Be Careful What You Witch For

So today I was thinking about an old spell I did and I thought it would be a good lesson to blog about. I am a healer and so it hurts me when I see those that I am closest to in pain. My husband is Bipolar as well as having various physical ailments. Several years ago I had the bright idea (I.E. stupid idea) to cast a spell helping to carry his burden of pain when it became too much for him. So I set my alter up, had my various healing herbs and candles and cast my spell. What followed was nothing. Or so I thought it was just another dud spell that didn't work the way I intended it to. Hey it happens to us all.

I worded my spell so that when my DH felt too overwhelmed and unable to go on that I'd "carry the burden". Meaning I'd feel his pain. I knew it probably wasn't the greatest idea I had, but just getting rid of his pain wasn't working. DH was convinced that the pain isn't suppose to go away and he's somehow meant to suffer. So I was desperate to help.

Over the weeks nothing happened and all was relatively normal. Then I noticed I began to get a little depressed. It was only for an hour or two and also coincided with DH first saying his head was too much, and then his moods leveling out and he'd mention he felt almost normal. During this time I'd become depressed, mad, and downright crazy. I didn't connect the two (Honestly I forgot about the spell by this time) till DH and I had our one and only fight that almost broke us up. Then I finally connected the dots I could see how subtle the spell was and how well it actually worked.

After explaining to my husband about the spell and why my head went a bit freaky, he insisted I reverse the spell and never do healing work for him again. I broke my cardinal rule. Never attempt a healing without permission, and never keep anyone's pain.   

But if I had it all to do over again, I'd repeat my mistakes. Yes it almost cost me my marriage and made me seriously insane for awhile. But it also taught me a lot about energy healing and about what my husband feels every single day. I have more patience and empathy for him now that I know what it means when he says he's angry for no reason. That was a foreign concept to me before the spell.

So my lesson for today. Don't be afraid to make mistakes as long as you learn something from them. And its probably not a good idea to forget you cast for something, even if you think it didn't work. A week, or a month, or even a year later you might be pleasantly (or not so pleasantly) surprised.

PBP: Hereditary Witches

Prompt: All in the Genes?

This may seem a bit weird, but....

Is it hereditary?

I had to think about my wording on this one... I had to leave it vague, because I wanted it to be as open to interpretation as possible.

What I'm referring to here can be magic, witchcraft, spirituality, the things you can do that others around you cannot, etc. Another way to put it might be "Do you come from a family of Witches?" but that only works if you see yourself as a witch. Get what I'm trying to say here?

What you do and who you are - did it come from your bloodline? Or is it something you discovered and nurtured on your own?

I've always believed that Religion is a choice, not hereditary. But were talking more than just religious beliefs here. Were talking about natural ability to use your will to manipulate energy (Magick). I do think that can be hereditary.

In my family it's common for the women to have lucid dreams; especially as it relates to children and other loved ones. I believe that everyone has psychic ability, though it may be hereditary that someone is more adept than another.

My own mother can be very focused. So much so that what she is worried about often becomes true because she's so focused on it. Unfortunately her focus is on the negative aspects. She's never been diagnosed as a hypochondriac, but I firmly believe she is one. When my daughter was little I hired my mother to babysit for me. This was a huge mistake on my part, but being a nervous first time mom I wasn't too keen on the idea of hiring a stranger. My mother babysat for me for 2 years, and in those two years my daughter was more sick than she's ever been in her life. Every sniffle or slight cough my mother heard, she would spend days where she would tell my daughter DD was getting sick. My daughter would repeat it, believing my mother. And in about a week she would be. My daughter loved to do fake coughs then. She found that if she did it, she'd get attention from my mother who couldn't tell the difference. After we changed to a different sitter and DD was no longer told every few weeks she was getting sick, her health improved. My mothers focus on the negative makes anyone she focuses on sick. Again and again I can give examples of my mother doing this to herself, her animals, and our family. Its gotten so bad that I've banned her from ever speaking about health related problems in my home.

I think the basic talents I have are things everyone can do if they have the belief and knowledge. But they also need to be learned and honed. Like the example of my mother, she has ability, but it is uncontrolled. This can be dangerous and self-defeating.  But there are also a few talents I am better at than others such as my healing ability. Though my methods are different than my past family members, many of expressed their amazement when they prayed over someone for improved health and got results. It seems my family does have a higher level of focus, but because it's untrained it depends on the person on whether they do good or bad deeds with it.

Pagan Blog Prompt: Energy

Prompt: Energy in Objects

Do you believe in channeling energy (either your own or from other sources) into objects for a goal or purpose?

Do you conduct rituals to charge objects (with moonlight, water, salts, etc)?

Is the world just a bunch of energy, that we are moving and bending to our will (magic)?

Run with it! I'm sure there's lots of directions you guys can take this...

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Every natural object stores energy. Every living thing has its own energy. And then we have the Universal Energy (Earths Energy) As two people have a conversation, they are exchanging their energy. Energy knows no limits. It doesn't stop at walls, roads, states, or countries. That is why you can get a "feel" for someone online. Because even though you can be countries away from one another energy still flows. 

As far as charging objects, yes I do this. Usually I'd wear a necklace. Lately I don't because my son  likes to grab things. But I charge them with positive energy, or with an intent I have in mind. Sometimes I will charge them for my husband to wear. Sort of a "Carry a little part of me" when we have to be away from each other for awhile. In January we separated for 3 months due to financial reasons. We were making the move to Ohio and he came first to find a job. Finding a job didn't happen, but the point is we were separated for a time. We exchanged necklaces before he left as a charm to keep a little bit of us together. Anytime I missed him, I'd play with the necklace and feel his presence. 

Magick can be bent to our will. This is called spell work. It should only be done with respect. If your just out to do spell work for fun, its not for you. Its also not meant to solve all your personal problems, though it certainly can help, you are required to do any "mundane" work to bring about the change. You can't just hope to find a job by casting spells, and then never put in an application. 

Energy can also be used to heal people or pets. I've talked about that in another post you may read here.

Some other ways to use energy is to protect yourself mentally. Psychic protection takes practice but can be a huge help when you empathic. I've wrote about Spiritual Protection in this blog post.

Spells are not Lifes band-aid

I'd like to spend a moment away from the 44 days of witchery to discuss spells, and why I don't share. It isn't that I'm selfish and don't want to share my hard work. Its that I believe if you are casting spells, you should know how to write your own as well as know when you should and should not use them. This means you've already studied, hopefully with another practitioner, and have learned how to create your own spells and the ethics of their use. Not that I have anything against learning from books, but I don't think it should be your only source.

Here's the thing, spells are not natures band-aid for life's troubles. If you only use spells to try to fix your life, then your no different from the people who consider themselves Christian only when they are as my mother says, "Up a shit creek without a paddle."

I don't want to make it sound like its a bad thing to turn to the Lord and Lady for help. Its certainly not. But it is when thats your only reason for doing so. Don't forget that you need to do the work associated with whatever change you wish to bring about. I think we all know it would be nice if we could get instant gratification, but it just doesn't work that way folks.

So remember, honor the God(dess), be thankful, and do the work! Not every situation is appropriate for spells. If you are in doubt, ask a friend. :)

Blessed Be,

SWC

Life Change

I wrote this spell work on January 15th, 2011. I certainly got what I wished for. But my wish is not complete. Lets hope that the rest comes to fruition.

Life Change

Mother Earth, Father Sky I call you forth to witness this rite. May you shine your blessing upon this work tonight.
From the North I call the winds to bring new change. A better tomorrow future shall be.

From the South I bring the netted past. All negative shed, only positive shall pass.

From the East a new dawn stirs. With the new day, I welcome new opportunities.

From the West I lay down my fears, all worries remain here.

These four directions I do so imbue these hopes and wishes will come true. A new land brings us a new home. A new baby brings us love and joy. A new start brings us prosperity and wealth. A comfortable home is what we shall be.

So Mote it Be