Salem's 44 Days of Witchery

Salem's 44 Days of Witchery

Here's the list, snagged from The Pagan Blog Directory: and A Pagan Mothers Life

1. What’s your witchy background?
2. A myth or story from folklore.
3. Witchy tools: athame.
4. Picture of nature (water element).
5. A favourite Goddess.
6. A favourite God.
7. Air element.
8. A photo of a magical place outdoors.
9. A favourite mythological animal.
10. Your sun sign.
11. Witchy tools: oils.
12. Picture of nature (air element).
13. What are some of the witchy books that influenced you?
14. A favourite pagan holiday that you celebrate.
15. Thoughts on the afterlife?
16. Favourite witchy website(s).
17. Picture of nature (fire element).
18. Have you had any paranormal experiences?
19. Fire element.
20. A picture of a tarot or oracle card, and its meaning.
21. A favourite scent.
22. Current moon phase.
23. A favourite candle.
24. Your moon sign.
25. How do your close ones feel about your witchy path? Do they know? Why or why not?
26. A witchy podcast.
27. Picture of nature (earth element).
28. A picture of a witchy I-Want-It-Now!
29. Water element.
30. Witchy tools: wand.
31. A favourite pagan/witchy movie.
32. A pagan/witchy artwork.
33. Faerie of your choice.
34. Rune of your choice.
35. Something that I think people who don’t know much about paganism/witchcraft should know.
36. Flower of your choice, and its magical properties.
37. A famous pagan/witch!
38. Witchy tools: cauldron.
39. Something that inspires you.
40. Your altar, if you have one!
41. A spell you’ve done.
42. A favourite nature spirit.
43. A magical recipe.
44. Witch’s choice!

Once I get Rabbit down for his nap, I think I'll be partaking in this challenge. I posted it here so I would remember all the topics for the 44 days :) I'm actually excited about having something new for my blog every day!

Salem's Elemental Meditations: Air

Embrace Air

I've procrastinated in writing my meditation for this element because honestly I'm more of a grounded person. Therefore, an element that in essence is the opposite of grounding isn't one that I work with often.
However I recognize its benefits, so here is my meditation.

Air is all about letting go and allowing yourself to fly above daily limitations. To embrace this element you need to allow yourself to become free of everyday stress.

Air is the force of movement. One cannot stand still in a forceful breeze. Do you ever feel the wind against your skin and feel that God or Goddess has just caressed you? Perhaps you have been caressed. This is the feeling you get when you have embraced this element.

Do you ever feel stuck in one spot in life and just need a push forward? Air is the perfect element to meditate to when you feel at a standstill in life and just need a push forward. So here is how I meditate to air.

There are several ways you can bring the element of air to your meditation. One is to meditate outdoors on a breezy day. Remember when we were meditating with Earth and you meditated under a tree? Watching the leaves sway with the wind while you feel the breeze on your skin is a beautiful and very relaxing way to bring air into your life.

If you are unable to meditate under those conditions, meditate with a feather to represent the wind that allows birds to soar to great heights. 

The Importance of Grounding during Magickal works

Grounding is connecting yourself to the Earth before beginning any magickal works. Its important to ground yourself first because you're more in control of your energy and you'll have better focus. I remember my first Pagan circle I attended. I had no idea what grounding meant and no one told me to do it. So when we began to build up energy I felt like I could literally just float away. It was an awesome feeling, but you do not want to be out of control while doing magick.

To ground, all you really need to do is connect with Mother Earth. I  imagine my feet as roots of a tree. The deeper I can imagine my roots going into the Earth the more grounded, focused and in control I am.

For those who read this who practice the craft, what ways do you ground yourself?

Happy Breastfeeding Week

Sierra giving Wyatt breast milk via bottle

So Wyatt is 2 1/2 months old now and that means we've been nursing for that long. My second baby is so much easier than my first and I attribute that to breastfeeding and co-sleeping. My first I did things very traditional. Formula, CIO, sleeping in her crib from day 1, etc... I didn't have any mom input from others besides grandmothers and great grandmothers so I really had no other viewpoint.

Me & Wyatt nursing

Now I can definitely see a difference. Wyatt still fights sleep like Sierra did, but he doesn't scream all night. He's chose his own schedule to sleep which is fine. The point is that he actually does sleep! With Sierra she would cry for hours on end for years before we'd have a peaceful nights sleep.
I refuse to sleep in the actual bed with Wyatt. I'm afraid I'll forget he's there and roll over on him or something. But his bassinet is next to me which was so great when I was first out of the hospital. I had a c-section so standing always was a pain.
I think I'm really doing things better now. Not that FF is bad or anything. I think its great if your not able to BF. I'd certainly rather see a baby well fed ANY way than to die of starvation. But breastfeeding is so much more than just nourishment. Its our special time. I like the bond that it has given us. With my daughter, she's more of a daddy's girl and I have always been jealous of that.

I like my num nums!

Nursing

I don't go many places right now, but when I do usually I'll need to nurse in public (NIP). I live in a very small town so breastfeeding in general isn't very popular. I've gotten a mixed bag of looks and comments. Some just smile and nod. Some glance at me and look away. A few have pointed their finger at me and whispered to their companions. And one even asked to "See the baby". As if he didn't know I was nursing. That guy was just a perv. The point is, breastfeeding is natural. It shouldn't be this foreign concept that people want to hide away or point at like its part of a circus side show. So in honor of breast feeding week, I'm proud to say I'm a breast feeding mother, and I hope that my experience will help another mom to choose to breast feed her LO too.

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