Witchy Candlemaking

One of the witchy crafts I use to do is candle making. Ever since in High School when we did a class reenactment of a renaissance fair and my project was to make dipped taper candles I've had a fascination with making my own candles. Years later while I was working as a silk screen printer, I finished a project printing bottles for scent oils for a candle supply company called Pheasant Pluckers. (Yeah we really had some good laughs over that name!)

I decided to order materials from Pheasant Pluckers and make my own candles. I really saw a huge difference in my spiritual practice when I made my own candles. As we all know, the more energy you put into your work the better and stronger affect. Unfortunately the supplies were fairly expensive and I went a bit overboard with the different kinds of molds I bought. I think I spent nearly $200 in just one order, and I made several orders!

My supplies lasted me a long time and I even made some special orders for friends. As a matter of fact I think I may still have 2 lbs of Paraffin wax stored at my mothers place.

I'm really missing my candle making supplies right now. I wish I had the room to have included them in my car when I moved. But I didn't, and now I'm stuck with minimal candles and no way to make my own again.

Yesterday I made a prosperity alter in hopes of winning that huge 640 Million Mega-Jackpot. It didn't happen unfortunately. The Gods didn't see fit to give me all that money. But maybe some good is coming our way. Just look at this candle. I left it burning all day long. I snapped this picture seconds after it burned out.

Flame was burning on just the wax!

 As you can see the whole left side burned. The flame was just on the wax. The wick was NOT burning at all. When I took out the camera and turned it on to shoot this picture the flame died. I assume whatever deity or spirit was attending last night didn't want their picture taken! Even though we didn't get our wish to win all those millions, I hope this means our need for a positive change is on the way. So thanks to the Lord & Lady for their blessing.

Do you make your own candles or hand make other spiritual supplies?

Btw, this black candle is not of my making. I bought it from my friend Linda before I left KY. Though I know she buys all her candles from another crafty sister witch.

My Witchy Contribution

I set up a temporary alter today for prosperity. I wish I had green candles on hand, but I don't so I had to improvise. Good luck to all lottery players today. I hope you don't mind that I will win though. *wink

PBP: Spring Clean my Life

Prompt: Spring Cleaning

For most of us, Spring is finally here, or at least mostly here. And for most of us, that means time to clean, in one way or another....

In what ways are you using this shift in the seasons to clean out some unwanted/unneeded things?
This can be material things that need to be tossed, or spiritual clutter that just needs to be removed...

You may have touched on this in last week's post, but this is your chance to go deeper - explore what you are getting rid of, why it needs to be tossed out, and perhaps even what you are making room for....





~Magickal Graphics~  

Since uprooting my family last year and moving to Ohio, we threw almost everything we owned away. Only things of sentimental value or collectibles we ended up keeping. Some of it is stored with my mother in Kentucky, other stuff is stored with my husbands family. So needless to say there isn't a lot of things to clean here. 

I did go through my sons cloths the other day, but that was more about helping out my husbands cousin who has a baby boy on the way than any thought of spring cleaning. I suppose I also need to go through my daughters cloths. Hmm. That is a good idea. I don't have a lot of my cloths, so I already know there's nothing to give away there.

As far as personal or spiritual cutter, I've tried to add more physical activities to my day to day life. I tried to also do a diet, but honestly my MIL keeps too many temptations here for that to be successful. So I'll just say, I'm becoming a more active person. If that leads to weight loss great. If not, well I'm happy just the way I am. I've never been one to be overly critical about my weight. Do I like it? No. But I also don't hate it.

This spring I'm just waiting for the fruit to ripen and bring us much needed change. But isn't that an oxymoron? Waiting for change? Yeah I've always said if you want change you have to create it. I do try. I put in job applications anywhere I can. I network with friends to find opportunities. I encourage my husband to do the same. I also try to finish what I'd previously started.

Which brings me to my writing. I've been trying to come up with new story lines, polish what I already have and change what I think isn't working. Sometimes when I get stuck its because a previous idea just isn't working out and I have to scrap the whole chapter. Don't you hate that? Each chapter I write is precious to me so I can't really delete it, but I save it in a junk file that I'll go back and re-read sometimes to see if anything can be salvaged.

I guess ultimately I'm a pack rat. Whether that be physical items or data bytes.

Relationship with Deity

I think most people of any religion will tell you they have some kind of relationship with Deity. But I'm not quite sure we all mean the same thing when we say that. To me, Isis is my mother and best friend all wrapped up into one. She's my sister witch.

When I first made the decision that Eclectic Wicca was my true calling, I sought to make that connection with deity. Who came to me was Isis. During that meditation she introduced herself to me as my sister witch. I want to say almost as an equal because on many levels we are. But she is also my teacher as well.

Today I found myself thinking about that first time with her. I was in her temple and we were bathing in her black pool. For those who do not know, black is the color of creation. So I always associate water with Isis. Today I was at the YMCA pool again and found myself for once alone. I was able to relax a bit and make a tentative connection with her. It wasn't long because your never alone for long in a public pool. But it was good to just touch on that energy even if I didn't get to complete the meditation. I really want to sink into her black pool and revitalize my spirit as I did that first time when we walked into the black pool together, and when I surfaced we were one.

I can feel that connection slipping, and I know its been too long since I've meditated.

I know there are other ways to maintain and strengthen your bond with deity as well. But for Isis, I've always just relied on water meditations. In what ways do you connect with Spirit daily?

When I was a child I used to write a letter to Deity. I had no specific one in mind then, and little did I know I was being a little bit witchy even then. But after writing and reading it aloud I'd burn it. I've been thinking perhaps I should take this up again. I love that a letter can be as personal as you like, doesn't have to rhythm or be anything fancy. It's just like a letter you'd write your mom or best friend.

I wish there were some woods close by. A reconnect with nature would also be helpful! Maybe I can convince Dh to go to Serpent Mound this weekend. 

To Welcome a little Joy back to this Blog

Sorry for being negative sometimes. I try not to be very often. But sometimes I just need to get things off my chest. Here's some uplifting quotes to brighten everyone's day.

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.
       - Anonymous

 There can be hope only for a society which acts as one big family, not as many separate ones.
       - Anwar el Sadat 

We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.
       - Martin Luther King, Jr.  

 Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish. A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle.
       - John Quincy Adams


The willow knows what the storm does not: that the power to endure harm outlives the power to inflict it.
       - Blood of the Martyr

 From success to failure is one step; from failure to success is a long road.
       - Yiddish Proverb 

 Hope is like a bird that senses the dawn and carefully starts to sing while it is still dark.
     - Anonymous

Outside the Box

So today my very dear friend Linda from Moonstruck is going to be doing a Pagan's Tonight talk radio interview. She posted about it today on her FB feed. I'm so happy for her! I can't wait to hear it. If you'd like to tune in, it starts at 10:15 pm.

After checking out Pagan's Tonight I nosed around Blog Talk Radio and found someone doing online readings. So I figured, why not. I was a bit skeptical because everything the reader was saying was full of sunny flowers and roses type messages. We all know life just isn't all positive. But when she got to me she definitely wasn't positive. lol. Well serves me right huh.

My question was of course about our financial and living arrangement. She basically said look out of the box, that she didn't think I'd make any progress until August - September (God I hope not that long!) and that she thought I'd find something in sales.

I'd be horrible at sales! I'm not the salesman type. I'm really not that good of a people person and for that kind of job you have to have a certain kind of charisma I just don't possess.

So not really sure how to take her reading. But I'm hoping she is just very off.

I've been trying to think outside the box this whole time. First with my Gypsy living idea, then trying to get Dh to go back to school, etc etc.. Nothing I suggest or say or do seems to work.

You know what I'd really like to do, travel! All my life I've only ever been a handful of places. I've felt so sheltered my entire life. I'd love that chance to see more of the world.

I don't often talk about my father. He was an ass that left us when I was just 3 yrs old. But he was a truck driver. I remember wondering where he was often when I was a child. I knew he traveled the country. I also tried to get DH to go to a truck driving school here, but he won't do it either. He says he thinks the driving would hurt his back. And I know driving often hurts him so that's nothing knew to me. I often have to drive for him when his back or neck is sore. He has degenerative disk disease, pinched nerves, etc... Sitting for long periods is painful for him. I want to say, get off your ass and do it anyway. But I know that's unfair. After all I couldn't do a job when I was required to walk all day. (I have Plantar Fisciitis Inflammation).

I just want to be taken care of and not feel like I have to be the one to solve all our problems.

Sorry for the ramble today. I don't always mean to get so negative. But this is where I am in my life.

Getting Back to Me

I feel good. Despite our living situation which constantly plagues my good humor, adding an exercise and diet routine I think is very healthy for me both physically and mentally. It feels like one more step toward a better future.

Before my life went to hell, I had started to loose weight. I joined curves and met some very nice women. I LOVED curves. I realize their circuit gets a bad rap because its not very challenging for some people. But for someone like me who is morbidly obese and has an anxiety of working out with men, it was the perfect solution. Not to mention I got a lot of one on one with the trainer.

With the YMCA I have yet to actually see a trainer. There was one attendant there, but he seemed more like a custodian than there to help you. So far I've stuck to just walking on the treadmill for 10 minutes. That's sufficient to make me a bit light headed, so I'm sticking with that for now. But I also added swimming to my day today.

I love getting in that pool! Though I'm not a strong swimmer, I did venture out to the 8 foot part of it today. I was very proud of myself for being brave. I've never wrote about this before, but I believe I drowned in a past life. So me and water kind of have this love/hate thing going.

I love to be in it, love to meditate while floating on the water. But I also get paranoid when I know my feet can't touch the bottom. So most of the time I stay in the 3 ft area. My daughter is the same way and she hates to get her face wet.

The good news is I lost weight this week, though its not much. Remember I just started this on Tuesday. So on Tuesday I weighed 265 lbs. Today, 263. So not much difference but its a start.

My muscles aren't as sore. I think the swimming is really helping with that. Tomorrow is a skip it day to just rest and then back for more on Monday. I hope I can convince Dh to go with me then since he won't have to work. Its so much better when we do this together.

Have a wonderful and lazy Sunday everyone!

Demons in our Mist

Sabrina over on One Witch's Wonderland did a poll on if Pagan's believe in demons. Her results are that most Pagans do believe in some form of Demon.

Several years ago I met a woman that was constantly saying she saw demons during rituals. She'd step in front of people to "protect" the person if she saw a demon ready to attack.

Unfortunately this story isn't unique. Lots of other people have met this type of person. They are obsessed with demons and trying to protect the ones they love.

I think those who say they constantly see demons are honestly misguided. Maybe they are afraid of spirits and believe all spirits are inherently evil. This is not accurate.

What are Demons

Please remember this is just my opinion, and I'm certainly no authority and am not trying to change anyone's views.

To me Demons are spirits who have lost their way. There is a natural cycle for a spirit. They live their life, die, and are reborn again. This cycle repeats until hopefully they achieve spiritual enlightenment. But what happens if the spirit is unable to achieve spiritual enlightenment?  For whatever reason, I believe there are some spirits who are not able to achieve any kind of spiritual enlightenment due to their own faults. So in their own misguided way they become Demons with their own agenda.

I don't believe there is a horde of demons led by an ultimate evil bent on the destruction of man kind. I don't believe there is a demon lurking around every street corner.

I do believe there are many spirits, and not all of them are ready to accept a spiritual existence.

What about you? Do you believe in Demons and what are your view on them? 

Joined the YMCA

So today I joined the YMCA. The whole family went tonight. Dh lifted a few weights while me, baby boy and Sierra went out on the playground to play. For some reason the child watch area was empty so I had to stay with Wyatt. But after about 20 mins Dh came out so I could go in and do a workout myself.

I did the treadmill for 10 minutes. Just walking with an incline but I need to build up to actually running on the thing. Before I started I weigh...

265 lbs which is pre-pregnancy weight. So I can't even blame it on the baby.

Here's today's pictures.

Wish me luck! Joining the YMCA and using the fitness area is really forcing me to face one fear of mine. I hate working out with men around. Especially ones that are muscle bound brutes. Ok so I know not all men with huge muscles are brutes, but its just what comes to mind when I see huge muscle men.

But no one paid me any mind at all. And by the end of my 10 minutes I was a bit shaky. So for now I think that's my cut off time.

Wyatt Helps Mommy with Laundry

My day so far... Yeah... lol. Its fun chasing around a toddler! 

My Monday Thoughts

So over the weekend I began to write several blog posts but found halfway through the writing process I lost steam. Not sure what my problem is. Perhaps I was just too distracted or they were just topics I am not particularly inspired by. I'll go back to them eventually. Normally if that happens I just save them as is and read what I wrote sometime later. Usually I can finish, if not I very rarely delete it.

So there's a big hoopla in the blogging world about veiling. First, I'd like to say its not something I'd do myself. I don't work with Hestia which seems to be the common Goddess (Though certainly not the only Goddess) most veiled Pagans are honoring. But I guess its also pounded into my mind that those that veil are either Jewish or Islamic. It's just my first thought when I see a woman with a veil. I do get why they would feel more empowered though. I often wear a circlet with crystals during magickal works. While it's not exactly a veil, the weight of it on my head and hanging into my third eye brings me more power and focus.

But enough of that topic, on to my crafty adventures.

Though I was uninspired by my blog posts this past weekend, I did find the time to work on my fictional writing. Last October I put together a short story named Dragon Love for Samhain. This coming Samhain I'll be releasing the second part to the story. I know its early yet, but I'd like this second part to be a little bit more thought out. I'm just working on the outline so far, but I'm excited to see what my heroes and heroines are up to! I've got my work cut out for me. I think I'll be delving into the Dragon kins past a bit and exploring the origin of the stones used to make the amulets. It's guaranteed to be very witchy and filled with steamy romance.

Over the weekend I visited with Inanna's Spiritual Center. The center opened late last year so there is still a lot of growing to do, but I'm happy to report that the center has ordained it's first members. I was there for the happy event. Congrats to Rev. Darlene Barker and Rev. Kyle Shanks. I know both will do great works for the Chillicothe community.

Lynn, who owns and operates Inanna's has asked for some brainstorming ideas on how to get the world out and raise funds for the center. Unfortunately the storefront isn't doing well. We all know any business in its first year is a make or break year!

There's a lot of things on the docket that will help out. Pagan Pride Day may be hosted by Inanna's this year. But that isn't happening immediately. So I've suggested we do a psychic fair. Lynn loves the idea, and since it is my idea she's asked I help out. Problem is, I've never hosted an event!

I know Lynn is looking into advertising on the radio. She doesn't believe paper advertisement will be effective, though flyers will go around. And of course networking on Facebook.

Any other ideas? I'd love to hear them!

If your in the Ohio area, drop by 

Inanna's Spiritual Center located at 

34 E. Second Street

Chillicothe, Ohio 45601

My your week be blessed with Love & Light

Have A Wonderful St. Patricks Day

Well today's the day that every one's Irish even if your really not. At least that's what it seems like. St. Patricks day has become a reason to party and drink and eat green food. Personally I've always felt all the green stuff on St. Pattys day to be a bit of an overkill. I'm the one NOT wearing green even though my ancestry is definitely from Ireland.

And if you try to pinch me, you'll quickly find your hand smacked. To me this day is about honoring my Irish ancestry. I really don't do anything special other than a silent personal nod to those who came before me.

Do you have any traditions for St. Patricks day other than party?

And the mother in me just has to say, if you do party tonight, be careful and don't drink too much colored beer. The green dye really isn't healthy for you.

May you find that short bastards pot of gold. And if you do, please share! 


 
Magickal Graphics


Magickal Graphics
Magickal Graphics

PBP: Mercury Retrograde

Prompt: Another Mercury Retrograde

Mercury appears to be moving backwards in the sky.... and for some people that means nothing. For others, however, who pay attention to the stars and the planets, Mercury moving backwards can mean a lot of things....

So, first off, do you pay attention to these Retrogrades?

If so, do you prepare for them?

Does knowing that it is happening make it easier to deal with the challenges that appear?

If you didn't know it was happening, would it still affect your life?

Any thoughts on this current Retrograde?

~Magickal Graphics~

 

 

To be honest I don't pay attention to what phase were in as much as I probably should.  I take note if there's a retrograde and I usually comment to my husband to expect more mood swings because I do think he is effected by the moons phase and the planets positions. I wish there was more studies on the planets, stars and moon in relation to human emotion and mental health. Unfortunately there is not. So I'll just have to maintain my opinion that my husband goes a little more wacko during times of full moons and retrogrades.

Update: Good deeds

Unfortunately I don't have happy news to report. My husband went to do the interview but upon arrival he found lots of other people waiting for an interview as well. The manager interviewed half the people and sent the rest home to "be rescheduled". Which basically means they'll pick an employee out of the ones they interviewed today. If (And that's a big if) the person hired today doesn't work out then DH could be called. But were not holding our breath.

That sucks. Dh has been depressed ever since. I've talked before about how to support a bipolar husband, but I'm afraid there's not much I can do. I've tried looking on the bright side. Telling him something else better will come along. But he just grunts or ignores me. He's slept most of the afternoon and night.

Hopefully tomorrow he'll be in a better mood. Until then, we just keep plugging along and wishing for the best.

Good Deeds Rewarded

About two weeks ago while traveling to Chillicothe we stopped at a gas station. There we ran into a man whose battery had died. We gave him a jump. My husband always asks people if they know anyone hiring. Turns out, the man is a manager at a local restaurant. So the following Monday DH put in an application but was unable to speak with that manager. After not receiving a call Dh decided to go back to try to talk with the manager again.

The result...... He has an interview tomorrow.

Of course nothing right now is certain, but at least he has a chance to get hired. I'm so happy for him!
Just goes to show you what can happen when you work to remove negativity from your life and bring in the positive.

Please wish my husband all the well wishes and luck you can give. We really need this!

Good Luck Lance!

~Magickal Graphics~

Building the Bridge

The other day during a meditation my Granny came to me. She showed me two sides. On the side we stood on there was nothing but emptiness and death. On the other side was all that I see as happiness. Our goals are realized and our family is together and prospering. In the middle was water with no way across.

I visited Inannas Spiritual Center today. It's become our Saturday routine to go. Today they had a guest speaker named Carlo Hawk Walker. You may have heard of him. He travels around the country to various Pagan and Native American gatherings. He talked of many things but what really stood out is his lesson about the time we give other people.

I'm paraphrasing but he said, "Every moment of our life is worth something. We barter our life at our jobs. We barter or give away time of our life to help others. Each moment is precious. So we should make sure that what we do with our life is worth it." 

Those words stuck with me because for the past year I haven't been happy and it's all mine and my husbands fault. So thinking about me message from my granny all afternoon, I formulated a plan.

Tonight I invited (IE Insisted) my husband to do ritual with me. We froze our butts off a bit because we were sitting outside on the ground and it's around 25 degrees F out, but I'll not complain too much. ;)

I knew we wouldn't be able to move forward without putting the past behind us. I invited my husband to forgive his ex-employer. That is not something that comes easy, but I was eventually able to get him to wish his ex-employer a long and happy life.

For me, I told DH of my feelings of my disappointment in him. This is something I've held in for a long time now and it was time to let go. I didn't want to tell him and hurt his feelings. But it was time.

We also gave an offering of tobacco to symbolically build that bridge. Our journey is in no way going to be easy. But I think we'll finally be able to begin building that bridge to happiness. It's also one more step in finding my balance again.

So Mote it Be!

How was your Saturday? Anything interesting happen my fellow readers?

Pray For a Miracle

Today I came across this story about a couple who relied on faith to heal their 17 year old son. First I'd like to say there is nothing wrong with seeking healing from the Divine. Matter of fact I encourage it! But only relying on the Divine to intercede to solve a problem is (IMO) foolish. Especially when that problem can be solved easily by modern medicine. If Faith is all the hope you have left, by all means pray harder than you ever have before. But it shouldn't be your only course of action.

The Divine asks us to do the "work". (IE Take action to bring about the desired result). That would mean, GO TO THE DOCTOR. The Divine and Modern medicine can and often do work together.


Years ago I was searching for a car in my price range. We stopped at a place that had 10 or so used cars. Obviously it was a mom and pop kind of business. We gave them our price range (Which was really low) and they said they couldn't help us. Their advice, go to church and pray for a car.

What, was God going to throw down a car in our driveway if we prayed hard enough? After a few laughs and explaining that we are Pagan and don't believe God will just solve all our problems, we left and eventually found the car we could afford. But it took WORK. When it was meant to be, I picked up a newspaper a coworker had left sitting in the cafeteria. In it I found the perfect car for a great price. It was actually a little cheaper than we were looking for.

*Do you believe those who solely rely on faith to heal and never seek help from a medical    professional should be prosecuted, as in this story's case?

*Do you believe you can pray and things will just be handed to you?

PBP: Illness

Prompt: Illness

With me catching some crazy weird cold this week, sickness has been on the mind....

How do you deal with illness?

Does being sick hinder your magic work?

Do you employ magic to make yourself healthy again?

What about others? Do you work magic to heal other people?

~Magickal Graphics~ 

Thankfully I'm not often sick. Sometimes I think I might need people from the best nursing schools to help me. But I use a combination of modern medicine and herbal medicine. Usually an illness makes my energy and focus decline so I don't attempt anything major. What I do use is visualization. If I can I'll sit and meditate and visualize the illness leaving my body and my aura cleansing. I have some success with this, all depending on how well I can focus. 

When others are sick I approach the same way as well. A combination of modern, herbal and energy work. As a healer I don't heal others unless asked. I feel its an invasion of privacy. But if asked yes I will do an energy healing.

A Sigh of Relief

When you've completed a big project don't you always just need that huge sigh to just process the fact that your done? I know I do!  People with design degrees probably know how I feel. I've been working on this project for over a month. Actually if I think about it I might be closer to two months. But hey whose counting...

Now that it's almost Spring time, my shaw is done!  I suppose I won't get much use out of it for warmth this year, but it's still awesome and I can use it as a prayer shaw as well.

Now I haven't a clue what's next. Maybe a Chakra blanket. Could be interesting. I have a lot of yarn with various colors so whatever I make, its bound to be very colorful! 

Leader of the Pack

One of the reasons I have remained solitary for so many years is because of fear. Yes, I can openly admit my weakness. Groups and leadership/Public speaking scare me.

I suppose my fear started in the second grade. It was the thing to do to form groups on the playground. We did different things depending on what the leader of that group wanted to do.

One day I got tired of my groups leader and spoke with some of my friends. They wanted to leave the group too, so I had my friends "advertise" through word of mouth that I was forming a new group.

The next day we met under an oak tree. (This was before all playgrounds were made "safe" with plastics and rubber mats. Our playground was a big field with metal swings, teeter totters and other equipment that would probably strike fear in the modern mother). That day I was astounded by the number of people who met with us. There had to be 50+ kids under that tree. When they all looked to me for direction that is when I froze in fear. Now, kids are like a pack of wolves, if they sense weakness they take advantage of it! Which of course they did.

From then on every time I've tried to lead a group I let self-doubt and fear plague my mind. I'd always choose to be a follower in school groups. I knew I could be a leader and wanted to do it, but I just couldn't overcome that fear of being rejected and humiliated again.

So when it comes to Pagan groups, I've always been hesitate to take the lead. Even with just my family I allow my husband to take the lead. Only when I am solitary do I find freedom to do what I do best.

Do you ever deal with self-doubt and fear? In what ways do you overcome it?

Dream of House

Its not often I remember my dreams but when I do I try to write them down in some way. I dreamed of looking at an empty house last night. It was dark and very spooky. Definitely a fixer upper! Its a very old home but with lots of character.

The driveway is very long and on both sides are shrubs and trees. Matter of fact the whole place is surrounded by trees.

When I walked in the door immediately to my left was a kitchen. Then on my right are rooms and stairs and in the back all I saw was darkness, but I think there was a living room. I didn't see the upstairs at all except from the outside.

The outside is cobblestoned. I think there is some kind of porch but I didn't draw that in because I don't remember it well.

I don't know what we were doing, but in the dream DH had some kind of laser pointer thing he attached to a tree and had it shine into a window through the kitchen. He seemed very pleased like he was checking something. Don't know what that was though.

Now I have lived in a home similar to this. Also very old, cobblestoned in front. But the layout was completely different. 

A Message from My Ancestors

I don't have a picture of my Granny, so here's

Grandpa. (Big Mike)

I don't meditate often enough. Usually I'm dealing with my son all day long but today I got lucky. My husband and my son are taking a nap, so I have the living room all to myself. I decided to do a little meditation. I didn't really know where it was going to go. Usually I just find my special spot and relax next to a flowing stream. But today I was greeted by my ancestors. All of them were there, though most were in the shadows. I saw a few faces I don't really know, but felt they are related to me and are watching and supporting me.

My great-grandmother Edna (Granny) is the one who stepped forward to speak with me. My grandfather was also in the background. He waved, and sends me love. But it was my granny who needed to speak because she is the one most experienced with poverty.

She raised 12 children in the depression so if anyone knows about living in poverty, she would be it. Her message for me is to be patient, do what I can and try not to worry about the rest. Which is easier said than done. Patience is not one of my virtues!

When I pushed for more, like how to get to the other side where I could see my family living in a good home with nice jobs, that information wasn't forthcoming. All I know is that to the North of me is where I'll find a job and live eventually. How far north I don't know. When I'll find it I also don't know.

But Granny reassures me that she and everyone who watches over me are there and supporting me.
I wish I had more answers, but I suppose I got the answers I need to hear and not what I want to hear.

I really wish I could find the time to meditate more often and for longer periods of time. But for now this mini-meditation will have to do.

Do you meditate every day?

PBP: Magical Herbs

Prompt: Magical Herbs

The weather is warming up and the time for planting is close. While some gardeners focus on edibles (veggies and fruits), a lot of Pagans grow herbs for kitchen use as well as magical use.

Do you use herbs in your practice? Do you grow them or purchase them from someone else?

What are your favorite herbs to work with?



~Magickal Graphics~

 

Certain spells and practices I use herbs. First of all I like herbal teas as health remedies. One of my favorites is mint tea. My husband often has an upset stomach so this is my fall back for when he's complaining about it. Sage is also a must have for me. I use it for purification like smudging. 

 

I also like Lavender for the lovely scent. I especially like to buy lavender soap. I've used some others but I can't recall their names right now. But if I want to boost one of my spells purpose I can and will use herbs. 

 

Oh and Dh is part Native American so he uses tobacco often as an offering to Mother Earth. 

The Good, Bad, and the Pagan Theives

Today I want to talk a little bit about the darker side of Pagan groups. Most people who seek out Pagan gatherings are good honest people who genuinely want to learn and participate in Pagan social events. My friend Lynn who owns Inanna's Spiritual Center is a hard working woman with a Pagan shop. She's also clergy so her store doubles as a temple.

Lately Lynn has been having some issues with theft. This disappoints me and every honest person who attends the center.  Years ago I attended Beltane with the Circle of the Blue Moon. My dear friend Linda is the owner and High Priestess of that group. When she partnered with another coven to do Beltane all was not a happy gathering. Part of the other group started to steal items, including medication stored in my truck that was for my husband. Being the hot blooded man he is, my husband made a speech and formed it as a spell. It's been years ago and nothing was written down, so I can't share the spells exact wording. But in essence it went something like this.

"If you are here for spiritual reasons, you are welcomed with open arms and you are my brother and sister. If you are here for other reasons, you are my enemy, LEAVE."

Most of the other coven left. Quite telling for that coven's dynamic.

So I am in essence going to do the same thing here.

If your intentions are spiritual and you come to Inanna's Spiritual Center to learn and grow as a person, welcome. You are my sister or brother. If you come to Inanna's Spiritual Center for negative reasons, you are my Enemy. Leave Now. If you feel you have made a mistake, we are not without forgiveness. Just bring the items back and apologize. If you attend Inanna's Spiritual Center with intent to take items or harm others, you will feel the urge to leave. You are our enemy and no longer welcome. 

To the thieves, I say this directly to you.

Lynn knows who the thieves are, though there is no hard evidence we can approach you with at this time. Should you be caught, you will be persecuted to the fullest of the law.

So Mote It Be