When You Can Do Magick For Others and When To Leave It Alone

Greetings My Magickal Reader,

I have often said in the past how we should do our spells for ourselves, but realistically there will be those loved ones close to you, family, best friends, that do not have the time or inclination to do spell work for their needs, and may ask you to help them in a situation every now and again.

Whereas I still hold true to my belief that a person should do the spell work for themselves, if it is to be as effective as it can possibly be, there are times when we can and will do magick for others. I thought that tonight I would go over some criteria when we encounter these situations:

First and foremost we never take money for doing the magickal workings for a person. This is not the same thing as reading their cards, or selling them an herbal preparation or magickal tools or supplies. Once we cross into the realm of taking money for casting spells and doing magick we have entered a dangerous realm where we might never return and our magick becomes dark and will soon leave us completely. Sell them the supplies if you need to, teach them to do the spell themselves, but never take money for doing the spell work.

Always be sure to have that person's permission, and it is best that the person be someone very close to you. If you do not know the person then the spell will simply not work. There needs to be a need for the spell to work. If the person is close to you, then your desire that they be healthy, safe and protected is much more real for you.

One version of a simple spell that I often do for loved ones is candle magick. I might burn a candle if a loved one is sick, or needs my help in some way. You may offer to burn the candle for them and respect their choice, if they say yes, that's great. If they do not answer your offer, or say no, do not take offense, simply set it aside and realize it may not be something they feel comfortable with.

Also, be careful that your loved one needs your help. You might get into a habit of burning candles for them over time, but the need may no longer be there, especially if they do not ask you, and then you are not doing it for them any longer, but for yourself and you might wish to re-evaluate and spend your energy and time more wisely.

Your magick is special, valuable, sacred and precious. It must be respected and never taken for granted. Not by you or anyone else. Take time to consider your magick carefully and seriously. If you find you are casting spells every day for trivial things, especially for things that you can easily go out and achieve for yourself, then you're not keeping your energy and power reserved for use when it is really needed.

I find burning a candle and asking the Goddess to give special notice for a loved one who may need guidance, protection, healing or special help from the Divine is a very useful method without casting a full ritual circle and is still quite effective.

Most important, be sure you are doing the candle magick for the loved ones in your life who actually want your help and you are not simply doing it for them because you think they need it. They may simply be being nice and not wish to hurt your feelings, but if they do not ask you for your help, or do not mention a need when they know you normally would do this for them, in a specific circumstance, then leave it alone.

This may apply to mothers who wish to do magick for their adult children, friends who wish to help out close friends, even spouses who want to help their partner but maybe over stepping. Evaluate the situation and wait and see. If your loved one knows that you do candle magick on a regular basis and that you often offer to do so for them, yet they refrain from asking or mentioning a situation whereas you would be asked to do so, then you have your answer.

We often mention how we need permission to do a spell for someone, and having their permission is fine, but without their desire it is just as if they never gave their permission in the first place.

When in doubt, simply wait for them to approach you and ask. A witch worth her magick never sells herself nor her magick, nor does she panhandle her abilities on the street as like a three card Monte street hustler.

In time, your abilities and your magick will  become known for it's own stellar reputation.


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.

Boundaries To Remember When Working With A Magickal Teacher

Good Morning My Witchy Reader,

Allow me to start this discussion, with what I had always thought was an obvious concept. What I write about are, of course, my opinions, my experiences and my observations along the magickal path I have walked for decades.  I also, will title my blog posts with provocative titles that work to attract potential readers attention.

Like anything written in our society today, anything, if it speaks to you, resonates within you, then feel free to put it's teachings to use in your life. If it does not, if you disagree, or simply do not see it pertaining to you, then leave it alone. In regards to my blog, people who leave respectful comments, even those that disagree will be published. Those that are insulting, rude, disrespectful and try to put forth opinion that could be harmful for those new to our path, I will not publish them. If you want to put forth wrong, harmful, personal ego building information please do it on your blog, or website or wherever you wish but I will not publish it on my page, so do not expect me to.

Now that the rules are clear, one hopes, let us discuss today's topic. I have put forth some things to consider when you are looking to work with a magickal teacher. I speak of my own experience as a teacher for many years, As I have taught not simply in the magickal arts but in other areas also. Some concepts transcend specific topics.

Many people start learning about the magickal world by reading books. This is a great place to start. Reading published work by magickal masters is always a good basis for a foundation of learning. Eventually some people wish to learn more and seek out magickal teachers. Some of these teachers are Priestesses or Priests in Wicca and Witchcraft, some run covens, some run stores and like myself run stores and schools of the magickal arts. Some teachers offer their classes online, some in person.

Yet in my 13 years of running a school for the magickal arts I have dealt with hundreds of students who have come through the doors of Enchantments.  Unfortunately some have had less than the best magickal studies experience simply because they made assumptions or didn't understand what was expected of them or what to expect and not to expect of their teacher.

I now have a short talk with incoming students to explain to them some concepts I will list here, to help them avoid these pitfalls. I hope these help you should you seek out a magickal teacher.

1.) Your Magickal Teacher is Your Teacher NOT Your Friend:

After a student has taken classes for several months some students allow the boundary lines to blur and because we are friendly in class, share hugs after rituals and socialize during Sabbat celebrations they start to feel as if their magickal teacher is their very close friend. This is not true. Now, I am not saying that the teacher does not like you, not at all.  You may indeed be a favorite student, but not a friend.

Think about it, a friend does not charge you monthly tuition to spend time with them every week. Well, if your friend does do that, it is a strange friendship indeed! Haha  A magickal teacher, who knows her boundaries and conducts her/himself in a proper fashion keeps these boundaries clear. A magickal teacher who is 'your friend' would not be able to give a student a failing grade on a test, or be able to criticize a project or paper with the intention of correcting wrong material.

I personally have become friends with graduates who have left Enchantments and Priestesses who have moved on and are now doing the work of the Goddess in their own towns and who come back to visit. This is long after they have left my tutelage and this can be appropriate, but still proper respect is kept on both sides.

2.)  Seldom Will Two Magickal Teachers Teach the Exact Same Material:

Having said the above, most magickal teachers will teach the same information regarding things like the properties of the elements and casting a circle and the basics. Yet, do not hold them to too rigid a standard that you might have learned from another. For instance, when looking at the pentacle, where one teacher might say the upper left hand point is earth, another might say the bottom left hand point is earth. Is one right and one wrong? No, not at all. They just teach the same concept a little bit differently. Those who have a rigid black and white attitude and cannot handle differing options will indeed have a difficult time with the world of witchcraft, which is fluid and ever changing.

Some teachers start casting their circle from the east, and some start casting their circle from the north. Each are acceptable and traditionally correct, but different because they come from different traditions from different cultures. Yet neither are wrong. All that is wrong is if a student looks at one teachers way and another teachers way and decides one is right and the other wrong. It is the student who loses. When working with a teacher the student needs to know that teacher's specific ways, to be able to pass tests and exams properly. Afterwards a student should pick and choose what works for them, after they are done working with that teacher, and realize there are other ways to get to the same destination.

3.) Remember To Keep Adult Boundaries When Working in A Classroom or In A Coven:


The idea that everyone in a classroom must be best friends or the same in a coven is a misconception that ends up, often times,  causing the student/covener to find themselves with conflicts and issues with other students who are simply not meant to be friends. Not everyone is.

Ahh, this may be the most difficult of all the boundaries I have seen students struggle with. Again, like the first boundary listed regarding your teacher not being your friend, many students come into the classroom and or coven and want to believe they have entered a 'family' where unconditional love and acceptance reigns supreme. Sadly this is never the case. Yes, I did say .  .  .  never.  Many covens today still use the old axiom 'In Perfect Love, In Perfect trust", No, that is also never the case.  In 30 years I have yet to see it, except in the smallest, closed covens with a few close friends that never accept new comers in.

I personally have seen more backstabbing, bad mouthing, judgment and lack of acceptance of new comers in large covens and in classrooms, for nothing more than silly, trivial reasons and more bullying, "I came first, so I am a higher rank than you" power trips in the pagan community than I have seen anywhere in regular society. I do not say this is true for all Pagans, but it does proliferate in our magickal community and I have seen it many times.

The students in your classroom are there for their magickal education, the conveners in the coven you attend are there for their spiritual experience.  Guess what? You do not have to like them. But you do have to work with them. So if you are not close with someone, or just do not feel friendship, your responsibility is to keep your mouth shut when it comes to rude, snarky comments and be professional, adult and do the work required. Do not extend invitations outside of the class/coven experience, do not push to try to become friends as it will only end badly. Just do your work and be good with the fact that not everyone needs to be friends or loved ones. Not in the world we live in.

Most people cannot even be friends with their own blood family members so to expect that automatically when you step into a magickal group is simply unrealistic and will be a sharp disappointment in the end. If you are unable to keep yourself and behavior professional you will find yourself on the outskirts again and most likely blaming others except the one responsible, you. We are responsible for creating our reality.

4.) We Must Work On Our Inner Baggage To Move Forward On The Magickal Path:

Now, again, I am speaking of my personal observations and this may not be everyone's experience, but many will recognize what I am speaking of. The reason is, people come into the magickal world hauling all sorts of baggage, as many were not accepted in the outer world and expect to be accepted just like that, when they come into a magickal group. Yet, they expect this acceptance without releasing their baggage, without doing the inner workings needed to move into a world of light and love, without making the inner changes they need to make. Instead they point fingers and blame others for all of their problems and woes. This path is difficult. The magickal path demands inner change, for each and every person. The truth is, there is NEVER anyone to blame for our challenges on this path, only ourselves. That is one of the most important things to realize about walking a path of self discovery and personal enlightenment.

Just going to rituals, sitting in classes, casting spells and calling yourself a witch is not all that is required. There is inner work the Goddess requires, and those who ignore this work, will find they have difficulties. A magickal teacher will try to empower you, educate you, give you experience and challenge you. But what she can do for you is minuscule compared to the work you will need to do on your own.

5.)  When There Is An Issue With Another Student/Convener Speak First With Your The Teacher/Priestess:

When you are attending a class, or participating in a coven, you must remember you are not in charge. No matter how long you have been in attendance. If there is a teacher or a High Priestess/Priest, and it is not you, then they are the boss. It is inappropriate for you to start a fight, initiate a dispute or any sort of confrontation. The appropriate thing to do is to bring it privately to the teacher or High Priestess and allow them to decide what is the best thing to do. Their decision is final.  At times they might decide to tell the complaining student to leave it alone and focus on their work. At other times they might choose to speak to the other student and sometimes mediation is required, but that is their decision as it is their playing field.

The best way to get bounced from a school or coven is to take the issue on yourself and start a 'witch war', especially if you try to engage other students to side with you or you are found to have tried to eliminate other students.

6.)  Expect to Be Unhappy With Your Teacher At One Time or Another:

There will be times, when you find yourself angry or unhappy with your teacher. Perhaps you did not get a grade you wished to get on your test or exam. Perhaps your teacher requires more from you than a simple first semester answer when you are an advanced student and she knows you are capable of giving more.

To do the work required to make the inner changes necessary on the magickal path, it will cause emotional challenges. It is unrealistic to expect the path of change to be smooth, warm and fuzzy. Change can be painful, as we give up the behaviors and attitudes that no longer serve us, as we set aside the judgment and assumptions that held us back, Many times that energy and emotional turmoil is directed at the teacher, and as a teacher myself, I am good with it. I expect it and I will work with it without personalizing it or getting upset with the student. Now for the student that goes beyond polite etiquette and calls names, is rude and extremely disrespectful, blaming and refusing to take responsibility then the relationship ends.

But for those who are mature enough to handle the emotional challenges, I will work with them and together we get them over the hurdle or hurdles and they get to their desired destination.


7.) Never Assume You Know Everything About Your Teacher:

One of the biggest miss-assumptions a student can make is to think they know what their teacher or High Priestess is thinking or where their thought processes are coming from. We present one face to our students and do not divulge all to them about ourselves or about other students. We have in most cases, years or even decades, of experience that we fall back on, and for one student to think they know all about us with a mere few months or even a couple of years of working with us is a huge miss-assumption on their part which will never benefit them.

For those teachers and High Priestess' who run groups, it is not for the glory and the power as some mistakenly assume. For those who may start teaching others with that agenda they quickly wash out, simply because it is so difficult and there is no glory and no power in this work. It is difficult, frustrating, but it can be rewarding and it is most of all the work of the Goddess and we keep that as a primary focus.

Teachers and High Priestess' and Priests get more accusations, wrong assumptions, anger, blame, and other nonsense from those who are not willing to do the work yet want to be initiated as Priestess or Priest and when they encounter difficulties seek to cast blame.

From my standpoint as a magickal teacher I have worked with hundreds of students, some leave in a positive way, some not so much, but the ones I am working with and the ones yet to find me are the ones I give my energy and attention to. To those who have left, I wish them well on whatever path they eventually find themselves on.  Even those who have left in anger, I send no energy their way because their choice had nothing to do with me, even if they are not capable of seeing that, yet.

In conclusion, the very best advice I can give you, should you choose to work with a magickal teacher is to talk with them privately if you have questions and concerns. Trust that they are working for your best experience and that by approaching them personally and privately you will get your questions answered.

Above all, remember you are an adult, and that keeping emotions in balance, not giving into gossip about others, and refraining from engaging in childish, high school behavior will get you to your destination on the magickal path much faster and your work with your magickal teacher will be more rewarding for both of you.



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.

As A Magickal Community, Who Are We . . . Really?

Good Evening My Witchy Reader,

Tonight's discussion is more contemplative and reflective than anything, at least I hope it will be.  I do not intend to scold, to point a witchy finger, or to in anyway suggest a person change who they are in relation to their magickal community.  I just want to wander down this path for a while and take notice of many things that stretch out over the magickal path, as if to try and trip a witch up, to make us stumble.

I have been a practicing witch for over 30 years now, and I have taught others about the Craft, having owned my school and teaching in various venues for over 15 years, and where things can change somethings remain the same.  Every day, every year there are new faces, fresh interests in Wicca and witchcraft, those young and not so young all new to this path, filled with the early excitement of casting your first circle, burning your first spell candle, making your first connection to your Goddess. That excitement when you realize you are a witch, or magickal person and it is perfectly okay and there are others out there too, also interested in the same thing as you.

Many pagans can remember their first ritual with other like minded witches and  Wiccans, first smelling the smell of the burning charcoal briquettes, the first whiff of the ritual powdered incense, somehow earthy, but rich, an ancient smell that seems so familiar even the very first time you have ever smelled it. We remember the feeling of standing in the magick circle hardly believing we were there, with others, who didn't know us, yet accepted us, simply because we believed in similar magickal and nature ways, and we expressed an interest in belonging, or worshiping a Goddess or God or some power we knew was greater than us, and we stood in awe that this was made, somehow, possible.

We, each of us, found ourselves walking down the path of the witch, some worshiped in their hearts as they look at the moon as they drive home from a hard job, whereas some could worship with a full ritual with robes and a coven. Some branched off to teach others. Some helped counsel by doing readings or speaking with the loved ones spirit guides and angels, and some worked their magicks with making herbal preparations, working kitchen witchery or giving their magickal energies to animals and the natural world they surround themselves with. We each follow our magickal path in the direction it leads us, and for each that path can be slightly different from another. Some published books to reach a greater audience, some open stores so like minded folks could shop for their items and get advice, some make teas and salves and some do astrology charts.

The magickal person is unique and special, divine and full of light and love .  .  .  .  in the beginning. Yes, in the beginning we are full of all of the wonders, the excitement and the anticipation of what our magickal future will hold for us. Will we work solitary? Will we join a coven? Will we ever be invited to a Sabbat? Will we ever be able to come out of the 'broom closet' and live openly as a magickal person? Will we ever be fully accepted as a magickal person, by our families, our friends, our co-workers, others in our community?

Of course, in the beginning we have no idea where we will end up, or where our magickal path will take us. We, many of us are hopeful, but maybe a little fearful. We are excited, but a little anxious. Will we find acceptance, after having been denied acceptance in some areas of our lives? Will we find true friends we can trust and depend on, especially when old friends have left us when our true selves became known? What about that perfect love and  perfect trust we have read about in so many introductory books on Wicca? Is that really true? Can it be?

I would like to say, after 30 years of working with the magickal community in many versions, that all of the hopes and dreams of neophytes come true but sadly they do not. Many pagans end up choosing to work solitary, or in very small, isolated covens that allow no new comers to join, simply because of one thing .  .  .  many do not do the work required to live a magickal life.

One can leave the outer world and start walking a magickal path. You can take classes, read copious amounts of materials, watch movies, documentaries and fantasy series. Dress in cool, witchy clothes and go to Salem, like so many cool witches at least once a year and if you are really witchy even more times a year.  Mix herbs, make teas, cast spells and chant in a cloud of incense at every esbat under each moon phase. Be sure to remember the Sabbats and perform the Cakes and Ale ceremony. And not a one of these things makes you a truly magickal person if you fail to attend to the work inside that needs to be done.

The work of the spirit within you. The love and light you believe in, that you feel in the presence of the Goddess. Well, frankly, that is the easy part. Yet, we exist on this globe with others the Goddess also loves as much as she loves us. She created each and everyone of them, also.  Over 7 billion people. Now, it would be a great feat to send out and truly feel love and acceptance for all 7 billion people on the face of the earth. But let us be realistic and work closer to home.

And the Goddess knows we have issues feeling so with those in the outer world who judge us, have cast us aside, who have believed wrong things about us without any cause just because of who we are, or how we dress, or because we burn incense or wear a pentacle.

But I find that even those of us who have come from the same place of wonder, when we first stepped upon this magickal path, at some time come to a place of judging, assuming, casting aside and treating like minded people just as harshly, just as unfairly, just as .  .  .  as anyone in the outer world.

Let me say, at this point, I know, that of people reading this discussion, of at least 7-8 people who will read this and be absolutely convinced I am writing about them. They would be wrong. I am writing in general, because in my 30 years I have seen so many occasions, I have seen so many instances, I have myself been the target of so many people looking to place blame, when in truth we can each, only blame  ourselves, for forgetting what it was like when we didn't fit in .  .  .  when we were scared and anxious if we again found ourselves in a place where we would not be accepted, and have to continue forth to continue looking.

Then I have witnessed those who create a name for themselves, a reputation, a following (dare I say) and where some absolutely radiate love and light, others consistently feel the need to publicly try to slander in some way the reputation of others who have reached that level of reputation and following. When at that level, they have taught people will always say something nice about you and that will be balanced out with someone saying something not so nice about you. The principle of polarity.  Yet, by the time one reaches a certain celebrity what is to be gained by a public witch war?

Besides bolstering ones self esteem, perhaps? Garnering as many positive comments on social media? I feel once someone has been publicly slandered they absolutely have the right and almost the requirement to defend themselves, but was the initial slanderous public outcry even necessary in the first place?

After 15 years of teaching, I simply put no care into whether a student compliments me or criticizes me, as long as I can see them following their magickal path and they conduct themselves in ways that would make me proud as an instructor and High Priestess.

Many years ago, I removed from our ritual and Book of Shadows the old axiom "In Perfect Love, In Perfect trust" because it became very apparent that it was an impossible concept and wholly unattainable by so many who practice our ways.

Instead I wrote "We come together in love and friendship, loyalty and trust, Let us part the same way." I felt this was a more realistic goal that a group or a coven could strive for. That having come together with the same desire in our hearts with the same destination in our souls, we could find this common ground.


I have glimpsed it every now and again, and I hope to one day see it grow, when we start to grow as a magickal community and remember what brought us all together, WHO brought us all together in the first place.

So Mote it Be, Ms. Faith


Live, Laugh and Always Love

© 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.

Signs of Spring and Some History of our Earth's Weather

Good Afternoon My Witchy Reader,

We find ourselves in the beginning of March and the temperatures are mild and there has been little snow for two years in a row. Of course there is the inevitable talk of global warming, and I do not disagree with that.  Or that humans have contributed to some of it. Yet, it is important to realize that over the earth's approximate 4.54 billion years of existence, we know of at least 5 separate ice ages, which when they receded, allowed for .  .  .  global warming.

Of course, I am not an environmental scientist, all I can speak on is what I have experienced myself and what I have researched of the earth's long, complex history in regards to it's weather. As a witch, we are somehow very attuned to the changes that take place in nature, or at least those of us who are nature based witches.

I can go out, in the seemingly middle of winter, say in February, and see signs of springtime, where others see cold and snow, ice and desolate winter, and I can see signs of Spring, everywhere. This year it is even easier. The Canada geese have flown back from points South, other birds are starting to appear. I am on the lookout for the mighty robin who is always a harbinger of spring, but I have yet to see him. He is more apparent come April or even May.

This year, the sap in the trees have started to flow earlier, and the maple sugar farmers are already harvesting and making maple syrup for the season. I saw my first bee today and I can already smell the earth thawing and starting to ripen, getting ready for the seeds and plants to start growing for the upcoming growing season.

We are coming up to the Spring Equinox, Ostara, one of our Spring celebrations, which is closely associated with the Christian celebration of Easter. But where the Christian Easter focuses on the death and Resurrection of their Christed one, in one celebration.  We focused on the death of our God, the God of the Harvest back in September, at Mabon, and now we are wholly focused on the resurrection, if you will, of the earth with Her green grass, the baby birds being born, the spring lambs and calves being birthed in the fields and the awakening of the new life in the natural world around us. Tree buds are beginning to fatten and getting ready to burst out into leaf, the rivers and streams are rid of their ice coverings and are rushing and over running their banks. In some places earthworms have come to the surface of the ground and have started to turn the soil, and the earliest spring flowers, such as Cyclamen and Primrose are blooming in the gardens.


As a witch, I do care about the Earth, and worry that mankind is over burdening Her with our waste and disregard for Her, as we live along with Her not in spite of Her. But as a student of the Earth's human species over the billions of years it has turned in the space of our galaxy, I also know we are not the first humanoid species to walk this Earth, and most likely we will not be the last. When we as humans say we have developed technology to the point of destroying the Earth, I clarify that. We have developed technology to the point of being able to wipe out the human race from the face of the Earth, but She will continue to orbit and continue to spin and eventually other humanoid races will come to populate the Earth as we once did. We can destroy ourselves, but we can not destroy our world, though we are arrogant enough to believe we can do so.

The Earth really is the greatest witch of us all. She is the Great Earth Mother, who was here at the beginning and will be here at the end of all existence, 'before time was.'

So, for the time being, go out of doors, or if you are not able, go to your window and look outside and simply observe, spring time, and try to see it starting to burgeon and 'spring' forth, bringing with it, a new season, a new day and for some a new phase of their lives. For each new season can indeed, be a new chapter for you to write, a new part of your story.

So, as you look out the window, and see the new growth all around you, do as we do. Use it as a metaphor for your life. How will it manifest in your life as a new beginning? A new start? A fresh, clean, empty page ready to be written upon, by you.

Look outside and see the new, tiny, beginnings of spring and then look inside and see the new ideas, concepts, plans and dreams within you, that you wish to bring to life. Start planning now, and get ready to plant those seeds.


Happy Spring! Ms. Faith


Live, Laugh and Always Love

© 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.

Let's Go Deeper Into Why Cursing Simply Does Not Work

Good Evening My Witchy Reader,

My last discussion was all about why witches do not cast curses, and the karmic feedback to be expected if we were to do so. But it goes deeper than just not doing something because it is not appropriate or the right thing to do. Goodness knows, if I just told you not to do something because it was a no no, many would flock to do so, just because.  We are human, and as when we were children, just being told not to do something was almost a banner of "I dare you to".

Witchcraft is a science. Though a scientist today, in his or her white coat and laboratory might pooh pooh that concept, it truly is.  A scientist that works with physics especially the areas of quantum physics will tell you that what we do and what they do are very similar. We both work with creating needed change, or desired change just by using our will, along with other natural elements along with some 'magick' or ritual element. Mix it all together and voila', in a specific period of time, change will manifest.

Well, back to why we do not curse.  We do not curse, because if you understand the base element of casting a spell, we send out from ourselves what we wish to return to us. Think about that. It is like a boomerang.  The same is very true for curses, when we attempt to send them out and away from us, directed at another, they do return to us. So, I guess you could say they do manifest, but they come back to us. That is like setting a fire and putting our hand into the flames. Why would we do that? We wouldn't unless we were too ignorant to understand what would happen.

Even when we send healing energies and spells out to others, the energy does return back to us. The healing energies are around the person should they wish to absorb some of the healing, yet one They have to be aware of this, and two: they have to be willing and accepting to take this healing in. If not, to any of the above, it will not work.

Curses have a long history and those who are familiar with psychology also know that there is one very necessary component for a so called curse to be effective on it's intended target. The target needs to know the curse was cast on them. When this is the case, a psychological phenomenon happens when the person believes they are cursed so they 'see' the curse in every unfortunate thing that happens to them, every unlucky thing they encounter, even spilling a cup of coffee can take on monumental proportions as the believe the curse is developing and getting stronger in their lives. The truth is, these things would have happened anyways, but without the 'curse' component, they would simply been trivial, unimportant things with no significance.

History has also given us legend and lore of curses and all sorts of terrible things witches can do to control and wreak havoc in people's lives, yet with the millions who lost their lives over many centuries, accused of witchcraft,   there is a strong suspicion that the simple herb woman or the beggar woman may have fabricated these tall tales in an attempt to keep people coming to them for charms and magickal cures as well as keeping them from trying to harm them for fear some sort of curse would befall them or their family.

For whatever reason the legends and lore of curses and evil spells may have proliferated throughout the centuries one thing is certain today. If curses and harmful spells really worked, truly worked as some would have you believe? Then I assure you, given the condition of human nature, and considering how many adults are prone to childish, vengeful, retaliation, payback and pettiness, if those types of spells did work, then we would have them as part of our day to day life, as common as taking daily vitamins.  Goodness knows every politician who didn't get his way would be curse casting before every election! Sounds ridiculous? Because it is.

We send out positive, loving, compassionate, caring, helpful energy because that is what our world grows upon. That is what we as humans grow upon.  Energies of anger, hatred, bitterness, violence, are all low vibrational energies and will eventually consume themselves and the host within which they reside.

So, it is a fine thing to speak out against hatred and intolerance, as I myself do often. Yet, I would never bring myself to curse someone or to be drawn into a mass cursing or hexing, as to do so demonstrates an inability to think for myself, to make my own decisions and to stand up to others when I know what they are doing is wrong.

As Mahatma Gandhi once said " Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth"

This path, Witchcraft, has been known for many years as "The Craft of the Wise" and that means one is responsible for studying, learning and growing in understanding. It has little to do with dressing up in black or witchy clothing, wearing pentacles around your neck and speaking in vague, arcane languages designed to confuse others. That, my friend is simply a power trip you are on, should you fall into this category, and do not find yourself with your witchy nose in a book or a reputable website learning from magickal masters who truly know the craft.

And, I will say it, and say it loud, right now. ANY ONE who advocates a mass hex, or teaching students how to curse another is not a magickal master in fact they are not even a teacher of the craft and should simply hang up their broom, or wand or pentacle and enter a religion where hating and harming others is more acceptable, because they are not doing the Goddess' work. They are not wanted in the Craft of the Wise and are not a witch. They are all we have worked against for decades, those who have given us a bad reputation.

 It does not matter if your intended target is a crazed, misogynistic, demagogue bent on destroying our country. Hating him is the exact same as hating anyone and hate simply begets hate and it does not bring about anything good. There are other ways to make change, even magickal change, but manipulative magick and cursing is never acceptable. It is not acceptable should others wish to do it to us, so why is it acceptable for us to do it to another?  A true magickal master, worthy of teaching others does not teach anything grey except for self defense and protection.  No matter how they try to spin their intentions.

If you are reading this and call yourself a witch and yet are even considering cursing another, please take some time alone to serious reconsider your actions and the path you walk. This is not what we are about and we never have been.

I again, hope to see you on the other side.  We all make mistakes and we can all get wrapped up in the hysteria, remember Salem Village 1692, but we do not have to take part in the hangings. We can step aside and make another choice. I hope you do so.

May the light within shine forth, Bright Blessings, Ms. Faith

Live, Laugh and Always Love

© 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.

REAL WITCHES DO NOT CURSE OTHERS EVER!!!!

Greetings My Witchy Reader,

Well a time comes in every author's day as well as every witch teacher, or High Priestess as my official title is called, where we must face difficult topics and at times, stand in the face of controversy even against those who claim to walk the same path as ours.

With the current political energy in our country, and the newest Presidential Administration, there are many people who are magickal, environmentalists, lovers of humanity, lovers of animal kind, lovers of diversity, those of us who abhor hate, prejudice, misogyny, ignorance who have very real concerns with what is happening in Washington D.C. today.

My title of this blog post is very deliberate and very specific. REAL witches do not curse, as we do not need to. We know better. We also know magick that can benefit us, and the world around us without reverting to childish, crap fiction curses and harming rituals that give the curse caster for a moment a feeling of power but like a drug or a bottle of alcohol which only works for the user for a short period of time without affecting any change against anyone else.

Yes, I am Wiccan. But I am not speaking of Wicca, but of the science of witchcraft. The karmic feedback, that what you send out comes back to you.  That law of return is not Wiccan or religious or spiritual at all. It is basic physics. It works like gravity. Pick up a rock. Hold it at waist level. Open your hand. The rock will drop. Every. Single. Time.  Is this religion? No. Is this spiritual? Of course not. It is a law of the universe. Just like karma.

I, personally, do not like what the current President is doing, feeling like many others do. But, it is a sign of helplessness, of powerlessness, of inexperience with understanding of the workings of the metaphysical world when one decides to do such a thing, such as cast a curse at another. Lately, I have seen many people, some older, seemingly experienced, who are so upset with the nature our current affairs that they are reverting to calling for mass curses, even binding spells, some even citing the witches of Great Britain who cast spells along the coast line to prevent Hitler's troops from landing ashore. What these potential curse casters today are attempting to do is nothing like what the witches of Great Britain did during WWII. Those witches were protecting their country from the impending invasion of a murderous enemy whose prior actions were well understood would cause death and destruction to millions. THAT is not what is happening in the United States today, as much as some dislike this current President.

He is not invading a foreign country, us, he was elected by our accepted process, whether we like it or not.  If we do not like it, there are avenues we can follow to cause change. I would like to ask each and every, so called magickal person who is in agreement with casting a curse thinking it will do some good, if they have ever picked up the phone and called their Senator or Representative, or have they written a letter to their Congressmen? Have they joined their political party's local committee and worked during an election? Have they read up and really learned what the issues are, how our government really works, what our laws are, what our Constitution says, what our constitutional rights are and have they run for elected office?

All of these things are far more effective than burning a candle and ripping up a picture of the "enemy" and sending curses and hatred and negative energies that will only return back to you, and most quickly too.  There is a little known magickal understanding, that if you send our harmful magick, deliberately orchestrated ritualistic, magickal energy designed to harm another, or to manipulate another's behavior, as we do not get to decide what another gets to do, any more than they get to decide what we get to do, your magickal ability will be taken from you, never to return,

You will meet those who used to work magick, but have left that path. Usually saying, it doesn't work, it's all made up, a hoax, a fantasy and more tall tales than not. Or, you will hear stories how they had done a spell and all sorts of horrible things started to happen to them and they ran as fast as they could never to touch magick again. Yes, that's how it works, many times.

We are able to use magick to protect ourselves from direct physical harm, our home and our immediate family that lives with us, and is in need of our help i.e. unable to help themselves, such as a child or an elderly relative.

We cannot use magick for revenge, for pay back, for pique (which is what much of the current desire to cast curses at the President and his cabinet is what it really comes down to) because if we were really honest and we step back from all the heightened emotion and look at things with a realistic eye, if magick worked like that then could we not cast curses to stop every murderer, stop every child molester, every animal abuser? On the other side of the coin, could we not cast beneficial spells to feed every starving child on the earth, heal every sick person, house every homeless soul?

If you are paying attention, it will start to make sense, magick works, but not like that. Simply because magick works for us personally, for our own needs. To bring us protection on a personal level, to bring us loving energies, to help us heal, to give us abundance. Magick does not work, primarily for large groups of people as not everyone in a large group feels the same way. The same reason applies why most witches do not cast money spells to win the lottery, as every person who plays has just as much need and right and desire to win, as everyone else.

We do not get to cast spells to change what the American people have wrought, even though some of us have seen the future writing on the wall and have a very good idea of the potential damage that can and may be done. We do not get to cast spells because we do not like our bosses decision not to give us bonuses at the end of the year, or to cast a curse because a husband has cheated on us or lover has left us for another.  We do not get to play with magick like that, ever, at all. To do so, shows a lack of maturity, a lack of knowledge of the science of witchcraft and a lack of impulse control akin to being like a child.

Yet, cast a spell if you need to.  And, like all spells, cast it on yourself. Cast a spell of love, understanding, acceptance, understanding, peace, beauty, compassion, beauty and most of all patience, as this too shall pass and when it does, should you refrain from giving into your darkest side with it will come a deeper wisdom and a greater understanding.

I hope, when this is over, I find you still on the magickal path.



Love, 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 We Do With Magick Has Been Proven Scientifically in the Labratory

Good Evening My Witchy Reader,

My, what a provocative title! But I do believe it is true. What we do, or attempt to do with magick is to use natural items, such as stones, crystals, herbs, essential oils, candles, and ritual and energy mixed with our direct focused thoughts, what some like to call 'intentions' to create needed change through manifestation.  We use magick to change our lives for the better. Another way of putting it, is we use magick to make changes that we couldn't have done just on our own.

Well, a Japanese scientist a Doctor by the name of Masaru Emoto has conducted experiments with water, music and various other materials over the past 20 years that has shown that our thoughts, our energy directed at something, as in the case I will discuss tonight, water molecules, can make change. Drastic, remarkable change.

What Dr. Emoto did with his water experiments, I will describe briefly. He took water that was double distilled, so it was considered as pure as possible. He would observe the water molecules under the microscope and they appeared normal. He then froze them to see what form they would take. They would take on a crystalline shape, as was expected.  Through his experiments he decided to start 'thinking' about the water droplets in various ways. he started labeling the samples of water with different phrases such as one was labelled "I love you", one was labelled "You are beautiful", one "You are ugly, I hate you", one "I will kill you" and so on.

He would take each sample and spend time with each thinking of the phrase and saying it out loud and thinking of the phrase. Then he would attempt to freeze the water to be able to see the molecule more clearly under the microscope. What he saw astonished him. The samples that had positive, beautiful words and thoughts directed at them were beautiful snowflake like designs, whereas the samples that had mean, dark energies and thoughts directed at them were misshapen, discolored, ugly and some even looked like sludge.

He did not manipulate the water samples with any additives, or even touching the water.  The samples were only spoken to and thoughts directed at them. Now, my research into this finds that there are those who dismiss Dr. Emoto's claims, which while seemingly irrefutable, we know these days that there are those who will dispute the color of the sky if it further's their own agenda.

I believe Dr. Emoto's research, which has evolved to include the effect of music on water molecules, among other experiments involving emotions and thoughts, words and energies directed at humans by other humans. If you consider the human body, doctors tell us we are physically made up of more than 70%  water. So, taking into account Dr. Emoto's research, we can follow it further and see that words directed at us, by others or even negative self speak by yourselves can in turn poisonous in our bodies. The opposite is also true with beautiful thoughts and words.

Now there is yet to be direct correlation made proving that negative emotions cause physical ailments, but today leading cancer specialists are using alternative methods such as  motivational and inspirational therapy, massage therapy, feel good activities to help accelerate their patients healing process. Though while not clinically proven as of yet, doctors are seeing positive results when the patient is happier, feeling loved, wanted, appreciated, needed than those overcome with stress, depression and anxiety. Historically we have metaphors such as "He died of a broken heart", "I feel empty inside", "I am  full of love", that speak of how we take our emotions and absorb them physically so much that they affect us on that level.

We already know the devastating effects of severe depression, grief, anxiety and how we know those intense emotions affect blood pressure, heart conditions and some other physical issues, so why not our entire being. Dr. Emoto's experiments went on to show how positive thoughts, including prayers, blessings or connecting with Divine energy, whatever you may call it, can actually reverse polluted water and make it pure and clean. Then what could changing our thoughts about us and that around us, do to make our bodies healthier and us happier?

For those of us in the magickal world, we read this and it makes perfect sense, but so many in the world of the relative are still skeptics and refuse to believe simple thoughts can make such a difference. I see that our thoughts are the true tool that causes our magick to manifest, and I personally feel that Dr. Emoto's experiments with simple water crystals have proven the effects of the magickal world, that the witch has known and worked with for centuries. We see the results of our magick every day, we do not need to be convinced.

For the students of history, they will remember a time in history when the greatest of kings had witch advisers or sorceresses in their castle keep to advise and help the king see into the future with their divination. At one time in the foggy mists of ancient history, though often kept quiet and hidden in the shadows, the witch was often the second most significant person in the castle aside from the king.  That is because she could see what the king could not and she was able to give the knowledge necessary for the king to make important decisions. Entire historical great wars and battles were fought, and battle tactics implemented from hundreds of miles away simply from what the witch could see in her pool of water or in her crystal.

In these ancient times, it was apparent that magick was highly respected, and was for centuries. Because it worked. If it didn't, the witch's position would have been short lived, indeed. It is only because of specific political church directives to eliminate the worship of the Goddess and to eliminate the witch and by doing so the power of the knowledgeable woman. For over 1,500 years that we find ourselves in a time when the concept of the witch is comical and a figure expected to be seen around Halloween, and which many seldom take seriously.

The witch today, when she is magickally educated, knowledgeable and trained, has much to give to those she wishes to help with her magick.

I will tell you something many people that work with magick are not aware of. Magick works on the basis of love, and loving energies. Even if I am doing a money spell, or a healing spell, or a tranquility spell I always am burning a love candle.  Energies sent out return to you. This is the karmic energy of what we do. It has nothing to do with being Wiccan, and the "Rule of Three" , as some feel if they say they are not Wiccan then they will avoid that pesky three fold rule of what they send out coming back to them.

So sorry, it is not Wiccan, it is karma. What you send out does indeed come back to you. If you send out negative energy to harm another, even though you feel you have been wronged and have every right to get revenge "damn it!" or "they have it coming to them and I'm going to deliver it to them!" well, you will only hurt yourself.

I have read of very experienced, seemingly educated witches who feel they have the right to curse and send negative energy out to others. I have seen some even try to do a mass curse because they did not like a presidential candidate. Really wrong!! Especially when a witches emotions get the better of them, they forget the basics of magickal scientific principles.

Now, "Lest in thy self defense it be, ever mind the rule of three", I also believe this. I have done protective, defensive magick when it was in the act of self defense. When you are personally threatened or I have helped those with their own spells when they have felt the need to physically protect themselves and their homes from harm. But revenge? No. Don't like a political candidates viewpoints, no matter how outrageous? No.

But I watch carefully when I see these witches attempt these actions. Never do they ever accomplish any harm against their target, and interestingly enough, they are often lamenting on social media how they can't pay their rent, how they can't make ends meet, how they are so unhappy and how the magickal community has let them down, and where are their supporters? Now fortunately these individuals are far and few between and seldom have any sort of following as I believe people see through their nonsense fairly quickly.

I like to believe in the water molecule research as demonstrated by Dr. Emoto. To demonstrate this to my students I had them write 20 sentences about themselves. Each sentence was to be a positive sentence describing them in the nicest terms. Such as I am wonderful because I _____________" I am special because I am good at _________________" and so forth.

Try it, it is much harder than it seems. We are very good at, actually programmed, at telling ourselves what we are lacking in, not good enough at, and what we need to work on. Yet the opposite, we have incredible difficulties. It is as if we are not supposed to say nice things about ourselves. But if we remember we are mostly water and just by saying these nice things our molecules can change and become like beautiful snowflakes, then we can start to change for the good.

It sounds simple, but you will find it very challenging, and that is the nature of effective magick. yet the more you practice, the better you will get at it.


In conclusion, Dr. Emoto also found various music can also change and make beautiful the water molecules. Now Dr. Emoto found that classical music caused beautiful designs to be created in the water molecules, but he found rock music did not have the same results. But that different musical frequencies have various healing properties on the body.  I know enough about quantum physics (which is what we are discussing here) that not only will the thoughts and emotions being directed at the water molecules make a difference but also the feelings of the researcher regarding, in this instance, what they feel about the musical score they were listening to, will in turn affect the experiment. I know some music makes me very happy, some does not. Some is irritating and some makes me sad. But what I like may indeed, be very different from what you like.

So, take the concept of Dr. Emoto's experiment and apply it to your life. But if you like rock music and it 'feeds your soul' as I like to say, then it will be beneficial to you, just as if you feel classical music makes you sad or bored, it will not have the same beneficial effect. You are part of the experiment, and you must be considered in the equation.

These same principles can and should be used with your casting of spells and creating magickal     manifestation. As you create needed magickal change you will also be affecting your water molecules and continue to become more beautiful every day.

So, I hope you choose to be a beautiful water molecule today!



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.

Witches Have Always Been The Nasty Women and Men

Good Evening,

I did take a part of tonight's discussion's title from the latest political debacle that has ravaged this country. Especially when one candidate referred to another, a woman, as a 'nasty woman'. She is not a witch or as far as I know a magickal person, but I am using the intended insult as a banner, because it was directed specifically to demean a strong, educated, eloquent woman who was well capable of standing up for herself, has made a name for herself and went as far as a run for President of the United States. It doesn't matter if you were for or against her, that is not the point of my discussion.

My point is, women, especially the strong, opinionated, educated, independent and self sufficient women long through history have time after time been persecuted, arrested, tried and put to death for the crime of heresy or witchcraft.  In many if not most cases the only evidence against them is their strength of speaking out against whatever wrongs were happening at their time. Throughout time immortal men have spoken out, caused wars, ended wars, raised civilizations, felled civilizations but none have brought the terror to the masses as the strong woman. We have the 'woman's holocaust' the 'Burning Times' to attest to it, where from 700,000 to 7 million people throughout 10 centuries were put to death for standing against the authority of the day, especially the religious authority. (The numbers vary depending on the historical scholars and time frames referred to)

Yet, it continues to this day. I have even seen people stating that women don't deserve the same pay as a man because men are stronger and do harder work. WHAT!!??  There is still the medieval mentality that women are less than, and that men who support women's rights are somehow less than manly themselves. Such nonsense. No wonder witches and pagans have kept quiet and under the radar for so many years, especially as speaking out could get you and your family murdered.

Today, in this country, at least for the moment, we do have the right to speak out. And we will. Maybe not all of us speak out politically, and we don't need to. Some are animal activists, some environmental activists, some work for children's rights, and care, some are concerned with the humans they encounter who live without housing or enough food or need help in some ways. So many of us do the things that benefit others in our community and that is a silent way of speaking out, by doing the work needed. By listening to those who are hurting, by holding the hands of those who are lonely, by giving a hug to those who are in need of a hug.

Yet, a fair warning.  Recently when someone who did not know me, took it upon themselves to insult me and a cause I support, remembering those who had been murdered during the Holocaust during World War II, and said that for some reason she didn't feel I had the right to mourn and honor those lives lost, because I am not Jewish, I stood up for my choice to honor the causes I feel are important to me. I told her she was wrong and that she didn't know me and I personally did not care for her opinion one way or an other.  She came back with a common retort, "You are not a witch, you are a bitch!". Hmmmmm, since when are the two mutually exclusive?

To misunderstand and assume witches both female and male are fuzzy pussy cats, Good Witch Glinda's floating in bubbles from the realms of the North, sprinkling glitter and soap bubbles, well you get the imagery I'm creating here. How completely wrong is such an assumption! As well as assuming witches are hippies forgotten from the 60's, or crazy cat ladies living in the woods. Witches today as in days past are educated. They hold jobs such as physicians, attorneys, police officers, elected officials, teachers, college professors, ordained ministers, martial arts instructors, pretty much any job you can think of.  Witches in the past were primarily herbalists, midwives, village doctors, and simply the village witch who could aid the locals in most problems they might encounter in their lives, whether it be physically, emotionally, socially. or mentally.

Today the witches are everywhere, many are published authors, give lectures, workshops and some even go into correctional facilities to bring fellowship to inmates. We are in every walk of life and are responsible, credible, smart and most of all we do not lay down and let others walk over us. We will stand up for what we know is right for us, we will stand up for others that are being oppressed or abused, we will speak for those who cannot and we will fight those who seek to harm us. Many of us are around you and you simply do not know.

To even think that witches are spineless fluffy kittens, is to not understand or even to have met a witch before. Yes witches can be bitchy when poked, and we will hiss and bite and scratch, because we have the cat inside. What many groups do not remember is the witch is one of the oldest oppressed groups still in existence, after the Jews. We know what it is to be hated, hunted, all sorts of lies and rumors assumed about us, to be feared and to be falsely blamed for all sorts of evils.

If you are not a witch or pagan yourself, the one thing you can be sure of is .  .  .  you can never know us totally as not one of us is alike, and when you think you know us completely, perfectly well, you will be wrong, each and every time.

We are as magick, fluid and ever changing.

Never underestimate us, and if you are lucky enough to be befriended by a witch, you are very lucky indeed.  For your friendship will always have a special kind of magick.


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 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.