breath of sanity,  understanding and acceptance to come back.  A single vote can do this.

Please consider doing this on Tuesday.


Peace and Happiness,  Ms. Faith





© 2010-2016 Faith M. McCann. Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website. Please note that the copying and/or further distribution of this work without express written permission is prohibited.

 If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.

How to Celebrate Your Loved Ones Who Have Passed on Samhain

Happy Samhain,

My Muse  is motivating me yet again, and I wish to tell you about an aspect of this holiday (Holy Day) of Samhain also known as Halloween that some are not aware of. It is our Day of the Dead. Our Memorial day, November 1st, Samhain. It is also our first day of our Pagan new year.

With all the spooky, scary decorations, spooky to sexy costumes, parties for young and adult, and the required trick or treating, there is still time and, for me,  a strong focus on remembering those who have passed on.

I  always serve party foods during the night of October 31st. One, it's easier to have appetizers and finger foods when going to the door every few moments to dole out the expected treats for the little monsters who come calling.

I also, seldom, if ever, have an actual party.  I primarily have the party for the spirits. I put pictures  of loved ones around the table, and  always put a plate of their favorite foods on the table, that no living person eats or touches. You can put a glass of juice, wine or  punch for the spirits also.  It is also appropriate to have a chair, that no one is allowed to sit in,  kept empty during this "spirit party" for the spirits to use if they choose.

These aspects of recognizing the spirits as being present, is a concept that is found in ancient cultures with vestiges still showing up in modern cultures like Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico  and other South American cultures, Italy, Spain as well as others. Many times, things the loved ones who have passed enjoyed from music, flowers, perfumes, a special item or jewelry is placed on the celebratory table in memory, love and respect.

In some cultures today, entire families will  bring the party to the cemetery, and have a picnic by the graveside of the deceased and sing songs, tell stories of the person's life and feast as if the person they are honoring is there amongst them. There are those of us who believe they are.

In many modern cultures like in the United States and in some religious practices, the death anniversary is a time for solemn mourning,  Masses are held in church, and the family members remember their loved one but with a sense of grief and sadness. Many of the Day of the Dead celebrations are just that, celebrations as those who are there feel as if they are being reunited again with their loved one and are together again. For many it is a time of joy as they know their loved one is with them again in a state of peace and love with no pain, illness or grief.

How ever you choose to remember your loved ones who have passed over, know that how ever you feel, however you choose to remember, that is the right way for you. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. There is no right or wrong way to honor them, or remember them. The way you choose is the right way for you.

I am presenting, another way of viewing a situation everyone of us has to go through in this lifetime. We will all lose someone we love, and we will  all grieve and feel loss and sadness. After many years, I find it therapeutic and cathartic for me, although I still feel sadness, to feel  peace and happiness knowing they can be here with me, because love is a bond even death cannot breach.

Simply thinking of a loved one who has passed, brings them to you. They cannot do otherwise. If you have words you wish to share with them, talk to them. Look at a picture of them,  or see them in your mind's eye and talk. They will hear you. They may not be able to communicate with you in a way you can hear or understand, but know they hear you.

The veil between the worlds grows very thin this Samhain eve night, and the worlds I speak of are the physical world of  reality we inhabit and the world of the absolute that spirits inhabit. Also once the spirits have been on the other side for a time, they burn off the restrictions, judgments, the control they felt they needed in the physical world and will send only love and acceptance. They no longer  look at the world as they once did. They come from a place that only knows love. Fights are forgiven, misunderstandings are no longer,  grudges are forgotten, and love remains.

I like to burn a candle on my altar with a picture of a loved one who has passed and I know they are with me and I with them. It brings me peace and comfort.That is all I can ask for.

May you be with your loved ones who have passed this Blessed Samhain season, in love and in peace. Blessed Be



Peace and Happiness








© 2010-2016 Faith M. McCann. Portions of this blog posting may include materials from my book “Enchantments School for the Magickal Arts First Year Magickal Studies.” For more information, see www.enchantmentsschool.com or go to the title of tonight's discussion and click, it will link you to my school's website. Please note that the copying and/or further distribution of this work without express written permission is prohibited. 

 If you know someone who would like my work, please send them this link. If you or they would like to be included on our daily email distribution list send me an e mail with your email address to be included. If you ever wish to unsubscribe to this blog, please contact me and you will be immediately removed from our list.