Realm of a Green Witch

Salem's losing a Landmark

2012-01-12T00:39:00.002-05:00

http://www.salemnews.com/local/x594872404/Salems-official-witch-closing-her-Pickering-Wharf-shop

Laurie Cabot has announced she is closing her landmark Salem shop.

Project Conversion: Wicca

2011-10-01T11:41:00.003-04:00

I don't often share other blogs here, so I hope you know how strongly I feel about it, if I do share it.

Today I saw a post for "Project Conversion". Originally I was worried this was an attempt at conversion from the outside. More October "come to Jesus" themed posts. I adore my Christian brethren who understand freedom of religion.

This project is nothing of the sort. It's a blog through Beliefnet aimed at exploring religions from all over the world, one month at a time.

The religion Andrew has chosen for the month of October is, Wicca. I thought some of you would find it interesting to journey together with Andrew and see the world through his eyes, even if only for this month.
The first post for this month is here:
http://blog.beliefnet.com/projectconversion/2011/10/andrew-bowen-wiccan-edition.html

Chicken Little and the Pagan Community

2011-07-25T15:22:00.003-04:00

"The SKY is falling! The SKY is falling!"

Why is it that the Pagan community only seems to respond, to react, instead of act? When outside forces push, we push back. That's great, there is only so much 'turn the other cheek' anyone can stand. However, why can we not create a united front (even if just from the outside) to begin with?

When certain members of the Circle of Moms started defaming Wiccans and Pagans as a part of "their" contest, we jumped in with both feet and our brooms. Of the top 25 Blogs, almost half were Wiccan and Pagan.

When the Sacred Paths Center was featured on The Wild Hunt as being in danger of closing pagans (most from out of area!) jumped in and donated over nine thousand dollars!

I'm really proud of the things that we can do when pushed to it. My question is, why do we have to let outsiders PUSH us to anything? Why can't we just BE there to begin with?

We need our brick and mortar stores for more than just supplies! We network there, occasionally you find a store that has room for Ritual, classes, and teachers! You can talk about rituals, Gods and the like and (usually) not be treated like a crazy person. We need our brick and mortar stores for exchanges of ideas, and tips, conversations that never would have happened in a random passing coffee shop or chain book store. The insane conversations that happen spontaneously in a Witchy shop can (and have) filled books! You can't put a price on the things you learn, and the people you meet shopping in your local store.

We are wrapped up in our computer worlds (I include myself in this) too often. Sure you could save fifty cents by buying that incense online, rather than visiting your local store, but when everyone starts going to the online retailers and chain bookstores, to the detriment of your local store, why are we surprised when our local store goes belly up?

While shopping in Borders on Friday, I heard a soon to be unemployed clerk remark, "If half of these people had been here before today, we wouldn't be in this situation." He's right. We're so wrapped up in our own worlds and our own lives to think beyond the end of our noses sometimes. We're human, it happens.

So how do we help? Our own communal petty rivalries seem to do more detriment to local shops than anything else. How about we start by agreeing that no matter who else shops at your store, if they have things you use, go there! Price comparison is going to happen, but remember, the big brightly lit place with all that open space, is going to have more overhead than the dusty closet down the street. If you prefer the big bright store, shop there. Vote with your money.

How many ads have you seen for "online occult retailers" that simply stock everything in the Azure Green catalog? Lots, I'm betting. If you're lucky enough to have a 'real' store in your neighborhood, consider getting involved. Ask the owner if they're interested in having a book discussion group meet there, or if you feel qualified, suggest something else! Bringing in people will bring in business. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
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Now I'm certainly not 'hating' on online retailers. For those of us outside major metropolitan areas, sometimes the only way you're going to find your materials (that you can't make yourself) is to shop online. May I suggest if there is something that you can't live without, you check for handmade items instead? Etsy has more witchy items than you might expect, and it beats the pages of cheap crap you see listed on Ebay under "Wicca Gothic Gypsy Fairy Witch Spell" you have to wade through to find something amazing.

So what am I saying? Get out there! Browse your local pages on The Witches Voice, check for Yahoo! Groups and Meetups to find new people, new stores and new venues! If you can't find one? Start one! Start a mailing list, a blog or even a meetup group. You'll be surprised at the number of people you'll meet and you can grow a local community for yourself and other local people. Most importantly, don't give up. Maybe only one or two people will come to the first book club night, or tarot group, but if you stick with it and are dedicated, maybe you can build something that everyone can enjoy.

For a thought provoking discussion on the topic, check out My Pagan World and her blog on the subject!

Aphrodite: Lust or Bust

2011-07-13T11:47:00.003-04:00

Aphrodite: Lust or Bust, She’s not who you think she is.
The down and dirty on the Greek Goddess of Love

Aphrodite, like many people, isn’t what She appears to be. She has been portrayed as everyone from a ditzy surfer girl, (Thanks to Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert) to an absentee mother in Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter Series; the popular opinion of this member of the Olympian twelve isn’t a deep one. Her parentage may be up for debate, but she’s much stronger than Western culture give her credit for.

Her image has been used in popular media to sell everything from pop music to insane shoes and tasty fruit juice.

These casual mentions of her name border on blasphemy when you consider her original Powers. Love is just the tip of the iceberg, beauty, the arts and sexuality as a whole, (after all, her extra-marital dalliance with Hermes gave life to a child showing both sides of their parentage, Hermaphroditus the first Hermaphrodite.) are among her attributes. Make no mistake though, if people are made in the image of the Gods, it stands to reason that Gods can have flaws as well.

In the case of Aphrodite, the flaw is twofold. First our changing language and understanding of words makes it hard to understand where the definition of LOVE is coming from. The Greeks have MANY words for different types of love. Agápe is unconditional love, and not usually something people associate with Aphrodite. Philia is the familial or friendly love, and where Philadelphia gets its name and “brotherly love” moniker. Secondly, face it, Aphrodite was chosen as “Fairest of them all” and no bee attends to only one flower.

Aphrodite is the goddess of love more in the physical sense, of lust. Erotic love, is the domain of Eros, but for the hot and heavy “wam, bam, thank you Ma’am” Aphrodite is your goddess.

It isn’t uncommon to attend a Pagan gathering and hear someone lamenting their love life. “Suzy” just can’t understand why she can’t find the right guy. After all, she’s been praying and lighting incense to Aphrodite for months. All Suzy can find are hot, sexy, bikers with no mailing address and a convenient memory lapse in the morning. When will she ever meet a nice boy to settle down with? Never, if it’s only Aphrodite you’re going to Offer to.

Aphrodite was described by a Hellenic Priestess I know (we’ll call her Agrotera) as “all the bad decisions that women can make with their bodies”. Rather than lumping her in with the hearts and flowers Hallmark set, think of her as the girlfriend who wants you to find a good lay before settling down. Her idea of a good time will physically make you happy, but devotionals to Her aren’t going to find you a safe, stable, faithful relationship. After all, She wasn’t faithful to Hephaestus in the least.

This isn’t to say I don’t work with her. I do, but I’m not asking her to find me Mr. Right. I’ve already found him. That’s not to say offerings of Apples, Honey (and honey wine), flowers and perfumes don’t decorate her altar. I’m just honoring Her (and the divine lover within myself), by asking for the occasional lustful boost in my life.

More information:
Abouthttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Theoi

References:

* Buxton, Richard. The Complete World of Greek Mythology. Thames & Hudson, 2004. ISBN 978-0500251218
* Burkert, Walter. Greek Religion (John Raffan, trans.). Oxford: Blackwell Press, 1985. ISBN 0631112413
* Jones, W.S. (trans.) Pausianas: Descriptions of Greece. London, 1931.
* Pfister, Friedrich. Greek Gods and Heroes (Mervyn Savill, trans.). London: MacGibbon & Kee, 1961.
* Rose, H. J. A Handbook of Greek Mythology. Routledge, 1990. ISBN 978-0415046015
* Rosenzweig, R. Worshipping Aphrodite: Art and Cult in Classical Athens. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press, 2004. ISBN 0-472-11332-1

*Don’t mistake my mention of these amazing people and their work as criticism! I adore both “Xena” and the Dark Hunters. Public Pagans and appreciative mundanes are always welcome. Even if their work isn’t intended to be a scholarly examination on their persona, having attention directed toward them will help point people in the right direction.

Tomorrow's the day!

2011-07-12T14:07:00.002-04:00

Don't forget that my opinion piece about Aphrodite will go live on The Pagan Mom Blog tomorrow, July 13th! Once it is up, I'll publish it here as well.

One Golden Rule, slightly tarnished

2011-06-28T16:53:00.005-04:00

The Wiccan Rede
From Pagan Prompts

While I know some of you are not Wiccan, I do know that lots of people follow a 'golden rule' of sorts. Do you follow the Wiccan Rede ("And it harm none, do as you will.")? Or some variant of?
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Part One: To Rede and Rite.
I taught an entire class on the Rede at one point; as a teaching duo. Neither myself nor the other instructor follow the Rede. Several students in the past have been shocked into silence at that statement. The assumption by one student was clear. "Well you don't have any morals!", she stated with her lower lip thrust out.

"I most certainly do", I assured the class. "'Rede' means 'to advise' and is not, as many new Wiccans assert the Wiccan version of the Ten Commandments." The student in question spent the rest of the class standing against the rear wall, arms crossed, and a scowl on her face.

Whether or not you follow the Rede, finding your own morals and making the choices for yourself, is what is important. We find our moral centers at different times in life, and through our own set of experiences. Some feel it is wrong to take a life, period. Our Soldiers and Law Enforcement are occasionally called upon to take a life in the line of duty to spare others. This is not a duty they take on lightly, but for the good of all. Whether or not you agree with a single action by police or military, they are doing what they feel is right for everyone.

Some Wiccans come from Traditions where they teach you to "do what is necessary", instead of refusing harm; a previous Tradition of mine is one such. It was founded by former abuse victims, who saw nothing wrong with binding those intent on doing others harm. We were taught that to refuse harm in the name of the Rede, rather than face evil and stop it was just as wrong. Again, it comes back to forming your own guidelines, rather than depending on an all encompassing rule.

An oft quoted movie once stated, "There is another kind of evil which we must fear most, and that is the indifference of good men." Good people stand by and allow evil things to happen so often, the phenomenon has its own name, "Genovese Syndrome". It may be hard or scary to come to the aid of another person, so stopping the harm before it happens to someone else could be the next step.

Living as best you can isn't so bad, is it? Gathering together with your fellows and celebrating your lives, trials and tributes is beautiful. The full version of the Rede is a beautiful poem. It has great ideas, and hints for living your life. For example: 'Elder be the Lady's tree, burn it not or cursed ye'll be.' Elder is a purgative, if you burn it, it will make you sick.

Part Two: Black and White, Not always right.
On the flip side, we have Victor Anderson's quote, "White magic is poetry. Black magic is anything that works." The idea of attributing color to magic is a popular one, but lacks vision.

Is healing "white" magic or "black" magic? Most of my students respond, "white". However, if your healing ritual prolongs someone's suffering in a losing battle with cancer, the line is no longer as clear. Buying someone flowers sounds like a nice thing to do, but if I'm only doing it so that I can butter you up to tell you I side swiped your car in the parking lot, the line between perceived good and bad gets thinner.

The reason I agree with Victor Anderson is we aren't omniscient. No matter how well we try to see the outcome of our spell work, there is always some possibility that we can not see. Need a job, do a spell, right? However, if you do a spell, are you keeping a mother of three on unemployment? If you work to get a specific job, are you closing the window to an even better job? If a spell is needed, make sure to leave room for the Gods to give you better than you can dream of.

Let's be clear, spell work is a LAST resort, not the first. If you really need to get your supplies out and connect, light some incense and meditate or cast circle and talk to the Gods.

In closing, it's not the Rule that should be Golden, it's you.
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And in Blog related news, my Aphrodite post goes live July 13th!

Aphrodite and The Pagan Mom Blog

2011-06-26T01:07:00.004-04:00

The lovely Angela over at The Pagan Mom Blog has decided to do a 31 days of Deity starting July 1st.

My submission has been sent in, and I'm looking forward to hearing what you think about my views on Aphrodite. I'll let you know when my guest blog goes live (probably later in the month), and in the meantime I hope you'll check it out, as there are some really great Gods that will be discussed through out July.

Details can be found here.

This is a list of the deities that have been “claimed” for the project in no particular order.

Brigid
Jesus
Morrighan
Papa Legba
Abundantia
Cerridwen
Anansi
Loki
Juno
Outer Court Goddess
Hecate
Bast
Hermes
Inana
Janus
Rhiannon
Arianrhod
Kali Ma
Freya
Odin
Vidar
Persephone
Frigg/Frigga
Archangel Raphael
Ganesh
Pan
Green Man
Nebhtet
Aphrodite

To Shadow, or Not to Shadow, dirty little secrets

2011-06-21T14:47:00.004-04:00

As I mentioned in my recent post I don't keep a personal Book of Shadows. Not really.

I keep a Grimoire, sort of a big recipe book. It will have large and small public rituals and even sometimes photos from those events. I do not however keep a diary of all my private ritual workings.

I tried, I really did. To me, taking time to write the 'formula' down for every spell, every ritual, and dreams, and all the other things that people put in their magical diaries? I wouldn't have time for anything else! I've been doing this for close to 19 years, I'd never have room for all of those volumes either.

I encourage my students to keep diaries of important events in their growth, but as I started so very young, I don't have a lot of that material anymore.

This path is a personal DAILY spiritual journey for me, and to stop and decide which is important enough to write down every last detail, I feel, makes my daily devotionals and 'smaller' workings, seem less important.

Every stick of incense I light, every candle I anoint has meaning, and that boys and girls, is the secret. Find meaning in "all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals". Sabbat or Esbat, weekday or Holy day, find beauty, and spiritual connection with them all.

My faith is a daily journey, not a box to be dusted off at "Easter and Christmas".

Pagan Values Month, Polytheism & Labels

2011-06-21T12:44:00.006-04:00

I've been mulling over the idea of the PVM post for a while now, and I realized last night that I'm making way too much out of it.

You see, I was interviewed last night, for about an hour, on what it means to be a Polytheist. During the course of the interview the dear woman doing the research and interview asked if I had any adverse interactions with other Pagans due to being a Polytheist, rather than what we've started referring to as Syncretic Monotheists (or Pagans that see "all Gods are one"). I don't think I've ever really had an issue with anyone trying to get in my face over that point, but I know quite a few who have.

It is almost treated as a 'dirty little secret' in the Pagan community. There are those that don't toe the "party line" of this Universal Love and One-ness with all of creation. Just between us, just because $RW says it, doesn't make it true. (Another 'dirty little secret'? I don't keep a Book of Shadows, but that's a story for another date.)

There seems to be a much larger dichotomy in the Pagan community of Monotheists versus Polytheists. Since there seemed to be such a gap in the "God is a Diamond" crowd and I'm not, it seemed I was different, and therefore was my label 'wrong'?

In discussing who "gets" to call themselves Pagan a friend clarified, "If I were Lutheran, I wouldn't stop being Christian just because an Episcopal did things differently."

Paganism generally refers to a variety of non-Christian /Jewish/ Islamic religions that are usually polytheistic and are often nature-based. Wicca is only one Pagan religion, but there are MANY, many others such as Santeria, Asatru, and different varieties of Shamanism. Many people do not necessarily identify with a specific religion, and just use the broad term "Pagan" to define a path built from eclectic practices. Pagan religions are distinct and separate from each other, not just different names for the same faith.

Often beginners believe that Pagan equals Wiccan. This is simply not true. You can be both a Pagan and Wiccan, but these two words are not the same. All frogs are toads, but not all toads are frogs. You can be a witch and Pagan. You can be Pagan and not a witch. I know this can be confusing to untangle, but a Path that involves personal responsibility to such a degree (pun intended) is going to be more focused on personal labels, rather than societal ones.

The long and short of it? No matter someone's label, ask them what they think, feel and believe, and don't assume.

Wiccan values as a broad topic were discussed in January here.

Breaking News!

2011-06-15T14:09:00.002-04:00

Breaking news, Jason Pitzl-Walters from my old home at Thorn Magazine, newWitch and "The Wild Hunt" is moving his acclaimed blog to Patheos!

The Wild Hunt Joins Patheos

When thinking about The Wild Hunt, the question I always ask myself is “What’s next?” How can I build on what I’ve done so far, and expand it to new audiences? How can I make my work sustainable? How can I bring the most good to the many communities I report on and for? After months of talks, consultations, and soul-searching, I’ve decided on a new path for this site – one that I think is exciting, and that opens up new realms of possibilities for the future of Pagan media. Starting tomorrow, The Wild Hunt will be transitioning over to the religious dialog and news site, Patheos.com. This move will obviously raise many questions and concerns, so I’d like to address them now, and share my thinking on why I’ve gone in this new direction.
--------------Continued at TWH link above-----------------------

Since launching “The Wild Hunt” in 2004, Jason Pitzl-Waters has become one of the leading voices for analysis and insight into how modern Pagan faiths are represented within the mainstream media. In addition, “The Wild Hunt” has also conducted in-depth interviews with prominent figures within modern Paganism, academia, and religion journalism. Jason wants to raise the level of discourse and journalism on important issues within the modern Pagan and Heathen communities, while advocating a broader commitment to encouraging religious multiplicity and solidarity (where appropriate) with surviving indigenous and non-monotheistic faith groups.

In addition to his work with The Wild Hunt, Jason has also written for newWitch Magazine, PanGaia Magazine, Thorn Magazine, and Llewellyn Worldwide. He also maintains a weekly podcast entitled “A Darker Shade of Pagan” that explores underground music from a Pagan perspective.

Jason is a former Board of Director member of Cherry Hill Seminary, and is coordinating The Pagan Newswire Collective, an open collective of Pagan journalists, news makers, media liaisons, and writers who are interested in sharing and promoting primary-source reporting from within our interconnected communities.

You can contact Jason at jpitzl at wildhunt dot org.

Iron Chef Tarot Spread

2011-06-14T01:34:00.006-04:00

One September day in 2008, a friend and fellow Tarot Reader, "Cosmic Dragon" were sitting in our favorite shop having drinks and chatting over new tarot decks and spreads.

While discussing spreads of all sorts, we challenged each other to come up with a new spread. CD is a fan of Iron Chef, and thus the challenge was issued. Below is the spread we came up with. Looks a bit tricky at first, but it gives a VERY detailed reading and pretty fun to check out! Try it and let me know what you thought!

--------------------------8---------------------------------------------

------------11----------------------12-------------------------------------

4--------------------------------------------1-----15--------------------

--------------------------10----------------------------------------------------

5---------------------------------------------2-----16-------------------------

----------13-------------------------14-----------------------------------------

6---------------------------------------------3-----17-------------------

7---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------9------------------------------------------------------

The Judges -- How Others View your Actions
How Others view your:
1 Mental actions
2 Physical Actions
3 Emotional Actions

The Chefs

4 Italian Chef -- Family Influences
5 Japanese Chef -- Traditional Influences
6 French Chef -- Love and Relationship Influences
7 Chinese Chef -- Influences you have Control over

8 The Secret Ingredient -- What tools the universe gives you.

9 Bobby Flay -- Embarrassing details / Influences

10 The Chairman -- Rules that govern your situation

The Tools
11 Chopping / Cutting -- Things that need to be removed from your life
12 Baking -- Need growth and manifesting
13 "Just Desserts" from this situation
14 Flambe' -- How others effect your self Image

Outcomes
15 Mental Impact - Outcome
16 Physical Impact - Outcome
17 Emotional Impact - Outcome

Patrick McCollum Offical Statement

2011-06-13T12:28:00.002-04:00

From Patti Wigington at Pagan Wiccan dot About dot com.
http://paganwiccan.about.com/b/2011/06/13/update-official-statement-from-patrick-mccollum.htm

Earlier this month we talked about the recent 9th Circuit Court ruling on the case brought forth by Wiccan chaplain Patrick McCollum in regards to the state of California's prison system. You'll recall that the court's opinion is that McCollum lacked the standing to file the lawsuit in the first place, and that the ruling was that such a suit must be brought by the affected parties, such as prisoners who are being denied clergy services. McCollum himself offered a brief comment on why it's so important that he continue this fight, via The Wild Hunt.
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This is important for everyone to read, as religious favoritism goes against everything "Freedom of Religion" stands for.

International Pagan Values Month

2011-06-12T18:40:00.004-04:00

This is the 3rd annual Pagan Values Month, and as such, I'm working on some posts along that theme. We'll talk about what it means to be Pagan, and whether or not to use this term. I'll be happy to discuss what makes me tick, and subsequently what ticks me off about shared values and sharing words. In the mean time, I'd like to link some posts I've already spotted on Pagan Values, and I'll keep updating the list as the month goes on.

Feel free to link to your own PVM post in the comments!

Pagan Values has listings of posts as well!

Parenting by the Light of the Moon is doing a post on how her faith shapes her personal values in regard to Deity, diversity and community.

Blog of a Concierge Witch is one of my awesome friends on Twitter and has a PVM post dealing with curses, hexes and feuds. (D, if you're reading this, feel free to post your twitter if you'd like.)

Patheos: Pagan Values: Domestic Abuse, Rape and Rihanna’s “Man Down”.

The Balanced Witch says, "I’m Pagan and I Have Values"

Christopher Penczak blogs on Timing and Values in a post from the first Pagan Values Month.

Journey Within Feri has a post on The Sovereignty of the Individual.

Thank you all!

2011-06-09T14:43:00.006-04:00

Thank you all for your support! I finished with 1708 votes, and #38 out of the 88 pages of contestants and hundreds of entries. Being a part of the contest for only the last week of the competition and still making the top 40 makes me feel great. More importantly, some new people were able to find my blog, and that's what matters to me. Congratulations to ALL of the top 25 blogs. (I can happily report 12 of the top 25 were Pagan.)

I'd especially like to congratulate Mrs B. on winning the top spot! Even when the contest became a heated debate on "Us vs. Them" Kris didn't back down, or lose her cool. She made herself an example to all faith bloggers, no matter their path.

Angela had stiff competition, and ended up in the #4 spot. (I really rallied to keep you in #3!)

Congratulations to these amazing blogs for making it to the Top 25. They'll be interviewed about their faith for a newsletter reaching 6 million readers!
Parenting By the Light of the moon
JoniRae
Hearth n Home
Witchy Mama
Feflon Cauldron
Witchy Wonderland
Living Well
Pagan Presence
Something Oddly
Aoibheals Lair

A SPECIAL THANKS to the other Bloggers who feature my posts on their blog, and send new friends my way.

mypaganworld

wiccanwrites

canwehaveanewwitchoursmelted

witchesbrew-gardenwitchery

Edited to add
The Pagan Blog Directory

Feast of Hestia

2011-06-07T20:31:00.006-04:00

"Hestia, you who tend the holy house of the lord Apollo, the Far-shooter at goodly Pytho, with soft oil dripping ever from your locks, come now into this house, come, having one mind with Zeus the all-wise: draw near, and withal bestow grace upon my song." (Homeric Hymn to Hestia)

Today is the Feast Day of Hestia, Virgin Goddess of Hearth, Home, and of the family unit. She is described by Homer as the First Born of Cronus and the youngest as well. Having been one of the original 12 Olympians, she chose instead to allow Dionysus her Seat in order to tend the fires of Mount Olympus.

Homeric Hymn 5 to Aphrodite 18 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th - 4th B.C.)
"Nor yet does the pure maiden Histia love Aphrodite's works. She was the first-born child of wily Kronos and youngest too, by will of Zeus who holds the aigis,--a queenly maid whom both Poseidon and Apollon sought to wed. But she was wholly unwilling, nay, stubbornly refused; and touching the head of father Zeus who holds the aigis, she, that fair goddess, sware a great oath which has in truth been fulfilled, that she would be a maiden all her days. So Zeus the Father gave her a high honour instead of marriage, and she has her place in the midst of the house and has the richest portion. In all the temples of the gods she has a share of honour, and among all mortal men she is chief of the goddesses. Of these three Aphrodite cannot bend or ensnare the hearts."

On this, her Feast day, I left offerings of the first fresh peaches of the year, and sweet Peach wine at the base of the plant most often found associated with Her, Vitex agnus castus or "Chaste Tree Berry".

Often grown in medieval apothecary gardens and a favorite of monks, Chaste Tree can be used as a pepper flavored spice, the seeds are gray purple 'balls' the size and shape of peppercorns. That is where the similarities end, as these peppered seeds are very soft and light, and easily crushed with the fingers. Chaste Tree is also used as a tincture to bring on menses and relieve problems associated with menstruation.

The Vitex's medicinal uses is the original reason I purchased this beautiful specimen. I suppose since my aim was a little one sided, it didn't do as well in the first year as I'd hoped.

Then something happened. My husband and I awoke one sunny Sunday morning to find that someone had spray painted our drive way during the night, like a coward(s).

"Witch B*tch F*ck You". Four words can really shake your foundation. I asked the Vitex to watch over our home and 'report' any ne'er do wells to Hestia and Hera. Once my "Vivi" had a job, (and a name, that just sort of happened), the growth and beauty of this plant skyrocketed. No one has bothered our home (and hearth) since. Blessings of compost, fertilizer, and offerings to Hestia, (I'm trying to build Hera a shrine as we speak.) also help cement my Devotion.

Hestia, Hestia, the first and the last, always to thee.

"One Of Sixteen Vestal Virgins
Who Were Leaving For The Coast
And Although My Eyes Were Open
They Might Just As Well Been Closed"

Circle Of Moms and Paganism

2011-06-04T10:31:00.002-04:00

With the ebbing and flow of controversy over Pagans "being allowed" to enter the Faith Blog contest, and fervor over the word Pagan itself, I thought I'd take some time to discuss these in turn, along with a few posts on Pagan Values. (Including hopefully a guest post with the Pagan Mom Blog for her Month of Deity.)

To those who would exclude Paganism from the ranks of the Faith Blog contest, I'm disappointed. Death Threats? Hate Speech? You've got to be kidding me. This blog contest is supposed to (I thought) to be about helping each other out, celebrating our SIMILARITIES and overall helping Bloggers find new followers. Many of the faiths presented here have a "Golden Rule". I'm pretty sure none of us want to be threatened for being different. I've gotten face to face death threats before for being Pagan. It's not fun, and it didn't change my belief structure.

This "whole faith thing" is supposed to help us shoulder the burden of life, not create new ones. It isn't about, and shouldn't be about "us versus them".

Let's be frank, I love my friends. That's why they are my friends. I'm not friends with someone just because we have the same faith. I'm friends with someone because we have things in common, they understand my weird sense of humor, sometimes we have similar view points, and even when we don't, they still love me. I'm not going to like every person that claims we have the same faith. I certainly don't expect them to love everything I have to say.

This also means I don't give a crap what label they use for a faith or IF they even have one. I have Jewish friends, Atheist friends, and friends from all faiths. I don't care if you worship your kitchen sink, if you're a cool person about it, I'll bring you cute soaps for it.

The vehemence I've seen come out of this contest is reprehensible. Is that what you want to teach your children? That your God only loves the people from your congregation, or even just your home? Even if you don't agree with someone's path in life, that doesn't give us the right to decide they don't deserve a life.

Let's try and see the things we ALL as people of faith have in common, rather than the things that make us different.

For the moment, let's take a step back and try to see each other as people. Not a Christian, Pagan, Jew or Muslim. Let us try to see each other as People. That's the first step.

I've joined the fray!

2011-05-30T14:39:00.001-04:00

Astrological Rockettes and New Moon in Taurus

2011-05-02T13:24:00.005-04:00

With the line up of Vesta, Pallas Athena, Juno, and Ceres with Venus and the New Moon in Taurus I thought I'd take a minute to talk about a way to use this beautiful energy to your highest good.

New Moon magick begins on the day of the new moon to three-and-a-half days after. You might use the energy of the new moon for new ventures, projects and new beginnings. Also can also use the new moon for Increase (growth of anything really) love spells (see my recent posts), job hunting, and healing (increasing health).

The New Moon in Taurus leads our emotional thoughts to the practical. Taurus' earthly energy is rooted (pun intended) with growth, grounded development, solidifying, stabilizing, increasing, sustaining, and becoming secure in the material world. Careful as this Taurean energy can also lead to stubbornness.

The New Moon in Taurus marks a time when ideas are becoming real and beginning to take shape in the material world, moving into tangible form, and finding the resources that will establish them solidly in physical reality.

So take the feminine energy of the current line up, (Home, Victory, Marriage, growth and love) to create a home life renewed with love, peace and grace.

I'd suggest white candles, Stones might be selenite (cleansing), moonstone (intuition), or Ulexite (mental agility to root your dreams). Incense includes Vanilla, Egyptian musk (both good for love) Opium (for peace in dreaming), lavender (Love, peace and protection), Cedar (spiritual growth), Cinnamon (Love and purification), Myrrh (for consecration of home and hearth).

Walk in the Woods Tarot Spread

2011-04-25T19:37:00.004-04:00

While going through my Book of Shadows I found a tarot spread I hadn't seen in a while. I thought I'd share a bit of my Green Oracle feeling with you. I love to do this spread with the Nature Oracle by Ted Andrews, but you can use it with any Tarot or Oracle deck you choose.

A WALK IN THE WOODS
a Tarot spread by Pamela Adkins
………………
……1………
…...…2…………
……....3………
……4…………
………..5………
……6………….
………………….

(This is supposed to look like a winding path.)

1. Stepping out into the crisp Autumn air, you go for a walk in the woods. This is where you are starting from.

2. As you walk down this path, you hear a twig cracking in the brush. These are the fears you will encounter.

3. So you wrap your shawl tightly around you, and grasp it tightly as you quicken your pace. This is that which you will find comfort in.

4. Off in the distance you see a deer with it's fawn crossing appearing in your path. This is what you don't expect.

5. A wise owl swoops above your head and lands on a far up branch. This is what you will learn along this path.

6. As you reach the end of your journey, you ponder all that has happened and what has resulted. This is the outcome of your journey.

To book a tarot reading with Rev. Amy http://idostuff.net/tarot.htm

In Praise of Love Spells pt 2

2011-04-22T15:19:00.007-04:00

Part Two

Being a public Pagan, I get lots of spell requests. Especially around Valentine's day. (As a matter of fact, I'm going to hold a class / discussion on Love Spells in my home in the next week or so.) My favorite love spell is one that shows the Gods (with one in particular) that you're ready for love.

Aphrodite is the goddess most readily thought of during the February lust craze; rightly so, because She not only rules beauty, carnal love, and the like, even our language recognizes her power today, even if most 'muggles' don't. 'Aphrodisiac' is the term for something inducing desire or sexual feelings.

Spell 1: Plant 9 Basil seeds in a clay pot. Basil is just one of the many plants sacred to Aphrodite. Put them in a sunny window and grow them. Tend to these tender seedlings as you would devote time and energy to a new love relationship. After all, if you don't have the time to care for a plant, how can you care for another human being and the new love you both are growing together?

While on a local radio show last month, the DJ was discussing love spells; I came up with a cute rhyming couplet on the spot, that worked very well for a dear friend of mine the next day. So I thought I'd flesh it out into a spell for you all.

Spell 2: Best done the Friday before the full moon. (Friday is ruled by the planet Venus and many Love Goddesses.)

Sit down with a paper and pen and create a list of the things you need from a relationship. (Not physical qualities, but emotional ones.) List the attributes that will form the basis of your connection. (Be specific, but still allow room for interpretation.) Start with things like great sense of humor, or dog lover, but move deeper to things like 'way with people' or 'artistic' and 'involved with the community'. Don't forget things like "available", as you don't want to attract the unavailable.

Find a red candle (a nice LUSTY red), tapers work well. The right scents can help you get into the mood, since scent passes through your memory centers in the brain before cognition centers. You can anoint yourself with a nice sexy perfume or cologne if you like, or the right incense may help put you in the mood faster.

Aphrodisiac Essential oils include:
Black Pepper
Sandalwood
Ylang ylang
Clary Sage
Patchouli
Jasmine
Ginger
Neroli
Rose
Rosewood
Amyris
Aniseed
Cumin
Pimento

Once you have your items set up, (creating sacred space if you desire) grab your red candle (and a fireproof candle holder!) anoint your candle, grab some favorite incense if you have it, and say, "Rose petals and peals of laughter / bring the love that I've been after". Think of your list of qualities for a relationship. Chant until you feel the energy building, when it's reached its peak, let it go! Light your candle! Fold your list and place it under the candle holder. As long as you can be with it, (always supervise burning things, crazy things can happen!) let it burn. Snuff it out when you have to leave it. Make time to burn it each day until it is gone!

Then what? Forget you cast it! Magic is all about the "fix it and forget it!" Remember the Witches' Pyramid. To know, To Will, to Dare, and to keep Silent. It's a lot easier to keep silent (blabbing about your spell work allows for the air of doubt from others). It is much easier to keep silent if you're not thinking about your spell work.

In Praise of Love Spells pt 1

2011-04-22T13:11:00.003-04:00

Intro
I'm sure this is a controversial subject for some, so I welcome constructive comments and discussion.

With Valentine's day behind us, and looking towards Beltane, Twitter, Facebook and the web are filled with Witches, Wiccans and Pagans decrying the use of Love Spells. "Witches, Wiccans, Pagans (fill in the blank) don't DO Love Spells! That is wrong!" Many assumptions are made in some of the circles I am reading. The most popular assumption was that all love spells impact the free will of others. Not always so. Many people like to toss words like 'right' and 'wrong' around, but remember, morals and ethics are very personal things.

A larger problem I see is with communities in general stating the absolutes for everyone. In many branches of Paganism, there aren't absolutes. That's what makes it so hard to speak for everyone. I'm going to attempt to explain my POV and if you disagree, that's okay. Let's talk about it!

----------------------------
Part One

I cast my first romantic love spell at 17. By this time I had been reading and researching Wicca and Paganism for six years and practicing spell work for four or so years.

I was finally 'over' my first real relationship and ready to move on to a new relationship. Not just any one, but the right one for me, for that period of my life. Since I was working for a very small company and had no chance of finding a romantic partner there, I thought I'd cast a spell to help me find the one for me.

It just so happened a popular author was going to be appearing at a local shop and I really wanted to attend. I made arrangements to go with a dear friend and I was set. In my defense, I had been thinking about how to jump start my nonexistent love life but I didn't go there with the intent to do a love spell.

This popular author (name omitted lest someone think I'm promoting her work) had a magic workshop which I was able to attend. She called the 'style' of magic we were to do for the day, 'Silver Bullet Magic'. We laughingly called it Butt magic.

Premise: Grab a piece of paper and a balloon. Make list of things you want. Intentions if you will. Grab a balloon, place your list inside and blow it up while concentrating on your list. Tie off with list inside. We chanted to build energy as a group and to release the built up energy we all sat on our balloons to pop them.

It felt quite silly sitting on that balloon, and just a bit even explaining it, but I had full faith that I would make it work. My criteria for this new relationship included, someone who would be faithful, someone with whom I could share ME, paganism and all. We were told to save our balloon and our list to remind us of our working. To pass the piece to someone once our wish came true. (I gave mine to my mother, who was happy to have it.)

What this spell did not include was someone's name. Spells that attempt to change the free will of another person are much harder to do, and much more likely to fail. Also, I know better than to assume that I know what I need better than the Gods. Hubris is a BIG no no. You start assuming things like that and you wind up with snakes for hair. Just because you decide you fancy Bob or Susy doesn't mean they are going to be the right one for you.

The relationship that came about was perfect. Everything I wanted. A loving and supportive partner who helped introduce me to the strong woman I am today. Though we are no longer together, he is still one of my oldest and best friends.

Is it possible that this relationship could have come about without my spell? Sure, anything is possible. I choose to believe that my spell, in addition to stating to the Gods my intent, showed me that I had the confidence to take my own (love) life into my own hands.

Assemble a Green Cleaning Kit

2011-04-22T13:09:00.000-04:00

What's not to love about mixing your own cleaning products from tried-and-tested formulas? Not only will a non-toxic cleaning kit save you oodles of cash over the years, but it's also unlikely to leave you gasping for an emergency-room doctor. Cleaning green is also gentler on the environment, to boot. To transform your home into a safe, nontoxic haven, says Annie B. Bond, author of Clean & Green (1990, Ceres Press), you can complement your kit with an edited selection of commercial eco-friendly cleaning products you trust.

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/assemble-a-green-cleaning-kit.html

Tip for Earth day

2011-04-22T12:23:00.002-04:00

For our crafty Witches In honor of Earth day, why not take all those plastic grocery bags and turn them into re-usable, washable bags? That way, you can save all the fossil fuel or nuclear energy it would take to recycle them into new bags!

http://misskitty1965.wordpress.com/2007/04/25/recycling-plastic-bags-ect/

Shakespeare's Herbs

2011-04-18T14:49:00.002-04:00

Inspired by the China Bayles Book of Days, I'm thinking of planning a garden for The Blooming Bard.

"For you there's rosemary and rue; these keep
Seeming and savour all the winter long;
Grace and remembrance be to you both." —William Shakespeare, The Winter's Tale

Shakespeare's plays and poems bloom with flowers. What could be more interesting than a corner of your own garden devoted to the herbs and flowers mentioned in Shakespeare's plays? You might want to add a label to each plant, citing the play or poem in which the plant is mentioned. And if you are a great admirer of the Bard's plays, you might want to make a Shakespeare garden album, with pressed flowers and leaves, a note about the plant, and a quotation from the plays.

Here are a few of Shakespeare's herbs and flowers. You'll find a complete list in China Bayles' Book of Days, in the entry for April 23.

Carnation The Winter's Tale 4:4
Fennel Hamlet 4:5
Holly As You Like It 2:7
Honeysuckle A Midsummer Night's Dream 4:1
Lavender The Winter's Tale 4:3
Marigold The Winter's Tale 4:4
Marjoram The Winter's Tale 4:4
Mint The Winter's Tale 4:3
Nettle Othello 1:3
Pansy Hamlet 4:5
Parsley Taming of the Shrew 4:4
Rose King Henry VI, Part 1 2:4
Rosemary The Winter's Tale 4:4
Rue The Winter's Tale 4:4
Thyme A Midsummer Night's Dream 2:1
Violet King Henry V 4:1
Wormwood Hamlet 3:2

"When daisies pied and violets blue
and lady-smocks all silver-white
and cuckoo-buds of yellow hue
Do paint the meadows with delight." —Love's Labors Lost

Read more about the Bard's blossoms: Shakespeare's Garden, by James Bloom

Natural Skin Care

2011-04-13T11:45:00.015-04:00

Homemade Astringents, Tighteners & Toners

Here is how you can make toners at home.

1)For quickly refreshing your skin, grate a cucumber. Then use a wash cloth and apply the cucumber juice to your face. Cucumber juice is a natural astringent. It can tone and tighten skin!

2) Egg white Toner
Clean face thoroughly using any natural cleanser. Apply raw egg whites to the skin and leave on for at least 15 minutes. Wash off with tepid water.

3) Elder flowers, lavender, orange flower water and rosewater are all classic toners for all skin types. Make a strong infusion of any of the above, refrigerate and use within 3 days.

4) Lemon is a strong astringent, dilute with water before using, being careful to keep away from eyes. Lemon Toner
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 cup distilled water
2/3 cup witch hazel
Combine all ingredients. Pour into a clean bottle or decorative cosmetics
container. Shake well before using. Apply with a clean cotton ball.

5) Pine Toner
2 cups fresh pine needles
1 cup distilled water
1/2 cup witch hazel
Place pine needles in small saucepan with distilled water. Bring water to
boil. Allow water to cool completely then strain and discard pine needles.
Add witch hazel and stir well. Pour into a clean bottle or decorative capped
container. Apply to skin with a cotton ball. Store in a cool dark place.

6) Protein Toner
Beat together 1 Tbsp milk, 1 tsp honey and 1 egg. Apply to face and neck.
Leave on as long as desired. Rinse off with warm water followed by a splash
of cold.

7) Queen of Hungary Water
This water can be used as an astringent, aftershave, deodorant, hair and
skin tonic and even as an inhaled headache remedy:
1 part fresh organic scented roses
1 part lavender
1 part tender rosemary tops
1 part sage
1 part orange peel
1 part lemon peel
2 parts mint

To 2 ounces apple cider vinegar, add 2 ounces of the above herbal formula. Put in an air-tight glass jar, let steep for about 2 weeks. Strain and add 1 1/2 cups pure distilled rosewater. Pour into a decorative, air tight decanter and use daily.

8) Rose Water & Glycerin Astringent

1/2 pint olive oil (highest quality you can afford)
1 ounce rose water
a few drops of glycerin
1 ounce vodka

Add rose water to vodka and roll bottle to blend. Add glycerin and blend again. Then add olive oil last.

9) Sage Astringent
4 Tbsp dried sage
4 Tbsp vodka
1/4 tsp borax
3 Tbsp witch hazel
10 drops glycerin or honey

Steep the sage in vodka for 2 weeks then strain. Dissolve borax in witch hazel, stir in the saged vodka and glycerin. Pour into bottle with a tight cap. Shake before each use.

10) Strawberry: Mash strawberries, use as an astringent and cleansing face
mask.

11) Violet: Simmer violet flowers in a little milk to make a softening and
mildly astringent face lotion.

12) Witch Hazel: Dilute 1/2 with water, Use an extract of witch hazel as an astringent, a skin freshener and to soothe skin irritations.

13) Lemony Lavender Toner
3 drops lemon oil
3 drops lavender oil
3 teaspoons of distilled water

Use a soft cotton ball to massage mixture into the skin after cleansing. Follow with a moisturizer if desired.

14) Honey and Oatmeal Toner

In a bowl, put the oatmeal and honey in together. Then you add hot water until its in a thick consistency. Then apply to your face. Wait for it to dry then scrub it off.

15) For tough black heads, apply tomato paste to stubborn spots. The acid in the tomatoes will help dissolve the stubborn oil and dirt.

National Fragrance Day!

2011-03-21T17:18:00.002-04:00

This Week's Special Days: A Potpourri of Celebrations -Susan Wittg Albert

March 21: It's National Fragrance Day.

A Fragrance Garden

In my garden, fragrance gives me an enormous pleasure, making the difference between a pleasant garden experience and one that lingers in my mind and my heart. It might be the clean freshness of lavender on a hot summer day, or the heavy sweetness of Nicotiana on the evening air, or the crisp citrus tang of Southernwood rubbed between my fingers. If you.re planning to create a new space in your garden this year, think about creating a fragrance garden.or if you've run out of garden room, consider adding a few pots of fragrant herbs and flowers to your deck or sunny porch, preferably near a window, so that the magic of scent can fill your home.

Herbs for a Fragrance Garden: A Baker's Dozen

* Annuals and Tender Perennials
o Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
o Sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus)
o Pineapple sage (Salvia elegans)
o Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
* Perennials
o Southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum)
o Dianthus (Dianthus caryophyllus)
o Day lily (Hemerocallis sp.)
o Lavender (Lavandula sp.)
o Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
o Violet (Viola odorata)
* Vines and Shrubs
o Honeysuckle (Lonicera sp.)
o Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata)
o Rose (Rosa sp.)

In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.
—Margaret Atwood

"The Honisuckle that groweth wilde in every hedge, although it be very sweete, yet doe I not bring into my garden, but let it rest in his owne place, to serve their senses that travell by it, or have no garden."
—John Parkinson, A Garden of Pleasant Flowers, 1629

Read more about the fragrance gardening and using fragrance to brighten your life

* Fragrance in Bloom: The Scented Garden Throughout the Year, by Ann Lovejoy

* Awaken to Healing Fragrance: The Power of Essential Oil Therapy, by Elizabeth Anne Jones

* Creating Fairy Garden Fragrances (The Spirit of Aromatherapy), by Linda Gannon

Pagan Survey Questions

2011-01-20T01:42:00.000-05:00

Do you have a magical Name? Yes

How long have you been a Pagan? 18 years

Solitary or Group? Both.

What is your Path? Check the Blog Title. ;) Green Witch here.

Are you giving it your all? And some I didn't know I had.

Are you out of the Broom closet? People in SPACE know.

Deity

Do you believe in deity? Absolutely

Do you have a patron God and or Goddess and if so who are they?
Yes! The Goddess for my Traditional training was The Morrigan. I will keep my Oaths to her until the day I die and then some, even if I've left that group. My Current group has Hecate as the Matron, and as she is one of the first Goddesses I've met She has a special place in my heart.

How did you find them or did they find you? They found me. I carried an Owl statue as a kid instead of a security blanket. As a teen Diana and Hecate were my confidants.

How do you feel about other Deities from other Traditions and Religions? If you find fulfillment, great!
Nature
How do you perceive Nature? Green. I’m not sure what the original writer of these questions was looking for, so I’ll go with what I think it means. Nature is here, and can be worked with. Seems like these days any schmoe with a fifty cent crystal can call himself a Shaman. It isn’t about labels, it’s about connection.
In your practice do you work with animal or plant spirits? In my workings, Plants yes, animals no. Not because it is discouraged, I just don’t connect with them the way I do plants.

What is your favorite tree and or plant? Not fair, that’s like asking a parent to choose a favorite child.

Wheel of the year
What seasonal festival/celebrations do you most often celebrate? Beltane is my wedding anniversary, so I celebrate it with excitement. Samhain is the ‘usual’ answer here I bet, but being ‘allowed’ to take time to connect with my family members who has crossed over means a lot.

What seasonal festival/celebrations do you find difficult to celebrate? Midsummer is always bitter sweet. I love Summer, and any reminder that sometime soon the cold will return is a hard one.

Have you ever worked with or felt the veil? Every May and October.

Ever danced the Maypole? I volunteered in my Elementary for Maypole Dance every year. I still do it as often as I can.

What does the Maypole symbolize? You’re kidding right? MAY. POLE. ;p

Divination
What is your favorite form or forms of divination? Tarot, crystals and tea leaves.

Do you work with astrology? Professional Astrologer 6 years now. I don’t list it under “favorites” because I don’t think of it as Divination.

Do you work with omens, if so how? If something feels significant to my Intuition I’ll look into it, but I don’t jump at shadows if I can help it. 

Spells
How do you see Spells working? Concentration on your goals means reward. You’ve given yourself license to attain your goals.
Turned anyone into a frog? Cute, very cute.
Healing Spells? I’d like to think this is my forte.
House spells? Protecting my home and family? Sure.
Do you prefer spells or rituals? That would depend on the need.
“Can you make me a love spell please?” I get this one frequently and always have the same answer. I am not invested in the outcome of your spells, it works better if you do it yourself.

Do you believe in past lives? Sure.
Were you Cleopatra in a past life? Nope, and neither were you.
Do you believe in Soul Mates? Yes.

Any final words? Stop concentrating on the WHY and do what fulfills you. Let other people worry about themselves.

Pagan Prayer I saw

2011-01-14T01:38:00.000-05:00

This was unattributed.

Our Mother
Who are in all the earth
Holy is your truth.
May your wisdom come,
Your circle be one, uniting earth and heaven.
Give us this day a nurturing spirit-
Heal through us as we ourselves are healed.
Lead us into fullness of life, and liberate all that is Good.
For the Wisdom, the Power, the Presence and the Goodness are Yours
Now and forever.

With all of the Garden Planning going on

2011-01-07T14:06:00.003-05:00

With all of the Garden Planning that should be going on, I thought I'd mention one of the staples of topical healing. Comfrey Salve.

Comfrey is used externally for psoriasis, eczema, sores, varicose veins and skin ulcers, arthritis, sprains, bunions, hemorrhoids, sore breasts during lactation, and injuries, including fractures. It is particularly effective in slow healing wounds and to help repair tissue damage. If used topically, do not use it on deep wounds, as healing on the surface will initiate and so cause an abscess to form below. Comfrey contains an excellent cell proliferant and is used to stimulate growth of new skin cells.

This is the recipe I give my Herb Crafting students.

Easy Comfrey Salve

Comfrey Salve Here's a super simple recipe for comfrey salve recipe to utilize all that Comfrey in your garden!

This salve also makes great gifts for friends and family.

I like to put up big batches in the summer and give them out at the holidays.

2 cups good quality olive oil

~ 1 ounce (about two tablespoons) fresh comfrey leaves (or 1/2 ounce dried)

~ 1 ounce (about two tablespoons) fresh lavender flowers (or 1/2 ounce dried)

~ 1 ounce (about two tablespoons) fresh calendula flowers (or 1/2 ounce dried)

~ 1/2 cup beeswax

~ Gently warm the olive oil and the herbs in the top of a double boiler for about 30 minutes. Stir frequently. It should bubble a bit at the edges, but not throughout the mixture.

~ Strain out the oil by pouring through a strainer.

~ Compost herbs and reserve oil.

~ Melt your beeswax in the top of the double boiler

~ Add the strained oil and stir until completely blended.

~ Pour the mixture into jars or salve tins.

~ Once it is cool, label and date your creation.

Basics of Wicca

2011-01-05T16:01:00.003-05:00

I've had some private questions about the nature of Wicca and the beliefs of the people who follow it. These are some of the 'quick' ideals. Wicca's belief structure varies depending on Tradition (or sect). No faith is so neat that it can be put into a two minute blurb, and by no stretch can all of it fit all the varying beliefs of its adherents, but I thought this would give you an idea.

God
Many accuse Wiccans of being "Nature Worshipers". This comes from a misunderstanding of our Deity structure. We see the Divine in all living things. We celebrate the cycles of the seasons, because they remind us of the cycles of life.

Traditions having differing views on the Gods, but usually involve the Lord and Lady (Or God and Goddess). (There is one sect that only reveres the Goddess Diana, and no recognition of the God, but it's somewhat small.) They can be Polytheistic or syncretic monotheists. Syncretic Monotheism is the belief that all deities (Wiccan, Christian, Hindu etc) are all facets of Spirit. Instead of polytheism, which believes that every Deity is their own energy signature.

Holy days
Wiccans celebrate 8 major holidays throughout the year. In my way of practice they are 45.62 days apart. Why? We celebrate the Solstices and equinoxes (The first days of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter) and the cross quarter days, (the halfway point in each season).

Morals
Instead of 10 commandments Wiccans have The Wiccan Rede. (Rede means advice or counsel, so it's not a 'law' more like a suggested code of conduct.) The short version says, "An it Harm None, do what thou wilt." Going through life trying to cause the least harm to the people around you is a great way to live. The long version does leave room for self defense.

"Church or Temple"
Instead of going to a single building to have our rites as a whole, the Church or Temple is the place where ever we are. If we are moved to have a religious service we simply ask The Lord and Lady to bless the place we are as our church.

Ritual
The common ritual structure can be used and changed to suit the needs of the person using it. We have Clergy, but do not believe that Clergy is the only avenue to God(dess) as in some Christian sects. Individuals can choose to practice alone, or in groups (yes, called covens.)

The general structure is,
1. Casting the circle. (drawing a boundary for the 'church' space.)
2. Inviting the Elements (Earth Air, Fire, Water) to bless us.
3. Inviting the Lord and Lady to Bless us and watch over us.
4. The Work. (Prayer, celebration, blessing, weddings, requests, etc. )
5. Cakes and Wine. (Our version of communion. symbolizes the union of male (Food) with Female (wine) and their creation of Humankind (This part of the ritual usually involves discussion, questions, answers and fellowship.)
6. Thanking the Lord and Lady for their blessings
7. Thanking the Elements for their blessings
8. Taking up the circle. ("It never was, and ever shall be.")

"New Members"
Wicca doesn't proselytize. We believe that all paths to the Divine and are correct for their members. We're happy to share information, but believe it is an insult to the Divine to assume we know what is best for all people. Very "Live and let live".

Aromatherapy New Year's Day

2011-01-01T21:04:00.001-05:00

A Hangover Cure

Fennel 5 drops
Lavender 3 drops
Sandalwood 5 drops
Lemon 10 drops
Blend and bottle.

This will come in handy if you wake up with a hangover.
Use 8 drops of this blend in the bath.
These essential oils will help the body return to it's pre hangover state.
p.s. Don't forget to drink plenty of water and remember sleep is the best remedy for a hangover.

New Year Cleansing!

2011-01-01T20:50:00.002-05:00

With the birth of a new year, it's a great time to cleanse your magical tools, especially if you were too busy with parties to do it at Samhain.

Cleansing Crystals
1. Remember, Re-using Crystals from other workings is okay, just make sure you cleanse all stones before and after each spell use. (Before because they can still absorb negativity even if not being actively used. After because you want to clear your intention from the stone before giving it a 'new job'.)

2. If you are wearing it daily in a pocket, cleanse as often as is felt needed, minimum once a month with heavy use.

A. Smudging- Passing your stone through incense smoke.
B. Energizing – Place smaller crystal on larger to ‘charge’ it and remove any lingering negativity.

C. Visualization – Visualize your crystal surrounded by the color light that you feel is purifying and cleansing.

D. Place in the light of the full moon

E. Nature- place stone in bowl of flower petals. (Roses, honeysuckle, lily petals

F. Bury in bowl of brown rice to ground the stone's energy.

G. Cleanse with sound- the ringing of a bell will help cleanse your stones with vibration.

H. Water- use caution with this one. Unless you know what type of stone you have, cleansing with water could damage your stone.

I. Salt- may "beginner" websites suggest using salt and water to cleanse your stones, but this is a more advanced method because you have to understand the chemical composition of your stone. Any stone that ends in "-ite" should not be cleansed with salt. (i.e. Hematite, Sugalite, Celestite)

How to Make Incense paper

2010-12-29T01:02:00.002-05:00

How to Make Incense paper
By Valerie

The 'other kind' of incense.

You will need the following:
white blotter paper
cut into six inch strips about an inch wide 1 1/2
teaspoon potassium nitrate (you can buy potassium nitrate over the counter at most drug stores)
added to one half cup warm water.

Stir until completely dissolved. soak the paper strips in the solution until thoroughly Wet, then hang them up to dry. You now have paper versions of charcoal blocks used the burn incense! NOW when making incense papers - your goal is to overcome the smell of the burning paper - so Heavy fragrances should be used.

To Scent Your Incense Paper. Choose a scent for your magical need and add a few drops at a time to the paper and smear over one side of the paper - then hang to dry . When completely dry - store in an airtight container until ready to use :) (if it is not completely dry - you will have a moldy mushy Mess when you open your container) Use only tinctures to scent the papers - essential and base oils just don't do it very well Making tinctures to scent your incense papers with...a tincture is the process of soaking dried plant materials in alcohol which captures the scent.

Do Not Use Rubbing Alchol. Use only ethyl alcohol or "Everclear" needs to be a minimum of 140 proof (70%) For further information on this subject see Scott Cummingham's book The Complete Book of Incense, Oils Incense Paper

Lighting the Incense Paper:
Simply light one end of your dried paper and let it catch fire incense papers should burn slowly. When it has a good flame going - quickly blow it out and put it in your censer and let it smolder.

Great Idea : Just sprinkle a little incense on your smoldering paper and let it burn as well.

Incense Paper History

In the past, Chinese families owned ancestral tablets with the ancestors' names inscribed on them. Such tablets are placed on ancestral altars and urns meant for placing joss sticks, and food offerings are usually placed in front of it. Ancestral tablets found in Chinese homes only state the names of patrilineal ancestors and their wives. With the advent of modernism, and perchance owing to the decline of traditional Chinese values reinforced through Taoism, filial piety and thus such practices have almost vanished. At most only Taoist or Buddhist altars are found in Chinese homes.

Families may choose to have their ancestors cremated or buried in columbariums and cemeteries respectively. Families would visit their ancestor's resting place, especially during the Qing ming Festival. They would bring joss sticks, incense paper and food offerings to the ancestors.

According to Chinese custom and tradition, people worshiping ancestors at Chinese cemeteries or columbariums must first lay out their offerings and prayer items before burning the joss stick. The worshippers may then recite prayers before proceeding to place their joss sticks on designated areas.

The worshipers then burn the incense paper and collect the food after worship.

Incense paper used for ancestor worship comes in several forms; each represents a present for the ancestor's spirit. Paper colored yellow with a gold foil printed on it represents a gold tael; that with a silver foil represents a silver tael.

Another variant is single-colored paper which is manufactured with a rougher surface on one side and a smoother surface on the other side. Such paper come in varying colors. Incense paper of this type is to be rolled up and snugged tightly at both ends. The smoother face should form the exterior surface. Incense paper of this variant is used to represent clothes for the ancestor. Paper with a soft and rough surface printed in brown recycled paper serves as cloth.

Hell bank notes of various sizes as well as Kai chin are used to represent money. All of this incense paper is arranged and collected into a bundle known as Yi bou in accordance to significance. The brown incense paper serves as the base. Usually, the base must have an even number of "cloth" papers, and one sheet will serve as the nucleus of the base. They are followed on by the bank notes, Kai chin, clothes and taels, and the Yim bou is gathered up, and burnt with a candle Yi bou before throwing it into the urn. Joss papers manufactured into the shape of shirts and trousers are sometimes burnt together with the Yi bou.

Incense Papers
Incense papers are a delightful variation of combustible incense. Here, rather than using charcoal and gum tragacanth, tinctures and paper are the basic ingredients. To make incense papers, take a piece of white blotter paper and cut it into six-inch strips about an inch wide. Next, add 1 1/2 teaspoons potassium nitrate to 1/2 cup very warm water. Stir until potassium nitrate is completely dissolved. Soak the paper strips in the nitrate solution until thoroughly saturated. Hang them to dry.
You now have the paper versions of the charcoal blocks used to burn incense. The obstacle in scenting them is to overcome the normal smell of burning of burning paper. For this reason, heavy fragrances should be used, such as tinctures. Tinctures compounded from gums and resins seem to produce the best results. Empower the tincture(s) with you Magickal need, then pour a few drops of the tincture onto one strip of paper. Smear this over the paper and add more drops until it is completely coated on one side. Hang the strip up to dry and store in labeled, airtight container until needed.
To speed drying, turn o the oven to a low temperature, leave the door open, and place the soaked incense papers on the rack. Remove them when dry. Generally speaking, incense papers should be made with one tincture rather than mixtures. To use incense papers, simply remove one paper and hold it above your censer. Light one tip with a match, and after it is completely involved in flame, quickly blow it out. Place the glowing paper in your censer and let it smolder, visualizing or working your Magickal ritual. Incense papers should burn slowly and emit a pleasant scent.
Plain unscented papers can be used in place of charcoal blocks. For this purpose soak the papers in the potassium nitrate solution and let dry, then set one alight in the censer. Sprinkle a thin layer of the incense over the paper. As it burns the paper will also smolder your incense. You may have difficulty in keeping incense paper lit. The secret here is to allow air to circulate below the papers. You can ensure this by either placing the paper on some heat-proof object in the censer, or by filling the censer with salt or sand and thrusting one end of the paper into this, much as you might with incense sticks. The paper should burn all the way to its end.

Incense Magic

When incense is burned prior to magical workings, fragrant smoke also purifies the altar and the surrounding area of negative, disturbing vibrations. Though such a purification isn't usually necessary, it, once again, helps create the appropriate mental state necessary for the successful practice of Magic. When the incense is smoldered in a ritual setting it undergoes a transformation. The vibrations, no longer trapped in their physical form, are released into the environment. Their energies, mixing with those who use them, speed out to effect the changes necessary to the manifestation of the Magickal goal.
You needn't limit incense use to ritual, but avoid burning healing incense just for the smell, or to freshen up your stale house. Burning magickally constructed and empowered incenses when they're not needed is a waste of energy. If you wish to burn a pleasant-smelling incense, compound a household mixture for this purpose.

The Making of Incense

The Materials
Incenses are composed of a variety of leaves, flowers, roots, barks, woods, resins, gums and oils. Semiprecious stones may also be added to incenses to lend their energies to the mixture. Out of the literally hundreds of potential incense ingredients, perhaps 14 are most frequently used. Keep a stock of these herbs on hand if you plan to make several incense. These might include:

Frankincense, Myrrh, Benzoin, Copal, Rose petals, Bay, Cinnamon Pine needles or resin(pitch) Juniper Sandalwood Cedar Thyme Basil Rosemary

Be aware that many plants (if not all) smell quite different when being smoldered. Sweet scents turn sour fast!

ABCs of Kitchen Witchery

2010-11-16T01:06:00.000-05:00

Always stir in a clockwise motion
Before you chop veggies, offer thanks
Cut mindfully, gratefully
Do all preparations in a loving spirit
Energise your food with good thoughts
Feast gratefully
Give & share what you can spare
Home & hearth are sacred
Invoke blessings of Goddess on all food
Join hands with friends often
Kindness shows in serving food
Love goes into every dish
Mindfully gather ingredients
No wasting - recycle, compost, feed animals
Open your senses, enjoy your surroundings
Play as well as work
Quench thirst, thinking of clear clean rivers
Resolve to be grateful & waste not
Savour every fragrance & anticipate the flavour
Thank the Universe & Goddess for health
Use utensils carefully, then clean up
Value time spent with loved ones
When possible grow & harvest your food
Xtra food is for creative recombining
Yearly rituals & feasts build traditions
Zestful living in every area is our goal.

By Whitewash

Samhain Dinner traditions

2010-10-26T14:46:00.002-04:00

Colcannon

This is the traditional dinner to have on Halloween night before you head out for an evening of fun and mischief. It is a simple dish made with boiled potatoes, curly kale (a type of cabbage) and raw onions.

Traditionally coins were wrapped in pieces of cleans paper and slipped into children’s colcannon for them to find and keep. Sometimes people also hide a ring in the colcannon. Whoever finds the ring will be married within the year.

Recipe
Serves 4

Ingredients:
3-4 medium potatoes, peeled and quartered
3 tbsp. milk or unsweetened/plain soy milk
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
2 cups chopped cabbage or kale
2 tbsp. butter or margarine
1/4 cup chopped onions or green onions

Method:

Cook potatoes in a pot of boiling water until tender. Drain, reserving water.
Place the hot potatoes in a large bowl. Add chopped cabbage to the reserved potato water. Cook 6-8 minutes or until tender. Meanwhile, fry the onions in the butter or margarine. When they are cool enough to handle, mash potatoes with a hand masher or fork. Add the fried onions and cabbage. Add milk, salt and pepper and beat until fluffy.

The barnbrack

(From the Irish name Bairín Breac)

This is a traditional Irish Halloween cake which essentially a sweet bread with fruit through it as well as some other treats.

Shop-bought barnbracks still contain and ring but if you make it at home and add your own treats it’s even more fun. Each member of the family gets a slice and each prize has different meaning.

The rag – your financial future is doubtful
The coin – you will have a prosperous year
The ring – impending romance or continued happiness
The thimble – you’ll never marry

Recipe
Ingredients

2 1/2 cups chopped dried mixed fruit
1 1/2 cups hot brewed tea
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup lemon marmalade
1 teaspoon grated orange zest

Method

Soak the dried fruit in the hot tea for 2 hours, then drain and gently squeeze out excess tea. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9 inch Bundt pan. Stir together the flour cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking soda; set aside.
Beat the egg, sugar, marmalade, orange zest, and tea-soaked fruit until well combined. Gently fold in the flour until just combined, then pour into the prepared Bundt pan. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until the top of the cake springs back when lightly pressed. Allow to cool in the pan for 2 hours before removing. Continue to cool to room temperature on a wire rack. Press the objects of choice into the cake through the bottom before serving.

I was mentioned in the Boston Globe

2010-10-17T16:05:00.002-04:00

CAMPAIGN 2010 | AROUND THE NATION The Boston Globe

Delaware race could put hex on GOP hopes Takeover of Senate is seen at stake
By Mark Arsenault

NEWARK, Del. — The surprising campaign of Republican US Senate hopeful Christine O’Donnell has charmed Tea Party conservatives, energized voters of both parties, and transformed the traditionally buttoned-down world of Delaware politics into a noisy carnival of witch costumes and intense national media attention.

But the candidate, hounded by an old admission she “dabbled into witchcraft,’’ has not built confidence among mainstream Republicans that she can win what the party had once considered theirs for the taking: the Senate seat held by Vice President Joe Biden for 36 years.

O’Donnell’s stark rightward positions and her history of bizarre statements, replayed on television and the Internet, have alarmed many voters. Now, Democrats are confidently pushing back.

“We’re going to be the first state to put down the Tea Partiers,’’ promised Ken Dreisbach, 63, a retired railroad conductor from Wilmington, as he demonstrated against O’Donnell outside a debate between the candidates Wednesday. “We’re going to stuff ’em.’’

The Democratic candidate, Chris Coons, enjoys a healthy lead in the polls. An average of recent polls aggregated by the website Real Clear Politics showed Coons up by about 18 points, at roughly 55 percent to 37. The seat is open; Ted Kaufman, who was appointed to replace Biden after the 2008 elections, is not running.

For Republicans, the battle to assume control of the Senate could pivot on Delaware. GOP candidates are running well in other contested races across the country, but the party’s quest for 10 seats and a chamber majority will be extremely difficult without a win here.

Only weeks ago, a win in Delaware seemed easily within reach.

Last month’s primary victory by O’Donnell, a former marketing consultant who badly lost two previous bids for the Senate, over nine-term US Representative Mike Castle stunned the Republican establishment. And though the upset grabbed headlines and garnered a slew of contributions, Castle has not endorsed her and the Delaware GOP remains fractured.

“Much of the established leadership of the party was pledged to Castle, so his reluctance gives guidance to them,’’ said Joe Pika, a political science professor at the University of Delaware.

With only tepid support from the GOP establishment, O’Donnell has tried to reach out directly to the voters. But her electability continues to be undermined by a series of embarrassing past statements on videotape, such as her effort in the 1990s to curb masturbation. She also once claimed to have classified information about China’s secret plan to take over America and has questioned the science behind evolution. Her witchcraft revelation came during an appearance on comedian Bill Maher’s former talk show in 1999.

“She has a 10- 15-year record of media comments that’s being used against her and doled out week to week,’’ said Dan Cassino, political science professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University. “That has prevented her from getting any momentum.’’

O’Donnell has responded with a TV ad assuring voters “I’m not a witch . . . I’m you,’’ only to have the spot parodied on the Internet and on “Saturday Night Live.’’

The contrast between the spotlight-grabbing O’Donnell and her opponent is stark. Coons, 47, is a Yale-educated lawyer and two-term New Castle County executive, an elected position overseeing the state’s most populous county. He’s running a traditional, meet-and-greet Delaware campaign, with numerous appearances in a state where retail politics still matters, specialist say.

Coons highlights his experience balancing the county budget and accuses O’Donnell of empty sloganeering.

In response, O’Donnell, who has called for tax and spending cuts, attacked with a campy mock movie trailer in which Coons stars as “The Tax Man’’ who wants to increase taxes on “everything.’’

Neither campaign responded to requests for an interview.

With the fervor of O’Donnell’s Tea Party supporters, the glare of the media, and the reaction to her provocative past statements, it has not been politics as usual here. That was perhaps most evident at Wednesday’s debate at the University of Delaware in Newark.

Hundreds of O’Donnell and Coons supporters demonstrated side-by-side for hours before the event on a sunny afternoon. People from both camps wore pointy witch hats and carried brooms. Tea Party fans chanted against socialism next to gay rights advocates waving rainbow flags.

Members of the Wicca faith who call themselves witches took issue with O’Donnell’s TV ad.

“She says, ‘I’m not a witch, I’m you,’ ’’ complained Amy Blackthorn, a 28-year-old Wiccan from Newark, who protested at the event. “That’s the problem. I am a witch.’’

The candidates traded shots in the debate, with no knockouts. Coons delivered a confident performance, showing good command of issues and details. O’Donnell was stumped on a question about recent Supreme Court decisions she disagreed with — she couldn’t name any — but mostly sounded credible on the issues, which may help reassure voters unnerved by past statements.

That O’Donnell, 41, has made it this far in the race is remarkable. With a high-profile endorsement from Sarah Palin, O’Donnell managed to tap into a cauldron of Tea Party anger to win her primary by 6 percentage points, adding Castle to the list of other established Republicans, among them US senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Bob Bennett of Utah, who were rejected by primary voters favoring more conservative insurgents.

“Thank God we finally found a candidate strong enough to defeat Mike Castle,’’ said Larry Mayo, a 55-year-old remodeling contractor who demonstrated in Newark for O’Donnell this week.

Like a number of staunch conservatives at the event, Mayo said he was sick of being asked to support Republicans he considers too liberal. “I got tired of holding my nose and voting for someone who doesn’t share my values.’’

Before the primary, Coons was seen by many political specialists as just a speed bump between Castle and the US Senate. In a hypothetical match-up, the defeated Castle still leads Coons 50 percent to 36 percent, according to a poll released last week by Fairleigh Dickinson.

Even though Coons is doing well in the polls against O’Donnell, Democrats are not taking a victory for granted. President Obama and Biden appeared at a Coons fund-raiser yesterday, which had the dual purpose of raising money and highlighting O’Donnell as the face of the 2010 Tea Party wave of candidates.

O’Donnell fans maintain she can catch Coons. Despite trailing in the polls, she revealed yesterday that her campaign has collected about $3.8 million in donations — many in small amounts from across the nation — since her primary win, far outpacing the contributions to Coons.

But even if she cannot beat Coons, many supporters say they would rather lose the election with a candidate they like.

“We defeated a RINO and that’s a start,’’ added Skip Neubeck, 61, a retired engineer, using slang for “Republican in Name Only,’’ a scornful term for moderates.

“Castle would have won; yes, I know,’’ said Bill Ward, 62, of Bear, Del., an O’Donnell supporter and retired construction worker. “This is about sending the people in Congress a message.’’

To the GOP establishment, however, this was supposed to be about sending Republicans to Congress and controlling the agenda. Many in the party are still trying to fathom O’Donnell’s stunning rise: from being belittled by Tom Ross, the state’s GOP chairman, as someone who “could not be elected dog catcher’’ before the primary to becoming their standard-bearer after it.

“This was so destructive from a political perspective,’’ said Delaware Republican political strategist Don Mell, a Castle friend and supporter. “You’ve got to be pretty angry to burn down your own house.’’

Coons supporters like to say their candidate has done a good job as county executive and that he is not Christine O’Donnell.

“We just want people to come to their senses,’’ said Kevin Fenimore, 43, of Newark, while demonstrating in a purple witch hat. “Coons would be more like Castle, more in the center.’’
Tags: politics

Mabon Altar and Moon Sisters

2010-10-16T13:12:00.001-04:00

With a chill in the air, it is finally starting to feel like Samhain Season.

While I'm trying to decorate my Kitchen Altar for Samhain, I thought I'd post a photo from my Mabon altar for inspiration, and then photos from our first Moon Sister's Working Group ritual.

The vinyl window 'shade' really brightens the room. :)

This was the Earth Altar for MSWG

Air

Fire 1

Fire 2

Water

Main working Altar

Closer look

31 days of Halloween

2010-10-11T12:40:00.034-04:00

31 Days of Halloween
In Honor of the coming Samhain season, I submit for your Blogging pleasure, 31 simple mojo charms for your Haunting desires!

1) Agrimony

Carry in a pink bag to mend a relationship.

2.) Angelica

Carry in a white bag to ward off evil.

3.)Basil Leaf

Carry in a pink bag for love.

4.) Black Salt

Use to keep evil spirits from you

5.) Brimstone/ Sulfur

Burn or sprinkle to banish hexes and evil.

6.) Calamus Root

Carry in a royal blue bag to connect with your Spirit Guide or Angel

7.) Calendula

Carry in a green to drive out infection

8.) Cardamom

Carry in a red bag with rose and damiana to find a new lover.

9.) Chamomile

Carry in a white bag for calming and stress relief

10.) Cinquefoil

Carry in a Green bag to encourage prosperity

11.) Cloves

Carry in a red bag to stop gossip.

12.) Comfrey Root

Carry in a red bag for safe travel.

13.) Hyssop

Add to purification baths and floor washes .

14.) Nettle Root

Carry in a black bag to break jinxes

15.) Patchouli

Put in a green bag in a purse for money.

16.) Poppy Seed

Carry in a lavender bag for good dreams

17.) Quassia Bark

Carry in a pink bag to find true love.

18.) Rue

Carry for protection and to break jinxes.

19.) Saltpeter

Sprinkle to add energy to mundane areas of your life

20.) Sassafras Root Bark

Carry in a gold bag for business success.

21.) Senna Pods

Carry in a red bag to conquer obstacles and clear a path to success

22.) Solomon's Seal Root

Carry in a red bag to ward off evil.

23.) Spikenard Root

Carry in a pink bag for a proposal of marriage. Or Yellow for knowledge retention while studying.

24.) Star Anise Pods

Carry in an indigo blue bag to increase your psychic awareness.

25.) Tonka Beans

Carry in a gold bag to increase luck, money, and prosperity.

26.) Valerian

Put in a silver bag at bedtime to ease sleep.

27.) Vervain

Carry in a white bag for protection.

28.) White Sage

Carry in a green bag to purify and cleanse you

29.) White Willow

Carry in silver to honor the moon, red to cure migraines

30.) Witch Hazel

Carry in a silver bag to aid in divination.

31.) Wood Betony

Carry in a red bag to banish evil spirits

Welcome!

2010-10-10T18:52:00.001-04:00

Welcome all the Visitors from Mrs B's 31 days of Halloween!

I will be posting a copy of the blog featured today on her blog complete with photos of the plants and herbs used in these simple mojos!!

Welcome!

Hand made laundry soap

2010-10-08T15:46:00.002-04:00

Making Homemade Laundry Soap

By Crystal Miller

Making your own laundry soap is very easy! No longer do you need to rely on store bought detergents. With a few ingredients on hand you will be able to make batch after batch of laundry soap. The cost savings by doing this is incredible!

What Ingredients Do You Need?

You will need 3 basic ingredients; a soap of some sort, washing soda and
borax.

The Soap: The most typical type of soap to use is Fels Naptha. It is an old-fashioned type of soap usually found in the laundry aisle. The other options for soap are Ivory or another brand called, Zote. Any of these will work. I use my own homemade soap and find it works quite well. If you use Ivory or your own homemade soap you will need to use the whole bar.

Washing Soda: This is not to be confused with baking soda. They are not the same thing. Washing soda is sodium carbonate or soda ash (baking soda is sodium bicarbonate) . It is a white powder. Its purpose is to help remove dirt and orders. The brand to look for is Arm & Hammer Washing Soda. I find it in the laundry section of my grocery store.

Many people have a hard time finding this locally. I know you can purchase it on-line, even through Amazon.com . I would also suggest asking your grocery store manager if it would be possible for the store to get it for you.

Borax: Borax is a naturally occurring mineral: Sodium Borate. It is a white powder. It's purpose is as a laundry whitener and deodorizer. The brand to look for is 20 Mule Team. It comes in a 76 oz. box. You should be able to locate this in the laundry detergent aisle. Again as with the washing soda, if you cannot find it ask you store manager or look online.

The Recipe

Now that you have assembled all the needed ingredients here is the recipe:

Homemade Laundry Soap

1/3 bar Fels Naptha or other type of soap, as listed above
½ cup washing soda

½ cup borax powder

~You will also need a small bucket, about 2 gallon size~

Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use ½ cup per load.

**A few things to note about the soap**

~The finished soap will not be a solid gel. It will be more of a watery
gel that has been accurately described as an "egg noodle soup" look.

~The soap is a low sudsing soap. So if you don't see suds, that is
ok. Suds are not what does the cleaning, it is the ingredients in the
soap.

Optional: If you want your soap to have some sort of scent you can scent
this with ½ to 1 oz. of essential oil or fragrance oil of your
choice. My favorite scent is orange essential oil.

But is it Really Less Expensive?

Is the laundry detergent a cost saver? How do the numbers on this add up? Well I am a person who likes to know what I am spending and if my efforts save me in one way or another. This is one of the areas that I wanted to know if I was actually saving money. We do a lot of laundry and I make double batches of this soap and knowing that the time spent doing this was a savings for my family was important to me.

Here are my calculations:

The cost of making the above recipe of laundry soap was .71 cents. That was amazing to me! With this 2 gallon size recipe you will have enough to do 64 loads of laundry. That translates to about .01 cent a load.

How Did I Figure This Out?

Here is the breakdown of my costs and how I came up with those numbers
(I am using the prices I paid for these items and you may find your
price varies some based on what you pay):

Fels Naptha: $1.12 for a 5.5 oz bar. The recipes says use a 1/3 of a
bar. I calculated 2 oz. just to make the math a little easier. The
cost of the Fels Naptha per batch is: .40 cents

Washing Soda: $2.23 for a 55 oz. box. This came to .17 cents per batch.
I calculated how much per oz (2.23 divided by 55) and then weighed a
half cup of washing soda (4.2oz.) and multiplied my per oz. price by 4.2

Borax: $3.27 for a 76 oz. box. This came to .14 cents per batch. Did
the same calculations as above, however a 1/2 cup of borax weighs 3.5
oz.

For the final numbers I have .40 + .17 + .14 = .71 for 2 gallons of
laundry detergent.

Two gallons translates to 64- 1/2 cup portions and .71 divided by 64 =
.01109, etc... or about .01 cent a load!

Happy Laundry Soap Making!!!

The Halloween Witch

2010-10-05T08:00:00.002-04:00

Halloween Witch
Author Unknown

Each year they parade her about, the traditional Halloween Witch.

Misshapen green face, stringy scraps of hair, a toothless mouth beneath her deformed nose. Gnarled knobby fingers twisted into a claw protracting from a bent and twisted torso that lurches about on wobbly legs. Most think this abject image to be the creation of a prejudiced mind or merely a Halloween caricature. I disagree, I believe this to be how Witches were really seen.

Consider that most Witches were women, were abducted in the night, and smuggled into dungeons or prisons under the secrecy of darkness to be presented by light of day as a confessed Witch. Few if any saw a frightened normal looking woman being dragged into a secret room filled with instruments of torture, to be questioned until she confessed to anything suggested to her and to give names or what ever would stop the questions.

Crowds saw the aberration denounced to the world as a self-proclaimed Witch. As the Witch was paraded through town en route to be burned, hanged, drowned, stoned or disposed of in various other forms of Christian love all created to free and save her soul from her depraved body, the jeering crowds viewed the results of hours of torture. The face bruised and broken by countless blows bore a hue of sickly green. The once warm and loving smile gone replaced by a grimace of broken teeth and torn gums that leers beneath a battered disfigured nose. The disheveled hair conceals bleeding gaps of torn scalp from whence cruel hands had torn away the lovely tresses. Broken twisted hands clutched the wagon for support, fractured fingers with nails torn away locked like groping claws to steady her broken body. All semblance of humanity gone this was truly a demon, a bride of Satan, a Witch.
I revere this Halloween Crone and hold her sacred above all. I honor her courage and listen to her warnings of the dark side of man. Each year I shed tears of respect when the mundane exhibit their symbol of Christian love."

Mabon on Wednesday

2010-09-20T12:58:00.000-04:00

Next week, #FullMoon in Aries on Sep 23 At 5:13 am. There is nothing wrong with incorporating Full Moon and Mabon celebration together on evening of 22nd. Wednesday is the day ruled by Jupiter, so magic to help you "harvest" some prosperity for yourself would be great. Full moon would help power up retrograde Jupiter.

For the bakers in my life: Make your own Vanilla Extract!

2010-09-15T15:19:00.002-04:00

Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) is so flavorful and fragrant that it's hard to imagine dessert without it. And in its native Mexico, it was so valuable that the Totonac Indians (the first to cultivate it) thought that it sprang from the blood of a princess, who was captured and slain when she fled with her lover. When the Totonac were conquered by the Aztecs, they were required to pay taxes and tributes with vanilla beans. It's fair to say that vanilla was literally worth its weight in silver.

The Spanish first became acquainted with vanilla as an ingredient in the bitter Aztec aphrodisiac drink, xocolatl, which was brewed with cacao beans and chile peppers. The tropical plant, a member of the orchid family could only be cultivated in Mexico, for the tubular flowers could be pollinated only by a tiny bee and a humming bird. In 1836, a 12-year-old African slave in Madagascar figured out how to hand-pollinate the blossoms with a bamboo splinter, a method that is still used today.

Vanilla is widely grown throughout the tropics, but it is still highly valuable. Some two thousand tons are produced each year, but that is still not enough to satisfy people's desire for it, and many have to be satisfied with synthetic vanillin. For more about the culinary uses of real vanilla, go here.

You can make your own vanilla extract, using vanilla beans. Here's a recipe from China Bayles. (Thanks to Susan Wittig Albert)

China's Favorite Vanilla Extract

Using a funnel, pour 1 cup brandy or rum into a small-diameter bottle. Split 2-3 vanilla beans lengthwise, then cut the split pieces into halves, retaining the aromatic seeds. Drop pieces and seeds into the bottle and cap it tightly. Set on a dark shelf for several weeks, shaking frequently (and sniffing deeply whenever possible). Use when the flavor suits you, topping off each time you remove some. Every now and then add a piece or two of split vanilla bean, to enrich the flavor.

Read more about vanilla:

* Vanilla: Travels in Search of the Ice Cream Orchid, by Tim Ecott
* Simply Vanilla: Recipes for Everyday Use, by Patty Elsberry

Dyeing with plants and flowers

2010-09-14T15:10:00.011-04:00

So my current interest has turned towards natural dyes and plants used for dyeing.

With "the military look" being popular this fall, I thought I'd mention that Black Walnut hulls (the fleshy green part) make and excellent Natural "OD" Green dye.

It's simply the easiest thing!

1) Hit walnuts with hammer to break 'shell'. Place green hulls (the more hull, the richer the color of dye) into a pot (mark for DYE use only, as some plants used for dyeing are poisonous if ingested)

2) Fill with water and slowly heat water to 170 degrees over an hour or so. Make sure to slowly heat the water, as boiling can ruin the dye for fabrics, textiles and wool.

3.) Once it is up to temp, leave it to 'cook' over the next hour.

This is a range of colors that can be achieved with Walnut dye.

4.) Immerse textiles to be Dyed in cold water. Let them sit in water during your hour simmer.

5.) Once hour has passed remove textile from water bath, and introduce it to the dye pot. Leave for 3-4 minutes. Check the depth of color, and feel free to place back into dye bath if the color isn't as dark as you'd like it to be.

There is a wide variety of color to be had with natural colorants like flowers, grasses and nuts, so you can bet I'll be planning next year's garden around flowers I can dye with!

This silk scarf was dyed with Japanese Indigo. This annual self seeds here in zone 7 and will supply you with three batches of Indigo dye a season!

Indigo Dye pot getting ready for dyeing!

Suggested reading:
A Dyer's Garden: From Plant to Pot: Growing Dyes for Natural Fibers by Rita Buchanan

A Weaver's Garden: Growing Plants for Natural Dyes and Fibers by Rita Buchanan

Natural Dyes and Home Dyeing (Formerly Titled: Natural Dyes in the United States) by Rita J. Adrosko

The Craft of Natural Dyeing: Glowing Colours from the Plant World by Jenny Dean

The Chemistry of Natural Dyes (Palette of Color Series) by Dianne N. Epp and Mickey Sarquis

Patti at about.com

2010-03-26T13:44:00.003-04:00

Patti has compiled a list of gardening and growing traditions from various places, on her site!

Feel free to check out this interesting bit of info!

http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/ostaramagic/a/GardenMagic.htm?nl=1

Chief Ray Shultz

2010-03-26T12:45:00.001-04:00

Chief Schultz,
I'm writing as a member of the Wiccan Religion. I understand that I don't know the particulars of this case, other than what I read. I understand how details can be misinterpreted by the media.

I'm just hoping that I can clarify details from a Wiccan perspective.

Let me clear a few things up. First, the "Wiccan Dagger" is called an
Athame. (It wasn't clear if this was the term Ms. Sanford used, or the reporter.) It's usually blunted, so it doesn't accidentally cut something
before use. You see, it's purpose is to direct energy, like a wand. The
most substantial thing an Athame is going to cut, would be air. My
first Athame was a pewter letter opener, given to me by my mother for
Yule. It would have bent before cutting anything!

Second, the
solstices are the first days of Winter and Summer. The most recent Holy
Day was Ostara, the first day of Spring or the Vernal Equinox. Not a
solstice. This is the celebration of the first day of spring, and the renewal it represents in our calendar. There is no sacrifice of any kind that takes place during these observances.

I come from a LEO family and I'm truly sorry that you have to investigate cases like this, and I'm also sorry that the police involved in this case don't get more
training in the cases of minority religions. I've been called
on numerous occasions to act as an expert on Wicca, Pagan religions and
even Diasporic faiths. (Including ABC TV, the Connecticut Post, the
Stamford Advocate, The Baltimore Sun, the Washington Post, the
Associated Press and more). I understand that LEOs can't take a Witch to the crime scene, that even if they could, they don't know who knows what
their talking about. I suggest, "Cop's Guide to Occult Investigations:
Understanding Satanism, Santeria, Wicca, and Other Alternative
Religions" By Tony Kail. I honestly feel that each department should
have a copy or two of this book.

I have also been volunteering for years at All Experts dot com in these fields. All Experts provides a forum for people to anonymously post questions and receive answers from the expert of their choosing. If you'd like to check this out, please visit tinyurl.com/amyblackthorn

Blessings!
Rev. Amy Blackthorn
-------------------------
From:
"Schultz, Ray D."

Amy, thanks for the Email. Yes you are right most of the information came from Ms Sanford. She is a Self Proclaimed Wiccan and she described the weapon as a Wiccan Dagger. We have been very careful to say they we have not come to any conclusions and that we are investigating all angles of this case. We have ment no disrespect to anyone or any religion.

Wiccan 'solstice connection' story.

2010-03-24T13:16:00.004-04:00

Has anyone seen this story yet? http://tinyurl.com/yhfk77o "Call to action: police question "solstice connection" in stabbing by Wiccan"

Apparently a woman in New Mexico, Angela Sanford, went hiking with Joel Leyba. A witness saw a woman being attacked on a hiking trail, and by the time police got there, the attacker was dead. "Sanford claims that the man, Joel Leyba, attempted to sexually assault her." Shouldn't we be applauding this woman for surviving a dangerous
attack on her person? Didn't the story say there was a witness?

Let me clarify, I have family in the State police, a dear friend of mine was a LEO for many years. I understand the things they have to deal with. I understand they have to investigate everything. What I don't appreciate is the assumption, that because the VICTIM was Wiccan, that some how the defense involving the religious tool of a misunderstood religion means that there MUST be "something fishy going on".

Let me clear a few things up. First, the "Wiccan Dagger" is called an Athame. It's usually blunted, so it doesn't accidentally cut something before use. You see, it's purpose is to direct energy, like a wand. The most substantial thing an Athame is going to cut, would be air. My first Athame was a pewter letter opener, given to me by my mother for Yule. It would have bent before cutting anything!

Second, the solstices are the first days of Winter and Summer. The most recent Holy Day was Ostara, the first day of Spring or the Vernal Equinox. Not a solstice.

Lastly, the insinuation that the observance of the first day of spring some how involves human sacrifice, thinly veiled as an attempted sexual assault is absolutely disgusting to me.

The Supreme court has said that police have one obligation, and it isn't to protect people. It's a post event response. No matter how hard these fine men and women work, they can't be everywhere at once. There are just too many civilians and not enough police. Department budgets keep getting cut and these departments aren't getting the funding they need for the people they need.

I am so sorry for Ms. Sanford. I'm sorry that she was assaulted. I'm sorry that she has to carry the knowledge that she has taken another life, for the rest of hers. And I'm also sorry she had to sully a sacred religious tool in defense of herself and possibly her life.

I'm also sorry that the police involved in this case don't get the training they need in the cases of minority religions. I've been called on numerous occasions to act as an expert on Wicca, Pagan religions and even Diasporic faiths. (Including ABC TV, the Connecticut Post, the Stamford Advocate, The Baltimore Sun, the Washington Post, the Associated Press and more). I understand that LEOs can't carry a Witch in the car, that even if they could, they don't know who knows what their talking about. I suggest, "Cop's Guide to Occult Investigations: Understanding Satanism, Santeria, Wicca, and Other Alternative Religions" By Tony Kail. I honestly feel that each department should have a copy or two of this book.

Stay Tuned for any updates to this story. Coming soon, "What DOES happen during a "solstice" ritual?

I'm calling the people involved with this story and asking for a clarification of facts so as not to harm the reputation of Wiccans and Witches nationwide.

Contact Chief Schultz at the following:
rschultz@cabq.gov
400 Roma NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
phone: (505) 768-2200
fax: (505) 768-2331

Contact KOAT at the following:
P.O. Box 25982
Albuquerque, N.M., 87125
(505) 884-6324
or use their contact form.
http://www.koat.com/contact/index.html

At home Cosmetic toners

2010-03-21T20:55:00.006-04:00

While we're all eagerly awaiting the time where we (each in our zones) can start planting our gardens for the summer, I thought I'd discuss something we can all get behind. "Free" cosmetics!

Now this is not "makeup" so I'm hoping you guys are still here. These low cost toners can do a lot for your face. Wipe your face with these toners after washing your face and it'll make your face a lot happier.

Summer will be here before you know it and Male or Female, we all sweat. This means we all need face cleansing and we all can develop blemishes at any age. Apply these to cotton rounds and wipe your face after washing and it'll make your face a lot happier.

Since these need to steep for a few weeks, if you start them now, they'll be ready in time to face the sticky heat of the summer! Since there is no alcohol in them they won't dry your skin, but they're still astringent.

You've got to start with quality ingredients since you will be "ingesting" this, via your skin. And since this is the main ingredient, your cost will be LOW for the final product. Start with a good quality apple cider vinegar.

You'll need two cups of herbs if you're using fresh, and one if you're using dried.

Steep the blend of herbs in four cups of apple cider vinegar for 4 weeks. Shake daily for the first week. Store in a cool, dark place. Then you can strain and bottle. (If you can find dark glass bottles, all the better.)

Once you've strained the material out, blend 1/2 cup herbal vinegar to 3 cups water. Keep the remaining herbal vinegar in it's labeled and dated "undiluted" bottle so that you can make more toner when the current batch is gone. You can put it into a spray bottle. (wallyworld carries small 1 oz spray bottles for about .49)

*You can keep a small bottle of the mint toner in the fridge for those hot summer days when you need a cool down. (After mowing the lawn for instance.)

*You can rinse your hair after shampoo with the undiluted mint vinegar to stop itchy scalp and remove shampoo residue.

For this blend you can use your own blend of peppermint (anti itch, cooling, and good for getting rid of pimples), Rosemary (toning and removes dryness) Sage (will kill the bacteria that cause blemishes). I suggest you start with one part of each herb, and blend to your liking until you have the amount you need.

Lavender makes a lovely toner. (You can use flowers or leaves). Lavender can relieve the pain of cystic pimples, and enhances circulation. According to OrganicFacts dot net, lavender, "It is used to treat various skin disorders such as acne, wrinkles, psoriasis, and other inflammation. It heals wounds, cuts, burns, and sunburns rapidly as it aids in the formation of scar tissues. Lavender oil is added to chamomile to treat eczema."

You can add Thyme to any of theses mixes because it's great for your skin and even removes blemishes, scars and other spots according to organicfacts.net.

If you have a lot of redness in your complexion you can make a Rose vinegar. Make sure you're using roses that aren't treated with harsh chemicals. Roses are susceptible to many pests and diseases, so the ones you buy from a florist or grocery store aren't the ones for you! You can also add rose hips. Rose will take the redness out of your skin. It's also an antidepressant, antispasmodic, and will also help fade the scars from acne and other causes (including stretch marks!)

Dried orange peel also makes a handy vinegar because of it's sedative properties. Unlike it's Lemony 'cousin', the orange can help calm you after a bad day, especially a long, hot one! It's also a lot better for you than the prescription variety, that can cause damage to heart and other internal organs.

You can mix any of these diluted vinegar waters with 2 tablespoons of fine clay (available from your local natural food store) for a nice refreshing mask!

If you suffer from migraines, try a mint / lavender vinegar blend to use when your headache starts!

Gardening Ideas Hecate

2010-03-13T19:17:00.005-05:00

While scrolling through my Facebook on Wednesday, I got an idea. I'm creating a new garden this year. A "Hecate" garden. She's most popularly known as the Cthonic Goddess of Crossroads, Sorcery and Ghosts, but she's also associated with medicine. She's been known to rule over the "brewing of concoctions, medicines and poisons".

She was said to favor offerings of Garlic. Since I grew up in an Italian culture, garlic is already sacrosanct.

A number of other plants (often poisonous, medicinal and/or psychoactive) are associated with Hecate. These include aconite (also called hecateis), belladonna, dittany, and mandrake.

The use of dogs for digging up mandrake is further corroboration of the association of this plant with Hecate; indeed, since at least as early as the first century CE, there are a number of attestations to the apparently widespread practice of using dogs to dig up plants associated with magic.*

In "dog digging" the soil would be loosened around the base of a plant associated with magic, then a string would be tied around the plant, and then to the dog. The dog would be called away and thus, would tear up the plant, roots and all.

In the case of mandrake (named of the person like appearance of the roots) it was thought that the "man" who lived in the roots would scream and deafen you if you dug it up. It was believed that if the spirit of the plant wanted to exact revenge for the digging of the plant, the harm would fall on the dog, and leave the person, intact. There are even legends that say it has to be a black dog that does the digging, since black dogs are heavily associated with Hecate.

Many other herbs and plants are associated with Hecate, including almonds, lavender, myrrh, mugwort, cardamon, Henbane, mint, dandelion, hellebore, and lesser celandine. Several poisons and hallucinogens are linked to Hecate, including hemlock, mandrake, and opium poppy. Many of Hecate's plants were those that can be used shamanistically to achieve varying states of consciousness. (This is not an endorsement or recommendation.)

I don't know what is on my list to grow yet, but I'm really excited about this!

----------------------------
*Frederick J. Simoons, Plants of Life, Plants of Death, University of Wisconsin Press, 1998, pp. 121-124.

Pest free Salad!

2010-03-12T01:22:00.000-05:00

So I've decided that this year I'm going to build a Salad Table. For those of you who aren't familiar, a Salad Table is a shallow table filled with growing media and used to grow salad greens. Luckily, my inlaws happen to have all the 2x4s I'll need for my version free, but if you don't it'll cost about $35 dollars and last about 8 years.

So for an initial investment of building materials and twenty dollars a year for seeds, fertilizer and growing media, you can grow about ninety five dollars worth of lettuce a year for about eight years (if you use untreated pine for instance) A savings of seven hundred and sixty dollars.

Not to mention, the pride you get from growing your own food! Let's face it, with our busy lives, we're much more apt to make a salad to go with dinner if we can go out to the back deck and cut the lettuce and pick the tomatoes ourselves, right?

The best part? No deer, rabbits, or groundhogs to eat your hard work, and no back breaking time on the ground! When your crop is at waist height, it's a lot easier to spot any troublesome spots as well.

I'm planning out my version at home now, but you can build one with the plans here: http://www.growit.umd.edu/Salad%20Tables%20and%20Salad%20Boxes/index.cfm

I'll be posting pictures as soon as building and growing commences!

Feast of Diana

2010-03-02T15:12:00.003-05:00

Feast of Diana

With the recent passing of the Feast of Diana, I thought I’d like to look more at the family of plants named for her Greek counterpart, Artemis. Artemisia can be found from the kitchen cabinet, to the Herbalist, New Age stores and even your local bar.

One of the more notable plants, Artemisia absinthium is found flavoring Vermouth and is the most infamous ingredient in Absinthe. Many people then “demonize” wormwood and many Artemisias because of the notoriety of Absinthe and it’s hallucinogenic reputation. A. absinthium though, isn’t the only ingredient that has an effect in this particular brew. Many traditional recipes call for Anise as a flavoring aid. Anise also acts as a relaxant. This species of wormwood has also been known to induce “sensual feelings” according to the Book of Aphrodisiacs (Pg 104, Dr. Raymond Stark, 1980).

Artemisias of all species have been associated with sex, childbirth, reproductive issues and cleansing for as long as people have been documenting them.

Medicinals

• Artemisia keiskiana is associated with correcting sexual issues in men and women, potency issues in men and amenorrhea in women.(pg 11)

• A. abrotanum (Southern Wood) is said to be a mild aphrodisiac, emmenagouge (to induce menses), as well as to strengthen digestion (pg 89).

• A.vulgaris (Mugwort meaning “fly plant” because it repels bugs) has been suggested as another emmenagogue, but also as a herb to induce psychic dreams and visions. (pg 147) It’ s also said that if you hang a branch in the home it will protect the home from lightning, thieves, and evil. Carried in your shoe it is said to prevent fatigue and protect you in your travels.

• A. tridentata (Sage Brush, not to be confused with "White Sage") was used by Native tribes, both as a poultice to induce menses and burned after childbirth to cleanse the birthing area. Sage Brush was made into a “tea” to cure headaches, sore throats nausea, stomach aches, and to cleanse and heal external wounds.

• Artemisia dracunculus (Tarragon) is likely to be found in your kitchen or local produce section. It’s a mild sedative, good anti-bacterial wash for cuts and shallow scrapes as well as a good helper for Stomach ache, toothache (it numbs the tooth / mouth) and kills intestinal worms.

Decorative:
The shiny silvery leaves of these species can even show up as decorative borders in landscaping. Dusty Miller, Silver Queen, Desert Sage or Sage Brush and Powys Castle are all great in the decorative garden.

Maybe next year you all can join me in a toast to Artemis. Whether you
toast with Absinthe or your own herbal tea, we can all agree that these herbs dedicated to the Goddess of women, forests, hunting and the moon can add a lot to your garden, and your lives.

Link to Saturday after work fun!

2010-03-02T13:57:00.001-05:00

http://designbyravenmuse.blogspot.com/2010/02/lean-dog-traveling-pendant-goes-mad-as.html

Amazing Pottery artist takes Blogger by storm!

2010-01-11T21:15:00.003-05:00

http://leandogpottery.blogspot.com/
Kelly even has a give away happening RIGHT NOW! You should Follow her, and check out what she has to say!

The life of this Green Witch

2010-01-09T22:17:00.002-05:00

Quote taken from a friend's blog about last night at my place.

"So I head over to my girlfriend's house last night to just hang out and goof off. Goofing off at her house usually involves tea, making incense, lighting shit on fire, more tea, playing with swords."

I have the best friends.

The (Ink) Tides have changed

2010-01-02T12:09:00.002-05:00

Right before Samhain, I got a phone call, a semi-panicked one at that.

"Gus is coming, Gus is coming!"

It was MI. (Now Rev. MI, congrats). Freaking out because Gus was coming up for a visit with little warning.

She let me know, Gus, August Moon, the amazing tattoo artist from my earlier tattoo post (here: http://realmofagreenwitch.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-monday-tattooing-experience.html) would be coming to my area for a limited engagement. I knew I had to act quickly as his calendar would fill up quickly.

I drove my deposit to the studio and got the first appointment they had.

Nov 7th I got up and headed for the studio after a quick lunch.

I was quickly escorted back after a hug, and the drawing began. No stencil would ever fit on my leg with all the damage there, so the design was drawn on with piercing pens. We drew circles around each pin site so as not to tattoo too close to them, and my flowers began to take shape.

The black ink and shading was done pretty quick. Despite the pain it caused, I was a lot better at holding still this time as the start of the tattooing wasn't directly on the nerves yet.

I now measure my tattoos in hours rather than individual tattoos and this made "regular" tattoo pain seem pleasant in comparison.

I just reminded myself how much the pain would be worth it when I could look down at my leg and see beauty, instead of the scars inflicted by someone else's ugliness.

I used the same chant during tattooing that I used in the hospital when it was time for "pin care". Pin care was always so excruciating that I had to sing and chant to myself or scream, so I picked this chant to help. "Earth My body/ Water my blood/ Air my breath/ and Fire my Spirit".

Chanting silently is much better in my (stubborn) eyes than looking like a "big girl" in front of your incredible tattoo artist.

When we were done, a lot quicker than I imagined, by the way, I got a bit misty eyed from the beauty of this masterpiece that now adorned my leg.

The colors are just as vibrant now, almost two months later as the day they were Inked.

As for the leg itself, it swelled to probably twice it's normal size, and the scar tissue turned angry colors, retribution for the tattooing. It took twice as long as normal to heal, but it's all worth it.

When I took the bandage off after I got home that night, I'm not ashamed to tell you, I cried.

I remember the day that I saw my leg for real before my plastic surgery. I remember looking down and getting so angry. I remember telling Matt that this was not a funny joke. That this THING wasn't MY leg. That it never would be.

The weeks that I lay in the hospital first, and then the nursing home, looking at the scars and wondering if I'd ever see it as 'my leg' again.

Now I do. It may be crooked, and swiss cheese like, (I have to admit a certain perverse enjoyment out of seeing doctors faces when they look at my xrays for the first time and they TRY to keep their "blank doctor face" and can't.) But dammit, I can now say, "Yes, it is my leg."

And I owe it all to August Moon.

As a side note, it's now been a month and a half, and my step brother, J, is out of prison, again. He's been hanging out with my In-laws working in their garage, helping around the place, and trying to stay out of trouble (so I'm told). I found out last night that we have something in common besides my Step dad. We both have tattoos by Gus.

So did JC, my step brother who died. Even if I will never know what happened the day JC died, I feel like this gives us one more bond to understand.

Cubicle Goddess, Paganism in the Work place

2009-12-31T11:26:00.001-05:00

http://kaerwynskorner.blogspot.com/2009/12/cubicle-goddess-paganism-in-workplace.html

WPVI News story about animal sacrifice

2009-12-31T11:24:00.000-05:00

After seeing the BULLSHIT story on WPVI, I decided to write them.
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=7194867#comments

In regards to your story on the "animal sacrifice" home story from last night, I was horrified, and not just at the nature of the story itself.

My Horror also comes from the beginning of the story, in which a Pentagram and lit candle icon was used to denote the story. Pentagrams and Pentacles are in no way connected with Voudoun. The Veves (pictures invoking the Lwa, or spirits in Voudoun) painted on the roof of the home, are. The Pentagram is the symbol of protection, and interconnected elements of life. This is obviously a perversion of a very beautiful and life affirming religion. I would no more call these animal abusers practitioners of Voudoun than I would I would call the BTK serial killer, Christian.

I've worked as an expert for the Connecticut Post, Stamford Advocate, ABC affiliates, the Baltimore Sun and other news media in the nature of Witchcraft, Paganism, and their differences with Diasporic faiths of Voudoun, Santeria, Palo Mayombe and other sects.

I'm greatly offended that the person in charge of your news icons did NOT do their research as needed and as such has slandered several religious groups.

For More information, please feel free to contact me at tinyurl.com/amyblackthorn for questions answered.

Introducing KAERWYN!

2009-10-06T22:49:00.003-04:00

Hello all of you out there in BlogSpot land! I'd like to introduce you to my dear friend and Co-teacher of Wicca a la Carte, Kaerwyn Silverwood! After much deliberation Kaerwyn has decided to put her many writing talents to keeping a blog here on Blogspot.

So do me a favor, stop by say, "Hi!" and I'm sure you'll love her writing as much as I do!

http://kaerwynskorner.blogspot.com/

Wicca a la Carte -- Magickal Names

2009-10-06T22:29:00.001-04:00

Wicca A La Carte - Magickal Names - Friday 10/9 at Mystickal Voyage!

When: 6:30-9pm

Where: Mystickal Voyage, Holistic Center - 410.663.8333 – www.mystickalvoyage.com for more info, directions & registration. Pre-registration is highly recommended as space is limited and classes have filled up quickly! All participants who preregister will be guaranteed a handout/packet!

Fee: $15/person for a 2.5 hour class

Come join us at Mystickal Voyage on Friday, October 9, 2009 from 6:30pm - 9 pm for our continuing series of Wicca A La Carte, Focused Topics for Wiccan Living. This session's topic focuses on MAGICKAL NAMES. What’s the importance of Magickal names? Why do Wiccans believe their magickal name is a sacred thing to be cherished? This session discusses the importance of magickal names and their purpose, when to change your name and how to use them with respect and honor with others. We’ll talk about honorifics, inner and outer court names and their significance to Wiccan practice. We will also discuss how Wiccans find their personal names of power and how to safeguard them!

Contact Mystickal Voyage at Mystickal Voyage (www.mystickalvoyage.com) for more information and to reserve your spot today! - You can also join our Yahoogroup: WALAC_MV@yahoogroups.com (or simply search WALAC_MV).

Please note some upcoming Wicca A La Carte sessions which might interest you: The Sabbats - 10/23, 11/20 - Esbats & Moons, 12/4 - Astrology & Wicca, 12/18 - Magickal Tools.

What is Wicca A La Carte?

Wicca A La Carte is a series of affordable, concise, and targeted workshops for the Wiccan practitioner wanting to learn about specific concepts most important to them and their personal spiritual evolution. Each session focuses on a different area of Wiccan practice without the need for a long commitment to a training regimen or particular discipline. Wicca A La Carte tackles over 30 separate topics, with additional topics being added as needed, each broken down into easily manageable 2 hour sessions.

The topics presented are designed to give practitioners a working knowledge of the topic and provide healthy discussion. Wicca A La Carte sessions are a perfect opportunity for the newcomer to Wicca to learn or the solitary practitioner who wishes to gain a perspective outside of books, a chance to interact with other like minded friends.

Participants will receive coven AND solitary perspectives, as well as the point of view of both Traditional and Eclectic practitioners. This series is hosted by Kaerwyn Silverwood, HPS of Coven DragonVeil and Amy Blackthorn. Between them, they bring decades of experience and training to share with new members of the Craft of the Wise.

Pagan Politics: What you need to know

2009-09-09T18:51:00.002-04:00

Pagan Politics -- What You Need to Know

September 01, 2009 | Comment

By Lloyd

People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people. Of course, that is not true. Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and who vote -- a very different thing. ~ Walter H. Judd, MD and Congressman

It is every American's right to make their opinion known to their elected officials. Unfortunately, it is the manner in which this contact is made that most often determines whether or not your opinion or issue position will actually make a difference in the vote or position of your representative.

I have served as a staff person for a State Representative, a State Senator, and a U.S. Senator. I can tell you from experience that the way in which you present yourself to your representative's staff goes a long way in whether you get the "standard reply letter" or a chance to actually meet with your representative. In this primer, I will give you a few do's and don'ts to help you with your political advocacy.

Right from the start, you have to understand that your representative, whether they are a Democrat, Republican, or Independent, is a person. As a person, they have strong moral, religious, and political views and biases that, if they are a good representative, they try to set aside when looking at the "hard" issues and in dealing with constituents that they do not necessarily see "eye-to-eye" with. They, actually their staff, hear from literally hundreds of constituents, lobbyists, and activists on a weekly basis.

Professional lobbyists and activists have not only cultivated a relationship with the representatives, or with their political parties and caucuses, but approach their contacts with these officials in a very professional manner. Most, if not all, professional lobbyists were either former legislators or legislative staff. This is the professional world that they have been a part of for most of their career and they know all of the "ins and outs" of advocating for their clients and their clients' positions. Unfortunately, the average constituent does not and makes all manner of errors in the way that they approach their representative.

Some rough percentages:

• 99.99% of elected officials (and their staff) will either be some denomination of Christian or Jewish
• 95% will have an unfavorable view toward Pagan religions (mostly due to ignorance)
• 50% believe that Pagans are "weird" or "kooks"
• 70% or so will have an unfavorable view of gays and lesbians
• 90% do want to call it a Christmas tree (no matter how they voted)
• 25% of them will be extremely fundamental in their religious views
• 99% will always vote with their party on an issue, that is why they are in that party (which has always made me wonder about Log Cabin Republicans)
• And 100% of them want to be reelected

So, what do these figures tell us? That as a Pagan constituent you will be facing an uphill battle in relating your position to your elected official. However, as a constituent you will have a much easier time in getting your views and opinions heard.

Let's start with some basics on what to do and what not to do:

Do use your legal name, not your Craft name, and your address and phone number. Legislative offices track and respond to their constituents and keep a database of all contacts. So, if they ask for your name and address, don't worry, they won't be using it against you, it is common practice.

When you try to contact your legislator by phone or in person at their office, accept the fact that 95% of the time, you're going to end up speaking to their staff. Don't get upset if the staff person does not connect you immediately to your representative. Staff people are the gatekeepers and one of their primary functions is to speak with constituents, take their issues, and then work on the issue for their boss. Staff people deal with all types of constituents and constituent contacts on top of their other duties and getting rude with them will never help your cause.

Be polite and respectful, I cannot stress this enough. If you want someone to listen to your concerns and either relay them to your representative or actually act on them, you need to treat them as you would wish to be treated yourself. Do not be demanding -- yes, they work for you, but being respectful of their time will go a long way in increasing your chances of actually having your issue acted on.

Unless it is absolutely necessary, try to keep your religious persuasion out of the discussion. Even in cases where religion is the main point (i.e., State Xmas/Holiday Tree, prison chaplain, etc.) the main issue is not your religion, it is the violation of the First Amendment (usually either the Establishment Clause or the Free Exercise Clause) or whatever the issue may be. Starting off by telling your legislator or their staff that you are Wiccan, Pagan, etc. will do nothing to help your cause.

Know your issue, do copious background research, and then be succinct, calm, and even in making your point. If you are sitting on the other end of the phone from a staffer, raking them over the coals, for 20 minutes you may feel better, but I can tell you that what you are doing is hurting you, not helping you. As part of a staffer's job is to listen to you, they will, but the second that you start to be disrespectful, they will tune you out. Oh, you'll get a letter, but don't expect the representative or the staff to put in a great amount or time or effort on your issue. Again, treat them as you want to be treated.

If you get to meet with your representative, or their staff, in person -- dress professionally. Do not wear ceremonial robes; cloaks; all black clothing (remember green is the new black!); extreme make-up (or any make-up if you are a male); or wear pentacles the size of hubcaps (this doesn't just go for Pagans, Christians that come in wearing huge crosses get just as little respect).

Many representatives already think that our religious beliefs are part of a cult (mainstream entertainment and media really hasn't helped) and dressing as if you just stepped off of a vampire movie set will just get you laughed at (after you leave) and dumped in the "crazy" file. This also goes for meetings outside the office, such as at town hall meetings and county fairs. If you plan on meeting with your representative, dress appropriately.

Do not attempt to contact legislators other than your own. It is both a waste of your time and their staff's time. By law, only your elected legislator has a "duty" to represent you (and to act on your contact). When we get contacts from people outside the district, we simply forward them to their elected legislator. Since you have probably already contacted your legislator, this just gets you lumped into the "Frequent Flyer" file (for people that seem to have nothing better to do than contact their legislator on any and all issues).

Do not continually contact your legislator or their staff after making the initial contact unless you have something new to share. They already know your position on the issue and if you keep nagging them like a kid wanting a toy, you will just end up annoying them (and getting put into said Frequent Flyer file).

This is a big one -- If your legislator does try to do a bill to help the cause, don't call and attack the bill if you feel that it does not go far enough or if the bill is stuck in a committee. Really good case in point, Mothers Against Drunk Driving came before the Senate Transportation Committee to speak in favor of a bill that would increase penalties on drunk drivers. Instead of giving it their "full" support, the MADD representative spent nearly her entire testimony on how it does not go far enough. Guess what? The bill did not pass out of committee. So, instead of getting something, the state lost and got nothing.

Don't threaten your legislator, or their staff, by saying that you will work for their opponent in the next election, won't vote for them, or will make sure that the entire district knows about this. None of these will motivate your legislator to help you.

Every legislator knows that there will be people working for their opponent, that won't vote for them, and that trying to trash them in the newspaper is often an opportunity for them to make their point to the voting public without having to spend a dime. Threats don't work. They just demean you and your cause -- you might as well threaten to hold your breath, it would be as effective.

This one may be confusing -- Open up your wallet and make a campaign donation -- but don't say, if you vote for this bill, I'll give your campaign money. The subtle difference is that it is perfectly legal to support a politician's campaign, but predicating that support on having them vote a certain way is bribery.

Legislators are more likely to listen to you if you show an interest in keeping them in office. Politicians have to run for office every two, four, or six years to keep their job and every election is more expensive than the previous one. By helping them to buy a few more yard signs or literature pieces will help you get their ear when you need it.

Grassroots movements are great as it is refreshing to see citizens actually getting involved in their own governance. However grassroots moves are only as good as their planning and execution. Sometimes they are effective, and sometimes they do more harm to their cause than good. The sad fact of life is that the everyday citizen's voice is being drowned out by the monied special interests. In order to make your voice heard, through the use of grassroots, get professional help.

Find people who have experience with planning and execution of grassroots movements and enlist their aid in yours. Do your homework on your legislators, find the ones that are, or may be, sympathetic to your issue and try and enlist their support. If the issue is too complex or, more importantly, too important:

Hire a contract lobbyist. A professional that is a known commodity around political circles and has earned the respect of the staff and legislators you are trying to influence. A contract lobbyist will know the best way to present and get your issue to floor of the legislature with a chance for its passage.

Okay, what kinds of issues should you contact your legislator about?

First, determine what level of government has the purview over your issue, or if it is even a governmental issue. If you are having a personal problem getting your Social Security check, contacting your state legislator is going to be futile, as this is a Federal issue. Ditto, don't contact your Congressman with complaints about your property taxes, which is either a city, county, or state issue.

Don't contact your legislature with a request for legal advice. That is what attorneys are for and if you cannot afford an attorney, contact your state Bar Association, as they will generally have a list of pro bono attorneys in your area.

Legislators cannot, by law, give you legal advice. Legislators can tell you about a law, try to amend the law, or try to have the law revoked. Even though the state has oversight responsibilities over utilities, these are private companies and any problems that you may be having with them can only be solved by dealing directly, or through an attorney, with them.

This article was first published at www.witchvox.com and is reprinted with permission.

Guest Blog: Magickal Crafting

2009-09-07T15:40:00.002-04:00

It's that time again, time for Guest Blogger, Kaerwyn Silverwood, HPS to share her insight with us all!

---------------------------------------------

Arts and crafts and other similar hobbies are a great way to employ your creative spirit. It’s a popular pastime for pagans, and you will find many of us partaking in these activities. There are so many varieties of crafts to choose from: knitting, cross stitch, sewing, beading, scrapbooking, leatherworking, and woodworking to name just a few. I am an avid crocheter and love nothing more than to spend an evening in front of the television with a steaming cup of peppermint tea and my yarn & needles.

Crafting can be fun and rewarding, but did you know crafts and the Craft – as in Witchcraft – are not mutually exclusive? As an aware pagan practitioner, you can easily combine them to make your creations not only works of art, but Spirit gifts as well. There are several ways you can imbue your creations with your own personal energy and intent, which in turn gives them great power and blessings to share with others.

I often say a prayer or recite a chant while making a baby blanket. You can tailor what you say and how you say it depending on the energy you want to put into the piece. In one of the original Sleeping Beauty stories out of Germany, there were 13 fairies/wise women/Goddess-mothers who attended the christening of the princess (only 7 were in the French version). Each of these Goddess-Mothers gave the baby girl a special gift – one gave the gift of music, of health, of beauty, etc. When you are making something for a child, you get to be the fairy Goddess-Mother/Father! Infuse the item with wishes of protection, happiness, courage, wisdom, art and health. Or choose the energies you feel are most appropriate for the child.
But wait…these well wishes are not reserved only for the kids! Energies can be sent to all kinds of people for all kinds of situations!

For example, if you are making something for an elder, you can draw in peace, health and strength for them. When it comes to close friends and family, communication and support are important qualities. And if you’re stumped as to what energies to attract to your piece, love is a universally welcome energy.

And what if you’re making something for yourself? Well, you can focus on what you want that item to bring to you! For example, are you making a purse? Try focusing your intent and chants on abundance and wealth, include an adventurine into a hidden pocket, or dab the inside of the piece with some High John the Conqueror oil. Making a snuggly blanket for the TV room? Attract energies of peace, warmth and comfort into your working by singing a lullaby as you’re putting it all together. If you’re making a travel journal, saturate the book with energies for safe travel and clear memories. Focus your energies on having fun, celebrating life & attracting wonderful new friends if you’re making a special something for going out on the town. Are you a jewelry maker? Find a chant which enhances beauty and self-confidence to give those ornaments an extra sparkle. If you’re making something for sacred rites, you can call upon a favorite God or Goddess to bless the item.

One of the most popular ways to permeate an item with energy is to repeat a chant while you are doing your work. The power of the chant pushes your intent and energy into the piece you are working on and continues sharing that energy long after you’ve completed your project. There are many chants you can find on the web or in books that can fit your style, or you can create one of your own to say. Chanting doesn’t have to be a constant litany, but the more times you repeat the chant, the more you reinforce that intent and energy. I’ve actually seen people making items for a particular person, and sitting in a circle, chanting in unison together. It’s a very powerful thing! But don’t worry…you don’t have to chant aloud for this to work; chants can be said in your mind and heart and have the same effect.

Here are some other ways you can make sure your crafted items carry with them the energies you want. Keep your materials and tools in a safe and protected place so you know precisely what energies they are exposed to. You can create a prayer to say over your materials, smudge your tools with sage, or sprinkle them with sacred water (Florida water is also a good choice). I put a very small clear quartz crystal in the case that holds my crochet needles. If you choose to use specific herbs or sea salt to cleanse your tools, be careful, as this can get messy! Large tools and items which are hard to move, such as sewing machines or looms, can always benefit from a light smudging between projects. If you wish to imbue a finished project with Moon or Goddess energies, you can leave it by a window to soak up the power of the Full Moon.

You can also do some light candle magick while crafting a piece, which is something I’ve found very useful. One of the best choices for this is a candle in a tall glass enclosure. These are often called seven day candles and your local pagan shop will happily direct you to their supply. Choose a color which best corresponds to the energy you want to work with. Before you begin the project, visualize the person you are making the project for (even if it’s for yourself) and what you want them to have. Focus that visualization into the candle. You can carve the person’s name and the intent into the candle or write it on the outside of the glass if you so wish. Bless the candle and ask for the Gods’ blessing on your work. When you start the project, light the candle and as long as you work on the piece, keep the candle lit. Even if you finish the project before the candle is out, let the candle burn until it is spent.

Other ways to include energies into your crafts are by incorporating energy items in the piece. I know a seamstress who collects tiny crushed bits of gemstones for a bargain. She then sprinkles a pinch of the appropriate crystal dust into the hem of the item she’s creating right before she sews the hems closed. You will want to be careful about incorporating organic material such as herbs or oils into pieces which have a good chance of getting wet – these additions can rot or become rancid after washings! Also have a care if you choose to include metals into your pieces because they can have dangerous points and leech toxins if the item is worn close to the skin – not to mention, rust stains are pretty ugly. You can use herbs, metals, and most other magickal items in non-wearable crafts, however. Scrapbooks, photo albums/frames, and decorative pieces do well with almost any kind of item that doesn’t degrade easily! Just make sure to do your homework and understand what they bring to the magickal party.

You have the power to turn your beautifully created items into a magickal treasure. All it takes is a bit of imagination, some focused intent and a whole lot of fun. Your recipients will receive much more than a pretty piece; they will receive a gift of love and positive energy too. You can’t buy those at your local hobby shop! I hope this sparks your inspiration to include energy work and magick into your crafts!

¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) Flags, Flax & Fodder,
(¸.•´ (¸.•`Kaerwyn Silverwood, HPS
Coven DragonVeil
1734 Tradition, Maryland, USA

Aromatherapy for Religion and Ritual

2009-09-07T15:36:00.002-04:00

Aromatherapy for Ritual and Religion Saturday October 14, 2009
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Instructor: Rev. Amy Blackthorn AKA Goewin GreenWitch from Thorn Magazine!

Registration Required, $40/person

In this offering from Herbal and Aromatic practitioner Rev.Amy Blackthorn, we explore the Ritual and aromatic applications for Essential Oils and Aromatic plants in our religious practice. All faith paths are welcome to explore the hidden potential in their hearts and noses. Rose scented Rosaries, the lingering odor of Frankincense, the smell of Sweet Grass, or the Ritual energy of White Sage, all scent triggers explored will help the student delve into the hidden realms of scent in Prayer, Meditation, Shamanic Journeying and Rituals of allkinds. Also included in this course will be a practical demonstration on how to test the quality of oil using household items, to know you are getting your money’s worth.

This class is being held at Mystickal Voyage please call to register! 410-663-8333

Mystickal Voyage
8601 Walter Blvd
Nottingham, Maryland 21234

www.mystickalvoyage.com

Amy's Green Dreams

2009-09-04T01:09:00.003-04:00

So I've started an Etsy store to try and find a wider audience for my handmade items.
http://amysgreendreams.etsy.com/

I'm trying to flesh it out, currently I have handmade wands and soaps. Soon to come, Jewelry, hand blended teas, healing salves and much, much more.

I got a call to consult on a case that that police were puzzled on. Here's the resulting article.

2009-07-13T01:08:00.002-04:00

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_12818271?source=most_emailed

Are religious rituals linked to recent grisly findings?

Skull findings raise questions about religions

By Michael P. Mayko
STAFF WRITER

Posted: 07/11/2009 09:41:50 PM EDT

Updated: 07/12/2009 12:35:04 AM EDT

Click photo to enlarge

Red candles illuminated the path to a frightening scene in a Madison Avenue basement near Bridgeport's Columbus School. There, a freshly butchered chicken's blood dripped into a bowl. The skull of an alligator sat atop a human skull on a goat's head. There were animal horns, colorful beads and strange writings.

But that June 9 discovery by Bridgeport police's Tactical Narcotics Team was only the beginning.

On July 3, the children of a recently deceased Milford man arrived at his Mountain Grove Cemetery grave to plant flowers. What they found stunned them. Underneath a circular blanket of loose dirt were two human skulls. Stuffed inside were eight strips of blood-stained paper each containing a name.

Four days later Stamford police arrived at Woodland Cemetery, where the remains of a two-and-a-half year old girl dubbed "the Miracle Baby" (for surviving so long despite a brain deformity) were stolen. The remains were pulled from New Jersey's Passaic River, not far from a site where butchered chickens were found.

Coincidences? Maybe. Religious rituals? Probably.

Now Stamford Police Capt. Richard Conklin and Bridgeport Police Capt. James Viadero said detectives from both departments are consulting each other.

"We haven't established any connections yet," Conklin said. "But happenings here, in Bridgeport and in New Jersey certainly gives the feel something is going on."

Viadero said Bridgeport detectives "are making good progress"

on the Mountain Grove incident.

As for the Madison Avenue skull, Viadero said it's undergoing DNA testing to determine if it belongs to a headless body found on Seaview Avenue in 1996.

"It's highly uncommon to find three skulls in ritualistic settings in six weeks," said Viadero. "We don't believe the incidents are connected. "

Both departments contacted experts in ritualistic practices. They can't say for certain what religion or practice is involved. What Conklin has learned is this is an active period for rituals because of the phases of the moon with a new moon forming July 21.

"A lot of sects believe magic becomes more powerful around the time of a lunar eclipse and the new moon," said Amy Blackthorn, who has a Ph.D. in theology and lectures on various religions.

Conklin also believes Stamford's "Miracle Baby" was targeted for its supposedly "mystical powers" allowing it too live so long.

A number of experts, including practitioners, priests and professors, were contacted to discuss whether religious rituals were behind the three recent grisly incidents.

"If it was Voodoo," said Jerry Gandolfo, a historian at the New Orleans Historical Voodoo Museum of the Madison Avenue scene, "they would have cooked the butchered chicken into a gumbo and eaten it to absorb the power."

So strike Voodoo, a religion with its roots in West Africa and Haiti.

How about Hoodoo -- its first cousin and a form of Americanized African folk magic?

While Voodoo is a religion based on placating ancestral spirits, Hoodoo is a form of magic using herbs, flowers and more to cast spells helping oneself, explained Blackthorn, a Delaware resident and wiccan high priestess. But the use of skulls quickly caused her to dismiss it.

So what is it? Santeria? Regla de Palo? Palo Cristiano? Palo Mayombe? Or any of the countless other African, Caribbean, Cuban or Creole religions? Perhaps even bits or pieces from several.

"They're all variations on one common theme -- Yoruba, a religion established in Nigeria," said Frank A. Salamone, a professor of sociology and anthropology at Iona College in Ithaca, N.Y. "Even Voodoo comes from a Yoruba word meaning hierarchy."

Both he and Blackthorn explained religions adapted as slaves were traded and picked up traditions and practices from others.

"I can tell you this," said Leslie G. Desmangles, a professor of religion at Trinity College in Hartford, about the incidents. "It is not Santeria."

He bases his decision on the absence of flowers and pictures of saints.

"It doesn't sound like Santeria at all," adds Margarite Fernandez Olmos, a Brooklyn College professor who co-authored "Creole Religions of the Caribbean." She suspects Regla de Palo (which also goes by many different names), a religion which works with spirits.

"While this is not the usual practice, some may search for skulls of persons they believe can help them in their quest," she said.

As for the Stamford incident, her research uncovered no religion that involves transporting a whole body to a river.

The use of human skulls in Bridgeport leads Blackthorn to believe these were Palo Cristiano rituals.

Human skulls, many coming from Third World countries, are available on the internet and through other sources.

"Grave robberies happen a lot down here," said Gandolfo, the New Orleans Voodoo historian.

Blackthorn said Palo Cristiano practitioners believe the spirit remains in the skull. During rituals, they seek its help by offering favorite foods, liquors (particularly rum) and cigars.

She said every item and every color found at a ritual site has a meaning. For instance the specific colors of beads determine the deity being consulted, which in turn could determine the religion being practiced.

The type of skulls are important. The alligator skull found in the drug raid symbolizes good luck, she said. Placing it near a human skull brings more power.

She suspects the practitioners were seeking luck to bring in new business as well as to keep away police and rival gangs.

As for the discovery at Mountain Grove cemetery, Blackthorn said the practitioner is looking to drive the eight named people away.

"They are asking for something to happen to these people, either bad or good, that will keep them away," she said.

A new grave was chosen because its dirt is believed to possess energy, Blackthorn said. The circle drawn in the dirt locks the energy in place. The blood on the paper is the tag of the person seeking the help.

A HISTORY OF RITUALS

These are not the first ritualistic discoveries in the Bridgeport area.

Frankie Estrada, once Bridgeport's biggest, baddest and richest drug dealer, kept an altar adorned with pictures of saints, police officers and judges. The spirits protected him for as long as it took a federal judge to allow federal agents to wiretap his phones. Estrada is now doing 26 years in prison.

On March 14, 1986, Fairfield police consulted experts before determining that a body of a suffocated newborn baby found lying on blue-and-white cloths placed atop burlap at Lake Mohegan was being given a Santeria funeral.

The burlap, representing poverty, was pinned with crosses bearing the image of St. Lazarus, the patron saint of the poor. Scattered around the body were coins and pieces of fruit. Experts told police the baby's body was placed near water because African slaves were brought here by boat and near trees because trees symbolize life.

"This is a learning experience for us," said Viadero.

That's why Blackthorn said, "Every police department should have reference material. My choice would be 'A Cop's Guide to Occult Investigations: Understanding Satanism, Santeria, Wicca, and Other Alternative Religions' by Tony M. Kail. Police are too quick to attribute everything to Voodoo, Satanism or Santeria."

Understanding the different religions Voodoo: Believers contend nature is controlled by spiritual forces that must be honored through offerings and animal sacrifice. Originally from West Africa, Voodoo is recognized as an official religion in Haiti and Benin. Santeria: Also originiating from West Africa, Santeria blends African beliefs with those of Roman Catholicism. Rites are led by a priest or priestess, and involve animal sacrifice. Practicioners believe in reincarnation. Hoodoo: Believers in this religion, an Americanized version of West African beliefs, practice magic using herbs, flowers and more to cast spells designed to help themselves. Sources: Columbia Encyclopedia, Amy Blackthorn

Aromatic Laundry tips

2009-06-15T19:21:00.001-04:00

Introduction: With just one ingredient, this recipe couldn't be easier...

Ingredient:

Vinegar

In the kitchen, I love salads and recipes that include vinegar, especially natural infused vinegars. On its own, however, the harsh fragrance of vinegar is definitely not an aroma that I deliberately seek out. Despite its abrasive smell, vinegar is naturally anti-bacterial and anti-viral. It is affordable and does soften clothes well when added to the rinse cycle. Vinegar also helps to eliminate soap residue build-up on clothing.

Directions: In place of commercial fabric softener, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to laundry during the rinse cycle.

Precautions:

Avoid balsamic and other dark vinegars as they may stain clothes.
A lingering vinegar aroma may be left on your clothes. To minimize or eliminate the aroma, try the fragrant, essential oil Dryer Sheet Recipe

Introduction: Making and using your own essential oil dryer sheets is a gentle way to naturally fragrance your laundry. By using cotton remnants and essential oils, you save on the cost of commercial dryer sheets, and you avoid the synthetics that they contain.

These sheets will not soften your clothes. For softer clothes, try the easy Fabric Softener Recipe.

Ingredients:

Scraps of Natural or White Cotton Fabric
An old, cut-up t-shirt will be fine. The size isn't too important. An ideal approximately size is 5"x5"
5 drops Essential Oil

Directions:
Scatter 5 drops of essential oil onto a scrap of cotton frabric. Place the sheet into the dryer with your laundry and dry your clothes as you normally would. After the dryer cycle has finished, your laundry should have the faint aroma of your chosen essential oils.

Precautions:

Avoid using scraps or colored fabric, especially when washing light color loads.
Stick to using clear and pale colored essential oils with thin viscosity (not thick or sticky). The Essential Oil Profiles contained in the Essential Oil Profile area display the typical color and lists the consistency of each oil.

Pagan Parenting

2009-06-10T14:03:00.001-04:00

Ten things to do with your children!

Patti from paganwiccan.about.com has just compiled a list of things for parents to do with their kids, and with summer on the way, or all ready here, as far as many schools are concerned, it's time to break out the "anti-boredom" mojo!

http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/familyandparenting/tp/Kids_Activities-.htm

Candle Magick class in Baltimore, Maryland this Friday

2009-06-02T11:39:00.000-04:00

When: Friday, June 5, 2009

Where: Mystickal Voyage, Holistic Center – www.mystickalvoyage.com for more info & registration. Pre-registration is highly recommended. Phone- (410) 663-8333

Fee: $15/person for a 2 hour class

Come join us at Mystickal Voyage this Friday, June 5, 2009 from 6:30pm -8:30 pm for the June session of Wicca A La Carte, Focused Topics for Wiccan Living. This month’s topic focuses on CANDLE MAGICK. We will be discussing what Candle Magick is, and how we can use it in our spellwork – including color correspondences, using chants, and making our own spell candles.

Contact Mystickal Voyage at Mystickal Voyage - Link (www.mystickalvoyage.com)for more information and to reserve your spot today!

What is Wicca A La Carte?

Wicca A La Carte is a series of affordable, concise, and targeted workshops for the Wiccan practitioner wanting to learn about specific concepts most important to them and their personal spiritual evolution. Each session will tackle a different area of Wiccan practice, without the need for a long commitment to a training regimen or particular discipline. Wicca A La Carte tackles more than 30 separate topics, with additional topics being added as needed, each broken down into easily manageable 2 hour sessions.

The topics presented are designed to give practitioners a working knowledge of the topic and provide healthy discussion. Wicca A La Carte sessions are a perfect opportunity for the newcomer to Wicca to learn or the solitary practitioner who wishes to gain a perspective outside of books, a chance to interact with other like minded friends.

Participants will receive coven AND solitary perspectives, as well as the point of view of both Traditional and Eclectic practitioners. This series is hosted by Kaerwyn Silverwood, HPS of Coven DragonVeil and Rev. Amy Blackthorn. Between them, they bring decades of experience and training to share with new members of the Craft of the Wise.

Skin Care -- Acne Recipes

2009-05-15T11:17:00.001-04:00

Ingredients:

1 ounce light cold-pressed vegetable carrier oil (such as apricot kernel).
10 drops lavender essential oil
7 drops tea tree or New Zealand tea tree (Manuka) essential oil
2 drops bergamot essential oil*
1 drops geranium essential oil

or without bergamot:

1 ounce light cold-pressed vegetable carrier oil (such as apricot kernel).
12 drops lavender essential oil
7 drops tea tree or New Zealand tea tree (Manuka) essential oil
1 drops geranium essential oil

Special Precaution: *Avoid exposure to the sun for at least 12 hours after applying this oil since bergamot is a phototoxic oil. There is a special version of bergamot that you can get called "bergaptene free" that eliminates the phototoxic properties of the oil.

Directions: Pour the selected carrier oil into a very clean bottle (amber glass is best) and then add the essential oils and tightly close the bottle. Roll the bottle to gently mix the oils for a minute or two. Apply a small amount to the face, neck or back, but be certain to avoid the eyes, lips, nostrils and inside the ears. Gentle roll the bottle before each use to ensure the essential oils are properly mixed.

Hoodoo Help Entry

2009-05-14T13:47:00.001-04:00

Ishtar Incense - To increase sexual awareness (great for lovers)

1 Part Sandalwood
1 part Dried Rose petals
1 part Orange Oil
1 part Dried Jasmine flowers

Sing the May Song of Beltane

2009-05-07T17:14:00.000-04:00

May 1st marks one of the most beloved, and perhaps one of the most misunderstood Sabbats in pagandom - Beltane. This Sabbat has its origins in Europe, primarily from the Celtic regions. It means, literally, Fire of Bel – Bel, Belen or Belinos being just one name of the Sun God who we honor this day. In the Pagan calendar, this is one of the eight stops/holidays on the cycle we call the “Wheel of the Year”. Beltane is known as a “fire festival”, which means it is not connected to a solstice or equinox - it’s a day chosen outside solar or lunar calendars.
Whether you spell it Beltane, Beltaine, Beal-tinne, Bealtine, whether you call it Beltane or Roodmas or Walpurgisnacht or whether you celebrate it on April 30, May 1 or May 2, is no matter. It remains an honored and enjoyed tradition in Wiccan practice. Beltane is a celebration about fertility in all its forms, personified through the sacred marriage of the God and the Goddess. It honors the power of growth and the importance of balance. The Lady is all grown up and the Lord is rited into manhood. They are ready to imbue the Earth with their blessings.
When we talk about the marriage between the Lord and Lady, it is not about the marriage of our contemporary understanding, but rather a carnal & spiritual joining between the male and female Divine. From their union comes abundance and fertility which is shared with the Earth and those of us on it. Using the axiom “as above, so below”, this fertility is drawn into our world and feeds the summer and fall months – and we see this abundance manifested in our autumnal harvest. One of the most popular customs associated with Beltane is the Maypole. It is a strong and tall tree trunk representing the God, which is affixed with ribbons on the top. Over the extended ribbons lay a wreath of flowers, representing the Goddess. As the maypole ribbons are woven by dancers each holding a ribbon, the wreath is lowered symbolizing the union between the God and Goddess. Sometimes, the Maypole becomes the fodder for the Midsummer or Samhain fires later that year.
This sacred union of the Lord and Lady spawned many customs and taboos about marriage – some which survive to this day. Some say the first full moon span after the wedding was when the Lord and Lady would remain sequestered together, drinking only wine and eating only honey. Of course, this led to the concept of the “honey-moon” that most married couples partake in. However, May was considered the month of the God and Goddess’ wedding – so if you wanted to marry, it was expected that you would kindly respect the Divine Couple’s month. Hence, May became an unlucky month to marry in. This is one of the reasons why getting married in June became popular. The exchanging of rings has a Beltane component, symbolizing infinity and longevity. Another belief was that the God & Goddess give boons to those of us who came to celebrate their union. In Europe, it’s still very common to see newlyweds leaving their ceremony tossing candy or money out the back of their vehicle (car, carriage, etc.) throughout the village for the children to chase after and collect.
Yes, there were and are still many carnal associations to Beltane, and they can be quite sacred with consenting adults and in appropriate ways. Certainly, Beltane can be one of the most sexual of all the Sabbats, but that aspect doesn’t need to be emphasized in your practice. Understand that it is a spiritual and symbolic act. It is never wanton or vulgar. It is a celebration of the gift of love on many levels – spiritual and physical. In ages past and until the 19th Century, “Greenwood marriages”, (or as we call them today, “one-night-stands”) were popular on Beltane. Consummating such a marriage in a field would ensure fertility and success for that harvest. Today, spending the Beltane night with your significant other mimics the Sacred Marriage and ensures a year of luck & love to come. Fertility, however, is more than just physical. It is spiritual and mental as well – and spurs our creativity and abundance as much as anything else.
-19-
(cont’d on page 20)
There are many traditions associated with Beltane. Women and young ladies braided flowers in their hair, as would befit someone attending a wedding. Young ladies would wash their faces with the morning dew to ensure a beautiful complexion. Wells and sacred water were visited and honored. Flowers would be strewn all over homes, people, animals and anything which was sacred and special, in the belief that the more you honored the God & Goddess, the more abundance you would draw to yourself. Fires are extinguished the night before Beltane and relit from the “Need Fire” which is started at dawn, sometimes from the Yule log which was kept burning since Winter Solstice. The Beltane fire was especially potent. Women who wished to get pregnant would jump over the Beltane fire – and those who didn’t want to become pregnant would gladly take the long way around! Some people acted out the Great Hunt, whereby the Lord and Lady chase each other. First the Lady is the one pursued by the Lord and then the tables are turned and he becomes the happy prey who would gets tangled up in the Maypole dance.
This is the time of year that cattle were put into their summer grazing fields and therefore beginning to enjoy the bounties of late spring. People in Europe used to drive their cattle through the Beltane fire (quickly, of course) to bring blessings on their livestock. As this is also the time for fairies to be very active – especially the mischievous ones – the cattle and homes were sprinkled with water from a sacred well to keep the fairies from turning milk sour and from causing mayhem in the home. Fairies were considered to be especially active during the first 3 days of May, and people feared that they would steal their children and bewitch cattle – so all the doors were locked and children were kept very close at night.
What does this mean for us as pagan practitioners? It means we bring a time of abundance into our personal worlds. We look for fertility in all aspects of our lives and take advantage of the Divine Couple’s boons. If you have a partner, share your love with them in honor of the Sacred Marriage. If you are single, raise a toast of mead, apple wine or apple cider to the Lord and Lady, wishing them a bountiful year. If you can’t participate in a Maypole Dance, a few twirls around your Circle (or living room) and some fresh flowers in your home in honor of the date is more than appropriate.
Beltane can be family friendly too – the Maypole is a great opportunity to dance and welcome summer into our lives. Even having kids walk around a park or house picking up litter to make a fitting place for the fairies to dance is a good way to celebrate! Perhaps a young child (or you!) can dress up like the May Queen or the Sun King and dance with the merrymakers. Making flower crowns/necklaces and adornments is a great way to welcome the Lord and Lady to the fullness of Spring.
And whatever you do, don’t forget to appease the Fairies! Make a basket of shiny things for them to play with, and if you wish, leave them cookies, milk and flowers, and put it near your home, perhaps in the garden. It will keep them busy long enough to forget to cause any mischief!
Beltane is one of my favorite Sabbats because it’s truly a festive time! It is a wonderful celebration, full of laughter, love, joy and blessings. Enjoy the bounty of the Gods, and be part of celebration! Take advantage of this time of year to connect with the Divine Couple and bring those blessings upon yourself and your home.
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) Flags, Flax & Fodder,
(¸.•´ (¸.•`Kaerwyn Silverwood, HPS
Coven DragonVeil
1734 Tradition, Maryland, USA
__________________
Kaerwyn Silverwood
Kaerwyn Silverwood is the High Priestess of Coven DragonVeil and a multiple Initiate and Elder of the 1734 Tradition. She is found frequently at Mystickal Voyage – she facilitates the monthly Tarot Practice nights, teaches multiple workshops in Paganism and Tarot

For those of you within Driving Distance of Baltimore Maryland

2009-05-07T17:11:00.000-04:00

I will be teaching this Saturday at Mystickal Voyage. 8601 Walther Blvd. Nottingham, MD 21236 www.mystickalvoyage.com

Hoodoo: The Magic of Mojo
Saturday 5/9
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Instructor: Rev. Amy Blackthorn
Registration Required, $40/person
This offering from Rev. Amy Blackthorn, a practitioner of the Wise Woman Tradition of Green Witchcraft, sets out to show how to use the spice rack and household goods around you, to Attract money, Blend oils to protect you and your family, and land that better job. Don’t throw out those old Tee shirts! We’ll discuss making mojo bags to carry with you to attain your goals. Not handy with a sewing machine, that’s okay! Remember: Hoodoo is a system, not a religion. Anyone of any faith can use these techniques to further their goals. Some people use bulletin boards from “The Secret” to manifest their goals, Rev. Amy will show you how to make a kit you can carry with you to reach your goals where ever you need it! No prior knowledge of herbs required.

Deadline day

2009-04-17T13:06:00.001-04:00

Well, I just submitted my latest column to the Editor, we'll see what he says.

As soon as it goes live on the Thorn Website, I'll post it here. (www.thornmagazine.com)

New Yahoogroup!

2009-04-15T19:47:00.000-04:00

I have just created a list for promoting my classes and discussing Magick and Green topics, come join if you like! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RealmoftheGreenWitch/

Your wishes after death

2009-04-14T13:55:00.000-04:00

Death is a very taboo subject in many circles, so I'll ask here.

What are your wishes when it comes to your death? Funeral? Memorial Service? Cremation? "Green" Burial? Viking Funeral?

What about the service? Do you want chants from your religious background? Would you include things like Bible (Or other holy books) verses for non Pagan family members?

Would you like a member of the Clergy to oversee your Rites, or a trusted friend of family member?

Guest Blog: Ostara, It's not just Bunnies and Eggs!

2009-04-10T19:30:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Kaerwyn’s Korner, a series of short articles about Pagan living in the real world.

OSTARA – IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT BUNNIES & EGGS!

The Vernal or Spring Equinox, also called the Ostara sabbat, is celebrated by pagans all over the world. It is a Solar or Fire Festival which was adopted over the years by the Christian church as their feast day of their God’s resurrection and rebirth. In German, Ostern – which is derived from the Teutonic/Anglo-Saxon Goddess Ostara/Eostre - is the translation for Easter.
The Goddess Ostara was honored at the Spring Equinox as the goddess of fertility and renewal, as this is the time of year when the first buds are seen in the trees, and the flowers begin to open up after a long winter of hiding under the soil. Day and night are equal, and day will be in ascendency until the Solstice. Winter holds no more power here, and we can rejoice in the return of the light. Ostara’s name is seen in the German word for East – Ost – where the sun rises and is reborn every morning. She is the Lady of the Morning Sun, the Maiden who welcomes the Sun God to a new day.

So prevalent was the Goddess Ostara’s influence, many cultures believed that there was great healing power in water drawn the morning of Ostara. This was a common practice in Germanic cultures until the 1800’s and is still common in many folk magick traditions to this day. Some of the more popular practices today are lighting a fire first thing in the morning to welcome the goddess and to purify the household; this is a popular day for household “spring cleaning”, a time of renewal and rebirth for the home. Ritual cleaning included scrubbing floors in a clockwise fashion (also known as going “deosil” or “sunwise”), to mimic the movement of the sun. This is the time of year when seeds were planted and songs sung to Ostara to protect and nurture the seeds.
The modern celebration of Easter, even to this day, has kept some of the same fertility symbols as in ancient times. Rabbits and hares, sacred to Ostara, have always been a symbol of fecundity. This is most likely due to the fact that they have one of the shortest gestation periods in the animal kingdom. The saying goes that for every one rabbit you see, there are 50 more you can’t! Eggs are another popular Easter/Ostara symbol. In times of old, eggs were dyed in the Goddess’ honor to represent the life lying within a seemingly closed shell, just as the flowers and plants are at this time of year. In ancient Rome, eggs were a common offering to the Goddess of the Dawn, as the yolk represents the sun that She welcomes. It is even suggested that humans learned to weave baskets by watching birds weaving nests for their eggs, which is where we might have gotten the idea for Easter egg baskets!
As a modern Pagan, you can use the power of the Spring Equinox to enhance your own life. Think about what you wish to make fertile in your life. Do you want to write? To paint? To learn? What abundance are you looking for? Now is the time to make fertile the soil of your spirit so the Gods can plant the seeds of that abundance and you will grow strong and healthy plants. This is the time of year to really think about our own personal fertility, the renewal of the spirit and the bringing of the Spiritual Sun into our lives. This is a perfect time to work magick for new growth in your life, to kick start any new beginnings and awakenings you wish to initiate. It’s also a good time to do magick to bring love to your life.

One of the ways to mirror your spiritual garden and endeavors is to be similarly active in your real world. If the weather is kind, plant a little garden and dedicate it to the Maiden of the Spring. If the weather is not cooperative, you can always prepare a small plot of land, clearing it of debris and weeds in preparation for planting. Perhaps starting an indoor herb garden is more conducive for you. Spend a few minutes to meditate on the rising sun and ask the Lady to guide you to your own personal abundance and spiritual growth. Take a long walk in a local park and look for the new life emerging; show your gratitude to the Universe by sending loving energy to those around you.

There are several correspondences associated with Ostara. One of my favorite things to do is to make an Ostara Basket and dedicate it in the Lady’s honor. This is a fun activity you can do alone, with your magickal working group, or with your family (kids love to participate!).
In your Basket, you can include stones such as jasper, amethyst, aquamarine and bloodstone. Choose flowers and herbs like violets, jasmine, rose, sage, honeysuckle, iris, daffodils, crocuses and other similar spring flowers. Add a few jellybeans and some dyed / colored eggs. You can include pictures or figurines of rabbits, the moon, the rising sun, and other such symbols too. When you’ve filled your basket, offer it to the Maiden on the morning of the Equinox. Place it in the easternmost part of your home so it’s one of the first thing that the morning ray of light will find. Sing songs or say a chant to the Maiden of the Spring – you can make one up or use one of the many popular ones in pagan practice.

One of my favorites is by Ann Moura, authoress of the Green Witchcraft series, done with a candle (I have used a jasmine scented tea candle for this):
Saying Farewell to Wintry spirits
by Ann Moura
Farewell to wintry spirits and friends;
On morrow we greet the spirits of spring.
Our blessings to thee as your way you wend;
And merry we’ll meet next winter again.
Blow out candle and say: Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!

Ostara is a time to celebrate the coming of spring and the new growth of the year. All this new growth is important as it leads to our own harvests throughout the year!
Wishing you all a fertile and abundant Ostara. May the Lady bring us all the blessings of the Spring.
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) Flags, Flax & Fodder,
(¸.•´ (¸.•`Kaerwyn Silverwood, HPS
Coven DragonVeil
1734 Tradition, Maryland, USA

Kaerwyn Silverwood is the High Priestess of Coven DragonVeil and a multiple Initiate and Elder of the 1734 Tradition. She is found frequently at Mystickal Voyage – she facilitates the monthly Tarot Practice nights, teaches multiple workshops in Paganism and Tarot and reads traditional Tarot.

My Monday Tattooing experience

2009-04-09T19:34:00.001-04:00

New tattoo! I've been waiting to tattoo around some VERY heavily scarred areas for about seven years. I finally found someone I trusted in August Moon. http://augustmoontattoos.blogspot.com/ August has other examples of Scar tattooing

My leg before being tattooed. (yes there's a little stubble, as my artist told me he'd shave the area before tattooing.)

The darker and dimpled areas are skin grafts and scars from external titanium pins.

August worked with me and my "unique" issues. He mentioned that with the extent of the damage traditional stencils wouldn't work. We sat with the sterile markers used for piercing and drew what I wanted right onto my leg.

Three hours later I had a completed tattoo. I know that might sound like a lot for some work, but with the nerve damage, it was light years away from "normal" tattoo pain, and even though I wasn't asking to stop, the muscle contractions made it necessary to go slower than normal.

I'm THRILLED with the design, and look forward to adding to my leg.

Edit to add:
Just so you remember who I am, here's a picture

Maryland appearance

2009-04-08T00:52:00.001-04:00

I will be at Mystickal Voyage from 5-9 Wednesday
	Come to MV and get a great up of coffee or Chai and come see me for a reading! www.mystickalvoyage.com Faerie Tarot & Astrology Rev. Amy Blackthorn Wednesday (5:00 pm - 9:00 pm) 4/8, 4/22, 5/6, 5/20 $50/30 minutes, $100/1 hour Rev. Amy Blackthorn has a unique Divination experience awaiting you. She blends Earthy energy signatures with Traditional Tarot decks and Nature Oracles to give you a full spectrum of information. You can also book a half an hour or hour reading to do an astrological “Path of the Soul” reading to discuss the hardships you may have to deal with on your Journey, and how best to deal with the conflicts in your life.

I will be at Mystickal Voyage from 5-9 Wednesday

Come to MV and get a great up of coffee or Chai and come see me for a reading! www.mystickalvoyage.com

Faerie Tarot & Astrology
Rev.
Amy Blackthorn
Wednesday (5:00 pm - 9:00 pm) 4/8, 4/22, 5/6, 5/20
$50/30 minutes, $100/1 hour

Rev. Amy Blackthorn has a unique Divination experience awaiting you. She blends Earthy energy signatures with Traditional Tarot decks and Nature Oracles to give you a full spectrum of information. You can also book a half an hour or hour reading to do an astrological “Path of the Soul” reading to discuss the hardships you may have to deal with on your Journey, and how best to deal with the conflicts in your life.

The Newest Flowers

2009-04-06T11:15:00.003-04:00

Well, in about two hours I'm off to get tattooed. The lovely Malicious Intent has been telling me about her favorite artist since she got her back covered in this man's ravens.

August even has a Blog here on Blogger! augustmoontattoos.blogspot.com

My most recent tattoo was last June around the Summer Solstice in Salem, Mass. at Witch City Ink. I was lucky enough to be the first paying client. (The first "client" was a freebie for his girlfriend) We Cast circle, we lit some incense (protection) and played some Dead Can Dance. Was an amazing experience.

Now I'm getting ready to head to Newport to get some Neo-Traditional flowers and spirals on my leg, to go with my very first tattoo, my Fuschia.

I'm glad I'll get a chance to add to my leg work, as my scar tissue gets a lot of attention sometimes.

It'll be neat to see how it comes out. Will post pictures soonest.

Guest Blogger: Kaerwyn's Korner

2009-04-03T15:55:00.002-04:00

Welcome to Kaerwyn’s Korner, a series of short articles about Pagan living in the real world.

MIRTH & REVERENCE IN THE CRAFT

“…Let My worship be within the heart that rejoiceth, for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals. And therefore let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence with you…” – (part of) The Charge of the Goddess, Doreen Valiente

Many of us who were brought up in a religious environment were taught that ceremonies, worship and ritual were meant to be very serious business. There was often little or no laughing allowed. As we found our Pagan paths, we brought that solemnity along in our own rituals. Being mirthful is nothing more than being joyful and having a little laugh.

But isn’t laughter and humor part of being human? As Priests and Priestesses in the Craft, we are encouraged to honor all parts of being human, because we are a reflection of the Divine. So, how do we reconcile the sacred and the seemingly profane? Can we find a happy medium between solemnity and our senses of humor?

Our pagan teachings tell us that we are humans, and as such, we are fallible. It’s happened to all of us: we attend or lead a ritual and say the wrong line at the wrong time, forget what quarter belongs to a particular element, mess up a chant, panic as the cat sets her tail afire on the God candle, a circle-mate (or the host’s Chihuahua) accidentally toots during the meditation, etc. There’s no need to be embarrassed or upset. It is a reminder of who we are and what we are. Smile and accept it as a gift from the Universe!

I believe that we should make room in our pagan lives for both mirth and reverence. The Gods, the Universe and Spirit itself all have a sense of humor – why can’t we? In my coven, we often say, “Laughter is the benediction of the Goddess”. Humor and laughter are beautiful qualities that make us whole. The Gods want ALL of us in ritual. Not just the serious part of us – they want the silly part, the powerful part, the humble part, and every other part that makes us who we are.

Levity can be important in Circle due to the seriousness of the actual ritual itself. It helps us to appreciate the solemnity of the occasion by giving us a little break from being totally immersed in the intense experience of our Divine connection. An example can be seen in my Tradition where we have a ritual that honors the Female Mysteries every Midsummer. The men of our coven know the women go off by ourselves, very solemnly and quietly. And when we return, we’re giggling and perhaps a little tipsy as well. The ritual is certainly about what it means to be a woman – the pain and the joy. Men have their own sacred mysteries which are important for them to honor. It’s vital for us to acknowledge that in order to be a whole person, we need to honor the serious parts of ourselves as well as the silly parts too.

One should never be afraid of laughing when it’s appropriate. What I mean by the term “appropriate” is simply that we should all be aware of our surroundings and ensure that the humor we display is respectful to the Gods and the people around us. Knowing this is a combination of experience and intuition. But always remember this: mirth should always be tempered with reverence. Like life, you need to be aware of your surroundings and audience before deciding to become your spiritual group’s very own standup comic. It’s one thing to tell your covenmate that she’s channeling the Crone because her joints cracked loudly in Circle. It’s another thing to call the Crone an “ol’ broad”, even as a joke. Certainly, disrespect is never funny.

You should always try to make sure your humor is shared by others, because what you might find hilarious may be offensive to someone else. It’s always a good idea to steer away from topics which might cross the line into gender or racial stereotypes or other hurtful topics.
Please allow me to share a personal story of mirth, in the form of a Goddess who has attached herself to my Tradition. Her name is Nunumi, and she has found her way to many other pagans over the years. Perhaps you might even see her at your next ritual or celebration!

Nunumi is the Goddess of Botched Rituals, and is beloved by my Tradition-mates and many others. She first showed up at the end of a very long Initiation ritual over 20 years ago. Traditionally, at the end of an Initiation, a sponsor stands before the Gods and introduces the newest Initiate. Part of the words go: “Welcome PixieMoonDrip (or whatever the Initiate’s name is), newly made Priestess and Witch”. However, after 3 days of fasting, and an 8 hour intensive ritual, the sponsor’s words came out as “Welcome PixieMoonDrip, *Nunumi* Priestess and Witch”. The Initiate being introduced happened to be my Sire Priestess…and she in turn introduced Nunumi to the rest of us over the years. Now, whenever someone goofs up in Circle, or the Priest forgets his words, or the Priestess trips over her robe, we know that Nunumi is making her presence known and we all say “Hail Nunumi!” in the hopes that by acknowledging her, the rest of the ritual will go smoothly!

There are many ways to have fun in Paganism, and perhaps you’ve experienced some of these. Songs & filks are one of the most popular ways for pagans to share joy with each other in a social setting. Filks are songs that are either created songs, or use the melodies of popular music which add words specific to a particular genre. Filks were first made popular in the science fiction world, and since many pagans are also sci-fi fans, we saw a “filking” crossover in the 1970’s. A favorite filk you might hear at a pagan gathering goes to the tune of the American spiritual song “Old Time Religion” where everyone chimes in with the chorus and laughs at the variety of the (hundreds of) stanzas. A quick search on the internet will turn up more information on this topic.
Most any pagan can tell you a myriad of stories about the funny things they’ve experienced at pagan festivals, gatherings, Circles and the like. These funny moments (or hours) can lay the foundations for the most amazing memories of people and places in the Craft. I can remember warm nights in the California mountains during Pacific Circle decades ago; making up filks and drinking mulled cider with pagan friends, new & old. We laughed and sang around the sacred fire until dawn. And for me, those are the sweetest memories of all. While I still remember the rituals and the workshops, I have much more vivid memories of the fun.

There are even rituals out there specifically designed with mirth in mind. In your pagan travels, you might come across a Chocolate Ritual or even a “Bill The Cat” initiation. Incorporating something whimsical in your ritual gear, or leaving an offering of a shot of Godiva Chocolate Liquor to appease Aphrodite can also be fun ideas. You can search the Web for Redneck Pagan Jokes, Pagan Light Bulb jokes, and more!

Not everyone is comfortable with being silly in Circle, but that’s an individual choice. You are the only person who can determine what level of humor you are comfortable with in a spiritual setting. But don’t be afraid of humor, and know that there is a place in our pagan lives and rituals where our laughter rings as bells to the Lady’s ears.

The Goddess tells us she wants us to come to her with mirth AND reverence. We shouldn’t forget either of these things in our pagan practice.

"Hail Nunumi!
We will worship with our coven
Where there’ll be a lotta lovin’
Quit yer pushin’ and yer shovin’
So there’ll be room enough for me!"
- One of the hundreds of stanzas sung to the tune of “That Old Time Religion”

¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) Flags, Flax & Fodder,
(¸.•´ (¸.•`Kaerwyn Silverwood, HPS
Coven DragonVeil
1734 Tradition, Maryland, USA

Kaerwyn Silverwood is the High Priestess of Coven DragonVeil and a multiple Initiate and Elder of the 1734 Tradition. She is found frequently at Mystickal Voyage – she facilitates the monthly Tarot Practice nights, teaches multiple workshops in Paganism and Tarot and reads traditional Tarot.

Thorn Magazine

2009-04-03T08:51:00.000-04:00

For folks who are new, and don't know - I have a column published regularly in Thorn Magazine! This is my second one, and I'm really loving the way Thorn is growing into it's own persona.

You should check out my Column, "Of Green and Glass". And regardless of your own affiliations, you might want to look into getting a subscription to Thorn. It's smarter than that brain-in-a-jar from the Hellboy comics, it's more fun to read than Shilo's diary, and it's got more heart than an Igor in all his pockets.

The point is, go read Thorn, dammit!

http://thornmagazine.com/

My Column IS on the website, but you should REALLY buy a copy and check it out.

For those of you to whom this applies, there's a survey at the bottom of the front page about "New" Gods for a feature article. If you worship Asphaltia, or any "New" gods, fill that puppy out, and maybe be an interview subject!

Wicca A La Carte

2009-04-01T16:08:00.001-04:00

Click on flier for details