Children & The Spiritual World.

Wyatt says, "HI!"

Our children were spirits before conception and partially during their gestation. That is why when children are young, they are more connected to the spiritual world. They don't just stop seeing spirits when they are born. How often have you seen a baby coo at a specific spot around them? Or have a "imaginary friend" only he or she can see? That's because they can still see and communicate with spirits in a way that older children and adults have lost over time. Unless of course you've worked to maintain that connection with spirit.

I noticed my son communicating with a spirit today. As I was trying to get him to lay down for his afternoon nap, and failing miserably, he was laying back and talking to someone above him. He kept saying the same things over and over. Though my son is almost 2 most of his words are garbled and only recognizable by close family. Some words are very clear though. He kept saying something that sounded like "mop". I think what he was trying to say is Bob. He kept shrugging his shoulders and saying "don't understand" as well. The understand part was a bit garbled again, but I could make it out with his expressions. Finally he got frustrated and held out his hand in a "go away" motion and said "Stop" very clearly. I think there was more than one spirit because he kept looking and pointing at two places in the room. You know how spirits sometimes talk all at once? Well that's what I think was happening.

I don't believe I know a Bob. At least I can't think of one right off hand. I wish I knew what they wanted. I definitely felt them there after I took the time to open up and feel them. But they have no interest in talking with me. Perhaps they are Wyatt's spirit guides. Whatever the case, I hope that he will retain this ability to communicate into his adult life. Of course we'll be there to guide and teach him how to handle spiritual encounters should he wish to learn.

My daughter use to speak with spirits in our household when she was younger as well. However as she grew older and focused more on the physical, she lost the ability. That's true for most people.

I remember my own childhood seeing, hearing and talking with spirits. There was a small girl always around me. She kept me safe when I would wonder too far from home. Remember these were the early 80's. Moms didn't hover over their kids then. I was aloud to go outside and play without supervision as long as I checked in at lunch and home by dinner. I often wondered a mile or so away from home and knew exactly how to get back.

There came a point in my life where I told my grandparents about my "friend" and I was told that she didn't really exist. After that I don't remember ever seeing a spirit again until I was about 15 and opening up again to Pagan ideals and learning that what I believed had a name; Wicca.


Have your children communicated with Spirits or have an Imaginary friend? 

Do you remember doing the same as a child?

Understanding Visions

Visions are one of those experiences that if you've had one you understand how much of a gift it is to receive one. If you've never had a vision then you're left wondering what the big deal is, and if persons who do have them are possibly mentally ill.

I can't vouch for the mental illness, but I have had a couple of visions. The one that was the most vivid is a vision of a past life of mine. I know now that I needed to see it before I could fully embrace my spiritual path. That's the deal with visions. If you don't need to have one, but want and actively seek to have one, you're likely never to experience it.

I've only had visions when there is something I needed to learn from them. Whether to experience one is decided by spirits, the Lord and Lady or the fates, I don't know. I do know that they are real and in my case life altering.

It was at a Samhain festival hosted by the Circle of the Blue Moon. They do an annual Samhain festival and a friend of mine is the High Priestess of that coven. Every year her festivals have a theme and several fun activities. One of the activities was a play. So we all gather around a makeshift stage. ( Btw, sitting on the ground in late October sucks! Only downside to outdoor Samhain festivals. lol)

As I was watching the play unfold I soon slipped into a trance. I no longer saw the actors in the play, but the real people in this historical event, and I was one of them. I also know the High priestess was one of them too. The whole thing brought me to tears because I was witnessing my death by suicide in a past life. Our coven/family was about to be lynched by a mob. Instead of allowing that to happen, we chose to die by walking to the sea. I could taste the brine and dirt of the water as I watched my vision unfold. 

I needed this vision to show me that I was on the right path before. I was good at what we did. It wasn't evil or wrong. I helped others and enjoyed my life. This is all I've ever wanted to do.

My advice for those who truly are trying to seek visions is to just continue with your Pagan studies. Especially make sure you are meditating often if not every day and just don't stress about it. Visions will come if you need one. 

Samhain On The East Coast

Well hurricane Sandy is coming and it looks like it's going to change plans for most trick or treaters. We are in the south east part of Ohio so we may have snow next week.

I had already decided weeks ago that we would not be joining a group this year for Samhain. I felt a need to stay home and keep it all in the family. Especially since this will be the first time we will do a ritual in our new apartment.

My ritual also involves bringing out my genealogy records. That's what I love about rituals, you can use virtually anything that has meaning to you! Have you ever used your family tree during Samhain or when evoking your ancestors? So many pages and I only know the stories of a short few; which is sad when you think about it.

Someone posted a poem on FB yesterday that I thought really put my feelings into words perfectly. I'll also be using this poem in our Samhain ritual. I do not know the author of this poem, so if this is your work or if you know who wrote it please tell me so I may give credit.

STRANGERS IN THE BOX
Come, look with me inside this drawer,
In this box I've often seen,
At the pictures, black and white,
Faces proud, still, and serene.

I wish I knew the people,
These strangers in the box,
Their names and all their memories,
Are lost among my socks.

I wonder what their lives were like,
How did they spend their days?
What about their special times?
I'll never know their ways.

If only someone had taken time,
To tell, who, what, where, and when,
These faces of my heritage,
Would come to life again.

Could this become the fate,
Of the pictures we take today?
The faces and the memories,
Someday to be passed away?

Take time to save your stories,
Seize the opportunity when it knocks,
Or someday you and yours,
Could be strangers in the box.

Will you be changing your Samhain or Halloween plans because of hurricane Sandy?

Change Comes With Lessons

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a
well. The animal cried piteously for hours as
the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the
well needed to be covered up anyway;
it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and
help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began
to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the
donkey realized what was happening and cried
horribly. Then, to every one's amazement he
quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally
looked down the well. He was astonished at what
he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his
back, the donkey was doing something amazing.
He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel
dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it
off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey
stepped up over the edge of the well and
happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds
of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well
is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of
our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out
of the deepest wells just by not stopping,
never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.

Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.

Live simply and appreciate what you have.

Give more.

Expect less


NOW ............

Enough of that crap . . The donkey later came back,
and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him.
The gash from the bite got infected and
the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.
They buried him in the well.

MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:

When you do something wrong and try to cover
your ass, it always comes back to bite you.

You have two choices...smile and close this
page, or pass this along to someone else to
spread the fun.

A blogger on Unleashed Diva Living Out Loud has posted a daily OM that I really like.

Each day offers us an opportunity to renew our resolve to the universe that we are ready for change.

 This past year has been a hard one for me and my family. It hasn't passed without learning a few hard lessons. So here are the lessons I've learned that I hope has prepared us for change and a better future.

1. A Savings account is a must! I've preached this before but I let my DH decide that we just couldn't keep one. To be fair, we squandered a lot of money on games and take out food. DH has this need to spend money to be happy and I hate to cook. Its basic Bipolar and lazy behavior. Even now he's wanting to spend $60 for a game when we can't afford it. I keep saying no, but usually (and because he's the one working) he gets his way. I really need to stress to him that this can't happen anymore. When he lost his job we couldn't even pay for THAT months rent let alone another month, which would have been useful for planning on what we were going to do. Making snap decisions when it involves your family's living and job situation proved to be a bad mistake. In the future we need to be more solvent. 
2. Clean up our credit. This I was already trying to do. But we have our work cut out for us now. A year of not paying being able to pay bills tends to do that to you. 
3. Become more active. We led a very sedentary and lazy lifestyle before. This needs to change not only for my happiness but for all of our health. We use to do a lot together as a family. Somewhere along the way it became too much to go do stuff. We became bored with everything. Becoming more active will help us bond more as a family and lead a healthier lifestyle.
4. Lead a more spiritual life. When my DD was little I hated to visit the local coven because I didn't want to be that mom always chasing around the child and never having any fun. Even if we don't go to groups now, we need to be more spiritual at home. I do most of the spiritual work, and that becomes exhausting. I need DH to step it up and help out. I don't want to feel like I'm forcing DH to do a full moon ritual.

My main goal right now is to save money and move out of MIL's home. This is an absolute must for my sanity and happiness. We can't do that without saving money. So, here is my resolve. I am ready to do what I must to make my goals happen. I am ready to spend thriftily, to make more homemade meals instead of wasting money on take out like we did before. To make an effort to lead a more spiritual life daily, and to help my DH do the same.

Its Just a Bell

In my car I have a pentacle with bells on it hanging from my mirror. I use it as my protection charm. Every time it rings I consider it a message that the Lord and Lady has protected myself and car from danger.

My daughter was playing with it yesterday and I reminded her that spiritual things are not toys and shouldn't be played with. Then she responded with, how is it more than just a bell?

Well I went through the whole speech about it being a spiritual protection symbol. She thought about that for a few minutes and then said, "You know mom its just a bell, it can't protect you."

I have such a literal child. I know she's only 10, but when it comes to all things spiritual she seems more atheist than anything. I've always believed in allowing children to make up their own mind. But while she was younger we kept our religious practices separate from her. I just didn't want her to go repeating what she saw at school and be made fun of, or worse you hear horror stories of teachers calling home asking questions.I also didn't want to brainwash or influence her decision too much.

Maybe I should have been more open. Maybe I should have included her from the start. I don't know. But I do hope eventually she will start to question it more. She has participated a few times and enjoyed it. She loves when I do a ritual and can help me.

Do you believe in allowing children to find their own path or do you raise them as (insert your religion here)?

Keep Candle Magick Simple

Hi Everyone! I know its been a bit since I've wrote. I've noticed there a few more people following my blog so a big wave and hello to them.

Last night I did a little mini spell again. Just a green candle, some herbs that represent change and/or financial gain, and a few simple words. I let my husband write it. I sort of chastised my husband for making it so simple. It went something like... You know what we want, help me!
Not those exact words but you get the point Dh was trying to make.

Do you find that its beneficial to keep rituals simple? Or do you need more elaborate rituals? I like a combination of both. Since I wasn't inspired by words yesterday, I had to let DH come up with it. It seems to have worked. I got a call for Dh today about an application he put in last week. DH was at "work". When I say work I mean the states version of slave labor. He's assigned a job by the state so we receive TANF. The thing is he works basically a full time job for pennies. But that's going off on a completely separate issue.

I took the cell phone and the phone number up to DH so he could call them on his break. So hopefully he will have an interview and possibly a job soon! Though the job is located 2 hrs away. We would have to move, which I don't mind if he gets the job.

I hope this all falls into place. I still have the candle and herbs. When DH comes home I will burn a little bit more of it again to keep the positive energy going.

Another point, when you go to blow out a candle, if it doesn't blow out do you leave it going? I always view that as a sign that it doesn't wish to go out yet and I let it burn. My tools all have a mind of their own sometimes. ;) Yesterday I went to blow the candle out when we were preparing to do the dishes. I was blowing right over top of it and it wouldn't go out, so I just left it alone till later. When it did go out, I was able to blow it out at a distance fairly easily.

In what ways do you keep your craft simple?

Finding My Balance

What does it mean to have Balance in our life? There are plenty of other blogs discussing why it is important to have balance in your life. If you don't understand I invite you to read Madame Molly's Balance post. But this isn't about why balance is important. It's about how it pertains to my life. Crafty Sandi recently did a reading for me and her message was about me finding my balance again. I didn't realized I'd lost my balance, but she's so right. I have!

Lance(DH) and I usually balance each other. He's normally the over the top happy (sometimes impulsive) guy who does everything to excess. He's also normally the leader. I'm more reserved, always thinking ahead, never impulsive and always must have a plan woman. I'm not a natural born leader, so I will give my input on important topics, but generally am willing to allow DH to have the final say. Put us together and we balanced each other out.

Now I find we are no longer in balance. My leader refuses to lead. He's no longer happy, nor impulsive or decisive. I know our move to Ohio was the right thing. I've always had a dream that I'd end up in Ohio and we'd be happier and more financially stable. Honestly I felt we could be "rich" in Ohio but not necessarily "in the millions rich." I felt we'd have a comfortable life and be happy.

Grasping that dream has been more elusive. I find that I must step into the leadership role. Yet it's not one that comes easy to me. Honestly, I'm afraid I will lead, and then make a bigger mess than we already have. I suppose that's the fear of any leader isn't it.

My biggest downfall is that I haven't followed my intuition. I've allowed my husband to stop me from doing that. I feel we are meant to live in or around Chillicothe. I know my DH is healthier when we join with other Pagans. We found a lovely Pagan group there. Yet both of us are naturally solitary creatures so it can be a challenge for us to integrate into a group.

I think to find our balance again, I need to step up. I've always said I don't let fear hold me back. Yet that's what I have done. Time to conquer my fears and step forward.

This article is in response to the Pagan Blog Project.

I selected this post to be featured on Ethics Blogs. Please visit the site and vote for my blog!

I've Been Tagged

I know this game has been going around. And honestly I was feelin' a little left out! But Ms Sandi over at Crafty Sandi remedied that. *wink*

So here's her questions.

Questions for you to answer: 

1. What is your favorite time of year?

Without a doubt, it's Autumn. You know that time when it's not too hot, not too cold. Just right. :) 

2. If you could live in any work of fiction which would you pick and why?

O that is a hard one. With any good book or movie I usually end up dreaming about it and putting myself in some kind of role in the plot. Usually I'm the badass chick who gets to beat up bad guys and bring the hot good guys to their knees in love. lol. My favorite book is Outlander by Dianna Gabaldon. So I suppose that will be my first pick. Come on if you've read it you know you've had wet dreams about Jamie. 

3. You walk in the door after a long day at work and Johnny Depp is standing in your kitchen. What is the first thing you want him to say?

 I am not a huge Johnny Depp fan. I'd probably ask him to take off his eye liner. Any man who wears more make-up than me really can't be on my top hot men list. As far as what I want him to say, hmm. Maybe that he was giving me all his money? lol. Then I might love him.

 

4. Let's say you came home from work and all of your furniture was glued to the ceiling in the exact same place it was on the floor. Who is the first person you would think did it?

 LANCE! My husband. He's a jokester and this would be something he'd love to do!

 

5. On a  scale of 1 - 3 how much do you LOVE Doctor Who? 1: More than my kids   2: More than the kids AND my cat/dog/pet    3: More than life itself (Hint: You should NEVER need more than 3 numbers to chose from) IF you DON'T like Doctor who then Question 5 changes to - WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?!?!

 Sorry but I guess the question has to be what's wrong with me. Well, my brother use to watch Dr. Who (The original) and I just never quite got it. The show drove me batty. Can't stand it and think its the dumbest show ever written.

 

6. Did you ever put the lime in the coconut and drink them both up? Did it work?

 Nope. Can't say I ever have. My experience with alcohol is quite limited. I married young. Haven't even had a drink in a bar.

 

7. If you could live anywhere real or fiction where would it be?

 Scotland. I just think the country is beautiful. I hope one day I can visit.

 

8. Describe your ideal birthday celebration!

 A private beach, no kids, and my hubby!

 

9. What is the weirdest pagan themed item you own or have seen?

 My mind has drawn a blank. Can't say I've saw anything Paganish Weird.

 

10. If you could hug anyone ever in existence who would it be?

 My granny. She was the kindest woman ever.

 

11. What would you love to see (and purchase) in my shop next time you go shopping for hand made ritual supplies? (hee hee I can't help it the business owner in me is DYING to know!)

 When you don't have $ you don't really look at shops! Sorry. 

 

 

Blogs I'm Tagging

• Pagan By Design
• One Witch's Wonderland
• Cranial Purge
• A Queen's Madness

 I think that's all I'll tag because this things been going around and most of my regular visitors have already been tagged multiple times. 

 

Questions: 

 

1. If you could travel to any time period, where and when would it be?
2. If you could be any celebrity (Past or Present) who would you want to be? 
3. What profession did you want to be when you were a child?
4. If you changed your name, what name would you pick?
5. What would your dream life be like?
6. Your building a house. What do you imagine the view of your front door would look like? (Ocean view, Mountains, etc...)
7. What is one thing you'd like to change about yourself?
8. I'm coming over for dinner, what's on the menu?
9. What is your favorite board game?
10. If you could tell your 16 yr old self one message, what would it be?

 

Is Psychic Ability & Mental Illness linked?

One of the comments on my Hereditary Witches post prompted me to ask this question. Do you believe psychic ability and mental illness has a link? Can one be caused by the other? I am really not sure, so I look at my own family to help me answer my question.

My mother is the first person in my family I've known to have a mental illness. Before I was born she was very suicidal. She has a 3 inch thick (Not even joking here) folder full of her hospital visits and what the doctors diagnosed for her. There are too many diagnosis to remember, but the one I do remember is schizophrenia.
Despite the doctors diagnosis, I doubt my mother is schizophrenic. I've never known her to hallucinate or have delusions. She does go through periods of depression, so I've no doubt some kind of mental disorder is at play here. Regardless of what she has, I know my mother isn't a medium. She has an abnormally high level of focus, and I believe she's lucid dreamed before, but that's about it as far as ESP.

My husband is the second person in my life with a mental illness (Bipolar disorder). And I do know he is a very good psychic. When he was healthy he had such an extremely rare gift for reading people. In his case however, when his mental illness got worse his ability to read people declined as did his spiritual connection. That is because he no longer has the focus required to listen to the spirits. He's often told me he still hears murmurs, but its like someone talking with their hand covering their mouth. They are there, you just can't understand.

So I have two examples. One I know is a psychic but loses his gift, the other no gift but a long list of mental disease. So that leads me to believe that it depends on the individual. I do think mental illness can be linked with psychic ability. That's not to say that psychic ability is a sham and only caused by delusions. Perhaps because the person has something different in their brain its easier to accept a connection with the spirit world. For others maybe it makes it harder.

What do you think? Are there any examples you can think of that show a connection?

The Versitile Blogger Award

The Versatile Blogger Award & Passing It On!

Thank you PaganMommy03 for nominating me for the Versatile Blogger award. :) That was very sweet of you. 

Alright, so here is how this goes:

• Thank the person who gave you the award & link back to them in your post. (Done & done)

• Share 7 things about yourself
• Pass this award along to 15 recently discovered blogs.

Alrighty, so what 7 things shall I share about myself?

1. I love reading paranormal romance novels (Sherrilyn Kenyon has been my biggest favorite for several years now)
2. I just had my son via c/s almost 4 months ago. I can't believe how fast the time has gone by! He was 10.1 lbs and 21 inches long at birth.
3. I didn't have to cook today! Dh did. ;) We normally take turns cooking and other household chores.
4. Nov 4th is my Birthaversairy. Yes you read that right! I got married on my birthday. I'll be 32 and 14 yrs married.
5. I secretly believe I will one day become rich by winning the lottery. Just sayin. Don't bug me to borrow money if you aren't willing to help someone out now.
6. I love most rock music. Favorite bands are Godsmack, Shinedown, Disturbed, and quite a few others!
7. I hope to be a published author one day. If you haven't already, check out my links to the novels I'm writing on my blog home page.

And now the challenge of selecting 15  blogs to pass this on to.

1. Dragon's Cup Tea
2. Earth Mother Musings
3. Moonlit Nights
4. Mummy Nummies
5. One Witches Wonderland
6. Peaceful Parenting
7. Something is out there
8. The Pagan Sphinx
9. The Witchy Kitty
10. Witchy Momma - Pagan Parenting
11. You call me a witch like its a bad thing
12. Pagan by Design
13. All Rocks go to Heaven
14. Cranial Purge
15. Chasing the Moon Creations