Wednesday, June 17, 2009

My Favorite Herbs


Lavender- frequently used for peace, relaxation, sleep, and dreams.




Mint- popularly used for healing and good health, occasionally for wealth and prosperity





Fennel- most frequently used in protection spells and warding negative energy




Rose Hips- used in conjunction with rose petals for love, romance, passion, and sex spells

Basic Candle Magick

The basic principle of any spell-casting is focus, and it's no different with candle magick. Some witches use crystals, some herbs, some incense, etc.; many prefer fire. In addition to the elemental associations, fire is also a very easy focal point, and full of energy. Both the heat and light are tangible, and can be used to add to your spell when you know how to concentrate it.

The way I choose to perform basic candle spells is by lighting a single candle and placing the palms of my hands over the flame- far enough not to burn, but close enough to feel the heat. I close my eyes and meditate for a while, taking in the warmth, focusing the energy both from the flame and from my body. When I feel I have concentrated enough energy, I turn my hands palms-up, say the spell aloud, and release the energy into the air.

Another popular way to use candles in spell-casting is to use the wax as a seal. When casting spells on/for others, you can drip the wax on a photo of the subject, a lock of their hair, etc. When casting a spell on yourself, you can do the same, or- my preferred method- drip a tiny bit of wax on the palms of your hands, for example. (The trick to this is to hold the candle far enough away from yourself that the wax is mostly cool by the time it touches your skin.) A nice thing about wax seals (especially on inanimate objects) is that you can engrave it quickly and easily- runes and symbols are simply sketched into the dried wax with a pin or needle.

Historically, fire has been a huge part of pagan practices- perhaps best known are the famous tales of skyclad witches dancing around bonfires in the Old Days, and the cremations of ancient "heathen kings" of legend. Candle magick is simply a new incarnation of this age-old tradition.

pagan images for web-use




Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Wheel Of The Year

The Rede


Bide the Wiccan Law ye must,
In perfect love and perfect trust
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
An' ye harm none, do what ye will

What ye send forth comes back to thee
So ever mind the rule of three
Follow this with mind and heart
Merry ye meet, and merry ye part

Recommended Reading

There's a wealth of pagan reading out there- believe me, I have quite a library myself!

But how do you now what's accurate, what's worthwhile, what's not some Charmed or Harry Potter b.s. with no actual pagan significance?

Let me help!

Here's a list of some of my favorites:

WITCH: A MAGICKAL JOURNEY by Fiona Horne

LA WITCH by Fiona Horne

SEXY WITCH by LaSara Firefox

GREEN MAGIC by Ann Moura

THE WITCHS COVEN by Edain McCoy

THE CRONE'S BOOK OF WORDS by Valerie Worth

GOTH CRAFT by Raven Digitalis

THE WITCH'S GUIDE TO LIFE by Kala Trobe

WICCA by Scott Cunningham

EARTH, AIR, FIRE & WATER by Scott Cunningham

SOLITARY WITCH by Silver RavenWolf

THE ELEMENT ENCYCLOPEDIA OF 5000 SPELLS by Judika Illes

DANCING THE GODDESS INCARNATE by Dorothy Morrison and Kristin Madden

WITCH CHILD by Celia Rees*

SORCERESS by Celia Rees*



**Both of these are fiction novels, but they are both great reads as well as fairly accurate!**

Skyclad, Costumed, Or Clothed: What Makes You Feel Witchy?

When you hear the word "witch," what image jumps to your mind?

The girls from Charmed, dressed in their street-clothes?
A woman running around in medieval garb and a cloak, with talismans and bells dangling everywhere?
Or a coven of nudists, dancing in a circle around a bonfire?

Truth is, while all of these are exaggerations and stereotypes, they are also all completely acceptable!

One of the beautiful things about the pagan belief structure is the distinct lack of rules and regulations. You see, followers of paganism aren't like most religious people- they aren't required to wear elaborate robes or funny hats, or even wear a dress and stockings to church. They can wear jeans and a tee-shirt to a ritual, if that's what makes their little hearts happy.

So the all-important question- "whatever shall I wear?!" has now become a much simpler inquiry- "what makes ME feel magickal?"



SKYCLAD

First, to clear up some terminology- YES, skyclad does mean nude, nekkid, otherwise in a state of undress. It means one is clad by nothing but the sky. (Makes sense now, doesn't it?)

Many witches feel this is definitely the way to be during a ritual or spell. Some feel closer to nature free from both man-made materials and society's restrictions on nudity. Practicing magick skyclad can be quite liberating- many witches feel it frees them from the mundane world and brings them back to their essential beginnings. We come into the world skyclad and pure; performing rituals nude helps some witches bring these traits to their faith. It is a common belief in many pagan traditions that the nude human form is not only natural, but sacred.

A secondary reason for practicing magick without your clothes- when one is nude, your senses are heightened. Every breeze, the touch of every blade of grass, is stronger and more defined than it is when your body is shielded from the elements.

Practicing skyclad makes you vulnerable, not only physically, but emotionally. You become open to the universe, unprotected, unmasked. It may become symbolic of allowing the Divine and the World to see you as you really are. Living with nothing to hide often makes a witch stronger and more confident, both in their magick and their everyday life.

Some misconceptions about practicing skyclad- there is not necessarily any sex angle to performing rituals nude. Although most pagan traditions are not anti-sex (and in fact celebrate sexuality), and though some pagan traditions do involve sex (always encouraged to be safe, sane, consensual, and legal), the simple act of being naked is not necessarily a sexual thing. There have been many misrepresentations of pagans as sexual deviants, perverts, and promiscuous individuals, which is a problematic stereotype. Every group has flawed individuals, and paganism is no different- but to categorize all witches as devil-worshipping sluts is not only incorrect, but insulting.



COSTUMED

Again, let me clarify- I define 'costumed' as clothed, but not in normal attire one would wear out on the street. Common examples are medieval attire, gothic attire, or wardrobe significant to a certain culture, such as the Greeks, Celts, Norse, etc.

Some witches dress themselves in attire that is "witchy" according to pop-culture, such as flowing robes and pointy hats. (Hey, whatever floats your boat, folks.) Often this is because they have associated these garments with magick their entire lives- it's what society as taught them makes a witch. And while I think these people could benefit from exploring the possibility of other things and not limiting themselves to these popular representations, if that's what makes them comfortable while practicing, more power to them!

Costumes and wardrobe are also frequently defined by the tradition a witch (or a whole coven) associates themselves with. Gothic witchcraft (generally, an exploration of the darker aspects of magick) has become increasingly common of late. And while it isn't necessary to dress "goth" to follow this path, many witches find it helps put them in the correct mindset. (And please, when I say goth, don't assume I mean the Hot Topic type nu-goth, or that I mean the dark-Victorian fashion, or any other particular scene. It is simply an expression of a dark, alternative style.)

Also, witches who follow Old Traditions, such as the Celtic Old Ways, often lean toward dressing in a period-appropriate costume for their rituals. For example, Norse pagans following a tradition that worships Odin might wear tunics and chainmail, or perhaps furs and leather in their ceremonies, while someone practicing Egyptian magick might dress in flowing white fabrics with gold jewelry and elaborate headdresses.

Many pagans incorporate charms and talismans into their ritual-wear. (I knew a girl who wouldn't even cast circle without her favorite quartz-crystal!) Some of the most popular themes I've come across are strength, wisdom, protection, and arcane power. This is cool. I like this. Especially when either the witch has made the charm themselves, or it has been given to them by someone important to them. The only issue I have with this tradition is that often, the charms and talismans become more of a superstition or lucky-charm than an actual magickal tool. One can become reliant on the physical representation of, say, a protection spell, rather than the concept itself. Some may even feel unsafe practicing without it. While this is clearly not always the case, it can be a problem and witches should be aware of it.

Dressing up for a ceremony or spell can become a part of the ritual itself. Taking time to prepare yourself, focus your thoughts and energies, clear your mind from the day... It can be quite beneficial to your magick and/or worship. I would highly recommend trying it to those who have trouble focusing.

On the downside, coming up with a witch's wardrobe could be quite expensive. (I know corsets are quite popular, and they run you a pretty penny...) If you have limited income, maybe try making your own cloak or tunic! You can learn simple sewing through classes, friends, books, or the internet, and nine times out of ten, it will save you a lot of money. One can find patterns online or in craft-stores, especially around Halloween!



CLOTHED

When I use the term 'clothed,' I am referring to street-clothes, something one would wear out and about on a daily basis. (For example- jeans, teeshirts, sneakers, work clothes, whatever.)

I have come to find that practicing magick in "normal" clothes is particularly common among more experienced witches. When one has been a practicing pagan for quite some time, magick often becomes a part of every-day life. In some cases, this allows a witch to let go of a desire for ceremony, and the need to separate their pagan world from their mundane world. "Full-time" witches can worship their gods and goddesses on any street corner, cast a spell in the middle of their work day, and feel witchy in whatever they're wearing!

Practicing clothed is also quite practical and affordable, so for witches with limited income, this makes life easier! No need to spend money on robes or talismans- just wear something you find comfortable.

Also, like any other human group, there are some witches who are not 100% comfortable with their bodies, and prefer not to be nude. While I encourage them to explore that and work to accept themselves as the beautiful children of the universe that they are, if one is distracted by insecurity and discomfort, it is probably not going to make performing rituals any easier. Whatever makes you feel good, go with it!



IN CONCLUSION

In short, my only advice is this- go with your gut. Don't force anything that doesn't feel natural or right to you. If you want to practice GothCraft, but you're too busy fiddling with your steel-boned vinyl corset to remember to call the elements, perhaps that's not for you. What puts you in a magickal mood? Remember- that's what is important.