PBP: Buy or Make Tools?

Prompt: Who Makes Your Tools?

credit: daillywicca.com

A lot of Pagans perform rituals. Even those who do not, still have at least one tool that belongs to their practice, whether it be a Book of Shadows or a candle....

When it come to the tools of your practice, does it matter who made them or where they come from?
Does something you made yourself have more power? Or can you simply purchase what you need, then cleanse and charge it for your use?

Remember, what works best for you may not be for everyone, so please don't get too 'preachy' on this subject...

~Magickal Graphics~  

I definitely believe the more energy you put into the tool the better that tool will work for you. That doesn't mean you have to craft every single tool you use. It can be as simple as buying a statue that isn't painted, and doing the painting yourself. It doesn't need to be perfectly painted! As a matter of fact, imperfect art is absolutely perfect for my craft. Which is why I set out to make clay art to sell. I've been a bit lax in making more art. That's because I'm a busy homeschooling momma with a toddler. You can see my imperfect art in my Pagan Creation Etsy store. The Isis statue you see in my store is a apart of my current altar. I also have a Cernunnos statue I use on my altar that I made.

My Cernunnos statue. Pic taken while he was still in the mold and drying.

There are some things that you may not be able to craft or just feel like you don't have the talent to do. That's OK too! That's what cleansing and charging is for.

My Book of Shadows is just a simple notebook. Your tools do not have to be fancy or expensive. We are the craft of the wise. It's not wise to spend all your money on an expensive item when it's not necessary. Often the most simplest of tools is what you feel most connected with.

I'm a Proud Witchy Momma

~Magickal Graphics~

Tonight my daughter led a ritual, with our assistance of course. She wrote her own spell, we all set up the alter together, and each one of us spoke our own words. It's also the first time I've used my homemade Cernunnos and Isis statues in a ritual, and I'm very happy with them. I think the deities are too. I would take a picture of the alter but the last time I did that I think I pissed off a spirit. So I'm not doing that again while the candle burns.
It's very rewarding to share my witchy knowledge with the next generation and see my daughter take pride in her witchy work.

What have you accomplished lately?

Our BOS & Isis!

Sorry I've been a little quiet lately. I assure you I'm not sitting on my bum doing nothing. OK I am sitting on my bum but it's for a good cause. After making my Cernunnos out of clay I realized, I really like sculpting! I may not be very good at human features but I do pretty good for my purposes. After all it doesn't have to be perfect, but the energy I put into making it just gives my clay figurines that much more power. I think it's better than going out and buying a Cernunnos and Isis statue. Now I just have to think about what I want to make next. hmm. Suggestions?

Clay Isis. By SalemWitchChild

Here is Isis. Overall I like her, though there are a few things I wish I'd have smoothed over before I allowed her to dry out too much to fix. I made her with an offering cup at the bottom, which as you can see I've yet to take her out of the molded cup because I just finished her today. I'll do that in a couple of days and here's hoping it comes out smoothly! Otherwise I think I owe my MIL some Tupperware. How do you like her?

I've thought about going back and adding the same cup, or maybe one slightly larger, to Cernunnos. We'll see how Isis comes out of the mold first before I go messing around with his design.

I've also been doing my research on Cernunnos. I think most witches and Wiccans have a Book of Shadows. Or at least a journal. I don't specifically call mine a BOS. Instead it's titled "Thoughts, Feelings, and Dreams." I also have poems and other Pagan related information written in here. Yes, a couple spells as well. I'm not a good little witch when it comes to documenting all my witchy stuff. I usually end up writing out rituals on loose paper and burning that paper at the end of the ritual. So for one to make it into my BOS is rare. I also think it's rare for today's modern Pagan to not have his or her rituals on the computer. I guess I'm old fashioned in that I want it on real paper. It doesn't have to be fancy. Mine is just in a normal half sized journal type booklet. I feel more comfortable with a tangible item than typing it all out and saving it on my PC. Probably because like the other day, when my laptop screen bit the dust. I'm using my daughters Netbook for the time being.

Do you keep a written BOS, a computerized BOS, or a little of both? Do you like your own crafted tools better than bought ones?

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. 

Pagan Art

For this weeks Pagan Blog Project I am focusing on Pagan art. If you do a Google search there are a lot of wonderful artists out there sharing their work. One of my all-time favorites is artist Jonathan Earl Bowser of Jonathanart.com . One of my favorites, and because she is my Patron Goddess, is his picture of Isis.

Artwork © - Jonathon Earl Bowser - www.JonathonArt.com

I love how her dress and wings flow. Mr. Bowser really captured her perfectly as the great mother. All of his Goddesses, women, and the men he draws are wonderful. I highly recommend checking out his website!

I'll leave you with a few quotes about art.


Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.
Thomas Merton

A good painting to me has always been like a friend. It keeps me company, comforts and inspires.
Hedy Lamarr

A sincere artist is not one who makes a faithful attempt to put on to canvas what is in front of him, but one who tries to create something which is, in itself, a living thing.
Giorgio Morandi

18. What God(dess) do you involve in your Samhain rites?

Source

I don't believe its absolutely necessary to involve a specific deity in rituals. I've mentioned before that I am connected to Isis, but for Samhain I don't really work with her. I don't know why, her connection to life, death, and rebirth is strong. For Samhain, if I'm working solitary, I simply use "The Universal Energy". Or just Lord and Lady. If my husband is working with me, we may use The Great Spirit. All of them work for me. As long as I'm able to connect with that divine energy I don't believe it's important what we call it. 

This is apart of 31 Days of Samhain

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A pagan/witchy artwork.

I absolutely love the Goddess art of Jonathan Earl Bowser. His artwork just speaks to me. I could sit and look at it for ages and never tire of it! If I had the money I'd certainly buy a few originals. My all time favorite of course has to be Isis. She is so beautiful here and I love the colors of the sunset and the flowing gown and wings. Its so beautiful! His artwork reminds me of the PBS guy. You know the old hippy? Bob Ross was his name. I loved to watch him on Sunday mornings. While he was painting his "Happy little trees" I was waiting for my mother to pick me up, and bemoaning the fact that I had to leave my great granny. But we had a good time watching TV, sharing stories and just being together. So thinking of art makes me think of my great granny. I really miss her! I think she taught me a lot about how to be a parent. I wish I had all the stories memorized that she did. I slept in her bed when I visited and we would snuggle and she'd tell me little bedtime stories and fairy tales.

Sorry I got off track! That's OK though. :)

Isis. By Jonathan Earl Bowser

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A favourite Goddess.

Isis is my mother goddess. She came to me in a dream I had.

Here is my dream as I recorded it on July 25th, 2003. 

Isis

It started out with me looking out a window to see an Egyptian pyramid. It was current times and I remember hearing on a news station that someone was going to open the pyramid to see what was inside. It turns out when they did open it, the outside portion the meant tried to enter collapsed. The men inside vanished. 

I was curious so I went to the pyramid and found another way inside. I found myself in a small dark room. It had a simple wooden table of which lay upon it a solid black figure of Isis kneeling with her wings outstretched. I then noticed that there was also a hot tub of some sort next to it. All of a sudden the figure on the table came alive and there stood Isis in all her glory and majesty. She was angry that I had broken in and I fled for my life. 

By this time people were worried about the men trapped and they sent in more to rescue the lost men. The team came in the way I had come and were carrying weapons. During this part, it was like I was seeing Isis. I was feeling her feelings and thoughts. She was perplexed by me. She felt that in her hast, she had scared off one of her sisters. 

The men reached Isis' chamber. They found her there and because she frightened them, they wounded her. The men then ran out of the pyramid. 

Isis called to me. I went back to her. She invited me to come into her hot tub, to join her. 

She gave all her essence to me and I felt as though I just inherited the pyramid.

I took this dream as meaning she has claimed me as her own. She is the goddess I most work with. Whenever I feel I need a mother figure in my life, she is there for me.

Witchy tools: athame.

My Egyptian Athame

Ok I admit, I don't use an athame often. (remember I'm very eclectic). But I do have this athame I put on my alter when I have space to have my alter things out. I haven't been able to have an alter all year because of our living situation. So right now its home is in a box in the back room. :( I love this athame because it reminds me of the Egyptian gods, and of Isis my patron Goddess. Its not black, but again, I'm not traditional. It works just fine for me. :)

Its other use for me is opening and closing circles. Its an extension of my hand so to speak. And I really like the silver better than black. I think because most athames with a black handle I see are plastic or leather wrapped. I'd much rather have metal vs leather. And I definitely wouldn't use anything with plastic!