Samhein

The Brits called her Morgan Le Fay, the Celts called her Morrigan. She was the ruler of the Isle of Avalon and the death Goddess. "The ambivalence with which she is traditionally represented echoes our own fear of her deep and ancient wisdom." Michael Babcock
It seems fitting to think of her on Samhein.

Samhein, Samhain, Samhuiin, Halloween, All Hallow's Eve, Oiche Shamhna, Nos Calan Gaeaf, Hallowmas, All Saints Day, Hollantide. Those are just some of the names from the British Isles. The day to honor the dead is known around the world and is usually at this time of year.

What we call the thinning of the veil between worlds is a force that people from ancient times have felt and honored. Even the Catholic Church at the height of its power in Europe could not stamp out this festival and had to settle for co-opting it. It is a powerful, mystical time of the year.

In Celtic lore, the Great Horned God dies at Samhein and passes into the underworld. He will be reborn at Yule and the Wheel will turn again. The Goddess is now seen in her Crone aspect, healer and destroyer as the winter progresses.

This is the end and the beginning of a new year. It is a time to look back on the year just passed, honor the dead who have crossed over during this year and take accounting of our own lives. It is a time to be honest with ourselves about what we have accomplished or failed to accomplish and what we want to do in the coming year.
Not in the way of making resolutions that has become a silly game played on January 1st, but a real committment to move forward with our lives.

Sometimes those who have died recently or other unknown spirits will reach out through the veil at this time. Some are able to hear or see them.
If you are contemplating being the one to reach out from this side of the veil, I urge you to take along an experienced guide or at the very least cast a strong circle and be very clear about whom you are inviting into it.
The last thing most of us need is a bored or malevolent energy hanging around in our lives. Personally I have never been tempted to try this, so perhaps I am more wary of it than it deserves. But caution can be a good thing.

Other than the spiritual side of the day, there is also, Trick 0r Treat, costume parties, time to act silly and see how you look in black and orange, pumpkin carving, corn mazes, haunted houses (the fake kind), and at least locally, the Witches Ball.

Have fun and be safe.

For anyone who missed this link on The Wild Hunt.....enjoy:

Fending off religious tourists and struggling to organize a coven on Halloween.by: Lee Ann Kinkade

Invoking the Elements

There are many different ways to invoke the Elements. You can simply ask them to be present, you can make calling them an important part of a ritual or you can even make calling them the ritual itself.

This little invocation is one of my own and is about as short and to the point as you can get:

I call upon the wisdom of the North,
The creativity of the East,
The passion of the South,
The emotion of the West,
To create this sacred space between the worlds.

This is another very simple invocation that I wrote for myself and use quite a lot:

Spirit of the Earth, Guardian of the North, You ground me and feed my connection to the earth. Be with me now to be witness and guardian to this ritual.

Spirit of the Wind, Guardian of the East, You fuel my imagination and give me creativity. Be with me now to be witness and guardian to this ritual.

Spirit of Fire, Guardian of the South, Your power leaves me in awe, I am comforted by your flame. Be with me now to be witness and guardian to this ritual.

Spirit of Water, Guardian of the West, you are my pathway to the Goddess, you bring me peace. Be with me now to be witness and guardian to this ritual.

Akasha, spirit of energy that surrounds us. Be with us now to be witness and guardian to this ritual.

Here is an invocation that is the ritual itself. It is a Winter Full Moon ritual. I regret that I do not remember where I found this. I think it is a lovely ritual.

We call upon the powers of Earth and welcome you to this circle.
You hold the seeds within you, warm and deep, waiting for the return of daylight. Keep the roots of life sacred within your womb until it is time for growth to begin once more.

We call upon the powers of Air and welcome you to this circle. The whirling winds of winter bring snow and cold to our hearths and homes. They also bring with them change, opportunity and renewal as they blow.

We call upon the powers of Fire and welcome you to this circle. May you keep us safe and warm in our homes, spirit of the sun.

We call upon the powers of Water and welcome you to this circle. Snow and ice, sleet and rain wash away that which we no longer need.

We gather tonight to rejoice by the light of the moon. We celebrate the season of darkness, knowing that the next turn of the wheel will bring light. We use this time of darkness for thought, introspection and growth.

As the moon above, so the earth below.

The following is one of the more ornate ways of calling the Elements that I have run across lately. It is from Embracing the Moon by Yasmine Galemorn. If you are really into ritual, hold on to your hat...

Spirit of the North, Spirit of the Earth,
You who are stone and rock, bone and crystal,
You who are tree and root and branch,
You, whose soil is the body of the Goddess
And whose grass is the green of her hair,
Spirit of Earth, come to me!
Spirit of the Wolf, Spirit of the Gnomes,
I call upon thee.
You who rule from the blackest caverns below To the highest mountain tops,
Hear me.
Bring to these rites your spirit of prosperity, Of stability and manifestation.
With a ring of stone and bone and crystal,
I encircle this sacred space and all within.
Let nothing enter unwelcome. Spirit of the Earth, welcome and blessed be!

Spirit of the East, Spirit of Air,
You who are mist and vapor and cloud,
You who are fresh breeze and wild hurricane,
Webweaver at the edge of dawn,
Sweeping out the stagnation to weave a new day,
Come to me.Spirit of the Hawk Spirit of the Sylph, Hear me.
Bring into these rites purification and clarity,
Sweep through and remove stagnation.
With a ring of mist and vapor and fog,
I encircle this sacred space and all within,
Let nothing enter unwelcome.
Spirit of the Air, welcome and blessed be!

Spirit of the South, Spirit of the Flame and Faerie Fire.
You who are the crackle of bonfires,
you who are the golden sun and glowing lava,
You who are the heat of the desert
and the sparkle of phosphorescence on the shore in the the water.
Come to me.
Spirit of the Phoenix, Spirit of the Flame Dancers,
Hear me.
Bring into these rites your spirit of creativity And passion,
Your ability to transmute and rise new from the Ashes.
With a ring of sunlight and lava I encircle this sacred space and all within.
Let nothing enter unwelcome.
Spirit of the Flame, welcome and blessed be!

Spirit of the West, Spirit of the Water
You who are the Moon Mother,
You who are the Undines of the Rivers
And the sirens of the crashing ocean breakers
You who are the Naiads of the grottos,
Come to me.
Spirit of the Shark,
Hear me.
Bring to these rites your deepest intuition and truest emotions,
Teach me to be flexible, to adapt and flow Like your waters.
With a ring of wave and rain and tears
I encircle this sacred space and all within
Let nothing enter unwelcome.
Spirit of the Water, welcome and blessed be!

I'm sure there are much more ornate ways to do this. I'm sure there are invocations that go on for hours. Fortunately, I don't have any of them.

5 Elements

Not four, five..... Earth, Wind, Fire, Water and Akasha.

The Elements, as primal forces of nature and The Elements as we tend to think of them when working magick are unique and independent.

But actually, the Elements are one of the best examples of how we are all interconnected and dependent on each other.

The Earth needs Water, Air and Fire in order to be anything but a cold rock. Air needs water molecules, Water is teeming with life, Fire needs fuel. Each cannot, in the physical world, exist without the others.

This interdependence is also a force of nature and it has a name. The energy force that binds the Elements together, us to the Elements and them to us is called Akasha.

Akasha is the primal source of unchanging energy that fuels the Elements. In perfect balance and harmony, not manifested in physical form.

Modern physicists have a modern name for Akasha. They call it dark matter. Can't see it, feel it, touch it or even prove that it exists, but it binds the universe together. This is a relatively new scientific discovery.

Akasha, the fifth elemental force, has always been there, many of us feel it without being told. Scientists may have known this too, but prefer to think of it in scientific terms.

Some magick traditions feel that the spark of the divine within each of us, sometimes called our soul, is a bit of Akasha within us.

My invocations of the Elements include an acknowledgment of this source of the Elements. Not to be used or commanded, I acknowledge the existence of Akasha with respect.

Coming up next.....a variety of invocations, from the dramatic and ornate to the simple.

A Little More on the Elements

So I posted those lists about the Elements, how is all that information useful?

Keeping in mind that the Elements are powerful forces of nature, an overview of what you are dealing with is helpful. Just reading the lists of 'associated with' for each Element should give you a feeling about that Element, perhaps a visual or a sense of personality. For example; Fire, associated with volcanoes, the color red and passion is quite different than Air, associated with wind, the color yellow and cool intellectualism.

Studying the associations and the Gods and Goddesses who favor each Element can increase your ability to call the Elements and to avoid being disrespectful of either the Elements or the Gods. Like this...

If I particularly want assistance from Air in an intellectual project, calling on Rhiannon (Earth), using red candles (Fire) and carefully timing my ritual during the twilight hours (Water) while burning patchouli (Earth) and drawing energy thru an aquamarine (Water) is probably not going to impress anyone. So far I have totally ignored the preferences and associations of Air.

Does this mean that you have to run out a buy a bunch of stuff to make your magick work? Absolutely not, but the amount of thought and planning and vision that you put into your magick determines the results that you get.

If you want to ask Air for help, you have done some research and you have determined that
1. you do not have any of the incense, candles, metals, herbs etc that are associated with Air
and
2. all of the Gods and Goddesses associated with Air are strangers to you....

Then don't use them.

Rather than being disrespectful by doing the research, finding out the preferences and then ignoring them to do things your own way (once you have done the research you can't claim ignorance).....leave all the trappings off.

The items that we use in mystical magick are simply tools to assist us. Better to use no tools. The right ones can be a help, the wrong ones can be a distraction.
Ask for assistance in a heartfelt way and let it go. This is a time when less is more.


Another way that the lists of information can be useful is if you want to make a connection with a particular Element. Without any preconceived ideas about which Element suits you, read thru the lists and see which Element is associated with the most items that you relate to on a very basic/emotional level. You have to be honest with yourself about this, the Element that you 'think' is most like you might not be.

Do you routinely call the Elements during a ritual without giving them much thought? Communicate respectfully and directly with them and you might be surprised at the results. They may not speak to you in the same way as the Gods and Goddesses, but they are powerful and you will recognize the results of your efforts.

The Elements and their associations are scattered over the last month or so. I am still adding to them as I find interesting bits of info. If anyone wants me to repost them all in one blog post, just let me know and I will do that.

a bloggers' game of tag

There is a game of TAG going on among the bloggers.
If you want to join in, just leave me a comment and I will tag you too. This should lead all of us to look at some blogs that we might otherwise never have seen. Have fun.

I got tagged by spiderlady

Rules:

1. Link to the person or persons who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

6 random things....
1. My hair is not it's natural color
2. I am self employed and should be working right now
3. I am addicted to podcasts
4. I watch Stargate SG1
5. I'm pretty solitary and like it.
6. I think all this makes me sound like a weird geek.

Ok, tagging….(my most humble apologies if I mixed up any of the people and their blogs.....please don't shoot me!)

Jule
Mittsie
Patchouli Sky
Sue
Lodestone & Lady's Mantle
Aelwyn

7 days to Samhein

8 days to Samhein

The Wiccan Rede

I am a solitary witch. I am less solitary than I used to be, having connected with the Pagan world over the last year or so. Pagan hermit is what I used to be, now I just practice as a solitary.
Long before I had heard any other Pagan opinions to influence my thoughts about the path, I read the Wiccan Rede, and I have to say that I think that some people do WAY too much stressing about it.

I hear people passionately defending it as everything from the basis for all of their pagan beliefs to a command to become vegan.

I also hear people dismissing it while spitting out an affronted assertion that they do not need anyone to tell them how to chose right and wrong.

I have to say that I have laughed at both of these camps as well as at myself and my interpretation of the two little lines that cause all the ruckus.
An ye harm none; do as ye will.

First, I have to point out that there is more to the Rede than these lines and most of it is a simple description of the Wheel of the Year, the Sabbats and Esbats.

As to the "command" that causes so much dissension. I have to admit that I never took it as a command at all. I read it in the same vein as the rest of the Rede and did not assume that the author had suddenly changed tracks in mid stride.

My interpretation is so simple that it pales beside the two entrenched camps. I took it to mean that, being careful not to cause harm to other people, just as you would in any other part of your life, you should engage in as much magick as you wish, with no other constraints or worries and not letting the dictates of others determine how you practice your magick.

I have to suspect that the extreme views harken back to our Puritan heritage which seems able to badger and follow us even into the Craft. Talk about lacking in joy.
Those guys made everything a chore, a command, a directive....or if it might be pleasant, a sin. Everything was good, but grim, or evil. The analyzing and looking for a hidden (negative) meaning that we do just proves how hard it is to leave this sort of thinking behind.

This is one example of being glad that I made up my own mind before being contaminated by a fuss that is best described as 'much ado about nothing.'

So stop overthinking it. Don't use your power on your annoying neighbor, do use your power to make your own life better and absolutely enjoy your magick - everyday.

I am the High Priestess

I am the High Priestess.....I suspected as much.
Have a little fun and find out
What Tarot card are you?


disclaimer:
This blog is going to be pretty much pointless for a couple of weeks.
I am going to get all this kvetchy witchy stuff out of my system.
If you are looking for serious posts...come back later,
I plan to sober up about a week before Samhein
so the serious celebrating can begin.

some thoughts on Cunningham

I see Scott Cunningham's name linked with people like Silver Ravenwolf and I have to protest. It's a rather arrogant attitude to lump all beginner books into a 101 category with a sniff and a look down the nose. Why don't we leave those attitudes with the D.A.R. where they belongs.

There are, in my opinion, two kinds of beginner Witchcraft books.
There are those that are meant to glorify the author(s). These are the 'look how wonderful /powerful /mysterious /witchy I am' genre of books. 10 steps to become a High Priestess. Long lists of places to buy long lists of magickal items that you need to become a powerful witch. Book jackets with lists of television appearances and book signings. To me this is just another version of the 24/7 costume party - look at me.

Then there are beginner books that are designed to give a curious person some insight into the Pagan path. More emphasis on the spiritual path and less on tools. More emphasis on the deities and less on being powerful. More emphasis on finding your own path and less on do-it-my-way. More emphasis on the difficulties and less on entertaining your friends with your new powers or wardrobe - whichever comes first.

Scott Cunningham's books definitely belong in the second category. His books are about a spiritual path. He wanted Wicca, in particular, to be available to anyone who was interested and not reserved for those lucky enough to find the right coven at the right moment in their lives.

There are a lot of reasons that a lot of Pagans don't really want any Pagan path to become mainstream. Probably even more of us who have mixed feelings about it. But it speaks to the power of the lure of elitism to deride authors like Cunningham, who make some basic information available to all.

If you are new to Paganism or Wicca and looking for information, I recommend Scott Cunningham's books, available at many bookstores and public libraries. If you are an experienced witch looking for a way to introduce a curious friend or relative to Paganism, I recommend his books. Don't be put off by the fluffy bunny criticisms, this is the real thing. Basic, simple, but not a commercialized, have it your way version.

Witch's Broom Nebula

14 days to Samhein

15 days to Samhein

A Magickal Night is coming

disclaimer:
This blog is going to be pretty much pointless for a couple of weeks.
I am going to get all this kvetchy witchy stuff out of my system.
If you are looking for serious posts...come back later,
I plan to sober up about a week before Samhein
so the serious celebrating can begin.

Blessed Full Moon

October Full Moon

The October Full Moon is on Tuesday, October 14 at 4:02pm (EDST). This moon is also known as the Blood Moon or again as the Hunter's Moon. The three full moons of the harvest season take on one of their three names in different orders, depending on whom you ask.

This one makes the most sense to me as the Blood Moon because the harvest is now over and if you are living off the land now is the time to fill the larder with meat. In earlier times people gave thanks to and honored the animals that they took for sustenance.

In magickal workings this full moon is the most powerful one of the year for divination. In fact, you will be able to raise power easily in a ritual on this moon, Samhein is approaching and the divide between worlds is thinning right now. Think about who you are inviting into your circle if you do magick this month and take extra care with protection rituals and calling the Elements.

19 days to Samhein

The Goddess is Alive
&
Magick is Afoot

disclaimer:
With a couple of exceptions like a Full Moon post
(gotta keep you lookin'),
this blog is going to be pretty much pointless
for a couple of weeks.
I am going to get all this kvetchy witchy stuff out of my system.
If you are looking for serious posts...come back later,
I plan to sober up about a week before Samhein
so the serious celebrating can begin.

Earth

Our next Element is Earth. Water was on 10/7, Fire was on 9/29, Air was on 9/23, my personal reflections post was on 9/5.

EARTH

Earth is grounding, stability, nuturing. The planet we stand on is merely a manifestation of these qualities. Earth is receptive energy.

The following are associated with Earth:

• direction: north
• color: green
• tool: the pentagram, salt, stones
• zodiac signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
• tarot suite: pentacles or disks
• gods: Adonis, Dionysus, Pan
  
• goddesses: Rhiannon, Rhea, Ceres, Persephone, Mah
• archangel Gabriel
  
• time: midnight
• place: caves, canyons, gardens, forests
  
• season: winter
• touch
• rock crystal
• salt
• comfrey
• patchouli
  
• trees
  
• ivy
• oats, barley
• stag, bison, snake
• gnomes, dwarfs, trolls
• prosperity, success, stabiltiy, fertility
  

You can connect with the Earth as simply as growing a houseplant.

Shoots unfurl
flowers bloom
leaves uncurl
in this room.
Plant of green
forever strong
grow now here
where you belong.
Roots push deep and
branches climb
by the power
of this rhyme.
Grow now plant -
this is the time!

21 days to Samhein

I have to start enjoying Samheim a little early. I will be posting some witchy artwork, fun stuff and whatever else I come across in the next couple of weeks.

more podcasts!

More Podcasts!

I love the Pagan Podcasts. They were my first contact with other pagans who had something to say. My list of favorites with links is in the right hand column of this page. I listen to them all the time. I took a look at itunes tonight and found THREE new pagan podcasts, all of them started in the last few weeks. I haven't had time to listen to them yet or visit the webpages or anything. If anybody has time, give these witches a listen and let me know what you think. I will be listening as soon as I get a chance, but it might be the weekend before I get to it. I am glad to see more and more podcasts, I think it is good for the Craft. Who would have thought that there would ever be so many to choose from?
I don't have links, they are all found on itunes:
Get Witchified, first podcast on 8/30
Pagan FM, first podcast on 9/21
Witchery of One, first podcast 9/10

And this would be a good time to say Congratulations!
to the two previous 'newbies' who have now been on the air for several 'casts and are already gathering a base of listeners (including me!).
A Catnip Brew with Fortuna & Fluffy
iPod Witch with Brook

And how could I forget 'The Gods Must be Crazy"
17 year old Coty exploring his own pagan path, he got off to a wonderful start with his first 'cast. I think it was the last week in August. It was very good,
I forgot to send him an email. I need a keeper.....with a to-do list.

Water

Our next Element is Water. Fire was on 9/29. Air was on 9/23. My personal reflections post was on 9/5.

WATER

Water is healing, soothing, emotional. We connect easily with water because we are made of water. Some (including me) feel that the Element Water is a go-between for communication with the Goddess as the Moon Goddess. Water is receptive energy.

The following are associated with Water:

• direction: west
• color: blue
• tool: cup, chalice or cauldron
  
• zodiac signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
• tarot suite: cups
• gods: Osiris, Neptune, Posiedon
• goddesses: Isis, Aphrodite, Tiamat
  
• archangel Raphael
• time: twilight
• place: lakes, streams, rivers, oceans, spas
• fog, ice
• taste
• ferns, water lilies
• myrrh
• aquamarine
• willow trees
• dragons, mermaids, dolphins
• undine, nymphs
• mercury, silver, copper
• psychic awareness
• dreams
• peace

time out for a commercial.....

So this is where everybody tells me that EVERYBODY knows about Blackmore's Night. Well, nobody told me!
I heard a song called Under A Violet Moon on the Eclectic Pagan Podcast (good show, btw) and loved it and went on a search. I found it on itunes and after listening to quite a lot of their music. I settled on these two albums; Under a Violet Moon and Shadow of the Moon. I am enjoying them a lot. In fact today I was driving around with the windows down and singing 'dance all night' along with the song. Fortunately I had it turned up loud enough to drown out my singing. For anyone out there like me, who needs some help finding the really good stuff, please check out their website:
Blackmore's Night
This is really great music.